Jace feel back on the bed as he was pushed and tried not to sigh to loudly. The last thing he wanted to do was sleep. He kept reliving the moment in his dreams and he had been fighting sleep for days. He barely got more then a few hours every night and that was generally when his body forced him too. He wanted to get up and head for the training fields again but he knew that Thys wouldn't be joking. He lay there staring at the ceiling not realizing when his body betrayed him and he fell back into his nightmares.

He saw the fight and then all the blood again, but in his dreams it wasn't just his wife,sister and niece that lay dying but his daughter and little sister as well. His subconscious tried to remind him that Ana had not been there but the horror before him did not allow him to listen. He woke covered in sweat. His breathing was heavy and despite Thys warning he got out of the bed. A quick look at the clock, told him that he had slept for over an hour.

As he moved from the bed he saw one Cassandra fussing and moved to pick her up before she woke the others. He sat down in the chair, holding the little girl close to him. "I am sorry. Like Kenzie, you will never know your mother because I was to slow to save her. I will make a promise right now though. The mistake I have made twice already. I will not repeat a third time. I will keep you safe", he muttered mostly to himself as he looked down at the little girl. He would train harder so that he never had to watch this little girl die as he had both of his wives, his sister and niece.

Words: 314
Thys Kane

“That’s it you’re on nappy duty for the rest of their lives.” Thys tells him without opening his eyes, having woken up when Jace moved off the bed but had laid with his eyes closed trying to slow his rapidly beating heart and he’s tears at the memories. “You know that I failed to protect them too, it’s not just your fault and it’s not like they didn’t try to protect themselves, you know they are probably looking back from beyond thinking how did these two hopeless men end up looking after three kids.” He says with a humourless laugh. “If you really want to protect them you will not train until you drop like I know you want to and you’ll help me raise them right, into people that their family would be proud of.”
He sits up running a hand over his face before heading to the shower, he needed to wash away the stale sweat before he attempted to have another sleep though he was doubtful that he would be able to sleep he had to try so that he would he awake enough to look after the kids when they woke again. He finished his shower and changed into a clean pair of sleep pants before seeing that Cassie was asleep so he took her from Jace’s arms before pushing him towards the shower. “Go have a shower and then we can try this whole sleeping thing again.” He says, moving over to place Cassandra in the cot, laying her down he stroked her cheek for a few moments getting lost in the smooth feel of her skin, she was so tiny and depended totally on him, well him and Jace. When Jase had finished his shower and changed he pushed him towards the bed, before laying down himself he yawned and soon fell asleep he started to toss and turn when the nightmare started his hand hit a warm body and he unconsciously moved closer falling into a more peaceful sleep his arm around the body his head resting on Jase’s shoulder.

Words: 347

Jace Jorden

Jace shrugged slightly to not upset the baby in his arms, "Okay. I missed most of that with Kenzie anyway", he replied simply. He bit his lip to keep control of his anger as Thys spoke again. When he spoke it was with control but he was sure that his anger still came through anyway. He was not angry with Thys but with himself. "That's not the same Thys. My father is Mars. I should be better then this", he fell quiet as Thys walked out of the room and tried to quiet his thoughts as he looked at the child in his arms. Deep down he knew that Thys was right and there had been little any of them could do.

When Thys returned Jace did as he asked without much thought. It was only once he was under the water that he realized that Thys must have used some of his powers. He let himself release some of his frustration by hitting the wall of the shower, thankful that the area had been made to with stand the anger of the kids of Mars as he then placed his head against the wall. He stood there for a moment, just letting the water run over him, before he finally turned it off and stepped out of the shower. He had thankfully thought to grab a pair of Thys's sleep pants as he wasn't about to chuck his jeans on again. He still slipped on the same t-shirt though and walked back into the bedroom.

He allowed himself to be pushed towards the bed even though he had no want for anymore sleep. The dreams where to much for him right now. The memory, still to fresh. He still lay down beside Thys, once again staring at the ceiling. When Thys snuggled into his side, he did not have the heart to push him away but rather closed his eyes. With his eyes closed he found he could almost imagine it was Sakara or even Leah. He fell asleep before he even realised it and while he still dreamed of them, they where of better memories and times.

