Play a Little Longer

Okay, the SIXTH chapter. Woo-hoo! I won't keep you too long and just get started on the story, okay? I only have to give yet ANOTHER shout out to Split Persona for her unending help. Yes, Split, you gave me this idea so you SHOULD know who the woman is…hope it's up to your expectations.

To the rest of you, PLEASE REVIEW!!! I'm on my hands and knees, begging, beseeching, and IMPLORING you to please review! I love reading them and I really need them to go on with the story!

To those of you that did review to the fifth chapter, thanks so much!! You know who you are, but in case you suffered from amnesia in that long span between updates, I'll remind you with a shout out of thanks. Those people are: MuninK, Split Persona, and Kazumi! THANKS SO MUCH; YOU MADE MY DAY!

Also, just a reminder…I am a poor college student now, classes started Aug. 25. This means that until my days off or weekends, you'll have to just have more patience for my updates.  Thanks a lot and I hope you enjoy!

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"I'll agree with you on that one. Okaa-san…expecting, mother?" A woman appeared to her left, bowing slightly in respect. She had long brown hair and gentle, brown eyes.

"I…uh, yes, I'm expecting." Aphrodite stuttered nervously, wondering where this woman had come from. The woman laughed lightly, then voiced a question in a language Aphrodite could not grasp…it was high and soft at the same time, but very quick, like fire catching on the tongue.

"I'm sorry…I don't understand." Aphrodite explained, showing her confusion through her eyes instead of through her features.

The woman smiled and understood immediately, switching over quickly to English. "That better?" Aphrodite smiled her thanks. "I asked if this child would be your first."

"Oh…yes, you could say that." Aphrodite replied and the woman gave her a sad look.

"I'm sorry, the first one is always the hardest. But it's the best feeling when you hold your first child in your arms the moment after birth…or at least I've been told." The woman blushed suddenly and smiled slightly. "I wouldn't be able to disagree with that sentiment or agree. I only have helped take care of teenage boys for the last year and a half…boy, I can vouch for those years being terrible!" The woman laughed again and Aphrodite felt a smile tug at her lips. "Are you a traveler?"

"Uh…yes, I'm a traveler." Aphrodite replied, the last part a little quick. She cursed herself as the woman glanced at her, looking her up and down for a sign of lying. For the first time in any of her lies, Aphrodite felt her body betray their own secrets. Her palms grew sweaty and she couldn't focus her sight on one thing for very long. However, the woman let the lie slide and changed the subject.

"So…do you have any where to stay, traveler?" The woman asked, brushing aside a strand of hair. She was still smiling, putting Aphrodite at ease.

"No, not right now…I was hoping to work for my stay." Aphrodite replied softly, lowering her head at the mention of work. She had always worked on love potions before…that job wouldn't earn her much in the greedy realm of mortals today.

"An expecting mother, traveling, and expecting to find a job?" The woman asked incredulously, making Aphrodite flinch. However, the woman just smiled. "I shall not allow it. Another thing I realize about raising children, even teenage boys, is the fact that they catch on quick to how we treat others. What would the boys say if I were to turn down a pregnant woman a place to stay?" The woman paused for a quick breath, but not for a reply to the question so Aphrodite kept her mouth shut. "My name is Mia Koji, I live a few miles away…can I ask what your name is?"

"Uh, yes…my name…my name is…Aphrodite." The goddess in disguise flinched at using her real name, but no other suitable name came to her at the moment. However, the woman, Mia, only raised her eyebrows as her smile grew.

"Let me guess…you travel far, and your homeland lies somewhere in Greece?" Mia asked, her voice betraying a hidden laugh.

Aphrodite blushed and nodded, not having the courage to voice another lie today.

"Well, let's head off to my house. Once there, you can meet my five boys, settle in, and get a drink to help take care of how hot you must feel."

Aphrodite kept silent as she followed Mia, the woman hoisting a suitcase that Hermes must have been told to leave so she didn't stick out like a sore thumb. Silently, she offered some thanks to Zeus for the help he was willing to spare.

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Mount Olympus

Zeus gave a slight smile when he heard Aphrodite's small thanks raised to him. He wondered, though, how long she would thank him when she realized just WHO she would be sharing a house with for the next two weeks…just whose house she would be living at when she birthed the babe that was half of Sage Date, a resident of the same house.

