Disclaimer: Once again I don't own anything….though I wouldn't mind getting Achilles or Alex for an early birthday present ::wink wink::.

A/N: Okay, part five! Raising the rating to R, just in case! I swear to all the Achilles/Briseis people out there they you will not be disappointed! I am even sneaking in a little something for you all this chapter. And again thanks to all the reviews!! ::sniffy sniff:: You like me! You really like me!....Or are you just using me for amusement?!.....Seriously, I could live with that! Also, to answer your question Kitty-Kat26, I just got the quotes from my head, from what I remember from the movie, so they're probably not a hundred percent accurate. Now onto the fic!!

A glowing ember
burning hot
burning slow
deep within I'm shaken by the violence
of existing for only you
I know I can't be with you
I do what I have to do –— "Do What You Have to Do" Sarah Mclachlan

Beatrice didn't like it. Not one bit. She wasn't the only one either. Cassandra looked like she was about to faint when Paul introduced her to Helen, and Beatrice saw Hector tense as well. Though why should they feel so bothered? Cassy obviously had her own private reasons for disliking the new union; what they were, Beatrice could only imagine. But, really, she shouldn't dislike Helen. Paul seemed very happy, and that's what counts right? Then why do I have this feeling of drowning when I look at them? Beatrice thought. Cassy had the same look about her, only ten times worse. "I think we should get some fresh air," Beatrice whispered to her cousin. Cassy only nodded.

"Uncle Peter," Beatrice said raising her voice. "Cassy and I are going out for a few minutes."

"What?" her uncle looked astonished. "What are you talking about?"

"There's something I forgot to do," Beatrice lied. She gave Peter the sweetest smile she could muster. "It will only take a few minutes. I'll be right back!"

"Well, why do you need Cassy to go with you?" he questioned.

"Oh, let them go dad." It was Hector. "Everything's been so hectic. They said themselves, they'll be right back." Beatrice thanked her cousin with her eyes and grabbed Cassy by the wrist, hurrying out the door before the freedom was revoked.

"What shall we do?" Cassy asked once they were outside. She seemed in a daze. Beatrice only shrugged. Cassy mimicked the gesture as the two began to shuffle down the street. Cassy fumbled in her purse, for what Beatrice did not know. "Crap!" her cousin cussed. "I'm all out!" Ah, there it was. Cigarettes. Beatrice had tried everything to get Cassy to quit, which meant squat. Cassy needed smokes like others needed to breathe.

Beatrice sighed. "Let's go to the market on the corner. Maybe we can get some flowers for the happy couple," she added as an after thought.

Patrick sighed. Uncle Alex had told him to wait in the car, which really wasn't that much of a punishment. He should feel grateful that Alex was even letting him come along. They were on the way to meet Mycenae. Undoubtedly though he would probably still have to wait in the car for that. Life really sucks he thought as he fiddled with the radio. He looked out the window. Whoa! Nice! He didn't mind sitting in the car now. This was inspired by the fact that two really fine girls were walking toward the car. Both girls had dark hair and were at least a few years older than Patrick. One was pale, the other tan. The pale one was taller than the Tan. As they pasted the car the pale girl stopped. She turned back and looked directly at Patrick. Her face was a blank slate as she looked at him, but her eyes spoke volumes. The way she was looking at him really freaked Patrick out. Luckily the other girl spoke to her. "I thought you wanted to get some cigarettes?" The two girls then proceeded into the convenient store.

"Okay, should we get them some white roses, 'cause you know, white's what they use for weddings….Though they're already married. Maybe yellow? Those are for friendship right? She's married to Paul now, so I guess she should be our friend…" Beatrice blabbed on. Cassy wasn't really paying attention, Beatrice knew. Cassy was in the candy aisle.

"The most important question is whether to get a Mr. Goodbar or Reese's," her cousin joked. Beatrice smiled at her from behind the flower stand. She was acting like her old self again. Beatrice didn't want to jinx it. She quickly grabbed a bouquet of white tulips. Cassy was already heading toward the checkout, deciding she really only needed to get cigarettes. Beatrice was smelling the flowers in her hand so that she didn't notice Cassy had stopped. When she looked up she noticed Cassy was behind her.

"What?" she asked. The two girls were at an angle to the checkout counter, about only a few inches away. "What the hell is wrong?" Beatrice asked; Cassy's eyes had gone wide and she looked even paler than usual, if that was even possible. Beatrice followed Cassy's gaze to the counter. There was only one customer. A guy. Beatrice looked back at her cousin quickly then back at the man. Beatrice could see why her cousin might look at him, he was attractive. He had short blond hair and tan skin. Even though he was wearing a jacket she could see he was strong. That was the word that popped into her mind, strong. Beatrice looked back at her cousin for a second. She never thought Cassandra would go for a guy like that. But then she saw that Cassy wasn't checking him out; she had a look of utter terror on her face. "Cass, are you okay? You know him or something?" She reached out her hand to touch her cousin's arm. Cassy didn't let her. Instead she bolted out of the store. What the hell?! Beatrice thought. "Cassy!!"

