DISCLAIMER: Don't own nuthin less it's me own OC's.
I dropped the paperwork I'd been holding when I heard that.
"Circe doesn't even know that," she hissed. "Last thing I need her knowing is that!"
Proteus laughed.
"Keeping secrets, are we?" he teased.
"Like you don't," she retorted. Boreas himself seemed stunned by this new development.
"Hmm," Proteus said suddenly. "A son is in your womb... A minotaur son."
"All boys born in our family are minotaurs," she replied. "Minus you, of course. But you also had a different father than mine."
"That I did," he agreed. "So, I guess it's rather convenient being with our dear captain, isn't it?"
"At least I won't have to worry about any unwanted suspicions from others or unwelcome accusations," she agreed. "That makes things a great deal easier."
"And when do you intend to tell him any of this?" Proteus asked.
"Soon," she replied. Proteus snorted.
"Soon to you and I can mean in a few hours to several centuries later," he stated. "As a daughter of the Goddess and Enchantress Circe, you are immortal. Taurus is not."
"I know," was the saddened reply. "Must you remind me?"
"Only making sure you stay near the truth and don't forget it among all of your desires," he replied simply. "You should ask for her help in learning to control your abilities. How can you be certain that what's between you and our Cheif isn't just a result of your sex appeal?"
She said nothing.
"I just don't want you getting hurt, sister," he sighed. "I don't think New Olympus would survive your temper, especially if it's anything like Mom's."
She still said nothing. A part of me filled with rage at Proteus. Now she would doubt what we had! Way to pick on her insecurities!
"Are you going to confront her about this?" Boreas asked softly, making sure the two inside couldn't hear. I shook my head.
"She'll come to me with it in her own time," I answered. Sure enough, when she came out the door, there was a great deal of doubt in her, an overwhelming uneasiness. Even her goodbye kiss wasn't as sure as she'd been before. Mentally I cursed the very day Proteus was born.
What was it going to take to restore her faith in us?
"I think it's time I gave a call to Circe," Boreas said. "I think her daughter needs her now."
Turns out, Boreas didn't get the chance. Here I was, standing in front of my mother's statue, a memorial to her days as one of power. Here, I fell to my knees, the heaviness in my heart tearing me apart.
"Oh Mother," I whispered. "I so desperately need you."
Almost immediately, I felt her kneel beside me.
"Oh my child," she said softly. "I all ready know what you need. Let me assure you that Taurus doesn't love your charms, your seductive skills. My child, he's not even sure if he DOES love you. All he knows is that he can't imagine a life without you at his side now. Our power only works on others until they give in to their desires concerning us, my child. You forfeited any and all power over him when he agreed to have you in his home, reguardless of the threat of mating season hanging over you both."
"But I want to know for sure!" I argued. "I want to know how to turn it all off, how to use it all, control it! I... I need to know this..."
Mother sighed but nodded, placing her hands on my temples. I felt my vision white-out and then clear as the knowlege of how to control all that I was spread through me. My balance wavered, then I fell into unconciousness, my body unable to channel the goddess's power.
Taurus...
A voice rang through my head, unfamilliar in every sense of the word. I rubbed my temples, thinking I was hearing things. I still had yet to calm down after what Proteus had done to my mate!
Taurus, you must listen to me!
I frowned.
My daughter needs you! Hurry! Before those other men reach her! She's defenseless!
I felt fear grab my heart.
"Where is she?" I whispered, making sure no others would hear me.
In front of my statue! Hurry! I don't think that dress is gonna last long!
Rage engulfed me again as I imagined someone else's hands on my mate! I bolted from the room and grabbed my speeder. I sped the whole way there. Once I arrived, I bellowed in rage, shooting stunners at all of the males around my mate. Their intentions were clear as day! All of them fell back, but not before I saw that one of them had nearly entered her.
My entire body shook with my anger as I stepped closer and closer to my unconcious woman. With great care, I lifted her in my arms and walked back to my speeder. I hit my com on the way.
"Yes, sir?" came Kyron's voice. I growled.
"Bring a group of men to the base of the temple," I instructed. "I want every male here arrested under charges of attempted rape."
"Taurus, it's mating season," Kyron stated. "What did you expect?"
I growled.
"It was MY mate," I spat angrily.
"We'll be there right away, sir," was the instant reply. He always recovered from shock real fast.
My whole body shook with rage as I took her back to my home. I wouldn't being going back to work that night.
I slowly woke again, my head clearer than it had ever been before. That's when I realized that I was in my bed... and I wasn't alone. A gentle hand was softly rubbing my back as my body rested on theirs. I sighed contently.
"Are you all right?" Taurus's concerned voice reached me, his chest rumbling. I nodded slowly.
"I just went to talk to Mom," I told him, not wanting anymore secrets. He stopped me with a gentle kiss.
"I all ready know what you're about to tell me," he said. "I heard your brother and you talking."
I saw his eyes harden.
"It's taking all the restraint I possess to not go back there and beat the hell outta him for making you doubt what I feel for you," he continued. I was surprised. I got up, my arms supporting my upper-body weight as I leaned over him.
"Do you even know what you feel for me or is this simply a plan as you go thing?" I asked. His eyes went to mine.
"What is it going to take to prove to you that not one ounce of your power drew me to you?" he asked. I frowned. "I mean, isn't the fact that I'm still here enough for you? You aren't using your power now."
I paused and thought about that. Mom had indeed shown me how to shut it off, and I hadn't turned it back on since she'd touched me... and he WAS still here... But I still couldn't shake my brother's words.
"What about the immortal part?" I asked. He sighed, pulling my body down on his.
