The children were enthralled by the elderly gent. He told stories even better than Seamus did. Like Meaghan, he made no distinction between her children and Elsbeth's. And like Charlemagne, he was absolutely captivated by the little girls. As he regaled them with yet another tale, he would periodically twine fine red curls around his fingers and watch them spring free, seemingly fascinated by the process.
Harper felt more than a little uncomfortable. True, he had met gods before, and was even friends with one. But he had known Meaghan as Meaghan before he knew she was really Aphrodite. The war god he had mostly seen from a bit of a distance, and hadn't really interacted with at all. But now the father of both gods was sitting here next to him telling myths, (or were they myths?) to the children he was tending. He started fidgeting and squirming worse than the children.
"Calm down, Mr. Harper." Seamus started, he'd never gotten around to introducing himself. "I'm just here to visit my daughter and her family. I'm especially anxious to see the son-in-law that she was ready to give up everything for."
"They're not here," Seamus muttered.
"I'm quite aware of that," the father of the gods observed. "I even know where they are and what they're doing. But given some of the attitudes that my daughter has picked up of late, I thought it more prudent to be already established here when she returned."
"You know?" Harper blurted out. "Then why aren't you helping them?"
"Aphrodite is handling things well enough on her own," the old man remarked blandly. "I suspect that at this point she might even resent my interference." He cocked his head to one side, smiled impishly, then went back to the story he was telling.
&&&&&&&
Meaghan was in her room, actually the one that had been Charlemagne's at the time of their meeting, pacing, and, well, just pacing. Frantically. She had counseled patience to all and sundry involved in the rescue effort, but for herself, the war of nerves was taking its toll on her. She wanted it over and done with. She wanted her husband back in her arms. And she wanted to exact a little revenge on the goddesses who had had the unmitigated temerity to abscond with her husband. "Time, Andromeda?" she demanded of the unseen AI.
"Five minutes since the last time you asked." The hologram appeared and wavered as Meaghan paced right through it. "Meaghan, wearing a rut in the deck isn't going to help, you or Charlemagne. Why don't you find something constructive to do to occupy your time?"
"Such as?" the goddess snapped out the question, then immediately relented taking out her temper on an innocent bystander. "I'm sorry, Andromeda. I'm just a little tense."
The AI seemed to consider for a moment. "Since we aren't going anywhere for a while, Bekka has nothing to do. Why not work out with her? She's already in the gym."
Despite everything, a grin tugged at the corners of Meaghan's mouth. "Just like old times?" she prompted.
"Just like old times," the hologram agreed.
&&&&&&&&
Charlemagne was pacing. He wished he knew what was holding Meaghan up. He knew he was unaware of all the ins and outs of the current situation, but he was dying to see Meg. And get out of here. And cuddle and play with his children. But the waiting was driving him insane.
"Bored, pretty boy?" It was Eos again. He sighed. Would they never tire of their games?
"I am now." Charlemagne made a show of ignoring her, but kept his attention carefully on her. No more silly mistakes like the one that had gotten his back laid open.
Eos swayed towards him, moving like a willow in the wind. "Why so stubborn still, lover? Do you really believe that Aphrodite will be able to find you?"
"I know she will." Half-truth at worst. Meaghan already knew where he was. But when was she going to get here?
She twined a fair lock of hair around one finger, attempting to look alluring and innocent. As far as Charlemagne was concerned she could have saved herself the effort. Hadn't he gotten he message across that he simply wasn't interested?
The pout began manifesting itself again. "What has Aphrodite got that we haven't?"
"Me, for one thing." He didn't even fight the grin this time. "Have you ever considered that in the course of all that time, she has changed? Her beauty goes far deeper than her face and figure." The grin spread. "Not that I have any complaint with those, either."
Clouds drifted across the face of dawn. "Are you saying that we are immature? How dare you?"
Charlemagne shrugged. "Put your own construction on things, I've no doubt you will anyway. But know this. I am absolutely not in the slightest bit attracted to either you or your sister, and I never will be."
"Never is a very long time, Charlemagne," Eos pointed out. "We've been around long enough to know how to deal with it. You, I suspect, are not nearly so patient." She flickered and changed into the semblance of Meaghan again. "I may not be your wife, yet. But I think ere long you will be willing enough to accept a substitute."
