Author's Note: Here is another sweet chapter for you all! I have one more chapter written after this, then I have to go through the rough draft of the second half of the book. That will take time, but I will try and update ASAP! Thank you, each and every one of you, for your reviews, favorites and follows! They are worth more than I can say, knowing that Mera and Ariston's beginning means as much to you as it does to me!

Love Jasmine!


Chapter 20

Surprises

"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."

William Shakespeare

Ariston teleported us to Blueridge Prep five minutes before the classes started. There was almost no one in the halls. Before we entered I pulled Ariston to me and kissed him deeply, Ariston held me close, his arms around my waist.

"To hold me over until later." I explained breathlessly.

His smile grew and he kissed me again passionately then lingered for a moment, his hot delicious breath washing across my lips, before reluctantly letting me go. My book bag appeared in his hand and he handed it to me. I smiled and thanked him.

All eyes were on us when we walked in. I smiled, my head held high, no matter what they thought, I was proud to be holding Ariston's hand. Ariston kissed my gloved hand and I used what was left of my strength to walk away from him and take my seat beside Margret. Margret raised an eyebrow, I knew what she was asking. I blushed and nodded. She smiled and squeezed my hand.


As always, I could not take my eyes off of Ariston as he taught and he would glance at me from time to time. And I thought I desired him before... it seems that now that I know what he is capable of, I desire him even more. I could feel what Ariston was feeling, and how he had the focus to teach an entire class with the feelings that raged like a tempest inside of him I will never know. I could hardly keep my seat.

When the class ended, I picked up my bag and looked at Ariston, our eyes meeting. A few students lingered to talk to him. When I saw two cheerleaders flirting with him, flipping their hair and giving him goo-goo eyes, I was far from thrilled. However Ariston kept glancing at me, barely paying them any attention, making my smile grow. I walked over to him and kissed him, just so they would know he was taken. He smiled down to me then we looked at them.

"Sara, Bianca, how have you been?" I asked them from Ariston's arms. The cheerleaders rolled their eyes and walked out. When they were gone, Ariston and I were alone and the door softly swung shut, Ariston discretely using his abilities to give us privacy.

"It is no wonder you chose to teach history, you lived it." I said to Ariston with a smile. Something occurred to me then, something I should have thought of earlier but had been too lost in him to do so. "Should I be worried about getting pregnant?" I asked, remembering that he did not use protection and that I am not on the pill. Ariston shook his head.

"I have been meaning to tell you." Ariston said. "What I had you eat a few nights ago, when we almost made love in your apartment, it is a seed that prevents pregnancy for two months and has no side effects, unlike mortal birth control. As long as you take another in just under two months, you will not become pregnant, no matter how many times I have you..." I laughed as he rubbed his nose against mine, my skin turning to fire; it was a great relief to hear. As much I want to be a mother, I know that I am not ready just yet. I want to live first so that I can devote myself to our children completely.

"If the gods have such a prevention, then why are there so many unplanned pregnancies in Mythology?" I asked Ariston.

"In moments of intense passion, a god can forget to give the seed to a mortal. That is how I came to be here." Ariston said. I placed my hand on his cheek and once again thanked the Moirae that Ariston is here with me. "Do you want children?" He asked, I smiled.

"Most definitely, I would love to be a mother. Just not quite yet." I told him.

"I agree, I am not ready to share you, not yet." Ariston said with such a smile. "However, you should worry if we should ever have a boy."

"Why is that?" I asked him.

"I had a rather mischievous youth, where do you think my sons got it from?" Ariston said with a wide smile and I could not help but laugh.

"We will have a son and a daughter." I told him.

"And how is it you came to know this?" Ariston asked and I realized that now is as good a time as any to tell him about the dream, about Elianna. I pulled back and leaned against his desk and he came to lean beside me as I looked up into his eyes.

"On the plane ride back from New York with Margret, I had a dream." I began, wondering how he would react. "I was walking along the beach with your wife, Elianna."

"Really?" He asked, he was clearly surprised to hear this. I nodded with a smile.

I told Ariston the details of the dream, of Elianna and I's conversation, Ariston watched me all the while with his beautiful crooked smile. I was thankful that I seemed to remember every detail of the dream. I loved Ariston's smile and the pride and joy on his face as I told him about us with our children.

"Elianna said 'All this and more can be yours, but you must tell him the truth, you must tell him how you feel. There is no time to waste, you are going to need each other for what is to come.'" I told Ariston. "I saw worry in her eyes before she looked away. She told me not to hold back with you, that it would be a waste of precious time when we already know that we are going to be together forever. She said to tell you that even though dark times are coming, not to be afraid, and to tell you 'the sunset looks like rain.' She said you would know what the phrase means." Ariston's face changed then, to a look of complete shock.

"She was really there." He said, half of him still not believing it. He shook his head, his eyes still wide. Ariston looked into my confused eyes and explained. "Mera, it was not just a dream. Elianna was truly there. 'The sunset looks like rain' was a private joke between us, no one else knew of it." He shook his head, I felt a great worry within him.

"I do not understand," I said to him. "What are you trying to tell me? What has you so worried?" Ariston looked at me, I could not comprehend the look in his eyes, it was as if his greatest fear was about to come true. For a moment, I thought he would not answer.

"Elianna's message." Ariston answered my question after a time. "That is what has me so worried. She was always an optimist, no matter how bad things were she would smile and tell me not to worry, that everything would be alright. She said that my loving her was enough of a miracle for her to believe that anything was possible." He shook his head with a smile that only lasted for a moment before the worry returned. "For her to say that dark times are ahead, means that whatever is to come must be bad, devastatingly so.

