Title: Five Hundred Years
Author: Balebold
Email: balebold@yahoo.com
Rating: R to NC-17
Fandom: X: WP/H: TLJ
Paring: Eris/?, Ares/Joxer, Cupid/Strife
Disclaimer: None of this belongs to me (except my original
characters). The Greek Gods belong to everyone or themselves or
something and X: WP & H: THJ belong to their creators in TV land.
Warring: Het ahead.
Series: This is the prequel to An Olympian Wedding but it can stand-
alone.
Summery: Eris celebrates Five hundred years of marriage with her
husband.
Author's Notes: This story is told from varying points of view. It
takes place about four years before An Olympian Wedding and around
the time Xena starts traveling with Gabrielle for those who like to
know when something takes place compared to Canon. Any similarity
between this and any other author's work is completely accidental.
Thanks go to Angel Ser-Desa for Betaing.
Walking through the halls of the temple of war on Olympus, I
followed the sounds of crying to Eris's rooms. The door was open
and I could see her sitting on her small sofa, rubbing tears from
her eyes. I slowly approached her.
"Eris? What's wrong?"
"What? Joxer, your back early."
"No, I'm not. It's nearly midnight in Greece. Now, why are you
crying?"
"Oh, nothing." She said, moving over to make room for me to sit on
the couch, indicating to me that she did what to talk about it, even
if she was acting somewhat resistant. "It's just, well that
Imismahusban." She mumbled.
Now, being a father and grandfather I had no trouble deciphering
this.
"Ahh, isn't your anniversary coming up soon? In a couple of months
or something?"
"Yeah," she answered, "It will be our 500th year anniversary in just
over two months. But he's still out there," she waved her hands
vaguely, "And I can't see him."
That explained it. Eris's husband was `in the field'. See, every
500 years or so, each God, Zeus and Hera included, is reborn as
mortal in Greece, to learn more about our worshippers and make sure
we don't lose sight of our purpose and duties and to give us
understanding of what it is to be mortal, etc. We call it `in the
field' for some odd reason and for the majority of the thirty-five
to forty-year mortal lifetime we spend down there we don't know who
we actually are. But about thirty years into it the memory blocks
break down and full memories will surface. After all, you don't
really learn anything from an experience unless you know why you're
doing it. The rest of the Parthenon is forbidden to contact a
God `in the field' as anything other then the mortal they are
playing (at least not until a few years after their memories return)
and tend not to talk of them. That's why the mortals think Strife
doesn't have a father. Eris husband hasn't even regained his
memories yet.
"500 years, uh? That means Ares and I have been married," I though
a moment, "Wow."
"Makes you feel old, doesn't it?"
"Yeah. Listen, why don't you petition Zeus for a day to celebrate
with him?"
"What do ya mean?"
"Ask Zeus if he can be released for the day so you two can be
together on your anniversary."
"You think he'd do that?"
"If not on his own, Hera would bully the old goat into it."
"You know what, I will. Thanks Joxer." She hugged me tightly, then
pulled back, drying her eyes with a handkerchief that had suddenly
appeared in her hand. "If you tell anyone I was crying,"
"I know, I know, you'll gut me and redecorate with my entrails."
~~>>@<<~~
"Why do you want me to go?" I asked my husband, who just shoved me
out bed.
"I already told you, for moral support. Now get dressed, I don't
want to be late."
"You're not petitioning Zeus for something are you?"
"No, now come on." Joxer rose out of bed and got dressed with a
thought. We flashed over to Zeus's throne room, appearing in the
back. The day's petitions had already started. Joxer left my side
to go talk with Eris, who was standing with Aphrodite, Strife, and
Realm. Eris turned and smiled at me. She hasn't smiled like that
since, well for thirty years or more. I smiled back; she was
apparently the one I was supposed to be supporting. I made my way
over to where she was standing, but before I got there, she was
called to make her plea.
"Yes, Eris?" Zeus asked her looking down from his throne.
"You know my husband is in the field?" Zeus nodded and I suddenly
understood. "This year is our 500th year of marriage. So I humbly
ask for a day to celebrate with him." Zeus studied her, then leaned
over to confer with Hera. When they straitened, Zeus looked stern,
but Mother was smiling.
