Stef was not sure what to expect with there being such a big party happening. But, Jenna was cool as a cucumber.
The house was already immaculate, so she did not need to clean. However, there was setting the table, getting the bread to Sanctuary, clean the kitchen, decorations, dinner prep.
So, Jenna flexed her fingers. "Let's see what I can do." She looked at Stef. "Most people master these powers, like, their first day or two. Me? I am so behind. And it pisses me off. With all of the lifetimes of memories that I absorb, I can get a bit overwhelmed sometimes with the emotions of it all. And those emotions tend to mess with my basic abilities. On days when I am super emotional, well, all bets are off on the power front. Then add in my pregnancy? Yeah, doing great most days, still fall apart sometimes. So, cross your fingers this works."
Stef literally crossed her fingers for the demigod.
In an instant, the kitchen was clean. The next, the dining room table was extended and chairs were added. Then Jenna tilted her head as she debated the decorations. Then the table was topped with a stunning white on white embroidered table runner, the length of it was set with 5 clear crystal bowls filled with water and multi colored glass beads, then floating in the center were gorgeous purple lotus flowers. The plates were all set with silverware, just simple designs. The windows around the dining room were draped with white and purple to match.
Jenna bounced as she saw it all there. "Seriously. I am so happy I could do this! It used to be that I had to be seriously pissed off to get things to work right. Any other emotion and who knows what I would get. Some of my powers, I have down. Like, my dreams, the memory gifts, telekinesis, and stuff. I have even been training on how to fight with my powers, I am that in tune with the telekinesis. Usually I don't have any problems with flashing places that I know. I can even summon my own things. But, this materialize things out of thin air? Ugh. It is like god powers 101 and it is the hardest for me. Utterly frustrating for a control freak like me." Jenna grumbled.
Next, Jenna called Dev from Sanctuary to come pick up the bread for her. He popped in and then left with promises to come back for the party.
And after he left, Jenna worked at conjuring a meal large enough for an army. This time, it took a few tries while Stef and Jenna laughed until they cried from all of the failed attempts, including but not limited to, Jenna conjuring a living cow into the kitchen. She quickly flashed the animal into the backyard to give to Simi later.
By the time night fell, people started to arrive. Ash was first to arrive with Jenna's father, Ramsey in tow.
"Daddy! I am so happy you could come." Jenna waddled over to hug him.
His face was bright and when he smiled, Stef could see that he had fangs. Fangs! "Look at you baby! You are growing larger by the day. How is the pregnancy going?"
"Very good. Daddy, come meet Stef. She is the reason that I had Ash bring you for a couple of days. And she is not allowed out of the house without Deimos or Phobos."
"Yes ma'am." Ramsey shook Stef's hand. "Nice to meet you. But, I will warn you, I am a soldier through and through. So, I follow orders, especially from my daughter. Don't make me look like I fell asleep on the job and we will be just fine."
Ash slapped Ramsey on the shoulder. "Seriously? That was all I had to do to get you to listen to me for the last twelve years? Just, drag Jenna into the picture?" Ramsey scowled at his boss.
Others started to arrive. Stef was passed around for all of the introductions. Everyone was so nice. Maybe a little gruff and intimidating, especially Zarek who openly told her that he dislikes people in general, with very few exceptions. Yet, still, to see him with his wife and children, he was a completely different man. It reminded her of Phobos.
That made her breath catch. She really did miss him. Why did she only feel like a shadow of herself after he left?
Stef was not sure what to make of Simi and Xirena, the two Charonet demons. Here, she was hiding from demons, but there were two demons in the house. There is so much to learn.
Simi and Xirena were so childlike, yet when Jenna told them about the cow in the backyard, they ran outside to breath fire on the animal and started to rip into it like it was a bucket of KFC. OK. Everyone in this world is dangerous as hell. And Phobos is supposed to help police people with this level of lethality? No wonder he was so worried about being weakened. A loss in his powers could leave him in really bad shape, or worse. Stef's chest tightened as she was starting to understand the risks he took in being with her.
Yet Ash walked up to Jenna laughing about the cow like Simi was a 2 year old being allowed to dive into a piece of birthday cake with her hands. "You really got her a cow? That is just perfect."
