Bitter Sweet

“This is Aphrodites temple? Figures.” Gabrielle murmured snootily taking in all the decorations. She hesitated before picking up a set of pink crystals and fingering them.

Hercules rolled his eyes and turned back to her taking the crystals from her hand “Don’t touch anything, do you want them knowing we are in here?” he hissed “Aphrodite might not be the sharpest tool in the forge but if Ares is hiding that weapon here he’s probably got the place trapped.” He looked around frowning slightly; he could hear a strange noise something almost familiar coming from one of the rooms. He felt a strange cold feeling on the back of his neck and Psyche appeared in front of him.

Hercules frowned; she’d just appeared, no flashes, no shimmers, no nothing. He opened his mouth to say something and Psyche moved forward laying her hand on his chest as she looked up into his eyes.

Hearing the movement Gabrielle looked up rolling her eyes at the display.

Psyche stared up into Hercules eyes and he felt the question on the tip of his tongue disappear as he smiled back. “It’s in here.” Psyche murmured beckoning them forward towards one of the rooms, gratitude and thanks nauseatingly obvious on her face.

As Hercules stepped forward slightly dazed, Gabrielle slowly followed him. She didn’t know Psyche and although she’d heard the story of her and Cupids romance from Hercules, she refused to trust any God or Goddess though, even one that had once been mortal. She flicked her fingers over some of the other decorations ignoring the warning and trying to ignore Psyches coos as she buttered up Hercules.

She frowned and ran her fingers over a soft blue blanket as she passed it, feeling the delicateness of it she picked it up. She frowned again, the blanket was too tiny for Aphrodite’s use, even Bliss would have been too big for it. She looked towards Hercules hugging the little blanket to her as she tried to place the sounds “Hercules?” she moved quickly after him her brain putting 2 and 2 together and actually coming up with a worrying 4.

Hercules smiled at Psyche as she beckoned him in, he didn’t notice the baby clothes or toys lying around or the powdery smell of baby in the air. He stepped forward to the crib still looking at Psyche who smiled sweetly. He was too lost in her eyes to realise what he was doing.

“Please get rid of this Hercules.” She stared up at him in adoration as he moved his hands towards the basket and looked down….and froze.

The small blue eyed baby stared back at him.

“Uh.”

It waved its small arms and blew bubbles completely unafraid of the large man with the hands on its head.

Hercules felt his hands shake slightly, and slowly and carefully he took the hands away ignoring Psyches pleas to ‘get rid of the monster.’ His head snapped up and he glared at her an angry and almost hurt expression on his face.

“Psyche, how could you?” He gestured to the baby which to giggled. Hercules was sickened by himself, he’d nearly killed a baby albeit a godly one, an innocent baby, his sisters baby for the Gods sake.

He glared at the Goddess, who smirked “Well you couldn’t blame me for trying.” She giggled as she saw Gabrielle walk in still clutching the blanket, Gabrielles eyes widened in horror at the scene.

“If you can’t get a moron to do it for you, do it yourself.” Psyche smiled sweetly.

Hercules felt a rush of pure fury and he tossed the bassinet to Gabrielle who grappled with it for a moment before trying to carry it as quickly as she could towards the door. Hercules lunged for Psyche who side stepped easily as the door slammed shut in Gabrielle’s face causing her to stumble backwards and the baby inside to wail loudly.

Gabrielle pushed at the door trying to open it. She kept the baby in between the door and her body trying to protect it. Psyche smirked and smoothly sidestepped Hercules again tripping him to the floor.

“If you want to do it the hard way.” Her smile became a snarl and she grabbed Gabrielle by the back of her top, ripping her from the bassinet and threw her into the wall with a sickening crunch. Psyche caught the crib and set it down on the floor.

Hercules watched in horror as Psyches features caved in on themselves her body melting and dripping down to the floor to form the sleek catlike image of a creature, its wings batting furiously and its tail whipping wildly. It seemed to smirk at him as it snarled and whipped its tail. It leant over the basket to snap its jaws over the babes’ delicate head.