"Just one day, Daughter?" Zeus asked her, "I think I can do better
then that." His voice then took on his commanding tone, "You will
have one week to celebrate your anniversary, but no more. This is a
special circumstance and exceptions to being in the field will not
be handed out lightly."
"I understand." Eris said. Zeus smiled.
"See your mother to make arrangements." Eris bowed her head, and
came back over to us, smiling brightly. She flung her arms around
Joxer.
"Thank you for making me do his!" she said. I should have known it
was all Joxer's idea.
"You're welcome, Eris." He told her. She pulled away then hugged
me.
"Oh Ares, I get to see him! And he'll remember me!" I squeezed her
hard in my arms, beaming, truly happy for her. Eris just hasn't
been the same since her husband had to go play mortal. Her reaction
has been worse then when Strife had to go before he fully took on
his godly duties. Then she threw a lot of stuff and was generally
in a bad mood most of the time, but he was there to calm her and
make her feel better. Now, she kind of closed herself off, I was
really starting to worry about her, but this seems to be bringing
her back around. She pulled away to hug Strife.
"This is fuckn' fantastic, Ma!" Strife had also been missing his
father. Jercules's comments about him not having a father had
really been getting to him lately.
"Oh, we just have to have a party! 500 years is too huge a deal to
pass by! Remember the 500th anniversary party I threw for you and
Joxer, Ares?" Dite asked.
"How can I forget?"
"It'll be great. We can invite everyone and get a few barrels of
Dionysus special vintage. We'll have cake, music and dancing and we
can roast a lamb and a pig, and everything!"
"Whatever, Dite. I think I can even say we'll come, for a little.
I want him to myself as much as possible."
"Of course, he's your husband, can't waste the week at my party can
you? Even if it is for you."
~~>>@<<~~
I flashed into my mother's temple. Not seeing her, I walked through
her home and out to her garden where she was tending a rose bush.
"Ah, Eris, how are you child?"
"I'm better now."
"Yes, your temperament has not gone under my notice. I'm glad I
could do something to help." She smiled up at me, holding out her
hand. I helped her up. She then lead me back the way I had come.
She took out a carved wood box and handed it to me. Opening it, I
saw that there were two apples inside.
"This one," Hera told me, referring to the red one, "Will take the
memory blocks down prematurely. I understand they have not faded
yet?"
"Not to my knowledge. Strife said the last time he saw him his
reactions remained the same. It could be an act; he always could
fool just about everyone. But if he had his memories, he would have
done something to let Strife know."
"Yes, he would have. This one," she said, pointing at the other
apple, which was golden (not gold golden, just normal apple color
golden) "Will give him back his godly powers, but not his godhood;
so he won't have any duties to perform during the week. His powers
will fade again in exactly one week but his memories will remain
until you leave him again after his powers fade. The blocks will
return to as they were before he ate the apple, so they will not be
there for another thirty years." I closed the box.
"Thank you, Mother."
"May I suggest that you give him the red apple a few days before the
yellow one so that he has time to adjust to the situation. And you
can plan what you want to do for the week, together." She smiled at
me and I smiled back.
"Now, I understand that Aphrodite is giving you a party."
"Yes."
"I have not received an invitation."
"None have been sent yet, but you are one the list."
"I see, well Dear, Happy Anniversary."
"Thank you again, Mother." I said, leaving her with a shower of
dark purple sparks.
~~>>@<<~~
"Are you listening to me?" I asked Eris, who sat on the other side
of the table from me, lounging in her chair, sipping her wine.
Strife giggled next to her.
"Wha? Oh, of course, Dite. Sounds great." She answered still
staring off. Strife cracked up some more. I glared, but let it
go. After all, her anniversary was in less then a month. In two
weeks she would give him the apple that would return his memories,
and a few days after that the one to return his powers. The party
was scheduled for two days later, so they could have some quiet time
together first. But if I know those two, it will be anything but
quiet. Ares has given her that week off of her duties, after all
Joxer, Strife, and Realm should be able to cover for her, it's just
a week. The party is all planned and set to go. It will be held
here in the Halls of Wars because of the larger size great hall then
in my own temple. The invitations went out today and I was just
going over a few more details with Eris after a family dinner, but
her mind is obviously already with her husband.
