This story is set shortly after Morrigan has returned to Eire and Hercules thinks he is faced with life alone once more. Then, with intervention from the gods, he faces the toughest decision of his life...a choice that will bring combined happiness and sorrow. This story is the first of several Resurrection stories dealing with the return of our beloved golden hunter.
Hercules watched the ship moving across the sea, his hand lifted in a wave that he knew Morrigan could not see. He hadn't wanted to let her go, but just as Greece needed him, Eire needed her. When the ship crested a wave and disappeared from sight, he turned to leave, his heart heavy. For the moment, he was all alone again. He supposed he should get used to it, but even after seven months, he still found himself talking to Iolaus....not the Iolaus from the parallel universe, but his Iolaus, the friend he'd had since childhood. There were so many things that he wanted to tell his friend, share with his friend. His shoulders slightly slumped, he made his way back toward Corinth.
"I know it was hard to let her go," Jason began, placing a plate filled with bread, cheese and meat in front of his friend.
Hercules exhaled loudly. "She filled a gap that I thought would be empty for a long, long time. But she was more than that." He lifted cerulean blue eyes. "I'll miss her."
Jason dropped one hand down to the broad shoulder and nodded understandingly. "But at least you know that you can see her again. I know that Eire is a long way away from Greece, but it isn't the Elysian Fields." He turned away.
Hercules picked up his friend's meaning. "You still miss Mother. So do I. I suppose we always will."
Jason's hands lifted as he tried to explain his feelings. "In our short marriage, Alcmene and I grew so close that we could finish each other's sentences. We both thought alike and we loved alike. Yes, I still miss her. And you're right; we always will miss her. There will never be another woman quite like your mother."
Hercules pushed himself to his feet. "You know, I'm not really hungry, Jason. I think I'll go for a walk." He didn't wait for the older man to respond before leaving the small house.
The air was chilly, the cool nights signaling the beginning of winter. But for Hercules, it had been cold for a long time. He rounded the bend, his eyes on the road.
"Hercules?" a soft voice spoke his name and his head lifted. Stunned, he could only stare at the vision facing him. "Hercules?" the feminine voice queried again, one hand lifted in silent entreaty.
Hercules shook his head. This wasn't real. "It can't be you."
"It is me, Hercules. Touch me. Feel me. I'm here."
In two strides, he was at her side and she was in his arms. "What are you doing here?" His voice was muffled against her hair.
"I don't know. One minute I was with the children and the next minute I was here...with you. I don't know how long we have," she wanted to warn him.
He pulled back enough to see her face. "Deianeira, it doesn't matter. You're here now and now is what matters most." He crushed her against his body again, holding tightly. "It's been so long."
"Since Serena," Deianeira reminded him softly.
Hercules cupped her face. "I'm losing the people I love most, Deianeira. First you, then Serena, then mother, Iolaus."
Deianeira placed two fingers against his lips. "I know. I've seen Iolaus, spoken with him. He didn't want to leave you, Hercules."
"I couldn't save him this time."
"He knows that and he's not blaming you. He loves you, Hercules. You were his brother."
"And he was mine," Hercules' voice broke as he took a step away from the woman who still held his heart. "I've loved since Serena, Deianeira. I wanted you to know."
Deianeira nodded. "Morrigan. I know all about her. She is a very beautiful woman."
"I had to let her go. Eire needs her; she is their Guardian of Justice."
Deianeira took his hand, guiding him down the path by her side. "Just as you bring justice to Greece. Hercules, I don't know why I'm here, but this time is too precious to waste. I've missed you, but I've always known that you belong here...in this world. You've done so much good in the past few years. I don't know what Greece would have done without you."
"Greece," Hercules spat the word out with bitterness as he stopped walking. "Being here has brought nothing but grief. Had I not been here, Iolaus would still be alive. I'm the one who wanted to go to Sumeria. I'm the one who coerced him into going. Had you never married me, you would still be alive. I've led those I love the most to their deaths. I don't think I can continue to do this; I don't think I belong here anymore, Deianeira."
