Sons of Sparta

Sons of Sparta - A Story of the Spartans, Book 1

(inspired by the story 'Spartan' parts 1 through 4 by the original author 'CF')

by argouru

Note: All credit for the creation of the Spartans and Amazons, as well as the Spartan mythos belongs to the author 'CF', to whom I owe special thanks for his allowing me to write about these incredible people, as well as submitting the original story for him.

Sam Smith, who was twenty eight years old, walked through the park in the early afternoon, his backpack slung over his shoulder as he walked and enjoying the spring day as the sun rode the skies. He stopped, however, in annoyance as he saw a man and woman sitting arm in arm, kissing each other gently. He frowned as he glared at them, feeling very grumpy, his good mood shattering as he saw them. It wasn't just bad enough that they had to be smooching so shamelessly in public, smiling at each other warmly as they embraced so tenderly that he felt a sudden, sharp spike of intense jealousy that was nearly blinding... It was also that they were doing something else that deeply bothered him... They were stealing his spot.

Granted, the spot wasn't 'officially' his, but it was his favorite place to sit and snap some scenic pics with his digital camera. He'd wanted to take a few more pics from the vantage point of this place, a spot with a perfect view of the lake. But with them there, he couldn't get the privacy he wanted. It would be rude to just boot them out of the spot, so with a huff of resentment he moved onwards.

He wandered all the way around to the far side of the small body of water, barely large enough to even be classified as a lake by the state of Minnesota's rather loose standards for such, before he found a spot under a tree near a gathering of several people. He glanced over to see a group of adults and children, one with a baby clutched to his chest and noted an odd lack of any women. Strange... Where was the baby's mother? He looked through the group, but there wasn't a single woman present at all.

With a shrug, he opened his backpack and pulled out his camera, then focused on the scenery. His mood lifted slightly as he saw that this new vantage point wasn't too bad, affording just as good a view of the lake and the sun peaking over the trees. He winced a bit at that, mildly annoyed at the sun's glare and pulled out his sunglasses. He lifted the camera again, but the sun's glare prevented him from being able to take any pics as the light would ruin the shots.

Sighing, he turned the camera off and pulled out a book instead, reading a gory horror story to pass the time. He stopped yet again in his reading as another shrill cry from the baby in the nearby group broke his concentration yet again, making him shoot them a dirty look. "Nicky, I swear you're a bottomless pit!" the man holding him said and fumbled at something in front of him. Sam turned his attention back to his book, noting after a few moments that the baby had finally stopped crying. He sighed with relief, then noted that the sun had lowered enough for him to finally take some pics. He took off his sunglasses and put them away with the book before pulling the digital camera back out.

He readied it and spent several minutes taking a few interesting shots of the lake and surrounding grounds. Once he was finished, he put the camera away and rose to leave, forgetting that he hadn't yet zipped the backpack closed and causing its contents to spill out across the ground as he rose up. "SHIT!" he swore loudly, drawing a few glares from the all male group.

"Daddy Ryan! He said a bad word!" the toddler in the group exclaimed joyfully. "Shit! Shit! Sh-!"

The father cut him off with a shout. "Jeffrey! You are not allowed to say that word!"

"But he said it!" Jeffrey protested loudly.

Sam couldn't care less, as a sudden breeze scattered his paperwork across the grass. "DAMMIT!" he swore, beginning to scramble after the fluttering pages, his sour mood returning with a vengeance.

"He said another one!" Jeffrey crowed. "Dam-"

"JEFFREY! Don't you dare say that word!"

"But-"

"If you say it, I swear I'll paddle your bottom so hard you won't sit right for a week!" his father threatened.

The rest of the family looked on in amusement and twenty three year old Daniel sighed. "That guy looks like he needs help," he said to his birthing father with a chuckle and scratching his short light brown hair, smiling with his clean-shaven face that bore a strong trace of Grecian origin.

"You'd better, before that guy says something else that'll make your brother have a stroke," Matthew answered with a chuckle.

Rising, Daniel began to pick up the loose pages that blew towards him, gathering them up as gently as he could and noting that they were all printed out pictures of various bits of scenery, then walking over to the man who knelt down with a deep frown as he stuffed the papers he'd caught roughly into his bag with a snarl. "Stupid wind!" Daniel heard him mutter to himself.

"Here," Daniel said, offering the pages he'd collected.

"Thanks," the man said, reaching out for them without looking up. As he did so, his hand came into contact with Daniel's and a feeling akin to an electrical shock passed between them.

Daniel gasped with surprise and the man jerked his head upright in alarm to look at him. Daniel stared with his dark blue eyes deeply into the man's intense, deep green eyes that bore into him like lasers, his full-lipped mouth surrounded by a short-trimmed beard set upon his Germanic face dropping open and beginning to tremble. "Uhhh, I... I'm Daniel," he said, introducing himself, finding it very hard to breath all of a sudden.

"S-s-s-s-s-sam," the bearded man said with effort, stuttering his name.

Silently, Daniel offered his other hand and helped the stunned Sam to his feet, where he started to tremble visibly. "...Thanks," He said with extreme difficulty, taking the pictures from him with a hand that shook so hard he nearly dropped them in the process before stuffing them into his pack.

Matthew looked up to see what was taking Daniel so long and saw him and the stranger staring deeply into each others' eyes, frozen in place. "By Apollo..." He breathed, beginning to smile at the sight. All of the adults stopped what they were doing as they heard him speak, glanced at him, then turned to see what he was staring at.

But then Matthew's smile faltered as the man standing with his son took a step backwards, pulling away with an intense and wild fear growing in his eyes. As the parent watched dumbfounded, the stranger's reaction grew stronger rapidly, spreading across his face. The man took another step back, clutching his backpack to his chest like a shield.

Daniel's growing smile faltered as Sam's expression changed from shock to fear, unable to understand why he was suddenly looking so terrified. "I-i-i-i-i g-g-g-g-gotta g-go-o," Sam stuttered sharply, inching away and trembling violently.

"Sam?" Daniel said fearfully, shocked at the man's alarming reaction and reaching towards him gently.

