Author's Note: It took so many months to be able to focus on this story again, I do apologize for the LONG wait and hope this nice long chapter at least in part makes up for it! I must admit I am far too tired to do the final read through tonight, though I have read different parts, so be prepared for typo's which I will come back and change. And if there are any major things that contradict each other, it will soon be fixed! I simply needed to get this chapter out tonight since I took so long to write it correctly.

Also, IMPORTANT! I chose to make Ennina's Egyptian husband Osiris, instead of Horus. At some point, I will fix chapter 3 of The Three Gifts, since Osiris is King of the Ennead.

Love you all, my dear readers!


Chapter 3

Zeus' point of view

I sat on the edge of my bed, my head in my hands as I tried to work through what has happened. My daughter is alive, I thought to myself again, not able to help the tears of joy that filled my eyes as I took a deep breath and smiled. I wished more than anything that this reunion could be as joyous for her as it was for me, yet she has lost too much for that.

The heartbreak that showed in everyway possible was one of the hardest things I have had to witness. Pandora is not my first family member to have to find something to live for after the loss of their child, or children; I wished for an end to the losses, to such torments, which will live within us for the rest of our time, and I knew better than most that the only way to bring these cursed events to an end, is to achieve victory over our enemies. Such thoughts made me think of him, my birth father the infamous Nameless One, now secretly fighting on our side, for our cause. A god who has taken away from me far more than he has ever given; now he wants my forgiveness, something I had no idea how to begin to give.

A list began to go through my mind; Miranda, Megara, George and Francis, Wendell, Anantha, Maria, Chetana. Those are the names of my children whose lives were taken at his hands. Then there were my grandchildren, my Descendants, all of Mera's ancestors of Pandora's Descendants whom were brutally killed by my own father.

I remembered vividly, screaming out in agony when I found out what my birth father had done, how I fell to my knees and cried and cursed the Moirae for allowing this to come to be as I slammed my fists against the cold marble. I have a talent for holding grudges, I can guess who passed that down to me. I inherited a powerful darkness from my father and therefor my anger is an incredibly dangerous thing. Only my mother, and Cronus who is my true father for raising me, believed in me and knew that I was better than my father. They are the reason I was named king when Cronus turned down the throne long ago; who else would have dreamed of placing the child of such immense evil on the throne of the gods? I am King Ouranos' grandson however, which I knew gave me a claim I never intended on following or grasping for.

The Nameless One's thirst for power, and just what he did when he obtained it, brought about something good since it made most of the gods and immortals think twice before reaching too far, knowing what a consuming drug power can be for those whom are not meant for it… though in my experience, love is far more consuming. Yet I was chosen and I worked for centuries to earn the honor and respect of the deities I led. I had earned a reputation for being a strong warrior and to some extent a faithful and competent commander among my people in the Titanomachy, and that was part of the reason the gods followed me; that and the fact that my father Cronus became my high advisor, my trusted councilor even though his desires were in having a family and a private life away from the eyes of Court.

Once the Nameless One had been captured and imprisoned, I had imagined the gods, immortals and humans would finally be safe… yet just eight years later, my own daughter was lost to me and her Reina was believed to be gone for good; over the last thirteen thousand years, Reina has turned into a threat we could not have foreseen coming and Pandora… now that she is returned to me, losing her again… she is a mother who has lost one child while her other will most likely end her existence. I had to protect her but I could not do so without locking her away to keep her from trying to find Reina, and I did not know if she would be able to forgive me if I were to do that to her.

A little knock sounded on my bedroom door. I heard a giggle and I actually smiled even with all of this going on. I went to the door and opened it to see Edmund in my sisters arms. He laughed and hid within his mothers hair, making me laugh as I reached out and rubbed his back and he peaked through his mothers midnight black hair.

"Hello, son." I greeted him and held my arms to him.

"Dada!" He exclaimed as he leapt out of his mothers arms and into my own, causing the both of us to laugh. The first time he did that, he nearly scared his mother to death, thinking he was about to fall from her arms, yet I caught him.

I picked my boy up, tossing him in the air and easily catching him as he laughed. I ran my fingers through his dirty blond hair, which now reached his ears, as I looked into his innocent oaken eyes. I took a deep breath as Edmund took hold of my face with his little hands, making me smile even further as I looked up to my sister. I met Nell's pale blue eyes, which were sympathetic as she looked up into my eyes. I nodded my head to invite her inside.

"Edmund would not stop talking about you; I could not lay him down without him asking for you. Forgive me for disturbing you," I cut her off.

"No need, the children come first." I said as I watched our son watched give me a toothless grin. "You are giving your mother trouble? You need to sleep."

"No, dada!" He said, a word he learned a few weeks ago. "No!"

I shook my head and kissed his little forehead as I put on some soft, calming music and moved around and danced a bit with him. My thoughts wandered to when I used to do this with Pandora, his grandmother, who right now was in her old bedroom, trying to find a way to process what she learned recently. I wanted Ennina to be here, but she is away with Osiris for the next week and is not in contact at the moment.

After an hour, Edmund was fast asleep while I was lost in thought, except when Nell's eyes found my own as her hand rubbed little circles upon where our child was growing. After a time, I brought a soundly sleeping Edmund into Nell's bedroom. Nell took him from my arms before laying down on the bed, holding him close; I smiled and climbed onto the bed and placed a soft kiss upon Edmunds hair, the next kiss was given to Nell, and the third went to her womb where my newest son grew.

I shared another kiss with Nell as I caressed her cheek. I would have stayed with her, drifting off next to her and our son, yet I needed to be by myself. On my way back to the bedroom I shared with my wife, I stopped by Pandora's room and raised my hand to knock, only to drop it again. There was nothing I could do; my daughter had lost a child and there was absolutely nothing I could say to make all that had befallen her be okay.

I went back into my bedroom, only to find Ennina sitting there. Tears of relief sprung from my soul upon the sight. She ran into my arms and I held her tight, as tightly as I could manage. Her arms around me were the only things that held me together.

"Ennina," I whispered as she kissed my cheek. "Oh, Ennina."

"I am here, my love." She whispered, causing me to let out a shaky breath, when she suddenly gave me a deep kiss, all I could do was respond with everything in me.

I backed her against the nearest wall, devouring her lips and treasuring the moans, which filled each kiss and touch we shared; I forgot all my pains while within her embrace, kissing her in such an intoxicating way. Somehow I ended up breaking our kiss and gazing down upon her, she was such a sight; her face glowing golden with excitement; her sky blue eyes consumed with that aching need and consuming desire, something I so wanted to give into… yet all I could think about was Pandora and what she was going through, what I told her just a few hours before.

My body, my soul told me not to stop, to simply keep kissing Ennina and forget my pains… yet no part of me could justify it. Beyond anything, I just needed to think and find a way through this confusion, that way I would know how I might help Pandora while keeping her protected. I kissed Ennina's forehead, lingering there to breathe her in, then gazed into her eyes. I turned away from her, walking up the four steps of the platform to my bed, where I sat down.

Ennina teleported behind me, wrapping her arms around my shoulders, her hand resting on my chest as she rested her soft cheek next to mine. She did not speak, just held me as I placed my hand over her own and allowed her to comfort me as best she could. I wanted this war to be over already; I wanted to never again have to deliver such news, least of all to my own daughter. She was going to have to find her own way to live with this, all I could do was be there for her when she would let me.

"I had to tell her everything," I said to Ennina, my voice beginning to break. "That one of her daughters is dead, the other is one of the darkest creatures in our world and Queen of the Shadows, that her husband remarried, her line of Descendants all but decimated. She has been robbed of her entire family."

"No she still has you," Ennina told me. "She also has her step-mother, her siblings; not to mention Nell and Mera and Edmund, she has family."

I looked upon my daughter, my fiancé, and then began crying, something that as a man, I rarely do. She wrapped her arms around me and lowered us to the bed to hold me close. She was one of the few people I did not mind being weak in front of. Ennina placed a kiss on my cheek to remove a tear; after looking into my eyes with an emotion in those sky blue eyes I would know anywhere, Ennina pushed me onto my back as she began placing more kisses over my face, causing my breathing to increase.

