The dappled morning light through the curtains roused Hera. 

She blinked repeatedly, trying to clear the scratchiness of her eyes from crying the night before as she flipped over to stretch. Her momentum was halted as she rolled up against a warm, solid form. Her heart nearly leapt from her chest as he turned his tousled head to look down at her. His drowsy eyes were slowly raking up her exposed flesh. 

"Morning love."

His tired voice was her new drug. The divine depth and raspiness sent shivers down her spine. He turned his head to gaze at the ceiling, a smile playing on his lips. 

"Morning." He only smiled harder at her quiet response. She flushed a deep crimson, recalling the night before, and peeked under the covers. Very naked. She heard a chuckle beside her as she gathered the sheets around her and ran into the bathroom for a quick shower. She closed the door and took a few calming breaths before she heard a gentle knock. 

"May I come in?"

She bit her lip to stop the grin from spreading across her entire face before peeking her head out the door. She was quickly face-to-face with his shirtless torso and looked up to see him looking at her curiously. "No funny business. I've got training and if I don't show up soon, someone will come looking for me."

Amusement twinkled in his eyes. "Cross my heart, Hera."

He kept true to his promise beside a dozen stolen kisses and they got changed into training gear. Hera was glad she could find a big enough shirt and sweatpants for him to wear until his other clothes had dried. The kitchen was a mess by the time they had finished making breakfast. It was supposed to be something quick, but Theo was determined to make her the pancakes she said she would kill him for. He snuck off into the greenhouse and picked some strawberries to go on top and she was smitten. 

Neither could contain the contagious energy between them. The house was full of laughter, banter, and smiles. 

It started to feel like a home. 

She was just about to take her first bite when the front door flew open and Jean stormed inside, throwing herself on the couch. 

"We need to talk, princess!" Her tone sent chills down Hera's spine. She didn't even think Jean spotted Theo standing sheepishly by the centre island. 

"What did I do now?" She asked carefully.

"The other day when we fought you did something to me. Well tried anyway. But I feel like I'm still missing something. I-I think you took... a part of me..." She paused before yelling, "and you need to give it back!"

She jolted upright at the last words and froze, staring deep into the eyes of her best friend. "You." She ground between her teeth. He tilted his head to the side and waved ironically. "Morning sunshine."

Hera swore she heard a growl from the couch before stupidly standing in front of Jean. "Calm down, let's figure out our situation first, and then you can grill Theo." Jean's eyes tried boring into her before finally conceding. 

"Fine. Give me back what you took."

"I thought it was a dream." Hera sighed plopping next to her on the couch sending a sidelong glance at Theo. "I'm sorry if I hurt you."

Jean's face twisted in a confused scowl. "It doesn't hurt per se. It feels empty..." Her voice broke slightly and Hera swallowed back her guilt.

She closed her eyes to look within when she heard Theo's curious tone, "What exactly happened?"

"Training," Hera replied simply. She could sense her answer did not satiate his curiosity at all so Jean happily filled in. "I bit her, she stole something from me, half died and Ivy saved her. The end."

"You what?" Hera's eyes snapped open at the fury in Theo's voice.

Jean even shrunk back slightly before squaring her shoulders. "I. Bit. Her." His fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles popped.

"What the fuck were you thinking? You could've killed her." Hera moved towards him holding her hands out placatingly while Jean tried to defend herself. 

"She's fine, isn't she? And why do you care? You abandoned us, I mean, her." She failed to catch the slip. She was still really hurt. 

Did they not talk?

Theo held Hera's gaze before turning away, swallowing deeply. He still felt guilty. The air was vibrating with animosity. Both parties probably wanted to land a few good hits but Hera had enough.

"Okay shut it for a second. First of all, there is no way I will be able to find whatever you're missing with the energy going on here. Second, Theo, I'm okay. More than okay. I might have a plan to deal with Azrail. Just need to work out the kinks. And thirdly, Jean. Theo didn't betray us. He was only trying to protect his mother so just cut the shit and grow up." Her shoulders heaved as she finished her rant. Theo wouldn't meet her eyes and Jean looked shocked. "I'm going for a walk and you two are going to make up, or I'm not coming back."