Sam pulled back sharply as though Daniel's hand was scalding hot. "I-i-i have an ap-pointment," he forced out. "I'll be late." He turned away and Daniel reached for him desperately, but Sam flinched away, horrified.

"Sam, wait!" Daniel pleaded.

"I'll be late!" Sam blurted out and took off running, not looking back as he fled as fast as his legs could carry him.

Daniel tried to chase after him, calling out after him tearfully, but Sam ran as though for his very life, leaving the devastated Daniel behind, who could only drop to his knees, calling after him tearfully as his family ran to his side.

"Sam! SAM!!!" he sobbed. "PLEASE DON'T GO!!!" he cried, but Sam never stopped running until he was gone.

Matthew hugged his hysterical son tightly as the lad sobbed in grief, his heart breaking. "Why?" he sobbed uncontrollably. "Why? Why did he run away?" he cried as his Dad David joined him from his other side and the parents held their grieving child in their arms, not knowing what to say or do.

Daniel remained in a deeply disturbed state as the family went back to gather up their things. No one knew what to say or do as Daniel withdrew into himself, beginning to act as though he was nearly catatonic. Everyone was very afraid for his wellbeing and picked up their belongings quickly. As they did so, Matthew found a business card laying in the grass and looked at it. 'Sam Smith, web design', it read.

He tucked the card into his pocket and helped his ailing boy back to the car...

Sam reached his car, dropped the keys twice as his hands were shaking violently and finally scrambled inside and closed the door, locked it, then collapsed sideways across the front seats, trembling violently all over. I can't! I can't! he repeated over and over to himself, beginning to sob uncontrollably from a mixture of grief, confusion and fear...

Daniel remained unmoving and unspeaking all the way home, staring blankly out the car window as his birthing father held him closely, whispering gentle nonsense to his boy and trying desperately to bring him out of his despair. But the lad remained unresponsive and Matthew's fear grew deeper and deeper as his son remained so. The family returned home and laid Daniel in his bed, the lad not yet being able to afford his own home and his brother Ryan agreed to remain with him while his partner Liam looked after baby Nick and little Jeffrey.

Matthew exchanged fearful glances with his own partner, unable to think of any way to help their son. Then he went to their bedroom, opened the closet and pulled out his sword case. For the life of him he couldn't understand why Sam had reacted so negatively to the bond. Was the human a closeted homosexual? Was the fear of facing his heart's desire too much to bear? Matthew didn't know, he only knew the agony his son felt at having been rejected. Never before had anyone he had ever heard of reacted so negatively to the love that filled them. He had a single recourse available to him at this time. After removing his clothing, he made sure the leather sheath was clean and fit, then fastened it into place before opening the case and removing the velvet panel to reveal the symbol of his faith. He picked the razor sharp sword up carefully, inspecting it to make sure it was clean and unblemished, then slid it into its home and walked nude out to the back yard.

It was night, but the priests had told him that Apollo would come at any time to anywhere he was needed. He pulled the sword free, spun it around and knelt, the point of the blade touching the ground and resting on one knee, he pressed his forehead to the pommel of the weapon. "Apollo... Hear me my lord and be with me in my time of need. I fear for my child. Why have you sent him a partner who fears his love? What will become of my boy? Please hear me, lord... And answer my prayers. Do not let my son fall into darkness..."

He began to cry, his tears falling to the grass. Suddenly, as he knelt within the darkness of night, he felt a warmth fill him, as though the light of the sun poured down upon him and he felt a gentle hand touch his bowed head. "My lord," he wept, feeling the silent presence of his god and shed his tears openly as he remained bowed in prayer. Apollo did not speak, yet Matthew felt a deep comfort fill him as his lord made his presence known. He remained so until his tears faded and his fear eased to something bearable...

Sam heaved again, his stomach recoiling painfully as his body purged itself of the massive amount of alcohol he had overindulged in in a miserable attempt to break free of the disturbing and intense feelings within his heart. He leaned over the toilet bowl, the cold floor hurting his legs, and heaved again. When the convulsions stopped, he groaned in agony and closed his eyes, then felt the intense rolling sensation, as though he were tumbling forward head first and rolling over and over again despite the fact that he was stationary upon the bathroom floor. The sensation brought a new wave of nausea and he retched sharply yet again.

It was some time before he felt the last of the contractions in his stomach falter and he flushed, then rose painfully, washed his mouth out with water from the sink and staggered to bed. He flung himself down naked and fought to cover himself with the blanket before he passed out... Images of Daniel reaching towards him pleadingly, his eyes filled with tears swam before Sam's mind's eye. Sam pulled himself into a fetal position, cringing away from the man and feeling a new wave of terror and sorrow fill him. Why is this happening to me? he thought with a mixture of grief, fear and confusion. Why can't I get him out of my head? He cringed further from the image in his mind.

No, never again... He could never let that happen to himself ever again...

Daniel recovered only slightly over the next few days, his nephew Jeffrey seeming to be the only one able to bring any kind of response from the traumatized lad. "Uncle Daniel, please don't cry," he'd plead and Daniel would offer the ghost of a sad smile to the boy. "Why are you so sad?" the young child asked and Daniel looked at the boy with tears in his eyes.

"Because my heart is broken," he answered thickly and began to sob anew. Liam, Ryan's partner, stood in the doorway and watched his partner's brother with sadness, not knowing what to do to help his brother-in-law.

Out in the kitchen, Matthew, David and their older son Ryan sat at the table, wondering what, if anything, they could do. "Why?" Ryan asked yet again. "Why did he run away like that?"

"I don't know, Son," David said sadly to his boy. "Maybe it was too intense for him."

"But it makes no sense!" Ryan protested. "Why send someone a partner who just runs off like that and rejects the bond? What's that dumbass Apollo thinking?"

"YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH THIS INSTANT!!!" Matthew gasped in horror, filled with a mixture of anger at and fear for his child for making such a blasphemous statement. "Don't you dare say such a thing about our lord!" he added, trembling with terror. "You pray to him right now and beg his forgiveness!" He thrust the sword in its scabbard at his son, who took it with an expression of deepest guilt and went out to the back yard quickly.

