7 comments/ 22539 views/ 10 favorites A Summer, Fall and Sunflower By: LaPatitMort If Tully had chosen another profession, he would be about ready for retirement now. As he tried to stand up straight after his long, long spring day in the orchard, his fleeting thought was that, like his father, he was born on this land and worked his entire life on its beautiful rolling acres. For fifty years it was a wonderful life. With Betty by his side they had raised four children, been financially successful and loved their work. Even after all those years and after long tiring days, they would often walk out among the trees, hand-in hand, kiss and watch the sunset. Life wasn't like that now. Ten years ago Betty got sick. Year after year he watch disease twist her body and pain take the sparkle out of her eyes. He prayed every night, she prayed, the family prayed, the church prayed and their friends prayed, God never even grunted in response. Five years ago, Betty died. Tully did not cry; he was out of tears by then. He almost felt relief, knowing she would not hurt and worry about him any more. He was angry with God and he was so very lonely. Work wasn't the same alone. Tully never shirked his duties but the wonder, the specialness and the love was no longer on the land. The orchard was magnificent this year. There had been enough healthy bees; the weather cooperated; all the varieties of trees were setting so much fruit that before harvest, it would have to be thinned or the branches would have to be shored up. If only Betty could see. There was one rocky, unplanted hill that stuck up in the middle of the peaches. Tully had not been there in three years, but he idly walked toward it, through the long late afternoon shadows. Betty had liked to hike up this path, past the cave, where in many years some critter raised its young. He could remember, foxes, a mountain lion, even a bear claiming the large, twenty-yard deep opening and sharing its summer coolness with the fruit bats. As Tully past the cave, he heard a rustle. Curiosity, got the better of him and he went back to the mouth to see what manner of beast he would be sharing the land with this year. He looked past the large rock that the path went around and into the cave. It was empty and quiet. Must have been a mouse, a rabbit or even a bat. But as he turned to resume his walk a large dark shadow flittered behind the rock. He was seldom frightened but this was large. A cold chill went down his spine. He wasn't as curious now and decided to leave. One last glance at the rock and he froze in his tracks, speechless. The rock was in the way. All Tully could see was a head, a young, beautiful, golden-haired female head. The eyes in the head were watching him, unafraid, bright, flashing green in the beam of light that framed her head in a halo. His heart was recovering and his speech returned, "Hello, you about frightened me to death. Are you all right? You are a long way from civilization." "I am fine. I've been watching you work all day." "You didn't have to watch there is plenty of work to go around." Silence. Uncomfortable silence, wrapped around him. This was very strange. "Come out from behind the rock and introduce yourself. I'm Tully, Tully Mason. This is my orchard." He did not see her now. "I won't hurt you. I'm just concerned; it is almost dark. Do you have a car near by?" The head popped up again. "I don't show myself because you might be frightened. I was told to come learn from you." Tully laughed, "Sent to learn? All I know is how to grow fruit; there is little that I could teach. You will not scare me. Come on out. We'll walk down to the house and get something to drink." "Drink?" "Sure, come on." Tully was tall, callused and tanned. He had seen death, pain and suffering enough for two lifetimes, but he was not ready when she moved from behind the rock. She was nearly six feet tall with beautiful, unblemished white skin. Her golden hair shown like silk and seemed to be blowing but there was no wind. She was totally nude and had no hair on her body. Behind her were two coal black wings that were as tall as she and stood three feet out on either side. They seemed to have a life of their own. The individual feathers fluttered and the entire wing gently rocked to and fro. She seemed prepared for his shock. She stayed quiet, waiting for his eyes to return to normal size and his mouth to shut. "We usually are told not to let ourselves be seen." "You, you are an angel." "No, I am a nephilim." Tully's mind raced. Sunday school had not been a complete waste. "You are breathtakingly beautiful; I did not know nephilim had black wings; why did you say you were sent to learn; why did you let me see you?" She looked so young but her smile was one of thousands of years of understanding and patience. "Only God is beautiful; I have black wings because I have not decided; I was sent to you to learn about humans; you have to see me to accept me." "You haven't decided what?" "I have to decide whether to serve God without question, in worshiping bliss forever and give back my soul or to become a mortal human." "I