Chapter Three

Then – Hercules

Hercules wasn't exaggerating when he said he remembered how to be parent. The thing was, he remembered how to be a co-parent. As in, used to having a wife to take care of things. Like, most things. Or, all things.

"I don't know how Deianeira did it," he said to Jason over Arcas' screams as he ran back and forth from one side of the house to the other. "I mean… Aeson, Clonus, and Ilea were never this crazy!"

"Welcome to single parenthood," Jason shouted back, his hands clamped over his ears. "Maybe you should just take him to Corinth and let him see the palace? He's probably just confused and afraid."

"He's empathetic. He knows he's safe here," Hercules argued, dodging a glob of porridge as it was flung from the kitchen. "How did he even find that?"

In the few days that Hercules and Arcas had been camping out at Jason's, they'd had to remove all the pots, Aclmene's old knickknacks, the weapons closet, and the rug that was in front of the hearth. They had also had to remove all the clothes from all the bottom cabinets, as well as Jason's hidden stash of crossbows and daggers that Arcas had somehow managed to find tied to the underside of Jason's bed ("Are you expecting an invasion?"). Hercules tried to ignore all the backhanded comments Jason was making about the stories Alcmene would tell from when Hercules was a child, and the fact that maybe he had forgotten how much energy little boys had, and how destructive they could be.

The house was in complete disarray, and as much as Jason kept saying this house was as much Hercules' as it was Jason's, Hercules knew that he was beginning to wear out his welcome.

Hercules sighed and sat down in one of the kitchen chairs, and then instantly grimaced as he felt something sticking to the bottom of his pants. "Do I even want to know what I just sat in?"

"Probably not. Look, Hercules, this is an entirely different situation. You and Deianeira raised your kids in a functional, loving environment. Who knows the types of people he was used to seeing every day in Kastus? He's been taken from his home, and has no idea where his mother or his brothers are, and has been placed in a strange place with strange people. I know you say he can sense that you're his father, but come on, Hercules, he's a child. And if he's feeding off people's emotions like you say, it's probably not helping."

"If he was, he would be able to tell that Daddy is getting very annoyed and very tired, and he would stop!" Hercules shouted. They had about a second of blissful silence before Arcas started back up again. Hercules closed his eyes and banged his head on the table.

"You think he's blocking it out?" Jason asked.

Hercules shook his head. "No. Well, yes, maybe… but I don't think he knows how to control it. He doesn't know how to turn it off and on, he's just… doing it."

Arcas' screams of misery died down, and the two adults quickly got up to go make sure the toddler was all right. They found him peacefully asleep on top of Jason's bed, finally having tired himself out. "He must have climbed up the banister," Jason said, shaking his head. Hercules resisted the urge to collapse down next to his son. The past few days had been an emotional rollercoaster for all involved. Arcas had been easy to amuse at first, but then he had started to get tired of what he thought was a game of leaving his home, and had started to get upset. Temper tantrums ensued and had gone on nonstop. The two men and the little boy were exhausted. Jason was right; Hercules knew how to be a father, but not a single father. He was also definitely not used to dealing with a child that had Arcas' abilities. Jason had been helping him around the house, but Hercules' son wasn't Jason's responsibility, and the former king was going to have to go back to the Academy at some point. He hadn't even begun to think about what was going to happen when people came to ask for his help.

Hercules slid onto the floor next to the bed and put his head in his hands. "I'm going to have to build a house for us."

"Don't be ridiculous." Jason sat down on the floor next to him. "This is your home."

"No, Jason, it's your home. Yours and mother's. And I appreciate you letting me stay here, but with Arcas…. You didn't sign up for this."

"This? What, this?"

"A screaming three year old and a grown man who can't get it his act together." Hercules shook his head and laughed mirthlessly. "Iphicles was right. I need a vacation, and I just got started. I have no idea what I'm doing."

"Don't be so hard on yourself. You got thrown into this situation, same as Arcas. You were a great father. Those kids idolized you. You just need to give it some time."

"I was also never around," Hercules said, glumly. He suddenly became very interested in a piece of string that was unraveling on his tunic. "I was always being taken away from them, helping other people, when I should have been home with my family."

"Knock it off. Deianeira knew that came with the package when you two got married. And do you think that she would have just gone along with it if she didn't want to?" Jason nudged him with his elbow. "Well?"

"No. You're right. I just… this time is different, Jason. I'm all he has." Hercules sighed, and looked around Jason's room. The curtains had been pulled down and from the sticky handprints on the floor, Arcas had obviously tried to get under the bed again and see if Jason had left anymore shiny, pointy things lying around.

"So, what's your plan then?"

Hercules sat in silence for a moment before answering, "Honestly, I was going to go see Nemesis." He caught Jason's eye, and added, "About Evander, Jason. Not… other things." From the look Jason was still giving him, he wasn't convinced. Hercules rolled his eyes. "When Evander was small, he had trouble controlling his power. His dreams would come to life, he couldn't control when things would manifest. I was going to see if being around him helped Arcas. He's older, and he's also his cousin. It may be good to introduce him to some more family, who aren't gods or kings. Or former kings."

Jason nodded in agreement. "Actually, that sounds like a good idea. Just as long as you don't come home with a new mother and brother for your new son."

"Seriously, Jason? That would be insane. And don't say anything," Hercules said, as Jason was about to add what was sure to be a sarcastic comment. "I could just use a little help right now in the single parent of a powerful baby department."

"Too bad your mother's not still around," Jason said, ruefully. "At least you don't have to worry about your son picking up the kitchen table and using it as a battering ram."

"No, I just have to worry about him finding all the pretty weapons that Uncle Jason hides under the kitchen table."

"Hey, I don't have any weapons strapped to the bottom of that." Jason paused, and scratched his head thoughtfully. "At least, I don't think I do."

Hercules was not amused.

"Hey, Evander, don't be so rough! Remember, he's smaller than you."

The older boy ducked his head sheepishly and helped Arcas up off the ground, where he had been pushed moments earlier. Nemesis shook her head and returned to her seat on the porch next to Hercules while the two boys continued to play. "Sorry about that."

Hercules smiled while he watched them. "Honestly, he doesn't seem to mind. He has two older brothers, so I am sure he's used to getting knocked around a little bit. He's having fun."

The trip had, thankfully, been uneventful. Arcas was more than excited to get out of the house, especially when they had stopped in Corinth first to see Iphicles as the king had requested. Iphicles had piled gifts of toys and clothes on the boy that were probably enough to stock a small store. Hercules shook his head, more amused than annoyed, as Iphicles had allowed Arcas to chase after him with a tiny bow and arrow. "He doesn't need all this stuff, Iphicles."

"Sure, he does. What's the point of having a king for an uncle if you don't get presents?" his brother demanded.

Hercules had no argument for that, so he just left it alone for the time being. He and Iphicles then loaded up a cart to take all of Arcas' new things back to Jason's and sent it off with one of Iphicles' attendants, and then the two of them continued on to Nemesis'.

His former flame was more than a little surprised to see Hercules, not to mention Arcas. Hercules had explained everything that had happened over the last few months – Iolaus leaving, finding out about Arcas, and Arcas' abilities – and Evander's eyes lit up upon discovering that he had a new little cousin. He had immediately dragged Arcas out to the yard to play, and the two adults had followed. Now Hercules and Nemesis were watching the sunset and their two sons, and enjoying each other's company.

