"Illiana Klarisa Callos! What have I told you about fighting with your brothers!" Alena called out from her place in front of the sink, scrubbing dishes by the dozens as she tried to keep droplets from falling onto the swell of her protruding stomach.

"But Momma!" A small, blond girl cried as she raced into the kitchen. "Haines and Nealon were trying to feed Miss Marzipan to one of the goats!"

Dropping one of the plates into the sudsy water, Alena wiped her hands on her makeshift apron and tucked a loose strand of hair back behind her ear as the little girl tugged on her peplos to be picked up.

Illiana's frown was pitiful as her mother laughed and lifted her onto her hip, carrying her out into the courtyard of their home that now held her two brothers. Nealon was the eldest at the age of eight, Haines was seven while little Illiana was five.

Alena's rather busy looking husband sat to the side on the family's kline, a comfortable appearing couch that was wide enough for all of them to sit on if it suited them to try.

The two troublemakers sat at their father's feet, toy soldiers held in their tiny fists as they fought over who could feed Miss Marzipan to the monstrous Charybdis, also known as one of the family goats.

Struggling until her mother released her, Illiana sprang down and raced towards her brothers, grabbing another doll of hers with a determined look set on her face.

She snatched one of Haines' hands before hitting him on the head with her doll, smacking him repeatedly as she yelled. "Give me back Miss Marzipan!"

Instead of helping his brother, Nealon sat back laughing and crawled up next to his father who watched his daughter with a spark of laughter and familiarity running through his eyes.

Alena placed her hands on her hips and gestured to the two children, staring at Damari as if he should understand what she was trying to say to him.

When he still had the same dumbfounded look that she remembered him giving her when she first gave birth to Nealon, she shook her head in exasperation.

"You're not going to do anything about this?" she asked as Illiana pulled Haines into a headlock, proceeding to hit him in the face with her newer doll. "Reprimand them!"

Damari chuckled and pulled Nealon in closer, looking over at Illiana with pride and whispering to his eldest. "Now that's how you maintain a headlock."

"Oh what am I going to do with all of you?" Alena whispered to herself, straightening her figure with a laugh and wink at her husband before marching over to the two children who had decided to bring biting into the fight.

"Ouch! Momma, Haines bit me!" Illiana shrieked before hitting him even harder with the doll, making sure to get him directly in the face.

Alena sighed heavily and grabbed them both by the arms, separating them from each other so that they were both on opposite sides of her.

Kneeling down so that she was eye level, she said firmly. "What have I told you two about fighting?"

Haines suddenly became interested with his sandals while Illiana crossed her arms over her chest and glared at her mom before her face brightened and she pointed to Damari.

"Daddy said that I could."

Swiveling on her heels to glare at Damari, he shrugged his shoulders at her searing gaze, choosing to avoid it as he began to talk with Nealon fairly animatedly.

Alena's sigh was heard again as she looked back to Illiana with a smile.

"Sweetie, we don't fight with our siblings, is that understood?"

"But Daddy said that--"

"What Daddy said right now doesn't count, Illiana. I'm sure your father meant otherwise when he spoke to you," she ground out, flicking her gaze back to Damari's conveniently busy one before looking back at her daughter's curious face, "but we don't fight or even bite our brothers because it isn't kind. If something is wrong, you talk about it."

Illiana's button shaped nose scrunched up as she looked up at her mother with pleading eyes. "Do I have to, Momma? Haines never talks."

"I don't care what Haines does, this is about you, all right? So don't do it again. Much to your father's disagreement."

"But Momma--" Illiana started.

Alena looked at her sternly. "But nothing, Illiana."

The child crossed her arms and grumbled under her breath, looking up at her mother once more before nodding her head solemnly. "All right, Momma."

Illiana trotted over to her father and sat herself on his feet, watching him as Alena walked over to him and moved Nealon onto her lap so that she could sit next to Damari.

His looks hadn't changed in the ten years they'd been together and after being blessed with three children and soon to be four with little to no problems, Alena couldn't help but smile when she watched their kids.

Damari stretched his arm over her shoulders and pulled her close as he nuzzled her ear, much to the horror of their youngest who squealed and covered her eyes as fast as she could.

The heat of Damari's chuckle skirted against the sensitive skin behind her ear and she felt the customary shiver she had whenever he was near her.

He chuckled while bringing her closer to his side and rested his hand on her belly affectionately as he looked up at her with pure love and adoration.

"Only a couple more months now, and we'll be saying hello to this little one."

"Yes we most certainly will, the big question remains as to whether or not it shall have the smarter wits of the family.. or yours."

He leaned over her and pushed her back into the couch with a dark glimmer in his eyes.

"Oh and what's that suppose to mean, Love?"

Alena laughed and tried to push against him, but he refused to move while the children continued to play around his feet, now having calmed down enough to occupy themselves peacefully.

"If you were smarter I wouldn't have to tell you." she joked, giggling quietly as he leaned in to nip at her nose.

"You're asking to be spoken to, and trust me, I have a few choice words for you."

