Rating: PG Pairings: Joxer/Discord, Joxer/Gabrielle
The temple was exactly as he'd last seen it. Each weapon, each piece of furniture had been left untouched. He'd often missed his home, but after years of traveling through Greece, being away had become more bearable.
Joxer dropped his stuff next to his throne and stared at the thin silver band that sat on its arm. He pressed his hand down onto the marble surface and splayed his fingers around the band. The deep tug to pick it up came back with a vengeance.
"Hades wouldn't let anyone else have it after you left. He said that you were the only one who could ever handle that job." Discord stopped talking. Hades had been a sore subject for Joxer recently. He just couldn't understand how his father could try to kill his friends.
Joxer gave in and picked up the silver band, closing his eyes against
the sudden power rush that filled him. Another thing he'd missed. The
power, the responsibility. Maybe he had been crazy to give it all up,
but he'd just never felt like Olympus was where he belonged.
He slipped the ring onto his left middle finger. "I'm ready."
Discord saddened a little at how businesslike he was. Deep down, she had hoped that he would be more receptive, maybe even want to try their relationship again. "Everything's set up."
Joxer glanced down at the dark grey marble floor and then slowly approached the altar room, wanting to get this over with.
Athena sat back and grinned at Hades. The Goddess of Discord and the God of Hope had just started the ritual that would leave Eris pregnant with their dead son, and in three month's time, he'd be reborn into the world.
"Why are you letting them do this?" Aphrodite studied her smug sister.
Long ago she'd learned that when Athena was happy or smug, it meant
trouble. Usually as much trouble as Strife used to cause.
"Simple. Once their son's been reborn, he'll want revenge on the woman that killed him." Athena smiled broadly at the growing look of horror on Aphrodite's face.
Aphrodite slowly sat down. Athena truly believed that he would kill the woman, but Aphrodite wasn't as certain. Athena's only interest in Joxer's son had been for the purposes of War. She didn't know anything about Joxer and Eris's son.
"I'm glad to see that you agree." Athena settled back into Zeus's throne and relaxed for the first time since Eve had been born.
Joxer slumped back against the altar with exhaustion. He'd nearly depleted his energy, and since he hadn't been a God in almost ten years, there wasn't much energy to deplete. "Did it work?"
Discord snuggled into his arms, barely able to keep her eyes open.
"Yes."
He lowered his hand to the already growing stomach and sighed. He could feel his son's life force getting stronger by the minute. Years of anger and guilt evaporated, leaving his soul feeling lighter than it had ever felt before.
A soft snuff drew his attention back to his sleeping ex-lover. He'd
forgotten about that cute little snore of hers. His hand gently traced
the outline of her face, memorizing each scar and imperfection. The
tender skin reminding him of the nights they'd spent in each others'
arms.
They had always loved each other, and probably always would, but the fates had been firm about their relationship. Eris wasn't his soul mate and their being together was not their destiny. Eris had been furious over that little piece of news, going into a temper tantrum that had left half of Greece in need of major repair.
Now, though, he felt the familiar glow of his feelings for her. They were almost as strong now as they had been ten years ago. Eris moaned softly and hugged him tightly. "Don't leave me . . . "
Joxer leaned his head back and let the tears start to roll down his cheeks. "I don't want to . . . "
"You knew." The accusation rang out, shattering the silence between the two women. Gabrielle ignored the concerned eyes of her friend, wanting only the answers she knew Xena possessed.
"I suspected."
"And it never occurred to you to tell me?" Gabrielle snapped angrily.
She hated not knowing about Joxer's son, about Discord, or anything
else. He said he loved her and yet he'd never once said a word to her
about any of it.
"It wasn't my place." Xena kept her eyes on the horizon as she rode Argo at a slow, steady pace. She understood the hurt her friend was feeling. Gabrielle had always been so dense when it came to her own heart, and this thing with Joxer was causing her to start facing some hard truths.
"Not your place? I'm his friend, I had a right to know . . . "
"He's your friend and it was his decision to tell you." Xena glanced over at the bard, softening her tone. "Look, Joxer's been through a lot, more than either of us knows about, and he wants to move on. We never told him about Hope or Solon for the same reasons."
Gabrielle closed her eyes against the pain. She had done the same thing he had, and instead of supporting him in this, she was nursing her own pride. "I want to help him."
"Which is why we're going to pay a visit to an old friend of ours"
Xena had already decided that she needed to keep and eye on Joxer. He
was part of their family and she wasn't about to lose him.
"Aphrodite?"
Xena's answer was a smirk that left no doubt in her mind that the goddess was the friend in question. The bard relaxed slightly, but not much. There was still this thing with Discord to worry about. What exactly were her feelings for Joxer? Were they in love?
Xena pulled the horse to a stop and stared at the line of trees to her left. One of the large bushes began to shake and mumble angrily. Xena started to chuckle softly, and climbed off of Argo. "I guess we won't have to pay her a visit after all . . . "
Gabrielle watched in confusion as Xena reached into the bush and lifted out Joxer. Her heart skipped at the sight of the sheepish man. "Uh. Hey guys . . . "
"You mind telling us what you were doing in that bush?" Xena asked dryly.
"I guess I misjudged the width of the road . . . " Joxer brushed his hair rapidly, sending leaves and dirt scattering into the wind.
"Did it work?" Gabrielle saw the flash of emotion in his eyes, but she needed to know. Maybe because she hated the idea of the child not being .. . . Her mind froze . . . No . . .
"Yeah it did. In three months Eris should be giving birth to him"
Joxer smiled proudly at her, a warm glow radiating from him that made
her feel sick.
Discord had done this to him. She was why he was glowing, and now she was carrying his child. Which meant they'd . . . Gabrielle glanced down at Amber and patted her horse, not wanting him to see the hurt in her eyes. "Congratulations."
"Thanks, but there is one thing you should know . . . " Joxer twisted the ring on his middle finger nervously, and started to talk.