Bacon.

Toast.

Coffee.

"Mmm, am I still dreaming or do you smell breakfast too?" I whisper, sensing Cain waking beside me.

He stretched as he yawned before smiling as he looked across the bed. "Smells good."

"How are you feeling?"

"What do you always say? Sparkle sparkle," He yawned again.

"That's better than I expected."

"Elise, Love? Is that you?" Mum called out. "Breakfast is ready!"

"How does she always do that?" I smiled as Cain covered himself with the blanket and lifting a corner I peeked into his hideaway. "Want brekkie to go? She won't mind."

"No. It's okay. There's coffee?"

"As much as you want."

"I was hoping you'd say that, and I think it would be nice to see your family."

"You really did have a total breakdown last night, didn't you? You want to see my family?" That surprised me.

Cain smirked, suddenly tugging me down under the blanket too.

"I do. I bet they want to see you, and Jordan. It's nice. Different." He lets out a deep sigh, looking more relaxed than I expected this morning and then kisses the tip of my nose as we stay wrapped up together just a little longer. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Elise, is Cain with you? Jordan's home!" Mum calls as if she doesn't know the answer to that.

"Yes, Mum. We're getting up now!" I answer. "Showtime!"

We headed out and Jordan was already eating, fork in one hand and phone in the other while Dad read the paper. Mum smiled as she saw us, holding out a cup of coffee in each hand as we came into the dining area.

"Morning." Dad nodded at Cain as we sat, before taking a long drink of his tea. "Didn't hear you all get home last night."

Jordan shrugged. "It's something I've been working on. Elise isn't the only one who can get in and out without anyone knowing."

"Sure, that's it," I tease, and seeing Alfie waiting for his pile of bacon that Mum was sending his way, I went over and gave him the biggest hug. "Hey, pal, who has been the mightiest hero of them all? You have!"

I tickled under his chin which sent him into a pile of goo, his smile widening the longer I went until Mum finished with his bowl.

"Thank you, Alfie. Thank you." I kiss him between the eyes and leave him to have breakfast as Annipe finally makes her appearance and Mum puts her bowl down too.

"Jordan filled us in this morning. Vesna is working on a real treat for him later." Mum winked, taking her place beside Dad.

"What do we do now?" Jordan asked, looking between Cain and me.

"Eat breakfast." I decide.

"Drink coffee?" Cain adds.

"Ha. Ha." He frowns. "No, really, what next?"

"Aren't Penny and Colton back from their honeymoon tonight?" Cain asks.

"Oh, they are too!" Mum glances towards the calendar.

"Maybe we could organise dinner. Somewhere nice, my shout." Cain continues while ignoring my, what the hell question I threw at him under the table, with my foot, into his shin. "It'll be nice to catch up with everyone. Zane, Kara if she's still here."

"What a lovely idea. I don't know why I didn't think of it first!" Apart from Mum, the rest of all look at Cain as if he has just grown three heads.

"We'll take care of everything, be ready for seven." He decides.

"You're making dinner plans after what-" Jordan starts.

"Yes," Cain answers simply, and Dad puts his attention back on his paper while Jordan shuts up, taking a bite of toast. "I mean if Elle wants to that is."

"Oh not fair. If I say no, Mum will probably write me out of the will." I sigh, making Jordan laugh while Mum simply nodded along.

"It'll be good to see them. Something fun after the last couple of days. You just never seem to stop, Elise. You deserve some family time and a nice meal out. I mean, the only way it could get better was if someone else decided to ask a certain question and," Mum faked her innocence as I threw a slice of toast her way. "I thought I raised you better than that."

"And on that note, I guess I'll see you all tomorrow night. Seven, wasn't it?" I glare at Cain before taking my plate to the sink.

"You have our blessing if you're considering it," Mum whispered, making Dad groan and Jordan choke on his coffee while Cain was up and saying goodbye in an instant. "See you both tomorrow!"

The second we're back home, I glare at him again. "What was that?"

"Your Mum is right. You deserve a nice night out." He shrugged, "And, I thought we may as well tell them about Blueberry."

"What?" I wasn't sure if I just heard him right. "You're joking."

"No. We don't know what's coming, or when. This baby is a miracle, and his family deserves to know he's here. Not that he's here, but that he's in you. He exists." Cain frowned. "That we created- how do you tell people we did well, that"

He pointed towards my stomach, and I looked down half expecting to see the little alien clawing its way out for a big reveal. I look at Cain, and then back before smiling at him. Taking a slow step in his direction, I'm looking for some payback after that breakfast. From Mum's not so subtle hint, I half expected her to be on the phone to Raya or at least Ailin about it and her hopes for how this dinner will go down.