She paused for dramatic effect, staring down both of them before storming out of the small cottage. She couldn't help but be annoyed that she was having to leave her own house but got over quickly when she spotted Zeke's retreating form in the nearby forest. She called out to him and he paused looking around for her. His eyes lit up when he spotted her and her heart ached. 

Jackie used to look at me like that...

It's okay to be sad, you know. Juno's words brought a tear to her eye that she promptly wiped away. Zeke tilted his head and squinted. 

"Sorry little ones, what do you need?" 

She would probably never get used to him talking to her in plural even if he was technically right.

"I'm supposed to be doing something for Jean but now that you're here, would you happen to know anywhere that we could, I don't know, lure Azrail. It sounds stupid but I don't want them to find us and destroy our homes but we need to end this right?"

Zeke nodded slowly. "The final battle?" Hera grimaced and shrugged.

"I guess so but if he comes with Evolved I feel like we need to save them right? They belong with us but I bet they're all being controlled by him. So how can we break that control without him ordering them all to kill us?"

"Lots of good questions, children. I cannot help answering many but I do know of a place. A plateau on the other side of that mountain." He pointed at the furthest mountain and Hera blanched.

"How the hell are we supposed to all get there?" It was his turn to shrug.

"Perhaps less is more?" Hera was more than a little confused as he turned on his heel with a laugh and floated off into the forest.

She stood watching his retreating form before turning and sitting on the gravel path. 

"Ugh, why can't this be easy?" Her head dropped into her palms as she recalled what she was supposed to be doing. In silence, she explored her energy, following its turns and twists through her body until she came to a small knot. Her brows furrowed as she gently untied it and realized the cord within her was not her own. Jean was right, she had taken something as she was losing consciousness. She brought it forth until her palm glowed with its light. It quickly started to burn. She knew letting it go would be bad so she ran back to the house with it clenched in her fist. "Stay right there!" She gritted out as she burst through the front door startling both of her guests. 

"Open your hand!"

"Wha..?" Jean's mouth was full of Hera's pancakes and she looked so clueless.

"Fuck it." Hera instead slapped Jean across the face letting the cord travel back to its rightful home easing the burn instantly. The sting of contact was slightly satisfying and even retribution for her siren bite in Hera's opinion. Both Jean and Theo stood frozen at what had just taken place.

"No fucking way..." Jean stood her face completely blank and Hera was slightly regretful. She briefly glanced at Theo who was now red from holding in laughter apparently.

"You did it! Fuck, that felt so weird." She squeezed Hera in a strange half-hug completely unfazed by the slap and headed for the door. "Thanks for the pancakes. Talk later, Theo." She gave a slight head nod to them both and sauntered off. 

"We're even princess." She shouted, flicking the door shut. As soon as the latch found its home in the door jam, Theo lost it. His rich, chesty laugh was contagious and they both cracked up. Each time one had calmed the other set them off again. Both of their abdomens were aching when they finally settled on the couch, Hera's head resting on Theo's thigh. She massaged her cheeks to rid the tension and Theo smiled down at her squished face. 

"Well I have no idea what that was all about but I'm glad she's happy." Theo's words almost set Hera off in a fit all over again until she buried her face in his stomach. He tensed at the contact before she felt him shaking from what she realized was a chuckle. 

"Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking. That could've gone badly. I'm sure she's plotting something as we speak..."

"I'll protect you." He started with a smile. He was so warm, Hera found herself snuggling closer into his torso. "I won't let anyone hurt you again." His fingers trailed lazily around her hairline, tucking wisps into their rightful place. When she looked up at his face she saw the guilt plainly.

"I forgive you, Theo. For whatever you think you did. I forgive you." His hand stilled its caress before moving down to cradle her cheek. His thumb brushed against her lip and she kissed it which only surprised him further, a faint flush creeping up his neck.

They found peace in the stillness and tried to push aside the impending doom of what lay ahead.