The next morning rolled around quickly. As soon as the sunlight leaked into the open bedroom, Hazel stirred in her pillow house. She blinked a few times and looked around at her surroundings.
She saw the dawn sunlight and smiled. "Finally. It's about time my schedule gets back on track." She said happily.
She looked around again, now more awake. Audrey also happened to be awake so she made sure to wave. "Good morning, Audrey." She said with a stretch.
Audrey waved back as she magiced her outfit into a red flowy dress. "Morning." She chirped as she sat comfortably against the pillows and ignored her wife who was practically snuggling her mid-sleep.
Nearby, Vetiver stretched as she awakened from her sleep. She looked around, seemingly happy that Hazel woke up early like she used to. "Heya, everybody!" She giggled then tilted her head. "Isn't there someone supposed to be coming today?"
Audrey tapped her chin and nodded. "Amaterasu. She could come at any time, she's one for just...popping in." She said with a shrug before her eyes halved once she saw Heidi lay her head in her lap.
Hazel cringed at the sight before blinking. "...Amaterasu's coming...oh crap." She said, hopping up immediately, running around the room. "Crap...crap...crap...crap." She hustled to make herself presentable.
Audrey blinked at her. "Well...It's not like you have to dress up. Heidi always showed up in her 'rocker outfit' as she called it and Amaterasu never minded. As long as you've told everyone and you all show up, I don't think there's that big of an issue." She said with a smile and a head tilt.
Hazel promptly sneezed before turning to the goddess with a raised eyebrow. "I am Hazel. I must look my best. If not, then I'm not Hazel! Does that make sense?" She asked, snapping her fingers, rapidly changing her outfits.
"...I guess?" Audrey said in mild confusion. "You are worrying too much...yes she is the Goddess of the Universe...but she's pretty laid back when its an arranged meeting."
Finally deciding on the right type of tunic she wanted, she snapped her fingers to constantly change its colors. She also changed the color of her tights with it. "...Good impressions are everything." She settled on a white and gold one with glittery golden tights. Then she began to switch her shoes.
As if they were the magic words, Heidi yawned and looked at the girl. "Trying too hard...I'd meet her right now if she asked...Bedhead and all…" She said sleepily, pointing out the fact that her hair was messy beyond all means.
Settling on golden gladiator sandals, she rolled her eyes. "That's because you are Heidi. I am Gardenia. Because of this, I 'try too hard'." She said using air quotes while making a golden chiffon scarf and applying her bangles...with cough of sparkles. She looked at her glittery outfit with irritation.
Heidi rolled her eyes. "And I am...Heidiana daughter of Hades...and a crazy goddess...fairy thing.." She said with a yawn as she tugged at her blanket.
Hazel walked over to her sibling while she created some stud earrings. "You also don't give a hoot." She nudged her sister. "Hey, Amaterasu's coming today."
Ara, who is usually a late riser and a heavy sleeper, nearly knocked her puppy off the sofa as she got up. "Crap...crap...crap...crap." She scrambled much like her twin.
Hazel chuckled. "See? She gets it." She gestured to her sister.
Heidi looked at them both with halved eyes. "...You both are worrywarts…" She said before looking up at Audrey. "...Twins are a nightmare...it better not be two…" She said in a sleepy manner while Audrey blinked at her words.
Ara spun around, changing into her formal outfit. She snapped causing her tiara to fabricate atop her head. "This is better." She said, observing her outfit. "JR! Go get your brother and everyone else!" She commanded.
JR blinked a few times before looking around. Interestingly, Kam was...laying on him? "Uhh...Kam. What are you doing?" He blinked again.
"Laying," Kam replied with a blank look while looking up at him.
He looked back with an equally blank look. "Um...okay. Do you mind getting up so I can move?" He asked.
Kam looked at him before sighing and tugging the blanket away with a slightly disappointed look. "Fine…" She said with a sour look in her eyes.
JR got up and stretched happily before heading out of the door with a wave. "I'm gonna do that thing you said! We'll be ready in a few!" He said, before heading off.
Ara nodded before following him out of the door. Hazel, on the other hand, looked at Kam. "You okay?" She asked with a smile.
