Chapter 49

That was truly a shocker, and had she known the possibilities, she couldn't say that she wouldn't have behaved the same way. For some reason the aversions, that she'd previously had regarding being a mother, had dissipated the very moment Hera had informed her of her new condition. Just the thought of being responsible for new life sent a wave of warmth through her and she could hardly wait to share the news with her sisters. However, how was she supposed to know that they also had some interesting news for her?

~ΑΩΑΩ~

"Mo... How is this even possible?" She breathed out at the little stick that confirmed her darkest fears. "We've never had to use protection before." She moaned in mental anguish. How in all of Tartarus was she supposed to deal with something like this? How was she supposed to tell Phobos? What would his reaction be? "No! I don't care what his reaction is. He's just as responsible for this as I am... but how did something like this happen?" She groaned a bit. She would need to call her sisters, break the news first, and hope that they weren't disappointed in her.

~ΑΩΑΩ~

Melétē sat on the toilet seat, staring at the little white stick. She'd realized that she'd been feeling a little off lately, but this was something that she never suspected. It hadn't even crossed her mind until Yoshimoto-san had timidly suggested it. She still couldn't see how in all of the heavens anything like this could happen, she and Eros had been fooling around for eons without repercussions. Why now? How was she supposed to tell her sisters? What would Eros say?

She groaned, wrapped the evidence up in its packaging, then in a paper towel, and discarded it in the rubbish bin. She straightened her clothing, and checked her makeup. She then made the decision that she would not be ashamed of something like this, and if Eros or anyone else had an issue with it? Well, they could just have a few words with Father.

Three sisters, one overseas and the other two sitting in a gaudily decorated pink room, spoke to each other via phone with the speaker on. All three with the same announcement on the tips of their tongues. It was almost comical how the news flowed from the lips of the three simultaneously, shocking them all into silence. For a brief moment Kanae thought there was an echo effect on her phone, due to the standard interference that International calls were know for, but then it hit her.

"WHAT?!" Mnḗmē shrieked. "MO! Repeat that..."

Aoidḗ glanced at the sister sitting next to her in shock, and opened her mouth to reply, only to be stopped by Melétē's unexpected response. "I'm pregnant."

Aoidḗ furrowed her brow a little, then her eyes went wide at the prospect of not being the only one in her situation. She smiled brightly. "I am too, Sisters!"

A frustrated groan came through the line. "How in the name of Uncle Hades did this happen? MO! And why now?!"

After the little talk that Aoidḗ had with Hera, she had known exactly the how and the why. So, thus she explained. Needless to say, it wasn't an explanation that her sisters really wanted to hear considering that they were the founders of the LoveME Section. Aoidḗ honestly hadn't had a problem with romance or family since she had found Deimos and Zeus, but Mnḗmē was beside herself. Mnḗmē did have an issue with family, and most certainly didn't want to be the matriarch of a gigantic family such as her mortal one. Melétē was worried how Eros would take the news, considering his ex-wife and how everything had gone to Tartarus after he'd had children with her. She didn't want for him to think for a moment that she would do the same. So, Aoidḗ was now sitting in the LoveME Section surrounded by one pregnant sister on the phone in tears, and the other clinging to her in tears. How am I supposed to fix this? She groaned inwardly.

"I can understand why he'd want to see you two. You belong to LME, but why me?" Miroku complained a bit.

Yukihito snorted. "You forget... He's Zeus. Does he really need a reason to summon us to his office?"

Ren groaned a bit. "I really hope it doesn't have anything to do with his usual... or unusual obsessions."

Eros/Miroku gasped a little, and rolled his eyes. "I swear, he can be so much worse than Mother."

The other brothers chuckled in agreement.

Deimos sighed with his hand on the doorknob. "Shall we, Brothers?"

With a nod, a set of twins and a spare entered the elaborately decorated office that resembled a familiar throne room of lore. "Welcome... Welcome, boys. We'll begin this meeting once Hermes returns with my other guests." He announced, passing each male a cigar, and pouring them each a glass of scotch.

"Do we get to know why we're here?" Deimos groused a little irritably. He had more important things to do than sitting in an office, playing Zeus' little games.

Zeus sat back in his seat and smirked. "I have my suspicions, but it's not my news to give. I wasn't the one to call this meeting." He announced.

Eros looked at Zeus a little perplexed. "If not you, then whom?"

Zeus smiled mischievously. "You'll know soon enough. They should be arriving momentarily. Although, you may want to hold off on lighting those cigars." He warned. He looked up, past the young men seated and chuckled. "Ah, I believe our other guests are arriving." He announced as they turned to see the familiar shower of shimmering gold, that announced the arrival of Hermes.

Along with Hermes, appeared the three sisters. The males immediately stood, and went to their females to escort them to their seats, standing behind them. Zeus gave his daughters a knowing look. "Well, ladies... You had an announcement to make?"

Aoidḗ, Mnḗmē, and Melétē glanced at each other then nodded. Aoidḗ closed her eyes, as she was the one that they had elected as the messenger, and belted out the news. "We're pregnant!" She stated, clearly and quickly. It wasn't like her sisters could have done it any better than her, they wouldn't have been able to squeak past the thought of the message.

Responses were not at all what they'd expected. They had expected shock, two expected resistance, perhaps a little anger. Cronus only knows why, but what they received was beaming pride, and absolute joy. The news cemented the love their women had for them. They were willing to carry their children.

"This is wonderful!" Zeus beamed with pride. "However children, we have the issue... that in the eyes of the mortals, you are not married and not all are aware that as gods you are."

Phobos raised an eyebrow. "So...?"

"So... To avoid a major scandal, you will need a very public wedding..." He gave each couple a very poignant look. "Each one of you."

"MO! Father, you will not plan my mortal wedding!" Mnḗmē exclaimed.

"I agree!" Voiced Melétē. "You'll blow it way out of proportion!"

He turned to Aoidḗ, and Deimos was worried by her silence. He agreed with her sisters. "Father, I would have to agree... You do tend to overdo things. I personally do not wish to have to fly in on a gryphon or pegasus."

Zeus pouted. "So boring." He sighed out. "Fine... But make sure you consult with Hera, and Aphrodite. You know how crushed those two will be if you choose to exclude them from the planning. You have two weeks." He stood and called to Hermes. "Contact Ares and Aphrodite, their children have an announcement to make."

Hermes nodded silently and disappeared.

He turned back to the couples and smiled brightly. "Congratulations!" With that word, the couples had flower petals, balloons, and confetti fluttering over and around them.