It'll have to wait; the boss is calling...

In the midst of my pondering (and calculating how many of the revelers below would willingly join us, based on their current actions; about fifty-three, by my count), I feel a sudden mental buzzing.

"Oh, wonderful," I grumble.

Chloe looks immediately concerned. "Is something the matter, Lord Pan?"

"No, not really. I'm being summoned. Zeus wants a report." I brief them on my purpose for being here. I'd been so busy getting my groove on, I hadn't even thought about the other immortals!

"May I go with you?" Chloe asks. Her clever grin tells me she has a trick up her...sleeve.

I readily agree, and she takes my hand and straddles my erection as I ready us for Hermes' transportation. I bid Amy, Chet, and Kaitland to enjoy themselves and scout out some willing followers while we're gone (stressing WILLING), crafting them some mortal illusions before we depart.

Time and space do a mutating dance for a few seconds as Chloe and I warp back to Olympus. Once inside the celestial mountain resort, I bid Chloe to dismount me and we walk hand-in-hand through the lush cloud fields to Zeus' palace.

The messenger God, Hermes, meets us outside. "Welcome back, Pan. Zeus is going berserk in there. I seriously hope you've got good news."

"Um...of course I do!" He can tell I'm bluffing, but I don't care. Overrated delivery boy.

"Mmm hmm." His gaze settles upon Chloe. "And who would this lovely young satyress be?"

"My name is Chloe, O Great Hermes," she says respectfully, curtseying gracefully upon her goat legs. "I have joined Pan as his willing disciple, and have been given permission to attend." I can tell she's brimming with excitement at this dream come true, and yet she conducts herself with utmost dignity. My admiration for this young satyress grows greater every moment.

With no further words, Hermes leads us inside to Zeus' meeting chamber. Every one of my fellow deities watches my return with great interest. Even that dead-head Hades himself has a seat at the table.

"Welcome back, Brother Pan," the Thunder God booms. "I can tell by your companion that you have had no trouble gaining worshippers."

I bow respectfully, as Chloe dips once more beside me. "Indeed, Great Zeus. No trouble at all."

"Then I trust you have good news for the rest of us?" The question is Demeter's, goddess of the hunt and wilds, the closest I have to a sister.

"Ah...yes. Well, you see...er, that is..."

"He's forgotten all about us!" bellowed the War God Ares. The hothead rises from his seat and thumps his fist onto (yipe, make that through) the stone table.

I raise my hands in quiet defense. "What? Please, have some faith in me!"

"I told you I should have gone!" Poseidon shouts out, raising his trident high.

"You?! You can barely attract barnacles anymore, let alone followers!" Hades scoffs in his doom-laden baritone.

Apollo rises to block the Sea and **** Gods from going all-out, and in the ruckus, everyone forgets all about me. I'm sorely tempted to just sneak out in the confusion and retire permanently to Earth. I make up my mind to do just that, when I suddenly realize that Chloe's hand is no longer in mine.

I frantically look for her amidst the frenzy of shouting and feuding deities (one big dysfunctional family, just like you've all heard) when I hear a very familiar voice over the din.

"Please! Revered deities, may I have your attention!" Chloe stands confidently upon the table, fearless even in the fray of incensed immortals.

"I am here to bear witness to you all, that Lord Pan has used his time on Earth well! He has blessed a group of followers and made them into his image to sustain his power, and to prove to you that the same can be done for all the deities of Olympus, just as it was so many centuries ago!"

The throes seem to settle down a bit. The captivating Aphrodite, beautiful beyond measure, approaches the table from her concealment behind a doric column (hey, she's a lover, not a fighter).

"What is your name, worshipper of Pan?" Her voice can still melt the most frozen heart.

"I am Chloe, oh revered Goddess of love," she says with a curtsey, returned by Aphrodite despite normal protocol. I can tell that Chloe is fervently grateful to have the respect of a goddess.

My disciple extends the same courtesy to the others before presenting them with her knowledge and philosophy. She tells them all how my blessing has strengthened her and the other satyrs and satyresses, as well as myself. In turn, she tells each of the assembled what types of followers the modern world can offer them, and where they can be found or where they have found the deities without their knowledge. She tells Demeter of the Wiccans, Ares of the military contingents, Apollo of professional athletes, Zeus of world leaders that may benefit from his wisdom (clearly stating facts and playing to his ego in equal measure), and so forth. I remember her words from our conversations and her thesis she was writing earlier today.

I'm in grateful awe of her as she speaks, and not just for saving my furry butt. I feel...blessed to have her. I am honored to receive her admiration and prayers. For the first time since we met, I wonder if it was really I that chose her.

"Your feelings," Aphrodite whispers into my ear, "are confused, are they not?" I hadn't even heard her approach me, so entranced was I in watching my charge as she spoke.

"I...what do you mean?"

She laughs, a gentle zephyr through my ear. "I've never seen you look at any satyr or satyress this way."

I shake my head. "Why wouldn't I? She's...very beautiful. Almost as much as you. And so intelligent, and creative, and wise."

"Spoken like a man in love," Aphrodite smirks.

"Nonsense. I just...appreciate her. Deeply. That's all."

I feel the love Goddess' caress upon my cheek. "Search your feelings. There is more to you than lust. You alone must realize that." Her lovely blue eyes settle upon Chloe, watching the magnificent young satyress graciously accept applause from her audience as she concludes her speech.

She takes my hand and steps down from the table. "Everything's okay," she smiles, taking my hand and kissing me upon the lips.

Write this one down for posterity, I'm too stunned to return the favor.

"Pan," Zeus speaks resonantly, snapping us both to attention. "In the future, please keep your eyes open a bit more. For now, you are free to return to Earth and find more followers, should you choose to do so. That goes for all of you." His attention returns to the other deities, giving them guidance for their own voyages.

Chloe and I take our leave through Hermes' sure transport, as I share a smile with Aphrodite before we depart.

My worshipper and I find ourselves within a clean forest near the campus, with not a mortal around for miles. She and I embrace, as Aphrodite's words float through my mind. I'd always thought of myself as a carnal being, made to lust.

Could I also, somehow, be learning to love?