The little boy had been troubled after leaving his father and Strife in the garden. He'd cuddled on Ares' lap, plugging his thumb in his mouth and twirling the fingers of his other hand in his curls. "What is it, Bliss?"

"You gots to be nice to Stwife."

Ares heaved a sigh. "I'm trying, Bliss. I'm going to try very hard."

Bliss nodded. "Cause if he's sad, the baby will be sad, too."

Ares glanced at Joxer, who shrugged. "Bliss, my baby is just fine."

"Not your baby. Stwife's baby."

"Strife doesn't have a baby," Ares said almost absently. "None that we know of, anyway."

"He don't gots a baby right now, silly. I mean the one he's gonna have in his tummy. The one him an' Daddy are gonna make together."

Ares blinked hard. "Where did you get an idea like that?"

"I dweamed it. Just like I dweamed Joxie had a baby in his belly." He gave Ares a smug look. "I was right."

Ares looked stunned. "Yes, you were. You dreamed this?"

Bliss held up two fingers. "This many."

Ares looked at Joxer, who shook his head. "Don't look at me. This is even newer to me than it is to you, you know that." He smiled quietly at Ares. "But if I can get pregnant by you, I see no reason why Strife couldn't get pregnant by Cupid. I think that loving each other may have a lot to do with increased fertility in these cases, and I also believe they qualify." He smiled. "They'll be great fathers." Ares gave him a skeptical look. "Don't start that. Remember, you're turning over a new leaf. You've seen how Strife is with Bliss."

"I love Stwife," said Bliss complacently. "Daddy loves Stwife. They's gonna have a baby, an' I'se gonna be a big brother." He sighed happily.

Ares' smile was only a touch reluctant. "Have it all figured out, do you?" Bliss nodded. Ares hugged him. "From your lips to the ears of the Fates, Bliss."

A Couple of Days Later

"Ares, I enjoy the hell out of all that you do for me, really I do, but we don't know how I'm going to deliver this baby. There's a chance it may come out, uh, the same way it got there." Ares lifted one eyebrow. Joxer shifted uncomfortably on the bed. "Right. Hurts just thinking of it. And that means that after I have the baby, Tartarus knows how long it will be before we can... you know... again. So," he put his hands on Ares' shoulders and gazed levelly into his eyes, "if I don't get fucked at least one more time before I have this baby, you can pretty well figure on not getting any for awhile even after I get Apollo's go-ahead."

Ares blinked. "Damn. I knew you were horny, but..." He touched Joxer's swollen belly gently. "Jox, I can't get close enough to you face to face, and if we try to do it kneeling there's the chance your knees might give out and drop you on the baby."

Joxer squeezed his eyes shut in disappointment. "I just wanted once more."

He felt Ares kiss him. "Did I say it was impossible? No. It just takes a little effort and arrangement. Let me consider this for a moment." Ares sat and pondered. Finally he said, "Well, it won't be exactly wild and abandoned, but I think we can do it without making you so uncomfortable that it outweighs the pleasure."

Ares stood, putting one arm around Joxer's shoulders, and slipping the other under his legs. "Lean sideways. We're going to get you laid out on your side." They did a little careful maneuvering. Once Joxer was on his side, Ares materialized a large number of pillows. He moved around Joxer, tucking in pillows here and there, making sure that his belly was carefully supported. "Comfortable?"

"Yeah, actually. But it's going to be hard to make out fully clothed..." *Flash* He and Ares were both naked. He grinned. "Silly me."

Ares climbed on the mattress behind him. "Just relax, Joxer. Stay as still as you can. These props and braces are as firm as I can get them, but pillows have been known to slip." Ares lay on his side also, and moved up behind his husband, embracing him.

They cuddled together for long moments. Ares slowly and sensually massaged Joxer's shoulders, back, flanks, and belly, relaxing him thoroughly. The fact that he turned both of them on in the process was a definite bonus. Soon they were both hard. Ares oiled Joxer with a thought, then carefully and lovingly stretched him, preparing him for their joining. Finally he stuffed a few more pillows between Joxer's legs, making it easier for him to raise one a little, then moved up close behind his lover. Holding Joxer's hips he said, "Tell me if there's any discomfort." He slowly started to slide in. Joxer hummed, and Ares stopped. "Is anything wrong?"

"As a matter of fact, there is."

"I knew it! What is it?"

"You stopped moving! Ares, c'mon!"

