Title: God’s Love Part 2
Disclaimer: The characters Hercules and Iolaus belong to Renaissance Pictures. The characters of Monica and Tess belong to the hit TV show “Touched by an Angel” Martha Williamson and CBS Productions. No money is being made from these stories. This story is written for entertainment purposes only.
Summary: Can Monica help soothe Little Iolaus’ fears?
Author’s Note: This story takes place before the Young Hercules timeline. Little Iolaus has not yet met Hercules in this endearing story about a Guardian Angel who helps a little boy get to sleep at night. This story is a crossover between Touched by an Angel and Hercules The Legendary Journeys. This story is a sequel to God’s Love . This story is a little ditty I wrote just in time for Christmas. It’s a bit on the drafty side but here goes. I wrote it all in one night. Hope you enjoy this and have a happy holidays.
CHAPTER 1
“Iolaus..you are going to bed without supper..you’ve disobeyed me one last time..I told you that I wanted you to fetch me some water but instead you spill it all over the floor..you are nothing but a klutz..” Skouras yells.
“Father..please..don’t hit me..” Iolaus flinches as Skouras smacks his son soundly across the room.
“Go to bed now!” Iolaus runs to his bedroom in tears and crawls under his covers shivering with fear and hungry for dinner.
“That boy is a failure. I can’t believe he’s so clumsy..That boy can’t do anything right..” Skouras throws his dinner plate against the wall in disgust.
“Skouras..lower your voice..Iolaus can hear you..I doubt Iolaus is asleep yet..let me go tuck him in” Erythia pleads with her stubborn husband.
“No, woman..you stay here in the kitchen and serve me dinner..that failure deserves to starve..I ask him to bring me water and he spills it all over my armor..that armor is going to rust in the morning..he can’t even serve as a waterboy in the army..” Skouras screams in frustration.. Plus..Iolaus is 4 years old..but he looks like a 2 year old. He has long blond curly hair..what good is that kind of hair on a soldier..a warrior..he looks like a little girl..I can’t believe he’s my son..” thunders Skouras.
“Iolaus will grow..you’ll see..he’ll please you..his hair will straighten and maybe even get darker as he gets older. Give little Iolaus some time..he’s only a baby..” Erythia reasons.
“Yeah..a crybaby..he cries every time I yell at him. When I spank him, he backs away from me. He’s nothing but a troublemaker and a coward.”Skouras cries.
Iolaus listens to this exchange while shivering under his covers. Tears roll down his face as he hears his father’s disparaging remarks. He says to no one in particular “You’ll see, Father, I’ll make you proud of me..I promise I’ll grow big and strong…Father..please love me..”
As Iolaus drifts off to sleep, he sees an aura of unnatural light in his dark bedroom. A beautiful girl with long brown hair and kind eyes appears in front of him. She wears a white chiffon gown and glows with an aura of another world.
Iolaus rubs his eyes at this apparition and asks “Who are you? Are you some kind of goddess?”
“Hello, Iolaus. I’m Monica. I’m your Guardian Angel.”
“Guardian Angel? Are you really an angel?”
“Yes, Iolaus. I am. I was sent by God to tell you that God loves all his children.”
“God can’t love me. I’m too small. I’m a failure and a crybaby. I’m always afraid. How can God love me?”
“Iolaus, that’s not how God sees you. God sees all his children as being beautiful. Don’t you know what a beautiful person you are?”
Iolaus cries “No, see I even cry in front of an angel. I’m not much of a soldier. What good am I?”
Monica looks little Iolaus in the eye “You are a hero. Someday you will fight side by side with a demi god as your best friend. You will fight against the Olympian Gods themselves. You will witness the Twilight of the False Gods and witness the birth of the Son of God. Iolaus, your life is just beginning.”
As Monica hugs little Iolaus in her arms, she allows the God’s Light to penetrate Iolaus’ soul. Iolaus feels himself bathed in the blissfulness of God’s Light and the arguing of his parents grows dimmer as little Iolaus feels God’s love.
“Monica, when I was bathed in God’s light, I felt his love..I felt important..special..loved..I can’t believe that I’m not alone…did you say that in the future I’m going to fight side by side with a God?
“No, Iolaus..a demi God..who will be your best friend..You are destined to be his partner..his closest family member..your soulmate..”
“Wow..what’s this demi-god’s name, Monica?”
“His name is Hercules.”
“Hercules”
“Okay, Iolaus now get to bed. Promise me that before you go to sleep you’ll say a prayer to the Lord. Remember, God loves all his children.”
Monica pushes the stray blond locks from little Iolaus forehead and gently kisses Iolaus’ cheeks as she tucks him into bed. She places a special aura within Iolaus and lets Iolaus drift to sleep.