"I'm just at a loss, Nemesis. I've never had to deal with anything like this before. I don't think it's just temper tantrums or missing his mother; he can't deal with all the feelings and emotions he's probably picking up from everyone around him," Hercules explained. He took the cup of water Nemesis offered him and stared into its contents, not drinking. "It's too much for him. He's only a child. How is he supposed to function with all of that weighing on him all the time?"

Nemesis patted his arm, sympathetically. "I don't know, Hercules. Evander's power… it's not the same. It's more dangerous to the people around him than it is to himself. But, I think you did the right thing coming here. Evander has gotten much better at controlling his abilities. Since Arcas can pick up on emotions, it may be easier for him to learn to control his abilities as well, just from being around Evander."

"That's what I was hoping."

Nemesis tilted her head, regarding him. "You know you're welcome here any time. Arcas is Evander's family. I think Evander is more thrilled than anything to have a playmate around his age." She took a breath, and then continued, "I'm sorry for everything that's happened, Hercules. I really am. I'm sure Arcas came as more than a surprise. I'm just glad it worked out for you this time."

Hercules took her hand. "Nemesis, that's in the past. I don't blame you. You should stop blaming yourself."

She smiled sadly, but didn't reply. They watched as Evander tried to teach Arcas how to sword fight using two sticks he had found on the ground. "He looks like you," she said, finally. "He has your eyes."

"I can see Kirin in him, too. She was a kind and loving person. I just… wish things had turned out differently for her."

"You really think someone made her sick?"

Hercules shook his head. "I don't know… I try not to think about it. I don't want Arcas to pick up on that, and get upset."

The two of them sat in silence, still holding hands. The sun was turning a brilliant shade of red as it descended. "It's getting late," Hercules said, starting to rise. "We need to start heading back to Corinth. Thanks for letting me get some of this off my chest."

"Don't be silly. I'm just glad that we'll be seeing more of you now. Evander loves having you here, you know that." Hercules knew she wanted to add, And I do, too, and part of him wanted her to. But the other part, the part that still missed Iolaus and was made of dark storm clouds, and the part of him that was now a busy father again, couldn't let himself feel that way.

"What are you going to do now?" she asked him. Hercules sighed.

"I'm not sure. Just take things one day at a time, I guess. Arcas, Evander! Come on guys, it's getting dark!"

The two boys made moans of disapproval as they were called back to the house.

"But we were having fun," Evander protested. Hercules ruffled his hair. "Don't worry," he told his nephew, "we'll be back soon."

Arcas stamped his foot on the ground. "Stay!" he demanded, his little hands balling into fists.

"Sorry, buddy, we have to go see Uncle Jason. He has all of your new toys, remember?"

Arcas was not impressed, but allowed his father to pick him up as he said goodbye to Evander, and then Nemesis.

She stood on her toes and lightly kissed him on the cheek. "I'm glad you came. We'll have to work out some kind of schedule, so that Evander and Arcas can see each other, and Arcas can practice some of the things Evander has learned."

Evander nodded enthusiastically. "Don't worry, I'll help him. He's my baby cousin!"

"No, I'm a big boy!" Arcas said defiantly, and Hercules had to repress a laugh. It was amazing to him how a few months ago he was plagued with such problems as whether or not he should get out of bed, and now he was scheduling play dates and lessons. It felt oddly natural, and he realized how much he had missed this part of his life.

"Thank you, Nemesis. I needed this. It was… nice."

"I know you miss Iolaus. But, things have a way of working out the way they should," Nemesis said, putting her arm around her son. "Take care of yourself, okay? Let me know the next time you two want to come by."

The next few months seem to fly by. Jason had indeed gone back to the Academy, leaving Hercules and Arcas to tend to things themselves. They both had to learn how to deal with each other – Hercules as a single father, and Arcas, no longer the little prince, but a growing boy learning how to cope without his mother and with a power he didn't understand. Hercules started farming again, and after a few failed attempts, began getting into the rhythm of everything once more. He and Arcas would visit Nemesis and Evander, and vice versa, and Arcas was slowly learning how to block out the torrent of feelings that seem to come at him from all angles. Some days were better than others, but when they were bad, they were really bad, and Hercules found himself once again questioning his abilities as a parent. There would be nights when Arcas would scream for hours, having been woken up by feelings of fear or anger or sadness, that Hercules could only assume he was picking up from Corinth, even as far away from the house as it was. All he could do was hold him as he cried and shook. Some nights he would just cry with him, out of frustration, and he knew he shouldn't because Arcas would just sense he was upset, and it would make him worse. Other times Arcas would just sit and stare, unmoving as a statue, and Hercules was sure that eventually all of this would drive the poor child to insanity. He finally took Arcas to his cousin Asclepius, who gave Hercules some herbs and scrolls on meditative techniques he could start working with Arcas on. Trying to teach breathing and relaxing skills on a three year old was not easy.

It was during these times that Hercules became infuriated with Iolaus. If there was any time I really needed you here, it would be now. Iolaus had learned some of these things in the East, and while he didn't have the same level of patience as Hercules, he had a better understanding of how that part of the mind worked. Hercules had gone from missing Iolaus to just feeling angry, and betrayed. He started to use some of the meditative techniques that he was supposed to be teaching Arcas so he could shield it from his son. The last thing he needed was Arcas picking up on all his suppressed rage and agony.

The worst times were when people would come and ask for his help. He would be torn between his duty as a father, and what he felt was his duty as a hero. It wasn't like before, when Deianeira could watch the children. Arcas had no one; yes, he had Jason and Iphicles, and even Nemesis and Evander, but Hercules was worried that Arcas would think it was his destiny to be abandoned. First, by the people of Kastus who took him away from his home and brought him to Hercules, and then by his father, who would have to take him to the Academy or the palace and leave him for days on end. His friends were also not as equipped to handle Arcas if he had an episode with his powers. So, eventually, he had to start turning people down, reminding them that just as he told them not to rely on the gods, they also couldn't always rely on him. They had to start relying on themselves. It killed him to do it, but he just couldn't risk the effects it would have on Arcas, or his relationship with him. Arcas needed someone he could trust, someone who would be there for him and not leave him to fight monsters and warlords every other day. It bothered Hercules that he felt like he was going against his nature by staying with his son, instead of being happy to be with him.

There were still some times when the peril was just too great for ordinary people, and he'd had to go. He began leaving Arcas with Nemesis exclusively, as she was better equipped to handle a child with abnormal abilities, and Arcas seemed much happier and calmer with her and his cousin than he was with Iphicles, or even Jason.

Three months turned into six months, then turned into nine months, and then a year. Jason would come home from the Academy every other month or so, and Hercules had started adding on another wing to the house for himself and Arcas. He still didn't feel right about the way they had taken over Jason's home, no matter how many times the former king told him he didn't care. Hercules cared, and this was the only way he knew how to repay his friend for giving them a roof over their heads.

After some time, Hercules and Arcas had gotten into a routine, and Arcas was learning small things about how to plant and take care of the animals. He had an affinity for them, and liked to be around them. Other times he would ask to go stay with Jason at the Academy instead of his cousin if Hercules had to go out on a mission. "It's fun," he said, during one such instance. "I like to watch them fight. Sometimes Uncle Jason lets me be the boss." That made Hercules laugh. He could only imagine how the students felt having Jason sit back on his heels as Arcas ordered them around in the language of a four year old.

