"Anteros, Deimos, and Senscie. Come forward." Destiny called.
The three named individuals stepped forward and waited with fear.
"Love and Death have been joined,
thus god and mortal have been unbound.
Death has been allowed to love,
thus land and sky have been released.
The willing sacrifice must still be made,
to make the changes firm and fast."
"No!" Aphrodite screamed.
Gaea held up a hand to silence Aphrodite and bid Destiny to continue with a look.
"Deimos, are you willing to take your brother's place? To sacrifice yourself so your brother can live?" Destiny asked while gazing into Deimos' eyes.
"I am." Deimos said firmly.
"I see the truth in your heart and in your words..." Destiny said, then turned her gaze toward Senscie.
A moment later Destiny looked over the crowd and said, "The bind of god and mortal can only be broken by the willing sacrifice of the god of love avenged and the will of a mortal for it to be so."
Destiny then looked Senscie in the eyes and said, "It is your choice who will be sacrificed here today. Choose."
Senscie looked at Anteros and Deimos in panic.
"Please Senscie, if you care anything about me at all, even a little, don't let my brother die in my place." Anteros said with tears streaming down his face.
"You love him, I may not be a love god, but I know you do. Let me do this, me an you wouldn't be happy if Ter died, but if I take his place, you an Ter can help each other move on." Deimos said with pleading in his eyes.
Senscie forced herself to look away from both men and looked into the eyes of the little girl.
"I choose myself." Senscie said firmly.
"You aren't a god. You can't do it." Anteros said quickly.
"That's what Ambrosia is for." Senscie said to Anteros, then looked back at Destiny. "Well, you said it was my choice and I chose, is it enough?" Senscie asked with anger creeping into her voice.
Destiny looked deeply into Senscie's eyes and said, "It is enough."
"No! Daddy Hep, you can't allow this, she's a mortal. We're supposed to protect mortals." Anteros pleaded.
Deimos stood silently, waiting to see what would happen next.
Destiny produced a small bowl of quivering jelly and said, "Eat of the ambrosia, then we may proceed."
"No, please Senscie, you can't." Anteros begged.
"It was my choice. I can't stand by and let other people die anymore... I love you." She said, then took a bite of the ambrosia.
Destiny held out her hands to Gaea and Hephaistos. With concentration from all three, the godhood of Love Avenged transferred to the new goddess.
"Let's just do this before he talks me out of it." Senscie said irritably.
"As you wish." Destiny said, then directed her voice to the host of Olympus. "It is done. The seal has been broken." Destiny said and smiled at Deimos.
"I... I don't have to die?" Senscie asked in confusion.
"No, it was the willingness, not the sacrifice that was necessary for the binding to be completely broken. It was a failsafe. If our society wasn't ready to encounter the outside world, then no one would be brave and strong enough to willingly give up their life for selfless reasons." Destiny said happily.
"So it's done?" Hephaistos said in wonder.
"What can you see King Hephaistos?" Gaea asked in a leading voice.
Hephaistos' eyes became defocused as he gazed off into infinity. "Everything." he eventually whispered.
One by one, the gods looked out on the new world opened up to them. No longer was their vision stopped at the border of Greece. The whole world... the whole universe was opened to their sight.
* * * * *
"Everyone, May I have your attention!" Hephaistos called out to the congregation of Gods and mortals.
"In celebration of this joyous occasion, in celebration of Cupid and Strife's wedding, I make this decree. Any god who wishes to marry a mortal on this day may do so and I will grant immortality on your partner." Hephaistos said, looking directly at Harmonia.
Harmonia dragged her mortal husband forward to stand before Hephaistos.
"Thank you daddy Hep." Harmonia said with tears in her eyes.
"I know you love Cornelius, you've chosen to live as a mortal rather than be separated from him. Now you two can have eternity if you so choose." Hephaistos said with a smile.
Harmonia whispered to her husband and he nodded.
"Anyone else?" Hephaistos called out over the crowd.
Psyche led Hercules forward and asked, "Does that apply to us?"
"Yes Psyche, if that's what you both want." Hephaistos said with an approving look at Hercules.
"It is... thank you." Hercules said quietly.
"Um, if it, um, doesn't work out... what then?" Iolaus asked with Hebe standing at his side.
"Then you ask Joxer to perform a divorce. You will not be made mortal again, and there will be no punishment if you honestly tried to make it work." Hephaistos said to the couple.
