It was only ugly depending on the perspective, really. People were afraid of death because they didn't know what would come after it and because they were afraid it would hurt. And some of them did have things to worry about ... but not everyone. For them, Heaven really was one long party. There wasn't anything to fear from that.

"You'd probably be surprised," Gabriel said to Ghastly with a chuckle. It was hard to be jealous when he loved them as much as his Master did. "I'm looking forward to the time you meet him."

Because they would, of course. Because even here, in a universe where he hadn't seen any evidence of angels, his Master must be present. Different universes or not, God had known about them, had known what Gabriel wanted--needed--to do. Yes, the Archangel had faith, still, that his friends' path would lead to Heaven.

It took everything he had not to flinch at Valkyrie's question. Everything he had not to let his expression flicker or let on at all that there might have been something to her words at all.

"How do you know that is all you got?" Gabriel asked over his shoulder, but he was still looking at Ghastly as he spoke. How did they know his Master wasn't here, in this universe, right here and now?