The sun lightly came into the room, it's rays touching all it could find, including his skin. He let the gentle rays lay upon him, basking him in its early morning glow. It made him feel like a cat in the afternoon, soaking in what it could as it laid peacefully away. That and it didn't help that it was making it look like a goddess laid in his bed. He gazed at her bare back as the sun gave her skin a luminous glow, the gentle rise and fall of her breaths proof of the exhaustion he left her in. Since the banquet, he had proven the appetite he had for the art of lovemaking. taking her as much as he could and showing her so many ways to find pleasure. Not that she complained, most of the times she was just as hungry for it as he was.
He reached out to stroke her long mocha hair, feeling the tresses slip within his fingers. She really was like a goddess to him, and she was his. The sleepy yawn from Cassiopeia took his gaze down to Feriah's lower back. There within the small of her back, laid the kitten she rescued and named those weeks before. Happily laying against Feriah as the sun warmed her as well. He reached down to stroke the little things ears, gaining a happy purr from the tiny thing. She stretched out against his hand, leaning her head against him as she continued her little song to him.
"You are making her claw me, stop." he heard Feriah mumble into the pillow.
Looking up, he was met with her green eyes as they bore into him, upset of her interruption of sleep.
"Sygnómi." he whispered, still petting the kitten, "Didn't mean to wake you."
"Yes, yet you still are petting her, which is making her knead my ass and cat claws in the early morning is not how I wanted to wake up."
He chuckled at her, finally lifting Cassiopeia and placing her on the floor with Hera and Hades. The two kept the little one occupied as he moved back to Feriah, nuzzling his nose against her shoulder. Her sweet scent sent a warm shiver through him, one leading directly to his member. True he had her that night, but the thought of taking her again came to his mind, to hear her moan and call out his name as he buried himself deep within her body. He gently placed a nip on her shoulder, kissing it smooth as a sleepy sigh emitted from her.
"You had me last night, I want sleep."
"But you are awake."
"Because of you made Cassiopeia claw me." she huffed, "Turn your dick off."
He moved along her body, feeling the smoothness of her tanned skin, "But I can't. It's hard when you are so beautiful beside me. That and I will be gone for a few days."
"Bok." she whispered into the pillow.
Her body moved lightly, the thin sheet nearly exposing her naked frame to him as her legs spread apart slightly.
"Are you saying yes to me?"
Those greens pierced him as he felt her body grow warmer, "Maybe."
Oh that tone, that playful tone he loved on her. He moved behind her, letting his hands coast over her plump ass, feeling her body grow ready as she hummed in approval of his touch.
"If you are going to have me this way, did was you did last time please."
Well now, he couldn't say no to that. His fingers ran along her wet folds, feeling how excited she was for this, slicking them lightly just to place them where they were beckoned most. He knew how to get her there, to make her beg for more. He watched as she wriggled and stretched against the sheets, hums and throaty moans leaving her, proof that his play was the perfect warm-up for her. Finally, he removed his fingers and placed himself deep within her, feeling her slick heat coat him, surrounding him in a bliss that only she could give.
The squeak of a gasp that left her as he hilted in was nearly mind shattering to him, she bucked back against him, telling to continue as she lifted her hips slightly for his play. He gave her body gentle, long strokes. Feeling her body try and hold onto him as he pulled out of her, just to feel her body nearly soak itself as he pushed back in. He kept his pace up, the slow drawn out rhythm just to let his hands skim over her back. He traced her spine and circled her shoulders only to begin kneading and rubbing her back, a little game they both discovered not long ago that they enjoyed quite well. Her moans of pleasure rung right to his member, making him harder and having the need to go faster. Massaging her as he buried himself within her just sent a weird combo of relaxing calm and powerful passion through him, one that tingled up his spine until he couldn't handle it anymore.
Quickly pulling out, he flipped her onto her back, seeing her shocked expression until he grabbed her hands and lifted her one leg, sinking back where he belonged. Her face twisted up in pleasure as her head sunk farther into the pillow behind her, her pants a need to hear as he went faster and deeper into her. He watched her body fall into it, her chest rising and falling with quick breaths, her breasts bouncing with his hips, her body taking him in as she called out his name. God he knew he wasn't going to last long, and nor was she as he felt her tighten and grow hotter.
