~Druig's POV~

"How is she?"

"Depressed and going on a downwards spiral... I don't know what to do anymore, Thena. I've tried everything for years. Only getting small moments of happiness before she's back to crying herself to sleep every night." I sighed closing the door to our room leaving a sleeping Vena and walked with Thena out of the Domo searching for something to cheer her up. "I feel like I'm losing her."

"She needs to leave the Domo and soon. It breaks my heart seeing her so sad. She's usually full of so much light." Thena sighed grabbing an empty basket and two bags of coins from Sersi.

"You're telling me. I'm so used to hearing her laugh bounce off the walls and seeing her play pranks on Kingo with Sprite and Makkari." I mumbled picking up some flowers and placed them in the basket. "But I plan on making her spend at least one night away from the Domo. I just hope that Ikaris doesn't catch us or else we're screwed."

"Any plans?"

"None actually. Taking a page from her playbook and just improvise. I found this waterfall in the forest that I'm positive she'll like." I said grabbing a few blankets and payed for them. "But if she spends at least one night out, she'll start feeling like herself... at least for a little bit."

"I'll talk to Ajak again tonight. We should hurry up, we left her alone." Thena said paying for some fruits.

"Sprite was in there too. After breakfast, Vena stormed off and Sprite followed her planting some illusions in the room to try and cheer her up. After that, she fell asleep and Sprite told me to take a walk, that she'll make sure Ikaris doesn't do anything."

"Druig... I don't think a day away will make her go back to herself. She needs to connect with the earth again." Thena sighed placing a few dolls in the basket. "Most importantly, she needs to remember that not all of us wanted her memories wiped, just Ajak and Ikaris. She needs to feel safe again."

"Then what do you suggest I do?"

"Either she spends a few years alone, or you go with her. You have an important role when fighting Deviants, but I'm sure we can manage." Thena offered and I sighed fidgeting with the bracelet Vena got me back in Greece. "I don't like her spending so much time away from us, but it's what'll make her feel safe again."

"Then where do you suggest we go?" I asked looking at the basket which was filled to the brim. "I think that's enough for now."

"Away from all of us, especially Ikaris. A place where we won't find her no matter how much we look. And especially a place where Ikaris won't find her, because he'll just drag her back and her memories will be wiped for sure." She said and I smirked slightly. "I take it that you may know of a place?"

"Maybe. You and Makkari will be the only people who'll know, Thena. Nobody else."

"Secret's safe with me, don't worry."

...

"Sprite, for the last time, you're not taking that statue!"

"But it's so pretty!"

"I don't care, now give it back before you break it!" I heard Vena's laugh and I smiled opening the door to witness her tackling Sprite to the ground trying to pry the statue off her. "Just give it back, Sprite. It was a gift from Druig when we were in Egypt!"

"Oh my... don't kill her." Thena smirked leaning on the doorway hiding the basket from Vena's view. "That's enough, Sprite. Thank you."

"I can officially say that I get bragging rights for making her laugh today. Kingo has been trying forever and not even a chuckle!" Sprite smirked standing up and placed the statue back in its rightful place before leaving. "Kingo! I did it! In your face!"

"I'll leave you two be." Thena smiled handing me the basket and ran after Sprite who engaged in an argument with Kingo over her bragging rights.

"I have presents." I said showing Vena the basked and she immediately stood up and made grabbing hands at it. "My starlight, so spoiled."

"Your own fault." She shrugged and whined when I placed the basket farther away from her. "Oh come on! Don't be a tease!"

"Me? A tease? I'm afraid that's you, darling."

"Name one time!"

"I can name countless if you like." I smirked and she gasped hitting my arm. "And did I mention violent as well?"

"Not the time, Adonis!" She exclaimed and I laughed kissing her and handed her the basket. "What's all this?"

