While the shock of seeing Hades in the flesh had stunned every mortal present and Hercules as well, it was not long before fear gave way to Harmonia's many charms. There was not a house guest who wouldn't set everything aside for a chance to hold the child, even when she cried or soiled herself.
At times, Harmonia's cries resembled those of an enraged cat, which Megara interpreted to mean she was afraid. She needed holding, and more than that, she needed cuddles. Her cries resembled a bleating lamb when she was hungry or cold, and when she'd soiled herself, she howled in disgust. This last was the sound that her new puppy, Ambrosia, loved to mimic.
The girl's complaints shattered the house's former peaceful silence, but as soon as she was gratified by the demand du jour, she settled back into her status as the delight of all who knew her. She was too young to smile or even hold up her own head, but her wild-eyed search for meaning in everything was enchantment enough.
With each passing day, Harmonia's little red body filled out until, after a month, she developed thick rolls of fat on her arms and legs.
"She almost looks like you," Megara remarked to Hercules one morning after the girl fell asleep from a hearty feeding. She held up one arm and mimicked a flex.
Hercules chuckled. "Can't wait to see what she's capable of. Maybe she'll be even stronger than me someday."
The more aware she grew of the world, the more Harmonia seemed to enjoy being part of it. Her animalistic little cries were intermingled with burbling chortles. As soon as she learned to smile, it became her default expression.
"She's absolutely taken after you," Megara remarked to Hercules over the girl's laughter.
"I'm sure the stuff she gets from you is too sophisticated for us to notice right now," Hercules assured her. "Being like me is easy. I'm not that complicated."
Alcmene marveled at how similar Hercules and his daughter were, and Megara couldn't grudge her for it.
"A god's features must be more dominant than a mortal's," she noted. "It's good she bears his mark. It'll make people think twice about doing anything when her heritage is that visible."
"She has your eyes," Hercules reminded her. "Anyone who messes with a child of yours should worry about getting their heads ripped off. You're no joke, hon."
When her bleeding finally stopped, she felt less of a joke. Her energy wasn't back to where it had been, but she celebrated by running outside to join Hercules, who was working out in the garden.
Alcmene had Harmonia on her knee, wearing a wide-brimmed sun hat and bouncing along with the only grandmother she knew.
"Guess what!" Megara did an uncharacteristic twirl that broke Hercules's pushup streak.
He hopped to his feet and looked her over. "It's probably something great, but I'm not smart enough to guess. How 'bout you just tell me?"
Megara glanced at Alcmene, worried that she'd say something a little too personal in front of her, but she couldn't hold it in. "I've stopped bleeding!"
It took Hercules a moment to integrate that news into his bank of things he understood, but he smiled. "That's great, hon! Do you feel better?" He gave her a little twirl, and for the first time in months, she had no trouble doing so.
"It's such a relief," she sighed. "I'm back to normal." Almost. There were some modifications that she was sure wouldn't go away anytime soon.
When Hercules saw the look of disappointment in her eyes, he broadened his smile. "You're the most beautiful woman in the cosmos," he told her.
"Maybe I used to be." Megara ducked her head. "But now we have Harmonia, so it doesn't matter."
"You misunderstood me." Hercules lowered a hand to wrap around her waist and give her a squeeze. "You are the most beautiful." He lowered his head to whisper into her ear, "You know how I feel about curves…" He blocked Alcmene's view with his own body so that when he lifted Megara into his arms, he could give her a firm squeeze without any outside attention.
"Does this mean you'll try for another soon?" Alcmene asked with interest.
Megara looked into Hercules's eyes and knew he could see all the concerns flitting through her mind. If they had a child too soon, would that rob Harmonia of the time she deserved at the center of attention? Could she handle another child so soon after the first? What if she could never bounce back to normal because she kept having children before she had a chance to heal fully?
Having seen all this concern pass unspoken, Hercules gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek. "We'll figure that out in our own time," he said and set Megara down. "We've got plenty of other ways to stay occupied."
It was only after she stopped bleeding that Megara left home to help plan her brother and Cassandra's wedding. She found herself somewhat humbled by the changes to her body that only Hercules seemed happy with.
She was no longer prepared to sway around the palace, commanding all eyes. She instead wrapped herself in a himation and waited through a meeting until she'd had too much and went home early.
When she rejoined her family, she found Hercules teaching Harmonia how to throw a ball for her puppy.
"How was it?" Hercules asked, glancing up from the ball game.
Megara squatted beside them and let out a sigh. "They're having lots of fun on the top of that hill. I don't think I can keep up with all of that. I don't feel like… myself… up there." Or anywhere else, but she didn't want Hercules to feel guilty over that.
"I'm sure you'll feel more normal if you give yourself more time. You're still the woman I love. I hope you know nothing's going to change that."
Megara shrugged. "Is Moni hungry? I hate leaving her."
"She seems fine, but stay tuned," Hercules scooted closer to her. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, fine." Megara picked Harmonia up, even though the girl now had some heft to her. "We're going to a wedding soon," she said. "And then your auntie Galatea will have us over so you can meet your new friend."
