Ungodly Chaos Book Three of the Ungodly Series

Chapter Thirteen: Come Back

Phoebie watched the time tick by, suddenly laughing at the irony of it all. Time was what got them into this mess. Time was what was causing her problems. She tapped her foot, watching as the children raced back and forth past the huge recessed window showing off the gardens. Her arms folded across her chest above her stomach as she became more and more impatient. This was getting beyond ridiculous. She wanted to pace, but her huge stomach made that awkward, so she sat in the window seat, staring out at the kids. The light began to dim outside, so she struggled to her feet and went to the door to yell for the children to come in. Their tutor would be there in the morning and they needed baths and dinner before bed, though not necessarily in that order. Phoebie ushered them through their chores, and still Rafe was missing.

Phoebie began to chew her nails in a nervous habit she thought she'd kicked long ago. She sat in the living room, a book on her lap, leg bouncing, unable to concentrate. What if Rafe had gotten into trouble? What if he'd gotten arrested? What if the gods had caught up with him because of their time meddling? What if he'd gotten hurt? She snapped the book closed, resolved to ask Janus to go look for Rafe, and started the insurmountable task of getting to her feet, only to let out a strangled cry when a portal opened in front of her and a very flushed Rafe tumbled through. He was grinning broadly and carrying several plastic bags. He paced to her and kissed her soundly.

“I got a lot!” He proclaimed proudly before Phoebie thunked him on the head with her book. “Ouch! What was that for/” He squawked. Phoebie let out a frustrated growl.

“I thought you might have gotten hurt! Or worse, arrested!” Phoebie scolded. Rafe looked at her incredulously and laughed. He headed towards the kitchen.

“Do you not trust your Familiar to run errands for you as instructed?” He shot over his shoulder at her, then paused at the counter with his hand on a bag. “Wait-how is getting arrested worse?”

“That's not the point! I thought you .. something might have happened.. and I was here not knowing and I didn't know where you were, and I couldn't leave the kids.. and you were gone so long..” Phoebie's eyes filled with tears and Rafe turned to take her in his arms as she bit back a sob.

“I'm sorry Bee, really.” He soothed, rubbing his hands up and down her back. “But really I was just basically going a little nuts. I sort of went from store to store and bought whatever I could find.” And with that, Rafe turned back to the bags and began dumping out the contents onto the counter. A wealth of chocolate candy fell out and Phoebie muffled a sob.

“You just said 'chocolate', so I bought as many kinds as I could, and I'm sure whatever you don't like the kids will. But I tried to get a bunch of your favorites, but I also know pregnancy can sometimes mess with your taste buds-mmf.” He didn't get any further than that, because Phoebie pulled his face to hers and kissed him, silencing his explanation.

“I take back everything I said. I love you, and you're brilliant, and this is fantastic. Now help me hide it from the kids.” Phoebie instructed.

“Aww. Don't take back everything! I liked that you worried about me.” Rafe pouted. “But seriously, why were you worried I'd get arrested?” He didn't get an answer though, Phoebie had already stuffed her mouth full of a chocolate caramel confection.

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Bel drove Emma to the ground and caged her in between his limbs. For a moment, her ears rang and her head ached from the force of the fall, but she was decently well fed, despite still recovering from the parasite's interference, so she recovered quickly. Bel had his claws dug into her, but he had frozen, a frown on his face, as if confused. She could almost see the two warring sides of him battling it out in his eyes. Emma placed one of her hands on his, currently digging into her shoulder.

“Bel. Stop. I'll give you some of what I have. You don't have to take it from me. You don't have to do whatever it is that's making you hesitate.” Emma murmured. Bel bellowed at her and slammed her shoulders against the ground. Emma raised her other hand and placed it on his cheek. “Bel, please.” This time she knew for certain she had seen the flicker of who he used to be in his face. His expression took on a tortured look and he threw himself from her. Emma watched him pace away, sitting up slowly as he got further away. Bel had a grip on his own head like he might tear it in half, and Emma worried for a moment she might have to stop him from trying. He strode back to her angrily.

“You! I..!” He gripped his head again as if confused. Emma wrapped her arms around her knees and patiently waited. “I should hate you!” He exploded, then more softly. “Why don't I hate you?” Emma's head rocked back like she'd been slapped.

“Why should you hate me?” She questioned him gently.

“You.. I.. the child! The forest god! How many others have there been?” Bel demanded.

“Oh you mean like you? How many have there been in your past, Bel?” Emma made a face. Bel stepped backwards, then turned and roared into the forest in outrage. He held his head for several long, silent minutes. Without facing her, he began to speak again.

“Other than rites I have been called to attend, I have physically touched no one, choosing instead to rely on my dream capabilities.” He turned to pin her with his gaze. “And I certainly felt no gratification from physical stimuli. No one but you can do that for me now. Do you understand me Emma? Since I Claimed you-there has been no one but you!” Bel had her shoulders in his hands in a vice-like grip again, and she winced, drawing back slightly. His expression changed from the frenzied look to confused again and he let her go.

“I saw things... while I was in Hell Emma. I saw you with him. I saw children. You were happy. You had forgotten me. All while I battled to return to you!” Bel raged. Emma blanched as understanding started to trickle through to her. “And I thought it was all part of my torture, I didn't want to believe it.. and then I get here, and there he is.. with you.. and there's a child!” Bel slammed a fist into a tree. It shuddered and creaked, rocking back and forth. Emma slowly stood. She was trying to treat Bel like a cornered animal, but there was one thing she couldn't do, and that was stay away from him, though she probably should. She needed to take him in her arms and hold him, because she thought she understood, though she found the root of his pain. She approached him slowly, hands up.

“Bel, I do have love for Cern.” Emma spoke softly. Bel spun on her swiftly and she raised her hands higher. “But I love you. You have to know those images weren't all real. Yes, Cern and I have a child together. I still had to feed, and I'm nothing like you. I can't do that dream-weaving thing you do, and you were gone and Luci.. well, you saw what's been happening to Luci. Cern was there. He was kind, he was helping me with.. well, everything: My Aunt's new Innate status, Luci, searching for you, just overall being and surviving...” Bel jerked at the mention of them looking for him and Emma nodded. She could almost touch him now.

“Yes Bel, we were trying to find you, or bring you back, or find a way home, but Luci can't move from this plane, and while he's tethered here, so am I.. unless.. I cut him loose, and..” Emma bit back a sob. For a fraction of a second, Bel's façade broke, and she saw him react. A look of heartbreak quickly stifled. He sniffed derisively.

“You never did know when to give up on a lost cause.” He sneered, but Emma closed the distance between them and the next instant had him in her arms.

“No I don't.” She murmured against his chest. She felt him go tense. He struggled for a moment, but she was pouring everything she had into the embrace. All of her love, fear, need and loneliness. He got it all. She felt his hand come up to tangle in the back of her hair.

“Emma...” He groaned and then he was changing, his body shrinking, his skin returning to human coloring, his hair and eyes changing to the pale colors she remembered. She kept her face pressed to his chest, rubbing her cheek back and forth, taking in his sweet scent. Now she waited to see if this would last.