Legendary, Book One: Hercules

by StaceyLC

Plagued by dreams from his possession by Dahak, Iolaus travels to the lands of Chin and India in order to come to terms with what has happened to him, while Hercules remains in Greece to deal with some unexpected circumstances that have arose in Attica. Set twenty years after the end of the series and told through "flashbacks". Hercules, Iolaus, Jason, and some OCs

5. Chapter Five

Chapter Five

Then – Hercules

Hercules had decided about three hours into the fishing and camping trip that maybe four was a little too young to go on this sort of excursion. Or, that maybe, he was just getting too old.

At first, all Arcas had wanted to do was talk about what had happened the night before, but Hercules wouldn't allow it. "That's not your business," he said. "Why don't you tell me what you and Meg did instead?"

That got him going for a while, and Hercules half listened as they veered off the path and wound their way around the nearby forest, looking for a good place by a river or stream to set up camp and get to fishing. They trudged along, Hercules lifting and moving lower branches out of the way for Arcas as they went, while Arcas rambled on excitedly about the previous day's events.

"And then," he was saying, breathlessly, as he ducked under another low hanging branch, "Meg wanted to see if babies could fly, but I told her that it wasn't a good idea to try and put Orion out the window."

Hercules, still only half listening, did a double take and stopped in his tracks. "Wait, what?"

Arcas kept walking. "Oh, don't worry," he said, flippantly, "I told Moira what she wanted to do, and then she got in trouble and was mad at me for a while."

Hercules just shook his head and decided he didn't want to know after all.

The rest of the day was an extreme test of the limit of Hercules' patience and the shortness of his fuse. Arcas was distracted most of the time and didn't want to sit still long enough once Hercules had demonstrated what Iolaus had called "real fishing" to actually catch anything. Hercules resigned himself to the fact that he was probably just going to be tired and hungry for the rest of the day. And wet, he added, silently, as thunder rumbled in the distance. Arcas groaned in displeasure.

"Come on, Arcas. We need to collect some firewood before it starts raining." Hercules got up, and wiping dirt off his pants, motioned to Arcas to follow him as they made their way back to where they had left their gear. He showed Arcas what made good kindling and the different sized branches they could use, and then Hercules showed him how to dig a hole for the firewood and cover it with their gear as so it wouldn't get damp.

"Can't we just go back to the palace instead?" Arcas asked him.

"I thought you wanted to go camping. This is camping," Hercules told him, settling back down on the ground.

"The stories you told about you and Uncle Iolaus camping were a lot more fun," Arcas said, grumpily, making Hercules laugh.

"That's because I only tell you the good stories."

It wasn't soon after that the sky opened up on them, and the ground became so muddy that Hercules reluctantly decided to call it a day. Well, the mud, plus Arcas' whining about being cold. "You're going to need to toughen up, kid," he told him, playfully. Arcas wrinkled his nose at his father but made no comment. Spending so much time with Meg in the palace must have reminded him of being back in Kastus, because Arcas was not usually this obstinate.

By the time they got back, both of them were soaked through. The sky was an ugly black – they were going to be in for one heck of a storm. Hercules wrapped Arcas up in a blanket and deposited him down in front of the roaring flames of the hearth that he had got started when they first returned. "You get warmed up while I change."

Arcas gave him a curious look. "You only brought one pair of clothes."

"No, I didn't. I brought another shirt and pants."

"You brought two of the same clothes?"

Hercules sighed. The outfit jokes never get old… "You've been spending too much time with Jason."

Arcas shrugged in a way that said he disagreed, but inched closer to the fire and shook his hair out like a dog, sending water droplets everywhere. The move gave Hercules pause. Iolaus used to do the same thing. Arcas could feel him staring at him and looked back over. "What?"

Hercules shook his head. "Nothing. Just… try not to drip everywhere."

He changed into a dry version of his clothes and then pulled out a new tunic and pants for Arcas. Insisting he could get dressed himself, Hercules left him to it while he tried to wipe up all the puddles they had left around the guest room, only having to stop to help Arcas with the leather ties around his pants.

"I can do it myself," Arcas was saying as Hercules secured the knot.

"Arcas, if you walked out of here with those things tied like that your pants would be around your ankles. I don't think that's the look you were going for," Hercules said, making Arcas giggle.

There was a knock on their door, and Arcas ran over to it excitedly. "I'll get it!" He stood up on his toes and tried to wrench it open. When that failed, he sighed dramatically and said, instead, "Come in!"

He stepped back as Jason poked his head in. "Jason!" Arcas bounced up and down happily as the former king stepped through the door and engulfed him in a hug.

"You're back early," Jason observed, ruffling Arcas' hair affectionately.

"The trip got cancelled on account of rain." Hercules raised an eyebrow at his son. "And someone complaining about being too wet."

"Ha!" Jason snorted. "Arcas, you should hear about some of the places your father and I have slept-"

"Let's not," Hercules cut in, quickly, shutting the door behind Jason. "Kiddo, why don't you go play with your toys?"

Arcas pursed his lips. "You're trying to get rid of me so you can talk about grown up stuff."

"Yep. So… shoo." Arcas gave him one more defiant look before stomping off to the other corner of the room. "How'd it go?" Hercules asked Jason once Arcas started busying himself with digging his things out of their wet packs.

"Fine," Jason said, shrugging. "Iphicles is going to sign the peace plan, after the concessions are written in…"

"That's not what I meant."

"I know what you meant." Jason scratched at his chin, stalling. "That… went okay, too."

Hercules waited, but when Jason refused to elaborate, he raised his eyebrows. "It went okay?" he asked, slowly.

Jason nodded, coming around to sit by the fire. "Yep."

Hercules felt the fine threads of his patience slowly starting to unravel, and he pinched the bridge of his nose in an effort to stem the inevitable headache. "So, that's it?"

Jason glanced at him out of the corner of his eye, warming his hands. "What's it?"

"That's all you're going to say? She wasn't mad?"

"I didn't say that."

"So… she was mad?"

Jason didn't answer, and Hercules threw his hands up, exasperated. "Jason… was I right?"

"Do you think she actually told me that?"

"I don't know! I'm asking you."

More silence. Hercules saw Arcas staring at them and narrowed his eyes. "You keep playing," he ordered, and Arcas quickly looked away again.

"I'm going to tell you," Jason said, "the same thing I told you last night. It's out of your hands."

Hercules stubbornly refused to accept that. "It's not right."

"That's not for you to decide."

Hercules tapped his foot impatiently before stalking over and stepping in front of Jason, blocking the former king's view of the fire. "Jason," he said, deliberately, making his friend look up at him finally. "I need to know."

Jason stared at him a long moment before shaking his head and looking down at the floor. "What good is that going to do for you, Hercules?"

The demigod really didn't have a good answer for that. He wasn't quite sure he knew himself. He made an aggravated noise and ran his hand over his face. "I… don't know. Okay? I don't know. It's just… it's important."

Jason stood up and put a hand on his shoulder. "Having Meg isn't the same thing as having Iolaus back."

"I know that. That's not what this is." He looked over at Arcas quickly to make sure he was still amusing himself. Jason followed his gaze.

"Ah," he said, suddenly, making Hercules look at him curiously. "You think those two are going to be like you and Iolaus, don't you?"

Hercules blinked, taken aback. "What? Jason… no. I wasn't even thinking about that." And he really wasn't, truthfully, until Jason had brought it up. But now that he had… It would be amazing if it happened. They could grow up together, go to the Academy together… He stopped, noticing Jason's look, before he got carried away and started planning their future wedding. "I really wasn't even considering that until you said something."

"Great," Jason said, pained.

"But, it doesn't matter anyway right? Because… she didn't tell you anything, and I was wrong." He gave Jason a once over. "Right?"

Jason stared into the fire until Hercules was concerned the Argonaut was going to damage his eyesight. He sighed heavily, and looked the demigod in the eye. "I gave her my word I wouldn't tell you."

I knew it. "I knew it!" he exclaimed out loud. "I knew it."

"Hercules," Jason interrupted, "you know you can't say anything."

"Jason, she already knows that I know something-"

"She thinks you think you know something." Jason sighed, irritated, and sat back in the chair. "This is getting too complicated." He scowled into the fire again. "She said you were perceptive. Obsessive is more like it." But Hercules ignored him, pacing around the room excitedly. "And what, exactly, do you plan on doing with this information?"

"I haven't figured that out yet."

"Hmmm. Can I make a suggestion?"

"No."

"I suggest," Jason continued, as if Hercules hadn't spoken, "that you pack up your things and head back to Corinth and pretend nothing happened."

Hercules stopped and acted like he was considering it. "No, that's not it." He went back to pacing, his hand on his chin, lost in thought.

"Gods give me strength," Jason muttered. "You're going to start a war, you know that?"

"Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm not the one being ridiculous here."

Hercules shot him a look of extreme irritation. "I haven't even done anything yet."

"Yes. 'Yet' being the key word."

"Come on, Jason, give me some credit. Do you really think I'm going to storm into the throne room and demand that she tell everyone that Meg is Iolaus'?" At Jason's lack of a response, Hercules shook his head angrily. "Thanks."

"Hercules, you've been acting so strangely since we got here that, no, I can honestly say I have no idea what you're thinking."

"I've been acting strangely because they've been acting strangely." He snapped his fingers suddenly. "Hector and Linus."

Jason's eyebrows went up. "Excuse me?"

"Hector and Linus. I haven't seen much of them since we got here, since yesterday in the market. Have you?"

"No…"

"Huh. That's weird. I think I'll go find them."

Jason groaned and grabbed Hercules' arm before he could head out the door. "Hercules, please."

"Jason," Hercules said, firmly, "I know what you're going to say. And… you're probably right." Jason looked surprised at that. "I just… I can't let this happen. Meg should know her father."

"Hercules, this is not worth ruining someone's life!"

"How is this going to ruin her life?"

"Because, I told you, it's not just about Meg. This concerns Niobe, and Attica."

"It's stupid. What does it matter if it was Iolaus and not Orestes who got everyone to sign the damned peace plan?" Hercules demanded, angrily. "It was still Niobe and Orestes' idea, wasn't it?"

"Yes. But, that doesn't explain what she was doing sleeping with Iolaus when she was supposed to be burying her husband!" Jason snapped back.

"What are you talking about?"

They both jumped and turned at the sound of Arcas' voice, both having forgotten he was there. Damn, Hercules thought, worriedly. I wonder how much of that he picked up.

"Uh, nothing," Jason said, trying to brush him off. "Grown up stuff."

"Like what?" Arcas asked, innocently.

"Um… how babies are made. Ow!" He glared at Hercules and rubbed the spot on his arm where the demigod had hit him. "Well, it's sort of true."

"Are you out of your mind?" Hercules hissed through clenched teeth but to his surprise, Arcas just shrugged, unimpressed.

"Meh, I know about that already."

Hercules' eyes doubled in size. "You do?"

"Sure. The gods send a giant bird made out of a lightning bolt, and it hits the girl, and it's like, BAM!" He slammed his hands together in demonstration. "And then a baby pops out."