"Then why didn't you go with Morrigan?" Her hand reached out to caress his face.
His eyes clouded. "Because I've always thought that I could make a difference. Now, I'm just not sure those differences are worth losing the people that I care most about in this world. I mean, who's next? Jason?"
Standing on tiptoe, Deianeira kissed him, her body melting into his. "Hercules, neither I nor Iolaus would change one thing about our lives. For awhile, you were mine and I was yours. For awhile, we had a life that many people envied because we shared a love that few obtain. Your friendship with Iolaus is one that not too many men have found. You could trust him with your life."
"And now he's gone, too."
"He's not really gone, Hercules. He's here with us right now. He will always be with you in heart, in spirit. These last few months since he's been gone, you've wanted to talk to him, to tell him things that are important to you. So, why didn't you? Do you think because he's gone that he can't hear you now?"
"It's not the same, Deianeira. I can talk to him, but he won't answer me! Just like when I lost you. I talked to you daily."
"And I heard every word."
"But I couldn't hear your voice."
"Yes, you could. You just weren't listening, Hercules." Moving forward, she cupped his face, forcing him to look into her eyes. "I've been there when you've needed me. Remember that time with Psyche? I was there, Hercules. You remembered our love and it broke the spell of Cupid's arrow. All you have to do is remember me and I'm here with you."
Hercules' hands covered hers. "But why are you here now? Did Hades send you?"
"I don't know. I was thinking about you, Hercules. Thinking about your pain and what you must be going through. The next thing I knew, I was here and you were standing right in front of me. Maybe Hades did send me. I just don't know." Deianeira's slender shoulders lifted in a shrug. "I just know that I'm here and I want to help."
Hercules' smile was sad. "I'm not sure that there's anything that you can do."
They began to walk toward town, hand in hand, no clear destination in mind. "You've never really talked about your grief, Hercules. I know that your time in Eire brought some relief to the pain, but you can't just shut out everything about your past. You can't stop remembering Iolaus just because he's not with you anymore. Hiding from the past doesn't make it go away."
Hercules stopped again, turning to face her. "I wish it did. I know that you and Iolaus don't regret your time here, but I do. I regret that I ever allowed either of you to get close to me."
"Hercules," Deianeira lifted a hand, brought it to his face. "You can't regret our lives. We lived full lives."
"Our children didn't," he bit out.
Deianeira's face clouded. "No, they didn't, but for as long as they were here on earth, they knew their father loved them. They had a family they loved and I don't think they would have wanted a different father, other than the Son of Zeus. To them, you weren't Hercules, you were Daddy. And to me, you weren't a half-god, you were my husband. The man I fell in love with. And I'll never regret spending one minute of my life with you, Hercules. I loved you then and I love you now. Nothing will ever change that."
Hercules pulled her into his arms, holding tightly. When he spoke, his voice was broken. "When I was in Eire, I went into this cave and there was Iolaus, sitting by a fire. And he was cooking," his laugh was shaky, "and we know that Iolaus can't really cook. I wanted this illusion to be true, but I couldn't pretend that he was real. He told me that he didn't regret one minute of his life and if he had to do it all over again, he wouldn't change a thing. He didn't regret dying in Sumeria, Deianeira." He lifted his head as the tears filled his deep, blue eyes. "I miss him."
Deianeira held him while he cried, while the sobs racked his muscular body. "I know you miss him, Hercules and I wish that I could change things for you."
"I wish that I could talk to him one more time. When it ended, when we sent Dahak into the fire, there wasn't enough time to say all we wanted to say. In the cave, there just wasn't enough time. I had so many things that I still wanted to tell him."
"So, tell me now," came a deep, masculine voice from just behind the Son of Zeus.
Hercules whirled around to face his best friend. "Iolaus? What's going on? Why are you here? And Deianeira?"
