| Part 23 Aphrodite winced as she heard another explosion coming from her father�s study. Quickly she transported herself back to her temple, where Cupid and Strife were waiting. They were pacing, the room thick with tension. As soon as they saw her, she was bombarded with questions. � Quiet!� she yelled. The couple stared at her in surprise, but stopped talking. � No, Mother still hasn�t found anything. And,� she paused dramatically. � Mom!� She grinned, � They passed.� � Yeah!� Strife punched the air excitedly. Cupid felt distinctly faint and had to sit down, but at least he wasn�t puking! � Wait, they passed?� he asked. Aphrodite nodded, � Jox had to resist the temptation of giving up, of believing Ares would leave him. He came close to faltering, but his faith in Ares remained true.� � Ya mean, he had ta watch?� Aphrodite nodded. � Ah, man, that is sick!� Strife exclaimed in disgust. � I hope Grandma finds out what in Tartarus is going on in Zeus� head!� � So do I, love,� Cupid whispered. Aphrodite nodded and hugged them both. � Well, well, well,� Hera chuckled, � You Old Goat, you kept this well hidden.� She wasn�t surprised, a prophecy declaring an end to Zeus� reign? She�d have hidden it too, if she were him. She memorised it carefully and put it away again. It didn�t all make sense to her, but it was definitely what she was looking for. She called together the members of her family that were concerned. Ares appeared first, with Joxer. Hera frowned as her son went pale and swayed slightly. He clutched Joxer, who held his hand tightly. Hera was distracted by the appearance of Strife and Cupid, closely followed by Aphrodite and Eris. � Cupid,� Hera smiled at her grandson, � You�re starting to show!� Cupid sighed, � I know, and leather doesn�t stretch well!� Strife giggled and got an elbow in the stomach for his troubles. � Shut up, it wasn�t funny!� Strife bit his cheeks in an attempt to stop laughing. He�d already gotten into plenty of trouble from his hysterical reaction whilst watching Cupid struggle to put on his skin tight leathers around his growing belly. � Children, please, sit,� Hera waved her hand and five large armchairs appeared. Strife sat down and dragged Cupid into his lap. Ares followed his nephew�s example with Joxer. Aphrodite perched nervously on the edge of her seat, while Eris sprawled back, flinging one leg over an arm. Hera sat with a sigh. � I think I know some of what this is about.� She glanced at her son. � I found an ancient and very obscure prophecy, spoken by a sleeping child. It goes, �When War finds Love That is so true, Then blessings come, For me and you. An end to jealous Zeus�s reign, When Peace, Redemption And Justice come again�� � Wow!� Cupid and Strife flopped back in the chair. Ares was silent, as was Joxer. � Ares?� Hera looked at her son in concern, � Are you all right?� He nodded. She smiled gently, � The part I�m not sure about is the peace, redemption and justice coming.� � You don�t suppose?� Joxer started, then he shook his head. *What, love?* asked Ares. *Well, it�s just, it�s to do with you finding love, and three things will come. And well you�re having* *WE are having triplets* Ares interrupted him. *I think you might be right* � Mother,� he turned to Hera, � I�m pregnant.� Hera beamed, � I thought I felt something!� � With triplets.� � Oh my,� Hera got the connection immediately, � Who else knows?� she asked urgently. � Jus� us, the freaky four an� Auto,� Strife piped up. � Why Autolycus?� Hera frowned in confusion. � Cos he an� Mom, are ba�� Strife came to an abrupt halt when he realised what he was saying, almost pre-empting Eris clearing her throat and glaring at him menacingly. He didn�t want to antagonise her when he was starting to make progress. � So, Daddy dearest,� Eris� voice dripped with sarcasm, � Is trying to prevent this from happening. First by forbidding you from marrying Joxer, and then with all this �Trial of True Love� crap!� � None of this changes the fact that Joxie and Ares still have one test to pass,� said Aphrodite quietly. � But damn it, it isn�t fair!� Cupid leapt to his feet angrily, and immediately sat back down heavily with a cry of pain. � Cupe?� Strife gasped when he�d recovered his breath, � What is it?� � I really must remember that our child doesn�t like it when I get angry,� Cupid panted. � Good thing it don�t happen often.