"You mean, announce to my family that we had sex, and out of the many, many times and places, your sperm, found my egg and boom." I do jazz hands for added effect and enjoy the way his face starts to turn pink.

"I did not mean that."

"What did you mean then," I pointed at my stomach. "About this? I was just happy to wait until oversized jackets and loose tops weren't going to cut it anymore."

"I meant more along the lines of giving them a card or a cake with it written on." He isn't joking.

"You really want to tell them, now?" Cain nodded, looking even more serious. "I mean, I guess we could. You're right, we don't know what's next, and I read some stuff and until like twelve weeks it's not even like, official. We haven't had a scan and the doctor I saw said they have to make sure it has a heartbeat."

I paused, now regretting turning down her earlier offer of the scan. I mean, what if we get to that point and it's not real, and he isn't even in there and it's all been for nothing. Looking at Cain, he was as nervous and excited about this as I was. Doubts I hadn't considered in the whirlwind of the last few weeks made themselves known, and the scariest one of all was the possibility we'd go and find out there was no Blueberry.

"Stop. Whatever you're thinking, stop." He orders.

"I can't, I just-" Well this is perfect. Two in three days; Richard was going to have to do something to put an end to my breakdowns once and for all. I force the words out, refusing to let the panic attack take over completely. "What if he isn't there?"

Cain forces me to sit, taking control and giving me something else to focus on as he holds my hands in his; his thumb makes circles on the top of my hand and despite this, I can't stop the tears. I fight for each breath until finally, they get easier.

"We have no reason to think otherwise. The doctor you saw wasn't concerned?" I shook my head. "See, it's fine and if it's not, well, we will deal with that together. At least we know that maybe for us, waiting that hundred years or so isn't what we want and next time we will just be more prepared."

"Next time? You want to go through this again only on purpose?"

"I do. You were right when you said this is our chance at a truly fresh start. I saw exactly what you did, only I'd never actually let myself dream that something like that could be possible. But now I've seen it. I want it. I'm not even scared anymore, I have never been more ready for anything than I am now for this."

"And what about the Furies?" I didn't mean to bring them up now, but it came out anyway. Cain didn't even flinch.

"We'll work it out."

He was so sure, so confident and I wanted to believe it would all just all fall into place and in six months we'll be picking out onesies and putting together baby stuff while reminiscing about this bumpy start.

It would just all work out.

"Glad that's decided." I sighed, forcing some of the tension trapped in my body out too. "So, since it took me three weeks and a nervous breakdown to get up the courage to tell you I was pregnant, maybe the cake idea-"

I looked at Apollo.

Apollo looked at me.

"We can, ah, come back," Kara mumbled, looking at the group that had just appeared in our living room expectantly yet no one moved a muscle. "Later?"

Cain didn't turn around from where he sat on the coffee table opposite me and instead closed his eyes as his hands nearly crushed mine. Whatever peace and good vibes he was tripping on seconds ago disappeared.

Apollo didn't blink.

I don't think I was even breathing.

"Portia has been here again, hasn't she?" Cain asked flatly, though I had a feeling I wasn't required to actually answer the question.

"I haven't had a chance to tell you about that yet," I whisper forcing myself to look away from Apollo.

"Sounds like you haven't had a chance to tell some of us a lot of things," I couldn't stop myself from flinching at the venom in Apollo's tone and as he crossed his arms, I prepared for a lot more. "Good to know you do it to him too."

"Apollo," Artemis reached for his arm but he stepped towards us as we stood and instinctively I stood in front of Cain as the tension in the air was so heavy I don't know how anyone was still standing and not being knocked over by it.

"No, Art. We deserve to know. Are you fucking serious, are you pregnant?" Apollo demanded, yet it was more of a challenge, cold and hateful because he knew the answer already; he just wanted to make me say it. "Tell me!"

The outburst sent a chill through my body and I sucked in a breath, nodding right as Cain stepped around me.

"You do not speak to her like that," Cain did scary better than Apollo and they both knew it. Apollo crossed his arms over his chest, his face flushed and I knew he was weighing up his options right now. "After your little show the other day, now this, you deserve fuck all."

Apollo looks like the naughty kid who just got caught but wasn't done digging their grave. Artemis pushed Apollo back, whispering something to him I couldn't hear as I held Cain's arm in preparation to hold him back.

