Stag Party

Two weeks later everything was ready for the wedding. Hera had accomplished the impossible – a complete makeover of the Groom and Best Man. She'd cut their hair and shaved Ares' goatee. She'd even convinced them to wear long sleeved tunics and pants in a fabric not made of leather. When Hercules complained that he wasn't the one getting married, his mother told him that it was about time he gave her grandchildren. Hera added that Zeus wanted Herculean grandchildren as well. Needless to say there were no more complaints.

During this time Xena had also been dealt with. Gabrielle just managed to prevent Ares from sending a fire ball in the Warrior Princess' direction. She had talked to Xena and made her promise not to do anything to mess up her wedding plans. Xena agreed and vowed to Zeus that she would not do anything herself that would prevent the upcoming nuptials.

"Should you be here?" he didn't bother turning around. Her scent permeated his senses.

"Do you want me to leave?" the musical voice asked.

"No. I thought that Dite had made up another rule about not seeing each other the day before,"

"Oh. She hasn't mentioned that one to me,"

He turned to face her and felt his breath stop in his chest. She was radiant. She had changed her customary outfit into a long blue gown. The silk white banding that crossed between her breasts and around her waist showed her figure to perfection. He wanted to throw her on the floor and ravish her. He forced himself to remain calm.

"I don't know why our wedding had to be Dite's testing ground. None of these stupid new customs will last," he paused as a prayer entered the temple. Being mortal she couldn't hear it so he hadn't broken any confidentiality rules. When it was finished the prayer printed itself onto a scroll and fluttered in the air waiting for a command. He sent it to the Deny pile since he couldn't bring someone back from Tartarus – well he could, but he wasn't allowed to mess with the work of the Fates.

"What brings you here, Gabrielle?" he asked as he returned to his throne.

She knelt at his feet and looked at him with pleading eyes and stroked his thighs.

His body jerked to attention as he took in her position. Once they were married he'd have her in this position again only this time her mouth…

"I was hoping you'd tell me about her,"

Her. He wasn't ready to talk about Her. For the past two weeks he'd been able to avoid answering any questions since something always came up that allowed him to escape. Today it looked like he was stuck. How did he tell her that he wasn't ready?

"She's none of your concern," he stated harshly.

He saw the hurt flit across her beautiful face. He sighed and reached out to caress her right cheek.

"I've buried her in the past. She is my past. My future is with you. I don't want to unearth memories that are best left where they are. Understand?"

"Yes," she whispered. She stood and turned away with her head bent and said, "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Rie…wait," he turned her to face him. He bent and kissed her forehead, "I…."

Lights of various colours appeared signaling the arrival of his male relatives.

"Unhand her Ares," Uncle Poseidon commanded, "You're going on a mission."

"Mission?" he asked confused. Any missions were usually undertaken by Hermes. He looked at the messenger, but he simply winked and grinned, his pointy chin quivering with suppressed mirth.

He looked at Gabrielle who shrugged and said, "Go."

He turned to his father and at that moment his female relatives showed up.

"How come no one told me about the family reunion?" he demanded sarcastically.

"There isn't," Zeus chuckled, "We're here to take you to take part in another one of my daughter's new rituals.

"What is it this time?"

"A bachelor party," Apollo answered with a grin.

"I'm not going to like this, am I?" he asked morosely as they orbed out.

-------

"I like this," the dark god of war slurred 200 flagons of mead later. The gods were in Zeus' mansion since Hercules didn't have a pad. Bacchus had provided the drinks and the entertainment.

The entertainment was several girls – mortals who took off their clothes to music.

Ares cheered and threw dinars with the rest of them but he couldn't help wondering what his Rie looked like naked. He was sure she looked far sexier than these women. The banging of a tankard on the table drew his attention.

"In my role as Best Man," he gave a mocking bow to his father, "I would like to welcome you all to the first ever bachelor's party. Now for Ares' special gift I give you Candy!"

Candy was a young woman with long blonde hair and aqua marine coloured eyes. She manipulated her body in ways that the men had never seen before and they had seen plenty.

"She's amazing!" Iolaus exclaimed tossing some dinars on the stage.

"She has smaller breasts than your mother," Zeus muttered to his sons as Candy's bright pink top flew over his head. They exchanged glances, shuddered, and drained their tankards.

She climbed down the stage and shimmied her way over to Ares.

"Hi big boy," she greeted in a husky voice.

"Hi," he choked out. Close to she was incredibly beautiful, but hard living had caused her to start aging prematurely.

"I hear you're getting married tomorrow," she said as she straddled his lap.

"You heard correct," he replied as he stared into her amazing eyes, "This is my last night of freedom".

"Too bad. Let's make this a night you'll never forget," she whispered as she rubbed her breasts against his face.

The guys gave a drunken cheer as she lowered her lips towards his.