November 21st, 2012 - Greece

It was early afternoon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, when Ares and Ayden blinked out of the Singer kitchen and arrived back at Ares' villa in Porto Heli, Greece, where it was early evening, sunlight kissing the sea and casting a warm glow over the gardens and greenery that surrounded the villa. If there was such a thing as Paradise on Earth, this place came close.

It was certainly a magical place for Ayden. She relaxed the moment they appeared in the villa, the tension she had been carrying disappearing from her frame as she stepped away, quick to shuck out of her woolen sweater and thick boots, leaving herself barefoot on the warm terracotta tile. "I didn't mean to drop you in the middle of a family reunion," she said softly, turning apologetic eyes to her companion. "But thank you, for healing Dean. I know it's not really one of your skills, but I do appreciate it."

He shrugged as if it wasn't such a big deal, which to him, it really wasn't. "He would have healed in time, but he wouldn't be of much use wounded as he was. It's a skill I learned from my mother. It's helpful in battle." He drew a deep breath of the salt-sea air, filling his immortal lungs with it. It smelled different here - cleaner, fresher - untainted by Hades and his minions.

Ayden smiled at him, resisting the urge to roll her eyes. "Word to the wise, baby," she said softly, stroking her fingertips against his cheek as she rose up on her toes to kiss him. "I just thanked you for something you didn't have to do. Accept the gratitude without telling me why I don't have to be thankful, okay?"

"Why wouldn't I have healed him?" Ares countered, arching a brow at her, even as she kissed him. Even if she hadn't asked him to heal her brother, he more than likely would have done it on his own eventually.

"Because he wouldn't have let you," she pointed out, shaking her hair back off her neck. Though it was winter in Greece, like everywhere else in the Northern Hemisphere, it was significantly warmer here than in Sioux Falls. "Do you always take everything so very literally?"

"Literally?" he echoed curiously, unsure what she meant by that exactly. "Have I misunderstood your meaning?" he asked, wondering what he'd done wrong. He'd found her brother's way of speaking difficult to understand, at times, but he'd never had too much trouble understanding Ayden.

"No, not really," she assured him. "I think I'm stalling, to be honest." She drew in a deep breath, stepping back from him to look out across the beautiful mountainous vista, knowing certain parts of it only too intimately now. "You know, he and I had quite an important conversation, before I called for you."

He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist as she looked out across the mountains, now that they were alone again, just happy to be near her. He misunderstood her again, presuming she thought he knew what they'd talked about. "I was not listening while you were speaking with your brother. I do not know what the two of you discussed."

She laughed softly, leaning back into his arms with easy comfort. "That wasn't what I meant," she assured him. "It's a manner of speaking, a way of highlighting that I want you to know what was said. Like a verbal warning that I'm going to share something important with you. Does that make sense?"

He considered that a moment before replying, enjoying the feel of her in his arms, the soft feminine scent of her filling his senses. She was a distraction, to be sure, of the very best kind. "Yes, I suppose it does," he admitted, looking out at the view he knew and loved so well. "What was your important conversation about?"

It took a moment for her to answer, wondering if he was going to misconstrue this, as well. "Us," she said eventually, her head turning to let her eyes find his. "You and me. He gave me some good advice, that I intend to take. Would you like to hear it?"

He arched a single brow as she turned to meet his gaze. The answer to her question seemed obvious, but he answered just the same. "If it concerns us both, then I believe I should hear it, yes."

"Well ....it boils down to grab life by the balls," Ayden mused softly. "Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today, because you never know what might happen." She twisted in his arms, stroking her fingertips against his chest as she looked up at him, her skin coloring as she drew her courage together. "I love you, Ares. I don't want to wait."