Matthew collapsed back in his chair, begging silently to his lord not to smite the boy in wrathful punishment. He couldn't bear to lose either of his children, especially with one of them so emotionally fragile at the moment. David saw his partner's pain and moved to his side, hugging him fiercely. "I can't lose them, Dave... I can't! ...What are we going to do?"

"I don't know, Hon," David said, burying his face against the top of Matthew's head and kissing it gently, lost in his own worry. They were terrified for Daniel and had begun a suicide watch over him, afraid to leave him alone even for a moment for fear the lad would let his grief consume him and seek to end his life.

"Why? Why would Apollo send someone who would only break Daniel's heart like that?" Matthew asked.

"Maybe we should ask Sam," David said, glancing at the card on the table. "We have a way to reach him, at least."

"We have to try something," Matthew said, wiping away his tears and sighing with a thread of relief as a subdued Ryan returned inside and gently laid the sword in its sheath on the table before his father and sat down heavily.

"What can we do?" Ryan asked his parents.

"We have to talk to the human," Matthew said, his eyes resting on the card.

"Dad!" Ryan protested. "You saw how he reacted! There's no way he'll talk to us if we just came out and asked him!"

"If we only had some kind of plan," David said, feeling helpless.

Ryan picked up the business card and ran his thumb over the words printed on it, looking thoughtful. "I think I might have an idea," he said slowly...

Sam sniffed and pressed the button on the answering machine. It beeped and began to replay the messages. There were several complaints about deadlines he had missed and two people letting loose angry tirades about him not fulfilling his projects and that they were taking their business elsewhere to someone more reliable. He sighed and deleted each message as it finished.

In truth, he hadn't felt like doing anything at all this last week, not since the day at the park when he had met Daniel. Even now he could still feel that man's touch, the look of joy in his eyes as they first gazed upon each others' faces... Before the fear had griped him so fiercely and filled him with terror and confusion at the intensity of the sensations that had poured through him in that moment.

He had shirked his duties, getting drunk several times and staying in bed, or pacing his apartment endlessly and hugging himself in confusion. Never had he wanted anything more than to be with Daniel... To hold him in his arms and kiss him and promise to never let him go. But he couldn't. He couldn't bear to go through all of that yet again. He had vowed to never again subject himself to such torment and humiliation. Love was an illusion... Something that was only in stories. Love wasn't real, it was a trick to set him up for pain and only serve to remind him that-

He snarled at himself, angry at his conflicting feelings and not understanding why he felt this way... And over a complete stranger, no less! He refused to let his thoughts continue on the track they were on and if he wanted to keep his car, as well as maintain a living anywhere other than out on the streets, then he needed work.

The last message sounded promising. "Hi. This is David Williams. I own a small bookstore and one of my customers recommended you. I'd like to schedule a consultation. My number i-"

The message cut out as the machine ran out of room and beeped, making Sam swear with disgust. Just great! Someone who actually wanted to hire him and couldn't because he was too stupid to keep enough space on the answering machine! He was furious with himself for his negligence and picked up the phone, scrolling back through the messages. None of them bore the man's name, so there was no way to tell which number was his. He didn't even have an area code to work with to narrow the list down.

Grumbling, he slammed the phone back down with disgust and was in the process of letting go of it when it rang. He took a moment to calm himself down and answered. "Sam Smith," he said in a passably professional tone.

"Ah good!" the man on the other end said. "My name is David Williams. I'd tried calling earlier to inquire about hiring you for a website design, but the machine-"

"Yeah, sorry," Sam said, unable to believe his luck that the man had called back. "There was a slight backlog on my messages. Sorry for the inconvenience. How can I help you?"

"Well," David said. "I'd like to set up a small website for my book store. Nothing too fancy, but something that can let people make orders online, check our location and business hours, stuff like that."

"Alright, that's pretty easy to do. I just need some information for what to put onto the site and what kinds of features you want it to have. Why don't I take down the basics now?" he said, shoving his misery deep down inside himself with a skill learned from years of practice at doing such.

"Actually, I'd like to include some photos of the shop for the website, too."

"That's do-able. If you have a digital camera I can give you my email address and you can send-"

"Actually, I don't have a camera," David replied with a pause.

"Well, are you located in the Twin Cities area?"

"Yes, we're located in Bloomington, just off the four ninety four."

"Ok, that's not too far away and I have a camera of my own. I could swing by and take a few pics for you for a slight extra fee."

"That'd be fine by me. Would you be able to come by tomorrow? Say around noontime?"

"Sure, that'd be fine," Sam said, reaching for a pen and paper. "Where's the shop located?"...

"Come on Daniel," Matthew begged his son, trying to convince him to get dressed. "I need you to help run the house today. You need to get up."

"There's no point," Daniel said despondently and Matthew wanted to sob with grief at the hollow, empty quality of his son's voice. They had to literally force Daniel to eat, just to maintain his strength and the lad laid there in bed, staring blankly at nothing, his eyes red from crying nonstop.

"Please don't say that," Matthew said, choking back a sob of grief. "Come on... Please Daniel. For me? Come on... It'll do you good to get out of bed for awhile."

Daniel just shook his head mutely. Matthew became angry and lunged forward, ripped the blankets off his son and then dragged Daniel to his feet. "Stop it! Please!" he begged the boy, who looked at him with moist eyes.

Daniel shook his head sadly. "I love him... Without Sam... There's no point."

"No! Don't you dare say that!" Matthew exclaimed with horror, hugging his son tightly and making his decision. "Oh screw it! ...Sam's coming by the shop today!"

Daniel looked at his father with a spark of interest. "What?"

"He left one of his business cards behind at the park and we're bringing him over to try to talk to him and ask him why he ran away like he did. I didn't want to tell you for fear of getting your hopes up falsely! But if you can't even get out of bed and keep going, then what's the point of keeping it from you?"

Daniel wilted. "But he doesn't want me," he sobbed.

"No! No!" Matthew said, taking his son's face in his hands and forcing the lad to look at him. "I think he's just scared, is all. Trust me, when your Dad David first learned the truth about me he nearly shit his pants!"

