I.A.G 6-

Zoey was glad that Erik was back but hated the fact that it took through all that drama to Erik to see with his head glued onto his shoulders again. She was glad that he stopped thinking with the thing that hung between his legs, which he normally did anyway. Still, she wanted to show that she knew how to balance both her relationships without anyone helping her. Or at least, she thought she did. Zoey hated the fact that most of the time, all of her friends ran themselves all up and throughout her business. Zoey didn't like it but she knew it was true. Her friends could be some of the world's nosiest SOB's out there.

Erik was walking the halls of the depot thinking about Zoey. He wanted to tell her that he was okay with her choices as long as he got the treatment that Aphrodite, but he was scared to bring up to the subject to her. Not really scared though, more like unsure of how to word his insecurities that maybe she would treat Aphrodite better. As much as he knew he needed to bring these things to Zoey's attention he chose to keep them inside his head. He felt as though it would bring more stress on her than she really needed. She had enough going on with Kalona and Neferet and losing her mom in the process of their "seemingly not hostile takeover". Erik decided he would do it. He would go to see Zoey that night(which was technically their morning), and tell her exactly how he felt and what he had to on his mind. As he made his way to Zoey(and Aphrodite's) bedroom, he talked to himself to get ready for the conversation he was about to have with Zoey. "You got this. You've known Z for a long time now. You can tell her anything. You love her. She loves you…but she loves too now. Goddess, what am I going to do?" Aphrodite stepped out and asked Erik, "What are you muttering about?"

"That has nothing to do with you. I need to speak to Zoey."

"Look, Erik, I'm at least trying to be cordial. The least you could do is give me the same respect as Zoey asked us to play nicely."

"You expect me to play nicely with you when you already played me?! Fat chance... you know, you are right though. I have to get along with you... for Z's sake."

"Just don't cross that boundary again. You and I are over. You have to stop bringing up the past and get over. You got over and so did I. We just so happened to get over it in the same way."

Zoey walked out of her bathroom and into the middle of Aphrodite and Erik's conversation. "What's going on in here, you two?" Zoey asked in a huffed breath. She didn't want this to end up like every other time they tried to talk to one another when they were alone. "Came in here to talk, Z. You were in the shower and Aphrodite was just keeping me company."

"Aprodite, baby, you aren't trying to start anything are you?" Zoey looked at Aphrodite in disbelief. She wanted to believe what Erik was saying was true but she knew how much of a shit starter her Prophetess could be.

"No, baby. I was just reminding Erik of your wishes and luckily we were able to keep the conversation from turning sour." Aphrodite told Zoey as she walked to stand next to her.

"That's good. I'm glad that you two are at least TRYING to get along." Zoey said with a smile on her face.

Erik, Aphrodite, and Zoey went at sat on the bed. "You know that we love you, Z" Erik said holding Zoey's hand on the other side. "But sweetie, there is something that I want to tell you...or rather ask you." Erik let go of Zoey's hand and put his head down in embarrassment. He didn't like the fact that he had so much courage anymore but knew that he couldn't keep going on torturing himself like this. "What is it, Erik?" Zoey lifted his face so that she could look into his eyes.

"Are you trying to keep things equal right baby? You aren't playing favorites?"

"Of course not, Erik? You know that goes against my personal principles as well as the Goddess's Law."

"Erik... I know that I have to be respectful, so I am going to say this the nicest way possible."

"Okay..." Erik said, wishing that he had talked to Zoey about this in private.

"Don't be dense. You know that Zoey would never play favorites. Especially not with me and you."

"Thanks, Aphrodite. As right as you are, you could have said that without the insult." Zoey said, rolling her eyes at Aphrodite.

"Sorry baby. But just the thought that he doesn't trust that you wouldn't play favorites."

"Some people just have issues trusting any situation with you in it." Erik threw back at Aphrodite with so much anger he wanted to storm out of the room but had to stop himself because he wanted to finish his conversation with Zoey.

"Well, if you wouldn't have insisted that we have sex in a public place, no one would have issues trusting anything." Aphrodite said with resentment and a sting from the past.

Zoey rolled her eyes and went to go sit at the table in their bedroom. She put her head in her hands and just blew a raspberry. "What's wrong, Z." Erik asked her. He knew he had done wrong, and knew that Aphrodite had done wrong as well. He wanted to bring it up so bad, and to blame their mini argument on her. Still, he wanted to wait and see what Z was going to say.

"I'm just waiting on you two to finish insulting each other." Zoey said in a monotone.

"I"m sorry, Z. I got carried away. I do apologize." Erik said. He felt more ashamed now than he did when he was talking to himself trying to convince her that he didn't mean that short argument with Aphrodite.

"I'm sorry too, babe. I didn't mean it. It's just that he really strikes me."

"I know that you are both striking at each other and that is what strikes me."

"We're sorry." Erik and Aphrodite said in unison. Aphrodite walked over to Zoey and put her arms around her. "Baby, how can I make this better? I don't want you to be mad at me. Or even at Erik for that matter."

"I'm not really mad at you guys. Just disappointed to see the people I love acting like they can't even like each other for my sake."

"We are trying. Our conversation didn't start out this way. You saw that. You even said yourself that you were glad that we were trying to get along."

"Yeah, I did. I love you guys so much. Please work harder on it. I don't want this to be a everyday thing because you guys can't handle so much as seeing each other."

"We will work on it. We promise."

Aphrodite leaned her head onto Zoey's shoulder so that she could kiss her cheek. "I promise baby, no more arguing. At least not from my side." Zoey looked up at her and smiled, "thank you, baby".

"It's no issue."