They finished the lunch in a rather dour mood. Stef didn't know what to do. She could not live the rest of her life in Jenna's house. With or without Phobos there, she just could not be a recluse. Phobos tried to sooth her with his tender touches and hugs. But still, she just wanted it all to be over.
After lunch, they walked into the back house area. Jenna wanted to introduce Stef to her great grandmother, Samia. As they walked through the kitchen, they were greeted by another bouncer who let them through. Obviously, this one was related to Kyle. They looked so much alike. The house looked almost like a museum with its antique designs and furniture.
As they walked in, a panther went walking across the hall. A real, gorgeous, mountain of a cat. Wow. Jenna greeted him warmly and he rubbed his head on her hip before he kept padding his way down the hall. Then a cluster of bear cubs went scurrying around a corner as a woman chased after them.
"Come back you little rascals. You can't be out here and you know it."
Stef smiled. Thank God Phobos explained all this before lunch.
Phobos watched Stef's reactions. She looked around in wonder, like a little girl. She practically bounced in joy. She was starting to settle into this new world around her and it gave him hope that she would eventually trust him without fear.
They were met on the stairs by a tall man with sharp features. "Jenna, what a lovely surprise."
"Hi Carson. Samia asked me to stop by." Jenna hugged the man. "Carson, please let me introduce you to Stephanie. Stephanie, this is Carson. He is the house doctor here. So, if you ever have a medical problem that you can't go to the hospital for or deal with yourself, he is your best back up. He knows a fair deal about most preternatural species that you would feel safe trying to save."
"I am honored by the compliment." He tilted his head to Jenna. "It is lovely pleasure to meet you. So, I caught an indication to medical training?"
Stef smiled. "Well, if it was not for stupid politics, I would say that I am a Medically Certified Midwife and starting my internships for medical school. But, things are put on hold."
"I see. Well, I will keep you in mind the next time we need help with litters, if you are up to it. We don't really care about politics around here." Carson smiled at Stef.
"I would be happy to help if you need it."
As Carson walked away, Phobos pulled up behind her to speak in her ear. "See, things are looking up already." The vibrations of his voice in her ear sent shivers down her spine. She leaned back into him and he chuckled and nipped at her earlobe quickly before pushing her up the stairs in front of him.
Eventually, they found themselves at a door where Jenna knocked.
The door flew open as a stunning blond woman ran out to hug Jenna. "Seriously Samia? What's the excitement about?"
Samia bounced up and down as she waved a pregnancy test around.
Jenna's mouth dropped. "Oh my God! I am so happy for you! No wonder you sent me the text asking me to come over." The women giggled and hugged.
"Does Dev know yet?" Deimos asked.
Samia smacked him on the arm. "Of course I told him first you dufous. He is down stairs telling his brothers."
"Congratulations Samia." Phobos shook her gloved hand. As Jenna and Samia have similar powers, she also tries to limit contact. Jenna puts up a shield when she hugs Samia to keep from sharing too much with her great grandmother.
Then she noticed Stef. "Oh, this must be your woman that Aimee was just telling me about a few minutes ago." She quickly shook Stef's hand and congratulated Phobos.
Dev came up the stairs to see the crowd. When more congratulations went around. The smile on the man's face was epic.
And when Samia found out that Stef was a midwife, she insisted that Stef be hers.
"Carson is very experienced and all. But seriously, I don't want him down in my business."
Stef laughed. "I can understand that. But, I am not currently certified."
"Let me ask you this. Is your non-certification because of something you did wrong?"
"No. It is because I changed my name to hide from my past."
Samia smiled. "Then we are good. I am a five thousand year old immortal Amazon queen. I don't give a shit what some human council says about who I hire as my midwife. We didn't have a medical board back then. I don't need one now."
Phobos smiled with pride. He loved to see Stef so happy.
However, the happiness was short lived as Kyle flashed into the hall. "Get them out of here. The Ice Giants are back."
Phobos grabbed Stef and flashed her back to her room. Then opened the door to look for Deimos and Jenna. They were in their own room.
Stef could hear Deimos call down the hall to Phobos. "Stay with her brother. I will go back." Then he was gone.
Stef could barely breath. How could she live her life if she could not even go to Sanctuary?
Phobos pulled her in close and ran his hands over her back soothingly. "I am here Stephanie. I will protect you." Then he kissed the top of her head. Thank God for Phobos. He made her feel better. Like she was safe. And for a god of fear, he soothed her fears when he was there. Is that one of his powers? Not just give, but take away fear?
Stef's phone started ringing. "Oh God. I forgot to take my phone with me! Shit, Essie has been calling all day." She answered the phone and sat on the bed while Phobos looked back down the hall to see if Deimos was back. "I am so sorry Essie. We have just been so busy and I forgot my phone. Yes, I am fine. I promise. No, Phobos took me to the Vanishing Isle this morning and we learned about my Greek god side of the family. Then we went over to my apartment and packed everything up and moved me over to Jenna's house. Followed by lunch and introductions around Sanctuary. And Samia wants to hire me to be her midwife. All and all, it has been a complete mindfreak kind of day."
Phobos smiled as he watched her talk to her friend. He should have remembered to have her call Essie. It would have been the right thing to do. But, once he was with Stef, honestly he forgot about almost everyone else in the world. How did Deimos balance his life with Jenna here and work back on the Vanishing Isle?
Stef rolled over onto her stomach with her legs up in the air behind her while she talked. It gave Phobos a wonderful view of her backside.
He listened as Stef told Essie about Zeth and having Oneroi blood. Then Stef looked back at him staring at her body again. This time she winked at him. Then she started to tell Essie about what Psyche had told them. Of course she left out the parts about their kissing so publically.
"Essie. We are going to take things one day at a time. Right Phobos?" Stef looked at him.
He nodded. "At whatever pace you are comfortable with."
"See? My whole life has been turned upside down and I have been dumped into some seriously deep waters. I don't want to rush this as well. So, please stop mothering me."
Essie talked for a while.
"Thank you Essie. I love you too." Then Stef closed her phone.
Phobos continued to stare at Stef for a moment. "Do you really feel like you don't belong with my friends and family?"
Stef looked at him puzzled.
He continued. "Earlier, you said that everyone I know is gorgeous and you don't feel like you belong."
Stef looked down. She knew that she was at least slightly attractive. She sold her body long enough to know men looked and lusted. But, she never saw herself as beautiful. When she looked in the mirror, she still saw the thin, sickly drug addict that was passed around. It was a big reason why she dyed her hair, to try to change the image she saw.
But, to her surprise, Phobos stepped up to her and lifted her chin so she could see his eyes. His thumb softly caressed the apples of her cheeks. His look was intense and sincere.
"You are the most beautiful woman that I have ever seen. Don't ever let anyone make you think otherwise." He dropped his head down to capture her lips for the softest and sweetest kiss Stef had ever known. Then he stepped back before things moved any faster. "Why don't we head down stairs?"