~Kyrian~

(This one will be a little more rated M, just so you know…and I know I'm not the best at it, sue me.)

What power, I wanted to ask him. But I kept my mouth shut. I worked with the man, it was best not to start fights. A small, childish part of me wanted to argue that he had started it, thank-you-very-much, but I resisted the urge. I took a quick look around and decided to go with the man who was a) most likely to get into trouble and b) least likely to hit on me. This was a shame, since he was so cute, but considering what happened with his wife, I wasn't going to blame him.

"Hey there, General. Mind if I hang with you?"

He flinched at the nickname, but smiled a little at me. "Sure."

It was quiet as we walked, and I wondered if I'd offended him somehow. But half the time, I knew, he was just being cautious. After all, I was a goddess, and just because I professed to love the Dark Hunters, didn't mean they believed that I wouldn't turn them into crispy critters faster than you can say 'Apollo'.

"How long have you known Ash?"

I jumped at the sudden question. "As a human?"

"You knew him as a human?"

"No. I've explained my powers to you, correct (read Acheron's result if you haven't yet, then you'll get it)?"

"Yes. You mean Ash…?"

"Of course. The very first. I used to be human too you know. I got the powers just before he died. So, in a sense, I've known him his whole life. I guess same goes for all of the Fallen."

"Meaning me."

"Meaning you."

Another silence and a left turn up some stairs, and a sigh from him. "I'm sorry."

"Huh?" I asked, intelligently.

"You told me you could feel the emotions of your charges. I know than mine, at least, must have hurt, so I'm sorry." He ground out.

I put my hand on his shoulder to make him stop, and then turned him to face me. "Look at me Kyrian."

He did.

"I won't tell you it wasn't painful, and I won't tell you that you get used to it –'cause you don't, and I don't want to lie to you. But the simple fact is that it's my job and seeing, and feeling, those things are what keeps me even remotely human. At least, this way, when I say 'I know how it feels' I'm not lying. It's not pleasant, but I'm grateful for it, because it lets me understand my charges. And- besides all of that- don't you dare apologize because some psycho bitch from hell decided to betray you. Most especially don't apologize for loving her too much to notice."

"But…"

"Kyrian," I actually grabbed his shoulders and shook him now, "It. Isn't. Your. Fault."

"Okay." He chuckled, "Okay. Thank you, Kalli."

"No problem." I shrugged, "I just speak da' truth."

After that, for all whole hour, we walked, and talked and laughed. It was all fun and games until a bucket of foul-smelling-I-don't-want-to-know-what dropped down to my on my head.

"Oh my gods, yuck, what the hell?"

"Are you okay Kalli?" He asked, gently lifting the bucket from my head.

"I think so, but whatever you do, don't tell me what this is."

He nodded, "Trust me, I wasn't going to."

"Crap."

He took my one clean hand and looked around, "Come on, I bet one of these dressers has something in it. And I think I heard Ash say that they had running water here."

Sure enough, we walked into a room, picked a dresser, and searched, finding period clothing in mint condition. "Cool. But forget the corset. I had enough of those way back when…suddenly, I feel really old."

"It's okay, older women are cool."

"I don't know weather to smack you, or thank you."

I picked out a beautiful blue and silver number, pretty, but obviously not meant to be worn out of the house with a dipping neck line and light fabric. I smiled as I realized the silver ballet flats I'd worn that day would look perfect. (Imagine if it had been sneakers).

"Will you hold those? If I do they'll get all messy."

He nodded, eyes fixed on the dress.

"Are you okay? You're not getting all possessed on me are you? Because I really don't need pea soup on top of this stuff."

He looked tempted to slap me upside the head. "I'm fine, Kalli, it's just been a long time since I've seen a dress like this. It's pretty."

"It is." I murmured eyeing him carefully.

He definitely didn't look like himself. But his head wasn't doing three-sixty's so I figured he was okay. "Just put those down here, I'll try to hurry."

"No need." He breathed.

I kind of wished the bathroom door locked. But, I stripped down, happy that the I-don't-want-to-know hadn't sunk down to my underwear. I'd barely dropped said panties and turned on the water when the door swung open and I was pressed to the smooth stone wall with the warm water sliding over us. "Kyrian, what the hell? Where's your shirt?"

"Lucinda…"

"Luci- what? Crap. Kyrian, wake up. Hey, buster hand's to your self!"

His hand continued to fondle my chest, the other keeping my shoulders to the wall. "Damn it, Kyrian, Get off!"

A feral grin covered his face before he buried it in my neck, fangs scraping skin. "I plan on it. And the name is Caleb, by the way."

"The hell it is, get the fucking hell out of my friends body!"