Hercules and Jason exchanged glances, and then both immediately nodded vigorously. "Yes," his father agreed. "That's exactly right. Go… sit back down over there, okay?" Arcas shrugged but did as he was told. Hercules let out a relieved breath. "That was close. He almost gave me a heart attack." He looked over at Arcas, and then at the door. "Keep an eye on him for me, will you, Jason?"

"Now, hang on a minute-" But Hercules was already closing the door behind him. Jason held up a finger at Arcas, and instructed him to stay put before running after Hercules into the hall. "Hey! Hercules, get your ass back over here."

"I'm just going to find Hector and Linus and have a nice chat."

"You are acting like a lunatic!" Jason whispered harshly, catching up to him.

"Jason, I can't sit by, or go back home, and just pretend like everything is okay. I can't. Iolaus…" Hercules paused, looking around, and then continued, more quietly, "Iolaus is my best friend. I owe him this."

"You owe him what, exactly?"

"A chance to know his daughter. That's all I'm asking."

"And you think Hector or Linus is just going to go convince Niobe to let that happen?" Jason asked incredulously. "You're unbelievable!"

"I don't know. But, I'm going to find out." He put a hand on Jason's shoulder. "I need you to trust me, okay? And watch Arcas for a little bit."

Jason looked like he really wanted to argue, and probably beat some sense into his stepson while he was at it, but he stepped back. "Fine. I'm obviously not going to be able to talk you out of it."

"No."

"Just try to remember, if you do this and it gets out, this little house of cards you're playing with might just come crashing down on everyone, Hercules. And someone is going to get hurt."

"Nice metaphor. And, I'm trying to avoid someone getting hurt, Jason."

Jason frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. "This is going to be hard for you to accept, and I mean it with love, because he's my friend, too… but, Iolaus is not more important than Niobe, or Meg, or anyone else here."

Hercules didn't even spare Jason a look on that one. "He is to me."

---

Now

Iolaus sat by himself in the kitchen, trying to ignore the whispered conversation between Hercules and Arcas in the next room. He drummed his fingers on the table distractedly, and took a better look around Alcmene's old house while he waited. Other than it being a lot bigger, Iolaus didn't think much had changed. There were less womanly touches, but that was bound to happen with three men living there.

Iolaus wasn't sure what to do. From the moment they had stepped inside, whatever joyful feelings he and Hercules had had out on the patio had instantly evaporated. Awkward, Iolaus thought, laughing to himself. Arcas had said it was going to be awkward. He wasn't kidding.

The things he had learned had taught him not to dwell on the past. It was done; there was nothing to do about it. He must focus on the present. But, all he and Hercules had was the past. He had expected for things to have changed, but this life that Hercules had been living with Arcas… he didn't know where he fit in it now. He suddenly felt more like an intruder than an old friend coming home, and it disturbed him.

There was also something more going on with Hercules. The way that Arcas had rushed in angrily… while it wasn't unexpected, it did hurt. It also hurt to see Hercules with a grown man for a son; a son that Iolaus didn't know. He and Hercules had talked in the past about having families again, but, they had always said they'd remain a part of each other's lives, spend time with each other's children. And here Hercules had been, a single father, raising a son alone. And Iolaus had no clue who Arcas was. It was something that was going to have to change, now that he was back.

If Hercules let him, he realized, with a pang. The demigod had been acting strangely, and he seemed… angry. Not overtly, and it probably would have gone unnoticed by someone else, but Iolaus knew. It was under the surface somewhere, simmering away. Iolaus didn't blame him. He wasn't an idiot. He'd been gone a long time. It had killed a part of him not to be able to write to Hercules, but it had been part of the deal once he had gotten to the temple. Leave all things behind…

He remembered he had sat there for days in front of the parchment, refusing to eat, refusing to speak, refusing to write what they wanted him to write. He hadn't moved, not even to go back to his cot and sleep. Every day they came to get the scroll, and every day it was blank. He didn't remember when it was that he finally broke down, only how it had felt. And then, that was it. His training had begun. Iolaus was surprised how vividly he remembered all of that. It had been so long ago, and so much had happened since then.

Iolaus came back to himself at the sound of footfalls, and looked up to see Arcas standing over him. He didn't look happy.

"I have been instructed to tell you that I'm sorry for yelling at you," he said, blandly, "and that, apparently, I would like to go for a walk."

Iolaus smiled at him knowingly, and peered around Arcas to see Hercules watching the both of them like a hawk. "I get it," he told him.

"Good, because if you hurt him, I'll kill you," Arcas said, straight faced, and smacked Iolaus lightly on the arm. "Have fun." He waved over his shoulder at his father and then headed out the door.

Iolaus watched the door slam shut, eyebrows raised, and then turned back around to see Hercules sitting back down across from him.

"He's just kidding," the demigod said, wearily.

"No, he's not," Iolaus said, rubbing the back of his neck in that old, familiar gesture, "but, it's okay. He's a good kid. You've um… you've done really well for yourself." Hercules didn't respond. Iolaus tried to read his expression, but found he couldn't. "I meant what I said earlier," he began, warily, "about… how I shouldn't have come here thinking everything was going to be the same. I'm not that naive. Things aren't the same. And…I get that."

Hercules frowned and tried to find something else to look at. "I don't want you to think that I'm not happy you're back, Iolaus. It's just… when I dreamt about how it would be when you got home, it was more like… five years or six years later. Not… twenty years later. And, a lot has happened. I've changed… I've changed a lot, actually. And, it's pretty obvious you have, too." He looked back over at Iolaus and waved a hand at him. "And I'm not talking about your hair. There's something different about you."

"That's because I am different," Iolaus told him truthfully. "Herc… when I left… I wasn't me. I know that's hard to understand, but… inside I felt wrong somehow. And, I wasn't planning on staying away so long. I really wasn't. But the things I was doing, and learning…" He trailed off and shook his head, looking away. "I dunno." Suddenly, he didn't feel like trying to explain.

Hercules sat back in his chair, arms folded, listening intently. When it became clear Iolaus wasn't going to elaborate, he asked, "So, what made you come home?"

Iolaus took a breath. Well, here goes nothing… "You," he answered, truthfully. He didn't know what to expect from Hercules by way of a response, but the bitter laughter that escaped from the demigod's mouth was definitely not it.

"Me?" Hercules asked, in disbelief. "Oh, come on, Iolaus."

Iolaus blinked, hurt. Hercules' tone of voice was harsh, and it stung. For a moment he wasn't sure how to respond, but then he decided to let it go. He had prepared for something like this, after all. "It's true. Look, I had to spend a long time learning how not to think about you-"

"Ah, well… sorry about that. Do you want to know how long it took me to not think about you?"

Iolaus didn't answer, and Hercules didn't expect him to. Instead, Hercules rubbed the bridge of his nose tiredly and shook his head. "I-I'm sorry, okay? This wasn't what I thought I was going to be doing tonight, that's all. When I woke up this morning, uh… seeing you was not high on my list of expectations. I had actually given up on it, to be honest."

Iolaus was startled. Did Hercules just say he gave up? What the hell was going on over here while I was gone? Hercules didn't give up. That was part of his thing. But, looking at Hercules now, Iolaus could tell he was serious. And, with sadness, he knew he was partly responsible. Iolaus took a deep breath. You knew this was a possibility. Just… relax. Let him get it out. "When," he began, and then cleared his throat, "uh, when did that happen? The… giving up part?"

Hercules stared at nothing, not answering, and the two of them sat in silence together, neither one knowing what to say. Finally, Hercules turned back to face him, and he suddenly looked very old. "After the first decade," he answered, emotionlessly. "But, hey… life had to go on, right?"

Iolaus felt the temperature in the room drop about twenty degrees with that statement. He had expected some yelling, or Hercules even flatly refusing to talk about it and just storming off, like he used to. But, not this… this cold, deep seated anger. It wasn't like him. Iolaus looked down at the table, suddenly extremely fascinated by the wood grain. "Do you want me to go?" he asked, quietly. He looked up to see Hercules staring at him as if he'd grown another head.

"No, Iolaus, of course I don't want you to go! What kind of question is that?"

Iolaus stared, dumbfounded. "I'm confused. I thought-"

"Iolaus, I don't want you to go. But… you need to give me some time," Hercules told him. "I'm angry, okay? I am. I had forgotten just how angry I was, actually. And I really just don't understand why you had to be gone for so long."

Iolaus reached across the table and put his hand on Hercules' arm. "And, I can't blame you for that." Hercules was looking at his hand like it was something foreign, and Iolaus tried to swallow the sadness that had started welling up. "And, I want to tell you everything. But, it's going to take a while. I know this isn't going to be easy. I get that. But... I'm back now. For real. And, if you don't want me to leave, I won't."

Hercules finally reached over and put his hand on top of Iolaus', giving it a squeeze. "No, I don't want you to leave. That's the last thing I want you to do. And I am happy you're home. It's just..."

"Yeah," Iolaus agreed, "I know." He sat back in his chair, and started chuckling to himself. Hercules stared at him, a frown creasing his forehead.

"What?"

"Nothing… Arcas just said something outside, before you came out. About how this whole night was going to be super awkward." He laughed harder, but Hercules was still frowning.

"He said that, huh?"

"Yeah… why? What's the matter?"

Hercules didn't answer. He just kept staring at the door, as if his eyes could burn a hole through it. "He's out of line."

"Don't be so hard on him, Hercules."

"No, this is for me to deal with. For… us to deal with. He's not usually like this. I'm sorry."

Iolaus was about to tell him to stop apologizing, but he knew it would be useless. That part of Hercules, it seemed, hadn't changed a bit. It actually kind of made him happy to know there was something that was still the same. "Well… I like him. He puts you in your place."

Hercules snorted. "That used to be your job."

Aaaaand we're back. "Herc-"

"Forget it," Hercules said, shortly. Iolaus pursed his lips but didn't argue. His willingness to back down surprised Hercules, and he looked at him more closely across the table. "You really have changed a lot."

Iolaus wasn't sure, but the statement sounded almost… defeated. He wanted to ask why Hercules was acting like this, but that would have been redundant. Just be patient. Give him some time. "Anyway," Iolaus said, trying to turn the conversation around to something else, anything else, "is that what he was going on about? Or, was he talking about something different?"

For a moment Hercules looked confused, as if he had no idea what Iolaus was talking about. But then a look of realization came across his face, and he started shifting in his chair, suddenly very uncomfortable. "Uh… no. There's… something else." He scratched at something on his chest, and Iolaus stared at it as if really noticing Hercules for the first time. Hercules glanced around, as if expecting something or someone to be behind him. "What?"

"My amulet. You're not wearing it." Iolaus wasn't sure how to feel about that. He guessed he shouldn't have been surprised, but it was still hard to swallow.

Hercules' hand slowly stopped moving across his chest, and his eyes widened. "Shit," he said, softly, making Iolaus stare in shock. The Hercules he knew almost never cursed.

