Marlene reached her hand out and caught the peach as it fell from the tree, a feat for any mere mortal that would have been considered fate. Marlene smiled and handed the peach to two little girls playing on the road.

"For you, sisters," she smiled as the younger one took it eagerly.

"Share with me, Cleora!" The older one reached for it as the younger took a bite. "That's the woman with blue eyes! She's the daughter of Moira, we'll be blessed for eating her gift!"

Marlene smiled as Cleora handed the peach to the older girl. "Today, sisters, you will be prosperous," Marlene patted Cleora's head and then continued her walk to her father's home.

She preferred incidents like that one, the alternative had been something she was all too accustomed to. People feared her mother, going to such lengths as to describe her as old and decrepit. Anyone who had actually seen Moira knew better. The Woman of Fate was beautiful, as Marlene's father, Vassilis, was well aware of. But her mother knew every being's life and destiny and had this obsession with not sharing, so she became something of a death omen, and Marlene inherited her mother's reputation. She'd also ended up with her mother's bright blue eyes, like the clear blue ocean that surrounded them, so blending in with the masses was not an option. She may as well have had goats legs. Upon consideration, perhaps her blue eyes weren't all that bad. Some halflings really did have goats legs.

The closer into Dion she came the more apparent the wide range of reactions were. A few people went so far as to run for their homes and pull the curtains closed. As if not being able to see her would make her less dangerous.

What was worse was Marlene saw many of these things twice. The part of her that could see a few moments into the future would see what was to come, and then her human eyes would watch it play out before her. But nothing compared to having to experience the pain of betrayal twice. The experience of the mortal man she had hoped to wed, Kyril, betraying her with another woman made her give up on the idea of romance.

But a relationship was exactly why she was subjecting herself to this madness of humanity, which she was only partially member of.

Vassilis stood by his front door waiting for her as she approached his house, his dark hair spiraling around his face. It was the one physical trait she had inherited from him. Marlene was her mother in every way save the way her hair grew in the same spirals as her father.

"Marlene," he smiled and took her in his arms. "How are you, my daughter?"

Marlene welcomed his embrace, though she'd grown up living with her mother, her father made sure to be present and a part of her life, choosing to live in the city of Dion at the base of Mt. Olympus.

"I've been well, Father," she smiled as he ushered her inside and retrieved a goblet for each of them.

"I'm glad," he smiled as they sat at his table. "Have you had a chance to think about what I suggested?"

Marlene sighed, "I don't know."

"I know it feels like you'd be giving up a part of yourself," Vassilis nodded. "But I truly think that life as a human would suit you better than a half-fate. It would certainly keep the people from mistreating you. And you'd finally be able to move forward in your life."

"I already tried moving forward," Marlene shook her head. "I don't care to go through that again."

Vassilis smiled sympathetically, "Then allow me to take care of that. There's a fine young man named Giannis here. He's an upstanding citizen and owns his own shop. He's told me that he would be honored to have you as his wife. Wed him as a mortal, my darling. Allow yourself some chance at happiness."

Marlene sighed and looked at her hands, "Open the door, he's here "

Right on cue, there was a rap at the door and Vassilis shook his head as he stood to answer it.

Marlene had the benefit of having seen Giannis in her mind just prior to her father answering the door. She'd seen the man's stoic expression and spotted nothing outstanding in his features. He was of middling height and well built, with a strong jaw that some youths might have giggled and blushed over. Marlene though didn't think he was particularly appealing in looks until the moment when he met her eyes and smiled. He had a kind smile that lit up his face and set Marlene's nerves at ease. Marlene considered that she could get used to a life with that smile.

"Giannis, this is my daughter, Marlene." Vassilis smiled proudly at her.

"Good evening, Marlene." Giannis nodded politely in Marlene's direction, then shook hands with her father.

Marlene cringed at how awkward this exchange was going to be. She needed to learn how to control this ability to see just far enough ahead to make life uncomfortable for herself.

"Good evening, Giannis."

"So," Vassilis pulled out a chair for Giannis and they sat down. "I was hoping the two of you could get to know each other some tonight and then we can set up a time to go over the contract."

"Vassilis, I thought when you said that your daughter was the greatest beauty of her generation that you were perhaps somewhat biased, but I see that you were entirely fair in your assessment. Marlene, it will be an honor to be your husband. I hardly need to look over contracts at all when I could be looking into those eyes. I must say I've never seen anything like them."

"They are from my mother" Marlene braced herself.

"Was she not from around here then?"

