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It's been 20 years since I last saw my beloved. and then he stood before me and I knew it was truly him because he knew the secret of our wedding bed. His face was covered in the blood of the horrid men who had sought my hand all this time. I could scarcely believe I was awake and this was not a dream.

"Odysseus" I murmured with tears of joy. "you are home at last."

"Penelope" he whispered, running into my arms and embracing me. Our reunion was passionate and sweet, hugging each other fiercely evolved into passionate kisses and eventually he led me to our wedding bed.

Before long I noticed that this time differed from the nights we had laid together before he left. It wasn't that it had been so long, he wasn't clumsy from lack of practice, and his touches didn't seem like those of a man who hadn't touched a woman in 20 years. His touch was more confident than I had ever experienced from him.

He touch wasn't searching for the right spots or checking to see how it felt, it was like he knew exactly how to make me peak within minutes, and he expected the exact reactions my body gave. I wanted to chalk it up to passion and his memory of my preferences, but it didn't make sense. It not only felt practiced, it felt like he had many years of experience, and recent ones at that.

"Were you always this skilled? No... we had fun... and you were good, but it was never like this.." My tone started with concern but shifted to hurt as, for one painful moment, I wondered if he had betrayed my trust. Then I saw his eyes. They were filled with pain and somehow seemed distant... almost as if he could not hear me at all.

I decided then and there that I trusted him enough to give him a chance to explain. I did not believe that he would do something like that to me. Not when he fought so hard to get home to me. Not when he eliminated those who threatened my safety and the safety of our son.

I took a deep breath and asked "Odysseus... how did you get so good at this?".

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"Ody? How did you get better in bed if you remained faithful while being gone for so long?" I asked quietly. I did not think he had cheated, but the only alternative reason I could think of for this change was also heartbreaking, for a different reason.

The glassy look in his eyes faded as if I had just summoned his mind back into the present moment. He tensed and avoided my gaze, the pain clear in his face. "... I haven't been completely faithful." his voice cracked.

I silently studied his face. I saw pain there, and fear, and a hint of self-hatred.

He sighed and looked up again, his eyes full of tears. "yell... scream... Please...say something" his voice trembled as he said this.

I took a deep breath before I spoke. I kept my tone calm and non-hostile, I knew if I triggered any traumatic memory of his time in the army, he wouldn't have been able to finish the conversation until another day. "Tell me the story"

He inhaled deeply, preparing to confess what happened. "it started the tenth year after I left.... we sacked Troy and started our journey home. Along the way, I injured a son of Poseidon not realizing who it was. This enraged the god and he sent a storm... most of my fleet drowned... my ship washed up on an island.." he paused.

"And?' I prompted.

Odysseus looked down at his hands in his lap. "There was a sorceress... we had shipwrecked on her shores. Her name was Circe" he continued as I listened intently. "she trapped my remaining men and she insisted on spending time alone with me.." his voice broke.

"Look at me" I murmured. He slowly turned his gaze back to me, his eyes were filled with regret and shame. "Did you... want..her? I don't mean if she used an enchantment.. just you and her as people without an enchantment... did you want it?" my voice was gentle, it wasn't an accusation, it was a genuine question.

He swallowed hard and averted his gaze once more. "I...at first, no... I didn't want it. But then she... cast a spell on me and I did so much...with her... and I didn't protest" he explained and I nodded. He hadn't picked it, she had enchanted him to ensure he couldn't resist.

"So the answer is: No. You didn't want it" My voice was quiet, filled with love, understanding and concern for him.

He nodded but kept avoiding eye contact. "Yes, you're right...I didn't want it"

I felt two things at once. I was relieved that he hadn't cheated on me, but I was also filled with sorrow that he had been assaulted. He
must have looked up and seen the sadness in my eyes because he grabbed my hand gently and whispered "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry.."

"You have nothing to apologize for My Love, " I said reassuringly "My sadness is not because I think you betrayed me, I know you didn't. My sadness is because you, the dearest love of my life, were forced to become a victim of one of the most heinous acts imaginable."

His expression softened as he listened to my words. I watched him search my eyes and saw his face brighten when he found genuine compassion in my gaze. "You... you're not angry?" his tone was vulnerable and soft as he asked the question.

"Not at you" I gently stroked his hair.

'Ody.. It's ok if you don't want to answer this... I won't push you to answer, but.. did she do this more than once?" I murmured, "is that why you learned all these new...skills? To satisfy her quickly so she'd stop sooner each time?"

He flinched at my words his body tensing up again. He didn't answer immediately but his silence spoke volumes. After a few moments, he nodded and then rested his forehead against mine.

