Author's Note: Advance Merry Christmas, everyone! Here's two chapters for you as a gift. Cheers!

DOUBTS

The Pantheon, Olympus

Huddled in one corner within a circle of Olympian goddesses, Zeus singled Amphitrite out and drew her into the lively dance floor filled with a fair share of deities that Mt. Olympus could offer.

Even in such a crowd, Amphitrite never failed to mesmerize, Poseidon observed from a distance.

Wearing a shimmering silvery, beaded gown with a high neckline glittered with crystals and stones, and a thigh-high slit that slithered all the way through her long creamy, porcelain legs; her rich, auburn hair, fashioned perfectly in huge, wavy curls, partially covering her left eye leaving her with an air of mystery despite her usual generous smiles, Amphitrite was every waking man's walking temptation.

And Poseidon was very much awake, and Amphitrite was very much his daily temptation. And truth be told, he hardly thinks she was even aware of what she's doing to him.

Poseidon dragged a goblet full of ambrosia over to his lips, his eyes never once leaving his dangerously attractive wife. The worst part of it all was, he wasn't even sure where he actually stands with her - in his wife's affection, that is.

'Bloody Styx!' he inwardly cursed, 'If he could only read her mind.'

The woman was going to be his destruction.

"What's with the long face, Poseidon? You look like you'd just hit your head with a rock," a familiar brotherly voice spoke out, "Oh wait, right, silly of me, that DID happen."

Poseidon regarded Hades across the other side of the table with a killing look. Good grief, he even forgot he was actually sharing a table with his brother.

Hades with his dark grey eyes, curved one side of his mouth in a menacingly teasing smile, "We can all see that you married the most good-looking Nereid, Poseidon," he shrugged, glancing at Amphitrite, "Hell, she's probably the most good-looking nymph that ever set foot in the cosmos," he taunted, "But you don't really need to keep ogling at her like you're all ready to eat her up."

Poseidon tried his might not to roll his eyes at this and returned his gaze to the dance floor.

"Unless, ofcourse, if you both haven't..." Hades' voice trailed.

Poseidon snapped his head at him.

His brother narrowed his eyes at him in return, "Haven't you?" in a voice filled with unconcealed speculation. Or shock.

Poseidon replied with what sounded more like a snort.

Hades read it perfectly, "Oh I see - you both have," he guessed, "But she has now barred you from her chambers."

"She hasn't barred me from her chambers," Poseidon scoffed.

Hades bubbled up with laughter with his reply, "Oh god! She has!"

"She HASN'T!" Poseidon denied.

Hades raised both brows innocently and drank his wine, "Oh, it certainly looked like she has barred you from... something."

"She did," Poseidon confessed.

"Woah!" Hades remarked a little too loudly to gain a few heads to turn their way, immediately deducing what it was Amphitrite has barred Poseidon from. Hades dropped his goblet to the table, and lowered his voice, "Really?"

Poseidon nodded, "It was part of her conditions before she agreed to marry me."

"Conditions?" repeated his brother.

"Yeah, you don't want to know," he immediately brushed off, "I haven't quite decided yet which one was worse, her father's threats or her own conditions."

Hades furrowed his brows, "Nereus threatened you?"

Poseidon nodded curtly, "Yeah. With war."

"WOAH!"

"If you could make that a little bit louder, we might just as well ask the entire hall to join in our conversation," Poseidon remarked.

Hades ignored his statement, "That doesn't sound like Nereus at all," Hades waved off, "He's a very reasonable man."

"He is," Poseidon agreed, "But she's his favourite, so..."

Hades nodded, "I see," he spoke, "And THAT, my friend, isexactly why I always steer clear away from any woman who is her family's favourite," he pointed out knowingly, "Makes things too complicated."

Poseidon fully regarded his brother, "It already was complicated even if we factor out the family."

Hades raised both brows, intrigued.

"She didn't want to marry me," Poseidon provided.

Hades threw his head back in laughter.

Poseidon scoffed, "You find that funny, huh?"

"Come now," Hades leaned back in a light-hearted manner, "But you DO know you HAVE a reputation," he noted, taking a healthy swig from his goblet, adding with a tilt of his head, "We all do."

