Dreams and Night Terrors

[Persephone]

Red. The color of passion and fire. The color that started their relationship. There would always be a bit of red left in Persephone despite leaving her life at Hellfire behind. She wanted to remind Alek of that. To remind him she wasn't just a mother and a wife, but a lover and damn good one at that. Tearing the panties that separated them, Persephone looked into his eyes, her hand gripping his back as she felt him tease her with his tip. A low growl came from deep in her throat, her breath hot and heavy. Alek slid his hand up her leg and the other under the small of her back until finally he sheathed himself fully into Persephone; the feel of him making her moan out. His hips began to collide with hers hard, his grunts matching her moans at each connection. Persephone's eyes shut, her neck extending back as Alek's mouth went to her breasts. Clawing at his back, her moans intensified, getting louder as his movements became faster and shallower. She could feel the heat washing over her body, her skin tingling and her mind become dizzy. Gripping the bear skin rug with one hand, Persephone met his hips with a fury, bucking against him until finally she came, crying out as her body pulsed around him. Sucking in a shallow breath, Persephone's mouth attacked Alek's, her hand gripping the back of his neck and holding him there. She broke the kiss, panting out, looking at him with dark eyes.

"Again."

She commanded with a singular word because no other words were needed. She could see it in his eyes, the need to fuck her until he couldn't fuck her any longer. The primal lust that mirrored her own. Alek rose to his knees and picked Persephone up in one swift and easy motion, flipping her onto her knees before using her hips to pull her to him. He entered her again, Persephone crying out in pleasure; still sensitive from her first orgasm. Alek leaned over her so his chest was against her back, fucking her hard and fast. Persephone again gripped the bear skin rug with both hands now, crying out as his hips hit her ass. He was relentlessly hitting her spot over and over again, her mind fogged with desire. She grabbed at his arm feeling him wrap it around her waist, holding him there as her head hung forward. Then Alek raised them both up, never stopping his pace. Her head fell back onto his shoulder feeling his hands slid over her mound and stroke her.

"God yes!"

She cried out with a crack voice. Between him fucking her and stroking her, Persephone lost all sense of control or power in the situation. She was Alek's to what he wanted with. A loud cry of pleasure erupted from Persephone as he made her come again, shaking against his body uncontrollably. But he wasn't done. God, he wasn't done. He let go of her waist and Persephone's body was spent with pleasure, falling back onto her hands before lowering herself onto her forearms. She felt him withdraw and knew exactly what he was going to do next. His hands went to her ass and Persephone reached back and grasped his wrist, lowly groaning as she felt him slide into her ass, her grip tightening around his wrist.

"FUCK baby..."

Breathlessly, Persephone let go of his wrist and collapsed back onto her forearms feeling him begin to pump into her with tirelessly. Her cries of ecstasy filled the room as he filled her, the only man to ever make her beg for more. And she did, begging him to keep going through her screams. He hovered over her again, kissing her shoulder and neck, groping her breasts as his mouth went to her ear.

Alek: "I want to come in your ass."

Persephone growled out, pushing her ass back into him with perfect synchronicity only to intensify the feeling, making it rougher, harder, and more unbridled. They were like wild animals fucking next to the fire, the world an inferno around them.

"Do it...I want to feel you...I want to feel all of you..."

Persephone panted out as she began to feel her own body start to cease.

"NOW!"

She cried as her body was overcome with a powerful orgasm causing her cries to turn into full on screams of pleasure. She felt Alek thrust into her hard, holding himself fully inside her until she felt him come. Out of breath, Persephone felt Alek withdraw and her knees slowly slid along the rug until she was laying on her stomach. Rolling onto her back, her chest rose and fell quickly as she rolled her head to look at Alek who was laying next to her.

"Fucking hell, Alek."

She teased with a grin and a little laugh. Arching her back up, she reached under her and unclasped her caged bra, pulling it completely off. There was no point in having it now, it was only another barrier that got in the way of his hands and mouth. Not that Alek had any trouble navigating around it . Tossing it behind her, Persephone looked over at Alek, a salacious grin tugging on her lips.

"We're not finished."

Kissing his neck and down his chest, her tongue slid along her pelvis before she gently bit the sensitive skin right between his hip bones. Looking down at his cock, oh she would be having that again very shortly...but first, she wanted to have a little fun. He had his way with her, now it was time she had her way with him. Right as Persephone looked as if she was about to take him into her mouth, she lifted up onto her knees with a smirk before climbing to her feet. Her heels were long gone but she still had her black thigh high stockings on.

"Sit up. Against the bed."

She gestured with her chin to the foot of the bed, wanting him to sit with his back against it. The plush bear skin rug was still under him to make it comfortable as he got into a sitting position. Turning toward the fire so her back was to Alek, she kept the red garter on around her waist but slowly began to roll the black thigh highs down her right leg, bending over completely until pulling them off her feet. Tossing the stocking aside, she did the same thin to the left leg; her thighs glistening with her wetness and his as she bent over, pulling that stocking off as well. She kept this stocking in hand, pulling it taut with both hands as she turned around to face Alek.

"Hands above your head."

Running her tongue slowly along her lips as she walked up to Alek, she straddled him while still standing, her sex teasingly in his face as she looked down with mischievously hooded eyes. She began to wrap the stocking around Alek's wrists and to the wrought iron frame that ran horizontally along the foot of their bed, tying him in place. Biting her bottom lip while smiling with satisfaction, she slowly lowered down to her knees, making sure to avoid all contact with his dick. At least for now. Looking directly into his eyes, she began to drag her finger across his bottom lip slowly.