"And for Elianna to be in your dream, means that she was sent by the Moirae, as a warning." I could feel his worry as if it were my own. I myself was shocked for a moment before I regained my composer. I placed my hand on his cheek and he looked into my eyes.

I saw in his eyes that there was something more, something he was not telling me. I felt such fear within him, I knew that he was afraid for me but I could not understand why. What danger could there possibly be to me? Ariston is a god, he can protect me from anything, and I am a Descendant, I can fend for myself. I placed my hands on his cheeks.

"No matter what is to come," I said to him softly. "No matter how bad it may be, we will get through it, together." I promised him, my voice low. There was a look in his eyes that told me I was missing a crucial piece of the puzzle.

In that moment, I did not care what it was. What I cared about was that the man I love was afraid; I had to comfort him. I leaned in and kissed his lips and felt his worry begin to dissipate as he held me tighter. I kissed him again and soon his worry was gone, overtaken by his love for me. We kissed a few times more as we held onto each other for dear life. Our breathing was ragged when our kisses ended.

"Will you walk with me to my next class?" I asked him breathlessly. He sighed.

"I wish I could." Ariston said. "However, there are some things on Olympus that require my attention."

"How long will you be gone for?" I asked him, looking up into his ancient eyes.

"I will be back by the time your last class ends." He said with a slight smile, some of that feeling was returning but he was in control of it. What I felt from him now was a deep determination.

"I will miss you." I said. He caressed my cheek.

"And I you. I love you, so very much." Ariston told me.

"I love you, my love." I replied.

He kissed me and I held onto him, melting into his lips, into the warmth of his divine embrace, all thoughts of our worries gone from my mind and his. Ariston's hot breath washed across my lips when the kiss ended and for a moment I thought he was going to change his mind about leaving, and I was going to end up missing the rest of school. Ariston sighed and pulled back, a smile on his lips and in his eyes as he disappeared in golden light.

I walked out of the classroom, feeling as if I were walking on a cloud, I could not stop smiling, but at the same time I worried. I wondered what Ariston was not telling me.

"Mera?" I was so lost in my own thoughts that Aaron's voice startled me. I looked ahead to see Aaron walking towards me with a smile.

"Hello Aaron." I smiled as he walked up to me. I was thankful to see that he was talking to me again. I put my worries aside for the time being.

"I just wanted to say I am sorry again for..." Aaron began, coming to stop a few feet from me.

"For trying to beat up the man I love?" I asked, he nodded and a laughed escaped my lips. "We forgive you."

"I am glad to hear that." Aaron said. It was at that moment he noticed the necklace Ariston gave me, his eyes widened. "Wow, is that from him?" He asked. I smiled and nodded, my fingers going to stroke the Rose Diamond.

"It was Ariston's mother's." I told him.

"You two are pretty serious then?" Aaron asked.

"As serious as it gets." I said with my head held high and a smile on my lips.

"It looks beautiful on you." Aaron complimented me. I smiled and thanked him and we began to walk towards our next class together. "So where were you yesterday?" He asked.

"Yesterday." I said absentmindedly, memories coming into play and making me blush. Aaron must have thought it was a question.

"Both you and Mr. Crete missed school yesterday. The rumors are already flying." Aaron informed me.

I chuckled, well they would be true. A blush came to my cheeks as I thought of yesterday and I bit my lip, wishing Ariston had not left without me. Even with all of yesterday and the night before, I still have not nearly had my fill of him. I do not think I could ever get enough of his touch and his presence, not to mention... I snapped myself from these thoughts before my knees grew any weaker.

"I am sure they are, even at a school like this teenagers will still be teenagers." I said absentmindedly. Aaron looked at me, I could see in his eyes that he had to know. "I was with Ariston." I told him.

"All day?" Aaron asked, I nodded.

"And night." I admitted, knowing that he would not share it. Aaron took a deep breath.

"Well." He said, raising his eyebrows for a moment.

"I probably should not have told you that." I said to him.

"No... we are friends now. I was just wondering." Aaron said. I was amazed that he was not enraged by the fact that I was sleeping with Ariston. He just seemed worried about me.

"I love him." I told Aaron.

"So I gather." Aaron replied. "His daughter taught his class again yesterday." He added in and I rolled my eyes.

"Why does everyone seem to think I do not know that he has a daughter? Ariston and I do not keep secrets from each other." I said, somewhat exasperated, then I laughed. It was the truth, Ariston and I do not keep secrets from each other. I knew that if I asked Ariston what is going on he would tell me, but a part of me was not ready to know, not yet. I wanted to remain in this incredible world of love, and have only the two of us exist, not these issues no part of me was ready to face. "Ariston told me about Kallisto the day I met him. I have had lunch with her, she is wonderful."

"She seems to be... quite something." Aaron said, a look on his face I know all too well as he looked down the hall.

"She is." I said. I watched the smile on his face as he looked ahead absentmindedly. Could it be? I wondered, my smile growing.

"Do," Aaron began then cut the sentence short, taking a breath.

"Do?" I prompted him.

"Forget it." Aaron said, he looked embarrassed.

"Aaron?" I said, wondering about his question. Aaron gave an exasperated sigh.

"Do you know if she is seeing anyone?" Aaron asked, the words coming out in a rush. I looked at him with a smile, feeling such hope at this possibility.

"I do not know." I told him truthfully a moment later.

"So how are things? I am guessing everything is going well at the Stables?" Aaron asked me with a smile, clearly trying to change the subject.

