XIII: On the road forward.
-A/N Again it is short, and unfortunately over. I am sorry for both. I hope you enjoyed it!-
"Good morning, Pythagoras." Icarus softly called as he awoke and Pythagoras moved next to him.
"Hm?" Pythagoras hummed as he rolled on his back and sluggishly rubbed his eyes.
"Are you awake?" Icarus asked as he sat up, looking at his lover.
"Yes." Pythagoras slowly opened his eyes and looked at Icarus.
"Did you want to go and see the family today?"
"Oh yes." There grew a smile at Pythagoras face as he slowly sat up. "But you still need to help me."
"No worries, Kalista would love to have you over again, even if it is to watch the children." Icarus helped Pythagoras to dress himself. He took his time to properly bind the laces of Pythagoras shoes. "Are you hungry?" He asked when he finished lacing up his own boots.
"Maybe a little bit." Pythagoras said as he walked out of their bedroom and sat down at the table. Daedalus was still asleep in the far corner, and Hercules was also asleep in his own room. Icarus put their food on the table and filled two cups with milk. Pythagoras still needed both hands to keep the cup from falling, but he managed to drink without spilling. Icarus fed him the last few pieces from his bread, which were still too small for him to pick up.
"Are you ready to go?" Icarus asked when they had both finished eating.
"Yes." Pythagoras nodded. Icarus fastened Pythagoras' cloak before he did his own. Icarus laced his arm with Pythagoras so he could aid Pythagoras balance as well as to stay close to him.
"Are you getting tired?" Icarus asked as he noticed that Pythagoras started to drag his feet. They were almost at Kalista and Tasos's house.
"A bit." Pythagoras admitted.
"It is just a little further. Do you think you can hold on?"
"I think so." Pythagoras replied as he draped his arm around Icarus' shoulders. Icarus gave him a little smile as he wrapped his arm around Pythagoras' middle.
"There you are. It is good to see you again." Kalista greeted with a smile as she opened the door.
"I am very glad you still welcome me back." Pythagoras smiled as he removed his arm from Icarus shoulders.
"And we a glad you are finally feeling better." Kalista smiled as she stepped aside, letting Pythagoras and Icarus enter. "All three of them are in the garden."
"Thank you." Pythagoras smiled at Kalista.
"There you are." Karissa jumped from her seat as soon as she caught side of Pythagoras. Pythagoras smiled as he moved away from Icarus and embraced the girl.
"I am happy to be back." Pythagoras agreed and Angelo and Damien joined the hug. "Where had we left off? Have you practised without me?" Pythagoras asked as he and Icarus joined the table the three children had been sitting on only a few moments ago.
"Yes, we practised!" Karista proudly told him.
"Would you like to show me?" Pythagoras asked and watched as the three of them carefully bound each other's arms. "That is very good." Pythagoras praised. They filled the afternoon with mathematics, repeating what they had already learned.
"I think it is time for us to head home." Icarus said as he noticed that Pythagoras was growing tired.
"We are happy you are finally better." Damien smiled as he waved Pythagoras goodbye.
"I hope you will be back soon." Karissa nodded.
"As I see you are not yet completely well, I think it would be best if you came three times a week, hopefully giving you enough time in between to let you recover." Kalista smiled as she handed him two silver coins.
"Thank you so much." Pythagoras softly said as he hugged Kalista. "I am doing my best to get healthy as soon as possible."
"Do not worry. We are happy to have you back any time." Kalista waved at them as they slowly made it back home.
"How was your day?" Daedalus asked when they sat down for dinner a little while later.
"Good. I am happy to go back teaching, even though I am quite tired now." He received a peck from Icarus as he tried to hide a yawn.
"Just try to eat something, then we will go and sleep." Icarus said before he started eating. Hercules happily agreed as he dug into his plate of stew. Hercules continued to huff as he helped Daedalus clean the plates while Icarus and Pythagoras readied themselves for bed. Pythagoras made himself comfortable in Icarus arms.
"Tomorrow we will go and visit the temple right?" Pythagoras softly asked.
"Yes, I think I owe the Oracle something, as well as Poseidon."
"I do too." Pythagoras snuggled even closer. It took him mere moments before he fell asleep. Icarus listened for a while to Hercules complaining before he fell asleep himself.
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
"Good morning sunshine." Pythagoras awoke with the smiling face of Icarus above him.
"Good morning?" Pythagoras slowly sat up as he rubbed his eyes.
"Shall we go and get dressed?" Icarus asked as he dressed himself in a clean tunic and trousers. It was already late in the morning. Icarus did not have the heart to awaken Pythagoras since he was that tired last night. Icarus helped Pythagoras dressed and ate a little before they departed to the temple. Icarus walked slowly with his arm linked with Pythagoras' one. Once entered the temple, both of them threw some mint and lavender in to the fire, making an offer.
"I see that you figured it out, Icarus." The oracle softly spoke as both of them entered the oracle's den.
"Yes, luckily just on time."
"I am happy to see you up and well again, Pythagoras."
"We came to thank you." Pythagoras said as Icarus softly squeezed his hand.
"Did you make an offering?"
"We did."
"That is all I ask. Just be careful, for you might never know when faith decided to tip to the other side of the line." The oracle turned around minding her own business again.
"Icarus? Pythagoras?" They heard someone call as they were about to exit the temple.
"Ariadne." Pythagoras smiled as she both hugged them.
"How are you? Mirella came with the frightening word you were very ill."
"I am doing much better as you see. We just made an offering to Poseidon to thank him."
"I am happy to hear that, then you can come over soon again for dinner." She smiled. "I shall let Jason know you are better. He was very sad that he had been that busy, and not being able to drop by."
"I think Hercules would be overjoyed to hear that we can come and dine again. Please let Jason know I am better and that we all miss you both." Pythagoras waved goodbye. On the way home they walked over the market bringing some more wine, goat milk, figs and some bread.
"We are home." Icarus announced as they walked through the door. "What are you doing, father?" Icarus asked after he had put the groceries on the table.
"Now that Pythagoras is about to be better, it is time for me to go back home." Daedalus told him as he put the pieces of the makeshift bed in the corner of the room.
"Will you at least stay and have dinner with us tonight?"
"I think you also should join us when we go and eat with Jason and Ariadne." Pythagoras said, not knowing another way to thank the man for his services.
"Eating with Jason and Ariadne?" Hercules asked as he popped his head out of his room making all three of them laugh.
"As soon as the word food is mentioned." Icarus shook his head.
"Yes." Pythagoras said as the laughter died down. "We ran into Ariadne in the temple and she invited us, probably to celebrate that I am healthy again."
"It was about to get time that we were to go and eat with them.' Hercules said as they all sat around the table and shared one last meal together before Daedalus would return home.