Zeus's attention was turned away from his little scheme when he heard his daughter moan and stir on the bed that he had placed her on. It had been over five hours mortal time, but on Mount Olympus, it seemed like barely thirty minutes had passed since she had collapsed.

Zeus smiled as he gazed into her fluttering, sleep-heavy eyes, and then drew his eyes to the swelling womb. Everything had gone according to plan. Nothing was to worry about, Athena and the new babe would be fine. Hestia had left little more a few immortal minutes ago, proclaiming the child was healthy and would be born within three weeks, if not two.

However, Athena sat up suddenly, her eyes searching for something…and they showed dismay when she couldn't find the object of her search.

"Athena…what depresses you so? Your child shall be fine." Zeus offered his comfort to her, but Athena didn't answer. She just allowed some tears to fall from her eyes and roll down her cheeks.

Zeus sighed, unhappy once again. He had forgotten about the troublesome mood swings that accompanied even an immortal birthing, and his daughter would be giving birth to a mortal. 'Oh well,' Zeus sighed again, 'At least she won't suffer the pain of childbirth…immortals always have easy births, first to the last.'

Gently and cautiously, Zeus helped Athena to her feet and led her outside of his own temple-house. At the door, Athena refused to budge.

"Father, answer my question first. What did my mother look like?" Zeus was, to say the least, startled by the question and at first didn't answer the question placed before him. "Father, please tell me!"

"Your mother? Athena, daughter of mine, why do you feel the need to know?" Zeus asked, gazing at her in confusion. She stared right back at him, refusing to answer, so, stuttering, Zeus told her. "Your mother…well, she had hair like flaxen and eyes as deep and blue as the ocean. She had a fiery temper and a stubbornness that even the gods could not rival once she had made up her mind. You inherited her hair…and her temper…gods, you are so much like her sometimes that I feel you are her…" Zeus trailed off and Athena smiled.

"Thanks father…I'm glad you told me." Without waiting, Athena blinked out of sight, no doubt disappearing to Crete to think while she awaited the birth of Rowen's child.

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"Here we are. Welcome to my humble abode!" Mia said happily as she threw open her door. Aphrodite, who was right behind her, paused and looked up, recognition dawning on her face.

She swallowed heavily before replying, "You…you live here?"

"Yep. I live here with five teenage boys…and one pet tiger. Hope you don't mind." Mia added sheepishly, looking back at her guest. Aphrodite forced a smile to her face, pretending for the entire world that she didn't care that she was in the house of the boy who had sired her child.

She gulped heavily when Mia finally turned away from her, promising something along the line of a drink. Mia invited her to sit in the living room and relax while the drink was prepared.

Aphrodite took her up on the offer of sitting down since her back was hurting again, but she didn't relax at all. Instead, she tensed at every sound that came from above or from outside. Silently, she cursed Zeus's name for all that he was and all that he had put her through. She could hear Zeus, though, and he didn't seem too concerned with her situation. No, not at all…in fact, he was LAUGHING at her from the corner of her mind.

I suppose you will think twice before breaking my seal again, won't you Aphrodite? Zeus reprimanded, but Aphrodite growled.

"Wait till I get my hands…" Aphrodite growled, but was cut off by Mia asking what she was saying. Thinking fast, Aphrodite replied, "Ice…I said I would like a lot of ice if you don't mind."

A soft acknowledgement came from the kitchen and shortly after, Mia joined Aphrodite and the two women sat quietly in the room, occasionally sipping from their glasses.

"So…would you mind if I asked why you were visiting all of the sudden when you are so close to giving birth?" Mia asked hesitantly.

Aphrodite replied slowly, choosing her words carefully. "Well, to tell the truth…I had planned this trip for well over a year with my husband. We recently divorced when he found out I was with child because he claimed he wasn't ready for that responsibility…however, he gave me a ticket to go for my baby shower that I had three months ago. Even though I knew it would be close to the birth of my child, I just didn't want to give the chance up. I mean, who knows when I might be able to see Japan again?"

"Yes…so, do you like what you have seen of Japan so far?" Mia was trying desperately hard to carry on a conversation with the woman she thought to be Greek, traveling, and ready to bust with child at any moment.

Aphrodite gave a half-hearted smile and replied, "Yes, your country is very beautiful."