"Peachy," Kam said with a blank look as she stood up and let the blanket fall on the couch.
Hazel smiled at her before tapping her chin. "You might want to keep this in mind. JR will fall for anything or do anything if you give him the puppy eyes." She said before wincing followed by coughing.
"Ah, I'll keep it in mind, alright. In the meantime," The goddess walked over and folded her arms while looking at Heidi. "Amaterasu sent me a telepathic message that she wants you there as well. You either walk there or I'll bring the furball out." She said with a tilt of her head.
"Oh...please, I love...giant furballs…" Heidi said sarcastically as she sat up and 'hmphed'. "You bring Fluffy...and I'll use him as my personal steed…" She said with a yawn as she stretched.
Hazel tilted her head before shrugging. "...Well, I'll meet you there...I guess." She said before blasting out of the door. Vetiver eagerly followed behind her.
The group wanted a bit of fresh air due to all of the wild recent events. Because of this, they all decided to wait outside for Amaterasu's arrival. Ara was talking with her coughing sister, JR was on his phone, Chester was talking on his phone, Deuce was overly paranoid due to a pranking puppy, George was playing around with a shuriken, and Triple G...was wearing a blindfold.
When she stopped choking, Hazel said, "Uhh...what's with the blindfold, G?"
Triple G looked in the direction of her voice and smiled. "Oh, this? This is so I won't pass out again when that goddess comes back." He cringed. "I really don't want to spend another two days in bed."
JR chuckled. "And I really don't want to keep doing your job." He shook his head as Triple G tried to find the origin of JR's voice
Triple G gave up eventually and said, "I'm only wearing this until she leaves. After that, off it goes!" He said with a smile.
Ara nodded with a smile. "I hope this works out well for you. If not...then it'll be funny." She giggled.
Triple G frowned, but Deuce said, "It is so hard to take you seriously when I can't see your eyebrows." He stated, prompting the rest of the group to laugh.
Triple G's frown deepened before he shrugged. "...I bet I do look kinda silly, don't I?" He looked around towards...someone. "Somebody take a picture so I can see myself later!" He said happily while everyone else chuckled with him.
A few seconds passed before there was a bright light in front of them that faded to reveal a calm looking Amaterasu and Susanoo, who looked like he had been laughing mere moments before. While the goddess was dressed in her usual formal kimono...Susanoo once again looked like he had rolled right out of bed.
While Hazel had not been affected by the light, the majority of the others were horribly caught off guard.
Triple G on the other hand… "Did something just happen? You guys went quiet all of a sudden." He tilted his head, looking around.
Deuce spoke up. "Nah. It's just that she's here...and she blinded us." He said, wiping at his eyes. "You wouldn't happen to have an extra blind fold?" He asked while Triple G tilted his head.
Ara shook her head at them before saying, "Hello again, Amaterasu. You wanted to speak with us?" She said, wiping her eyes as well.
"Yes, I am here to provide whatever you may need for the task you have taken," Amaterasu stated in her normal regal tone as she glanced up at the sky before clearing away any blindness they may have still had.
The group appreciated it while Hazel was too busy looking elsewhere.
Ara tilted her head. "Ah, yes. You said that you would provide earlier, but we are still confused about...what...you will provide." She said in slight confusion.
Susanoo chuckled at that and folded his arms. "Before she goes into some vague crap like always," His sister rolled her eyes at him and shook her head. "Let me sum it up. If you guys need strength, she'll give you some, powers, sure, a good lesson in any art you wish, you betcha...All you need to do is pass her "You are deserving" test," He said in a dramatic tone. "As long as you guys aren't undercover bad guys or bad guys in training, you'll pass. She just doesn't wanna give powers to people she can't trust."
Triple G shrugged. "Bad guys in training? Undercover bad guys? Been there, done that." He said with a bored tone.
George blinked at him since he was talking to a wall. George turned him around before Triple G could continue.
"We're not those kinds of people anymore." He finished with a smile and a tug of his blindfold.
