Something Unexpected

[Demeter]

Cian kept to his spot on the chaise section of their large couch. He hadn't said anything but the situation had taken an odd little turn after he'd returned home. After telling Lia about their visitor, he'd received a cryptic text message that said many more dangers would surround Ruri and he should consider making the trio a quartet. He could only assume that the message had come from Charis and he wondered, not only how she'd gotten electronics to work in the dead zone that was Haven, but who in their right mind had given that woman a cell phone. That, however, was a mystery for later as he had company over now.

He could see that some introductions were needed. "Ruri, this is Talbot, and old friend of mine and Lia's. Talbot, that is Ruri. She's a recent addition to mine and Lia's marriage. We lost our minds one night and she managed to seduce both of us. No thanks to a certain sister of hers who apparently can't keep her mouth shut about how to take of my arm bands."

He slid a look towards the young woman, grinning when she flushed. "No doubt she still remembers what happens when one manages to seduce an incubus and a succubus without the proper preparation."

He sat up a little, having sunk down into the corner cushions. "I invited Talbot here tonight because I think we need to clear the air a little. Both myself and Talbot left Lia without warning. I've already hashed out my issues with Lia and I'll have to do the same for you, Talbot. But, for tonight, why don't we start by with what you told me this afternoon before we deal with what happens now."

He turned his head to look at Lia. "Do you want Ruri and myself to stay?"

[Maira]

Lia couldn't help but wince inwardly when Cian referred to Talbot as their old friend while introducing him to Ruri. Then, when Cian introduced Ruri as the sneaky girl who had seduced them both, she felt the younger woman shift uncomfortably next to her and she couldn't help but giggle. She squeezed Ruri's knee and the girl's already bright red face somehow managed to get even more color to it.

When Cian stopped teasing Ruri, Lia looked away from the girl and toward Talbot for the first time since he'd arrived at the house. His nerves were clear on his face, she'd say he actually almost looked afraid. Confused, and strangely protective given the situation, when Cian asked if she wanted him and Ruri to say she just shook her head gently 'no'.

With a small smile for her husband and lover as they left the livingroom, Lia turned her attention to the box of heavenly smelling pastries. Getting out of her comfy chair she opened the box and her smile grew and she asked happily, "You still remember our favorites?" The cherry danish was calling her name, and Lia couldn't resist it any longer. She plucked it from the box and tucked into it right away. After savoring a few bites, she moved to sit next to Talbot on the couch and offered him a bite like she always had. It was habit. It was normal. And despite the fear and hurt that was churning her stomach again, she knew what she wanted. Whatever he said couldn't make things worse. Just like with Cian, she would take him back in an instant if that's what he wanted.

[Shinigami]

Talbot was startled when a young woman he had never seen before opened the door. She plucked the pastry box from his hand and all but herded him towards the livingroom. He hovered nervously for a moment, but when the strange woman was pulled down into the seat with Lia his heart gave a little ache at the easy intimacy. Tale decided to ease himself onto the large couch. There weren't many other options, and he figured it would probably be better if he were sitting for conversation to come.

When Cian made introductions, and regulated Talbot to an "old friend" it definitely felt like getting punched in the chest. He clenched his jaw to make sure he didn't let out a sound and tried to look passive and civil at the other woman, Ruri, he was being introduced to. At the mention how how they met, however, he couldn't help but remember little moments like what had happened with Foster. He could feel flares of sadness, jealousy, and protectiveness rise up, but he kept them settled as best he could. It looked pretty clear to him that they had moved on without him, gotten married, and even chosen a third to add into their relationship. He didn't really have the right to be jealous about it when he was the one who had left and stayed gone for so long.

When Lia essentially told Cian she wanted to speak with Talbot alone, he got nervous all over again, but he was also a little glad. He wasn't so sure he could say what he needed to in front of their new lover. As Lia helped herself to the pastries, he had to huff a little laugh at her question as he answered her softly, "Of course I do." When she sat down next to him it took everything in him not to wrap an arm around her and lean into her like he had done a thousand times before. It was a habit, just like her offering a bite of her pastry. Gods, he wanted to curl up against her and just hold on. He gave her a pleading look of apology as he took a little bite, not wanting to hurt her feelings anymore than he already had.

