Calm Before the Storm ((levi/lori))((Part 1))

[Levi Faollan]

Things just havent been right since he had gotten back. Levi paced frantically in his room just thinking about it. He had re-done his room in a last ditch effort to clear his mind. When Levi had gotten frustrated or anoyed by something, organizing was what he did strangely enough. Things just didn't add up to him. He knew where he had been for the past year and he knew that he wasn't here, or wherever Lori had thought he had been. Levi shook his head. He locked his door with his key and waved his roommate off with the wave of his hand before walking down to the beach.

Levi drew his black leather jacket up around his neck, tightly holding it so the wind couldn't whip through him. With the wind coming off the ocean, it was cold. There were storm clouds gathering off of the east. It looked as if his Uncle was whipping up some sort of nasty surf. Levi watched the white capped waves for a brief moment before training his eyes to the skies. The stormy black clouds mirrored his dark mood. It wasn't Lori's fault. Levi couldn't blame her for what she thought she had seen or didn't see. Lori wasn't the baby-mama type of person. All those mortal shows he had seen while under cover about who was who's babys daddy, she wasn't like that. Levi believed her with his heart.

A wave came crashing down, lapping up on the sandy beach. About ten feet off, lightening struck, leaving his father's usuaul signature scent of ozone. To other people, it was a near death experience that made them worship whatever diety they believed in, thanking them for sparing his life. But Levi knew it was just his dad showing off. However, levi knew that something better was where the sand struck. He trudged over, boots slowing him down in the wet beach sand. Levi quickly dug through the sand, hoping that what he was looking for was there. After moving one last handful of sand, Levi found what he had been after. It was a glass figure. Small enough that it fit in the palm of his hand, Shaped in an eagle, his father's symbol. Almost instantly, Levi felt a surge of anger. He felt as if it was his dad gloating to his son. But he sighed, scanning the ocean for more lightening strikes.

Levi felt as if there had been a pair of eyes on him, but looking around, there was no one to be seen. Earlier in his return, he had been badgered by campers wanting to see his guns or weapons or asking the son of zeus to show off his magnificant powers or medals. Many of the older ones begged for news of the outside world, but Levi didn't have answers they were looking for. He never did. He only knew of where he had been and what target to take out. Levi wouldn't ever admit to it, but to a degree, it was amazing to be back at camp. HE sucked at cooking, so he took his meals in the mess hall with the other campers and some of the bachelors that werrn't great at cooking. But all in all, he was home.

[Lorelei Asphodel]

Lorelei had been pacing back and forth while attempting to cradle, rock, bounce, snuggle, anything she could think of to calm her overly riled up and upset baby. Elysian had been a grouch the entire day, nothing Lori did would sooth the newborn. At her wits end, she decided maybe a little walk around camp would work, some Cajun lullabies, and fresh air would help her little one be able to sleep again.

Sighing, she wrapped Elysia up in a big warm blanket and pulled on a warm turtleneck dress with leggings and soft boots for herself. Pulling on a small little knit cap on her daughters soft hair, Lorelei picked her back up, "Come on mon petit ange momma is going to take you for a little walk." Her voice soft and almost humming in nature as she talked to her bundle of love.

Walking out of her cabin, she was sure to lock it up and step lightly through the wooded area surrounding her, the weather had taken a turn for the cold through the past few days and Lorelei knew soon she would not even be able to look out her window let alone step outside. But for her daughter, she would suffer through the pains that which chilly weather brought her, for now while she could still function.

Lorelei decided to take the long border walk around the camp, each step having a slight bouncing, rocking motion in it. Elysia's fussiness did not subside much, the newborns wails were getting stares from anyone that she and her mother passed. It took everything in Lorelei not to shoot back icy glares and turn them all into a lovely flower assortment while she still could, instead she focused only on her baby keeping with her attempts to calm the child.

As she walked towards Fireworks Beach, Lori noticed a familiar silhouette a short distance away, a slight smile came over her face but it faded slightly when the wrapped up Elysia began to wail all over again. Furrowing her brow, Lorelei leaned down and softly hummed to the little one, "Please mon petit ange, no more tears..."

She bounced her a bit more as she walked towards Levi, as she stepped up closer to the man, she noticed a familiar look over his face, talking gently as possible, but still over the cries of Elysia, "A penny for your thoughts?"