Susanoo shrugged. "Then...you all aren't, no offense if you are, insanely dumb? Like dumb enough to ask to be a sparkly vampire from the Twilight book series dumb? She immediately turns down stupid, idiotic, unneeded, and overall, "Do you take me for an idiot?" requests." He said with a smirk while Amaterasu looked at him with a slight frown.
Hazel snapped out of her trance and looked at the boys. "Welp! I am absolutely fine with my powers as is, so I will be back here...avoiding what I know this will turn out to be." She mumbled the second part before stepping back many times before sneezing.
Ara turned to the boys with a smile. "Well, if any of you guys were jealous of me, now is your chance. You guys get your own powers!" She told them while they smiled among each other. "Don't pick anything too wild. Just...good enough." She shrugged before walking to the side.
The boys looked at each other before pulling out their phones, researching and taking notes on a digital notepad.
Chester, on the other hand, already had an idea. "I already have my request since I have an organized folder for my dreams and things that most likely will never happen." He said, adjusting his bow tie. "Inside of that folder would be supernatural intelligence, and to have the physiology of a ghost. Would that be too much trouble?" He asked with a tilt of his head.
Amaterasu tilted her head as well as she thought over his request. "Would you like to become a ghost, or have an additional form with its own exclusive powers?" She asked with an overall blank look.
Chester tapped his chin before saying, "Second option. I do enjoy having my own body." He said with a smile.
The goddess nodded before snapping her fingers as a wave of gold and red magic flowed towards him and turned him gold for a second before it faded. "I have no doubt that you have an idea on how to use this, but for a short period of time, I will place you on a limiter that will fade away once you have learned all of your abilities. This is not only for you as it will be for all of you as I will not be able to be here day and night to watch you." She said while waving her hands as several black ring-like markings appeared on his leg. "The sooner you learn, the sooner it will be lifted." She told him in her usual neutral tone.
Chester looked at his leg with interest. "Understandable. Well, I guess my turn is over." He silently cheered. "Now I can work on finding a cure for cancer!" He smiled before stepping out of the way to let Deuce by.
Deuce cleared his throat before looking up at her. "Alright. I want...to be able...to shapeshift." He said before grinning.
Amaterasu stared at him for a moment, almost as if she was trying to figure everything about him out, before nodding and snapping her fingers while a similar mark appeared on him. "Same rules define you, learn and more will be unlocked." She said simply while lacing her fingers together.
Deuce looked at the mark and smiled. "This actually looks pretty good on me. Thank you!" He said, giving her a mock salute before scampering off to the side.
JR didn't bother to step up since they weren't that far apart to begin with. "I want poison control." He said lazily shielding his eyes from the sun.
Amaterasu tilted her head at that. "Poison is deadly to practice, so I shall leave my most trusted poison expert to make sure you don't...poison anybody." She said with an almost deadpan tone before snapping her fingers and making the tattoo-like mark appear.
He blinked as his hair grew purple tips and his blue eyes changed to a darker tone. "Huh...okay." He said with a smile. He turned to his blinded brother and chuckled. "Hey, bro. You're up." He led the trembling man to the goddess. "Don't faint." He told him before going back to the group.
Triple G smiled at who he assumed was Amaterasu. He cleared his throat. "I uhh...I want to m-make metal, be m-magnetic, a-and use a...bit of...fire." He said, nervously twiddling his fingers.
Amaterasu seemed quite pleased for a moment before it faded into her calm facade. "Heidi will be able to assist you in learning such abilities as they are her aspects." She said while snapping her fingers as the familiar mark appeared on his arm.
Immediately, his hair turned black with metallic silver tips. He smiled before saying, "Wow, thank you! Umm...can someone point me in the right direction?" He asked before George helped guide him in the right direction.
George stepped up with his usual calm expression. Being a man of little words, he said, "Matter state, air, gas manipulation." He looked at her with the same calm expression.
Amaterasu's eyebrow rose while Susanoo, who must have put two and two together, blinked and gave him a look that said: "Did you not listen to me?" Amaterasu, on the other hand, narrowed her eyes. "...Are you aware of how dangerous that exact combination is?" She asked calmly, though the look on her face said she was quite serious.
