He took a deep breath to calm himself down. Tartarus, he didn't even get this agitated before a battle. He needed to get a hold of himself.

"Ares, you need to relax," said Apollo.

Ares turned to the god sitting calmly beside him while he paced back and forth and scowled. "Would you like to be getting married today?"

Apollo did not respond to that, knowing that Ares was seeking to provoke him so that he would have something to release his repressed anxiety upon. "Do you want Athena to see you like this?" he countered.

Ares paused. "No," he sighed.

"It's going to be fine," said Apollo reassuringly.

"Oh, and how would you know?" Ares snapped.

"She loves you," he said quietly.

Ares held his gaze for a moment. "Do you love her?" he asked.

Apollo's mouth twisted in a wry grin. "You have nothing to worry about. I love her as a sister. Nothing more."

"Well, uh, how do I look?" asked Ares finally.

"Fine," said Apollo glancing at the red, black, and gold tunic and robes that Athena had fashioned for her future husband. "We should go now."

Ares expelled another deep breath.

-----

She was the most beautiful woman, goddess, or thing he had ever seen in his entire life. She glided gracefully to the altar, her black hair adorned with small, white olive flowers in a complicated yet effortless coif. The gold embellishments of her long, white dress set off the tan of her skin and lovingly encased her gentle curves. None of those things were what made her most beautiful to him. What did was the sweet smile curving her full lips and the love he saw reflected in her eyes as she looked into his. Her long legs quickly carried her to his side.

He took her hands in his. "Are you sure about this?" he questioned, giving her one last chance to change her mind.

She nodded, looking up at him so joyfully that she almost felled him with her beauty and acceptance.

He noticed a glimmer in her eyes. "Sweetheart, are you crying?" he asked concernedly.

"Of course not," she said, swiping at the corners of her eyes. "It's just the smoke from the incense," she explained, gesturing to the fire that was part of the marriage ritual.

As he was about to bark at the servants to move the flame farther away from his bride, she smiled at him gently. He smiled back and kissed the top of her forehead. "I love you," he whispered gruffly.

"I know," she murmured as she tilted back her head and pulled his down to kiss him.

-----

The end? I don't know. Tell me what you think. Do you want to read more? PLEASE REVIEW!!! Much love, Cat.