"Uh… okay." Iolaus was looking at him strangely. "Are you sure you're all right? You look sick." He nervously rubbed his hands on his pants, and started to get up. "Maybe we should just stop for the night. We've, uh… both had pretty long days."

"No, no… it's fine. Your amulet… yeah." Hercules took a deep, unsteady breath, and Iolaus could tell he was stalling. Which meant Hercules was about to tell him something that he was not going to like.

"Did you lose it?" he asked him, making Hercules scowl darkly at him, affronted.

"No, I didn't lose it, Iolaus! What the hell? You think I would really lose something like that? It belonged to your father!"

Iolaus spread his arms, and said, placating, "Okay, okay, sorry… It's just, well… where is it? I, uh, would kind of like it back. It felt weird for a while, not having it on."

Hercules' eyes kept darting around the room, as if he expected some of the décor to spring to life and help him out. "Uh… so about that. I, uh… gave it to Meg, actually."

That threw Iolaus for a loop. He blinked a few times, not understanding. "Huh?" That doesn't make any sense. "Why on earth would you give it to Arcas' friend?"

Hercules was looking more and more uneasy, and Iolaus began to get suspicious. He picked some bread up off his plate and pulled it apart, giving Hercules a knowing look. "Herc… what's going on? Look, I can understand why Arcas is angry with me. He's your son, and he's just doing his job. Hell, I'd be more concerned if he didn't want to kick my ass. But whatever is going on with you is more than…" he gestured between them, "whatever this is between the two of us right now. And I'm guessing it has to do with this girl?" When Hercules made no move to argue, he asked, deliberately, "Why did you give her my amulet?"

Hercules cleared his throat. "We have a lot to talk about," he said, lamely, and Iolaus just nodded in agreement, his eyes focused on Hercules with extreme interest.

"Uh, huh."

Hercules could tell he was not going to let it go that easily, and his stomach started clenching in a panic. He had really not planned on doing this right now, and he decided to blame Arcas for stirring up trouble, because that was easier. That kid never knows when to back off and let me handle things, he thought, callously, and then laughed because he realized his son got that from him. He noticed that Iolaus was staring at him cautiously, and tried to stop the hysterics he knew were coming on. Come on, Hercules, get a grip. You didn't have this much trouble telling Niobe you knew she was a liar. Suddenly, that seemed a lot easier than having to tell Iolaus the truth, and he knew why. Iolaus was going to be absolutely furious, and what little ground they had gotten back over the past few hours was going to be destroyed. And in a righteous way, Hercules felt that only he had a right to be angry right now. Iolaus was the one who had been gone, dammit, and Hercules had been the one here dealing with all of it. This wasn't his fault.

Iolaus gave him a blank stare and threw the bread back down. "Okay, can we skip over this whole song and dance of you trying to avoid whatever it is you've got to tell me?"

"That's not what I'm doing."

"It's not? Because you have that face."

Hercules pressed his lips into a thin line, beginning to get annoyed again. "What face?"

"The 'I have something to tell Iolaus but I know it will make him upset so I am going to put it off as long as possible' face."

Hercules raised an eyebrow. "I have a 'face'?"

"When you're trying to avoid telling me something, yes, you do have a face. It's the same face you gave me when I woke up in the Underworld and I had to figure out for myself that I was dead."

Hercules winced. "Oh. That face." He sighed. "Um, okay… so Meg."

"Uh, huh…?"

"Remember earlier when you thought it was weird that everyone kept saying that I was in Attica all the time?"

"….Yes."

"Well, that's because… Meg is from Attica."

Iolaus gave him a wide eyed look that clearly said that he was seriously concerned for the demigod's mental wellbeing. "Okaaay. And that's why you gave her my amulet? Because she's from Attica? Why would you…" He stopped and blinked a few times, and Hercules was half hoping he had figured it out on his own. But then Iolaus just shook his head, starting to laugh, and picked up some more olives and duck to put on his plate. "Oh, come on. Get serious, Hercules. What," he said, in disbelief, "are you going to try and tell me that Meg's my secret illegitimate daughter with Niobe or something? Ha!" He did laugh at that, and shot an incredulous look over at Hercules, assuming his friend was playing some kind of sick joke. "Gods. Wouldn't that be terrible?" Iolaus laughed again, popping some olives into his mouth, but then stopped and looked at Hercules suspiciously once he realized that the demigod's expression hadn't changed. "Uh, Herc? Why aren't you laughing?"

Hercules looked like he wished he could be anywhere else, and he insanely hoped that somehow the floor would just open up and swallow him whole. Iolaus' smile slowly started fading when he realized in horrid fascination that what he had said in jest was horribly, and absolutely, not a joke at all, but some kind of terrible truth. The blood drained from his face, and he dropped his food like it had burnt him. He suddenly felt like he was about to be seriously ill. "Oh," he said, weakly, "oh, my gods. Oh, gods…" He put his head in his hands and looked down at the floor, breathing heavily. "This isn't happening…" Iolaus tried to get himself back under control, worried he was going to start hyperventilating. I can't believe this. He wouldn't, he wouldn't do this to me, he wouldn't… He was still trying to convince himself that it was all just some terrible mistake that it took him a second to realize that Hercules had started talking again.

"Look, this is not how I intended for this evening to go. And, I know it's a shock, but if you'll let me explain… whoa, wait, what are you doing?" Hercules asked in alarm, because Iolaus had gotten up and was pacing back and forth, and, to Hercules' astonishment, had started muttering rapidly in another language under his breath. Whatever he was saying, it sounded angry. And it was definitely directed at him. Oh, boy… Hercules thought miserably.

"Iolaus, just… sit down, okay? I can explain." But Iolaus whirled around to face him, and there was such a fire in his eyes that Hercules involuntarily flinched.

"How long?" Iolaus demanded in Greek again, the words deep and low in his throat.

Hercules tried to play dumb. "I don't-"

"Don't do that! It's insulting, to both of us! How long did you know about this, Hercules?" Iolaus took a step toward him and Hercules pushed his seat back. He realized that he had lost all control of the situation, and tried, in vain, to regain it again.

"Iolaus, if you'll just-"

"Answer me!" he bellowed, fists clenched.

Hercules swallowed. Iolaus was seething, and no matter what he said or did, the demigod knew this was a fight he was not going to win. He took a deep breath, and, mentally preparing for the explosion that was about to follow, reluctantly admitted, "About a year after you left."

As expected, Iolaus did not take that well.

---

Then – Hercules

Hector whistled jauntily to himself as he completed his afternoon rounds. He would be glad when the delegation from Corinth was on their way home. Not that he didn't like King Iphicles, or Jason, but having so many extra people in the palace made him nervous. Anything could happen. Like running into the son of Zeus in the marketplace, for starters.

Hector sighed. He had not handled that well. He had still been in a fluster over the princess going missing – again – and then running into Hercules, and having Meg run up with Hercules' son, just about stopped his heart. He realized, looking back on it now, that he probably raised the man's suspicion by acting so oddly when Hercules brought up Iolaus. But, he just hadn't been prepared.

The old soldier frowned. Iolaus had been a good man. Hector hadn't necessarily agreed with the Queen's decision to pass Megara off as Orestes', but it wasn't his place to argue. All that mattered was making sure that she was pronounced heir. Iolaus was Orestes' cousin, after all, and so Meg had more claim to the throne than even Niobe, and especially more than any of her and Amphion's children. He shook his head at the thought of Amphion. He really disliked that man.

Lost in his thoughts, Hector turned a corner and ran smack into something solid and warm. He backed up, startled, and when his eyes came back into focus, he found himself staring into a yellow tunic. Uh, oh. His eyes continued up, until they rested on Hercules' face.

"Hi," the demigod said, cheerily. "We need to talk."

---

"I told Niobe I didn't think it was a wise idea, that it wasn't right, having Meg grow up thinking she was someone she's not, but… there really didn't seem to be any other way."

Hector and Hercules were in the soldier's quarters where they could have some privacy. "Because of the peace accord between all the kingdoms," Hercules droned, getting kind of tired of hearing it. But Hector shook his head.

"Not only that, but – and I would never speak ill of Niobe, or Iolaus – her having a child with an imposter, well… it would have been a scandal." He poured himself a cup of wine and took a generous sip. "I felt bad for Niobe. Orestes... I knew him his whole life, and he was my king. He ended up being a good man, in the end, but I fear the damage had already been done between them. She was heartbroken when she discovered our deception with Iolaus, and he, Linus, and I felt terrible for having to put her through that. She really did love Iolaus, Hercules. What happened between them… it was inevitable, once Orestes had been killed. I hope you don't think poorly on either of them. And I'm sure producing a child was not either of their intent."

Hercules kept his feelings on that subject to himself. He didn't know Niobe well enough to comment, but Iolaus was a different story. Just once, Iolaus, it would have been nice if you could have kept it in your pants. I guess that's too much to ask. He frowned inwardly. Usually when he thought those kinds of things, it was with a touch of humor. But… Hercules found himself more than a little frustrated and annoyed with his friend. They wouldn't even be in this situation, if… No. It takes two people to make a child, Hercules. You can't throw this all on Iolaus, or all on Niobe. "They were both stupid," he muttered, and didn't realize he had said it out loud until Hector chuckled, softly.

"Love makes people do all sorts of stupid things, Hercules, as I'm sure you probably know."

Hercules thought about all the temples he had destroyed after Deianeira and the kids' deaths, about how he had used his accidental trip back in time with the Chronos stone to save Serena, and about the horrible depression, rage, and self-loathing that had consumed him after Iolaus had died. "Yeah… I know." He gazed out across the room, not really looking anything, before asking, "Do you think Amphion knows?"

Hector snorted. "Absolutely not. The marriage probably wouldn't have happened if he thought Meg illegitimate. And he would have never allowed Niobe to declare her the heir to Attica once Niobe found out she was going to have Orion."

"What is it with those two? Forgive my asking, but…" He held his hands up. "I just don't get it."

"A marriage of convenience, much like the one between her and Orestes," Hector said, sadly. "Unfortunately, for those in positions of royalty, that is the only marriage that they can have. I think that's why Niobe held on so strongly to Iolaus."

"Did she even give Orestes a chance?" Hercules couldn't help but ask.

Hector shrugged and shook his head. "I don't know. Perhaps, in time, if Xenon hadn't pulled off his cowardly assassination… she may have realized that he had changed and that Orestes could have been a good husband, and a good father. But… we will never know now." He looked sad, and Hercules immediately felt guilty.

"I'm… sorry. I didn't mean to imply-" but Hector waved at him dismissively.

"Orestes was a drunk and a womanizer for a long time. Niobe knew that Orestes far longer than she knew the one she was married to." He sighed and straightened his uniform. "I have to ask you, Hercules… what are you going to do now? You know that I cannot allow word of this to reach the people of Attica, or Amphion."

"I know… It's complicated, I know." Hercules rubbed a hand over his forehead, tiredly. "I don't know what I'm going to do now, Hector. Iolaus… I can't describe to you what he means to me. He's my best friend, he's my brother. I owe him my life."

"I feel the same way about my men."