Iolaus folded his arms across his chest and approached the taller man. "It's been months and that's all you can say? Not even a, 'it's good to see you, Iolaus' or 'I've missed you' or 'how have you been.' I feel so welcome." He grinned his trademark smile and stuck out his arm. "It's good to see you, Hercules."
Hercules blinked at him as he accepted the handshake. "It's good to see you, Iolaus. Now, why are you here? How are you here?"
Iolaus' eyes connected with Deianeira's for a brief second and she nodded. He continued. "This is Zeus' way of repaying you for freeing them from the parallel universe. You asked for more time and he gave you today. Deianeira is, well, I don't need to tell you why Zeus talked Hades into allowing her to leave the Elysian Fields."
"So, we have today," Hercules' deep voice shook.
"Yeah, we have today."
"Well, this time around, I don't want to waste a minute of it," Hercules cleared his throat and wrapped his arm around his wife. "There is so much that I want to tell you."
Deianeira stopped. "Hercules, I think you need this time alone with Iolaus right now," before he could protest, she pressed a finger against his lip. "I'll be back, I promise. I just want to give you some time alone."
Dipping his head, Hercules kissed her. "I've always loved you, Deianeira. I will die loving you."
Her eyes twinkled. "But we're still not sure if you're immortal. You might not die."
He smiled. "Then, I'll live loving you, for all eternity."
Her fingers slipped from his hand and she walked down the path, finally disappearing in a wisp of smoke.
"So, where do you want to go?" Iolaus was the first to break the silence.
"How about nowhere? Let's just walk for now and see where the road takes us."
"Well, that road," Iolaus pointed, "will take us to Corinth and that road," another point, "will take us into the woods and-" he spun around, pointing back behind us, "that road will take us-"
"Very funny, Iolaus. Let's just walk." Hercules' throat was tight; he'd missed his friend's sense of humor, even the corny jokes.
"You're wondering if my coming was such a good idea, aren't you?" Iolaus started the conversation.
"I've had months to put your death behind me, Iolaus and after today, I'll lose you again."
Iolaus shook his blonde head negatively. "No, you won't, Hercules. And I think that's one of the reasons that Zeus wanted me to come. You've only lost me walking beside you every day in person. You haven't lost our friendship. It didn't die with me, buddy. And besides, how many other people do you know that get to talk to their dearly departed after they've left this world? I do still hear you, you know. And I do respond. Like Deianeira said, you haven't been listening. Even before you joined me inside Dahak, you knew that I was gone. You knew that taking care of Dahak would not resurrect me. You'd just hoped that it would. But, Hercules, you have to move on. You have to live your life, but you can't live it being scared to get close to anyone else. Deianeira died because of Hera; well, Hera's gone. I died because of Dahak; well, Dahak's gone."
"But who's to say that there isn't another god waiting to take out someone else I care about?"
"And who's to say that you won't live happily ever after?"
Hercules spared his friend a disbelieving look. "Don't tell me you believe in happily ever after, Iolaus. You were the one who always told me that it seemed like the gods were winning."
Iolaus chuckled. "Yeah, I guess I did. I guess being where I am now makes things appear different. They haven't won, Herk, and with you fighting against them, they aren't going to win. I know that now. I mean, I saw it when I was alive, but it's much more clear now."
"Well, well, well, what have we here?" asked a gravelly voice.
Hercules and Iolaus exchanged glances as they faced down the band of thugs barring their path.
"Well, it looks like a scroungy bunch of freeloaders to me," Iolaus was the first to respond.
The first man lifted a club, tapping it calmly against his palm. "Are you so sure that you want to be talking like that to me, Shorty?"
"Shorty!" Iolaus focused his attention on his best friend. "Now, you know I can't let him get away with that."
Hercules' lifted his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I never expected that you would. Be my guest." Addressing the gang, he smiled. "You, uh, might want to back up and give him some room."
Giving a loud whoop, Iolaus shot forward, one foot catching the first thug square in the center of his chest. With his outstretched hand, the golden hunter snapped a nearby man in the neck, sending him sprawling on the grass.