The days went on, and Hercules found himself thinking less and less about Iolaus, and more about the farm, and the life he was going to have with Arcas. He thought more about the adventures he was going to take his son on, and less about the adventures he missed having with his friend. He started laughing more, real laughter, not the forced laughter he had sometimes had to put on with Jason in the beginning. The big, gaping hole that he'd had in his heart since Iolaus had left was slowly starting to close, and his love for Arcas was taking its place. His pain went from a roar, to a low growl, and then, one day without him even noticing it, it was gone. Life, he decided, had finally gone back to something resembling normalcy.

And then he had decided to go to Attica, and everything went straight to hell.

It hadn't been his plan to go to Attica at all. It was Arcas, sick and tired of farm life, that begged and pleaded that they accompany Jason and his uncle Iphicles.

"Come on, Dad, please?" Arcas, Hercules, and Jason were sitting around a dying campfire. Jason had been explaining to Hercules that Iphicles had requested he come along to Attica with the royal convoy as a consultant on this peace plan business.

Hercules poked at the fire in an effort to ignore his son's bouncy excitement. "What about the Academy?" Hercules asked, hoping Jason would take the hint and suggest he and Arcas go there instead.

"I left it in Tabor's capable hands," Jason said, eyes twinkling. Hercules threw him a dark look.

"Yes!" Arcas exclaimed, pumping a fist in the air. "See? Please, please, please?"

"Thanks a lot, Jason," Hercules said, reproachfully.

"Dad, I can't stand it here anymore!" Arcas protested as Jason threw another log onto the fire.

"Who's going to do your chores?" Hercules asked him. "Who's going to take care of the pigs?"

"Jason says that is what his farmhands are for," Arcas replied, while the former king suddenly came down with a coughing fit. Hercules continued to glower at him.

"I see. Arcas, you don't want to go to Attica. It's boring grown up stuff and Jason and Iphicles are going to be too busy to play with you."

"Ugh, I just want to go somewhere." Arcas slumped over dramatically, leaning on his father's arm for support. "My life is so boring!"

Arcas was being so ridiculous that it was all Hercules could do not to laugh. "Really? Your life is boring and terrible?" Arcas didn't answer. "That's what I thought."

"Come on, Hercules, it might be good for him," Jason said. "He needs to get out, see the world. You've had him cooped up here for over a year, for the gods' sakes."

"I've kept him 'cooped up' here, as you put it, for a good reason."

"What, you mean my power?" Arcas asked, hopping to his feet. "I promise I won't cause any trouble. I've been practicing. I'll be good!"

Hercules mulled it over, exchanging glances with Jason. "Why don't I take you to see Evander instead?" he asked, finally.

Arcas narrowed his eyes and put his hands on his hips. Hercules suppressed a groan. Arcas was in stubborn mode. He recognized it instantly, because it was the same stance he had given his mother, and Jason and Iolaus for that matter, on numerous occasions.

"If you don't let me go," Arcas threatened, "I'll… go on strike!"

Hercules' mouth dropped open and Jason began laughing so hard he almost fell off the tree stump he was using as a chair. "Go on strike?" Hercules repeated, slowly, trying to ignore Jason's hysterics. Where does he come up with this stuff?

"Yep," the boy said, confidently, crossing his arms.

"Arcas, do you even know what that means?"

Arcas' face went blank for a moment, but then he shrugged. "That doesn't matter. Please, Dad? I won't get in the way, I promise."

Hercules sighed and tried to avoid Arcas' gaze. Things had been slow recently as far as Hercules being called away was concerned, and if he was being perfectly honest with himself, he was getting restless as well. There was a nice peace to farm life, but Hercules missed traveling and the feel of being on the road. Obviously, Arcas had inherited that bug from his father. He bounced up and down on his toes, waiting with bated breath for his father's response.

"Fine," Hercules gave in, "we will go to Attica. We. And I want to know where you've been picking up all this stuff about strikes and farm life being boring," he added over Arcas' whoops of triumph. He gave Jason a slap on the arm. "It better not have been you."

Jason feigned outrage. "Me? Where would you get that idea?" He winked at Arcas conspiratorially.

"Very cute. Remember you're not the one who has to deal with him, Uncle Jason."

"Give the kid a break, Hercules. He's been through a lot this year. So have you. It'll be a nice getaway for you and your son." Arcas was now running circles around them and the camp fire. "I, on the other hand, will knee deep in politics and wishing I was dead. Gods, I hope that idiot Amphion isn't coming."

"Who?"

"Queen Niobe's new husband. He's such a jack… uh, moron," Jason corrected as Arcas came back around within listening distance.

"That's right… Niobe is queen of Attica." Hercules had never met her in person, but Iolaus had to twice impersonate her first husband Orestes. Whatever had occurred there the last time had done a number on Iolaus. He hadn't gone into specifics. "Why wouldn't her husband come? I thought he was the one pushing this whole business?"

Jason snorted. "He is. Frankly, I think it's a cover up and he really just wants to expand this kingdom, but I can tell you right now, that's not going to fly. Peace plan my rear end. But, Niobe was the one who came up with it originally. She and Orestes." He caught Hercules' look and rolled his eyes. "Really? What, you don't want to come now because of Iolaus' old girlfriend?"

"She wasn't Iolaus' girlfriend, Jason. Niobe was married to his cousin. Nothing happened."

Jason had a look on his face that said he sincerely doubted it, but didn't push the subject. "Look, you don't have to come with Iphicles and I to the palace for negotiations. Just hang around town, or take your son camping and fishing and all the fun things that I'll be wishing I was doing. Then you can tell me about it later, and I can pretend it was me."

Hercules laughed, and Arcas ran back over, annoyed that the adults were having a good time without him and not wanting to miss anything. "What, what? What's so funny?" he demanded.

Hercules pulled him into a bear hug and stood up, carrying him back to the house as Arcas pretended to struggle. "What's so funny is you thinking you can stay up all night. It is time for you to go to bed."

"No, I'm not tired!" Arcas protested as Hercules continued into the house and back to the large bedroom they shared. He plopped his son down onto the bed and then went to get his bed clothes.

"You have a big day tomorrow. It's going to take a while to get to Attica, and you said you were going to be on your best behavior. That needs to start now, with you going to sleep and not arguing with me."

"But I'm not tired!" Arcas reiterated and then yawned, hugely.

"Uh, huh. Come on, arms up," Hercules instructed and yanked Arcas' tunic off. "Put your bed clothes on and get under the covers."

Arcas complied as Hercules went around with the snuffer and put out the lanterns except for the one by the door, plunging the room into semi darkness. The moon was low and bright, and it shined through the bedroom window and made strange looking patterns on the floor and wall. Hercules gave Arcas a cursory glance as his son changed and got into the bed. "Do you want me to leave any more candles on?"

Arcas pulled the bed sheet and quilt up to his chin. "No," he said, but Hercules could tell he was just trying to sound brave. Nights were still the worst for Arcas. His defenses were lowered when he would dream, and sometimes he would have nightmares.

"Are you sure?" Hercules asked again. Arcas' eyes were wide and bright in the moonlight. He nodded, but pulled the covers up higher. Hercules sighed. "Why don't I just light that one over by the window?"

Arcas looked around the room, at the shadows on the wall, and pretended to consider it. "Okay," he agreed. Using the already lit lantern, Hercules relit the candle and placed it in the far window, and then came over to sit on Arcas' bed. Arcas picked at some fuzz on his quilt absently.