"This is our one chance, we might not get another... what do you say?" Iolaus asked Hebe gently.
"Will you really try?" Hebe asked in a whisper.
"Yeah, I'll really try. I'm trusting that Cupid knew what he was talking about when he said that we'd be good together." Iolaus said as he looked in her eyes.
Hebe nodded shyly.
* * * * *
"I'm glad you're alive." Tad said to Deimos in a whisper.
"Me too." Deimos said as he held Tad's gaze.
"Are you still going to ask me?" Tad asked hesitantly.
"What do you want?" Deimos asked, his serious look conveying his meaning more than his words.
"You in my life." Tad said without hesitation.
"As your god? Your lover? Your husband? How do you want me?" Deimos asked with a note of desperation in his voice.
"However I can have you." Tad said shyly and tried to look away.
"I'm not asking what you'll settle for, I'm asking what you want. Please Tad, I need to know." Deimos said in a pleading tone.
Tad looked at Cupid and Strife and said, "I'm not ready for a husband. But I'd like to be your... boyfriend, and maybe more... later, if you wanted that too."
"I'd like that. Would you like to be my one and only priest?" Deimos asked hopefully.
Tad nodded and Deimos pulled Tad into a big hug.
* * * * *
"Anyone who wants to get married, move to the front. We're going to do this all in one go so we can go and explore our new world." Hephaistos called out to the crowd.
"Are you up to it dear?" Hephaistos asked Aphrodite in a whisper.
"Now you ask." Aphrodite said with an eye roll, then said, "Yeah Hephie, this is what I was made to do."
"Go ahead... I love you." Hephaistos said quietly.
Aphrodite pulled Hephaistos into a brief but firm kiss. Hephaistos pulled back and whispered something into Aphrodite's ear that made her chuckle.
"Who's first?" Aphrodite said and walked to the groups of couples.
"Me." Harmonia said with barely held enthusiasm.
"I'm so happy sweetie, let me talk to your grandmother for a second then we'll get started." Aphrodite said and walked to Hera.
* * * * *
"Son, I'm proud of you. You too Strife." Ares said as he hugged each man in turn.
"Thanks dad, you think you could watch Bliss for a night or two?" Cupid asked hopefully.
"Sure, but I thought your mom would want to." Ares said as he picked up Bliss and held him tightly.
"I think all the marriages today are going to give her such a power overload that she'll be focused on... other things tonight." Cupid said with a smile.
"Ares and I will enjoy having Bliss for a few days. Plus it will be good for him to spend some time with Pho and Demi." Joxer said with a gentle smile at his husband and grandson.
"Thanks Poppa Joxer." Cupid said as he pulled Strife into a hug.
* * * * *
"Harmonia, Goddess of Tranquility, do you take this man, Cornelius of Crete to be your husband from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Cornelius of Crete, do you take Harmonia, Goddess of Tranquility to be your wife from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Hercules, God of Heroes, do you take Psyche, Goddess of Manipulation as your wife from this day forward?"
"The god of what?" Hercules asked in disbelief.
"You performed the tasks for King Euristhias with the guarantee that one day you would ascend and become a god. This is the day. You will have the honor and duty to watch over heroes, to ensure they are worthy of the title hero and that their stories are told." Hephaistos said gently.
"I accept... and I do." Hercules finished and looked at Psyche.
"Psyche, Goddess of Manipulation, do you take Hercules, God of Heroes as your husband from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Asclepius, God of Healing, do you take Ganymede, God of Harlots to be your husband from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Ganymede, God of Harlots, do you take Asclepius, God of Healing to be your husband from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Zeus, God of the Sky, do you take Jett, God of Retribution and Retaliation to be your husband from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Jett, God of Retribution and Retaliation, do you take Zeus, God of the Sky to be your husband from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Hera, Goddess of Vengeance, do you take Lust, Goddess of Lust to be your wife from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Lust, Goddess of Lust, do you take Hera, Goddess of Vengeance to be your wife from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Eris, Goddess of Discord, do you take this man, Autolycus, king of thieves to be your husband from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Autolycus, King of Thieves, do you take Eris, Goddess of Discord to be your wife from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Hebe, Goddess of Children, do you take Iolaus to be your husband from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Iolaus, do you take Hebe, Goddess of Children to be your wife from this day forward?"
"I do."
* * * * *
"Do ya want to?" Phobos asked Charise quietly.
