Leo grew quickly during his first year of life. Achilles and I watched as he grew and began to become curious about everything around him. He was strong like his father and innocent like myself. Leo had a deep attachment and adoration for Achilles, as fathers and sons should. Almost every second of the day he was with him, going around the palace on various matters or being outside. However, there were times during the day when I shared moments with my son. The first being in the morning when he would nurse. I rocked him back and forth, humming soft lullabys to him and gazing into his beautiful blue eyes. He would drift back to sleep for a little while longer before completely waking up. I would hold him close until he woke up again. Once he was up, he was full of energy and ready to be with his father. I loved watching the two of them together. It was like watching my uncle with Paris and Hector long ago and then Hector and Paris with their own sons.

I had recently received a letter from my family in Troy, almost everyone writing something on the parchment. Hector and Andromache had welcomed their third child into the world, another daughter named Artemis. Their other two children, Astyanax and Chryseis were doing well and growing faster each year. Paris and Helen were expecting their second child, hoping to be blessed with a daughter. Their son Xavier had just turned three and was walking all about the palace, so they were chasing him everywhere. My aunt and uncle were both in good health and pleased to be around all their grandchildren. They all sent their love and adoration to my little Leo, stating that they couldn't wait to meet him. I laughed at the thought of Leo and all his little cousins running around playing together. It would be just like myself, Hector, and Paris all over again.

While Achilles had taken Leo out for the day, I sat down to write my reply letter to my family. Though I loved my life here in Phtia and would not trade it for anything else in the world, I did miss them in Troy. Mostly I missed their company, especially that of Andromache and Helen, the only sisters I had ever known in my life. The first letter I wrote was addressed to the entire family. I sent greetings and wrote of how well Leo was doing. He had reached his first year of life about three months back, so I was excited to tell them all the things he was accomplishing in his growth. I wrote that our visit to Troy should not be too far in the future if all things went well with our health and the weather. After finishing the letter to the family, I wrote a separate one for Andromache and Helen.

Dearest sisters,

The past three years of my life have been the most wonderful I have ever had. Achilles is the most wonderful husband in the world, doting on me in every way. He is also a doting father to Leo, taking him almost everywhere he goes and showing him all the things fathers should show their sons. Leo is growing everyday it seems like. I remember when he was still unborn and moving about inside of me. Now he is trying to take his first steps on his own, with some help from his father along the way. I love my son and my husband more than life itself and could not imagine my life without them. I am so happy to learn that both of you have welcomed new children to the world. I cannot wait to meet them and for you to meet Leo. But I fear our journey might be delayed a while longer. Do not worry, we are all fine in health. It is only the fact that I am with child again that will keep us from coming for another year. I have not told Achilles yet, nor will I until I am sure that nothing will go wrong with this child. I pray to the gods that this child be born healthy like Leo. I miss you both my sisters and hope to receive a reply from you soon.

Briseis

Together with the other letter, I sent them off with a messenger to be delivered to Troy as quickly as possible. A month later I received my reply from both my family and my sisters. My family again sent their love and wishes to see me soon with Achilles and Leo. I smiled as I read their letter because at the bottom, all the children signed it with their handprints and Andromache filled in their names below to distinguish which child was which. A second letter was enclosed, rolled up and sealed with Andromache's seal. Gently I broke the seal and began to read.

Briseis,

Upon reading your letter, we were overjoyed to learn that you are with child again. Every child is a blessing from the gods and is precious. Do not worry for we have kept your secret safe until you send the announcement to the family yourself. Once you are sure that this child will be healthy, send word to the family of the news. Please tell your husband soon for he will wish to share in the joy of a new child. We must tell you that we miss your company dearly. There has been no one to tease Paris or Hector in a long while because no one is as brave as you to stand up to them. All of the children are well and growing quickly, almost too quickly. Everyday they are doing something new to stir up trouble around the palace and keep all the servants on their toes. Just wait until Leo grows to that age and you'll be chasing him all over the place. We love you Briseis and miss you dearly. Please reply to us soon.

Your loving sisters.

I read the letter again and smiled. I put my hand to my stomach, which had just begun to round with the growing child within me. This baby was going to be fine, I knew it. The hardest part would be telling Achilles that we were going to have another child so soon after Leo. He would become insanely worried about my health and well being, as well as the new child. I did not want him to worry so much, but I knew he would anyways.

I rolled up the letters and put them away before leaving the room to go find my husband and son. They were playing outside on the beach, with Leo making mountains out of the sand as the tide rolled in and out. Achilles was watching on in a fatherly manner, pushing fresh sand in Leo's direction. I smiled and knelt down next to my husband.

"This looks like fun." I kissed his cheek.

"Our son may have a talent for building." He laughed as Leo patted the sand with his hand.

"All this sand will take forever to wash out of his hair." I joked.

"I think it's time for someone to take his bath." Achilles sat up and grabbed Leo, who squealed with laughter.

