sucker4flowers (sucker4flowers) wrote in olympian_rewind, @ 2010-09-26 22:07:00 |
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Entry tags: | dahlia little, demeter, madeline scott, persephone |
Who: Demeter and Persephone
What: Reunion
Where: Demeter's Home
When: 9/18 (backdated)
Warnings: none
As Persephone pulled into the dirt driveway, she let out a sigh, knuckles white on the steering wheel even as she parked it. She wanted to see her mother so badly it hurt, but what could she say? What words of comfort could she offer? Her mother had suffered something unimaginably horrible, and she worried of the hurt that always lingered after.
She stepped from the car, grabbing the coffee and bagels she had brought with her as she approached the front door. She rang the door bell, only hoping that their reunion would be a somewhat pleasant one.
Last night had shaken Demeter more than she'd cared to admit to either herself or Thanatos. She'd gone out only expecting to go hunting for a hostile Central American cryptid. She hadn't expected to narrowly avoid an unexpected run in with the brother who hated her the most in this world. After that narrow escape, she'd made her way back home as quickly as she could. The goddess had considered going straight back to New York state, but she'd promised Thanatos that she wouldn't run away from this place again. She owed the death god too much to break her word to him.
Since returning home late last night, Demeter had been keeping herself busy with her plants in the back yard, in particular the trees. She had a plan for them, and for the majority of her property here in general.
Demeter was in the midst of her work when she heard the faint sound of the interior doorbell. Not certain who would be coming to visit her and knowing that Thanatos wouldn't bother with doorbells, she cautiously walked around the perimeter of the house.
As soon as she saw her eldest daughter, Demeter felt an explosion of conflicting emotions within her heart. A part of her wanted to run away while another wanted to run towards her. Joy, sorrow, grief, relief all muddled together.
A half-choked sob escaped her lips before she clapped her hands to her mouth to stifle the rest, tears whelled up in her eyes.
Persephone's head snapped over to the sound of the sob. The years hadn't been kind to her nerves, and the sudden sound had startled her. When she saw her mother, her throat clenched. Sensing the woman wasn't going to approach closer on her own, she set her things down on the porch, hurrying towards the woman.
"Momma..." she murmured, reaching a hand out to the woman.
That word... That single word was all it took to move Demeter to action. She may have lost one child recently, but the ones who still lived held strong sway over their mother's heart.
"Persephone," she said weakly even as she reached out for her daughter, to catch her in a tight embrace the moment she was close enough to do so.
Persephone smiled, hugging back just as tight. To be held by her mother, to smell her...everything felt right in the world. She turned her face to tap a kiss on her mother's cheek. "I'm so glad you're alright, Momma."
Demeter was silent for a moment as her daughter kissed her. Then she began to tremble a little. "I'm sorry," she stammered softly. "I'm so sorry for everything."
"Shhh," Persephone murmured, pulling back to get a good look at her mother. "You have nothing to apologize for." She smiled, reaching out to wipe away a tear from her mother's cheek. "Come on. I brought coffee and bagels. Let's go inside where we can talk."
The earth goddess nodded as she collected herself. Much to her own surprise, she found herself smiling a little despite her conflicted, turbulent emotions. "Alright."
She led the way into the house. Inside, it was clear that she hadn't been there long, since most of the furniture of the living area was still covered in dropcloths. The kitchen was cleaned, though, and the breakfast table was arranged with fresh linens and flowers.
Persephone followed at her heels, stooping to pick up her things. She glanced around at the house, which had once been so full of life...now so empty. The last time she had been there was during her soujourn when the Devil had been playing with her mind and emotions. She followed her mother into the kitchen, setting her things down on the counter. "I didn't know what you would be in the mood for so I got a few types of cream cheese and an assortment of bagels. The coffee is how you like it though." She set a cup out in her mother's direction as she unloaded the brown bag from the bagel shop. She tried her best to act like no time had passed. She wasn't exactly eager to dive into catch up time. "Thanatos let me know you were here."
Demeter sighed. "I thought he might after I heard him speaking with Hades last night." She brought out a few plates and set them down at the table. "He stopped by shortly before daybreak to make sure I hadn't run back to the Sidhe after that near miss encounter." She gratefully took the cup of coffee and drank deeply from it.
Persephone sat herself down with her own coffee, grabbing strawberry cream cheese and spreading it onto a cinnamon swirl bagel. "I'm glad you didn't run away. I've missed you a lot." She offered her mother a warm smile. "Hades...don't let him bother you overly much. I mean, if he's a reason you're afraid to be here."