"If you want to, yes." Charise said uncertainly.
"But do *you* want to?" Phobos asked again.
"Not really. You're special and wonderful and everything. And maybe someday I might want to get married. But not today." Charise said, begging for understanding with her eyes.
"Me too. I like you and I want ta see you some more. But I ain't ready for this." Phobos said, looking at all the couples.
"Kiss me?" Charise asked hopefully.
Phobos smiled and moved in to give her a tender kiss.
* * * * *
"Jace, God of Debauchery, do you take Thanatos, Death, to be your husband from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Thanatos, Death, do you take Jace to be your husband from this day forward?"
//I do.//
"He does." Aphrodite called aloud to all the crowd.
"Erebus, former Titan ruler of the Underworld, do you take Tsunami, Titan of Death and Destruction of the Sea to be your husband from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Tsunami, Titan of Death and Destruction of the Sea, do you take Erebus, former Titan ruler of the Underworld to be your husband from this day forward?"
"I do."
"Senscie, Goddess of Love Avenged, do you take Anteros, God of Brotherly Love to be your husband from this day forward?"
Aphrodite smiled at the murmur that ran through the crowd at the new titles.
"I do."
"Anteros, God of Brotherly Love, do you take Senscie, Goddess of Love Avenged to be your wife from this day forward?"
"I do."
Aphrodite looked around, making sure she didn't miss anyone when she spotted Phobos kissing a girl and Deimos kissing a boy.
Aphrodite walked to Hera and received a basket of golden apples.
She pulled a few apples from the basket and handed them to her husband then walked to one end of the line to give each mortal an apple.
Hephaistos did the same, starting at the other end, and when he reached Hercules, he produced a bowl of Ambrosia.
Aphrodite produced a handful of gold cords and looked down the line of couples.
"Join hands." She said loudly enough for her voice to carry to the far end.
With a flex of her power, the pile of cords disappeared from her hand and appeared around the joined hands of each couple.
"Then all in attendance, I confirm that all these couples are now bound in marriage. You may kiss." Aphrodite called out.
Aphrodite hurried to her husband while all the couples kissed.
Hephaistos and Aphrodite enjoyed their own kiss before Aphrodite asked, "Do you know who those people are with the twins?"
"Yes, friends. And unless I miss my guess, your son and daughter-in-law, in due time." Hephaistos said, glancing at the two couples.
* * * * *
Hephaistos reluctantly separated from his wife and called out, "Everyone, may I have your attention! I have some new godhoods to confer."
"First, may I present my son, Anteros, God of Brotherly Love." Hephaistos said proudly.
There was a round of applause as Anteros pulled Senscie into a hug.
"May I also present Senscie, Goddess of Love Avenged." Hephaistos said, smiling at the couple.
"Atropos, Goddess of Grandparents." Hephaistos said with a gentle smile directed at Atropos.
"Lachesis, Goddess of Spiritual Love."
Anteros and Senscie pulled Lachesis into a three-way hug of congratulations and thanks.
"Clotho, Goddess of Voyeurism and Exhibitionism... you know why." Hephaistos said with a smirk that made Clotho blush a bright crimson.
"Moira, Goddess of Dedication and Industry"
"Destiny, Goddess of Vision and Foresight."
"Hercules, God of Heroes."
The applause continued half a minute after the last announcement.
"Now it's time to celebrate!" Hephaistos yelled and real applause rose up, exposing the previous applause for the half-hearted courtesy that it was.
* * * * *
Deimos dragged Tad behind him to Ares and Joxer.
"Dads, I got someone for ya ta meet." Deimos said quickly.
Ares and Joxer turned their full attention to their son.
"Dads, this is Taddius." Deimos said with an ebullient smile.
"Nice to meet you Taddius." Joxer said warmly as Ares nodded his introduction.
"Please call me Tad." Taddius said shyly at all the attention directed at him.
"Where did you guys meet?"Ares asked casually as he held on to Joxer comfortably.
Deimos looked to see if Tad wanted to explain. When Tad gave a slight shake of his head, Deimos said, "Tad was tha one who took care of me at Meg's."
Tad cast his eyes down in shame.
Ares shot Joxer a look, and it was evident to Deimos that they were talking in their minds.
"Demi, come here for a second." Joxer said seriously and led Deimos away from Tad.
"Tad, we need to have a talk." Ares said firmly.