"Ew! Dad!" Daniel said with disgust, showing the first signs of his old self.

"It's true!" Matthew replied, feeling a faint stirring of hope for his son's wellbeing. "Humans are funny about the Bond sometimes. We need to try to find out why he's so afraid. If we can understand why he acted the way he did, then maybe we can fix things."

"You sure he'll be there?" Daniel asked with a glimmer of hope.

"Yes... But he doesn't know the real reason why he's coming there. We didn't want to frighten him off, so he thinks he's coming for business."

"I need to be there," Daniel said, beginning to stir.

"Daniel, I don't think that's very wise. If he knew you were there he might spook. We need to handle this gently."

"But Dad-"

"I know Sweetheart, but you don't want him to run away again, do you? This might be our only chance to talk with him."

Daniel wasn't listening. With a spark of desperation, he pulled free, dug out some clothes and began to dress rapidly. "I'm going with you."

Matthew sighed explosively, regretting having told his son anything. He knew better than to try to stop the lad from going there on his own. "Oh alright! You can come, but only if you do as I say and stay in the back until we've had a chance to talk to him first! Promise me!"

Daniel nodded solemnly...

Sam arrived at the address and entered the small privately-owned bookstore with his camera in his backpack. "Hi," he asked the man acting as the sales clerk. "Are you David?"

"Yes, that's me," he said with a smile that faltered slightly as he took in Sam's appearance. The man looked terrible. He was very thin, hadn't been keeping his beard trimmed properly and had deep circles under his bloodshot eyes that contrasted sharply with his abnormally pale skin.

Whoa! He looks like shit! David thought to himself with shock, barely managing to cover up his feelings and put on a false air of happiness. "Are you alright?" he asked with concern, his smile faltering at the hollow, grief-filled look in the man's eyes.

"Huh? Oh, just getting over a cold, is all. I can come back another time if it bothers you."

Like hell it's a cold! David thought, his heart going out for the man who had clearly been suffering as much as his son was. "No, that's ok, I just had one recently myself, so it's fine by me," he lied, wanting to keep Sam there long enough to try to talk to him about the issue at hand, yet unable to figure out a tactful way to steer the conversation around to where he wanted it to be. Instead, he began to rattle on about the details of the shop. "Oh, do try to keep your voice down, please. My son's here resting in the back... He's not feeling very well."

"Oh, sure," Sam said, looking sympathetic when David cast a worried glance at the door leading to the store room. "What's wrong with him?"

"Relationship troubles," David said calmly, feeling eager deep inside that he'd been able to work the subject in the right direction.

"Oh..." Sam said with a pained expression. "Well, sometimes it's just not meant to be."

David turned back to him with a look of shock. "How can you say something like that?" he asked, unable to believe that someone in a lifebond could possibly say such a thing.

Sam shrugged. "It's true. People break up all the time. The important thing is to learn how to move on afterwards," he added, but David saw the hurt Sam was trying not to show and didn't believe him for a second.

"You sound like someone who's been hurt before," David said, the truth finally dawning on him.

Sam shifted uncomfortably. "I don't see what that has to do with your website. Maybe we should get back on track here," he finished coldly, offended that this stranger was prying into his personal life and also not wanting to be reminded of his own pain.

"I'm sorry," David apologized quickly, feeling frustrated and not wanting to upset Sam...

Meanwhile in the back room, things were going just as poorly. Daniel had been pacing back and forth frantically, casting hopeful looks towards the front every time he thought he heard the front door of the shop open. Matthew began to grow frustrated with his son, who refused to sit down. He had to all but physically restrain the lad every time Daniel showed the slightest sign of wanting to charge out front.

"Daniel! Sit down already!" he snapped yet again.

"Is he here?" Daniel asked, ignoring his father's command.

"Daniel, be reasonable!" Matthew begged, feeling deep concern at his son's strong reaction. He'd never seen nor heard of a lifebond being this strong. His son's almost violently strong reaction to it was scaring his father deeply. "You can't go barging out there! If you do, you'll scare him away again! You don't want to hurt him, do you?"

Daniel looked mortified. "No! Never!" Then he began to sob yet again and not knowing what else to do, the distraught father took his son into his arms and tried to comfort and calm him down.

He sat Daniel down and sighed, hoping against hope that things would work out. Suddenly, the lad's head snapped up and he looked towards the door with shock. "He's here!" He rose up quickly.

"No! No!" Matthew said sharply, restraining his son. "Daniel you can't! He's not ready! He doesn't understand! If you go out there now it could destroy him! You don't want that, I know you don't!"

Daniel looked at his father and wilted, dropping onto the cot they'd set up for him in the store room and beginning to sob anew. The father took his boy into his arms and rocked him slowly...

Sam sighed as David looked at him with concern. Why was this man so worried about his personal life? It didn't make any sense to him and disturbed him greatly. Sam was a very private man who didn't like to involve others in his personal affairs, yet David kept trying to gently turn the conversation back to personal matters. Finally, he grew tired of the shopkeeper's prying and dearly wanted to tell him off, but couldn't. He'd blown off too many assignments and lost several clients already. He desperately needed the pay from this job just to pay the rent on his place to avoid being thrown out on the street. Fuming silently to himself, he exercised all of his patience to keep the conversation on business.

"Say," David finally said. "No offense, but you look like you could use a good meal. Tell you what. Why not come over to my place tonight for dinner and we can work out the final details then?"

Is this guy serious? Sam thought to himself with annoyance. He half wanted to tell the man what he could do with his dinner for continually prying into Sam's personal life, feeling very defensive and on edge after spending the last week having gotten drunk repeatedly to try to dull his pain and crying himself to sleep every night. Then he felt the hollowness of his stomach and figured that if nothing else, he would be getting a free meal, so he reluctantly agreed and took the business card from David with his home address written on the back.

He let himself out of the shop and got into his car, then drove away. It wasn't until he was only a block from home that he realized he'd failed to take any pictures of the store for the potential website...