He awoke to the cries of a baby later and for a moment he thought he was back at the Roman camp with Leah and Kenzie. That was until the screams of Cassie's brothers joined hers. Jace untangled his arm from around Thys, unsure of when that had even happened, and they both stood. Jace moved straight for the cribs and picked up the two boys. He wasn't sure what to say to Thys after how they had woken up.

words: 439
Thys Kane

Thys groaned in embarrassment before flopping back down on the bed covering his face with the pillow and letting out another groan. He then pulled the pillow off his head before standing up and heading for Jorden picking him up and grimaced he smelled really bad, He moved over to the change table laying him down fumbling a bit he finally managed to get the nappy open he gagged a little as he looked at the mess and he started to wipe it up gagging again but he managed to get it done he put a new nappy on him and got him dressed again before heading back to his cot and putting him back down he was gurgling and grabbing at his feet as Thys moved over to pick up Kane. Before repeating the process gagging less this time but still gagging unable to stand the smell.
He placed Kane back into his cot heading for the kitchen to start making up bottles for all of them and coffee for himself and Jace. Thys finished the bottles and the coffee heading back to the other room. He put Jace’s coffee down next to him and one of the bottles. He sat the other two bottles and his coffee next to the bed picking up the two boys before walking over and sitting down on the bed setting them down so they were comfortable and he was able to feed them both. He started feeding them, watching them as he fed them he couldn’t believe how tiny they were and how much they ate. He looked at Jace giving him a smile before looking back down at the babies, irrationally he felt his cheeks heating up with a blush he had no idea why but he was suddenly feeling shy and stupid.
“So what are you going to be doing today?” He asked keeping his eyes firmly on the babies trying to will away the blush on his cheeks, he picked Kane up putting him over his shoulder and patting his back gently but firmly and Kane let out a loud burp and spit up. He pulled Kane back wiping his mouth of he lay him back down, bouncing him gently he moved Jorden back to the same shoulder patting his back again. He waited till Jordan let out a burp before placing him down also bouncing them gently stroking their cheeks and generally fussing over them. “Who’s a cutie? You are, yes you are.” He tells them tickling their cheeks and bellies before placing kisses over their faces. He soon sobered. “Your mother loved you so much, she and I love you more than the world.”

Words: 451

Jace Jorden

Jace couldn't help the slight smirk that crossed his face at Thys groan, even as he ignored the broken feeling in his heart. A feeling that couldn't possibly have to do with Thys but rather would have to do with the loss that they had both recently suffered then the other guys reaction to what had happened during the night. Either way he knew he needed to talk to someone other then Thys about this. He helped with the kids trying to work out a way he could leave him to look after the kids for a few hours without feeling guilty about it. His thoughts crossed to Mackenzie and for the first time he realized that he hadn't put much thought into his daughter and how she was getting through all this.

"Well....If you think you can handle the terrible trio here for a few hours then I should probably check in on Kenzie", he replied with a smirk, hoping his slight joke might lessen the awkwardness in the room.

"Yeah sure, you should go see how she's holding up she's lost the closest thing she had to a mother and aunt." He said nodding his head rapidly hoping that some space would help him feel less awkward about what he had done while asleep. He picked up Jorden when he started to fuss so he bounced him gently hoping to calm him so it didn't turn into a full blown wail so he didn't wake up his siblings. Thys finally got him back to sleep, he moved to the bed relaxing on it and pulling out a book he started to read trying to give Jace the chance to leave without having to exchange any more awkward words.

"Yeah I feel horrible for not checking in on her sooner", Jace replied honestly as he moved towards the door. He stopped in the door and was going to say something more before deciding it was better not to and walking out, heading for the Artemis cabin before anywhere else.

Jace returned a few hours later, he hadn't been able to find his daughter but a camper had seen her disappear with a goddess so he at least knew she was safe. He knew he could try and find her but he felt that Thys might need him more, plus he wanted to explore a little with what had happened between them the night before.

Words:115
Thys Kane

Thys was still laying on the bed watching the children sleep, he still couldn't believe that he had made those perfect little creatures. He stood quickly when they started to wake making up the bottles before changing Jorden and then Cassie and Kane before moving them all to the bed he sat with them all laid out on a pillow in front of him and he gave them all bottles making sure that they weren't likely to choke or have anything else bad happen to them he relaxed and watched them eat their food before burping them all and laying them back down watching them as they slept.


