A/N: So I know 14 years is a LONG time to wait for an update. But I finally got the muse back for this story. Please accept my apologies and enjoy this next installment.

The following months were complete bliss for Achilles and I as we fell more in love with our sons. Leo and Jason were as rambunctious as ever now that their father was home and they were reunited. They loved to follow him around and mimic every movement he did. Achilles loved seeing his sons so curious and active. And Alek, my youngest, was starting to sleep longer through the night, giving my husband and I time to rest and recover our energy.

Today, I was on the terrace with Alek in my arms as Achilles was below in the gardens with our eldest two, who were running around and tackling their father to tire them out for bed in just a little while. Their laughter was music to my ears as I watched a while longer before sitting down on a chair. I held a letter and unfolded it to read, smiling as I recognized the handwriting of Andromache.

Dear Briseis,

We were all so pleased to hear of the birth of Aleksander and thank the gods for his health as well as yours. You and Achilles are so blessed to have your three sons, all healthy and well. Hector and I have welcomed our fourth child, a son as well, named Priam for your uncle. Astyanax, Chriseis, and Ariadne all love their new brother and always want to help me with him. Helen and Paris are with child again, due to arrive in just a few moons, gods willing. Your uncle and aunt are both thrilled and entranced with their grandchildren. How we wish you and Achilles were closer. We also wish to visit soon. Perhaps in less than a year's time, when Helen has delivered her child. If you need anything at all, please do not hesitate to write to us. We love you all.

Andromache

I pulled out a parchment and laid it to the small table beside me to write with my free hand. The words flowed from my heart as if I were speaking right next to her.

Andromache,

I was so pleased to receive your letter. Congratulations on the birth of Priam. I know the gods will bless him and look after him all the days of his life. And I am so happy for Paris and Helen. Children are a blessing from the gods and are a reflection of love and dedication. I am so thankful for my sons every day, even on the days when they are running all over! Achilles and I would love to have you all visit here anytime you like. We would welcome you with open arms. You'll have to come in the Spring, when the flowers are blooming and the gardens are the most beautiful here. I miss you all and love you dearly.

Briseis

The letter brought a smile to my lips as I set it down and moved my son in my arms. He was beginning to cry, so I slid my dress down and he began to suckle at my breast happily. His hand rested on my chest as he ate contentedly. Many women had thought it odd that I fed my own children from my breast, but I could not imagine allowing anyone else to have this bond. Each of my sons had suckled at my breast and I would have never changed that. My sons were strong and healthy because I fed them myself. I had insisted that I nurse them myself and Achilles had supported that wish as well, often just watching in awe as I nursed. Looking at Alek, I traced his cheek with my finger and saw his wide brown eyes look up at me. They were as deep as a cave and reminded me of my own. Achilles loved that Alek had taken after me, like Jason had. Leo, however, was the living image of his father, with golden curls and his piercing blue eyes, like the ocean. My sons were my world and I thanked the gods every day for them.

"My little lion. So strong and so beautiful," I murmured as he began to drift to sleep when he'd had his fill.

I laid him in his cradle after changing him and wrapping him in his blanket, placing a kiss on his head. When I looked over on the other side of the nursery, Achilles was settling Leo and Jason into bed as well. When I came over, I gave each of them a kiss and tucked their blankets around them. Exhausted from play, neither fussed about going to sleep as their eyes dropped down and they drifted to sleep. The boys hugged one another as they slept, reminding me of how close Paris and Hector were as children. My hope was that when Alek was old enough, they would embrace him as well and they would be inseparable.

"Apollo give you sweet dreams, my little ones," I whispered as I slid out of their room.

Achilles followed behind me and we came to our room. It had been a long day of diplomatic hearings and training for him while I cared for our sons and the household, which kept us both busy and apart for most of the day. His arms wrapped around my waist and I leaned back to his chest and turned my head to capture his lips with my own. My hand moved up to his hair and I sighed happily in our kiss as his hands roamed from my waist up to cup my breasts through my dress. A soft moan escaped my lips.

