Briseis rubbed her stomach and smiled. She was only two months away from meeting her second child. Every ounce of her being hoped that this child was a girl. After all, she had already given Achilles a son. Their son, Alex, had just reached his first birthday a month ago. It was a celebration for the entire family as Andromache's daughter, Zuri, celebrated her first birthday as well.
Now Briseis stood on the balcony and let the early morning wind blow around her, sweeping her chocolate curls around her face. Not even the sun had risen yet. The baby kicked her lower stomach and she laughed. She found that this time around, her pregnancy was much easier. With family so close by, her nerves relaxed and her tension eased. A few moments later, she felt a soft brush against her skin at the nape of her neck. Briseis smiled and turned to see Achilles waiting behind her.
"I thought I might find you out here," he said, taking her into his arms.
"I was having a quiet moment alone with the baby. She keeps kicking me right here," she replied, pointing to her lower abdomen and laughing.
"So, you are sure that this baby is a girl?" Achilles asked sarcastically while grinning.
"Of course I am," Briseis answered confidently. "Besides, this baby feels differently than Alex did."
"How so?" he asked, concerned.
"Well, for one it is much lower in my womb than Alex was. This child is more active than Alex and kicks me so much more," she explained.
"I believe you that this child is a girl," he said.
"Do you want a girl?" she asked timidly.
"Yes I do. We have a son already. Now all we need to complete our family is a little girl to cherish," Achilles replied. "Now come back to bed before you get sick."
Briseis felt a little tug at her hand and she followed Achilles back to their bed. She propped herself up on her pillows and Achilles laid beside her. He bent over and kissed her stomach.
"Thank you," he said.
"What for?" she asked, confused.
"For giving me a son and now a second child," he replied.
Briseis smiled and placed her small hand on his cheek. Gently, she pulled him to her lips and kissed him softly. Achilles's heart warmed when she curled into his arms and fell asleep. He loved feeling her soft, warm breaths against his skin and the kicks of their child as her stomach touched his. Moments like this were what made everything worthwhile. Now he was part of a family and accepted among her kin. Nothing was more important to him now than his family. Dreams of both of his children swept him into a deep sleep with Briseis still secure in his arms.
Later that day, Briseis was sitting in Andromache's room with Andromache and Helen as the children played on the floor. Zuri and Alex were growing stronger everyday as both were attempting steps on their own. Astyanax's language skills grew with each new day. He now spoke in semi-full sentences and understood small commands from his mother. Briseis smiled.
"They have all grown so much since we were reunited," Andromache remarked.
"I agree," replied Briseis.
"Before we came here, I never once saw the children smile. Both of them were always so miserable. Even Zuri was so fussy as a newborn," Andromache said.
"Well, now they have family and their mother is happy," Helen spoke up.
"Indeed," Andromache said.
Helen sat staring at the children smiling. She loved them all dearly as if they were her own. For many nights she had prayed for the gods to grant her and Paris their own child. It seemed as if their prayers would never be granted. However, she could wait no longer to tell her cousins.
"Cousins," she said, "I have something to tell you."
"Yes," Andromache and Briseis replied in unison.
"The gods have finally answered my prayers and pleads. I am with child," Helen exclaimed excitedly.
"Helen, that is wonderful!" Briseis said.
"Yes. You and Paris will be wonderful parents," Andromache said.
"I learned from the two finest mothers I know," Helen replied, embracing her cousins close, being careful of Briseis's stomach. "I am so nervous and excited. I just want to give Paris a healthy child."
"You will," Briseis reassured her. "We will be at your side when you give birth and help you through it."
"We promise," Andromache said.
"You should have seen the look on Paris's face when I told him. He was as shocked as I was at first. Now we are growing used to the idea of having a baby. We have even decided on one name for sure if it is a boy," Helen stated.
"What is it?" Andromache asked.
"Paris and I have decided that if this child is a boy, his name is going to be Hector Priam after the two greatest men in our lives, Paris's brother and father," Helen explained.
"That is a good name for a baby boy. What if it is a girl?" Briseis asked.
"We thought about it and cannot decide between two names. Both of us like Selene Rose and Aria Lily," Helen replied.
"Those are both beautiful names for a girl!" Andromache exclaimed.
"Indeed," agreed Briseis.
The three women sat together in the room watching the children play. Smiles graced their faces as the children laughed in delight. While the women were doting on the children, the men were having their own conversation as well.
"How is Briseis doing?" Paris asked.
"She is doing well. The baby is active more and more. Honestly, she is excited about this baby more because her family is here to be with her," Achilles said.
"I am delighted to hear my cousin is so pleased. She has rested more this time?" Paris asked.
"I have made sure of that. My eyes never leave her when Helen and Andromache are not around," Achilles explained.
"Now we have two women to keep under watch," Paris said.
"I do not understand, two women?" Achilles asked curiously.
"Helen is now with child as well. The gods have finally answered our prayers for a child after so long," Paris said.
"I am so happy for you my brother. I think that between the two of us and Andromache, Briseis and Helen are not going to be doing much of anything for a while," Achilles said chuckling.
"Hector would have enjoyed being here. So much of Astyanax and Zuri's life will be spent trying to figure out who their father was," Paris lamented.
"They still have their uncle and mother to remind them of the man their father was," Achilles said.
"My brother was always trying to protect me from the evils of the world. When we were kids and I did something wrong, he would take the brunt of the punishment from our father so I would not be hurt," Paris said.
"I was that way with Patroclus. When he first came to live with my mother after his parents died, I was ten and he was three. I took it upon myself to teach him everything I knew as we grew up. He was an eager student and quick learner," Achilles stated.
"I believe both of them found their way to paradise with the gods when they died. Did Patroclus ever have a wife or an intended?" Paris asked.
"He was in love before we left for Troy. A girl named Syrai. When I returned home, it broke her heart to learn that he had died, even more so because she had carried and birthed his child. A little girl she named Cristali. She confessed to me that they had intended to get married when he returned from Troy," Achilles replied.
"How tragic," Paris remarked. "I cannot fathom what Helen would do if I were gone."
"I could not stand to leave Briseis alone, especially now that we are to have two children in our household," Achilles said.
"What ever happened to the girl?" Paris asked.
"She vowed never to love another. We took her in here and she lives on the other side of the palace. Syrai was a vibrant person with a lot of love to give. Patroclus's death took a lot of the life out of her and she mostly stays to herself now and takes care of her daughter," Achilles answered.
Their conversation was interrupted by the horrifying screams of a woman coming from the palace. Both men rushed to see what was going on and were met with terror.
A/N: Dun dun dun…cliffhanger again. Sorry I haven't updated this story in a while. Forgive me and please don't throw rocks. Well, please read and review.