"Well... I got your favorite flowers because I noticed the other ones are getting wilted, Thena got you a few dolls because you've always seemed to like those, amongst other things." I explained carefully taking out the items and watched as her smiled widened with each one. "And an opportunity to get out of here. Just you and me... No Eternals, hopefully no Deviants, just the two of us. It'll be our Garden of Hesperides, my starlight."

"Dru... I can't leave the Domo yet. Arishem is still mad at me. I honestly consider it a miracle that I'm still here in Earth." She sighed standing up and put away the gifts. "No matter how much I want to, I can't leave."

"You underestimate me, my Aphrodite. I have a foolproof plan. I know of a place where we can go and nobody will find us, only Arishem himself. And I seriously doubt he'll go through the trouble of doing just that because Celestials know that I'll put up a fight." I chuckled grabbing her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. "Thena and Makkari are the only ones who know where we'll be. But if you don't want to go, we can stay here and we'll find a way. I'm just offering to ease your mind for a while."

"For how long will we be gone?"

"For as long as you wish." I replied and Vena closed her eyes fighting a smile. "And there she is."

"When do we leave?"

...

"Just where do you two think you're going?"

"For a walk."

"Vena can't leave the Dino." Ikaris pointed out and noticed the bags full of clothes behind our back. "Just for a walk?"

"What are you, my caretaker?" Vena scoffed.

"I'm trying to be the responsible one here."

"And doing a piss poor job at that apparently." She smirked and pushed Ikaris aside. "I've been locked in here for five years, haven't fought a single Deviant while you're out there having your slice. I'm gone and there's nothing you can do to stop me."

"I don't want to do this, Vena. Don't make me do this." Ikaris sighed as his eyes glowed and I stepped forwards with glowing eyes as well.

"Don't you dare." I growled shielding Vena. "It never ends well for you."

"You two are going to destroy this team."

"Family... we're a family. And I think that's you, Ikaris." Vena whispered as her eyes glowed and Ikaris was frozen in his spot. "Tell Ajak we'll be back whenever. And don't search for us, or I won't hesitate."

Vena grabbed my hand and raced out of the Domo undetected. We hid in the city for a few moments catching our breath.

"You have everything you need?" I asked and she nodded.

"The effects should be wearing off soon. If we're to leave, we have to do it now. I swear that when we come back, I'm kicking his ass." She huffed and I rolled my eyes smiling. "What!?"

"Nothing... you're just adorable when you're mad. Not at me of course, that's when you're full blown terrifying." I chuckled and she scoffed linking arms with me as we left Babylon with heavy hearts. "Do you really want to come back?"

"They're family, Druig. As dysfunctional and chaotic as we are, it's still home. It's the only home we know. We may be at each other's throats every waking moment, but it's what keeps us together. And you love them, chaos and all." She smirked poking my cheek.

"I only love you, Vena."

"And I love you too."

...

"Welcome to the Amazons, Aphrodite."

"How did you find this place!?" Vena smiled looking around.

"Those years you were with Thena and Gilgamesh back in Egypt, we had to take care of Deviants here. I remembered the night you told me that you'd love to live in a place like this... so this is the first place that came to mind." I explained escorting her to the small hut. "We abandoned the Domo and stayed here. This has to be one of my favorite places here in Earth."

"Mine is still Greece." She smirked walking inside the hut. "But this place is beautiful, Dru. Thank you for bringing me here."

"What is it about Greece that makes you love it so much?"

"Many reasons. Our story started there, it was the time where we all really connected as a family, and I sure did kick some Deviant ass there." She laughed wrapping her arms around me and I lent down for a kiss.

"Ah yes, who could forget the infamous tale of Adonis and Aphrodite?"

"It's the tale that started it all after all. Without that story, I don't think we would be here today."

"Maybe we would still be driving everyone insane with the sexual tension as Phastos calls it." I laughed and she scoffed laughing also. "So, you ready for a well deserved vacation from our chaotic lives, my darling Vena?"

"Yes, I am, my charming Druig."

MEMES: