4.
happy ending?

You were everything, everything that I wanted
We were meant to be, supposed to be, but we lost it
All the memories so close to me just fade away
All this time you were pretending
So much for my happy ending

/ Avril Lavigne – Happy Ending

Was it all a dream?

It was morning when Diana awoke and she awoke to some realizations she wasn't ready for. One of them was that the night before was definitely not a dream. This was exemplified from the other realization, which was sprawled comfortably against her in all his masculine glory. His even breathing told Diana he was still asleep and he looked so angelic while sleeping; the sweet serenity in that handsome face belying the malice that lie beneath. It was easy to believe at a moment like this that Ares wasn't the monster he was renown to be. It was easy to believe he'd changed -- somehow. It was too easy -- but Diana hadn't been with Ares 8 years for nothing. She knew better than to believe what was easy.

But that led her to the third realization. Try as she might, Diana couldn't bring herself to regret it. It wasn't just the pleasure of the night itself --although, dear God, there'd been plenty-- it was that Ares had been right about her. She was still in love with him. God knows how that happened after all the stunts he'd pulled, but it was all too quickly forgotten in this precious moment she spent lying at his side.

At his side. God, that sounds so beautiful.

She liked it more than she should. At his side. Where she always secretly wanted to be. And feared she'd never get the chance.

The sounds of the temple slowly penetrated her consciousness and she yawned, stretching languorously. She hadn't had a good night's sleep since Ares' habit of playing with her dreams, but last night she'd slept harder than a rock. And it felt good. She sighed, flipping happily on her stomach, not sure when the last time was she'd felt so relaxed.

"Sleep well, my pet?"

Diana felt warm, heavenly hands rubbing their way gently down her back and she tipped her head enough to get a delicious, if upside-down, eyeful of her lover.

"Mmm, I think you already know the answer to that," she replied with a whimsical air.

Ares chuckled warmly. "Maybe I do," he purred. "What did you dream about?"

"Oh I think you know the answer to that too, Ares."

Ares leaned closely. "Do I?" he murmured huskily, his lips hovering inches from her own. Diana couldn't help smiling.

"Shut up and kiss me War God," she growled. Ares laughed in response.

"Your wish is my command," he replied softly and leaned the rest of the way in. Diana met him eagerly and for a moment, the two were lost in the sensations. The rude awakening came with a sharp knock on the door.

"My Lord? There's a visitor to see you."

Ares lifted his dark head and sighed. "Duty calls," he grumbled, looking none too pleased. Diana lifted a brow, taken aback by his reaction. Somehow she would have expected Ares to order them away, but it seemed almost as if he'd been anticipating it. He didn't show any surprise over the interruption.

"We could stay here," she suggested softly, a bit surprised herself by the words escaping her. She didn't mean to say it; it just slipped out. But she didn't want to leave Ares -- not now. She didn't want to go back to reality, with all its worries, regrets and shame.

"What a good idea," Ares said mockingly, but she could tell he wasn't being derisive. His voice held a teasing note and his eyes sparkled with wicked glee. She felt a thrill run through her at his response and was mollified that at least he didn't want to leave her, even if the situation forced him to.

"I'd stay, but as I said -- duty calls. We can pick this up again -- soon," his gaze raked down her body, still naked under the covers and his voice dropped an octave, "…Very soon."

Diana shook her head. Her black hair, tousled from the night before, stood out on the ends and she tried taming the wild mass with her fingers. "Much as I hate to admit it, you're right," she murmured. "We can't stay here together. The other priestesses will get suspicious."

"Suspicious?" Ares arched a brow. "Hate to disillusion you my sweet, but anyone within a mile radius knows what you were up to last night. How could they miss it with the noises you were making?"

Diana blushed from head to toe. "I did not make noises," she protested, thrusting her fist out to slug him. Ares was wise enough to duck, particularly since his grin was anything but subtle. Immortal or no, Diana's blows were too calculated not to hurt. And knowing he was immortal, she had no reason to hold back.

"Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. In fact, I rather enjoyed it. I always knew you were vocal sweetheart, it just surprised me how much!"

"Ares, you--you--" Unable to find a curse foul enough, Diana hurled herself across the bed at him, inarticulate with rage. Faster than a striking snake, Ares caught her fist and used it to twist her mostly naked --though temporarily sheet-clad-- body against his and held her there. His eyes masked his thoughts, but his body was not similarly unaffected. She could feel him stiffening from being so close to her, but he stared her down, determined not to give into the reaction she was causing him.

"You are stubborn Diana, so I'm going to speak plainly. There is nothing you can hide from me anymore. What we did was the most intimate thing that can happen between a man and a woman—" he lowered his voice and to her surprise, he leaned in and very tenderly kissed the crown of her head. "—and it was very, very special." He looked Diana straight in the eyes then. "I'm glad I was your first," he finished softly.

Diana didn't say a word. Speechless, she stared back at Ares, spellbound. She felt like she should say something and break the silence with something poignant, humorous or hell, even cynical -- but she didn't know what to say.

They were interrupted by another knock. Ares looked up and coolly replied, "Come in."

Shocked, Diana's jaw dropped open and she stared at Ares as if to ask what he was thinking, inviting a priestess in while she was scarcely dressed, only a satin sheet wrapped around her body. But the worst shock was yet to come when she glanced to see who was at the door. Rafe stood there, frozen. Whatever he'd been planning to say was long gone. He stared at both of them without a word.

In that moment, Diana's heart stopped beating. She didn't show it, didn't so much as blink. But somewhere, in the depths of her soul, her world ended.