"What are you doing?" I asked, which was perhaps a stupid question since I knew what she was doing.

"Seducing you," She whispered into my ear, then took my earlobe between her teeth. "We both know being together is the cure for your confusion. You will forget everything while inside of me, then when we are done, it will be clearer."

She kissed me as my hand went to her hip, the opposite arm going around her. She pulled away enough that I could see her body as she removed one of her straps, and then the other. The view causing me to lick my lips in anticipation, as she took my hand away from her hip, to cup her bosom, a sigh coming from her lips as I began caressing and running my thumb over the bud. She brought her lips to my neck as her fingers began removing my tee-shirt, forcing me to release her for a moment for her to pull it over my head and my body turned to find hers.

My lips found her breast instead of my hand, causing her to cry out, then go for my pants, to remove them as quickly as possible. I was too lost in what was going on to say how we ended up connected, whether it was by my actions or her own. All I knew was that she was here, her leg wrapped tightly around my hips as I thrust into her, holding her close while kissing her lips and the both of us experiencing every emotion within us both, every touch, every kiss, every high and ecstasy to the point where I could not have known what my name was if she were not calling it out.

After… thinking on it, no part of me knew how long Ennina and I had been intertwined, another form joined us. Hera's bare body curled up behind me while I made love to Ennina, her incredible lips kissing my shoulder and neck as her hands ran over me. I turned my head, arching it back to kiss Hera, tangling my hand within her straight, brown hair, and such a sound emerged within Hera as our souls connected, Ennina, Hera and I now sharing within such sensual pleasures as Hera's leg wrapped around us…

When sleep came, I had already thoroughly lain with both my wife-to-be as well as my wife, both of whom were curled up next me. I needed sleep, and Hypnos was generous tonight. The only thing I was clear about, was the fact that I had to protect my daughter.


Mera's point of view

The stories say that the only thing left in Pandora's box after the evil was released, was hope, and they were right. Pandora remained in the box. I swung languidly on the swing in our front yard, my thoughts with my grandmother, as they have been since I freed her days ago. I wanted to help her, yet knew no way to. From Zeus words, Pandora wanted to go after her daughter, something he would not allow since it would most likely cause her death, something he could not bear to go through again. I honestly do not know how the Twelve and the gods have held themselves together, knowing for over a millennia that every time they sent their children, their cousins, their family and loved ones out against him, that may well be the end of them.

Hera had once told me when I asked her about this that it is not your duty as a parent to protect your children every second of the rest of time; you have to let go of them when the time comes and allow them to live their own lives. Your sacred charge as a mother or a father, is to give each and every child the will and strength to survive, to guild them and give them the skills they need to protect themselves and be able to thrive on their own. Of course the most important thing you can give your children is your unconditional love and adoration; let them know that when they make mistakes, you love them just as much. It will give them the strength to face their mistakes and right their wrongs. It is a well-known saying, or at least it should be, that your children will learn more from what they watch you do, than from what you try to teach them.

My sons moved within me and I smiled, not able to wait to hold them within my arms, to discover whose hair and eyes they have. Whatever they appeared, they would be perfect. A whinnying pulled me from my thoughts, I peered up and smiled as Ariston rode in on Vrontos, his stallion. My breathtaking husband flashed his perfect white teeth as his crooked smile appeared. Just the sight of him made my worries disappear. His sky blue eyes were in juxtaposition to his cinnamon skin, his short black curls complementing him perfectly. I could not help but melt at the complete and total adoration within his soul as he looked upon me.

I stopped swinging as he slid off of his horse, patting Vrontos' white neck and removing the bridal. Since he rode bareback, there was no saddle to remove. I stood and made my way over to him, he reached for me, his fingers slipping into my golden hair as we met for a wondrous kiss, then sat down on one of the benches that had been placed for Kallisto's wedding; soon things would be in full swing to decorate for that incredible affair!

Oh god no, oh god please no. I heard in my mind, my eyebrows knitted together in confusion and I felt the desperation of the speaker. It was Olivia Henderson. If only Mera were here, she would know just want to do. Oh please, god, oh please no!

I was startled to say the least and without giving it a second thought, I teleported to where the voice was coming from. Olivia was kneeling before a horse with her back to me, they were in a paddock at Blueridge Stables. It was Thomas, he was moaning, his breathing was labored as he laid on the ground.

"Olivia." I said, she jumped and turned around, looking at me in shock.

She did not speak at first, she looked me over, from the diamonds that adorned my head, marking my royalty, to the fine gown I wore, to how heavy with child I am, then back to my eyes.

"Mera?" She asked in almost shock.

I walked over to her and kneeled down in the dirt, not caring about how it might mar my gown. I placed my hands upon the horse and winced at once, feeling his pain as my own.

"He is colicing." I said.

"I don't know what to do." Olivia said as tears ran down her cheeks. "I called the vet, they cannot get here for an hour. They said to get him up and keep him walking, but the stubborn ass will not get up!"

I ran my hands down to his abdomen, the horse moaned in pain again.

"Shh, I know it hurts," I said to the horse softly. "The pain will be gone soon."

I let my energy run through him, my hands glowing a shimmering white/golden light. Thomas' breathing became less labored, and shortly returned to normal, and just then he released the gas trapped inside his intestines. He began moving and I put my hands on Olivia's shoulders, moving her back so the horse could get to his feet. He shook his coat off and came to sniff my hands as he mentally thanked me.

"You are welcome my friend." I said to him softly, placing a kiss on his forehead between his eyes, as he nuzzled with me.

Most people who do not know about horses are not aware of the fact that if a horse cannot move their bowels, they will die since with the way they are designed, they cannot throw up, and so colicing is a serious problem. It was a great relief to see the horse make a pile and then gallop away. I smiled, proud with my work. I turned to Olivia, seeing how wide her eyes were as she gazed upon me, then looked to the now healthy horse. Olivia's womb was also growing; I had a notion she was six months pregnant. I had known her while I worked at the stables and went to Blueridge Prep before I met Ariston; by all means she was far from the kindest person, yet when I saw her last just a few months ago, she was clearly a different person for realizing she was pregnant, and now she was engaged to the father of the babe she carried.

"How?" Asked a still shocked Olivia, wondering how I healed the horse. I gave her a gentle smile.

"It is simply I gift I have come into." I told her, she glanced down upon my womb.

"You're having a baby too?" She asked, I nodded as such pride and joy came over me.

"Twins, Nathan and Meristos." I told her.

"I'm having a girl." She said, looking away as apprehension filled her thoughts.

"Tell me, what is wrong." I said to her softly and saw tears glint in her eyes.

"I don't know if I can do this." She said softly, fear clear on her face. "I'm only seventeen, I did not want this yet. I wanted to graduate, to move to Chicago. I wanted to be free, to live where I wanted, be with whom I wanted. It's not that I do not love Jackson, I do, I'm just not ready for the whole marriage and babies thing yet. I'm too young for this. I'm still just a kid."

It is so easy to forget that seventeen can be so young for some people. For me, I was ready for what the Moirae brought into my life. I was ready for Ariston, I was ready for marriage, to be a mother. I wanted all of that, I have never felt my age; but Olivia? She is still just a girl in so many ways, and she was scared, frightened of what her life would become because of this pregnancy. She knew she had to leave her childhood behind, she could no longer be young and carefree, for soon she would have a brand new baby to care for.

"Not many people know this, but my mother thought the same thing when I came along." I told her and she met my eyes. "She was twenty-three, living in LA and striving to start her singing career when she met my father and fell head over heels for him. Seven months later, I was conceived and it was certainly not planned. She cried when she found out she was carrying me, she did not want a child yet, she just wanted to live her life, but she made the choice to keep me. In fact, she told me it was not even a choice. She never for a moment considered having an abortion.

"The funny thing was that for two weeks before this happened, my father had had an engagement ring sitting in his pocket, he was just waiting for the right time to ask my mother. When she told him about me, he knew it was the perfect time. For me, my mother had to let go of the life she had planned, and with time she understood that that life meant nothing to her, my father and I are her world. I know your situations are different, but I truly believe you can do this, that you can find joy in this unexpected life you are in. I am not saying it will be easy, raising a child never is, but if you give her your heart and soul, this will be worth it, the child you carry is worth it."

