When Strife removed his hand Accord sat up and slid the knife back into its sheath. "Damara's in labor?"

"Fah about two hours now. We gotta hurry. Tha last one she had was here so quick she didn't even have time ta really get a good roll on cussin ol' Anieli." Accord rolled out of bed, and was in his dress before his feet hit the floor. "You been practicin."

"And I nearly got caught a couple of times. Ares gives me enough funny looks lately without my being caught in drag."

"It's just tha hormones, kid."

"Maybe. But he was staring at me real funny last week, and I didn't realize till later that I had a hickey on my neck."

Strife grinned. "I knew Bliss was gonna have a hard time bein completely discrete. Joy isn't meant ta be secretive."

Accord pulled his hood up to hide his hair. "I know. That's why I think it's about time we..." He noticed Strife's curious look, and said, "I have got to stop thinking out loud."

"Not on my account ya don't. You okay ta follah me, or do I need ta hold yer hand?"

"Strife!"

Strife rolled his eyes. "Oo, now I've insulted ya. Remembah, Accord, it ain't as easy ta track from Olympus down ta Earth."

"You're right." Accord took hold of Strife's dress. "Ready."

"Awright, but don't get startled an' jerk it offa me when we land." Strife patted his wig. "I don't do free shows except fah Cupie."

*Flash*

They appeared in the most well-kept alleyway that Accord had ever seen. Strife noticed him noticing and said, "Yah. I'm surprised that Damara don't clean tha garbage before she chucks it out. Tha front door is around that way."

They went up the alley and emerged onto a street. There was a trio of men standing in front of the door that Strife indicated. Two of them might not be dedicated to Dionysius, or actually worship him, but they obviously appreciated his work. They were trying to press a jug of wine on the third man, who was shaking his head. "Ah, c'mon, Ani," one of them slurred. "We're celebratin' yer latest sprog--why shouldn't you?"

"You won't have to deal with the mother right after the baby gets here," said Anieli.

The second man, one who made Cerberus' backside look downright handsome, snorted. "You're whipped."

"I'll thank you not to talk that way about my wife, and the mother of my children."

The first one, who at least looked more like Cerberus' front, snickered. "What--both of 'em?"

Anieli's voice was quiet, but there was a hard glint in his eyes. "You have five seconds to apologize for that remark. One..."

"Geez, I'm sorry," the guy sputtered. "Can't you take a joke?"

"Sure I can, but that wasn't a joke."

"I'm drunk."

"And that isn't any excuse, but it's a good enough reason why I don't take every chance I have to get drunk. I had enough of that when I almost lost Damara. Dammy's a good wife. She doesn't say anything if I lift a tankard or two, or even three, as long as I don't embarrass her or the children, and as long as it doesn't interfer with my responsibilities. I happen to think that's a damn reasonable trade-off." He glanced up and saw Strife and Accord. "Now, excuse me. I think these are the assistants Tanith is expecting."

He started for them, and Strife whispered out of the corner of his mouth, "Remember--don't scratch yer balls, cause yer not supposed ta have any."

Accord was smothering a laugh when Anieli got to them, and the mortal smiled at him kindly. "Hello, ladies. My, you're very young to be going into such a serious profession."

Accord made his voice light and breathy. "My mother, and her mother, and her mother were midwifes."

"And now you're going into the family business."

"Yes. That way I can give Mom a discount when she has more of us."

Anieli blinked, while Strife made a choking sound. "Ignore her," he finally said. "All girls that age are kinda dizzy. Actually, I'm bringin her along ta show her what can happen if she lets tha boys get too frisky."

"It could work. One of the neighbor girls came over to help when Damara delivered our first one, and two weeks later she ran off to join the Amazons."

He led them into a modest, well kept house. There were four children of varying ages in the front room. The eldest, a boy of about sixteen was bouncing the youngest, a toddler of indeterminate sex, on his knees. He glanced up as his father brought the visitors in, then looked back at the little one, then looked up again quickly, eyes locking on Accord. Anieli said, "Doran, get the others to bed."