though I was the only one who questioned." "Nephilim's exist because some angels thought of themselves instead of God and fell from grace, then mated with humans. We have one chance to become angels again. I have not been able to decide, that is why my wings are black. The angels are taught not to trust me, but I have always done what I was told. I just have questioning thoughts sometimes." Tully and the Nephilim talked well past sunset, the air was getting cold. "You had better come with me to the warm house, where you will be safe for the night and warm." Her eyes were filled with questions. "I know nothing about warm, cold, safe or houses. That is why I have been sent to you. I have been granted a time to learn what you call life as a human. I have heard so many words that have no meaning to me. I have only been around angels. My human side makes me restless and I wonder things that no angel should ever consider." "Are you ashamed of your black wings?" "I do not know what that means." "Do you realize that you are nude? Not wearing clothes?" "Does that matter?" Tully let all such conversations drop. He was getting nowhere. "Tully, will you teach me what it is like to be human?" "Why would God pick me? I am a very flawed human. There are much....." She was lost in his words; never had she heard any questioning of God. He waited for her to recover from his all too human comments. "I was told to come to you." "I need to think. I'm not even sure I know what it is to be human. How can I teach you?" "I do not know. I was told to come to you." Tully was tired and very, very confused. He was even challenging his eyes, his ears and his sanity. "What is you name?" "I have no name. Only a very few angels have names. I think those have names so humans can remember them. If I need a name with you, maybe you can give me one." "For now, I will call you Raven, because of the color of your wings." "Raven, it is." "Raven, I need to rest and then see if you are still around in the morning." Tully had now realized that this beautiful creature had no opinions and would not understand if he invited her into the cabin again. He wasn't even sure she would fit through the door. "I will answer you in the morning." He marveled that he could still see her form clearly in the near darkness. In spite of this impossible image and impossible conversation, Tully's body was responding to her youthful nakedness. "Raven you are strikingly beautiful in human terms and very desirable." "I do not know what that means." He shook his head and started down the little hill, "We'll talk tomorrow and I'll try to explain." ---------------------------- All night, Tully, tossed and turned. He woke up every few minutes and added a few words about being human to the note pad on his nightstand. This was crazy. It had to be a dream. Still about six a.m., he trudged up the rocky path to the cave. Just as he arrived, Raven settled gently down on the big rock. A rush of wind engulfed him. He watched in awe as she folded the massive wings behind her. "Good morning Tully." "Good morning Raven." "Are you going to teach me what it is like to be human?" "I really do not know how or why I was chosen but I promise to try." "Where do we start?" "I need to ask you some question so I can find a starting place." "Ask away, teach." Question after question rolled out until noon. "Do you get cold or hot?" "Have you ever been touched?" "Do you get mad or happy?" "Do you have free will?" "Do you ever have pain?" "Do you want, dream, wish, miss others?" "Are you ever afraid?" "Do you cry or feel sad?" "Do you eat?" "Do you sleep?" The scope of Tully's task unfolded. Raven had indeed lived as an angel, no pain, no fear, no freewill, no anger, no emotions, no thrill, no desire, no needs and no stresses. But she sensed there was something beyond what the angels knew. God for some reason sent her to Tully. "Raven, are there boundaries that we cannot cross? Things we cannot do? What guidelines were you given?" "I was told to go to you?" "So to learn you will do what I ask of you?" "Yes. I have to decide when I return whether to be an angel or a human." "When do you have to return?" "When I am summoned." "Give me a few minutes to think." "I do not know what that means but go ahead." Praying didn't seem right so Tully thought about Betty. How they became adult humans together and discovered what it meant to commit to each other, their family, hardships and struggles. He thought of how they fought through pain, rocky parts of their marriage and little disagreements that he longed for today. He thought of the most wonderful times and what she had taught him it meant to be a woman and a wife. He tried to think of ways to explain love, hate and human feelings. "Walk with me around the orchard, Raven. I do not have many ideas right now. Maybe something will come to mind." She walked with him but he knew she did not know what an idea was or a mind. He pointed out a young lamb; she just nodded. He talked about the beauty of the trees; she did not even look. He needed a breakthrough. Some way to start the idea of