Disclaimer: I do not own "Angels & Demons" or any of its characters!

A/N: Before you start reading: I'd like to apologise for my Italian! I did have lessons once, but a very long time ago and I'm afraid it's a bit rusty and various translation sites had to help me out. If any natives are reading this story and most likely find mistakes: I'm so so sorry!

A/N 2018: Wow, I can't believe it took me so long to find the motivation to go over this story and finally finish it. If you have been reading from the start, please note that I re-wrote every chapter, so you might want to start anew. I apologise to anyone who waited and I would like to thank anyone who left a review! 3


A room full of darkness and smell that reminded of burning flesh tickled her nose. Disgusting. She shuddered as a cool breeze brushed her skin and her heart clenched, suddenly engulfed by fear. Every cell within her screamed at her to run, as fast as she could, but her body wouldn't move. Something was holding her back. Looking down, she noticed that her clothes were torn but there were no chains that could possibly keep her from moving. Every passing second the fear grew stronger. Then a voice sounded in the distance. She couldn't make out what exactly the voice was trying to say but it definitely belonged to a man. Tears started to fall down her cheeks and she felt like the fear and darkness would squash her at any second. "Dad!" someone shouted, as the person finally was close enough so that she could make out his silhouette. Startled she looked around, until she realised that it was indeed her voice that shouted for her father. Why? She never knew him; didn't know what he looked like, didn't know who or where he was. In the next second, someone abruptly grabbed her from behind, pulling her deeper and deeper into the darkness. The last thing she saw was a flame and a sculpture that resembled an angel in the far distance, before the darkness consumed her.

The young woman woke with a start. Her breathing still fast and unsteady as she sat up on the bed. Her hands moved over her tired face, brushing away loose ginger curls. A quick glance at the clock told her that she still had half an hour before she had to get up for work. Sighing, she stood and opened the curtains to let the morning sunlight into the huge bedroom. The ginger grabbed for her dressing gown and wrapped it tight around her body as she admired the beautiful view of the rising sun behind the huge basilica of St. Peter. It wasn't the first time that this particular dream had disturbed her sleep. Darkness, flames, an angel and her father had always been the subjects. Then someone would grab her from behind, pulling her into darkness and sometimes she would even wake with a scream. She shuddered at these images, whose meanings she couldn't possibly fathom. Again, her eyes fixed onto the basilica of St. Peter and somehow she felt herself relax. Its beauty didn't give away any of the grief that was currently spreading through the streets. She had never been a deeply spiritual person, although her mother had been a Catholic through and through and had tried to confer this lifestyle to her only daughter. However, in this sense she took after her father, at least her mother had always told her fondly. Her father. Never before in her lifetime had she dreamed of her father, never before did the void he leave feel so huge. Not knowing who or where he was right now and if she ever got to meet him hadn't really bothered her until now. Intuitively her other hand touched her engagement ring. Maybe her engagement had brought up these feelings that she had hidden deep within her for so long. After all… who would walk her up the aisle?

"Amore," his husky voice sounded from the bed and she turned back to the handsome Italian still covered by the white duvet. A slight smile graced her pink lips and she walked back to the bed, sitting down beside him. "Morning," she responded before she leaned in to kiss him. She couldn't hide the sorrow swinging in her voice which he immediately caught onto. "Stai bene?" [Are you alright?]

She nodded slowly. "I'm fine. Just… the dream… again…"

He sighed and pulled her closer to him. She rested her head onto his chest and closed her eyes; savouring the few more minutes of peace.

About an hour later, the couple entered the headquarters of the Corpo della Gendarmeria dello Stato della Città del Vaticano. As soon as they set foot into the building, they were met by the one person that would make her morning even more worse: Richter – head of the Swiss Guard. She suppressed a sigh and greeted him as enthusiastically as she could. After he had informed them that he would very much like to speak with the man beside her, he shot her one last glace before they disappeared in her partners office. Ever since she started to work at the Vatican police a handful of men – Richter in particular – had a down on her and were just waiting for a good reason to get rid of her. Especially in the Vatican, the Gendarmeria was a job dominated by men and although there was no law prohibiting women as police officers working in the world's smallest state, it wasn't always welcome. She watched the head of the Swiss Guard close the door behind him before she moved to her desk. The ginger was just about to open one of the unfinished files as someone put down a cup of coffee in front of her. "Buongiorno pulcino," a male voice said and she chuckled. "How often have I told you to stop calling me that, Claudio?"

"Circa un migliaio di volte." [About a millionth times.]

"Allora… smettila." [Well… stop it.] She smiled slightly. Claudio Vincenzi was one of the few that didn't mind her working at the police office. "Mai. Mi piace…" [Never. I like it.]

She liked him well enough she didn't even mind him calling her nicknames.

"Dove hai lasciato Ernesto?" [Where did you leave Ernesto?]

With her chin she pointed in the direction of his office. "He's in there with Richter." Making sure to underline the commander's last name in a particular way. She liked to sometimes fall back to English. It was her second mother tongue after all. Her mother – Laura Agnelli – was Italian by birth, moved to America to study and met her daughter's father at the university. That was basically all the young woman knew about her father. To be honest, she didn't even know if he knew that she existed. Laura moved back to Italy when her daughter was still a baby. Like her mother, the police officer went to America to study, but she could never imagine living her life there. So, after finishing her qualification she moved back to Italy. She then worked a few years at the normal Roman police force before she got the possibility to join the Gendarmeria Vaticano – to make her mother proud. Little did she know that this decision would lead to finding the man she would marry in a year's time. The love of her life, who was now walking back towards her. "Cosa voleva Richter?" [What did Richter want?] she immediately asked. "Sara… puoi farmi un favore?" [Can you do me a favour?]

She raised her eyebrows and looked at him quizzically. "Sicuro…" [Sure.] she then said. "Qualunque cosa. Lo sai." [Anything. You know that.]

"Ho bisogno che tu voli a New York. Ho bisogno di un agente special in occasione della riunione delle Nazioni Unite." [I need you to fly to New York. I need a special agent the UN meeting.]

Wait what? "And you are sending me? There are people who are more capable for these bureaucratic meetings," she said and pointed at Vincenzi who was still standing beside her. Ernesto sighed. "Era un'idea di Richter…" [It was Richter's idea.]

"Da quando stai prendendo suggerimenti da questo ragazzo?" [Since when are you taking suggestions from this guy.] She didn't wait for his answer, before she continued. "Bene! Bene! Andrò…" [Fine. Fine. I'll go.] "Grazie mille," [Thank you very much.] Ernesto said, smiling fondly at her.

"Mi sei debitore." [You owe me.]