(Stone household. December)
We find twelve year old Gerald and June on the XBOX-Kinect playing Just Dance (their current time frame one) while their little brother Danny Jr., age ten, was watching them. Danny and Katie were in the kitchen cooking dinner. Tonight was broccoli & cheese casserole with ground beef. The family was in a peaceful mood, a mood they had been set in for quite sometime since monsters rarely attacked anymore and everything in the world was in a peaceful state, even the politics.
Just as the two parents were about to call for dinner, a spire of rock slowly emerged in the middle of the living. The kids were startled at first, and so were the parents, but they calmed down when they sensed who it was. The spire crumbled away to reveal Gaia, goddess of the earth.
"Grandma!" yelled the kids and they rushed forward to nearly tackle her into a hug. She warmly embraced all three of them.
"Hi Mom," said Danny, hugging her to when the kids let go.
"Daniel, it's been awhile," said Gaia, embracing her son as well.
"Come here Katie, I won't bite," said Gaia. Although she had been married to Danny for twelve years and had three children with him, she always felt a little intimidated when around Gaia. If it was because she was the daughter of Zeus, a person who thirteen years ago she wouldn't hesitate to kill, or because Gaia was a goddess, she didn't know. Working up enough willpower, she smiled and hugged her mother-in-law.
"What brings you around?" said Katie.
"Well, there's something I think you all need to hear," said Gaia. She went near the fireplace, where a fire was crackling contently.
"It's about your father Daniel," said Gaia. Danny felt his breath catch in his throat and his heart miss a beat.
"What about him?" he asked cautiously.
"Nothing bad dear. It's how we met," she said.
"Oh. Do you want the kids to be here to hear this?" said Danny.
"Yes, they should hear about their other grandfather too," said Gaia. The family sat down, Danny Jr. in his Mom's lap and the twins flanking Danny's legs.
"Daniel, do you remember when Zeus sought to destroy you back when you were a child?" said Gaia. Danny's left hand subconsciously went to his lower back.
"I can never forget," he said softly, his eyes shifting to the floor.
"And you remember the reason why?" said Gaia.
"Yes, he thought I was going to be a threat," said Danny. "But I wasn't."
"Actually...he was right," said Gaia. Danny froze his eyes staring intently at his mother.
"What do you mean?"
"When you were just a thought forming in my head, I was going to use you as a weapon against the gods," said Gaia.
"What?" yelled Danny, unable to believe what she was saying. Neither could the rest of the family.
"Why?" said Danny, quietly.
"As you know, I was tired of the gods and their rule. I wanted the true immortal sons of the earth to rule, the way it was before. However, that all changed when I met your father, Gerald..."
(31 years ago)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, biggest public college in North Carolina. It was a festive day for the students. Thanksgiving was over and everyone was looking forward to Christmas. Snow was falling heavily on the campus, blanketing the campus in a carpet of white. A group of students, all males, were outside in the Polk Place quad chatting away. Two were Caucasian, one was Hispanic, and the other was African-American. The African-American has black hair tied into dreadlocks, a trait he picked up from while at college, and stood about 6'2" with a small black goatee. His skin was the color of milk chocolate and he had soft, light-brown eyes.
"So what are you doing for the holidays Juan?" he said.
"Probably go back to mi familia," said Juan. "What about you Trent?"
"Spend the holidays with my fiance. Sam?" said Trent.
"Back to family. What about you Gerald?" said Sam.
"I don't know. I was planning on spending it with...you know," said Gerald.
"Oh yeah, Lisa. Forget about her man, if you haven't noticed your one of the sexiest guys on campus, finding a girl out here won't be hard," said Trent. The three friends stared at Trent with like he just said "Prison is the best place in the world."
"Pause," said Gerald.
"What?" said Trent.
"Amigo, when a guy says something that is usually considered gay to another person, and they don't say no homo, then you say pause," said Juan.
"Meaning?"
"Simply, that was gay," said Sam.
"How is what I said gay?" said Trent. The other three face-palmed themselves, shaking their head in disbelief.
"Never mind," said Gerald. "Anyway I got to get back to the dorm."
"Alright, see you later man," said Juan.
"Have fun," said Sam.
"Don't get wasted," said Trent. Unbeknownst to them all, a female figure with piercing green eyes watched as Gerald left, staring intently before melting away into the snow.