Chapter 3: Vegetables

A/N: Thank you to the reviewers again. Last chapter. I will be going camping till Friday. None of my stories will be updated until then.

You know, in the day that I haven't posted a chapter I did gain possession of a bag of lettuce. But I still don't own CotT. Unfortunately.

xxx…I'll Paint You Mornings Of Gold …xxx

Theresa awoke to the most amazing feeling of her entire life. A warm arm was lazily thrown across her, in a protective manner. She was encased in heat and a smell that sent her mind reeling. Turning slightly she saw a dead asleep Jay, his face the exact picture of someone with too many worries finally peaceful. He smelled like rain, and home and safety. Theresa loved it. She hadn't noticed it before. But that could be because she had never been this close to him before. His handsome appearance struck a chord deep within her, making her wonder if she could ever be good enough for this man. He was like cake, and she was just the vegetables. Nobody liked vegetables when you had Cake…

"What are you thinking?" His deep baritone interrupted her thoughts and made her jump.

"Umm, that you are like cake and I am like vegetables." Theresa answered quickly, unable to think of a lie.

Jay grimaced, "Yuck. Can I be the vegetables, I hate cake."

Theresa gaped at him. He liked vegetables!! The young woman paused at that thought and how it carried significance it should not. So he liked vegetables. Didn't mean he liked her…

"But you know what I like more than vegetables?" Jay said, his smoldering cognac eyes staring deep into hers, making her shiver.

"What?" Theresa replied, her voice barely more than a whisper. Jay smirked arrogantly and caught a tendril of her hair, twirling it around his fingers. He dropped the strand and looked back at her, his eyes ravenous and burning.

"You." He declared, capturing her mouth with his own.

Theresa willingly surrendered to the taste of Jay. He plundered her mouth expertly, making her gasp. His hands roamed down the side of her body, quickly moving to her derriere. He squeezed lightly before flipping her so he was fully on top.

"Hello beautiful. Lovely morning, isn't it?" Jay greeted her, his mouth inches from her ear.

"Yes, it is…wonderful." Theresa managed to gasp out as he nibbled the tender area of her neck. His hand would down to the bottom of her shirt when a large cracking noise came from the door. Jay was instantly to his feet, pushing her behind him.

"Get back Theresa." He warned, pushing her roughly to the edge of the room. Theresa growled.

The door opened unwillingly and three huge men in black suits walked in. They took in the room and Jay's stance.

"Don?" Jay asked. The largest of the men turned to Jay and smiled.

"Hello Jay. Have a nice time? Your father must be worried sick." Don said mockingly.

Jay laughed, "Oh yeah, I bet he is just ill with terror."

Don sighed regretfully, "You know Jay, I am sorry that I am about to drag you onto a plane and back to Europe. I actually like you."

"I like you too Don. But before you try and attempt to get close to me, would you grant me a favor, as a friend?" Jay asked pleasantly.

"I suppose, what do you need?"

"Please allow my friend here to leave unharmed." Jay declared, his face impassive. Theresa could detect a hint of horrible hatred and pain hidden deep within his features, and it cut deep into her heart.

"No, Jay. I will stay. I want to stay." Theresa said. Jay winced and shook his head. Don's eyes widened.

"Take her out of here." Jay commanded, his eyes on a spot on the wall, unable to look Theresa in the face.

Theresa backed away from the men advancing upon her and dove at Jay, pushing him into a wall.

"Jay, you will call these men off and you will do it now. I am staying here, no matter what you say so just suck it up!" Theresa shrieked, trying to stay near Jay and yet far away from the men.

Jay grimaced and opened his mouth to tell them to stop, but promptly clamped it shut again. He would not have her harmed only because she was being foolish.

"Look at me!" She demanded, dodging the men, "Look at me! I want to stay with you! Ow, Leave me alone!" Theresa jabbed her arm into one of the men who had roughly snatched her elbow. He twisted the arm and Theresa fell to her knees.

Theresa felt excruciating pain for only a second until it was gone. Glancing around her she noticed the man who had hurt her was out cold on the floor and Dan was attempting to restrain Jay.

"Jay, stop it. Stop it now. I order you to stop!" Don said imperiously.

"I don't take orders from you." Jay growled, still fighting to get to the man who was unconscious.

