I thought I had seen terrified people before. I'd run into battles we had no hope of possibly winning and felt what pure, raw fear felt like. It was something I would never forget or seeing similar reflections in the faces of the people around me. Now here I was, safe, warm, unharmed with no immediate threat or danger around in Raya's living room seeing that awfully familiar look of total terror on Portia's face as the beautiful Olivia was placed in her arms. Typically, this would actually be hilarious, but here I was, perched at the edge of the sofa with that familiar tingling subtly growing in my hands at the prospect of her doing anything that may harm that little girl.

Raya didn't seem to feel any of the unease I did. What happened to motherly senses, shouldn't she be wary of the woman that lied to all of us for so long. The woman was one of the three fates for god's sake! How trustworthy could she really be if she was this scared at holding such an adorable, precious little infant? I get some people don't like babies, I was one of them and still am unless it's to with my godchild. The fear Portia was showing wasn't normal.

"She's not going to break," Raya spoke calmly as Olivia found her way into the bent arm of Portia. "See, there you go."

Olivia made the most adorable sounds humanly possible, and Portia's face relaxed. With this, her free hand boldly came up, and Olivia grasped one of her pale fingers. The creature smiled.Maybe I was overreacting, and I sat back in the lounge as Raya casually flopped down beside me. "She's lovely, Hunter." Portia mused, now confident enough to even make some little clucking sounds of her own back at the baby. Tiny little legs kicked as her small body squirmed in delight and Portia tickled that round little belly. "What a future you have my dear."

Now Raya tensed, glancing at me before we both looked at expectantly at her. She ignored us, fussing with Olivia who seemed perfectly content with whatever secret they now shared."So, Penny talking to you yet?" Raya asked, moving the conversation on but now she kept her eyes on the other two.

"Yeah. She messaged me last night. Apparently, busy with an average joe human and declares her passing interest in Zane was simply because she spent too much time around him with his shirt off. But, whatever." I tell her.

"An average joe? I call bullshit." My friend laughed.

"I know. Wanna know something crazier, I kind of almost wish she'd go for it. He's been alone for a long time. I mean, I don't know what he gets up to exactly, but he never talks about anyone or even mentions it."

"He's like so many of them Elise, they just don't get attached. That, human part, gets switched off and it's just easier in this life. He may hook up with someone every now and then, but it doesn't mean anything." She shrugged.

"I know, but he's changed since we first met. So much. I just wonder if he is lonely, or might even deep down want someone to be with."

"He walks his path alone. The Slayer puts no value on such relationships or human needs. He was an orphan. He found his half-sister, and she was removed from his life before he got to know her, bond with her and let himself feel a true, human, connection." Portia spoke up. "Yes, he did. But he's not so bad. Not as bad as he wants you to think he is. No, he's not."

The baby talk threw me a little.

"Yeah, but he has us now. We're his family?" I point out.

"You are like a magnet Elise. Where ever you go, you will always attract the lost, and they will shine while in your light. He cares about you, yes. He tolerates your brother, yes. Your parents are the closest he's ever come to knowing what parents should actually be, and yes, you are filling that void of family. That is all. His path in this life is a solo one." Portia shrugged.

"I want to change that!" He deserved more. "Your little fate, seer, thing isn't the be all and end all to our lives."

"Why? So everyone can experience the joy of having another person to answer and explain themselves to. Maybe he does long to have someone else to consider and try to keep happy and alive, as well as himself. I mean, look at you and Apollo." She stared me down, and I got her point. "Hashtag, couple goals."

"No need to be a bitch about it." The snark was just as strong in my tone as hers.

"Who wants a coffee?" Raya piped up, and then on the table, three cups appeared ready to go. "Ah, neat trick Elle?"

"Not me." I look at Portia who smirked. "Show off."

"I understand your good intentions towards the Slayer, but he is set in his ways and for his own reasons. I can see him straying from his own code, but it never ends well for him. By the time his age of passing arrives, he is content with the life he has lived. There won't be any regrets to burden him." Portia said softly, making Raya and I once again look at each other. "I'd focus on your Hunter friend. There is no average Joe, but she will soon meet someone."

"She will?" Raya asked, enthralled if not nervous about hearing more.

"Oh yes. Soul mates do exist, don't they little one. Your Mummy should know." Portia bopped Olivia on the nose as Raya's jaw dropped. "This girl talk thing is quite fun. I understand it now, Elise."

If her girl talk involved dropping some truth bombs, how about a few regarding her couple goals dig?

Instead, my phone lit up on the table and reaching over, it was Ivy's name who greeted me. For a second I had hoped that fate, or whatever else had a sway in what we did, despite my refusing to accept it and mistrust of the creature having coffee with us like we were all old friends and this was completely normal, decided to play nice with me and it be Apollo who broke our two weeks long silence first.

Unsurprisingly she was having a gathering at the dark fae's home, of which I was invited to. The invites were daily. Every night they seemed to be having some kind of party or celebration. The first couple were fun, then it just felt wrong. The joy I used to feel visiting the coven was gone, as while those that remained from when Hazel had been their high priestess held no grudges, I did. Being back where I had been the reason my friends had died wasn't the place you'd want to go back to and party. Plus, the few times I had drunk just that little bit too much, I found myself hallucinating Hazel following me around and she didn't look happy.

