Joxer blinked. "Is that a sheet Bliss is wearing?"

Ares looked, then grunted. "Yeah, I think so. Pink, so it's one of Dite's, of course. It's a good idea. Since she's going to be babysitting him, this way she won't have such a job getting him clean. The strawberry ice cream will hardly show up on the sheet at all."

"Yeah, but the chocolate is making a real mess. I haven't seen anything like that since the last time I knocked Gabrielle into a mud puddle."

Ares indicated the bowl Joxer was holding propped on his belly. "Speaking of chocolate, do you want me to get you some more chocolate sauce for your ice cream? I notice that you've eaten all you had."

"You're so thoughtful." Joxer handed over the bowl, and Ares got up. "Oh, and you might get a little strawberry ice cream, too, now that I think of it."

"Okay." He started off.

"And some whipped cream."

"Right. Anything else?"

"Maybe a sliced banana. You know, Apollo said those are good for me--all sorts of nutrients--whatever they are. I just know they taste better than broccoli."

"You didn't think so a couple of months ago." He started away again.

"And if there's any of those tiny chips of nut brittle left..."

"I'm just going to go around the table and get some of everything, like usual, okay?" Joxer grinned. Ares headed for the table where the sundae fixings were spread, shaking his head--but he was smiling.

Apollo, carrying his own bowl, came over and sat beside Joxer. "Getting plenty of food, I see." Joxer looked sheepish. "No, no, I'm not going to scold you. You're getting plenty of milk this way. How are you? I'll admit that I was a little hesitant about you coming to the ceremony. You don't need any more stress than you have to have."

"I'm okay. Tired, peeing more than I'd like, not sleeping as much as I'd like, but I understand that's pretty much to be expected."

"Hang in there, Joxer. You only have about four more weeks to go, give or take a day."

"I'm ready for it."

"Almost. You will be. That's something we need to talk about," Ares was approaching, and Apollo said, "and since Ares is here, too, this is as good a time as any."

Ares sat down beside Joxer again, handing him the bowl. Joxer sighed happily. "Extra cherries. Thanks." He dug in. "Apollo says he has something to talk to us about."

Ares looked at Apollo forebodingly. "Nothing's wrong?"

"No. I just need to talk to you both about what to expect in this last month. Joxer, it's very likely that you're going to start experiencing small abdominal cramps in a couple of weeks. As long as it's just one or two, and they aren't very strong, it's nothing to worry about. Of course if you have several strong ones, I'll want to hear about it immediately. We also need to talk about how this baby is going to get born. I'm sure you've been thinking about it."

Joxer looked up. There was a smear of cream at the corner of his lips. "Actually, I've been studiously avoiding thinking about it. I haven't been able to come up with any method that isn't uncomfortable enough to make my scalp prickle just considering it. For instance, I'm not going to... pass it, am I? The hemeroids were pretty damn awful when I had them, and now that they aren't bothering me, I'd hate to think..."

"That's far enough with that train of thought," said Ares. He reached out and gently wiped the cream off Joxer's mouth, then licked it off his finger. "I sincerely hope that isn't going to happen."

"No, no," said Apollo. "That would interfere and possibly damage a vital organ, so the chances of this happening are practically nil. The most likely scenario will have the baby exiting through the bellybutton."

Joxer's jaw dropped. He swallowed, then squeaked, "Pol, I haven't got the daintiest bellybutton around, but I still don't think a baby would fit through. And besides... isn't it closed off? I mean, I've never actually tried to find out," he frowned, "Wait. I might have once when I was really, really drunk. Anyway, I never came to any conclusion about it."

"Joxer, I'm operating on the theory that since the bellybutton marks where a person's own umbilical cord was attached, it would be the most natural birth exit in a case like yours."

Ares was frowning. "I'm hearing words like 'theory' and 'chances', and I don't like that."

"Well, I'm sorry, Ar, but that's just the way it is. We've come a long way in medicine, but it's still more of an art than a science, and it's likely to remain that for some time to come. Plain mortals in mundane situations are unpredictable enough. Here we have a mortal-made-god who is pregnant. We just don't have any precedent for this."

The frown deepened to a scowl. "I don't like it."

"I don't blame you, but I don't know what else to say."

"Isn't there anything you can do?"

"I'll be honest--I'm reluctant to do anything to interfere unless there seems to be some sort of danger or difficulty. Whatever I do might have unforeseen repercussions."

