Sixteen.

Daniel found Sammy the next morning as she was lightly knocking on Eloise's hotel room door, with a look of concern etched upon her face.

"You okay?" He asked her, as he approached her in the hallway and wrapped his arms about her waist, pulling her close to breath her in.

He tried not to be frustrated that she had snuck out while he was in the shower. Okay, Sammy wasn't exactly sneaking she called through to let him know she was going to check if Eloise was ready for breakfast. But still, the water dripping off Daniel's hair and onto Sammy's collar bone, stood up as evidence to the fact that he pretty much dived out the shower and threw his clothes while he was still wet to follow her.

"Oh my God! Daniel!" Sammy shrieked, "You're soaking wet!"

Daniel tightened his grip with a smirk as Sammy struggled in his arms to move away, shaking his head to release more water onto her.

"You are such an ass," she huffed, as Daniel laughed in response.

"But, I'm you're ass, now tell me what's up?" He responded playfully, with no denial whatsoever at Sammy's accusation.

Sammy huffed, giving up her struggles and accepting that she was now in need of dry clothes, and possibly a hair drier.

"There's no answer when I'm knocking, but Eloise specifically told me she would wait inside till we came to get her. " Sammy was frowning again. "We are here with her because she is worried that Henry would try to grab her," she vented, before beginning to bang the door loudly. "What if he got to her, Daniel?"

Daniel grabbed Sammy's arm, pulling her away from the door.

"Stop, stop it Sammy. Sammy, she's fine." Daniel spoke, looking around to make sure no one else appeared from their doors to investigate the commotion.

"What? How can you know that?" Sammy asked, moving to bang on the door again.

Daniel grabbed Sammy's arm again before pulling her back into his body.

"I can hear her throwing up in the bathroom, Sammy, she is fine," Daniel whispered, while leaning in close.

Sammy almost sagged with relief. "Okay," she whispered, leaning her head on Daniel's chest. "Okay."

"Come on, come and get changed, you're absolutely drenched. In fact, I think I can even see some shampoo suds in your hair, you might need to shower again, I'll help. Then, we will call to see if she is ready to go and get some food."

Sammy smiled, Daniel's tongue in cheek playfulness always brought her temporary relief from her anxiety.

"Okay, lead the way then." She smiled, as Daniel took her hand and lead her three doors down.

-----

By, the time the three of them had left the hotel complex two hours later, Sammy was bouncing on another chocolate brownie sugar high, while Eloise was vibrating with nerves. She wasn't quite sure why she was nervous, but she was. Char had been her best friend and room mate for years, but something felt off. Like there was more at stake than she could fathom. Distracting herself by directing Daniel as he drove to her old apartment wasn't working either. Every mile they closed in only heightened her discomfort.

By the time they pulled up the appartment building, she was ready to throw up again, only this time it was nothing to do with her newly onset morning sickness. Eloise was terrified of what she might find, as well as being pretty damn pissed off that she had been ignored for weeks. Taking a deep breath, she channelled that anger, and threw open her door, running up the steps at a speed Sammy could only envy. Daniel had to jump out the car and run ahead to hold the building door open, before it swung closed in his and Sammy's face.

Sammy approached him shaking her head, "And here I am, only going to get slower over the next seven-ish months of this pregnancy."

"I'll just have to carry you then... If you're ever taking too long." Daniel winked.

"If you can lift me that is. I believe I am bound to get rather large. Your mother has already given me all the appealing stories about how big you were as a newborn. Over ten pounds, if I recall." Sammy teased, noticing the slight blush in her mate's cheeks.

"Sorry?" He offered, unsure of what else to say.

Sammy laughed, "Come on, lets go find her."

Sammy began walking up the stairwell as Daniel followed, grabbing her anytime she made a wrong turn as he followed Eloise's scent to the right floor. Then Sammy took over, spotting Eloise standing frozen in a doorway and rushing toward her.

"Are you okay?" She asked, placing her hand lightly on her friend's shoulder.

"I'm not entirely sure." Eloise stated with a frown, nodding toward the apartment.