"Oh no, you are not getting off that easy." I said. He sighed and smiled. "Aaron, as you said, we are friends now. Tell me?"

"I just, cannot seem to get her out of my mind." Aaron said, a smile on his lips. "I have seen her in class twice when she has filled in for her father. Yesterday, we talked for a few minutes after class before she had to leave. She is... enchanting." I did not miss how his smile grew as his face took on a slightly rosy hue. I smiled and shook my head. "I realize I'm an idiot for thinking that a woman like that could ever be interested in an eighteen year old senior... but there was something in her eyes that made me think that I might be lucky enough to have a shot with her."

"Aaron, you are far more extraordinary than you know." I told him, he looked away. "I do not know if she is seeing anyone. I will ask the next time I see her." I promised him. I realized then that the only way Aaron had to get information about Kallisto was either myself, or Ariston. Which almost made me laugh out loud, see ing as how I was the easier option.

"Thank you. Have you been riding?" Aaron asked. I almost laughed at how eager he was to change the subject. Though I suppose asking your ex-girlfriend about a woman you are interested in, could be awkward in too many ways to count.

"Yes, I have. Ariston lets me ride his horse Vrontos. He is an incredible animal." I laughed as I thought of something. "A few weeks ago, Ariston and I went to see Vrontos in his paddock and the horse walked right past Ariston and right to me. Ariston laughed and said that he should be used to it by now, that the horse has always liked women." I laughed at the memory then shook my head with a huge smile. Even the simplest memory or thought of Ariston makes me breathless as that extraordinary, inexplicable love fills my soul. Aaron looked at me with something in his eyes and a slight smile on his lips. "What?" I asked.

"I can't remember the last time I saw you smile like that. I don't know if I've ever seen you smile like that." Aaron said in almost wonder. "He really does make you happy, doesn't he?" It was not a question but I nodded anyway. It meant so much to me that Aaron seemed uplifted by that fact.

"How have you been?" I asked, I have wanted to know for so long.

"Not too bad. There is a big football game coming up, but because of my hand, Jackson is taking my place as quarterback." He told me, and my heart went out to him. He smiled and took a deep breath as he tried to take it in stride.

"Aaron..." I said.

"It was my own fault," He told me, lifting his hand where the splint Ariston had done was still in place. "I am getting what's coming to me for acting like an idiot." I went to speak when he shook his head, those sage green eyes resolute. "Mera, my hand is not your fault." I took a deep breath and nodded, trying not to feel guilty for his sake.

"How is your hand?" I asked, thinking that I could ask Ariston to heal it... but how could I? It would expose who Ariston is, or at least what he is.

"It's healing well." Aaron assured me. "I am just glad he knew what he was doing."

"Do you honestly believe I would put you in the hands of some quack?" I asked and he laughed, getting a smile out of me.

"Did you even know he could do that?" Aaron asked.

"I know that his brother is a doctor, and that Ariston is honest enough that he would have said so if he did not have the knowledge to fix it. After the things I have seen him do, it was not that far of a stretch. That man is full of surprises." I smiled thinking of the beautiful man I love.


I sat in class, not really paying attention since I already knew what Mrs. Allen was teaching. About an hour ago I felt a huge relief from Ariston and after that I was finally able to relax.

I was absentmindedly drawing Ariston in bed, just barely covered by the thin silk sheets that left little to the imagination. One of his arms stretched back to rest his head upon, the other hand linger at his side. I drew each and every crevasse, the curve and line of those muscles and everything else about him. Margret cleared her throat and I looked up at her, not understanding why she was looking at me like that. Margret glanced at my drawing and I quickly closed my notebook, realizing that I was in a public place. I blushed and smiled a thank you to her.

"She is so hot," I heard one guy whisper near by.

"Yeah, too bad she is with that teacher or I would be all over that." Said another one. I could even hear them bump their fists.

I rolled my eyes and glanced around, whoever had been talking was no longer doing so. I looked at Aaron and he smiled quickly to me before looking back at the teacher. He obviously had not heard them or else he would have been ripping their heads off by now.

"Why does she get Mr. Crete? I wanted him." I knew that bitter voice, Sara Ambridge, one of the girls who were flirting with Ariston today. I smiled, knowing that she would not be able to handle such a lover.

I glanced behind me to see Sara sitting at the top of the amphitheater with her two friends, Bianca and Wendy, at her sides. I was more than surprised that I could hear them so clearly from the first row. I turned back to the teacher, who thankfully was looking at another student, but the conversation continued.

"Did you hear that neither of them were at school yesterday?" Bianca Goldsworthy gossiped. "This is the second time they have both been absent from school."

"I wonder what they were doing." Wendy Wentworth said in a suggestive way.

"Oh shut up! He cannot really be into her." Sara said, her upset evident.

"Well, she is pretty." Wendy said, she has always been the nicest of the three. But that was like saying that out of a rattlesnake, a shark and a cobra, she was the most benevolent. I only know them from when Aaron and I were together, they were always dating his teammates.

The talk continued throughout the class, the girls gossiping or complaining and the boys describing things I would rather not hear, things I would only do with Ariston. I could not believe they would say such things where everyone could hear. Do they know no discretion? What amazed me even more was that Mrs. Allen said nothing. I was glad when the class ended.

Aaron and I walked to our next class together. Margret went off to find Jack, their next class being Science while Aaron and I had Astronomy.

"That was a good class." Aaron said. I groaned.

"I could have lived without Sara and Bianca's jealousy, and Clark and Vance's comments and bets." I said, it had to be them.

"Mera, what are you talking about?" Aaron asked, looking thoroughly confused.