Not minding Susanoo and keeping his unchanging gaze upon the goddess he said, "I am aware. I am also aware that we are going into a highly dangerous battle." He said still sounding collected despite the two deities gazes.
Amaterasu frowned at that. "Yet this would be almost more dangerous than anything you may face. So dangerous that if there is any evil intention...I will have no choice but to take it all away." She said while her eyes darkened a bit and Susanoo gave the boy a look that screamed. "Don't do it, man!"
George nodded. "I understand and I would do the same if I was in your position, but I can assure you that my intention is pure." He said and somehow managed to stay calm.
"Even the purest of souls can turn darkened when handed incredible power. It has happened countless times over the course of history." Amaterasu replied in a calm tone while her eyes shifted to a deeper orange hue.
George tilted his head before looking towards the ground for a moment. His eyes shifted before looking at the goddess again. "May I ask this of you? My request is that you give me the powers I ask for, but if I fail you, I will allow you to take them away without hesitation. Even if my heart and mental state sway the slightest, I request you to take them away. That is if my intention does not remain pure." He said without variation in his voice.
The goddess stared him down while her brother winced in anticipation before she gave him a hesitant nod. "I will abide by that deal." She said in a quiet tone while Susanoo jaw-dropped behind her as she gave the boy the mark and waved her hand over him.
George gave a small smile while the tips of his hair changed to hues of purple, green, and blue. "Thank you." He said as his eyes changed to a deep forest green. He bowed deeply before walking to his normal place in the back of the group.
Ara blinked while Hazel coughed sparkles like usual. Ara shrugged it off before saying, "Well...I think that's everyone." She said, still blinking.
Amaterasu allowed a small smirk to appear as she heard the loud roar of a creature that was quickly approaching. "Ah, not quite. I requested Heidi to come and she is here." She said, looking up as, of all things, a winged massive white lion flew in before landing with the sleeping bluenette on its back.
Ara, Hazel, Deuce, George, and Chester looked at the beast in surprise. Frankly, they did not know how to react.
Triple G jumped at the sound since he was still blindfolded. "What was that!?" He looked around despite his limited vision.
JR blinked before saying, "Nothing." And patting his little brother on the head.
Amaterasu didn't seemed bothered by it as she walked up to the formally dressed woman who was snoring away without a care. She smiled warmly as she noticed that Heidi hadn't even bothered to put on a pair of shoes. "Heidi? I know you like to sleep...and Adonis is quite the steady flier, but I need you to wake up." She said with a chuckle.
Heidi took a moment to open her eyes before blinking. "Oh hey...Ama." She said slowly with a smirk before looking at everyone else. "Did Ama give you guys what you needed?" She asked with a tilt of her head as she adjusted her black lace sleeve.
Hazel sniffed before saying, "Yeah. Do you not see this rainbow I'm standing beside?" She chuckled as she referred to the boy's new hair colors.
Heidi peered at them. "Any more colorful...and you'd be straight...outta My Little Pony…" She said with a drawl and a snicker.
Triple G scoffed. "I don't look that colorful! Wait...what do I look like?" He said, trying to turn to his group, prompting the group to facepalm.
JR tilted his head, blowing his hair out of his eyes. "It's just a bit of purple at the top. I'm okay with that." He said with a thumbs up.
George blinked. "My colors were involuntary." He stated, catching a glimpse at his hair.
Heidi only continued to snicker at them before tapping Amaterasu on the shoulder. "'Fraid you didn't...hit everyone. Hazel is sneezing sparkles." She said with a wide grin while the older goddess blinked.
Hazel blinked in surprise before squinting her eyes at Heidi. "I am...but I'm fine." She said with a bit of annoyance in her voice, still squinting at the amused goddess.
"Nah, she needs help...Like a lot. Oh...and Audrey wants to know if she is...a fairy." Heidi said to Amaterasu who appeared quite amused at the bluenette's words.
"What?" Hazel asked about the fairy part dryly. Then she shook her head. "Kam just said it was just a new power or something. I am totally fine." She said before sniffing.
Heidi, who had been given a bag of chips to keep her awake, rolled her eyes. "Totally not...fine." She said to the goddess with a smirk.