From the look on Apollo's face, he either doesn't care or isn't listening to his twin. His face only hardens, and whatever passes between him and Cain now has Kara moving Artemis out of Apollo's way. I can't see Cain's face yet, but I know he's just as gone as Apollo is. The pin has been pulled from the grenade and we're all only seconds away from having it explode in front of us.

Apollo's hands light up, more than that usual glow he has going on while Cain stands that little bit taller, bracing himself for whatever is about to come next. Everything is moving too fast, and I don't know where the pause button is to make it all stop.

"It's no wonder the Furies have chosen now to come back. What cursed atrocity should we be expecting, with you as the sire?" Apollo spat, jumping right over the line that screamed do not cross. "As if you deserve or could ever be a father!"

I saw red.

"Elise!" Kara shouted, appearing before I could blink as the two brothers exploded with a lifetime of bad blood finally being spilled.

Kara didn't need to shield me, mostly because I already felt the familiar presence of Cain's power around the pair of us as in the same instance he freed his arm from my hands. It wasn't necessary, as what the pair of them had gone to throw at each other was nothing compared to what I put out. I had wanted to pause time and as Apollo attacked, I'd grabbed onto him as I had slid my powers into the Berserkers. Only whereas I had snaked a way in to destroy them, I kept my decision pending here as I stopped Cain too so no one moved, trapped within their bodies with my powers coiled around them ready to strike.

I felt their fight, their powers flush against mine demanding release, and struggled to maintain it. Yes, they had issues that both swore to resolve and move on from but now meant absolutely fucking nothing. The time of this truce was now over and that did not mean I was going to let them do it right here and now.

"Elise?" Kara's mouth fell as she took a hesitant step towards Cain and Artemis walked over to us looking completely heartbroken. "What is happening? Did you do this?"

Artemis stood before Cain, her eyes full of tears. "I am truly so happy for you. Both of you. I just wish," She turned to Apollo, a sad smile appearing, "it could be different. This time together, all of us, together, was so nice. I just hope we will find it again one day."

"I'm not sure I feel the same right now." I gave in, pulling back as the pair reignited with a gasp. "And that's enough, stop!"

Apollo went to open his mouth and I shook my head, keeping myself in between the two; ready to strike again if I had to. Looking at Apollo now, I was praying that I would. I hadn't been kind and knew he would be feeling a lot worse than Cain right now.

"You do not ever, ever talk about our baby like that again." I got your back, Blueberry. "It does not matter what you think either, about either of us. This is our business. No one else's contrary to what you seem to believe and it's our decision when and how people are told. Apollo, I'm sorry, I truly am. I was going to tell you, hopefully in a better way than that once we got our heads around it."

"We know that, don't we Apollo?" Artemis looked his way but his gaze was vacant as he continued to glare at Cain, who was doing the same thing in return.

Clearly, they both missed the memo to stop.

"A lot is going on right now, and we, well I didn't plan-" I start, unsure what else to say exactly.

Something triggers Apollo then as he snaps back to life and that glare of pure hatred is thrown my way. He makes a sound that I think is supposed to be a laugh only it died on the way, as he shakes his head. Our eyes meet and a sense of dread hits with it. Not once during his time as Logan or as Apollo, has ever looked at me how he was now.

He hated me.

"Elise didn't plan for any of this to happen. Of course, she didn't. You never fucking do, do you?" His voice is like gravel and as he goes to say something else, he stops. "Good luck. To both of you. We all know you're going to need it."

And then he's gone.

"I'll keep an eye on him. Kara, I'll be in touch." Artemis follows.

"Doors Kara. How many times do I have to tell you?" I groan, and turning around Cain just looks at me only he isn't at all; completely lost in thought. "Well, lets' not do that with my family."

"I'm so, so sorry. Normally when I try to come here, I feel blocked and stay away or I get let in. There wasn't a block and really, how was that for just awful timing." Kara sighed. "I will forever knock from now on. I promise."

"I'm going to fix that," Cain muttered, and I grabbed his arm before he could vanish.

"What are you doing?" I ask cautiously.

"Making sure she has to use the door next time." His posture softened ever so slightly as he rubbed his eyes; looking completely exhausted. "That's all."

"He's an asshole. Don't listen to him."

"Listen to who?" He smiled, which looked as fake as the upbeat tone sounded in his voice. "I'll be back soon."

I turn back to Kara as he leaves and her face is red as she doesn't meet my gaze.