I struggled some more, but Kyrian was a really big guy, and 5' 9" had nothing on him. His hand started to slide down my belly and I found myself panting, and mewling. As much as I wanted this, I wanted it with Kyrian not some idiot who thought my name was Lucinda. I had no choice. I kicked him where it counts. I'd managed to put enough force behind it that he fell out of the shower and slid across the room, shattering the full length mirror. Anger filled his eyes, and he picked up a shard and charged at me. I squeaked, and stupidly, my legs gave way. He brought his arm down, and I closed my eyes, waiting for the pain. I felt a prick in my arm, and then nothing. I opened my eyes cautiously. "Kalli? Are you alright? Did I hurt you?"

Shivering, even in the warmth of the water, I nodded, "What about you?"

"Gods, Kalli, I could have killed you."

He picked me up, carefully, and walked with me into the bedroom, setting me on the bed, and then helping me dress. He rubbed my bruised shoulder, then rested his head on the other.

"I can't believe I almost did that."

"You didn't"

"I did." I felt a warm wetness soaking through the shoulder of the dress.

He dropped to his knees and wrapped his long arms around my waist. I gently traced the scar at his jaw and ran my hand through sandy curls, shushing him as I might a child. "You stopped, that's what matters."

He held me tighter.

We sat there in silence for a while, me rocking, him crying. I kissed his forehead.

"Kyrian, it really wasn't your fault. It wasn't you in control. And I've never seen a Dark Hunter force off a possession before." After all they had no souls to fight with.

"How did we get there? The mirror I mean."

That wouldn't make him feel any better, now would it? But, at his insistence, I explained. He gave me a half smile. "Explains why I wasn't aware of what was going on. I wasn't doing anything I wouldn't do normally."

"You weren't?"

A pinkish glow dusted itself across his cheeks. "I, uh-"

"You're blushing."

"I don't blush. I haven't since I was a kid." He frowned.

"Mmhm, come here."

I laid back on the bed and pulled him with me. We kissed and touched for a while before Acherons voice in my head told me it was, some how, sundown. Kyrian was looking a little dazed again, but at least, this time he had a reason.

{Several Years Later}

"Kalli…" Kyrian breathed as I kissed him, "If you don't quit than and get dressed, we'll be late to our own wedding."

"Mm…okay."

I let him go to back to his changing room after a couple more quick kisses and looked to my right, seeing Tabitha, my vampire hunting buddy, and her twin Amanda (AN: Yes, I know, bad form to put her in here but I couldn't help it. She's happily married to an accountant, I promise) sitting there waiting. "Come on, let's get this party started.

As they brushed, combed, teased and fluffed my hair into compliance, I thought of how much effort it had taken to get to this point.

Artemis had been the biggest obstacle, as I'd known she would be. But I'd happily threatened her into silence, and Acheron had helped, despite my objections. He was a pain in my but, sometimes, in the way and over protective big brother would be. But getting his soul had been a piece of cake after that.

Returning his soul… not so easy. You try looking into the eyes of the man you love and skewering his heart! It ain't easy! In the end, I asked Tabitha, who was happy to comply. Mostly because of his getting in the way of her killing Desidaras during Kyrian's brief fling with Amanda.

And finally, the easiest part, was giving him ambrosia and nectar to ensure he could live on Olympus with me when we had to.

Olympus not being my favorite place, we'd be on Earth quite a bit.

I was snapped out of my thoughts by Tabitha insisting that, after finishing my pink lip-gloss, I step into my lavender, sleeveless, ball gown style dress. I did, happily. I was of small enough stature to wear it, but large enough that I wouldn't get swallowed in it. Be kind of a pain if my groom had to search through miles of fabric to kiss the bride, now wouldn't it?

We straightened out the wrinkles, and then headed out the door. Nick had taken his spot as Kyrian's best man, of course, so I'd asked Acheron to walk me down the aisle. I figured he deserved something after enduring Artemis' wrath so Kyrian and I could be together. He kissed my cheek, then cuffed my chin lightly with his fist in a 'the things I do for you' gesture, and let me turn to my- once again dazed-husband to be.

"I do."

"You may now kiss the bride!" The little old woman clapped her hands and jumped up and down. I'd been informed that she'd been a squire before she retired, so she was probably happy about the happily ever after a Dark Hunter was getting.

Kyrian bent down to kiss me, and then with our lips still connected, picked me up and twirled me around. We knocked down the preacher, but by her laughs, she didn't care.

After Kyrian made a heartfelt apology, we went outside to look at the night sky. Kyrian had kind of wanted a day-time wedding, but that would have meant that Talon and the like couldn't make it, so nighttime it was. It was a splendid moonless night.

No moon meant no Artemis in my books.

"Come on, Kyrian, let's sneak upstairs."

"But your Uncle Hades…"

"He's married too. I'm sure he'll understand."

(AN: Just so we're clear, I haven't read any Dark Hunter books with Hades in them. I know he's in at least one, but I haven't found the time to read it. In my imagination, he and Persephone are in love and happily married. And I'd probably write it like that even if I knew differently).