Poseidon raised his goblet as well, mimicking his brother, as if on a toast, "Wow, this is a first," he taunted, "YOU actually acknowledging that you're just like Zeus and I."

"I never denied it," Hades gestured, "I just haven't admitted it either," he smirked knowingly, "Maybe I just relish on discretion more than it appeals to both you and Zeus."

Poseidon eyed Amphitrite as she took a swift turn by the dance floor, "This might actually surprise you, but my less than stellar reputation was not exactly the reason she refused my proposal."

"There's another reason?" Hades raised a brow.

"Let's just say, she relishes her freedom, the same way that you relish your discretion."

"Ahh," Hades followed Poseidon's gaze at the dance floor.

"And if it weren't for Delphinus I'd have never been able to track her down," Poseidon confessed, "The woman ran away from me to the far ends of the sea after refusing to marry me."

"That's a first," Hades remarked, "Usually, it's your women trying to trick you into marrying them. And now here's someone you actually were interested in marrying, and she bolted to the farthest ends of the world to hide from you."

"True," Poseidon affirmed.

"And THAT's why Delphinus was given his very own constellation earlier tonight," Hades noted.

"Yes," Poseidon acceded, "That's the reason Delphinus got his own constellation in our skies tonight," he repeated, "I owe him one."

Dance music came to a stop and a rumble of collective applause replaced the sound in the grand hall of the Parthenon. Amphitrite smiled appreciatively at her partner Zeus, while the king of the gods raised his hands at her in admiration.

"She gets along pretty well with Zeus, doesn't she?" Hades observed.

"She does," confirmed Poseidon.

"And I heard, if palace talks were any indication, that she's got some pretty wicked sword skills as well that can contest even Zeus'."

"THAT..." Poseidon exclaimed, "That is something I was surprised myself," he confessed, "I am fully aware she can throw in a good punch - I should know because I've been the recipient of a couple of right hooks - I wasn't aware she was equally proficient with swords."

"Fathers and Husbands better watch out then," Hades mumbled to no one in particular, "I'm sure if word starts to spread around that a Nereid, and the crowned Queen of the Seven Seas at that, is an epic swordsman, soon enough women of all ages will be demanding to be trained themselves."

Poseidon shrugged nonchalantly, although an image of his young daughters suddenly flashed through his mind, wondering who amongst the lot of them may demand from him what Hades just said.

"Seems to me Nereus did prepare his favourite to be self-sufficient," Hades remarked.

"Seems to me like Nereus fawned over his favourite like she was the son he never had," Poseidon refuted.

Poseidon followed Amphitrite with his gaze as she was escorted back by Zeus to the welcoming circle of goddesses she had been talking to earlier, immediately falling into a visibly animated conversation with none other than the highly opinionated goddess, Demeter.

"Well, look at that," Hades whistled, resting his chin to a hand, "Demeter seems to get along with your Amphitrite as well."

Poseidon glanced at Hades slowly, "And that's surprising?"

Hades turned to him, "Well, it's surprising because Demeter hardly talks to anyone," he paused, "In Olympus."

Poseidon shrugged, "I hardly noticed."

"That's because she doesn't talk to you," Hades calmly explained.

"And she talks to you?" returned Poseidon.

"Nope," replied his brother, unruffled, "That makes two of us."

That obtained a laugh from Poseidon, "I didn't realize you have this aversion to Demeter."

"I don't," clarified Hades, "On the contrary, she has an aversion to us. That's the reason I keep out of her way as much as I can - as a favour to her," he claimed, raising his goblet to his lips, "I believe she's one of those who frowns over our 'way of living'."

"Everyone frowns at our way of living!" Poseidon dismissed.

Hades returned his gaze to Amphitrite's circle and then narrowed his eyes, as if suddenly distracted, "Say..." he murmured, "Is it just me or does your Amphitrite actually kind of resemble Demeter?"

Poseidon felt himself lean back, "What?" he remarked, glancing sharply at Amphitrite's group of goddesses. "No!" he instantly blurted out without further assessment.