"So, have some trouble closing up the bar the other night?" Guilt hangs around her like a shadow and I can't even get angry about it especially if she had spent more time keeping Jordan and Zane safe than facing the Furies. "Just, tell me what happened. We haven't gotten into it, yet, just that it was bad."

I take a seat on the sofa and she flops down beside me, looking even more torn up than Cain did.

"I am so, so sorry. For that, and for this and-" She starts.

"It doesn't matter. Honestly Kara, I mean, I'm pissed off at what you did, but whatever. Just tell me next time and that, none of that was anyone's fault." I thought about it for a second. "Maybe ours. Maybe mine. I don't know. I'm getting whiplash from how up and down things have been since coming back home."

"You were right when you told him it wasn't anyone's business." Kara took my hand and squeezed it. "I'm sorry, but whatever you need, I promise, I'm your girl. I couldn't not go, Elise. What would that look like to the other Powers? To my people? I had a responsibility to be there and I just wasn't sure how you'd feel about me tagging along."

"I understand. So what happened? Were they like giant big monsters or something?"

"Or something. We went to where Lycaon had buried them, but they weren't there. He removed the boulders and the cavern beneath the snow was untouched. There was no clue as to how they got out, or where they went but as we looked around, a blizzard started and out there, we had nowhere to shelter. We decided to leave, but then Deimos sensed something and instead shielded ourselves from the weather and tried to push through. Hades left us, and Deimos was able to get us clear of the storm."

"Where did Hades go?"

"I don't know. He came back a few minutes later and ended up guiding us towards a cave. Lycaon was going on about curses and bad juju which had the wolves retreating, even Paytah which was something new. They were scared. Really scared." She tucked her legs up and sat facing me now, hugging the cushion as she did so. "There were bodies in there, well skeletons. We think of some of their species from the skulls, but they'd been there for a long time."

"Okay?" That didn't seem so bad.

"Then they sprung to life and tried to attack us."

"Oh." Again, I've heard of worse things.

"Yeah. That was fine, but then shit got weird and whatever they were doing had us all hallucinating." She picked at one of her fingernails, and I didn't push her. "It was like we were being shown our life's worst moments, and we were about to be punished for them. I can't explain it, but I was shown the first time I made a kill; my first real battle. For taking a life, I owed a life and they wanted mine."

"Great, more crazies who like to fuck with our minds. " Dick was going to be wanting an early retirement after he was done with me; if he stuck around. "We've been up against things like this before."

Kara frowned. "I haven't. Deimos saved me right before I nearly sliced my own throat. That was the price they wanted me to pay."

"The others?" I wasn't sure I wanted to know.

"Jordan and Zane didn't seem affected. Eric too. At least not like the rest of us. Deimos as well, but he thinks their powers are similar to his which is why he fought it off quicker." She didn't look at me, now choosing to fuss with the corner of the cushion as she attempted to pull apart the tassel there. "I wasn't the God Killer, Elise. I was weak. I was no leader. I nearly killed myself because of those things."

"Don't be so hard on yourself. Jordan and Cain have made it clear none of this was easy. You've been God Killer for what, a blink in time. You've just got your powers back. Kara, you all came home. Alive. That's the only part that matters."

"Live to fight another day?"

"Exactly."

"When did you get so wise?" She smirked, finally looking at me.

"Can't give away all my secrets."

"Anyway, there was a portal at the back of the cave we went through. When I was a child, Hecate would tell me stories of faraway lands and I'd often dream of a place, and time we would go to them together. This wasn't like those dreams, and Hermes soon realised we were following ghosts."

"Are they like us?"

"That's the thing, we never saw them. We could sense their power, their aura is intense, but who or what they are. I can't tell you. The bedtime stories had them as the monster hiding in the closet, you know. Whatever horrible creature your mind created them to be, is what they were." She started picking at the cushion again. "They still are. We went in blind and have come back even more unaware."

"But if Lycaon-"

"They never actually saw them. Not really. His sight wasn't very good, he was more wolf than man. What they did helped slow them down, I don't doubt it, but it wasn't enough."

"So super powerful, no idea what we are actually up against, and they're still out there." I shrug. "Awesome."

"We all tried."

"I know you did, and you all came back, which is what matters." It did, but where this left us, I had no idea. "Do you think we'd know if they were here?"

"If they wanted us to?" She shrugged. "Hermes is doing his thing, looking for anything unusual or unexplainable movements."

"What if I asked Aion to help him with that? I mean, the guy can time travel, so, Kara, he can time travel."

"And?"