Hercules stroked his hair. "Try not to think about it, okay? Think about how much fun you're going to have tomorrow instead."

Arcas nodded, but didn't say anything. After a few minutes, he blurted, "Sometimes if I can't sleep, Uncle Jason lets me have wine."

Hercules pressed his lips into a flat line. "Wonderful." He tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice. That's the last time I let him watch Arcas by himself.

"Don't be mad. He only gives me, like, this much." Arcas put his thumb and pointer finger together in a pinching motion to demonstrate.

"Okay, well… tonight you get to see if you can go to sleep on your own." He kissed Arcas' forehead and then made to leave. "I'll be right outside, okay?"

Arcas sat up as Hercules started to go out the door. "Tell me a story?"

Hercules shook his head. "Not tonight, buddy. Jason and I have to get ready for the trip."

His son cast a worried glance around the room. "Please? I want to hear about Pro...Pro…"

"Prometheus?" Hercules finished and Arcas grinned.

"Yeah! The one with Xena!"

Hercules felt a pang of sadness, but then tried to push it aside. A few months after he had begun his new life with Arcas, he'd had an unexpected and very odd visit from Ares, of all people. Hercules had gone out to the barn to check on the horses before turning in for the night to find his half-brother sitting quietly on one of the water barrels. Hercules had been wary, especially now that he had Arcas. And while the god of war hadn't really seemed to care either way about Zeus' death, Hercules wanted to be careful.

"What are you doing here?" he had demanded, tersely. He tried to calculate how fast he could throw Ares to the ground and get his son out of the vicinity. "If you're here to hurt my son in some kind of revenge scheme for Zeus…" But Ares didn't answer. In fact, the god wasn't even looking at him, but at a spot on the ground in front of him, as if he wasn't really sure what he was doing there either. Unsure how to react, Hercules had taken a tentative step forward and waved a hand in front of Ares' face. "Uh… are you okay?" It felt strange. Hercules and Ares' relationship had always been one of mutual dislike, if not sometimes hatred. But they had worked together in the past, and as much as it pained Hercules to admit it, he was his brother.

The god of war had straightened up at hearing the concern in Hercules' voice. He'd tried to muster a sneer, but Hercules could tell his heart really wasn't in it for some reason. "You can add Xena and Gabrielle to your list of dearly departed friends." Ares' voice had none of its usual bravado. It was more like he was just playing the part, so much so that at first Hercules didn't understand what Ares had said.

"What are you talking about?"

"Xena," Ares had said again, flatly. "Gabrielle. They're dead."

Hercules' had felt his insides turned to ice, and it felt like his mind had slowed down, unable to fully process what his brother was telling him. "No," he had said, quietly. It seemed to be the only coherent thought he could manage. He had just seen them, they had been fine…

"Yep. And the baby, too. So, you offing Dad amounted to literally shit in the end. Good job."

Putting a hand on the door frame to steady himself, Hercules had asked, "How?"

"Athena," he had spat, "that good for nothing bitch. And Hades, and all the rest!" Ares had sounded tormented, his voice raw and full of pain.

Hercules had blinked at him, pushing his grief aside to really study his brother. "You loved her, didn't you?" Ares hadn't answered, but Hercules hadn't really expected him to. "Why did you come here to tell me this?"

"Why else?" Ares had sneered, a real one this time. "To cause you an immeasurable amount of pain. Too bad your little blond buddy isn't here, too. I would have enjoyed seeing the look on his face."

Hercules grief had immediately turned to anger. "You're lying."

"Think what you want. I don't care anymore. I don't… I don't even know why I really did come here." He'd risen off the barrel then, and to his utter astonishment, all Hercules could see on the god of war's face was pure, unadulterated anguish. "I guess I just thought you ought to know." And with that, he had disappeared, leaving Hercules alone with his pain. He almost hadn't believed him, if it wasn't for the look in Ares' eyes.

He had still asked around in the days after, and it was confirmed that Xena, Gabrielle, and Eve had all perished in a fire fight with the gods on the outskirts of Rome. Ares had been right… Killing Zeus to protect Xena and the baby had all been for nothing. He'd committed patricide, for what? So Athena could finish what Zeus had started? The demigod wondered if this wasn't The Fates' way of punishing him for it. It was all Hercules could do not to fall into another storm of depression, and if not for Arcas, he would have gotten the Hind's Blood dagger and stormed Olympus to bring about the Twilight himself. But he had taken one look at his son and knew he couldn't leave him. Eventually, he had accepted the fact that they were gone. Hearing Xena's name still stung sometimes. And as for Ares, Hercules had never heard word of or seen the god of war again since.

"Daddy?" Arcas asked, tentatively, shaking Hercules out of his glum reverie.

"Yes? Sorry," he said, catching the look on his son's face. "I was just… thinking about my friend."

Arcas still didn't take his eyes off him, so Hercules sighed and came back over to sit down on his bed again. "Alright, alright… I'll tell you about Prometheus."

"Yay!" Arcas exclaimed and made himself comfortable.

"One day," Hercules began, "not so long ago, Xena had to fight off a gang of bandits that had tried to attack her and Gabrielle while they were sleeping. Xena saved one of the bandits, because she had changed her ways and now walked the path of a hero. But, when she and Gabrielle took the bandit to a local village for help, he suddenly died from his wounds. This shouldn't have happened, and Xena knew that something was wrong. She realized that Hera, the queen of the gods, had captured Prometheus, and if Prometheus stayed captured, we would all lose the gifts he gave us…"

The next morning, the two men and Arcas were picked up by one of Iphicles' carriages and headed off for Attica. Hercules had had to tell the Prometheus story twice before Arcas had finally passed out from exhaustion, and then had proceeded to have a long conversation with Jason about the former king giving his quite underage son alcohol.

"It was a thimble full! It puts him right to sleep."

"Next time," Hercules had said, in no way trying to hide his aggravation, "try tea."

Jason had just grumbled incoherently and sharpened his sword, leaving Hercules to pack their bags and supplies for the trip. Hercules was still in a bad mood over the whole situation as they rode together on the two day journey from Corinth.

"If you were going to sulk the whole way, you should have just stayed home," Jason said to him. He was sitting across from them, his back facing the driver.

"I'm not sulking." Hercules stared out the window, feigning extreme interest in the scenery. Arcas sat next to him, engrossed in his make believe battle between a wooden soldier toy and a green plush dragon that Iphicles had given to him last year.

Jason humphed, unconvinced, but just sat back in the cushioned seat and closed his eyes. "I hate traveling this way. Wake me up when we get there."

Hercules grunted an acknowledgment, still observing the world outside. He couldn't argue with Jason on that; he much preferred to walk and get the exercise as well, but traveling with a four year old was bad enough with a carriage. It would have been absurd to try and make Arcas walk the two days distance to Attica, and the trip probably would have turned into three since they would have had to rest more.

Arcas chattered on and off about how excited he was to get to Attica and have his first camping trip before tiring himself out about halfway through the first day and curling up next to Jason, clutching his stuffed dragon as he slept. Hercules frowned at it. It looked eerily similar to the hydra one he had given Xena before Eve was born. He'd named it Iolaus.

He settled back into his seat and put his head back against the cushions, closing his eyes. It wouldn't hurt for him to try and catch a nap as well until Iphicles signaled they were at a good stopping point for the night. But, he just couldn't shake an uneasy feeling he was getting. He had no idea why he should be feeling this way either. The trip was a welcome break from the house, and for once people needed Jason and Iphicles, not him. This was a chance for him to spend some quality time with his son, teaching him survival skills, like fishing and how to build a fire. But something in the back of his mind kept bothering him.