[Levi Faollan]

Levi's steely grey gaze had turned at the sound of a soft voice. It was that voice that had kept him sane durring the years he had been gone. It was that voice that had given him wonderful dreams amongst the terror that had happened all around him. It was his grounding force. But it was the cries of his daughter that made him smile. Ever since he had found out about Elysia, he couldn't be happier, but he was. For the first time, in a good long time, he felt happy. Levi had learned a long time ago to not bother with worrying about what was gonna happen in the future, that the moment of bliss, that was what you had to count. And he had them both, Lori and Elysia, and nothing could ruin this for him. Not even his egotistical, self-absorbed, horndog of a father. Levi smiled and planted a kiss on Lori's lips and then proceeded to rub Elysia's back and stroke her hair. When his youngest sister had been born, she was a fussy baby and stroking her hair always managed to calm her.

Lightening split the sky, followed by an earth shaking crash. Levi turned to Lori and smirked, "My dad's showing off again, bastard" Levi couldn't help but let our a small chuckle. His dad did have a flair for the super dramatic. And his Uncle's wern't much better, come to think of it. It seemed as if the lightening and thunder spooked the baby, her cries were renewed. Smiling and speaking in a low, hushed voice, Levi gently whispered, "Ahh my little Olwen, my Fae princess, don't be scared. The only thing that need fear a day like this are the unicorns." He lovingly caressed the newborn's cheek. He looked long into Lori's eyes. Levi could still feel the spark in there, the same fiery spark that he had fallen in love with.

"As for my thoughts, I was thinking about you." Poor Lori looked a bit belugered and exasperated. "Would you like me to take her for a few hours? So you can get some sleep or do whatever you need to do?" If it was one thing that Levi absolutely loved, he loved kids. Though it had been quite a long time since he had to help take care of a newborn, but he figured it couldn't be too hard. He swallowed as he thought about the eagle he had stashed in his pocket. If it was what he thought, then he could figure out what to do. But Levi wasn't a vindictive person. Nor was he petty. "you know I was thinking about something, just a thought, but I'd like your permission to do something for Eysia." Levi continued to smile warmly at the new born. There was just something about her that warmed his heart, that made him feel as if there was something really worth fighting for.

[Lorelei Asphodel]

A weak and weary smile came over Lori as she continued to bounce Elysia in her arms, as Levi came and gave her a soft kiss she could not help but have a slight blush come over her cheeks. Watching the man lightly brush their daughter's hair made Lori smile and Elysia calm down for just a moment as the baby looked up at him with bright grey eyes like his.

Trying hard not to jump even slightly at the loud cracks from the lightning with the baby in her arms, Lorelei focused on Levi infront of her, she had prepared so many angry speeches and things that she would do to him if she had saw him again; but ever since their first meet up everything that had happened in the past seemed insignificant now.

"Your father always show off, then again he kinda is you know, king of the gods, that kinda title does go to ones head..." She chuckled a bit herself and looked down as Elysia started to make her crying sounds that notified Lori that she would be wailing once again, quite soon. That was until Levi leaned down and began cooing to her...

Elysia seemed completely focused on Levi and his words, the infants face going from a red ready to scream to a soft almost smile like innocence Lorelei had missed for the past week or so. Lorelei watched slightly surprised and a little jealous at how easily he seemed to calm Elysia, but at the same time just to see her daughter calm made it all worth it.

She looked at Levi and softly smiled, her energy had become quite low after the last few months and now with winter coming she knew that she would need help to take care of their child, no matter if she still had some slight confusion on what exactly occurred to bring their baby to life.

When Levi said that he was thinking about her, Lori's face turned a pale strawberry color, "Oh..." Looking down at Elysia whenever he offered to take her for a couple hours, but Lorelei and her daughter had not been separated for more than a few minutes here and there, but she truly needed her rest. "I do need to sleep, with winter coming I need to try and get as much rest as possible before I cannot even make it out of the bed..."

Sighing slightly, Lorelei cuddled her daughter a bit, "Would you mind being in my cabin with her? I just mean, I want to be close in case she is hungry or you get a little over-whelmed..." Softly, Lori kissed her daughter's head.

Looking up at him and tilting her head slightly, her blonde hair moving to the side, "What would you like to do?" She was a little intrigued by his words, Elysia continued to coo softly towards Levi, the three of them together warmed Lorelei's heart and made her genuinely smile.

[Levi Faollan]

"Awesome. I love kids. It has been a while since I have helped take care of a newborn. My sister is going on 18 now, she was the last diaper I've ever changed." Levi's grin grew bigger. The chance to spend time with his daughter was the best thing he had heard all day. Even with the clouds growing darker over head, Levi knew they were in no trouble. He always grounded lightening so there was no chance of them being struck. He could keep them safe. That's what he wanted most in the world right now was to keep his family safe. His dress was more relaxed now, camo pants, boots and an orange CHB Zeus shirt. His trusted longsword at his side and his shield Ageis on his back. Right now, Levi felt invincible. He could take on the DCA, any monster, and anyone that thought they could best him, he would win.