"Why don't we, to see what Lycaon saw or back to when they first came?"

"Elise, that's so dangerous. You don't just jump back and forth through time." Kara rolled her eyes. "I take back my earlier comment."

"But he's a professional. What if just a couple of us go and not the whole crew like it's some kind of show and tell session." I like my idea. "In and out, no harm done. Also who even knows how many of us there are left after the news gets out."

"I don't like it." She huffed, finally dropping the cushion. "But at this point, our options are limited and Apollo isn't everyone. I don't know how we keep Cain being alive a secret anymore though. Everyone is going to want to know who your baby daddy is and Powers don't exactly procreate like Others, like the mortals here. It's complicated, rarely involves love and someone usually ends up with a curse, or dead."

"I wish I could drink right about now." So much for reducing stress. "I hadn't even gotten that far yet but you're right. All eyes will be on us."

"Hades, we should tell him next." Cain suddenly says from behind us, making Kara jump just as much as I did.

"Are you sure?" Kara asks, looking between us. "He's made it clear is not interested in much of anything to do with our world at the moment. He only left his Underworld because of the Furies and has already returned home."

"We need him on our side." There's no room there to argue and I expected Kara to say something else but instead, she just nodded.

So I did too, all while getting the feeling that new lines were about to be drawn amongst the Powers. It wasn't just Artemis's dream of having her family together again that was going to be broken and I prayed to the universe we'd all make it out to the other side.

"Road trip to the Underworld, with a detour via Hecate's little cabin?" It was only a matter of time and as I stood, I knew exactly what was next. "I'm not sitting this one out, okay. Deal with it. I just stopped you and Apollo from tearing each other apart. It's not like we even have to be sacrificed this time."

"Difference is, neither of us wanted to hurt you," Cain mumbled, joining forces with Kara as the pair of them stood before me with grumpy faces - like that would change my mind.

"Oh please. Go stroke your ego elsewhere, I felt you both pushing to break free. I won that round, admit it."

Kara's grumpy face wavered for the briefest of seconds. "We don't know what Hades will do, and down there, he is King."

"It's Hades. He'll probably act annoyed, but be fine. And worst-case scenario, I didn't even have powers when I faced Hades the first time, and I managed to cut him with his poisoned blade. Nice try, besides, did you or did you not nearly have a breakdown asking me to go see your Mum with you?"

Kara sighed, and I knew I'd just won again. "She makes a good point, Cain."

"I wasn't even trying to stop you," Cain rubbed at the creases on his forehead, turning to go and stand by the window.

"Liar." I taunted.

"I need to do a few things before we go. I'll be back soon, so do not leave without me," Kara warned, looking towards Cain before smiling at me. "Via the door."

"You're learning!" I smirk, and as she goes, I remove the distance with Cain and stand beside him. "There's no talking me out of it this time."

"I know."

"Good."

"Kara is right, I can't play dead forever." His words had never sounded so heavy and I didn't have to be a mind reader to know more was bothering him than what Kara had said.

I slipped in front of him, resting my arms over his shoulders. In a second he was holding me tight, his hands slipping under the hem of my shirt to rest in the curve of my back. I suddenly felt exhausted, and dragging him to bed for a nap seemed like a much more appealing option right now.

"I have a feeling that the Underworld might be the perfect place to do just that."

"Do what?"

"You'll see." I reached up and kissed his chin.

"Elise." He warned.

"If I told you, I'd have to kill you. Again." I let him go, only to be held in place. "Too soon?"

Before he can answer, I yawn - it's loud and unstoppable and not even on purpose.

"You okay?"

"I'd love a nap but I don't trust any of you enough to wake me up before you go." I yawned again, feeling even more drained.

"Go and sleep, I promise we won't go without you." He sends me into the bedroom and the bed has never felt so good as I lay down.

As if he could read my mind, Cain joined me; curling around me as I assumed the little spoon position. I felt like a year had just passed, this morning now miles away not a few hours. I was too tired to process it all, except for one thing.

"Apollo is wrong. The Furies aren't back because of us, or you or our son." I tell him. "I know you will be the father he needs."

"Technically, Lycaon seems to think it is because of you and they are after the God Killer." Cain linked his hand in mine, as I pushed my elbow into him. "I hope I am."

I felt the pull of sleep and couldn't fight it any longer, not even to get in the last word and gave in, only his voice followed me as I let myself fall.

"And you will be the Mother he deserves, my love."

I only hoped I would be.

____________________________

Anyone else missing Hades like I have been? 

Will he be on their side?