Jo leaned back and looked over her shoulder at the stairway as Isabelle called out to them. She laughed lightly and shook her head as she heard the door creak open a little more. "I think she's had enough punishment, don't you? She didn't mean any harm. She loves you very much and was worries about you."

Her fingers lightly touched his cheek. "As was I," she added quietly and hugged his neck tightly. "It's safe!" She called loudly up the steps to Leon's his daughter. "I think I like it here. All this is not that different than the mansion really."

“It’s quieter here.” He said with a nod even though Isabelle was bounding down the staircase in excitement. “The punishment members don’t come here and Director-Stick-in-the-Mud knows to keep his distance from my home.” He let out a long sigh and snuggled up to his goldfish holding her close as the child peaked around the corner of the couch.

“Aaaawwww!” She said with a squeal in her voice. “You two look so cute but I want to show Lady Jo…” Her voice trailed off and it was no surprise that Jo was soon pulled from his lap and given the grand tour of the house.

After spending a few hours with the little goddess, Leon scooped her up into his arms as they played outside. “Listen Isabelle, Jo is a goldfish, which means goldfish need their sleep.” A small ‘ooohhh’ left the little goddess as she looked from Leon, back to Jo than to Leon again. “She has a had a long and exhausting day filled with trials she didn’t quite expect. You can play with her in the morning okay?” With that he set the little goddess down and took Jo by the hand. “Come goldfish, let us retire for the night. Isabelle can entertain herself while you rest.”

When they arrived at a door inside the house, Leon pushed it open to show the same room as in the mansion without the pool of water. Shutting the door behind him, he gave her a sly grin. “Tell me goldfish… how tired are you?”

Jo knelt down and gave Isabelle a big hug and kissed her cheek lightly. "Thank you for the tour! It was really amazing! I really liked your room." She smirked down at the little goddess. "It was my favorite," Jo whispered secretively and couldn't help but grin as Isabelle burst into a fit of giggles and danced in small circles as they made their way back into the house. Jo glanced up at Leon as he mentioned humans needing to sleep. She had almost forgotten that it was so late and that she had been up for so long.

Giving the small girl a slight wave, she let Leon guide her into the room. It was a familiar sight, one that she reveled in. Jo had grown to love the large room in the mansion and had pretty much claimed it as her own while he was away. Jo strolled around, taking in every detail and wondering just how all of this made as much sense to her as it did. She walked by the edge of the bed, lightly dragging her fingers across the smooth duvet and headed to the pool in the corner. "Is this where you spend most of your time?" she asked lightly, ignoring his question.

She walked another slow circle around the room before perching lightly on the edge of the bed. Jo grinned up at Leon and cocked her head to the side. "You said it yourself, I'm a goldfish and goldfish need their sleep." She mocked him in a deep, goofy voice and bit her lip to keep from giggling. "What are you planning in that crazy head of yours, my little lion?" She asked cautiously and leaned back on her elbows. The comforter underneath her felt cool and soft, like satin against her arms.

Her question made her grin, a grin like no other grin. A grin of teasing and playfulness, a grin that said, ‘oh I’ve been waiting for a long time’. Approaching her was more like an animal stalking its pray. Once to her, he climbed over the top of her and pushed her down onto the bed by her shoulders. His large hands wrapped around her wrists and pulled her arms upwards over her head. Her tiny wrists fit in a single hand his other went along her cheek. “Oh little goldfish,” He muttered softly, “It is time for you to realize that you have chosen the lion’s den to slumber in. And there will be no sleep until you are satisfied.” With that he pulled his hand from her face and snapped his fingers, the room disappearing into darkness leaving only Leon to grin like the Cheshire cat down at his goldfish.

****

The next morning rolled around and Leon was awake. He didn’t need to sleep while he was in the heavens and unlike humans gods do not tire easily. However he did sleep a bit last night for the first time in a long time. Holding his goldfish close to him, he gently stroked her head in a loving and caring fashion. A small smile curled his lips for they became one last night and he had never felt more joy in his life. Her head rested on his chest and their breathing seemed to match as he held her close.