"He's snarking--he must be all right." Ares continued till he was fully embedded in Joxer's body. He paused a second, smiling when he felt Joxer give him an internal squeeze. He pumped slowly, shallowly. Joxer crooned. "Yeah, I think this is going to work out."

"Dad?" The voice calling from the living room of their quarters was familiar. "Joxie?"

Ares put his head against Joxer's back and snarled--loudly. Joxer groaned, then said, "We have to go out. You know what kind of stuff is going on with Cupid and Strife right now. Better we go out than one of them comes in to find us."

Ares pulled out and dressed both of them with a thought. "No one, no one told me this might happen when I became a father."

Joxer managed a smile as Ares helped him to his feet. "Of course not. How many people would go ahead and reproduce if they knew what having kids would do to their love life?" So, flushed and a little breathless, they made their way out to the living room.

Cupid and some woman were sitting on one of the sofas. Joxer took a closer look, and exchanged a look with Ares. Cupid and Strife--Strife in drag. *There has to be a story here,* Joxer thought as Ares helped him get settled on the other sofa, *But I'll be darned if I'll ask. I don't need a strong laughing fit this close to my due date.*

Cupid cleared his throat and said, "How..."

Ares' voice was tart. "Spoon fashion. What brings you here, son?"

"Dad, when you were looking after Bliss yesterday, did he tell you about his dream?"

"Yes, he did."

Joxer cradled his belly, and gave Strife a smile full of compassion, understanding--and kinship. It made Strife even more nervous than usual. "Kids have crazy dreams. Don't mean a thing," Strife insisted.

Ares shrugged. "I have to agree with Strife. Just because I dreamed that Gabrielle grew a long, bushy tail, it doesn't mean it's going to happen."

"Dad, he dreamed it twice, he told me this morning," said Cupid.

Everyone looked at Strife. "Stop it. So he dreamed it twice? So what twice."

"Strife, there's something that we haven't voiced around Olympus," Ares said slowly. He laid his hand on Joxer's swollen tummy, and Joxer put a hand over his. "Bliss dreamed about Joxer getting pregnant. At first we thought it was just the Chaos Stone. That's how Joxie got pregnant, you know. But we've discussed it, and came to the conclusion that it was granting wishes." He squeezed Joxer's hand, and received a smile. "Joxer has always sort of wanted a child. When we got together," he kissed Joxer's hand, "he wanted to have one with me. Well, Bliss dreamed about Joxer having a baby when no one knew but your grandmother. We figured it was the Chaos Stone's way of granting Joxer's wish for someone to share the knowledge. We figured that the Stone had chosen Bliss because he'd be a comfort to Joxie, but no one was likely to take him seriously. With this, it looks like Bliss may actually be precognizant."

Strife jumped up and started pacing. His toga switched fetchingly about his ankles. "I don't see it. Anyway, I know what causes it, an' there's not a chance. Unless you're Zeus an' can spontaneously generate, it takes two ta tango, an' there's been none of that." Joxer smiled, and Ares smirked. "Well, yeah, there's been some of that, but not what it would take."

"It isn't necessarily that you're pregnant already," Cupid offered. "It could be a prophetic dream."

"Ain't gonna happen."

Joxer noticed the sudden, sad look on Cupid's face, and said, "Well, there's no reason why you should worry about it. He dreamed about me three times before I was really certain about it, and three seems to be the significant number in these things. But Strife, if you're really worried about the possibility of being pregnant or getting pregnant, should you be dressed as a woman?"

He looked blank for a moment, then glanced down at his garments. "Oh." There was a flash, and he was dressed in his usual tight leather. "Ya know, it's actually pretty comfortable. I see a lot of possibilities for inventin torture devices for 'em. Tell me whatcha think of this name: pantyhose."

They thought. Cupid said, "I don't know why, but the very word makes me feel uncomfortable."

"Cool."

Joxer wiggled back against Ares. He must've moved against a significant spot, because Ares tightened his arms around his husband and nuzzled his ear. Strife proved that he was just as sensitive to social situations as anyone by elbowing Cupid. "Ain't it time we was toodlin off, cuz?"

"We don't have to leave right... Ow! Damn, you've got sharp elbows!"

"Cupe, I know this is difficult, but think way, way back ta when we first arrived here." Cupid gave him a 'yes?' look. Strife rolled his eyes, then made a very crude hand gesture which would survive down through the centuries to indicate intercourse.