* * * * *
"Poppa, don't let dad scare Tad. He's my friend and he likes me." Deimos pleaded.
"We paid him to spend time with you. We're just worried about you getting hurt if he doesn't feel the same way about you that you feel about him." Joxer said with concern.
Deimos got a stubborn look and walked away without a word, not toward Tad, but toward a small group of people gathered by Apollo.
* * * * *
"Are you using my son to gain godly favor?" Ares asked bluntly.
Tad's eyes opened wide in horror.
Ares glared at the frightened boy, waiting for an answer.
"I just like him... he's everything I want to be." Tad said with fear in his voice.
"A god?" Ares asked simply.
"No... I mean, yes, of course he's a god, but he's brave and strong. He's funny and really nice to spend time with." Tad rambled.
Ares continued to glare as Tad squirmed under the attention.
"You think I'm not good enough for him." Tad finally said in defeat.
Ares narrowed his gaze but said nothing.
"You may be right... but... as long as he's willing to spend time with me, I'm going to do my best to be his friend." Tad said, trying to sound confident.
"He's over here." Deimos said, dragging a young woman behind him.
"Dad, Thalia is the grace of friendship and if she says that Tad is really my friend and ain't pretending, will you leave him alone?" Deimos asked somewhere between defiantly and hopefully.
"No." Ares said shortly.
Deimos sent a glare at his father that was worthy of Ares himself.
"I'm sorry Demi bothered you Thalia, but I don't need for you to use your godhood. I'll trust Demi to choose his friends." Ares said to Thalia and Deimos, then turned to face Tad. "And I approve of his choice."
Deimos and Tad were both stunned by the statement.
Thalia looked at both boys and smiled before she made her way back to Apollo's group.
"What did I miss?" Joxer asked as he found his family again.
"I don't know." Deimos said and looked at Tad, who shrugged.
"We'd better get Bliss and go back to the house. I'd like to show Tad around since I expect him to be visiting a lot." Ares said softly.
Joxer got a surprised look, but quickly ran to find Cupid and Bliss.
* * * * *
"There's my brother and my Dad, I want you to meet them." Phobos said happily.
Charise followed Phobos and stopped suddenly when she recognized Ares.
"Lord Ares!" She gasped.
"Yes?" Ares replied casually.
"I'm sorry Lord, my father was a follower of yours all his life. I never expected to meet you." Charise said reverently.
Ares peeked into her mind and found an image of her father.
"Yes, Ainos was a fine warrior and a good leader. His death came far too early... I'm sorry for your loss." Ares said sincerely.
"Thank you Lord. He served you faithfully, it's good to know that you remember him." Charise said quietly.
"He lived well and served me faithfully. His death came through no fault of his own. He earned a place with the most honored warriors in the afterlife. He's happy." Ares said with assurance.
Charise forced a smile.
"Dad, I want you to meet Charise... my friend." Phobos said hesitantly, worrying about his father's reaction.
"Pleased to meet you Charise. Where did you meet my son?" Ares asked, having a feeling he already knew.
Charise flashed a panicked look at Phobos.
"We met at Meg's, Dad." Phobos said, watching his father carefully.
"Oh, I see. We're going to go home as soon as your Poppa gets back with Bliss. You're welcomed to join us Charise." Ares said casually.
"Th... Thank you." Charise said in shock.
Phobos was shocked by his father's reaction but remained silent.
"Deimos, why don't you introduce Tad." Ares asked pleasantly.
Charise and Tad locked eyes and smiled.
"Yeah, Pho, Charise, my friend Tad." Deimos said quickly.
Tad leaned close and whispered, "Are you ashamed of me?"
Deimos whispered back, "No, them."
Tad smiled a great smile and hugged Deimos.
"We're ready to go." Joxer said happily as he joined his family, with Bliss walking by his side.
"Hey, there's Hercules, I just want to say congratulations." Joxer said quickly.
"He's your friend, I'll just wait here." Ares said simply.
"You're really friends with Hercules?" Tad asked with wide eyes.
"Yeah, when I was mortal I used to travel with him... well a few times anyway. I mostly traveled with Xena." Joxer said as he turned his attention to Tad
"Xena... The warrior princess?" Tad asked with wide eyes.
"You've read some of Gabrielle's scrolls haven't you?" Joxer asked with a smile.
"Gabrielle, the bard from Poteidaia?" Tad asked in disbelief.
