"Todd?" Todd Briggs turned around to see who had called. Although part of him recognized the voice. An olive-skinned brunette was handing him a drink. "I thought I would buy this time."

Briggs made room for her on the bench. He had changed quite a lot since Lykopis had seen him last. His black hair now had strips of white and gray near the temples, and the skin around his eyes had aged a little. But the eyes themselves were still bright, and his white teeth blazed with smile that made the ladies blush. "You always bought, if I remember correctly."

Lykopis shrugged. "I was wealthy. You were the epitome of the starving musician."

"You always enjoyed patronizing the arts, Lykopis." The pair of them grinned. "I've missed you."

Lykopis. "You are in my thoughts as well. You always have been."

Briggs nodded and grinned, though the smile seemed a little grim. "Look at you, baby. You're just the way you looked when you left England. Same hair, same face, same mouth. Your eyes, I confess, do look a little funny. But you haven't aged a bit, Lykopis."

"I come from good stock."

"Daughters of Zues tend to stick it out pretty long." Lykopis let her jaw drop. "You don't need to be surprised. I've known your little secret for awhile."

Only a few people knew her immortal secret, and most of them were in Vanguard. Lykopis knew she was walking on thin ice. The question was whether or not Briggs was trying to push her into the ice-water or save her. "Secret?"

Briggs looked shyly away for a moment. "Granddad always told stories about the war. Told a lot of stories. He once told me how he was in love with a real Amazon goddess back before the war. That she was some warrior that never aged." Lykopis showed no expression on her face. "He even showed me a picture of this knock-out brunette. I never believed him. I thought it was just a picture of some old girlfriend of his." Briggs paused for a moment. "And then, you know what happened? I met this lady in the picture. I met you."

"You knew? Even back then?" Lykopis was never very good about hiding emotions.

"Part of me was suspicious...but I lied to myself, Lykopis, I lied. The picture was so worn, so faded...there are a hundred women that might look like that woman in the picture. There was no way I had fallen for some Greek immortal."

Lykopis lowered her head in shame. She had never told Todd about her 'gift'. She felt that if he knew, the intimacy of a secret would make it impossible for her to leave him. You are very good at making people feel pain, Lykopis. Sometimes, you do not even need a sword.

"But it always in the back of my mind...and then, there came the news articles. Strikeforce, Vanguard Europe -- oh don't scowl, baby, I know the reporters are arses to you. Anyways, I saw you again in the papers. Stil young, still fighting...and then I realized it was all true."

"Todd...it was not your fault I left. Please understand that. It had nothing to do with your character." Lykopis shrugged. "I have the horrible habit of throwing away every toy I get before I risk breaking it."

Briggs chuckled. "If it makes you feel any better, I know a lot of mortal women that say the same thing."

"Still, I wish I had told you a little more about me."

"Baby, would that have changed things? You still would have left me."

"True enough." Lykopis blushed for a moment. "I have made a lot of stupid choices. Any chance I could make up for past mistakes?"

Briggs laughed. "You're kidding. I thought you always kept your distance. Don't get too close. Don't get too attached."

Now it was Lykopis's turn to laugh out loud. "Please. I seem to be slipping in my rulebook." She turned serious again. "You have no idea what I am going through. With Vanguard...I do fear I am starting to become attached to them. Me! The cold-stoned fighter. Athena's brow, I am even liking Icarus more and more! So why should I not slip in other things? I will worry about the consequences later. I want to get emotional. Show some spirit. Right now I just want to mess things up."

Briggs leaned forward, grabbed Lykopis by the back of the head and kissed her on the lips. Suddenly Lykopis remembered something she had forced herself to forget a long time ago. Briggs pulled back and grinned. "Baby, I would love to make some mistakes with you."