"You are one of the very few people who do not look down their noses at me, simply because I am going to be a mom so young." Olivia said. "Even my own parents disowned me."

"You made a choice." I told her. "You chose to be with Jackson, and now you are doing the honorable thing and choosing to keep this child. The choice you made is easily the harder one, but you did it for the right reasons."

"I do love this baby." She said, looking at her womb. "I want her, no matter what it is going to do to my life. She matters more to me than anything I have ever had in my entire life." I smiled and placed my hand on her shoulder.

"The fact that you embrace that truth, means that you are going to be a good mother. You already are." I told her.

"I hope so." She said softly. "I would do anything for her, anything."

"I know how you feel." I told her. "I would give my life for my children. And though my mother was not expecting me, she was and is the most incredible of mothers."

"Are you ready to have a baby?" Olivia asked, I smiled, caressing my womb.

"I like to think so." I told her, looking up to meet her eyes. "I want these babies more than I have ever wanted almost anything. I want to be a mother, and Ariston so wants to be a father again."

"Well I guess when you are married to someone… older… it is different." She said, making me laugh.

"Well he has had children before, so we are ready for what is to come." I told her, not able to keep the rush of happiness from my cheeks as I dreamed about my wonderful husband. "Every day I thank the Moirae for the blessing of his love."

"Do you see Aaron?" She asked, I smiled, knowing she had had a crush on him.

"Quite often," I told her. "He is engaged to my daughter, they are expecting a child soon."

"Daughter?" She asked, I laughed.

"Step-daughter," I explained. "Ariston's daughter, Kallisto."

"Her?" She asked in surprise, I nodded.

"They are meant for each other, and I love how happy they are." I said with such joy.

"So your ex is now your step son?" She asked, making me laugh.

"Trust me, stranger things have happened." I told her, still giggling. If Olivia knew HALF the things that go on among the gods, she would probably faint! I placed my hand upon her shoulder. "Are you alright?" She shrugged.

"I think so." She said. "Thanks." I nodded.

"I must be going." I told her, giving her a smile and walking away into the night, and to a spot where I could not be seen. A whinny met my ears and I smiled as Thomas ran up to me. "Hello."

Take me with you, he communicated to me without words. I stroked his neck, feeling his fur beneath my sensitive hands, he leaned his head against me and I held his head.

I will arrange it, tomorrow, I promised him. He thanked me, nuzzling me again.

I went around the stables, and when I was out of sight I teleported away, home to my husband, who gave me a questioning look. I told him of the things that had just happened. He showered me with a warm smile, a clear pride upon his features.

"Your first person you helped as a divinity." He announced. "How was it?" I took a moment to find a fitting explanation.

"It was fulfilling," I told him, knowing I had brought that girl some help. How a conversation can change someone's complete outlook towards their life, and the life of their children was extraordinary. "I feel that I was born for this."

"You were, my incredible wife." He said softly, making me blush. "May I get Thomas for you tomorrow?" I laughed, here he is again, making sure I do as little as possible since I am pregnant with our sons.


I practically flung myself at Margret when she arrived, I could not have explained how excited I truly was to see her! She threw her arms around me, holding me tightly as she squealed in delight.

"God, I have missed you!" She exclaimed.

"And I you!" I told her, we pulled back and she placed her hands on either side of my womb, her eyes wide.

"Look at you!" She said, looking between my face and womb, I laughed in delight. She shook her head. "Is it normal for you to have grown so much?"

"For a goddess? Yes." I told her, then added. "And I am carrying twins."

"Nathan and Meristos, right?" She asked, I nodded.

"Hello Margret, Jack." Cronus greeted as he walked into the room.

"Hello Cronus." Jack greeted as he shook his hand, Cronus then gave Margret a quick kiss on her cheek. They had met him a few times in the past months.

We enjoyed a lunch which my husband prepared and then sat in the shade of the cherry blossom tree. I offered to show Margret and Jack around the gardens of Olympus. As it turns out, Ariston went off with Jack to show him the palace, while Cronus kissed me goodbye and went to visit his wife Sif, which left Margret and I to see the gardens, since she had a fascination with them.

We walked through the garden, Margret's eyes were as wide as saucers, the sights of extraordinary beauty taking her breath away. Birds of paradise flew between the trees as peacocks walked around, their tails either dragging behind them or on full display as they fanned out.

"Wow," Margret breathed. "Have you ever seen anything so beautiful in your life?" I laughed, and she met my eyes. "Of course you have. How lucky you are to be living here, in a place of such beauty."

"It is the gods and immortal beings that fill it which makes it home." I told her, sighing as my eyes wandered around.

"Princess!" Came a small voice, I looked over to the path we were about to converge with to see a beautiful little girl with brown hair and brown eyes running towards me. A man walked beside her, her features mirroring his own in many ways.

"Beth!" I greeted her as I kneeled down and held my arms out, she ran into them and I picked her up, kissing her cheek. Beth Mason was Helen's little girl, her mother had died earlier this year in a raid I was unfortunately not part of.

"Daddy, this is Mera! She has a Chimera named Diokles!" Beth said to the man behind her, I looked upon Fredric Mason, seeing a man who was clearly worn down by the world, one who lived for his daughter by the way he looked upon her, somehow summoning up a smile for her through his sadness. He gave me a bow.

"Princess Mera." He greeted.

"Arise," I said to him, walking up to him and holding my hand out. He shook my hand, his eyes showing what he was going through; my own soul ached from his loss. "I have hoped to meet you, Fredric Mason." I greeted him.

"Beth speaks of you often, you and Diokles." He told me, I nodded.

"I am so sorry for your loss, Helen was… well, you know." I said, he nodded, and I saw his eyes water as his jaw clenched. He took a deep breath and wiped his eyes before Beth could see. "If you even need a babysitter, I would be honored to spend time with her." I told him, Beth's eyes lit up.

"Daddy! Oh please can I?" She asked him, making his smile grow as he looked upon her, no doubt seeing something of her mother in her smile. All I could think about was what a horrible thing war is, for those to lose the ones they love. Yet I knew the purpose of this war; there was no other was to stop the Shadows. Jason would no doubt lose power over them when Zenophian left his soul.

"Mera?" Came Margret's voice, I glanced to her.

"Hmm?" I asked, she nodded towards Fredric, I looked to him.

"Forgive me, I was lost in thought." I said to him, understanding that he had said something to me.

"I was asking if Beth might be able to stay over this Saturday? Veronica and I were going to take a day to spend together." He asked, clearly wondering if I truly was up to caring for his little Beth.

"I would love to, bring her by around three in the afternoon?" I asked, he gave me somewhat of a smile.

"Sounds perfect." He told me, gratitude within his eyes. "Honey, we need to go." Beth nodded and gave me a kiss on the cheek as I put her down.

"Goodbye Mera." She said, going to take her fathers hand as he bowed and she did possibly the cutest curtsy I had ever seen, I curtsied in return and they went on their way. I sighed and saw Margret watching me.

"Who were they?" She asked, and I realized I had not introduced her.

"The little girl is Beth Mason, and the man is her father." I told her. "His wife and her mother was Helen Rogers; she died this past spring. That poor man; I can understand what he is going through."

"You could have called me, when Ariston was…" She trailed off and I nodded as a pain came into my soul, and I reminded myself for the thousandth time that it was over, he was safe. Yet I knew this was not over; a horrible war was on the horizon.

"I could not think;" I told her. "The only thing I wanted was Ariston back, everything else went on a back burner. Until the speech I gave to the Olympian's, when those words came forth and I realized again what was at stake, what was coming." I took a deep breath, thinking over all that transpired in those days, those five months and fifteen days we spent held apart from each other.

After a time, I met Margret's brown eyes and she gave me a warm smile.

"You broke my brothers heart, by the way." She said with a slight smile.

"I tried to let him down gently, but he took it the way he did." I replied with a shrug.

"He only wanted you because you were the only woman to ever say no to his advances." She told me, I sighed and shook my head, knowing he was not meant for me.