"Can I com' ta da par'y, Granpa?" Bliss asked Ares from his lap.
"Maybe for a little bit, Bliss, but you have to be a good boy."
Ares told him.
"I be good!"
"Okay Bliss, time for all good little Godlings to be in bed." Cupid
rose form his chair. "Say good night."
"G'nugh Granpa Ares!"
"Good night Bliss." Ares kissed his forehead. Bliss then flew over
to me.
"G'nugh Granma Dite!"
"Good night you little cutie." I tickled him and he giggled over to
Heph.
"G'nugh Granpa Heph!"
"Good night, Bliss" Heph replied before Bliss flew to Joxer.
"C'nugh Granpa Josser!"
"Sleep tight Bliss." Joxer said, hugging him, before passing him to
Realm in the next chair.
"Do you have a kiss for me?" She asked him.
"'Cours, Aunt Ealm!" Bliss stood in her lap to kiss her
cheek. "Mowa. G'nugh!"
"Night Bliss." She told him before he launched himself off her in
the direction of Eris. He landed hard in her lap so that she
exhaled with a hiss.
"Aunt Ris?"
"Yes, Bliss?"
"You happy now?"
"Yes, I'm happy now."
"Why you sad be'or?"
"Because my love had to go away, but he's coming to visit, so now
I'm happy."
"Oh. Tha' why we have par'y?"
"Yes, that's why we have party." She shook her head. "Um, that's why
we're having a party."
"Oh. G'nugh, Aunt Ris!" Bliss hugged her as well as he could with
his cute little pudgy arms. (What? I'm a grandma, I think every
thing he does is cute.)
"Good night, Bliss."
"Okay, com' on, ya little rascal. Your Daddy said it was time for
bed." Strife said picking Bliss up out of her lap.
"Tell me a storie, Stwifie?"
"Yah, I'll tell ya a story." Strife told him. "G' night, Ma, Unc,
Uncl' Jox, Aunt Dite, Uncl' Heph, Realm."
"Good night Strife." We all chorused. Strife left with Bliss in a
shower of dark blue sparkles.
"Good Night mom," Cupid kissed my cheek, then Eris's, "Aunt Eris."
She smiled at him.
"Night, Cupid."
"Sis" he kissed Realm's cheek too.
"Night, Bro."
"Dad, Joxer, Heph."
"Good night, Cupid." Again, in chorus. We all sat there in
companionable silence a moment.
"Oh Gods" Eris groaned, resting her head in a hand propped up on the
table.
"What?" Ares asked her, a concerned brotherly look on his face. He
never gave me looks like that. She looked at him, anguish on her
face.
"I let Dite plan this whole fiasco by herself, didn't I?" She said,
referring to the party. I plastered a look of mock outrage on my
face.
"Don't worry Aunt Eris," Realm told her, patting her arm, "I
helped. Not one speck of pink, anywhere."
"You swear?" Eris asked, turning her head in her hand to look at
her.
"On my grandfather's Realm." She answered. The rest of us chuckled
at her pun. See, Hades (the grandfather she was referring too,
Joxer's father, not Zeus) calls her his Realm (my Realm, really,
when he says it). So Realm could have meant either her or the
entire underworld, or both, I suppose. Ugg, I think I've had too
much to drink.
"Well, I think I should be going too. Coming Heph?" I got up and
so did he, taking my hand.
"Good night, everyone." I said.
"Yes, Goodnight." Heph told them. We flashed out to another chorus
of good nights.
~~>>@<<~~
I sat in a tree, cleaning my fingernails with a dagger, waiting for
him to pass by. Strife spotted him heading along this road alone
two days ago but I wanted to make sure he hadn't met up with any of
his little friends since then. Seeing him start to climb the hill I
was currently at the crest of made my heart do a little jump. I
quickly flashed down to the other side of the hill, changing my
appearance to that of an old woman carrying a fruit basket. Placing
the red apple with the rest of the fruit, I started to climb this
side of the hill. I watched his head appeared over the crest and
his brisk pace brought him over it and a little down this side. I
dropped the basket, letting some of the fruit roll down the hill.