Levi smiled. "I want to start up a college savings for her. Its never too early to start." Levi gently stroked Elysia's blond hair. "I'm going tomorrow to see my superior officer about you two. I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure you are safe from the DCA." Levi's rough hands tenderly stroked Lori's cheek. He would fight tooth and nail for his family. "I'm glad that even though this place is over crowded, its a safe haven for demi-gods. She has a better place to grow up then the streets of Brooklyn." His new york accent was coming through again. His brow knitted together. His thoughts had returned to his past, something he rarely spoke about. Levi let out a small sigh as he watched mother and daughter together. It wasn't time to think about the past, it was time to work for a future.

"anything you want or need, let me know. I will do anything in my power to make sure you are happy and comfortable. If it means I have to go beat up Lord Aries I will." Levi kissed Lori's fingers with a tenderness. No one ever expected something of that from the son of zeus. But then again, Levi was more like his mom then dad. And by all of levi's reckoning, that was the best damn thing that he ever could have happen to him. He didn't want to be related to the king of the horndogs but you can't choose your family. Waves continued to lap up on teh shore, even though he wasn't the son of posiedon, the salty spray of the beach was comfortable scent that reminded him of times past.

[Lorelei Asphodel]

Lori's smile brightened and she lightly laughed at Levi, "Don't worry, if you need a little tutoring to catch you back up, I'm here for that." Lorelei looked up at cloud cover and scrunched her nose slightly before looking back at Levi, she had missed him so much in the last few months but it seemed that maybe she had missed him for the years as well... He was different than when she last saw him, he was like he was in their youth, nice and sweet, not as cocky and loud as he had been just a short time before. Now even Lorelei was questioning just who was the father of her daughter, but in her heart it was the man who stood before her and thats what mattered right then.

Lorelei chuckled a bit at Levi, "Oh Levi, you forget to whom you speak, Elysia has a very nice college fund and nest egg set up so when she graduates she can afford a good starter home. You must remember my family has plenty of money spread across this world that at this point, she is going to be well taken care of even in the event of my... well you know." Lori looked down and smiled softly at her baby, she knew that her own mortality was always at risk but she would never allow harm to come to her child, she would turn the entire world into flowers and burn them all to the ground in ashes before a single hair would be plucked.

Adjusting slightly Lorelei nodded her head, "Better than Brooklyn streets, but my family home was safe and comforting... I had her room perfect and all these wonderful plans... She was going to be a part of our family history, she was going to meet our ancestors in their spirit forms... She was going to know her grandfather and great grandmother..." Her eyes started to tear up but she held them back, biting her lip, "But, I will just have to figure a way to keep their memories alive with stories and their love."

She looked up at Levi and although her eyes had a slight watery-ness to them, she smiled. "Thank you... Really. I have been doing this on my own and holding such a grudge for what feels like forever. Just to hear you say that makes it all seem like nothing." Her smile was soft and her thoughts raced back to old days as Levi kissed her fingers, all those emotions were still there and they were flooding up like they were both teenagers again.

Lorelei looked out at the ocean and swayed her body back and forth with Elysia cradled up against her chest, "I really did miss this place sometimes... I should rephrase that... I really missed you and me in this place." She smiled again and kissed Elysia softly on the temple before leaning up and kissing Levi gently on the edge of his jaw.

[Levi Faollan]

"I understand she might have her own little nest egg, but I want to contribute to it. I want to feel like I've done something to help take care of her." He recieved a little kiss on his jawline, sending an eletric tingle from his toes all the way to the tip of his nose. Levi had forgotten what it felt like to be wanted, to be needed by someone important in his life. People have always wanted him around for answers, for leadership, for being a son of zeus. Not because they just wanted him, Levi Faollan, the man. They wanted the demi-god. Just here and now, this was what he needed. Being up in the frozen north for so long made him miss those closest to him. A gentle kiss or even the feeling of Elysia wrapping her tiny hand around his fingers was something that while completly foreign, was comforting and enjoyable.