Two things happened simultaneously. The first one was Hercules roar of anger as he leapt for the creature, the second was the blue/green bubble that formed over the cot with a snap and forced the creature back.

As the baby wailed Hercules tried desperately to hold the creature back, despite the bubble he wasn’t going to let the thing anywhere near the baby. He dug his fingers in trying to get his hands around the creatures’ neck as it bit and clawed at him.

The creature rewarded Hercules with an extremely vicious claw to the face, almost gouging his eyes out as it did. As the huge hero dropped to his knees, one hand over his eyes, the creature fastened its jaws around his arm and bit down. Hercules cry was choked off as he shook and trembled as though he’d been struck by lightning, It felt as though something was being rapidly and viciously pulled from every cell of his body.

The hero’s eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped to the ground. The creature preened feeling insanely pleased with itself as it sauntered over to the baby. It hadn’t had time to completely drain the hero so Hercules was starting to stir as the creature leant over the basket. It licked its lips; the godly power the hero held was nothing in comparison to the unclean thing in the crib. It salivated thinking of the other rewards its master would give it though the infant was a reward itself. It pulled in the energy from the protective bubble, ignoring the infants’ shrill cries, and gave a growl of triumph as the bubble began to flicker.

As it leant closer, it could all but taste the infant whose cries grew more and more agitated. It could feel the baby’s power and watched with glee as the infant began shimmered a purplish colour. As the purple colour enveloped the baby and the creature leant forward, it had a few seconds to briefly register the power surge before it was hit full in the face.

Hercules tried to focus through his watering eyes, as he saw the bubble protecting the baby begin to fall he tried to pull himself up. He could hear his niece or nephews shrill screams and saw the purple glow surrounding it. As the bubble dropped he screamed for Ares as he tried to pull himself forward. Just as the creatures’ jaws were an inch from the babys head a bright flash of light propelled the creature back.

Hercules watched in part horror, part confusion as the flash formed into a shape, a very human shape. As the glow died down he saw the shape take form and Joxer stumbled almost to his knees one hand on his rounded stomach. Hercules blinked less then an hour ago Joxers stomach had been if not flat then just slightly tubby now it was like he had a very small melon under his shirt. It was then Hercules finally realised Joxer was pregnant and amazingly quickly for him, connected the dots.

Joxer staggered forwards the baby pressing so hard against his stomach he couldn’t breathe, he felt her press harder trying to almost break free from his belly and he staggered forward to collapse by the purple shimmering baby. He reached out and pulled the infant to him, the blue bubble snapping back up, stronger then before.

He shook slightly as the baby twisted and grew in his arms in time with the one in his belly and screamed “Ares!”

Hercules could barely see Joxer as the creature spat and tore at the bubble, which refused to even flicker. It seemed to admit defeat and turned to Hercules a very nasty and peculiar expression on its face. Hercules tried to pull himself backwards as the creature sauntered forwards ignoring the blue glow from behind it.

As it tensed as if to pounce, a flash of red entered his vision in front of him and a dark blue stream like miniature lightning hit the creature smack between the eyes before Hercules got the red spots out of his eyes. He stared up at his grim and furious looking half brother as he stalked away from him, red sparks flying from his fingertips at the creature which hissed and spat.

A scream pierced the air and the creature just moved in time to avoid getting a chakram up its backside. Ares caught the weapon and tossed it back to the furious looking warrior princess who was in a very tense fighting stance on the other side of the creature.

Hercules felt hands touching him, pulling him up and he swayed his gaze shifting only briefly to Iolaus who was trying to support him and not having much luck. They both toppled to the ground. The muscular demigod pinning Iolaus down.

Ares could see the rage he felt mirrored in his daughters’ eyes as they encircled the creature. He looked down at it quickly not daring to move his gaze despite hearing his sons wails and his sons mothers hysteria as she saw him. His eyes remained on the creature; he wanted nothing more then to blast it to smithereens and rescue Joxer and his children from the energy he’d felt encircling them. He knew that there was too much energy in the room to fight against the creature and destroy it, they had to trap it.