"Lets see how the bear does trapped."

She purred deeply and softly. Persephone moved her lips to his, parting her mouth and taking his tongue as her own. Moaning into the kiss, she slid her hands up his bound arms.

"Tell me what you want, Knight."

Persephone whispered against his lips heatedly; her words mirroring the ones he said to her earlier.

 

[Berserker]

The Bedroom

He told her what he wanted to do to her, while he was fucking her ass, and Seph backed up against him, pressing him deeper. That gesture unleashed something primal from within him, his dick on fire.

"Do it...I want to feel you...I want to feel all of you..."

Seph came screaming, and he thrust hard against her, coming hot into her, just as he'd said he would. He was breathing heavily, and he pulled himself out of her, laying down on the floor, just panting. Seph lay on her stomach next to him, and she moved her head to look at him.

"Fucking hell, Alek."

"Fucking hell is right."

She peeled off her bra and tossed it away. He reached over to her and ran the back of his knuckles down her bare back.

"We're not finished."

He was pretty sure they were, at least from Junior's perspective. But her mouth was on him, her tongue sliding southward. Hey, if she wanted to try, who was he to stop her? But just as she was reaching his dick, she stood up.

"Sit up. Against the bed."

He loved when she started giving orders, so he of course complied, wondering what she had up her sleeve. He licked his lips as she started removing her stockings.

"Hands above your head."

"Yes, Ma'am."

An amused smile spread over his face as he complied, raising his arms up over his head. Seph stood in front of him, and he wondered if she wanted his mouth on her. He would be happy to oblige. But she tied his hands to the bed frame, and he played along at being tied.

"Lets see how the bear does trapped."

Her hands slid up his arms, and her tongue slid into his mouth. He thought perhaps she wouldn't have to wait very long after all. He kissed her, wanting to put his arms around her, or in her hair, but he played her game. And she was sexy as hell.

"Tell me what you want, Knight."

He smirked at her: his mind could come up with many a thing for her to do while his hands were tied. He met her eyes, his own filled with lust.

"I want you to touch your breasts. Dance for me. Then touch yourself."

He licked his lips.

"And then I want you to ride my cock until I come."

 

[Persephone]

Persephone kissed Alek deeply, her tongue slipping into his mouth, taking possession of his in a heated exchange. Her hands slid up his bound arms, holding his wrists tightly as she moaned into their kiss. She knew he could easily rip the stockings apart, his strength omega level and far beyond even her strength as a God. But the fact that he wanted to play along, to let her have her fun, turned her on to levels that made her want to ride him right then and there. But she kept herself steady, breaking the kiss and looking deep into his brilliant blue eyes.

"Tell me what you want, Knight."

She whispered against his lips, here eyes never leaving his. She could see his eyes were filled to the brim with lust, mirroring hers as if they were one.

Alek: "I want you to touch your breasts. Dance for me. Then touch yourself."

A smirk slowly tugged along her lips as she let go of his wrists and slid them back down his arms and to his shoulders.

"Is that all?"

She asked, the question dripping with seduction and rhetorics.

Alek: "And then I want you to ride my cock until I come."

"Ahh....."

Pulling back away from his, Persephone slid her hands from his shoulders and to his chest.

"There he is."

She purred with a grin, her dark eyes filled with a mischievous delight. Standing from her kneeling position, her hand ran back through Alek's hair before gripping it and tugging it back so he could look up at her.

"Don't go anywhere."

She teased, her grin growing as she let go of his hair and stepped away from him. Grabbing her phone from the table, she linked the bluetooth to the surround sound speakers in their room and turned on a song for her to dance to. Running her fingers through her hair, she swept it to one side as she turned around to face Alek, her dark features shadowed in the lowly lit room while the firelight danced off her naked body. Persephone stared at Alek as she slowly began to sway to the music, her hands sliding down her chest and to her breasts. Parting her lips, she licked them as she began to roll her body perfectly to the beat, grasping at her breasts and kneading them.

"Like this?"

Her hands slid down her stomach, her body still moving to the tempo of the music with an effortless sexiness. Slowly walking over to Alek, her eyes traveled down to his cock which was hard and at attention. Smiling, she stepped across him again, straddling him. Her hands slid back up her stomach and to her breasts, taking them once again as she lowered herself onto her knees. She avoided his dick purposely, extending her neck back and shutting her eyes as she rolled her body against his as if she were fucking him. Then finally, she slid her one hand down her stomach and over her mound, her eyes trained on his as her breathing began to pick up. If she could have fucked him with her eyes she would have. Slipping her fingers inside herself, Persephone expressed a breathless moan at the feeling.

"Mmm baby...."

Grasping his hair at the base of his neck, Persephone aggressively kissed him while she still pleasured herself, the feeling of his tongue inside her adding fuel to her fire. Moaning, she could feel herself so close to coming at the tease of the situation, at her touch, at their kiss. Breaking the kiss, her forehead remained against Alek's, her breath hot against his lips as she panted. The air hitched in her throat and the grip she had on Alek's hair tightened.

"I'm going to--"

Persephone sighed out a low and long moan, coming by her own touch. Trembling in aftershocks, she withdrew her hand and grasped Alek, slick with herself. She immediately took him into her, crying out in ecstasy at the feeling of him filling her sensitive sex. She stayed motionless for a moment, her hips firmly pressed against his as she looked into his eyes, still reeling from her orgasm.

"Slow....or fast..."

She panted out, words spoken to her many times before by Alek. Persephone slowly began to roll her hips against him, unable to wait for his answer.

