Chapter 40: Birthdays Everywhere!
I rather like how my sculpture turned out though it's not -quite- the pose I was going for. But Eros does truly know me best. He works so hard on everything, from sculpting to the alchemy station. I sometimes wonder if he regrets being... well, mine. If he had been someone else's Imaginery friend, he might have had an ordinary life.
I asked him that one night, and he looked at me with the sternest look he'd ever given me. "If I had been someone else's, we wouldn't have. Nox or Phobos. If I had been someone else's, I wouldn't be able to do this-" He pulled me close and kissed me, then rested his forehead on mine. "I'm an Incarnation, Clotho. And I love you. I couldn't have been anyone else's. I'm yours and always will be."
*sighs dreamily* What could I say to that? The answer? Well, I'm sure you can guess.
Every time I hold my little boy or see Eros with him, I think about what he said. He's right. We all may rail against our Fates at times but I wouldn't trade what I have for anything. Even my dad is coming out of his doldrums for his grandson which is great to see. He still misses mom but he should. It's a reminder of what we're doing this for. If we fail, it was all for naught.
Grandma Gaea's just happy to have another nooboo around. Even after living for three generations, she's still as sharp as ever but I think the children remind her of the start of her journey. They also represent the next step. Though my boy is not to live forever (a thought I try not to contemplate) he, like his father, is an Incarnation and is as vital to this endeavor as any of us.
In other, less depression-inducing news, this is Michel Shue, my brother's second son with Star. He goes to school with Nox and is one of her pals. He needs a haircut and some fashion advice, otherwise, he's a handsome lad.
Hypnos visited his kids at the Shue house. He's got a hold of Athena here, the oldest of his daughters. Here's Virgil and Michel along with Athena's twin Corrine.
Hypnos settles down to help Michel with his homework and here's a cute shot of Corrine.
Nox was given a doll just like one that her father came from. I can't sense anything from this one. I don't think it is one of us... but it is difficult to tell when He will send one to us. Only time will tell.
I can't believe that my little girl becomes a teenager today! She didn't want a party and snick upstairs, only her grandfather allowed to watch... then again, he has an advantage, what with being the Incarnation of Time and all... Isn't Nox a beautiful girl? Yes, I may be biased but I'm the daughter of a world-renowned painter. I know beauty. And Nox is gorgeous. She looks a lot like her grandmother.
That same night, my brother celebrated his mid-life crisis in peace. I don't see any wrinkles: I just see my baby brother. I think maturity looks good on him.
Speaking of baby brothers, Nox loves Phobos. She's so excited that she can hold him now. She's a great help with him and she now often beats the rest of us to his crib if he so much as squeaks.
Nox is also looking forward to her first day of high school, though she was reluctant to leave her brother.
She was sad to miss his toddler birthday. Isn't he precious? It's been a while since anyone in this family has liked a color that isn't black or pink. As you can see he likes yellow.
His daddy carries him up for a nap after the excitement of blowing out candles and picking out a wardrobe.
Nox comes right home and does her homework hoping to get to play with her brother.
She was disappointed that he was asleep, so I challenged her to a racing game while we waited for Phobos to wake up from his nap. I won, of course.
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