Maybe Jason was right, and he was just feeding off of the bad memories Iolaus had about the place. The whole situation with him having to impersonate Orestes was just weird in and of itself. It didn't help matters that Niobe had thought the Orestes she had married was the real Orestes, not Iolaus, and had been devastated to find out her new husband was not at all the man she had developed feelings for. Iolaus, as per usual, had fallen for the queen as well, and hadn't been looking forward to returning to Attica to help his cousin again. Somehow, Orestes had been assassinated, and Iolaus had to pretend to be the king once again to defeat Xenon and get the peace plan in place that his cousin had died for. Other than explaining why he'd had to wear the crown again, Iolaus hadn't gone into much detail when he'd returned. Hercules could just tell something had happened, and that Iolaus wasn't going to elaborate. Hercules was getting a sinking feeling that the 'something that had happened' was 'something with Niobe'. And for whatever reason, Hercules tagging along with his brother and stepfather was giving him a bad feeling.

The rest of the trip went on without incident. Arcas had thoroughly enjoyed sleeping in the big, billowy royal tents the night before and was currently bouncing uncontrollably in his seat as they approached the city.

"What does it look like?" he carried on, looking out one window and then the other. "I can't see!"

"There's nothing to see yet, that's why," Jason told him, hoisting the boy up into his lap. "Just settle down, we'll be there soon."

They had arrived during what looked like a market day. It took the carriages a long time to get through the bustling streets, even with Iphicles' men trying to direct people to get out of the way.

"Unbelievable," Jason muttered. Arcas climbed over him to get a better look. "Ow!"

"Arcas, get off him, please." Hercules scoped out their surroundings. "It does look pretty crazy out there."

"Why don't you and Arcas just get out here," Jason suggested, in a way that made it clear to Hercules that it was less of a suggestion and more of a plea.

Hercules glanced over at Arcas, who had resumed bouncing up and down in his seat, kicking his short legs wildly as they didn't reach the floor. He threw Jason an apologetic glance. "That's probably not a bad idea." He stuck his hand out the window and thumped it against the top of the carriage a few times, signaling to the driver that they wanted to stop. He opened the carriage door and got out, and then held his arms out to Arcas so he could help him out as well. "We're going to get out here and take a look around, if you don't mind," Hercules explained to the Corinthian guard stationed at their carriage.

The guard looked to Jason for confirmation, who gave him a slight nod. "Let my brother know what we're doing," Hercules instructed. The guard nodded and the carriage resumed its course to the Attican palace.

"I'll find you later," Jason called out the window as they took off, "if I haven't died of boredom!"

Hercules just smiled and waved at him, before taking Arcas' hand in his. "Alright, sir, where to?"

"I'm hungry!" Arcas declared, and wide eyed, surveyed his new surroundings. He had been to Corinth on market days, but Attica was much larger. Everywhere they turned there were people yelling, bustling back and forth carrying their newly purchased goods, or street peddlers shoving their wares in their face.

"I'm sure there's no shortage of food here, kiddo. Come on, and hold on to my hand the whole time, okay?"

Arcas nodded, never taking his eyes off the array of people, and allowed Hercules to lead him off in the search of food.

The market was crowded, and Hercules had spent more time lightly shoving people out of the way and saying "Excuse me" than he was pointing out interesting sights to his son. Arcas, for his part, just gaped in open mouthed astonishment at everything around him.

"This is so cool!" he said, standing on his tip toes as they waited for their turn at a merchant who was selling what looked like lamb stuck on a stick. Hercules hoped it wasn't one of Falafel's stands. He really didn't feel like listening to the so-called chef talk about his newest culinary creations.

Arcas suddenly became more wiggly than usual as he held onto Hercules' hand, and the demigod glanced down at him, distracted. "What are you doing?"

Arcas kept looking at the ground, his body turning one way and then the other. "My soldier!" he exclaimed. "I lost it!"

Hercules let go of Arcas' hand and knelt down. "You didn't leave it in the carriage?"

"No!" Arcas said, lip trembling.

"Are you sure?"

"No, I didn't leave him, I put him in my belt." Arcas' eyes were shining with unshed tears. "We have to find him!"

Hercules sighed. "Arcas, if you dropped it, it's probably already gone. There are too many people here." He stood back up and looked around over the crowd. "I'm sorry, buddy, but there is no way we are going to find-" Hercules stopped as he looked back down to where Arcas had been standing, his insides turning to ice.

Arcas was gone.

Arcas wasn't sure how he had gotten lost, exactly, but he knew he was. And he also knew he was going to be in Big Trouble when his father found him.

He knew he had seen a girl over by these tents, and she was holding his wooden soldier. Arcas scowled, poking his head around the corner. He had taken a few steps to run after her, and the next thing he knew, he couldn't see his father anymore. He had bit his lip, torn between staying put and getting his toy, and in the end, his curiosity got the better of him and he had run after the girl.

Now she was nowhere to be found, and Arcas was starting to panic. His father warned him not to talk to strangers, and he was surrounded by strangers. How was he going to get help? Maybe I should look for a guard, he thought. Guards were good. They would take him back to his father.

Arcas turned back around to start heading to what he thought was the direction of the big palace when he almost ran smack into a small form with large, curly blond hair. He yelped and jumped backward. It was the girl he had been chasing.

"Hello!" she said. She had his toy soldier in her hand. "You dropped this." The girl held it out to Arcas, who quickly grabbed it. She cocked her head to the side, studying him, and smiled. "What's your name?"

Arcas wasn't sure how to respond. He didn't have many friends in Corinth, besides Evander, and that didn't really count because Evander was his cousin. "A-Arcas," he stuttered. Then he looked around. "What are you doing out here?"

"I live here," she said simply. Arcas thought she was dressed pretty fancy, and she had some kind of gold band around her head. "Do you want to play?"

"I'll get in trouble. My daddy is looking for me." Arcas glanced around again. "Do you know any guards?"

To his amazement, the girl just laughed at him. "Of course I do. Come with me!" She grabbed his hand and pulled him down the street.

Hercules tore through the market, not caring who or what he ran into.

"Arcas!" he yelled, frantically. "Arcas, answer me!" He felt sick. This is what he had been afraid of. Why didn't I hold on tighter? Why did I take my eyes off him? He mentally kicked himself for not humoring Arcas and at least trying to find his toy. There are so many people… Arcas could have been with any of them, any one of them could have taken him. Attica didn't allow slaves, but that wouldn't stop people from watching and waiting for a parent, like Hercules, to look away for one second…

Hercules forced himself to calm down and breathe. He had gone over with Arcas on the way to Attica what to do if they got separated. He took a few more deep breaths, and then started towards the palace.

About halfway there, he came to a large fountain and what he assumed was the center of town. To his surprise, a large number of Attica's royal guards were gathered there, and also a small carriage. It was not as large as the ones the convoy from Corinth had come in. It looked like it only comfortably sat two people.

He approached two guards who were chatting away animatedly. "I just don't understand how she got away so fast!" one was saying. He had gray hair, and had a more scholarly look to him then what Hercules would expect from a palace guard. His partner, who had a round face and brown hair, was looking around, worriedly.