Aphrodite prayed that the inquisitive woman wouldn't ask much more about her guest because she was running out of things to say. How could she explain her present predicament without landing in an asylum? She didn't think there was any way possible. However, it seemed that Mia wasn't done with her questions as she opened her mouth to ask yet ANOTHER question…

But then somebody opened the door, the creak distracting Mia from her question and Aphrodite heaved a sigh of relief…that is, until she realized who it was that had just come home.

Mia stood up and went to the living room entrance. She talked softly to who Aphrodite supposed was one of the boys for a long time before reaching forward and grabbing his hand. Aphrodite strained to see which one it might be…and gasped as Sage was dragged into the room, looking extremely sullen.

"Sage, I would like you to meet our guest for the few days she will be staying here. She is from Greece and her name is Aphrodite. Aphrodite, this is Sage Date." Aphrodite lowered her head in a customary Japanese show of respect, but when she looked back up, she was met with the fierce gaze of the blond. He seemed to bore right into her with that look, and the scowl that rested upon his fair face did nothing to help matters.

Could he possibly know what occurred? Not many mortals remember what happened to them after an encounter with a god…Aphrodite started as she forced herself to look away from Sage and across to the other side of the room.

However, she was startled out of this revere when a soft voice said from behind, "You are right, Aphrodite. Not many mortals do remember the tricks we play on them, the potions you hide in their food…or a memorable night of pleasure with the goddess of love herself. That is, unless I get involved."

The voice was cool and held an air of authority with it. Before turning to talk to the new being in the room, Aphrodite knew that it was Apollo. She scowled slightly to know that troublesome god had involved himself and turned to scold him.

"Remember, my dear, you are in the presence of mortals. They'll throw you away if they think you are talking to the air…and if you try to communicate with me, that will most certainly seem to be the case." There was a touch of laughter hidden in Apollo's voice as Aphrodite turned away again to face Mia and Sage.

Sage was still staring at her, the scowl gone but his eyes still seemed to be searching for the truth…searching deep into her own blue orbs of light blue with his gray ones. His gray eyes made her nervous and she adjusted her position so she wouldn't be looking directly at him. Silently, she growled at Apollo and Zeus for putting her through this, already adding Apollo to her "Hurt" list when she became an immortal again.

"Tut, tut, Aphrodite. You shouldn't want to hurt me for only revealing the truth to a confused boy. Indeed, he remembered the event on his own…he just only had fragmented memories that needed a little glue and guiding hand to give him the whole picture."

And I suppose you were that glue and guiding hand? Aphrodite accused, but all she received was laughter from Apollo. She couldn't harass him for more information for at that point, the other four boys entered from various parts of the house and Mia rose to give introductions.

After introductions, Mia proclaimed that she was to make lunch and she wanted Rowen to show their guest to the room she could have downstairs. Aphrodite felt that Sage's piercing gray eyes and glare followed her until she disappeared out of sight…but even in the cool of the basement, she felt like they were still burning into her.

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Athena smiled at the little hut she had prepared in the mountains of Crete. It was a simple home, with a thatch roof and similar construction to that which ancient Greek peasants had used to make their homes. It was circular and straw thatched together securely to keep out the cold on the walls. A simple concoction of mortar helped seal in even more warmth.

A small cook fire was in the center, and there was a hole in the top that allowed the smoke to casually waft out, but surprisingly, it had never let in cold air, even for when the peasants had used this method. There were a few pots and pans as well as a supply of food to last the two children for a while. Zeus had given her three goats so she could feed the children milk since any child that nursed from an immortal mother would turn immortal itself. There was also a small store of ambrosia and nectar, enough in even its smallest form to last her for her remaining months…and what could possibly seem like four to seven years to the children if the potion continued its magic after they were born.

Athena was extremely proud of herself. It had only taken her three days to make this house, using as little amounts of her magic as possible. It was up in the mountains were no one would disturb her unless they sought her out. And then, even if they did stumble up here, she had magic protecting her, allowing her to decide if the entering person was worthy to see her.

Athena settled back on straw mat, not knowing what else to do. She was heavy with pregnancy and wanted to continue cleaning…but she couldn't clean or set up anymore. For right now, she had a week and a half to wait before the child would be born…she would have to find some way to pass the time…

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Aphrodite never knew how fast the time could pass.

Two weeks had almost come and gone…and she was in labor now with the child that would be taken from her moments after its birth. In that sense, she knew it was appropriate that her labor pangs were starting late at night. That would mean Zeus could swoop down and take the child and she would be helpless to stop it.

