He gave another small bow, and she instantly felt her cheeks grow a shade or two pinker at this. "You're'¦you're very welcome, Benson." She quickly stood as well. "One last question before you leave, though'¦"

He stood before her, all seven feet of him, ruby eyes glittering; hair, feathers and silk fluttered in some undetectable breeze as his perfect lips curled in only the slightest smirk, his pale skin all but glowing in the soft dimness. "Yes?" he asked quietly, nothing but dark, unimaginable beauty. "What would you like to know?"

She suddenly felt her legs becoming a bit shakier than usual, and her heart was beating faster than what she considered normal. "Um, I, uh'¦" She did her best to casually rest a hand on the table, and didn't do a great job as far as casual went. "Well'¦how do you eat?" Are you kidding me? Smooth move.

"Hm?" The smirk grew a bit wider.

She attempted a nonchalant shrug. "I mean, y'know, you're an angel and all, but'¦"

"Oh!" He chuckled softly. "You think angels have no need to eat?"

"No, no that's not what I'm saying, er'¦" What was wrong with her? Why was she suddenly acting so idiotic? "Like, Earth food'¦"

"Earth food, you say?" He nodded. "Mm-hmm, I think I know what you are asking." He leaned a bit against his scythe, in an instant model's pose. "You want to know how an angel such as myself can consume food from this realm, correct?"

Not trusting her own voice, she only nodded, doing her best to keep from getting lost in those radiant crimson eyes.

"Heh. I have no explanation as to how I am able to partake in what this side has to offer ' but I am simply able to, for whatever reason, and I do so because I enjoy it. All angels really have in Heaven is manna, so a bit of human variety is never a bad thing. I have become quite a connoisseur down through the centuries, you could say, and it seems I have made it a habit to taste the best foods of each generation."

So the Death Angel's into eating. Wow. "Uh'¦do you have any favorites?"

He gave it a second's thought. "I have always enjoyed the taste of fresh-baked bread, maybe with some milk and honey'¦" Shoulda seen that one coming, Jenna thought to herself, "'¦and Italian."

She blinked. "Wait. Italian?"

"Yes, especially those delectable ricotta-stuffed pasta shells. I would kill for a few of those'¦" His gorgeous face suddenly broke out in a full grin. "Oops. Pardon my pun."

For some odd reason, the thought of Benson cracking a joke ' and a death joke at that! ' hit her at such a peculiar angle that she couldn't help but laugh. She quickly calmed down, though, apologizing for her sudden outburst. "Wow'¦sorry. Jeez."

"You have nothing to apologize for ' in fact, thank you for your support." He straightened up once more. "It seems I have no more time to banter, though ' time is short, and I must go."

"Okay, sorry for keeping you."

Benson shook his head. "You are fine. Sleep peacefully, Jenna, and have no fear. May God be with you. Goodnight."

She opened her mouth to thank him and return his farewell ' but he was gone in the blink of an eye, leaving her alone with an empty container of Madeleines. She picked it up to throw it away, and gently ran her fingers over it, thinking of Benson ' but quickly stopping herself.

Hey! No! Seriously, what's my deal? Why'd I get all weird tonight? I mean, this is like the second time I've seen him, I shouldn't be this nervous now'¦oh, but he's so sweet, and dark'¦and so, insanely hot'¦ She caught herself once more, shaking her head furiously. "Hey, cut it out!" she murmured to herself, glaring down at the empty cellophane in her hands. "You can't have a crush on an angel ' especially the freakin' Death Angel! No! That's wrong! Bad! You can't even touch him anyway'¦" She threw the container away and headed back to her room. "It's wrong, it's beyond wrong'¦no way'¦and he definitely can't find out ' as if me acting like a total moron tonight didn't give it away already."

Heaving a tired sigh, she made it into her room and fell back into her bed. You can't have a crush on Benson. You can't. You just can't , okay? He's been around since the freakin' First Day or something anyway, why would he care about you? Of course, the fact that he randomly decided to drop by that night occurred to her. Pfft ' he was probably told to come here by someone else'¦once I meet Frank, Benson'll probably drop outta the picture altogether. He's got better stuff to do than guard me anyway.

She threw her covers over her head and curled up, frustrated at herself. You have better things to worry about anyway. More and more of this spiritual crap is happening ' you don't have time for a silly little crush. Especially on Benson! Anyone but him! Maybe another warrior wouldn't be too bad, or maybe even Frank ' but not Death himself! Idiot.

She was too tired to think much more, and soon found herself thankfully drifting off to sleep. The last things she saw were Benson's glowing red eyes as they made their inevitable way into her thoughts. They were as beautiful as the rest of him'¦

Maybe it's not too bad, she thought to herself. Maybe'¦

Then Jenna was gone, sleeping like a rock, without another dream for the rest of the night.