| Part 29a � Do we have to?� � Don�t whine Ares, it�s really unattractive,� Joxer smothered a grin at Ares� pout. � We promised we�d let them know.� � Yeah, yeah, yeah,� Ares muttered. Joxer raised an eyebrow, � I�ll just go by myself then, shall I?� Ares crossed the room in two steps and dragged Joxer into his arms, � No,� he whispered. � Good, cause I don�t want to go on my own.� He pulled back and forced Ares to meet his gaze. � I�d be okay though, on my own. You know that don�t you?� Ares stared at him unblinkingly, before finally nodding. � Zeus might have refused to reconsider our marriage, but he can�t separate us now. And I don�t think he�ll risk anything else without an excuse, do you?� � I don�t know, I don�t trust him. He accepted the outcome of the trial too meekly for my reckoning, even if he is still forbidding the marriage.� He had Eris and Strife secretly watching his father just in case. � You�re just suspicious minded.� Joxer finished getting dressed. He wore soft, tight, black leather pants, and a loose, silk shirt in deep blue. Ares stared at him with a slightly glazed expression. He put his arms round Joxer and kissed his neck. � Are you sure you want to go?� His hands started to slide down Joxer�s chest. Joxer grinned, � Come on, you�ve put it off long enough, and they�re all together for once.� Ares sighed, � Right, okay.� He tightened his grip around Joxer�s slim form, � Ready?� Joxer nodded. Ares transported them to a small camp in a forest clearing. He had turned away from Joxer and started throwing up, before Xena had even leapt to her feet. � �Res?� Ares held up one hand. After a couple more seconds, he straightened and wiped his mouth. � Okay, well, that was fun,� he groaned. Joxer stroked his back soothingly. � Joxer?� He turned round and smiled at his four friends. � Hi!� he exclaimed. � Hi?� Gabrielle stepped forward and swatted him across the chest. � Where have you been? We were worried sick!� Joxer just grinned, � Missed you too, Gabby.� He hugged her. She sighed and hugged back, before stepping away so the other three could hug him. Ares stood behind him, arms crossed over his chest. � Ares,� Xena greeted her father. � You�re looking, well, not pregnant.� Ares snorted, � I�m only two months along!� Then he grinned, � You should see Cupid though!� � Ares, it�s not funny. Just remember you�ve got three!� Joxer reproached him. Ares paled. � Um, can we sit down?� Joxer recognised the look on his lover�s face. � Sure,� said Xena. They moved aside so Joxer could gently push Ares over to the fire. � So,� started Gabrielle, � I�m guessing you passed the trial. Hey! You better not have gotten married without us!� Joxer managed to grin and look sad at the same time. � We got through it, with a little help,� he glanced at Ares, who�d closed his eyes. � Zeus still won�t let us get married. But he doesn�t know about the babies or my immortality. We think we�re fairly safe for now.� � So, what happened?� Gabrielle looked fascinated, � How are you immortal? Who helped you?� � Ares?� � You tell it, I�m bored with it now.� Ares tried to sound bored, but they all picked up on the shaky undertones. Joxer knew that the memory of his death was still very hard on Ares, and he took his hand to kiss it, before telling his friends what had happened. � I remember that,� Xena said with a small shudder, when Joxer told them about his death. � The pain.� She stared at her father, who met her eyes briefly, but long enough for her to really see the depth of his feelings for Joxer. The others nodded, all of them looking at Ares in a new light. � Carry on, Jox,� said Ares hoarsely, uncomfortable with the attention. Joxer finished the story quietly. � That�s what all this is about?� asked Hercules. � Father�s worried about losing his throne?� He frowned, � They won�t hurt him, will they?� � The children?� Joxer asked. Hercules nodded. Joxer shrugged, � I don�t know. It depends on how they judge him and Syn�s verdict.� �Syn�?� Xena raised an eyebrow questioningly. Joxer smiled softly. Ares and he had talked all night many times about the children, and in the end, they had decided to name them. �Your sister, Dikaiosyn�, Goddess of Justice.� Xena bit her lip, � And the other two, are they?� � Eirenic, God of Peace and Apolutrosis, God of Redemption, your brothers.� Xena glanced at her father who was staring at her warily. � Ares? Can I? I mean�� Ares nodded. She moved round the fire to kneel in front of him. He undid his leather vest and opened it. � Oh Gods,� she exclaimed at the scarring on his chest, � I didn�t realise it was that bad!� He smiled and took her hand, pressed it to his belly. He let her feel the triplets. � Oh,� she breathed, � They�re so beautiful.� On impulse, she hugged him. Ares couldn�t quite hide a smile. Gabrielle shook her head, � Justice I can see, but War giving birth to Peace and Redemption?� Ares shrugged, � It�s probably Joxer�s side.� � You fathered Love don�t forget,� said Iolaus. Ares smiled, � Dite�s side.� � Yeah, but there�s plenty of you in him.� Ares blinked in surprise, � Thank you, I think.� Iolaus grinned at him. � What I don�t understand is how they�re gods, let alone so powerful, with one mortal parent,� commented Xena. Joxer looked thoughtful, � I know, we can�t work that out either.� Ares wrapped an arm round his shoulders and he leaned back against him. � I don�t know though,� said Gabrielle thoughtfully, � I mean it�s like the prophecy says, they�re conceived of War in true love, that�s a pretty powerful combination.� Ares stared at her in surprise. � What?� she asked defensively, � I do actually have a brain, you know!� Ares had to bite his cheeks to keep from laughing out loud. Joxer couldn�t help grinning as Ares� laughter echoed inside his head. He cleared his throat and asked Xena and the others what they�d been up to. Ares indulged himself in feeling Joxer up, while his lover tried to chat to his friends. Eventually he achieved his goal. Joxer squirmed more and more against him, trying to ignore him. When Ares eased his hand down the back of his pants and stroked across his asshole, Joxer leapt to his feet, blushing furiously at his friends� smirks. He cleared his throat , � Um, we�ve got to go now.� His voice seemed unnaturally high. He pushed Ares in front of him. � You are in so much trouble,� he hissed. � Good,� Ares chuckled. The four left by the fire, exchanged glances and as soon as the couple had disappeared, they burst out laughing. |