He gave her that infuriatingly confused look again, as he tried to sort out the slang she was using that he assumed had come from her brother. "Balls?" he asked, wondering just what she meant by that, but then she was sort of explaining. He looked down at her as she turned to face him, his arms loosely circling her waist. "You....don't want to wait?" he repeated, puzzled, before he realized the enormity of what she was telling him. It might only be three little words, but they were three little words with a lot of meaning. "You love me?" he asked, blond brows arching upwards, as if he was unsure whether or not he'd heard her right.

"Yeah." She nodded, her expression soft but worried, uncertain whether his reaction was a good one or not. "I love you. And I don't want to be without you. There's no reason to wait, not when I feel this way. I know my own heart, Ares. It's yours."

He found his immortal heart was beating a little bit faster at the realization that she loved him, at the thought of her becoming his wife and belonging to him and only him. He cupped her cheek in the palm of his hand, his gaze softening on her. In all the many years of his existence, no one had quite touched his heart the way this mortal woman had. "And I love you," he echoed her sentiment. "You will be my wife then?" he asked, almost afraid to hear her answer. She had asked him for a year, until all this nonsense with Hades was over, but it seemed she had changed her mind.

Gazing up at him, Ayden marveled at the thought that she'd ever considered making him wait for her to be ready. But then, she hadn't known she was ready until Dean had pointed it out to her. He was absolutely right - she would regret making Ares wait even a month for the answer that was already rock solid in her heart and mind. "Yes," she whispered shyly, the tiniest hint of a sweet smile on her lips. "If you'll have me."

"Truly?" Hera actually had the grace to look surprised, glancing down at Ayden where the girl lingered uncertainly nearby. "So little restraint in one so young," she mused thoughtfully. "Or is it confidence of purpose you lack, little one?"

Ayden blushed deeply, wondering just how much this Olympian knew about her, but far too leery to actually speak up in defense of her choice. All she would say was, "I love your son very much."

"She loves me!" Ares echoed loudly and excitedly enough for all those on Mount Olympus to hear his declaration. Let just one of them challenge his choice or try to take her from him and they would regret the day they were born. Ares reached for Ayden, to draw her closer into his possessive embrace.

Tucked close into his arms once again, Ayden visibly relaxed, and Hera's smile deepened as she stepped back from them. She could see clear as day the tenderness of feeling shared by her son and his chosen mortal, no matter how soon it seemed to have come about. "Then you must enjoy that love, both of you," she told them. "And I will leave you to do that. Oh, and ....Ares" Do let her change for dinner. Women like to dress up when they have an excuse for it, don't they, little one?"

Another blush answered her from Ayden, but this time the young woman giggled, surprised by this understanding of humanity from a being who was painted in myths as vindictive and nasty-minded.

"Of course," Ares replied, smiling as he looked down on his beloved. "We do not wish to wait long, Mother. You will talk to Father for me?" Though there was still the matter of the Fates to be dealt with. He did not think he would regain his father's approval until that little matter was taken care of. He knew it wouldn't be long before all of Olympus was aware of the news, if they weren't already. He only hoped they would be happy for him. Olympians tended to be a jealous lot.

"I will tend the garden and plant the seed," Hera nodded, smiling at the sight of her fierce son so humbled and gentled by a true love. "You must come for the harvest yourself, when you have the tools to command." It was an odd bit of code between the Olympians, but Ayden was oblivious, smiling up at Ares with adoring eyes.

"I shall," Ares replied, sobering as he understood what his mother was trying to tell him. "Soon." Very soon. It needed to be done soon before the last of the Fates contrived to some vengeance on the Winchesters or himself. He got the feeling his mother was readying to take her leave of them and he frowned sadly. "We will see you again soon."

"Yes, you shall," his mother promised them warmly. "And very soon. But this celebration is yours alone. Play well, children." She faded from view, leaving the pair standing alone in the bedroom.

Ayden felt herself blush yet again, fairly sure that Ares' mother had just told them to get naked with each other, though not in so many words. "She is ....Well, intimidating, but nice."