Alex paid for his cigarettes, slowly taking his time. He wanted to be as late as possible for the meeting with Mycenae. He had to admit that the chance of being able to piss Adam Mycenae off on a regular basis was a definite perk to this job. Alex could hear some sort of commotion behind him. He turned around and ran right into someone. "Shit!" the girl cursed. Her purse and some flowers she had been carrying fell from her hands, the contents of the purse spilled onto the floor.

"Oh, crap," he cursed, bending down to help her. "Sorry, I didn't…" he trailed off as he looked at the girl. Her dark hair was pulled back into a pony-tail, yet he thought he knew what it looked like down, and much longer. Her skin was tan and her eyes were a deep, deep brown, except that her eyes were down and he couldn't see their color. But he knew…he knew what they looked like. They were gentle and kind, yet teasing.

"It's okay," Beatrice said, though really it wasn't. She looked up as she was scooping some papers back into her purse. The guy looked even better up close. She could see that his eyes were blue.

Let me tell you a secret, something they don't teach you in your temple. The Gods envy us. They envy us because we're mortal, because any moment may be our last. Everything is more beautiful because we're doomed. You will never be more lovely than you are now. We will never be here again.

Briseis looked at him in wonder. 'I thought you a dumb brute. I could have forgiven a dumb brute.'

Beatrice shook her head. Was she having hallucinations? "Are you okay?" the man asked. Beatrice looked at him again. There was something so familiar about him, about his voice.

Am I going crazy like Cassandra? she thought. She shoved the rest of the things in her purse and shakingly stood up. "I'm…I'm okay. I ….have to go!" With that she ran out onto the street. When she got out there Cassy was nowhere in site. Beatrice thought she might have gone back towards home, so she quickly walked that way. She found her leaning against the entrance of an alley, less than a block away from the shop. The way she was convulsing, Beatrice knew she was crying. "Cassy, honey…?" She reached out her hand to touch her shoulder. Cassy was mumbling something, but at her cousin's touch she turned. Tears were streaming down her pale face. Cassy had never looked more beautiful.

"It wasn't supposed to happen like this," Cassy spoke. "It happened different last time. I know it did…even if I wasn't there." She wiped her cheeks and eyes. "Already….it's too late for you. You're hearts already calling for him…." She placed her hand on Beatrice's chest. "It's always been your destiny….But I pray it'll end different. Maybe Audrey's Hector won't have to die….Maybe you'll change him." Cassy turned back to the wall and traced her finger on the bricks. Beatrice just stared at her.

"Oh, Cassy," she hugged her cousin's back. "Let's just go home."

While the girls had been out, things had been happening at the Troies place. The meal had been finished and cleared, and Paul and Helen had been shown to a guest room, since they were planning on staying at least for the night. Hector had asked to speak to Paul for a moment. They were both in Hector's study now. Paul was looking out the window, toward the street in front of the house. "What do you think of her?" he asked.

Hector sighed. "She's very….beautiful," was all he said.

"Isn't she!" Paul turned to his brother smiling. "It was really important that you guys meet her. Especially you bro." Hector rubbed his knuckles, knowing what had to be said.

"Do you have any idea the trouble this could cause, Paul?" he asked in a clam voice. Paul didn't answer; he just sat down in a chair across from Hector. "Well? Do you?"

"It's nothing, okay. I love her. It's not a bad thing!"

"Not a bad thing! Not a bad— You know who her husband is!"

"Was," Paul scowled. "I'm her husband now. Matthew Mycenae couldn't even really be called a husband."

"Adam Mycenae has been looking for a reason to go after our father for years! Of course Matthew's going to run to his big brother about this! Did you ever even stop to think what you were doing?!" Hector was really steamed now.

"It's love, Hec; you're not supposed to think!!" Hector stood up and made a motion like he was going to hit Paul, but he stopped at the last second. Paul had sunk down into his chair, frightened. "Look…I did think about it, okay? Don't worry. We'll only stay the night. We're leaving tomorrow…leaving the country. We're going to Italy."

"Oh no you most certainly are not!" Both boys turned to the door, where their father was standing. He stepped into the room. "It's not everyday one of my sons gets married!" Hector had to smile at this. He had expected Paul to be married at least twice by now. "I've already talked to Audrey. We're throwing a party for you, since none of us were there for the wedding. It'll be in two days, at the Plaza. So of course you'll be staying," Peter smiled at his younger son.

"Dad, really, that's great and all…But Helen and I—"

"Helen and you are family! You're my children and I am still the head of this house! You're staying and that's final."

"I just don't want to be any trouble, dad." Though Paul couldn't help but smile at his father.

"Trouble? You've been trouble since the day you were born, Paul. Why should you change now? But that's a son's job anyway, to cause his father trouble and grief," Peter smiled. "Now, you better go talk to Audrey about what you want before it's too late. You know how she is." Paul nodded and hugged his dad before leaving the room. Hector couldn't look at his father. Instead he looked out the window as Paul had done. He could see Cassy and Beatrice coming back. They were holding onto each other as though they might fall over.

"It is going to be trouble," he said finally, still not looking at Peter. Peter nodded.

"Let us be happy, Hector. Even for a short time. God knows we need happiness." Peter left the room.

Hector kept his gaze on the street below. But God does not give happiness for free.

A/N: Yes, it's kind of short! Next chapter will be longer, I promise. They'll be a party with lots of intrigue!!!