Letting her go, he laid on her fully, wrapping her arms and legs around him and he pounded into her unmercifully. The demand of his own orgasm pulling at every fiber of his being, the strong burn and tingle in his spine and groin beckoning the end, yet it wouldn't go until she did. That was something he made sure of. She was there, her nails digging into him as her heels pressed onto his ass, begging him to continue as she finally snapped head reared back, her mouth agape before him, sputtering out a mix of Turkish and Greek as she let out his name in her release and then he tumbled. Tumbled head first into the orgasmic bliss he knew was with her. Letting the world spin around him as he felt himself go and bury deeper within her. It was this that he loved, the feeling of being whole, that she was real before him and would always be there.
Finally, it all came to an end as he rested his head on her breasts, those sweet pillows he loved so much, hearing her catch her breath after her own fall. How he wanted to hold her all day and never leave the comfort that was her, the warmth that she brought and the feeling of being a real man.
"You made a mess." he heard her say.
Lifting his head, he smiled down at her, "Just claiming what is mine."
"I am aware." she said kissing him, "Yet from last night and now, it's a mess below. That and you barely have an hour to make your flight."
Looking at the clock, he realized how much time he placed on her and their lovemaking. Begrudgingly, he removed himself from her, making his way to his bags in question of his trip to Turkey as the very thought of being away from her set a strange turmoil off within in.
"I gotta say, that is still one of my favorite assets of yours."
Hercules smiled as he turned to face her, he watched as she stretched against the sheets once more, showing more of her delicious body to him, "Oh yeah, which one?"
"Your ass." she smirked at him playfully, "It's wonderful in my opinion. Firm yet juicy."
He couldn't help the laughter that erupted out of him, only Feriah would describe him that way. After a moment, he watched her saunter off to beginning her own day. How in the world did he get so lucky?
His cell phone began to ring like mad, vibrating away on the table. With a flick of his wrist, he answered the mechanical piece, "Chaírete."
"Are you on your way to Turkey and can you access your military?" the voice rushed out.
"Uh soon and yes, why what's-"
Dryas interrupted him, "There's an emergency in Turkey, all the nations have been called. You need to get here ASAP."
"Hold on, what is going on Dryas? What-"
"Genesis kidnapped Habibah."
His heart sank. No, not her. Not this. "Give me a moment and I'll be there."
Two Days Later
Hell. That's all that came to his mind. He was a worried wreck as he had his military scavaging the coastline for the sweet woman, even had them going nuts in his own lands for Feriah. She demanded to know what was going on, to see how she could help. But all Hercules wanted was her safe.
"Movement has seised on all sides." he heard Lovino state to everyone within the room, "Right now the Axis and Allies are keeping tight formation around the borders as Genesis seems to be just relaxing in the Middle East."
This was getting to him. The unknown. The fact that the group was sitting still and not budging was bothering him as well. They normally were bouncing around everywhere, leading nations on a mad goose chase, yet they were between Iraq and Iran, a few mingling in Afghanistan as Roshni found a member trying to access her military files in Kuwait City. The woman was just in sheer luck that they didn't find Lekan.
"It is getting out of hand on multiple levels now." he heard one of the European nations say, "We are running around without our heads while your brother and the others are just sitting around waiting for an-"
He was silenced as Lovi threw the ceramic cup at his head, "Do not think, that my fratello is doing nothing with the others. If you didn't see Nora after Yao found her, then you need to shut the fuck up, you don't like it, go back to Serbia and protect your lands."
Now it was official. To piss off one of the quieter nations or ones that didn't try to get into war, was enough to know that everything before them was truly business and it was completely serious.
"Now then, as long as we have everything up to where the stupid group will avoid us, we should be good." the Italian noted, "For now, just keep your military open and keep your eyes open for anything suspicious. The manhunt is on still as we speak for Ankara. Dismissed."
Hercules couldn't get out of the room fast enough. It was depressing. He did everything he could for Sadiq, military, and personnel included in the search as he had them work tirelessly out in the open. What killed him wasn't just the knowledge that they took a pregnant capital that was soon to give birth, but Sadiq himself. The man was hollow, worry constantly upon his brow as he looked over maps and listened to countless radio chatter of what was found and what wasn't. It killed him seeing the once powerful man slowly crumble into a heap of nothing. It wasn't Sadiq at all, no way in hell.
He looked out over the land, seeing the sun beam down on the capital of Turkey, pushing people away into their homes to escape its rays. Yet all he wanted to do was go out there on foot and try to find-
"Hercules!"
Hercules spun around to see Dryas flying up the corridor, "They found her!"
He was gone. He made a mad dash down the corridor toward Dryas as his heart raced against his chest. Dear god, they found her.