"No… I mean, of course, I'm sure you do. I've lived the life of a soldier, back in the war against Parthia, and in Troy. But, Iolaus and I… it's more than that." He stopped, seeing the expression on Hector's face, and tried to repress the aggravated sigh that was about to escape his lips. "No, not that either."

"I wasn't going to say anything," the soldier said, placating. Hercules didn't dignify that with a response.

"Look… I've known Iolaus my whole life. I know him better than anyone. And, I already see so much of him in Meg. What is she going to learn about ruling from hearing stories about Orestes? She has a wonderful role model in her mother, don't get me wrong… but… she's going to ask about him. Are you really going to lie to her even more?"

"That, unfortunately, is not my decision to make, Hercules," Hector said.

"You're right. It's Niobe's. But… you're more of an advisor to her. A friend. Surely you could-"

"I could do what? Make her tell the truth? It would be a disaster. There are so many different pieces in play, Hercules. The peace plan, her marriage to Amphion, who would rule Attica… No. What's done is done."

For some reason, hearing someone other than Jason say it hit home for Hercules. Hector was right. What was he trying to do here? Ruin someone's marriage? Take away any chance Meg may have to be a good queen? It wasn't his right to make those kinds of choices, even if he didn't agree with how he thought it was being handled. And Iolaus… he was gone. He was in the East. Nothing Hercules could do here would have any effect on his friend. If Iolaus came back, that would be a different story. When, Hercules corrected himself, firmly. When Iolaus gets back.

This was going to be the hardest thing Hercules ever had to walk away from, but, like Hector said… there were just too many pieces in play. He couldn't force his way on this one. The idea left him cold and empty inside. Maybe Jason was right… he was trying to convince everyone to see his side because then he'd be able to spend time with Meg, tell her about Iolaus, when – even if he somehow convinced Niobe to let Meg know the truth – he didn't even know if they would allow him to be part of her life. And Hercules had Arcas to take care of. He wasn't responsible for raising his friend's child as well. The whole situation was depressing, and Hercules wished that he had never come to Attica, had just told Arcas no and let the boy have his temper tantrum and get over it. He didn't want to know this information, not anymore.

"Hercules?" Hector was saying. "What are you going to do?"

The demigod let out a breath and shook his head, sadly. "Nothing. It doesn't look like there's anything I can do."

"What about Iolaus?"

Hercules gave Hector a confused look. "What do you mean, what about Iolaus?"

"You're not going to tell him?" Hector asked in disbelief.

The truth was, deep down, Hercules had been secretly considering it, and the hell with what Iolaus had said about not coming after him. But he honestly wasn't sure what kind of purpose that would serve, and he said as much. "What help would that be?" he asked Hector. "Would it be better for him to come storming in here and cause a scene with Niobe?"

"No…"

"Then either way, someone loses. Whether it's Meg, or Iolaus. This entire thing is just screwed up. The whole thing with him pretending to be Orestes to begin with was screwed up. I guess… I guess it couldn't have ended well, no matter what happened. I just… I just wish there was a way for her to know her father. Because… well… he's someone worth knowing."

Hector shrugged, at a loss. "But, he's not here."

Hercules clenched a fist, the frustration and emotions of the last few days starting to be too much. With effort, he unclenched his hand and made himself calm down. "You're right," he said, quietly. "He's not."

---

The storm continued to rage outside the palace walls, but to Hercules, it couldn't compare to the one that was going on inside himself. He had told Jason about his conversation with Hector and that he had decided, for the moment, the soldier and Jason were right.

"I don't like it either, Hercules," Jason said, trying to console him. "I really don't. But, it's not our place."

"I was thinking about sending for Iolaus," Hercules admitted, absently turning the poker in the fire. He waited for a sharp response from Jason but none came. "You're not going to try and talk me out of that?"

They were alone back in Hercules' room. Arcas had been sent off to the nursery to be with Meg since, to Hercules' disdain, this was probably going to be the last time they saw each other. It made his heart break.

Jason shrugged, grabbing another log and throwing it into the hearth, making little sparks fly out and onto the cold stone floor. "I can't tell you what to do with him. I could try, but you'll just ignore me."

"And figure it out for myself that you were right all along?" Hercules muttered, darkly.

"Something like that. This is a no win situation, Hercules. Do you think you should write to him? He asked you not to."

"He said not to come looking for him. And, he didn't know about this when he said that."

"And if he's not ready to come home?"

Hercules stared at him in astonishment. "You really think he'd stay there if I tell him what's going on?"

Jason shrugged. "I'm not sure. He had a lot to work though, when he left."

"You're crazy," Hercules told him, shaking his head. "Iolaus wouldn't do that."

Jason didn't respond, and Hercules felt his mood continuing to go downhill. "I should have just stayed home," he said, finally.

"Don't say that," Jason said, but he didn't sound convinced.

"Really, Jason, what would I have missed out on? Having to carry all this stuff around? I get to go home now and pretend that none of this ever happened. I have to tell Arcas, 'No, you can't come here anymore'. What good possibly came from all of this?" He threw the poker down angrily and it clattered to the floor, making Jason wince. He got up and said, more softly, "I never should have come here."

"You got out of the house. You took your son fishing, and you had a good time doing it. You were actually smiling for a change," Jason told him, following Hercules and getting up. "It showed you that Arcas will be okay without you hovering over him every five seconds. And it showed you that you can have a conversation about Iolaus without wanting to break something."

"That last part's not entirely true," Hercules corrected, thinking of the mirror.

"Well… yeah, but the rest is. Hercules, this hurts me, too. But we can't go around interfering with people's lives. That's not something that you stand for, remember?"

Hercules pressed his lips together and glanced around the room. "I'll just be happy when we can get out of here," he said, sadly. "It's like… it's like I lost him all over again." He found himself clenching his fists again, and this time, he didn't try to push away his anger. "I'm going for a walk," he said, sharply, and walked over to the door.

"In this?" Jason asked, gesturing outside.

"Sure. Why not?"

Oh, brother. Jason glanced outside and then back at Hercules nervously. "Is that really a good idea?"

"I don't really care."

Jason put a hand on his shoulder. The last time he had seen Hercules like this was when he'd gotten the scroll from Iolaus. He'd run off then, too, gotten his hand smashed up, and had also gotten a son. Jason doubted this was going to end as well as that first situation had.

"Don't," Hercules said before Jason could talk him out of it. "There's nothing for it, Jason. I just… I can't deal with this right now."

"What about tonight? You know Amphion's going to want you at that celebration."

Hercules laughed bitterly. The mere idea of him going to a party and having to stand around with Niobe and pretend nothing was wrong made him want to violently attack something. "I'm not going to that thing."

"But-"

"I'm not going. Make up some excuse. I really don't care what it is. Tell him I broke the damn mirror in your room, I don't know. The last thing I want to do right now is smile and look happy and pretend everything is all right in front of my brother, Amphion, and Niobe. Just… leave me alone, Jason. I'm sorry. I can't be around anybody right now."

And before Jason could argue any further, he swiftly stepped outside and slammed the door roughly behind him.

---

Meg stared glumly out of the nursery window, watching the rain roll off the stained glass and down into the courtyard. "This is so boring!"

Arcas glanced up at her from his seat on the floor. "Yeah," he agreed, sighing. "I was supposed to be camping with my dad." He was starting to wish he had just sucked it up with his father and stayed outside, because Meg's mood was almost as bad as the storm. "He and my Uncle Iolaus used to do it all the time."

Meg hopped down off the cushioned chair she was standing on and came to sit beside her friend. "Where is he now?"

"Who? Iolaus?" Arcas shrugged. "My dad says he's on vacation."

"Vacation from camping?"

"I guess."

"What does your daddy do?" Meg asked him, scooting closer.

"He helps people. Jason says he's a great hero. People come and ask him for help all the time."

"Is Jason a hero, too?"

Arcas nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah. They were on the… Argo. Yeah, the Argo together. Jason, my dad, and Iolaus. They had to get the golden fleece."

"What's that?"

"Some ugly sheep skin that my Uncle Iphicles keeps on the wall."

Meg pondered that. "Oh."

"My dad and Iolaus used to camp all the time, and travel around on adventures, and help people together," Arcas said, proudly.

"Sounds fun. We should do that." She nodded firmly to herself. "Yes. We should do that." She stood up and grabbed Arcas' hand.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Arcas asked as she pulled him to the door.

"Going on an adventure!"

Uh, oh. "What, right now?" Arcas tried to pry his hand from Meg's grip.

"Of course! Hey, what's an Argo?"

Arcas glanced over at the servant girl Moira, trying to get her attention, but she was busy fussing over Meg's baby sister Ariana. "Uh... a ship."

"Oh." Meg stopped long enough to put a finger on her lip, as if she was deep in thought. "We'll have to find one of those," she decided, and continued to pull Arcas toward the nursery room door.

Arcas planted his feet and refused to budge. "Meg, we can't go on an adventure."

"Why? Are you afraid?" she asked him, making his cheeks burn.

"No, I'm not!" he said, hotly.

"We won't get in trouble," Meg assured him. "I leave all the time."

Arcas gaped at her. "But you do get in trouble!"

Meg stared at him and then shrugged dismissively. "Well… this time I won't get caught."

"No, Meg! I can't go!"

"Why? It will be fun!"

"Because," Arcas told her, "my dad will come looking for me, because we're leaving tomorrow."

Meg stopped in her tracks, letting go of Arcas' hand. He had still been trying to pull free and almost tripped over himself when she suddenly let go. "What do you mean?" she asked, softly.

Arcas rubbed his hand and tried to avoid looking at her. "My dad says we have to go home tomorrow. Jason and Uncle Iphicles are done, so… we have to go."

Meg stared at him with a strange expression on her face, and Arcas felt something like electricity start running up his arms. He quickly tried to throw up the mental shields he had been practicing. This is going to be bad, he thought, and he wasn't disappointed, as Meg clenched her tiny fists and stamped loudly on the floor.

"No!" she shouted, shaking her head, making her curls fly around her as if they had a mind of their own. "It's not fair! I just got you! You can't leave!"

"I'm sorry," Arcas said, sadly. "I don't want to go." He tried to reach for her hand again but she jerked away and ran toward the door. "Wait!" He didn't want to tell on her, but he didn't know what else to do. "Moira, Meg is running away!" He briefly caught a glimpse of the hurt look on Meg's face before she pried a board loose on the large wooden door of the nursery and slipped out and into the hall. Despite the situation, Arcas was impressed. She's going to have to teach me some of this stuff, he decided. If she ever talks to me again.

The servant girl came running over to Arcas, looking around the room wildly. "Arcas, what happened? Where did she go?"

Arcas pointed at the door. "She ran away, out there."

Baffled, Moira ran over to the door and wrenched it open. "Arcas, stay here and don't move!" she ordered.

Outside, another thunderclap sounded and Arcas flinched. He felt his throat closing and squeezed his eyes shut. No, I am not going to cry. He felt helpless, and he wanted his father. He started to make his way over to the door, but stopped, biting his lip. Orion and Ariana were still in here. He couldn't leave them alone.

