Of Newly Formed Friendships

"The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater."

- J.R.R. Tolkien

The next morning, Meg was going through the grimy clothing items Hercules had used in the battle.

"Ugh, what is that?" Cassandra came next to her, grimacing as she studied the stain in Herc's tunic.

"I'm not sure I wanna know. I'd like to say blood, but… Ugh," Meg dead-panned back.

"You need a hand?" Cassandra reluctantly offered, but Meg shook her head.

"No, I've got this. Perks of being the girlfriend of the greatest hero in Greece," she smiled back with some irony.

"Well, I suppose you have adapted that role well. Better than I would have," Cassandra replied as she studied Meg placing the item in the scuttle filled with water and soap, starting to scrub it clean.

"Hmph, if I ever turn into a manic housewife, please feel free to make an intervention," Meg quipped back, drawing a small laugh from Cassandra.

"Oh yeah. We definitely have deal. Nothing freaks me out like desperate housewives," she agreed, detesting nothing in the world quite as much as chipper housewives.

"Where's Herc?" Cassandra then asked, taking a note of their quiet surroundings, which was unusual in itself.

"Still sleeping, I suppose. He took an injury to his left elbow: nothing serious thanks to his half-immortal blood, but I guess both the battle and the injury took its toll on him," Meg replied with a small frown.

"What about Ick, what is he up to?" Meg suddenly remembered, not witnessing the usual ruckus Icarus was making.

"Icarus went outside, I guess he's testing his wings. But I guess he's pretty shook from the experience, dealing with it on his own, Icarus-like way," Cassandra confided.

"Yesterday was… Rough. I guess we all deal with the consequences in our own ways," Meg agreed with a sigh.

"I seen a lot hanging around with Herc and Ick, those accident prone goofs, but yesterday… I never experienced anything like it. So yeah, it was rough. How are you feeling about it? I mean, on top of it all, you did basically learn that Hades is still going after you?" Cassandra carefully implored, which drew another sigh from Meg.

"Yeah, lucky me, huh? I'm… Not quite sure how I feel. I guess I already knew what he wanted, but I just didn't want to acknowledge it," Meg grimaced.

"So did he try something when you were still working for him?" Cassandra explored further on.

"Well… Yes and no. He didn't particularly do anything, but he would always make comments about my looks, address me as 'babe' or something along those lines and just use me to convince certain male individuals to join forces with him. And the way he would look at me or attempt to touch me… I guess I just always knew, but tried my best not to think about it. It would have only made me feel worse," Meg shuddered as she recalled those times, still forced to stay in the bleak Underworld and under its master's rule.

"I'm sorry, that must have been awful. Honestly, I cannot even imagine all you must have endured," Cassandra made a face as she thought about Meg's experiences with distaste.

"Well, I wouldn't want others experience the same, that's for sure. Sometimes I felt like I was being treated as a piece of meat with no mind and will of its own," Meg drily noted as she forcefully continued scrubbing the tunic.

"I can see why you fell for Herc though: he's so different," Cassandra pondered aloud.

"Well, he's the complete opposite: so tender and careful, always treating me like I was the most astonishing and important thing in the world," a small smile was curving Meg's lips now.

"Well, to be honest: for him, you are," Cassandra pointed out.

"Hmmh, you've got a point there," Meg stopped her work for a moment, lost in her thought.

"For a guy his size, he sure is kind and emphatic," Cassandra agreed, shaking her head.

"It always amazes me to see him in action, fighting against those monsters, because he's like another person when he's at home with me. I swear, sometimes he's like a big puppy, craving for touch and care," Meg laughed, tenderly shaking her head.

"That's a good description of him alright," Cassandra laughed too, shaking her head at the mental image.

"I'm sorry I brought this Hades-thing up: talking about it must not be easy at you," Cassandra continued, feeling a bit guilty for bringing out Meg's painful past.

"Well, don't be: I'm not good at sharing my feelings, but bottling all those things up doesn't do any good either. And as much as I value and appreciate Herc, sometimes it's good to talk about things like these for someone else than your own partner, you know?" Meg elaborated, lifting the tunic from the water, scrutinizing her handiwork with a critical eye, before attempting to squeeze it as dry as possible.

"I agree. And I know I was Herc's friend first, but I would like you to consider me as your friend as well," Cassandra confessed, feeling more than a bit out of depth choosing such topic.

"Thank you. I appreciate you saying that. I would really like that," Meg was taken aback, but even more touched but other woman's comment, smiling warmly back at her.

It was only then when they were joined by the very groggy hero, padding in to the room.

"Oh, look who's finally up," Cassandra rolled her eyes with amusement.

"Hey. What are you two up to?" Hercules yawned, stretching his arms.

"Doing my duties as your girlfriend and cleaning your clothes. Cass kept me company," Meg teased him, showing the now clean tunic with a meaningful, arched eyebrow.

"Oh. Thanks hon, you are the best," Hercules sheepishly replied, placing a small kiss on her cheeks.

"You're welcome. Put it to out to dry, will you? Icarus is somewhere outside as well," Meg handed the garment to him, tenderly running her other hand along his jawline. Hercules leaned into the touch, closing his eyes with a content sigh, satisfied smile gracing his lips.

Cassandra and Meg shared a silent, amused look: he really did remind them of big, affectionate puppy.

"Will do. Thanks hon," Hercules mumbled, holding the soggy garment, still glued to the same spot. After a moment, he finally fluttered his eyes open.

"Right. The tunic, outside," he awkwardly concluded, looking at the two amused women and then finally heading outside.

"I swear. Just like a puppy," Meg shook her head slowly and Cassandra joined her in the following fit of laughter.

-A/N: Hey guys, good to be back and hope you enjoyed this little chapter! I wanted to give Meg and Cass some bonding-time, because I at least could see them becoming good friends. How do you feel about this chapter? There's a lot going on, so keep safe and hope everything is well in your lives. Kudos!

Reviewers shout-outs:

- Nutmeg: Thank you, that's so kind and I hope you continue feeling that way! Comments like these keep me going as well!