A/N: Thank you all for reading! I hope you like this chapter! We're starting to get a little closer ;)
Let me know what you think!

Chapter 6

Cassia walked, Janus in her wake.

There was no current plan to move from their position. Not while they trained the men they had newly acquired. She watched them carefully out of the corner of her eye as she passed the area. Through her years as a slave, she discovered one truth: men revealed their true selves in the company of other men.

"Have you come to see my skill?" Varro stepped in front of her, bending down instantly to greet his son. "Or allow me to show my son?"

"I held no thought to you," Cassia said. "I would not have Janus seek pride in blood. You court the underworld with every fight. I would not have him do the same."

Varro stood, looking down at her. "I would have my son be proud of his father."

"I would not stop such affection. Only caution that your actions may yet lead to a son without such a figure in his life."

"I have yet to die."

"And still you entice Hades to claim you." Cassia looked around. There were a few watching them but the only one she could claim knowledge of was Agron. "Apologies," she ground out. "I do not seek strife, but I cannot claim that I hold no concern for the children. Aurelia wished for them to know you. I would not have their hearts break now that they have." It is more than that. She had been left alone with the children simply because of them and Varro's status. She had little concern over her own fate, few were interested in a woman so mauled, but she would not have his protection over the children rescinded with his death.

Varro's look softened at her and she could not help herself from frowning back.

"Your words are a balm. I would have no strife between us, but your thoughts need to divert course. You have returned my children. The gods themselves could not keep me from them."

"Do not tempt them," she warned. She did not like the man, but his effort to his children was not unnoticed. Janus warmed to him quickly, enticing him into games when they were otherwise not occupied.

"If you are not to gaze upon my skill," he diverted the topic, "then what destination awaits your presence. Are you to join the women? Share tales of our heroic deeds?" He grinned.

She stared at him blankly, unimpressed. "I would not fill their ears with false thoughts. Nor would I hear their desires. I seek Mira."

"Mira?" He rocked back on his heels. "You are in her company often?"

"As circumstances present themselves. She is...a friend."

"A welcome one. Mira is a good woman or she would not hold Spartacus's gaze."

Cassia's lips pressed together. It was not that she was unaware of Mira and Spartacus's affections, but the action itself seemed strange to her. After being at the whim of others' desires and demands, would one not want peace?

"Cassia?"

She was drawn out of her thoughts by Varro. "Apologies," she said.

"Give words to your thoughts and see them broken on the wind."

"They are of no consequence. Where might I find Mira?"

Varro sighed. "I would have you seek counsel with me. Are we not in each other's trust?"

Cassia frowned, confused by his words. "By what reasoning prompts such a thought? The foundations of our acquaintance is formed by the children and Aurelia. We hold no friendship to each other."

Varro looked to the sky for a moment. "May the Gods grant me the patience to remain in your presence."

Cassia scowled back. "I did not ask for your presence. You approached unawares."

"Fucking hell, Cassia. I am trying to learn you."

"I did not ask you to," she snapped back. "Come, Janus. We will find Mira on our own." She walked away, ignoring the weight of his stare. That she would hold him in trust...what thought! Cassia had no intention of allowing the man closer than necessary for the children's sake. She would not deal with men like him. Not again.

Cassia motioned Janus to play when they finally came across Mira. The woman was in conference with a man Cassia did not recognize.

"Mira," Cassia called out to her friend, drawing her attention. "Apologies. I thought I would offer my assistance to you in your tasks."

Mira smiled at her. "Gratitude. It is unneeded at this time. We are making note of our gains having taken the villa."

"How do we fare?"

"Well," Mira said. "Though for how long is uncertain." She nodded to the man across from her. "Gratitude. Join me, Cassia. We will have words with Spartacus and from there with one another."

Cassia nodded and called out. "Janus." The boy looked up from where he was and joined her presently.

He held on to the side of her stola as they walked with Mira. The woman was strangely quiet. Cassia left her to her thoughts. They would speak when they had but a moment.

Mira seemed to know Spartacus's position without needing to ask. They walked back to the atrium where the men trained. Cassia held Valeria closer to her breast as the babe started to stir at the noise.

"Attend your matters," Cassia told Mira. "I will wait presently."

Mira nodded and headed for Spartacus who had another take position against the one he was training. Cassia murmured to the babe as she moved back, away from the men. She had not yet had reason to doubt Spartacus's trust in them, but she would not wager with the children in hand.

If she allowed truth to stain her thoughts, she did not want to draw attention from their father. She did not intend to break her promise to Aurelia, but nearly every moment they shared ended in anger and raised voices. Aurelia must have been blessed by the Gods to have not killed the man previously, though, Cassia admitted to herself, the man seemed to make the attempt himself at every turn.

Sensing eyes upon her, Cassia looked up. One man standing to the sides was watching her. She made note of his face before turning her gaze from him. She was well aware of some of the words spoken against her. While the man's look was not malicious in intent, she would not see action follow. She felt for the familiar weight of the dagger against her thigh.

"Cassia," Mira's voice drew her from her thoughts. "Let us have words."

Cassia nodded and claimed Janus's hand before she followed her friend.

They moved further into the villa, away from the sounds of the men fighting. It was moments before Cassia realized that Mira had led them to the room she shared with Spartacus.

"Apologies for the choice," Mira said softly. "I would have words from prying ears."

"Speak them and I shall see if comfort can be given." Cassia unwound the cloth holding Valeria to her. The child was gaining quickly in months and size. She looked to the moment the babe could walk with eagerness. Janus left her side to explore the room with intent.

"Chadara spoke with me of Spartacus," she said slowly. "She took my interest as one of protection and position. As with you and Varro."

Cassia tried not to sigh. "The fault lies within the woman if she is blinded to the truth. You hold trusted position with Spartacus not by demand for protection, but of love."