"Excuse me," Hercules said as he came up to them. They spun, apparently unaware of his presence. He held his hands up to show he was unarmed. "Sorry, didn't mean to startle you. It's just that I'm looking for my son. We got separated in the market." Neither man answered him. They just blinked up at him as if they had never seen anything like him before. "Uh… it sounds like you're looking for someone, too? Anyway, his name is Arcas. He's only four, and he's got dark blond hair, blue eyes… he's wearing a red tunic-"

"Hercules?" the older man asked, incredulously. Hercules raised his eyebrows. That explained why they were staring at him. They must have recognized him from all the stories.

"Yes, I'm Hercules." He held out his hand to clasp with the older man's. "You are..?"

"This is Linus," the older man said, indicating his partner. "I'm-"

"Hector!" a tiny voice called out.

All three men turned to see a small blond girl running toward them, followed by a small boy. "Arcas!" Hercules shouted, relieved. He knelt on the ground and grabbed his son in a hug. "Gods, Arcas, are you okay?" Hercules pushed Arcas back so that he could look at his face. "Let me look at you. Are you hurt?" He spun him around, checking to make sure every inch of his son was still in perfect health.

"Dad, I'm fine," Arcas groaned, pushing him away. "Meg found my toy."

"Meg?" Hercules turned instead to the little girl that stood beside Arcas, grinning.

"Meg!" Hector and Linus both yelled, storming over. The girl's smile immediately evaporated, and she tried to hide behind Hercules.

"Meg, come away from him this instant," Hector ordered. Meg poked her head out from behind Hercules' arm to quickly shake her head no, and then proceed to hide again.

"Am I in trouble?" Arcas asked his father, cautiously. He looked from Hercules to Hector and Linus and back again.

"No, you're not in trouble, I'm just glad you're okay. What's going on here?" He stood up, one hand on Arcas' shoulder, the other on the young girl's.

"I saved him!" Meg explained. "He lost his toy, and I brought it to him, and then I was bringing him to Hector to find you, but you were already here, and I'm sorry." She finished in a rush, looking up at Hector and Hercules sheepishly.

"You ran off again. Your mother is beside herself!" Hector glowered disapprovingly as Linus went to rejoin the rest of the guards. "The convoy from Corinth is here today. You were supposed to behave."

"But, Arcas-"

"None of that, none of that. I will not have you blame this young boy." He took Meg's hand and started leading her back to the carriage. "I am glad you found your son, Hercules. I assume you came with your brother King Iphicles?"

"Uh, yes. I thought it would be good for Arcas to get out of the house," he said, absently. He was trying to remember where he had heard their names before. He tried to unobtrusively look Hector over once more. "Hector… and Linus?" He then remembered that these were the two guards that Iolaus had met and befriended on his first trip to Attica. In fact, Hector was the one who talked Iolaus into impersonating Orestes in the first place. "Wait, you two knew Iolaus. He told me-"

"I am sorry, Hercules, but we really must go," Hector interrupted. Hercules thought he looked nervous. He tugged on the girl's hand to encourage her. "Come along, Princess."

Hercules blinked in surprise. Princess? He watched Hector put the little girl in the carriage and then take his place with the rest of the guards. She poked her head out the window and waved sadly as they drove away.

"That's why she was dressed funny!" Arcas exclaimed. "She's a princess! Did I have funny clothes like that when I left Kastus?"

"No." He put his thoughts on Hector and Linus aside for the moment and looked down to regard his son sternly. "Arcas, what were you thinking? What if someone had taken you?" Hercules picked him up and carried him back towards the main marketplace.

"I thought you said I wasn't in trouble."

"You're not, but I'm still upset. Never do that again, okay? I thought I'd lost you."

"I'm sorry."

Hercules found a bench and sat down. Setting Arcas back on the ground, he made him turn to look at him. "Arcas, it's very dangerous for you to run off like that without me."

Arcas scuffed his feet, kicking up clouds of dust. "I know."

"Then why did you do that?"

Arcas shrugged. "I wanted my toy. And Meg wanted to play with me. I thought she could be my friend."

Hercules sighed, and put his hands on his son's tiny shoulders. "It's fine for you to have friends. Just ask me next time. Arcas… you need to understand, not everyone is good. There are people who… who would take you away from me."

"But you fight all the bad people," Arcas said, confidently. Hercules smiled sadly and tried to find the right words to explain without frightening him.

"That's right, I do. But, sometimes, I can't fight them all. You are the most important thing to me. Not Jason, not Iphicles, not… not even Iolaus. You. If something happened to you, I don't know what I would do."

Arcas was staring at him with a vacant expression, and Hercules knew that he was trying to decipher all the feelings he was getting from his father. "I'm sorry," he said finally, looking down at his soldier. "I won't leave you. I promise."

Hercules pressed his forehead to Arcas'. "Good man. Well, I don't know about you, but I have about had it with this place. You ready to go find your uncles?"

Arcas nodded. "Does that mean we get to go to the palace with Meg?" he asked, hopefully.

Hercules stood up and took Arcas' hand. He didn't know why, but he felt like Hector had been behaving oddly. They didn't look surprised to see him; more like nervous or antsy. And for whatever reason, they did not want him talking to the little girl. He shook his head. Jason would just say he was being paranoid. "How old do you think she was?" he asked Arcas, who gave him an odd look.

"How should I know? I'm just a kid."

"Right." He pursed his lips. "She looked like she was your age."

"You're being weird," Arcas sighed and started pulling him down the street.

"Yeah, you're probably right. Come on," he said, picking Arcas up and swinging him onto his shoulders. "Let's go." But he couldn't get the image of the little blond girl out of his head. Her, or the shocked look on Hector and Linus' faces when they figured out who he was.

No, there was definitely something going on. And he didn't like it.

At first the guards were reluctant to let Hercules and Arcas through the gates, but luckily one of Iphicles' attendants had been stationed there as well and explained they were members of the royal party.

"This is King Iphicles' brother Hercules, you fool," the attendant hissed at the poor guard as they walked in and the gates clanged shut behind him. Hercules shrugged apologetically, and he and Arcas followed the Corinthian into the palace.

The halls were pristine and finely decorated, making Iphicles' palace look bland in comparison. The Attican royals definitely had a taste for the ornate. Hercules and his son were led through a series of hallways before stopping in front of a room with large double doors.

"They're still in negotiations," the aide explained, "but I can try to let Jason know that you've arrived."

"That's alright. We can meet up with him later." Hercules could hear bits and pieces of the conversation through the doors, and it sounded like whatever they were saying was getting heated. "If you could just show us to our room that would be great."

"But, I want to see Uncle Jason," Arcas whined, tugging on Hercules' tunic insistently.

"Arcas, what did I tell you? I said that they were going to be busy today."

The doors opened a crack, and an Attican guard popped his head out. "Is there a problem?" he asked, in a tone that said there had better not be.

"All the surrounding Athenian provinces have signed the accord," the conversation carried through the door. From the clipped and precise way the statement sounded, Hercules assumed that had to be King Amphion.

"Well," Iphicles said, obviously trying to remain pleasant but failing miserably, "we're not part of the Athenian provinces."

"Thank the gods," Jason muttered, loudly enough that if Hercules could hear him, than so could everybody else. Hercules shook his head, and started backing up away from the door. "Sorry. We were just leaving…"

"What Jason means is-" Iphicles began, but was cut off when Jason caught a glimpse of Hercules and Arcas through the gap the guard was leaving that lead into the hallway.