� Strife put his hand on Cupid�s rounded belly to try and calm the baby. � He�s too late anyway,� said Joxer quietly. � Whatever happens in the final test, Peace, Redemption and Justice will still come.� � Yeah, but I want them to have two parents,� whispered Ares sadly. Joxer swallowed and turned round burrowing deeply into Ares� arms. � Oh Gods!� Cupid exclaimed, then he burst into tears. � Baby!� Strife stared at Cupid in surprise, � Don�t cry, what is it?� � It-it�s so s-sad,� sobbed Cupid. � Cupie, sweetie, it�ll be fine. � Aphrodite got up and crouched in front of her son, � They�ll make it, I know they will.� She turned to smile at Ares and Joxer. � Yeah, an� then we�ll kick Zeus� butt!� Strife said excitedly. � If you don�t mind, Joxer and I would like to spend some time alone,� Ares said quietly. � Of course,� Hera smiled gently. Ares and Joxer disappeared. She turned to her blonde daughter, � So what�s the final test?� � Feeling better?� Joxer pressed a kiss to the base of Ares� neck. His fingers dug into the thick muscles of Ares� shoulders, working out the knots of tension. Ares groaned, � Ah, yeah.� Joxer�s hands and the hot water from their shared bath were combining to relax him. He leaned back in Joxer�s arms, his head dropping back to rest on his lover�s shoulder. He sighed as Joxer nibbled on his neck. Joxer slid his hands down Ares� shoulders and round to his chest, tracing the outlines of Ares� hard, smooth muscles. His fingers grazed over tightening nipples, and his lover moaned, arching his back. Joxer pulled gently on the taut nubs, as he sucked on Ares� neck. Ares shifted and pulled Joxer�s legs round him, until Joxer�s cock was pressed against his back. Joxer groaned, his hands recommencing their exploration as they dipped under the water to slide down Ares� stomach. They tangled in the line of dark, silky hair which led to Ares� groin, and tugged lightly. Ares wasn�t sure he could take much more of the slow teasing, as Joxer licked his neck, and his questing fingers moved lower, bypassing his groin completely. So he pulled out of Joxer�s arms and turned round to straddle the smaller man�s hips, pushing their cocks together. Joxer smiled up at him, and Ares sucked in a breath at the heat, passion and love in his eyes. He clutched Joxer�s face between his hands and leaned forward to kiss him, pressing their bodies together. Joxer moaned and ran his hands down Ares� back to his firm ass, pulling him even closer. A low cry rumbled in Ares� chest and he thrust against Joxer. Joxer whimpered, sucking on Ares� tongue. He reached further round and ran his fingers along the crease of Ares� ass. � Uhn,� Ares pushed back, encouraging Joxer to press deeper. Joxer smiled against his lips and stroked firmly across Ares� opening. Ares groaned again. � Jox, please,� he breathed. Joxer sucked Ares� lips and lapped delicately between them. Without warning, he pushed two fingers inside his lover. Ares cried out, his back arched as he thrust jerkily against Joxer. Joxer pushed gently into Ares, reaching for his pleasure spot. As he brushed his fingers over it, Ares groaned and dropped his head onto Joxer�s shoulder. � Lift up, love,� Joxer whispered. Ares raised his head to stare at him for a second, then he smiled and lifted his hips. Joxer shifted forward slightly, then Ares reached behind himself to grasp Joxer�s erection. Joxer blinked at him in surprise, as Ares slowly lowered himself onto Joxer�s length. � Oh. Gods. Ares!� Joxer gasped as he was engulfed in tight, slick heat. Ares gripped the side of the bath for leverage, and dropped his head back onto Joxer�s shoulder. Joxer�s fingers dug into Ares� hips as they rocked together. � Love you,� Ares whispered with every thrust into his body. Joxer couldn�t speak, he was too overwhelmed. It was as if Ares� body had engulfed and surrounded him. He was complete, whole, and he didn�t want it to end. Ares groaned as their movements became faster and more urgent. � It�ll never end,� he gasped. Joxer�s breath hitched and he pulled Ares� head up so that he could kiss him. His cries were swallowed, as he came deep inside his lover. The combination of the hot, liquid rush inside him, Joxer�s roiling emotions and the lips claiming his own, sent Ares over the edge. He pulled his mouth away, his head dropping back as he screamed his release. � I love you,� Joxer whispered. Ares lifted his head and leaned forward to rest his forehead against Joxer�s. � I know, I love you too.� |