My phone ringing on the nightstand rouses me from a deep sleep. Anna's arm is wrapped around me while she drools into my pillow. I sit up and retrieve the offending device, and head to the living room. Hey, at least there wasn't a creepy robed guy going through my mail this time. Things are really looking up today. "Hey, boss," I answer, catching it just before it goes to voice mail.

"Elsa," my father drawls. He hates it when I call him boss. It's why I do it. "Is that any way to talk to your father?"

"If he's also my boss, I'm gonna go with yeah, seems pretty fair." I pull my phone away from my face to check the time. 3:30? For fuck's sake, dad! "There a reason you're waking me up so early?"

"I never heard from you after your job the other day. I've been calling you nonstop. I thought maybe you were dead! Don't worry me like that."

Well, I was dead and then I was kidnapped, so at least your fears were justified? "I'm fine. Sorry, pops, I've barely had a reason to wear clothes the last couple days. Anna wanted to properly wish me a happy birthday, and I think we got a little carried away."

I hear him take in a sharp breath. He never explicitly disapproved of our relationship, but it was clear that it irked him. Is it the gay thing or that he adopted us both? Never had the nerve to ask. I'm a god now, I really don't have a reason to be afraid of him, I should ask what his issue is.

Maybe some other time.

He finally speaks. "I'm glad you're okay. Maybe bother to check your phone next time. The job go all right?"

I smile. I had forgotten to brag to him about my extra score. "The job went fine, except that I caught the attention of The Headhunter."

I can practically hear his mouth hit the floor. "Corsetti? Are you all right?"

Just possibly have four bullets lodged in me, nothing to worry about. Or were they pushed out with ice? How does that even work? I should find out sometime. "I wanted to say something all cool about taking his head, but I just snapped his neck. Yeah, I'm fine."

"You took out The Headhunter? How much am I paying you, because it's clearly not enough." He chuckled; the clinking of ice against the edge of a glass was faintly audible.

"Yeah I'd say I earned a raise there. So we good? Can I go back to sleep?"

"Of course, I just wanted to make sure you were all right. I do have another job for you if you don't think your festivities wore you out? You can do it after you wake up."

I collapse on the couch. This might take a while. "Sure, boss, what do you need?"

"This will be a pretty big job, even for you. You might want to take some men with you."

I can just make my own. Anna seemed to enjoy that second Elsa. Still can't believe that didn't give her frostbite. "I'll be fine. Just give me a name so I can go back to sleep."

"I want you to take out Peter Morelli."

What? "Uncle Pete? What did he do? I haven't been busy for that long, there's no way anything that bad happened."

"He asked to be let go. He and his men want to be on their own, and take a chunk of my territory with them. I gave my blessing. Let them be on their own, they'll see what happens to other families in my turf."

Jesus, Pete. Zeus? Heracles? This really raises some interesting theological questions that I have not bothered to investigate yet. Whatever. For fuck's sake, Pete, what were you thinking?

"Elsa? Can you do it?"

I sigh. I shouldn't have answered the damn phone. "Of course, dad. Consider it done."

~o~

I smell French toast. My eyes open to find my bed sadly lacking in redheads. I meander towards the kitchen, blinking away sleep. For a second I let myself believe that the conversation earlier was just a strangely uninspired dream. It wasn't, but it's a nice thought.

A plate of french toast materializes before me. I glance up to see my girlfriend smiling down at me. "Syrup or powdered sugar?"

"What're you having on yours?"

"Chocolate syrup." Her smile turned into a goofy grin.

"That sounds perfect."

She takes a seat next to me and pours chocolate syrup onto both of our plates before dipping her finger in mine and licking it off.

"You're lucky you're cute," I growl, as threateningly as I can manage while looking into the eyes of the woman I love.

"Aww, you're cute too." It turns out I am not very threatening.

I take a bite of the toast. "Pops called last night," I announce. Even the ambrosia-like mixture of French toast and chocolate is not enough to dull the pain of what I'm going to have to do. "You're not gonna like it."

"Oh no," she sighed, eating an entire slice of French toast before continuing. "Who betrayed him this time?"

"Uncle Pete."

Her eyes widen as she turns to me, her silverware dropping to her plate. "No! You can't kill Uncle Pete. He's the one that took you to –"

"You think I don't know that?!" I spit back. "I don't know where I'd be without him, but he turned on our father. We can't just let him get away with that."

"Let someone else take care of it!

"He told me to. I won't say no to him."

"You're a god, Elsa, you can do anything! Hell, you could take over the family, be the new don, and just let Pete be!" Tears mix with the chocolate at the corners of her mouth.

"Our father did everything for us. I'm not turning against him. Anyway, it'll be worse for Uncle Pete if someone else does it. I can make it quick, they won't."

"You're just making excuses now! This isn't okay, Elsa."

"I know it's not, but I'm going to do it anyway. You can't talk me out of this."