As soon as his mother disappeared from view, Ares turned to Ayden, a soft smile on his face just for her. "She is the Queen of the Gods," Ares replied, matter-of-factly, as if that explained the intimidation factor. "But she is also my mother, and she loves me." And though she had never said so much in words, he often got the feeling he was her favorite.

"Who couldn't love you?" she answered softly, gently teasing a fingertip along his jaw as she smiled sweetly up at him. "I do." That smile widened to a grin as she winked up at him. "So, Mr. God of War, do you think we have time to work up an appetite before your team of culinary geniuses downstairs expect us to appear and eat this feast you've ordered for us?"

His smile faded momentarily at her question. He had plenty of enemies, and some of them lived on Mount Olympus, but he didn't want to think about that right now. "What did you have in mind, Miss Milligan?" he asked, that smile forming again as his arms circled her waist.

"Well, I ..." She blushed, still innocent enough to be embarrassed by the fact that she was trying to ask him to take her to bed without actually saying the words. "If we're going to do your servants justice, we should probably wash up a bit. Shouldn't we?"

"A bath, then," he proclaimed in agreement. "Shall we?" he asked, unwinding his arms from around her waist and offer her a hand to lead her toward the master bathroom, where there was a bathtub fit for a king and large enough to easily accommodate both of them, as it had on a previous occasion.

Ayden's hand slid into his as she giggled softly to herself, remembering the differences between that previous occasion and this. A previous occasion when they had not yet been lovers, when he had been injured, and when she had been navigating the uncertain waters of accepting that he had already seen her naked too often for it to be such a problem for her any longer. This time promised to be quite different.

He did not call on a servant to start the bath for them this time, preferring the privacy afforded them while the rest of the household made ready for a feast. While the bathtub filled with water, he took his time disrobing her, peeling away the layers of cloth that covered her from his eyes.

Though she was newly a woman - and by his hand - there was still a sense of naive innocence about her as she raised her arms for him, feeling her skin flush with unhindered desire as each layer fell away to leave her naked before the man she loved. Her fingers skimmed over his hips as she gazed into his eyes, trying hard not to feel embarrassed by her nudity as she turned her attention to gently easing the fabric from his body, brushing soft kisses to his chest to distract them both as clothing hit the floor at their feet.

"I would appreciate that," Ayden admitted, unafraid to let her wariness of his mother shine through. It was an understandable wariness, born of the legends that were not entirely untrue. She kissed him softly, nuzzling close. "We should get dressed before we disappoint your staff."

"Oh, I do not think we will disappoint them," he replied with a smile, happily letting her turn the conversation away from the subject of children. "They have been looking forward to this for some time." There had never been a lady of the house in all these many years, and they were looking forward to having a mistress to spoil and one who would lend a woman's touch to matters of running the household.

She giggled softly. "Even though I don't speak a word of Greek?" she pointed out, knowing that she didn't really have a hope of integrating with the household when she was the only person there who couldn't speak the local language. Cradling his jaw, she kissed him once again, and made to rise, navigating the task of getting untangled with some difficulty.

"I will teach you!" he declared just before he got kissed, his gaze following her as she tried to untangle herself from around him, an amused smirk upon his face. He smoothed a hand against her leg as she moved away from him, knowing his touch would likely only make her want to stay.

His knowledge of her was certainly proved right. As his hand touched her leg, she paused, biting her lip, closing her eyes, suddenly aware of the conflict inside. Should she stay where she was, or should she move" Green eyes opened to pin him with a glare she couldn't possibly have known would look so seductive. "You're doing that on purpose," she accused him again. "We'll be late to our own celebration."

He couldn't very well hide the effect that look was having on his body, his desire for her blossoming once again. "They will wait," he assured her, moving through the water to his knees, as if he was about to worship at her feet. Instead of letting her go, he very gently parted her legs before pulling her toward him and touching his lips against her bare flesh, starting at her navel and working his way downward to the sacred place between her legs, intending to make her tremble and moan.

