Battle For The Heavens

e i g h t

Noelle stared at the place where Andrew had been sitting just moments earlier, still unable to wrap her head around the fact that he had just taken off like that.

"You should go after him," Julia said with a sad smile on her face. "He'll need someone to talk to while he tries to process all this information you've dumped on him, on us."

"But I don't even know where he went! How will I be able to find him?" Noelle looked out the gate, hoping that Andrew would just walk back in and agree to help.

"Well, he'll most likely be at his father's grave. It's where he's gone whenever he wants to be alone, for the past three months." Julia looked off into the distance, sadness written all over her face.

"Of course, that would make sense." Noelle looked down for a minute before addressing Julia once again. "Can you tell me how to get there?"

After Julia gave Noelle the directions, Noelle headed out towards the cemetery. It was a long walk, yes, but she didn't want to risk using her wings unless it was an emergency. When she reached the cemetery, she went in and walked around the various headstones, trying to find Andrew. All the headstones had beautiful little epitaphs written on them. Finally, she found Andrew sitting in front of a large headstone, with his head in his hands. Inscribed on the headstone were the words:

David Tanner
1971-2016
A beloved father, husband and friend

The song has ended
but the melody lingers on

Noelle cleared her throat softly and Andrew's head immediately jerked up. "What do you want?" Andrew asked, not even looking back at her.

Noelle walked towards him and sat beside him slowly. "I wanted to check if you were okay. I know what I said is a lot to take in but believe me when I say that it's the truth. I've come to care a lot for you and Julia and I would never lie to either of you, especially about something like this. Please tell me that you believe me?"

"I do believe you Noelle. The-That's not the problem at all," Andrew said, his eyes still not meeting Noelle's.

"Then what is the problem Andrew?" Noelle asked, staring hard at Andrew.

"It's this war. My dad died because of it and your stupid God is the reason for it and now you're asking me to help him? To help him after all that he's done? I-I can't do that. I won't!" Andrew said, finally meeting Noelle's eyes.

"Andrew, your father died for his country. He joined the army because he wanted to fight for his people, for their right to live. You have the ability to save all those people that your father was fighting for! Don't you think he would've wanted you to help all these people, if you had the chance?"

"He always did stress on helping people..." Andrew said looking at the headstone with a wistful expression, but then his face suddenly hardened and he said, "but that doesn't matter now because I can't help you. I just can't."

"You can Andrew! You have the ability, the strength, the courage and most of all, you have the heart. And that's what's most important. Don't try and tell me that you don't want to save all these people's lives because I know that you do! So tell me, what's the real reason why you don't want to do this?" Noelle asked, turning Andrew's face towards her own.

Andrew's shoulders slumped and he shrugged slightly. "I..."

"Please tell me Andrew, maybe I can help!" Noelle said softly.

"When dad left, he told me to take care of my mom. He made me promise, actually! That was the last thing he ever asked of me and if I leave to try and fight in this war then...I'll be leaving my mom alone and that-" Andrew closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "That would be breaking my promise and I can not and will not do that."

"Oh Andrew..." Noelle moved closer and put an arm around him, pulling him closer to her side and smiled at him. "I'm sure that your mom would love for you to do this. Plus, she can definitely take care of herself, she's such a strong, independent and capable woman, in case you haven't noticed!"

Andrew laughed slightly and smiled in agreement. "She really is the best mother ever, if I do say so myself!"

"Exactly! Now, what do you think about saving the world and all that?" Noelle asked, playfully nudging Andrew's shoulder.

"I-I'll think about it, okay? I can't give you a straight answer right now," Andrew said softly.

"I can accept that. Now why don't we go home, shall we?" Noelle stood up and offered her hand to Andrew, with a wide smile lighting up her face.

Andrew glanced at her hand and back up at her smiling face before smiling softly to himself and slowly accepting her hand. Hand in hand, they both headed back home together.

As they entered through the gate, they saw Julia still sitting out on the patio with a serious expression on her face. "Mom, are you okay? Why are you still sitting out here? It's freezing, you'll get sick!"

Julia pointed to her newly added jacket and said, "I went in and got a jacket. I just wanted to talk to you and I decided to wait out here."

"That jacket isn't thick enough mom! Come one, let's get you inside and we can talk there." Andrew walked over to Julia, pulled her up out of her chair and lead her inside into their warm and comforting house. Noelle followed them in and sat down in a corner of the room so as to not disturb their discussion.

Meanwhile, Andrew and Julia took a seat in the same room. "What did you want to talk to me about, mom?"

"Andrew, I know that you're probably planning not to go and help fight in this war because of me. Now, don't even say that it's not true cause I know it is," Julia said as Andrew tried to interrupt and deny her statements.

"I want to stay and take care of you mom, I don't want to leave you alone!" Andrew looked at Julia with sadness in his eyes.

"I know that, Andrew. That's why I'm here to tell you that it's okay. The rest of the world will suffer if you don't help them out and that would be horrible. Those people don't deserve that and if your father were here and knew of this opportunity you have, then I'm sure that he would want you to take it. It would make him so very happy." Julia looked away, trying to blink away the tears that were forming due to her mention of her husband.

"But what about you mom? I can't just leave you alone like this, I refuse to!" Andrew said firmly.

"I knew you would say that Andrew, and that's why I wanted to tell you that I have some good news for you. My sister and her husband are coming here to visit and they'll be here with me for quite some time. So, you'll be able to go away for long periods of time and not have to worry about my safety!" Julia said, her expression serious.

"But...are you sure, mom?" Andrew asked, incredulity lacing his tone.

"Andrew, I might be scared as to what might happen to you but I do know, for sure, that you have to do this and it would make your father very proud," Julia said, touching Andrew's face in a tender gesture.

Andrew nodded slowly and took a deep breath. He turned to Noelle who had been silent throughout the conversation and said, "okay...I'll do it."

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a/n

hey everyone, I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! please do vote and comment if you think this chapter deserves it. so, what do you think is going to happen now that andrew has agreed to help?
anyway, happy reading! <3
x Athena.