"I'm sure you do, Damari." she laughed again, giving him a quick kiss before pushing him gently so that she could move to the edge of the couch and pick Illiana up from the floor.

Standing to her feet and situating Illiana comfortably on her hip, Alena tweaked Damari's nose playfully as she moved around Haines and Nealon's toys.

"But you really need to clean the boys up soon. Rayen and Whelan will be here soon and--"

"Hello, hello, hello!" A high pitched female voice called out as Illiana screeched and yet again dropped from her mother's arms to run out of the courtyard and into the awaiting arms of her aunt.

Rayen held tightly to her niece as her husband, Whelan, carried two hand woven bags into the house, stopping half way in to ward off the attack of his rambunctious nephews.

"Uncle Whelan!" they yelled, Haines wrapping himself around his uncle's leg while Nealon took hold of his hand.

"Have you brought us something new from your adventures?" Haines asked excitedly, bouncing on the heels of his feet as his brother and him looked up expectedly.

Whelan cleared his throat and looked to Rayen for help who only laughed at his lost expression, jostling Illiana on her hip as she moved past him to look for Damari.

"They're children, Whelan, tell them of your adventures,' she said with a mischievous wink, "now where is my older brother? Mother was telling me how she came for a visit not a few days ago and none of you were here!"

Alena pulled Haines off of Whelan's leg with no effort before following her sister-in-law into the courtyard that led to their house that sat just across the mountainside from Kaiya's household.

"It must have been when we went to one of the local festivals for Athena, the port celebrates every few months for her patronage and we thought it wise to take the children down, to experience what it was like in case they think to involve themselves in festivities like it when they are older."

"Was this your idea or Damari's?

A smile spread across Alena's face as Illiana kissed Rayen on the cheek before she was set down to run off in search of her brothers and father.

"Mine, of course."

"I wouldn't have thought otherwise." Rayen chuckled as she walked across the sun scorched bricks lining the courtyard's area, the same violet flowers that had grown in Damari's home as a child now sitting in a pot on the veranda that connected to the children's bedrooms.

As the two women entered the living room, they found that Whelan had sat himself next to Damari while the three children were sprinting through the crème colored columns that supported the outer portion of the room.

Rayen crossed her arms as she stared at her husband as well as her brother, making sure that they both caught her look before her infectious grin took over and she opened her arms.

"Where is my hug?" she asked Damari, gesturing for him to give her own. "Or is it too much for you to stand on your feet and at least say hello to your sister?"

Damari rolled his eyes as he stood to his feet and chuckled, giving her a hug as well as a kiss on the forehead until he felt a small body wedging its way between them.

He looked down to see a dazzling pair of familiar green eyes frowning at him as Illiana wrapped her arms around her Aunt Rayen's waist.

He leaned forward and whispered quickly in Rayen's ear. "She reminds me of another spitfire in the family."

Rayen's eyes twinkled. "I agree. Maarika would be proud."

"Auntie Rayen!" Illiana interjected, hopping up and down in attempts to catch her aunt's attention. "When are we going to be able to go down to the beach with you? You promised last time and Momma said it was all right with her."

Alena raised an eyebrow when she felt a kick in her stomach, the motion causing a grin as she smelled something awry coming from the kitchen.

"I didn't drain the sink did I?" she said with a cringe, closing her eyes before opening them again and toddling off as fast as she could.

Illiana cupper her hand over her mouth as if it made her more secretive. "Momma just doesn't know she said it yet, but she will."

Rayen smiled and ruffled the girl's hair before pushing her in the direction of her father who scooped her up and put her on his shoulders.

"Well, while my lovely wife tends to that," Damari said jokingly, "why don't me and my little assistant here tend to your bags and place them in the guest rooms."

"But Daddy, that's where Miss Marzipan leaves her things." Illiana replied, holding her doll up defensively.

Damari carefully took the doll from his daughter's hands and put it against his ear as if he were listening to it.

He nodded his head solemnly and handed her back to Illiana. "Miss Marzipan says she is more than willing to allow Auntie Rayen and Uncle Whelan stay in the rooms, she swears on the River Styx that none of her things will bother their visit."

Illiana gasped. "She swore on the River Styx?!"

"On the River Styx, and you know what kind of promises those are, don't you, Illiana?"

"The kinds that you never break." she whispered.

Damari bobbed his head. "Exactly, now go get your Auntie's bag and I'll take Uncle Whelan's."

"But Auntie Rayen's is so heavy!"

Rayen held back a snort as Illiana grabbed the handle and began to drag the bag towards their rooms.

Looking behind himself, Damari pointed in the direction where Alena had disappeared to as he gestured for Whelan to follow him and Illiana.

"Alena will probably enjoy the help with dinner, she won't admit it, but her back has been sore lately and she loves any help that she can gain."

Pushing her husband after Damari, Rayen smiled and tromped her way into the kitchen just as Alena dumped the remains of the soap filled water out the window and into a trough that drained off into the mountainside.

