Everyone left apart from Willow and Erik’s parents as they wanted to spend the time with this new addition to the family. Inside all was calm as they talked about the bombshell Dorian had dropped on them. None of them expected this from Neith. While they talked inside, outside Dorian had Neith go on ahead as he wanted to talk with Leo and Hera. This seemed not to bother her as she left heading not for home but for Wessex. This Dorian did not know as she turned direction once she was out of view leaving Domink behind with a stunned Leo and Hera.

“She just left her son. How could our daughter do such a thing?” Leo said in total disbelief as Domink stood before him not realizing that he heard every word.

“Father, what is happening?” Domink asked looking up at his father.

“Don’t worry son everything is going to be okay. Go with your grandmother back to our house.” speaking to Domink trying to reassure him that everything was going to be just fine.

“Come, my grandson.” Hera said as she took him under her arm and walked to his home.

“Grandmother, I don’t understand.” he asked as they walked together.

Hera heard his words and concern for his family, but she couldn’t answer him as she loved him so much. That she did not want to hurt him when he was hurting enough.  “I don’t know, dear. I wish I understood too but I don’t. Let us not worry about it, okay?” Hera said with a lump in her throat.

“Alright” Domink sighed as they neared his home.

As they walked to the house and saw that no candles or the fireplace was lit to which Domink didn’t seem to notice but Hera did. In that moment the doubts she had about Dorian’s confession were all gone. As was any hope she had for her, Hera took Domink and gave him something to drink while she started the fireplace. Lit the candles given brightness to this lifeless home.  While he drank the blood Hera took to asking him questions while he was alone. She found out more then she ever wanted to know. As they talked back on the road Leo and Domink stood far enough so that neither could hear their words.

“Leo, I need you to take Domink home with you and Hera.” Doran spoke in a commanding voice.

“What? Why? Not that I don’t want him, Domink is like the son I never had but wanted.” Leo questioned quite strongly and confused.

“Domink needs a family one that loves him no matter what his views are, but he really needs a mothers love and I know Hera has that love to give.” Doran said somberly and forthright.

Leo looked at him confused as he did not understand “Do you love Domink? Dorian.” Leo asked. “And what do you mean by views.?”

“Yes, I love him with all my heart and like him I view the child the same way. You see, Leo, Domink and I both see the child of prophecy as an innocent and not the evil thing that everyone sees him as. Everyone blames him for the war and the deaths of all those who died because of the prophecy. Even thou he has yet to be born. But Neith sees the opposite and when her son told us about his views at nine years old, Neith turned almost instantly against him pushing him to believe her views. He couldn’t at only nine years, Domink knew far more and understood more then he could ever know. Now at eleven, well nearly eleven he sees more than any of us could see. I know that you see the child as Domink, and I do. You also love him unconditionally like me but he needs a family and you can give him that. If he stays with Neith she will keep pushing and pushing him until he finally leaves. And one day die alone before his time. Before he can fulfill his destiny.” Dorian said with passion and love, but fear came through as he spoke of his fears of Neith. What she would do to their son.

Leo looked at Dorian and saw in his eyes that although he loved him he needed to let him go so that he would be loved. “Okay, I will take him, Dorian. But you need to promise me that you will see him because he needs to know that you love him.” said Leo looking directly at Dorian.

Dorian shook his hand in agreement. “I promise Leo as long as you promise to love and raise him like he was your own.”

“I promise. I just hope that my grandson understands.” Leo said as they began to walk to the house.

When they walked into the house and saw only Domink and Hera, Leo knew that what Dorian said was all true and from the heart. Dorian went up to his son’s room and packed his things along with his swords so that he would always have him wherever he went. By the time he was done Leo had already cheered him up before he receives the news.

Dorian walked up to his son as Leo took Hera away so that they could be alone to talk. “Domink, I need to tell you something.” spoke Dorian as he took his son’s hands into his. “Domink, you have to go and stay with your grandparents in Africa.”

“Why? What did I do?” he asked confused and worried as to what was going on.

“Oh, no, you did nothing wrong, my son. It’s just that right now they can give you the love that you need to grow into. The man I one day see you becoming.” Dorian tried to explain to him.

“Is it because of mother?” he asked as the tears fell from his eyes. “I know that she doesn’t love us anymore and it’s because of me isn’t it.”

“No, child, nothing is your fault. Yes, your bond to your mother is broken but our bond is still strong. The bond that you have with your grandparents is strong also. It is because of that love, that bond that I must give you to them to raise you. I know that they will love and nourish your dreams and support you. But I will see you again, my son.” Dorian tried to reassure his son.

“Okay,” he said through his tears.

“Be brave, my son. One day you will find love and we will see each other soon.” Dorian spoke as he embraced his son for what would be the last time for a long while.

Dorian picked his son up and handed him to Leo since he couldn’t run as fast as they could. Besides he wanted him long gone before Neith returned. They all said their goodbye redundant as they were. The words needed to be spoken and just like that Leo, Hera and his son was gone from his eyes. Once again, he was alone.

“Goodbye my son.” as he sat down by the fireplace and waited for Neith to return.