"We'll worry about that when it comes to it," he answered. Then I rememebered something about my power, something Mom had revealed to me.
"I can GIVE you immortality, you know," I offered. "It's one of the perks of being a Goddess of Chaos and Discord. We're meant to mess up the other Gods' plans."
"Is that what your mother was?" he asked, though his eyes told me he was thinking about my offer.
"Yes," I answered. "She's a being of pure chaos. No one understood that better than she and her siblings did. It was her job to make the other Gods' (especially Hades's) job difficult."
Taurus just shook his head.
"I'll have to think about that," he said. "That isn't a decision to be taken lightly."
I nodded, agreeing. That decision could wait.
Four months had passed and both I and Circe were very, very heavy with child. Everyone knew we were pregnant, but just assumed it was part of mating season. Unfortunately, I'd gone to see the doctor recently and the ultrasound had revealed something unforseen, something I wasn't sure how Taurus would react to.
I stood tensly outside the police station, gathering up the courage to speak to him. In my hand, I had the printed ultrasounds. I hoped they would do the talking for me. Taking a deep, calming breath, I walked into the station and waved at Ronan. He just waved me on back, used to my drop-in visits by now. Nervous and jittery as all hell, I made my way back, thankful to find him too immersed in paperwork to notice me right away. So, to make a long story much shorter, I dropped the envelope of the ultrasound prints right in front of his face. His head snapped up in surprise, then frowned as he saw how nervous I was.
"Don't ask," I said, cutting him off before he could say anything. "Just look."
Still a little concerned for me, he opened the envelope, only for his eyes to widen a fraction as he saw what it contained. He shook his head and spread them out, only for his eyes to widen completely as he caught what the doctors had. His eyes went to me, shock evident.
"Twins?" he asked softly. I nodded, still uncertain. "What did they find?"
I was a little shaky at this point.
"Well... neither of them contain DNA from my rapist, if that's what you're asking," I managed to say, my voice a great deal calmer than I felt. His eyes widened even more. "Apparently, that fetus died during our... rather ravenous activities."
Now, I waited for a reaction, for anything. Eventually, I squirmed a little where I stood.
"Say something..." I pleaded softly. "Or at least stop staring at me."
He was around that desk in a flash, grabbing my waist and lifting me into the air, extremely joyful laughter coming from him. He spun me around several times before setting me back on my feet, right in front of him. He still held me close, his hand resting on my over-sized belly.
"My sons," he whispered, his voice as warm as his expressions. I squirmed again.
"Son and Daughter," I corrected weakly. Again, I'd managed to surprise him. In response to this, he kissed me gently, breath-takingly. I melted instantly, relaxing in his arms.
"So, you're okay with all this?" I questioned, just to make sure. He smiled and nodded, placing my hair behind my ear.
"Words cannot describe my joy," he answered, holding me close. I smiled back, relieved. "I will see you later. We'll go out to celebrate."
My smile grew warmer as I leaned up and kissed him softly. Unfortunately, he was right. He had to make money to support us somehow. With a great deal of reluctance, I pulled away and left, Circe meeting me outside. She smiled when she saw the look on my face.
"I take it he took the news well," she teased. I laughed and nodded.
"I got all worried for nothing!" I agreed. Then I winced as I felt the all too familliar feeling of a craving coming on. Poor Taurus. I'd sent him all over Olympus at the most ungodly of hours to get me things I was craving. The poor man also had to deal with me and my mood swings from hell. Helios wasn't much better dealing with Circe. Both men were exhausted and it showed. Circe, though, was only carrying her husband's child. Helios had been extra careful not to destroy that link to her home for her. She found it sweet and had all ready told him that the next child should come from the new love of her life-him. She'd left him speechless when she'd said that... and very happy. The two were to be married in a week. Taurus and I had yet to decide whether we wanted our affair to be that public. He HAD accepted my offer to make him immortal, though. All he asked was that I never leave his side. I agreed and our lives were bound together for all eternity before the gods. My Mother had performed the ceremony. When one of us dies, so would the other. We were bound for all eternity, side by side until our last breath-and then after that.
No one knew of what had passed between us though, none but Circe and Helios. I didn't even tell my brother. Proteus, I was certain, would use it against him or tell everyone. This was something we could not allow to happen.
"What are you gonna do now?" Circe asked. I shrugged.
"Right now, I'm craving some of the lovely italian cooking you can only get at Mannie's Place," I answered. She smirked.
"We really SHOULD ease up on the guys," she said softly. "They DO need to get SOME rest or by the time the babies are born, they aren't going to want any more."
I laughed.
"Probably," I agreed. "Still, I know that Taurus will eventually warm back up to the idea. After all, I still get to enjoy his very god-like abilities in bed, reguardless of this pregnancy. He's just more careful now."
Circe shook her head with a giggle.
"I can see it now," she said, dramatically waving her hand in the air to indicate the future. "We go over to you two's house only to get mauled by fifteen or sixteen kids before we even get through the front door!"
I laughed and cheekily waved at my lover, seeing him shaking his head in the window to his office. All of the building's windows were open. Fortunately for him, everyone he worked with was beyond used to my rather bold tongue. Circe saw it and laughed, waving too. Then the two of us began walking down the street. I'd learned by now that it was one hell of a way to stroke a man's ego, talking about his unbelievable abilities behind closed doors. I'd learned from several other females that their men had begun to complain that their skills weren't appreciated and that they'd be more appreciated if they were Taurus and with me. Most of the women got the hint and occassionally praised their men, though not as often as I did. None of them were near as public, either.