"Perhaps," I indulged, but knew it was more than that, for him at least.

Margret was curiously silent, which was odd for her. I noticed the look upon her face, she was wondering if she should ask me about something.

"Nikolai said something… about that night at the Golden Goose," She told me. "He told me you were with another man; and later on he quickly pulled you out of the nightclub, he said you loved him."

"It was an interesting night." I said softly, shaking my head. The night I discovered who Jason truly is, that he is the Nameless One, the murderer of my grandmother, and thousands of others in Pandora's line. It was also the night Ariston almost died, Jason brought me to him, and miracle of miracles I was able to save him. I married Ariston that night, then went off to my death for Pandora's box, confronting Reina and learning the truth of her. Not to mention how I freed well over a million souls from their Shadow possession.

"What happened?" She asked, I took a deep breath as I looked at the foliage above me. How could I tell her, when this knowledge could get her killed?

"Margret…" I said and then sighed again.

"We used to be able to tell each other everything… until you began dating Ariston." She said, though I knew she had no problem with my marriage.

"This is not about him," I told her, meeting her warm brown eyes. "You are one of the closest friends I have ever had… but this? Believe me when I say that some knowledge is dangerous."

"You sound just like my dad." She said, then met my eyes and sighed. "We used to be able to tell each other anything; the only things I ever kept from you were about my fathers business, and now that you know the truth I thought we could share anything with each other. Instead, every time I bring up some subjects, you grow quiet as you get that look on your face that says how you feel about telling me."

I turned towards her as I stopped and took her hands within my own, looking into her brown eyes as I shook my head.

"I wish I could tell you… but these things are bigger than myself, things that could wind up putting others in danger." I tried in vain to explain. "The moment I can tell you I swear I will; I do not want to lose you, Margret." She wrapped her arms around my neck tight as I held onto her.

"You are my closest friend, you will never get rid of me." She told me, and after a time we began walking again. "So what can you tell me?" She asked.

"What would you want to know?" I asked, she thought for a while.

"Do you and Ariston still get to… you know?" She asked, I blushed.

"Not often and we are always careful." I told her while blushing at the very thought of those overwhelming hours of passionate connection. "Since he realized I was pregnant, everything about the way he is with me, it is all different. You know Ariston, always the gentleman; but carrying our sons means that there is not one moment my wonderful husband is not there, caring for me, unless Cronus is there to help, or Jason."

"So that is his name, Jason?" She asked. "I can guess he was the one Nikolai saw you kissing?" A smile came to my lips as I nodded.

"Jason Gray," I told her. "He is the third man I love."

"Ariston and Cronus do not care?" She asked, I smiled and shook my head.

"They all swore to let each other love me and be with me," I told her, missing Jason with all my soul. "They mean the world to me, and I can hardly believe they are mine."

"So when does the best friend get to be introduced to the newest boyfriend?" She asked, I smiled.

"He will be at my birthday." I told her. "Goodness!" I was shocked with a sudden realization which brought me immense joy. "I will be a mother soon. Nineteen years old also." I had to admit that the age sounded off; I felt so very much older than that, I always have. Remembering my past lives has only added to that feeling. Remembering has also brought me into a new understanding of myself, along with what wisdom was gained in those short lives.

"I cannot imagine being a mother so young." She said, I smiled while wrapping my arms over my full womb. Nathan and Meristos squirmed to life within me, they were ready to be born, they could hardly wait to come into the world and their father and I were excitedly waiting to meet them.

"They are my world." I said with that smile, thinking about how long I had wanted this for. I did not know how many times I had said that, how much they mean to me and yet nothing can fully explain it. "What about you and Jack? Are you going to have some children?"

"Not for MANY years!" She told me. "We are not ready for marriage, and clearly not prepared to have a baby yet. I mean, we are nineteen, we want to have our lives first before devoting ourselves to another life we brought into this world. We have talked about adopting someday; but it is just an idea."

"I have no doubt you will be a great mother." I told her, she smiled and wrapped her arm through mine as we walked along.


George Vandenberg's point of view

I woke at the sound of the rooster crowing, as I have so many times before. Anne was curled up next to me, her head resting on my shoulder, looking just like the angel she is. Her golden blond hair fanned out around her as she held me close.

I was careful not to wake her as I rose from our bed, looking upon her for a long while as she pulled the covers up over her naked body. For twenty years she has been my wife, and I have loved her every day since. She gave me a life and a happiness I could only have dreamt of without her. She gave me our daughter, our dear, precious Mera. Our life was a simple one, but it was enough for us and was all I ever wanted.

I knew when I met her that I would not be able to give her the life she had dreamed of; she so wished to be a singer, and yet she gave all of it up to be with me, to raise Mera on this farm in this perfect little home in Pescadero California. Anne has told me countless times that she would not change a thing; Mera and I are the best things that ever happened to her.

She had not had an easy life, my Anne. Her mother Andrea was murdered when she was only five; we now know why, that it was the Nameless One killing off Pandora's line, yet Anne did not find out that truth until late last year, when Mera revealed it. Her father Roger was extremely protective of Anne from then on, only letting her out of his sight on very rare occasions. His protectiveness was suffocating; he had lost his mind after Andrea's death. Anne barely got to be with friends, was hardly ever let out of the house except to go to school. The few times she disobeyed him, he punished her, taking what little freedom she had away. Anne loved her father, yet she grew to hate him. I think it was hard for him to remember that Anne lost her mother too; he was too fixated on his own grief and his determination that the same thing would not happen to Anne.

As soon as she turned eighteen, she left her fathers home in Washington, where they moved after her mothers death, and flew to Colorado; it was there that she fell in love with singing. She had always enjoyed it, yet had been a bit too shy at the time to sing in public. Her first boyfriend, a man named Gregory if I remembered it correctly, heard her singing and told her what talent she had, saying she had to get her butt to Hollywood and become the superstar she was destined to be.

He gave her five hundred dollars and kissed her goodbye at the airport, promising they would be together soon. He decided to stay where they both knew he would have steady work, though they were still together and had many plans for their future together.

Three years later, I met Anne. Most of my life had been spent in California, on my parents farm, where I grew up riding horses. I was twenty-three at the time; My skill with horses had landed me a job here in Pescadero CA. managing the same farm that I still work on. I lived in the same house Anne and I raised Mera in, though I was only renting it at the time. The first time I saw her… I still remembered it so vividly. I was at a bar in Palo Alto, they were having an open mic night. The first thing I heard was her voice as I sat at the table with my friends, my back facing the stage. The very first note she sang… the sound went right through me, giving me chills.

It took me two months to convince her to go out with me. She had recently broken up with her boyfriend Gregory, the long distance relationship simply not working out, so she was not exactly ready for something else. I was persistent though, and eventually she gave in and went out on one date with me. That was all it took for me to realize that I was crazy about her, completely head over heels. It was the most powerful thing I had ever felt. Being with Anne, it felt like home.

I slipped into the bathroom in the hall, turning on the shower, feeling the temperature before getting in. I began humming, a habit I picked up from Anne, and I smiled. I still cannot understand how a woman such as her, chose a man like me. She could have had anyone… yet she wanted me.

My heart skipped a beat when I felt her arms wrap around me in the shower, her lips pressing kisses onto the back of my neck as her hands trailed over my chest. I smiled, leaning back against her, she held me close. We stayed like that for a long while, until her hands strayed lower, my body reacting to her at once as a groan sounded from deep within my throat.

"Anne." Her name left my lips.

She giggled and in that moment, I spun around in her arms, reaching down to take hold of her behind and legs and lift her up to me. She gasped in surprise as she held me closer, our lips meeting in fervent kisses as her fingers tangled into my hair, pulling enough to make me groan and put her back against the wall, reaching down to guide myself to her warmth, and with that, I slipped into her. We both gasped as I had to brace myself against the wall with one hand at the intensity of the feeling, my other hand still holding her backside to keep her against the wall.