Sam arrived at the farm house where David lived to see that it was a large family home in the outskirts of town and that the nearest neighbors were a far ways distant. As he drove towards the house, the broken muffler of his car caused the loud sound of the engine to reverberate off the wooden fences to either side and he turned the radio up louder to hear the broadcast on NPR. "-And in international news, more and more converts to Apollism have flocked to the Temple of Apollo in London, England to receive the blessings of the Grecian deity as given through his holiness, High Priest James Phillipson-"

Sam shut off the radio and rolled his eyes with disgust. You've gotta be kidding me! What's next? Oprah-ism? I swear people will believe in any old garbage that comes along! Let those guys believe whatever they want, but does everyone have to fawn over all that kooky nonsense like morons? What's so wrong in just believing in yourself? Some people are so damned weak, I swear! He fondled the pendant underneath his shirt, then frowned and decided to remove it. He sighed and put it into his wallet where it would be safe after he pulled up to the house.

He parked the car outside and saw the window curtain pull back for a moment. Sighing, he got out and headed up to the front door and rang the bell. The door opened and David stood there with a smile, another man beside him who looked at Sam a bit nervously. "Sam, glad you could make it. This is my partner, Matthew."

"Hi," Sam said politely, shaking the man's hand. "Partner, huh?" he shrugged. "No worries."

Matthew looked at the man with shock, noting the deep signs of suffering on the man's face and his heart went out to his son's lifebonded. He was also impressed with Sam's open-mindedness. "So you're really not bothered? By me and David being...?"

Sam scoffed and waved the matter aside. "Oh it's fine by me, I'm not prejudiced or anything. After all, it takes all kinds of people to live in the world... Human or otherwise, right?" Sam asked, thinking about what he'd heard on the radio.

Matthew looked deeply relieved at that and ushered the human in eagerly. A small toddler stood there waiting beside another grown man. "Sam," David said. "This is our son, Ryan and our grandson Jeffrey."

-Our- son and grandson? ...Oh. "Nice to meet you," Sam said, recovering from his shock and shaking Ryan's hand eagerly, who gave him a look of deep concern for his haggard appearance. "Oh, sorry. I've been a bit under the weather, but don't worry, it's nothing catching." Sam said, lying through his teeth to explain away his drawn features.

"Uh, yeah... Nice to meet you," Ryan said awkwardly. As Sam bend down to meet the toddler, Ryan cocked an eyebrow at his human father, who shook his head slightly. Ryan nodded very slightly to show that he understood.

Sam knelt down to greet the young boy properly. "And who are you again?" he asked the tyke with a smile that slightly confused him. Strange... I can't really stand kids very much, but this little guy seems kinda likable...

"I'm Jeffrey," the kid said with a smile.

Sam frowned. That name sounded kind of familiar... But he couldn't remember where from. He smiled bigger to mask his conflicting thoughts. "And how old are you?" he asked the child.

Jeffrey held up a pudgy hand and thought for a second, then held up a pair of fingers. "Wow!" Sam said, raising his eyebrows. "That's pretty old! Keep it up and it won't be long before you need both hands to show people how old you are." Jeffrey giggled happily at that.

"Ok Jeffrey," Ryan said. "You got to meet him, now it's time to say goodnight."

The toddler pouted. "But I wanna spend more time with Uncle-"

"Jeffrey!" Ryan almost shouted, panicking as he realized what the boy was about to say and acting quickly to drown out his next word. "No arguments! Off to bed Mister! Right now!" He snatched up the boy quickly and hurried him away without another word as the boy began to cry in confusion and shock at his father's sudden anger.

Sam stared after them in shock of his own, his eyes wide and his brow furrowed in confusion. What was that all about?

"Sorry about that," Matthew said quickly. "The boy can be a bit difficult at times. You know how kids can be. Here, let me take your coat." He stepped forward quickly to take the human's jacket from him as David ushered him into the dining room and offered him a place at the table. They sat and talked for awhile about the book store until Ryan joined them.

"Sorry about that," he replied nervously. "He can be a bit hyper sometimes."

"Oh forget about it," Sam said good-naturedly. He looked at Ryan and saw that he looked rather well off, emotionally. "Sorry to hear about your relationship woes. At least you have your son with you. That always helps people pull through."

"What?" Ryan asked with confusion. "Oh," he said as he realized what Sam meant. "No, I'm ok, it's not me you're thinking of. It's my younger brother who's having problems."

"He won't be joining us tonight," Matthew added quickly. "He's still resting."

"Yeah," Ryan said giving his dad a look of confirmation.

Sam frowned mentally, his physical smile faltering. Why don't these people just start flashing signals at each other in Morse code already? he thought with annoyance. Ever since he'd arrived, the family had been giving him the run around and while he didn't understand why, it was getting annoying. "Well, he'll get over it. Time heals all wounds and such."

Ryan's mouth fell open in horror. He stared at the human in utter disbelief.

"What?" Sam asked, looking at him and feeling baffled.

Ryan jerked as someone kicked him under the table and his mouth snapped shut. Sam whipped his head around to look at David and Matthew and saw David looking guilty.

"Alright! What's going on here?" Sam asked loudly, growing offended at being treated like some kind of conspiracy was going on.

"Sam, please," Matthew said with difficulty. "We just want to talk to you about something serious, is all. Now if you'll just stay calm and listen-"

"CALM?!?" Sam shouted. "Why the fuck should I stay calm?" he continued loudly. "Ever since I met you at the shop you've all been giving me the run around! What's going on here?!?"

Suddenly, there was a shout of surprise from down the hallway and a crashing sound, followed by rapid footsteps. Sam bolted to his feet in shock at the crash and had just risen when Daniel burst into the doorway, staring at Sam with watery eyes full of hope. "Sam?" he asked, his voice trembling with sadness, fear and the deepest of needs.

Sam began to tremble suddenly as he stared at the man who had haunted his mind both waking and sleeping for the last week now. "D-d-d-d-daniel?" he gasped weakly as his knees went weak. Then he did something he'd never done before in his life...

He fainted from shock...

Ryan saw the human fold in on himself and managed to reach out and catch the man as he collapsed before he could hurt himself. By the time he eased the man to the floor, Sam was fully unconscious.