Demeter was petite, with long chestnut-colored hair, and a perpetually serious look on her face that usually belies what would've been a rather beguiling beauty. Amphitrite was a statuesque red-head, with an electric spark on her that captures a room even if she enters it without a sound.

Poseidon tilted his head, still staring at them, 'Hmm... but if you do look at them at a certain angle, there does seem some semblance of a...'

He shook his head obstinately. 'That's just impossible,' he set off.

Hades poured himself another round of wine, staring at Poseidon closely, "Why does it seem to me like there's something you're not saying?" he mused.

Poseidon regarded him for a moment, "Excuse me?"

Hades spelled out, "About Amphitrite."

Poseidon pursed his mouth.

Hades propped an arm over his chair, "Ah," he tipped his goblet at Poseidon, "There it is again. That look."

Poseidon entwined his fingers atop the table in a thoughtful repose.

Ofcourse, he should look bothered, because he actually was bothered about something, Poseidon admitted. About Amphitrite.

He's just not sure if it's the right time to tell his brother about it. Hell, he's not even sure if he was even ready to acknowledge it. But one thing is for certain: Amphitrite - HIS Amphitrite - the one he's been baring his soul to ever since they got married, was hiding something from him.

Something he might not be that ready to accept.

Hades rose both brows at him in sheer expectation, as if to say, 'Well? What is it?'

Poseidon faced his brother fully, "There is nothing to say," he said ominously, moving his goblet away, "Yet."

"Enna!" Amphitrite remarked, "I should say Enna was the most peaceful place I've ever been to."

"Really?" Demeter exclaimed, excitement pasted all over her face. She seemed to be about the same age with Amphitrite, but her serious demeanour that was evident in every action she takes made her appear senior to her.

Amphitrite nodded, "I love their valleys," attested she, "They're filled with endless sea of flowers and clear meadows, where you can just close your eyes and listen to the birds singing through the woods with the breeze kissing through your face..." she felt herself closing her eyes at her own narrative, "Ah! It was paradise, I tell you. If my father or my uncle assigned me to Enna, I'd be completely contented," she smiled, "I'm sorry I'm utterly taken away," she suddenly excused, "I'm a Sea-Nymph, everything that I don't get to experience on a daily basis when I'm in the Sea Realm excites me to the utmost."

"It's not that I'm worried about," answered Hestia, sipping on her glass of ambrosia, "It's her," she said, nodding towards her younger sister, Demeter, "If you encourage her too much, I'm afraid what she might actually do if she gets 'excited to the utmost'"

Demeter playfully elbowed Hestia, "I wouldn't do anything stupid."

"I never said anything about you doing something stupid," Hestia clarified, "You never do. You just have these silly notions in your head."

Intrigued, Amphitrite couldn't help but mumble, "Silly notions?"

The other goddesses in their tiny circle laughed.

Hestia gestured with a roll of the eyes that only a loving elder sister can do, "Demeter had this silly notion that if Hera could actually thrive at the Sea Realm, well then so can she. But not in the sea realm though, rather in the mortal lands," Hestia pronounced, "Demeter has this fascination with the mortals, you see."

Amphitrite smiled, raised her glass of fresh juice, and announced, "I say, if it's silly and everybody I know is against it..." she laughed, "Well then I'll DO it!"

Demeter smirked at Hestia, as if in bragging.

Amphitrite continued, "I mean, I have my own cottage in Corinth," she stated, "It's not big nor as grand as my parent's Silver Palace... my cottage only have four chambers that some of my visiting sisters usually squeeze themselves into... but it's something I can call mine, and I love it!" she declared.

"Oh dear," Hestia exclaimed in faux exaggeration, placing herself in between Amphitrite and Demeter, "You two.. SEPARATE! Now!"

"I'm amazed," Demeter remarked after everyone's laughter had died down, pushing out Hestia's arm, "You are skilled with the sword - which none of the women herewith have even held before - you have your own cottage and you choose to live separately from your parents... tell me, is there something you cannot do?"

"Cooking!" Amphitrite immediately blurted out, "I couldn't cook even to save my life!"

Theia, Rhea's younger sister, spoke, "Oh that's fine. Poseidon can cook."