"Oh, my love..." I wrapped him in a gentle protective hug and held him close. I made sure his arms were free so he wouldn't feel trapped. "I am so sorry she put you through that pain"

A tear slipped down his face and he pulled me into a tighter hug. "it was hell..." he whispered and his voice trembled slightly. I had more questions about his journey, but I also knew that he was in no condition to answer more questions, so instead I held him while he cried.

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He cried himself to sleep in my arms that night. I held him close and fell asleep shortly after he did. When I awoke I was still holding his sleeping form, his breathing was deep and even. I cradled him gently not wanting to wake him, he deserved rest after everything he faced.

Gazing down at him I note that we never did wash the blood off him last night. I had been so happy to see him after 20 long years, I hadn't cared that he was covered in blood while we were in each other's passionate embrace. Then with the conversation immediately following that, bathing was the last thing on our minds. I silently watched my husband asleep in my arms and wondered how best to comfort him moving forward.

Eventually, he began to stir in my arms. "Good morning My Love" I murmur. My heart clenched as he flinched away, it took him a minute to recognize me and remember he was home. "shh... it's just me... Your Penelope" I soothed him as he slowly came to his senses.

"Penny?" he murmured focusing his eyes on me and blinking away the sleepiness. I smiled softly and leaned down to kiss his forehead. "Yeah, It's me, sweetheart. How was your sleep?"

"This was the best sleep I've had in 20 years" He smiled sitting up, "You always make everything feel better."

"You think you're up to visiting our private bathing pool?" I asked gently brushing his hair away from his bloodstained forehead. He nodded so I pushed the covers aside. I held his hand as we walked down the mini hall connecting our bedroom to our private bathhouse.

Heated stones warmed the water in the pool, and it was the perfect temperature for relaxation. With a gentle touch, I washed the blood and grime from his skin and hair. "there's the face I remember..." I smiled as I wiped the blood away. Odysseus then washed the blood from my face, as it had smeared there during last night's reunion.

He pulled me into a gentle kiss. I giggled against his lips, grateful we could finally have these sweet moments together again. "I love you" we said simultaneously. Realizing we'd spoken at the same moment, we started laughing.

I pulled away slightly to look at his face. "I think I missed a spot of blood..." I smirked then splashed him in the face. I swam away laughing and he chased me around the pool with a grin. "I got you!" he chuckled, grabbing my wrist, he pulled me in for another kiss. "mmm... I love you" I murmured. "I love you too" he whispered back.

"The kitchen staff should have breakfast ready by now" I say, "Telemachus will be waiting for us to eat with him".

"Breakfast with my son and wife... that sounds like heaven" Odysseus said with a delighted tone immediately getting out of the pool. He was excited to speak to Telemachus, and to finally build proper family memories. I smiled and exited the pool as well. We dressed quickly, as Odysseus wanted to maximize the time he would have with our son. 

The breakfast was set up by the staff in a cozy sitting room because the dining hall was still covered in blood. As I had told my husband, Telemachus was already there waiting for us. I watched with a smile as they ran to hug each other tightly. I joined them and it became the first time we had a family hug since Telemachus was a newborn infant 20 years ago.

"Good Morning Dad!" Telemachus beamed, this was the first time he had ever had the chance to give a morning greeting to his father.

"Good morning My Son" Odysseus said his voice thick with emotion. "Oh Telemachus...How I dreamed of being able to wish you good morning" He hugged our son tightly once more.

We sat on a bench together to eat, Odysseus in the middle, and Telemachus chatted away with him while I listened to them both with an affectionate smile.

I encouraged Odysseus to eat as much as he wanted, "I know the rations you survived on were less than pleasant, my love. The staff has prepared all this wonderful food for us so eat your fill". I passed him his favourites so he could load his plate.

Breakfast continued in a flurry of jokes, laughter, and delicious food. It felt wonderful to finally be together as a family making new memories.

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20 long years Ago….

I rested in bed my head on my husband’s shoulders while he held our son, born scarcely ten hours before. His eyes were glued to our child’s tiny face, burning with a kind of love that exists only between a father and his son. I find myself smiling despite my exhaustion.

My labour had not been easy, But Odysseus had held my hand through it all refusing to leave my side no matter what my handmaids said about men being in the way. He overwhelming proved them wrong, he helped wet linens to wipe away my sweat and tears, he comforted me through the worst of the waves of pain. And when our son finally arrived he helped me position myself comfortably so I could hold the boy.

Now he was cuddled up in bed with me holding our son and keeping him calm so that I could rest. My heart was filled with joy. The worst was over, The baby born safely, and now our little family was complete. This joy would never flee, or so I thought.

I had no idea the twenty years of pain that would arrive with the ships approaching from the horizon.