"Nothing? We just have to wait and see?"

Apollo sighed. "I've been thinking about it. There's the gender switch potion that Aphrodite made to help Strife, but I have no idea how that would affect the baby. Of course, once the birth is done, we could give you both the antidote. We'd probably need to wait at least a few months--maybe a year or two--for the baby, since it is a bit of a strain on the constitution."

Joxer frowned. "Look, I don't care if it's a boy or a girl, but it is a boy or a girl now, and I don't think it would be fair to change it. Besides that, I want my baby to be healthy. I'm not going to do anything that might be hard on it."

"That's what I think, too, but I had to tell you about the option. There's one other possibility I've thought of. You know Hermaphroditus--Hermes and Dite's kid?" Ares and Joxer nodded. "Well, you know that at his request they spelled that pool where the nymph grabbed him."

"Oh, I know, all right," said Ares. "I have it marked on my maps with a big skull and crossbones. You aren't suggesting that Joxer bathe there, are you?"

"Do I look that stupid? No. But I was thinking what if we got some of the water and just applied it to the significant areas, very lightly? It might take more than one application, but I think that it would cause a vagina and birth canal to develop."

Joxer looked a little green, and set aside the bowl, which was still half full. "I don't want to have girlie parts. I mean, I like girls. They have nice voices, and they smell good, but I don't want to... I've always kinda enjoyed peeing standing up."

"You wouldn't have to keep it, Joxer," Apollo assured him.

"No? What would happen? It wouldn't just fall off, would it? I think that losing body parts isn't very nice. Lepers never look happy."

"No, Joxer, it wouldn't fall off. But I could sort of... repair it--with surgery."

Joxer closed his eyes. "Oh, yeah, that's better. Not."

"Look, these are possibilities. We don't have to have it set in cement. I'll keep thinking and looking around. We have a month." Apollo looked down at his bowl. "Damn it. My tutti-frutti has melted." He got up and went back to the table.

Joxer noticed Ares' worried expression. Ares had been so supportive, through all his mood swings and insecurities. Though he wasn't exactly at ease in his own mind, Joxer welcomed the chance to be supportive to his husband. He put his arm around Ares shoulders. "Don't worry. I'll start chucking down even more ambrosia."

Ares grunted. "You hate the stuff."

"I do. So hand me my ice cream--I need to eat as much good stuff as I can to counteract the taste."

Three Days After the Wedding

Joxer looked up from the scroll he was reading, a look of intense concentration on his face. *What was that? Was that a contraction?* He waited for the sensation to come again. It had been a brief tightening of muscles across his belly--he thought. Actually, now that he considered it, maybe he hadn't felt it. Apollo had told him that there might be 'false labor'--slight muscle spasms, sort of the body tuning itself up for the big event. He hadn't had any before Apollo mentioned them, so he had to admit to himself that it might very well just be his nerves. He sighed, resigning himself to waiting to see if it happened again.

Joxer decided that he'd go look for Mjau. The kitten had taken to seeking out odd places to hide, then ambush whoever walked by. More than one priest was nursing scratches on his calves. The ones who wore trousers weren't the target as often--it seemed that Mjau had a thing for swishing robes.

He stood up, and his tummy nudged the scroll off onto the floor. "Darn." He eyed the scroll, then looked speculatively at his belly. It had been quite a while since he'd tried to pick anything up off the floor. Ares, one of the priests, or someone else, usually picked up what he needed. The few times he'd dropped something he just let it lay. But his nesting instinct had kicked in a long time ago, and he just hated leaving anything looking cluttered.

Joxer gripped the edge of the table and braced his feet wide apart. *I'll just try, and see how it goes. I can always stop.* He started to bend over, tightening his grip on his brace. *Oh, I don't think this is going to work. It feels like my belly is going to cut off my wind by crushing my chest. I think I'll just have to give up on this.*

He started to straighten up, and there was a sharp twinge at the base of his spine. He winced, instinctively putting his free hand back to press against it, and his balance shifted suddenly and awkwardly. His hand started to slip on the table. His eyes flew wide open in alarm, and he scrabbled for a better grip, one foot shifting in an attempt to regain his equilibrium. His toe caught against the edge of the carpet, and he started to fall.