Two other men lurched forward as if to intervene. Hercules quickly evened the odds, lifting each man by the scruff of the neck. "Four against one isn't fair, guys, and I know how much each of you wants to fight fair. Am I right?" Bringing his arms forward, he connected their skulls before letting them slide to the ground in unconscious heaps.
Then, suddenly, more men streamed from the forest, clubs waving, eyes glittering wickedly. "Now, we'll see how strong you are, big man. Let's see you and your little friend take on all of us."
Iolaus finished off the last of his two and met his friend's gaze with a grin. "Okay, if you insist."
"You've got a big mouth," a particularly scruffy-looking thug announced to Iolaus.
"You know, I've been telling him that for years," Hercules laughed, "but," he caught the man under the chin with a swift upper cut, "it's never really helped. I doubt it's going to now."
Amidst cries of pain, each man tumbled to lie in a stupor beside his predecessor. As Iolaus bounced from adversary to adversary, he tossed Hercules grins and shouts of encouragement. When the last man slunk to the ground, he rubbed his hands together and shot a look toward the forest. "What? Is that all?"
"Iolaus, I think you've been gone too long. You've forgotten how to count."
Iolaus looked down at the pile of bodies. "No, there was ten of them and two of us. They didn't really put up much of a fight, though."
"Speak for yourself," Hercules fingered a cut on his shoulder. "Another inch to the right and I might have joined you in the Elysian Fields."
Iolaus' smile faded. "Do you really think so?"
Hercules looked up. "What do you mean?"
"The Elysian Fields. Do you really think you'll go there someday? I mean, you are a half-god. I always thought you would go to Olympus."
Hercules sighed. "I don't know, Iolaus. I used to think I would end up in Olympus one day, but now, with most of my family in the Elysian Fields, I can't imagine ending up on Olympus and never seeing them again."
"Still wonder if you're immortal?" Iolaus stepped across a body to resume their earlier path.
Hercules clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Actually, no, I don't. Sometimes, I find myself hoping that I'm not."
Iolaus stopped, staring open-mouthed. "What are you talking about?"
"Iolaus, weren't you listening to me? With the exception of my relation to the gods and Iphicles, my family is gone. I've lost countless friends especially the best one of all and you don't know why I don't want to be immortal?" Hercules tossed his hands up in the air. "Why would I want to spend eternity roaming Greece without anyone to share my life with?"
"There's Morrigan," Iolaus inserted calmly.
"Morrigan is in Eire."
Iolaus nodded his head sagely. "I can see where that might present a problem, but take my word for it when I say that dying isn't all it's cracked up to be."
Hercules' smile was grim. "Very funny, Iolaus."
"So, maybe you won't stay in Greece."
Hercules' hands lifted in a gesture of surrender. "Iolaus, what are you talking about? Greece is still my home. Where else would I go?"
"Back to Eire?"
"Morrigan and I went over that already. She's needed there just like I'm needed here."
"Well, Herk, just because Greece needs you doesn't mean that you're going to be condemned to a life without love or friendship," he chuckled, "You could have any woman in this province, you know."
Hercules shot his friend a dark look. "I'm not looking for someone to pass the time of day with, Iolaus."
"Well, then, what are you going to do with the rest of your life, Hercules?"
"Iolaus," Hercules' voice revealed his frustration. "If I knew that, we wouldn't be having this conversation. I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't know what I want to do. I only know that I've lost the best part of me. When I lost Deianeira and the kids, I thought I wouldn't be able to survive it, but somehow, I did. I guess it helped having you there. But now, I've lost you and, Iolaus, you have been my best friend for years. When I didn't know why I was fighting, you were there to remind me. When I didn't know if I wanted to fight anymore, you were there to push me on. We've watched each other's backs and stood together against so many foes that I've lost count. I don't know where I'm going to find another friend like you."