His little goldfish was in the heavens with him and he couldn’t be happier. But soon she would have to resume her life on earth. However he could be on earth whenever he pleased as long as he continued his duties as the Director of the Department of Wishes, a small price to pay to be with her. His grip tightened on her slightly, he had no intention of letting her go (in the metaphoric sense) and even the king of the heavens couldn’t stop him from loving her.

Sunlight filtered through the blinds of the double windows, making it hard for Jo to remain asleep. She clenched her eyes together and turned her face in to the warmth of Leon, trying to block out the bright morning light. Feeling his arms tighten around her, she cracked one eye open and gave him a sleepy smile. He looked so smooth and collected despite the night they had had. With a small sigh, she resigned herself to waking up the rest of the way.

"Hi," she muttered quietly and cleared her throat, trying to dislodge the sleep from her brain. Moving her head, she repositioned herself to where she was laying against his side with her head on his chest. Her eyes fluttered closed as she thought about everything that had happened to her in the last few days and couldn't help it as a smile spread across her face. "Good morning," She whispered quietly and couldn't help but blush slightly as she regarded him shyly.

"Did you sleep good, Leon? Or did you even sleep at all?" Jo stretched out and noted that she wasn't as tired as she thought she was going to be. She was here, with Leon, the Director of the Department of Wishes. It was still had for her to wrap her head around that Leon was here with her and that he actually loved her. Her smile widened as she glanced up at him again.

“Good morning.” Leon said with a grin down to his beloved in his arms. His hand still gently petting her head as she nuzzled into his chest; a gentle sigh left him as he closed his head and leaned against the headboard. When she asked how he slept or if he slept at all; he opened his eyes and looked down at her. Tilting his head to one side, he watched her closely for a moment with his amber-golden eyes before a relaxed smile moved across his fine lips.

“I slept, and I slept the best I ever had.” He said with a nod as he scooped her up onto his lap once more holding her close. “My little goldfish actually made me tired.” A grin moved across his face as he nuzzled his face into her shoulder. His motions were gentle as he wrapped the blanket around their form together and gently rubbed her bare back. The night that they had spent together meant a lot and still seeing the ring on her finger was all the more reassuring that this was real.

“Are you hungry?” His voice was softer than normal, as he delicately held the one he loved in his arms.

Sighing at his gentle touch, Jo closed her eyes and smiled slightly at his comment. He was changing her just as much as she seemed to be changing him. His hands on her back were lulling her to sleep again. The soothing feeling made her feel safe and loved.

"Me too." She grinned again kissed the tip of his nose. To answer his question, her stomach grumbled loudly. "I guess that's a yes," she muttered and laid herself down on his chest. The feeling of his skin against hers was more than satisfying. Opening one of her eyes just a crack, she scrunched her nose up at him as her stomach grumbled again.

A hearty laugh echoed through the room as he heard his woman’s stomach say that she was hungry. Nuzzling his face into her hair he stifled a chuckle. “Seems like a rather loud yes goldfish.” Loosening his grip on her, he brought a hand out from under the covers and snapped his fingers.

A beautiful spread of breakfast appeared on the bed. “Eat.” He said softly before giving her a smirk. “You’ll need to recover the strength you lost last night.” His voice was teasing as he gently rubbed her back. Birds chirped outside, the sun danced in through the windows and a breeze gently carried the curtains from the windows. A small content sigh left Leo’s fine lips as they curled into a gentle smile. He was, well, happy.

Jo rolled her eyes and couldn't help but laugh quietly at his breakfast selection. She could get used to life like this with Leon. She wished that she could stay in bed all day and just lay around and snuggle up to the golden god beside her. Grabbing a piece of bacon, she popped it into her mouth and sighed loudly as the taste hit her. It was perfect, just as she knew it would be. "Thank you," she whispered and took another bite.

After a few moments, the spread was gone and Jo was full and content. She sat up on her elbows with her back against the headboard. Looking around the room, she took in the familiar sights and sounds. It sounded just like she was at home with the windows open. With narrowed eyes, Jo peered up at Leon and a small smirk curled up her lips. She wondered what the god beside her must be thinking. Last night was amazing for her. Not only had she given herself to him, but felt as though she had bound herself to him.

