Welcome to AresJoxerCupidStrife

Title: Another Chance
Author: Hergerbabe
Fandom: Xena
Pairing: A/J, C/S implied
Rating: PG
Category: angst, romance?
Warnings: Suicide of a major character
Archive: AJCS, SSS
Disclaimer: Not mine
For Christine, love ya hon.

Another Chance

--Joxer--

I should have known better. I *did* know better. But I couldn�t helpit. I always loved my God, despite everything. It wasn�t that much of asurprise that I fell in love with him too.

It was just all so unexpected. I mean, I knew that Ares took hispleasure from anyone dedicated to him when the whim struck him. I justnever expected the whim to strike me.

But none of it was how I expected. The first time was, oh Gods, it wasamazing. He was passionate and yet gentle and he actually asked mypermission. I never understood why. Didn�t he know I was already his?But he did, and in his own way, he asked every time we were together.

Two months of pure joy, I suppose it�s more than a lot of people get.Sweet, tender moments when we were alone; hot, hard passion after he�dbeen in battle; laughing silently together, trying not to wake Xena andGabrielle.

Trouble is, it ended. Oh, I knew it would; no matter how many times Ilet myself fantasise about how he was different with me, that it meantsomething. I just wish it hadn�t ended so soon.

Sometimes, I wish it hadn�t started at all. I didn�t have a lot to livefor before I fell in love with him, now I have nothing; just memoriesas I wait for death to come. It�s funny, the water�s actually tingedred. I didn�t think I had so much blood. At least my wrists don�t hurtanymore. It�s cold and it�s dark, but I won�t be empty anymore.

Goodbye Ares.

@>*~

--Ares--

Stupid, fucking, selfish, little bastard! How could you? Joxer, damnit, how could you leave me? I know I broke your heart, but you weren�tthe only one, Jox.

My beautiful Joxer. I missed you, you idiot, I missed you, but at leastyou were still alive. At least I could see you, smell you, hear you.

But how could I stay with you? I love you, you stupid, sweet, sensitiveidiot. Didn�t you have any idea how much danger that could have put youin? I tried to save you, but I killed you.

I hate you, Joxer, I love you so much.

@>*~

--Cupid--

Did he really think he could hide it from me? God of Love aside, I�mhis son. I knew the moment he fell, knew the moment he made thedecision to stop seeing Joxer, no matter how much it hurt him, knew themoment his heart shattered when Joxer died.

Strife is terrified, he can�t work out why Ares is *so* quiet. If he�snot fighting, making war or baiting Hercules and Xena, he just sitsthere, in his temple, silent. But I can�t tell Strife. I know wepromised no secrets, but this isn�t my secret to tell. Well, maybe,just once.

I have a favour to call in.

@>*~

--Hades--

I shouldn�t, I know. But I just can�t help it, can�t help watchingthem. Who knew Ares could be so sweet and loving? I, certainly, wouldnever have guessed. I nearly laughed at Cupid when he told me what hewanted, except he was deadly serious. And Love overcomes even Death.

And Tartarus, who am I to complain? Not only do I no longer owe Cupid,but Ares now owes me. For now though, my reward is watching Ares andJoxer. And of course having one up on my dear brother. Zeus can�t workout why Ares spends *so* much time down here. I think it�s making him alittle nervous. Well I, for one, am not going to tell him.

the end