Cupid's eyebrows shot up, and he looked quickly at the other couple. Joxer smiled. Ares scowled. "Sorry to run, Pops. See you two in a couple of days." He grabbed Strife's hand and they flashed out.

"I love that boy, and I know he has a good mind," said Ares, "but sometimes he's as thick as one of Hestia's frying pans." He squeezed Joxer. "Still interested?" Joxer gave him a flat look. "Right. Heave-ho." He helped Joxer up and they made their way back to the bedroom. Enough groping occurred along the way to make it clear to both of them that yes, indeed, both of them were still interested.

The interest lasted while Joxer was once again comfortably and safely arranged. Once again Ares moved up closely behind Joxer, then entered him with one long, smooth stroke. Joxer started to push back, but Ares held his hips, whispering, "No. Joxer, hold still, and just let me take care of you. This is for you."

"But Ares, I want to make it good for you."

Ares bit lightly at his shoulder. "Love, it can't help but be good for me. I'm with you."

The joining was long, slow, and gentle. It was the physical expression of a love that might have come suddenly, but had taken root and grown deep and strong. When they'd both found release Ares cleaned them with a thought, and they moved once again into each other's arms. Joxer drifted off to sleep, his head on Ares' chest, and a look of soft contentment on his face.

Ares spent some time playing with Joxer's soft, dark hair, thinking. He tried to imagine Cupid and Strife in a situation like this. It was easy to imagine them tumbled together after a bout of hard, sweaty sex, but... Ares frowned, and found that he could imagine Strife and Cupid just holding each other, looking peaceful and complete. He tightened his arms around Joxer, receiving a sleepy, questioning murmur. "Sh. I'm just thinking."

"Bout what?"

"Cupid and Strife together."

"And?"

"I've shocked myself. I think it could work."

Joxer, eyes still closed, smiled and rubbed his face against Ares. "I always said you were an intelligent man."

The next day

Hermes appeared in the Halls of War. Ares and Joxer were sitting at table, just finishing dinner. Ares sighed and put down his spoon with a clatter. "Damn it, am I going to have to start putting up shields all the time?"

"Oh, so you don't want to hear about how Strife managed to haul his butt out of a crack?" asked Hermes innocently. "Fine, I'll just..."

"Sit down, Hermes," said Joxer. "Help yourself to wine." Ares looked at him. "Good news is worth a glass of wine."

Hermes smacked his lips. "Wonderful vintage. Bacchus gives you the good stuff, Ares."

"Hermes? Get on with whatever news you've brought if you don't want to wear that wine," said Ares bluntly.

"Well," Hermes sat forward in a conspiratorial manner. "Strife came up with the idea all on his own, and I have to admit it's a corker. But I suppose given his godhood, it's not surprising he'd be able to come up with something that bordered on the diabolical. Do you know what he did?"

"If we did, would you be sitting there?" Ares snapped.

"He had Anieli and Damara switch bodies, and then he used the Chaos stone to take them back to the wedding day and relive it--from each other's side!" He sat back, spreading his hands in a 'you see?' gesture.

Ares blinked. "It worked?"

Joxer was nodding. "Sure. Most of the problems of the world could be solved if people could just see things from different perspectives. You know, walk a mile in my sandals. That's wonderful!" His face crinkled. "But they won't have to spend time together now."

"That might not be a problem." Hermes leered. "I understand they disappeared together pretty quickly." He stood up. "Thanks for the wine. Gotta go. Gossip to sprea... I mean, news to distribute." He disappeared.

Ares eyed Joxer. "You're grinning like Cerberus when Hades turns him loose on a fresh batch of the damned in Tartarus."

Joxer shrugged. "I'm just hoping that we'll be invited to the ceremony."

"What ceremony?" Joxer gave him a look. "Joxer, what..." Light dawned. The idea didn't appall him, like he'd expected it to. "Do you really think they'll go that far?"

"Yes," said Joxer with quiet conviction.

"And you think this because?"

"Because Cupid looks at Strife the way you look at me."

Ares nodded. "I just hope it isn't a big ceremony. I don't want to listen to you fussing because your dress robes don't hang right."

Joxer threw a piece of bread at Ares. It was all right, though--Ares had gotten good at ducking during the mood swings.

Cupid and Strife appeared in the Halls of War the next day. Joxer was alone, reading a scroll, and he looked up in pleasure to greet them. They were holding hands again, and this time they didn't drop them when they sat down. "Hello, you two. Ares is discussing tactics with Discord in his study."