 

[Berserker]

The Bedroom

Seph asked him what he wanted, and he told her, not mincing words. The way she was touching him - everywhere but where he wanted, where he needed her to - her body so close to him...he wanted to fuck her, and badly.

"There he is."

She was enjoying this, this tease. Her hand went back through his hair, then grabbed it and pulled so that he looked into her face. She must be amazing at torture, he thought. His gaze was no less predatory now that the roles had been reversed.

"Don't go anywhere."

He dropped his head back against the bed frame, his mouth turning up into a smile, before his eyes found her again. And she gave him what he'd asked for, her body moving to the slow, sultry music she had put on. Her hands were on her breasts as she moved, and he could feel himself stiffening.

"Like this?"

His response came out as a moan.

"Oh, yes, baby, yes..."

She stood over him again, her hands roaming her own body still, and now he was hard. She knelt, and he pulled his head forward, trying to get at her breasts, but she stayed out of his reach. Her hand slid between her legs and then she was touching herself, and he was beginning to sweat. He raised his hips towards her, wanting to be inside her, but still she teased.

"Fuck, Seph...I want you..."

She kissed him then, her tongue taking his. He desperately wanted to replace her fingers with his own. She gripped his hair, pressed her forehead against his, as he watched her.

"I'm going to--"

He thought he might come. His dick was quivering, as if it were searching for her.

"Seph I am going to rip these fucking stockings if you don't..."

The rest of that thought was replaced by a loud moan as her hand took him. And then she was sliding onto him, and it felt so good, so fucking good.

"Slow....or fast..."

He wanted to say slow, but he couldn't possibly stand it.

"Move...damn you...MOVE. Fast! Fast."

 

[Persephone]

The look in his eyes, the way his hands were balled into fists around the wrought iron, his tense body...it was all signs that he was slowly losing control to her and her foreplay. Persephone kept her body close to his, but at a distance as he tried to kiss her skin. Not yet. She thought as she touched herself, softly panting out heated breaths of pleasure, her head rested against his and she moaned lowly, finally coming. Now she couldn't wait. She needed him inside her to fill the void she had put between them.

Alek: "Seph I am going to rip these fucking stockings if you don't..."

He didn't need to finish before her hand was grasping his cock and sliding it deep into her. Groaning out at the feel of him filling her already sensitive sex, she stayed still at first, her eyes locked with him.

"Slow....or fast..."

Her hips were already gently rocking against him, the movement so small yet every synapse heightened and fully alert.

Alek: "Move...damn you...MOVE. Fast! Fast."

He barked out orders of desperation and Persephone could have came again right there just from the look on his face. One more tease...just one. She didn't start moving fast as he had ordered. She kept her movements painfully slow, her lips brushing against his lips. As he tried to kiss her she pulled back away from his touch, looking at him, at the rise of frustration within him, then she started to move her hips against him fast, fucking him like he wanted her to. She connected their mouths, moaning at the feel of his tongue inside her mouth.

Her hands were on his shoulders, holding on as she bucked against him, rolling back and forth fast and hard, taking all of him inside her again and again. Breaking the kiss, Persephone gasped out, her moans filling he room. She could hardly bare not feeling his hands on her. She needed his touch as badly as she needed his cock. Her hips continued to aggressively fuck him as she moved her hands up to the binds and tore his hands from them. Immediately she wrapped her arms around his neck and head, her hips rolling and pushing against his over and over relentlessly. The feel of his hands on her pushed her into the free fall she so desperately wanted. Persephone began to cry out, her head falling back and eyes shutting as she fucked him through her orgasm, wanting to feel him come with her.

 

[Berserker]

The Bedroom

He was starting to get frustrated. He needed her on him, and now. He said as much, but she cut him off by sliding onto him. But then she teased him further, keep her hips almost still. He thrust his forward trying to get her to go, but when she finally did she moved so agonizingly slow against him that he nearly tore his hands free and threw her to the floor. Her lips brushed his but as he leaned his head forward to taste her, she would pull back.

But then finally, when she could see the frustration in his face, she began to ride him fast, pressing her mouth against his and allowing his tongue to slide into her mouth. She broke the kiss then, moaning loudly. He thrust his hips upward, but without his hands he couldn't hold on. She finally released him, her arms going around his neck as his went to her hips, pulling her forcefully against him and she continued to roll her hips until she came. And then it was his turn. He honestly thought his dick would fall off from wanting her and being denied. But now he was free.

Her head fell backwards leaving her breasts exposed, and his head went between them, his arms wrapping around her back, pulling her whole body now against him as his hips slid his cock in and out of her in hard, long strokes. And then finally he came with a loud cry, having had to put it off for so long, the release like a breath to a drowning man. His head slide up then to the crook of her neck, his face in her hair, his arms still holding her against him.

"I never want to keep from touching you again..."

 

[Persephone]

The moment she freed his hands was like the spark reaching the dynamite. An explosion of feeling overcame Persephone feeling Alek grab her hips and force her down onto his dick hard while she slid back and forth against him. Crying out with each thrust, she couldn't hold back any longer, her body on fire. Her head fell back as she cried to the Gods above, the wave of pleasure completely encompassing her as she came against his thrusts. She felt his hand slide between her breasts and arm wrap behind her back, holding her in place. He slid in and out of her hard and fast, the strokes long and so damn satisfying. Gasping in through the onslaught, finally Alek met his own release, feeling him come inside her and punctuating it with a guttural cry of his own.

Swallowing hard through her breathless pants, Persephone's hand got lost in Alek's hair as his face slid up her neck, burying into her on mane of hair. Shutting her eyes, her head tilted into his touch.

Alek: "I never want to keep from touching you again..."