"What do you have planned for today?" She asked innocently and blinked her eyelashes up at him sweetly with a wide grin.

What they did last night ever meant much to Leon in the past, until her. Last night meant everything to him and he had never been so close to someone, so in love with someone, until her. Being away from her was beyond the point of painful and even now he didn’t feel satisfied. He wanted to spend every moment with her and there was no doubt that that very situation was going to happen. Holding onto his little goldfish he watched her eat the breakfast he had ‘made’ for her, he felt at peace.

The question that left her made him chuckle. “Well, I’m not one to be around the heavens but I will show you around if you like. But keep in mind that time passes the same here in the heavens as it does on earth which means we do have to get you back to earth so you can return to work.” He gave a nod before nuzzling his face into her neck once again. “Though I’m not against granting your wish…” His voice whispered into her neck.

At the mention of going home, her face fell slightly. She didn't want to leave and go back to earth, yet she knew that she had too. She couldn't uproot her entire life and stay here. Sighing quietly, she closed her eyes and nuzzled against his shoulder. "I might take you up on that offer," she said quietly, referring to him granting her wish. With sleepy eyes, she winked up at him. "Besides, if we don't come out soon, you know Isabelle is going to come barging in searching for us. I have a feeling she already knows we're awake." Her nose wrinkled and she scrunched her eyes closed as she looked up at him and couldn't help but feel that her heart felt like it was going to pound out of her chest. Everything about Leon made her feel strange, like nothing she had ever felt before.

Leon gently stroked her head with his large hand as she nuzzled into his shoulder. She was so cute, his little goldfish. So demanding of her god’s attention and affection… and he was more than willing to give her all she desired. He blinked his ambers eyes as she turned her attention up to him. She was so perfect, and so his that he leaned down and planted a kiss on her lips without really thinking. He slowly pulled back from the kiss, his signature mischievous grin on his face.

He leaned forward, as if ready to push her down on the bed once again only to have a knock echo on the door. “Good morning you two!” Isabelle’s voice echoed through the door and Leon let out a small sigh.

“Good morning Isabelle, we’ll be out in a moment.” He couldn’t say no to his little god-daughter as she was one of the few soft spots in his life. Climbing out of the bed he snapped his fingers and his clothes reappeared on his body. Turning down to her, he gave her a gentle smile. “Come goldfish, let’s head back to earth. I feel the urge to… what do you call it?” His face scrunched as his gaze turned downwards, thinking hard on the proper wording for it. “Catch some waves?” His gaze turned back up to her, as if asking whether he was right or not.

"You? The great Leon, god of wishes, wants to go surfing?" She laughed freely and tossed her head back at the look of momentary insecurity on his face. He really was too cute to put into words. She sat up and let the blankets drape over her shoulders. Rolling her eyes, Jo watched as Leon used his magic to snap clothes on and turned back to her.

"I wish I could just snap my fingers and everything I want just happens," she teased and looked around the room for her clothes. Most of them had been tossed aside without a second thought the night before. A small smile played across her lips as she thought about it. Her cheeks heated and a light pink blush colored her face and neck as she picked up article after article of clothing to get dressed before Isabelle decided to barge right in and demand their attention.

"I'm sure you know who would love to come to the beach with us as well. I'd hate to leave her out on such a beautiful day," she said quietly and nodded toward the door, where Isabelle was undoubtedly listening in. Jo smiled wider and pulled on her jeans and then her shirt. She walked over and laced her fingers through Leon's, giving them a gentle squeeze before leaning over and kissing him lightly on the neck.

Despite the events of the day before, she felt content and happy, even cozy here with him. She had not expected her life to turn out quite like this, but she was glad that it had. The man beside her made her happier than anything else in the world.

Leon stared down his little human as she teased him about wanting to go surfing. Of course, his idea of being the big bad Leon towards her has melted away from how he was prior to their bonding. She really had changed him, despite the little it showed on the outside. She had broken down many walls of the Wild Lion of the Heavens and he couldn’t imagine what he would be like if she didn’t. He owed that to his little goldfish, his beloved goldfish, his goldfish.