He had her exactly where he wanted her, trapped in his grasp, unable to move away even if she had wanted to. For all her innocence, she didn't resist, slender fingers clutching at his hair as she did exactly as he wished, easily brought to the brink, sensitive to his every touch. Few men had the honor of knowing that they were the only lover their woman was ever going to know, and Ares seemed to glory in that fact, teaching her things about herself she might never have discovered had they never met.

An experienced lover, Ares knew what a woman wanted from a man. He knew how to be gentle and tender, and when the occasion called for it, he knew how to be forceful and aggressive. He knew how to please a woman and please her he did, setting his own needs and desires aside so that he could focus on her. He did not stop until he could tell from her trembling and moaning that he had brought her to the brink, relishing the knowledge that he had given of himself in order to please her, show her just how much he loved and adored her.

She sank back into the water, limp in his arms, peppering his shoulder and neck with soft kisses as she tried desperately to make herself even vaguely coherent in the aftermath of that unexpected, but deeply delightful, attack. "God, I think I've forgotten my own name," she groaned quietly, raising her head to kiss him as she pressed close. His servants were definitely getting an earful this evening.

"Then I will help you remember," he whispered back against her lips, arms going around her, ready to take her again, but demanding nothing but her kisses. If his servants were listening, so be it. Let them know how much he loved and worshiped this woman. Let everyone know - those in Olympus and those here on Earth, and yes, even those in Hades. Let them dare try to harm one hair on her head, and he would bring such vengeance upon them that they would rue the day they were born.

She giggled once again, finding it so easy to laugh when she was with him. After five years of being alone, of having nothing to laugh about, it was almost inconceivable to note that she had her family back, and even less probable was the god-like being in her arms who loved her. "I love you," she whispered to him, needing him to hear it once again as she nuzzled affectionately against his lips.

"I shall never tire of hearing you say it," he told her with a smile before kissing her lips again. Of all the lovers he'd ever known, the only one he'd ever truly loved had been Aphrodite, and even his love for her was nothing compared to what he felt for Ayden. "Being with me will not be easy," he warned her with a sigh as he held her close. "I have many enemies, some of whom will hate you just because I love you," he continued, knowing some of those enemies could very well be family, but he could not speak freely of it here, not where the walls had ears.

Nose to nose, she stroked his cheek, smiling her gentle smile that was just for him. "Baby, I'm a Winchester," she reminded him softly. "Even if I don't use the name, it attracts trouble. I can handle it, because no one on our side will dare hurt me because of you and Dean, and no one on the other side is stupid enough to hurt me, because of you and Dean. I'm better protected than anyone has any right to be, because of the men that I love."

"I hope you are right, but I will feel better once you are one of us." Being immortal didn't mean she couldn't be killed - Persephone's death was proof of that - but she would be immune to illness and disease and could not be harmed by mortal weapons. "Immortality can be both a gift and a curse, Ayden. I hope you will not find it the latter."

"I'll be with you," she pointed out. "And you seem to think I'll be able to handle it. I trust you, Ares. You wouldn't have asked me if you didn't think I would be able to cope with it. I mean, it'll be hard, watching my family grow old and die, but I won't ever have to say goodbye to you in that way."

"It is not so hard to watch them die a natural death, so long as they have led a full life," he told her, speaking from experience. He'd watched nearly all his lovers and children pass on at one point or another, some by natural causes and some not so natural. It was always the ones who had died prematurely that were the hardest to grieve.

"I'll just have to make sure they do, then, won't I?" she smiled gently, not as concerned about the longevity in her near future as she had been just a day ago. But then, a day ago, her big brother hadn't told her to make the most of what she had. Her lips brushed against Ares' nose, fingers sliding down his hands to take them and press his fingers to the side of the bath. "Keep your hands there," she told him with a grin, and tried again to get herself up.

