InsaneJournal

Poseidon had greatly mellowed out these last few months, even if there was some high tension running with his new tenant. Poseidon and Ky were of the same make, and she pressed his buttons as much as he did her own. He wasn't usually into the whole spirit of the gift-giving holiday, he gave things to show his possession over those he did care about. He'd given Amphitrite her fair share of fancy things to flaunt himself and bind her to him. This time things were a little more sentimental between them, when she wasn't fuming at him for not getting her pregnant. It seemed his little mortal flings had been far more successful than Amphitrite had been in the last month.

The ring he had for her was almost a peace offering in what had grown in their relationship since his return from Hades. It still was not a romantic or caring gesture as it would be for most, but Poseidon had grown as a father, as a husband, and as a man.

He showed up at her apartment just as the sun started to go down, setting a dusky hue across the sky. Gods knew he needed to get away from his daughter, it had felt like the longest week in existence.

Maybe Amphitrite had been a little harsh and irritable lately, but she had every right to feel slighted. After all, she should be the one bearing Poseidon's children and boasting about her fertility. Nowadays it seemed she was sterile and that her days of morning sickness and cravings were truly finished. But she didn't give up. That was one thing Amphitrite did not do, even if she sometimes did play that card.

Although she had sent out gifts to her children and family, including her darling son-in-law whom she was looking forward to seeing after all these years despite Poseidon's hatred for him, Amphitrite had not sent anything to Poseidon. That didn't mean she hadn't gotten him anything. In fact, she had and knew he would be around at some point for one reason or another. So she saw no reason to waste the postage on him.

And when the knock came she didn't seem at all surprised to find him outside her door. She greeted him with what was probably a surprising smile. "I was wondering if you'd be coming over today."

Amphitrite wasn't the only one frustrated, it seemed Hades had gotten one boot up his ass after another. Poseidon wanted to give Amphitrite a baby as much as she longed for one. It meant she would stay, and Poseidon would continue to be selfish about that.

"Wondered?" he perked a brow, "You should have known." He flaunted her a devilish smile and stepped inside. He was surprised at that smile. Lately they had fallen back into old habits and arguments, though even that felt like a relief. It meant he had her.

She rolled her eyes. "It's why I haven't gone anywhere. If I didn't want to see you today I would have wandered off somewhere to hide." A joke, but there was truth in those words. If she really didn't want to see him she knew how to get away now.

The door was locked and she headed to the kitchen. "Are you hungry?" A meal just for two had been set out on the table, having ordered from one of the finest restaurants in New York and giving a very generous tip to have it made at her apartment. Of course she knew he would be over. Why else would she have done all of this?

"Oh, I don't know. You seem to like the chase," he added with a genuine smile. "Just as I like watching you run." In truth this had been a nice reunion with the two of them, even when things seemed to throw back to old arguments, there was something new about it all. They were getting to know each other all over again.

She'd done well for the evening, showing him up with a nice meal and an equally nice view. She was showing in her own way her affection for him, which had never been easy to get. "Don't I get you first?" he asked with a devious laugh.

Amphitrite smirked. "Actually, I don't like the chase right now." Although she noted the fun in his tone she was very serious about all of this.

She nodded her head slowly. "No, I'm quite hungry. I need some energy first."

"Ruining my evening already," he joked stepping into where she had the food all laid out. He stopped her just before she sat down, just a breath away from her, chest pressed softly against her back. He kissed her neck, offering up the ring he'd paid top dollar for, though this time as it had been for her wedding ring, this wasn't about money. He nuzzled her ear with his nose, another kiss pressed against her cheek as he slipped it on her finger. Maybe entirely romantic to some, but there was a growl that brewed against his throat, really low and light as a temptation for later.

He let her go, then seating himself at the table.

Amphitrite shrugged without much concern in 'ruining his evening' because frankly she didn't really care. She was just about to sit down when he kissed her and watched quietly as he put the ring on her finger.

As she finally sat down she examined the ring. "It's lovely, thank you." Her gift came in three parts. The first was obvious: Her. The others were actual gifts, though finding something for the man who had everything was always difficult. "I have a few gifts for you this year. One I'm sure you already know, but you won't get it until after we eat. This is the first," she slid a decorative envelope to him. It had all the makings of a regular Christmas card except that the inside contained two cruise tickets of the Mediterranean; it just felt right. She waited for him to open it before saying what the last gift was.

Poseidon didn't expect anything from Amphitrite. Just her was all he demanded right now. He didn't even see himself as being on good behavior, but he knew some things had changed inside him for now. Maybe not all his worst traits, but to Amphitrite he'd given her a way in that she'd never had before.

He was quick to open the card, earning her a half smile from him. The last vacation they'd had between them really wasn't one at all. It had been right after her episode in Greece, and she'd hardly wanted him physically in the same bed. He flapped the tickets against the table top. "Sweeping me away?" He gave her a teasing grin. "I'm dangerous on ships." It brought back old memories of their pirating days. It was the last time he'd swept across the Mediterranean.

Considering everything that had happened over the last year Amphitrite felt inclined to do something.

She waved a dismissive hand. "We won't be heading into pirating waters this time and this is all for pleasure. I thought maybe just once you could behave yourself." She looked at him smugly. Her final gift was a little larger than the last and it was more or less a symbolic gesture. "And finally..." she pulled out a flattened cardboard box from under the table and handed it to him. "There are more in the hall closet." Surely he would be clever enough to guess this one without her having to say anything.

He reclined back in his chair looking at the box questionably until she responded with more than a flattened box. He flipped the cardboard around in his hands, playing with the sides and watching as he opened it up. It was a shipping box. Multiples meant packing.

He gave her a steady look. "You're moving in?" His penthouse was quite dead without her there, aside from her daughter that he'd allowed in for the last few weeks.