Perception

Part 89

Silas POV

Aggele loves us all. I feel as though the gods are finally rewarding us for all of the awfulness we've endured in our young lives. Maybe Mama is speaking to the Fates on our behalf and they are granting us our hearts' strongest, most noble desire.

Shaking myself out of my musings, I pull myself back to the activity around me. North has Aggele snuggled on his lap while most of the others are dashing around to prepare the living room for a family night.

"We are spending a lot more time together as a group than we ever have," North murmurs in Greek from the other side of the couch.

"I know. It's like we are now a real family instead of just a group of guys that hang out and work together. It's Aggele. She is our glue--the heart that makes us into one body rather than scattered limbs," I wax poetic.

North shoots an amused smirk at me but doesn't disagree. His eyes drop to the girl snuggled against his chest with her eyes closed and a content smile turning up the corners of her lips.

"What was that? I heard my name?" she questions in a whisper.

I chuckle and think over the last few minutes of conversation. Yes, I said 'aggele'. That she considers that her name, fills me with pride.

"We were just talking about how we're spending a lot more time together as a family, Baby. Si says it's because you are here to hold us together," North gives the abbreviated version of our talk without making me sound like a lame-ass.

"Alright! Let the party begin!" Luke lopes into the room balancing several bowls of snacks and clutching a bottle of soda between his chin and chest.

Kota follows Luke into the room wearing a calm, but indulgent smile with his arms full of waters and fruit. Once everything is safely placed on the coffee table, Luke holds out his hand toward Sang while rocking from foot to foot impatiently.

Aggele whispers something to North then kisses his cheek before taking the hand held out for her.

"Gabe, put some music on! I want to dance with Cupcake!" Luke shouts toward the stairs where Gabe comes down carrying a load of pillows and blankets with a duffle bag slung over his shoulder.

"Hold your damn horses, Luke. You could help with this shit, you know," Gabe responds snarkily.

Luke is half carrying Aggele around in a floppy waltz that no one else can hear. The sound of Sang's giggles is all the accompaniment their dance requires.

"What'd I say about those giggles, Pookie?" Doc asks as his newly pajama-clad form lowers back in the recliner.

This sets off another round of giggles, and a playful groan from Doc. We all crack up to see his frustration. With the pain medication flowing through him, his energy levels are almost zero. Pop music fills the room, and Gabe joins Aggele and Luke dancing.

Nathan tosses the pile of bedding on the floor and joins the trio bouncing around.

"Go and dance, Si. Baby would love that," North suggests in Greek with evil glee sparkling in his eyes.

"Not a chance, brother. You obviously remember the last assignment I had to dance during," I respond in Greek and shudder while thoughts of G-strings flash through my head.

I shift and try to tell myself that I don't really have a wedgie, but I can't help feel the phantom butt floss. The others always rag on me about that assignment. Apparently my trauma is humorous to them since they take every opportunity to bring it up. The fact that North is looking inordinately pleased with himself is a dead giveaway what we're talking about--even though no one speaks Greek but us.