Sooo in Acheron the book, Ash does get a girl. I did decide to incorporate that into this. Itisha gets flaily about getting into relationships that she can see two people getting along REALLY WELL WITHOUT HER. So even if she HAS feelings, she tends to run away. Polyamory is not something she often finds people willing to do. Much less maintain.

It really wasn't polite to eavesdrop, but Itisha couldn't help it when she heard disco faintly ringing through the Atlantean realm. There was still that nursing of the emotion of joy and hurt all at once. They survived. They finally got together. She did what she was supposed to do. What Apollymi had asked. Still, it hurt to watch him dance and laugh with someone else.

Head shook and she silently walked down back to the main room where she heard Simi's shows playing from the monitor. There was a small smile as she summoned a large bottle of her homemade barbeque sauce and she knelt down and set it beside Simi, "Hey kiddo, I've got a gift for you."

"Hm?" Simi tore her eyes away and stared at her with big bright eyes and squealed as she took the bottle and hugged it. Then she looked up at Itisha and frowned, "Is akra-Tisha okay? Akra looks sad."

"I'll be alright, Simi. I just wanted to thank you for helping me with making sure Tory was okay over the years. You're a good people, Sim, and if you ever want to visit my house you are more than welcome to visit and play with the kids." She leaned down and kissed her on the head and motioned to the monitor, "Have fun watching your shows, sweetheart."

Simi blinked as she watched Itisha try to blink away that glassiness in her eyes. A moment and she moved and hugged her tightly, "Akra-Tisha loves akri very much. You are better than heifer-goddess. She says she loves akri, but never did and tried to hurt him for loving someone. You are a good people too, akra."

"Thank you, Simi. I know you mean every word of that. I do love him, it is why I need to let him and Tory have their happiness. I am not going to stand anywhere in the middle of that." A move to gently peel Simi off of her and she kisses her cheek, "Take care of them for me?"

"Akra-Tisha isn't coming back? You can help take care of them too." Simi quirked her head. Confused and yet understanding all at once.

"I think it is best to not accidentally step on anyone's jealousy button. Polyamory is unfortunately rare and a healthy relationship with it is even moreso. They are my friends. I can't be in their way."

"Akra will find someone. Lots of someones! You are still family. Please visit the Simi?" She pleaded and watched Itisha blink a couple of tears away and nodding, "Yay! I love you, Akra-Tisha." She gave Itisha a snuggling hug and then returned to her show, hugging her barbeque sauce.

"I love you too, Simi." Her voice soft as Itisha stood up and she vanished back to her house. Eyes closed as she leaned against her kitchen counter and trembled before she heart another voice.

"I told you, it wouldn't work out." Artemis' voice came out in a tight tone.

Itisha looked up with blurred eyes and snarled, "Get out of my house!" She shouted.

"Why? I thought friends came to comfort each other. I need comforting." The red-haired goddess stated with her arms crossed over her chest.

The atlantean moon goddess moved around her counter and stalked towards the other, "You need comforting? You hurt him! I thought I was getting somewhere with you! Instead you tore him up out of jealousy. You tried to make him kill someone innocent! You have absolutely no regard for anyone but yourself! Artemis, you brought that pain onto yourself. You are lucky you aren't dead!" She watched the other goddess take several steps back from her.

"You know what happens if I die, Itisha." She tried to counter. Somehow it was far more terrifying and heartbreaking to have the snow-haired woman tearfully yelling at her. She had always shown some measure of patience. Like a mother with a child.

That made Itisha snarl, "And you know damn well that I can keep the world whole and replace you and your burnt-out-lightbulb of a brother. It is only for the sake of my patience and Katra's that you are actually alive and not fucking replaced right now." Her eyes shimmered a silver and blue as her own double set of horns and wings appeared. Her temper was far too shaky to stamp it down any longer, "I told you that I would strangle you if you hurt him any longer. Get the fuck out of my house before I actually follow through and take your goddamned protection with you!" She went through the effort of unclasping the necklace instead of yanking it off and she shoved it into Artemis' hand.

That actually had the goddess staring. Lip trembling, but also anger roiling in her, "You are just mad that it isn't you that is with him right now!"

"No, I am fucking happy that two people I care about have someone to make them feel whole. I am mad that you had the gall to hurt people I care about! Now get out of here!"

"Fine!" Artemis screeched back, "I didn't like you anyway you half-breed lizard!" She vanished just as Itisha actually threw a god bolt at her out of anger.

Instead it hit the fridge and it sent papers and bits of metal flying. A glare at the damage before she fixed it with a flick of her wrist and she just punched the counter and sagged against it, crying. Of course she was upset about heartbreak, but she figured she would get over that. Eventually. Becoming a hermit again sounded pretty damn preferable at the moment. Yet she was far more angry at Artemis' behavior if she was actually angry about anything.

"You are too kind to that bitch goddess, Itisha. You should have killed her."

The shimmering phantom of Apollymi appeared beside her. Swirling eyes studying the other woman with sympathy.

"Should have, could have, but won't. I am not feeling particularly up to it right now." Her voice soft as she wipes at her eyes and looks at the quiet of the house. At the moment, the kids were all in school, "Hey Polly, can I come visit you with the kids this weekend? I know it is a Daimon haven and all, but I really would like for them to meet you." Plus… it was a place that Ash couldn't go. Easiest way to avoid him. Sort of.

Polly seemed startled by the question and then she smiled, "Of course, my little star. I would love to meet them. I will make sure no harm comes of them."

"Thank you." Itisha said softly and wrapped her arms around herself, "Did you know I was going to fall in love with him?"

There was a silence and Polly shook her head, "I had anticipated friendship between you two. I had not expected for you two to love each other, no." Then she offered a smile and reached out as though she could brush away tears. Even though she was unable, she still tried, "But I am glad that he knows he can be loved."

"I'm glad too, but it still hurts. Hell, I hate being polyamorous. I hate people looking at me like I am selfish for wanting more than one person in my life. For not minding if I was the third wheel. Except everyone wants people for themselves. No one likes to share their others and I hate getting in the middle of an already better relationship I am so not making him have a love triangle situation. No one needs me in their bed that badly. Maybe I'll take some time off from the world and go surfing with Savitar." She murmured.

"Do what you need to, Itisha. I look forward to seeing you this weekend. I wish I could mend your hurts."

"Thank you, Polly. I love you." She says softly and closes her eyes as she puts magic into being able to touch Apollymi's hand. It was a ghost of a touch, but it was still something. The goddess nodded and vanished, leaving her alone in her kitchen again.

Silently, she moved through the house until she got to her bedroom and tears choked her then. A move to scoop up the large plush Mushu and hugging it against her. Letting the fabric soak up her tears as she finally let herself break down.