"Come to bed," I said softly as I turned and took his hands, beckoning him to follow me.

"I should finish plans for a peace treaty…" he replied, not moving but also not pulling away.

"That can wait until tomorrow," I told him as I stepped back toward our bed. "Your wife demands your attention now."

I knew my demands would never be turned down by my husband. Not when we had been apart for so long while he was at war and then unable to make love after Alek's birth. My body had healed from the birth and I missed my husband. He readily followed and as he came close, my hands ran along his chest and my lips crashed into his as he pulled me to him. His hands were everywhere as he pulled the fabric of my dress up and tossed it on the floor of our room. His tunic followed and I marveled at the sun kissed skin of my husband, biting my lower lip instinctively. His lips found my neck and placed gentle kisses there as his hands moved to cup my backside, causing me to gasp and jerk my hips to his. I could feel his arousal already between my thighs as my hips pushed to his and I sat down and moved back on the bed against the furs.

"You are…the most magnificent woman in all Greece," he said as he moved onto the bed and over me.

"Flattery?" I questioned with a laugh, kissing his lips once.

"For my wife? Always," he replied with a grin.

He moved his hand along my thigh and kissed me, moving to kiss my neck and then my chest. He lavished me with kisses all along my chest and took one of my breasts in his mouth, eliciting a deep moan from me. His hand made quick to part my thighs and caress the sensitive skin inside before he moved his arousal between them and along my slick folds.

"Oh gods," I gasped, pushing my hips up, urging him to take me.

I felt him push my thighs apart wider before he sank into me, my legs wrapping around him to push him deeper within me. My body was on fire as he rocked his hips to mine, pushing his manhood in and out slowly. He let out a deep groan as my nails raked down his back and he sucked on my neck as he continued to take me. The pleasure was building deep in my belly and I knew I would not last long after being apart for so long from him.

"Achilles…oh gods…please!" I pleaded, needing to feel release.

The tight coil in my belly snapped as he pushed in as deep as he could with a few more thrusts and I cried out as I dug my nails into his shoulders. His lips found mine as he kissed me passionately, snapping his hips to mine a few more times before I felt him spill inside of me. He was heavy with sweat and warm to the touch, but I welcomed his weight on me as his body relaxed against mine. When he started to move from me, I gripped his arms.

"Not yet…" I said softly. "I want you to stay inside me a little longer."

He brushed back a curl from my face and pressed a loving kiss to my lips. "I have missed this."

"So have I," I replied. "I love the way you make me feel."

He moved to press a kiss to my neck and then to my chest. Achilles had always been a considerate and doting lover, even on our first night together. And after many years of marriage, he knew I loved the attention he paid me in our bed. That I loved to be kissed and held. He knew the places to kiss on my neck, especially behind my ears. My husband worshipped my body and I knew how lucky I was to have him and that our marriage was a loving and passionate one. When he withdrew from my body and laid on his back, I moved to lay my head on his chest and moved one leg over his. He caressed my hair and down to my arm.

"I love you," I murmured as my eyes got heavy.

I drifted to sleep as he kissed my head, holding me close.

Three moons passed, with my sons growing more quickly than I could have imagined. Alek was now crawling and pulling himself up to sit on his own, moving toward bringing himself to his feet. His dark curls had grown to his ears and he was beginning to start trying to talk. He loved his brothers and they adored him, making him giggle and squeal when they were together. I could not have asked for more as a mother. Lately, though, I had been feeling more tired and unwell. I knew the signs…my bleeding had stopped for two moons now and my breasts were sore. More so than just from nursing my babe or the attention my husband paid to them when we made love.

I stood in our room, smoothing my dress down. It was noticeable now, the small curve of my belly. I was with child again, for the fifth time. My heart raced as I thought of having another, especially when Alek had not even reached a year old. But, I knew I loved this child as much as I loved my three eldest. He or she had been made from love.

"You know…I can tell when you're with child without you ever saying a word now," my husband's voice called from our doorway.

