A/n: Ok so I'm actually getting into the plot of this one –yippee! I hope you's are all enjoying this and even if you don't please review. It makes it worthwhile and it's the only way I get mail! (I'm deprived! lmplao) This chapter centres on a party for Ganymede, in honour of him becoming an immortal.

Ok so if that's all done I guess we can move on with the story!

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Take Me Never –By Kai

Ch4: Look Again

"God I wish I had parties like this back, b-back…before. You know…" Trailing off Ganymede smiled ruefully. He still wasn't used to calling Olympus home but he certainly felt weird calling his old home back on earth. A muscled hand clamped down on him shoulder with enough force to nearly buckle his knees.

"It's ok Gan" Dionysus chuckled behind him. "We know what you mean" Smiling Ganymede welcomed one of his favourite gods. The god of wine and, well basically debauchery was always in a light mood, calming the frequent bitch-fights between goddesses like Aphrodite and Hera.

Looking around the room Ganymede was pleased to see no one was fighting -yet. Zeus, as sort of a birthday present to Ganymede, arranged the party even though it wasn't his birthday. It was a celebration of Ganymede becoming an immortal. Shivering at the thought he didn't know if he was going to get used to it. Ever. Living forever? It was a pretty big deal! Shrugging the thoughts away Ganymede concentrated on enjoying the night, even if he was being made to work.

Sighing he mused about 'working' on his birthday. It wasn't really that he minded. He liked his position. It might sound dull, but being a cupbearer to the gods was a great experience. He was surrounded by beings he could only have dreamed about before. He was literally in heaven, living with people he had a great respect for. And most of them respected him back.

When he said 'most of them' he meant all but one. Hera. As the wife of Zeus she always has to ignore his affairs. And usually she does. But with Ganymede her hate had been evident from day one. Gan could understand why it would grate on her, hell it would grate on him. But she was a Goddess! Isn't she supposed to have some sort of divine patience or something?

Making his way through the throng of immortals Ganymede reached a stage big enough to fit a small island on. Climbing up the stairs was slightly difficult as he had the goblet in his hand and was trying hard not to spill any of it. Once up the stairs he had another ten minutes of walking just to reach the middle of the stage. Slipping in-between the gods that had formed little pockets. Most either in heated discussion, or lazing about half asleep. Weaving through the assorted immortals Gan finally reached the middle.

Soon all the gods would leave the stage for the grand hall to eat, but for the moment they were content to gather around in their usual spot. And at the centre of all the attention was, as ever, Zeus. Ganymede stopped walking as he caught sight of the God. On a gleaming, gilded throne sat the man that for all intents and purposed owned Ganymede. Swallowing heavily the youth stared at the slightly older man, sitting askew on his throne, twisted to speak to someone nearby, laughing and joking easily.

The deep rumble of laughter vibrated through Ganymede and broke him from his daydreaming. Throwing his head back in laughter again the man caught site of the motionless boy and beckoned him over.

"Ah, Ganymede, my boy. Where have you been all day? Not off playing with some pretty maidens I hope?" He said pulling the tongue-tied boy closer to him, echoing what Hades had said only a few hours ago.

"Because you know that's my job." Zeus whispered in his ear causing Ganymede to freeze. He did not just hear that right. Maybe he meant that it was his job to chase maidens…no way did he mean play with h-

"So this is Ganymede! Been keeping him a secret have you Zeus?" A tall, woman behind Ganymede drawled in a thick, low sultry accent. Coming around to shake hands with him, Ganymede realised whom she was.

"I assume I need no introduction then." She chuckled noting the love stricken expression of the boy. Ganymede however felt like he was going to wet himself. 'What on earth am I meant to say to the goddess of love?!' He thought furiously, his eyes darting around the room. Anywhere but her face. They eventually found their way to Zeus, who was sitting back in his throne, staring intently at the exchange, but more noticeably at Ganymede. Apparently in deep debate with him-self over something. Aphrodite had noticed the expression too.

"Decided yet Zeus?" she said with a slight mocking, but none the less playful, smile. Breaking from his train of thought slowly he addressed her, but kept his eyes trained on Ganymede.

