Hello everybody! Wow, it's been over a year since I updated this story, but Mari and I have been super busy! We really hope that you're excited to see what's coming up next and we've still got a couple surprises up our sleeves! Message me with critiques, angry messages about how long I took, and headcanons about Kate and Henry to use. Hope you're all doing swimmingly! ~Lots Of Love, Laughter, and Light BM

Chapter 5: Dreaming

Kate

As we exited Mari's room, Henry closed the door behind him. I offered a hand he took it. His eyes were filled with something I didn't recognize. Henry didn't get scared easily. If something was making him this jumpy and absent…

We made our way down the corridor to the foyer and quietly travelled down to the Underworld. Once in the palace, he led me, still not talking to our bedroom.

"Henry?" I chanced, almost in a whisper.

He turned to me, his eyes distant. "Yes, love?"

He wouldn't want me to say that I was worrying about him. He wouldn't want to listen to me. "While Mari is testing in the next few days, is it possible for you to ask Dylan to help me learn how to fight?"

His eyes widened at this. "But…but, Kate, you're pregnant…"

I lifted my eyebrow at him. "And?"

He ran his hands through his already-unruly dark hair. "And I can't lose you or my little princess…"

Just then there was a knock on the door. Henry opened it, spoke curtly to whoever was out there, and returned, holding a sleeping Milo in his arms. "I'm putting him to bed. This discussion isn't over."

"Henry, I—please…" He walked into the nursery without another word.

Was he angry with me because I'd asked to learn to fight? I knew that I wouldn't be the strongest one on the battlefield when it came time, but I couldn't just stand on the sidelines, cheering and waiting for someone to get hurt. He had to understand that.

I rested my hands on my stomach. Princess must've felt how tense I was all day. Now, I sighed. "It's okay, love…your daddy's just worried about what's going on in the big bad world out there."

My mind was racing too much for me to crawl into bed and try to read the ever-growing stack of reports and judgments waiting to be filed on my bedside table. Instead I went into the closet and chose a soft, silk nightgown before going into the bathroom and running a bath. I looked in the mirror behind my sink.

If I always looked this tired, I don't think Henry would be so kind about waking up to me in the morning. My face was paler than usual, though maybe that just had to do with spending more and more time in the Underworld. I seemed bonier, too, than I remembered.

I undressed and slid into the warm water, letting it caress my skin up to my shoulders, just keeping my head above the water. I closed my eyes, trying to relax, but my mind wouldn't stop working. Not to mention, if I let myself admit it, I was angry at Henry. How dare he forbid me from fighting?

I ran my hands over my baby bump in the warm water, the sensation relaxing me. I opened my eyes as I heard the door open. Henry stood in the doorframe, looking very cool with his arms crossed and hair mussed. "Is there room for another in there?" he asked softly.

I turned my eyes away, suddenly finding the bubbly surface of the water incredibly interesting. "Look," I heard him say as he padded over. He knelt down beside the tub and reached out to smooth some hair off of my face. "I'm sorry I yelled. But…Kate, you're pregnant with our baby girl and…and I'm in love with you."

I turned my face to him, a goofy grin breaking my façade. "Really?"

He rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean. If you really feel that strongly about it, I'll ask Dylan to start giving you lessons in the morning. But, you have to promise me that I still reserve the right to tell you no."

I lifted an eyebrow. "Yes, that's a fantastic idea. Give you the power to say no all along. You'll just tell me no as soon as I step to the front lines!"

He took a deep breath. "Can we get there when we get there?"

After a moment of trying to find lies in his eyes, I nodded. "Yes."

He kissed my forehead before standing. "Don't be long. The bed is cold without you."

Mari

My head is spinning. And, not just because of the concussion. Though, I definitely think that might be a contributing factor. No, this has much more to do with the fact that the giants who almost destroyed humanity millennia ago are rising again.

And I have something to do with saving the world?

When I was a little girl, I used to love watching superhero movies. All the other girls would talk about princesses and ponies, but I would be sitting there with my Flash or Superman comics, reading about them saving the day. I guess I always sort of imagined myself as a superhero, or at least wanting to be one. Now, though that I actually have the chance? I'm terrified. How did Peter Parker ever find the courage to go up against his enemies?

Not to mention, I only have seven days before I'll be judged good enough or not to save the world. I bet that Bruce Wayne never had to go up to a jury and prove he was good enough to be Batman.

I lay back on my bed, closing my eyes, but images and snippets of conversation keep flashing in front of my eyes. Eventually I do fall asleep.

For the first time in a long time I find myself conscious in my dream. I stand in what looks like a strange cave: those weird rock points hanging from the ceiling and there's a strange fog that coils around my ankles like an anxious cat. I frown. "Hello?"

My voice echoes around me. "Hello? Is anybody there?"

I hear a strange rustling, then something that sounds like whispers. "Hello?"

I start. "Hello! Who's there?"

Out of the fog come two beautiful women: one about a mom's age, the other closer to mine. They are dressed in clothing from a time long ago, and both of them have eyes that terrify me in the same way Henry's do. "Who-?"

"We could ask the same to you. You're no goddess."

I swallow. "Um, decidedly not—"

A third voice comes from behind me. I turn to see a petite thing with blue eyes and red hair. She reminds me of a fairy. "Ava, Calliope, she's dreaming."

"But she's mortal," the younger one says.

"Yes," says Red Hair.

"So, how can she possibly be dreaming about us?" the older one demands.

"Maybe she's descended from the Oracle," suggests Red.

I put in, "Excuse me, but 'she' is right here and is just as confused as you are."

"What's your name?" asks the older one.

"Marilyn Potts."

The younger one stops. "Marilyn Potts?" She looks at me with a note of familiarity. Something Red says clicks. Ava.

"You're…you're my mom, aren't you?" I ask softly.

Her eyes fill with tears as she steps forward. But before we can have a Disney-movie-worthy embrace the ceiling above us starts shaking. One of the pointy rocks falls to the ground in between us. Red screams.

The older one's eyes turn to steel. "It's getting worse." She turns to me and I feel goosebumps rise up on my arms under her gaze. "If you know about us and you can see us, then you have to tell the others that they don't have much time. Do you understand me?"

I nod quickly. I feel like I have to tell her—"I have seven days to complete the Goddess Test to see if I can take Ava's spot on the Council," I inform her. She must be Calliope.

Her eyes soften a fraction. "My dear, you might not even have that much time."

I bolt upright in bed with a yell.