Scorpio had had enough. Slamming his fist on the table as he stood abruptly, he was fuming. "That's it! She's soiled my presence for the last time! Get rid of that stray immediately!"

Taken by surprised, everyone was in shock and the silence held until Goldie's slow cries broke the silence. This upset Teorus greatly. "Scorpy, how could you!" Picking up the crying babe, he tried to coo her into calming down. "It's okay, Goldie," he said with pouty lips. "The big scary meanie head won't scare you anymore."

"Oh really," Scorpio growled as he clenched his hand into a fist.

But, before he could say anymore, Huedhaut placed a hand on his shoulder to hold him back. "Scorpio, nothing will come of this if you get angry over a child."

Scorpio brushed the god's hand away and walked off in a humph, his paperwork in tow. "I am not to be disturbed in my room no matter what," he yelled back at the group and stomped off to his seclusion.

"What's going on," Vega demanded as she joined the others. "I was about to go deliver some reports when I heard all the-" Her eyes landed on the tiny child clutching to Teorus's jacket. Vega's heart twinged with pain at the sight and took gentle steps towards them. "And who is this little goddess?" She made sure not to raise her voice as the situation was delicate enough.

"This is Goldie," Teorus said as he continued to stroke the little girl's back. By now she's stopped sobbing and it looked like she actually fell asleep.

"Oh look," Ichthys said as he pointed towards her mouth. "I think she's drooling on you, Mama Teo." He grinned his mischievous grin and giggled a little.

"You do sort of look like a mother," Huedhaut commented with a slick smirk on his lips.

"I whole heartedly agree," Leon said as he stood up and tilted his gaze their way, an amused look on his face. "Looks like that tiny gold fish has attached herself to you, Teo. You'll be responsible for her for as long as she's with us." He sighed as he crossed his arms in thought. "It'll only be a matter of time before Zyglavis pays us a visit so I expect the rest of you to figure out how to get her home." Leon came over and gently brushed some hair from her eyes. "Her will is strong, but she's too young to tell us what we need to know to grant her wish. Children always make it hard..." He chuckled, then shrugged and walked off. "Don't get too attached, guys. We have to send her home."

Teorus sighed and looked at the sleeping child. Whispering low that he thought no one heard, he said "Too late." He looked at her like a parent who had to give up their child for adoption.

Ichthys clearly heard this and saw his friend's expression, but said no more on the subject. Instead, he spoke up in his usual manner. "Hey, Vega. We got spare rooms right?"

"We do," she replied happily. "I can see to it one is set up for her."

"Excellent," Ichthys said as he reached out and gently took the sleeping child from Teorus. Teorus looked like he was going to cry like he really was her mother. "Oh, don't look at me like that, Mama Teo" Ichthys said with a worried face. "Daddy's just gonna see baby to bed."

Dui and Huedhaut looked at each other and shrugged as Ichthys followed Vega to find the girl a room.

**************************************

You could say that curiosity got the better of the group because they walked together with Ichthys and Vega in the lead to see just where their temporary house guest was going to stay. Vega, being the only girl that ever really comes and goes in the mansion, was given the charge of creating the room fit for a girl Goldie's age. Ichthys wanted to make the room like his while the others discussed better options. But no matter how much they thought about it, no matter how old they were, they couldn't come up with any idea on what a little girl's bedroom would look like. They then began discussing whether they've even seen a little girl's room before and that just made Vega sigh deeply, wondering just how she managed to get stuck with these guys as superiors.

By the time they reacher their destination, Vega opened the large door to reveal a room fit for a princess. To one side was a large canopy bed piled high with fluffy pillows and plush comforters. There were various stuffed animals all around the place, small ones, large one, every size in between. All the interiors were varying shades of pink and purple, from the bedding to the curtains.

"My goodness," Dui said as he took in the sight before him. "This is really a girl's room."

"I'll take that as a compliment, Lord Dui," Vega said with a big smile. "I'm quite pleased myself. She should be happy while she's here." Watching Ichthys place the little girl in the bed and cover her, she noticed that Teorus hasn't cleaned his jacket. "Um, Lord Teorus? There's something on your lapel...?" She tried pointing it out, but the height different made it look like she was pointing wildly.

"Hmm?" Teorus was too distracted watching the sleeping child to notice until Vega pointed out that there was still drool on his jacket. "Oh," he laughed slightly and tried brushing it off with his hand until he realized it was sticky. "Eww." He laughed and sighed. "You poor Goldie," he murmured as he looked at her sound asleep. Ichthys had given her a teddy bear and was clutching onto it as she sucked her thumb in her sleep.

Seeing her finally settled in, Vega shooed their lordships out of the room post haste. She said if any of them woke the girl up, that she'd rat them out to Zyglavis on how they've been behind on their reports. The gods quickly vacated the bedroom and returned the main room.

**************************************

Scorpio was in need of tea, but didn't want to go out of his room to get it if that tiny human was still in the house. He knew the others wouldn't put her out like he wanted so he had to wait until it felt like the coast was clear. He slowly opened his bedroom door and quietly stood there as he watched Ichthys walking with Teorus, Dui, Huedhaut and Vega leave the room next to his, Vega quietly closing the door behind them.

"No they did not," he mumbled to himself in irritation. Scorpio waited until they were out of sight before quietly opening the door that was just closed. Peering inside, he saw the girl was laid to bed right next door to his room. He sighed heavily and thought of all the horrible things he planned to do to them all.

"Now, now," a chastising voice came from behind. Leon was peering over Scorpio's shoulder to look in on the child. "Let's not be hasty to punish the others so soon after bringing home a pet. Besides," he said as he patted Scorpio on the shoulder and turned to walk away. "Look at this as a learning experience. Maybe this might help us all with our sins a little." He shrugged before returning to his room.

"Humph," Scorpio grunted as he looked at the sleeping child one more time befoee closing her bedroom door.