Iolaus' eyes glistened with tears. "Hercules, I will always be your friend."
"But only in spirit now, Iolaus."
"It doesn't have to be that way." A familiar black-clad figure materialized in front of the two men.
Hercules and Iolaus exchanged glances. "Hades."
The god of the underworld bowed low at the waist and waved a hand expansively. "Hercules, Iolaus." He took his time looking around him. Then, shivering, he focused his attention back on the duo. "It's been awhile since I've been above. I wouldn't leave my home for just anyone."
"So, why did you leave?" Hercules couldn't keep the suspicion from his voice.
"Well, Zeus has more than repaid you for helping us escape from the other universe with these two visits. But, I felt a particular need to repay you. You see, while I was gone, the underworld was in such a turmoil that the poor lost souls in Tartarus tried to take over the Elysian Fields. You got me back just in time to keep that from happening. Not to mention that I hadn't seen Persephone in so long that she was beginning to think that I was dead." He shook his head sadly. "Poor girl keeps forgetting that I'm immortal. But, if not for you, Hercules, I would have spent the rest of eternity locked in that sphere with the other gods. And no offense to my family, but some of them can be such a drag. Aphrodite is beautiful, but she's kind of flighty, if you ask me and seeing her with Hephaestus, well, I was definitely glad to return to the world as I know it. And Zeus spent most of the time roaring about how he was going to make Ares pay and I was forced to become the peacemaker between Athena and Artemis."
Hercules held up one hand. "Hades, stop. Before you continue your ramblings, could you tell us why you're here?"
"I thought I already did. I want to repay you for your help."
"That's....not necessary."
Hades placed a hand over his heart. "You don't trust me, do you?"
Hercules gave a short laugh. "Hades, since when have you done anything to help someone that didn't benefit yourself? So, in answer to your question, no, I don't trust you."
"Well, maybe this will help," Hades walked forward, a smile on his handsome face. "I'm giving you a choice."
"A choice?" Hercules looked at Iolaus who only shrugged.
"You can have your best friend back by your side just as if he'd never passed from this life or," he paused for effect, "you can have your wife and children. The choice is yours."
Hercules paled. "Hades, I can't make a choice like that."
"Well," the god lifted his muscular shoulders carelessly, "you have until sundown to give me your decision. If you can't make the decision, then, I'll make it for you based on my knowledge of you and your life. So, you might want to think long and hard about your decision, Hercules." With a wave of his hand, Hades disappeared.
Iolaus turned to face his best friend. "Hercules, this doesn't have to be difficult. I think you should bring Deianeira and your children back. You need them here now. You've been searching for years for another love like Deianeira and now, you won't have to search anymore. You could watch your kids grow up and-"
"And then watch them die again, as well as Deianeira. Iolaus," the demi-god shook his head negatively, "I can't make this decision. I love my family, but, I love you, too. How can I be expected to choose between my wife and kids and my brother?"
Iolaus lowered his head. "Hercules, there is no decision to be made. I'm not coming back." Turning on his heel, he headed toward the woods.
"Not coming back? Iolaus, what are you talking about? The decision is mine to make, not yours."
Iolaus stopped. "Then, I'm asking you to leave me in the Elysian Fields. I don't want to come back."
Hercules stared at him. "You're lying to me, Iolaus. You want to live again."
"No, I don't. I want you to live again. Choose Deianeira, Hercules. Live with your family. I know how much they mean to you."
"Then you should also know how much you mean to me as well." Spinning around, Hercules dragged a hand through his brown hair. "I can't do this. I can't choose between the two people I love the most. Do you hear me, Hades? This isn't some kind of a game to me! I won't do this! I don't know what you're trying to do, but I don't want this!" He was shouting now as he glared at the last place the god of the underworld had appeared.
"Hercules," Iolaus began softly, "I don't understand why Hades is doing this, but it doesn't matter. You've been given a choice and you've got to make it." He looked down at his hands, trying to shake off the strange feeling that was washing over him. "I think he's calling me back, Herk."
