The worst was behind them, that much was certain but it still spelt a long recovery for Adrienne. She still couldn’t stay out of bed for more than a quarter of an hour without becoming physically exhausted. Having climbed back into her bed, she let Olympe fuss over her until it was announced that her brother was here. Of course in any old day, he might just send a message through the floo to see if she was ready, but since her illness and being quarantined, it was better that they schedule times for people to come over and visit.

As her brother was led in and given a chair, Adrienne waved her wand to draw up a small table. Olympe followed Aristide in carrying a tray of tea and sandwiches. Once the door was closed behind her and their tea was poured, Adrienne sat back against the pile of pillows. “I’m sorry if we gave you a terrible fright, Ari.” She started, looking him over for any signs of restlessness.

Aristide was lead to his sister and he settled into the chair that had been offered to him. Ari was silent as Olympe went about her tasks. Almond shaped green eyes flicked to his twin as she apologized. "I don't know if I forgive you," he said in jest though his eyes did rake over her as if assuring himself he was not speaking to a mirage. He didn't now if he would have been able to handle losing his other half, his twin, the moon to his sun. Not so soon after he had lost Asa, his lovely star.

"And where is the baby?" He asked curiously before taking a sip of his tea.

Adrienne smiled sheepishly. He may have thought he was joking, but Adrienne was fairly certain he wouldn’t have forgiven her if she’d left him alone in the world. It would have been like losing two of his limbs, as Adrienne was certain it would have felt like if she had lost him. And now with Perseus, it felt as if her whole world had both expanded and shrunk. She felt so focused on this tiny human being, as if nearly all of the tethers that anchored her down to this world had been cut and re-attached through him.

“He’s with the wet nurse, but I’ve asked her to bring him here in a few minutes.” She replied, reaching to pick up her cup.

Aristide was still uncertain about how he might perform as an uncle. It still felt strange to think of how this tiny human was a combination of Adrienne and Cassius. Especially when his mind still had yet to fully connect the fact Cassius was his sisters husband.

"How do you feel about being a mother so far?" He couldn't imagine having any of his own though he supposed that was not something he had to worry about for some time yet.

At her brother’s question, she directed her gaze to the door, as if she might be able to summon him just by sheer glance. A small smile danced on her lips. “I feel surprisingly good,” She answered easily. Nanny brought Perseus down to her at the same time every day so she could be near him, but Adrienne found herself drifting towards her son at all times of the day anyways. It was so strange; she was supposed to be resting, recuperating her strength, but it seemed that the simple act of being near her son infused her with the same energy and strength that one hundred days’ rest would.

“I thought I would feel so weird being a mother but it's so strange; I miss being near him sometimes.” She said wistfully. “He’s a delight, at least when he’s not screaming to be fed.” She laughed. “That’s usually when Nanny takes him for a bottle and a nap.”

"Does it ever make you wonder about our mother?" Aristide asked. "Our birth one?" He didn't think they really talked about her much. Ari had spoken of her with their father a couple of years ago though and had been told she had loved them. So he was left to wonder if Adrienne had a new perspective of their mothers experience, being one herself now.

Our mother. She knew what her brother meant without him having to clarify, and still it took Adrienne a few minutes to process his question.

Of course she’d wondered about her mother. She’d wondered when she was scrunched up in agony from the labor pains, wondered if this was how their mother felt. “Yes,” She answered truthfully, her expression unfocusing as she did so. “I wanted her to be there when I was in pain. I of course knew that a lot of women have their mothers there if they want, and - when I was at the peak of it - I wanted her. I wondered about her.”

But she’d also wanted their adoptive mother, and their nanny, Fiorella, which she’d told her brother as well. “I wanted comfort.”