[ZEUS]

I went through the back door this time. I didn't have the guts to face the media at the front. The cleaners at the back gave me a questioning look as I passed them to the door to the lobby. I sneaked out to the main stairs, catching a glimpse of what the doormen and guards were handling up front.

My lawyer had advised me to avoid being seen for now, at least until he was sure when and if my appeal would even be granted.

I walked into my office sighing. I hated this all this unwanted attention. I took off my blazer and rolled up the sleeves of my long-sleeved button-up shirts. I let the tie stay; Julian had knotted it if anything. I smiled, all the frustration being washed away for a moment. I had Julian no matter what happened next, he had promised me that.

I pulped myself at my desk, getting to work immediately, there were tons of meetings I had to postpone, business projects I had to put on hold. I wasn't going to let all that's happened to get to me — to mess up everything I had worked so hard to build.

I was working when my phone buzzed on my table. Reaching for it I raised my brow in question at the unknown face time request.

It could be a reporter. I thought, dropping the phone and returning to my work. It continued buzzing for a while then died down. I was about to let out a sigh of relief when it started buzzing again.

"Really?" I groaned, waiting for the buzzing to die down. It did but started all over again. Gritting my teeth I reached for the phone. Obviously ignoring whoever was calling wasn't working.

I eventually tapped the accept button out of irritation. I watched the screen with a blank look as the video chat loaded. Whoever it was should better make it worth it.

"Hello, son."

I froze at the voice and the face of the woman I vividly remember. She had her hair up in a stylish bun,  the center of her hair had turned pale white, the side remaining black with specks of grey, her face was now that of a woman who'd undergone so may face lifts she couldn't remember. I grimaced at the small smile at the side of her lips.

"Mrs. Parthoropeons," I said as my lips trembled. It was odd not referring to her as my mother. As much I despised whatever she had done to me in the past, a part of me still wanted to hop into her arms and cry—be the child I hadn't had time to be—the child my parents wouldn't let me be.

"Now, that's very rude," my mother said looking down. The distinguishing birthmark at the side of her left eye added to her very 'Parthoropeons' look. Her skin was a shade or two darker than mine, and as much I would hate to admit it to anybody, I looked more like her than my father.

I felt a lump on my throat, the last time I'd seen him he'd been terribly sick.

"Look at you. I'm not sure if I'm meant to be terribly angry or proud..." my mother trailed, smiling.

The lump in my throat grew bigger. Was she mocking me?

"Once a Parthoropeons always a Parthoropeons, look at you running from wealth and falling back right into it," my mother said looking me right in the eye this time. I hadn't inherited her dark brown eyes, but I looked enough like her to be irritated by her mere sight.

"Don't frown, boy, you'll get wrinkles marks."

Oh, like she's the one to talk.

"Anyway," my mother started, looking down again.

"I didn't call you to catch up. I called you because your problem is now my problem considering I labeled you dead a good twelve years ago and I now have the bother of flying all the way to America for a trial," my mother said in a bored tone.

"You're not even worried?" I asked, airing my thoughts.

"Oh please, do you really think they could lock me up? Me. Me of all people," she laughed, checking her nails before looking back at me.

"If you're not going to play fair I have money too you know," I said my brows hurting from the frown I'd been pulling for a while.

"Of course I do. Your industry is outdoing my business by over ten million dollars," mother said almost in a whisper.

"But let me tell you something, old money always bets new money." She stated as the sides of her lips tweaked in a smile.

"Even if I get jailed for a while my money would talk me out in a few weeks, but you..." she trailed, giving me an almost apologetic look.

"You'll lose all the money you've made under your name, you'll lose everything, Zeus." She said, looking at me with a steady gaze. Not everything. I thought, thinking back to Julian's promise.

"well as I was saying. Stay out of my way. Do not discuss us or our family in the media. Do not discuss your—your gay thing," my mother finished, wrinkling her nose.

"You can't tell me what to do," I countered.

"I know, but you'll do it for your sake at least," she said, giving me an air kiss before hanging up the face time.

I grunted putting my head in my hands. I'd like to wipe that little smile of her face, but she was more than right causing another scandal right in the middle of one wasn't exactly the best idea. God, how did that saying go again? Your parents always know what's best for you.

I grimaced at the thought that she was right. I sighed, looking up at the clock by the door then cursed at how many more hours I had till I could go home to Julian.

I suddenly smiled. Damn, I could get used to that, going home to Julian every day.

And that's how the thoughts of my mother and the present problem vanished in a flash. That's what Julian could do to me. He could leave me grinning like a stupid fool when I was meant to be panicking.

[JULIAN]

I sighed cleaning the sweat off my forehead. I'd been trying to decide how exactly to make space for myself in Zeus closet, and I'm telling you, his sense of organization (which was horrible) isn't helping at all. If only he were more organized.

I smiled, knowing that I wouldn't change a hair on his head if I had the chance, not even the teasing part of him I constantly pretended to detest. Even on my knees, I couldn't comprehend his closet. For one thing, it was too full and things that weren't meant to be there were there- including a pile of newspapers, a stack of blankets, and two pillows.

I chuckled taking one of the pillows. He wouldn't mind if I changed their location, would he?

My ears perked up at the sound of ringing. I groaned realizing it was the landline in the living room. It was Zeus' office hours so it couldn't be the press.

Giving the closet one last look, I decided on another time before getting up to answer the phone. I walked past a sleeping Spots on my way to the living room. The dog seemed unbothered, and sometimes I wished I had the luxury to be that carefree.

"Hello?" I asked as I picked the phone.

"Julian."

My body stiffed at the voice on the other end. How did she get this number?

"Julian speak to me, I have something important to tell you," Linda said, an edge of desperation to her voice.