It all happened so fast. Still, Joxer managed to react. He twisted hard, turning so that his swollen belly did not take the brunt of the fall--he fell on his side. His body thudded heavily to the stone floor, with his head smacking into the hard surface a second later. Before he lost consciousness, he reached out desperately, sending a mental shout that echoed across Olympus...

Every divinity, every demi-god, heard... felt the call. Many prudently stayed where they were, knowing that they could be of no help, but others could not stay away. Aphrodite, in the process of painting her nails, leaped up, ashen faced. The bottle of enamel crashed to the floor, spilling a crimson stream that looked disturbingly like blood as the Love Goddess transported. Apollo and Ace, heads bent over an obscure parchment detailing divine births among other pantheons, looked up suddenly. Apollo looked at his son and said curtly, "I'll go. You make sure we're ready for every contingency. Every contingency," and flashed away. Cupid and Strife, cuddling together, talking about nothing in particular, almost fell out of bed scrambling to get dressed and go. On Earth, a tavern full of Amazons were startled when Xena suddenly threw a tankard across the room, went outside, and started screaming for every divinity in creation to 'get me to Joxer--now!' Hercules was, for once, ignored when he called on Zeus for the same reason. Zeus knew that his son meant well--and would be nothing but a hindrance in a situation like this.

The most dramatic response came from Ares.

He had been about to lace into one of his generals being lax on his information gathering, while Eris stood to one side, smirking. He had a firm grip on the man's shirtfront, lifting him up on his toes. They were so close that the sweat drops forming on the general's forehead were in danger of dripping on Ares' nose. The general was considering how few broken bones he could expect.

Ares was trying to decide what would be most effective without leaving the man disabled--men tended to be better about following a leader who had no physical weaknesses. Suddenly there was a sound... a feeling, that tore through him. It was unmistakable, and it chilled him through.

//Ares! The baby...//

Ares shoved hard, disappearing even before the general crashed into the wall. Eris suddenly pale, was gone a split second later. The mortals in attendance had, of course, heard nothing. But there was much worried whisperings about what could be bad enough to make both Discord and War react so abruptly.

Apollo and Aphrodite appeared in the Halls of War almost simultaneously. When she saw Joxer crumpled on the floor, Aphrodite shrieked in distress. Apollo dropped to his knees beside the Peace God. Much later he'd wonder how he'd acquired the bruises on both knees. He took Joxer's pulse, then said quickly, "Don't panic, Dite. He's not dead."

"Oh, Joxie!" she moaned. She snatched a pillow off a sofa and crouched down, carefully lifting Joxer's head onto the cushion. "Pol, there's blood in his hair."

Ares and Eris flashed into the room. "Joxer!" Ares lunged toward his fallen husband. Apollo showed that he wasn't a coward--at least not when it came to doing his job. He leaped up and blocked Ares. Ares didn't hesitate. He jerked his sword from it's scabbard. "Get out of my way!"

"Do you want to kill him?" Ares froze, sword half raised. "Put that away. Joxer might be in trouble. Do you want to kill his best chance?" The sword wavered. Apollo lowered his voice. "Brother, he's hurt, but I don't know how badly yet. Stay calm, and let me do what I can for him."

Eris stepped up silently, putting her hand over Ares'. Still staring past Apollo at Joxer, Ares allowed her to take the sword from his hand. As she laid it aside, Ares said hoarsely. "He's unconscious."

"It looks like he fell and banged his head. I noticed a tiny smear of blood on the floor. Ares, his breathing and pulse are good and strong. Are you going to stay calm enough to let me go examine him more thoroughly?"

Cupid and Strife had appeared as Apollo was speaking. Cupid went immediately to his father, putting a supportive hand on his shoulder. Ares glanced at him, his eyes dark with pain, and... Yes, fear. Fear for the man he loved. Cupid thought of Strife, and how he'd feel if anything happened to him. He thought he'd never understood his father so well. Ares looked back at Apollo, then nodded, crossing his arms.

Eris silently handed Strife the Sword of War. The Mischief God blinked at her in surprise. He never would have expected her to entrust him with the very totem of War. She whispered to him, "Put that somewhere. I think he may not be in his right mind for some time." Strife nodded, and disappeared to secrete the sword somewhere safe.

Apollo bent to examine Joxer again. "There's a lump, but I don't think there's a fracture. I don't like him being unconscious, though." Aphrodite materialized a small glass bottle, uncorked it, and handed it to Apollo. "You're an all right broad, Dite." He held the bottle under Joxer's nose. "C'mon, Joxie. Wakey, wakey, and tell us what happened."