"Oh, no!" I cried, groaning as I bent down to pick up the fruit
near me. As I hoped, he jogged down the rest of the way to help.
"That's not necessary, young man." I told him as he placed what he
had picked up in my basket.
"Of course it is." He said, helping me up, "Are you traveling by
your self?"
"I live just up this road, I'll be alright." I told him, starting
back down the hill to gather the rest. He stopped me.
"Here, let me." He went and picked the remainder of the fruit up,
bringing it and placing it into my basket.
"Aren't you sweet. Such kindness must not go un-rewarded." I took
the red apple and held it out to him.
"No, Ma'am, I can't take it."
"I insist. My son owns the very best orchard in the land. You will
not find a better apple this side of Olympus." When he still
hesitated I continued, "You will not deny this old woman her
happiness by refusing my gift, would you?" He wouldn't. I bid him
safe travels then started up the hill again. Walking until I was
sure I was out of sight before disappearing and following him.
~~>>@<<~~
After encountering the old women, I played with the apple she had
given me, entertaining my self by tossing it into the air and
catching it. My stomach rumbled and I looked up for the position of
the sun. Noon. Catching the apple again, I looked at it. I had
been planning on saving it until tomorrow, but it did look like a
nice apple, very ripe too, perfect to eat. Shining it on my shirt,
I took a large bite out of it. Gods, that was good! A little juice
ran down my chin and I wiped it away with my finger, then licked the
finger clean. I quickly devoured the apple, surprised to find that
it had no seeds or core. Autolycus once told me that Hera's Golden
apples didn't have cores or seeds, but I was skeptical at the time.
Maybe it was true? But this apple was red, not golden and how would
that old woman get a golden apple anyway? Unless she was a Goddess
in disguise. I shook my head dismissing the whole idea as absurd.
As I continued to walk along, I let my mind wonder back over my
memories.
~~>>@<<~~
I followed him until he made camp for the night. He worked quickly
and efficiently, collecting wood, building a small fire and even
managing to catch a couple of rabbits for dinner. I may have had
something to do with rabbits being there to catch, but he still had
to get them. He cleaned them and rigged a spit over the fire to
cook on. I materialized myself a bench to sit on across the fire
from him to watch him watch the rabbits cook. Curious as to if the
apple had done it's job or not, I poked into his mind, just enough
to see what he was thinking and figure out what state his memories
were in. He was thinking about me! The memory of our parting
before he was born a mortal and how he had treated me the last time
he saw me as a mortal were in his forethoughts. The back of his
mind was busy trying to categorize and sort the over one thousand
years of memories that were revealed to him this afternoon as the
memory blocks collapsed. From experience, I knew that the blocks
don't usually crumble that fast, they normally take weeks to fully
dissolve. After pulling out of his mind I watched him a little
while longer, but when I saw the tear slide down his cheek, I knew I
couldn't wait any longer. I slowly became visible to him. He
looked at me with the strangest expression on his face, like he was
trying to decide if I was real.
"Eris?" He asked tentatively, voice a little shaky.
"Yes, Iolaus?" I replied. He stood as I did and we met in the
middle of his camp, besides the fire, in a blazing kiss, hotter then
what burned next to us. When his need for air became too great we
broke apart.
"What are you doing here? Won't Zeus," he asked me, but I put a
finger to his lips.
"Shh, I have a lot to tell you." I took him by the hand and led him
to my bench and we sat. I then proceeded to explain all about my
petition, the week together we were allowed, the apples, and the
party Dite has planned.
"That old woman was you? Have you gotten acting lessons from the
Muses while I've been away?"
"Hey" I swatted his arm lightly. Gods, I had missed him so much, I
don't think I even realized how much until now.
"So, we have a week to celebrate 500 years together? I was planning
on at lest a month."
"Were you? And when did you plan this?"
"When Joxer and Ares celebrated their 500th anniversary."
"That was almost two hundred years ago!"
