Hercules awoke to a nice smell. Breathing in, he sighed.

"Lilac," he mumbled, hugging his wonderfully warm blanket tightly.

He stopped suddenly as the blanket protested and moved.

"Ow."

What Hercules had taken for the soft fabric of his blanket was really Nerissa. He began to unwrap himself from around her, as he had an arm and a leg slung over her. He stopped abruptly as she whined and turned herself into his chest and placed her head on his other arm. She was still asleep. Hercules couldn't keep from laughing quietly. Her long hair was all around her, brushing against his arms, yet her face was fully visible. He watched her sleep until it suddenly dawned on him that he was entangled...in bed...with his female friend...his very attractive female friend. Suddenly, he felt unbearably hot as his temperature rose, embarrassment taking a hold of him.

"Nerissa, wake up."

She groaned and pressed herself flush against him instead of waking up. Hercules's breath caught.

"Oh, no no!" he whispered, pushing back her waist," Nerissa!"

The sharp ton of his voice made her eyes open. Hercules felt a stab in his chest as he watched her green eyes come into focus. Her long eyelashes entranced him as she blinked at him.

"Hercules?" she asked, groggily.

He gave her a small smile. She suddenly seemed to register that they were wrapped up in each other, causing her to roll away from him.

"I'm so sorry! What time is it? Do you think the others are up yet?" she asked, quickly.

The demigod didn't seem to understand where her mind was until there was a knock on the door.

"Herc?"

It was Iolaus. Both Hercules and Nerissa began cursing. The door was opening already. Hercules pulled her to him again and turned his back to the door. He pushed her head under the blankets just ask Iolaus walked in.

"Breakfast time!"

Hercules waved a hand at him. He could feel Nerissa's cheek against his chest, meaning she could probably hear his heart racing.

"Sure."

Iolaus waited for a moment.

"Coming?"

"Oh, I'll...go on my own. I kind of want to grab a shower first, you know? Going to breakfast in a palace with your pajamas is...sad."

Hercules turned to glance over at his friend who just shrugged.

"Okay, if you say so."

The two in the bed sighed as he left, closing the door behind him. Hercules glanced down at Nerissa, who was looking up at him. He had to look away, as unnecessary thoughts ran through his head. The girl cleared her throat.

"Uhm, Thanks, for letting me stay with you."

He looked back into her eyes and couldn't help but smile.

"Whatever you need from me, just ask," he replied, honestly.

After giving him a relieved smile, Nerissa sat up, causing Hercules to do the same. Just as the girl made a move to leave the bed, there was a shout and Lilith burst in the door.

"Nerissa is gone! Hercules, she's-"

She froze seeing the two of them in bed together.

"-here?"

Nerissa leapt out of the bed swiftly and dashed over to Lilith before the girl could run out. She tackled her. Hercules watched in astonishment as the girls wrestled on the floor.

"You can't tell anyone!" Nerissa told the female.

"But, it's too good! Pleaaaaase!"

Nerissa got the upper hand and pinned Lilith down.

"No!"

Hercules couldn't see Nerissa's face, but her expression must have been something because Lilith seemed to shrink under her gaze.

"I won't say anything...I promise."

The two girls left together quickly, Nerissa only stopping for a moment to wave at Hercules. Once he had showered and dressed, he found the two girls heading to the throne room for breakfast as well. Lilith spotted him first. She waved him over. When he reached them, she linked her arms through both of her friends' arms.

"So, Hercules, did you do dirty thing to Nerissa?" her eyebrows wiggled suggestively.

Nerissa scoffed as Hercules blushed.

"No! Nothing happened. Hercules would never even think of such things. We slept."

Lilith looked disappointed while Hercules could not meet Nerissa's eyes.

"Darn...I hoped Nerissa was lying to me and that you'd had some manly urges to want to-"

Nerissa put Lilith in a headlock as they walked into the throne room. Breakfast was peaceful as Lilith kept her promise not to say anything about what she'd found out. They were just finishing their food when Balian came in armed and outfitted for battle. Everyone stood up quickly.

"There is a rogue raiding party sweeping across the country. We got word from Cheiron that the Academy is harboring survivors of villages that have been ransacked. Prince Jason, do we have the order to stop these villains?"

"Of course!" the Prince nodded quickly.

Nerissa was quickly to the door after her father had left.

"I'm going back now. Cheiron needs as many as he can. They may try to attack the Academy or Kora's."

She didn't wait to see what her friends would say, because she knew they would follow without question. After they had all grabbed their things, Nerissa was waiting for them in front of the palace with three horses.

"My dad could only spare these," she told them.

Jason hopped onto a horse quickly, motioning Lilith on the back of his. Nerissa handed Iolaus a pair of reins.

"Do you know how to ride?" she asked.

He gave her a confident look.

"They teach us that at the Academy!"

"I'm sorry. Let me rephrase. Are you skilled enough?"

Iolaus laughed sarcastically and got on the horse. Hercules was about to get on the last horse, but Nerissa stopped him.

"Trust me, I'm the faster rider," she said, getting on instead.