He glanced up for the briefest second and sent his daughter a message *On the count of three we go. One, two, three! *

Both Ares and Xena lunged in unison at the creature, both stumbling in unison as the creature faded before their eyes. They managed to catch and steady each other but Ares could see his fury once again mirrored in Xenas eyes.

He turned to Joxer and his children, hearing Aphrodites pleas for Acelepious and Hephaestus to hurry up. Poor Anteros didn’t seem to be getting much luck, he was left to hold the distraught goddess as the other two Gods tried to siphon off the excess energy and release Joxer and the baby. Aphrodite was pummelling his chest with her fists as she tried to pull away.

Ares felt something catch at his throat as he looked at Joxers face. His lover was pale and his eyes were closed but his face held one of the most intense looks of concentration Ares had ever see; both Joxers stomach and the baby in his arms were glowing now, both slowly growing, neither Joxer or Alexis able to break free.

Ares stepped forward “Here let me help.” He started helping the other two gods channel the energy whilst he tried to speak to Joxer to convince him he could dispel the barrier.

Joxer kept his eyes screwed shut, he had to keep his mind on the baby in his arms and the one in his belly, and he had to keep the barrier up. He had to concentrate. He kept his eyes shut as he tried to keep his mind fixed, ignoring anything outside and inside the bubble. He could feel the warmth becoming a fierce heat in his belly and arms as both babies grew and absorbed power.

*Joxer, you have to relax*

Joxer stiffened even more trying to block out the voice, he couldn’t let the barrier drop, let that thing get Ares son.

*Joxer you have to take a deep breath and relax right now! *

Joxer opened one eye cautiously and then slowly opened the other, he recognised Ares voice. He couldn’t see much, most of his vision was blue except when he looked down at the purple bundle in his arms and turquoise one inside him.

*Joxer, listen to me. Just relax and let it go*

Joxer shuddered slightly latching onto Ares voice, he concentrated on his voice letting the familiar feelings Ares invoked run through him and calm him, safety, security, protection and love.

*Ares? *

*That’s it Joxer, just concentrate on me. You’re safe now all of you* Ares sounded pleased and more then a little relieved which helped Joxer to relax. He looked down at the baby in his arms seeing the purple glow fade, as the turquoise one within him also fade. The bubble flickered but didn’t go down. Joxer stared down at the baby in his arms; he’d grown by at least a few inches and appeared several months older.

The baby looked up at him and giggled waving his fists. Joxer stared down at him and then slowly at his own stomach “I’m not quite sure what to say,” he said somewhat faintly looking up at Ares squinting through the blue shield.

Ares glanced at Hephaestus and Acelepious they had stopped frantically transferring energy as they felt the levels returning to normal. Poor Anteros was looking slightly worn out as Hephaestus took Aphrodite into his arms and held her close, he whispered to her as he rubbed her back. She’d lost her hysteria and had migrated onto barely held panic as her son had stopped glowing.

Ares dropped down to squat opposite Joxer the shield still flickered and was the only thing that separated them.

*Joxer it’s alright, it’s gone now there's nothing to worry about* he silently communicated ‘sleep’ to the babies watching as his son relaxed into Joxers arms. As Joxer felt the baby relax and sleep he felt his daughter also calm and fall asleep, he let out a sigh of relief.

The babies were safe, he was safe and Hercules was safe.

With a final flicker the barrier was gone. Ares could feel Aphrodite and Hephaestus's fearful need to hold their son and he moved next to Joxer helping him to his feet and steadying him. He ran a hand over his son worriedly checking him and handed him to Aphrodite who took him with trembling hands and pulled him against her, Heph possessively pulled her against him sandwiching the baby boy between them.

Ares briefly felt hurt but he’d reassured himself his son was fine and he had Joxer to look after now. He pulled Joxer against him feeling the remaining tremors and rubbed his back soothingly in little circles.