My head went into the crook of her neck, breathing in the scent of her as I began moving in and out, causing her breath to hitch as she clutched onto my behind to bring me into her again, my name leaving her lips countless times as we continued on, our enkindled bodies blissfully unaware of the water turning cold as we went on and on, taking turns with rare words of passion, calling out each others names more and more often, though at times calling out to a deity high above in witness to our ecstasy. We both came at the same time, the entire world going completely blank for a time as we clutched onto each other for dear life. There was that sense, as there always is, when I was not even entirely sure where I was; the only thing I knew for certain was that I was holding her close, our bodies still joined in that sacred way.

"George." Anne whispered in a shaky breath.

I pulled back only enough to look into her dazed eyes, smiling as I caressed her sweaty hair away from her cheek and temple, leaning in to give her a soft kiss, which she returned with all her soul.

"I love you." I whispered to her, opening my eyes to meet hers as she smiled to me.

"I love you too." She whispered, kissing me again.

A few moments later, I slid out of her, setting her on shaky legs as she looked upon me with that look which always takes my breath away. I pressed my forehead to hers, sighing as my smile grew, her hands caressing my chest as she looked into my eyes. Anne kissed me again, laughing softly as she began singing, taking the wash cloth as she began washing me down. I reached out to touch the water and laughed.

"I suppose we would need a cold shower after that." I said to her, making her laugh during her song.

"Only too true," She sang, her voice holding a seductive quality that made me want her all the more. "Other wise, I might just get you back into bed for the remainder of the day… and perhaps the month." I laughed, reaching down to grab her behind, bringing her closer to me, our bodies flush as I looked upon her incredibly desirable body.

"If I did not have to feed the horses…" I whispered, my voice and eyes trailing off to a place we both knew well. She wrapped her arms around my neck.

"You will just have to hire someone to take over soon, that way I can have you all to myself." She whispered, her violet eyes full of promise.

"Neil has been wanting some work." I told her. "How about next week?"

"We could drive down the coast, book a room and make love from dusk to dawn." She offered. I nodded my agreement, kissing her lips again.

We washed each other, just as we have so many times before; sharing the sweetest of kisses as she sang and I hummed with her to the song she created. We got out and I shaved and brushed my teeth, then returned to our bedroom to dress. I came back into our bedroom, only to find Anne curled up in the sheets of our bed, looking up at me and smiling. She held her arms out to me, I smiled and shook my head as I climbed on top of the sheets, holding her close as she snuggled in nearer with me.

"The horses will be very cross with me for feeding them late." I said softly, amusement within my voice.

"Tell them your wife kept you in bed." She mumbled, making me laugh softly and wish I did not have to get up.

I stayed a few moments longer, pressing kisses to her lips and forehead as she giggled tiredly and ran her fingers through my hair. I said 'I love you', kissing her once more and walking down stairs to take an energy bar with me. I ate it on the walk to the barn a hundred feet from home. The horses were quite impatient as I expected, and I threw them their hay then put the supplements in their grain and fed them.

I went to work cleaning the stalls, dumping out the buckets and refilling them with fresh water. I switched the horses after they finished eating. I usually do this first, but they needed to be fed first since I was running too late, thanks to my irresistible wife… just the thought of her took my breath away. I went to see my new horse, Thomas. When Mera told me of him, how she healed him from colicing, and that they were wondering if I would want to take him on to have as my very own, how could I have said no? I was only to happy to have a new horse with such potential, though I had a long way to go since his last owner barely did anything with him and allowed him get away with everything; I have always worked with horses, instead of against them. I would never use violence to get my way, but I do not allow the horses to push me around either.

I patted his neck while putting his halter on him; the first thing I did when I worked with a horse was be sure to take the time needed for him or her to be comfortable with me. That was always the first step. I walked Thomas inside and hooked him up to the crossties. I went into the tack room to get the bridle, and spotted the photo of my daughter when she was here a year ago. It was the summer before everything changed. I remembered dropping Mera off at the airport with Anne, it was the last time anything would be the same. I had thought the biggest change would be Mera graduating and going to college, yet it was something else entirely. It was days later, three to be precise, when Mera first met Ariston and here they are a year later; married with twins on the way. Boy did I feel old.

After a decent first ride and a walk on the trails, I came back and took care of Thomas. I was starting to bond with him and to learn about who this horse is, and who he could become. After Thomas was taken care of, I rode the three others that are boarded here to be trained.

After feeding lunch, I showered the morning sweat off and put on a pair of kaki's along with a light blue dress shirt and shared a kiss with my wife. We prepared our house, making sure it is clean and prepared for this afternoon and evening. I had just put dinner in the oven when Mera arrived with her husband; she did not knock, she simply walked right in, just as she has since she was a little girl. I was grateful to see that that much had not changed, it still made me smile every time I heard the door opening when she visited.

"Mera, welcome home." I greeted her as I walked out of the kitchen to see Anne greeting our beautiful, pregnant daughter. She walked up to me, nearing to full term by the day, and wrapped her arms around me. I was careful of how I held her seeing as how she was less than a week away from giving birth. Her husband, Ariston, walked up to me and we exchanged a short hug. "Ariston."

"George." He greeted with a friendly smile. "It is good to see you." We let go of each other and I turned to greet Ennina and Cronus.

We asked them how they were as they came back to the kitchen behind me. I began whipping up the peppermint chocolate cake, since mint was one of my daughters favorite flavors, along with strawberries and vanilla and raspberries. She enjoys so many foods, and is an incredible cook, which I could take credit for gifting to her.

Kallisto and Aaron arrived; their wedding was two days away and Kallisto's due date was a few days after that. The two of them were so overjoyed, and it filled my soul with gratitude. My brother James arrived soon with his wife Katherine and their son, my nephew Henry, who was incredibly excited to see everyone. His little eyes were wide as saucers as he looked at and felt Mera and Kallisto's rounded wombs; I was not sure he had seen someone pregnant before. He giggled when he felt them move.

Mera quickly took my hand and placed it upon her womb as both of her sons began kicking; it was an unbelievable feeling, feeling my daughters sons move within her, knowing two little children were grown inside my child. I was brought back for a time to when Anne was placing my hand upon her womb to feel Mera move; now the next generation was on their way… and at forty-two, I was to become a grandfather for the first time, and although that fact still shocked me at times, knowing that Mera is happy meant more to me than I could say.

With help, the table was set when dinner was ready, and we made it very clear that Kallisto and Mera were to sit and allow us to serve them. Dinner wore on with great conversation as we enjoyed each others company. Having family here was everything I could ask for and more.

I sat at the table, not paying attention to the conversation that went on; I was watching how Ariston looked at my daughter as she laughed and spoke with her aunt. He still could not take his eyes off of her, and the complete and total adoration within his gaze made me smile despite myself. Mera, seeming to sense his eyes upon her, looked at him, her face some how lighting up in a whole new way in the moment they shared. Ariston brought his hand to rest upon where their sons grew, she placed her hands upon his own. It was in that look, the first time I saw it, that I realized just how deeply they love each other.

I remembered all to well my reaction when I met Ariston. When Mera went off to Blueridge Prep when she was fourteen, I was truly worried about her being at the other side of the country, living at that boarding school. Anne and I did not want to send her away, yet we heard nothing but praise for the school, and we knew Mera would get the best possible education there. Yet the three of us talked about it, and told Mera it was her decision, and she chose to go.

Mera has always had a good head on her shoulders, her thoughts were more focused towards horses and Shakespeare than they were towards romance and boys, yet I did not miss the way she would sigh at the end of a good love story she would watch on TV. I was uncomfortable with her dating at all, but I knew I had to trust her. When she began dating Aaron, I could only hope and pray they did not move things… too quickly. Mera has always had a free spirited nature and a mind of her own, so I could not simply tell her what to do… or in that case, what NOT to do.

It was an uncomfortable conversation, and yet Mera told me back then, when she was fifteen and sixteen, those years she dated Aaron, that they were not going that far, she was not ready and he was very respectful of that. Aaron was a good boy, he had a good heart and clearly loved her more than he could say. I came to trust him, I even thought, after they had been together for a while, that he would be the one to marry Mera someday, after high school and college, once they were both ready for that many years down the road.