Words: 109
Jace Jorden

Jace had watched as Thys finished looking after the kids before moving fully into the room. He was impressed with the change in him. "Looks like you don't really need me after all", he joked moving to carefully pick up Jorden, making sure the child stayed sleeping as he did so. He walked towards the cots placing a kiss on the child's forehead before placing him carefully down and pulling the blanket up to his waist. He moved to do the same with Kane before looking at Thys, "I know you probably don't want to but I think we need to talk about what happened this morning." Jace wasn't really sure he wanted to but he knew that the awkwardness would not fully stop between them unless they did.

Words: 129
Thys Kane

Thys made himself busy putting Cassie into her crib before taking the bottles into the kitchen, hoping that he could put off the talk for as long as possible. He washed the bottles and dried them and put them away cursing that there was nothing else to do so he headed out to talk to Jace.

"Okay." He said, looking at the floor before taking a seat in one of the chairs fiddling with his shirt. "I'm sorry." He blurted out unable to help himself. "Please don't leave me to look after them, I don't know if I can deal with loosing you too, please it won't happen again but don't leave please, just don't leave me too." He looked away unable to help the tears that filled his eyes with a few escaping and running down his cheeks he had prided himself on being tough but he couldn't deal with that again, he couldn't loose the last person in the world who cared about him, without Jace he would have nothing. "What if I mistreat the kids again?" He asked revealing his biggest fear.

Words: 185
Jace Jorden

Jace let out a sigh as Thys kept himself busy for a moment, obviously putting off the topic at hand. When the other guy finally sat, Jace took a seat on the bed facing him. He almost groaned at Thys's comment but rather just let out another sigh. "One, I am not leaving, you are stuck with me at least until those kids turn 18 and likely even after that, so you might as well get used to it. Two, there is no need for you to be sorry, that is not what this was about. We have both been through a lot and I think we both needed it. I know that I needed to know that someone still cared and I am pretty sure you felt the same and three, after how you looked after them while I was out, I for one doubt that will happen. But in the case that it does you will have me to stand in", he replied. He placed his head in his hands for a moment before he continued again.

"Look either way for this to work we need to be able to trust in each other. I for one want those kids to grow up in a steady home. The question is where we want to go from here", he continued. One thing he had figured out from his talk with his sister was that he did truly care for Thys and not just the kids but he wasn't sure how the other guy felt.

words: 255
Thys Kane

Thys slumped against the back of the chair feeling relief rush over him he was so happy that Jace was staying it was a huge relief for him. He blew out a breath rubbing his face to get rid of his tears. “I do trust you, I want us to grow into something more than what we are. But I don’t know where we go from here, maybe we should just see where it goes, because I want them to have a stable home too and it will only be stable and steady with you there. But I don’t know what type of relationship we can have or will have, but I know that I am willing to see where this goes. Well if you are that is.” He said stumbling to a stop wondering if that is what he wanted too.

Words: 145
Jace Jorden

Jace couldn't stop the small laugh that came over him as he thought of what they had been like when they first met. He quickly looked at Thys and realized he should explain what had made him laugh. "Sorry, just thinking about what it was like when we first met. If someone had tried to tell me then that we would be having this conversation I would have tried to tell them they where crazy, yet here we are. I think we owe it ourselves to try and find happiness even with them gone and I think they would want that for us too." There was sadness in his voice at the end. They had both lost so much.

Words: 119
Thys Kane

Thys had to admit Jace had a point, if anyone had told him that he would have most likely punched them and then told them to get their head checked. "I agree, they would have wanted us to be happy, they were selfless like that." He says with a sad smile, he said biting his lip before looking up at Jace feeling shy, not a feeling he was used to or comfortable with. "I, uhh can, never mind." He muttered, he didn't have the guts to ask Jace for a hug he didn't think that he would take to kindly to that, standing and heading over to the cots looking down at the kids, he loved them so much, he would do every he could to keep them safe.

Words: 130
Jace Jorden

Jace nodded back and let out a sigh. He looked up when Thys spoke and watched him as he then walked over to the kids. He continued to watch him for a moment before standing and walking over to him. He stood beside him and carefully wrapped an arm around, wanting to show support but not being able to bring himself to do more without knowing Thys wanted it. He had been in a similar position to Thys before, when he first came to the Greek camp. He had known Leah was dead but had no clue what had happened to his daughter. His hope had proved true though where Thys had lost both but he did still have 3 beautiful children. "Nothing will happen to them. We will make sure of it, Thys. We wont fail them as well". Jace wasn't sure whether the words where for him or Thys.

Words: 151
Thys Kane