"Come on Tad, you and Demi come with me. If we hurry we can probably catch Herc, Gabby and Xena before any of them leave." Joxer said as he motioned for Bliss to join his grandfather.
"Now?" Tad asked as he scrambled up from the table.
"Gods, now I know why they need a god of heroes, that much worship shouldn't go to waste." Ares said with a grin to Phobos and Charise.
* * * * *
"Hercules. Congratulations on the wedding... and being a god." Joxer said hurriedly.
"Thank you, I guess I should say the same to you. Psyche's been filling me in on what I've missed." Hercules said, holding close to Psyche.
"Thanks, this is my son Deimos and his friend Tad." Joxer said with a proud smile.
"Hi." Hercules said simply, looking at the two boys.
"Hi." Tad said with eyes full of wonder.
Hercules got a strange look, then turned to Joxer in question.
"It's worship Uncle Herc. Tad has been reading scrolls about heroes." Deimos said with a fond look at his friend.
"Thank you Tad... you're my first worshipper." Hercules said with a smile.
Tad had a look on his face like he was going to pass out.
"I'll let you get back to the party, I just want to introduce Tad to Xena and Gabrielle before we call it a night." Joxer said with his own fondness directed at Tad.
"Gabrielle is over there, by the food." Psyche said, motioning to some nearby tables.
"Thank you, I'm glad you're better Psyche." Joxer said quietly.
"Better than I've ever been." Psyche said and looked lovingly at Hercules.
* * * * *
"Gabby, have you got a minute?" Joxer called out when he spotted her walking away from the table.
"Joxer? It's been months... how are you?" Gabrielle asked with concern.
"Good, great in fact. I've brought someone who'd like to meet you." Joxer said happily.
Gabrielle looked from Joxer to the two boys who were following him.
"Gabrielle of Poteidaia, this is Taddius. He's read some of your scrolls and admires your work." Joxer said with a smile.
"Really?" Gabrielle said with a glowing smile.
"Yeah, I've got the one where you were made Queen of the Grecian Amazons and the one where Xena fought the Cyclops outside Tanegra." Tad said with excitement.
"You really liked my scrolls? I didn't know if anyone read them. Every time I visit my family I leave a few with my sister Lila to sell... to help them out." Gabrielle said happily and took a seat in the grass.
Joxer and the boys followed her example and Joxer asked, "Do you maybe have any that Tad would like to read? I could pay you for them." Joxer asked hopefully.
"Yeah, let me look in my pack." Gabrielle said quickly.
"Really?" Tad asked in wonder.
"Just give me a minute." Gabrielle said as she unrolled a scroll.
Gabrielle took out her quill and ink pot, then wrote on the bottom of the scroll. 'To Taddius, Every day is an adventure, Every story is an epic, Every word is poetry, with truth and love. Gabrielle'.
"So what's been going on with you Gabby? You seem a lot different since the last time I saw you." Joxer asked seriously.
"I don't really know. I just woke up the other day feeling... like my old self. Most of the last few months are just a hazy blur. But I'm fine now and feeling better than ever." Gabrielle said with a smile.
"That's great Gabby, I've got to get going now. I want to find Xena before she leaves." Joxer said quickly.
"Too late, she left a little while ago. A god with wings... Anteros I think, he flashed her out right after the ceremony." Gabrielle said sadly.
"Don't worry Gabby, things will work out. You know they always do." Joxer said with a sunny smile.
"Yeah, I guess they do." Gabrielle said, forcing a smile back on her face.
"Come on guys, let's get back to Ares. We don't want him feeling unloved." Joxer said as he pulled himself to stand.
"Ares?" Gabrielle asked in surprise.
"Yeah, long story. He's my husband. Deimos is one of our sons." Joxer said, indicating Deimos. "I'm the God of Mischief now... okay, I guess it's not that long of a story." Joxer finished with a shrug.
"It'd be good if you could sit down and tell me the long version sometime." Gabrielle said hopefully.
"I will, I promise. But right now, I have a husband and son waiting on me." Joxer said as he turned to leave.
Gabrielle watched them leave with a tender smile.
* * * * *
"Come on, I need for you to deal with this. They're cursed and they need your help." Apollo said seriously.
"I know they're cursed, I cursed them." Ares said in return.
"What's going on?" Joxer asked with concern.