I did not expect the shift in events. Mera was seventeen, just two and a half months shy of eighteen, when she and Ariston found each other. Though we did not find out about this until a month later. Mera spent so much time studying and working at Blueridge Prep's stables with the horses, that there were times we did not talk to her all that often. Though we tried to talk to her more often, we knew that she was practically grown up, mature, and could handle herself.

We found out about Ariston when we called Mera to see how she was doing. That was when Mera told Anne that she had broken up with Aaron, and that there was a new man in her life, though she was very vague. We were not able to get in touch with her for a few weeks after that, we now know that was because she had moved with Ariston to Olympus, home of the Greek gods. We then found out that this new man was in fact twenty-five, which worried me considerably. When I first met him, I completely lost my temper, seeing as how he was clearly older than twenty-five.

I could not stand him at first, and I hated him even more when Mera admitted that they were sleeping together. She was seventeen, and though by some states laws she was legal, I still wanted to rip his head off for touching her and call him every horrible name in the book! When I lost my temper that day, it was the first time I saw Mera use her abilities, though I did not understand what was going on. There I was, screaming at Ariston and not paying much mind to my daughter, when suddenly a storm rolled in. Before I knew it, Ariston had Mera's in between his hands as he spoke to her so softly I could not hear the words. It was in that moment, when I saw the tears fall from my daughters eyes and the way she looked at him that made me realize this was not all it seemed. He had kissed her and I saw in that moment that he did love her; the kiss was not possessive or controlling, he was so gentle and careful with her.

He still looks at her like that; that undying devotion and love shining there for all the world to see. Cronus was sitting across the table, not able to keep his eyes from his wife Ennina. Yet when he looked upon Mera, their eyes meeting since she could sense him, it was incredibly tender, you could almost see everything disappearing except each other for them. Having my daughter love two different men, it was certainly something I never expected, never mind finding out who the third man she is in love with is. Anne's selflessness in not trying to tell Mera to leave a man she loves was unimaginable, since said man was the one who murdered her mother in cold blood.

I knew it was so inexplicably difficult for Anne, knowing who Mera is in love with, a man known as Jason Gray, whose true name was destroyed by the Fates for his crimes long ago. Anne could not even think about having him in our home, and the fact that he shall be attending Mera's birthday in a weeks time was causing more stress and anxiety to her than Anne would ever let our daughter know. This was a man she hated more than anything, the man who stole her happiness when Anne was only five. Yet for Mera, she would be quiet about this, because we both realized that what Mera is involved in is bigger than the both of us and what was done. This man who is still a monster in the eyes of most, is not only loved by my daughter, Ennina has prophesized that this Jason Gray will work with the gods to stop a greater evil which was on the horizon, one that many will need to band together to stop.

To be honest, all of this was far too much for a simple man such as myself to wrap his mind around. Yet my Mera has a fortitude that I could only wonder from where she received such a strength. She must truly love this man, to have found a way to forgive him for the things he has done; and although this is not something I would want for her, my Mera makes her own choices and Anne was correct when she told Mera that following her heart has never led her astray.

I decided to put these thoughts away; my daughter and stepson were here, along with my soon to be stepson and his wife, and my brother and sister-in-law, not to mention Kallisto and Aaron.

"Uncle James?" Mera said, he looked to her. "Do you remember what you told Aaron when he came to visit here for a week, back when we were first together?"

"I think it went along the lines of," James seemed to think for a moment and I laughed, knowing where this was going. "'Whatever you do to Mera, I do to you." The entire table burst out laughing, though Aaron was clearly embarrassed.

"I am pretty sure you scared the hell out of him with that one." Mera said as Aaron buried his face in his hands.

"That was kind of the point." James said with a wink, making us all laugh. "Of course by the time I met Ariston… it was a little late for that tactic." Mera blushed and she and her husband shared a smile I had to advert my eyes from. She was a married woman, with twins on the way… yet it was still not something I wanted to think about my little girl doing. "At least you married her."

"Somehow I doubt you married every woman you slept with." Mera mentioned, to which my brother had no reply, making the table laugh.

"Well he married one of them." Katherine mentioned, giving him a loving look and he gave her a kiss. Though Katherine had her faults, she was the perfect woman for my brother; they bring out the best in one another. She turned her attention to Mera next. "So when do we get to see this incredible home of yours?" Mera and Ariston glanced to each other, clearly knowing they could not tell her they live on Mt. Olympus.

"In a few weeks, for Mera's birthday." Ariston told her, still watching his wife. "I have planned a late celebration for her, since our boys are due the day before her birthday."

There was a knock on the door, I was curious who would be here. I excused myself and went to the hallway, and opened the front door. I was shocked to see Jaclyn Rockford, Aaron's mother, standing there, looking half crazed with desperation.

"Jaclyn, are you alright?" I asked her, she had tears in her green eyes.

"No, I am not." She said. "Forgive me for interrupting your dinner… I was hoping that perhaps you had seen Aaron lately?" I was thoroughly confused.

"We are having dinner with he and Kallisto right now," I told her, she then barged in before I could get another word out.

"Aaron!" She called as she ran into the dining room, I was right behind her.

Everyone at the table was shocked to see this woman standing in the room. Aaron's face became hardened, his eyes showing his hurt, as he looked upon his mother and stood.

"What are you doing here?" He asked in a voice I had never heard him use towards his mother. What in the hell is going on? I could only wonder.

"I am your mother, you cannot shut me out of your life." She pleaded, her arms rising and then falling to her sides again, clearly wanting to hold her son.

"You know what you said." He claimed. "I cannot take it anymore."

"I said I was sorry for what I said about Kallisto and her father." Jaclyn said.

"It wasn't just that!" Aaron suddenly yelled, tears threatening to fall from his eyes as he stood ten feet from his mother. "All you have done for the past two years is pester me, trying to control my life. Your heart turned to ice when we lost him, and I think sometimes you forget that I lost dad too. You are not the only one who misses him." Aaron was crying now, looking more like a boy than I had seen him look in a long time. Everyone at the table was silent, transfixed on what was happening. "And instead of keeping me close as the only piece of dad you have left… you barely talk to me. It's like you are trying to push me away, and hold me close at the same time… and long before you said those things about Kallisto and Ariston, you actions were tearing me apart. You are all I have left of our family too, and yet I can barely stand to be in your presence after how you have treated me."

Jaclyn was crying as she ran to her son, wrapping her arms around him. His hands were balled up into fists as his mother cried into his shirt.

"I will do anything, please!" She cried, then looked up at him. "Tell me what I can do to make this right." Aaron shook his head and pried her hands off of him, taking a step back.

"Don't you get it?" He said, his eyes showing just how much she had hurt him. "I DO NOT WANT YOU IN MY LIFE!" Jaclyn was visibly shocked, she was shaking as tears streamed down her face.

"Aaron." She said, reaching out to him again. He threw his hands up as he cried even more.

"Just go." He said, trying to keep calm. Jaclyn looked around, seeing Mera sitting next to Ariston, Kallisto looking at her with sympathetic eyes, her son heartbroken, hurting.

"I will do as you ask," She said around the obvious lump in her throat, looking upon her dear son. "Just know that I love you. No matter what, even if you never let me into your heart and life again… I will always love you." It was clear in Aaron's eyes how he wanted to say those words back to his mother. His red rimmed eyes locked on her as he simply nodded.

She looked at her only son for a time more, then left the room and it was soon after that I heard the front door shut. The silence that succeeded the slam was deafening, no one knew what to say. It was so completely out of character for Aaron to speak to his mother that way, and the guilt upon his face was as clear as day.


Kallisto's point of view

My eyes were on Aaron the entire time; all I wanted to do was take away this pain. He did not meet my eyes as he left the room, going out the back door. I quickly tried to get to my feet, which was not as easy as it once was since I was full term. Mera's father came over quickly and helped me to my feet. I gave him a quick smile and thanked him, then went through the kitchen and out the back door. Aaron was sitting on the steps that led down to the grassy yard. I went to him and sat down next to him, he did not look at me, he kept his eyes straight ahead, his hands wringing together as he looked up at the stars. I placed my hand upon his back, knowing there were no words I could say to help him.

