She snickered and shook her head. “Well I don’t know about that but it was truly epic.” She had never seen that look on the God’s face before, he looked baffled and the look on his face was totally weird. “And don’t worry. I will shop as little as possible because I really, really hate shopping. Shopping sucks ass.” She loved shopping with Ares, because she got to spend time with him moving from place to place. Shopping with him was more than just shopping. Shopping on her own just sucked.
“I distract you while shopping, but that’s half the fun,” he grinned. “I like shopping with you. It’s amazing the places one can find for a little fun. Adds to our encounters,” he said with a chuckle. “Dion loves to shop though. He finds the whole concept fascinating even after all these years.”
“I agree. I think it’s wonderful to feel you at my side when we are shopping. It definitely adds to our encounters.” Their encounters were wonderful amazing events really. “Then why would you tell me to make sure to have a short list? I don’t understand. I figured you said that because Dion hated to shop.”
“He doesn’t like getting trapped by a salesperson, which tends to happen when you don’t have a plan. I guess I should have said he loves window shopping, seeing how things are displayed to catch the eye and how people react to the displays. Don’t trap him in a store or leave him at the mercy of anyone and he’ll adore you even more.”
“Gotcha, I will make sure he doesn’t get trapped by anyone,” she promised. “But I do look forward to this shopping trip. If anyone can pick out the perfect dress it’s him,” she said with a smile. “He’ll also be able to make the alterations that will be needed and he can add the bling I’m sure he will demand.”
“Yeah, he’ll probably insist on some,” Ares shook his head. “I don’t know where he gets that from. No, actually, I do,” he muttered. “Although he likes the finer things in life he’s also not afraid to get all knock down dirty when it’s needed.”
“Very nice. I’m glad you will be entrusting me to someone that will be able to watch over me as well.” Not that she needed protecting because honestly, who the hell would want her, right? Well, other than Ares but the things he wanted her for were amazing.
“Damn straight I want you,” he said giving her a squeeze. “And if any other males had half a brain they would want you as well. You are one hell of a sexy woman. You are generous, amazing and so open and loving that it startles me on occasion to realize you are mine.”
“Well, I’ve been waiting for you my entire life,” she admitted to him. “No one else was even close to being you. I’m glad I was finally able to meet you. I’m happy we are together and we have the life that we do, together. Now we will get married and maybe one day we will have children or can you have children?” she asked with a frown.
“Of course I can have children,” he said sounding awfully offended. “Just because I never have doesn’t mean I can’t, woman. I’m not like my father or some of the other Gods who like to knock up anything that moves. I was waiting for you to come into my life.”
That had her smiling and she nodded. “Good. I’m glad you can because I do want a family with you one day. Not this moment of course but one day. I would love to see a little Ares running around our home.”
Snorting at that, he shook his head, “You say that now but you may end up regretting it. I was a holy terror in my early years. I won’t say childhood because we weren’t born as you would know it. We came into being as almost adults so I don’t have childhood stories as you would.”
“Wait, I won’t give birth to a fully grown adult, will I?” She prayed not because if so she might have to kill him. “We will have a baby, right? When the time comes we will actually have a child, one who we will be able to raise and teach and all that other fun stuff that comes along with having a small child?”
Laughing, he shook his head, “Where do you come up with this stuff? Yes, you will have a baby with diapers, throw up and snot, all the fun things that come with babies. The child will grow up like a normal human child and when he or she is at the optimal age, will remain looking that way for the rest of their very long life. They will be frozen into their immortality at some point the universe determines.”
“But they won’t have powers right? I mean, I won’t have to explain to his teachers the flying crayons weren’t really from our child, right?” God she hoped not. Home schooling, maybe that would be the best solution in the far off future. “Well, whatever happens will happen and we’ll deal with it, but we won’t have children for a while yet, right?” she asked hopefully. “Because I love you to death and I want to have time where it’s just us for a while, if that’s okay?”
“Some children are born with powers, others develop them around puberty. Either way, we can bind the babies powers until it’s of an age where it understands the responsibilities of it’s powers. Not a decision we need to make right now. We still have a wedding to get through with my insane family,” he told her.
“Yes that much is true,” she said with a grin. “See, this is the way of life. Getting married and then having a nice long honeymoon. Yes I look forward to it.” She winked at him, “Do you think that Dion will be willing to go shopping with me?”
“We can ask him when we have dinner at his place tonight. Apparently he’s in Vegas for some event and we’re having dinner there. He’s got a celebrity chef in for the big event and will have appropriate clothing awaiting us in the penthouse suite he keeps there.”
“Sounds good to me,” she said with a grin, “I actually look forward to that. If he has the right chef we can get some truly amazing food. I love food. Besides, it’s always fun to be able to spend time with good friends, right?”
“If rumor has it, you may meet another of my siblings tonight too. Apollo will be there and it sounds like he’s bringing his twin along too. She’s a little strange but okay. Don’t take anything she says too personally, she’s a little bitter since the whole breakup with her latest guy.”