Joxer sagged against Ares as Acelepious moved close running his fingers lightly over Joxers belly. He breathed a sigh of relief along with Ares as Acelepious smiled up at them.

“Your fine, the baby’s fine. You just got a little overzealous with the energy Joxer.”

Joxer frowned looking surprised “Me, I thought the baby did it.”

Acelepious shook his head “No you tapped into the baby’s power to keep the shield up, she just took you along for the ride.” He took Joxers wrist and studied the bracelet he wore turning for a minute.

“I doubt these will work for very much longer. If both these babies can use their powers then it’s only a matter of time before the other can. I think these two just have a head start. Your daughter is tapping into the power behind her Godhood and your son is tapping into that power and his own Godhood through their bond. Sooner or later the other kids are going to activate their Godhoods in the same way.”

Joxer thought for a moment feeling Ares still slightly and swallow back a laugh.

“She cheated?” his eyes widened, his mouth dropping open slightly and he glanced up as Ares tried to hide her smile “It’s your influence.”

Ares grin slipped through slightly as he continued to rub Joxers back, Acelepious rolled his eyes and moved to crouch next to Hercules studying his eyes.

Joxer leaned back against him groaning slightly at the extra weight he now carried, he arched his back slightly as Ares massaged it. “I want a hot bath,” he murmured softly “And some hot bread and mushrooms.”

*They make you sick and hyperactive*

He eyed Ares at his slight mental murmur of displeasure “I don’t care if they turn me purple and have me running all over Greece, I’m not nauseous now and I doubt they will make me, besides I want them.”

He leaned back towards Ares “I’m full of energy now and if I get any more inside me you’ll like it.” He smiled hopefully and forgetting his added bump tried to grind back into Ares, which shifted his centre of balance and nearly knocked him backwards.

He flushed slightly as Ares steadied them both and pulled him closer “My balance is off”

“It’s always off.”

Joxer flushed and would have flinched away if Ares hadn’t hugged him closer “Which is one of the many things I love about you.” Ares added as he ran his hand along Joxers arm as he lover pressed against him.

Joxer looked over at Aphrodite and Hephaestus, the Goddess was a lot more relieved, she offered Joxer a shaky smile and mouthed the word ‘thank you’ before turning to apologise to her older well-pummelled son.

Hephaestus offered Joxer a smile of his own as he took the baby from Aphrodite and added his own mental thanks and a promise to help Ares safeguard the temples against the creatures return.

Joxer smiled slightly and was about to ask Ares about how the creature got into Aphrodite’s temple let alone Olympus when Hercules hand crashed down onto the floor startling him.

The hero tried to get up despite Acelepious warnings to stay still whilst he checked on his eyes, the demigod had been extremely lucky not to lose them to the creatures claws.

“Psyche.” Hercules shook his head “It looked like her, tried to trick us.” His horrified eyes caught Joxers and then Aphrodites “I’m sorry”

“Psyche” Ares frowned and out of the corner of his eye Joxer saw Anteros stiffen as his head shot up to listen.

“Psyche.” Hercules nodded and winced as Acelepious ran something over the cut above his right eye “It seemed like her, but then it wasn’t. She told us to come here, that you have something….evil” his eyes focussed on the baby “She turned into that thing when we tried to get the baby out.”

Joxer closed his eyes briefly trying to make sense of it; if the creature had been able to appear as a God or Goddess why hadn’t it before? Why wait all this time? And why Psyche? For that matter where was Psyche, wasn’t she with Nemesis and….

Ares cursed his whole body almost vibrating in fear and suppressed fury. As Anteros horrified gaze collided with Joxers, he felt his lover vanish behind him just before Anteros did and he swayed slightly, steadied only by Iolaus who caught his elbow.

“What’s going on, where’s Psyche” looking up Joxer caught Hercules gaze he felt all eyes on him as he answered “She was meant to be with Nemesis and Evander.”