"Was it? But we're here now, still together. We are still
together, aren't we?
"Of course we are. I may be the volatile Goddess of Discord, but I
love you."
"I'm glad, because I love you." We shared another kiss but this
time his stomach rumbling interrupted us.
"Opps. Sorry." He had a sheepish look on his face, but couldn't
hold it and he broke into a grin. Squeezing my hand, he got up to
tend the rabbit.
"Would you like some?" he asked me, "I've got plenty."
"Why not?" I shrugged. Taking a knife out of his boot, he cut a
leg off then handed it to me. Cutting his own piece, he sat back
down next to me. We talked while we ate, then necked like a couple
of teenagers. Before I left for the night I told him I would be
back the day after tomorrow. We kissed one last time before I
flashed back to Olympus.
~~>>@<<~~
I completed everything Unc wanted me ta do taday, and any side
projects I had goin' could stew, so I flashed down ta tha road Ma
found Pop travelin' on yestaday. I quickly found `im and started
walkin' along with `im, matchin' his pace.
"Hello, Strife." He said as I made maself visable ta `im.
"Hiya, Pop. How ya doing?"
"Not bad, considering everything. You sure you won't get into
trouble coming down here and talking with me?"
"Yep, I asked Grandma Hera first. By tha way, yer Ma says hi.
Where ya headin?"
"I was going to Corinth, but I think I'll take a week or two long
detour."
"Good idea."
"There are these hot springs not to far from here. Amazingly, the
area is unpopulated.
"Yeah? I didn' think there was a hot spring left in Greece without
a hospital near by."
"It's well hidden." By tha look on `is face I could tell who hid
it. I wondered if `Pol knew `bout it.
"Ya think `bout takin' Ma there?"
He nodded.
"There are a couple of other places, too"
"Like where?"
"Well, this one island in the Adriatic Sea is special to us."
"How come?"
"You really want to know?"
"Yah"
"You were conceived there."
I got a smug grin on ma face.
"I ca see whay it would be than."
"Ungrateful Brat." He said affectionately. He hasn' called me that
in I don' know how long. I walked the rest of tha day with `im,
than helped `im make camp.
"I bettah get goin' now, I'll see ya at Aunt Dite's party!" He
hugged me before I could flash out, but I didn't mind much. I
am `is only kid, and he hadn't seen me for over 30 years.
~~>>@<<~~
I appeared in his camp just after sunset, over an hour later then I
had said I'd be there. I was even still in my leathers, covered in
blood and sweat from a battle that had gone longer then we had
expected. He had built a fire, this time a couple of pheasants
roasted over it. However, he wasn't sitting there where I expected
to see him. I heard the rush of water and splashing from near by.
I walked a short distance to the edge of a small river with shallow
banks. Iolaus was splashing around, scrubbing the dirt off his body
in the light from the rising full moon. He turned to look at me and
our eyes met.
"Hey," He came over and I saw he hadn't left his pants on to bathe.
He pulled me to him and kissed me hungrily, pulling me to the water
with him.
"Happy to see me?" I asked, aware of just how happy he was. He
growled and went in for another kiss but I stopped him.
"First things first." I said materializing the yellow apple. He
took it from my hand and bit into it, chewed and swallowed. I
stared to remove my leathers so I could get cleaned up but he
stopped me with another kiss, before taking a second bite of the
apple. Bite, chew, swallow, kiss. Bite, chew, swallow, kiss. It
went on like this until the apple was gone.
"Now, where was I?" Another hungry kiss and he slowly removed my
clothes, washing and kissing my body as he revealed more skin.
Some time later we lay on the grassy bank, enjoying the afterglow.
I shifted in his arms and he sat up.
"The fire is probably dead by now," he said, helping me up. I
dressed us in clean clothes as I followed him to the now smoldering
coals. He knelt down to feed more wood into it. I created a bench
like the one I had the other night and sat down, admiring the view
of his ass. Soon the fire was high again and we ate the slightly
overcooked pheasants. To test if his powers were back, Iolaus
materialized a flask of wine and two goblets. The wine was sour,
though, so we figured he should wait a while longer before trying
anything major, like transportation. He built the fire back up and
I doubled the size of his bedroll so we would both be comfortable.
