Pairings thus far: Ares/Salmoneous and introduced in this one Aphrodite/Discord, Hephaestus/Psyche, Autolycus/Cupid.....

Summery: Joxer tries to give his rose to Gabby with unusual effects. Autolycus gets the dagger finally and receives help from an unusual source. Bad news for the Love deities!

Notes: Based on a private challenge for a Aphrodite/Discord pairing and this story sets up the next one that will be based on the Shrine to Strife challenge on Strife_Lust ML. Lots more of this story to come....stay tuned.

Spoilers: Green Eyed Monster.....

Rating: R

The Rose and the Dagger
By kirasmommy

It had taken awhile to catch up with Xena and Gabrielle. His feelings for Ares had faded to a dull pain. He felt odd. Darkness seemed to veil his mind making his usual sunny view of the world darker. As dark as the world seemed when the days shortened and winter came closer. When he looked into the faces of his usual traveling companions he saw not acceptance but annoyance. An almost paranoid feeling came over him in connection to his darkened mood. Bred from the epiphany of their annoyance at his presence he started to question events from the past.

As he sat beside them close to the fire he didn't bother to make the usual light hearted babbling small talk he usually tried to engage them in. He sullenly examined each memory. Inspecting it with his new insights brought on by his new world view. And each memory he found lacking. Lacking in the friendship he thought they all shared. Yet deep down he didn't want to accept what this new paranoid voice in his head had to say. The knowledge that he wasn't wanted around them.

He brought out the bundle that he held close to his body. Hid under his armor, under his clothes and close to his skin. Wrapped in soft cloth. He opened the golden rose bud.

The paranoid voice within his head laughed. He closed his eyes trying to hold on to the feeling of love he had for Gabrielle. Positive that his love for her would conquer all.

"That's pretty." Gabrielle commented looking over.

Joxer nodded sadly, "Yes it is. It is very finely crafted." He fingered the smooth golden thorns feeling the sharp points.

He held it out to her. "Would you like it?"

She smiled indulgently and took the golden rose. In the firelight the half opened bud winked at the stars above even as they twinkled back at it.

As she held it in her hands the bud closed tightly. "OW!" She dropped the rose.

On her finger a drop of blood bubbled up to the surface of her skin. Dark crimson bordering on black in the half light. "That hurt!" she scowled.

"Sorry," He mumbled as he picked up the rose that remained tightly closed. He touched the petals and felt no give.

"Yeah I know you are sorry. The sorriest thing I've every met." Gabrielle bit out suddenly. She clapped a hand to her mouth suddenly, instantly regretting what she had just said. Mentally kicking herself for her lack of tact.

Joxer stared at her blankly as his mind tried to process what she had just said. Xena looked just as stunned. "Gabrielle!"

"I'm...I'm sorry...I don't know why I said it." She shook her head. "Even though it is true. You are pitiful trying to be a warrior and impress me when it's clearly hopeless. You will never be a great fighter. I'm rather surprised you still live considering all the trouble you cause and get in."

The look that flashed across her face made it clear that she felt like sinking into the ground. She buried her head into her hands and groaned. Xena's mouth dropped open as she gazed at her partner.

Joxer closed his eyes briefly before nodding. "I understand."

He stood up and gathered his things. As he walked away he could hear Xena alternating between calling to him and chastising Gabrielle. He ignored her calls and continued to walk away.

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Autolycus rubbed his hands together as he once more stood in front of the dagger. His heart ached for a second as he remembered the last time he stood before it. Joxer had been there. He shook his head sharply and tried to clear those thoughts.

Since leaving Joxer in the clearing weeks ago he had obsessed himself with obtaining the dagger in question. The golden hilt glittered. The Diamonds and Rubies looked like beseeching eyes that begged him to pick it up. Autolycus grinned and whispered, "Don't you worry. You are coming home with me!"

But as he tried to close his hand over it, it became transparent and his hand passed through it. "DAMN IT!"

He punched the stone pedestal that it sat on then quickly regretted it as he held his now hurt hand against his body and danced around in pain. "Ow ow ow ow ow ow"

"Not too bright." Cupid smirked as he popped into view. Flexing his wings a little as he yawned.