He found the impersonation a profanation. "Stop that. You are not Meg. You can never be Meg. I will never accept you as Meg. How many times do you need to be told something before it begins to sink in?"
Her visage returned to its normal appearance. "I could set you free, Charlemagne. All I ask is that you lay with me once. Just one time. Is that so high a price to pay?"
He pretended to consider her offer. "And just what assurance do I have that you will keep your word?"
Her eyes lit up as she perceived him to be weakening. "The word of a goddess, lover. If you like, we could seal the bargain with a kiss."
Charlemagne couldn't keep the revulsion from showing on his features. "You just never do stop trying, do you?" He crossed the room to the bed, flung himself down on it and crossed his arms and ankles. "I don't imagine I could really stop you if you were as determined as you say you are. So take what you want. Just don't expect me to cooperate. Or to enjoy it." He was taking a risk, and he knew it, but maybe, just maybe, if he offended her enough, she would finally take the hint.
She undulated towards him. "You have entirely the wrong attitude, Charlemagne. I could make it very enjoyable for you." She bent down as if to kiss him.
He yawned in her face.
Eos' mouth opened and shut several times, as though she wanted to say something, curse him, perhaps, but couldn't think of anything sufficiently denigrating. He blinked, and she was gone.
&&&&&&&&&&
Harper had had a bit of difficulty persuading the children to go to bed, and finally only succeeded by promising that their new-found grandfather would still be there when they woke. At long last they were all tucked in and between one breath and the next, the little eyelids fluttered shut and they dropped off to sleep.
He made his way back to the salon where the old man seemed to be drowsing on the couch. Seamus started to go back the way he came, not wanting to disturb him, when the codger said, "Stay, please, Mr. Harper. I think we both might benefit from a chat without the presence of the children."
Harper warily took a seat opposite the god. "Okay, I don't suppose that you'd care to fill me in on things, would you? Meaghan couldn't, or wouldn't. I guess they don't want to talk about that stuff in front of the kids."
Zeus shrugged. "There's really not much to tell. A couple of goddesses who wanted immortal lovers but didn't know how to phrase the request properly, and didn't particularly deserve the gift anyway, became jealous when they saw that I had given Aphrodite's husband immortality and eternal youth. So they decided to steal him." He chuckled. "They don't seem to be having much luck with their acquisition though. My son-in-law seems to be quite a stubborn man."
"Show me a Nietzschean who isn't." Harper relaxed. "What made them think they could get away with it? Surely they must have realized that Meaghan would come after him."
"They may be goddesses," Zeus explained. "But intelligence is not a pre-requisite for godhood. They created a hidey-hole out of space and time and thought themselves secure." He paused for a moment. "I'm sure my daughter will fill in everything when she returns. Tell me, young man, does this Nietzschean truly make my daughter happy?"
"She.., she.., lights up when he's around," Harper struggled for just the right words. "And I'm not talking about that light of love thing, impressive as it was. It's more like an inner glow that burns so bright that it shows all the way through her."
"You share the eloquence of your ancestors when you have a mind to," the old man remarked. "I knew about the light of love, my son told me." He sighed. "I'm afraid I never was much good as a father, but in my fashion, I do care about my children. And though a parent should never admit to partiality, Aphrodite was always my favorite. The only thing that kept me from granting her request from the onset was that I had to make sure that she really knew what she was asking for. That she really desired it with all her heart."
Harper was feeling an acute attack of sentimentality come on, but Meaghan often had that effect on people. "I know I'm not anybody, but I think you did the right thing. And seeing them together, well, they just look like they belong with each other."
The old man nodded. "I can hardly wait till they arrive. Seeing things from afar is a poor substitute for direct observation. But you look fatigued, Mr. Harper. Why don't we call it a night?"
Seamus quit trying to suppress his yawns. The kids had taken a lot out of him today. "Yeah, I am kinda beat. Good-night."
&&&&&&&&
"How much time left, Andromeda?" Meaghan asked for the umpteenth time.
"1 hour, 20 minutes and 17 seconds," the AI answered.