feelings, emotions, touch and love. Tully stooped and grabbed a handful of warm dirt and let it slip through his fingers. The light came on. There was one event that changed his life and Betty's life. "I'll be back in thirty minutes." Tully did not wait for Raven's acknowledgment; he just raced down the hill and jumped into his pickup. Raven was not impressed with humans so far. They could not fly and seemed to have no purpose. The dust cloud swirled behind the beat up truck. In just five miles, Tully slid to a stop in front of a double wide he owned and let his youngest daughter live in. She had returned home a few months ago pregnant and unmarried. His daughter met him at the door. "Carrie, I want to borrow Janet for a few hours. Maybe you can get away and go down to the mall and relax." Carrie started to ask some questions but the time away was too good of an offer. Her dad often had these inspirations to take pictures or something. She had no reservations. Dad was always a stead fast rock and great with kids, especially Janet. Tully gathered a few items and a bottle of formula and was off in a cloud of dust again. Carrie had not seen him in such a hurry in a long, long time. When he approached the cave carrying little Janet, Raven watched without emotion, she saw the little human. "Raven, sit over here on this log." The massive wings brushed past, she never looked at the baby. Tully's chest dropped, his great idea did not seem like it was not going to work. Tully took all of Janet's clothes off. She kicked her tiny legs enjoying the freedom, her dark hair bounced about, her smiling eyes sparkled and she made her perfect little baby noises. "Raven hold your arms out, I want you to hold Janet." This made no sense to Raven but she complied and Tully placed the infant human into her arms. A shock went through Raven's body. Ten totally new experiences surged through her body at once. Her skin was touched for the first time, she felt a warm living body for the first time, she looked into the eyes of a trusting loving baby for the first time, she saw a baby up close for the first time. Janet wiggled brushing her cheeks and lips against Raven's nipple. Raven gasped. Tully moved away and left Raven to be female, feel needed, feel the need to protect, see love and relish the lovely touch of another. About five minutes passed, Raven was learning to play with Janet, to care about her and to sense how helpless she was. He watched tears of joy and wonder trickle down the would be angel's cheeks, just like they trickled down his Betty's cheeks so many years ago. Raven would have been content to sit and hold Janet all day but the little girl began to fidget. "She is hungry. Humans have to eat to live. Feed her this formula; hold the bottle, like this." Tiny Janet worked the nipple on the bottle and was so very contented. Tully took the baby from Raven's reluctant arms, "She may burp and wet soon. Better let me take care of that until you learn more." Janet let loose a stream before he had the diaper in place. Raven's eyes were wide and she now had some questions that would start her understanding of what it means to be human. While Janet slept, Tully talked about what humans needed to live, body functions, touch and feelings. Toward evening, the little one was waking and a cool breeze was blowing up the hillside. Raven shivered. Tully understood. She had tasted knowledge; she had felt warmth now she could experience the opposite. "Raven wait for me here while I take Janet to her home and her mother." Her look said she did not understand. "I'll explain when I get back." Raven was curled up on the grown, covered by her wings and cold when Tully returned. He had brought a soft warm blanket and wrapped it around her neck, arms and breasts when she stood. She snuggled in like she had done it all her life. She fit through the double doors on the patio just fine and immediately enjoyed the warmth of inside. After she explored what humans called home, they talked well into the night. They finally could discuss something – the opposites of hot and cold and how all of life was like that for humans. About food and hunger, light and dark, wanting something and being sad. She showed she understood when she said she missed holding Janet and would like to have her in the cabin now. The next few days were a whirlwind of what is work, what is play, what is fun, what is sadness, what is loss, what is growing old, what is pain, what is love? Most of this was theory. Tully wrote many notes, hoping for revelations on how to let her experience feelings. Each evening she had more questions and wanted to talk all through the night. "The question" popped up after four nights in the house. Tully had been through this with four kids. "Where do babies like little Janet come from?" "Raven you have touched on both a simple question and the most complicated part of being human." For two hours they talked about mechanics of sex, pregnancy and birth. Pain was still a mystery to her. "The complicated part is lust versus love." Desire was becoming easy to explain. Intensity eluded her completely. Love, attraction