Hazel looked at Heidi with irritation once more before saying, "Yes I am. I'm just a little under the wea-eh-eh-CHOO!" She said before sneezing out a barrage of sparkles. "Weather." She said in exasperation.
By now Amaterasu was already convinced. "Ah...I see what you are speaking of, Heidi." She said with a grin that nearly matched the one of the snacking goddess. "Worry not, the days of 'sparkles' coming out shall be gone." She said before snapping her fingers as a tattoo of what appeared to be the solar system with each color of the rainbow appeared on Hazel's arm. "Good, now it is handled." She said while Heidi sleepily cheered while munching on a chip.
Hazel looked at the tattoo with a blank expression. "Oh. Thank you. Those sparkles were driving me nuts, but...what's this about?" She rotated her arm to take in the fullness of the tattoo
Amaterasu tilted her head. "You have it for the exact same reason the boys have theirs, the power has a limit on it now." She replied with a calm look.
Hazel blinks before pouting. "A limit? Wait, so, I have this power now? Why is it limited? I've always been very good at controlling my magic." She said with a frown.
"All young gods are granted one incredible power that can either last or disappear. Heidi, for example, was only eight when she used the powers that were generated by her powerful emotions to create a being out of thin air in order to escape the Underworld. At the age of ten, it was gone." Amaterasu said with a snap of her finger.
Heidi nodded with a smile. "I also managed to turn one of the demons...into a pile of ash 'cause...I got angry at him." She said with a snicker as she laid her head on the lion's fluffy mane.
"That is what we are dealing with, a power that may or may not last but has incredible strength and can be deadly if you are not trained in it." The goddess finished with a calm tone.
"...Yay…" Hazel said, dryly.
Ara chuckled at her sister. "Ooh...someone has a big girl power that she doesn't know how to use? You know that that means. You have to be schooled just like the rest of us!" She said in a teasing peppy manner.
Hazel made a pained expression at the thought before asking, "So...I have to wear this until either I get good or this power, whatever it is, disappears?" She tilted her head, pointing to the tattoo.
"You could merely ignore it till the day it fades from you, which is usually the case in younger gods, or train in it and use it effectively till the day it leaves you. The choice is for you to make and the mark will remain no matter the decision." Amaterasu told her as she laced her fingers together.
Hazel frowned before shrugging. "Well...alright. I'll try to work with...whatever this is." She tilted her head at the mark. "This is complete evidence that I am not a fairy!" She said to Heidi.
"Oh...I knew that, Audrey didn't." Heidi said with a chuckle, not appearing to notice the smirk that suddenly appeared on Amaterasu's face.
"Of course she didn't." Hazel rolled her eyes tiredly. "Well...I don't think I have any more questions." She said, still in thought.
Amaterasu nodded before turning to Heidi. "Now...The reason I had Kam send you here was because I have a solution to a problem of yours. I know what you did with the spell and later you shall be rewarded for your efforts and sacrifice. For now, I will...increase the rate at which everything is regenerating to the level at which my abilities regenerate." She explained before laying a hand on the sleepy goddess's arm.
Heidi yawned as the soothing gold waves of magic washed over her as her skin color began to return to a normal hue. "Ah...yeah, that feels...a lot better actually." She said in heavy surprise while looking at the woman. "What kind of ability is that?"
"One that can regenerate a person even if they are only survived by a single drop of blood," Amaterasu said in a blank manner while Heidi's eyes halved.
"Lovely...I'll be sure to avoid any threats to my life so we don't have to test that." Heidi deadpanned as she stretched, failing to notice the fact that Amaterasu's hand had glowed green. "Anything else incredibly overpowering you wish to throw at me, Ama?" She asked before blinking at the hand. "...What are you doing?"
"Making sure the water cannot harm you during this battle...The fire I am giving you will only ignite faster in the water and is immune." The older goddess whispered before finally pulling away and smirking.
Heidi blinked at that as she saw the goddess begin to walk away. "Wait...what?"