He padded over to the crib and peered into it. The baby girl was asleep. Orion was in the next crib over, happily gnawing away on the wooden bars. They're smaller than me. I have to watch them now. He sighed and sank to the floor, putting his chin in his hands. Dad, he thought, hopelessly, where are you?

---

The rain was cold and biting, but Hercules barely even felt it. He gave the sky a laconic glare and kept walking down the path, not really paying attention to where he was going.

This, he decided, was the low point. He'd had a more than terrible year, starting with Iolaus leaving, the horrible situation with Zeus and losing Xena and Gabrielle in the middle, and now all of this capping it off. And the worst part about it was Iolaus hadn't really even been gone that long. He had disappeared to the East for longer than this when Anya had died. That's different. He left on better terms. He left because of his grief, not because of what Dahak had done to him… because of you.

Hercules replayed the things Iolaus had said to him over and over in his mind. They stung, but out of everything, Iolaus still hadn't said he blamed him for what had happened. Hercules didn't know if Iolaus just didn't say it to his face, or if his friend really believed part of it wasn't Hercules' fault. I dragged him there. Me. He died because of me. He got possessed because of me. He left because of me. Maybe he should write to him, or go to the East, tell him what was going on. Maybe… maybe it would make things better, help get some of the trust back that Hercules couldn't help but feel the both of them had somehow lost.

He shook his head and pushed his wet hair out of his eyes. This back and forth was getting him nowhere. And his arms were starting to go numb from the chill. Still, he didn't want to go back to the palace and deal with Amphion and Niobe, or Jason's pitying looks. He was already feeling sorry for himself. He didn't need other people doing it, too.

Hercules continued to stamp up the muddy path when a particularly hellish lightning bolt lit up the sky followed by more thunder and, to Hercules' confusion, what sounded like voice. He stopped and tilted is head, listening, half-convinced that it had been the wind, when he heard his name over the roaring of the rain. The voice sounded louder this time. He grimaced. It never fails.

He hadn't gotten that far from the palace gates, so he begrudgingly turned around to see what the problem was, and to his utter astonishment saw the form of Niobe running down the stone steps and up the path after him, almost slipping in the mud as she did so. She had a dark cloak on to cover her head, but it was already sopping wet by the time she caught up to him.

She was out of breath, and Hercules grabbed her by the arms to steady her. "Niobe? What's wrong? What's going on?"

"It's Meg," she said, breathlessly. "We don't know where she is."

Hercules' heart immediately sped up. "Arcas-?"

"He's fine, he's fine," Niobe assured him. "He's still in the nursery."

The demigod relaxed a little, but didn't let go of Niobe's arm. "What happened?" He looked up at the sky as another thunderclap sounded. "Let's get you inside."

"No! Hercules, please… We've looked everywhere, all her usual hiding places. I think she found out you and your son were leaving…"

Hercules blinked the rain out of his eyes. "You think she came out here?" He looked around worriedly. Gods, I hope not. "Did you check the garden?"

"Yes, yes, I looked everywhere!" Niobe exclaimed, frantically. "Hercules, I know… I know you and I haven't gotten off to the best start, and I promise I will tell you everything if you'll just help us look for her."

Hercules didn't know whether to be affronted that Niobe thought she needed to bribe him for his help, but he quickly decided it wasn't worth it and started leading her back to the palace, helping pull the cloak tighter around her. "Don't worry… I'll find her."

Hercules helped Niobe up the stairs and through the gates. "How could she have gotten outside without anyone seeing?" he asked once they had gotten inside. He glanced up to see Hector and Linus running toward them.

"She's fast," Linus explained, "and small. This isn't the first time it's happened."

"She's getting more adept at finding places she can squeeze through," Hector added, lighting a torch.

Sounds familiar, Hercules thought, ruefully. "She does this a lot?"

The two guards exchanged glances and then looked over at Niobe, who was removing her drenched cloak and handing it to one of her attendants. "Meg… she's like Arcas," the queen explained. "She doesn't have many friends. She lives here." She spread her hands helplessly.

"She's wild, Hercules," Hector interrupted, deciding to put decorum aside for the time being. "It's why we take her out to the market with us. She… doesn't like being cooped up in one place for too long."

Yep. Very familiar. "All right. You two, keep looking in here. I'll… check outside." He heard Niobe take in a quick, gulping breath and he took her hand, squeezing it. "It'll be okay."

Hercules turned and headed back out of the gates and down the stone steps. He glanced around, deciding there was no way in Tartarus that Meg got those doors open herself. They were on a mechanism, and the doors had to be opened by someone on the inside. There was also no way any of the guards opened the door for their tiny four-year old princess. No, there was only one way she had gotten outside, and that was by following Hercules. The demigod sighed. She must have seen me heading out and somehow slipped by.

Hercules started circling the palace walls, looking for an opening or hiding place small enough for Meg to squeeze through. He was really hoping she had hid someplace close to home, and had not followed him down the path and gotten lost in the woods. She would be frozen, or could be stuck in the mud somewhere, unable to call for help. Hercules tried to push those thoughts aside and focus.

He inched his way around the perimeter at what felt like a snail's pace, and finally saw something that looked promising. It was a small grate that lead down into the sewers. Hercules grimaced. He was really, really hoping he wasn't going to have to go down there. But then he got worried; the rain was coming down harder now, and water was slowing pouring into the opening. If Meg was down there and the rain didn't stop, she could drown. The demigod sat on his haunches, studying it. It was very small, but it was just the right size for a tiny and determined human being to squeeze through. And sure enough, when he looked closer, he could see that the grate had been moved off its track. Wonderful. Meg, you're already just as much of a pain in my ass as your father.

Hercules tried to peer down into the opening. "Hello?" he called out, hopefully. He didn't get an answer, but he thought he saw a little flash of pink try to scurry out of the way. "Meg," he said, trying to sound non-threatening, "it's Hercules."

For a moment all Hercules could hear was the sound of rain and rushing water, but then a small voice finally came through the grate: "Go away!"

Bingo. "Meg, come on, it's not safe in there."

"I'll only come out if you let Arcas stay here with me."

Ah, so that's what this was about. "Meg, honey, you know I can't do that. Arcas has to come with me." No answer. "You can't stay down there forever." He thought he heard a tiny "hmph" and could just picture the little girl crossing her arms and pursing her lips. "What are you going to do when you get hungry?" Any mention of food usually worked for Iolaus, but it seemed Meg would rather suffer. Hercules sighed again and tried to peer more deeply into the opening. Obviously he wasn't getting down there from the outside. He tried to switch tactics. "You know… your mom is really scared."

He caught a glimpse of movement, and Meg finally came into his view. She did not look happy, her blue eyes narrowed as she looked up at him. Right. "And Hector and Linus, too. They're worried about you." That seemed to work. She looked down at her feet, which were shoeless again. "Meg… I know Arcas is your friend. But, I'm your friend, too. It's dangerous down there. How about you let me come get you?"

She was standing on one of the narrow ledges that lead into the underground system. Hercules was glad for that. Hopefully she won't come out of there smelling like… well… "You'll take Arcas away," she said, softly. "I don't want to be all alone."

He was going to remind her that she had her brother and sister, but stopped. Mentioning her family didn't seem to really have the desired effect with her. "You won't be alone. What if…" He sighed, sitting down into the ground and leaning against the stone wall. "What if I could find a way for you to see us more? To see Arcas more. Would that be okay?"

"How? My mom doesn't like me talking to you."

That made Hercules' eyebrows go up in surprise. "She told you that?"

"No. I heard her talking about it, to Hector. She doesn't like you."

Huh. What a shock. "You let me worry about that. If you and Arcas want to be friends, then… we'll find a way to make it happen. You can't always run away from the things that you don't like." He pulled the grate off and stuck his head in the opening. "Now, can you climb back out yourself? Because I don't think your mom would be very happy with me if I had to break the wall down."

Meg put her hands on her hips. "You can't do that."

"You'd be surprised." He put his hand through and beckoned at her. "Come on. I'll lift you up."

Looking only half convinced, Meg nonetheless finally took a step forward and stood on her toes to grab Hercules' fingers. The demigod stretched himself out on the ground, trying to get as much of himself into the opening as possible, and getting a good grip on Meg's wrist, hauled her up and out of the sewer and back into the rain. She was wet and extremely dirty. Hercules wrinkled his nose as he picked her up and headed back inside. "You need a bath, kid."

Meg looked like she'd rather swim in the sewage. "I hate baths."

Hercules couldn't help but laugh at that. "Yeah… so does someone else I know." He carried her back up the stairs and the gates opened at their arrival, causing a huge commotion from the people inside.

Niobe's eyes widened and she ran down to meet them. "Meg! Oh, thank the gods!" She took her daughter from Hercules, not caring about the mud and who knew what else that covered the little girl. "Are you all right?" she asked, smoothing Meg's hair.

"Yes," Meg replied, sullenly.

"Hercules, thank you! Where..." She trailed off, finally taking a good look at Meg and making a disgruntled looking face.

"In the sewer," Hercules answered, wiping some of the grime off onto his pants. Someone coughed, and he turned to see both Hector and Linus trying to hide their grins. "You might want to go make sure those grates are really, really secure."

Niobe tried to keep the look of annoyance off her face. "Meg…" she sighed, tiredly.

"What is the meaning of all of this?" They all turned to see King Amphion striding down the hallway, looking livid. He took a step back upon seeing the wet and brown stained Meg in Niobe's arms. "Niobe, I am getting sick and tired of dealing with that," he said, with barely contained fury, pointing at Meg.

Niobe flinched, but Meg just stuck her tongue out.

"I've had enough, I tell you! Do something about her, or-"

"Hey, that's enough!" Hercules said, stepping in between them.

Amphion's eyes widened. "You-you," he sputtered, going red in the face. Hercules was half expecting for him to start pulling tufts of hair out of his head.

"Back off, Amphion. And no, I really don't care," Hercules added, putting his hand up before Amphion could yell something to the effect of how Hercules couldn't talk to him like that. "You want to do something about it, post some guards that actually pay attention. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've had a really crappy day, and I would like to go get cleaned up." For the second time, he thought, tiredly. He glanced over at Niobe. "We'll talk later." He strode down the hall before Amphion could get another word in, almost running into Jason and Iphicles as he did so.

Both the current and former kings of Corinth wisely got out of the demigod's way. "What in Tartarus?" Jason started, but Hercules shook his head.

"Don't ask. Where's Arcas?"

"The nursery." Jason sniffed the air and gave Hercules a questioning look.

"I said," Hercules said, through clenched teeth, "don't ask."

---

Later on that evening, Jason, and Hercules were in the large and ornate sitting room in the private royal chambers. Jason was pacing distractedly while Hercules tried to ignore him, warming his hands in the fire.

"I can't believe you told Amphion to shut up," the former king was muttering.

"I didn't say that," Hercules said, patiently.

"Not in so many words, no. But still."

Hercules made a noncommittal noise and glanced over at Jason, watching him walk back and forth across the room. "Would you stop doing that? Everything is going to be fine."