and pleasure were total "no goes." "Raven I would like to touch your body with my hands and lips, so you might understand the pleasure of adult touch and maybe even lust and attraction." She nodded in a totally abstract, detached scientific manner. Tully dimmed the lights, warmed his hands, checked his breath and was as nervous as a sixteen-year-old virgin. He had never touched a woman other than Betty and definitely never a heavenly being. Raven sat on a stool in front of him. "Close your eyes, please." She had learned to like courtesy words and being asked, instead of being told. Just as her lids closed, she felt his lips lightly kiss each eye and his fingers dance lightly across her neck. Every touch was new, challenging and she needed more time to decide if the touch was good but before she could, he moved on. His lips replaced his fingers on her neck; his lips kissed and his tongue licked. Her ear lobe was sucked and she felt his warm soft breath caress her ear. Strangely other parts of her body responded. She was confused but he did not wait for her to become comfortable with all these new sensations. Tully now dropped down on his knees between her legs in front of her. His hands rubbed across her breast and his fingers rolled her nipples. Raven started to complain, the feeling was too intense but his lips closed over hers. His tongue licked at where they met as if wanting them to part. When her mouth opened he kissed her softly, she could feel her breath being drawn into his lungs and feel his, fill hers. Her breathing was becoming more difficult but it was not unpleasant. She heard one work, "Suck" and his tongue slipped between her lips. She complied. This was good but she still wanted more. He pulled his lips slightly away, "Now give me your tongue." This was even better. Tully's hands were not idle. When they had taught Raven to want them on her breasts, the right one moved on to rub her tight flat stomach and to the side of her bellybutton where her ovaries should be. After long minutes his curiosity won over, he had to know if she were wet and aroused. He let his finger slip along the length of her bald pussy. She was wet and the moan into his mouth, said she was aroused. A few more soft strokes and he pressed toward to top of her slit, finding her clit easily. He rubbed her the way Betty liked to be touched. No regular pattern, mostly circles, no early direct contact. Tully looked at Raven. Her eyes were wide open but unfocused. Her mouth stayed open as he lowered his lips to her right nipple, licked and sucked lightly. Her legs opened wider. Tully missed one thing more than everything else. It was difficult to arch his neck with Raven on the low stool, but he managed to slip low enough and to pull her hips forward. He slipped his tongue into her for the first time. Yes, she was from heaven and he wanted to stay there, taste her and drink from her body. It must be a natural, unlearned thing; Raven's hands closed behind his head and guided his lips and tongue. Once she let up and he lowered his face, even more, and licked up across her asshole and then into her pussy. She gasped, her legs clamped his head and her hands pulled him tight again. In another few minutes she was his and he could not let her down. He licked her through her very first climax, held her hands so she could not push him away and lightly kissed and sucked her outer lips until she trust against him. Her second ride to orgasm was experienced and demanding. When she came, she crushed his face painfully into her mons, cried out several times and he had to catch her to keep her from falling hard off the stool. Tully laid her on the floor by the flickering fire, so she could catch her breath and he covered her with a blanket from the couch and kissed her sweetly, caringly while she basked in the afterglow. Like he had done for Betty many times. Raven was asleep. She had told him she had never slept. Tully watched over her, marveled at her beauty and started to remember that God had created all that he had ever loved. In time he curled up on the floor beside his almost-angel, falling asleep holding and protecting her from the night. ---------------------------- The next morning, Raven was full of questions and observations. "What happened to me last night?" "I feel exposed." "I want to feel that again." "Tell me more about babies." "Can I see your body?" Learning, feeling and sensing were at a locomotive's pace now. Tully raced around finding different textures, temperatures and things to show her. A mirror stopped the show for a while. Raven liked what she saw in the mirror and then decided that she should not feel like that. They talked about vanity, pride and guilt and how humans often enjoy, even relish and enhance beauty, feel pride and sometimes guilt because of what they truly feel. "But those are against God's wishes." A Summer, Fall and Sunflower "I know beautiful one, but humans have free will and we can choose to think thoughts that are not approved thoughts. Just like your thoughts wander outside the boundaries sometimes. God wants humans to