I am so sorry that this has taken so long to upload. A lot of things have been happening lately, and I have been extremely stressed out. It doesn't help that I lost a lot of my writing a while back and had to start fresh a little bit. I just wanted to give y'all something to show that I wasn't dead and that I do still plan on finishing what I've started. I'll be better now that the summer has hit, I hope. Like I said a lot of things have been happening. It's just one thing after another. But I will try to find the time and make myself write. It isn't fair to y'all for me to not write. Anyway, I hope y'all enjoy what tidbit y'all get. so sorry again.

Macaria

Just as I thought, Thanatos wasn't at dinner. Hypnos walked in last, and when he passed by my seat he gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze, as if to say "it'll all be fine".

When he sat down he looked up at Hades. "Sorry to be late. I checked on Thanatos and he said that he wouldn't be coming to dinner."

Hades nodded. "Did he say why?"

"Just that he said he was tired from his work today and that he just wanted to rest."

He and I knew that that was a load of crap, but everyone else bought it.

"Well that's alright then. I'll send a servant to his chambers later to see if he wants any food." Hades gestured for the servants to bring in our meal. It was beautifully set up, but I wasn't very hungry after being upset. However if i don't eat as normal everyone will know if something is wrong.

Ugh. Why me? Why Thanatos? I complained to myself.

Melinoe must've been able to tell that something was wrong. She gently nudged my foot under the table and gave me a questioning stare.

"Are you alright? You don't look very well." She asked into my head.

"To be honest Melinoe, I'm not having the best day. We'll talk later in your chambers where it's more private."

She nodded in reply as she started to dig into her meal.

This is gonna be a long dinner. I thought.

Hypnos

I found Thanatos exactly where I thought he would be. The library. His face was buried in a book, but from the look of his eyes, he had just been staring at the same page for a while now.

"Not in the mood, brother." He mumbled without looking up.

I chuckled, trying to break the ice. "Not in the mood for what? I just came in to check on you. Besides, I'm not in a gaming mood either."

He looked up from his book with a confused expression. "But you're always in a gaming mood."

"And you're always nice and don't avoid Macaria." I shot back. "What gives?"

He flinched, and looked down to his lap at my words.

I pressed harder. "Come on brother, you know you can tell me anything. What's wrong? I know something's up between you and Macaria, you've been avoiding her all day. It hurt her feelings." His head snapped up to mine when those words came out.

"What?" He asked. I knew that that would grab his attention.

I nodded. "Yeah Thanatos, she showed up in-front of my door this evening all teary eyed. I was shocked to see her in that condition, considering that she never really shows any negative emotion that she may be feeling. I asked her what was wrong, and she said that you had been avoiding her all day and that she was very confused and upset. She wants to know what's wrong."

Thanatos kept shaking his head the entire time i was talking, as if he was trying to say, "No, this isn't happening. Macaria is fine, she's not upset." But instead he muttered, "Oh my God. Damn it."

"Thanatos. What is wrong?" I asked in a demanding tone.

He broke. "I talked to the Fates!" He nearly yelled. "I had a dream about Macaria and I. When I woke up, it seemed harmless at first, but then it all hit me. Years ago I had talked to the Fates about finding my own love. They had said that I would realized who she is in 17 years time. Hypnos, It's been almost 17 years, and now I have an intimate dream with her. I ran to go talk to the fates last night and they told me that it was indeed Macaria that I would end up in love with."

A smile spread across my face. "Thanatos that's great! You and Macaria would make a beautiful couple."

"You don't get it!" He groaned.

"Then explain it to me brother!" I nearly pleaded.

He sighed and took deep breaths to try and calm himself. "I just never realized it would be her. I helped raise the girl, We all did. She's like the daughter or sister that I never had. And then She starts getting beautiful. Her hair gets longer and shinier, her eyes start glowing the sapphire blue that they are, her figure becomes obvious and amazing, and her lips get full, almost begging to be kissed."

I almost burst out laughing. I knew that all this was important to him but I've never heard him talk in such a way about anyone before. He was completely infatuated with her. And it was hysterical to watch him react.

"But it's not just her looks! It's her whole personality and attitude. She is kind and wise. She is so caring and loves all people in some form or fashion. She's smart and sassy. She has that fiery confident attitude that all women should have. She doesn't even realize that about herself yet. She is the most amazing woman I know and She is so beautiful in every way imaginable."

I was awestruck. I never knew that my brother, the God of death, could feel so passionately for someone. I knew that in this moment, I was truly rooting for them. They deserved each other in every way.

"Wow. You really love her, brother."

He nodded. "And I never wanted to hurt her like I did today. I was scared of the way that fate is going to play out for us. I still am. I want to protect her from what might happen."

I tilted my head to one side in confusion. "What do you mean, Thanatos?"

He looked up at me with a helpless look in his eyes. "The Fates told me that since I already know that We will end up in love with each other, I could end you moving too fast and end up hurting her in a way that is much worse than what I did today."

I breathed in a deep breath. "Come let's sit down." I gestured to the chairs. He followed my lead. "Look, what the Fates have said can be true, but not with the way that you took it. You heard of a possible bad thing and ran to protect her in the best way you knew How. But by doing that, you hurt her unintentionally. Not tonight, but tomorrow I think you should apologize to her, without telling her the whole story of course. Anyway, my point is, is that you love and care for her too much to hurt her in that bad of a way. As long as you take your relationship slow, maybe at her pace, maybe slower since you said that thing about her being fiery," I joked, "You'll both be fine."

He smiled gratefully at me. "Thank you so much brother. I really needed this." He stood up.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"To my chambers. It's been a long day today, and there's going to be another long one tomorrow." He started to chuckle. "You know, I never thought I'd get dating advice from you."

I pretended to be offended. "Well I'm not all grins and giggles! Only 95%."

He laughed. "Goodnight brother."

"Goodnight. Have sweet dreams, but not as sweet as before, please." I jested.

As he left the room, all I heard was one word muttered from him.

"Ass."

Melinoe

"I really don't know why He's acting this way Melinoe. It's just one day He's my best friend and then the next, he doesn't even look at me." Macaria shook her head. "I don't know what to do." She stared at my dark purple bedspread that we sat on.

"Well hon, I don't know exactly what to tell you to do either. That's all definitely out of character for him. Maybe he has other things going on that he doesn't want to talk about yet?" I guessed. "Well either way, that doesn't give him any reason to ignore you and be so cold. You know what I would do?" She shook her head. "Ignore him back! Show him How it feels! Don't let him get off so easy."

"Oh, I don't know Melinoe. I've never been mean to anyone close to me before. It just doesn't seem like the right thing to do."

I pressed on. "No believe me Macaria, it'll work. If You're willing to let him do whatever he wants, then you won't be of any interest to him, not to mention that you deserve better from yourself."

That seemed to here her attention. "At least try it for awhile Macaria. Please. Because at least then you can say that You're not a complete pushover and you stood you for yourself in some way."

She nodded once. "Okay, fine. I'll do it."

"Good!" I cheered.

She looked at the time and simultaneously yawned. "Okay, " She started. "It's late and I'm tired. I'll see you tomorrow after work." She's leaned over and kissed my forehead. "Goodnight sis, Thank you for everything."

"Have pleasant dreams." I called out as She stepped through the door.

Man, I really hope that they work everything out somehow.