"Hercules!" Jason exclaimed, rising out of his seat. The guard looked annoyed, but begrudgingly opened the doors the rest of the way into a large room with a long wooden table. "What a surprise! We could really use your input." He shot Hercules a look that read Help me.

Hercules suppressed a groan. Taking Arcas' hand, he took a few steps into the room. "Sorry, everyone. We didn't mean to disturb."

"So, this is the famous Hercules?" A man rose from the head of the table and joined Jason. He was dressed in fine clothes of blue and silver, and had reddish brown hair with a matching, shortly trimmed beard. He wore a thick gold band around his head, as did the woman who he had been sitting next to. It was very similar to the one the young girl, Meg, had worn as well. "I am King Amphion. Welcome to Attica." He held his hand out and Hercules' grasped it. "How wonderful that you were able to join your brother. Atticans are strong supporters of your great father Zeus."

Hercules guessed that the king's statement was supposed to impress him, and he tried to keep his face as neutral as possible. There were vague rumors about the deaths of Zeus and Hera here and there, but nothing substantial, and luckily nothing about the part he had played in it. Hercules assumed he had Xena to thank for that, while she had still been around. And the relationships he had with a few of his godly siblings, like Aphrodite, had kept it that way. He wasn't about to raise suspicions, so he just gave the king a small nod. "Uh… that's very nice. And, I'm not staying," he added, throwing Jason a look.

"Oh, but you must! Your input, as Jason said, would be most valuable!"

"Sorry. I'm just here to take Arcas back to our room." He glanced around the king to where the woman was still sitting. "We had a little mishap in the market."

The king followed his gaze. "Ah! Allow me to introduce you to my wife Niobe, Queen of Attica."

Niobe, who was dressed similarly to the king, rose and came to greet Hercules. She had a head full of brown, tight curls, and was tall for a woman. She moved gracefully, and smiled kindly at him and Arcas as she came over. Hercules was having no problem figuring out why his friend had found her so alluring. "So… you're Hercules." She tilted her head, regarding him. Hercules wasn't sure how much Amphion knew of the whole Orestes/Iolaus situation, so he kept quiet. "It's an honor to finally put a face to the name."

"Likewise," Hercules said. "I, uh, wanted to let you know that if it hadn't been for Meg, I probably wouldn't have found Arcas this afternoon when he ran off."

Arcas, for his part, just waved jauntily, as if the entire thing had been a great game. But Niobe blinked, and Hercules thought he caught a flash of fear in her eyes.

Amphion's eyes narrowed and he regarded his wife, suspiciously. "Meg?"

Niobe smiled, taking her husband's hand. "It was nothing, my dear. Hector and Linus were watching her, and she managed to get away from them. But, as Hercules said, it was to help his son. She's in her room now."

"Hercules?" Iphicles asked from across the room. "What's going on?" He managed to look both concerned and annoyed at the same time. Hercules inwardly winced. The two of them had gotten a lot closer over the past few years, but the demigod knew there was still a lot of resentment in his older brother. And this was Iphicles' trip – it wasn't his intention for all eyes to suddenly be on him instead.

"Nothing. I just wanted to say thank you." Hercules returned his gaze to Amphion, who was looking like he was trying to hold his temper.

"Well," Niobe began, "it was very nice to meet you, Hercules. But, we really should continue with the negotiations. If that is all right with you, my king?"

Amphion glanced at her, distractedly. "Yes. Yes, of course. Pleasure to meet you, Hercules. And please, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." He and his wife made their way back to their seats, and Iphicles sat back down as well, seemingly satisfied all was in order.

Hercules gave Jason a small pat on the shoulder. "Have fun."

"Oh, I will. And I'll tell you all about it later," Jason growled at him under his breath, and then rejoined the rest of the party.

"But," Arcas began as he and Hercules made their way out the door, "I wanted to ask if I could play with Meg some more."

Hercules turned back to look at the king and queen. The mere mention of Meg had Amphion's eyebrow twitching. Niobe caught his eye, and then quickly looked down at the table. "Not now," Hercules told him, and they left as the doors closed shut after them.

Hercules had managed to get Arcas down for a nap once they had gotten to their room, which gave him some time to be alone with his thoughts. Probably too much time, Hercules mused, because his mind was working furiously, coming up with all sorts of crazy explanations as to why Hector and Linus, and now Niobe, were acting extremely uncomfortable with the fact that he had accompanied his brother and Jason. And those crazy explanations usually ended with him assuming that their behavior centered around the fact that Niobe had a daughter, presumably not with Amphion, because after some digging he found out that Niobe had not taken her second husband until three years ago. And how said daughter was about the same age as Arcas, seemed to have a penchant for getting into trouble, had blond hair, and reminded Hercules of a very similar blond haired, blue eyed child he used to know that used to steal cookies and also drive his mother to insanity.

That's crazy… insane. You've gone insane, he told himself. Iolaus has been gone for a year and you'll say and do anything to hold on to him. Such as make up paranoid theories as to why no one likes you and how Niobe's daughter is the right age to coincidentally overlap with the last time Iolaus came out here. Yep. Crazy. You're losing it.

He forced himself to remember that Iolaus and Orestes were identical, which is why Iolaus had been able to pass off as the king not only once, but twice. Iolaus had mentioned that Niobe and Orestes' relationship hadn't gotten off to a great start, but the line had to continue, so obviously an heir was bound to happen. Around the same time as Orestes' death? Hercules thought, frowning. It's just damned weird. He shook his head. Come on, Hercules. Iolaus fell in love faster than you could drop a hat, but this was his cousin's wife. His dead cousin's wife. Not even cold in the ground. He wouldn't…. would he?

Hercules decided he better not answer that question.

If Hercules had just randomly met the king, queen, and little princess over dinner or at some other function, he doubted he would be as inclined to question the situation. But, it was the way they reacted to him, as if scared of him. Or maybe not of him, but of him figuring out that Meg was not Orestes' daughter and the jig would be up. No one but Niobe, Hector, and Linus knew of Iolaus' impersonations. So, it would stand to reason that everyone in the kingdom, including Amphion, believed she was the daughter of Orestes, and heir apparent.

So, now there's a conspiracy? You really have to get out more, old man.

Hercules had left Arcas in the care of one of the Corinthian aides that had accompanied them and was walking in circles around the palace gardens for the last hour. He knew if he told Jason his theory, the former king would tell him exactly what he was telling himself: that he was being paranoid. He'd probably say a few other things, too, that would be a little more colorful and center on Hercules' obsessive tendencies and being a half god.

Hercules sighed. This is ridiculous. What am I going to do? Walk up to the queen and say, "Hey is that the illegitimate daughter of my best friend?" It would certainly make the trip more interesting.

Let it go. You have to let it go. Even if she is, you can't prove it and there's nothing you can do about it. Let it go, Hercules. Stop being crazy, and Let It Go.

He turned the corner of a large rose bush, intending to go back to the palace and see if Jason and Iphicles were on a break, when he caught a bundle of blond hair out of the corner of his eye, whipping around the next corner. Hercules narrowed his eyes and frowned. Don't do it, Herc. Turn around, and go back to your room.

He started to turn and go back to the castle, but then stopped himself. He tapped his foot on the ground, turned in a circle, and then started back up the path in the same direction.

He got two paces before turning around once again and heading off after what he was sure was little Meg, shaking his head and cursing at himself.

You idiot.