"Easy for you to say," Jason mumbled, but took a seat. "Wonder what's taking her so long."

Hercules shrugged. The truth was he was pretty nervous himself. True to her word, Niobe had explained everything that had happened five years ago between her and Iolaus. About how they had tried to ignore what they had felt for each other, out of respect for Orestes, but when they had gotten to Marathon they eventually gave in; about how Niobe had asked Iolaus to stay with her, to pretend to be the king forever; and about how Iolaus, still in the guise of the king, had faked his death so that everyone would know that Orestes was truly dead. They had parted ways after that, both heart broken, and Iolaus knowing that he would most likely never be able to return to Attica for fear of being discovered.

Now I know why he was so upset when he came back. Hercules inwardly seethed at the fact that Niobe had tried to convince Iolaus to live a lie.

"He didn't want to give up his life with you," she had said, hotly.

"Or maybe he didn't want to pretend to be someone that he wasn't for the rest of his life," Hercules had shot back, just as angrily. "And you had no business asking him to do it. Look, you spent the equivalent of four days with him. I've known him for a lifetime. Don't try to blame this on Iolaus because you were selfish and tried to keep him here as some fake imitation of your dead husband so you could feel better about yourself."

His words had hit a nerve, and luckily at that point they had been interrupted by an attendant that had been sent for Niobe, to bring her down to the celebration for Corinth and Attica signing the peace plan. Jason, having feigned illness, had hidden out of sight. The queen had excused herself so that she could tell Amphion that she would not be joining in the festivities, but not before throwing Hercules one last icy glare.

"When she comes back, could you maybe try and hold your temper?" Jason said to him, interrupting the demigod's reverie.

He glanced over at Jason, unfazed. "I will if she stops saying asinine things about Iolaus."

Jason made no comment, deciding he would really just rather be spared Hercules' derision, and he knew that trying to have a conversation about Iolaus when Hercules was in a mood like this was a fast and one way ticket to Tartarus. He couldn't bite his tongue for long, however. "Just give the woman a break. You're lucky she's telling you any of this at all."

Now it was Hercules' turn to be silent, the half god tossing Jason a withering look, before both of them glanced up as the door opened and Niobe stepped back inside.

"Well, he's not happy," the queen said, looking strained. "He's… not a very easy person to deal with sometimes."

Hercules kept his smart ass comment to himself.

Jason stepped forward to stand next to him. "We appreciate you taking to time to tell us all of this, Niobe." He tried to unobtrusively elbow Hercules in the ribs but was only partly successful, not missing the queen raising an eyebrow at him as Hercules rubbed his side and cleared his throat.

"Yes, thank you." Hercules must have looked properly abashed, because Niobe nodded and stepped further into the room. "So…"

Niobe clasped her hands together, looking uncomfortable. "So…" She looked back and forth between Jason and Hercules, and then nodded firmly to herself. "Jason, if you don't mind… I'd like to speak with Hercules alone."

Jason hesitated. Hercules put a hand on his shoulder. "Jason, it's fine."

"No, no, it's just… I really don't want to go down to that party," Jason admitted, which seemed to help break the ice.

"I'm sure Amphion will be thrilled that you've made a miraculous recovery," Hercules told him as Niobe laughed softly. He pushed Jason toward the door.

"Are you sure you're going to be all right?" Jason asked him again.

"It's fine," Hercules assured him. "Just… let me handle it."

Jason looked only half convinced, but he nodded, pointing a finger at Hercules' chest and ordering, "Behave."

Hercules closed the door softly behind him and turned back to face the queen. "I'm, uh… I'm sorry for my reaction earlier. When you were talking about Iolaus. It was… rude of me. And I'm sorry for the way I've been acting since I got here, and for-" But Niobe held her hand up, stopping the torrent of words coming out of the demigod's mouth. "Sorry," he added again, sheepishly, then winced. "I've been told before that I apologize too much."

"You didn't go about it the right way," Niobe agreed, "but I think you were trying to mean well. You have a big heart."

Hercules took a deep breath and looked at the floor. "Yeah. I've been told that, too." He absently fingered the amulet hanging from his neck. "Niobe… Iolaus, he… he didn't really go into specifics when he got back from Marathon, but I could tell that he was upset. He was never very good at hiding things, he just didn't like to talk about… that. About those sort of feelings. Happy feelings, good feelings…. they were no problem, but… anyway." He shook his head. "I don't want you to think it was easy for him to leave."

"I don't," Niobe told him, quietly. "I did at first. I was angry, for a long time, but I realized that it had to be done. We were both trying to live a fantasy." Hercules thought that was probably more Niobe than Iolaus, but he wisely held is tongue and let Niobe continue. "Hercules, I don't want things to be this way between us. Iolaus, he meant something to me. He meant more to me than I think you know. And… you're his friend."

"I'm his family," Hercules stated, then realized it probably sounded ruder than he had intended. "That's just… how Iolaus and I have always acted. His family, well… frankly, they were terrible."

Niobe shook her head. "He never spoke about his family to me."

"It wasn't his favorite subject."

"He did speak about you, though," she said, eyes bright, looking up at him. "How much he cared for you. What the two of you did. I… blamed you as the reason for him not staying."

"I figured as much," Hercules said, making Niobe look surprised. "Like you said, I'm… perceptive." He walked over to where she stood by the hearth and leaned against the wall. "Look… whatever happened, happened. And now, Meg is in the middle. Iolaus cared for you, and… that means something to me. And Meg means something to me, too. You don't have to like me. I figured out a long time ago how to deal with not being everyone's favorite person." Niobe laughed at that, and Hercules smiled back. "Niobe, do you really want to live the lie? Can you really do this for another ten, twenty years? I'm not asking you to decide now, or make changes overnight. It's just… you say you loved Iolaus. Why would you want Meg to grow up knowing Orestes, and not him?"

"Do you really think that's what I want?" Niobe asked, incredulous. "What I wanted is for Iolaus to be here, with me, raising Meg."

"As Orestes and as Orestes' daughter!" He laughed roughly. "You can't have it both ways, Niobe."

She clenched her jaw and looked into the fire, and Hercules could tell she was trying to keep some semblance of decorum. "What would you have me do? Tell Amphion that Megara is my child with a man who pretended to be my husband? That everything I've told him for the last two years has been a lie? What am I supposed to tell the people of Attica, who thought their princess would carry on Orestes' and Oeneus' line?"

"I don't have those answers for you. But it's not right for Meg to grow up thinking that she's someone that she's not. Orestes is dead. Why give her memories of a false father who she will never know, when you can give her memories of a real one? A father who may not have been a king, but who was a hero. What better role model for a child can you have than that? She was born before you married Amphion. You have the right, as Queen, to name the heir of Attica. I'm not telling you she can't be a queen, I'm telling you that she has to know herself to do it. You don't have the right to deny her that!"

"I'm her mother. I have every right."

"This is just your way at getting back at him for leaving-"

"That is not true!" Niobe interrupted angrily. "I care about Attica! It's always what I've cared about. I did my duty, I married Orestes, and now he's gone, and it's my responsibility to do what's right."

"You hated Orestes. And… Iolaus was his cousin, right? That makes Meg his cousin, too. By all rights, she has more claim to the throne than you think she does, without being Orestes' daughter. Minos is dead, Orestes is dead… She doesn't need to pretend to be someone else's child." He snorted derisively. "You're just trying to save face because you were screwing Iolaus instead of mourning your husband." He suddenly felt the sting of a hand connecting with his cheek and he blinked, stunned from the action rather than the actual slap. He figured he probably deserved it, but he was too incensed to admit it out loud.

Niobe glared at him for a few moments, as if daring him to say anything else, before turning and stalking to the other side of the room to glower out the window. Hercules stayed by the fire, cheek burning. He was very glad that Jason hadn't been here. They both stood silently, angry and brooding. If she was expecting an apology, Hercules decided she was going to be sorely disappointed.

After a few more beats, he heard Niobe say, softly, "She's not Iolaus, Hercules." He turned his head, but she was still staring out the window, not looking at him. "Having her is not going to bring him back."

"You don't need to tell me that. But, having her live a lie isn't going to make her less of Iolaus' daughter either." He glanced up at the ceiling, putting his hands on his hips. "He used to do the same thing, when he was younger. He ran away all the time, to get away from his father, and the rest of his family." Niobe still hadn't turned around. "I'm not saying that's why she's doing it, just… she's going to have Iolaus in her, Niobe, no matter what you do. I think that's really why you're doing this. Maybe everyone else doesn't need to know about Iolaus, but she does," Hercules insisted. "It's not fair to her."

"Why?" Niobe said, finally, turning back to him. "She's a child, she doesn't care who her father is."

"Not yet. But she will." At Niobe's silence, Hercules sighed in frustration. "What if Iolaus comes back tomorrow, huh? What if he comes back from the East? Am I just supposed to lie to him about it? They both deserve to know the truth. Iolaus isn't dead, Niobe. And one day he is going to come back. You can't ask me to look him in his eyes, to stand in front of him, and lie to his face. I won't do it."

"His coming back here would make things worse. He knew that before. That's why he died as Orestes, to keep the secret about how we had fooled everyone. How am I supposed to explain to the kings who signed that peace plan that the man they thought they were pledging their allegiance to was not the king?"

"Like I said, maybe they don't need to know. Just let me just tell you from experience that not knowing or not having your father leaves a hole inside you. Meg will grow up not really knowing who she is, and that in turn will make her a bad ruler. I had to learn to accept who my father was, and that I wasn't going to have a relationship with him the way I wanted as a child, to be the man that I am today. Meg deserves the same courtesy. She can figure out how she feels about it when she grows up. You can't make that decision for her." He walked over and gently put his hands on her shoulders. "This will eat at you, Niobe. You may think you'll be okay with it now, but if you let this happen… it will destroy you, and Meg, and you're relationship. That's not something that I think you want."

Niobe swallowed, obviously fighting for some control over her emotions. "You don't understand how difficult this is going to be. Amphion could fight me on Meg's succession, or try to end the marriage-"

"I seriously doubt," Hercules said, sardonically, "that Amphion would be willing to stop being a king and go back to Kyros to be a lord. Somehow, I just don't see it." He looked her over and then tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him. "Are you afraid of him? Does he… does he do anything to you?"

Niobe quickly shook her head. "No, nothing like that."

Hercules nodded firmly. "Good. Because, if so, I was going to have to go down and mop the floor with him, and I think that Jason would have just been a little upset by that." Niobe smiled in spite of herself. "You don't have to do this alone. I'm here. Let me help." She took a few deep breaths, and Hercules could tell she was wrestling with this decision, and probably had been for a long time. Hercules found himself feeling sorry for her. She had made a hard decision whilst being pregnant and, for all intents and purposes, alone. He couldn't, and shouldn't, be judging her for that.

"If I tell her, and Amphion," she said, finally, her brown eyes suddenly hard, "you can't tell Iolaus."