"Arcadia. The townspeople are going to stone everyone who was blinded or made mute for bringing the curse down on them." Apollo said, trying to appeal to Joxer's compassion.
Joxer looked at Ares and saw the stone-faced expression that Apollo had been facing all along.
"Boys, do you want to help me with this?" Joxer asked, looking to Phobos and Deimos.
"Yeah, we'll help you Poppa Joxer." Phobos said quietly.
"We'll meet you back at the house love, we won't be long." Joxer said simply.
"You're not going without me." Ares said firmly.
"Let's go then." Joxer said and looked to Ares.
"Go ahead, I'll boost you." Ares said with a smile.
"Thanks Love." Joxer said as he pictured Arcadia.
* * * * *
"Don't worry Tad, they can't see or hear us." Deimos said as he saw the look of fear come over Tad's face when he saw the angry mob.
"Someone's going to die if we don't bring on the divine intervention, like right now." Apollo said as he looked at the crowd.
"Pho, dampen their fear, maybe it'll help them to think." Joxer said as he changed into his robes with a thought.
Phobos concentrated and began to channel the collective fear of the crowd into his godhood.
Joxer appeared with a huge flash of light and a green/black cloud of smoke.
"People of Arcadia, this action is not sanctioned by the Gods." Joxer said, projecting his voice for all to hear.
"They brought this curse down on us. They must be punished." A man called out from the crowd.
"Do you presume to know better than the gods?" Joxer asked, looking directly at the man.
"These people have been punished. To live with the curse is their punishment. Their curse is permanent, yours can be lifted... what have you done to heal the children that were raped by that man?" Joxer asked the crowd.
"The priests of Apollo's temple are taking care of them." A woman called out from the crowd.
"The priests of Apollo can help the children, but they also need their community to support them. They need to know that they are loved and wanted, not just the means to end a curse." Joxer called out.
"Tell us what to do. Doing nothing is going to drive us insane." A man called out desperately.
"Choose leaders who will act in the best interest of everyone in your city, even the young and very old. Treat each child as a precious treasure whether they are your child or not. Ease the way for your children so that when they grow up, they will have the skills and knowledge to live at least as well as you do. These are the things that will help your children, please your gods and ease your curse." Joxer said, addressing the entire crowd.
Joxer looked to Apollo and sent, //How are the children?//
//Better. It will be a while before they're completely able to love and trust again, but children are amazingly resilient. They're better than I would have expected.//
//Ares, can you talk to the others about lifting the curse... just a little. As the children improve, we make the curse less.// Joxer sent with hope.
//I'll ask around. Give me a minute.// Ares sent with an undercurrent of love.
//Phobos, Deimos, would you be willing to appear with me and reduce your curse right now? That way the people can know that there can be an end to this.// Joxer asked his sons.
As an answer Phobos and Deimos appeared on either side of Joxer in twin flashes of light.
"People of Arcadia, Apollo has told me that the children are improved from their original condition. Phobos and Deimos have volunteered to ease your curse accordingly." Joxer said and stood back.
"The fear will ease, a sudden movement, an unexpected touch, or a sound from behind will bring it back, but you should be able to sleep through the night." Phobos said coldly.
"The physical pain will ease, but the emotional pain will stay. Remember these feelings. The kids will never forget them." Deimos said as he let his curse weaken.
//Bliss is going to remove his curse, but let's not tell them about that one yet. I think the happiness will be sweeter when they aren't expecting it.// Ares sent warmly.
"People of Arcadia. Love your children. Cherish them the way you want to be cherished. If you do that, the gods will be pleased." Joxer said, then flashed out along with Deimos and Phobos.
"That was really something Pho, do you do that all the time?" Charise asked in wide eyed wonder.
"It's a god thing." Phobos said, trying to be dismissive.
"You looked great out there." Tad said in an impressed voice.
"It's tha robe." Deimos said with a smile.
"Let's go back to the party and tell Hephaistos what's going on, then let's go home." Joxer said and looked to see that Ares was going to boost him.
At Ares nod, Joxer flashed his family back to the wedding reception.
* * * * *
While Ares, Joxer and Apollo were talking to Hephaistos, Phobos and Deimos were watching Bliss.
Phobos had most of his attention focused on Charise and Deimos on Tad.
A small figure walked past them and sat on the ground beside Bliss.
Destiny glanced quickly at Bliss and carefully took his hand.
Bliss looked into her eyes curiously as she asked, "So, do you come here often?"