"I don't know what you mean my dear, I was just wondering when the food would be ready." He responded with an equally playful grin. Ganymede had the weird thought of swooning under the gods gaze…since when did I swoon? It was finally too much and the boy broke the heated staring contest finding great interest in pouring more wine into the goblet in front of Zeus. Somehow though Zeus managed to lean forwards as Ganymede reached over him to pour the wine. Using every ounce of his concentration to keep his mind on the cup in his hand Ganymede was all too aware of the sizzling tension between him and the God. Unable to move, as it would result in brushing against the god's thigh, which was dangerously close to…other…parts of his divine anatomy. Ganymede wondered if gods actually had –NO! Don't even go their mister! His brain told him quickly, cutting off the images he knew those thoughts would produce.

The little hairs on his arms were standing on end and he felt like a deer in headlights. The uncomfortable nagging in his head was whispering to him that this was probably all Zeus's doing. He wanted Gan to be there…not that Gan didn't want to be over the gods lap.

He felt a hand cautiously reach up and rest against his hip, when it didn't meet any resistance he pressed down, forcing Ganymede to fall directly into his lap. Smiling Zeus wrapped his arms around the stunned boy and rested his head on his shoulder.

"See all of this?" He said, his breath brushing past Gan's ear and his chest vibrating against Gan's back. He performed a slow sweeping motion with one arm to indicate the whole room.

"It's all for you Ganymede. This is your party." The boy was silent, staring at the scene open-mouthed. Zeus had put a lot of work into this night it was slightly intimidating. Not expecting an answer Zeus gave his waist a light squeeze indicating that they'd better get going.

"The food will be served immediately Gan and I'm starved so come on." Jumping from his lap Gan walked down to the main hall with Zeus in silence. He wasn't quite sure to say and his head was being attacked by various feelings…not to mention his hormones were jumping to conclusions. Hal way to the great hall Zeus slipped an arm around Ganymede who instantly tensed but after a moments thought decided it was for the best and relaxed into the embrace.

Sitting at the head of the table Gan was parry to a number of conversations with gods of varying interest. Directly across from him, through 'divine' intervention or not, was Aphrodite. As soon as he'd saw her he'd wanted to get out of his seat and change places with someone. The table probably stretched for a mile surely there was someone to swap with!

'Did they not think to use separate tables?' He mused to himself randomly having accepted the fate of sitting across from Aphrodite. After watching her interact with the other gods Gan decided that she wasn't actually as scary as he'd first thought. Overall she was quite quiet but her expressions were amusing. He had to smother a laugh as he watched her nearly fall asleep at some strange little poet-reading cherub who giggled constantly at a pitch only dogs could hear. At one point Athena had been in a heated discussion with a green skinned woman near Ganymede and he had been fascinated by the inhumanly fast-paced debates they were throwing at each other. Athena, noticing Ganymede staring, had attempted to enter him in the conversation but asking him something, but it could have been Spanish for all Ganymede new as he sat staring at her dumbly. Afterwards he knew she was just trying to be friendly, but it was probably the worst thing she could have done. He was definitely not used to these sorts of debates, he didn't even understand what they were talking about!

Luckily Aphrodite was there to rescue him and intervening done some smooth talking to get him out of the conversation. Ganymede tried to look composed as he said thanks to her, but to his surprise she broke first and broke into a feminine chortle, much less seductive than the first time he'd heard her laugh. Feeling more at ease than he had all night Ganymede joined in and grinned at her. For the rest of the night they picked out all the gods near them and Aphrodite told him of all they're nasty habits and secret affairs. How knew the goddess of love was such a gossipmonger?

By the end of the night Ganymede had eating so much he felt like he should have burst, but amazingly enough he didn't even feel full. And for all the wine he'd had he wasn't in the least drunk. Well he didn't think so right up until-

"Ganymede, you don't mind if we go for a walk do you?" Staring blindly at Zeus Ganymede didn't miss the implications of the sentence. Opening his mouth but unable to form words his vision started to blur and he took back his earlier boast about the wine. Maybe right now wasn't the best time to go for a 'walk' with Zeus…

"Uh, yea. Sure." He mumbled and was pulled from the table and ushered out the hall faster than he could resist.

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A/n: Better neh? I hope you liked this chapter…personally I think it made more sense than all the others. But it's you opinion that matters so please, please, please review and tell me. Saying 'flames allowed' or 'flames not accepted' is stupid because if you were going to flame me you'd 1) have done it already and 2) do it whether I say you're allowed to or not. So whatever you feel like but I appreciate feedback. (Who doesn't eh!) Signed Gan posters for reviewers! (My friend actually drew one of these! :P) Toodles peoplefolks! [Kai]