It was torturous not feeling his touch, she agreed with him on that.

"I promise..."

She murmured, her mouth dipping into his neck and kissing his skin.

"Blindfold only next time."

She joked breathlessly while grinning against his skin.

--

The weeks passed by normally thereafter, Lily getting more and more excited at the prospect of being a big sister the more Persephone began to show in her pregnancy. It was a small bump, but a bump nonetheless, and Lily took every opportunity to touch and talk to it. As for Alek, he was just as excited about her showing as Lily was, but for more adult reasons. Not only was she showing, but like he had wished for when they first found out she was pregnant, her breasts became even bigger. And like Persephone had anticipated, her hormones made her want Alek tenfold, and their sex life was on fire.

Walking into their bedroom, it was around eleven at night and Lily had been asleep for a couple hours already. Carrying a cup of tea, Persephone smiled seeing Alek already in bed.

"Sorry...I got a little distracted by the blueberry pie Mrs. Anastas made."

She admitted with an innocent smile. Luckily the morning sickness had since been long gone and Persephone was able to indulge in the foods that she loved again, along with cravings that were quite unusual as well. Shutting the door behind her, she was distracted by the way Alek looked laying shirtless in bed under the blankets, that she didn't securely close it, the door still cracked just a bit. Smiling as she walked across the room to the bed, she placed her tea on the nightstand and climbed in and under the covers. The thin white material of her night shirt clung to her curves as she slid next to Alek who had his iPad in hand. Kissing his neck, Persephone's hand slid down his stomach and to the waistband of his boxers, her fingers teasingly tracing along the elastic.

"Am I distracting you from your work?"

She asked coyly with a grin, her mouth then connecting with his. The hand that was by his boxers lifted to his that held the iPad, taking it from his hand and placing it behind him on the bed all the while kissing him.

 

[Berserker]

The Bedroom

He sat in bed wearing just his boxers, the covers over his legs and his iPad in his lap. He was approving the plans for the addition to the cabin - the "Lucas Wing" as he'd begun to affectionately call it. Seph came into the bedroom with her cup of tea, and he took an approving glance at her figure - the tee shirt showing off both her baby bump and her swelling breasts - before going back to his screen.

"Sorry...I got a little distracted by the blueberry pie Mrs. Anastas made."

He agreed with her, eyes still on his iPad.

"That woman is really great at desserts."

And he was thankful that Seph could eat them. It scared him when she didn't eat, and of course it was no fun for her puking her guts up all the time. Seph got in bed next to him, and they looked like an old married couple heading to bed. Well, not exactly.

He found Seph's mouth on his neck, and her hand sliding down his chest to his boxers. The corners of his mouth turned up into a smile but he didn't turn his head to look at her.

"Am I distracting you for your work?"

"You always distract me, baby."

And then she was kissing him, taking his iPad out of his hands, which he happily slid under the covers. One hand cupped her breast while the other made its way to the hem of her nightshirt. He smirked as he broke the kiss to speak.

"Are you having a craving, my love?"

 

[Persephone]

Persephone kissed Alek's neck, the smell of his skin making her burn with desire. She slid her hand down his chest and stomach to the hem of his boxers. Grinning against his neck, she turned her head to see him still holding up his iPad as if he preferred it over her.

"Am I distracting you from your work?"

She coyly asked, her hand moving to the iPad and taking it out of his grasp. He was all too willing to let it go as she put it on the bed behind him.

Alek: "You always distract me, baby."

She let out a sultry little laugh of triumph before her lips connected with his. Softly moaning into their kiss as Alek's hand cupped her breast, she arched into his touch. She felt his other move up her leg, pushing the hem of her shirt upwards as it ascended. He broke the kiss, Persephone's hot breath coating his lips.

Alek: "Are you having a craving, my love?"

She kissed him again, placing her hand on his and moving it between her thighs.

"I always crave you."

She whispered against his mouth before their tongues met once again, Persephone guiding him between her legs toward her sex.

Lily: "Mama...."

She heard Lily's voice and the door creek open causing Persephone to quickly break the kiss and sit up on her forearm. Damn the door. She thought, realizing how absentminded she had been in not checking to make sure it was shut and locked. But the moment she saw Lily's tear stained face and big blue eyes glassy with tears, nothing else matter and she was grateful for being so forgetful.

Immediately sitting upright, Persephone's face was washed with concern.

"Baby, what's wrong?"

Lily inhaled a shaky breath, clutching at her teddy bear as she stood by the bedroom door.

Lily: "I had....a bad dream..."

Lily's voice cracked much like Persephone's did when she was upset. Persephone's brows furrowed, her heart aching to see Lily so distraught. She had bad dreams in the past, but nothing to cause her to cry or look absolutely terrified.

"Come here, sweetheart..."

She didn't have to ask twice, Lily running across the room and climbing onto the bed, immediately wrapping her arms around Persephone and burying her face into her chest. She began to cry, really cry, dropping her bear and clutching her arms around Persephone's back.

"Ellaria....baby, it's okay..."

Looking over at Alek with a look of unsettled concern, she gently rubbed Lily's back, holding her tightly.

Lily: "Mama...I don't want the shadow to take you away...please don't let it take you away....."

She cried, Lily's breathing erratic. Persephone's eyes were now filled with tears, looking over at Alek completely taken aback by what Lily said.

"Shhh...shh shh shh...."

Holding tightly onto Lily, Persephone pressed her lips against Lily's head, rocking her back and forth in an effort to calm her down. Her baby girl was terrified, absolutely terrified, and it broke her heart in two.