"What's wrong?" Raya asked, and I felt the wet on my cheeks that I quickly wiped away.

"Nothing, the screen is just a bit too bright." I lied.

"You're a terrible liar," Portia added.

"Was it Apollo?" Raya glared at Portia for a second while I drank my coffee.

"No. And I'm not crying because of that. I don't know why this happened. Just, forget about it okay?"

Both women nodded.

Soon Portia left us, and I got babysitting duties while Raya popped down to the local deli to get us lunch. I offered, but I really think she just wanted to get out of the house for a bit, which was fine as I took Olivia to stare out at the ocean views from the living room. She was so warm and soft, curled against my chest as Olivia slept off her last feed. The odd smile would appear on her face as she dreamed, while I wished for that kind of peace and innocence. Would my dreams ever be as sweet as hers? If I lived to a hundred, or dare I say more, would the ghost world I walked through that night of the battlefield ever be so faded in my mind it wouldn't pop up if given a chance, just like the scars that still covered my body that Cain hadn't been able to heal completely?

"You're so calm when you're with her." Apollo's voice cut into my thoughts and startling me, he barely blocked himself in time as I threw whatever ball of light I conjured up.

I hadn't even been able to think about it, before doing it and all one-handed while Olivia stayed asleep in the other.

"Are you insane sneaking up on me like that?" I whisper yelled at him, quickly checking the baby who was completely fine. "I could have killed you!"

"No, you would have hurt me, not killed. Hello to you too." He huffed as he went out to the balcony door to shake off the ash that now covered his arms. Giving up, he merely changed his sweater, so he was all fresh and clean again.

"Sorry, but come on. Do you blame me?"

"Not really, I thought you'd sense I was here." Apollo shrugged, coming closer.

He ran a finger down Olivia's leg, stopping at her bare feet where he tickled her toes making her squirm as she curled her legs up tighter against me.

"She's getting big now." He pointed out.

"I know. She can roll over now. Just front to back though then she cries cause she can't go the other way." I smile, glancing down at her as we both just stare in silence for a moment. "Why are you here?"

"Well, mostly to see you, but now I'm here, to see her." He put his hands out and reluctantly I passed her over. Seeing him hold the baby did strange things to my heart, so I went and collected the coffee cups instead and went into the kitchen. "It's been two weeks."

"I know."

"So I figured I should be the one to break the silence-"

"That you started." I remind him.

"That I started," He nodded. "Because it's' been two weeks too long. Sorry."

"Sorry?"

"Sorry." Apollo sighed. "I went back home, and time just got away from me and-"

"You what?" I stop him.

"It was bad timing, I know, but I was angry and figured a night wouldn't hurt and then it's suddenly been a week and Hermes had a tiny issue opening up a portal for me to get back and I came looking for you the second I got through." He finishes like that's a perfect explanation for everything.

"Oh. Right. Well, thanks for coming straight here." If he notices my sarcasm, he doesn't say anything.

"How are you? How have you been?"

I stop and look at him, making him frown as he shifts his weight from one foot to the other. He looks tired, more like exhausted. There are dark circles under his eyes, his usually smooth face has the start of beard forming, and he even looks like he's lost a bit of weight. Do I reignite our previous argument, start a new one, or be the bigger person and move on. For now. Maybe.

"Well, I've managed to piss everyone off, and Penny has a thing she now won't admit for Zane. Plus I've been compulsively checking my phone while trying not to think of you, or find out where you are, as I decided while I don't want you telling me what to do or who I should or shouldn't hang around, blah blah blah, I was missing you and feeling a little sorry myself," I admit. "Now, how have you been? You look like shit by the way."

"Thanks." He mumbled, passing Olivia back as she started to wake up. One in my arms, she dropped right back to sleep. "Art's been having a hard time back home. Things are a bit, unsettled and a few of our kind aren't overly happy with the new management. A week flew by as we were so busy trying to put things to rest."

"Is Cain okay?"

"He's, well, he's okay. He's done some good things for the Others, but even some of them are having some issues. Hopefully, that's the worst of it over now."

A million questions flooded my brain, but instead, all I said was. "That's good then?"

"Yeah. I'm just thankful to be back here. Can we please just, forget I said anything before and move on?"

I could tell him he may have been right about my new, dark fae friends, and that I've kind of turned off them on my own. Not because he declared they were a bad influence and I was spending too much time with them or because he claimed Ivy was untrustworthy. I also hoped that whatever change he claimed he saw in me because of my being around them, was still there even though I had no idea what he was on about. Hence the argument starting in the first place. Instead, I merely nodded, leaning in to kiss him as Raya came back in.

"Now there's something I didn't expect to walk in on!" She teased, dropping the bags on the counter. "Staying for lunch? You know, you look like shit."

"Thanks, Raya. Good to see you too." Apollo smiled. "I won't intrude on girl time, but see you later?"

"Yeah," I tell him and then he's gone.

"So, all good then?" She asked as we sat down to eat.