It seemed as if the clouds over head had started to lighten. The smell of rain was close, off by about ten miles. The storm was coming up fast. Levi could feel it in his bones, not like the people that had a trick knee or a bad joint. He knew for a fact that the storm would be here within the hour. "Oh I have something for her. I aquired this on my way back after that las recon mission" Levi pulled out a hat from his jacket and put it snuggly on Elysia's head. It had a pair of Pikachu ears and a little nose. It was knitted and looked a little big on the newborns head, but she would grow into it in no time.

"I know we can make this work. Oh what are you gonna dress her up for for halloween?" Levi couldn't help but imagine all of the cute and adorable costumes that he could possiably find for her. Even if he had to risk another trip to the outside, he would bring back as much as he possibly could. But it would be hard with the DCA all over the city like white on rice. There would be lots of pictures to send to his mom for her first grandchild and to think that he hadn't written his mom and said anyting about her. Levi knew that his mom would get him quick and fast for not saying anything no matter how much he needed to keep Elysia safe.

[Lorelei Asphodel]

Lorelei's smile brightened as she looked up at Levi, "I would love it if you added more to her savings, I just don't want you to feel obligated. But it will be very appreciated, by both myself and I am positive Elysia as well."

She smiled up at him for a moment longer before looking down at the softly sniffling baby in her arms, lightly rubbing her nose against Elysia's. "Oh no no mon petit ange no more tears. We will go home and we will get you changed and let you have a nap. And if no nap, your daddy will get to snuggle and play with you while momma gets a nap of her own." Lorelei softly kissed her daughter's nose then looked back up at Levi, then the sky. She felt the weather was changing for the worst, it made her body feel weaker, her nature powers draining. She knew soon her underworld given powers would be stronger than ever but she would be in a dark hole that would be hard to get out again.

She looked back at the son of Zeus, smiling as he pulled out the little hat, Lori laughed a bit as she peered down at her baby girl, "Thanks Levi, its perfectly adorable." Lorelei cupped her hand on the back of Elysia's head and smiled at the newborn's slightly confused expression of what was put onto her head, Lori could not help but start too coo back telling her how cute she looked over and over.

Blushing slightly, Lorelei eye's looked back up at Levi as he talked, "I believe we can figure out some way to come to an agreement on how things are going to be between us three, but for now I think we take things a step at a time." She smiled and looked back at Elysia, "She is going to be a little Steel Magnolia for Halloween, I made her a tutu and a little head band with a flower on it. She looks quite lovely and snuggly."

She smiled then looked back up at the sky, her lips slightly coming to a small frown, "Perhaps we should head towards my cabin, I think that the sky has taken a turn for the worst and that things are about to get very wet and very cold. I don't want to risk her getting ill."

[Levi Faollan]

Levi frowned. The storm was starting to get a whole lot worse. Levi could feel it in his bones. The smell of the ozone racing though the air was nothing but intoxicating. It was the same feeling that the children of Aries got in the midst of a battle. “We had better move quickly, It’s going to turn into a hurricane. That with the cold front, it’s going to be a hell of a winter storm in coming within the week. “ If Levi couldn’t find anything else to do, he could be a weatherman. Since he could sense the impending storms and weather patterns, what else would he be perfect for? Maybe a pilot. That nautical sense that his cousins had over water was the same sense that he had while in flight. Most of the time it gave his team mates a good bit of laughs, other times he just made them even more airsick then usual. But to be honest that was their problem.

“You know, I haven’t had much thought into what I want to be for Halloween. You have any suggestions?” Levi wasn’t much into Halloween. But he would dress up if Lori had a few good suggestions. He didn’t have much of an imagination for that. Levi unzipped his jacket and rummaged into an inside pocket, he produced a small umbrella. It would be large enough to cover the three of them since Elysia was already in Lori’s arms. He didn’t want either of them to get sick and from the look of this storm, it was about to be one winter hell.

Levi gently tugged at Lori’s free hand, the other hand of his was placed on Elysia’s back. There had been a crack of thunder and Levi didn’t want to have her panicked over the storm. Some babies were like that, others, like himself, were more energized and hyperactive then normal kids. Levi frowned and quickly dropped the umbrella. He moved quickly, spinning around and the crack of lightening sounded. Levi reached out and the lightening struck him instead of Lori and Elysia. He redirected it and sent it spiraling off into the distance over the ocean horizon. He picked up the umbrella, his shoulders were singed and slightly smoking as he returned, picking up the umbrella as the rain drops started to plop. He covered up his daughter and girl. They were his, no questions. He would protect them from anything and that even meant his dad. His dad was such a blowhard at times, it was annoying and the theatrics were cheap and cheesey. “Lets go quickly before this gets bad” Levi said.