The DemiGod & the Dancer

Epilogue

Okay, this was a great idea.

Niklaus decided to take us all away after Fredrik was born. It was the first thing he put in his new contract-paternity leave. God bless him, he's so European. Outstretching mountains, blue skies and rolling meadows, clean air and a sense of peaceful bliss like this was something I'd never known.

I looked out the window and watched Reina on a swing set, her hair loose and in the wind, looking like the sun touched the ends as they flowed in the breeze. Every time she went up, she closed her eyes, smiling ear to ear. I heard my mother below me, telling her to be careful. I laughed. Didn't she know whose daughter she was? Then I heard my daughter say a line from the show:

"Aw, Grandma, I'm the daughter of a demigod and a dancer-the skies are my friend!"

I shook my head at that. She reminded me of her father, and my heart swelled. I shifted uncomfortably; it would be time to nurse Fredrik soon. My gaze traveled back into the house, where Niklaus and Fredrik slept. They were sleeping on a lounger, baby using his father's chest for a bed.

I seemed to watch this alot these days. Most of the time Nik is in motion, and it was always nice to see him still. It gave me time to admire him. Even with a bun, he looked like some sort of royalty laying there, the gentle slope of his forehead to the brow that usually frowned on camera to intensify that gaze, but also brought the mischievous and at times boyish twinkle in his eyes when he smiled and laughed, especially with his daughter. His nose, which I kissed often, was straight and angled perfectly, setting off lips I loved to kiss, and a beard that gave him the profile of a king of old from children's books. Settled under his chin in the valley between his pecs was our son, sleeping as deeply as his father under a blanket. For once the boy didn't kick off the thing. 

My breath caught as I realized how easily none of this could have happened. My throat tightened with the knowledge of how blessed I was. I ran from love back then-it scared me to be so vulnerable because I was afraid I would lose it. I was afraid of getting hurt. I was afraid my daughter would, but that was gone now...he was here in every way that counted. He was, even when I wasn't with him, everything. And to be here with him now was once some dream I treated myself to at night. Seeing love in his eyes for me was always a breathless, "pinch me" moment.

I saw Fredrik move. His legs were always first, then his little arms, stretching. He yawned, eyes opening, and then the whimpers came. My body responded instantly. Definitely meal time.

Niklaus's eyes opened, and he cooed in his native tongue. This always melted my heart. Fredrik replied in small whimpers and cries, holding up his end of things. I always thought that was amazing, the beginning of communication. Nik was actually good at telling between cries for hunger, cries for attention and cries of being tired. He looked at the clock on the wall. "We can set a clock by you, Fredrik." He glanced over at me, and then gave a small stretch, careful to keep the baby balanced on him. "Hey."

"Hey." 

His look softened. He knew I'd been watching him sleep. "You did get some sleep, I hope?"

I nodded, smiling at him. I watched Fredrik's fists clench, a sign that he was going to cry outright.  "Hurry, he's about to blow."

Nik laughed, and rose with the baby, bringing him to me. I took him and nestled him close. In minutes he was quiet again and being fed. "He does latch on quickly." 

Nik got in bed next to me, and put his arm around me. I nestled closer. He kissed my temple and smiled at our son.

"I heard the story you told Reina last night."

Nik's cheeks colored. "You did?"

"Yes." I nodded, smiling up at him. "Tell it to me, please? You will tell our son, too, one day."

He chuckled, and pulled us closer. "Once upon a time, there was a demigod named Thorson. He was strong and powerful, the winds and skies his to command. He enjoyed the breezes and winds he created. One night, he saw a young woman dance in the moonlight, her arms outstretched, her face lifted to the winds. He whispered a question, 'Why do you dance like that?' She replied, 'Because the winds make me feel happy and free, so I dance with them.' He watched her. He was spellbound. Every night he sent gentle winds to hold her as she danced, wishing he could do the same. He was afraid to come down to her. He came to her in her dreams, and he asked her to come to the highest mountain so they could meet, but she was afraid of other demigods who may be jealous of how she danced for him. He asked her not to be and swore to protect her on her journey to him. The earth demigod was jealous of her love, and made the ground shake on her path, but Thorson sent winds to make her feet quick and agile to avoid being hurt, protecting her from harm. The fire demigod was jealous. He sent rings of fire to stop her, but Thorson sent winds to blow out the flames. The water demigod was jealous. He sent great waters, hoping to drown her. But Thorson breathed life to her in gentle breezes, filling her body with air so she could float, and she went on. Finally they met, and they knew they loved each other because they fought to be together. They fell in love in an instant, dancing in the winds together, and living happily ever after."

Thanks for reading. Feel free to comment and vote. About five years ago, I wrote the first four chapters of this book, and set it aside. I just didn't know what to do with it. Years passed, and I was in a slump-a writer's block. I was getting depressed, because writing is something that always kept me sane and made me happy. Then one day, on Instagram, I see this man (who is on the cover), and I realized that he physically embodied the character I envisioned. Imagine how inspiring that was! I'd never really had something like that happen, and took it as a sign. Thankful for such a muse, I decided to finish this story, and it has been a joy. As silly as it sounds, I thank Norwegian officer/model Lasselom Matberg for simply breathing and helping me get back on track by simply existing. Wisdom and wellness to all.