"I'm not going anywhere, baby....i'm right here....i'm right here...."

 

[Berserker]

The Bedroom

Seph kissed him amorously, taking his hand and guiding it between her thighs. She was so warm and...

Lily: "Mama...."

Fuuuuuuucckkkkkk

Thank god he hadn't taken Seph's shirt off yet. He was assuming Lily just wanted a drink of water, but when he saw her face, his face became concerned. Seph asked her what's wrong. She had even brought her bear with her.

Lily: "I had....a bad dream..."

She looked just like Seph when she was upset, which would have been cute if it wasn't so heartbreaking. Seph gave her the go ahead to get on the bed and she didn't, burying her head in Seph's chest and beginning to absolute bawl. What kind of dream could have caused this? It was definitely unusual for her. Seph tried to calm her, rubbing her back. She looked at him, obviously concerned. He looked back just as bewildered.

Lily: "Mama...I don't want shadow to take you away...please don't let it take you away....."

"No one's going to take mommy away, sweetheart, I promise."

Seph rocked her and made soothing noises. Where was this coming from? They had never talked about what happened to Seph when she was born in front of her. Not once.

"I'm not going anywhere, baby....I'm right here....I'm right here...."

He reached over and smoothed Lily's hair, picking up the discarded bear from the bed. Seph might talk about the "bond" that he and Lily had, but when Lily was upset? It was Mommy she wanted.

"Lily, baby, where was this shadow? Was it in your dream?"

Maybe she was becoming afraid of the dark. Or maybe she had seen something in her room. Whatever it was, he wanted to get to the bottom of it so she would feel safe.

 

[Persephone]

Persephone's eyes were shut as she gently rocked Lily, holding her tightly against her chest. Her sobs began to subside to whimpers of ragged breaths. She continued to comfort Lily by rubbing her back and doing soft soothing noises by her ear.

Alek: "Lily, baby, where was this shadow? Was it in your dream?"

Opening her eyes at his question, she saw Alek's hand come over and smooth down Lily's long brown hair. Lily nodded against his hand before turning her head to look over at him. She still kept it against Persephone's chest, her eyes still filled with tears.

Lily: "Mama was screaming and crying.....the-the shadow dragging her away into the woods.....and-and she disappeared...and-and then her screaming stopped..."

Lily began to cry again, clutching even tighter to Persephone. The things she was saying? The nightmare she had? It baffled Persephone as to where a six year old would get something like this from. Persephone looked absolutely horrified as she began to rock Lily again, brushing her hand down her hair.

"Shhh, baby...."

She looked over at Alek, knowing he had more questions. Knowing he wanted to get down to the bottom of what had caused Lily's nightmare. Persephone gently shook her head.

"Alek.."

She whispered before he could further inquire. Lily was far too distraught to keep thinking about the dream, Persephone's only concern was to calm her down.

"Lily, sweetheart....no one's taking me anywhere, okay? Daddy would never let that happen..."

Kissing Lily's forehead, she brushed back the hair that stuck to her tear stained cheeks.

"I'm right here, Ellaria...I'm not going anywhere..I'm right here.."

She kept repeating to Lily comfortingly so she could see and hear her, to know Persephone wasn't getting taken away from her. Lily finally stopped crying, though she had worked herself up so much she was still inhaling ragged breaths of air. Dipping her chin so she could look into Lily's eyes, Persephone brushed her thumb down Lily's cheek.

"Do you want to sleep with mommy and daddy tonight?"

Lily looked up and nodded, her eyes still filled with such fear and sadness.

"Come here..."

She whispered softly, scooting Lily up next to her and laying down with her as she looked over at Alek with such concern. Lily turned so her face was buried into Persephone's chest, her little arm still clutching desperately around Persephone's neck. Lily was so terrified Persephone was somehow getting taken away that she refused to let her go, and all she could do was gently rub Lily's back, trying to coax her back to sleep.

"I'm right here, baby. Mommy and daddy are right here..."

She softly murmured, kissing Lily's head as she looked over at Alek and outstretched her free hand, grasping his.

"Just try to go to sleep sweetheart....we're right here.....we're right here..."

She whispered, her distraught eyes never leaving Alek's.

 

[Berserker]

The Bedroom

He felt helpless, watching Seph rock Lily. He couldn't help her, couldn't make the fear go away. He did the only thing he knew how to do, and that was to try and figure out what was hurting her. So he asked her if the shadow was in her dream. Because it wasn't out of the realm of possibility that someone had been in her room - not with the kind of people they knew.

Lily: "Mama was screaming and crying.....the-the shadow dragging her away into the woods.....and-and she disappeared...and-and then her screaming stopped..."

She started to cry again.

"That's never going to happen, my little flower."

Seph looked at him, shaking her head. She wanted him to back off.

"Lily, sweetheart....no one's taking me anywhere, okay? Daddy would never let that happen..."

"Never."

He punctuated the statement with unwavering conviction.

"Do you want to sleep with mommy and daddy tonight?"

Lily nodded sadly, and Seph lay down next to her, Lily's little arms clutching Seph's neck.

"I'm right here, baby. Mommy and daddy are right here..."

He rolled onto his side so he could face Seph, and she reached out and took his hand. He gave it a squeeze, reaching out with his other one to stroke her hair, seeing the terror in her eyes as she held their child.

"I will always keep you safe. Both of you."

 

[Persephone]

Persephone felt completely helpless as she laid in bed with her terrified little girl, trying to sooth her fears and ease her back to sleep. She outstretched her free hand, grasping Alek's as she looked at him with such fear in her eyes. What could have caused Lily to dream of such a thing? Something so vivid and terrifying. She tried to keep her breathing steady, knowing that Lily was still awake from the vice-like grip she held around Persephone's neck. But all Persephone wanted to do was cry for her daughter.