Hercules wasn't sure if he should feel insulted or not, but he still got on behind her. He had just enough time to wrap his arms around her waist before she shot off down the path. Jason kept up well while Iolaus trailed behind a bit, but still in sight. At the pace they were going, they would be there much quicker than it ever took them to get to the Academy from Corinth before. They were nearing Kora's when five children came tumbling out of the woods, screaming. Nerissa pulled the reins around to face the forest. Not far behind the children were members of the raid group. She unsheathed her sword from her waist and yelled back to Iolaus.

"Take the youngest two and ride them back to the Academy, quickly. Jason, you and Lilith make sure the older ones make it. Hercules and I can hold off this many."

Jason rode up to her.

"But there are at least ten of them."

Nerissa smiled at him.

"I won't get off the horse."

Hercules didn't understand that, but Jason apparently did. He nodded and went to the children.

"Hercules-"

"I got it, I'm off the horse."

He jumped off in time to tackle a member of the raid group. Nerissa slammed the hilt of her sword into the second one's head, causing him to crumple on the ground. Hercules didn't have much time to see how Nerissa was doing as he fought, but he could tell she was used to fighting on a horse, much like a castle guard. Now he could see why Jason wasn't worried. Once the raiders had been dumped on the road, groaning, Hercules got back on Nerissa's horse. Two Corinthian guards made it up the road.

"Take care of them, will you?" Nerissa shouted to them before spurring the horse on toward the Academy.

Hercules laughed.

"You're your dad's daughter."

He felt her sigh.

"Yes, well, don't remind me too often."

As they arrived at the Academy, they were amazed to see the place packed with villagers of all ages. There was an outstanding number of children, though. Nerissa scowled.

"I can't imagine how many of them have one parent or even no parents now."

Hercules put a hand on her shoulder as she led the horse to the stables. Once they had finished putting the horse up for the time being, they went inside to find Cheiron. Iolaus and Lilith were playing with the children while Jason stood by Cheiron. Nerissa smiled, glad that her two friends could make them laugh at a time like this.

"You both made it back safely. Good," the centaur nodded," We need as many people as we can here. Balian already came by to say they have guards on watch so the raiders should leave the Academy alone until they track them all down."

Jason looked at his friends.

"I'm going to let them move to Corinth if they want to," he said," It is the least I can do."

Nerissa hugged her friend with pride. As she let go of him, she suddenly glanced around the room. Quite a few of the younger villager men were looking at her. She shuddered and looked back at Cheiron. He had a serious look on his face.

"Your private room as been finished. With a lock, as promised."

Nerissa looked extremely relieved.

"Thank you, Cheiron."

Hercules smiled at her.

"Was sleeping near the rest of us so terrible?"

Nerissa flinched, which made Hercules feel bad.

"It's..." she started.

She began to bite her lip, but Jason put an arm around her and gave Hercules a serious look.

"She needs it."

Hercules put his hands up. He hadn't meant any offense. Cheiron was called by Fiducius, so he cantered over that way. Jason moved off to help Iolaus who was buried under a bunch of children. Nerissa began walking toward the hall where her room would be. She stopped and noticed a few males had started to follow her. Hercules saw her hands shake slightly. He went over and put a hand on the back of her head before staring back at the males. They turned away quickly, looking a bit sour.

"Trouble follows us demigods everywhere, huh?" he whispered to her.

She nodded before moving off again. Hercules wasn't sure if he should stay and guard the door, but she stopped and turned to him.

"Are you coming?" she asked.

He nodded and followed her to her new room. He was amazed at how much purple was in it. There were two beds, one by a locked window and the other against the wall parallel to the other. The room was relatively feminine with a wardrobe and a sitting table with cushions around it. There was a decorative rug on the floor and purple fabric draped the ceiling.

"Did you design it?" Hercules asked, looking at the purples.

Nerissa nodded and sat on the bed not by the window. Hercules leaned against the stone that made the base of the bed.

"Why two?" he asked, glancing at the empty mattress.

The girl draped her hair over her shoulder quietly and shrugged.

"I guess my father told Cheiron about what happened with Lucius. Jason told me this morning, but I told my father no. Jason is a Prince and he..."

Her sentence died up and Hercules wasn't sure what was supposed to be the rest of it. Nerissa glanced at him.

"Hercules...do you remember on our date how I said I was a handful?"

He looked at her face carefully. She was afraid to look him in the eye, which was unnatural. Hercules got off the wall and moved in front of her so she had to look at him.

"Yeah. I told you that you don't have to-"

Her hand reached out to him. He jumped as her hand was cold as ice and she had touched his collarbone.

"I want to," she said to his collarbone.

Hercules frowned and took her hands in both of his.

"Are you okay? You've gone cold."

He grabbed a blanket from her bed and draped it over her shoulders. Nerissa shivered despite that.

"If I tell you my secret...you won't tell others. Especially any males. Not even Iolaus. Promise me."

Her eyes looked up and pleaded with him. Hercules felt himself lean closer to her, her demigod attractiveness pulling him in like a fish on a hook. He swayed and leaned back after being inches away from her face.

"I promise," he answered.