"Dad, you told me I could stay up till the baby came. I don't have to go to school tomorrow."

"All right, but please..." There was a shriek from somewhere nearby, and Anieli winced. The baby didn't seem to notice, but the two middle children--a boy and a girl who looked so much alike that they had to be twins--started to cry. "You can see this is upsetting them. Put them to bed and bring them some of those honey cookies the neighbor sent over, then read them a story. That should send them to sleep, or at least settle them down."

"Okay." He stood, slinging the child up on his hip, and started for a door that probably led into the kitchen. He stopped, though, when he was abreast of Strife and Accord. Smiling at Accord, he said, "Hi. I'm Doran."

Accord blinked at him, not realizing how huge that made his eyes look. "I know."

"Aren't you going to tell me your name?"

"Accord..."

"Ee-ahn," said Strife swiftly. "Accordian." Accord gave him an elbow in the ribs. Strife had brought back from the future the music of a man called Weird Al Yankovic, so Accord knew what an accordian was. "Uh. Accordia."

"Oh. You must've been born right around the same time as the God of Mediation. I hear a lot of kids were named after him. It's a pretty name. Almost as pretty as your eyes."

Before Accord could say anything (if he'd been able to think of anything to say) Anieli said, "Doran, stop flirting with her--she's here on serious business. Go get Arketos to bed." Doran left, giving Accord a lingering smile. "I'm sorry about that. You know how they are when they're just about ready to start shaving, but he's a good boy."

"She undahstands all about what it's like fah an adolescent guy," said Strife. "Ow. Watch yer elbows, Accordia."

Anieli was too preoccupied by what was going on in the next room to pay much attention to the byplay. "He means no harm, and I'm sure that a pretty girl like you must be used to the boys acting a little foolish when they're around you."

"Oh, sure," said Strife glibbly. "She gets that all tha time. Interestin names ya gave yer kids."

"Damara's idea, mostly. She's already told me that this one is going to be called Telikos, whether it's a boy or a girl. I hope for the child's sake it's a boy."

"Othawise we might have a boy named Sue sorta situation."

"What?"

"Nevah mind." There was another scream. "Hadn't we bettah get in there before tha main event is ovah?"

"This way."

He led them down a short hallway to what was probably the master bedroom, but it was still crowded to the point of discomfort when they all squeezed in. Most of the room was taken up by a double bed, occupied by one heavily pregnant, but about to not be, woman. When she saw Anieli she swore lustily, then groaned as another contraction hit her. Anieli deftly slipped past the middle aged woman who was busy pouring something from a bottle into a basin of water. He sat in a chair beside the bed and calmly gave the woman his hand. She latched on to it and squeezed till Accord was pretty sure that he was going to hear bones crack. When she stopped shuddering the man said, "How are you, Dammy?"

The woman's voice was a lot stronger and a Tartarus of a lot calmer than Accord expected. "Not so bad, Ani. Did those sots go home?"

"I don't know if they went home... Come to think of it, they probably didn't, but at least they aren't here anymore."

"I know they're your friends but I can't help but be glad that they haven't married. I wince thinking about their bloodlines continuing." Her eyes went to the two 'women' standing in the doorway. "Oh, Zeus. I could have sold tickets."

"Now, Dammy, we talked about this. You agreed that we need to encourage young women to go into the midwife profession, and..."

"I didn't say I wanted them to leave." She smiled tiredly at Strife and Accord. "Sorry I'm not more hospitable, girls. I have things on my mind right now."

Tanith, the midwife had been staring raptly at Strife. Now she came to him, murmuring, "My lord." Bending down, she lifted the hem of Strife's skirt and kissed it.