Alek squeezed Persephone's hand, his eyes looking at her with conviction and love as his hand gently ran down her hair.

Alek: "I will always keep you safe. Both of you."

Persephone gently nodded, knowing what he said was true. Alek would die for them, there was no doubt in her mind of that.

"I know."

She whispered back, keeping her grasp on his hand tight as she kept running her hand down Lily's back until finally, she felt the tension leave her little girls body and she slowly drifted to sleep. The night seemed longer than usual and the fire crackling in the fireplace was the only thing thing that coaxed Persephone to finally fall asleep hours after Lily had. She still kept her hand tightly held to Alek's, even as the morning light began to shine through the curtains and into their bedroom. Lily was laying on her back now, her bear securely in her arms. Persephone laid on her side with her head tucked next to Lily's head, her free hand draped over Lily's body protectively.

The light began to stir Persephone awake, her eyes slowly opening to see a mass of brown hair under her chin. Gently running her hand up Lily's stomach, Persephone lifted her eyes to see Alek was awake. She gave his hand a squeeze, her other hand gently brushing back Lily's hair from her face as she stayed securely snuggled against her daughter.

"I think i'm going to keep her home from school today..."

She softly stated, looking down at Lily sleeping peacefully. Finally, her eyes lifted back up to Alek's. They weren't able to discuss what had happened the night before in fear of upsetting Lily.

"Where would she get something like that from?"

She asked with furrowed brows.

"School? A movie?....I-I've never seen her so scared before.."

The thought of Lily sobbing in Persephone's arms made her heart hurt. Shutting her eyes, she gently shook her head while kissing Lily's.

"That's not something she could have possibly made up..."

 

[Berserker]

The Bedroom

Alek didn't sleep all night. He kept a silent watch through the hours, making sure nothing came to harm his family. That Lily slept the night through without any more nightmares. He knew her fear well: it was the same fear he had. Losing Seph. He wondered if somehow he had unconsciously passed it to his daughter.

Seph had gotten some sleep, and when she awoke in the morning, he knew she was worried. He looked over Lily's sleeping body at her.

"I think I'm going to keep her home from school today..."

He nodded.

"Keep her with you. She could use the attention - and just in case."

"Where would she get something like that from? School? A movie?....I-I've never seen her so scared before.."

"Maybe one of the other kids told her about a movie they'd seen...or some terrible urban legend story. But we know she hasn't seen anything like that in our house."

He thought about it for a moment.

"I should have gone in and checked her room last night. Just in case it wasn't completely a dream."

But he hadn't wanted to leave Lily.

"That's not something she could have possibly made up..."

"She has a good imagination, but..."

He looked sadly at Persephone.

"What do we do about this, Seph? Do we never leave her alone? Do we take her to talk to somebody? I just don't know."

 

[Persephone]

She was pretty sure Alek had been up all night. He looked tired, but above all else, he looked worried. Gently stroking Lily's hair, her eyes shifted down to her little girl who slept peacefully. In that moment it didn't look as if she had come into their room sobbing in distress just hors earlier. Persephone told Alek she was going to keep Lily home from school and he agreed.

Alek: "Keep her with you. She could use the attention - and just in case."

Persephone nodded, her fingers still gently brushing back Lily's soft brown hair. She finally looked back up at Alek, inquiring as to how Lily would come up with something so vivid and horrible. She barely got a chance to watch adult tv. Maybe sometimes she would walk in a grown up movie here or there, but for the most part it was My Little Pony, Sponge Bob, and Disney 24/7.

Alek: "Maybe one of the other kids told her about a movie they'd seen...or some terrible urban legend story. But we know she hasn't seen anything like that in our house."

With a sigh.

"I'll call her teacher today...see if maybe she knows anything."

Alek: "I should have gone in and checked her room last night. Just in case it wasn't completely a dream."

The thought of it not being a dream terrified Persephone. It meant Hellfire had found them. It meant her family was in danger....it meant they would have to uproot everything and go on the run, again. The thought made Persephone's stomach turn.

"If it wasn't....they would have hurt he already."

She tried to reason, although the thought of that happening made Persephone clutch Lily tighter to her. But she knew Lily couldn't have made this story up....she knew she HAD to have heard it somewhere or seen it in a movie. Something. Alek looked sadly at her and Persephone's eyes mirrored his. They both felt helpless and lost in that moment.

Alek: "She has a good imagination, but...What do we do about this, Seph? Do we never leave her alone? Do we take her to talk to somebody? I just don't know."

She shook her head.

"I don't know....I can try and talk to her about it carefully, so I don't upset her. Get more answers now that she's not hysterical...There has to be a logical explanation. I refuse to believe--"

Persephone cut herself off, not wanting to say the words Hellfire. Shutting her eyes, she buried her lips into Lily's hair before giving her a kiss. That seemed to stir Lily awake, a little groan coming from her as her eyes opened. Persephone smiled down at Lily, running her thumb down her cheek.

"Good morning, sweetheart."

Lily's big blue eyes looked up at Persephone and she smiled sleepily.

Lily: "Morning mama. [looking over at Alek] Morning daddy."

"How did you sleep?"

Lily held her bear as she yawned.

Lily: "Good."

"No more bad dreams?"

Lily shook her head no and Persephone smiled, looking up at Alek with relief.

"How about we get you some breakfast. Whatever you want, baby."