Her mother shook her head a little. "No. He's actually got nothing to do with why I was so afraid of coming back." Interestingly enough, when she spoke of Hades she did so nonchalantly. There was no subconscious bitterness or tinge to her words. "Part of it was I was ashamed of myself for leaving Zale and you for so long without any word... I hadn't meant to, but..." She rubbed her eyes. "I was not myself for a long time. No... There might be one person I'm truly afraid of seeing now that I've returned, but it's not Hades..."
"It's okay. You have nothing to worry about, Mom." Persephone didn't want to make her think too hard on the child she had lost. "We've taken good care of Zale--" Except for that time when her possessed daughter had cut him, but that was so long ago. "--and I know he'll be happy to see you no matter what."
"How is he?" Demeter asked hesitantly. "I haven't seen him for so long... He must've grown so much."
"Good. Happy," Persephone started, trying to reassure her mother that everything was okay. "He's smart and really mature for his age. He has grown--though probably not as much as he'd like." She laughed at that. "He's...amazing. He's such a good kid." And he felt like hers...like maybe he'd always meant to be hers and Hades's. She didn't dare say that part aloud to her mother.
Demeter nodded wistfully, imagining her son in her mind's eye for a moment. "I'm so glad that he's had the two of you while I was away. I don't think I'd be nearly comfortable with him in anyone else's care at this point."
"He's a good boy...he's been very patient with us. We're not perfect parents. No one is," Dahlia murmured, gnawing on her bagel. "But we love him, and I promise you we've done our very best." She took a sip of coffee, grinning against the brim. "You know I bet you've made Hades a little nervous with your timing...he and I are set to be remarried this week."
"Married? Again?" Demeter gave her daughter a confused, concerned look. "So are things alright between you two? Last time..." She trailed off, remembering the state her daughter's relationship with her brother had been the last time they'd spent time with one another.
"Things are great...there were some cloudy times, but those were mostly my fault admittedly," Dahlia murmured, sipping her coffee. "But things lately have been wonderful between us. Idyllic even." She scrunched her nose. "Unless you count the amnesia thing, but..." She shoot her head. "Nevermind. Long story. Stupid and irrelevant."
Demeter sighed and stirred her coffee thoughtfully. "Seems like I've missed quite a bit while I've been away," she said. Then she looked up at her daughter. "However, as long as you and your siblings are happy, that's all that matters to me at this point. Speaking of which... Have you or your brother seen Amara since I've been... away, or is she still out across the ocean with her father?"
"Oh you know how it is these days," Dahlia laughed, waving her hand dismissively. "Technology being the way it is, she and Zale communicate all the time. Sometimes he even lets me say hi on Skype. Sometimes." She shrugged, tapping the lid of her cup. "They're traveling a lot."
Demeter nodded. "I'm glad she's doing well and that she is connected with her brother." Now that she knew her known children here in Miami and beyond were doing well, she felt more at ease.
Dahlia smiled brightly, relaxing back into her chair. "...so. How long do you think you're going to stay around?"
"Awhile, I think," Demeter said after finally taking a bit out of her chosen bagel. "Danu has been encouraging me to return home for a few months now. I wouldn't be surprised if Than went behind my back and already filed the paperwork for an extended leave of absence."
"Yeah...Thanatos is definitely meddling a bit, but in a good way. He's just looking out for you," Dahlia replied, giving her mother a significant look meant to imply that she should cut him some slack. "After all, he sent me your way."
Demeter managed an affectionate chuckle. "I owe Than a great deal. If it weren't for him, I don't know where I'd be right now." She gave her daughter a reassuring look. "Don't worry, dearest. I assure you, he has only my utmost respect."
"Good," Persephone replied with a grin. She finished the last of her coffee, setting the cup back down on the table. "Now. Is there anything else you would like me to catch you up on?"
Her mother thought for a long moment, debating inwardly whether or not to ask the question she finally, hesitantly put to voice. "How is your father these days?" she asked. "Does he still live and work where I last remember? I... really ought to see him and talk to him before the rest of the family catches wind that I'm back in Miami. He... needs to know.... about..." Her voice trailed off nervously before she gave up saying anything further. Demeter took a few slow breaths, trying to steady herself by remembering lessons learned in New York about how to calm her turbulent emotions.
Persephone's face fell immediately. Yes, this was a conversation that she was definitely not looking foward to. "You haven't heard yet..." She frowned, reaching out to take her mother's hand. "My news is not good mother, and I am sorry if it causes you any more heartache than the one you carry with you...Subrosa. They concocted this scheme. The family tried so hard to save him. Hades...he tried so hard to bring him back, but...Zeus is gone." So was Subrosa thankfully.
