Solstice Chapter 19 - Year one
It was well after dark when Alex left the Australia group. He stopped by the shower before going home, knowing he was going to get some grief from Ariana. Even with his Spartan body, Alex was exhausted.
When he walked in the house it was quiet. Everyone had gone to bed. He got a cup of water and sat on the couch. Alex was asleep in minutes.
Terra and Titanus both woke up hungry at the same time. Aphrodite decided to nurse her son in one of the living room rocking chairs. When she saw Alex, she couldn't believe her eyes. He was half on and half off the couch and looked like he'd just run a marathon. Xander had come home like this occasionally but never looked this haggard. She called for Ariana, Demi, and Alexandra. Moments later, all three came into the room. Ariana was nursing Terra.
"This is bull shit!" Ariana snapped.
Demi and Ally moved him onto the couch. He didn't even stir as they did.
"Mom, he's never going to survive this. We've got to do something," Ariana pleaded.
"Okay, everybody sit. I'm going to try something," her mother replied.
All four women sat, with Ariana and Aphrodite still nursing the little ones. Aphrodite closed her eyes. A moment later, Alex' head was resting on Gaia's lap, in her naked Aphrodite persona.
Gaia stroked his hair looking at his face. "This is why Xander didn't come. He needed his freedom and rest. My son, what shall I do?" Gaia asked.
"Gaia, please? You've got to do something," Ariana said, tearing.
Gaia looked at her and smiled. "I will. Demi, before Xanadu, I had you meet with all eight groups, with eight different bodies, at the same time. How did that work out for you?"
"It was fine. I knew what was going on in all eight places," Demi replied.
"Ariana, I want you to work with the Mamas' in each group. They'll have a better grasp on limiting activity within their group than anyone else. Alex is an amazing lover, and most all the women want a piece of the action. His primary responsibility is still impregnation, but after the first couple of months, he'll have that under control." She looked at the entire group. "I'm giving him the ability to replicate himself so that he can be in all the groups at the same time. Each Alex will know what all the others are doing, feeling, and thinking."
"There'll be one Alex and seven copies?" Ally asked.
"No, there'll be only one Alex, but he'll be able to be in nine places at the same time. Each one is the real Alex."
"Nine places?" Demi asked.
"One for each group and one for the community as a whole. I want Alex to know this community inside and out. He'll need that knowledge when you all leave Xanadu."
Aphrodite smiled, "Can more than one Alex be together?" Aphrodite asked.
"Oh, you're a woman after my own heart. Yes, Aphrodite. You can have him in a foursome," Gaia replied, grinning. "Alex will be aware of what's been done when he wakes up."
"Will he always be nine replications?" Ally asked.
"Not unless he needs to be. Let's say all four of you want to be with him one afternoon. He can do that. Alex will decide how many times to replicate at any given moment. Questions?" Everyone shook their heads. Gaia looked at Aphrodite. "What's on your mind, besides a foursome?"
"I'm not sure if I should talk to the counsel before talking to you," she replied.
Gaia smiled. "You can't do that?"
"Why?" Aphrodite asked.
"You still haven't accepted what you really are. When I spoke to the Colorado group, where did I manifest myself from?"
"You stepped out of me."
"How could I do that?"
"You were in me I guess."
"Aphrodite, I am you. And you're me. There's only one of us. You're the one that chooses how and where I manifest. You're me. You are Gaia. What you're all looking at when you see me is the projection your mother has chosen. The gifts and special abilities you each have came from her. Xanadu was created by her. Aphrodite, you are Gaia."
"That can't be," Aphrodite said. "I don't want to be a goddess."
"Why?"
"I want to be a wife and mother. That's all I ever wanted."
"You are a wife and mother, but you are also Gaia. You chose to create yourself into Aphrodite in Phoebe's womb, but you're still the living goddess. Di, where is Xander, your first love?"
"In my heart. He's part of me," she replied.
"Manifest him." Gaia instantly became Xander, with Alex still sleeping on his lap. "I never ceased to exist," he said. "You just moved me to make me part of you. I'm still here, but now I'm one with you. Di, just before the fireball reached us, you appeared and took our hands."
"You and Elena, I remember," she said smiling.
"And the billions of others who are now part of you. You took every hand and brought them home. You brought them all to you."
"Hi dad," Ariana said, with tears flowing down her cheeks.
"Hi baby. I'm always with you all now. I see and experience what Gaia, your mother, sees and experiences." He held out his arms to his daughters. Ariana handed Terra to Ally then both of his daughters held him crying. "No tears, girls. I'm not gone. I'm here all the time," he told them. "I always will be. One day, many, many years from now, you'll be part of the one too."
The girls kissed him then stood. Xander vanished. They were all silent for several minutes.
"Does this mean you won't be fixing your amazing biscuits and gravy anymore?" Ally asked, grinning.
Aphrodite looked at her. "What are you talking about?"
"You'd have to be really ballsy to ask a Goddess to cook for you."
"Listen, all of you. This doesn't change a thing. We're still the same as we were yesterday and will be tomorrow. I'd prefer this be kept between us. I don't want you or the community to treat me any differently. I'm still Aphrodite."
"Mom," Demi began. "If Ally tells, will you give her a dick nose like you did Jason. I can see a lot of potential in that. She could eat me and fuck me at the same time."
Everyone laughed. "Maybe, I'll think about it."
"What were you talking about that would affect the whole community?" Ariana asked.
"Everything here in Xanadu was handed to us on a platter. People need a purpose. They need to be productive. I think we should begin doing things like farming and making things we need without the benefit of divine intervention."
"I wouldn't recommend doing that suddenly. We'd run out of food and clothes pretty quick," Ally said.
"Agreed. I'll bring it up at the assembly. Let's all get some sleep. Ariana and I are going to be up again in about three hours."
"What about Alex? Should we leave him here?" Ariana asked.
Alex suddenly vanished. "He's in your bed," Aphrodite told Ariana.
"Damn, mom. You picked it up quick," Ariana laughed.
"Make sure he's in your bed. I may have sent him anywhere. I'm still new at this."
Everyone left the living room. A few minutes later, Ariana called to her mother. "He's here. Goodnight everybody."
*****
Alex was the first one up. As he drank coffee that morning, his mind was filled with what had happened while he slept on the couch. He smiled, and three more Alex' stood next to the table.
"You guys can get your own coffee," he said.