Amaterasu ignored her completely and faced the group. "You shall remain here for a number of days before you are to go with Heidi and Audrey to their home." She told them in a calm manner despite the way she was acting only moments ago.
Ara turned from the excited group and nodded. "Understood. We will be waiting for that day." She smiled.
"Until then, if any of you require assistance and I am not here...Go to Heidi." As soon as she said this, Heidi looked at her sharply while pointing at herself. "She will be happy to help you in any way possible due to her being able to use her powers…" She glanced at Heidi. "Isn't that right?"
Heidi stared at her and bit her lip. "Heidi...is open for...teaching." She said with a look on her face that promised the older goddess that she'd be after her soon.
The group shrugged and nodded amongst each other while Triple G pretended like he knew what was going on.
Chester spoke, "We will be sure to keep that in mind." He nodded.
"Then we shall be off," Amaterasu told them before she and Susanoo disappeared in a flash of light.
Ara turned to her now powered up group with an amused expression. "Well...I didn't see this coming." She shook her head.
George looked at Triple G and yanked the blindfold off of him.
Triple G looked around with relief. "Oh, she's gone...whew! I don't know about you guys, but I'm going to change my outfit!" He said in excitement.
George nodded while JR shrugged. He said, "Ah. I think I look good, but you guys can have fun though." He said, putting his hands in his pockets before heading back inside.
Deuce smirked before saying, "I'm going to go turn into a pizza!" He blasted off.
Chester looked at them quizzically before waving his paw. "Don't mind me. I'll just be thinking." He said with his now intellectual accent. "Pretend I'm not here." He said.
George just looked between everyone before staying put and putting his hands in his pockets.
Hazel turned to Heidi. "I would fill you in on all of the new powers, but that would take forever. And it would be boring if you're not interested." She chuckled.
Heidi hopped off the lion with ease and walked over. "All I know is that one cat is a shapeshifter and the other one turned into a nerd." She deadpanned before lifting her hand. "Besides...I've got problems of my own." She said before her hand suddenly lit on fire...green fire.
Hazel, who was used to seeing green flames, smiled. "Cool. You got a chemical fire. That's…" She looked closer at the fire, analyzing it. "That's a gaseous fire. AKA water is not going to put that out, and it's the hottest variety of fire." She explained while Chester nodded at all of the accurate information.
"I know what it is...The problem is that it's not normal. I trained with my fire for a long time when dad still wanted to take over Olympus and I know how it feels...This feels much more mystical than an average chemical flame." Heidi said with a sigh as she extinguished the flame. "I have...no idea what it could do."
"Burn things down," Chester added plainly.
Hazel shrugged her shoulders. "Well...welcome to magic school. Population...all of us." She said dryly looking at her mark.
Ara chuckled at all of them before saying, "I'm sure you'll get the hang of it, Heidi. You're the strongest person I know." Then she turned to the remaining people of her group. "We will practice too, but it's important that we stay together."
George nodded. "I agree. Togetherness means more strength." He gave them the smallest of smiles.
Hazel shrugged. "In the meantime, I'll try not to kill anyone." She said, stretching.
Ara smiled, "I'll be practicing and doing my water exercises." She looked up in thought for a moment.
Heidi closed her eyes before sighing and walking back to the giant lion. "I...have to talk with Audrey about something. I'll see you guys...later." She said with a pause before nodding and saying something in another language before the lion took off.
Even though Hazel could understand, she let it roll off her back as she walked into her garden. "See you guys! I need...more...fresh air."
Ara smiled at her before waving her off. Then she turned to George. "What will you be doing?" She tilted her head.
George blinked at her. "I wish to join your practice."
Ara raised an eyebrow before thinking. "Huh...we do have the air thing in common...why not." She grinned at him. "In the meantime, we get to see what else you can do!" She said before scampering off with George walking behind her.
Chester snapped out of his thoughts to see them leaving. "Hey! Wait for me!" He said, running after them.
Once Heidi landed outside of the room and hopped off the lion, she transformed her outfit into her 'rocker garb' as most called it, and walked into the room. She immediately noticed that Audrey, for once, was alone without anyone to overhear what they needed to discuss.
