Mists of the Past (Touched By An Angel Fan Fiction)

Mists of the Past

Author's Note: This include a timeline for the whole "Crystal Chronicles" series, including "4/20/19".

October 21, 2032

Part One: Tragedy

In a beautiful area in North London, on a lovely sunny afternoon. Monica was on a bench, enjoying the breeze and watching traffic come and go. People were walking  down the sidewalk, taking in the fall weather. They're late. What is taking so long? She sighs impatiently looking at her watch. I tell them to meet me here at two forty-five, now it's three o'clock and they still aren't here.

Soon after, she sees Gloria come walking up the street. Sitting beside her supervisor, they waited for one more. "I have been here only two days and finally got to walk London Bridge. Nothing like the nursery rhyme." She gushed about her vacation. Also, Gloria showed off her new glasses. A pink pair, suited her pretty good. "So, what's the assignment?"

"When Andrew gets here, then I will tell you." The older angel responded looking around. Sure enough, as soon as she says it, a man emerges from around the corner. Wearing a worn, brown leather jacket, white shirt and jeans, Andrew walks over after spotting the two other angels. His hair was darker and he grew a goatee. He felt it was time for a new look. "You're late Andrew. I said two forty-five and it's three-fifteen." Monica was a little irritable since trying to reduce her coffee intake.

"I had to take a gentleman home not far from here. Wanted to see his great, great-grandson born. He was ninety-nine." He explains, running a hand through his freshly cut hair. "So what's the next assignment? Gloria, love the glasses by the way." The young caseworker blushes at his compliment.

"Let me take you to the family that's our next assignment." Monica gets up and leads the other two not far down the street. They stop in front of a really nice stone house with a white picket fence, where a white mini van had just pulled into the garage. A woman and her three children, two boys and a girl, get out and begin to unload the groceries from the back.

Andrew got a glimpse of the mother. That profile, he would recognize it anywhere. That can't be...Crystal? How old was she now? He was amazed at how good she looked. The youthfulness had matured into a beauty for her age. He became distracted for a moment before Gloria asks "Why are we here?"

Monica answers her question. "Remember North Carolina twenty years ago and that girl we helped?" Gloria thinks about it for a moment and it dawns on her. "I seem to remember now, that's her right?" She nods, confirming the young caseworker's guess. "Absolutely. As you can see, she's now a wife and mother."

"Now Michael, help your brother with those heavier bags," Crystal Moore tells her oldest son as she unlocks the door. "Amy, carry those eggs very carefully. I can't afford to have them break. They were the last ones left at the store." She unlocks the door and a golden retriever comes out to greet them, happy to see her and the kids.

It had been a long day. Having her hair and nails done, a visit to her editor's office for a meeting and dropping off a manuscript. Then afterwards, grocery shopping, finally picking up the kids from school. This would be the first moment since leaving the salon she would have a moment to breathe.

Suddenly, she felt something run down her spine and was compelled to look in the direction right where the angels stood, but they of course were unseen to humans. It had been a long time since Crystal had that feeling. Passing it off as tiredness, she turns her attention to helping her kids unload the van. She had to get dinner started before her husband got home from work.

The Next Day

Everything was ready for the twins' party. They were growing up so fast, she swore it was yesterday they were born. My, how time flies. Seven hours of labor and then seven minutes apart, they were here. Crystal thinks about it for a moment. Born seven years to the day of an event she would rather forget, an anniversary she dreads but has since learned to deal with.