Strife quickly jerked it down so that no one would see that he was wearing high boots. Then he patted the woman on the shoulder and said, "I love ya, too." When Tanith turned back to her preparations, he looked over to find Anieli and Damera watching him curiously. He whistled, and circled a finger at his temple. They exchanged looks of understanding. Strife whispered to Accord, "It's so nice ta be insane--no one asks ya to explain."~

"Brace yourself, Ani--I think this is going to be a big one." *Shriek!*

"Um, Impetua? She just dug divots in his hand with her nails," said Accord.

"Yah. He sat on her left side last delivery, he's on tha right side now. I guess he's tryin ta even tha scars out."

For the next couple of hours Accord watched Damara alternately scream, swear, apologize, and exchange endearments with her husband. He came to the conclusion that having kids was a lot of trouble and pain, but that it must be worth it. In the lulls between contractions, the love between Anieli and Damara almost glowed.

Finally Damara gave a deep, whining moan. Through gritted teeth she said, "I swear, Ani, if you want another one we're getting more of that damn potion they gave us and you're carrying it."

"Ah, now it begins!" said Tanith, moving up to kneel on the bed between Damara's wide-spread feet.

"What do you mean 'begins'?" said Accord incredulously.

"I need someone to hook their arms under each of her knees and help her bend her legs, so that she can push more easily."

"Gotcha." Strife moved up on Damara's left side, saying, "Hike tha skirt." Damara gave her a wary look. "C'mon, Toots. Ya don't want tha lil darlin ta get tangled, do ya? Besides, we're all girls here. Well, except him, an' if he was a girl, we wouldn't be here."

Damara looked at Anieli and whispered, "And I thought Tanith was cracked." She looked at Strife and said more loudly, "You're right. Thank you for thinking of that."

"Don't mention it. Let's get uncomfortable." Anieli on one side and Strife on the other hooked arms under Damara's knees and pulled up and back. Tanith knee-walked close to the other woman, and Accord moved in, too, looking over the midwife's shoulder. Almost immediately he looked at the ceiling, then at the floor, then at the small, rather nice painting of Hera on the wall--anywhere but between the now grunting woman's straining legs.

There was another burst of swearing, the a low, breathless whine that rose into a wail, then cut off abruptly. The room was silent except for harsh breathing, and Accord closed his eyes in sudden fear for the mortals. They seemed like decent folk. Surely Atropos wouldn't cut their child's thread almost before it could be woven into the tapestry?

Then there was a brisk smack, and the indignant cry of a very upset infant. Accord's eyes popped open. A red, wet, squirming baby was lying on Damara's suddlenly flat stomach, the midwife gently wiping it with a towel. "It's a pretty little boy," she said placidly, "and what a set of lungs he has."

Anieli bent to kiss Damara, and Accord felt a twinge when he saw tears streaking down toward his smile. "And mother is fine. Thank the gods." He reached down, one big hand cupping carefully over the baby's back. Its crying quieted almost immediately, and he crooned, "Hello, little Telikos."

"Ani," Damara's voice was tired, but pleased. "I've been thinking. Would you mind very much if we didn't name him Telikos?"

"What do you want to name him, dearest?"

Tanith had wrapped the baby in a clean cloth, and now she handed him to Damara, settling the baby where it would spend most of the first year of his life--against his mother's breast. "I don't know," said Damara, lightly touching a fingertip to the baby's mouth, and smiling as he smacked his lips, already trying to nurse. "How about Aristed?"

Tanith got off the bed, and came over to Accord. "Dear, I need you to go into the kitchen. There are several clean cloths hung before the fire--I boiled them before you arrived. They should be dry by now. Fetch them, please."

"Sure. I... You caught him, didn't you? I mean when he came out, you were there, and you made sure he didn't fall, or..."

"Yes," she said quietly. "The cloths, please. I want to get her cleaned up quickly. There's a much better chance that she won't take ill if I do."