"You cannot tell me you did not hear them, the whole class must have heard." I said, feeling quite a bit mortified and enraged.

"I did not hear anything except for Mrs. Allen's lecture." Aaron told me with the same look in his eyes that he had when he saw me the morning after I fought the mugger, and also when I grabbed his throat on the first day of school. He smiled and shook his head. "You must have really good hearing."

We began to walk again. How could he not have heard them? I wondered, then decided to think about it later.


I was once again happy that I have most of my classes with Aaron. It was wonderful to talk with him on the way to our classes, Margret and Jack even joined us, it was like old times. I did miss Ariston though, there were many times when he would come into my mind and conquer all other thoughts so that I was thoroughly unable to think of anything else but him. I wanted him, badly. I longed for the school day to end, knowing what it would bring.

I love you, my Ariston, return to me soon. I sent the thought out to him, wondering if he would be able to hear me.

A few more hours and I will hold you in my arms again, and kiss your lips until there is no breath left to us. My heart broke out into a sprint hearing Ariston's voice in my mind, and my face broke out into a huge smile.

I long for that my love, for that and much more. I thought back and felt his excitement at the prospect, my smile grew.

I love you, my Mera. He thought to me. Margret was watching me with a curious expression, she gave me a quizzical look and I smiled.

"Just good thoughts." I told her.

The next class was less talkative than the one before, thank the gods. There were still times when a conversation would start though, I did my best to ignore the words that were spoken about Ariston and I's 'scandalous affair'.

As I sat in class, I looked down at my notebook, the page was full, there was not so much as a corner to write a word in. I looked at the page, focused on it. I could feel it in my mind, I could feel the indents from the pencil that I made as I drew the sketch. I could feel the point of the paper's corner. My mind slipped under the page, as I would slip a finger over it, and lifted it as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I gasped, my eyes going wide as I watched the page turn. To say I was startled would be an understatement. I had done it, somehow, I made the page turn without touching it. I glanced around quickly to see if anyone else had seen. If they had, they were not looking and mine was the only gasp I heard, Aaron was looking at me strangely though.

He quickly wrote down something on my fresh page:

Is everything alright?

I nodded and tried to rein in my surprise. I rested the tip of my pencil on the new page. I applied a feather's weight of pressure on the length of its body, and it snapped in half like balsa wood. I looked down at in in shock. It was only a pencil after all, perhaps I am reading too much into it. I tried to reason with myself in a futile attempt to make sense out of what had just happened. I looked in my bag to find that I did not have another pencil with me. I looked over to Aaron and he handed me his, I smiled a thank you to him.

I sat for a few more moments as I watched Mr. Summerson's lecture, taking slow deep breaths while trying to remain calm. My phone made a loud sound and the teacher glanced at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Ms. Vandenberg?" He asked, singling me out so that everyone in class turned to me.

"Forgive me, Mr. Summerson; I completely forgot to turn it off," I apologized. "It will not happen again." He smiled kindly, his eyes wrinkling behind his glasses.

"See that it does not." He said in a kind tone.

I smiled and nodded. I reached into my book bag and picked up my phone carefully. As it began to slip from my grasp, I quickly tightened my grip on it and heard a crunch. My eyes widened and I swallowed hard, I could feel the cracks in the casing. I took my hand, still clutching the broken phone, out of my bag underneath the table and looked down at the remains of my phone, it was cracked and broken, indented from my fingers. My phone is one of those that are made to withstand tough use, it has lasted three years at a barn and two trips through the washing machine... It should not have broken that easily. I opened the screen to see that it was hanging by colored wires. My mind and my heart were racing in time with each other. What is happening to me?

It was all I could do not to jump out of my seat when Ariston appeared in front of me. I knew no one else could see him. Even under the circumstances, the sight of Ariston brought the memories of the passions we have shared to the surface and a blush to my cheeks.

"Are you alright?" Ariston asked. I nodded. "Excuse yourself and meet me in the hall." He said quickly, worry in his eyes. I nodded and, after dropping my broken phone back into my bag, I raised my hand.

"Yes, Ms. Vandenberg?" Mr. Summerson asked.

"I need to be excused." I said. I saw Ariston look at him, a look of concentration on his face.

"Of course." The teacher said, somewhat dazed.

I got up and glanced at Aaron, who wore a confused look on his face, and gave him an apologetic smile before I left the classroom. Once outside and the door shut, I leapt into Ariston's waiting arms and sighed in relief as he held me. Being in his arms brought me all the relief I so desperately needed.

"Thank god you are here." I said, he pulled back to look into my eyes while still holding me close in his arms.

"What happened? I felt your distress." He asked.

"Something is happening to me. I... I moved a page with a thought and broke my tough phone without trying. I even heard whispered conversations from all over the classrooms." I said to Ariston. I wondered at that moment about my sight. Everything has seemed more detailed and vibrant but I thought that was just an after effect of making love to Ariston.

"We should leave here." Ariston said.

I nodded and laid my head on Ariston's chest as he brought us somewhere. When Ariston resumed his form, the glowing golden light gone, I saw that we were in his living room.

"You did not warn me about this." I said to him.

"I did not know." Ariston said, seeming just as shocked as I was. "I do know who can help however."

Ariston's face took on a look of concentration for a moment, then he smiled. A golden light appeared a few feet to my left. It settled into the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, the lines of her features were the epitome of perfection. Her lips a perfect fullness, her bright sky blue eyes surrounded by long, feathery brown lashes. Her beautiful light tan skin held the same soft golden glow that Ariston and Kallisto's do. She was tall, a few inches more so than I am. Her long, brown curly hair fell in ringlets around her and shined with a golden hue even though there was no direct sunlight.

