The next few months proved to be a struggle. In addition to gaining another twenty pounds, I grew tired more frequently. Trying to keep the peace with Ariel was proven difficult; she wasn't as open to Reign and Dimitri as I was.
They were there, though, the moment I went into labor. All three of them were there when I needed them most. I was now two months postpartum, and they made it so easy that I didn't even feel like a mother to my newborn son, Rowan.
"Hey, we were going to go grocery shopping. Is there anything in particular you want?" Dimitri asked.
"No, thanks, though," I smiled while pecking the two of them on the cheek.
"Mom! Can I go with them?!" Aodhan added.
"Of course," I agreed, "No sugar."
"Awe!" he groaned before running after Dimitri and Reign.
"Finally, alone," a deep, terrifying voice filled my spine.
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came. A silent tear of fear trickled down my cheek. I trembled, unwilling to turn and put a face to the voice; my knees grew weak.
"I missed you, Ivy," I turned.
"Agh!" I cried out.
There he was, the man who took Eric from me, holding my infant son in his arms. A man I hoped never to see again. A man I had thought I'd killed.
"Zeus?!" I warily whispered. I couldn't find the strength to speak.
"Ivy, what's wrong?!" Dimitri came running inside.
Dimitri, Reign, and Aodhan all came rushing to my aid. I held up my hand, and the three stopped in their tracks. Dimitri and Reign looked pale as though they had seen a ghost. They looked how I felt.
"Give me my son!" I cried.
"Shh," Zeus hushed, "You'll wake him."
"What the Hell-"
"You died."
"Ivy shot you."
Dimitri and Reign spoke in tandem.
"She did, and so did you, Son," Zeus said to Reign. Do you think I'd hurt your little brother?"
"What the Hell are you talking about?" I growled.
"I had Rowan here tested when he was born, and it was the same as Aodhan. They're my sons," Zeus implied.
"You illegally took my children's blood?! Without my consent?!" I hollered.
"It's consensual when I'm the father," Zeus retorted.
"Bullshit!" Dimitri interjected.
Zeus tossed DNA papers across the kitchen island. The three of us scrambled, looking at the documents.
99.9% father Zeus Castle.
"It's fake." Dimitri rejected, discarding the papers on the floor, "We'll take our test, prove you aren't their father."
"No!" I cried, "Zeus, give me my baby!"
Several men in black suits came rushing in from all angles. Even more fear consumed me as they Restrained Reign and Dimitri, who were trying to protect Aodhan. Who ran up behind me and held my legs while crying in terror.
"Mommy! I'm scared!" Aodhan cried.
I knelt and held Aodhan in my arms, "Stop it! If you care, you'll stop it!"
"They won't be harmed if you all come with me," Zeus stated.
Dimitri and Reign stopped resisting.
"Give me Rowan," I demanded.
"Fine," he conceded, "But the boys will be going with the two of them. You and I are on our other private jet separate from them."
Zeus tenderly placed Rowan in my arms; I saw in his eyes that there was no alternative, and we had to go with him. I nervously held my son in my arms, tears welling up in my eyes, which I snuffed out before it could begin. Zeus, this wretched man, was still alive, taking my family, not giving me a choice. It made me want to shoot him again. I gently placed Rowan in Dimitri's arms as Reign picked up Aodhan in his.
"It'll be okay, baby," I lied to my son, "I'll see you soon."
"Ivy-" Reign hesitated.
"I'll be okay," I whispered.
"The Hell you will be," Reign argued.
"Please!" I whimpered.
Everyone left together except me, Zeus, and a few more of his guards. Zeus walked over to me, seizing my wrist and pulling me up to him.
"Did you think it would be that easy?!" he shouted.
I flinched, turning away from his voice.
"Do you think you would end up happily ever after?!" Zeus sneered.
"A girl can dream!" I retorted.
Zeus looked as though he would slap me but stopped himself.
"We'll see how smug you are once we get on the jet."