It was six months past the date since Peony was born. Ares had much work to do in the headquarters of Styx these days thus he usually returned late only to find the mother-daughter pair already sleeping. Rose had the habit to stay awake for as long as her health could allow yet sometimes when Ares returned at 3 A.M it was difficult for her body to take thus they had very less time to spend with each other.

Peony took walks with her father and mother in the morning, had her milk as breakfast, played with her mother's hair, giggling, while she was awake, and slept at other times. Life in the mansion of Waylons was exhausting yet fulfilling but during this time Rose and Ares's interactions have taken a backseat.

"Are you sure it will be alright?" When Rose asked the question umpteenth time the day, Aurora raised an eyebrow while Peony copied her aunt and showed a pout of displeasure on her face, it was as if both aunt and niece were taking turns to roll their eyes at Rose.

"Don't throw tantrums now Rose or I will seriously take Peony and flee away like Gothel took Rapunzel and both of us will return when she turns eighteen, and I- an old woman."

"But.....but will you be fine? Will Peony be fine? Today you had a date with Hector and managing Peony at the same time will be difficult."

"Peony is not difficult to manage, you and Ares are. Go and have today to yourself, I already talked to Hector and he is really excited for today, he almost brought the entire kid store so if not for yourselves then for us, leave Peony to us for the day."

In the morning itself Rose on a random call with Aurora had expressed how much she wished to give Ares a soothing day but was unable to, who in the world was aware that within the next two hours the mafia empress would be knocking at their doors demanding Rose to fit into a glazed violet dress and go on a cruise of two days with Ares.

The place was nearby but the entire thinking was to give them time together.

"Get ready to give him a surprise."

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Ares entered the front door and loosened his ink tie making it dangle from his neck, today was a meeting with some leading industrialists thus making him dress formally.

"Rose...where are you, precious baby? Peony w-" He took off his coat while calling out his family only to be stumped as he turned around.

Cyan tinged with night sky covered the creamy skin of the woman as the fabric, she looked like stars were wrapped around the fairy of nyx. Just like a flower whose petals were turned upside down, the fabric pooled at her feet making it simple yet so alluring while the hint of cleavage that played hide and seek made Ares eyes darken.

Just a simple diamond pendant dangled from her neck as the silk strands swayed with the wind and kissed the petite waist. After pregnancy Rose had gained some weight which was considered healthy making her fuller in all her feminine places.

Rose felt heat blooming onto her shining cheeks as Ares watched her in a stupor of intense passion, moments passed yet when the mafia king still refused to speak a single more word Rose parted her lips. Earlier she was a little afraid if he would like her like the way she was now or that he would prefer her body that did not have stretch marks.

Rose was aware that Ares would love her regardless yet she wanted to be her most attractive self.

"I-I well Aurora has Peony a-and she said that w-we will go to a cruise....well I prepared d-dinner for you since eating...well eating out isn't healthy-" In reality, she wanted to spend the night in his arms but was too shy to ask.

Warm callused palms cupped her face and pulled the woman closer as a desperate kiss was pressed onto those lips making Rose's blabbering speech stop and making her hold the shoulders of her husband.

"God....fuck! so fucking pretty." Ares had a habit to avoid any cuss words infront of Rose and the only time he spoke as such was when she had aroused him to the extent of no return. It was like he could feel her desperation. They wanted to be good parents and thus dedicated their time to their child but that never meant that Ares wasn't desperate to hold Rose in his arms.

"Rose.....daddy is going to take you on the cruise as decided and then I am going to fuck you under the stars, would you like that baby?"

How ironic it was that the woman who never heard him utter a single bad syllable would cream when he whispered dirty things into her ears

Brown eyes hooded by lashes bowed a little in embarrassment before she nodded gently and was pulled into the embrace of her husband.