But Aphrodite refused to give the child she had grown to love up so easily. At the first contraction, she cried out in surprise, pain and happiness. The other inhabitant's of Mia's house, who had been expecting the arrival of the child, came to her aid quickly. A midwife came when Mia called for her and within an hour, a healthy baby girl came into the world. At that same moment, Aphrodite saw the lights dim and features slow…Zeus would not be so easily thwarted.

He appeared before her when all the mortals in the house were frozen in time and space. He picked from the housewife's arms a small, red child with a fine covering of blond hair. The babe stirred at contact and her cries pierced the silence of the frozen room.

"Did you really think to escape my judgment, Aphrodite?" Zeus asked softly, his voice a low rumble as his presence calmed the child. He cradled her to his chest, brushing her blond curls back with a single finger. Without a word, the child was suddenly swaddled in white robes and Zeus smiled. "The child shall be safe…"


Zeus turned to leave and Aphrodite cried out, beseeching him one last time. "Please, Zeus, don't do this to me! I might have carried her for a shorter time, but I still love her desperately! Please!"

"I do not retract my judgment!"

"But…but the mortals! They know I have a child…how will I explain this to them?" Aphrodite's voice rose in desperation. She knew from the time he had confronted her that he was going to take the child…but not until this very moment, where she had only seen the babe from afar, how much this would really tear at her heart.

"I am not that thick, Aphrodite. A duplicate has been left, devoid of all life. They shall think you birthed a stillborn and only you shall know the truth. You have three days as a mortal left, make good use of them and maybe I shall let you see this child later." Zeus smiled down at the child before he disappeared from sight.

"NO!!!" Aphrodite screamed as the last contraction made her shudder and time returned to normal. The midwife hefted the child that Aphrodite already knew had no life in it.

The child was cleaned off and Aphrodite watched silently as the midwife tried to find out if the child was living. She turned her head aside when the midwife shook her head and let the tears come silently, letting them slide down her sweaty face. She heard Mia and the midwife move around…Mia wrapping the child in stray rags, the midwife making a call to the hospital to report the stillborn…it all seemed so loud.

A hand was placed on her shoulder and a soft voice whispered, "It will be all right."

She turned slightly and drew in her breath to see Sage staring at her with compassion and…was that tears shimmering in his eyes as well? She turned back away but Sage didn't leave like she expected. In fact, he tried to continue the conversation.

"You know, I know who you really are. Apollo told me and although I find it hard to believe…I do. I was really upset with the fact that you had to cheat to get me to lie with you and have a child by you but as the time came closer for you to have the child…I grew excited. I wanted to see a wondrous creation made by me." Sage paused and waited until she turned to face him. "I'm sorry the baby didn't survive. I would have still claimed it as my own."

That brought fresh tears to her eyes and Aphrodite turned away. Sage didn't leave though and when he heard the first cry escape from her, he was there to comfort her. He brushed the hair away from her face, whispered soothing thoughts, and wiped away her tears.

From the doorway to the living room, Rowen watched from the shadows, allowing a feral growl to escape his throat at the kindness that Sage poured on the young woman who had lost her child. He knew he should feel sorry for her, but he just couldn't handle Sage acting so tenderly to the woman. He loved Sage desperately…then to hear Sage say he would claim the child as his own, Rowen felt something die inside of him. So Sage wasn't what he thought…and silently, keeping his tears and hurt hidden, he wandered back upstairs.

As he walked back upstairs, he didn't catch the next thing that Sage asked Aphrodite.

"I know everything about what happened. Is the child that Rowen conceived by Hera born this day as well?"

"…I think so." Aphrodite turned her head away, knowing that she would have to hurt herself once more…but she had to do this. "You need to love him. Putting your hopes and thoughts into these children will do you no good…love him like you did before me."

Tears escaped again as Sage didn't say anything, but then he leaned over her, brushing her lips with his. She turned to him with clouded hope in her eyes but he smiled at her and whispered softly, "Thank you for setting me free."

Aphrodite smiled softly, knowing she had done the right thing as she watched him head upstairs to find Rowen.

"But I will never stop loving or protecting you." She whispered softly to herself before the midwife came in to help clean her up and get her into clean clothes.

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Okay, so that last part might have seem a little forced…I hope you still like it, but if not, I may consider re-writing it.

PLEASE GIVE ME A REVIEW AND ANY IDEAS YOU WANT TO SEE!!! It really helps me a lot…THANKS SO MUCH FOR READING!!!