be totally free and to still choose to love him. The angels have no choice, no will, always doing without question. Man can love lots of things and even leave God out if he wants." Raven's mind was swirling and she was quiet for a long, long time, doing a very un-angel thing - thinking. Absent mindedly, Tully started cleaning strawberries and offered Raven one. Then he reached out and held her hand. "Have you ever eaten? Can you eat? Do you know what will happen if you do?" The rest of the day would go to talking about these issues. But for now, Tully dipped the berry in sugar and rolled it in whipped cream and held it to Raven's lips. "Bite part of the berry off, chew it up and swallow." He so hoped she would learn what to do as she tried all these new things and would not choke. The sugar, cream and berry combination was an instant hit when her taste buds were used for the first time. That evening Raven drank water, juice and tea for the first time. After a couple of hours she urinated for the first time, enjoyed the release and laughed. "I am like Janet." Late in the evening, Tully asked, "Can you lay on your wings?" "I do not know?" "Come beautiful one." He lead her to his king-sized bed, pulled the covers back and lay her down on the sensuous, slippery surface. It was warm to Raven's touch because Betty liked the combination of heating pads and satin sheets. Raven slid and touched; pulled the covers over her and then took them off again when she got too hot. When she tired of her new game, Tully joined her on the bed. "I want to touch your body again." "I would like that." This time Tully removed all his clothing and Raven's eyes locked on his half hard cock. "Is that what a man puts into a woman to make a baby?" "Yes, but more than that it is my organ of pleasure so I can feel what you felt last night." She thought and created a totally new idea, the idea of wanting to give, "I would like to give you the pleasure, I received last night." "See how human you have become, you want and you want to give and you want to receive. Angels do not do those things. Those are human things. Angels have never felt the warmth of skin, been too hot or too cold or missed a baby's touch. Humans are all about feelings, desires, senses and sharing with another." While Raven thought about this big lesson, Tully stroked her body lightly. She still wanted to think but her body began to take over, relaxing and opening to be pleased. Raven was greedy tonight, she did not want the slow build-up tonight, she wanted to be licked to orgasm and pulled Tully's face down between her legs. The room was light and the angle was better than when she was on the stool. He licked her gently, teasingly, moving away until she moaned her objection and tried to pull him back to where his touch was needed. Tonight he had room and opened the outer lips of her vagina with his thumbs exposing first the swelling, wet, redness that always captivated him. He licked, kissed and sucked all around her beauty but only occasionally touched her pearl. As he look even closer, Tully could see the perfect little finger sized hole whose edges had protected her womb for ages. He should have thought; he should have known; of course, she would be a virgin. She did not even know what a touch was a few days ago. He stopped and rose up above her, confused for the moment. He could feel tears roll down his cheeks. "Why did you stop? Tully! What is wrong why are you crying?" The tears rolled down faster now. Someone cared again. Raven had set aside a "Me" oriented thought, to feel concern and ask about another being. For long minutes he held her, finally, explaining what she had given him. After more minutes he said, "Raven, I would like to make love to your body and have sex with you. I do not know if you can get pregnant and have babies and the first time will be painful to you. After that there will be only pleasure when you have sex for the rest of your life." Raven did not answer, she wiped his damp cheeks with her fingertips and pulled his head to hers and kissed his lips. "Yes, Tully, make love to me. Make me fully human. You have said pain is a bad thing but if you say I need to experience it, I will, for you." She was so easy to love. "Let's not be in a hurry. Let's give our bodies time to feel every second of pleasure as they touch together." That slowed Raven in her drive to orgasm and she relaxed and let Tully do with her body as he wished. There was trust and surrender like he had felt with Betty. A gift of beauty and love that has no words. This time Tully did not just kiss and caress this heavenly being, he worshiped her body. He listened to her body, her breath and her movements as they spoke to him. Every kiss was where it should be and when it should be. He stroked her hair, kissed her ears, kissed every part of her neck, head and shoulders. His cock was rock hard but he denied what it wanted. Slowly he worked his way down not missing an inch. He sucked her fingers, licked her hands, trailed up and kissed under her arms. She loved his touches but he was going mad. Her scent, her taste had