Hercules turned. "No, the day isn't over yet."
"I think he's changed his mind," Iolaus gave his friend a smile. "Remember what I've said, Hercules. My living again isn't as important as your living again." With those final words, he faded into the late afternoon air.
Hercules sank to his knees beside the road, his head lowered. "Damn you, Hades! How do you expect me to choose between them? Damn you!"
"Hercules, you have to eat," Jason insisted as he pushed another plate of food toward his friend.
Hercules ignored the plate, glancing toward the window. "The sun's almost down, Jason."
Jason dropped a hand to the taller man's shoulder. "Do you really think Hades is doing this to be cruel?"
The chair scraped against the wooden floor as he stood. "I don't know what to think, Jason. If you were me, who would you choose?"
Jason held his hands in front of him as if to stop the line of conversation. "I can't answer that, Hercules. I'm not you. I know how much I miss your mother. I miss Iolaus, too, but there was never any choice between my wife and my friends. I don't know if that helps."
Hercules walked toward the door. "Maybe." The door closed behind his departing figure.
Hades was standing the exact spot where he'd been a few hours before, waiting, although not patiently. "The sun set two minutes ago, Hercules. You're late."
Hercules didn't appear to be concerned. "It doesn't matter, Hades. I've just come to tell you that I won't choose. Deianeira was my wife. I loved her, will continue to love her and my children. Right now, they are in a world where there is no pain, no evil. I can't take that away from them for my own selfishness. Iolaus was my best friend since childhood. We've been through so much together. But, I won't bring him back just to die in another battle. I want him here, but it has to be by his choice, not mine."
Hades clapped his hands together. "Very well said, Hercules. You know, when I made this decision to offer this to you, I had no idea that this would be such a tough one to make. Being a full god comes with privileges. These are choices I don't have to make. I don't envy you, but I didn't do this to be cruel. I thought I was helping." He faced the half-god squarely. "But, since, this is so difficult for you, I'm going to return to you what I think you need the most." The last few words disintegrated along with his bodily form just as another form took shape.
Hercules watched the body materialize. "Iolaus."
Iolaus took a few steps forward then stopped. "You chose?"
Hercules shook his head even as the tears spilled from his eyes. "No, I, uh, didn't choose. I couldn't. It was Hades."
"I'm sorry, Herk. I know how much you miss Deianeira. You should have chosen your family."
"Hades chose my family, Iolaus," He approached his friend slowly, extending his arm. "He said he was returning what I needed most."
Iolaus accepted the handshake. "And what would that be?"
"Friendship, I would guess."
"Have you talked to Deianeira?"
"No, but I will," he clapped his friend's shoulder gently. "I think she'll understand Hades' decision."
"Yeah, but, do you?"
"Yeah, I think I do. Just do me a favor, will you?"
Iolaus gave his friend a questioning look. "What's that?"
"Be careful this time around. I don't want to lose you again anytime soon."
Iolaus laughed. "Don't worry. I'll try to stay out of the path of flying daggers."
Deianeira watched as the man walked toward her. Her husband. She would always think of him as her husband. Nothing would ever change that. She stood, brushing the lush, green grass from her white dress. Holding out her hand, she greeted him. "Hercules." Standing on tiptoe, she kissed him. "I was coming back to you; I told you I would come back."
Hercules took both of her hands in his, holding her eyes with his serious gaze. "Deianeira, I had to talk to you."
"I'm listening," she smiled up at him, encouraging.
"When you left, Hades came to see me. He wanted me to make a choice, to choose which part of my family I wanted with me the most. If I couldn't choose, he would. I couldn't. You and the children mean the world to me. I feel like I've loved you forever and Iolaus, he's my best friend. We've been through a lot together. Selfishly, I wanted you back in my life, but then, a part of me didn't want to watch you die again. I didn't ask for this decision, Deianeira. Hades thought he was helping," Hercules dropped her hands and walked away, his back toward her. "I couldn't choose. I couldn't." He turned to face her again, his eyes filled with tears. "Hades chose. He sent Iolaus back."