The next time Talbot spoke his voice was barely louder than a whisper, "Lia, I... I am so, so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. Never intended to..."

[Maira]

He didn't pull her close like she was half expecting, but at least he took a bite of her danish. Lia hoped that meant he at least wasn't going to brush her off entirely if she told him just how she felt. The look he gave her as he took a nibble from her pastry confused Lia a little, until he finally spoke up again. The pain was clear in his voice as he apologized and Lia reacted without even thinking.

In an instant Lia was crawling into Talbot's lap, stradling his thighs, and grabbing his face between her hands. She lifted his face so she could see it and he could see hers as she spoke to him. She wanted him to know that she meant every word that was about to come out of her mouth.

When Talbot finally lifted his eyes to meet hers, Lia told him softly, "I may not understand why you left, I may be sad and hurt that you did, but me not forgiving you isn't an option for me. I never stopped loving you Talbot." Here, she leaned down and kissed him. At first the kiss was nothing more than the lightest brush of her lips against his, but even with that light touch her succubus magic awoke within her and the next kiss was much less chaste. She tangled her fingers in his hair and pressed her lips against his harder than she had planned.

Feeling a shift inside of her as her succubus heritage prepared to take control, Lia knew that if she didn't stop kissing Talbot right away that Cian and Ruri would be able to feel her magic from the next room. It took her a moment to reign in the power, but once she did she just buried her face in Talbot's neck and breathed him in as he held her in his arms for the first time in ages.

She didn't know it, but eventually the tears came again and slipped silently down her cheeks to Talbot's neck and eventually his shirt causing a bit of a wet spot. By the time the tears ran their course, Lia was sound asleep in Talbot's lap.

[Shinigami]

Talbot startled a bit when Lia settled in his lap, but his hands anchored to her hips on instinct. He held his breath when she lifted his face to hers, not sure exactly what was going on, but his breath left him as her words washed over him. He felt a deep flush of relief and by the time her lips touched his, for the first time in a long time, the tension he had been holding on to drained out of his body. Tale wrapped his arms around her waste and pulled her closer as he felt the familiar tingle of her succubus power, and he answered with a few tendrils of his own as their next kiss took a more passionate turn then either of them probably intended.

He hadn't meant to get so involved, but he hadn't been with anyone in quite some time. It was rare for an incubus, so the situation got away from him a bit, but as he felt her start to draw back on her magic he also reigned himself in. Lia tucked herself up against his neck and he was all too happy to just hold on, and by the time he realized the wet spot on his shirt meant she was crying, he realized that tears had been slipping down his cheeks as well.

Talbot started rubbing her back and apologizing, again, explaining himself the best he could, "Gods, Lia, I am so sorry. Never once did I stop loving you. I was a fool, a complete idiot. We were happy. You were happy, talking about having children, and I just... I just started to panic. So many people told me I'd be such a horrible father, for centuries, and it just got so bad I felt like I had to run. And I was gone for so long, and I finally realize I should have just -talked- to you about it, that we could have worked it out... I just thought it had been too long, that you had most likely moved on and I should leave you alone... "

He had trailed off, realizing that Lia had fallen asleep in his arms. He didn't know how much she had heard, but now that he knew how she felt, he shout it through the house again later if she asked him to. He settled his cheek against her and kept rubbing her back with one hand. The other he laid on the back of her neck, dipping into her sleep to keep guard over her dreams. Talbot closed his eyes, still mostly aware of what was going on around him, and just soaked in being able to hold Lia again.

[Demeter]

Cian waited until he heard no sound from the next room over. He peered around the corner, smiling softly when he saw Lia asleep on Talbot. He turned to Ruri and asked her to run up and open the door to Lia's room. After she'd scampered up the stairs, Cian approached the pair in the living room and nudged Talbot. "Come on, I'll show you the way to her room."

After seeing Lia settled onto her bed, Cian asked Ruri to stay with her. He needed to talk with Talbot about other things. He steered the other man away from the bedroom and into his private office. "We need to talk about something but first, I really need to do this," and he just sort of collapsed against the older incubus. He clung for a moment, nuzzling against Talbot's chest. "Missed you," he murmured before taking a deep breath and taking a step back.