"He holds no love for me," Mira replied softly. It was this moment that Cassia understood Mira's desire for words with her. A branch to further build on the foundations of their friendship.

"Then it is you who is blind," Cassia said. "Not all love comes with ease. If Spartacus held none for you, you would not remain at his side. The man would not hold you to him under demand of protection. Allow the chance for his affection to grow as it continues to do so."

Mira smiled at Cassia. "You speak from experience?"

Cassia made a face at that and then winced as the scars on her lips pulled. "I know little of the subject," she admitted.

"You spoke as though my thoughts were your own. Does Varro not turn your heart?"

At this, Cassia fully scowled. Mira laughed. "The man believed he had reason to know my thoughts, that we held each other in trust," Cassia told her.

"You do not?"

Cassia sighed. "He is not as vile as I once believed, but I am not friends with the man. I seek only to care for the children, for Aurelia."

Mira watched her for a moment. "Apologies," her friend said. "I would not press but words have passed along the others. They believed you claimed by the man."

"Then I will not suffer another's presence," Cassia said dryly. She watched as Janus came to his sister and stared as she gazed upon him.

Mira laughed again. "Are you not swayed by any man?"

Cassia paused, trying to find the words. "Our positions, prior to my release, were not ones of ease. I held no choice in who claimed my body nor what they demanded of me. I would hold that choice now."

Mira reached over and took Cassia's hand. "A worthy choice," she said softly. "I know of what you speak. Do not allow your fear to blind you from others. There are more granted if you would take what opportunity presents."

Cassia nodded slowly, though she did not agree. "Opportunity may remain hidden. The children are enough."

Mira gave her a smile, looking at the two children. Janus was making faces at his sister who giggled in response. "You are blessed."

"With your friendship."

There were Romans arriving.

After quick warning, Cassia took the children and hid while the men dealt with the intruders. The villa was dark and she was joined presently by some of the other former slaves. Ones who were not trained. Mira was not among them.

Cassia hummed softly in attempt to quiet the children. Dark looks were thrown her way but she gave no heed to the owners. She would do what was right for the children. That included sheltering them from the violence at hand.

Someone moved and sat next to her. Cassia glanced over to see the one named Chadara, who Mira spoke of earlier. In moments such as these, Cassia mourned the loss of her veil. It helped keep her further concealed from the gazes that lingered on her scars.

"I have heard much about you," the woman next to her spoke softly. "And yet there is more I wish to know."

"Give words to your thoughts," Cassia said, trying not to sigh. She was trapped to face the woman's questions until the men gave them leave to move. "I hold no promise to answer."

Chadara nodded and gave her a smile. It faltered briefly as her eyes fell to Cassia's scars before meeting her gaze. "It is of Varro."

"I hold no sway over the man," Cassia said, thinking back on Mira's words earlier.

"I only ask your position to him. I have heard words that hold no clear meaning on the purpose. The children are of his blood. Do they hold yours as well?"

"Allow me to put your thoughts to rest. They are his children. I am bound to them by promise held to their mother. She was a dear friend. I hold no claim to Varro. You are welcome to the man." She said it plainly to erase doubt. The woman would likely tell others the information she had gathered. Cassia did not hold any grief to Chadara or any others who desired to know. The man could fuck who he pleased. She did not care. Her concern was only to the children.

"Apologies," Chadara said. "And gratitude for the answer. I ask only as the man holds you in high regard.

"Your apologies are unneeded. There is no offence held."

Chadara did not have another opportunity to speak. One of the men arrived at the door to the room where they hid. Varro's curls shone in the light behind him.

"The Roman's are dead. Come." He said to all. Chadara glanced at Cassia who ignored the look, taking the time to ensure the children were well cared for.

"Gratitude," Chadara said to him as she touched his arm. "I would make my appreciation known."

Janus caught sight of his father and ran to him before Cassia could stop the boy. Varro picked him up quickly, grinning at the child. He looked at Charada briefly. "Unneeded. Join the others. They celebrate." He turned back to Cassia and moved toward her.

Standing from her position was not the easiest when she had Valeria bound to her. She tried to quiet the child as she grew restless.

"Cassia," Varro stepped in front of her. "How do you fare?" He offered her a hand. She took it gratefully, if only to save herself further from disrupting the child.

She was on her feet in seconds as he clasped her hand and pulled. She nodded and took her hand back. "Well. Your daughter needs milk."

He sighed. "I would not keep you from such a task. Come, we shall feed them both."

Cassia did not respond. Instead, she left the room. Chadara watched them still but Cassia paid no heed. She had told the woman she was welcome to try for the man's affections. If he did not want to take the woman, that was his choice. She would welcome the help with the children.

Cassia awoke at the sound of Valeria crying.

"Hush," a soft voice said. "Let them slumber. I have you."

Cassia looked to see that the babe that was usually beside her, was gone. She followed the voice to see Varro holding Valeria in his arms. Janus was curled up against her, pressed up on her back. Cassia remained where she lay but watched.

The man she thought so little of moved around the room, rocking his daughter as he sang softly. She could not place the tune, but it felt familiar, as though she had heard it before. For all that she was not blessed by Apollo, Varro did not hold such claims. His voice was not particularly deep, but he sang regardless.

She had only seen glimpses of this man, the one that Aurelia spoke of. They fought too often for it to be revealed to her clearly. Perhaps that was her own fault, holding him to the standards of her own father. Unusual circumstances brought new ones to her attention, that men like Spartacus existed and that Aurelia's words might have held true. She smiled softly, thinking of the woman. She would have crowed to Cassia that she spoke true.

Secure in the knowledge that the child was safe, Cassia allowed her eyes to close. She fell back into slumber, listening to Varro sing to his daughter.

[tbc]