The moment of sympathy immediately evaporated. Hercules blinked, wide-eyed, and for a moment it was like he had forgotten how to form a coherent sentence. "You're insane," he finally blurted. "You can't ask me to do that! He's her father! I'm his best friend." The very idea was like something slimy and unnatural, and he backed away from her as if that would somehow erase what he had heard. "I won't lie to him."

"I'm not asking you to lie. I'm asking you not to write to him and tell him to come back here." She took a step forward, closing the space between them. "Hercules, please… The peace plan could fall apart because of this. When Xenon agreed the others followed suit, but that was because they thought they were speaking to Orestes."

Hercules shot her a look of deep dislike. "I am getting really tired of that excuse. The peace plan is a good idea, and it's served all the kingdoms well the last five years. They would be crazy to go back on it now just because the man they negotiated with was Orestes' cousin and not Orestes."

Niobe smiled wistfully. "I can see that you don't have a lot of practice in politics."

Hercules ignored that, not wanting to even deign it with a response. Stupid, elitist idiots. "I won't," he said instead, shaking his head. "I won't agree to that. He's my brother." He slapped his hand against the wall, furious. "You can't ask me to do that! If our situations were reversed… if it was him here, instead of me, he'd tell you to kiss his ass and he'd come find me anyway."

"It's better this way," Niobe insisted. "Iolaus didn't want to stay. He couldn't stay," she amended, at the infuriated look Hercules threw at her. "I couldn't put this burden on him. It would have ruined his life, and the life that he had with you. And if he needs to heal, like you and Jason say he does, he doesn't need some messenger from Greece to tell him to come home and deal with this." She put a hand on his shoulder, and he had to resist flinching at her touch he was so angry. "Is he in a position to be a father right now, Hercules? Tell me the truth."

Hercules' pressed his lips into a thin line, his jaw working furiously. He thought back to how Iolaus had been acting up until that day in the barn when they had had it out and he had left. How distant he had been, how strange he was acting. He thought about what his friend had said about remembering what Dahak had done, the memories invading his mind every night. How tired he had looked, how drawn and pale, and not like Iolaus at all, but some shade of him. How he was in so much pain, that he would rather leave Greece then have Hercules help him. He swallowed the bitter retort that had been working up, and forced himself to admit that Niobe was right, at least on the subject of Iolaus' state of mind. It made him want to vomit; even thinking that Iolaus wouldn't make a good parent right now was a betrayal of some kind. And he definitely didn't want to give Niobe the satisfaction of telling her he agreed. By the knowing look she was giving him, he figured he didn't have to. It just frustrated him even more.

He turned to her, his face an unreadable mask. "He will never forgive you." He'll never forgive me.

She held her ground. "Hercules… I need your word on this."

"You're not going to get it," he said sharply. "Lying to Iolaus is out of the question. He's a part of me. It would be like ripping my own arm off."

"Then Meg will never know," Niobe said simply, acting as if the subject was closed.

Hercules swore, fighting the urge to break something. "You can't ask me to choose between Meg and Iolaus. One of them is just going to end up hurt!"

"Iolaus is gone, Hercules! Meg is the one that's here. If you want me to tell her, and if you want some part of her life as Iolaus' friend, you will agree. Iolaus cannot come back to Attica."

She was giving him an ultimatum. He had never felt such hatred and anger toward someone he barely even knew. Hercules began to wonder what Iolaus ever saw in this woman. You picked a real winner, buddy. She was selfish, and stubborn, and not at all like Anya or Nebula, who by their own rights were extremely different from each other. And Niobe was so different from Iolaus. Even if he had, by some insanity, stayed as Orestes it wouldn't have worked. There was no way Iolaus could have put up with this for long.

Hercules took a deep breath in through his nose, and the look he gave Niobe must have been frightening because she actually took a step back. He had to think of something. Giving her his word was completely unacceptable. Find a loophole… She didn't want him to write to Iolaus, okay fine… he could do that. It wasn't going to stop him from getting on the next boat to Chin, even if he had to swim to Persia to do it. He just had to make sure that Niobe wouldn't expect him to do that. "Fine," he said, grimly. "You don't want me to write to him? Fine. I won't. And… for as long as he says out of Greece…" Hercules swallowed, the words tasting like something rotten in his mouth. "As long as he's not in Greece, I'll… keep your secret. But," he added, at Niobe's look of stunned hope, "as soon as he gets back here, Niobe… I can't make that promise. I will not lie to Iolaus. You'll have to arrest me and have me executed first." And she must have been able to tell she meant it, because she paled slightly and nodded.

"All right," she agreed, shakily. "It's a start." She grabbed his hand. "Hercules… please believe this is something that's been weighing on me for so long. I just… didn't know what to do. I felt so alone. But, now that you're here…"

"What are you going to tell Amphion?" Hercules asked, really not wanting any of her thanks at the moment.

Niobe shook her head, at a loss. "I'm not sure yet. But… I suppose, he needs to know." She scowled. "He'll try to make Orion heir. I can't let that happen."

"If you didn't want your children with him to rule, why even bother?"

She fixed him with a cold stare. "We all have our duties to perform, Hercules."

With effort, Hercules bit back the retort he wanted to sling at her about how she should have thought of that while Orestes was still alive. But he knew it would just be pointless, and probably make her angry enough to go back on the whole deal. "Fair enough."

"Iolaus was a good king, while he was here. He would have made an excellent ruler." Hercules tried to repress a derisive laugh. "It's how I know Meg will be as well."

You don't know Iolaus as well as you think you do, lady. Like Meg, Iolaus didn't like to spend too much time in the same place. He wondered how she would feel if he told her about how Iolaus was willing to give up his life with Hercules and stay in Sumeria, with Nebula. The thought gave him some small amount satisfaction, before he had to force himself to nod at her and play along. "However you decide to tell Amphion is your business. And it's also up to you if you decide to tell the people of Attica what Iolaus did for their kingdom. All I care about is Meg."

"I hope you don't think too unkindly of me Hercules," Niobe said, sadly, looking away.

Hercules forced himself to give her a polite smile. "I don't know you well enough to decide either way." He removed his hand from hers. "I'm going to go rescue Jason," he said, trying to find an excuse to leave. "I need to let him know what's going on."

"I already have Jason's word on this matter," Niobe said to his back. Hercules stiffened but didn't turn around.

She has to be lying. Jason would never… "Okay," he said, vaguely.

"Please, it was not my intention to come between you. Any of you," she added, meaning Iolaus as well as Jason. "It was really Jason who solidified me wanting to tell you. He said… you knew Iolaus better than anyone, and you'd be a good friend to have around."

"Niobe, I can kind of understand why you did what you did. You were scared. But I have to be honest with you… It's going to be a really long time before I can consider you a friend, and I don't think you're ignorant enough to not understand that." When she didn't respond, Hercules took that as agreement. "Meg has gotten attached to Arcas. I expect them to be seeing a lot more of each other." His tone of voice clearly said it was not a request.

Realizing she had probably pushed the demigod to his limits for one night, Niobe only nodded. "That would be nice."

"Good. We'll talk more tomorrow." He swiftly exited and shut the door behind him, leaning against it for support once he was alone. He rubbed his face with his hand, exhausted, and felt something wet. He pulled his hand back in astonishment, staring at it. He felt another tear roll down his cheek. He felt violated; she had gotten him so angry he was actually crying out of frustration. He pulled himself together and stalked down the corridor, intending to get Jason, when he rounded the corner and almost ran smack into him. "What the-? Jason? What are you doing?"

The former king jumped, looking guilty, and stepped away from the wall he had been casually leaning on. "What? Did you really think I was going to go down to that celebration? I was waiting for you." He looked Hercules up and down. "You look awful."

Hercules clenched his teeth and pointed a finger at him. "Don't. Just… come with me." He took Jason's arm and led him down the hall.

"What happened in there?"

"We… came to an agreement," Hercules muttered, darkly, and that was all he said on the subject until they got to Jason's room.

Once they were inside, Hercules bolted the door, making Jason's eyebrows go up in alarm. "Hercules, what-"

"Did you give Niobe your word that you would keep Meg from Iolaus?" he demanded, barely able to contain his fury.

Jason's eyes widened. "What the hell? No!"

"Then why would she say that?"

Jason set his jaw stubbornly and glared up at Hercules. "She asked me, and I didn't give it to her one way or the other. Iphicles and Amphion saved me from having to answer, because they ended the negotiations and came to find us."

"I think she took your silence as an affirmation." Some of the fight was going out of him, and he seemed to relax.

"That's not my problem." Jason began to relax as well, and folded his arms across his chest, examining Hercules from across the room. "So… I take it she asked you the same thing. Not very wise, on her part."

Hercules snorted in amusement. "Sorry, I just… I didn't believe it, but-"

Jason waved at him. "Forget about it." He tapped his foot impatiently. "Are you going to tell me what happened or am I going to have to guess?"

Hercules gave Jason all the details of his conversation with Niobe, including what she had said about not telling Iolaus. Jason whistled. "I can't believe she actually gave in and is going to tell Amphion and Meg the truth."

Hercules shrugged and shook his head. "I was at first, too, but… I really think she was looking for an excuse to finally get it off her chest. She was so nervous, and so were Hector and Linus, with me being here… It's almost like she wanted me to find out. She's been holding onto it for almost five years."

Jason tilted his head in small nod. "True. I was shocked when she admitted it to me as well. But, I think you're right." He stretched tiredly, walking over to grab the carafe of water that was sitting on the small table by the bed, and also an amphora of wine that Hercules assumed he must have had someone sneak up for him from the party downstairs. "I don't know about you," Jason said, pouring himself some wine and some water for Hercules, "but I will be very happy when we can leave this place in the dust." He handed Hercules the cup of water, but the demigod didn't take it.

"Actually, I could do with some wine," he said, making Jason stop short.

"You sure?" At Hercules' dark look, Jason shrugged. "All right." He dumped the water into the washing basin and refilled Hercules' cup with the red liquid. "Here you go."

"Thanks." He quickly drained it and handed the cup back to Jason, who tried to keep the look of surprise off his face. Wisely, he didn't comment and just refilled Hercules' cup. Hercules took a sip this time and sat down hard in one of the armchairs. "Can we go home now?"

Jason grunted. "Trust me, as soon as Iphicles signs that thing tomorrow, we're out of here." He gave Hercules a pitying look. "You know you're going to have to come back here if you want Meg and Arcas to see each other. There's no way in hell Niobe's going to let you take that girl to Corinth."

"Yeah, I know." He didn't sound happy. "I'll… worry about that later."

"You're really not going to tell Iolaus?" When Hercules didn't answer, Jason knocked his wine back as well and sat down next to him. "I find that a little hard to believe."

"I'll figure it out, Jason. Don't worry."

That didn't do anything to reassure him. "Yeah, I've heard that before."

---

The next morning came swiftly, and Hercules and Arcas were packing up their belongings when Jason came striding into the room, looking stressed.

"I think it would be a good idea for you to avoid Amphion this morning," he said.

Hercules looked over at him, his brow furrowing. "Why's that?"