"Well, obviously I don't know exactly what he looks like, but he's the kind of guy that favors the silver fox look, isn't he?" she asked, dropping the towel outside the door of the walk in closet before disappearing inside. "I love you the way you are, baby, stop worrying about it."

"The silver fox?" Ares echoed, suddenly wondering what she'd look like in a Greek robe, dressed like the goddess she would become. He felt a stirring of desire at the very thought of it and had to force the thought from his mind. "I do not believe my father ever wore the form of a fox," he said, looking puzzled.

"Oh ..." He could hear her laughing from inside the closet. "No, it's a label people have given to the older man who likes to look well turned out," she tried to explain. "A handsome man, usually with grey hair, tends to be called a silver fox."

"How do you know he is handsome?" Ares continued his questioning, merely curious, though there was always the chance that his father might look with favor on Ayden and desire her for himself. All the more reason to make her his wife as soon as possible.

"I don't," she chuckled softly. "I've never seen the man. But doesn't it make sense" I mean, why wouldn't he choose to be handsome" Especially since he seems to have as much concept of marital fidelity as I have of astrophysics."

Her statement did nothing to comfort or reassure him. He didn't want to speak badly of his father now that they were so close to reconciling their differences, and yet, he feared his father's extramarital interests could extend to that of Ayden. He could only hope his mother would make sure that didn't happen. He made no reply, unsure who might be watching or listening at any moment. He had never felt so ill at ease in his own home than he did at that moment. He would have to do something to resolve that.

The silence was long enough for Ayden to twig what was going through his mind. After all the reading she'd done that morning, it didn't take a genius to guess why her lover had suddenly gone quiet. She paused in the act of smoothing her dress over her hips, and smiled to herself. "Ares," she called to him from inside the closet. "It's rape if I don't agree, and I'll never agree. And I don't think he's a rapist, is he?"

He had sat down on the bed while he tried to sort it out in his head. Her voice drawing him back out of his thoughts, he turned his head toward her, frowning worriedly, though she couldn't see his face from where she stood. "I cannot speak of this here," he admitted at last. It was a subject of discussion that would have to wait until they were someplace where he knew the Olympians could not eavesdrop. "Let us not talk of my father any more."

"All right." She gave in easily enough, not needing to see his face to understand that this subject might cause him some pain. "Turn your mind to this, then ....am I going to disgrace you in front of your staff in this?" She stepped out of the closet to show off the dress she had chosen - royal blue, overlaid with lace, and generous in showing off her legs, which she was justifiably proud of.

He glanced over from where he sat on the bed still clad in just a bath towel and seemed to perk up a little at the sight of her. "Disgrace me" No," he replied, wondering why she would ask such a thing. "They might get jealous, though," he added with a faint smile.

She blushed, shaking her head as she laughed softly at the thought of that. "Before I met you, I didn't think anyone would look at me the way you do," she admitted shyly. "I don't think I'd notice if anyone got jealous over me."

"I'm sure plenty of men noticed you. You said you had a..." He had to search his memory for the right word. "...a boyfriend, did you?" Had meaning past tense - she belonged to him now.

Ayden couldn't help laughing again at that, moving to sit at the vanity and examine her hair for any hope of making it vaguely presentable. "Cole and I were dating purely so people would stop setting us both up on blind dates," she assured Ares. "We never even kissed. We just ....hid behind each other."

"A relationship of convenience," he remarked in understanding, following her as she moved about the room, seemingly in no hurry to get dressed, content to watch her as she fussed. He wondered if he should tell her anything of his past relationships, especially his affair with Aphrodite, or maybe it was better left unsaid.

"Yeah, pretty much," she agreed, attacking her long brunette tresses with a brush as they talked. "Cole's gay, you see, but he can't really tell his parents until he's supporting himself because they'd cut him off. I've met them a couple of times; they're scarier than your mom."

