| Epilogue 3 � months later Cupid shuddered at the terrible scream from his father. � Gods, I don�t remember it being that bad,� he whispered to Strife. � I do,� Strife replied. � An� Unc�s got three of �em.� He rocked his daughter gently, her grandfather�s pain was upsetting her. Bliss was a little better, having had birth explained to him before his sister was born. � I jus� hope Unc ain�t crushin� Joxer�s hand!� Strife chuckled. � Strife!� Cupid frowned at him. � This is taking forever!� Eris muttered impatiently. � Mom, you�re not helping!� Strife glared at his mother, who�d been generally annoying ever since Ares had gone into labour a month early. Eris sniffed and carried on pacing. There was another ear-piercing howl from Ares� bedroom. They all winced. � Joxer�s gonna be in pieces,� said Strife quietly. � He�ll be fine once they�re born, you were,� said Cupid, bouncing Bliss on his knee. � Yeah,� Strife pulled a silly face at his daughter, who gurgled and tried to poke his eye out. Cupid laughed at the pair, then winced as his father screamed again. It was long and drawn out, followed soon after by a second and a third. There was a long silence, which was finally broken by the sound of a baby crying. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ares groaned as another contraction gripped him. So far he�d refused to give into the pain and scream, no matter how much he�d wanted to. But he wasn�t going to hold out much longer. � Breathe Ares, stop holding it,� Hera said quietly. � I�m fucking breathing, okay?!� Ares yelled. Joxer winced at his tone. Seeing his husband in so much pain, was something he was finding hard to deal with. He could feel it to a certain extent through their bond, and that was bad enough. � I�m never doing this again, Jox, you hear me?� Ares panted. Joxer nodded, grimacing in pain as another contraction hit Ares and nails dug into his hand until the skin broke. On the other side of the bed, Aphrodite tried to soothe and calm her brother, but she wasn�t having much luck. Ares finally gave into the pain and screamed, causing Joxer to flinch again. � Please tell me it�s nearly over,� he begged Hera. She smiled reassuringly, � The first one�s coming.� � Fucking Tartarus!� roared Ares. � Here we go,� Hera waved her hand cleaning off the tiny baby and leaving her wrapped in a blanket, � Joxer take Syn�.� Hera handed him his daughter. Joxer swallowed hard around the lump in his throat, but couldn�t prevent the tears of fierce pride and joy, that flowed down his cheeks, as he cradled his tiny, fragile-looking daughter in his arms. She was doll-like in her perfection, with soft, black hair, amazing jewel-green eyes and soft, pale skin. Ares screamed again, head dropping back as he gripped the sheets. � Dite, take Eirenic,� Aphrodite took the small Godling, cleaning him up. � Come on Ares, just one more,� Hera smiled at her son. Ares growled at her, panting harshly, � Easy for you to say!� His head fell back again. � AGH, Gods, FUCK!� Hera took Apolutrosis and quickly cleaned and dried him, wrapping him in a blanket, before handing him to her son. Ares stared down at his son in wonderment, � Gods,� he breathed, unable to stop the tears that trickled slowly down his face. � I guess it was worth it.� The two boys were identical and differed from their sister, in that they were both blond. They all shared the bright, jewel-green eyes, although Joxer had noticed something. � Hera,� he swallowed, � Could you take a look at Syn� for me, I think something�s wrong.� � What?!� Ares met his husband�s worried eyes. Hera took her tiny granddaughter. � Oh. Oh, Ares, Joxer. Let me get Apollo,� she whispered. Ares nodded numbly, he still didn�t know what was wrong, but the tears in Joxer�s eyes had him nearly frantic. Apollo flashed into the room, � What is it? Ares, you okay?� Ares nodded and pointed to his mother, who was cradling his daughter. Apollo took Syn� and extended his power. � She�s blind,� he said bluntly, � But as far as I can tell, she�s just meant to be. It wasn�t caused by any of the trauma you�ve been through.� Ares stared at his brother, while Joxer sighed in relief. � It doesn�t matter, she�s perfect,� said Ares. He took Joxer�s hand, searching his face. Joxer smiled and nodded. He was just happy that it hadn�t been caused by what they�d been through, knowing that Ares would blame himself. � �Pol?� Ares continued, � Would you check the boys, just in case.� Apollo nodded. He walked to the bed, handing Syn� back to Joxer. He touched each of the little boys. � They�re fine,� he grinned. Ares breathed a sigh of relief and grinned. Ironically, it was Peace who cried. � Dite, give him to me, please,� said Ares. Aphrodite carefully put Eirenic in his father�s arm, opposite Apolutrosis. The two boys stared at each other, then gurgled happily. Joxer snuggled in next to his husband, and let him see his daughter properly. � Aren�t they beautiful?� asked Joxer. Ares nodded and turned his head so he could kiss him. Joxer returned the kiss briefly, then pulled away smiling. � Shall I let them in, then?� Hera asked. Ares nodded. Cupid came in first with Bliss. � What�s Apollo doing here? Dad, is anything wrong?� he asked anxiously. � No son, it�s fine. It seems that Syn� isn�t just Justice, she�s Blind Justice.� Cupid looked stunned, � She�s blind?� Ares nodded. � Who�s blind?� asked Strife, dragging Eris into the room. Cupid frowned at him, about to say something about tact. � It�s okay Cupid. It�s the way it�s meant to be,� said Joxer. He turned to Strife, �Syn�s blind, Strife.� � Oh,� Strife looked stunned. Cupid took his fidgeting son over to the bed. � Gwandpa got babies!� Bliss said excitedly. Ares grinned at his grandson, � Bliss say hello to Eirenic, Apolutrosis, and Grandpa Jox is holding Syn�.� Bliss waved, � �Ren, �Lutro an� Syn�,� he said proud of himself. Ares chuckled, � I think we have their official nicknames.� � We made ya somethin�,� said Strife. He waved his hand and showed them two framed scrolls. � What are they?� asked Joxer. � The surveys ya filled out for Aunt Dite,� said Strife with a grin. � They�re what started all this. And ya�ve nevah seen each othahs.� � I thought mine was destroyed,� said Ares with a frown. � We made a copy,� said Cupid with a wicked grin, � Originally for potential blackmail material,� he admitted. Ares laughed, � Thank you. And thank you Aphrodite.� Aphrodite smiled. The End! |