“Ah, gotcha. That’s Aphrodite, right?” She was trying to recall the mythos correctly. “Don’t worry, I won’t take it too personally, but I might need you to remind me of that.” She likely would take things personally, it simply who she was, but if he reminded her then she may be able to let it all roll off her.
“Artemis actually,” he chuckled. “Apollo is the Sun God and Artemis is the Moon Goddess. Fraternal twins, polar opposites in looks, personalities and abilities,” he grinned at her. “She’s a little cranky because her latest boy toy just wanted to bed her. She gets very annoyed by shit like that.”
“As she should!” She snickered and asked, “So she wants love too? I think that’s great. Love is an amazing thing,” she murmured softly. “I do feel for her though, it’s not good at all to want love, to need it and to not be able to find it.” She understood that feeling.
“Actually, to be honest, I have no clue what she wants. Neither does Apollo, even though he does try to help her out about once every decade. So far to no avail,” he muttered. “Hopefully she’ll find what she wants and needs soon. She’s been driving us all crazy for the last millennia.”
“When she’s ready she will figure it out and find that person,” she assured him. “I promise you. When that time comes she’ll know.” Shrugging, Ava asked, “Will we get to see some shows and stuff like that while we we’re there?”
“Absolutely, we’ll make a weekend of it and enjoy the city. You can gamble a little, we can do some restaurants and shows.” He kissed her lightly. “Dion says I’m not allowed to gamble anymore. Something about being a bad sport when I lose or some such crap. Personally, I think he just hated having to pay me when I won.”
That had her laughing and she shook her head. “Then I likely shouldn’t let him know I can count cards faster than a pro can. I’m seriously freaky good with card counting and I’m actually pretty good at guessing the roulette numbers as well.” Dion was going to ban her from gambling too, she just knew
it. “Think you can help me hide that part of it so we can give him a bit of a hard time for a little while?”
“Course I can,” he grinned. “Now, why don’t you scoot back into your seat and finish your meal. Then we’ll go and do something for the day, whatever you would like to celebrate our engagement. Tonight you are all mine. I plan on you being extremely relaxed as soon as the sun goes down.”
She couldn't help grinning and looking at her ring. “I think we should go somewhere we haven’t been before and celebrate our engagement. I can’t think of where that would be but I know you’ll think of a place for us, won’t you?”
“Somewhere we’ve never been before,” he stared at her. “Are we talking a country, state, province, city or a restaurant? 'Cause if we’re talking a country we’re screwed unless they’ve suddenly got restaurants in Antarctica.”
“Take me to somewhere that will blow my mind. Take me somewhere that I’ve never been and will enjoy with you tremendously. Doesn’t matter where, just take me?” she asked quietly. “That’s all that I ask."
“That I can do,” he nodded. “One more question though before I decide. Do you want relaxed or more dressed up with the bling on location?” he asked quietly. “You know, do you want high end sexy in heels dining or jeans, shit kickers and relaxation?”
“All your choice. I said yes and now you need to make it over the top special. I trust wherever you want to go and however you want me dressed. So anything goes tonight, Ares, anything. Make your mind go into the deepest recesses and pull out a fantasy you want and make it happen for us both.”
“Oh, darling, you shouldn’t give me such huge allowances. I have some pretty deep recesses, you may not like what I end up pulling out of there.” He was grinning big at her, just enough to make her a little nervous. “I’ll keep you decent, but that’s all I’m promising you.”
“Do whatever you want, baby, because I’m willing and ready to take anything you have to give. I want and need to see the darkest parts of your life, well not dark so much as kinky. I want to have you giving me everything.”
“Alright, that I can do, but you need to finish your lunch so I can think about this. We’ll go down to the beach for a couple hours and play in the surf. Then, when we come back, we’ll get you dressed. I think I know where I want to take you, it’s different but I think you’ll like it.”
“That sounds good to me. I look forward to it.” She began to eat once more, her hand tilting and turning as she ate so she could admire the ring. Grinning, she shook her head and said, “I can’t believe how perfect it is. How could you have known just what I wanted?”
“Because I’ve come to know you very well, Ava, at least enough to have had a clue on what sort of jewelry you would like. That and I did a little reconnaissance too. That day you went shopping and we split up, I sort of followed you past the jewelry joint and noted what caught your eye.” He leaned over and touched her ring, “I think I did rather well if I do say so myself.”
“You did more than rather well, you did stunningly well,” she said with a grin. “I love it.” Her hand tightened on his and she squeezed it before letting it go to continue to eat. “Now I have to find something to surprise you with and I have no idea what in the world what it will be.”
“You don’t need to get me anything, love. I have the greatest treasure there is, you,” he smiled at her. “I doubt you could top that, especially since you are unique, one of a kind and all the more precious because of your love for me.”
That had her sighing and she shook her head. “How you never found someone to marry before me I will never know, but I’m glad that you didn’t. I’m happy you remained a bachelor and you are mine because I think I would have to kill someone for you.” It was mostly a tease, mostly.
“I think you could do it too,” he chuckled. Shaking his head, Ares leaned back in his chair, stretching his legs out. “But I couldn’t marry just anyone, Ava. I hadn’t found the one person put in this universe just for me. Who would understand and fit me in ways no one else ever could.”