PRESENT DAY
“Wow, Iolaus that’s a very powerful story!”
“You know Jester, I still think your Monica story is more powerful than mine. You would have died without Monica’s help. That Sovereign was very cruel to leave you bleeding in the arena like that and have everyone laugh at you.”
Jester blushes as he replies “Monica gave me hope..hope for the future..she told me about Hercules..and how he was going to rescue me from the Sovereign..I learned that God truly loves us all..without that love..I would have died that day..”
“Did you ever tell Hercules about your Monica story Iolaus?”
“No did you?”
“Well, no..do you think I should?” Jester asks uncertainly.
“It sure would give Herc a swelled head if he knew that the both of us needs him so much”
Meanwhile, Hercules is in the midst of a major nightmare. Hercules is reliving his trip from Sumeria to Ireland.
The winds buffet the ship. The rain thick as sleet rain down on Hercules and blind him. Hercules after the loss of Iolaus has long since lost the will to live. Anguish and disappointment are his only companions. Hercules’ heart aches for Iolaus. Hercules feels it is his fault that Iolaus died in Sumeria. If only he had heeded his dreams. If only..then Iolaus would be alive. Iolaus, my friend, I can’t live without you. Zeus, Hera, take me now. Hercules leans out of his ship mast as if willing himself to jump overboard.
Soaked to the bone from the rain, Hercules is ready to die in the middle of the ocean in the middle of a major storm.
All of a sudden, Monica appears as a flash of light.
“No, Hercules..you mustn’t die. It is not your time. The world still needs heroes like you Hercules. You are the Chosen One. You must live to save Morrigan and to save many other souls.”
In a fit of anger, Hercules says “I don’t care what you say..I want to join Iolaus..I don’t want to live anymore..I just can’t stand the loneliness anymore..”
Monica shakes her head sadly “You mean..you can’t live with the guilt..Hercules it’s your guilt that’s eating you..”
Hercules continues to toss and turn while the two Iolauses watch in fascination especially since Hercules is obviously talking in his sleep…”
Jester whispers to Iolaus “I think he’s having a dream about Monica..”
Iolaus whispers back “You don’t think he overheard my story about Monica?”
Jester gestures Iolaus to be quiet “Hercules is talking in his sleep.I think Hercules has also met Monica...”
Hercules mutters in his sleep “Monica..I can’t live without Iolaus..”
Realization dawns on Iolaus as he watches the sleeping Hercules “You know Jester, I haven’t been back that long from the Light..Herc still feels guilty about that whole Sumeria trip”
Jester adds “I’m guessing that Monica saved Hercules’ life like she did mine.”
Iolaus gives the sleeping Hercules a compassionate glance “I’m so sorry I died..old buddy..to put you through so much pain..I’m glad Monica was there for you too…”
Hercules nightmare continues as Monica identifies herself as a Messenger from God…
“Look at me, Hercules. I am an Angel from God. God forgives you. Iolaus forgives you. You have to forgive yourself..no one blames you for the death of Iolaus..let it go..God loves you..he wants you to be whole again..”
Hercules mumbles in his sleep “Are you sure Monica..God loves ME? I let my best friend die..how can he love ME?”
“I’m just an arrogant fool who thinks just because he has Olympian strength, he can solve any problem..Iolaus didn’t even want to go to Sumeria..”
“Hercules..Iolaus is in the Light thanks to you..Come closer to me and feel the Light and feel God’s Love…”
Bathed in God’s light, Hercules feels the healing powers of the Light. He feels the love of his dead mother, Alchemene, his dead wife, Deaniera, his four dead children..and of course he feels God’s love.
“You see,Hercules..God loves you..if God loves you..why can’t you learn to love yourself..let it go..”
“Oh Monica..God’s Love is incredible. I don’t deserve it. I feel so humbled.”
“I know..Hercules..just let yourself go..let yourself be bathed in God’s glory.”
Monica takes Hercules in her arms and cradles him like a newborn and in all his grief, Hercules cries from the heart. Empathetically, Monica feels all of Hercules’ pain and all of his grief and in return, she gives Hercules what he can’t give to himself just yet..God’s forgiveness…
Hercules bathed in sweat bolts upright as he wakes from his nightmare to see Jester and Iolaus smiling down at him.
“Iolaus, Jester..what a nightmare..I dreamt that I was on board my ship to Ireland..then I saw Monica..”
Iolaus answers “Monica..I knew Monica when I was a little boy Herc..she gave me hope..and she used to tuck me in every night..when I was little..”