Heidi glanced around and was slightly amazed that Hestia and Kam were even gone. Maybe Amaterasu told them...or dumb luck. She thought, though she really didn't care at that point. For the first time since she cast that spell Heidi was actually awake. All this time before she was fading in and out of consciousness with constant pain on the mind...Now was probably the only moment she could have this talk.
Audrey looked up and blinked before a smile blossomed on her face. "Heidi! You are...you look much better. Did Amaterasu help you?" She asked as she got up and rushed over to meet her wife halfway.
Heidi caught her in an embrace and rested her head atop Audrey's. "Yeah...she did something alright." She said, pulling away to place a kiss on the pinkette's forehead before sighing. "But now...Now that I can think, we need to discuss that problem."
Audrey appeared surprised as she looked up at the frown on Heidi's face. "They...haven't been told yet?" At the slow shake of Heidi's head, Audrey's eyebrows furrowed as she grabbed ahold of Heidi's hands. "Then we need to tell them. They have agreed to help us and until we tell them this...we haven't been entirely honest."
Heidi groaned and pulled away from her hands. "Audrey...I see how they react when we are even next to each other, it would be way too weird for them...I don't want to weird them out and make them run." She said with a stressed look as she turned around and looked at her reflection in the mirror. "...They missed the wedding...and to hear about this," Heidi gestured to her wife as she looked over her shoulder. "...They wouldn't understand it."
Audrey walked up and wrapped her arms around the goddess's waist and rested her head on Heidi's back. "You don't put enough faith in them...Besides, you haven't even told Hades or Hestia, though something tells me she knows…" The pinkette said with a blink before shaking her head. "They are your friends...friends that went through so much just to get to this point. They argued with their parents...wept and it was all for you."
Heidi closed her eyes and rested her palms on the table in front of her. "No...for us...Not just for me." She whispered with a sigh. She maneuvered around so that they were embracing once more. "Still...That doesn't mean they will understand. It's too soon, Audrey."
Audrey frowned at that. "Heidi, they will find out sooner or later and when they do...they could feel hurt that we never told them. It's for the best." She said gently while a smile formed on her face. "...They must understand that we've been married for two years and...it was bound to happen. We didn't anticipate to be standing here now when we made that decision...and it wasn't foreseen beforehand."
Heidi 'hmphed' at that and pulled her arms away so she could fold them. "You'd think someone would have seen this crap coming." She said with a hint of sarcasm before it cleared as she let out a tired sigh. "...I...Audrey, now really isn't the time. We are in a war...and this is no time for such announcements." She told the former princess as she reached forward to hold on to Audrey's hands before pulling away. "We can't lose focus...I don't want anyone to get hurt because I told them something."
Audrey sighed as she saw Heidi turn away and begin for the door. She closed her eyes for a moment as she waited for the sound of the door slamming shut before she reopened them. Her pale pink eyes were filled with resolve as she saw both Hestia and Kam reappear. Both goddesses looked completely unbothered despite the fact that they had most likely overheard.
Kam looked at her with a tilt of her head. "Everything alright?" She asked, her usual calm voice tinted with a bit of concern while her eyes drifted down the woman's body as if she were examining her.
Audrey caught the healing goddess's eyes stop at her belly before she took a breath and nodded. "I'm fine...I just have to figure out how to explain this to them." She said while moving back over to the bed and sitting down at the front of it.
Hestia calmly walked over and, despite not knowing her that well, smiled and sat down beside her. The fiery-eyed goddess laid her glowing palm on Audrey's shoulder as her smile grew warm. "You are concerned for no reason, this is a good thing...Is it not?"
Audrey looked at her as she could sense the waves of calming magic rush over her. "It is...I've wanted this for a long time...For all my life really." She said with a small smile as her hand moved to rest on her stomach. She took a deep breath and looked up. "...I guess I'll be the one to tell them then...If Heidi won't...I will."
The two older goddesses shared a look as Audrey got up and exited the room. "...Something tells me this will either go well or terribly." Kam said as soon as Audrey was gone.
Hestia grimaced a bit. "Here is to hoping that it is the former and not the latter." She stated keeping her voice at a lower level.