him drunk and he told her so. He told her how beautiful she was and how wonderful she was for him. She did not object to his words now, she accepted his adoration and allowed him to torture her with pleasure, trusting that he would not frustrate her. Little whimpers escaped her lips. She did not know what she wanted but she had to have it. Tully skipped to her sensitive perfect feet and sucked her toes and kissed her arches. As he stroked her legs and began to lick his way up, Raven' hips began to move involuntarily and her legs opened wider. She was so wet that a little stream had run down and made a widening spot on the bed. Her hands were gripping the sheet, struggling not to climax and fighting to endure his slow progress. This time when he reached her sex, she signaled how ready her body was for his tongue with a loud hissing, "Yes." He licked a little but moved away. Her hips followed up a few inches beaconing him back, pleading for attention. Raven had not looked closely at Tully cock or ever touched it but when he knelt beside her head, she took it tenderly in her hands and guided it into her mouth. For the first time she felt her body was female, half of the couple that God intended. She felt more complete when she tasted the firm rod slide between her lips. Her tongue licked at the salty clear liquid that dripped from the tip. One hand slipped below the shaft and felt a warm soft bag with two orbs inside. "Those make the sperm that will make a baby inside you when you body is ready." Tully had explained that. He had also told, how the baby would grow and how big her belly would get and how there was great pain for a while until her body stretched and pushed the baby out. Raven did not understand. But she liked what was happening now. Soon Tully pulled out of her mouth and moved around so his body was between her legs and his face was over hers. He rubbed the mushroom like head of his rod up and down her slit a few times paying special attention to her clit. This was better than his fingers, maybe even better than his tongue. Raven could feel him open her outer lips with the tip and center it where he told her that her body would have a hole. She was floating, in peace and did not pay much attention when he said, "I am going to push into you and take your virginity so you will be a woman." His body tightened and thrust down hard. Raven's scream filled the quiet night air. It shocked her and Tully alike. He was perfectly still, only a third of the way into her body. He kissed at her tears and hoped she would adjust to the size of his cock. His own tears dropped to her cheek, ran down her neck. Again she let compassion over rule her pain and fear, "I'm all right now." Tully did not thrust he just applied a steady pressure and her wetness allowed him to slide slowly in until his pubic hair was flat against her hairless mons. "I feel very full and very close to you." He was still. She felt his caring and concern. The first move was hers. She relaxed her hips and Tully's cock slid out a little, rubbing along her clit. "Ahhhhh" was her response. He set up a gently in an out motion where both the in and out stroke never broke contact with the little nub. For something different he reached down and pulled at his cock and assured that the head would press her g-spot when his strokes pushed into her body. She liked all the new sensation and hoped they would continue but he looked at her, saying, "I going to pull out of you. I want you to sit on me and be on top so I do not hurt you any more. If you get sore, just tell me. We can stop and try again another day." This was the dumbest thing Raven had ever heard. This was really starting to feel good, why would she stop. Tully produced a warm, wet cloth and cleaned them as he pulled out. There was some blood. She had seen blood before, but never her own. When he lay down on the bed, he said, "Sit on me Raven and guide me back into your body. Learn what feels best to you." She loved how he felt sliding into her body this time. She rocked her hips and learned to give herself a perfect g-spot massage within a minute. "Raven, take a finger from your right hand and put it on your clit. Keep it wet with our juices and rub it to make yourself feel good. Do not think of me, only yourself." Oh, this was good. How come angels did not know about this? Raven's fingers started slow and after a few minutes were flying over her button and her cunt was starting to rhythmically contract on Tully's cock. Once her wings pulled down hard and she lifted completely off and had to guide him in again. Tully busied himself with her nipples and finding spots where Raven liked to be touched more than others. She was oblivious to his efforts. She was learning fast and was now just using him, racing to some unknown finish. She set up a little pant, exhaling on each downward thrust. The pant became louder and sweat started to bead on her brow. Her breath was irregular behind the pant and her finger was being rougher on her clit. When it started. there was no mistaking where Raven was. First her cunt clamped tight making each in