Jester adds “Monica saved my life after one of Sovereign’s severe beating..she gave me a reason to live”
Hercules rubs his eyes “Monica kept me from drowning when I was on my ship to Ireland from Sumeria. After your death, Iolaus, I was out of my mind in grief..if Monica hadn’t been there..I don’t think I would have lived..without you..in my life..Monica brought me back from the brink”
“It’s okay Hercules..we have all known Monica..at one time or other..she has given all of us hope during the darkest moments of our lives..it’s what Monica does..she’s our Guardian Angel..without her..none of us would be here..we all owe her our lives and our eternal gratitude..” Jester awkwardly interjects.
From the heavens, Monica listens to this expression of gratitude from the Jester with tears in her eyes..Monica says to Tess
“Oh Tess..I didn’t do that much..I just gave each of them comfort when they needed me most…”
“Monica..honey..you’ve given so much of yourself to them..you were there to tell Iolaus, Jester and Hercules that God loves them..and you gave each of them a reason to live..you showed them God’s love..that’s no mean feat..”
Andrew, the angel of death adds “Thanks to you..Iolaus, Jester and Hercules lived to tell their stories..and not die a premature death before their time.”
Michael the Archangel adds “God is proud of you Monica..you have done a good job. Now these mortals during their ceremony of Winter Solstice wants to thank you. Let’s descend to the mortal plane and allow these mortals to give you their thanks during this special time of year.”
Before any of them could speak any further, both Michael the Archangel and Monica herself appear in front of Hercules, Iolaus and the Jester’s campsite in a brilliant flash of light.
CHAPTER 2
Jester is the first to recover from his surprise at seeing Monica suddenly in front of him. “First, I’d like to say “Happy Winter Solstice! Monica..I want to be the first to thank you for all you’ve done for me.. You gave me hope during the darkest moments of my life. You told me that Hercules would arrive to rescue me from my horrid existence with the Sovereign and you were right. You taught me about God’s Love. I want to thank you for that.” Jester kisses Monica’s hand.
Iolaus takes his turn and says “I understood that Father was under Ares’ influence during my childhood. I want to thank you for giving me courage. I could never have made it without you and for telling me that I was not alone. When you bathed me in the Light, and I felt God’s love, I was the happiest 4 year old in the world.” Iolaus kisses Monica’s cheek. Iolaus whispers in Monica’s ear “Herc is the best demi god friend in the world.”
Hercules still marvels at the beauty of Monica. “You saved my life too during a time when I had nothing more to live for. My heart was broken. I wanted to jump off that ship mast you know and crash the ship on the rocks of Ireland..but when you bathed me in God’s Light..I felt the love of all my family..I felt renewed..it was like you somehow recharged me..most of all I felt God’s forgiveness…”Hercules gives Monica a big bear hug.
Tessa and Andrew appear alongside Monica. Monica blushes from all this attention.
“It’s my job as Guardian Angel to watch over you boys and to make sure you live. God sent me to watch over you because God loves each and every one of his children. Just remember that you are never alone. You can always count on God to be there for you..to forgive whatever trespasses..Monica gives Hercules a sharp look..You can count on God to give you hope..she looks at Jester..and most of all you can count on God’s love..she looks at Iolaus..Just remember God in your prayers and in your hearts.
With that Monica disappears as a dove. Iolaus, Jester and Hercules are once again surprised to see Monica vanish and in her place to see a beautiful white dove take to the night sky.
Jester had heated up some hot rum and passed it to all his friends as he toasts “To Monica”
Hercules, Iolaus all raise their cups of hot rum as they sit around the campfire and hail “To Monica”
Each man takes a drink of hot rum and lets the rum run down their throats. And this time Iolaus starts the toast and says “To God’s Love”
Hercules raises his glass and echoes “To God’s Love ”
Jester does the same and echoes “To God’s Love”
As Monica reappears in the heavens, she watches the three mortals she has saved give thanks to her and to God. Tears of gratitude run down her face. She turns to Tess, her mentor and says “Sometimes, I just love this job..okay Tess..what’s my next assignment?”
Tess turns around and materializes a champagne glass in her hand and gives Monica a toast of her own “To the best guardian angel of all time..To my best friend..Monica..”
Andrew and Michael and all the other Archangels raise their glass “Here Here..to the best Guardian angel of all..Monica
Monica reacts by giving Tess, Andrew and Michael a big bear hug “I love you guys with all my heart..Happy Winter Solstice!”
Jester gives one last toast to his already drunk friends with Iolaus holding his rum better than Hercules as Jester lifts his glass and says “Happy Winter Solstice to all and to all a Happy Winter Solstice everyone!”