"Niobe told him about Meg last night," Jason explained, "and he was even more of an annoying son of a bitch this morning." He winced at Hercules' expression and glanced down at Arcas. "Sorry. And I think he thinks you had something to do with it, I don't know. So just… try and stay out of his way."

"Great," Hercules sighed. "How's Niobe?"

Jason shrugged. "She wasn't there."

That gave Hercules pause and he tried not to worry. Niobe had told him Amphion had never done anything to hurt her, but the way he had gotten when Meg had run away bothered him.

As if reading the demigod's mind, Jason said, "I went and checked on her, so don't worry. She's just… tired. They were up all night over it. Apparently he threatened to expose her and try and take away Meg's right of ascension but Niobe was smart enough to have had Hector give her some scrolls on Attica's bylaws. He can't do anything about Meg being the heir, since Iolaus was Orestes' family and there is no one left."

"That's… good I guess." And Niobe gets what she wants.

"And there was no way that pompous ass was going to turn in his crown, so…" Jason waved enigmatically. "He's still king. A insanely pissed off king, but still."

"So everybody wins except Iolaus," Hercules muttered, stuffing some clothes roughly into his pack. "How nice."

"Did you hear, did you hear, Jason?" Arcas came bounding over. "Meg's really Uncle Iolaus' daughter and I get to stay friends with her! Dad says I can come back whenever I want!"

"Not whenever you want," Hercules corrected. "It still has to be okay with Queen Niobe." He glanced over at Jason. "Do you know if they told Meg."

Jason shook his head. "Not sure. I think that's a little tough to explain to a four-year old."

Hercules couldn't argue with that. "Come on, Arcas, get your things. It's time to go home."

They made their way through the halls, the attendant stationed to them leading them down to the front courtyard where their carriages were waiting. Luckily, Amphion was nowhere in sight, but Hector, Linus, Niobe, and Meg were all waiting to bid them goodbye, and Iphicles had already boarded the first carriage. Arcas ran ahead of them to Meg, the adults trailing behind.

Meg grinned and enveloped Arcas in a hug, almost knocking him off his feet. "Bye, Arcas!" She then turned and hugged Hercules' leg as he came over. "You need to come back soon!"

Hercules lifted an eyebrow at Niobe. "I'm going to try," he said to Meg, ruffling her hair and upsetting the band around her head. He tried to wordlessly ask the queen if Meg knew what was going on. Niobe shook her head.

"I thought that was something you'd maybe like to be here for," she told him, making his eyes widen in surprise. He figured it was her way of proposing a truce. Fat chance, he thought, wryly, but jumped at the opportunity to tell Meg about Iolaus. "Meg," Niobe said, taking her hand, "Hercules and I have something we need to talk to you about."

Hercules glanced over at Jason, who nodded in understanding and put a hand on Arcas' shoulder, indicating he would keep an eye on him. Hercules gave him a grateful smile and then followed Niobe and Meg to the garden.

They sat down on a stone bench with Meg in between them, her feet dangling off the ground as they tried to explain the situation. "Orestes was a good king," Niobe was saying, "and his cousin Iolaus had to take his place when something very bad happened to him."

"When he died?" Meg asked, and Niobe nodded.

"They looked exactly the same, so we were able to trick everyone. Meg… Iolaus and I loved each other very much. And, that was why we made you. Hercules is Iolaus' friend. He came here to tell you about him."

Meg looked back and forth between her mother and Hercules. "So, the king wasn't my daddy?"

Niobe looked upset, so Hercules moved Meg into his lap and said to her, "No, sweetie. My friend Iolaus is."

"So," Meg said, slowly, "does that mean I'm not a princess?" She looked hopefully over at her mother.

"No, Meg. You're still a princess," Niobe said, firmly.

Hercules thought Meg looked extremely unhappy with that piece of information. "But," he added, trying to pacify her, "this means that I get to spend more time with you. And you get to spend more time with Arcas."

That seemed to cheer Meg up immensely. "Good. I like you." She hopped off Hercules' lap. "So, where's my dad? Arcas said he was on vacation."

"Arcas told you Iolaus was on vacation?" Hercules blinked.

"Yeah," Meg said, "he told me about you going on adventures and camping, and Arcas said he took a vacation from camping."

Hercules covered his mouth and tried not to laugh. Niobe was looking at her daughter askance. "He's not on vacation," Hercules managed to get out.

"Then why did he go away?"

Hercules immediately sobered. "Uh," he started, clearing his throat, "something happened a few years ago, and it made him very… sad. He went away to get better."

"When's he coming back?" Meg asked, blinking up at him.

He felt Niobe give his hand a squeeze, and he was actually grateful for the little bit of comfort it gave him. "I don't know," he admitted. "But, like I said, you have me and Arcas, and your mom, Hector, and Linus."

"And Amphion," Niobe added, getting a disgusted look from Meg. "And your brother and sister."

Hercules had a feeling Meg couldn't have cared less about Amphion, Orion, or Ariana. She must already feel like an outsider. She knew Amphion wasn't her father, and they definitely don't have the same relationship as he'll have with his children.

"When can I see you again?" Meg asked Hercules, leaning against his leg.

"That's up to your mom." Hercules looked over at Niobe, but when no answer seemed to be forthcoming, he stood up, picking Meg up as he did so, and gave her a little tap on the nose. "But… I have a feeling I'll be seeing you again soon."

Hercules said goodbye to Hector and Linus, grasping each of their arms in turn, and then climbed into the carriage with Jason and Arcas. Arcas waved enthusiastically out the window as they drove away, heading back to Corinth.

"Well, that was fun," Jason said, sarcastically. "Gods… I have to get to the Academy as soon as we get back."

"Mmm," Hercules said, staring out the window as they went. "I was hoping you could stick around the house for a bit."

Jason must have sensed something in his voice, because he put his head in his hands and groaned, "What now?"

Hercules pursed his lips. "I was thinking about taking a trip." At Jason's expectant look, he shook his head, nodding at Arcas. "Not now. When we get back to the house."

"Oh, joy," Jason sighed, but made no other comment.

The two day trip seemed longer this time, probably because Hercules was anxious to get home. They stopped in Corinth and gave Iphicles an abridged version of what had went down the night before, and Hercules tried to fend off the torrent of questions and annoyed lectures from Iphicles about how he could have ruined the entire proceeding. Needless to say, his brother was not pleased with him when he, Jason, and Arcas left to go back to the house.

"He is really pissed off at you," Jason said as they arrived. Hercules shrugged, unperturbed.

"He'll get over it. See if you can scare us up some dinner and I'll start unloading," he said, indicating the carriage.

It wasn't until they had unpacked, eaten, and Hercules had given Arcas a bath and gotten him into bed that he finally came to find Jason. "Are you going to tell me just what in the hell you meant the other day?" the former king asked from the living room. Hercules picked up an apple out of the small basket of fruit one of the farm aides had left for them on the table and tossed it in the air jovially. This only seemed to make Jason more unnerved.

"I've decided," Hercules said between throws, "to go to Chin."

Jason crossed his arms slowly, affecting the air that he was not bothered at all by this statement. "Oh?"

"Yep. I need you to watch Arcas for me."

Jason followed the apple as it went up and down. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't you tell Niobe that as long as Iolaus wasn't in Greece you weren't going to tell him anything?"

"That's right," Hercules answered, calmly. "As long as Iolaus wasn't in Greece. I didn't say anything about me." He snatched the apple out of the air, looking extremely pleased with himself.

"Hercules, I don't think that's such a great idea. Just write to him instead."

Hercules shook his head. "No. I said I wouldn't. And this isn't something he needs to read in a scroll. I need to go tell him."

"If you go to Chin," Jason said, trying to sound reasonable, "and he sees you, he's just going to think that you're there to take him home, and I guarantee he is not going to listen to anything you have to say."

"I have to try, Jason." Hercules stared silently and sullenly down the hall, toward his and Arcas' room. "Do you remember how it felt when Lilith told you about Seska? All those years that you could have had with her?"

Jason made an aggravated noise and waved him off. "This is not the same situation. Lilith is an Amazon. That's their way."

"It didn't hurt you any less."

"I'm not telling you not to tell him for twenty damned years, Hercules. I'm just saying… not to go gallivanting off to Chin. Not right now, anyway. Iolaus is not in a position to hear this." Hercules stared at him in disbelief. "You know I'm right."

"You want me to keep this from him, too?"

"That is not what I said."

Hercules shook his head and looked away. "Don't do this to me, Jason. I need you on my side."

"I am on your side. You need to just think about it some more, all right?"

"Jason, this is not the time for you to play devil's advocate!" Hercules shouted, throwing the apple across the room. "How you can even defend Niobe to me is unreal."

"Who in the gods' names said anything about defending her?" Jason looked outraged. "I'm agreeing with you! Just because I don't want you to pack off and take the next boat out of here does not mean I agree with her whatsoever."

Hercules felt the urge to pound something into dust coming up, and he tried to push it back down. "I don't like her."

Jason folded his arms and said, deadpan, "I had absolutely no idea."

"She's a selfish bitch."

Jason rolled his eyes, although he didn't outright disagree. "You're just mad about what she said about Iolaus."

"Yes. She wanted to keep him, like a thing. She wanted him to lie and pretend to be someone he's not, and that's exactly what she was going to do to Meg. And now she has the audacity to ask me to lie to my best friend."

Jason paused, as if trying to summon up the courage to say something that he knew Hercules was not going to like. "Are you sure," he began, cautiously, "that this isn't a… Dahak thing?"

Hercules looked at him as if the question was so nonsensical that it was insane. "What? Dahak thing…? What are you talking about?"

"You know… everyone thinking Dahak was Iolaus. Niobe wanted everyone to think Iolaus was Orestes. And now you see this as your chance to, I dunno… make some of that better?"

Hercules sighed and banged his head against the wall a few times before resting his forehead on the cool stone and shutting his eyes tightly in extreme exasperation. "No, Jason… this has absolutely nothing to do with Dahak and everything to do with Iolaus and Meg." He shook his head, standing back up and folding his arms across his chest. "I can't keep this from him, Jason. It's like a poison. I can feel it. I would rather die." He narrowed his eyes and nodded firmly. "I would rather die," he repeated, emphatically.

"That," Jason said, shortly, "is not going to help anybody, and is just about the last thing I need." The older man huffed and waved his hand at him impatiently. "Fine. Go. Go to Chin, do what you want." He sighed, defeated, and leaned against the door post. "Go on. I'll take care of Arcas."

Hercules squeezed Jason shoulder. "Thank you, Jason." He started to walk away, but Jason put a hand on his chest to stop him.

"Hercules, if he doesn't want to come home, even after you tell him this… you have to let him be."

Hercules didn't respond to that. "I'll leave in the next few days. I'm sure Iphicles can help me arrange a transport."

"Hercules…"

"I heard you, Jason. I just don't think Iolaus would do that."

Jason sighed, looking out into the cool, night air. "I hope you're right."

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*Whew. Long chapter. Getting to the good stuff. Up next, Hercules goes to Chin!*