Gay, he thought to himself. This was a modern concept. "In ancient times, men and women loved each other equally," he remarked, though he'd never taken any male lovers for himself. He had always preferred women. His father was another matter, however. "The world is a different place these days."

"It's a lot more conservative in some ways, a lot more liberal in others." Ayden twisted in her seat to look over at him with a small smile. "I'm glad you've embraced the Spartan way of dealing with women, rather than the Athenian way. I'm not the sort of girl who'd cope well with being hidden away from everyone just because I'm yours."

He shrugged a bare shoulder as if it wasn't a big deal. "You are to be my wife, not my servant or a piece of property. It is my duty to protect you and care for you, but you are not a captive bride. You are free to go about your life as you wish." It seemed his mother had been a good influence on him, as far as that was concerned.

"Well, if you don't put some clothes on soon, you might find yourself in the position of a captive husband," she informed him playfully. "I'm not in the habit of sharing the things I treasure most, and that includes everything you have, especially what is under that towel."

He chuckled, belatedly remembering that he was still in his towel. "This form pleases you, then?" he asked, though the answer seemed obvious. And how would being a captive husband be such a bad thing, he wondered to himself as he moved to his feet.

"Not as much as the man inside it, but I like the wrapping, too," she told him impishly, one long-lashed eyelid flicking a wink in his direction as she giggled and turned her attention back to teasing her hair into some kind of order.

"You are a beautiful, amazing woman, Ayden. You do not give yourself enough credit. My mother would not approve of just anyone," he pointed out as he drew a blue shirt on over his shoulders and worked the buttons closed. He was still not particularly fond of modern clothing but wore it out of necessity. He couldn't very well walk through town wearing only a robe or a tunic and sandals.

Rising to her feet, she moved to help him with his buttons, recognizing the fumble of fingers unfamiliar with the modern convenience. "You love her very much, don't you?" she asked with a smile, smoothing his collar as she looked up at him. "She's obviously very fond of you."

"Yes," he replied, matter-of-factly again, as if it went without saying, though he knew not all mothers loved their children or vice versa. He was unsure how to explain his relationship with his mother. He loved her certainly, but it went deeper than that.

"I'll try not upset her, then," she promised softly. Despite her smile, it was an honest promise. Hera frightened Ayden more than she liked to admit, and despite the obvious approval from the Queen of the Gods, she was genuinely afraid of making any mistake that might earn her Hera's enmity.

"She wished me to fight against the Trojans, but that was a long time ago," he said, not really wanting to talk about that. So much of his history was lost in myth and legend, it was hard to separate the fact from the fiction. "It was our only disagreement."

"Troy sounds like it was one big mess from start to finish," Ayden mused, easing her arms about his waist as she leaned into him. "But it was so long ago, Ares. Surely moving on from hurts like that is the only way you can go?"

"I have moved on," Ares assured her, frowning. "I only wish my father had, as well." He pulled himself away from her gently so that he could don his trousers, though that was only an excuse really so she wouldn't see the pained look on his face. Hera seemed to think Zeus was softening toward his estranged son, but until the day came when his father actually accepted and welcomed his son back to Mount Olympus, the pain of his father's disapproval would always trouble his heart.

But that, too, was something Ayden could relate to, in her own way. John Winchester had done his damnedest to keep her a secret, and yet he had told her proudly about his sons - her brothers - when she had asked. She had always felt that she was the biggest burden to him, when he had finally made himself known to her, knowing she couldn't possibly compare in his eyes to her capable brothers. So that was why she let Ares turn away, her eyes gentle and understanding, retreating to step out onto the balcony and watch the moon rising over the mountains.

Ares knew he was Zeus' least favorite son and possibly least favorite child. It seemed no matter what he did he could not gain his favor, but perhaps this latest adventure with the Fates would gain his father's acceptance and respect. If it didn't, Ares thought nothing ever would. He finished dressing alone and in silence, alarmed to find Ayden was no longer there, but spying her on the balcony, he wondered if he'd said something wrong. "Beloved?" he asked, when he found her watching the moon rise in the night sky. "Is something wrong?"