"Where was she?" he asked him as they sprinted out of the building.
"Outside of the border, right between Armenia and Turkey. I didn't get much after that, but god they found her."
A new relief filled him as he thought of the gentle woman, her voice lifting in his ears as she gave him advice for Feriah or even himself. Her tender smile and smiling eyes just beamed such a happiness around them all that not having her was making them more depressed. He wasn't sure how long it took them to run to the place but seeing the hospital insight was nothing more but a great feeling. He nearly tripped inside as he looked around with Dryas.
"If they have her anywhere, it's upstairs. NICU/L&D." Dryas pointed out.
Within minutes, they found themselves in the wing, looking around for anything that stuck out to them. Finally, Gupta came to view. He couldn't have walked faster to him, his own nerves a buzz on the as Dryas was chattering off his ear about what he was going to do to her.
But the happiness that filled him quickly turned to dread when Neema came to view. Tears poured out of the woman as Gupta spoke to her yet all she did was bury her face in his chest, the sob leaving her finally catching both Dryas and himself. No.
Gupta looked at them in worry, nodding down the hall as the woman continued to cry. It wasn't that bad, she was just reflecting what she saw of Nora when she went to help the nations with her. That's all. Habibah was just fine and so was the baby and there was no worry between them all and everything would be-the shatter of glass as a pained cry paused his thoughts.
Turning the corner, he saw Kachina standing there as Taj seemed to be talking to someone, the pain laying the normally strong woman was something he knew wasn't good. Her eyes landed on them, the knowing and hurt lying within them.
"Habibah?" he heard Dryas speak out.
Her lower lip trembled as she shook her head, attempting to hold back a sob as more cries filled the air. No. Not her, not Habibah. He heard Dryas try and collect himself but even it was too much for the man. Hercules could see him drop to the floor, covering his face as he teared up. Yet he stood there, like a damn fool. Unsure of what to do or say. It couldn't have happened. Not one of theirs. Not her especially. She was too kind and sweet, so happy and full of life. Why her? He felt the stray tears fall down his cheek as the scent of a floral mixture came to him. He could feel her touch, the same one she graced him with as a child. The one he missed more than anything.
"I'm so sorry my son."
That was all it took for him. He felt everything once more. His mother's fading, his nations fallings, his own strength in keeping Feriah next to him, all escape out of his grasp as he walked toward Kachina. He just needed answers as to why just answers period.
"Kachina." he somehow got out, "What happened?"
"We aren't sure." she said with a broken voice, "Whatever it was, it was violent."
His heart nearly broke hearing that, Habibah had survived a harsh world before finding Sadiq and them, he didn't want to imagine the pain she was in again. Just to have the baby cross his mind, "And the child?"
"Alive. She's alive. A little weak but alive nonetheless."
She. A girl. Dear god, he could still hear Habibah teasing Sadiq to death with pink dresses and more as she wished for a little girl. And now she wasn't there to raise her.
"What about-" he was silenced with her finger, pointing to the door as Taj left the room.
"Look, Hercules, it is a really tough time. But in truth, you are close to Sadiq as much as Dryas and Gupta are. It would be best for you to speak with him. He's in denial." the Indian man said to him, taking his wife in his arms.
Yes, there was one other that was hurt as he was, and his hurt was much deeper than his own. Entering the room, she saw Sadiq leaning his head against the glass of the window, his knuckles wrapped up as blood seeped passed the white bandage. How could he talk to him? There were times he looked up to him, never down. He wasn't the one so many feared, it was Sadiq when he was the Ottoman that they feared. Yet looking at him now, he was nowhere near that stature. He could feel the anguish pulse off his body with anger and sadness. How could he-
"Please, Hercules. Tell me its a lie." he heard him say.
He couldn't move anymore, he didn't even want to look his friend in the eye as the truth slapped him in the face again, yet he knew he had to.
"Tell me they're wrong and Habibah is alright. Tell me I'll hear her giggles and her voice, hear her nag at me for just putting my feet on the table as she smacks me with a towel. Tell me that I'm dreaming and that she is just in a room, holding our baby and waiting for me to see them both."
Hercules just watched him, seeing him finally turn to face him. His eyes red and sunken in with the truth, the shaky breath that left him as he tried to gather himself.
"Please, Hercules, tell me it's all a dream. Tell me she's...she's..."
Yet the man couldn't continue as he dropped to his knees. Somehow he found the strength to move, to sit before the one powerful empire as he let out his anger and sadness.