“And now that you have you put a ring on me. I love it.” She wasn’t shy to say that to him at all. “Because I am the only one that would ever fit you perfectly. I’m your forever girl and everyone else was just.” She shrugged, “Well they were temporary fixes while you waited on me to be born in the perfect time in your life.”
“Precisely,” he nodded, but he was watching her with a wary expression. “You seem to be looking at all of this very philosophically, love. I’m not sure if I’m impressed or slightly terrified by how well you’re looking at it.”
“Well a girl has to be able to accept things in life.” She leaned in closer to him and whispered, “But now that I’m here there will never be a need for a temporary fix, ever. Now that I am in your life, I should be all you need, right?”
“Absolutely,” he nodded again. “You are everything I’ll ever need or want, Ava. There is no one who could understand me as well as you seem to, no one who cares for me as much as you do. Everyone else in my life either wants something from me or wants me to do something for them. You, you love me for me. That is an incredibly precious gift in my world.”
“You bet that I do. You are incredible.” She leaned in and brushed her nose to his. “I think you are amazing. The only thing I want from you is your happiness, my happiness and your body, definitely your body.” And his mind, his heart, his wit, she wanted everything from him.
“You have it, darling, everything. It’s all yours, I’m all yours. Just as I know you’re all mine,” he smiled. Kissing her lightly he let out a happy sigh. “Quit stalling, finish eating and then we’re going to the beach. I think it’s time to show you who’s master of the sand castle builders union around these here parts.”
“Well then, let’s get our butts out to the sand. I’m done,” she assured him. “I was just lingering in case you wanted to eat more. If you wouldn’t mind just tidying up, let’s get out of here?”
Laughing, he snapped his fingers and cleaned up the kitchen. “Go and grab your suit, love. You have ten minutes and then we’re out of here. Don’t forget your sunscreen this time though,” he warned, leaning forward to kiss her. Standing, he pulled her up and urged her to the stairs, “Go, quick like an adorable bunny with a wolf hot on her fluffy tail.”
That had her grinning and she raced off, bounding up the stairs as fast as she could, feeling him coming after her as she ran. Snagging her suit and sunscreen, she stripped quickly and pulled on her suit. Sunscreen in hand she raced back down. “All right, I’m ready if you will just get us the towels please? Nice, thick, long, fluffy ones that we can both lie on?”
“Already have them waiting in the basket with the water and snacks. I also put your hat in there and I’m bringing an umbrella too, just in case it actually gets as sweltering as they’re predicting. If it does, I say we go visit my uncle, it’ll be cooler in his realm than up here.”
“That sounds good. Who's your uncle?” she asked as they walked toward the beach, toward the beckoning sun and delicious waves. “I can’t think of where it might be cooler, so who in the world is your uncle?”
“Hades,” he said with a grin. “And yes, it’s supposed to get that hot today, hence the leaving early. We’ll come back before it really gets baking, get you dressed up and I will take you out for dinner.”
“Oh good lord, seriously?” That’s right! She had forgotten that Hades was one of Zeus’s brothers, likely the only one who could take the ‘big God’ out if push came to shove. “Didn’t he trick Persephone into becoming his wife? How is that working out for him?”
Ares sucked air through his teeth and waved his hands looking around frantically. After a moment he let out a long sigh and shook his head. “Never, ever mention Hades in the same sentence as those two psychotic bitches. Demeter tricked him into wedding her daughter and the shit hit the fan centuries ago. He only got out of the contract about two hundred years ago. Unfortunately it�
�s still a bit of a sore spot.”
“What? Seriously?” Ava’s eyes went wide and she shook her head, “Holy shit, how in the hell could they have tricked someone like him? I mean, whoa. Even in the book of the Gods that my family has, they have it as him tricking her, not the other way around. This is epic and holy hell, I bet that man was ready to tear them piece by piece, wasn’t he?”
“He’s just relieved he’s gotten away from them. Demeter had plans that involved getting rid of Hades entirely, which considering he is his realm and his realm is him, wouldn’t really have worked out well for anyone. That kind of power vacuum tends to make even the humans notice, no offense, darling,” he smiled her way. “But he’s a child of the Titans, which means while you might dupe him for a time, he will figure it out, he will get even and then, then he’ll make you pay for the rest of existence.”
“Right, so stay on his good side,” Ava said with a grin. “I would hate to be those two women. I hope he’s making them pay, and pay a great deal for what they tried to do to him.” She was sure he likely did, it was either that or he was so happy to be away from them he simply walked away and never to look back.
“Never mention his marriage or those two names and you’re golden. Plus, I think he’ll quite like you. I love and adore you so the least he can do is like you,” Ares pointed out with a chuckle. “Alright, beach, let’s go, woman.”
“Beach, you betcha,” she said happily and slipped her hand into his. “I can’t wait to see you in the water. Do you think you can maybe put a bubble around us or something and we can see all kinds of fun things under the water and not have to worry about drowning?”
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