"You might say that she isn't. She's from everywhere and nowhere. She was present for the birth of Zeus himself. She lives upon Olympus and spends her days weaving destiny. Her eyes, like mine, see things that others do not."

Marlene had already seen the panic wash the smile off his face once. It was like a candle being blown out by a gust of chilly wind. She hated it. But it was fated.

"I was not aware. This might be cause for some discussion but it's… nothing we can't work around? If you'd like to work around it?" His voice was half-hearted and hesitant. He feared her, everyone did. That too seemed to be fated.

"I have been considering giving up the divine side of my nature as of late, and perhaps my dearest Lord Father had assumed that I would wed as a mortal." Marlene turned to look at her father. At least he didn't look at her with terror in his eyes. He always had nothing but love for her and he even could hold the gaze of her mother unflinching, no other mortal could do that.

"Yes, I did not mean to deceive you in any way good Giannis. I have only just told Marlene of the arrangement," Vassilis interceded. "Please, rest assured that it will happen before the wedding."

Giannis seemed to calm and smiled back at Marlene. It was not the same smile as before, but still, a smile with trepidations underneath was better than none at all, wasn't it? "I have a thriving shop making and selling pottery. I can guarantee you a life of comfort and I can support children. You'd be well taken care of and we would stay in Dion so you could continue to see your father and mother."

Marlene nodded, "That is most kind of you, Giannis."

They spent the evening talking and eating and drinking, but Giannis never looked at her quite the same. He still seemed kind and intent on marriage, but the sense that he feared her never let up. It stung more because the man seemed kind. He would be a good husband. She could love a man like this, but could he ever feel at peace with her? Would anyone ever be at peace with her? If she gave up her divinity, it might help. Perhaps choosing life as a mortal would be the healing balm upon the burn that had plagued her from the time of her birth. Or perhaps she would grow bitter for everything she gave up. Perhaps no one would ever truly forget who she was or where she came from. She could give up her powers but she could not change the way people thought of her. Would Giannis ever think of her as a woman who he could love and not fear? At no point during those hours did she find the answers to those questions.

Giannis left shortly before midnight and Marlene chose to sleep in her father's home. As she bid her father goodnight, he kissed her forehead. "This is everything I can offer you, my dear."

The next morning Marlene set off before the sun rose. She knew her father had been nearly as torn as she over her dual nature. He probably wanted all the same things as she did. He knew that she could never really be a deity, so this was his only solution. The thought of giving up part of herself in an effort to be accepted didn't go down easily though.

In truth, the echo of her life was vexsome, but she loved being able to give people little gifts of hope and joy and prosperity. Her blessings, and curses, only lasted until the sun went down, but they made those who were kind to her so happy. She was helping to change the people of Dion's opinion of her mother for the better, and part of her wondered if that was her destiny.

But her father loved her, and as he said, this was everything he could give her. He felt she would be happier as a mortal than a demi-fate. He had found her a man who would take her and provide her every comfort and opportunity. He would have made a good husband to any mortal woman. But he might never be able to look at her like he would any mortal woman...He had been so handsome for just that one moment when he hadn't yet realized the other side of her parentage. That hurt more than anything else in the whole ordeal. Knowing that without this difference that he might have loved her easily.

Things were never going to be easy in the matters of love for Marlene. It was not her fate. She'd thought herself in the throws of love with Kyril, so much that she'd pushed aside her anxieties over the differences. He was mortal but she had been ready to promise herself to him without hesitation - and look how that ended. Perhaps, if she went in knowing and expecting the strange distance between herself and her betrothed husband, it couldn't truly hurt her? Was this the better path, a path to lasting security and a possibility for happiness?

Marlene descended the stairs in Zeus's Palace to her childhood home. Her mother sat in her large chair, the Book of Fates open in her lap.

"My darling daughter," she smiled up at her.

It was easier here. Most of her conversations with her mother occurred in that foresight she possessed. Marlene would simply sit with her mother and whole concepts flowed like her grandmother, the river Nyx, between them.

"I don't know if I'm willing to give this up."

"Your father does you a kindness, from the bottom of his heart."

"Is it my destiny?"

"You will have to find that for yourself, but once you find it, you can't outrun it."

"Mother, you've said that to me my whole life."

"And it is still true."

"Giannis is kind."

"He is."

"Do you think he's a good match?"

"Do you?"

Marlene sighed and stood to make breakfast. Her mother knew the answer to that last question, and so did Marlene, but Marlene also knew it wasn't that simple.