"Why her?" Sadiq sobbed into his arms.
"I wish I knew." was all he could say.
"Why? Why?" he pleaded, "Why did they destroy everything that I cared for?"
Did he not know, "What do you mean?"
"They took them away from me, both of them. I have nothing anymore."
"No, no. That's not true." Hercules spoke gently to him feeling the tight lump in his throat, "Not all is gone. Your child is here, your baby. Your daughter."
Somehow that got him to quiet lightly, "Daughter?But they said she wasn't-"
Hercules laid his hands on Sadiq's shoulders, "I spoke with Kachina, she said that she is fine. A little weak but fine. You are not alone. You have your baby girl to take care of."
His broken eyes looked into his own, he could see the fight that Sadiq was putting up as he tried to come to terms. "Daughter. A baby girl, like she wanted."
"Yes, and she's waiting for her baba to come to her."
There. There was the Ottoman he knew as he saw the strength and determination cross his face. Before he realized, Sadiq stood up, strolling pass him, shaky breaths still leaving him. Hercules followed suit, hoping the man wouldn't snap a neck or two on the way in his hurt and anger. Yet all he did was meander to Kachina, no words were said, just the knowing look as she nodded to him and taking him by the hand. There he stood, watching as she sat him in the small office, speaking to him as more shudders of cries left him. And then, Taj brought her in. He watched as the man placed the baby in his friend's arms, speaking lightly to him yet he knew Sadiq heard not a word, for all he saw was Habibah in the baby. It was then, it became too much for him.
Hercules darted for the door, his mind set on one thing at that moment. He heard Dryas and Gupta call after him yet he ignored them, knowing that Neema would explain it to them. He felt numb. All the pain he kept hidden from so many was coming to surface, and all he wanted was her. Well, not just Feriah in truth. As childish as it seemed at times, this was once where he wanted her as well. To have her guidance like he did all those years ago, to have her touch and gentle voice, yet she was one that would never return no matter how he prayed.
Before long, he found himself back home. All his cats running to greet him as he dropped the bag on the floor, but he paid them no mind. His goal was in the other room, he could see her sitting there as she looked something over, just to have those eyes glance over at him.
"Hercules?" Feriah's voice rang out.
He couldn't stop himself. He nearly ran over to her, wrapping his arms around her middle, feeling the warmth of her body, the beat of her heart, and the breath that proved she was alive. He didn't want to let go of her, afraid to really. He didn't want to lose her like Sadiq lost Habibahor how he lost his mother and all the great people he had learned to love and remember for his times. He just couldn't stomach it again.
"Hercules, what's wrong?"
"Feriah." he finally got out, "Min me afíneis. Parakaló óchi, óchi san tous."
"What? What do you mean leave you, Hercules, you're scaring me. Please tell me what's wrong?"
He couldn't find the words. All he wanted to do was hold her, prove that she was truly real with him but deep down, he had to tell her. Her fingers graced his head, coming through his hair as she spoke softly in a mix of Turkish and Greek. Dear god, how could he tell her? She loved the woman as much as they all did, and telling her would devastate her.
"Hercules, did Habibah change?" she asked him, "Is that why you are so upset? Was it that bad?"
A shudder rippled through him as he saw Sadiq, pleading with him to tell him a lie. Her grip became tighter around him as she hummed against his hair, "It's ok, Neema said her's was a bit frightening as well. It'll be alright. Just-"
"She didn't come back."
Silence loomed in the air, "What do you mean?"
He raised his eyes to meet her own, worry and wonder laid within her as he sighed, "She didn't come back as Ankara. She's gone Feriah."
She sat there, shaking her head lightly as she took in what he said, "No. No she was to change and she and the baby would be with Sadiq every day and all of us girls would swoon over the baby and things would be just fine-"
"Feriah, please listen." he gripped onto her shoulders as the truth started to settle in her.
"No. No, she's alive." her lip quivered, "Please tell me that Hercules, anyone but her."
He couldn't tell her that, all he could do was shake his head at her. And with that, she shattered. The painful sob that left her broke his heart as he gathered her close. He wasn't sure what to do as she begged for it all to be a lie, that her friend was still alive as she sobbed against him. Yet there was no lie, no way to bring the cheery woman back to them all, no happy ending. Justa hell none of them were ready for. And as he rocked her to comfort, his own tears spilling, he prayed that the fuckers that did that to her, would find themselves in the deepest parts of hell and to never return.