Title: Raising Mischief – Let's eat…
Fandom: Hercules The Legendary Journeys/Xena Warrior Princess
Characters: Strife
Prompt: #19 White
Word Count: 1,015
Rating: PG13
Summary: Cupid Learns more about his family and Unc gets a friend.
Author's Notes: 12th in the series.
Cupid stared at the bundle in his hands and smiled. Though he had no
idea who the child was he just accepted the hug.
"See! I `port."
"Port? Little Mischief?" Cupid asked realizing who this could be. "You
got smaller."
"Was big…momma came and was little again. It hurt…," Erin said a
little sadly and Cupid ruffed his hair trying to distract him.
"You've gotten really good at the teleporting; you must give dad a run
for his money."
Erin furrowed his brows trying to understand the phrase, "Money?"
"Nothing important. So what else happened?"
"Aunt `tia made cake, I had choc `late, and soup and Milk! I like milk."
"Me too, ever have it with Aunt Hestia's cookies?" Erin shook his head
no and Cupid turned to the kitchen area very happy to have found a way
to sneak cookies before the dinner and maybe understand the mystery of
his young again cousin.
Erin scrunched up his face and Cupid was worried he would have a
similar incident to when he had held the baby Persephone but instead
an Aries doll appeared in Erin's hands and he smiled. And flashed his
own into his hand from his secret hiding place in his temple.
"Look I have one too. They can keep each other company while we have
cookies," Cupid said smiling and despite the age, his own `Pop'
centuries old it only looked slightly worse for wear with its careful
handling over the years.
Propped side by side on the table the only difference between them was
a slight variation on Ares' vest.
They had just settled down with a large plate of cookies and milk when
Ares entered the kitchen area.
"I've been told to warn you not to ruin your appetites for dinner or
else."
"As if! Aunt Hestia's cooking is the best."
Ares smirked as he snagged a cookie and dunked it into the milk, then
took a bite. Erin watched with a grin and repeated the motion though
he submerged most of his hand in the cup splashing milk.
"Woah we don't need the entire hand in the cup."
"Let him enjoy it, I remember a certain son of mine who did the same
thing no matter how many times I told him."
"Dad," Cupid said blushing slightly as Ares caught sight of the other
plush besides `unc'.
"You still have that?" Ares asked surprised.
Cupid shrugged as if to say it wasn't a big deal. And Ares reached
down to whisper in his ear. "I still have my Uncle Hades one."
Ares reached for another cookie as Erin dipped his second including
his fist.
"I knew it! Never send a god to do a goddess' job. No more cookie's
boys, you two Ares," Hestia said snatching a cookie out of his grip.
"Its time for the dinner and everyone to take their seats," Hestia
stated leading the way.
Erin got to his feet looking between the two gods. After collecting
`Unc' in his clean hand he seemed indecisive on who to go to. Smiling
Ares winked to Cupid as `Pop' vanished and he extended a hand to Erin
and Cupid did the same. His feet not touching the floor he made his
way to the table giggling as he was sat down between the father and
son pair.
Hades sat across from him with Ace and Apollo on Cupid's other side.
As gods flashed in they followed the lead of Ares and Apollo having
their children join them at the table instead of a separate one for
the children. Hestia happy with the change flashed in smaller chairs
all about. Never one for sending the children off to the side.
Erin grinned waving at Hades who smiled at the child as the smell of
sea salt wafted in. Turning he waved to his brother who was still in
his watery form. Erin squeaked never having seen such a thing.
"And who is this? You find a way around the rules brother dear?"
Poseidon asked glancing at the pale child.
"I wish," Hades said with a smile. He waved Erin over to his side of
the table and he appeared in Hades lap a moment later still looking on
at Poseidon in awe. "Go ahead poke him," Hades said with a grin.
Erin reached out a finger and gasped as it went through the belly
button region of the water god. Giggling he thrust both hands into the
god before Hestia appeared.
"Brother dear, you know it's messy if you eat like that." Poseidon
smiled as he flicked a few drops at his sister and took on his human
form. Erin poked him again, and again before the water god glanced at
him.
"Yes?" Erin simply giggled and Poseidon retaliated by tickling the
child who escaped by flashing into Cupid's lap.
"Yours?" The water god asked surprised as Erin climbed back into his
seat between Ares and Cupid.
"E-R-I-S." Cupid replied with a frown.
"Discord?" Poseidon asked and watched in shock as Erin visibly froze
his smile vanishing as he looked about the room as gods flashed in
trying to crawl into Ares' vest.
"Its okay," Ares whispered holding the child so he looked him in the
eye. "You can feel when she comes right?" Ares asked remembering the
scene in his temple. Erin was able to sense Eris even before he had.
"Do you feel her now?" Erin flinched as another god flashed in but
shook his head. "She is not coming back. You stay with me now."
"And dad is the best in the world," Cupid said leaning in to Erin.
"But you know that already," he said pointing to `unc' who shared
Erin's seat." Erin nodded and released his grip on Ares though he
didn't return to his seat simply turned to face the table.
Hestia smiled as Ares ruffed Erin's hair and tickled him lightly but
did not force him to move. "Alright everyone, time to eat!" With a
clap food platters appeared on the long table and the gods began
serving themselves and the children.