"Things are impossibly complicated now. We aren't with Ruri just because. At some point in the near-ish future, she'll find one of the lost God Tools and Lia and myself will be her triad. Ruri doesn't know that this will happen. We can work this out, whatever this could be again, but you have to understand that Ruri isn't going anywhere. We made a promise to protect and support her when the time comes."

[Shinigami]

Talbot opened his eyes as he felt someone familiar approach. He smiled softly up at Cian and gently slipped out of Lia's dreams as he shifted his hold in order to pick her up as he stood up from the couch. He carried her carefully up the steps and into the room he was led to. Once he settled her on the bed he was a little reluctant to just leave her there, wanting to at least settle back into her dreams, but he let Cian guide him out into an office.

Once he found himself suddenly with an armful of incubus, he didn't hesitate to wrap his arms tightly around him and bury is nose in his hair. Tale just breathed in Cian's scent for a moment and wanted to keep holding on, but let go as Cian stepped back.

Mentioned of the God Tools perked him right up, like a splash of cold water to the face. Hypnos had raised him like he was his own, after all, so he had been taught just how important they and their chosen were. "Gods, Cian, I would never, -never- even ask to break up a God Tool Triad." A little frown formed on his face, "Besides, I wouldn't have just asked you and Lia to toss Ruri aside. She obviously means something to the two of you, given how comfortable she is here and with both of you. I've never been that petty."

[Demeter]

Cian shuffled forward and gathered Talbot back into an embrace. "I got a somewhat cryptic text earlier this afternoon. Someone, I suspect The Oracle, said that danger lurks around Ruri and we should make our trio into a quartet. I'm going to assume they meant you. I haven't mentioned this to the two girls. Ruri doesn't have a clue and can't know until she finds the sword. And Lia is far to stressed at the moment to deal with this."

Cian let his head rest against Talbot's shoulder. "I don't know what to do. I don't know how to handle this now," he said and just stayed put. After a while, he lifted his head. "It's getting late. Do you want to stay the night? Ruri's taken over our guest room; we're looking for a new place to accommodate all of us. You can either take the couch or crash with me. We can work this all out in the morning."

[Shinigami]

Talbot wrapped his arms back around Cian as he shuffled close again, the embrace settling any ruffled feathers and smoothing out his expression. It quickly turned to one of concern, though, as he heard Cian talk about the message he had received. It seemed like the man was stressed enough himself. The least he could do was hold him close and comfort him a little longer.

At the offer to stay the night, Talbot suddenly realized just how long of a day it had been - and just how badly he wanted to stay. "Can I... Can I stay with you?" He felt like a little boy asking to spend the night in his parents' bed, but he really couldn't fathom giving up the touch of at least one of his loves so soon after so long.

Tale paused by the room they had settled Lia in as they left the office, "I just, I want to check on Lia one last time. Just one last quick check on her dreams for the night."

[Maira]

Ruri was still unsure about Talbot, but seeing Lia asleep in his lap with a content smile on her face helped warm her heart toward him a little. If Lia could fall asleep, despite the crazy emotions Ruri knew she was feeling because of him and everything else, then maybe she could trust the man with Lia and Cian's hearts again. Maybe. She would reserve her judgement for later because time would be the true test of the man.

When Cian asked her, Ruri hurried up the stairs to go open up Lia's room for Talbot so he could put the succubus to bed. She was going to leave the room, she assumed Talbot would be staying with Lia tonight, but Cian asked Ruri to stay with her instead. A little surprised she blinked at him curiously before nodding to show that she would do as he asked. After all, Ruri preferred sleeping with either of her lovers most nights, and she was happiest cuddled between both of them, so staying with Lia wasn't going to be hard for her at all.

Once the two men left Lia's room, Ruri slipped out of her jeans and unhooked her bra so she could pull it out the sleeve of her shirt. She left them in a pile on the side of the bed opposite the door and then crawled in next to Lia. Immediately the succubus rolled towards her and Ruri happily snuggled in close to the other woman, resting her head on the same pillow as Lia and putting her arms around her.