I heard the sound of the sliding door behind me, I looked back to see my father coming towards us, his eyes compassionate. He sat down on Aaron's other side and was quiet as he too placed his hand upon Aaron's back, gently rubbing his shoulder once to comfort him before he simply rested his hand there. There was such gratitude within my heart as I looked over towards my father; I knew how much Aaron meant to him as a son. Aaron needed this, a father figure who loved him, especially after losing his father two years ago.

"I don't know what to do." Aaron finally spoke after a long while of silence, though he still would not look at either of us. "How can I forgive her? How can I simply let her back into my life?"

"Forgiveness takes time," Ariston told him. "It is not something that can be achieved in the span of a week, or even a year. You have to be ready to say goodbye to these things, and see her for who she is now. With some people, they beg for forgiveness and yet do not change. It is up to you to see if your mother is sincere. But no matter what, she will always love you."

"I am an awful son, aren't I?" Aaron said, I could feel his guilt, his pain.

"No, my love," I said softly, kissing his shoulder through his shirt as I wrapped my arms around him. "She has not been the mother you deserve. You have every right to be upset with her, and to need time away from her." He sighed and looked at me, I raised a hand to his cheek and wiped his tears away with my thumb.

After a long while, we went back inside and sat down.

"Are you okay, son?" George asked, Aaron shrugged.

"Yeah," Aaron said, taking a deep breath. "I needed to breathe." George nodded and I asked Aaron if he wanted to go home. "I think that would be a good idea." I kissed him and we said our goodbyes before heading home.

We relaxed in bed for hours in silence.

"When you are ready, you can forgive her." I told him. "I know you still love her."

"What can I say? She's my mother, of course I love her." He told me as his sadness nearly swallowed him whole, but when he looked in my eyes, it was in that moment he kissed me and I felt that pain dissipate. "My love, marrying you means the world to me. That wonderful day and soon after when our child comes into this world are what I care about most." I smiled and kissed him again.

His mother was his mother, and with time Aaron would be past this. I only hoped that Jaclyn would have learned to be a good woman and mom to him again.


Pandora's point of view

I was beyond angry and frustrated. Did he truly think he could keep me here while the daughter I have left is lost to darkness? I remembered the fight we had all too well when he came to visit two days ago.

"What do you mean, you will not allow me to go after Reina?" I asked, completely outraged he would do such a thing. "She is my daughter!"

"And you are mine!" He yelled in return. "Thirteen thousand years ago you disappeared and I searched and searched for you. For the past eleven thousand years I have thought you were dead, I cannot go through that again. I already have too much at risk."

"You know I will not give up." I stated, looking into his heartbroken eyes. "She is my daughter. For five months I carried her inside of me, I gave birth to her, I heard her first word which was 'mama' and saw her first step. I raised her, I would have done so for far longer had the Moirae not intervened, ripping her away from me when she was only five years old. It will never matter how the evils within her tainted her soul; she will always be my child, and I will NEVER ever let her go. And if our situations were reversed I do not doubt for one moment you would fight for your daughter."

He had no words, nothing to say to that, and so he walked out of my room and I had not seen him in two days. I never stepped outside of my room, if I was to be a prisoner I had only one way to protest. I stayed in my room; Hera brought me food I refused to eat and later came to collect the full tray as she gave me a heartbroken look, which nearly made me want to eat for her, yet I was going to make a point. I would not be submissive, I would not let go of my own daughter so easily and I would win in this battle in which Reina's life hung in the balance. If I stayed here then sooner or later, Reina was going to do something she would not come back from. I was the only one who could save her.

I finally decided I had to try and persuade my father again; if Hera or Ennina stood with me, I might have a chance. I washed and dressed, deciding that I refused to look the way I felt inside. The more I appeared like myself, showing I was going to handle this and had the spirit to survive, the higher the chance I would convince my father. When it came down to it there was only one truth that mattered; saving Reina's soul was worth far more than my continued existence. I knew my father had a point to why he wanted to protect me, yet all that I could care about was my Reina, the last member of my family I had left.

I closed the door to my room behind me, walking down the long hall as I began to hear a child's laughter coming my way.

"I am going to find you Edmund!" A mothers voice teased, and next thing I knew, a little boy, a sweet toddler, ran around the corner and towards me.

I was taken aback at once; there was something in his face that I recognized. The toddler saw me and ran to me, hiding behind my skirt as a woman ran around the corner, shocked at the sight of me. I was just as taken aback, she was the spitting image of my daughter, except for her black hair, pale skin and pale blue eyes.

"Grandmother." She said softly.

"Nell?" I asked, she nodded, then smiled and glanced down to my legs where the boy was peaking out. He squealed and she laughed, kneeling down.

"Come here, love." She said softly, holding her arms out. The boy, who according to my father was named Edmund, came out and went to his mother as she picked him up, kissing his little neck and making him giggle.

"Sister…" Came a voice right behind Nell.

"Ennina." I said in greeting as she ran around Nell and hugged me close.

I returned the hug as I held in my emotions, if I slipped for one moment… I might never come back. Ennina pulled back; seeing the tears of joy and sorrow within her eyes nearly brought my own sorrow to the surface, yet I held it in check. She took my hand and led me to the living room, where my father and step-mother relaxed on the couch. I looked at where they were looking, to see some kind of magic mirror that allowed them to pear into the lives of others.

"It is a television," My father told me. "You have missed quite a bit with technology. We wanted to talk with you, and were waiting for you to come out of your room."

I sat on a couch as Ennina went to take her place beside our father. The three of them watched me for a time, so many emotions flowing through me as Nell came to sit down on the carpet to play with her son, making me think of a time when I had my children in my arms. I took a shaky inhale and made the emotions subside, I could not come undone… I could not.

"What is it?" I asked them.

"Do you wish to see Epimetheus?" Father asked, I leapt at the opportunity.

"Please," I begged. "If I can see him…"

"I can bring you to Hades palace whenever you choose." Ennina told me, I rose to my feet.

"Now, right now, I cannot wait." I told her, she nodded.

We rose from our seats, and Ennina gave Zeus a soft kiss before walking over to take my hands. We teleported to the beaches of Styx, the gloomy dock and lifeless sands were covered with disembodied souls, making their way to the ships in a lethargic state. I felt as if I was one of them; devoid of life, of meaning, worst of all… of family. Ennina held onto my hand as we made our way though the crowd, to where Hades' luxurious private boat was waiting for us. The ferryman helped us into the boat, where we sat on the thick cushions while Charon rowed us across the Styx. All I could think about was running into Epimetheus' arms.

When Hades' palace came into view I was filled with anticipation, to the point where I nearly jumped into the river Styx, and I might have, had I not known the dangers of touching the goddess's waters without permission. King Hades was walking towards the end of the dock with a blond goddess upon his arm, one I did not recognize.

We were helped out of the boat and without missing a beat, King Hades took Ennina into his arms and kissed her as they held onto each other. My thoughts were too hectic to be more than a bit surprised. The blond goddess, whom wore a stunning crown upon her regal head, walked up to me with a smile.

"Pandora," She greeted me, I bowed my head for a moment before meeting her spring green eyes. "My name is Persephone; I am your sister through our father Zeus, and the wife of Hades, and Queen of this realm. It is an honor to meet you." She held her hand out, and I placed mine within her own, then glanced to Ennina who was still locked within Hades embrace. Persephone laughed and I looked her way. "They will be a while; it has been three weeks since they last saw each other." I wanted to hurry them up, I needed to see my husband, I was about to speak when Persephone spoke first. "Why don't you and I make our way ahead of them? They will catch up to us in a while."

"Very well." I agreed and we made our way towards the palace, along the flower lined path; I wanted to run up to the palace, search every single room until I found him so I could speak to him for the first time in what was only five days to me, but to him would be thirteen thousand years. Was he the same person? How could he have sent Reina away? My little girl… I had to believe there was something left of her.

"I am sorry, truly." The Queen said, sympathy in her eyes. "I cannot even imagine…" I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I needed a distraction, so I changed the topic.

"I am guessing your mother is a goddess?" I asked, she nodded.