and out thrust and each roll of her hips almost painful in the pleasure Tully was receiving. A low growl started from deep inside her body; her eyes were slightly open but only the whites showed. Then there was the sound. Raven opened her mouth wide and screamed, "IEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE." Her womb relaxed and squeezed again squirting liquid out all around Tully's cock. Only a few times had Betty squirted and screamed. He remembered each one and valued knowing that she was pleased with him more than all else. This was all that Tully could stand. "I cuming now. Raven, I'm going to cum in you." Raven's body was wild, she barely heard his words but responded, "Yes. Yes Cum in me." His cock jerked and danced like it had seldom done before. He felt contraction after contraction rack his body and drive his sperm powerfully to puddle at the mouth of her cervix. His cock was still lurching when she collapsed on his chest, spent, gasping for breath, with little ripples still going through her body. Now his worry returned for a few quick thoughts. Had he hurt her? Had it been wrong to have sex with her? But the wonderful body above him took his cares away. Love, caring, contentment, satisfaction and completeness drove out every negative. Tully pulled his head back to see Raven's face. Her eyes were closed, her breathing was very regular, tears were on her cheeks and there was a faint smile on her lips. She was asleep again. His arms and legs might never work again but he decided not to move and disturb her. He was there for her now. Now she would know pain. He was sorry for that, but it was part of the lesson. Part of being human. During the night, Raven could not get close enough to her lover. It was hot where they touched, she felt her sweat trickle down between her breasts for the first time. Her wings were bent unnaturally and the covers were pulled too high, so her feet were cold. She would not change a thing. Even the thought of the pain of her hymen giving away paled against the memory of the pleasure that followed. How dare Tully sleep through the wonders she was feeling. But then, he was so cute, so peaceful, so content in his male way. She wondered if his pleasure was a great as hers. Wondered how often he could do this. Wondered if she already had a baby growing inside her; wondered if it would look like both her and Tully. Would it have wings? Those thoughts were sweet and carried her back to sleep with Tully's strong arms, protecting her; loving her. It was still dark when Tully, kissed Raven awake, rolled on top of her and slipped his morning wood easily, painlessly into her and fucked her smoothly, evenly, gracefully into a more quiet knowing orgasm. He left another deposit of sperm in her womb. She dozed off again. In an hour, he woke her with kisses and a sharp slap on the butt. "Come on woman the day is half gone. You have to learn about growing fruit trees and working today. You body is so wonderful you could fuck me into the poor house and make me forget my name." Raven wasn't sure what all that meant but she was sure it was a major compliment judging from the smile on his face and the tone of his voice. -------------------------------------- Day after day, Raven worked side by side with Tully. She respected how hard he worked and how he cared for the land, the plants and her. He doted over her and even though she was as strong as he was, he would not let her do the heavy or dangerous things. Once she snagged her hip on a nail. It hurt and bled profusely. Tully had hurt himself much worse several times but made little of it. For her, he rushed her to the house, cleaned the wound, put ointment on it and dressed it. He watched it for infection and changed the dressing. Something was happening inside Raven; it was already there for Tully. He knew what it was. She did not. They were falling in love. Raven loved sex. Her drive was a little too much for a man Tully's age but he tried and as she learned about aging, she loved him more for trying so hard to please her. Doggie style was her favorite. It had been Tully's too - but with Betty. Raven's lovely wings could almost thrash a man to death, if he were not careful. Once she slapped him in the head with one sending him flying off the bed and hitting the floor hard. She laughed loudly until she thought he was hurt. She made over him and worried until she discovered he was faking; then she punched him in the arm. This was a favorite memory. As they walked in the evening, hand in hand, they would often mention it. Raven had been with Tully for almost five months now. Strangely her skin did not brown in the harsh hot sun. She worked hard through the harvest, away from the extra hired help. He would not let her fly and spray the trees from overhead. He worried about the chemicals. One evening they were sitting on the porch and he was rubbing her stomach as he often did. It was rounder. He wondered. The next day he went to town and bought a pregnancy test and rushed home. He explained everything and Raven peed on the indicator and then intentionally on Tully's