Joxer inhaled sharply, and his eyes opened. "Ares..."

Ares moved swiftly, bending over him. "I'm here, Joxer."

"I fell."

"I know, Joxer."

"I'm sorry."

Ares' voice was agonized. "Love, don't. It was an accident. Just let Apollo take care of you."

Joxer turned his eyes back to Apollo, and he said weakly, "The baby?"

"Stay still, Joxer." Apollo pushed up Joxer's loose tunic, and pressed his ear against Joxer's belly. After a moment, his expression cleared a little. "I can hear the baby's heart beating. I don't think it was hurt at all. It's a good thing you didn't fall face first."

"I turned," said Joxer.

Ares bent and pressed a kiss to Joxer's forehead. "You see, love? You protected our child."

Joxer suddenly winced. "Ow! Well, he must be mad at me. That kick was a beaut."

Apollo had his hands cupped against Joxer's belly, and his expression suddenly went stiff. "Joxer, are you sure that was a kick?"

"I... Well, I thought it was. But usually the kicks just feel like pressure, and like they're coming from deep inside. This one, though... It felt closer to the surface, and it hurt. Pol? Why are you looking worried?"

Ares' eyes flew to Apollo's face, and the Apollo said, "It felt like a contraction, but if that's all there is, there shouldn't be anything to worry about."

A hot ripple of pain passed over Joxer's abdomen. "Ow! Contractions? But... but Pol... It's too soon. The baby isn't supposed to come for weeks and weeks."

Ares reached out to grab Apollo's tunic. "Do something!."

"I intend to. First thing we have to do is get him over to my place. I left Ace preparing a room where he'll be comfortable, and I'll have anything I might need to help him."

Ares scooped Joxer into his arms, and Joxer squeaked with pain as another contraction hit him. Ares made a noise that was part snarl, part moan, and Joxer said weakly, "I'm okay."

Ares stood and prepared to flash, but Apollo said, "No, don't transport!"

"But..."

"We're only a few hundred yards from my place, Ares. You can carry him there. He doesn't need the added strain of transporting."

Cupid started off, eyes glittering with determination. "Follow me, Pop. Zeus help anyone who doesn't get out of the way fast enough."

Hera and Zeus had gone directly to Apollo's quarters in the Halls of Intellect. They'd known they were right when they'd seen the priests dashing about frantically, ferrying supplies to and fro. Ace came out to the antechamber at the same moment that Cupid preceded Ares and Joxer into the same room. Hera covered her mouth when she saw the sweet tempered God of Peace cradled in her son's arms.

Both of the men were pale and drawn. Joxer suddenly whimpered, pressing his face to Ares' chest. Apollo swept around them, and Ace said, "First room on the right. Everything is either right there, or only a step away."

Again Apollo stepped in front of Ares, and held out his arms. "Give him to me." He received a deadly glare in return. "Damn it, we don't have time for this! I can't have you underfoot while I'm working on him, Ares. If you truly want him and the baby to be well, you'll hand him over and stay out here until you're called in." Silence, and Apollo spoke in a low voice. "I'm right, and you know it." He lifted his arms insistently.

Silently Ares handed him over. Apollo turned and carried Joxer swiftly into the depths of the temple, with Ace at his heels. As the door shut behind them, Ares turned, arm swinging, and swept a large vase off a pillar. Then the silently started to trample on the shards.

Strife appeared beside Cupid, watching his uncle, and murmured. "Damn. Joxie has been a steadyin influence on 'im. Before they was married, somethin like this woulda had Unc takin people apart insteada ornaments.

For the next half-hour or so, Ares paced, never speaking to anyone. He moved so quickly that his hair whipped with each turn. He grew steadily paler, and his eyes burned hotter with each passing moment. Before long his teeth were bared in an unconscious grimace, and the other divinities in the room were feeling distinctly nervous. Cupid whispered to Strife. "I'm really getting nervous. I've never seen him like this--not even when you died, and I thought he was going crazy then."

They were standing near the outer door. It opened a crack, and someone hissed at them softly. They looked, and saw that Ace was standing in the outside hall, beckoning to them. They slipped out, and Ace shut the door, saying quietly. "We have trouble--bad trouble. Joxer is in premature labor, and Dad can't stop it."