The goddess's floor length gown was stunning and fit her slim hourglass figure flawlessly, showing just a hint of her bosom where the neckline dipped. It was made of a fine fabric, the iridescent color of which was between gold and pink. Numerous gold medallions in the image of owls went around her slim waist and a round pendant of solid gold hung around her neck on a golden chain, it depicted a tree in great detail with words made up of the same symbols as those etched within the Rose Diamond. Somehow I knew the words meant "Honor, Family, Duty."

Upon her head sat a beautifully crafted gold tiara, even though the goddess did not need one to show her royalty. The way she held herself, with a great regality, grace and confidence said it all. She had a presence about her, one that commands respect.

The goddess smiled a warm, flawless, crooked grin to Ariston, flashing her perfect white teeth. Even as a woman I was amazed by her beauty.

"Sister." Ariston greeted her with a bow before rising. The goddess hugged Ariston.

"It is good to see you, brother." She said, placing a kiss upon his cheek as he placed one upon her own.

The goddess's voice was beyond stunning, if roses could make a sound to sing of their beauty, her voice would surpass it, and like Ariston's, it also seemed to hold thunder within it. She looked to me, her sky blue eyes warm and kind, yet powerful.

"Mera, this is my sister, the Crown Princess Ennina Athena Minerva. Goddess of defensive warfare, wisdom, knowledge and the arts, just to name a few. Daughter of King Zeus and Queen Hera, wife of the Crown Prince Cronus and mother to many extraordinary gods and goddesses."

I marveled at the moment. I am standing before perhaps the greatest goddess who has ever lived. I realized a moment later I should do something to show my respect, so I curtsied, it is the first time in my life that I have ever done that, not in jest. I rose and looked up at her, still in amazement.

"It is truly an honor to meet you princess. I am," I began to introduce myself when Ennina filled in the blanks.

"Mera Vandenberg, Descendant of the Twelve and Pandora, daughter of George and Anne Vandenberg and soul mate of my dear brother Ariston." Ennina said.

"You know who I am?" I asked. She laughed, the sound as beautiful as a summer's day.

"We all know who you are my dear, you have been watched over by the Twelve since you were conceived for your protection. You are of our own ichor after all, a drop of each of us is within you." She said with a smile. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Mera." She held out her hand.

I put my hand in hers, ready for some ancient gesture. To my surprise she simply shook my hand, a good, trustworthy handshake. After she released my hand she looked to Ariston.

"What can I help you with brother?" Ennina asked in her lyrical voice.

"Mera seems to have gained some abilities." He said.

"Do you know how this came to be?" She asked.

"I have a few ideas, but I am not entirely certain. They all began very recently." Ariston explained. Ennina laughed for a moment, looking between the two of us.

"Have you two made love?" She asked, I was surprised at her forwardness.

"Yes, the first time the night before last." Ariston answered as I blushed horribly.

"And the connection?" She asked.

"It was formed." He said.

"Well," Ennina said. "It would seem that this is simpler than I thought. Mera is sharing your gifts through the bond you now share." My jaw actually dropped, sharing in his abilities...?

"Is that common?" I asked. The princess glanced at me and chuckled, then looked back to her brother.

"Did you tell her nothing?" She asked. Ariston looked abashed, it was the first time I had witnessed such a look from him, Ennina smiled and looked to me.

"In his defense, there is a lot to tell." Ennina said. "It is common, but only amongst immortals. When immortals make love, their essences mix for a time but it does not usually last long. But when immortal soul mates make love for the first time, their souls bind together with an unbreakable bond, the connection they already share is strengthened greatly. Through that connection, soul mates can see into each other's minds and feel their lover's emotions and sensations, even when they are not making love. Because the gene is active within you, it seems that you now share Ariston's abilities along with his passions." She summarized. "What abilities have manifested?" She asked curiously. It was a moment before I could speak, she was patient however.

"My hearing is enhanced. My sight and strength are also greater, and I seem to be able to move things with my mind." I said. She nodded.

"It can sometimes take a while for such abilities to manifest, sometimes awhile longer than this for your soul and or body to prepare to hold such power. Do you have any other abilities?" Ennina asked. I shook my head.

"None that I know of," I stopped my sentence short.

It was in that moment that I realized that not only had Ennina spoken to me in Greek, and I understood her, but that my reply to her was in flawless Greek. Ennina smiled.

"I see you also have the skill of translation." Ennina said. "You will be able to understand, write and speak any language at will once you have mastered it."

"How does it," I stopped myself again. I was still speaking in Greek.

"That happens at first, you can get stuck in a language." Ennina told me. "Clear your mind and focus on the language you wish to speak." I glanced at Ariston. "Looking at him will not help to clear your mind." Ennina stated with a chuckle. I smiled, knowing she was right, and closed my eyes while taking a deep breath. English, I thought.

"And now?" I asked. I sighed in relief to hear myself speaking in English once again.

"Very good." Ennina praised then glanced at Ariston. "I have seen quite a few Demigods and the like get stuck in one language or another for hours before they are able to go back to their native tongue." She laughed and I looked to Ariston.

"When I was fourteen, Ennina took me to the Asgard and I came back speaking Nordic for a week." Ariston said. "It drove my mother crazy." We all began laughing.

"I wish I could stay and get to know you better, but my husband awaits." Ennina said, looking into my eyes. I realized then that she looked at me almost as if she were seeing a ghost, and I was left wondering exactly how much I look like Pandora, her long lost sister. "I hope to see you on Olympus soon Mera, we are all looking forward to your arrival."