Sammy and Daniel looked inside to see an etheral looking woman in a beautiful pale green summer dress. Her hair was a deep red, but with twists of a sun kissed blonde streaked through it, giving her a look of wearing a halo upon her head. She seemed friendly, warm and inviting. Yet even Sammy could sense a strange power that eminated from her. It both lured you in, yet warned you to stay away. The woman moved around to the couch effortlessly, folded herself into it and began to eat.

"Who is she?" Sammy asked.

"Oh for goodness sake, get in here and stop loitering in the doorway," the woman said suddenly. "Oh, and call me Cora."

The three of them wandered inside, and closed the door. Though none of them dared to get too close, and Daniel found himself trying to place both females at his back.

"Sammy, it is so lovely to see you again." Came her melodic voice again, smiling warmly over at her.

Both Eloise and Daniel looked at Sammy expectantly.

"Again?" Sammy voiced out confused.

Cora laughed musically. "Yes, Silly. Again. I met you when you were thirteen. I'm Dion... Sorry, Dax's sister. He needed help when you started your period and your foster home was useless. I'm the goddess of Spring after all, daughter of the Demeter, the goddess of the harvest and...." she paused for dramatic effect. "No? None of you know? Tsk." She tutted, "Fertility. Anyway, its good to see you, and congratulations on the pregnancy."

Sammy's cheeks reddened as she recalled the experience of her first period. Cora wasn't exactly lying when she stated that the foster home was useless. She was given two disposable sanitary pads and told to get one with it. The cramps were terrifying and Dax tried, but was completely out of his depth; which was hilarious now that she knew the truth of who he was. However, try as she might she couldn't quite place Cora. She did remember finding extra packets of sanitary towels, and some self heating pads under her pillow. But, she was sure she would have remembered Cora.

"I'm sorry," Sammy began. "I don't think I remember meeting you?"

Cora smiled, "Oh you won't. It was in the middle of winter, my official residence is with my husband at that time of year. I was but a projection to help you at Dionysus' request."

"Oh," Sammy responded, completely baffled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Sweetheart." Cora smiled, popping another pomegranate piece in her mouth.

"Wait, wait, but why are you here?" Eloise burst in, "And where is Char?"

"Oh, Charon is back where he belongs." Cora answered, "Ferrying souls into the underworld for my husband."

"What? Why? He hates it there!" Eloise argued with a flap of her arms.

Cora nodded, "Yes he does, but after the rules he has broken, and the damage his little fit of anger has done, to you especially Eloise, I imagine hiding himself away for the next few thousand years is the least of his worries."

"What are you talking about?" Sammy asked irritated, as Eloise shrunk slightly.

"Charon exposed his powers, aimed at Henry. The result was that Henry was sent to the Aether, a plain of non-existance. It is what there was, before there was anything at all. Nyx stepped in and saved your brother Henry. However," Cora paused, looking at Eloise's stomach. "the damage done to your little one's soul..."

Eloise went cold all over and her hands shot protectively to her stomach.

"There is no easy way to say this, but your daughter will have no wolf. Her soul was split by Charon's power while it was still forming, and her wolf half had to be sacrificed to save her life." Cora spoke softly, a look of pain on her face.

Daniel moved to catch Eloise as her legs gave up from beneath her.

"So what does that mean?" Sammy asked, looking horrified on Eloise's behalf.

Cora sighed, "It means a lot of things really. Though, our most pressing concern is the damage that could be wrought to the balance of life on this plane. Your and Henry's daughter happens to be the reincarnation of a very old and prominent soul. A soul that has been protected by always being fated to be born into a supernatural host. Charon's act has removed a protection both she and the world will need. One, that I personally am not sure how to rectify, and neither is Hades, my husband or Zeus, my brother in law."

"You're Persephone?" Daniel finally caught on.

"Yes. But only when I am in the underworld, during summer and spring, I prefer Kore, or Cora."

*Author's Note: I have an announcement.... Not only will there be a third installment of the Oops series... but there will be a fourth! Henry and Eloise's daughter's story will unfold in the fourth book!*