"Crap!" Cupid exclaimed. "It's almost a month early. The baby might not be strong enough."

"It's worse than that. Joxer's body isn't ready yet. It's not changing in any way to allow the baby to be born, and it's too late to do a gender switch, or use the transforming water, even if he wanted us to. There's only one thing we can do--we have to take the baby."

Strife suddenly leaned heavily back against the wall. "Oh, shit! Not like Caesar?" Ace nodded. "You're gonna fuckin cut Jox, when Ares is like he is now? If anythin happens ta Jox or tha baby, ALL of us will die. Things won't be too hot fah tha mortals, eithah."

"That's why I need your help. Apollo thinks he can pull this off, but not unless Ares is kept well out of the way. Strife, I need you to go to Hephastus and get us two sets of chains."

"Two?"

"One for Joxer. Apollo isn't going to be able to dull the pain for him--it might affect the baby."

"Double shit. Oh, that poor fucker. 'Kay, Ace. I'll be back in a twitch, but I ain't tryin ta put those on 'im alone."

"No. Dad spoke to Zeus and Dite mentally--luckily Ares is too distracted to notice. When you get back, they'll exert their power to help, and you, I, and Cupid will get the chains on him. I don't mind telling you, I've never been more frightened in my life, but this has to be done. Bring the first set to Dad, then let us each know mentally. Be careful he doesn't catch it. Lock on him, and zap in as close as you can. Hera, Zeus, and Dite will lay bonds on him the second you appear, then," he swallowed. "Then you two do our damndest to get him chained up."

"Waittaminute--'you two'?"

"I have to get back to help Dad as quickly as possible."

Strife nodded. "I'd sooner give Cerberus a prostate exam than jump Unc when he's like this, but awright. Damn, I wish I'd sent Fortuna a Solstice present last year. We can use all tha help we can get." He flashed away.

In Greece, a white robed priest stood on the steps of each temple dedicated to Eireni, God of Peace, and beat a brazen gong, summoning worshipers. They came--dozens, then hundreds. Followers had been drawn quickly to the gentle new god, and they were fervent in their new devotion.

Soon prayers spiraled upward, sending love and energy. On Olympus, Joxer smiled through his pain. Apollo, curious, said, "What is it?"

"Gabrielle. She's praying to me. Well, maybe praying AT me. 'Joxer, don't you dare die on us!'" Joxer could feel another contraction coming on. "Tartarus! Here it comes..."

"Joxer, wait! Take this strap, or you'll bite through your lip!"

Joxer grabbed the thick leather strap offered by Apollo, jammed it between his teeth, and bit down as hard as he could, just as another contraction hit him. He jerked with the pain, his arms going protectively around his clenching stomach. This one was longer than the others had been, and he almost couldn't keep back the howl of pain that wanted to rip out of his throat. The only thing that really held it back was the idea of what such a thing would do to Ares.

The cramp passed, and he went limp. Apollo checked his pulse, assuring himself that it was still strong. He murmured, "I'm sorry, Joxer. I wish I could give you something, but..."

Joxer spat out the strap. "I know. It's all right. I don't want you to give me anything. I'm not going to risk anything that might hurt my baby. Pol? You sure this is the only way?"

He nodded, gently stroking Joxer's hair back off his forehead. "The only way, Joxer. Your body just isn't adjusting to let the baby out. If this keeps going, you'll be torn up inside, and I'm not sure even your divine nature would save you. And the baby... The baby's being put under a lot of pressure. While they're so tiny, they're still pretty flexible--it's one of Nature's ways of protecting them. But this sort of force..."

"Okay, okay." Joxer grabbed Apollo's hand. His grip and gaze was fierce as he stared up at the other god. "Pol, if it comes down to a choice, you have to save the baby." Joxer squeezed hard. "Do you hear me? That baby is part of Ares, and he has to live."

"Stop it! We're nowhere near considerations like that, Joxer. There's no reason why both of you can't come out of this strong, healthy, and able to drive the rest of us nuts."

Strife and Ace appeared in the room. "Ya okay, Joxie?" Strife asked anxiously.

"As good as I can be, I guess. Soooo, those are Hephastean chains."

"Uh... yah."

Joxer held out his wrists. "C'mon. The damn contractions are coming closer and closer together."