"That's great," said Cupid. "It'll save us having to hunt around for them." He gave Strife's hand a quick squeeze. "I'll be right back."

Strife nodded, and his eyes followed Cupid as he left the room. Then he looked back at Joxer, who was grinning at him. Strife blushed. "Yah, right. Is it tattooed on my forehead?"

Joxer laughed. "No. It's just that love isn't all that easy to conceal--not when it's real."

"It's real, all right." Strife bounced up and seated himself next to Joxer quickly. "Geez, Jox! I can't get ovah it! Cupid is so... so..." His hands were waving in animation.

Joxer caught them, stilling them. "I know. So... You have something to tell us?" Strife just grinned madly. "I'm happy for you."

Cupid, Ares, and Discord came back into the room. Cupid was saying, "You can argue the comparative merits of sieges against blitzes any time, Dis. This is important."

She was scowling at Ares. "I don't know what could be important enough for you to allow an interruption like that, short of a major war breaking out--and we would have sensed that."

"I think I know what this is about, Sis, and if I'm right, it's pretty important." Ares went and sat on Joxer's other side. Strife was looking away, his nervousness seeming to have returned. "Strife," he said quietly. Strife looked over questioningly. "I think I'd like to hear this bit of news from you."

"Me?" It was almost a squeak.

Ares nodded. His smile was small, and stern, but it was still a smile. "You've moved up in the ranks, boy. You're going to have to do a lot of things, even when you aren't entirely comfortable with them." He gave Strife a scowl, but it was obvious that it was affected. "Aren't you happy about the news?"

"Tartarus, yeah!" Strife straightened up proudly and flashed a brilliant grin at Cupid, who nodded. "Me an' Cupe are gettin hitched."

Discord's jaw dropped onto her chest. "Say what?"

Strife gave her a firm look. "Married. I'm of age, an' it's what we both want."

Discord looked at Ares. "Say something!"

He shrugged, then reached across Joxer to shake Strife's hand. "Congratulations. Can I assume it's going to be a short engagement?"

"Is tomorrow too soon for you to be able to attend?" asked Cupid.

"Wait a minute," Eris protested. "Something like this ought to be thought over. I mean, sex is one thing, but actually tying the knot? Strife, haven't you learned anything from me?"

Strife's voice was soft. "Yah, Ma. I have. I dunno what my dad was like, but I know for damn sure that Cupe isn't like 'im. I love Cupe. I love Bliss. I want this." His expression darkened a little, and the nearly insane determination that the House of War was famous for flickered in his eyes. "I'm gonna have it."

Eris was taken aback. While she was familiar with that look from the inside, he had never turned it on her before. Strife meant business. "Huh. Well, I don't expect to lay out much money on anniversary gifts."

Strife wasn't fazed, and Joxer felt very proud of his growing confidence. "Fine. Save up an' give us somethin really nice fah our century celebration. We talked ta Hera, and she's agreed that we don't hafta have a big to-do."

Cupid came over and put his hands on Strife's shoulders. "It's going to be a very small ceremony--only close relatives. We're inviting Mom, Heph, and you three." He smiled. "Bliss has claimed the combined roll of flower child and ring bearer. Hera will perform the ceremony." He rolled his eyes, "And there's no way we can keep Zeus away if he wants to come, but that's all."

Strife giggled. "Tha feelins of 'I don't hafta go, what a relief' an' 'What? They din't invite me?' clashin with each otha is gonna give me a Tartarus of a buzz."

"When is this going to be?" asked Ares.

"Clear your calendar for tomorrow," said Cupid cheerfully. "Gotta go. We still need to arrange baby sitting for Bliss for our honeymoon."

Joxer perked up. "I could..."

"No, you couldn't," Ares said firmly. At Joxer's mulish look he said, "I know you'd try, and normally I'd have no hesitation. But Joxer, you're in your last month. In this case I'm not saying you wouldn't be up to taking care of Bliss. I'm saying you're my husband, you're pregnant with my child, and there are certain physical limitations to what you can do safely now. Please don't argue with me on this."

The annoyance melted from Joxer's expression, and he gave Cupid and Strife an apologetic smile. "After the baby is born..."

"I'll be undafoot," Strife promised. "Aftah all," he giggled, "kids are mine, ya know. 'Specially at two o'clock feedins."