"Yeah, but he's back in his home realm. Apparently, Hermes couldn't get him back here which is why he was gone for so long."

"What does that mean?" Her good mood faded as she glanced towards the bassinet where Olivia slept.

"Nothing. It means nothing, and even if it did, I swear you have nothing to worry about." I say it so confidently, she seems to believe me as I take her hand in mine and giving it a squeeze. "I promise."

Keiran comes home as we move onto the chocolate cake Raya brought for dessert. While Ailin gave them permission to be on leave for as long as they want, Keiran had gone out with a couple of locally based Slayers to check on a small group of vampires based on the other side of town. They'd gone during the day to try and get a scope of the area without having to worry about the creatures being around, but he was back earlier than we thought.

"It had all been cleared out. There wasn't anything to make us think they'd even been there recently. Didn't even have that, smell, you know?" He sighed.

"Good." Raya smiled. Keiran seemed less impressed by the results.

"It was too convenient you know? The council sent us as they'd had three locals needing their memory wiped post attack and yet what we find is old. It's not adding up." He whispered to me as I cut up the cake and Raya went to change Olivia.

"Let it go Keiran. If I find you chained up in a warehouse because of those bloodsuckers and have to come to rescue your ass again, I will make you wish you were dealing a vampire instead of me. Think of Olivia, okay? You don't have to be a hero and go solve the case on your own later." I threaten the knife in my hand only adding to the deadly look I give him.

"I wouldn't do that." He lied and we both knew it.

"I will check on the files in the Council and take Apollo with me to see later. They don't stand a chance against us." Or me. I thought to myself. "You are an amazing Hunter, but that's not only who you are anymore."

"Thanks. It's just, Raya has this parenting gig sorted. I feel so useless, and this is something I can do. I'm good at it. Hell, I miss it!" He closed his eyes for a second and sighed. "It's all know what to do, and I want to keep them safe."

"I know. I can't even imagine how hard it is for you, but Raya's life has changed too. Talk to her. Let her know what you're feeling. And also, think of it like this. What if something happens here while you're gone? Raya is kick ass, but one person can only do so much. She needs you. Olivia needs you." I left out the part where I would be there in a second and utterly destroy who or whatever threatened my friends.

He needed to feel like he would be the one able to handle it, which I'm sure he could. I just wasn't going to be taking any chances for Olivia's sake, and I didn't want to ever see the way losing him would crush Raya. It might be selfish of me, but I got over that quickly, and as he took the cake to his wife, I messaged Logan to tell him my plans for the night.

It was then I saw the messages from Ailin requesting my presence for yet another council meeting. Reluctantly I said goodbye to my friends and taking my cake, was mid-bite as I entered her office.

"Really, Elise." She frowned.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have brought you some too."

"You haven't been in your office all day," Ailin growled.

"I'm taking a personal day. Besides, since when was it a requirement to be in my office all day?""Since you joined the council. We don't get, personal days. For us, the job never ends." She began to lecture.

"Just like everyone that we are governing? I'm well aware the supernatural world doesn't stop, but maybe if you took a break every now and then, you wouldn't be so-"

Her door opened, and we both turned to stare at the blue-skinned creature that stood in the doorway. That was new. He looked similar to the cartoon version of Shrek, only with two horns on his forehead. Ogres were actually less green in real life or coloured at all for that matter, and more troll-like than they'd admit to. They also didn't have a horn. So what was he?

"President Ailin, the others await your arrival." He looked at me, at the cake, I still held and smiled in an almost creepy way as he seemed to assess me from head to toe. "I see you found Councilwoman Bunting?"

"Maybe I found her?" I shrugged.

"We'll be right there. Thank you Genzo." Ailin quickly dismissed him.

"What was that thing?"

"That? As in the thing that has a name, which is Genzo by the way."

"No the other blue elephant in the room!" She glared at me as she stood and adjusted her skirt.

"He is a well respected, Oni Demon. You will treat him as such, for his patience is not something he is known for."

"I kind of want to cuddle him." She motioned for me to follow as she left her office and I did. "Why haven't I seen him around before?"

"Cuddling him would also be a mistake, and that would be because he doesn't spend much time in this realm. He is here, visiting." Ailin paused. "My kind and his are of a similar origin. He is here to show me there is still some good will between our species and our worlds. This is a big step forward."

"Well, that is nice of him. Maybe I should have brought him some cake?" She narrowed her eyes again. "I get it. If you're so angry about having me here, why bother?"

"Because he has heard of the god-killer, so requested to meet you. And-"

"So, am I expected to pose for photographs or sign a novelty sword for him to take back to his realm as a memento?"

"And because you agreed to be on this council. It is time for you to act like you are, and take this seriously." We keep walking. "There will be no novelty sword signing."

"Good, because that goes against everything in my contract."

"You don't have a contract." She reminds me, her mood softening slightly.

"There's also a big clause in there regarding personal days too."

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Give up on waiting for Elise to get back in my head so welcome my newest friend, Colette the Witch (feel free to go check out her story, Something Wicked) in and let her take over. Next minute, Elise is back. Jealous much?  Sorry for the wait guys, hope you enjoyed this chapter! x