Demeter's face paled and her eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn't believe her ears. "What...? No.... No... That can't be true... It's Zeus... He can't be... "
"I wouldn't say such horrible things if they weren't true...there wasn't even a soul to put back into a body. At the time of his death, a...Zeus's strange progeny took ownership of the soul," Dahlia frowned, trying to explain. "However, our allies crushed Subrosa, so our king did not die in vain..."
The earth goddess barely heard what her daughter was telling her. Suddenly the bright, sunlit, welcoming kitchen seemed tiny and suffocating. "I... need air..." she stammered as she shakily got to her feet and stumbled through the door to the backyard.
It was a good thing that Demeter's home was at least ten miles away from her nearest neighbor, and that there was very little traffic on the road which connected to the driveway. Despite the fact that it was currently the tail end of summer in southern Florida, snow was falling from the clear blue sky just over the goddess's land. And Demeter stood there in the midst of the abnormal display of weather, tears coursing silently down her cheeks.
Persephone frowned, following behind her mother while still maintaining a fair distance. She could not understand what her mother was going through. She had never had a great wealth of feeling for her father--being sequestered by one party or another for most of your life would do that to you--but still she felt for her mother's suffering. She was surprised by the sudden display of power, not having seen one so grand in a long time. She stared for a moment before crossing the frosty ground to place a hand on her mother's shoulder.
Demeter had brought her hands to her lips in a prayer-like gesture, though it was mostly an attempt to keep herself from crying aloud and dissolving into incoherant sobbing. In the back of her mind, she could hear the voice of her recent mentor in New York.
"Hold fast to the reins of your emotions, Demeter. Do not let them run away from you. Do not let your grief consume you. It's alright to be sad, but you must stay strong."
The earth goddess felt her daughter's hand on her shoulder, and she placed one of her own atop it. She opened her eyes and looked about her at the snow that was falling still around her. Even she seemed surprise at the display, but only marginally, as if she were used to it.
"If it's one thing I've learned it's that our family can act as one during the darkest times. It's comforting," Persephone gave a sad smile, before glancing up at the sky. "I don't think Dad liked this trick the first time you did it...maybe we should go inside where it's still warm." She nodded back towards the house.
Demeter nodded and took another deep breath. "Alright," she said softly. Before she turned to head towards the house, she focused her thoughts and powers on the abnormal weather around her property. Then, with a gesture of her hand, she made the snowfall stop. Just like that, all that was left were a few scattered flakes drifting to the ground, and the powder on the ground that would soon melt under the bright Florida sun.
Persephone had faith that now that her mother was with family again, the hard times would be that much more bearable. "[What do you want me to say if anyone asks about you?]" She, Hades and Thanatons had made no particular agreement on if they were to keep quiet about Demeter's presence in Miami. She wanted to do whatever it was her mother wanted.
"[You can let them know that I've returned, if they ask,]" Demeter said as they re-entered the house. She took a seat at the kitchen table once more, only this time she rested her elbows on the table and buried her face in her hands. "[All I ask is that no one is told of what truly happened after I left.... I doubt that many beyond you, Zale, Hades, and...]" She almost said his name, but stopped herself before continuing. "[Well... i don't believe many others even knew I was with child when I left. I think most assumed I'd run off because of what happened with me and the Subrosa]"
"[Okay. I can more than respect that,]" Persephone murmured. She stayed standing, running her hand in circles over her mother's back. "[Hades and I are working out what to tell Zale together...if you could just give us a chance to work that out before you try to see him...that would probably be for the best.]" She loved her mother, but Zale was still a boy--a boy who had been given away (albeit for good reasons). This had to be handled carefully.
Demeter nodded. "[Of course,]" she said. "[I understand.]" Oh how she longed to see her son, but seeing him now, after this new emotional blow, would not be good for either of them. All Zale had know was that Zeus and his mother were close and made each other happy. He'd never known the extent of how close they'd really gotten. He wasn't even told that the father of the sibling he would've had was the thunder god.
Persephone finally sat when she sensed her mother had calmed a bit. "[I know it is hard now...but not everything is so bad. We are all together here, and you have granddaughters...]" She pursed her lips for a moment, wondering if it would seem too much like bragging to speak of her children. "[What I mean is that there are things to be sad about, but there is also much to be happy for.]"
Her mother looked up at her and gave her a tender smile. "[I do look forward to when I can see them finally." she reached out and grasped her daughter's hand, pressing a kiss to it. "[You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear that they were born safe and are thriving.]"
"[Delaney will just be happy to have another hand to spoil her,]" Dahlia laughed, scooting her chair over so that she could lean against her mother. "[And Dasha is just...she's an angel. I can't wait for you to meet them, but for now I'm just happy you're home.]"
Summary: Persephone goes to see her mother and delivers some hard news.