Neith did return that night just as the dawn was breaking as she walked into the house Dorian still sat by the smolding cinders in the fireplace as the fire died out long ago. Neith saw Dorian sitting by the fireplace and it was then she realized that she had been caught. But it was also more than this as her bond with Dorian was broken like her bond to Domink.

“Dorian, what is wrong?” Neith asked trying to cover up and avoid their issues.

“Neith, don’t. Just don’t I’m to old and tired to fight to lie. I have known for years that you have been laying with another.” Neith tried to cut in, but Dorian did not let her. “Don’t Neith, you forget that we all carry different scents, and you carry his – Seti’s scent. Our bond has been strained for years and your bond with Domink is long gone. It has been for several years; you no longer treat him as your son but as someone you’ve known for a while. Domink no longer your concern and neither am I, Neith.” Dorian told her bluntly and harshly.

“Dorian...” Neith started to speak but he wasn’t having any of it.

“Neith, shut the fuck up. You don’t get it you’ve lost everything that you once held dear. All because of your outdated views. You will never see Domink or I again, yet I think that is okay with you since you no longer love him. He will be raised by people who love him and will support him unlike you. Unlike you I have never betrayed you and I never will because at this moment we are no longer wed. I will leave you this farm and the house as I no longer want it. I will be gone in less than one hour. I just need to collect my things and you will be free of me and my son.” he spoke quite coldly before leaving to collect his things from his home.

Neith watched in shock as the man she once loved began to leave her but underneath this shock she was actually relieved to be free of him and their son. “Thank-you.” she mumbled to herself.

Within the hour Dorian was gone. There was no goodbyes nor words spoken just painful memories to be forgotten and new lives to begin. Neith would never see Dorian or Domink nor her parents again. Instead, she married her lover Seti few days after he left and years later she gave birth to Seti’s twins; a boy and a girl. Though Dorian and Seti worked together neither one spoke about what Seti and Neith had done. Instead focusing on their tasks, their duties, and their new lives. But she wasn’t the only one to begin a new life.

Willow and Erik soon left their home moving their family far from Neith and closer to James. Building his families home across the river from Leo’s home where Leo took Domink. Erik was not the only one to move to Africa as Dorian moved to an island off the coast of Africa. It was a place that no human or immortal had ever touched because it was his sanctuary. It brought him peace something he long wished for and needed. His home gave him and Domink a place to begin mending their broken thoughts and memories. In time Dorian found love again but not with an immortal rather a human woman. But he was not the only one find love and happiness through all the pain and misery.

As they ran home that night with Domink in tow Leo and Hera were both joyfully and sad not from the loss of Neith rather the way their grandson was given to them. As they reached home this sadness was lifted and replaced by hope for a better future as well as a new beginning. The first few days were tough and exhausting for Leo and Hera as a lot of changes had to be done to their home to make it perfect for a growing boy. The first being his room. This they did together as a family when that was done Leo and Hera let him get adjusted to his new home plus the surroundings. After a few days the time came for them to talk and to try explaining the situation to him.

“Domink, your grandmother and I need to talk to you.” Leo sighed as he stood in the doorway of his bedroom with Hera by his side one evening.

“Yes, grandfather,” Domink replied as they walked in taking a seat next to him on the bed. “What did I do?

“Oh, no honey, you can never do any thing wrong. We just needed to tell you something.” said Hera wrapping her arms around him trying to reassure him. “You see Dorian, your father, could feel how unhappy you were with your mother, and he couldn’t take it any longer. Your grandfather and I know your beliefs towards the prophecy, and we share those same beliefs as does your father. That is why he is letting us raise you so that you be surrounded by people who love you. Believe in you. Here you can be yourself and live your dreams.” explained Hera to Domink her words caused tears to fall from his eyes.

“You won’t punishing me for being me.” he asked through pain filled eyes.

“Why would we ever do that, son. Here you are free to be yourself and no one will ever punish you. We love you, Domink as if you were ours and don’t worry you will see your father as he and I agreed too. Don’t let these bad things color your opinion of your life and worth. People that are close to you and strangers too will always seek to bring you down so that they may rise in others eyes. As long you hold true to yourself and beliefs you will always rise again, and they will fall. Just be brave and patient you will find your strength in the most unlikely places. With those who see and love you for who you are.” Leo spoke with such strength in his words it caused Domink to embrace him in a hug so strong that no one could break. As they hugged, he looked at Hera who had tears in her eyes and mouthed the words “Everything will be okay.”

Hera nodded and mouthed back “I know.”

Just then in that moment from out of nowhere Domink spoke these words everyone longed to hear “I love you.”

From that moment in time their bond was the strongest it has ever been it was so strong that nothing could ever break it not even the love that Domink came to have.

Through the just few month Domink found his place with his grandparents as if this is where he was always meant to be. Soon he began to call Leo and Hera, mother and father which was alright in their eyes and in the eyes of Dorian. Since he had become more like a friend than a father. Dorian accepted this soon after leaving Domink with his former parents in law. Once he saw how happy his son was and it was much more than he has been from the age of eight to ten. Dorian still saw his son over the years but only when Domink wanted to which was quite often.