*****

Lia's dreams were soft and warm and familiar. In the morning when she finally woke, she found herself in her own bed instead of on Talbot's lap and Ruri was wrapped around her like normally happened when they spent nights together. For a few moments she laid there wondering if the events from the day before had actually happened or if it had just been an especially vivid dream. As the fog of sleep eventually wore off, Lia realized that she could hear two male voices coming from Cian's bedroom and a small smile flickered onto her face. Talbot hadn't been a dream. Even through the walls of their home she knew that laugh. It matched the warmth that had suffused her dreams the night before, the voice matched the music that was always in her dreams when Talbot was in them.

Looking at Ruri, she realized that the girl wasn't likely to be awake for a few more hours, so she eased out from the younger woman's grasp and off the bed before slowly making her way out of her bedroom. She had only been in yoga pants and a tshirt by the time Talbot showed up at the house the day before so she hadn't even needed to change into pjs when whoever it was put her to bed the night before. She tamed her hair as best she could in the hallway before she knocked once on Cian's bedroom door and then let herself in.

She found the two men in a familiar position, one snuggled into the chest of the other and both of them smiling at her like they'd been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. She couldn't help but giggle at them before running the few steps to the bed and jumping on it. She yanked the blankets off them just far enough that she could crawl in under them too and she wedged herself between them, kissing each happily. When she kissed Talbot, she whispered to him, "Thank you for my lovely dreams."

[Demeter]

They may have started out on opposite sides of the bed, both exhausted by the emotional aspects of the day, but they'd gravitated towards each other. Cian ended up snuggled against the older man and sleeping easy until morning. They chattered about nothing important until Lia leapt up on the bed and wiggled between them. Momentarily put out about being separated from Talbot, Cian lightly bumped Lia. "And how are you this morning?"

Cian was thankful that in some aspects, Ruri was a typical college student. She liked sleep and to sleep in whenever possible. Today, Ruri didn't have any classes until the late afternoon so he expected her to sleep for hours yet. He prodded Lia. "We need to talk about Ruri. I got a text yesterday, I'm going to assume that someone stupid gave The Oracle a cell phone that works in Haven, and it said to make the trio a quartet."

[Maira]

Lia's lovey dovey, giddy mood was ruined almost instantly when Cian mentioned the cryptic text message he'd received the day before. She turned from Talbot and looked at Cian, concern clearly written on her face. "A quartet? Really?" A hand went to her belly protectively as she thought about what danger there might be if Ruri was in need of a third mate.

Shoving that concern to the side for now, Lia turned back to Talbot and eyed him curiously before commenting, "The text came on the day you came home, I can only think that means that whoever sent it knows you're here and knows who you already are to Cian and me."

At the unfazed look on Talbot's face, Lia made the connection that Cian must have already talked to him about this and she looked back at her husband and asked him, "The Oracle gave us a choice before, I'm sure she'd give Talbot a choice too, right?" When Cian shrugged, clearly confused what to think, she held out her hand and did the 'gimme' motion. "I'll text back and ask then," she told Cian as she waited for him to find his phone.

While she waited for Cian to find his phone, she asked Talbot, "If the Oracle says you get a choice, is this something you'd want to do? Something you'd be willing to be a part of?" She dearly hoped he'd say yes, because she didn't want to lose him again. But if he said no...

While she waited for both men, Lia did the best to ignore her slowly churning stomach.

[Shinigami]

Once Talbot was happy that Lia was resting comfortably with Ruri and her dreams would remain pleasant he was content to follow Cian to his room to sleep. While they started out on opposite sides of the bed, he was happy to wake snuggled up to Cian. They stayed cuddled together and chatted comfortably about nothing important until Talbot heard Lia's distinct footsteps heading for the room. He returned her smile when he looked up and gave a quiet laugh when she pounced on the bed and wiggled her way under the covers with them, whispering a 'welcome' when she thanked him for her dreams.

He settled against her when Cian mentioned the mysterious text, gauging her reaction. Other than looking a bit worried, he was relieved to see how easily it settled with her. "I almost didn't come. I almost turned down the job. It was Hypnos that insisted I take it. He's never been that adamant about anything I did with my life before."

Talbot was truly starting to hope that this could work, but everyone had to be on board for that. That meant Ruri, too. "I was willing to do this once before, Lia, and I never stopped loving either of you. I'm willing to do this now. If everyone will have me." He kissed Lia and made a show of leaning over to kiss Cian.