"I cannot wait to meet everyone." I said to her. She smiled.

"Goodbye, brother." She kissed Ariston's cheek.

"Goodbye sister, say hello to Cronus for me." Ariston said with a smile. "And thank you for your help."

"Anytime. And I shall tell him." She replied. The princess smiled to me once more, a warm smile, and then disappeared in golden light. I looked to Ariston and smiled.

"I have to say, I was not expecting that." He said. I laughed.

"Nor I." I told him. "I cannot believe I just met Athena herself, Ennina I mean."

"She is extraordinary." He said, respect in his voice. I realized something then.

"I broke my phone." I said to him. He smiled and a moment later a brand new, white iPhone was in his hand. I smiled.

"All your contacts are switched over." He said. I took the phone in utter amazement and kissed him.

"Thank you, my love. Is the number the same?" I asked.

"It is." He replied. "And the casing is made of adamantine. Just you try to break it!" I laughed and I kissed him once again.

"Can you bring me back to school?" I asked of him. "I do not want to miss the rest of my classes."

"Are you sure you are up to it?" Ariston asked.

"I am," I answered. "This will take getting used to, but I am not going to let this interfere with my life." I loved the respect for me his eyes held at my words. "You should go and do your duties."

"I would much rather stay with you, I am not going to be able to focus." He said, his worry running through my soul.

"I will be fine my love, and if I need you I will call to you." I promised.

He nodded and kissed me before bringing me back to Blueridge Prep, to a janitors closet close by. I made my way discretely out into the throng of students, and found Aaron and Margret easily enough.

"There you are! Where did you run off to?" Margret asked.

I was going to say I was not feeling well, but I thought better of it. I do not need anymore rumors starting, and so I told another lie that would stop any false rumor about me being pregnant in its tracks.

"It is that time of the month." I said, not loudly, but loud enough for others around to hear.

"Hey, TMI." Aaron said, throwing up his hands. Margret and I laughed.


Ariston was waiting for me when my last class ended, he kissed me and then took my hand. Once again, all eyes were on us. I wondered how long this was going to last, when are people going to stop being so shocked to see us together?

"How was your day?" Ariston asked as we walked down the hall. I knew what he was asking.

"It went well, and yours?" I asked him.

"The same." He said. We walked out to his car, and he held my door open for me as always before climbing into the drivers seat.

"Do you wish to go back to your dorm, or would you like to spend the night again?" Ariston asked.

"Do you really need to ask?" I asked him with a smile, our eyes met and his smile grew.

"My house it is then." Ariston said as he started his car. "Did any other abilities show themselves?"

"None." I told him.

"How did you handle the ones you have?" He asked.

"Things were quite loud at first and I had to be careful with everything I touched, but I was used to it by the end of the school day." I informed him.

"I am glad to hear it." He said.

After a few moments of silence, Ariston turned the radio on. He held my hand during the car ride as he always does. It was so wonderfully peaceful to be in his presence, to gaze upon his beauteous form. When we arrived at his house and parked, we went inside and to his living room, where we relaxed on the red couch.

"What did you say to me, when you almost kissed me in the rain?" I asked him, he smiled as he caressed my cheek, then ran his thumb over my bottom lip, as he had that day.

"Έτσι απίστευτα όμορφη." Ariston softly, enticingly recited his words to me that day. I understood them to be, 'So incredibly beautiful'. "κόβει την ανάσα." He whispered the last part, my mind translating it into, 'To die for.' And in that moment I kissed him as I wished I had in that moment in the rain. We nearly had each other right then and there, but Ariston, for whatever reason, stopped himself.

"What would you like for dinner?" Ariston asked, I laughed.

"Something delicious." I replied and kissed him again.

"Would you like to go out to eat?" He asked in between kisses.

"I was hoping we could stay in tonight, I feel a bit weary after today." I told him, and those breathless words were enough to cause him to stop and move his body off of mine, coming to sit next to me before.

"It can be like that, exhausting, when abilities come into play at first, they can drain your body a bit." Ariston told me, caressing my cheek. "I will have some food prepared for us."

"Thank you. I will cook for you tomorrow night." I promised him, he smiled.

"I have an idea I want to talk to you about." Ariston stated.

"Go right ahead." I said, wondering what was on his mind, and if it was why he stopped, to ask me whatever this was, which was clearly important to him.

"We are still uncertain as to what abilities you share with me, and if mind reading comes into play, you are not going to want to be around mortals all the time. Believe me, there is a reason gods live on mountain tops." I chuckled and Ariston smiled before he continued. "I was wondering... would you consider living here with me?" He asked, I looked at him in surprise, thrilled at the idea. "I cannot bare the thought of waking without you in my arms. I want you here, with me, every day, and every night." My smile grew and I nodded.

"I would love to live with you. I am going to be here with you every night anyways, so why not make it official?" I said with a laugh. He leaned in and kissed me.

"Thank you." He said before he kissed me again.

I held him closer and moved so that I was sitting on top of him. I was feeling much more energetic suddenly. His hands were on my sides as we kissed passionately, he laid his back on the couch with me on top of him, his hands sliding under the skirt of my dress, when my phone rang.

"You have got to be kidding me." I whispered against his lips.

"Let it ring." He said, kissing me again as his hand began straying higher, and higher upon my thighs.

It took every ounce of will power within me to stop kissing him and sit upright. Still sitting on him, I reached over to get my brand new iPhone. Ariston leaned up and began kissing my neck, an all too distracting action, and it was all I could do to stop a moan from escaping my lips as I answered the call.

