AN: Alright so now Aeson and Nia are going to be having a little chat about his father. As Cassie said, that didn't come from left field, it came from out of the park. Not even she knew that was coming, but have no fear! I have a plan! *pauses* Ok yes you should be very scared of that… So sit back, try not to panic about my plan, and Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I only own Nia and Aeson.

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"I think we need to talk" Aeson said quietly. Nia nodded. She wanted to hear him out, but her heart was still torn. She told him about her past and he didn't tell her about the one thing that would break her.

"We do, but I would like to speak to Sin first" she said. He had been in her position before, maybe he could shed some light on what she should do. Maybe that was why she was such good friends with her niece and Sin.

"I will be here when you are ready" he said softly. Nia's heart broke as she heard the pain in his voice. He was afraid she wasn't going to come back. Part of her was furious at him and never wanted to speak to him again for withholding information from her, but part of her wanted to pull him to her and forget the world. Her mind was at war and she didn't want to figure out who was betraying who. Was she betraying him by not trusting him?

"Sin!" she yelled as she flashed herself to where she felt his presence. Sin smiled as he saw her, the emotions were plain on her face. He poured two full glasses of whiskey and slid one down the bar to her.

"It will help. I always hated emotions. It's like if you are a god, then why should you be bothered with trivial things like love and sadness" he looked wistful. "But since I met Katra, no matter what emotions, I'm glad I have them if only so I can love Kat."

"She's your enemy's daughter" Nia said. Sin took a sip out of the glass. It was true. No matter, grandchild on the way or not, Artemis wanted him dead. Kat still couldn't figure it out, but right now she was a little more preoccupied with worrying about whether her mother would try and kill her baby or not.

"That she is, but she is also the mother of my child, my wife, my best friend, one of the very few people I trust at my back. The fact that she is more her father's daughter does help some, but when I look at her I do see Artemis." He took another sip. "And sometimes it still hurts to know that she kept from me the fact that she stole my powers, but the overwhelming love I feel from her negates all of that."

"So I'm just supposed to forgive him?" Nia asked. Sin shrugged.

"Simi told Kat something once. We have three kinds of family. Those we are born to, those who are born to us, and those we let into our hearts. The question for you Apollonia is, has Aeson become the family that you have let into your heart?" Nia took a deep breath and slid the glass back down the bar to Sin, the amber liquid still intact. Sin smiled as Nia flashed herself back to Aeson. She would be fine.

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Nia flashed back to the casino. Aeson saw her and shot her a smile before he started another round of the game. She walked over to where he was, every Daimon in the room watching for her reaction. Nia wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed his shoulder blade.

"Marry me" she whispered. Aeson froze. Nia say wha? "I want you to be the family I let into my heart. I don't care about your father, I don't care that I might die, I want to be with you." Aeson smiled.

"Yes, yes I will marry you Apollonia. I won't let my father destroy you. I won't let him hurt you" he said back. His customers let out a soft aww at their tender moment. The humans didn't realize that the threat of his father was more serious than just a human man. Stryker, if he found out about them together, he would kill them without blinking. He had done it with Urian and Phoebe.

"Why don't you two have some alone time on the town? I'll take over" Damien said, patting Aeson on the shoulder. "I haven't run roulette in a while." He cracked his knuckles before shooing them away. Aeson grinned as he wove their fingers together and headed out the door. Nia sucked in a refreshing breath.

"What would you like to do my lady?" Nia thought about it, but before she could say anything a scream stopped them in their tracks. "So much for a night off" Aeson muttered as the two ran to the alley where the scream came from. In front of them were two Daimons, feasting on the souls of a young couple. In the corner sat a little girl no more than four, sobbing her little eyes out. Aeson and Nia lunged at the Daimons. Nia caught one in the jaw, forcing him to drop the body. She manifested a dagger and plunged it in his inkblot before turning to see the other Daimon already gone. Aeson was checking the pulse of the couple, the subtle shaking of his head informing Nia what she already knew. The couple was dead and the little girl was an orphan. Nia made the dagger disappear before she walked over slowly.

"Hi glýka, my name is Nia. What's yours?" The little girl sniffed as she looked at Nia.

"I want my mommy" she said. Nia nodded and gently pushed her long blonde hair back from her face.

"I know glýka, but mommy is an angel now. How would you like to come back with me?" Nia asked. The little girl sniffed once more before she nodded and launched herself into Nia's arms, her little hands creating a vice like grip.

"Cassia" she whispered. Nia kissed the little girl's temple. "My name's Cassia."

"Hello Cassia. Let's go back to my room and get you something to eat, alright glýka?" Cassia nodded as Aeson wrapped an arm around Nia's waist and led the girls back to the hotel.

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Stryker smiled as he saw Aeson, Nia, and the child. He needed to get Aeson to leave Nia so he would be free to attack. And he knew just what he was going to do. He was going to use that little girl.

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AN: Alright so we all knew Stryker was dumb. No one realized just how dumb though right? Lol. Well it's dumb. He's really not getting it, but have no fear as I promised Cassie everything will turn out just fine and dandy! Alright so thanks for reading now please review!