He turned another corner and found the young princess sitting in the dirt. The thin gold band that Hercules assumed was her crown was hanging lopsidedly on her head, and she had either lost or just plain gotten rid of her shoes. She was wearing the same fine, light blue dress that she'd been wearing earlier that day, only now the bottom was streaked with dirt. She was using her tiny hands to dig a small hole in one of the larger garden beds. "Hello!" she said happily, looking up as he approached. "You're Hercalees, right?"

Hercules smiled. "Yes. I'm Hercules."

"You're Arcas' daddy," she informed him, continuing to tear up the ground. "I didn't mean to take his toy. I just wanted to play a game."

Hercules crouched down next to her. "It's okay. So… your name is Meg, huh?"

She pushed her hair out of her eyes, her nose getting smudged with dirt. "Megara. But, I like being called Meg."

"How old are you, Meg?"

"Four," she answered, before yelling triumphantly and holding up a worm. She grinned at it, and then put it in Hercules' hand. "You can have that one." She immediately plunged her hands into the muck again.

"Thanks. You use these to go fishing."

"Hector and Linus go fishing. My mommy says I'm not allowed."

Hercules deposited the worm back in the dirt and stared down at her as she went back to her hunt. "Aren't you supposed to be in your room?"

She immediately stopped and regarded him with an air of suspicion. Hercules got the feeling that she was about to bolt. "I'm not going to tell on you. I just thought your mommy would be worried."

Meg shrugged. "She always worries about me."

"Well, that's kind of her job," he told her, smiling.

"You sound like Hector." Meg stopped digging and put her hands in her lap. She studied him for a moment with her big blue eyes, and then asked, "Did you know my daddy?"

Hercules almost lost his balance and fell on his rump. "What?" he asked, heart racing.

"I heard Hector and Linus talking after they took me back home. They said you knew him. He died before I was born."

Hercules let out a breath. Okay… so she meant Orestes. "Uh… no. I never got to meet King Orestes. But, my friend did."

"He did?" she asked, excitedly. "Who? Who was your friend?"

Hercules was starting to think this had been a bad idea. Of course it was a bad idea. You're trying to weasel information out of a four year old. You have officially reached a new low. "Ummm…"

Luckily, he was saved by the arrival of Niobe, who he spotted coming down the garden path at high speed. "Megara!"

"Uh, oh," the girl sighed. She got up, wiping her hands off on her dress as she did so.

"How did you get out of your room?" Niobe demanded through clenched teeth.

Meg didn't answer. Hercules rose to his feet as well, looking back and forth between them. "I was out walking and I spotted her. I was about to bring her back to the castle. Uh, how goes the negotiations?"

Regaining some of her composure, Niobe smiled at him. "We needed a little break. So, I decided to come get some air."

"Yeah, well… Jason can make any room feel stuffy." He had meant it to be a joke, but the queen just gave him a quizzical glance. "Never mind."

Niobe shook it off and then bent down to speak with her daughter. "Meg, I think you would be much happier back in the nursery."

Meg gave her a look that said she wasn't buying it. "No, I don't think so."

Hercules covered his mouth so neither of them would see his smile. Niobe sighed and tried again. "Don't you want to go back and be with Orion?"

"No," the girl answered truthfully, "I hate Orion."

"Megara. You do not hate your brother."

Meg again didn't respond, and Hercules could tell that Niobe was trying very hard to keep her regal cool in front of him. "Meg? How about I walk with you and your mom back to the castle. Would you like that?"

"Yay!" the girl exclaimed and took his hand. This time, Hercules did laugh at the exasperated expression on Niobe's face.

"They always do what their told, unless it's you telling them to do it," he said, making Niobe smile.

"Very true."

"Arcas is the same way. It's a phase. They're just trying to assert some independence."

They walked the garden grounds back to the castle in silence, Niobe only breaking it once they had reached the archway the lead back into the main hallways. "I have to say, I was surprised to see you here. Iphicles mentioned he would be bringing Jason as a consultant, but neither of them mentioned you."

"It was kind of a spur of the moment thing. Really, it was Arcas who talked me into it. He wanted to take a trip. But, I think we both needed to get out of the house."

"What is it that you're doing now?" Niobe asked him.

"Farming, mostly. I still help people, when I can. But, my main responsibility right now is Arcas."

"Do I have to go back to my room?" Meg whined. "Can't I see Arcas?"

Hercules tried to read Niobe's expression out of the corner of his eye. "Well, Arcas was asleep when I left-" They turned the corner to see Jason, and Arcas, coming down the hall toward them.

"Dad!" Arcas yelled, happily, tearing off in front of Jason.

"But now he's awake," Hercules finished. Meg wriggled of his hand and ran up to meet Arcas. "Uh, Jason?"

"He was up when I went to your room. He wanted to come looking for you," Jason explained. "I needed to stretch my legs anyway."

"I assume that the negotiations are ready to resume?" Niobe asked Jason, never taking her eyes of Meg and Arcas.

Jason suppressed a grimace. "Probably. Did you want to head back?" He followed Niobe's gaze. "And who's this?"

"Jason, this is Megara, my daughter."

"Ah, the famous Megara from the marketplace," Jason said, giving her a smile. "I heard you saved the day, young lady."

Meg giggled, but Arcas scowled. "I could have found my way back," he grumbled.

"That's what you get for running off in the first place." Jason shook his head. "Anyway… If you're ready, Your Majesty?"

Niobe kept throwing glances at Arcas and Meg, so Hercules stepped forward. "I don't mind watching her. She obviously wants to stay with Arcas, and I have a feeling that even if you don't agree, she'll find a way regardless."

This seemed to have the opposite effect and only make Niobe appear more nervous. She kept wringing her hands, and Hercules noticed that she was no longer looking at Meg, but at Iolaus' amulet that Hercules wore around his neck. "That's his, isn't it?" she asked.

Hercules and Jason exchanged glances. Both of them knew who she was referring to. "Yes. He gave it to me last year, before he left."

This brought Niobe up short. "What do you mean, before he left?" She looked extremely confused, and Hercules wasn't quite sure what to say. Of course she wouldn't know that he had gone to the East, but by the look on Niobe's face she was in complete and utter shock at what Hercules had said.

Before he could ask, they all turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. "There you are!" Iphicles said, hurrying over. "We're about to start again."

Niobe turned back to Hercules, who tried to look reassuring. "Seriously, she can stay with me. It's fine."

She finally nodded and allowed Iphicles to take her arm. "Behave yourself, please," she called back to Meg as they walked off.

Jason watched them go, and then turned to Hercules. "What was that about?"

"I'm not sure. If I didn't know any better, I would think she still thought he was…" but he trailed off, because he suddenly realized why what he said had sounded so strange. "Oh, no."

"Dead?" Jason asked, eyebrows going up. "You think she still thought he was dead?"

"I don't know. It was common knowledge, but with the other Iolaus and then him coming back, I'm sure some stories got confused. But, we can talk about it later. You better get going."

"Yeah, yeah," Jason grumbled, and followed Niobe and Iphicles. "We're all having dinner later together in the main hall. I think you're invited. You better not skip that, too. Amphion will be very disappointed if the great Son of Zeus doesn't join us."

Hercules just gave him a dismissive wave as he turned the corner and disappeared. So, Niobe thought Iolaus was dead, Meg may or may not be Iolaus' lovechild, and I'm having dinner with the royals. Should have just gone camping.