"Hello?" I said, trying to keep my voice normal. It was a good thing I did when I heard the voice on the other end of the line.

"Hello, Mera!" It was my mother.

Even though I knew Ariston could hear my mother's voice, it did not stop him as he began kissing my shoulder with no mercy, one hand leaving my thigh as it trailed up my back and began unzipping my dress. My hand slipped into his warm curls of its own accord to hold him to me as he masterfully kissed all the exposed skin he could manage, while slowly, torturously, pulling the zipper open. I bit my lip as his lips made their way back to my neck; my mother was talking, but I could not seem to make sense out of her words. I could not find the will to pull Ariston away from me, even though I knew that I could with the grip I had on his hair.

"Can you hold on a moment?" I asked my mother then, without waiting for her response, I covered the mic on the phone so she would not hear me as I spoke to Ariston. Before I could say a word he captured my lips with his and kissed me deeply, his hand going into the opening of my dress that was now open for him without the zipper in the way.

"Ariston, stop, my mother is on the phone." I said, my will all but gone. He half sighed and half groaned in frustration, and looked into my eyes. I almost hung up the phone right then but I thought better of it. "Later." I promised. He nodded and I climbed off his lap, my heart still pounding, my dress out of sorts as I pulled it back on my shoulders. "I am back." I said to my mother.

"How are you?" She asked. "You sound so happy." I smiled to Ariston, our eyes meeting.

"I am wonderful." I said, trying not to sound as breathless as I felt.

"I am glad to hear that. Your father and I were wondering if Aaron is coming with you for your birthday?" She asked.

"Aaron?" I asked, the name taking me by surprise.

"Yes, I wanted to know if I should make up the spare room, or if he is staying with his mom." My mother said. I remembered then that I have not spoken to her since I broke up with Aaron.

"No, he won't be coming, we broke up a few weeks ago." I told her. She gasped.

"Oh, sweetheart, I am so sorry. You should have called. What happened?" She asked.

"I just realized that he was not the one for me. It was more of a friendship between us than a relationship, so I made it official." I said, mentally reprimanding myself for not calling my parents sooner. It did not matter that I was not so little anymore, they were still my parents, they will always mean the world to me.

"Are you okay?" She asked in her kind voice.

"I am more then okay." I told her. I looked at Ariston and smiled. "Actually, there is someone new in my life."

"Really?" She asked, an air of mock gossip to her voice that made me chuckle. "What is he like?" How can I put this beautiful god into words?

"He is a god." I said to her, Ariston smirked. "He is beautiful, loving, compassionate and a true gentleman. He is everything I have ever wanted and more. And to top it off... HE LOVES HORSES!" I told her with an ecstatic smile, and such a giddy joy. "We are in love. He is the one, mom."

"What is his name?" She asked.

"Ariston Crete." I told her.

"Nice name. So when do we get to meet this god of a man?" She asked.

"I was going to call you with the good news as soon as I got a chance." I told her. "Ariston is coming out with me to meet you both for my birthday."

"How exciting! I will have the spare room all set up." My mother told me. I was going to say that that would not be necessary, but I stopped myself in time to realize what a stupid thing that would have been to say. "And I am going to have your father pull out all the stops on dinner."

"Ariston cooks too." I told her.

"Honey, everyone cooks, what matters is if he is a good cook." She said, I laughed and Ariston joined in.

"He is the best." I told her, looking into Ariston's eyes.

"Do not let your father hear that." My mother whispered conspiratorially into the phone, and we both started laughing again as I remembered how much I miss her and my father. I looked at Ariston and suddenly the need to kiss him overpowered all else. I had to have him, in every way possible ASAP.

"Mom, I have to go." I said abrubtly.

"Okay, I will see you when you fly in." She said. "Oh, do you need us to buy you a ticket?"

"No, Ariston and I have that covered." I told her. "Give dad my love."

"I will, I love you." She said.

"I love you too, mom." The words raced out of my mouth. The moment I hung up the phone I kissed Ariston and we ended up making love right there on the couch, and then the floor, and then against the wall and so on, and so on...


Ariston walked me to my apartment the following day. We stood outside my door, smiling into each other's eyes.

"Are you sure you do not need me to help you pack?" Ariston asked. I shook my head.

"There is not much to pack." I told him.

"I will be waiting for you at our house when you are finished." He handed me the keys to his car, my heart fluttered at how he said 'our house'. "The address is already in the GPS." I smiled and nodded. He kissed me once, one long kiss that left me wanting more. He is addictive. "I love you." He said.

"I love you." I told him, then kissed him again.

I watched him walk away, before going into what is soon to be my former apartment. I cannot even begin to describe my excitement that Ariston and I are going to be living together.

"Hey stranger." Margret said as she got up from the couch and hugged me.

"Hello, Margret." I said, then we let each other go. "I have some news." I announced.

"And?" She asked.

"I am moving in with Ariston." I announced, my smile growing.

"Really? You are ready for that?" Margret asked with a hesitant smile, I nodded as my smile grew.

"I know there is not one moment I want to spend without him," I told him. "Though I had not been thinking of it, he asked me yesterday... and it was almost like when you had told me I was falling in love with him, and I knew that he was it for me. I already knew I could not bare to be apart from him, and when Ariston asked me, it made everything I was feeling fall into place. Again." She gave me a warm smile.

"When will this be happening?" She asked.

"Today." I told her.

"Well, it seems I am going to have our apartment all to myself." She said.

"Well now you can turn my old room into another closet." I said and saw a twinkle in her eyes at the idea, I had to laugh. "And not to mention, you and Jack having this place all to yourselves..." She blushed and took me by the hand excitedly.

