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[May 16th, 1995. London, UK]
—Are you just gonna sit there and stare at your food or are you gonna tell me what's wrong?
Aphrodite chuckled and nervously straightened her plaid skirt with her hands.
—Sorry. I just need a minute.
—It’s alright, doll. These cressant are so good, I don't mind keep eating them.
—It’s croissants.
—I’ll leave the fancy pronunciation to you —Ares took another sip of his coffee—. So what is it? Did you spend a little too much on daddy’s credit card? Don’t worry; he won’t even notice. With the amount of money your family has…
—No, it’s not that.
—Are you taking another trip, then?
—Um, no, it’s not that either.
—Then what is it, pretty girl?
—I… I guess there’s no easy way to say this, so… —Aphrodite took a deep breath—. I’m pregnant.
Ares spat out his coffee.
—Come again?
—I’m pregnant. Three weeks.
—Are you sure?
—Yes. I’m certain.
He left his cup on the table with a dangerous quiet that she knew all too well.
—Is it from that French idiot?
—He’s not an idiot. He’s a very sweet-
—Is it?
—Yes.
Ares stood up. He was wearing his aviator sunglasses, but she knew that, under them, his eyes must be flaming in a deadly wrath.
—I’m going to murder him.
Aphrodite grabbed him by the arm, firmly.
—You will not do such thing. The blame is on us both.
—Don’t defend him!
—Don’t shout at me. Sit back down.
Once he obeyed her, she gently let go of his arm.
—Sorry —He took off his sunglasses and let them on the table before rubbing his temples—. I apologize. I… Jesus. This is a lot. Do you… do you want to keep it?
—Yes —Aphrodite’s answer was instinctive, as she put a protective hand over her stomach—. I will have this child.
—Will he take care of you?
—I… I haven’t told him yet —She admitted, looking down at her hand—. I’m planning on doing it this weekend, when he comes visiting me. But I know he’ll be responsible; he’s a good man.
—Good men are responsible with women in bed; they don’t wait until they've put a baby in you.
—Ares-
—Do you love him?
She stood silent.
—Aphrodite. Answer me that.
—No, I don't. Not anymore. Not like at first.
Ares’ hand, always so steady, started fidgeting. She knew he wanted to take out the small knife he always carried with him, secretly strapped to his thigh, but he wouldn’t do it out in public.
She knew it relaxed him to feel the cold metal on his hand so, trying to give him the same effect as his weapon, she brought her chair closer to his and sweetly took his restless hand.
—Have you told anyone? —He asked, softly, once he felt her—. Your family?
—Are you insane? Dione will kill me when she finds out. No, she will disown me, which is almost worse. She and my father have always disapproved of my lifestyle, saying I’m “too reckless” and “libertine” and “uncontrollable” and whatnot. If... when I tell them about this, they will hate me forever.
—Aphrodite —Scolded Ares, but his voice had no traces of anger—. Your parents could never hate you.
She gave him a bitter look.
—You clearly don’t know them. They won’t support me on this choice, love. They will kick me out of the house, of the family, of everything I have here. I… —Aphrodite couldn’t help the way her voice broke—. We’ll be completely on our own.
Ares’ free hand instantly moved to cup her cheek with all the care in the world.
—Look at me, beautiful. I will always be by your side. You’ll always have me, I swear to every power of this Earth.
She knew the comfort his touch and his words gave her would be temporary, but she welcomed it nonetheless. She leaned her face against his hand and it wasn’t long until she felt warm tears rolling down her cheeks.
—What am I going to do? —She asked, more to herself than to him—. I’m only twenty-three! I don’t have a job or a degree or anything! If my parents cut me off-
—I will take care of you —Ares interrupted her, calmly wiping her tears away with his thumb—. Come to the US with me. I will take care of that baby as if it was my own and, if you let me, if you finally let me, we can start our own family and-
—Ares —Rebuked Aphrodite—. You have a girlfriend there!
—You know I don’t love her like I love you. I will never love anyone like I love you.
Aphrodite didn’t know if she could already blame the baby for it, but she was starting to feel so overwhelmed she felt almost dizzy.
—Plus, she told me she wanted to “talk about something” this weekend —Continued Ares, in a dismissing tone—. I’m sure she’ll want to break up.
His fingers found her chin and they tenderly lifted it, so that he could look her in the eyes.
—Give me one chance —He asked, his voice low but secure—. I promise you won’t regret it.
Aphrodite put her hand over his, returning his look with all the affection she felt in her chest.
—We can’t, darling.
—Don’t you love me?
He sounded so hurt, so in pain, that Aphrodite felt compelled to put her forehead against his.
—More than I love anyone or anything in the world —She whispered.
However, he pushed away from her touch, brusquely.
—Then I can’t see why the Hell not!
His angry outburst didn’t surprise her or make her feel scared. On the contrary, she came closer to him again and put a hand over his ardent heart.
—This is exactly why. We’re too alike, my beloved. Too explosive. We love too hard, too much. We would consume each other faster than a match can start a fire.
—If this is about me, I can change-
—I don’t want you to. And I would never ask you to do that. I love you just the way you are but, my dear, we would never work out in a real relationship.
—But we could —His hand looked for hers once again—. All those nights we spent together… Aph, you can’t tell me you didn’t enjoy them.
Aphrodite looked away, blushing.
—Of course I did, you dummy. As I said, we were… explosive. They were the best nights of my entire life. But they were just that: nights. Days. Weekends, at most. But what happens when we spend more than three days together in the same room?
—I… I…
—We start to fight. As much as we’d like to, we could never do the domestic thing together.
When his gaze fell downheartedly to their held hands, she knew in his eyes that he understood. Even if he didn’t want to, he knew that she was right.
—However… —She resumed, giving his hand a gentle squeeze—. I think moving to the US may be exactly what I need right now. I want to start a new life and, well, what better than moving overseas to do it? I won’t have anything left here anyway.
Ares look up again. The fire that lit his eyes was no longer of anger, but one of pure hopefulness and enthusiasm.
—Yes!
He jumped up his seat and urged her to do the same. As he lifted her in the air and span her around, she couldn’t help but giggle and hold onto his neck.
—Ares! Stop, we’ll knock down the chairs!
—Christ, can you imagine it? —He asked, already too lost in whatever mental fantasy he was having—. You, in America? With your passion, beauty and intelligence? You’ll be ruling the country in less than a year.
When Ares stopped playing around and put her back on the floor, she rested her head on his chest, not wanting to let go of the embrace yet.
—Don’t be silly —She murmured, hiding her smile on his leather vest and finding the smell far too familiar and comforting.
—I’m not —He leaned down to kiss the top of her head, making her feel so loved, so safe, so warm—. Mark my words, Aphrodite Love. It won’t be long until the whole world knows your name and worships the ground you walk on.