"Elsa –"

"Forget it, Anna. There isn't another option. I don't care how important Pete is to me, he's not worth throwing everything away. Think about everything we'll lose if I don't do this. He's our father, I'm not turning my back on him, and that's that," I say, rising from my chair.

"God, Elsa, you're so pigheaded." Her chair topples over as she stands, glaring up at me. "You can't do this. Not to Pete. Please."

Fighting back tears, I walk back towards our bedroom. "I have to." My appetite seems to have vanished. I wish she didn't have a point. I wish Pete didn't mean so much to me. But, my powers aren't enough to change this. What good is being a god if it doesn't protect the people I love?

~o~

I've been standing outside Peter Morelli's door for almost fifteen minutes. I know I have to do this, but I don't know if I can bring myself to. Before any conscious decision is made, I find my hand knocking on the door. The sound is faint, I doubt it even made it past the foyer.

A moment later the door swings open and I see Pete silhouetted by the light behind him. "Elsa, my girl!" He pulls me into a bear hug and it's all I can do not to hurl on him. This isn't right.

"Hey, Uncle Pete," I choke back. He wouldn't want anyone else to do this. Just make it quick.

"It's been too long. I used to see you every week! Seems like you're always holed up with that girlfriend of yours these days. Come in. We were just fixing lunch, why don't you join us? There's plenty." Gotta love Italian families.

"I'm not really hungry."

"I insist. Lisa made coffee cake."

I wonder if he suspects why I'm here. He hasn't bothered asking. If so, is he trying to talk me out of it, or showing that there's no hard feelings? "You know I can't say no to Aunt Lisa's coffee cakes," I sigh, following him to the dining room.

His wife is serving food to their three sons. Christ, it's the weekend isn't it? I have to get him alone, I'm not letting them see that. "Elsa!" she shouts, pulling me into another hug. "Are you joining us? I made plenty. It's lasagna." As if I hadn't been able to smell it from the front door.

Tears threaten to spill over, but I barely manage to hold them back. "Of course, Aunt Lisa. I couldn't resist."

I sit between Pete and his eldest son, wishing desperately that the floor would swallow me up. Maybe Anna had a point. Lisa shivers as she seats herself. "Pete, did you leave the door open?"

"No, I definitely shut it. Did the heater turn off?"

Nope, that'd just be me. My conscience is spilling over. Thought I'd lost that ages ago. Jesus, would you listen to me? I do this for a living, why am I acting like a whiny teenager? "Uncle Pete, would you go for a walk with me after we eat? I have some business I need to discuss with you."

Our eyes meet. Any doubt that he knows is wiped from my mind. "Of course, Elsa. Eat up, put some meat on those bones."

"How could I say no? I think Aunt Lisa's lasagna has me in its spell." I look around at the family I'm about to destroy. They've done far more for me than my father ever has. Can I really justify doing this to them? What would Anna think of me? Safe to say I'm sleeping on the couch tonight. My pistol weighs heavy in my jacket. I adjust in my seat, gazing at the heaping helping of food before me. I hope they won't go hungry without his income. I don't even taste my lasagna.

By the time we finish the meal, I've accepted my fate. I'm the gun, my father's the killer, it's not my choice, and it's not my fault. When my slice of coffee cake touches my tongue, I can savor the flavor, cinnamon and sugar with a hint of vanilla and sour cream. I doubt she'll be making any more for me so I take a few slices to go as we leave. Pete grabs his jacket at the door and follows me outside.

"So you've heard," he sighs. "I hoped it wouldn't be you. How can Vincent be so callous?"

I don't respond as he looks me up and down.

"It's a test for you, isn't it? He wants to make sure you're still loyal. What did you do to piss him off?" His hands slide into his pockets to protect them from the winter air. Or perhaps to grab a pocket piece. If shooting me will make him feel better then he's welcome to.

"I ignored his calls all day yesterday and told him I was busy fucking his other daughter." I spit on the ground trying to rid myself of the bad taste of what I'm about to do.

"That'd do it. He never took that well. A bit ridiculous isn't it?" His breath puffs out before him as he speaks. I hadn't noticed – mine doesn't do that anymore.

"We were already sort of a couple when he first adopted us. It didn't seem to bother him as much when he thought it was straight."

"No, he never took any of that stuff well." He sighs, turning his gaze towards the heavens. I wonder if he thinks he'll make it there. How would he react if I told him that I had proof of a different god altogether? "Are you sure you're okay with working for him?"

I blink, turning to him. His words take a moment to sink in. Focus on the task at hand, don't get distracted. "He's my dad."

He nods, as if that answers everything. "Let's walk, I don't want them to hear it."

"That's what I was planning." He takes the lead as we move through the city, snow picking up around us. It's December 23, so I can't be sure if that's me or just New York weather. Fuck, I didn't even think about the time of year, I'm killing their father right before Christmas. That's just mean. Fuck you, pops.

"I want you to know I don't blame you for this."