Strife started to chain Joxer to the padded table he was lying on. "Damn, yer a game bastard, Jox."

Joxer grunted as Apollo used another couple of lengths to fasten his legs, then passed loops over his chest and upper legs, to hold him firmly. "You just be careful when you put that other set on Ares." Strife hesitated, looking at him. "Yes, I know the other set is for Ares. Sometimes I'm dense, but I'm not stupid. I know what's going to happen to him through our bond when this really gets going."

Apollo set a tray of glittering instruments on a stand beside the table. "Go with him, Ace, and come back as soon as Ares is secured. I'm not starting till I know for sure that he's bound. If he should get loose and break in here at the wrong moment... If my hand slips..."

"I know." Ace looked at Strife, who nodded. "Let's do it." They flashed out.

Hera, Zeus, and Aphrodite each heard Ace's mental warning. They exchanged looks, then turned as one toward Ares. The War God had stopped pacing, and was staring intently at the door that led back to where Joxer was. His fists were balled at his side, and he was leaning forward on his toes. It was clear that he was only seconds away from action.

He wasn't ready for the sudden burst of energy that washed over him, staggering him. In the first second or two of astonishment he could tell that it was coming from at least three different sources. And it wasn't attacking him, or harming him--it was binding him. He realized what was happening, and roared in rage, at the same moment that Strife and Ace appeared behind him.

He found himself tackled by Cupid and Strife, wrestling on the floor. Ares fought--fought the binding, and the restraints being applied. The three divinities who were holding Ares with the power of their wills felt a twinge of dismay when they saw that he still struggled. He shouldn't have been able to move, but he did. He even managed to punch Cupid in the face as his son held him down, so that Strife could get the chains fastened to the rings he'd materialized in the floor. The moment Strife stepped back, Ace transported back to Joxer.

When Ace appeared Apollo said briskly, "Son, stand ready with cloths, and the staunching seaweed. Be prepared to hand me whatever I ask for."

"Not my first time at the rodeo, Pop," said Ace. Apollo shot him a questioning look. "Something Strife says. Seemed appropriate."

As Apollo dematerialized Joxer's clothes, there was another flash. Joxer squeaked. "There's a Muse in here, and I'm naked!"

Apollo looked around. "Calliope, what the Tartarus do you think you're doing?"

"You're going to need someone to take care of the baby while you and Ace take care of Joxer," the eldest Muse said firmly. "Don't worry, Joxie. I've had one of my own, and assisted Hera at others. I'll take good care of the little guy."

Apollo nodded in agreement. "We're going to have to work fast. I don't know how long they'll be able to hold Ares." He wiped Joxer's belly with a rag soaked in spirits, then picked up a thin, wickedly sharp knife. "Joxer?"

"Gimme the strap again," he demanded. Ace put the strap between his teeth, and Joxer clamped down, squeezing his eyes shut. His hands gripped the chains. "Kay."

"Hang on, and try to stay still."

Ares might be the best swordsman on Olympus, and Strife was an artist with a dagger, but when it came to wielding a knife with decisive precision and speed, no one could match Apollo. He made a short, shallow cut across the bottom swell of Joxer's belly.

In the outer room, Ares went berserk as the pain and fear traveled through his bond with Joxer. He screamed incoherently and thrashed, jerking and heaving at his restraints. Besides clashing and clanking--the chains began to squeal as the metal links strained against each other. Aphrodite was swaying with the effort to help hold Ares, Hera had groped till she reached a pillar, embracing it for support, and even Zeus was obviously straining.

Without consulting each other, Strife and Cupid dived on top of Ares, trying to hold him down with their bodies, adding their own power to that already binding him. Strife panted. "They bettah hurry. We ain't gonna be able ta keep this up long without someone gettin a damage done to 'em."

Joxer flinched, stiffening. The pain was incredible--worse than when the hydra had gashed his leg, and it was even more horrible than that time, because he knew that the source of that pain could either deliver, or kill his baby.

He tried to find something to distract him from the pain. He bit down so hard that his teeth met through the strap. The taste of leather and blood flooded his mouth... and he thought of Ares. Sometimes his skin tasted a little like this--the times when he would come to Joxer fresh from battle. Leather, blood, sweat...

