Xena held her daughter and was the first out the door, followed closely by Gabrielle, who was holding the other baby. Hercules and Iolaus were last.
"Thanks again," Hercules said. "We appreciate the trouble you went to and I'm sorry that Ares showed up. I'm glad he didn't hurt anybody or break anything. Here take a dinar for your trouble."
The elderly farmer shook his head. "We won't accept it. You can't control the gods. We offered our home and hospitality. We won't take anything for it."
"That's more than kind," Hercules told them.
"Anything for the great Hercules," his wife answered, a bit doe-eyed.
"Anything for the great Hercules," mimicked Iolaus when they were out of hearing distance. "How is it you're still getting all the ladies even the older ones?"
Hercules shrugged but he had a grin plastered on his face.
Joxer had already established himself as the loud one. When he was ready to be fed or changed, he had no trouble getting his lungs to work. His fists would tighten, he would turn red, and throw a royal fit. Cyrene was the quiet one. It was almost unnatural how calm she was. Xena had to periodically check to see if she needed to be changed or fed. Thus far, much to the relief of mother and company, there had been no demonstration of godlike powers and they went down the road with light hearts.
They all heard another pair of feet materialize behind them and they whipped around in defensive positions.
"Aphrodite," Xena said. "This is a surprise. What are you doing here?"
"Well, I had to come see my new niece and nephew, duh," she said, walking up to the babies and bending down to goochy goo them.
There was an awkward silence before they all realized she was talking about through Hercules, not Ares.
She stroked Joker's dark tuft of hair and Cyrene's curly light brown hair. "What cutie pies. It almost makes me wish there were still rugrats on Olympus. Even baby Bliss is all grown up now."
Gabrielle started to open her mouth to say something to Aphrodite.
"Chill, Gabby. I'm not going to kidnap anymore mortal princesses and I said almost. What did you name the little munchkins?" she asked, still cooing at the babies.
"This is Cyrene and this is Joxer," Gabrielle said, pointing them out and smiling like a proud aunt.
"Oh, how adorable," Aphrodite squealed. "I always did like Joxer."
"Even though you brainwashed and caused trouble for him on more than one occasion," Xena said dryly.
She flipped her hand nonchalantly, "It's a sign of my affection. And like speaking of affection, I got some rad toys for the little tykes." Some very feminine and very musical rattles appeared in her hand and she gave them to the babies. "These are from your Auntie Aphrodite."
She went over to Hercules. "Congratulations, Bro. I know you'll be an awesome dad."
"Thanks," he said affectionately.
"And just a word of advice from a not so ditzy blonde, I'd be careful if I were you guys. It's totally curious that two blue-eyed people had brown-eyed twins."
"Aphrodite," Hercules began. "I don't know what Ares told you but—"
She rolled her eyes. "I'm not saying it's not possible and that I think you're not the daddy, but I don't think my Olympian bro has taken a good look at these babies. He's in too much of a huff right now. You should see him mope around Olympus. The god of war with love problems, it would be funny if it wasn't so sad. Toodles," she said, disappearing in a shower of sparkles.