"Jay stop. Come here." Theresa called, holding her sore arm. Jay immediately left Don's grip and came to her side. He looked like he was barely restraining fury.

"Did he hurt you?" He asked, his voice rough, but strangely tender.

"Barely, you stopped him in time. Why are they here?" Theresa whispered.

"We are here to return Jay to his scum sucking father." Don answered.

Theresa was puzzled. Was he insulting his master because he did not like him? She sighed; everything with Jay had to be complicated, didn't it?

"If you don't like him, why do you work for him?" Theresa wondered.

"Good pay. But don't worry Jay; I won't be taking you anymore. But I beg a word with the woman at your side." Don explained lightly. Jay scowled, but Theresa set her hand on his arm, calming him instantly.

"Of course I will talk to you." Theresa agreed, standing and exiting the room with the huge man.

He shut the door, and scanned the hall. Theresa noticed this and got a little edgy. Was he planning on kidnapping her in broad daylight?

"Why do you want to talk to me in private. I won't conspire against Jay." Theresa stated forthright. Don grinned.

"I never expected you to," His grin faded into something much more serious, "But I was just wondering what relationship you have with Jay."

Theresa felt herself starting to blush as she remembered this morning's activity that the men had interrupted. "We only met two days ago. I guess we are dating."

Don leaned back, whistling, "Incredible."

"What?" Theresa asked, a bit annoyed that she felt like she was missing some great big secret.

"That man in there is Jay Cameron, son to David Cameron. He is one of the richest men in Europe, hence why Jay is having bodyguards coming for him. But he is uncontrollable. He isn't a bad guy, he works himself to death, and he is loyal to a fault. But he doesn't take orders from anyone, anywhere. He is his own leader. He was born to lead, not to follow. And the only time I have ever seen him as angry as he was just now, was when a bodyguard accidentally killed his dog. The dog was his best friend. They had to fire the bodyguard and buy Jay a new dog because Jay wouldn't stop attacking him. Jay actually broke his arm with his bare hands. He was eleven at the time."

Theresa's eyes widened, "Okay, so he has anger issues."

"No," Don corrected sharply, "That is just it. He is emotionless. In my entire time serving as a bodyguard, I have seen him smile twice. And I was a bodyguard to his family before he was born. He controls his emotions. I have never seen a man who can be as cold as him when he wants. I have never seen him be warm."

"So you are telling me I am dating a heartless…violent psycho?" Theresa clarified. Don rolled his eyes, impatient at this headstrong woman.

"No I am telling you that just now when a man twisted your arm, Jay was angrier than I have ever seen him. He would have killed that bodyguard. I could barely hold him back. And yet, you tell him to stop, and he does. He would follow you anywhere, and you met him two days ago. I knew him his entire life. I guess we are friends, but I am telling you right now that I wouldn't expect Christmas cards from him. But you… You hold power over him. He cares about you. So the point of this was, don't hurt him. I just found out he had a heart. Don't let it break right away."

And with that said, Don entered the room and dragged out the unconscious man and disappeared down the hallway, leaving a stunned and confused Theresa alone.

The woman entered the room, taking in the scene of carnage and Jay sitting on the bed, his eyes staring at nothing, his entire face a mask. Theresa knew what this meant now, thanks to Don. He thought she was afraid of him and didn't want to be with him anymore. So Theresa did the only thing she possibly could have.

Slipping up to him on the bed, Theresa sat down really close, her head on his shoulder. And then she started singing very softly.

They didn't have you where I come from
Never knew the best was yet to come
Life began when I saw your face
And I hear your laugh like a serenade

Jay blinked, and his fisted hand relaxed enough for Theresa to clasp it with her own. She softly mussed his brown hair and kissed his cheek, continuing her lullaby.

How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough, is forever enough
How long do you want to be loved
Is forever enough
Cause I'm never, never giving you up

When she finished, Theresa just sat there with him, her head on his shoulder, and his hand in her hand.

"You don't hate me?" He whispered.

"Of course not. I could never hate you Jay."

"Good. Because you know how we were asking questions when we first met and you asked me what my weakness was after I found out about the Reese?"

"Yes…"

"And I said dogs, right?" Theresa nodded. "Well I change my mind. It's you. Everything about you. I can't resist you. The way you smell, your smile, your laugh, the way you sing."

Jay sighed and looked lazily over at her. He smiled impulsively and brushed her hair back out of her gorgeous eyes.