Jenna shrugged. "You know my powers. I was trying for a pile of grilled steaks."
That made him laugh even harder.
Zeth arrived and broke Stef out of her feeling of being overwhelmed as he gave her a hug. "Look. I know it is really late to be your dad. But, I want you to know that I am here for you."
Stef hugged him and introduced him to Ramsey. The two men compared notes on the awkwardness of learning who their daughters grew up to be and getting used to the men they were with. Though, to be fair, it seemed that Zeth won on the most awkward story as he and Phobos had become pretty good friends and he did not know he was a father at all until Phobos introduced them, and oh by the way his friend and daughter are soulmates. Even Ramsey conceded on that one.
Essie finally arrived with tons of hugs and giggles for Stef. Oh God, Stef needed Essie tonight!
"Look at you! Girl, I thought you said you were taking things slow?" Essie questioned.
Stef rolled her eyes at her best friend. "We are taking it slow."
Essie looked her up and down, shaking her head the whole way. "Yeah, I am not buying whatever you are selling. You might not have crossed some lines, but girl, your heart sure has."
Stef elbowed her to be quiet.
"Oh, no way. I am not being quiet about this. In fact, let's take a poll."
Stef was shocked. She wouldn't dare, would she? Oh shit!
"OK, I need everyone to help me settle something here. Since this is a group of people who actually would know the look I am talking about, I am gonna ask." Stef was trying to pull Essie out of the room or cover her mouth, anything to stop the embarrassment happening at that moment.
Yet, it was all useless as Acheron spoke up for Essie. "Yes, Stef is obviously head over heals in love with Phobos." The entire room agreed. Except for Zeth who scowled.
Stef turned bright red and went to another room to hide. Essie finally found her. And damn it, Essie was laughing.
"Honey, I am happy for you. Stop hiding from it." Essie said as she hugged Stef.
"Stop hiding from it? Essie, our first date was a complete set up that went so far wrong that I can't even explain and it was only two days ago! Seriously, can things be moving any faster? And that is what scares me."
"OK. I am sorry. Everything has been fast. I forget that you are kind of new to all of this. But, it seems to be the norm with this crowd. My cousin Jo was with Cadegan in a demon realm for only a couple of days before we were able to get them both out. By then, she was already pregnant and completely devoted to him just as he is with her. Even Jenna and Deimos had only known each other in her dreams over the course of a week and half before she was tearing down Olympus to protect him and they got married that night."
Essie sighed. "My point is that you choose the pace. Just follow your heart. Don't let your head get in the way. He is not a modern man to have the same modern expectations. For him, a commitment to a person is a commitment to that person in whatever form that is. If that means waiting a few decades before certain lines are crossed, then so be it. It is part of who he is. But, you have my love and support no matter your choices."
Stef hugged her friend as she started to cry. "What would I do without you?"
As the two women pulled themselves together, to rejoin the party, they heard two low and bone chilling wolf howls from outside.
Simi and Xirena ran inside from where they were still snacking on the barbecued cow in the backyard. "Akri, did you hear that? Can I eat wolf too?" Simi asked.
Ash shook his head. "Both of you return to me now." He lifted his shirt and the two demons turned to smoke and floated into tattoos on his skin. Stef watched it with absolute fascination. She wanted to ask. But, no, the wolves are far more important.
Jenna was calling someone name Fury while Dev called Vane. Both came up empty on it being a wolf they knew. Jenna pressed her lips. "Phobos! Deimos!"
"What's wrong?" Phobos did not hide his panic well. He pulled Stef into his arms protectively.
"The wolves have found us." Jenna answered.
Styxx turned to Bethany. "Take Tory and the kids and go back to Kateroterros."
"You too." Zarek handed his daughter over to Astrid who held their son's hand. "Stay safe."
With Samia now being pregnant, Dev flashed her home before he returned with Fang and a few of Dev's brothers.
Stef turned to Essie. "I am not letting you drive home and honestly I don't want you to be home alone."
Essie nodded. "Acheron, can someone get me over to my sister's house?"
"Which one?"
"The one with the extra, extra protection of course. Amanda's."
Ash nodded before he grabbed her arm and flashed her out. Then returned.