Within another year, Satan was ready to approach you. Yet, he did so with extreme caution.

Standing at the entrance to the orchard, he bowed his head, now with longer blonde curls, and waited for you to approach him.

"Zagreus, come with Mommy." You held out your arms, and your little devilman ran right into them, wings and tail waving wildly.

"Mommy!" He cried out. "Who's that?"

You paused. Who was that going to be to him? You had chosen the easy route and not even bothered to explain the whole issue at all to your son. After all, why would you?

"That is Macki and Meli's father." This was true. "He wanted to meet you too." Also true.

And you left it at that for now. Perhaps when he got older, you'd explain a little bit better and let him choose what he wanted to do with the information.

As you walked up to Satan himself, Zagreus hid in the crook of your neck, suddenly cripplingly shy.

"Hello, little boy." Satan's voice wafted over the both of you softly and calmly. "I am so excited to meet you. What is your name?"

You smiled. He was certainly playing nice. Zagreus peeked at him before hiding again.

"Go ahead, love. Tell him." You nuzzled his soft head.

"Mffmemuff" The tiny tot mumbled into your neck.

"Nice try." You laughed, shifting him onto your other hip. "Let's try speaking to his face."

"Zagreus." The little boy spoke quickly before hiding again.

"Zagreus! What a strong name! Well, Zagreus," Satan looked at you with a small smile, "I brought you something special."

His eyes immediately peeked up again.

"I brought you a toy fish! Just like you see in the River Styx sometimes!" Satan revealed a diamond that had been carved in the shape of a fish.

Zagreus' eyes lit up and his little arms shot out. You laughed, knowing that his heart had been won over by the manipulative fallen angel.

"May I?" Satan inquired as he opened up his arms. He desperately wanted to hold the child, having missed out on most of the baby years.

"Yes, fine. But join us in the orchard. The girls will be back soon." You shrugged as you handed your son over to him.

"Oh, oh, you are so big, Zagreus. Do you eat more than your mother and your sisters?" Satan asked him as he held the little boy closely and handed him the toy.

"Yes!" He nodded as he ogled the shiny new thing.

"I'm sure that you do! You seem so strong already! You'll have to show me how strong you are! You'll probably get even stronger than me if you keep practicing." Satan followed you as he held Zagreus tightly, laying his cheek on his soft little head.

You could tell how deeply he loved the child already. It would be hard for him to leave him behind, but he wasn't quite ready to be fully integrated back yet. Almost; but not quite yet.

"Daddy!" Melinoe's voice called out. "You have Zagi!"

"Oh, hello, my darling." Satan's eyes met his youngest daughter's as he greeted her. "Yes. And may I say, I have never felt better."