We took Leo inside and bathed him as he splashed in the water and popped the bubbles on top. He became sleepy as I dried him off and redressed him in his sleep clothing. After he was dressed, I layed his head on my shoulder and began to rock him, singing to him the lullaby I had always done since he was a newborn. When he was asleep, I put him in his cradle in the nursery next to our bedroom and went back into our room where Achilles was waiting for me. I shut the door behind me and he walked over, taking me in his arms and passionately kissing me. My body instantly responded by melting into his. He leaned over and took me into his arms, cradling me against him. Gently, he deposited me into our bed and climbed in soon thereafter. His gentle caresses and murmuring in my ear was enough to drive any woman crazy, but I remembered that I had to speak with him. I resisted his advances until he caught on that we needed to talk. He sat back, frustrated and unhappy with me.

"What is wrong Briseis?" he asked. Although he was irritated, he was still concerned for me.

"There is something I must tell you." I paused for a moment, hesitant and unsure. "A secret I have kept from you."

"A secret?" His voice hinted at betrayal.

"No. Not like that!" I tried to reassure him as quickly as I could. "It is a wonderful secret for both of us."

He took my hands. "Please do not ever scare me like that again!"

"I'm sorry..." I began to cry, feeling myself losing control of my emotions.

"Shhh..." Achilles kissed my forehead. "Please tell me what is going on."

My eyes were full of tears as I looked in my husband's eyes. I could feel my body shaking and I didn't even know why. Achilles was my husband, so I should not be afraid to tell him that we were expecting our second child. I knew he would share my joy because he loved Leo so much, but I just wasn't sure how to tell him right then. Finally, I just blurted it out.

"Achilles, I'm with child again." I fell into his shoulder, sobbing.

He held me close, brushing my curls with his hand and trying to comfort me. "Briseis, are you alright?"

"I'm fine." I cried into his shoulder.

"Then why are you crying?" He brought me from his shoulder to face me, wiping my tears with his hands.

"I was just so afraid to tell you because it is really soon after Leo was born. I didn't want you to be angry with me."

"How could I ever be angry? You have given me the greatest gift, our son, and now you are giving me another in this child." He placed his hand on my little stomach.

I felt a burden leave my shoulders as we sat together on our bed, talking about the new child. Achilles insisted that I begin to restrict my activities during the day for my health and that of the baby. Soon I forgot the fears I had previously harbored as we discussed names and how to get Leo to accept the idea of a new brother or sister. My baby boy would no longer be my only child and I did not know how I could love two children with the same love I had for just Leo. There was no doubt in my mind that I would love this child just as much, but would it diminish the love I have for Leo? I decided that it would never change the love I had for my son, but my love would simply grow for this new child.

The next few months were much more comfortable than before Leo was born. Achilles doted on me, making sure that I was resting enough and not doing too much. He continued to play with Leo everyday, but more often inside to be close if something should happen to me. I adored his caring nature and wondered what I would do if I didn't have him by my side.

Leo quickly noticed that my belly was not as soft as it once had been and that he could not be as close to me when I rocked him to sleep at night. Many times he began to cry because he could not cuddle on my lap the same way as before. Achilles and I tried to explain as best we could to a one-year-old that he was going to have a baby brother or sister soon, but he was too young to comprehend. So, I did the best that I could to comfort him as all these changes came about. It broke my heart to see my son so distraught, but I knew that he would get used to the idea once the baby was actually here.

I reached within one month of giving birth easily and without complications. Achilles loved being around me to feel the baby move around. This baby was much more relaxed than Leo was, which was a relief to my back and sides. It fluttered across my stomach in waves, occassionally sticking a hand or foot against my stomach so that I could see it. I would laugh and poke the hand or foot and it would move back again.

Thetis gladly agreed to help birth our second child and stay for the transition, more for Leo's sake. We all knew it was going to be difficult for him to not have me and Achilles all to himself anymore, so his grandmother would help that transition by giving him attention. Everything was going smoothly and much easier than I expected it to. I even found myself enjoying being with child a lot more than I did with Leo. This time I had more strength and was able to bear the weight of the child a lot easier. Secretly I knew that this baby was much smaller than Leo was, but still big enough to be healthy and move around. I wondered if the birth would be much easier than the first time. Thetis told me it would be because I had already previously had a child, but I still was not sure because of my small frame.

Early one morning I woke to Leo's cries in the next room. I got out of bed and went to the nursery to find him standing in his cradle, crying and distressed. He had woken up from a horrible dream and was frightened. I lifted him out of his bed and carried him to a nearby chair and sat down with him to rock him. He had been having frequent dreams that woke him from his sleep, terrified and scared to go back to sleep. For a long time he resisted me soothing him until I began to hum his lullaby. Finally, after an hour of trying, he was lulled back to sleep. I put him back in his bed and returned to bed myself.

As I layed in bed, I wondered if his nightmares were because of the new baby coming. I felt a pang of guilt hit me that my son might think I would abandon him. All he knew was that a new baby was inside of me, which he barely understood even that. I needed to reassure him that he was still my baby and always would be, no matter how many brothers and sisters he had in the future. I felt a throbbing sensation in my lower abdomen, but ignored it as I turned over to sleep. The throbbing subsided after a few minutes and I went to sleep.

A/N: So, another chapter down. Unknown amount left to go. Thank you for all the wonderful reviews!