Porcia followed the steward into Pompieus' study curious, but not alarmed.

"Ah, good, daughter-in-law,"Magnus said waving the steward away. "I wanted to talk with you about a few things. Please, sit."

Porcia sat in the chair across from his desk like a client, and settled her hands in her lap."About the suite?"

"For one. How do you find it?"Magnus asked. "I hope suitable. Cornelia really worked hard on getting it done in time for you.

Porcia smiled a bit shyly."I am sure she is glad to get her study and sitting room back."

"She is.She is a private lady, after all." Magnus responded with a slight grin. "But I dare say she has survived the ordeal.As you did yours."

Porcia blushed slightly. "I did. I hope next time to give Sextus a boy."

"I have no fears on that score. However, I did want to speak with you about this one child.

Porcia tensed, suspecting what was coming.

"The name won't do. I know that people like to call me names, usually unsavoury or uncultured names. I suppose there is some truth to it. I never was a great scholar like my current wife, and I have about as much culture in my wholw body as Julia did in her pinkie. But I am a Roman, in spite of everything said, and no more a bucolic hayseed than Cicero, if you want to look at family heritage. My father was consul, his father was consul before him, I have been consul twice, and now am arguably the first man in Rome."

Magnus stood up and walked to the wide doors that opened onto a garden he shared with his wife's study.

Porcia squeezed her hands on the chair arms to keep them from shaking. "My father was a great man. You worked closely with him. She looks so much like him."

"I had noticed the likeness. A proper Roman nose too, thankfully not as large to make a lady unattractive. Still and all, my son has the right to expect his children properly named after."

"Oh but my father....."

"Excuse me,"Pompieus broke in "your father has a son, and you a brother, named Marcus Porcius Cato serving with my older son. He has someone to carry on his name. My son does not yet."

POrcia sagged in her chair, feeling a deep sadness welling up, as if this somehow was the last bit of her father about to be torn from her. She couldn't still the shaking that now came from her middle. She spoke quietly, but there could be no missing the bitterness in her voice. "I know how my father was laughed at mocked by all the Great Families. The same families who would laugh at you. No doubt Lady Cornelia made sure her Patrician opinion was principle." The minute it was out, Porcia wished she hadn't said it,but there it was laying between her and her father-in-law.

Pompeius turned and looked at her with eyes now quite cold with anger."Yes. The Materfamilias of this house did make her opinion known to me when I asked it. I agreed with her. I generally do in such matters. For which you can be thankful- I had a far better marriage planned for my second son than to the daughter of a suicide whom it was clear ROme would always reject as consul- a man who also laughed at me behind my back, until he had to accept I was one of the first men in Rome. Fortunately for you, my wife argued the case like the little lawyer so many Great Matrons are. "

Porcia bowed her head, and felt tears begin to burn in her eyes. Seeing it, Pompeius relented a little.

"I know my son is not innocent, but you of all people understand the tenants of Roman family life. You are in this family now. Her name will be Pompeia,or Pompeia Sexta if you wish."

Pompeius paused. "Al right?"

Porcia nodded, forcing her stinging tears to evaporate of their own accord. She looked up at Pompeius. "Yes, I understand Gneaus Pompeius."

Pomepius smiled, his blue eyes still as bright as when he was 19."Good. I am very glad we had this talk."

Porcia got up to go, before she felt her heart strongstrings snap again."I will see you at dinner."

"Yes, until then."

With leaden feet Porcia walked to the study door to let herself out,, but was arrested by Pomepeius' voice.

"Oh, one more thing daughter-in-law. I meant what I said about family. The Materfamilias of this house is the law of this family when I am absent,or unless I contradict it at any time. My wife is not likely to overstep her boundaries, but its up to me to deal with it if she does. "

Porcia nodded again, and then left with her heart heavy.