"Dammit, Daniel!" his birthing father shouted at him in shock. "This is exactly why I told you to stay in your room! Now look at him!" Daniel began to cry and started to move to Sam's side, but Matthew intercepted him. "Daniel! You can't! He... He doesn't understand what's happening to him, Son! You can't just force him to love you without him being able to comprehend what's going on inside his mind and heart! If you love him, you'll give him the time for us to help him to understand. The more you try to force him to be with you, the more it hurts and confuses him. Just look at him. He took one look at you and passed out! You don't want to keep hurting him, do you?"

Daniel looked mortified. "No," he said, his voice trembling.

"I know how difficult it is for you, Daniel, I really do. I feel just as strongly for your Dad David as you do for Sam. But Sam is different. He knows nothing about the partner bond. He's experiencing sensations unlike anything he ever has before and his mind can't grasp what it is that he feels. So he panics and either flees or loses consciousness. You don't want a life with someone who you'll either have keep reviving constantly or tie to the bed do you?"

Daniels eyes lit up with a deep hunger. "Daniel!" Matthew snapped, shocked at his offspring's sudden look of intense desire. Daniel looked at his father suddenly with shock, then blushed furiously and hung his head with shame. Matthew couldn't help himself... He started laughing. Daniel looked up, still blushing, but now with a sheepish smile.

Just then, Liam walked out to the dining room, rubbing his head and glaring at Daniel with open resentment. "What's wrong with you?" He snapped.

"Liam!" Ryan exclaimed with horror, rushed to his partner's side with concern and in the process dropped Sam's head about two inches to the ground as he abandoned the human to join his lover's side. "What happened?"

David winced as Sam was dropped and moved to make sure his fellow human was alright... After a fashion.

"Daniel knocked me out of his way and I slammed into the closet door. It broke my fall, but I broke it in the process," Liam growled, glaring at his partner's brother with contempt.

"Daniel Matthewson!" his birth father shouted at him with shock. "What is wrong with you? You apologize to your brother's partner this instant!"

"I'm sorry," Daniel said weakly, looking very guilty.

"And you're replacing that broken door out of your own money, young man," David said from the floor.

"Are you hurt?" Ryan asked Liam, who shook his head.

"And you're no better Ryan!" David stewed aloud. "You could've cracked this man's skull just now!"

Ryan looked mortified. "I'm sorry!"

"Be helpful as well!" David said to his son. "Let's get Sam to the guest room..."

Sam awoke about a half hour later to find himself lying in a bed with a soft nightstand lamp glowing to his side. He sat up and winced at a pain in the back of his skull. "Finally awake, I see," an unfamiliar voice said softly from a chair in the corner.

Sam looked up to see a strange man sitting there. "Who are you? And where am I?"

"But you still know who you are, right?" the man asked him nervously.

"Of course I do! Now answer the question!" Sam growled, annoyed with the man's comment.

The man frowned. "My name is Liam and I'm Ryan's partner. As for where you are, you're still at my partner's parents' home."

"What happened?" Sam asked, this time more politely.

"To be blunt, you fainted," he said and rose, went to the door and called out softly. "He's awake."

Matthew entered, looking sympathetic. "Feeling any better?"

"Not really," Sam said and the events that lead up to his blacking out came back to him. "Oh shit! He's not-"

"No, he is forbidden to see you until we have talked and helped you to understand what's happening to you."

"What have you done to me?" Sam asked weakly and was puzzled by the man's sad expression.

"We haven't done anything to you. What has happened is beyond the will of any save that of my lord." Sam snorted. "It's true," Matthew continued. "When one of us first meets the person with whom we are destined to spend the rest of our lives, an instant, unbreakable bond is formed with that person and the two become partners for all of their lives. It is a sacred and holy thing to us and is the deepest desire of all our kind. Daniel has found his partner in you. The intense sensations you are feeling is the beginnings of the bond of love you share with each other and Daniel suffers just as much as you do."

Sam shook his head sadly. "You're nuts if you believe that drivel. What are you? Crazy or something? Love? Give me a break!"

Matthew stared at the human, unable to believe what he was hearing and what was more, he saw that Sam doubted the truth of his own words, too. A look of deep pain crossed his face as he spoke... A look of deeply buried pain that he refused to acknowledge. "What happened to you?" Matthew asked softly, feeling sorry for the man as he gazed upon him.

Sam's face spasmed and he looked away. "Nothing."

"You don't believe that anymore than I do," he added softly. "What happened?"

"What business is it of yours?" Sam snapped, glaring at Matthew with hurt and accusation in his eyes.

"You're my son's partner and therefore family. Family sticks together and helps each other in their times of need."

Sam's reaction stunned Matthew, as the human's face spasmed with grief and anger. "Don't toy around with me like that! ...I don't need this shit!" he snarled viciously, starting to rise... And stopped dead in shock as Matthew raised his sword in reflex to the human's blatant hostility and pointed it at Sam's chest. The human turned white as a sheet as he saw it aimed at him. "Wh-what the fuck?!? Are you insane?!? You're pulling a sword on me just because I won't let you play therapist with me?!?" He looked closer at the sword and impossibly grew even paler. "Shit! That thing's real!"

"Of course it's real," Matthew said calmly in a voice that brooked no argument. "This sword is the symbol of my faith as a worshipper of Apollo, who demands sacrifice from his followers. As such, the swords we carry must be ever ready to spill blood for him," he explained.

Unfortunately, Sam began to panic even more and looked around the room for anything to use to defend himself. He backed away, horror-struck. These people were mad! They were going to offer him up as a human sacrifice to their fictional boogey man deity! There was no fucking way he was going down without a fight! His panic suddenly turned into something else, a strange adrenaline-fueled calm as he noted every object in the room that could be used to defend himself and he began to plan his escape.

Matthew became alarmed as the human reeled backward. Wait! He thinks-? Suddenly chiding himself for his rashness, he lowered the sword quickly, feeling horrified that he had caused the human to think something so untrue. "Stop, stop, Sam! That's not what I meant! Please!" He gave the sword to Liam quickly and ushered the younger man away with it. Liam took the sword and left the room rapidly. "I'm sorry! I truly am! I didn't mean to imply that! We only sacrifice animals! Never people! Please forgive me for frightening you."