Lily smiled brightly at the 'whatever you want' part and sat up in bed, eager to get downstairs. They could already hear the pots and pans clanking from Mrs. Anastas in the kitchen. Lily climbed out of bed and Persephone leaned over and gave Alek a kiss, staying close to his face as she held his cheek with her hand.

"Why don't you try and get a couple of hours sleep? You look exhausted..."

Persephone was concerned for Alek, knowing he hadn't slept all night.

 

[Berserker]

The Bedroom

Seph and Alek whispered about Lily's dream and what to do about it, both worried out of their minds about their daughter.

"I'll call her teacher today...see if maybe she knows anything."

"That's a good idea."

He expressed the nagging feeling he'd been having since the night before, that he should have checked Lily's room.

"If it wasn't....they would have hurt her already."

He nodded slowly. He wanted to believe that.

"Could it just be some reaction to the baby?"

He told Seph how lost he was about what to do. He'd spent all night thinking about it, and had come up with very little.

"I don't know....I can try and talk to her about it carefully, so I don't upset her. Get more answers now that she's not hysterical..."

"I feel so useless..."

Lily only wanted Seph, and he had no idea how to help Lily, so there was very little he could do.

"There has to be a logical explanation. I refuse to believe--"

Seph gave Lily a kiss, and that seemed to stir her awake.

Lily: "Morning mama. [looking over at Alek] Morning daddy."

"Morning baby."

"How about we get you some breakfast. Whatever you want, baby."

He leaned down and whispered,

"I heard Mrs. Anastas made blueberry pie..."

Seph got out of bed, giving him a kiss.

"Why don't you try and get a couple of hours sleep? You look exhausted..."

He gave her a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine. Some coffee and I'll be ready to go."

He scooted out of bed, helping Lily get down.

"Hey, little bear cub, what do you say to playing hooky and staying home with Mommy and me all day?"

 

[Persephone]

Alek: "Could it just be some reaction to the baby?"

"Maybe....I know sometimes kids get jealous and want attention once a new baby is in the picture. But she just looked so terrified..."

It was plausible, but Persephone really didn't think this was something Lily made up for attention. She suggested carefully navigating the subject to Lily and asking her about it once she woke up. Alek sadly looked at her.

Alek: "I feel so useless..."

Squeezing his hand, she ran her thumb along the top of it.

"No, baby....it's an unusual situation."

She tried to reassure him, knowing he was beating himself up for not being able to help Lily or figure out what was going on. But they would get down to the bottom of it, one way or another. Lily soon woke up and Persephone suggested that they have breakfast--anything she wanted. Alek whispered to her that Mrs. Anastas had made blueberry pie and she immediately perked up.

Lily: "Pie? Really?"

That put a huge smile on her face as she slipped out of bed, bear in hand and long hair disheveled. Turning to Alek, she leaned in and gave him a kiss, concerned for the lack of sleep he got.

"Why don't you try and get a couple hours of sleep? You look exhausted..."

Alek: "I'm fine. Some coffee and I'll be ready to go."

Sighing out, she knew she couldn't argue with him when he made up his mind. He wanted to stay with them both and sleep be damned. Alek slipped out of bed as did Persephone, her hand going to her bump as they all began to head downstairs.

Alek: "Hey, little bear cub, what do you say to playing hooky and staying home with Mommy and me all day?"

Lily: "Really?! Yeah! Can we go swimming?!"

She asked happily as they made their way into the great room where Mrs. Anastas happily smiled at them and greeted them with a 'Good Morning'. Persephone asked her to slice a couple pieces of pie as she took a seat next to Lily.

"We can do whatever you want today, baby...."

Persephone smiled, but it began to fade just a bit as she stared at Lily with concerned eyes. She didn't want to open Pandora's Box so soon, but it wouldn't be any easier two hours from now. Mrs. Anastas put a slice of pie in front of Lily and Alek, Persephone not quite hungry enough to eat just yet. Lily picked up her fork and began to dig in, Persephone watching her with hesitation.

"Lily..."

Inhaling a deep breath, she placed her hand on Lily's knee, dipping herself to her level.

"Baby....that dream you had last night? The shadow? Is that something you saw in a movie? Or on television?"

Persephone asked gently with a pleasant tone as to not try and upset her. Lily's little brows furrowed as she swallowed her bite of pie, shaking her head no.

Lily: "No mama..."

"Was it something you heard at school?"

Lily's eyes averted from Persephone, looking down at her pie. She looked almost guilty as she remained quiet for a moment, not looking up at either Persephone or Alek.

Lily: "This...this older boy in my school told me about it....We were all playing camping at recess....and...we were pretending to tell ghost stories....and he said there was a bad shadow that took people from the island...that the shadow like mommy's 'specially...."

Persephone looked over at Alek with such a sense of relief it was like the weight of the world lifted off her chest. A ghost story. Thank GOD. Exhaling, Persephone shut her eyes and smiled despite herself. She could work with a ghost story...this was fixable. Scooting her chair close to Lily, Persephone took the fork out of her hand and placed it on her place. She turned Lily toward her, seeing the fear returning to Lily's eyes.

"Baby, look at me."

Lily was reluctant at first until finally looking up.

"That story? Is just a story. There's no shadow that's going to take mommy away. You know daddy would never let that happen. And you know mommy would bring hell on Earth before I let someone take me away from the two of you."

A little smile tugged on Lily's lips.

"Ghost stories are meant to scare people, Lily....and this one is no different. He shouldn't have told you the story.....and i'm sorry you got so scared. But baby, it's just pretend, okay? It's all made up."

Lily nodded, her smile growing now. She wrapped her arms around Persephone's neck hugging her tightly. Persephone looked over at Alek finally feeling at ease.