I stare at the back of his head as we walk, silent sobs racking my body. "You should."

"Elsa, if you didn't do it, someone else would. I'd far rather you be the last person I see than any of those other assholes. You're family."

I rub at my eyes, but the tears won't stop falling for long enough that I can make a difference. I wish it didn't have to be this way. "Thanks for everything. I don't know what I would have done if it wasn't for you."

"It was nothing, Elsa. You were like the daughter I never had. I'm just sorry you're going to have to live with this. I never wanted this life for you."

"It's the only life I've ever known."

"And for that I'm truly sorry."

We fall silent for the rest of the trip. Soon we end up in an alley where no one is likely to see anything. Bottles and condoms litter the ground next to a dumpster. Shitty place to die. "Any last words?" I ask.

He draws a pack of cigarettes from his inside pocket and lights one. "Just let me enjoy this. Would you like one?"

I don't even smoke. "Yeah, I could use one." He offers me the last one in the box and lights it for me as I lean forward. Drawing the smoke into my lungs, I can feel my insides melting. Weird feeling, that can't be healthy. "Thought you'd quit?"

"Hardly matters now, does it?"

Good point.

He ground out the butt with the heel of his loafer. "I'm ready. I'm not going to fight you."

I nod, tears freezing as they slide down my cheeks. I draw my nine millimeter from my jacket holster and attempt to steady it between his eyes. "I'll make it quick."

The dumpster explodes, raining garbage upon us. The worst smell I've ever known permeates my nostrils, seeping into my clothes, just before my jacket bursts into flame.

I rip it off and fling it to the ground, turning around to find a figure walking towards me – on fire. The fuck?

"Boreas," a melodious voice purrs from inside the blaze. "It's been too long. How about a kiss for your dear sibling?"

I blink and try to find words. What the hell is going on? "Who are you?" I ask after what feels like an eternity. Way to sound badass, Els. I thought you were supposed to be a mafiosa super hero god.

"Aww, you really don't know anything do you?" She sashays towards me, looking more like a model on a catwalk than any sort of threat, despite the intense heat radiating off of her.

"I thought we could only be guys," I sputter, drawing upon the meager lessons I'd received on my origin before murdering that cult. Maybe I should have stuck around a bit longer. Well, if killing that dickbag is what dooms me, I have to say it was worth it.

"That's just you, dear brother. Seems you finally met a fitting form for your misogyny. I was never all that concerned with gender myself. This body seems fine. It should more than suffice for destroying you."

"Elsa, what the hell is going on?" I forgot Uncle Pete was still here. Should I save him or kill him?

"That'll be really hard to explain and quite frankly it doesn't matter too much." I raise my gun once again to put him out of his misery only for my shirt sleeve to catch fire. Holy hell that hurts. And I thought the branding iron was bad. "What the fuck, god person?!" I turn around, my cold gaze meeting flaming orange eyes, as the fire on my sleeve is replaced with ice. "Let me kill him real quick and then we can fight."

Her lips curl into a snarl, flames escaping from her mouth. "You dare turn your back on me, brother?"

"It's sister, okay? Actually, fuck that, it's Elsa. I don't even know who you are, I'm not your sister." I turn my gun on her and hear the sound of retreating footsteps behind me. Fuck. Can't say I blame him.

"I forgot about your memory issues. I'm Notos, the Southern Wind. Dearest Boreas, does no part of you recognize me?"

"Drawing a blank. Mythology was never really my area of interest." I fire at her. Is that ironic?

The bullets disintegrate a foot away from her. "Perhaps I can remind you then." The remnants of my Armani suit burst into flames.

I emanate ice from every pore, creating the armor that I made when I first discovered my powers. "That suit cost three grand! You're going to regret that."

"Will I?" Her mouth splits open, revealing a rictus grin of tiny bonfires. "You could never beat me, Boreas, let alone when you haven't even learned how to use your powers. Such potential, wasted."

Walls of fire appear all around me. I conjure a blizzard to put them out, but they close in, melting my armor. I wave my hand, re-solidifying the armor and surrounding myself in a glacier. Steam rises as the two forces collide.

"Oh no, what ever shall I do?" Lighting me on fire AND taunting me? She's gone too far. "Now you can't escape."

Fire rains down from above. The glacier won't last. There's only one other trick I know.

Another Elsa appears behind the slowly advancing form and shoves her hand through its chest – or so it appears. When the second me flies back in a sudden gust of wind, her arm is nothing but a melted stump.

I take advantage of the momentary distraction and send a blast of ice out, extinguishing the fire on the side of me away from the threat.

I book it.

There's no other option I can see. She's too powerful. I have to run. I charge out of the alley and across the street, ducking into a nearby shop and escaping through the back door before dashing into another alley. When I emerge on the other side, I see a motorcycle parked by the curb. A slab of ice quickly forms itself into the key and I ride off, back towards home. Towards safety and towards Anna.