Sam stopped, saw the guilt and shame on the man's face and slowly began to relax. It took several moments before he regained the ability to speak. "You'd better think of that next time before you point swords at people!"

Matthew sighed. "You're right. I didn't mean to scare you. I was coming back inside from praying when you awoke and came directly here. Raising the sword was a reflex, nothing more. I would never harm the partner of my son. Not for anything. I could never cause him such pain as to lose the man that he cherishes."

"But he doesn't even know me!" Sam blurted out. "You can't love a complete stranger! That's ridiculous!"

"Do you love Daniel?" Matthew asked calmly, his voice thick with emotion.

Sam tried to say no, but he couldn't. He tried to deny his feelings and found himself unable to. Every time he tried, his mouth refused to move. He began to tremble, not understanding why he couldn't lie and just say no so that they would let him leave. If he could do that, then he wouldn't have to risk being hurt again. But he couldn't lie no matter how hard he tried. He began to shake and finally sob, unable to hold back any longer the hurt he'd buried away inside. Matthew saw this and rushed to his side, taking his son's partner into his arms and cradling him as he wept. Sam was unable to stop weeping until he passed out from exhaustion.

Matthew stayed with him, comforting Sam as best as he could. He saw Daniel appear at the door, his own tears flowing freely and gestured for the lad to enter. Daniel approached slowly, afraid of spooking his beloved, but his father pulled him onto the bed and held him too. Slowly, gently, Matthew moved the unconscious Sam into Daniel's arms and watched as his son held the man and wept for him, holding him tightly and crying himself to sleep beside the human.

Matthew hoped fervently that he had done the right thing as he quietly closed the door behind himself. David was there waiting for him and hugged him fiercely...

Sam stood on a rise covered with grass. The wind blew past his naked body as he stared up at the sun before him, gazing into its brilliance without being hurt by it. He felt the warmth of the sun radiate down upon him and felt a hand take his own. He looked to see who had joined him and saw Daniel at his side, smiling at him warmly. He smiled back and looked up into the sun again, feeling a deep sense of peace fill him.

Sam opened his eyes slowly, the vividness of the dream following him out into the waking world and that same calm remained with him as he awoke. He felt a gentle hand stroking his buzz-cut hair and knew that it was Daniel. Strangely, he didn't feel the intense panic inside that he had before. It was as if something inside of him had either broken, or perhaps healed, and he was no longer crippled by fear and doubt like he had been. His feelings confused him somewhat, but the calming peace of the dream diluted it and gave him power over it.

He stared at the wall of the room, looking at it without really seeing it, still unable to understand why Daniel loved him so. But somehow, he also knew the truth. He loved Daniel as well, loved him so strongly that it was literally impossible for him to deny that love. He felt a vague, fading tendril of fear that evaporated the moment he recognized it and was gone.

"What's happening to me?" he asked softly.

"Something wonderful," Daniel replied gently.

"But why?"

"I don't know... I don't really understand it any better than you do."

Sam snorted. "Oh that makes me feel loads better!" he grumbled softly. Daniel chuckled. Sam sighed and sat up slowly, then turned to face him. He felt guilty at seeing the lines of fading pain still visible on Daniel's face. He reached up gently and stroked the bags under Daniel's left eye. "I'm sorry I hurt you... I was scared and confused."

"I know," Daniel said softly. "And I forgive you. Do you still feel like that?"

"Yeah... But not as much as before. I still don't get it though... Why do I feel like this?"

"It's the will of Apollo... And the answer to my prayers."

"You actually believe in that stuff?" Sam asked gently, looking skeptical.

"Yes I do," Daniel said, looking firm at him despite the softness of his tone of voice.

"And you really sacrifice animals to him?"

"Yes. There isn't a temple near here, so we do it ourselves. Sometimes I do it, other times Dad Matthew does it."

Sam frowned in confusion at Daniel's wording, but let it drop.

"Does my faith bother you that much?" Daniel asked softly.

"I don't know... It seems silly to believe in someone you can't see, or touch, or hear or feel. I'm not the blind faith type."

"But Apollo -is- real. I have felt his blessings and his compassion. I fear him, yet I also love him, too. He is my god and although you may doubt that he exists, I can't, because I've felt him. He's just as real as you and I."

Sam shook his head sadly. "I just can't believe that."

"What -do- you believe in?"

"Myself... Growing up the way I did, I learned that I can't rely on anyone other than myself." Daniel looked at him questioningly. "I grew up in an orphanage. I never knew my parents. My mother committed suicide two months after I was born and my dad was doing a lifetime sentence for killing a convenience store clerk when he was high on heroin and tried to rob the place. He's dead too. Growing up in there, I was the kid everyone always passed up for someone else. I made friends only to watch them get adopted while I was left behind. I was discharged at eighteen and forced to make my own way alone after that. I tried to find a lasting relationship, but they never worked out. Usually, they'd find out about my religious beliefs and abandon me too."

He reached down, pulled out his wallet and took out the pendant he'd placed there, holding the pendant itself in his hand as he placed the black cord around his neck. He clutched it to his heart and looked deep into Daniel's eyes.

"What is that?" Daniel asked, looking at the hand with interest.

"It's the symbol of my faith, for lack of a better term. It's what's kept me going all these years. It gives me strength and self-reliance. It's also the reason why I'm still single. Every guy I've tried to make a serious relationship with has seen it and left me. I've been called a monster because of it, but it's all I have to sustain me. I love you, but once you see this, you'll understand why I'm alone, as well as why I believe that we can't ever work... But I won't compromise my beliefs. They may seem monstrous to you, but it is what I believe. It is what helps me to endure. I won't just give up my beliefs simply to make you comfortable. If you can't accept all of me, then there's no point to us continuing on like this. I'm sorry if I sound needlessly cruel, but I'm sick of going through this all the time. I'm tired of being hurt all the time, over and over again. It's happened three times before, only you can decide if it'll happen a fourth time." Sam looked to him with unshed tears and a fierce, pain-filled pride and firmness of resolve.

