| Part 34 � Strife! Would you hurry up!� Cupid yelled. He was ready to go, despite his stomach doing strange crampy things to him. Bliss was with Eris, and he was supposed to be meeting his father. � I�m comin�, I�m comin�!� Strife yelled back. He stalked out of the bedroom to where Cupid was waiting. Cupid stared at him. � What?!� Strife asked, slightly defensively. He was dressed in a crisp, white shirt and tight, black leather pants. Cupid licked his lips and grinned, � I like that look,� he said, deliberately dropping his voice in a way he knew drove Strife mad. Strife groaned, � Don�t, or we�ll nevah make it ta the weddin�� Cupid grinned again, it never failed. � Come on then, Big Boy, before I jump you.� � Now what have I told ya �bout jumpin� in your condition?� Strife asked, mock-seriously. Cupid fluttered his eyelids coquettishly, grinning widely. � Just go and pick up the freaky four, �kay?� � Okay. See ya, baby,� Strife kissed him hard. When he pulled back, Cupid was breathless. He smirked and vanished. Cupid pouted, he really must learn not to tease Strife, his husband was so much better at it! He sighed and reached under his belly to adjust his erection, before he flashed out of the room. Cupid reappeared in the Halls of War and was nearly knocked over by his father, who was pacing. � Shit, sorry Cupid,� Ares exclaimed, catching the very pregnant God before he could lose his footing. Cupid took a deep breath to calm his pounding heart and churning stomach. Then he smiled at his father, � Hey, Pops!� He took a step back and whistled appreciatively, � Damn! Is Joxer gonna make it through the ceremony?� Ares was dressed in a deep purple, silk shirt, embroidered with various symbols of his title, and black, leather pants. Ares blinked at him, then laughed, � Thanks, Cupid.� � Where is Joxer anyway?� Ares sighed, � With your mother. Apparently it�s bad luck for the groom to see the, uh, groom, before the wedding!� Cupid snorted, � That superstition is, like, so dated.� Ares shrugged, � Try telling your mother that.� Cupid clapped his father�s shoulder, � You ready?� Ares smiled, � I�ve been ready for four and a half months. Let�s go.� They flashed out of the room and reappeared in Hera�s main hall. Ares groaned as he looked round, � Who let your mother loose with the decorations?� The hall had been decorated in pink, gold and white chintz and chiffon with hundreds of pink flowers. Cupid just laughed and sat him down to one side of Hera�s altar. It was certainly a different affair than his and Strife�s wedding, but this was no secret, and had rapidly escalated from a family wedding to a grand, official ceremony. Priests of War sat in their official robes, behind Ares� main family, looking very forbidding. Most of the rest of the Gods and Goddesses sat further back on both sides. Joxer would have Xena, Gabrielle, Hercules and Iolaus on his side, along with Jett, and Jace, who was already present, looking very fetching in a pale, blue gown. Strife appeared suddenly with a very disorientated looking foursome of heroes. He showed them where to sit and, with a brief wave at Cupid and Ares, disappeared again. � He�s gone to break Jett out of jail,� Cupid said, when Ares raised an eyebrow. Ares� lips twitched slightly in amusement. Finally Joxer appeared with Aphrodite. He looked round the room for Ares. When their eyes met, he smiled. Ares couldn�t take his eyes off his husband to be, who was looking gorgeous and sexy in a soft, cream shirt and chocolate-brown, leather pants. � Scratch Joxer making it through the ceremony, how am I going to make it?!� he muttered. Cupid chuckled. When everyone had finally arrived and settled down, Hera appeared before her altar. She gestured to Joxer and Ares, who rose and took each other�s hands to stand in front of her. She smiled at them and snuck a wink at Joxer, who grinned at her. � Joxer of Corinth,� she began. �In the sight of your brothers, do you swear to love and honour Ares, and remain faithful for all eternity?� Joxer smiled at Ares, � I do.