"What is it? I'm not coming back. You can't make me. I—"

"I'm pregnant," Linda said, cutting me off. I blinked in shocked. Was she serious? Was she lying about this just to get me back? Could she be that desperate?

"There's no way you're pregnant. We haven't been together like that for more than a month," I said, not wanting to accept the possibility.

"Who told you it's a month's pregnancy?" Linda said a little too quickly.

My mind was screwed in thought. I wasn't sure what to think of the situation of Linda being pregnant. She made it clear she didn't want kids. I brought my free palm to my head in thought. Was she telling the truth? I mean, it hasn't been two days since I left. Could I really hold her credible for her word?

"Julian," she said, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Yes," I muttered into the phone, suddenly feeling tired. I really didn't want to deal with this right now.

"Well," she said. I farrowed my brows. Is she asking me what I'm going to do about this? I sighed, running my hand through my hair in frustration. What if she really was pregnant? What was I going to tell Zeus? What exactly did Linda expect me to do?

"Julian I need an answer," she said in a more demanding tone.

"Fine, I'm coming to get my stuff from the house within the next week, you can show me a pregnancy test then," I muttered, surprised at how calm I was about this.

"You think I don't have proof?" Linda said, her voice coming out in an offended tone.

"No, I just can't trust you right now," I answered, trying to keep my voice calm. I could hear Spots barking from upstairs, the poor thing was probably hungry.

"Then what if I'm pregnant?" she asked. I spaced out, thinking about it. Then what if she is?

"We'll work out the custody rights, and then work out what I'm paying on childcare..." I trailed hoping she would get the drift.

"Wait, you're not coming back?" She was on the verge of screaming at me. I could hear it in the way her voice cracked and got high pitched at the end of her sentence. It made shivers crawl on my skin. I was glad the conversation wasn't face-to-face. I was sure I wouldn't have a head right now if I was within her reach. 

"I don't have to be there to support the child," I said as calmly as possible.

"I'm not giving you any shitty custody you hear me!" She screeched from the other end.

"Of course you are I'm the father isn't that why you called me?" I said frowning in frustration wondering why I hadn't hung up yet. Spots had found his way downstairs and was now sniffing at my bare feet.

"I hate you!" she yelled, hurting my ears.

"It's reciprocal," I said before hanging up. I sighed, looking down at the dog that was now licking my toes. He seemed really hungry.

"Come on let's get you something to eat," I told the dog before we both strolled into the kitchen. After scooping some dog food into Spots' bowl, I proceeded to start on dinner. Zeus would be back soon, and probably worn out.

Taking out the chopping board I decided on boiled rice and a sauce. After putting the rice on the stove I got to chop up the other ingredients. Spots hung around for some bits of carrots and green onions. Zeus was right; the dog really ate anything.

I was serving rice into dishes when I heard the doorbell. Cleaning my hands with a table napkin I went to get the door. Getting closer, I smiled at the all so familiar figure behind the door.

"Julian," Zeus said as I opened the door.

"Where's the car? I didn't hear you drive in" I said looking over his shoulder.

"The media was on my tail, so I parked it a few blocks away," Zeus said, rolling his eyes. I smiled. At least he wasn't as panicky as he was a day ago.

"Um, Julian..." Zeus trailed, giving me a strange look. I followed his stare but couldn't quite pinpoint what he was looking at.

"What?" I asked, a little confused.

"You're wearing an apron," he cooed, making my face turn a deep red.

"I'll take it off," I said, reaching for the tied up strings at my back.

"Wait, stop! I like the look on you. It's very, err, housewife like," he said, taking a hold of my hands. I tried to pry them loose, but damn Zeus and being strong. Feeling my face heat up all the more I turned away.

"Come on Julian," Zeus laughed shaking me a little.

"Your food's getting cold," I said, finally prying away from Zeus' strong grip before half walking half jogging to the kitchen.

"Come on Jules." I heard Zeus half beg — half-laugh behind me. I groaned. He's such a teaser!

Making it to the kitchen, I pretended to be interested in the counter.

"Julian, please don't do this," I heard Zeus say as a set of hands wrapped around my waist. I didn't answer him; Zeus was officially on my bad side.

"So it's the silent treatment?" Zeus asked, mock hurt thick in his tone. The side of my lips curved in a small smile. Why can't I just stay mad at Zeus?

"I'm sorry," Zeus said kissing the side of my neck.

"You are the manliest man I've seen on this planet," Zeus said, his sentence coming out more as a mockery than an apology.

"Come on," Zeus urged me, tickling my sides. I gave up laughing at slapping at his hands so I could breathe.

"Zeus—st—stop!" I yelp in-between my laughter.

"After you forgive me," Zeus insisted, tickling me the more. Seriously, He's making me surrender?

"You're forgiven!" I gasped, suddenly feeling light on my feet.

"That's all I wanted to hear," Zeus said, releasing me.

"You..." I gasped turning to find a grinning Zeus. I wanted to say the nastiest things I could come up with but I was blank and still laughing.

"Is that followed with; are the best thing that's happened to me," Zeus said trapping me against the counter with his two hands on either side of me. I looked into his green eyes. They were playful, teasing and blurred with something else I couldn't understand... I shook my head, looking away from him.

"Is something wrong?" Zeus asked, turning my face so I could look at his.

"No, nothing," I said, still noticing the weird emotion dancing in his eyes.

"I—you should go change before your food gets cold," I muttered, turning away again.

"You're right. Stay in that apron for me, will you?" Zeus said, grinning before releasing me and heading out of the kitchen.

I sighed. I can't ever concentrate when Zeus looked at me like that. He's looked at me similarly in the past — heck, every time we jumped into bed together, but it wasn't that look. Well, not that I know of.

I dusted the front of my apron trying not to think about it, but it was fruitless. My emotions were still haywire.