Amphitrite raised both brows in surprise, "He cooks?"

"Yes," Theia nodded, "And a pretty good one at that."

"One of his secret weapons with the ladies..." naughtily added the goddess Phoebe, while instantly adding, "No offense."

"None taken," brushed off Amphitrite, "I knew who I married," she joked cheekily, "It's just... I haven't really had the privilege to eat something he actually cooked."

"Don't worry," Hestia promised, "You've still got eternity for that."

"Hi, Ladies!" the clearly inebriated Delphinus broke into their little circle, declaring, "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'll have to steal this one away for a second..." pointing at Amphitrite, while simultaneously grabbing her arm and nudging her away from the group, earning not just a few grumbles from the goddesses.

` Amphitrite allowed herself to be escorted by the sea god before raising both brows at him as if to say, 'Alright, what is it?' while at the same time being uncomfortably aware again that Poseidon's gaze was centered back at her while he was sitting quietly at a distance, sharing a table with Hades.

Amphitrite fidgeted, and stepped away from Poseidon's line of vision, basically hiding herself behind Delphinus.

'Poseidon's been staring at her the entire night,' she observed. And it wasn't even the most unnerving thing. What ticked her the most was that Poseidon had hardly spoken to her the entire evening. Nor, the entire day since he'd woken up, if she'd be frank about it.

There were a lot of things in his mind. THAT much was obvious. Now, if he'd only talk to her about it, that sure would make her feel better. Oh god, she wished he'd just talk to her about... anything! Anything at all.

"Look at you," Delphinus drawled, his face all red, looking like someone who'd had more glasses than he can handle, "You're officially a Sea Goddess now. The Queen of the Seven Seas."

Amphitrite laughed, making a mock bow.

Delphinus tipped his goblet at her, "You sure you don't need wine or ambrosia to celebrate the evening?"

Amphitrite brushed off, "Nah, I'm good with my fresh orange juice," she gestured, "But, look at you," returned her, "A constellation dedicated to you. Now, that's something!"

The young sea god smiled broadly, "Well, that's a gift, or rather, an honour," he immediately corrected, "From your happy husband, for being a humble instrument to getting you together."

"You want to know what my gift is for you...?" she proposed.

"You have?" beamed Delphinus.

"Yes, a left hook," Amphitrite declared, by which the sea god immediately took a large step back.

"Now, now, milady, I don't think that would be appropriate..." Delphinus answered, both arms in front of him.

Rolling her eyes and trying not to laugh, Amphitrite asked, "Alright, alright, what is all this about?" she inquired, "I suppose you didn't just drag me away to have a little chitchat, did you?"

Delphinus squared his shoulders, "Well... no," he admitted.

Amphitrite widened her eyes at him in waiting, "Well, what is it?"

The sea god sheepishly ran a hand to the back of his head, "I've just been informed," he started, "There's a pretty huge storm coming to Corinth in about... three days."

Amphitrite gasped, "What?"

"Well, that's what I heard from Helios... you know this titans and Olympian gods..."

"Oh dear god..." Amphitrite did not even hear the rest of what Delphinus has to say as she marched her way towards Poseidon. "Hello Hades," she made a brief greeting to Hades sitting opposite her husband, before sitting herself next to Poseidon, "Hey..."

Poseidon regarded her with an unreadable expression on his face, if it wasn't for the arm he placed over her chair when she arrived, she would've felt uncomfortably unwelcomed.

She unconsciously started wringing on her wrist, unsure of how to start, "I need to go down to Corinth, if it's okay. I've just been told there's an incoming storm coming its way in a few days..."

"You can take my chariot," he suggested, with nary a change of emotion.

"Really?" she straightened her shoulders.

He nodded, "I could follow in a couple of days."

"Oh," she exclaimed, "You won't be coming?"

That's new.

She felt the hand behind her shoulder beginning to make a slow circular motion, a lopsided smile forming on his lips, "I won't be gone that long, Red."

She narrowed her eyes on him.

He leaned over and placed a kiss on her forehead, assuring, "I promise."

Amphitrite had never been so sure in her life that Poseidon was hiding something from her.