Autolycus froze with a look of those doomed on his face.

"Relax, I won't tell." Cupid looked at the dagger. "Real pretty. But I'm afraid you just can't touch it."

"I think I figured that out." Autolycus said under his breath as he opened and clenched his fist to try and get the blood moving and free it of pain.

"I mean it has to be given to you before you can touch it. It's enchanted."

"Great. Just my luck!" Autolycus kicked the air suddenly in frustration before sitting down hard.

"Now that was childish." Cupid made a face.

"Bad month." Autolycus said in way of explanation.

"You're cute when you pout." Cupid laughed.

Autolycus glared back at him making Cupid laugh harder.

"Tell you what. I'll go ask Sal if you can have it. It's his now and if he says you can have it, It will become solid for you." Cupid patted him on the back.

Autolycus perked up a little, "You'd do that?"

Cupid nodded. "Like I said you are cute when you pout."

He flashed away leaving Autolycus alone in the room with the enchanted dagger.

@~@~{~~{~~..... ~~}~~}~@~@

Cupid reappeared outside of Ares and Sal's bedroom. He poked his head in the doorway and smiled. He couldn't actually see them but he knew they were there under all those covers because they were moving in a regular rhythm. He shook his head to himself not even trying to figure the attraction out. But figured it worked for them and left it at that.

"Hey Dad, Sal. That dagger Autolycus wanted...."

Ares popped his hand and arm out from under the covers and made a shooing gesture.

Cupid suppressed the giggles that threatened to erupt.

"Um he's here and I was wondering if...."

"Go away come back later." Ares popped his head out long enough to say before diving back under the covers.

"Uh Sal can he have..."

Salmoneous peeked out long enough to say, "It's yours take it!"

Cupid gave up on not laughing and was still laughing when he appeared to Autolycus.

"Well?" Autolycus asked.

Cupid smiled and gestured to the weapon.

But as Autolycus' had approached it, it once more faded from view.

"Oh wait. I forgot he said I could have it, I need to give it to you. That's how it works. You actually have to say that it's someone's before they can actually have it. Here..." He picked up the Dagger.

But just before he could hand it over. The weapon slid out of his grasp and cut his palm. Cupid stared at the wound in his hand.

"What happened?" Autolycus asked as he took it.

Cupid's hand began to shake as he stared at the bleeding wound. A wave of sadness crossed his face as his eyes teared up.

"Hey buddy what happened? It's just a small cut. It'll heal."

His face twisted in anger. "She's cheating on me! She's sleeping with someone!"

He stormed out his body shifting as he went.

Autolycus placed the dagger in his waistband as he ran after Cupid, "Hey how do you know?"

As they left the room Discord made herself visible and started after them only to be stopped by Aphrodite.

"What do you think you are doing?" Aphrodite asked placing her hands on her hips.

"Your bird brained son gave Autolycus the dagger! I'm going to get it!" Discord seethed at her and tried to push past her.

"It's his now. It don't matter. You gave it to Ares he gave it to Sal and Sal gave it to Cupid. It's his to do with as he pleases." Aphrodite said dully after a second.

"Your son is doing the green thing again." Discord smiled evilly.

Aphrodite nodded slowly, "I know. It's...something he needs to deal with. I can't help him."

Discord snorted, "What's this? Aphrodite staying out of her FAVORITE son's life? I know! You did it! You did your little love thing to break them up."

She laughed uproariously until Aphrodite raised her hand and tried to slap her. Discord caught her wrist in mid air. She stopped laughing and looked at Aphrodite carefully. Aphrodite had the look of a woman about to fly apart at the seams. She shook slightly and as Discord focused on her face she saw the redness around Aphrodite's eyes. The watery look about them and the lines from lack of sleep.

"Dite? What is going on?" Discord asked suddenly.

Aphrodite swallowed hard and closed her eyes. "I didn't do it. Zeus as my witness I would never have wanted this to happen." Her voice broke.

"I've known for a few weeks about it. I know who she is seeing." A couple of tears slid down her cheeks.

"Who is she seeing?" Discord asked still holding Aphrodite's wrist.

"Hep." She bit down on her own emotions hard and tried to clear her face. Her hands shook wildly as she fought to control herself around the other Goddess.