Lily: "I love you, mama."

"I love you too, baby girl."

Persephone smiled as she pulled out of the hug and gestured with her head to Alek.

"I think daddy needs a hug too....he stayed up all night making sure you were safe."

Persephone smile grew and Lily slipped off her chair and reached up to give Alek a hug as well. Placing her hand on her bump, she gently rubbed it knowing the stress of last night was finally behind them.

 

[Berserker]

The Bedroom

As they went downstairs, Alek asked Lily if she wanted to stay home with them today, which she was all too eager to do. He wasn't sure whether he should be happy that she wanted to be with them, or sad that she didn't want to be with her friends more.

Lily: "Really?! Yeah! Can we go swimming?!"

"Of course we can."

They arrived at the kitchen, where Mrs. Anastas was already bustling about. He honestly didn't know how they would make it through a pregnancy without her.

"We can do whatever you want today, baby...."

He smiled broadly down at Lily.

"How about a ride on the boat?"

Mrs. Anastas put a slice of pie in front of him and he thanked her, smiling. She really was great at desserts. He looked over at Lily and raised his eyebrows, and she grinned back at him, the two of them digging into the pie at the same time. But Seph decided to breach the subject of the dream.

She asked her if it was something she saw on tv, but Lily said no.

"Was it something you heard at school?"

Lily wouldn't meet their eyes, and it was obvious they were on to something. She looked so forlorn that it broke his hear.

"It's okay, baby girl, you can tell us. We're not angry."

Lily: "This...this older boy in my school told me about it....We were all playing camping at recess....and...we were pretending to tell ghost stories....and he said there was a bad shadow that took people from the island...that the shadow like mommy's 'specially...."

"Aw, baby..."

He wanted to go string that boy up by his intestines, scaring a little girl like that. Multiple little girls. Seph made Lily look at her.

"That story? Is just a story. There's no shadow that's going to take mommy away. You know daddy would never let that happen. And you know mommy would bring hell on Earth before I let someone take me away from the two of you."

He nodded, showing his agreement with what she was telling Lily. Then Seph told her it was all made up, and Lily finally looked happy, hugging Seph tightly around the neck.

"I think daddy needs a hug too....he stayed up all night making sure you were safe."

Lily came over to him and hugged him tight, and he squeezed her and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"Daddy would stay up every night if he had to to keep you and Mommy safe. My precious girl."

He kissed the top of her head, then released her.

"Now finish your pie. We have swimming to do."

 

[Persephone]

Lily looked so much more reassured than last night, knowing that this nightmare was just that: a nightmare. She hugged Persephone then went over to hug Alek.

Alek: "Daddy would stay up every night if he had to to keep you and Mommy safe. My precious girl."

Persephone smiled, watching him kiss the top of her head.

Alek: "Now finish your pie. We have swimming to do."

Lily nodded happily, climbing back into her seat and attacking the pie with renewed vigor. The rest of the day went by without a single mention of the 'shadowy figure', and as did the rests of the weeks following. Persephone had called up her teacher to report the older boy who had been telling the younger children scary stories and the situation was dealt with. Now, a couple months later, Lily was well adjusted in school, even having friends come over to swim and play on the weekends. It was a load off Persephone's chest because at this point, she was officially on bed rest due to her being high risk. And Persephone already had a 'motherly intuition' that she would be giving birth soon; her energy level as low as it was right before Lily was born.

Laying in bed on her side, Persephone sighed out with her hand pressed against her lower back. No matter what position she was in it felt like Lucas was crushing her spine.

Lily: "Mama! Mama! Mama!"

Lily came running into the room with her friend Catrina, dressed up like princesses. Persephone gave them a smile.

Lily: "Can Cat stay for dinner?! Please! Please!"

Persephone gently shook her head.

"Sorry sweetheart, Catrina's mommy told me they have special plans for dinner tonight. Daddy said they're going to be here in fifteen minutes to pick her up."

Both girls groaned out in displeasure.

"Next time, I promise."

They still weren't happy with that answer, pouting.

"Sorry baby....go get changed, okay? Daddy's going to have dinner ready for you when Catrina's parents pick her up."

Lily nodded and both girls ran out of the room. Hissing in, Persephone shut her eyes feeling Lucas shift. It was like she was carrying an elephant, not a child.

"You're just like your father....big and bulky."

She grumbled with a sigh.

 

[Berserker]

The Bedroom

Alek trotted up the stairs, arms full. Moving down the hall, he poked his head into Lily's door.

"Ten minutes ladies! Make sure Catrina has all her stuff, Lily."

Lily: "Okay, Daddy."

Alek then backtracked to his own bedroom, moving through the doorway cautiously. Poor Seph was not having an easy time of it. If it wasn't bad enough that she was going stir crazy on bedrest, Lucas was not making her very comfortable. He tried to gauge her mood as he came into the room, smiling charmingly.

"How are my two babies doing?"

He began to set things down next to the bed.

"I brought: chocolate peanut butter ice cream, one spoon. And just in case a plate of some fresh fruit cut up and arranged from largest to smallest. And."

He paused for dramatic effect.

"A hot water bottle for your back. Mrs. Anastas swore by it."

Now that his arms were empty, Seph would see that he was wearing an apron that said "Kiss the cook" over his shorts and tee shirt. He came over and sat on the edge of the bed.

"How are you feeling baby? Want me to rub your back? Or maybe your feet? Can I get you anything?"

He looked down at her sympathetically.

"Lily is having fish fingers and green salad for dinner. What can I bring up for you?"