Sorry for the delay in posting. I had no idea that time had flown by so fast. I'm trying to update every second or third day. I'll read the reviews when I post the next chapter. Thank you for reading.

Brooding God

A depressed God of War let himself into his house on earth. No one knew where the house was and he liked it that way. When he had first got the house, he had wanted a place to escape from the hostile atmosphere on Mount Olympus. He'd chosen to come here since he didn't want either Dite or Ri...Gabrielle dropping in on him.

He inhaled deeply and felt himself relaxing as he took in his home away from home. A sense of peace crept over him as he took in the light blue walls that resembled the sky. He sighed as he dragged himself to the sofa. He collapsed on his stomach and buried his head in his arms. He grimaced when something dug into his chest. He rose on his left elbow and using his right hand felt the area where the pain had occurred. He opened his hand and stared at the tiny ring lying on his palm.

He rolled until he was sitting. He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. He turned the ring around between his fingers. Initially he had refused to give Gabrielle a ring since he was still furious at being forced to marry, but when he had seen the attention she was getting from men, something...a feeling – he couldn't describe it – made him run to his sister and beg for a tear which he later formed into a ring.

He remembered he had been angry because every time he turned his back Gabrielle had allowed herself to be surrounded by men. He'd grown increasingly angry each time she'd graced some numbskull with a smile. He'd wanted to punch something each time one of them "accidentally" bumped into her when reaching for their drink. He had reached his limit when he'd seen her follow one of them on to the dance floor.

He'd stormed through the crowd of people, grabbed her by the hand, and dragged her off to Dite's temple on Venus where they had shared their first kiss.

"Why are we here?"

"So we won't be disturbed,"

"What was that about back there?"

"Back where?" he decided to play innocent.

"You know where,"

Damn! She wasn't having any of it.

"Nothing. Here," he placed the ring in her hand.

"What is it?" she looked down and gasped.

He had to admit. Dite had done well with the diamond. When he had asked for a tear she had said that she didn't feel like crying. He promptly stepped on her foot and been rewarded with a beautiful diamond. Needless to say that she had redecorated his temple with hearts and flowers and turned all his outfits pink in retaliation.

He hadn't realized that the brilliant fire of the diamond reflected the flame of everlasting love until his sister told him. It was when he made no move to change it that he realized how he felt about her.

"It's a ring,"

"A what?"

"A ring. You know a small circular band which is generally made of precious metal and often set with jewels and is usually worn on the finger,"

"I know what a ring is!" she said in exasperation, "Why are you giving it to me though?"

"Well, it has become obvious that you can't act like a would be goddess so the ring is to tell the world that you're off limits,"

"Excuse me?" her voice was a deadly whisper that anyone who knew her would remember was a sign of an upcoming tempest.

"Don't try and pretend you're innocent. I saw you flirting with all those guys,"

"I was not flirting!" she shouted.

He snorted and turned away from her mumbling, "Smiling, laughing, rubbing up against them."

"It's called dancing!" she shouted, "and I was being friendly!"

"You're only supposed to be friendly with ME!"

"Now listen you..." she stopped and stared at him her mouth open. After a moment a huge grin crossed her face.

"What?"

She just stood there grinning at him.

"WHAT?" he asked in bewildered tone as she gazed at him with a soft expression on her face.

"You're jealous!"

"I am so not jealous!" he growled as he menaced her with his height, "the God of War does not get jealous."

"Yes you are and yes he does," she laughed.

He turned away feeling hurt at the fact that she was laughing at his feelings.

"Hey," she said softly, "I wasn't laughing at you."

He allowed himself to be turned round. He scowled as he watched her struggle to contain her laughter.

"I am not jealous," he growled again.

She nodded and he watched the corner of her mouth twitch, "You're not jealous."

"And don't go spreading such slander around. I'll have to hurt you,"

"Yes Your Celestialness," she said as she curtsied.

"Shut up,"

She laughed and held out the ring to him. "Here you can have this back now. I've learned my lesson. From now on I will be the epitome of the future Mrs. God of War."

"The ring is yours,"

"Mine? But..."

"I got it for you,"

"Oh. Thanks,"

He looked her. She didn't seem happy.

"You don't like it?"

"It's nice," she muttered with her head bent.

What is the matter with her? She should like the ring. Even though he was a man he could admit that the ring was beautiful.

Then he remembered something his sister had told him. Apparently all women love gestures. He realized that he had basically thrown the ring at her earlier. He could understand why she would be upset, but he wasn't a gestures kind of man.

Neither is Uncle Hades, but he seems to be able to keep Aunt Persephone happy. If he can do it, I can.

He raised a hand to her chin and gently raised her head so he could look into her eyes.

"Gabri..." he changed it when he saw tears glisten in her eyes, "Rie, I know that I was disrespectful earlier when I gave this to you and for that I'm sorry. I'd be honored if you would wear my ring."

"Oh Ares," she sighed.

"Does that mean you will?"

She nodded.

He sighed as he shifted and lay on his back. He didn't know what to do. It was obvious that she didn't trust him and even if she never came to love him, their marriage was doomed without trust. He didn't even know if he could trust her any more. He grimaced in disgust at the realization that he'd opened himself up enough to trust her only to have her slap him in the face. After Caila he had vowed never to let that happen again.

Should I go talk to her?

The rational part of him knew that he should, but the part of him that was hurting wanted nothing more than to forget he ever heard the name Gabrielle.

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A/N:

The ancient Greeks and Romans believed that diamonds were the tears of the Gods and splinters from falling stars. I had Ares go to Aphrodite because she is the Goddess of Love.

The ancient Greeks did believe that the fire of a diamond reflected the flame of everlasting love. I've made it so that only Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love knows.