Before falling asleep we made love under the stars.
~~>>@<<~~
"I think they'll like this better." I waved my hand and Aunt Dite's
decorations changed from bight red and purple to gold balloons and
streamers with white accents.
"Hmm. I guess your right, Realm." Aphrodite said at my side, but
that didn't stop her from pouting. "Now, for the food." She
materialized tables full of Uncle Iolaus's favorites. "Dionysus is
bringing the wine."
"We need some entertainment." I thought for a moment then
materialized a self-playing lute, sitar, and bongo on a little
dais. "And some places to sit. I thought up some sofas, some large
comfortable pillows to lounge on the floor and some tables and
chairs by the food. There was a bright flash as Cupid and Strife
appeared with Bliss.
"This looks great, Realm." Cupid said, looking round the hall.
"I helped too." Aunt Dite glowered at her son. He nodded.
"Nice job." He said, still looking. Strife chuckled.
"I lik, Granma Dite," Bliss said, flying to her arms.
"Well thank you Sweetie, I knew somebody appreciates me." Another
flashed signaled another arrival.
"Opps, sorry, didn't mean to interrupt."
"Pop, wait, this is your temple." I stopped him from flashing out.
"My temple? This isn't my temple." He said looking around.
"They decorated fah tha party, Unc." Strife said.
"Oh. Is that tonight?"
"Yes! Didn't Joxer remind you?" Aunt Dite said impatiently.
"I did, he just has selective memory." Dad said, coming into the
hall from the garden. "When will Eris and Iolaus be here?" He
asked her.
"I told Eris just after sun set. All the other guests should be
here soon." As she said this Dionysus appeared with several barrels
of wine. They just got it set up when Grandma Hecate and Grandpa
Hades arrived with Persephone. Next came Uncle Jett and Uncle Jayce
then Grandma Hera and Zeus. Slowly almost the whole Parthenon
flashed in. Finally, just after sun set, Aunt Eris and Uncle Iolaus
appeared in the middle of the room. Several people shook hands with
Uncle Io and more shouted greetings at them. Aunt Dite called for
attention and, after about ten minutes, got it.
"Thank you. We are here to celebrate 500 years of marriage for
Iolaus and Eris." She shouted so everyone could hear her. "I know
many of you would like to talk with Iolaus because he's been away,
but please remember this day is for them, not us. Now, I would like
to propose a toast." She raised her wine glass, as did everyone
else. "To Eris and Iolaus. Many said you wouldn't, couldn't last,
but here you are 500 years later and still very much in love. May
we all learn from your example. Congratulations." A chorus
of "hear, hear" was heard as we all raised our wine glasses at them
and drank.
~~>>@<<~~
It really was nice of Dite to throw us this party, but gods, we had
been here more then three hours and people were just now starting to
leave us alone. I thought I was going to have to hex someone. The
only thing that prevented us from leaving is the fact that I hadn't
gotten a chance to talk to Cupid or my son yet. Everyone else I
deemed worth wile to talk to, my parents, brothers, Ares, Dite and
Realm had been over at some time except those two (or three
including Cupid's son). Currently, Eris was wrapped in my arms as
we lounged on a two-seat sofa. I was watching Strife talking to
Cupid and his son across the room. They looked at us and seeing no
one around at the moment, came over.
"How are you, Uncle Iolaus?" Cupid asked sitting down on a chair
that had just appeared in front of the couch.
"I'm good. And you must be Bliss." I said, addressing the little
boy with wings in his arms while sitting up a little. He flew out
of his father's arms and landed in Eris's lap, looking at me the
whole time.
"This your luv, Aunt Ris?" He asked her. She smiled at him.
"Yes, this is my love, your Uncle Iolaus." She explained.
"Uc'ele Iohaus. You make Aunt Ris happy?" He asked.
"Yes, I make Aunt Ris happy." He seemed satisfied with that,
yawned, curled up and fell asleep. Cupid picked him.
"I better get him to bed. It's been nice seeing you Uncle Iolaus."