hand. He sat the test aside and pretended to be mad and playfully spanked her pert ass. By then the indicator showed two blue "Xs." Tully was worried that Raven would be unhappy. Raven was worried that Tully would be unhappy. They both realized the other was ecstatic at the same time. They ran and played outside and danced in the dirt in their bare feet and kicked sand around. They sang, "We're going to have a baby" and danced some more until they were both tired. They made sweet soft love, just to be close. Afterward, nestled in each other's arms, the serious thoughts, wishes and dreams came out. "Will it be a boy or a girl?" "Will it have wings?" "Will it be healthy?" "Will God let us keep it?" "How long will God allow us to be together?" The last one brought tears to Tully's eyes. "Raven, I do not even know, how long God will let you stay. My mother used to tell us kids that we are all just loaned to one another, so we have to make every day special. Betty was taken from me. Now I love you with all my heart and we are going to have a baby to love. I think God wants us to let that love soar and not worry about when it will end. But the thought hurts; it hurts so much that the sadness is almost too much to survive." Entwined they cried themselves to sleep as humans. Cried in the great happy bliss they felt and cried in the haunting sad thought that it could end. The next two months were happy months. There had been no test, but Tully decided the baby was a girl and taught her to kick at his hand when he pressed Raven's stomach above the little girl's feet. Tully decided the girl would be all human, with no wings and golden hair. She would be perfect, happy, strong and healthy. He told how she would grow, love, marry, have healthy children and a wonderful life. He even had a nickname for her, "Sunflower." In another few weeks, Raven was starting to be uncomfortable with her swollen belly. It was in the way, her back hurt and she knew how she looked. Every day Tully would tell her how beautiful she was, how wonderful Sunflower would be and how much he loved them both. Now she knew well what it was to have a soul, free will and be human. How wonderful it was to have someone love you and to love in return. How wonderful it was working together and seeing the fruits of labor, feeling tired muscles and how a night's sleep would make things right. How wonderful a lifetime must be. To grow old, have grandchildren and a million memories of burnt toast, bruises, sex, dancing and crying. The thoughts were only Raven's tonight, Tully was working on the books and taxes. She was tired, said good night, headed for their bed, leaving him to his unintelligible ledgers. About two in the morning, Tully stumbled off to bed, to be comforted by his would-be angel. He stood frozen and shocked in the doorway. The bed was empty except for a few feathers. He knelt by Raven's side of the bed and lay his head down in the down bedding's depression where her body had been. He held her slippers tight to his chest and cried. He cried for Betty, he cried for Raven, he cried for Sunflower and he thanked God for lending him each of them for such a short while. -------------------------- For a few weeks the sadness was numbing. Several times he knelt to pray but each time he just talked to Raven, telling of his love and how much he missed her. He had started sleeping on her side of the bed. Somehow, that helped. Tonight, he held her pillow and again cried himself to sleep. Tully had not dreamed since Raven was summoned but this night, he did. He saw a little golden haired girl and she talked to him. "My mommy had big black wings and she decided to be a human after she was with you. God let her soul become mine. When I am born, I will be adopted by a wonderful new mommy and a wonderful daddy; they cannot have children but really want to love me. They will not know why but my middle name will be Raven and everyone will call me Sunflower." Tully woke up at that point. He smiled and thought of how his mind had made such a beautiful dream for him. But a rustle of wings caught his attention. He was wide awake and Raven's voice clearly filled the room, "No my love, it is true. You taught me love, we had a summer and a fall together and we made a baby together. She is as beautiful as you said she would be. You taught me what it is to be human, to suffer and to soar. I chose to be human and not an angel. God's way is to let me be born as the baby we made. Thank you my love. Neither you or I will ever know our daughter but God says she will have a wonderful, long, full, healthy life because of our love." A Summer, Fall and Sunflower He searched the room. The voice was so clear and real, but he did not see his Raven. "Are you really here or am I going mad because I miss you so much?" "I am here my love. Please do not be sad. Sunflower and I will live because of you and our love. What man has accomplished more or loved more than that? I love you and wish we could have gone on but it was not to be. You will love again but please remember me, my black wings and all the days of love that we had."