""Well, we want to have a baby.""
"Huh?! Wait, really!? I bet they'll be adorable!!!" Astraea's reaction was absolutely priceless, her love of cute things was obviously true. "Will I be able to hold them?" She asked, pushing her fingers together getting all giddy at the idea.
"Of course, you can even be the child's… god mother." Gamelia smiled.
"R-r-r-r-really!!!"
"Yes, we've already agreed that for one to be worthy of that, they'd need to be worthy of us. You have proven to be so, so much so I almost feel bad for not trusting Hera's word on this one." Ceraunius said with a relaxing sigh. "Though to be fair to myself, she's been different for the last 10 years. She might think she's slick, but I can tell, she's going to try and find all of them again."
"You mean, she's going to search for their reincarnations now?"
"She'll depart soon, I can feel it too." Gamelia added.
"The only one missing will be, Alfia…"
"Yes, but that won't stop Hera, she wants her children back. I wouldn't put it past her to push herself, so I'll have Zeus go with her. Perhaps they can make it a lovers retreat of sorts. Not really that far off."
"Those two are the toughest of us gods. But if Ganesha's one to go off of, we all have our limits. A trip like that could be good for them."
Ceraunius, and Gamelia stood on their own legs. Standing there, their presence was clear and fierce. The unyielding power of the sky, incarnated into two forms, one of a pounding fury, shown by his muscles brimming with the potential for mass violence, and loving care, with a mind ready to determine when each is required. The other an incarnation of the soothing sights of the sky to bring joy, and wisdom, the right to rule… the heart to love, and the mind to know the balance required of her.
""Lady Astraea, we accept your invitation to become family.""
"We've accepted, but we still need to talk to Zeus and Hera." Gamelia smiled.
"Once we are done assuring them…" Ceraunius continued, with an emotional wellspring coming up from deep within, the type only born of a pain that he and Gamelia shared.
"Of our choice, and of…" Gamelia tried to continue her husband's words but began suffering from the same pain as well.
"The twins, we'll bring them…"
"Welcome them…"
"With love…"
And that was that, words were done. They'd lost everything 10 years ago, then grew, and grew some more, only to lose even more. And now, they've been recognized, and offered a family and a home again.
Astraea stood up, and hugged both of them, allowing them to show just a little bit of weakness. "Cry it out, children. You've earned a good cry." She said with a motherly embrace, she felt the two of them tremble, and saw how much they sought out each other. "And, one more thing…"
""Welcome home!!!""
After the conversation, and confirmation of their commitment to join the familia, a small party was held, one that didn't go too far, for the sake of Ceraunius and Gamelia's emotions.
…
In a mountain village, Zeus had been reading one of the books Hera wrote, enjoying the details and effort she put into them, when he felt it, a titanic shift in the world's fate.
"It's time already?" He sighed, through his beard. "Those two must have found a worthy god to serve, let's see… Astraea… She's a good choice. I suppose now, it's only a matter of time before they show up here again. It's a little earlier than I would have liked, but I'll have to tell them anyway. Tomorrow, when the two wake up, I'll tell them everything about who I really am."
…
In Beltane, Hera shared a similar sensation Zeus did. Her lips curled into a bitter sweet smile, and tears fell onto the fabric was embroidering. Her dear friend noticed her situation.
"Hera, is everything alright?" Bheara asked with a hint of worry in her voice, sipping some tea.
"Huh, oh… No, it's just that they decided to join a new familia, together."
"Oh dear, that's sudden."
"Yes, it is, but it's Astraea. So they'll be fine." Hera smiled, crying. "They'll finally have a familia again. And they're going to have a baby as soon as they can. On top of that, I'm finally going to see Zaria for the first time!!! I don't know how to…" Words left her, and she just continued crying.
"It's a bitter sweet moment. You're proud of them, and also fearful of losing them too." Bheara explained, receiving a nod from Hera. "Don't worry about losing them, if I've learned anything from my time with you, ever since you showed up here with them in tow… Is that they'll always love you. And they'll protect each other with a ferocity unlike anything else."
"You're right, I'm sure they'll be fine, as long as they are together. I hope I get the chance to see their child."
"I'm sure you will, Hera. I am certain of it. They'd move mountains to get that to happen."
…
Elsewhere in the world, a boy with silky black hair was having a nightmare, standing in front of a flame of horrible scale. And just as he was about to burn, the image changed to the scene of a village house, one that called for him to come. A deep seated ache in his heart as if he had to go there creeped up with every fiber of his being. He looked around for anything in the dream, to tell him things, and found a name, as well as the face of a girl roughly his age.
He woke up with a start. "I need to check a map. I'll meet her if I go there."
…
In another village, a girl with shining brown hair faced a similar nightmare, she slaughtered monsters by the dozens. She looked different, but she knew it was her. It was just that gut feeling, the one you get when you know you're right. And just as she was about to die in the nightmare… She saw a village house, it called to her, as if it was a mother begging for her to come home. She looked around searching for information, and found a name, as well as the face of a boy her age.
She awoke with a smile, and immediately went to find a map. "He was so CUTE!!!"
…