He gave a little sigh, not wanting to stir up anything else, but he had to ask. Talbot wouldn't feel comfortable trying to fit himself into the relationship otherwise. "How do you think Ruri will feel about this?" He gestures to the three of them snuggled in bed together.

[Maira]

The happy giddy feeling returned when Talbot told her what she'd been hoping he'd say. It got even bigger when he told her that Hypnos had insisted on him taking the job in Cedar Valley. It sounded rather like his god was in on the whole protect Ruri thing. Lia had never wanted him to leave before, so if he was willing to stay and give things another try she couldn't help being thrilled.

And then Talbot sighed.

Tensing up, Lia knew that the sigh likely heralded some sort of 'but' statement. Like he wanted to do the relationship but... With the 'but' being something she probably wasn't going to like. Or something that would throw a wrench in the whole thing. Only, when he spoke, Lia wasn't immediately heart-broken. He was worried about what Ruri would think of the original trio being back in bed together.

At first Lia wanted to brush off Talbot's concern, but the more she thought about it the more she wondered herself what the younger girl would think. Would she be hurt by them bringing their old lover back into their lives? Would she want to keep her relationships with them separate from any that Talbot would have with them? Would she want to be involved?

[Demeter]

Cian enjoyed his moment of snuggling with Lia and Talbot but the thought of what Ruri would want weighed heavily on him. He remembered what Charis had once said to Lia and himself; there were others who could protect and care for the girl if they were unwilling or unable to do so. From what he'd heard, it seemed like the three of them were willing to go through with it but Ruri was the one who would wield the weapon once it was found.

"We can't tell her about the sword; not yet but we should discuss this with her. She knows that you are important to us, Talbot, and an important part of our past. Given Ruri's, uh, unique family structure, she might be more wiling then anyone else I know. After all, look at her sister, the one who lives in New Orleans. That's a poly-amorous mess and Ruri holds nothing against them."

Out of the three of them, Cian had the best understanding of Ruri's family. After all, he was father to her nephew. "Once Ruri is awake and, you know, fueled with caffeine, we can talk with her about this." Some might think that they were moving fast as Talbot had only returned to them the day before but he just fit with them, the same way Ruri just fit.

[Shinigami]

Talbot was happy to hear that Ruri was likely to have an open mind about adding him back in to the relationship. He just hoped they all fit well together. He hadn't seen much of the girl the night before, but it was clear how much she cared for his lovers after seeing her curled up in bed with Lia.

He never understood why the gods liked to keep important information about events concerning someone's destiny from them. Talbot would like to think someone destined for a God Tool could handle knowing about it. At least they'd be able to prepare, mentally, for the task. Cian seemed adamant in following through with not telling the girl, though, so Tale would leave it be.

Talbot hummed at the mention of caffeine. "I don't have to be back at the school until the afternoon, so that should work. Unless I'm need for more pointless paperwork." He frowned and started to look around the room. "Where is -my- phone?"

[Maira]

She had felt Lia get up but had fallen asleep almost as soon as the bedroom door closed behind the other woman. If she'd been more awake, she might have been able to figure out just where Lia was going, but as it was she drifted back into her dreams and didn't wake again until just before noon. When the sun shining in the window finally made it too warm to keep the blankets on, Ruri began to stir. She stretched out her arm to find Lia and pouted slightly when she realized the other woman wasn't in bed any longer. It wasn't unusual for Lia and Cian to wake before her when she spent the night with them, but it was always nice to wake up with them still next to her. Rolling out of bed, Ruri didn't bother to grab her pants or bra from the floor, she just padded out of the room and headed for the kitchen. If Lia was awake, she would have at least made coffee knowing that Ruri didn't function without it.

Pantsless, barefoot, and her hair a mess, Ruri wandered into the kitchen on auto pilot grabbing a mug and making herself a cup of coffee. She was totally oblivious to the trio of people sitting at the small table tucked into the kitchen, and even less aware that they were all looking her way. Only after she turned to go take her normal spot at the table did she realize they were there.

