Chapter 4
Gabrielle went back to the temple in the morning and Ares appeared to her. "Hello, little one," said Ares. "Back again? What would you like this time?"
"Umm, your vest, sir," she said shyly.
"What did you do with the first one?"
"I gave it to someone who needed it."
"Oh, and you need another one?"
"Yes, sir."
"Am I supposed to smile first, so I have to give it to you?"
"Well, how did you feel yesterday when you smiled?"
"I felt... uh... warm inside. A little," he said, trying to speak gruffly.
Gabrielle smiled at him happily. "That means you are happy when you smile. Wouldn't you like to be happier?"
"War Gods aren't supposed to be happy." Ares looked somewhat sadly at the floor.
"Who says they aren't?" challenged Gabrielle, her hands on her hips.
"Well, they say..." Ares smiled. "I don't know who they are. I can smile if I feel like it."
"Of course you can," said Gabrielle.
Ares passed over his vest with a wink, making Gabrielle blush again. He disappeared in a flash of blue light and Gabrielle went to her brothers for the night.
Every morning, Gabrielle went back to Ares and he tried to make it more difficult for her to make him smile... but he just couldn't help himself... just the sight of her face or sound of her voice made him grin from ear to ear.
The night before Gabrielle was to get the 5th and last vest from Ares, she thought of the tall War God. 'I like him very much when he smiles. He's kind and funny. I think he's very smart too...but my goodness, he makes me nervous. It must be because he's so big... and he's a God after all. He could blast me with a thought, if he wanted to...' During these thoughts she drifted off to sleep, to dream of a handsome God with a beautiful smile.
-TBC-