It would be like her to think of his goddaughter, Jo was so thoughtful and caring. In addition it was no surprise that little Isabelle had taken a liking to the woman and that, that was very important to him. Upon the kiss to his neck and the squeeze to his hand he let out a small sigh of defeat. “Let’s go.” With that he gave her hand a squeeze in response and walked over to the door.

Pulling it open, there was no surprise to find the little blonde tumbling into the room and after a short-lived conversation the three left and returned to earth. The Gods ran to them as soon as they arrived and began breading the three with questions, concerns and some lectures. The three of them fielded all the questions the gods had for them before Leon announced he was bored of the conversation, drawing it to a close and the three left the house with beach gear in hand and clothes to change into once they arrived. And per Isabelle’s begging, they climbed into Jo’s jeep and began their journey to the coast.

Shifting the Jeep into gear, the three headed down the long, winding drive leading away from the mansion. Isabelle chatted away about anything and everything. Jo stole a small glance at Leon from the corner of her eyes and couldn't help but smirk. Sometimes she wondered if Isabelle just liked to hear herself talk when everyone else was silent. The drive was short and it seemed like only minutes after leaving the house Jo was pulling into a parking spot by the coastline. "Here we are," she stated and climbed out, opening the back door and helping Isabelle out as well.

Grabbing the surf boards from the rack on the top, Isabelle squealed and clapped her hands as she looked out over the open ocean. "Go on then," Jo called to the girl. "We'll catch up!" A small ping and a vibrate alerted her to an incoming call. Jo sat the board down against the side of the Jeep and fished out her phone. It was work. "Hello?" She paused as one of the lab technicians alerted her of the new Sea Turtle nest that had been found. She nodded even though she was on the phone and he couldn't see her. "I'll check it out tonight when the sun starts to set. I'm at the beach now about to go surfing. No, I'm not with Carla. No! I'm not alone! Goodbye, Clark!" She hung up with an eye roll.

She tucked the board under her arm and walked around the vehicle to meet Leon. "They found another turtle nest a few miles from here. I told them I'd go mark it when the sun goes down," she explained as they walked across the sand to the small changing area. Once they were changed and ready to go, Isabelle darted into the waves, squealing at the cold water.

"Race ya!" JO called and made a bee-line toward the water, board held out in front of her ready to brace against the waves. As she got deeper into the water, Jo dove under a big wave, pulling the surf board against her chest as she resurfaced. The swell was nice today, and she knew that they were going to have a blast. She looked over her shoulder at Leon, grinning and brushed the salty, wet hair out of her eyes.

Leon leisurely leaned back in the passenger’s seat; he still wasn’t used to this whole human world and their devices but all he knew was that the human next to him mean more than anything he had ever thought could happen. Between the human in the driver’s seat and the little one in the back; he had all he needed in order to be happy. The little blonde girl took off towards the beach laughing and smiling as her feet kicked up off the ground in a skip-run of joy.

Leon rolled his eyes despite his small smile curling the corners of his lips. He reached up and pulled the gold board he had manifested for himself before turning his gaze to her as she was on the phone. Tilting his head to one side he watched her as she finished up the call, whoever was on the other end obviously wanted to know who she was with but she didn’t come out and say it. His only conclusion, she must still be nervous about being with a god and trying to explain it to people and to him, he didn’t care if she told others or not. As long as she was loyal no one needed to know what happened in their personal lives.

When she closed the phone, he gave a nod of understanding about what she had said. The excitement on his little goldfish’s face about the turtles just made his fine lips curl into a little smile. She was so cute. And her actions of, ‘Race ya!’ caused him to wait for a moment to watch her run, enjoying her pure excitement and happiness before following after her staying just a couple steps behind her.

As he ran he scooped up the blonde haired girl from the sand she was playing in to have her squeal with joy. “Hang on.” He called out as he threw her on her back, her small body wrapping around his back and holding on tight as the two took a deep breath and hit the oncoming wave. When they emerged, Leon climbed onto the board and moved the wet blonde from his back and onto the surfboard in front of him. “Ready to ride some waves?” He asked her as he patted her lightly on the head.”

“Yeah!” She called out clapping. “Hey Lady Jo!” She called out to her. “You should watch me swim! I’m really good!”