"Good night, Cupid." Eris and I both said before he left. We
settled back as we were and Strife sat down in the chair Cupid had
made. I looked at my son, studying him for a long moment.
"wha?" He finally asked me, getting agitated.
"What's going on between you and Cupid?"
"Not'in'"
"Strife." I raised an eyebrow. Eris chuckled lightly.
"You never could lie to him." She told him.
"Great. I can bullshite ma way out of tro'ble with the Fuckin' God
of War, bu I can't get away with a little ol white lie ta ma fathah."
"That's `cause I taught you how to bullshit. Now, what's between
you and Cupid?"
"I luv `im." Strife said quietly.
"And his feelings on the subject?"
"He luvs me."
"So what? Are you together? Can I call you a couple?"
"Yeah," he grinned, "But," then frowned, "We're not getting'
married." He told me. I don't know what my expression looked like
just then but it caused him to continue. "Yet. We're waitin' for
ya to get bac from tha field, fa good."
"I appreciate the gesture but it's not necessary."
"Yes, it is." He said, a little forcefully, like he had to argue
this before. "Your ma fathah, I want you at my weddin'. It's tha
only one I'm plannin' on havin'."
"Thank you Strife. That means a lot to me." I smiled at him and he
smiled back.
"I'm gonna take off. I us'ally read ta Bliss before he goes ta
sleep. See ya, Pop."
"Good night Strife."
He left in a shower of dark green sparks.
"Hmm," I said, burrowing a little closer to my wife. "It's about
time they got together. To bad it was after Psyche put Cupid
through the ringer." Realm had explained to me how Psyche had
behaved after she had been made a goddess. From what she said, the
bitch made Eris look like the Goddess of Delight, instead of discord.
"That's what I told Strife you'd say. He didn't believe me." She
mumbled into my shoulder, "Two good things did come out of that
chaos, though. Bliss, and a happy Strife."
I agreed with her
"Ready to get out of here?"
"Are you kidding? I was ready like an hour ago."
We got up, preparing to flash back to those hot springs I told
Strife about when Aphrodite came over.
"You can't be leaving yet." She squealed with a bounce. "It seems
like you just got here." As a blonde myself, I hate it when she
does the dumb blonde bit.
"We can and are, Dite. It was a great party, but I only have five
days left with my wife for I don't know how long, so we're
leaving." She looked a little shocked, probably because I was a lot
mellower in the field.
"Oh, okay. Um, take care, Iolaus."
"Good Bye, Dite." And we were gone.
~~>>@<<~~
I followed ma mothah's signature to a small clearing `bout a days
travel west o' Corinth. She had just called ma out of havin' some
fun at tha crowded market in Thebes. When I appeared Ma and Pop
were sitting on a bench in front of a fire. It was almost sun set.
"What's happenin'?" I asked.
"The week's up, I thought you would like to say good bye to your
father." Ma said quietly.
"oh. Hey, Pop, I'll miss ya."
"I know. Take care of your mother for me, would you?"
"What else am I here fah?"
"A lot." He said quietly, then raised his voice, "And don't let Herc
get to you. He has no clue what he's talking about half the time."
"I know." He hugged me, tight like he may never see me again. I
think he was trying ta make up for tha things Jerkules does. But
it's not `is fault.
"Bye, Pop."
"Bye, Son."
Ma got up from the bench. I backed up ta tha tree line ta give them
some privacy. They hugged and kissed and said good-bye like couples
do. After `bout ten minute Ma joined me in tha trees.
"You okay?" I asked her.
"Yeah," she said, wiping water from her eyes. Pop was sitting in
front of tha fire with `is head down.
"I needed this." She whispered.
"Com `on, Ma, let's go home." I put an arm around her and we
flashed back to Olympus.
~~>>@<<~~
Epilogue:
One month later.
I followed the sounds to Eris's rooms. She was on the sofa, hugging
a pillow. As I approached I could see tears drop from her bent head
to stain the deep purple fabric a darker shade.
"Eris?" I said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder. She sucked
in a breath, but when she looked at me, there was a smile under her
tears.
"Oh Ares, I'm pregnant again!"
The End?