She glanced over her shoulder with a reassuring smile. "No, I'm fine," she promised him, raising her eyes to the moon once again. "Just ruminating on the parallels between you and me, that's all. We're more alike than most people would think of, first hand. It's a little mind-boggling."

"How so?" he asked as he came forward, winding his arms around her waist as he took a stance behind her and rested his chin on her shoulder. He had stood in this very place countless times watching as the moon rose in the sky and joined the stars.

She leaned back into his arms, already absolutely at home in this place with him, her eyes trained on the sky above them. "I guess it's not such a big thing but ....I loved my mom," she said softly. "Anyone did anything wrong to her, I would have come down in her corner, every time. And my dad ....I wanted to hate him, but I couldn't. He was an amazing man. I just wasn't good enough for him, and he didn't make any secret of it. He was proud of his sons, but having a daughter around was just a pain. And I never got to resolve that with him."

He frowned, unsure how to offer any comfort there, though he knew what it was like to be the least favored child. "Perhaps he only didn't know what to do with a daughter." He'd had a few daughters himself, but unlike Zeus, he'd loved all his children, even the one who seemed most troubled. He'd tried to be a good father, but was unsure whether or not he'd succeeded. He knew his anger had gotten the best of him a number of times in defense of those children.

"I don't know," Ayden sighed softly. "Just would have been nice if he could have been proud of me, too. Who knows" Maybe I was the first girl born into his family in a hundred generations, and that's what made me so impossible to even like."

"You don't know that, Ayden," Ares pointed out, though he couldn't say for sure how John Winchester felt about his daughter. He knew the man by reputation, but had taken more interest in the man's children than the man himself.

"I'll never know for certain," she nodded, her voice quiet as she tilted her head toward his. "But it's a little similar to what you've been going through with your family, that's the point I was making. We've got more in common than I thought."

"My father has never approved of me," he replied, lowering his voice, almost as if he was afraid someone would overhear. "There was a time when I wondered if he was really my father or if he thought I wasn't his son."

"Bobby always says family don't end in blood," Ayden said softly. She smiled as she spoke, fond of the gruff man who had let her cry all over him without saying a word the first time they had met. "He's more like my dad than John ever was. And I love Ellen like a mom. I think my mom would have liked them."

"It's true, I suppose. It doesn't really matter if they are blood, so long as you are loved," he told her, leaning close to brush a kiss against her cheek, hoping he could give her some sort of comfort.

"I know I'm loved," she smiled, turning in his arms to look up at him tenderly. "I love you."

He smiled back at her as she turned to face him, his arms around her waist, the pair of them silhouetted in the moonlight. "And I love you," he told her in return, lifting her chin to meet his lips in a warm, soft kiss that underscored his feelings.

His kiss found a smile that belonged entirely to him, warm and tender as her arms wound about his neck once more. "Then that's all I really need," she promised him in a low whisper, teasing a second kiss from his lips with fond affection.

The truth was that despite their common background and familial history, the problems with their fathers and the loss of loved ones, in the end, all they really wanted or needed was each other. If Ares never gained his father's favor again, he would still be happy living a simple life here in his beloved Greece with Ayden, raising children of their own who would never feel the way they had toward their fathers. They would know what it was to be loved and cherished. The God of War, indeed. Perhaps once this war with Hades was over, they would both have their wish.

And yet the only person who would know that for certain in the near future was Hope, the single child from the future who would be returning there when the morning came. Perhaps she would find a peaceful home, with multitudes of cousins, and a family to be proud of. That future was their responsibility to make for her, and for all the children who shared her generation. And together, they would do it, Hades be damned.

((Yet another simple little scene that got away from us! Fun, though. Many thanks to Ares!))