The journey back home was under a clear starlit sky.

Megara and Hercules had worn themselves out, but not in the way they'd grown used to. They'd stuffed Megara's yearbook in the Prometheus Academy urn and were bringing it back with them, points made all around.

Halfway through the journey, Hercules startled Megara out of what was almost a nap. "I gotta ask: That guy who… well, he uh… didn't look like I imagined him."

"You mean you don't think he's my type?"

"I guess I thought it'd be like with you and Galatea. Maybe he'd be a big guy. I'd have to wrestle someday or give him a good punch. He looks like I could knock him over by looking at him."

"To look at your pictures, so did you back then. He grew up just like you did, but he was just an average mortal, so he never reached proportions like yours."

"Oh, so… am I your type then? Or did you just like him no matter what he looked like?"

"I was desperate, Herc. It wasn't about what he looked like; he promised me a life where I wouldn't have to spend every day dodging curses, and that sounded good. I wasn't exactly looking for the perfect guy; I was looking for someone who didn't hate me, which meant I just wanted something, and that's what I got. Maybe there were cracks in his facade that I never saw until it was too late, but I romanticized everything about him because he was so important to me."

Hercules rubbed along her arm to soothe her before she'd evaluated the way her voice had run ragged.

"I'm sorry for getting worked up."

"Don't be. I'm the one who put you there because I'm insecure about being everything you want. I should've been happy to know you love me now, not worried I couldn't fulfill every childhood dream."

"Wonder Boy, just because I couldn't picture the embodiment of perfection doesn't mean that's not what you are. It only means there were limits on my imagination."

"Well… thank you. You're ah… so much better with words than me. Thanks for explaining that."

"You're not even subject to the same set of standards. In Thebes, boys like that were hot because they could see the world realistically. They didn't pretend to be happy when they weren't. Plus, we'd just opened trade with Egypt, so kohl was flooding the market, and all the cool kids were wearing it."

"Meaning he was… popular?"

"He wasn't too bad of an athlete, either, but he'd never get into a league with you. He could talk anyone into anything, and so could I. We starred in a school play senior year, too. Cadmus and Harmonia."

Hercules's arms stiffened around her.

She shifted the weight of the jar in her arms and shook her head. "I get it. You're probably thinking it must've been really romantic. I guess it was. It put us in a situation to imagine ourselves as a couple, and he said a lot of flattering things. We spent a lot of time rehearsing romantic lines together and performed a few times before the war took over everything. And then he kept talking about how we'd travel the world as part of a theater troupe, and I thought it would help me get my mind off of the fact everyone I knew was in danger or dying. The more they dropped, the less I could resist him."

"I'm sorry," Hercules whispered. "I wish I could've met you back then. I know you probably wouldn't have given me the time of day, but if you had… maybe I could've helped save some of your brothers or done something for you and you wouldn't feel trapped with that guy. "

"I wasn't an all-around terrible judge of character back then. Maybe you could've proven yourself to me and we'd get along. But the important thing is that now we're together and you have me forever. We can figure out our future now that we've stopped hiding things from one another. I can talk to your friends without them having to hide anything from me. That'll eliminate a whole lot of tension whenever we talk."

"I should've thought of that instead of being so caught up in my insecurities. I've already given up so much to be with you. I couldn't risk losing you."

Megara chewed her lip. "I'm sorry you had to do all that."

"No, I didn't mean… It's just because after a whole life struggling toward this connection I finally get to have with you, it's inconceivable that I'd lose it. The despair would be immeasurable."

"You're talking to the right girl. I know what it feels like."

Hercules rested his brow atop her head. "For a moment in the Underworld, I thought I'd die and send you up here without me. It'd be worth losing everything to know you were safe. But to live without your love would be even worse."

Megara closed her eyes to breathe in his scent along with the sea air. "You're safe with me, though. I'm not going to turn my back on you for anything except for infidelity. You don't share and I don't, either."

Hercules made a disgusted noise in his throat. "Trust me, that's not possible."

"Good. Beyond that, anyone who tries to mock you in front of me will feel my wrath. You already saw what I did to Adonis."

"Yeah…" He chuckled and kissed the top of her head. "I'd like to hear that whole story. Since we're sharing."

"It'll just upset you. I'd rather we basked in our good mood."

"Then I'll hear it later," he said in a lower register than before. "I get it that you're not ready to talk about it, but you're my wife now, so I'm not letting it go."

"Nor should you. It's a short story, and I won't mind telling it tomorrow. Maybe we should have my brother over, too. He was there."

"That's a great idea! Then we can have my friends over, and your brother and we'll know everything!"

They touched down behind their house, conveniently enough for Pegasus, who was ready to bed down in his nest.

Hercules lifted Megara off his friend's back and held her. "We'll leave that in the atrium until we can figure out where it goes. If we're not embarrassed anymore, it doesn't need to be hidden, but maybe it shouldn't be in a guest room, either."

"It can go in Trophy Room Number 300, right next to that statue of you flexing."

"Which one?" he asked with a self-aware sort of laugh as he carried her into the house. "Maybe we can invite our friends over soon and let them enjoy the memories along with us. I'm sure you'll enjoy getting their perspectives on things that happened."

"I've been after that all along."

"And I live to please you in particular, so we'll do it. How about all of our friends that are still in town come visit us, we share stories, and show them around?"

"The house is pretty much full of the stuff that was at the last house. I might have to call in some artisans to commission things or order samples from the markets." She arranged the vase stocked with memorabilia on the mantlepiece as she continued to muse aloud. "I suspect it's dangerous to go into town now that I'm publicly your wife."

"I would've thought it was the opposite." When she checked over her shoulder, Hercules was scowling at her hypothetical. "Everyone should know messing with you is bad for their health."

"You oughtta know how teenagers with low understanding of consequences and high investment in their emotions can get themselves into trouble."

"Oh, okay, ouch. But you've told them off before."

"Sure, when you're right there. That makes a huge difference."

Hercules rubbed his face. "You're right… As usual… I'm not in the mood to see that for myself. I should probably get Phil back in town now that we're moved in and keep myself sharp. It's been nice taking a break, but… I can't risk not being there for you when you need me."

"Ugh, you want me to share you again?" She leaned against the wall near the hearth. "Fine, but that'll just give me time to plot."

"Yeah?" his eyes flickered in the firelight. "More devious plans from the mind of the most brilliant princess in the world?"

"Ya never know what could happen if I'm alone and frustrated with all this space to myself."

"Is that a promise? I could spend a whole day out at the stadium if it means you have time to plan."

All smugness vanished. "Wait, I didn't mean you should be gone that much! I'd miss you!"

"I'll bring you out like I promised, then. We'll take breaks. It'll be the fun version of sitting on the sidelines while the world was ending. We can even cuddle!"

"All right, we'll make it work. Just remember you'll drive me crazy if I have to be alone too often, and we'll be fine."

"I promise if I ever drive you crazy for the wrong reasons, I'll make it up to you for all the right reasons."

"Deal!" She took his hand. "Now, I'm going to have you to myself a little while longer before we share again. You owe me some of those cuddles you promised."