What have I done. . ?

How could she have done this? It was unthinkable that she could betray Rafe like this -- but impossible as it was to believe, she honestly hadn't considered him until now. They hadn't seen each other in over six months. Even when they went to find Eahx together, they hadn't talked things out. Not really. And Diana still felt like Rafe hadn't forgiven her for what happened to Jonathan. It wasn't as if she forgot her son -- or Rafe. She'd just -- put it out of her mind, was all. But now, NOW, the past and the present came colliding together with the force of a thunderclap and she was suddenly --unavoidably-- presented with the horrifying and eternal consequences of her actions.

Somehow I don't think 'I'm sorry' covers this situation. But I am. So very, very sorry.

Amazingly, it was Rafe who spoke first. Diana knew she should say something --Oh God, anything-- but not a word could make it past the knot in her throat. His face a careful blank, Rafe tore his gaze from Diana and looked fully at Ares. "You summoned me, milord?"

A horrible suspicion began to take root in Diana's mind. It formed and crystallized with the ever-growing certainty that this was no coincidence. That it was not the hand of Fate that caused Rafe to walk through that door -- but the hand of War.

He couldn't have. He just couldn't have. Even Ares isn't that much of a bastard… right?

"Yes I did," Ares said smoothly. He circled his arm around Diana's waist possessively and didn't even attempt to hide his smirk. He made no pretenses as he definitively answered both the spoken and unspoken questions. "I did summon you, conman. And you arrived right on schedule."

The shockwave hit Diana with titanic force and she felt hot and cold all over. The room swirled madly around her, details faded and she thought she may pass out. She just couldn't believe this. It had to be a nightmare. She'd awaken any minute, shaking but safe in her bed and it'd all be over. It just couldn't --couldn't-- be really happening to her.

But unreal and devastating as it was, reality persisted and the scene remained frustratingly clear. Diana muzzily realized that Ares was fully dressed again. How or when it happened didn't matter. But the contrast between her half-naked state and his dressed one only made the stark reality of what they did more distressing than before. She could feel the cold studs on his gauntlets pressing into her bare hip, the stiff leather of his vest supporting her back. She drew the sheet tighter around her, catching Rafe's eye again. But he didn't say anything. He just looked at her.

"Rafe…" she began hoarsely, wishing she had the magic words to make this all better. But she knew instinctively there was no explanation she could offer. There was nothing to say.

"Why did you summon me, milord?" Rafe asked quietly. He looked back at Ares and master of disguise that he was, he didn't allow Ares the satisfaction of seeing his hurt. His blue eyes were dark and soulless and his voice didn't change in any way. From all outward appearances, he seemed completely unaffected. But Diana could feel his aura screaming at her across the aether, reddish black with raw pain. And she knew that Ares could see it too. His aura was lit golden, smug with confidence.

"I think you know why," Ares replied and then waved a dismissive hand. "You may go now."

Rafe turned without a word. But before he could leave, Ares stopped him. "Don't forget what you've seen today conman. And never forget: the God of War always wins."

Rafe didn't respond, which was probably best. But he did turn and pinned the God of War with a glare so cold, the temperature in room dropped with it.

Then he glanced at Diana again. For a moment, he unshielded his thoughts from her and Diana could see it plainly written across his face: why? His pain was so evident that it rooted her to the spot. She never, ever, ever meant to hurt him. Not like this.

"I won't forget," he said and was gone, shattering Diana's world with his departure. She felt destroyed, utterly bereft of happiness. She knew over time she might heal, but she'd never truly recover from the blow.

Ares, how could you? How COULD YOU?

"Because it needed to be done," Ares replied quietly. He released his hold on her and stepped back a few paces. He watched her as if he expected her to attack him. Diana didn't know why. She couldn't summon the strength to move, let alone physically assault him. She should be angry. Hell, she should be downright furious. But she wasn't. She felt numb all over. She couldn't make herself feel --really feel-- anything.

"Ah. I almost forgot." Ares pressed his hands together and a golden light enveloped them. When he opened them, a single crystal rose glittered in the light, lying between his palms. He bowed and held it out to Diana with a flourish.

"Yes, a rose -- passè I know, but its traditional. No ordinary flower would do; it had to be something as unique as you are. Strong and exquisitely beautiful -- just like you my darling," he murmured sweetly. Diana just stared at him. Try as she might, she still couldn't break the spell that bound her. She could barely even focus on the gift.

"Diana it's done," Ares words were quiet, but firm. "You cannot change what has happened. You can only go forward from here. Now take the rose."

Mutely Diana nodded. Some part of herself watched as her arm moved out, palm extended and Ares laid the gift in her open hand. He smiled, seeming to take her silence for acceptance.

"Good. Now I have to go, but I will see you later," he promised softly. Bending down, he kissed her cheek. The caress was soft and his lips were warm, but Diana marveled that she couldn't feel it. Nothing was reaching past the impenetrable ice that formed around her heart.

"Now get dressed. Breakfast should be almost ready," he ordered and without waiting for a response, he vanished. Diana stared blankly at the spot where he stood just seconds before. She still couldn't utter a word. Her throat was dry and her heart was numb. Numb with pain, numb with guilt. She felt as if it would never beat again.

She shivered and the crystal rose fell, dropping from her lifeless fingers. It hit the floor and shattered, but Diana never heard it. Instead she heard the sound of her heart breaking. The shards on the floor were the shards of her crushed soul and she left them behind as she left Ares' room, forever changed. Forever broken.

… 'cause I hate the sound when you break me...

:: Fin ::