If Minos was angry, he didn't show it. Instead, he grasped hold of his son as though he were about to disappear and didn't let him out of sight for the rest of the evening.
Pythagoras was not hurt, though he had cuts decorating his arms and a gash on his head. They had no feeling to them and the king was relieved to discover this.

"I wonder," Minos said to his wife who was half asleep beside him. "If the boy hadn't been there.."

"Don't." Joya mumbled. "I nearly died of fear when the boy was there, holding him and he was unconcious. I thought he was dead."

"I am sorry I wasn't there with you."

"IT wasn't your fault. You were not to be disturbed after all."

"No meeting is as important as you two are."

"You should really tell the servants that."

"They already know. It was Kapaneus' fault. He scares them."

"It only took Pythagoras nearly getting killed by the Minotaur to make you say something bad about him." Joya muttered.

"Don't." Minos groaned. He looked at his wife's stoic expression and lay his hand on hers, suddenly in quiet thought. "What became of the Minotaur? How did the boy survive?"

"He slew the beast."

"We will be forever indebted to him."

"I know that. We were lucky he came to Atlantis."

Minos nodded, gently drawing circles with his fingers on Joya's soft hand.

Ariadne went to answer the door, and looked at the visitor. "You're alright?"

"I am fine. What about you? And Jason, and.."

Ariadne cut his questions short by punching him on the arm and then pulling him down for a hug. "You idiot! You could have died."

"I won't do it again."

"That's only because it's dead now."

"That's why I won't."

Ariadne rolled her eyes and held on tighter.

"Where is Jason?" Pythagoras asked.

"He went out for water."

Pythagoras released Ariadne and looked her in the eyes. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine. Everyone's fine." She pulled on one of his curls. "What were you thinking?"

"Distract the bull and keep Jason safe."

She opened her mouth to say something, but was interrupted by the door opening. Jason staggered in, holding a large jug. He set it on the table and saw Ariadne and Pythagoras.

"You're alive?"

"Just about."

Jason smiled. "Good. I saw someone in the market today. Si̱mantikó. He wants me to go to the palace."

"That'll be Minos and Joya wanting to say thank you." Ariadne explained.

"What for?"

Ariadne stared at him as though he'd grown two heads. "Well, you killed the Minotaur and saved him, so I expect that's why."

"Wouldn't a thank you note do?"

Ariadne didn't dignify that with an answer.

The king was a much happier-looking person than when Jason had seen him last. The smile he wore lit up his face and made him look younger and more peaceful. The queen wasn't smiling quite as widely, she was keeping a calm outlook, but Jason saw the happiness in her eyes and the slight curve of her mouth. Minos genuinely didn't look anything like his son, Jason realised. The Atlantian king had tanned skin, dark hair and eyes. Were they even related?

"We owe you our gratitude!" Minos declared. "You have saved us all from losing loved ones. We are in your eternal debt."

Jason had no idea what to say, so he smiled and tried his best to look polite. And grateful, considering a King was talking to him. He could feel the eyes of the multi-coloured sea of people behind him and felt nervous. Minos was still talking and a movement to Jason's left caught his eye. The prince was staring at him and either Jason was losing his mind from the heat or the prince was looking at him with adoration in his eyes.
By her husband's side, Joya noticed the boy, Jason, looking at her son and narrowed her eyes. Was she confusing Pythagoras' expression of gratitude for something else? She would have to talk to him. It did not matter who he liked, but if he liked someone she wanted to know! She took her eyes off him and looked at the dark-haired male that stood before her. Strong, brave, handsome, polite. Beautiful eyes. She had to agree with Pythagoras' tastes if he did want this boy.

Finally, Minos' speech ended and Jason was free to go. As he wandered around, trying to find his way out, a clattering pair of footsteps echoed through the air.

"Are you lost?" Pythagoras asked, slightly breathless.

"A bit." Jason answered.

"I'll walk with you."

"Thanks."

"Where are you from?" Pythagoras asked a little while later.

"Lon..donis."

"Londonis. I've never heard of it."

"It's very far from here." Jason explained.

"Is it nice?"

"It's alright.

Jason had never thought of himself as interesting before, but apparently the prince found him fascinating. By the time they found the exit, Pythagoras had found out Jason's pet, Jason's age, Jason's birthday and somehow, almost expertly managed to get Jason to talk about his past loves. Now, Pythagoras stopped where he was.