Her comment was like a dash of cold water in Accord's face. Mortal women sometimes died in child birth. They sometimes died right after the baby was born, and sometimes the child died with them. Accord felt his throat trying to close up. How horrible. He'd never heard of that happening to any god, but the mortals lived with that possibility, and still they had children. They had to be braver than he'd thought. "Yes ma'am. Right away."

He hurried out into the hall, then on into the front room. He'd been right--the other door did lead into the kitchen. He stepped into the dim, warm room, and hesitated. Doran was sitting at the table, a plate of cookies and a mug of milk before him. When he saw Accord he stood up quickly. "Don't get up on my account," said Accord.

"But a gentleman always stands when a lady enters a room."

"Oh. Uh... thank you." He spotted a drying rack in front of the hearth, draped with snowy cloths. "I've come for those."

Accord started for the rack, but Doran stepped in front of him. "Please, allow me." He began to pick up the cloths, folding them quickly. "How is Mother? Is she all right?"

"Oh, she's fine," Accord assured him.

"Good. I was worried. You look rather pale, and I thought you might be distressed."

"No, I always look like this. You have a little brother."

He laughed. "Anysia is going to pout. That makes four boys and only one girl--she feels out numbered. Hold out your hands." Accord did, and Doran laid the folded cloths in them. Cord started to turn away, but Doran gripped his arms, saying, "Do you have to go right now?"

"I... They're waiting for these."

"Then I suppose you must. Before you go, has anyone ever told you that your skin is as soft, white, and glowing as a moonbeam?" Accord gaped at him. That probably wasn't the best idea, because when Doran leaned down and kissed him, Accord got a sudden mouthful of wet, warm, active tongue.

Accord froze, not knowing what to do. Doran took after his father, and was a big, handsome boy. Even though he hadn't asked permission, his touch was gentle. He was a very nice boy who was very attractive--for someone else. All Accord could think was, *Zeus, don't let Bliss find out about this! He'll kill the guy.*

When Doran let Accord go he whispered, "I hope I didn't frighten you, but I had to do that. I couldn't help myself."

Accord felt a wild urge to roll his eyes and say 'Excuses, excuses', but there was honest admiration shining in the boy's eyes, and he couldn't. "I... I have to go now."

"You're blushing." Doran let Accord go, his hands sliding lingeringly down his arms, and said, "Roses in the moonlight." Accord hurried out of the kitchen. He stopped in the hallway for a moment, leaning against the wall. He put his head back and stared up at the ceiling, then took the cloths into the bedroom.

A short time later Accord, Strife, and Tanith exited the little house. Strife and Accord both carried a silver dinar. Anieli had insisted that they take them. Being gods the money was of no practical use to them, and they knew that the little family could probably use every dinar it had. When Accord had tried to refuse he'd gotten a sharp pinch from Strife and a mental reprimand along the lines of, *Don't insult him, you dope.*

Strife bounced his coin in his palm, then handed it to Tanith. She tried to refuse. "Oh, no, lord. I've had my pay."

He gave her a stern look. "Yer not gonna disobey a direct order from yer god, are ya?" She took the money meekly and scurried away before Accord could try to press his own coin on her. Strife shrugged. "She'll probably use it ta buy an offerin fah me, but I tried. What are ya gonna do with yours?"

"Hera has a box in her temples for a collection to help widows and orphans. I'll drop it in, the next time I'm there."

"Good choice. So, didya learn anythin tonight?"

"Sure did." Accord was quiet for a moment, then said, "Two things. One--I'm kinda glad I don't have boobs. They can get in the way."

"An' two?"

"Two, I'm not gay."

Strife's eyebrows rose. "Excuse me. Did I, or did I not, catch you an' Bliss swappin spit recently?"

"Well, yeah--but I'm not gay. Gay means that you like men instead of women. That's not how it is with me."

"It isn't?"

"No. I'm just in love," Accord smiled, "with someone who just happens to be another guy."