Joxer knew that these things would have meant nothing but terror for most people, but they were part of Ares' essence, and somehow experiencing them gave him more strength. He shoved his head back against the table, stiffening his spine, a mantra going through his mind. *Ares... Baby... Ares... Baby...*

Joxer heard Apollo's voice. "It isn't bleeding much. I have to spread the muscles, Joxer, and it's going to hurt like a bitch. Ace, the spreader." Joxer couldn't help it--a howl burst forth as the muscles were spread apart. It was answered by another howl from outside. "I'm taking him out now. Cal, get ready."

There was more pain, and an odd feeling that Joxer could only imagine was deflating. He was too frightened to open his eyes. If he had, he would have seen Apollo gently extract a glistening, squirming blob the size of medium melon. A thick, corded rope of flesh trailed after it, flopping limply. "Shit! The cord detached. I have to get him out of that."

The blob was rested firmly on Joxer's sheet clad thighs. "Hand me the other knife, Ace. I'm handing the baby off to you to have the cord fixed, while I close Joxer up." Ace handed another knife to Apollo, then accepted a thick towel from Calliope. "Everybody pray." Apollo pinched up a fold of the glob, and made a nick in it. Holding the skin tight, he slipped the blade into the nick and slit, quickly and cleanly.

The fleshy material fell away on either side, and suddenly a tiny, gory baby was wiggling across his father's legs. Apollo tossed down the knife and scooped the baby up, handing him to Ace. The younger god immediately took the child to another table. He tied a clean thread tightly around the cord a couple of inches from the baby's plump belly, then snipped on the other side, freeing the infant from his last physical contact with what had been his womb.

Apollo had packed Joxer's incision with the blood stopping seaweed, and he was pleased with how it was working. "Joxer, can you hear me?" He was answered by a moan. "You're going to be all right. Listen to me, now--try not to pass out just yet. I want to be able to show both of you to Ares, safe and whole. C'mon, Jox. You're the God of Peace--you want to set his mind at rest, don't you?"

Apollo was shocked when Joxer gave a weak chuckle.

Ares was drawing a breath for another scream, and another effort to escape. He had the feeling that he might just make it this time. During the brief moment of quiet, though, a sound reached his ears that froze him in place--it was the thin cry of a baby. Time seemed to stop in the outer room. A moment later the cry came again, but this time it was stronger, and it continued.

Slowly, ever so slowly, the maniacal tension went out of Ares body. Relief appeared in the expressions of Aphrodite, Hera, and Zeus as they felt the struggle against their hold cease. Ares' child lived. And from his very reaction, everyone present knew that Joxer was all right, too. If Joxer had died, Ares would have felt it through their bond, and nothing in this world or the next would have stopped him till either he had destroyed the world, or died.

Now he lay quiet beneath Cupid and Strife, and looked up at them, sanity once again in his eyes. "Not bad, you two. Of course, if this ever happens again, I'll be ready for you. Now, let me up. My husband and child need me."

"Just a little longer," said Zeus. "Apollo will send word when they're ready."

Ares did something he very seldom did. He looked at Hera in appeal. "Mother?"

Hera studied him. "Let him up. He'll wait for the right time." When Zeus hesitated, she snapped, "Tartarus! He's not going to do anything that might endanger Joxer or his child, Zeus."

Zeus nodded, and Strife and Cupid removed the chains. They also stepped well out of reach as the last ones fell away. Ares simply shook himself, then got to his feet, folded his arms, and stared at the door to the back of the temple.

Whereas when this began, Ares had been practically vibrating with leashed emotion, now he stood as still as one of Medusa's victims. Even his expression had smoothed. Strife, standing beside Cupid, looked around the room curiously, noting similar relaxed expressions gracing each face. He thought, then carefully considered the flow of energy in the room. He poked Cupid. "Cuz, guess what?"

Cupid was feeling tremendously relieved now that the crisis seemed to have passed. "Too tired to guess. Just tell me."

"Are you, perchance, feelin pretty damn relaxed, considerin what we just went through?"

"Come to mention it, yeah. I thought I'd need at least a few pitchers of Dionysis' best, a hot bath, and a hot you to get this relaxed again."

"It can be arranged. But I b'lieve I know tha reason fah tha sudden mellowness that has struck. Joxer's doin his thang."

Cupid looked at Strife in surprise, then analyzed how he felt, testing the flow of power in the room. He smiled, shaking his head. "Maybe Dad should ask to keep the chains. That may be the only way to keep him in bed for as long as Apollo will insist."