Harmonia made a few noises that sounded like interest, but her attention was drawn back to the puppy who'd retrieved a ball. Her legs kicked out as if she were trying to run off with her pet.
"Go on, then…" Megara relinquished the buffer against her insecurities and watched her crawl off and throw the ball again. "When did she start doing that?"
"Last night when you needed to catch up on sleep, and I got her for you." Hercules nudged her with his shoulder. "You're healed up, right?"
She was, meaning she should be handling all of this better. She wasn't really very good at this whole thing, after all. Hercules was so much better suited to parenting.
"Yeah, I guess so," she responded flatly. "But it's still too early for…" she looked up at him meaningfully.
"That doesn't mean we can't have a little fun, does it?"
Megara winced and hoped Hercules hadn't seen her response to his question. "I could do some things for you if you need me to," she replied. "I know it's been a long time."
"I didn't mean for me. You've gone a long time without getting spoiled."
She didn't deserve to be spoiled anymore. "We're too busy for that."
"Moni sleeps more now, and I'm usually here. I only have to go out occasionally for hero stuff, so why shouldn't I spoil you?"
Megara crossed her arms and held her himation more firmly around herself. "I don't think I'm ready for spoiling." Not that she thought she ever would be.
Hercules lifted her into his lap and wrapped his arms around her, resting his head atop hers. "When you're ready, then. We'll never be the exact people we used to be, but this is eternal between us. When you're a goddess, you can decide for yourself how you look. For now, you look like my personal goddess." He traced the new lines of her hips and then slowly smoothed his hands back up her body toward her chest. "Are you sure you don't want to try a little spoiling?"
She had to admit that as much as she enjoyed feeding Harmonia, it might be nice to let herself remember what it was like to use her body for pleasure instead of utility. "I'm not that sure…"
"There are plenty of ways we can enjoy ourselves, Meg… We'll have Aphrodite's help. I miss being with you, but I've watched you steadily recover. I know you're not ready. I'm fine waiting, but… I can tell you're not happy, and that tears me up."
"Happiness isn't my natural state. You've done miracles so far, but you aren't responsible for my emotions. I'm happy in my own way. I get to have you both, and… certain people haven't been bothering us for a while. So maybe, at some point, I'll be how I was before."
Hercules rested his chin on her shoulder and rocked her. "You've been through a lot, Meg. Of course, you'll need some time to recover, but you don't have to do it all on your own. Harmonia and I are in this, too. We'll get through this as a team."
Harmonia didn't seem to think so. She was five months old the first time she threw such an unholy fit that Megara couldn't calm her with any of the simple solutions.
She sat, flailing her arms and howling with rage.
Ambrosia sniffed around her mistress, just as intently as Megara was searching for a solution.
Hercules came in just in time to see Megara pick Harmonia up and place her in a cushion-lined basket. "What's the matter?" Hercules asked, drying off arena sweat.
"I'm trying to figure that out, but she's not giving me any hints." Megara crouched beside the basket. "Moni, what's the matter? Do you want one of your dollies?" To illustrate, Megara provided one of the said dolls, letting it jingle invitingly in the air.
Harmonia made a face at her mother, continued to fuss, and folded her arms.
One of Megara's brows rose. "Well, okay, no dollies."
Ambrosia sniffed at the edge of the basket and then climbed in with her mistress.
"There's got to be something we're missing," Hercules said, joining Megara on the opposite side of Harmonia's basket. "What happened?"
"I'm not sure!" Megara re-evaluated her tone, winced, and said, "Sorry, I'm just worried I don't understand her anymore." She turned back to the baby. "What can I do, Moni?"
Harmonia flapped her hands around, mimicked Megara's tone and cadence, and then folded her arms again.
Megara continued staring at her, but Hercules was so overcome with gales of laughter that he threw himself to the ground to indulge in it.
Neither Harmonia nor Megara could maintain their dynamic with a roaring god on the ground.
Harmonia leaned over the edge of her basket, and Megara supported her in doing so.
"What's the matter with you?" Megara asked.
Hercules sighed, then rolled to his feet. "I told you! There's proof!"
"What are you talking about?" Megara asked, looking from Hercules to Harmonia without a hint.
"Buh-baah-bow?" Harmonia mimicked with an exasperated sigh.
"That! That right there!" Hercules jumped back to his feet and caught them both in an embrace. "She's just like you!"
Megara looked down at the baby again and recognized a familiar raised eyebrow looking right back at her. "I've created a monster," she said.
"No, no, this is great! You were worried she wouldn't inherit any traits from you, but now we know she did!"
"And she's using my powers against me!"
"That's even better, it's actually perfect! She's a Theban, no denying it."
At last, Megara couldn't help but crack a smile. "One of these days, Wonder Boy, we'll team up and make our collective attitudes your problem."
Hercules drew them in and kissed them both. "Can't wait."