Cian was in her spot, and while there was a fourth chair at the table it was going to be nearly impossible to get at with the other three sitting how they were, so instead of aiming for the other chair she just made herself at home in Cian's lap. After a couple sips of her coffee, the silence at the table became unbearable so she asked bluntly, "So, we're gonna need a bigger house than we though, huh?" Subtlety before being sufficiently caffeinated was not Ruri's strong suit.

[Demeter]

Once they located Talbot's phone, the three headed for the kitchen and coffee. While they waited for Ruri to wake up, Cian took the time to explain Ruri's situation to Talbot. Given her mother's overprotectiveness, understandable due to the abduction of one of her sons as an infant, Ruri had only just been located by her deity. Having only been under the tutelage of the deity for only a few weeks, she really wasn't ready to have a God Tool thrust at her. Hence the secrecy over the whole thing.

When Ruri stumbled into the kitchen, pants free, and plopped onto his lap, Cian just sighed a little. Given that Ruri was a dance student, she was often running around in tights and leotard, Ruri often forewent pants. He frequently ran across her in dance gear, much like how he frequently found Lia covered in paint.

He looked around the table. "I guess so. You okay with moving in, Talbot?"

[Shinigami]

Talbot was happy to see that there were no messages on his phone when they had finally located it. That meant he could hang around and soak up more time with Lia and Cian. Plus he was interested to formally get to know Ruri.

Once the were settled around the table with their own caffeine, Cian started to explain more about Ruri's situation. Tale understood a bit more why they were keeping the girl in the dark. At least they could prepare her together, if she was okay with him sticking around.

Talbot found he didn't really have anything to worry about, though. When Ruri comes through the kitchen, pantsless and oblivious to them, he just tried to control his look of fond amusement. He raised an eyebrow as she finally addressed everyone front Cian's lap and couldn't help the short bark of laughter at her bluntness.

He rested he chin on his hand before answering Cian, "Well, my lease is short-term, as I had expected to get run off, so I don't see why not."

[Maira]

Lia only half listened as Cian explained to Talbot about Ruri's situation with her goddess and the Tool that she'd be finding at some point in the semi-near future. Her stomach was being grumbly and the smell of the coffee wasn't helping at all. Luckily for her she wasn't nearly as dependent on the stuff as Ruri was or this pregnancy would be a lot harder on her. Trying to soothe the upset, Lia cautiously sipped on some ginger tea as the men talked and the time passed until Ruri stumbled into the kitchen in her normal morning attire of nothing but a shirt and boyshorts.

She caught the look on Talbot's face when Ruri went about her normal routine and she had to work hard not to giggle at the sight. He didn't even know her yet and Ruri had seemingly already caught his interest, probably just because she and Cian cared for her so much. Smiling into her tea-filled mug, Lia couldn't help but think that he was just proving how good a man he was even if he had made mistakes in the past. It was a natural part of living, she couldn't fault him for that. Not anymore.

Once Ruri had her coffee and was perched in Cian's lap, Lia sat in the awkward silence with everybody else just silently sipping at her tea. Then Ruri in her pre-coffee bluntness blurted out something about needing an even bigger place than they'd been looking for originally. Lia's eyes widened as she looked between the two men on either side of her. How the hell had Ruri come to that conclusion already? They hadn't even had a chance to talk to her and tell her what was going on... When Cian answered Ruri so casually, and Talbot laughed and answered Cian, Lia just gawked. What had just happened?

More than a little confused, Lia shook her head and asked for clarification, "Wait, Ruri, are you asking Talbot to move in?" The girl just nodded and took another drink of coffee before leaning back into Cian and resting her head against his. Turning to Talbot she asked, "And you're willing? Why did you think you'd get run off?" At the man's affirmative answer, Lia put her mug down and slumped a bit in her chair muttering things under her breath.

*****

Unlike the other three at the table, Ruri had heightened hearing thanks to her Pard heritage. She could understand Lia's mutterings and now that the caffeine was clearing her head of morning cobwebs, she was able to piece together Lia's worries from the nearly silent mumbles. She couldn't help but giggle at her lover's obvious confusion at her easy acceptance of the whole situation.

While Lia was still muttering away, Ruri smiled warmly at Talbot and asked him, "So, I'll be home from classes around six if you want to go out for a bit."