Deianeira walked toward him, stopping when her hands could touch his chest. Leaning against him, she could hear the strong pounding of his heart. Her smile was wistful. "Hercules, I already know."
Hercules moved her back to see her face. "How? Did Hades tell you?"
"Hades told me about the choice and when he told me that you couldn't make the decision, I made it."
Hercules was stunned. "What? What are you talking about?"
"I told Hades to send Iolaus back to life. Hercules, the children and I have been gone a long time, long enough for you to move on with your life. You've never forgotten us just as we've never forgotten you, but losing Iolaus was still fresh in your memory. He was the one who helped you when the children and I were killed. He has stood beside you and helped you for years. You need him in your life just as he needs you. He's family, too. I thought you needed him more."
Hercules tossed his hands up in the air. "Why do the women in my life make decisions without talking to me first?"
Deianeira continued to smile. "Hercules, we're happy here. There's no evil and it makes me happy to know that nothing can harm the children. They're safe and they will be eternally safe. They'll never grow up to face a world full of pain and they'll never have to know what it's like to lose someone they love. For that, I'm grateful. We still see you and although it's not as often as we'd like, we know that we have to accept that we can't have everything. I just want you to be happy, my love."
Hercules didn't bother to wipe away the tears that slid down his bronzed cheeks. His hands were shaky as they cupped her face. "I will always love you, Deianeira. Tell the children I love them."
"They know," Deianeira responded, her voice broken. Even before the appearance of Hades, she knew that Hercules wouldn't be staying much longer. She clung to him for a one more brief, sweet moment before allowing her fingers to slide across his palms. With a smile on her face and tears in her eyes, she blew him a good-bye kiss.
"Deianeira, I don't know how to thank you," the demigod began uncertainly.
"Hercules, it doesn't matter. All that matters is that you're happy and that you are doing what you're supposed to be doing. You're supposed to be helping people and you're very good at it. I am so very proud of you. I love you, Hercules. Always remember that."
Hades stepped forward. "I hate to intrude but..."
Hercules and Deianeira's eyes met. They both smiled, each sharing in the pain that the emptiness would bring, yet knowing the love they still shared would somehow sustain them until they were reunited again forever.
In the next instant, Hercules was standing in the darkness just outside Jason's cabin. His steps were slow as he approached the porch.
A familiar figure emerged from the shadows. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah. It, uh, it was Deianeira."
Iolaus was confused. "What was Deianeira?"
"She made the decision, Iolaus."
A stunned look crossed the blond hunter's face. "She chose me?"
Hercules placed a hand on the smaller man's shoulder. "Yeah."
"B-but why? She had the chance to live again."
"Well, it was as you said, my friend, it was more important to her that I live again," Hercules replied in a quiet voice.
"And she thought having me here would----"
"She knows you're my best friend. I missed you, Iolaus."
Iolaus smiled. "I missed you, too, friend."
Hercules' arm went around the muscular shoulders. "Welcome home, Iolaus."
"It's good to be home, Herk." Iolaus followed Hercules' path toward the cabin. "Say, Herk, do you think Jason has anything left to eat? I'm starving."
Hercules laughed. "Well, it's good to see that some things never change."
"What? What are you talking about? Hey, I've been stuck in the Elysian Fields for months. I deserve a good home-cooked meal. Of course, it all depends on whose doing the cooking. Has Jason's cooking improved? You know, being King of Corinth for so long, he was used to having a cook and then he married Alcmene and she was such a good cook that he never had to learn. So, I was wondering if---"
"Iolaus," Hercules shoved him inside the dimly lit cabin.
"Yeah?"
"You're babbling."
Iolaus tossed a grin over his shoulder before giggling. "Yeah, I guess I was. It really is good to be home."
Hercules agreed silently; he couldn't have spoken even if he'd wanted to.
THE END
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