She bustled around despite her condition, but by the way she was favoring her right leg, Rayen could tell she was hurting.

Sidling up next to her, she strategically replaced the heavy plates that Alena had been carrying to one of the tables and instead handed her one of Illiana's dolls.

"Rayen," she sighed, laughing when she realized what she was holding in her hands, "you don't have to do this."

"Yes, but I want to." Rayen said, pulling out one of the wicker chairs from the table and bringing Alena up to its side. "And you should be relaxing, not working you and your little one to death, day in and day out."

Alena's exhaustion filled laugh made Rayen smile as she thought about what it must be like to have children.

"I never do such a thing." Alena protested, stretching her toes before standing back up on them and taking Rayen's hand in hers as she looked closer at her. "But if I were a gambling woman, I would have to say that more than one of us may be working harder than we should be with our little ones."

Rayen blinked and felt herself beginning to swing on her feet, smiling with exuberance. "Oh Alena, I can hardly believe it, but it's true. I'm with child ! I just don't know how to tell Whelan." she looked at her suspiciously. "How did you know?"

"A mother always knows." Alena assured as she tapped a finger on her forehead, before smirking and pointing at Rayen's stomach. "Your bump is starting to show, but if you are looking for a midwife in the practice I know quite a few now that are wonderful."

"I'll think about it."

"Good."

They both went quiet as they finished setting up the table; the forks, spoons and knives all in order while they made sure all the food was prepared and ready to be served.

As Alena tried to carry the platter of meat and vegetables over from the counter, Rayen grabbed the opposite side of it and took it away from her as well.

"I insist upon doing the rest of this meal, Alena. You've invited us into your home and are allowing us to stay for the next few days, it's the least I can do. Trust me, go rest up with your man."

Alena shook her head before removing her apron from around her waist, looking at Rayen one last time.

"You're sure."

"Absolutely. Now go, dinner will be ready in half an hour I'd say."

The sounds of pots clamoring as they were set on the stove to heat, Alena could hear Rayen shout. "Tell Damari that his favorite soup is coming right up!"

Moving out into the courtyard, Alena felt the tense muscles in her back relax as she sat down on one of the klinaes that were set up in the courtyard staring out at the setting sun.

Footsteps alerted her to the presence of her husband as he sat down next to her and surrounded her in his arms, pulling her close so that no space separated them.

Alena almost fell asleep as her breathing evened out, but Damari adjusted her frame to fit to his accommodatingly and inhaled the same sweet jasmine scent that clung to her skin.

"If I had told you that this would be the way we lived for the rest of our lives all those years ago when we first met.. what do you think you would have said?" Damari whispered affectionately, brushing his fingers against her prominent collarbone.

"I feel like I would have hissed at you," Alena chuckled lightly, " before swimming away as fast as I could."

"You could never escape me, my Alena."

She turned to look into his evocative blue eyes, the rays of the fading sun slipping into them as he stared at her with the same love that he had so long ago, the same love that she knew stared back at him from her gaze that she would hold for him until the day she died.

"And you could never escape me, Damari,"

They enjoyed the peaceful silence together in each other's loving arms until a loud screech came from Illiana's room.

"Momma!"

Alena cringed before laughing while Damari laughed along with her. "Isn't that just music to your ears? Created by the Muses themselves."

"Without a doubt." she agreed empathetically, preparing to stand up when Damari caught her quickly, drawing her near to his heated body, a question darting quickly off his tongue.

"Do you ever miss the sea?"

The unexpected question made Alena pause as she thought it over, seeing his eyes cloud with worry.

Sitting down carefully, she held his face in her hands and smiled. "Damari Callos, I have loved you for so many years and know that I will continue to even when I have long departed this life and into the next. My love for you is so strong that it will be spoken of throughout the heavens as one that was eternal, never ending and never changing. Yes, I do find myself missing the sea every once in awhile, but when I think of all that I have now, that all fades away.

To think that I have a family filled with loving children and a loving husband that cares for me more than the earth and sky is more than I could have ever asked for in this lifetime. Without you, I would be nothing. There is still a part of me that will always be drawn to the sea, that craving to be connected with it, but my love for you far outweighs anything that could ever convince me to do otherwise."

Damari cleared his throat and his cheeks deepened to that ruddy color Alena had long grown accustomed to whenever he grew nervous, making her lean forward in curiosity.

"I can't even begin to describe the love I have for you, Alena. All I can say is that, no matter what, I will always be here for you and our children. I'm a better man than I once was and I can only thank you for that."

"We're better for each other." she whispered with a laugh, winking as she stood up and helped him to his feet as Illiana and the boys called for her again.

Listening to their squabbling children, Damari leaned in and let it all fade until all he could see was the love of his life, standing before him as beautiful as she had looked the day he met her.

"The siren who saved the sailor." he admonished as he started to pull her into a slow dance, making her laugh as she placed her forehead against his.

"No, Damari." she replied quietly with a glimmer of tears in her eyes. "It was the sailor who saved the siren."

~*~*~*~*~