"Demeter, Great Goddess of the Harvest." She announced with pride. "Our father spent some time with her and she conceived me. I was raised on earth, in a beautiful cottage that I loved; our father came to call as often as he could, he is dear to me, a devoted father. I do not know what I would do without him. It was with his persuasion that I was able to stay with Hades, my mother wanted another life for me, she was not ready to let me go. When Hades asked her for my hand she was horrified; it did not matter that I said how in love with him I was, she only saw him as a cold souled being who would destroy everything about me.

"I said that I could never live without him; then I had an idea which ended in disaster because of the consequences. He and I ran off together, Ennina helped us, since she had loved him and still did and because she loves me. She, as a goddess of love, married us in secret since we had my fathers blessing. Distraught cannot even cover my mothers reaction to what we had done, and when she realized I would not be returned, she turned the world to ice.

"The gods grew food and handed out as much as they could, yet the food never lasted long. Everything turned to waste. My mother would listen to no ones pleas, even as her beloved mortals prayed to her with their dying breaths to end this plight for their family's sakes. When I was told what was happening to the Worlds, I wrote a long letter to my mother; I relayed the choice I had made, that I was immensely happy with my wonderful husband, I even spoke of his wonderful qualities. What I received in return was a letter telling me I was naïve to think what I did of him.

"I hoped that she would end this horrible winter that was killing off the race of mortals, everyday I expected to receive news, yet nothing would persuade her except for my return, an annulment to my marriage to the man I loved in a way I could not explain.

"Long story short, after nearly a year of this, I made a choice to help everyone. She was not going to stop until I was returned. I chose to return; I could only hope that seeing me in person would be enough to persuade her, and our father was there incase she tried to forcibly pry me from my husband, from everything that mattered to me.

"The only deal father and I could convince her to consider was for me to spend most of the year with her, so that I would 'see just who he is, and all I was missing in the world above' as she said. It was with heartbreak that Hades and I agreed, but only on with terms of our own. My Hades would be able to visit as often as his duties would allow, and she would try to discover who he truly is. I made it obvious this arrangement was only temporary until we could come to a better understanding.

"With time and the arrival of our daughters, Demeter softened towards my husband and reneged on our deal. Since then, Hades, myself and our daughters have been here in the Underworld, though I do visit above often. It is incredible and heartbreaking to see what this world and the mortals have become."

We entered the palace, a place I had never been. Through the corridors I was led by Queen Persephone, my nerves making it hard to think straight. We finally arrived at a guarded door, which was opened for me, and through the doorway, I could see Epimetheus as he sat in an armchair. Our eyes met, and I could not seem to move.

"I will leave you two alone." Queen Persephone's voice brought me out of my daze, I looked to her and nodded before taking a deep breath and walking into the room. The door was shut behind me, and my husband and I were alone.

"Pandora." He whispered, his lips moved but no more words left his lips.

"Epimetheus." I greeted him.

He stood and in the next moment, he was in my arms and we held each other close as we both cried. My hand ran through his hair, which was longer than he used to keep it. We ended up looking into each others eyes, our foreheads resting against one another's. He was about to kiss me when I pulled away. With all that was on my mind, the last thing I needed was for him to kiss me right now. I took a few steps away from him and turned around, trying to collect my thoughts. I turned back to find him watching me.

"Why did you send her away?" I asked him, feeling anger and tears rise up from deep within my soul. "How could you? She was just a child!"

"I did the only thing I could to protect her." He told me. "You were gone, and she was… changed. It went far beyond a normal bonding, she permeated darkness from every part of her soul. There was no way she would have survived the purge. I panicked and did what I did, and I have regretted it every day since."

"I am going to find her." I told him. "I refuse to believe that there is nothing of our child left within her."

"Please do." He begged me. "I have no way to find her, my sentence still has another forty-nine and a half years left in Asphodel." I nodded. "Should we sit?" I nodded and we sat next to each other on a couch. "Where were you?"

"When Reina opened the box and the Shadows were released," I began. "I was somehow brought into the box in their place."

"And Mera freed you." He said, I nodded.

"You know her?" I asked.

"We talked once, she is your mirror in so many ways." He said as he took a strand of golden hair between his fingers, looking at my hair as he held it.

"You remarried." I said softly, not able to keep the heartbreak off of my face. He nodded as he let go of my hair.

"She is a good woman." He told me. "She was the only thing to save me after I lost you and our girls. Jasmina and I have been married for around ten thousand years now." I began to cry as I looked into his eyes.

"That was supposed to be us." I cried. "You were meant to be with me."

"For thousands of years I searched for you." He told me, his eyes pleading with me to understand. "Even after your own father had given up hope, I searched for you. Pandora, you were the love of my life, letting you go was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Do you know how I feared for you? How I longed for you every day and every night? How our girls being gone broke me? You were all I had left. It was supposed to be you and me forever..."

"Then why did you marry her?" I asked him. "If I was the one you wanted, then why?"

"Because she was the only one who made life bearable." He told me, it broke everything within me ever further to see his love for her shining within him. "After I came to terms with the fact that you were truly gone… most likely dead… I never thought I would know any kind of happiness again. It was hundreds of years before I let another woman into my soul. It was not my intention to fall in love with her, but she made me happy. She showed me it was not wrong or selfish to find happiness, to let go of the past."

"To let go of me." I whispered.

"There was no other choice;" He replied, clearly broken by it as well. "It was either giving into loving her, or letting myself slip into nonexistence without you." He paused. "I thought you would want me happy if you were gone for good." I leaned on the couch beneath me, my arms the only thing holding me up.

More tears came, losing him hurt in a way I could not put into words. How I was going to find a way through this alone was beyond me, all I knew were two things; I was alone, in a way no one could fix; and Reina was what was more important than anything else. Epimetheus kneeled down in front of me and placed his hands upon my shoulders; I met his eyes while he regarded me, I had only one question for him.

"What does this mean for us?" I asked him, he was silent as he looked at me in apology and I began to cry again as I looked away, knowing I had lost him.

"Forgive me." He begged. "I am a different man than the one you love; I have spent millennia walking a life I never planned for and doing so changed me in ways I could never have expected. I love you, even Jasmina could not change that fact. She is the woman I am going to love through whatever may come; she is who I want." I looked into his eyes and the truth was clear, he had moved on, I was a part of his past, no matter how good what we had was, it was now over. I was truly alone.

"There will be another love for you." He told me. I laughed once without humor at the ridiculousness of his statement. "I know what you are feeling, I felt exactly the same thing. It will not be over night, but at least where it comes to me, you will move on, the hurt will end, and believe it or not, with time you will love again, you will know happiness in another's arms." I shook my head and looked into his eyes.

"It may have been thousands of years for you, but for me, just a week ago, I was waking up in your arms." I told him. "I do not want another love, I do not want to move on, I want you, I want my husband. I want the god who pledged his undying love to me and only me as we stood before my father." More tears came then. "I want something I can never have back."

He reached up to caress my cheek, but I moved away from his touch. I stood and walked to the center of the room. I turned around, and he was standing before me. He looked down into my eyes, just as he used to.

"I never got to kiss you goodbye." He said softly.

"I think one more kiss would break my heart." I said in a pain-filled whisper. When I dared, I looked up into those green eyes. He was still the love of my life; even though I hated what he had done to Reina, I understood why he did it.

"I will not hurt you more than I already have," He told me, looking deep into my eyes, showing how he was feeling and hurting. "I would do anything to fix this, yet you are the only one who has the chance to help Reina. I know how persistent you can be; I know that that stubbornness is the only thing that will save our daughter. She was not meant to be this monster; if you can get through to her, find a way to strengthen her light then perhaps the purge might work." I nodded as more tears came and he took me into his arms and held me tight; having him here for me, this one last time, was something I desperately needed.

"I love you, I always will." I said through my sobs.

"I will always love you." He promised, words he had told me so many times in our marriage. "Do this, Pandora; save whatever is left of our little girl, she needs you, since I failed her. When you find her tell her how grieved I am by the things I did, how I should have tried to find her sooner and been a better father. Sending her away was the worst choice I have ever made."