Jumping, I turned to see him leaning against the door with his arms crossed and a smile on his face.

"How?" I asked, arching my brow curiously.

"The small swell of your belly…how sensitive you have been to my touch," he replied, coming over and cradling my face in his hands. "No bleeding for several moons now."

"You noticed?" I was surprised he had known when my bleeding came and did not. Most husbands never took notice.

"We have been married for many years now…how could I not?" he asked in reply, kissing my forehead.

"It's so soon…Alek is still just a babe," I said, worrying about how I would handle four children, two of whom would still be at my breast.

"You have me, my mother, and so many to help you. I promise it will be alright," he assured me. "We always have each other."

I smiled and nodded, reaching up to touch his cheek with one palm while the other moved to his chest. The steady beating of his heart calmed me. This was a blessing from the gods and I knew that a fourth child would bring us more joy. In my heart, I still longed for a daughter, but I knew this one was another son. I just knew it. A fourth son, who would steal my heart again as his brothers had before him.

"You have given your country four beautiful heirs," I said, smiling at him. "Proved your fertility from the gods."

"But my heirs came from you…from your womb," he countered with a grin, leaning in to kiss me.

I kissed him back fervently and held him close. I knew I was blessed and would forever be thankful for that night on the beach when he changed me.

My belly swelled with our fourth child in the coming weeks and I found this time to be the most easy and comfortable. I was able to move about more this time and my hips were not as uncomfortable as they were before I had Leo, Jason, and Alek. The babe was active and loved the sound of my voice as well as Achilles' when he would tell them stories before bed. He often would stick out a tiny foot or roll around, making me laugh as I watched. I wrote to my family and told them of our blessing and received word that Helen and Paris had given birth to their child, another son, named Adonis. Paris was a fiercely proud father, just as Hector was, and they all could not wait to visit our home. Their journey was planned for a few weeks from now, when I had delivered my own child and recovered from the birth.

"Mama!" Jason screeched, bringing me from my thoughts as he ran to greet me.

"Oh there you are, my little one!" I said, leaning down to kiss his head. "What did you find?"

"Look!" he proclaimed as he held out his hand with a small shell.

"I found one too, Mama," Leo said as he ran up with his hand open.

"Those are so beautiful! You should hold onto those to show your your yaya."

Achilles had taken all of the boys to the beach to allow me to rest my feet. They were just now returning from their adventure, excited to show me all of the treasures that they had found. Achilles was not far behind, carrying Alek in his arms, who was happily chatting and giggling. It never ceased to amaze me how quickly they grew from the tiny babes in my arms. They were all so big now and I could no longer pick up Leo or Jason with my belly, but they still all wanted to cuddle in my arms so I was still happy.

When all of our sons were bathed and in bed, Achilles and I took some time for one another. We sat out on the balcony overlooking the ocean. My back was sore and I ached, but it was beautiful outside and I did not want to miss an opportunity for time alone with my husband. But the pain in my belly told me that I would not have long. I had been through this three times before and knew that my time had come.

"Achilles, I think we should send for your mother…my pain is getting close together," I told him.

He quickly sent one of our servants to find his mother and bring her quickly while helping me to our bedroom. I walked around with his help while laboring, stopping when the pain was too much to bear. Thetis arrived a short while later and helped me undress, seeing that our child's head was right between my legs. Achilles held me up as I began to push on my knees. The pain was searing, but it was quick as I felt a small body leave my own and heard a wail from our child.

"Another beautiful son," she said proudly as she presented him to his father.

I had known all along it was another boy. Four sons. I had birthed four healthy sons. I moved to lay back, exhausted by my pain and birth. Thetis immediately became alarmed as she said something about bleeding. I began to feel weak and as though the room was getting darker, with Achilles and our newborn son growing dimmer with every breath. Thetis was grabbing cloth to stop the bleeding. I could hear my son crying and wanted to reach out for him. He needed me, but I could not make myself move. Everything went black.