"I promised my father I would stay with him today." he told him, almost apologetically. "I'll try and see you three tomorrow."

"Is Minos really your father?"

Pythagoras froze, his expression turning blank. Then Jason saw a flash of anger. "Yes. He is." Pythagoras turned from him and walked back to the palace.

"So, did you see Pythagoras?" Hercules asked

"Yes. He asked a lot of questions."

"He always asks questions." Ariadne told him.

"Ariadne? Is Minos really his father?"

"Oh, gods. Why is it that always comes up?" Ariadne groaned.

"He was taken from Samos as a child. Minos and Joya can't have children." Hercules explained.

"Oh." Jason bit his lip. No wonder Pythagoras had been annoyed.

Ariadne looked suspiciously at him. "Jason?"

"I kind of asked him if Minos was really his father."

"Why?!"

"I don't know, it just came out!"

"Ask us, not him! His past before Atlantis is very painful for him." Ariadne explained.

"I'm sorry. I'll apologise when he comes over tomorrow."

Minos walked over to where Pythagoras was gazing at the sea. "Are you alright? You seem distant."

"I was thinking."

"What of?"

"Mnesarchus."

Minos didn't say anything. He reached out and threaded his hands through the honey-coloured mop of hair on his heir's scalp and waited.

"You are my father. You always will be. Why is it that other people can't always see that?"

"Other people don't always understand. They feel that bringing up a child that you didn't bear or make yourself is done out of charity, rather than the love felt when you see your child for the first time."

"Why did you love me?"

"I don't know how love works. Who does? All I knew was we had to have you. We knew you were the one for us."

"We are so different in looks."

"You look like your mamá. The hair, the eyes, the skin. You get your brains from me."

"Really? How many degrees are in a circle?" Pythagoras tested him

"If you're going to bring mathematics into the conversation, I'm going to bed." Minos announced.

"I thought you would have known." Pythagoras teased.

"I used to." Minos muttered. A corner of his mouth curved as he saw the look of misery Pythagoras had worn was replaced by cheer. "It is late. Will you be retiring soon?"

"I'll say goodnight to mi̱téra, first." Pythagoras looked out of the window again and began walking through the corridor, Minos by his side. "Did you say you were talking to Kapaneus earlier?"

"I was. Heptarian will be here tomorrow."

"How is he?"

"You can ask him yourself."

"I just want to know."

"He is fine, I promise you."

Seeing that he would get no further information from his father, Pythagoras gave up on asking. He thought about Heptarian visiting and smiled. He'd missed him.

"He doesn't want the new boy! Not like that, anyway. He would have told me if he did."

"You didn't see the way he was looking at him." Joya told him.

"I am certain he doesn't. They barely know each other."

"Minos, when I first met you, I thought you were overly serious and boring. Then my feelings changed completely. Feelings change!"

"You thought I was boring?"

"That's all you heard? Minos, I think our son has, for lack of a better word, a crush on Jason."

"I'm not boring. How could you call me boring?"

Joya stood up from where she lay and walking over to Minos, pulled him so he fell onto the bed. Straddling him, she looked into his eyes and fiercely repeated what she'd said about changing feelings and the fact that their only child obviously had a fancy for the one who'd slain the Minotaur.

"And I can't say I blame him." Joya went on. "Jason's a wonderful example of a man. If I was 20 years younger..."

Minos cleared his throat. "I don't need to hear more."

She lowered herself so she was lying on him. "Do you understand now?"

"I do." He placed his arms around her. "Though I'm not sure the boy feels the same way."

"He may. He may not. Let's hope he does."

"He's a peasant, Joya."

"What does that matter?"

"He's not of royal blood."

"He's a good man. That is all that matters."

Minos was quiet in thought for several moments. "Maybe it would be good for us to have new marriage laws. What do you think?"

She kissed him. "I think that's a wonderful idea."

He kissed her this time. They stayed in their embrace for several minutes until the door got lightly pushed open. "I forgot to say goodnight, I...oh." Pythagoras stared at his parents, a light blush colouring his face. "I'll...um." He cleared his throat. "Goodnight."

Minos buried his nose in Joya's silken, gold locks. Joya started giggling. "Oh, gods."

"You can laugh, but if he tells Heptarian, he'll be sure to tell Kapaneus.."

"If Kapaneus says anything, I'll bleed him dry. Literally!"