"Come on, I will help you pack." She said, causing me to laugh out loud once again.

We went into my room and I looked it over with nostalgia, even though I was more than ready to move on to this next chapter in my life. Margret and I went into my closet, as big as it is, it is only half the size Ariston's was before he expanded it for me. I went and got my blue suitcases and unzipped them on the floor.

"So I take it you two cannot keep your hands off of each other?" Margret asked. I blushed as sensations and memories pervaded my thoughts, I found myself smiling as I tried to rid myself of them.

"Yes indeed." I answered. "After the first time, we found it even more difficult than before to stay away from each other for even the shortest amount of time. He is..." I bit my lip and laughed as my body flushed.

"So how was that? The first time?" She asked. I tried to find a way to describe it, only to find there was not one.

"There aren't words." I told her. "I never knew anything could feel like that... it was beautiful and passionate, sacred really. We connected on such an unimaginable level..." I shook my head with a smile, somehow blushing deeper. "Each time is more amazing than the last, and that is truly saying something." I bit my lip.

"I am happy it was like that for you." Margret said with a sincere smile.

"Is it like that with Jack?" I asked. She smiled and nodded.

"Yes, it was everything I had hoped for and more. Every time is like that." She said, now she was absentminded. "I guess you and I have a lot more to talk about now..." I laughed and nodded, realizing by the look in her eyes that talking about these kinds of things had been something she was longing to do with me. Of course she knew I would not have been able to truly understand, not before I experienced it myself that is.

"How lucky are we? Both of us with our soul mates at seventeen." I shook my head and she laughed.

"Talk about rare!" She exclaimed, then glanced towards the clothing near us. "So what do you want to bring with you? You can bring any of my clothes you like." She said. I smiled.

"I am good on clothing. Ariston has bought quite a lot for me and says he is dying to take me out shopping for more." I shook my head and looked at her. "He is worse than you." I said, she laughed out loud.

"That is hard to accomplish!" I could only agree.

I looked through the clothing and found some of my old things. I folded them neatly and placed them in my suitcase. I would not be wearing them anymore, but I did not want to leave them here for Margret to have to deal with.

"Have you told your parents about Ariston?" Margret asked me as she took down one of my old tops off its hanger and and folded it.

"I did, last night." I told her. "My mother called at the worst time. Ariston and I were kissing and when I answered, he kept kissing my neck... and undressing me." I shook my head, my hand going to my neck where I knew the love bites would still be if Ariston had not healed them, as he does every morning.

"Jack does the same thing when I am on the phone, except for when it is my dad I am talking to. He is scared to death of my father." Margret laughed and I joined in. "Have you told your parents how old Ariston is?" She asked. I chuckled, knowing she could not even begin to guess his real age, then shook my head.

"No, I have not. I told my mother that I love Ariston, and how wonderful he is. I have been worried about how he will be received." I admitted, feeling that again. "I know they will love him once they get to know him, I just hope they will give him the chance."

"Is Ariston nervous about meeting your parents?" Margret asked.

"He was the one who suggested it." I laughed. "In a few weeks he is going to take me to Greece to meet his father and family."

"Wow!" She said. "Well I suppose loving someone as much as that, all you can do is go full speed ahead. I am so happy for you." She said and meant it. I knew that she and Jack certainly had done the same, making up for lost time, and since she and Jack were such dear friends before they dated, she had jokingly said that those two and a half years of friendship were all the foreplay they needed. And their parents knew each other, and knew both of them, so it was basically them choosing to take steps they had waited years to do.

"Thank you, Margret." I smiled, and hugged her close, kissing her cheek.

It did not take long to get the rest of my things packed up, Margret helped me carry my twin suitcases out to Ariston's black Range Rover. Ariston has given me full use of his cars, he has about ten of them, each more expensive than the last. I was unsure about it at first, since I did not have a license yet, then he surprised me by handing me one. Ariston said that it did not matter to him if I had one or not since I know how to drive, but he gave me one anyway. He said that it is completely legal and that I am registered.

We shut the back door of the Range Rover and I turned and looked at Margret, already missing her. We have been the closest of friends since my first day at Blueridge Prep, I trust her more than almost anyone. I did not know where my life was going, but I knew that I was going to do everything I could to keep my beloved sister of a friend in my life.

"I do not know where I would be without you." I said in all honesty to Margret. We have been through so much together, she has always been there for me through thick and thin. We are as close as any sisters ever were.

"You would be just fine." Margret said to me. "You are one of the strongest people I have ever known. If you cannot handle life, what hope is there for the rest of us?" Margret asked, I laughed. "I am going to miss you." Margret said. I hugged her and we held onto each other tight, I had to remember about my strength.

"Why does it feel like we are saying goodbye?" I asked her.

"You know what your mother says. 'For every end, there is a beginning.' Go and live your beginning with the man you love, just make sure to stop in every once in a while." Margret told me, meaning every word.

"I will, I promise." I said.

We held onto each other for a while longer before we let go, both wiping tears away from our eyes.

"You and Jack should come to visit Ariston and I sometime, we can cook you both dinner." I said.

"He cooks too?" She asked, I nodded. "Damn, you did get a good one." I laughed.

"I will see you around." I told her.

Margret smiled and nodded. I hugged her once more before getting into the car and driving away, she waved to me as I did and I waved back out the window.

Ariston met me at the door when I arrived at our house. He swept me into his arms and I laughed as he carried me through the threshold.

"Welcome home, my love." Ariston said, I smiled and kissed him.