"You know, I just sang for you without the promise of Reese. So I guess you are my biggest weakness too." Theresa muttered, staring straight into his brown eyes. He smiled tentatively and set his hand on her cheek.

"You know what's weird?"

"What?" She replied.

"That I never thought I would fall in love and here I am."

Theresa stopped breathing for a moment, and it seemed as though the world stopped with her. Did Jay, the god Jay, just tell her he loved her?

"You love me?"

He smiled wanly and kissed her. "Definitely. I have only known you for two days, but it feels like I knew you from a time before this. Like we already had a life together once before. And I loved you in that time too. And I love you in this time."

Theresa grinned. Now that he mentioned it, she did feel like she knew him for much longer than just two days. It was like the time when she was younger, only about twenty four, instead of twenty eight, and she had met the famous model in Paris. He was nothing like what she would want in a friend. He was superficial, vain and extremely self centered. He also had amazing good looks and luck. But even though she had been annoyed by his arrogance, she had also been drawn to him because she felt him. Like she knew his aura or something.

"I love you too Jay. And Maybe we were married or something in our past lives." Theresa declared. Jay chuckled and kissed her lightly on the lips, pulling away only to trail kisses down her neck and collarbone.

"And maybe we will be married in our future lives." He murmured as he nipped her skin. Theresa grinned.

"Only the gods know Jay, only the gods."

xxx…Fate Deserves Thanks, For Bringing Me The Blessing Of You …xxx

Hera sighed and sat back heavily on the plush couch. Another mission well done. There were only a few left. And then, they could reunite the group that should have never been separated.

"Oh my dear Jay. I apologize for the fact that you lost her, the one thing you asked for in fighting against our father. But more than that, I am sorry for how long it took you to find her again." Hera whispered to the boy in the center of her scrying orb.

Oh what she would give to just go back in time, tell them of her decision. But she couldn't do that. She had to let them sacrifice time. It was better than sacrificing their lives.

"Hera? Oh good you're here, yes yes, I was looking all over for you, everywhere Hera, everywhere. I found Herry; yes I did, also found Neil. And you wouldn't believe it, I also found those they are or were destined to be with. Oh I always get so confused when you manipulate time. Cronus does it much better. Not that I am complaining, oh no, oh no, but-"

"Hermes. Be a dear and just tell me where Herry and Calli are today." Hera interrupted the rambling god, too tired to listen to him rattle on about Cronus.

"Herry is at the same hotel Jay is! But we have a problem with Calli." Hermes exclaimed.

Hera sat down, her head pounding. There were always problems when dealing with prophetess, and Calli was no different. She was the most powerful of all prophetesses, seeing as how she held all the memories and prophecies of her ancestors, all the way to Cassandra in the Trojan War. Her timeline had been edited by Hera herself at one point in time, but there had been some unexpected flaws in the plan. Instead of going back to childhood, Calli had just reverted back to Cassandra. She held no memory of ever living as Calli. She was only the farthest ancestor in Calli's line.

Hera did not really want to attempt reuniting Herry and Calli. He may love her, he may not. But if he did not, there was no other woman for the descendant of Hercules, and the line would be lost. Calli had been his soul mate, and if she was gone, then so were Herry's chances of loving again.

"Hermes, can you get me some ambrosia, I am getting a head pain." Hera asked. Hermes immediately zoomed off and Hera once again looked into her scrying orb.

"Alright Herry, Calli, let me see if we can reorder fate just a little so you can meet. Maybe I will be a little more creative than Zeus and speed dating. Who ever heard of such a foolish thing!?"

"Hera I have your ambrosia."

"Thank you Hermes. Oh and before I forget, what was the problem with Calli?"

Hermes looked jittery and nervous, never a good sign. Hera sighed, he must have broken something.

"Well, you see Hera. She is coming here. Today." Hermes stuttered.

"What!!??" Hera shrieked.

"Yeah, and well, I just found out, but as it turns out… well. She is actually in the waiting room Hera, she wants to see you."

xxx…Hell Ain't A Bad Place To Be, If You're With Me …xxx

A/N: Poor Hera. Oh Dear. Well, If you have no idea who Calli is…well you obviously haven't read I'm Not That Person. You don't really need to read it to read these, but it is helpful when you want to know more about the character and their powers. Please review!