� Hera turned to her son, � Ares, God of War, Regent of Olympus,� There was a gasp at the unexpected use of the title. Ares smirked, they hadn�t been expecting that! �In the sight of your family, do you swear to love and honour Joxer, and remain faithful for all eternity?� � I do,� he answered solemnly. � Exchange the tokens of your union.� Ares� heart was in his mouth as he slipped the black and silver ring onto Joxer�s finger. Joxer�s hands trembled as he slipped a matching ring onto Ares� finger. � You may kiss,� Hera smirked. Ares clutched Joxer�s head and pulled him into a gentle but passionate embrace. Hera cleared her throat and they pulled apart. � Love you,� Ares whispered in Joxer�s ear. Now the ceremony was over, an uproar started over Hera�s use of the title, �Regent of Olympus�. It was interrupted by a sudden cry from Cupid. � Cupe, what is it?� Strife ran to his husband, followed closely by Aphrodite, Eris and Ares. � I, I think my water broke,� Cupid gasped. � What? But, but you�re a guy!� � I know that, but it has,� Cupid grimaced at the mess, � Mom, Grandma, help.� Hera grasped Cupid�s arm and sat him down. � She�s early,� she said calmly. � How could his water break?� Ares asked anxiously. Hera looked at her son like he was stupid. � If Gods can get pregnant, don�t you think they can give birth?� Ares paled, � Oh crap,� he muttered. � Now Cupid, have you been having cramps?� Cupid nodded, � I thought it was just nerves or something.� Strife hovered, looking distinctly nervous and also a little pissed off, � Why didn�t ya tell me?� � I thought it was nerves,� Cupid said through gritted teeth. � Calm down sweetie, just relax,� said Aphrodite. Hera crouched down in front of him, � You�ll be fine, let�s get you to my room. Strife, stop fidgeting and help me.� � Help? Yes, I can help,� Strife babbled. Hera stood up, � Everyone, there�s food and drinks in the garden, please go and enjoy yourselves.� There was a moment of silence, then everyone began to filter out of the room. Hera, Aphrodite, Cupid and Strife flashed out of the room, leaving Ares, Joxer, Eris holding Bliss, Autolycus, the four heroes, Jett and Jace looking confused. Joxer went to his brothers and hugged them, � Thanks for coming,� he said. � Maybe you should join the others in the garden.� His brothers nodded, � We�ll see ya later,� said Jett. � Do you want to join them?� Joxer asked Xena and the other three. � Well, this is a family thing, I think it would be best,� said Xena. The others nodded and they all followed Jett and Jace out of the room. � Shall we go and wait?� said Ares. � Fuck waiting, I want to be there, that�s my grandchild,� snapped Eris. � Watch your language in front of Bliss,� Ares reminded her, �She�s my grandchild too remember? But I don�t think we�d be much use, do you?� Eris deflated, � I guess not. I just don�t think Strife will cope with Cupid being in pain very well.� Ares and Joxer pretended not to notice her clutching Autolycus� hand in what looked to be a painful grip. Autolycus was quiet but his other hand rested on the small of her back. They transported themselves and their partners to the hallway outside Hera�s bedroom and materialised some chairs. Eris handed Bliss to his grandfather and they sat down to wait. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cupid panted, gripping Strife�s hand until he heard the bones break. It was oddly satisfying, even if Strife didn�t show the pain he must have been in. � ARGH!� Cupid screamed again. � Grandma, Mom, is it supposed to hurt this much?� � You�ll be fine sweetie,� said Aphrodite soothingly. Hera frowned at her, � I�m sorry child, but it will get worse before it gets better.� � Strife,� Cupid groaned. � Yeah, baby?� � You are so, argh, doing this next time,� he managed a smile. Strife didn�t smile exactly, � Any, and all of the next times, baby. I can�t go through this again.� � *You* can�t!� Cupid panted, before screaming again and breaking Strife�s hand again. Strife looked at his aunt and grandmother pleadingly, � Can�t you do anything?� He could feel the pain Cupid was going through to a certain extent, and he couldn�t stand that it was his fault. � I�m doing all I can, you know that,� said Hera gently. |