"Well I guess you better go to your son then." Discord said awkwardly.

Aphrodite's eyes hardened, "That reminds me. I saw what you did to Strife a few weeks ago. I don't want you doing that again."

Discord tensed, "Since when do you give a shit about him?"

Aphrodite gritted her teeth before taking a deep breath. "I admit I am not a good parent. I never have been. I most likely never will be. I only deal with Cupid when I want something done. And most of my other children I never even see and when asked I usually deny that I'm their mother. But I have never beaten them up! Strife didn't deserve that! If you wanted some guy so bad you should have come to me and I would have struck a deal."

Discord scoffed. "Like you really care!"

Aphrodite walked forward a few steps till she was toe to toe with the dark-haired Goddess and in a fierce whisper, "I care, If I didn't do you think Strife would be here right now? How do you think he got back from the dead?"

Before Discord could answer Aphrodite flashed away to be with her son.

@---}----}--.......... --{----{---@

She arrived toward the end of the fight really. Cupid was good, dangerous even in his monstrous form. But Hephaestus was better. But he was hard pressed. When she arrived the fight started to die down. Cupid stopped because he was beaten but Hep stopped because he felt caught.

Aphrodite never turned around as she heard Discord arrive behind her. She walked straight toward Hephaestus who's guilt shined within his eyes plainly. "Dite I never planned..."

"Don't. Don't say anymore." Aphrodite whispered. She looked toward Psyche who looked frightened. She swallowed and turned back to Hep. "I release you from all commitments made."

The words were said simply. Simple words but the meaning had different shades and layers. Even Cupid in his grief and anguish was stunned. "Go"

Hep reached his hand to her but she turned away from him finding herself facing Discord.

Discord looked past Aphrodite to the couple and glared at them. In her peripheral vision Aphrodite saw the flash behind her.

Discord shook her head and whispered, "I always wanted you to feel what I felt that day. I thought it would make me happy. But I was wrong, I'm not happy seeing this."

Discord held out her hand palm up to Aphrodite. In the center a silver scar gleamed. "I knew the second it happened."

"The Dagger." Aphrodite sighed and looked over at her son crying on the ground. Autolycus still looked confused by events around him but tried to help the best he could.

"Look uh she's no good for you." Autolycus tried. "You deserve better."

Finally he settled for patting the God on the back. Slowly the winged god crept forward and laid his head on Autolycus' shoulder as he stroked the fine blond hair. "It'll be okay." Auto said softly.

He looked over and sighed deeply. (Two unhappy love deities....looks like NO one is getting lucky tonight....except Sal.)

Discord stepped closer, "I'm sorry for what it's worth."

"I know. I guess...I'm sorry too for what it's worth. I never meant to hurt you." Aphrodite said quietly.

"It doesn't matter Ares gets what he wants regardless of my wishes." Discord grumbled.

"You gave him the dagger." Aphrodite nodded.

Discord shrugged, "It didn't matter anymore and he wanted it. He had you he might as well have the Dagger as well. What ever happened to the Rose?"

Aphrodite lowered her eyes. "I gave it to Cupid. From there I don't know exactly where all it went but Joxie has it now."

Discord nodded a bitter look upon her face. "Funny both made because we didn't trust one another."

"They were made with love." Aphrodite tried to defend tears still lurking in their depths.

"They were enchanted to tattle." Discord rolled her eyes with a smile. "That Dagger you made me was made so that who ever touched it would get cut if one of the couple was cheating. You would pick it up every night to make sure I wasn't cheating on you!"

Aphrodite stomped her foot a little, "And the damn thing told on ME!"

"The Rose was made to tell if love was present." Discord reminded her grimly. "If the bloom stayed open I knew you still loved me. If it started to close..."

Aphrodite tried to smile, "I rather liked the truth property of the thorns though."

Discord looked pained for a second. "Love don't work without trust."

"But trust is earned." Aphrodite amended.

"We both lost." Discord said dully.

Aphrodite looked past Discord and listened to Cupid crying. "Yes but we deserved it...He did not."

Discord shrugged as she reached out and ran her hand down her hair; "Come on I'll take you home."

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