Daniel saw the deadly serious look upon his partner's face and nodded his understanding. "Show me," he said firmly.

Sam took his hand away and Daniel gasped in spite of himself. The pendant was rather shocking, to say the least. He'd never seen anyone wearing it, but he knew what it meant. It was the sigil of Baphomet, a pair of rings around the outside with a set of five lines inside the inner ring that formed a five-pointed star, two points upwards. Inside the star was the image of a goat's head, the horns inside the upper two points, the ears to the sides and the face slopping down the single downward point. All of the symbol was of raised silver lines set against a black enameled background.

Daniel breathed deeply to steady himself, having never in a million years believed that the man he would love would be a person such as this. He looked up to the piercing green eyes that looked at him softly, trying not to show his fear of lost love. Daniel found his voice after a moment, speaking softly. "You're a Satanist?"

"Yes," Sam said flatly.

"...Then understand that I won't abandon my own beliefs either. You have to accept me as Apolline. I won't abandon my beliefs just as you won't your own."

Sam looked at him, his eyes growing moist as he nodded gravely. Daniel leaned in and kissed Sam, accepting him for all that he was as Sam did the same...

For the next two days and nights, they shared the room, talking and holding each other, getting to know each other. They discussed religion a fair amount, as Sam felt that it was the most important and obvious difference between them. Sam listened as Daniel described his beliefs, the human listening patiently with a feeling of severe doubt that he tried hard not to show so as not to hurt Daniel's feelings. Daniel avoided the parts that related only to Spartans, seeing that Sam wasn't yet ready to accept such things, so he stuck to the basics. Then Sam described his own beliefs as Daniel listened and shifted uncomfortably at certain parts. Eventually, the human came to his religious philosophy and how it affected his behavior towards others.

"Satanists believe in strength, personal responsibility for our actions and seeking what pleasure we can from life for as long as we live. When wronged, we lash out in vengeance. We punish those responsible in order to make sure that they can't ever hurt us again. We treat people the way we feel they deserve to be treated, too. We give respect to those who deserve it and spite to those who earn it." His face fell and he sighed. "Which means I owe all of them apologies," he said, looking thoughtfully to the door leading out to the hallway.

"Want to go meet them?" Daniel asked with a sympathetic smile.

"Sure," Sam said, getting up.

"We should probably shower first, we're both kind of ripe," Daniel said with amusement.

Sam looked down at himself. "I don't smell too bad," he said simply with a shrug.

"You smell like a wild animal," Daniel answered with a chuckle.

"We -are- animals," Sam said. "The only thing separating us from the beasts in the field is the fact that we learned how to use tools better than any other creatures on the planet. We're more like them than most people want to admit. In fact, mankind is the single most vicious animal of them all. I acknowledge that... It's part of my beliefs."

"What about Spartans? ...And Amazons?" Daniel asked him slowly.

"Probably about the same as humans, I guess," Sam said with a shrug as he turned away, thereby missing Daniel's frown of distaste. "Man... I'm going have to change clothes as soon as I get home. These things smell too sour even for me!" he said, picking at his shirt.

"You're going to leave?" Daniel asked, suddenly feeling hurt.

Sam looked to him with a bit of shock at the pain in Daniel's voice and realized that he didn't really want to be apart from him either. "You can always come with me," he said, making Daniel look hopeful. "But I have to return home soon, Daniel. I've been blowing off my work because of all of this and if I don't bust my ass, I'll end up losing my apartment and my car. I can't live without those, you know."

Daniel looked guilty. "I know... I've been blowing off my classes since then, too." Sam nodded knowingly. Daniel had explained that he was enrolled in college to obtain a real estate license and wanted to get a job as a realtor once he graduated.

"You can borrow some of my clothes, Babe," Daniel said helpfully, using his new nickname for his partner.

"Umm... That's going to be a bit of a problem," Sam said, noting the fact that Daniel was six foot four to Sam's five foot ten inches of height.

"Oh," Daniel said, his face falling with sudden understanding. "Tell you what, you go shower and I'll see about borrowing some clothes from Dad David for you. He's about your size."

"...Right," Sam said, hesitating a moment at Daniel's wording once again before he headed for the bathroom across the hallway. "Say," he said, stopping before he left the room. "Don't say anything... About my beliefs to them, ok? I don't think any of them are ready to know."

"I won't," Daniel said, glad that Sam was willing to keep his religion secret for now. Daniel himself still wasn't sure what to think about that, as it was.

"And you're ok that we didn't fuck or anything yet, right?"

Daniel blushed furiously. "Sam!" he gasped, shocked with the human's boldness.

"What?" Sam asked. "It's just sex, Daniel! Everyone in the world owes their lives to sex. Without it, no one would exist in the first place! There's no point in being ashamed of it. But you're ok with us taking things slowly, right?" he asked with concern. "I know you really wanted to, but I just don't want to rush into anything, is all."

"It's ok, Babe. I can wait," he said and took his partner into his arms for a tender kiss. Then he released the human, his nose wrinkling with distaste. "No offense, but you -really- need a shower."

"I'm going! I'm going!" Sam said with a chuckle as he left the room...

A gentle knock as the shower turned off heralded the arrival of fresh clothing that fit reasonably well and Sam dried and dressed himself, then went out to the kitchen where several voices were heard, all sounding excited. He came in to find the family gathered around another pair of men he had never seen before, one of them sitting down and wearing a pain-filled smile. Matthew turned as he saw the standing man look to Sam questioningly.

"Ah, Sam! Good morning!" Matthew said to him with a smile, which the human returned nervously, still feeling awkward about being near a man he had so recently cried himself to sleep on. "Come here, no need for nervousness. I want to introduce you to my younger brother Martin and his partner Brian," the father said, nodding to the sitting man first, then the one standing one beside him. "This is Sam, Daniel's partner."

"Hi," Martin said, waving to him over the heads of the crowd from his chair where everyone was gathered closely, wincing slightly as he did so.

"Nice to meet you," Brian said, shaking his hand. "Don't mind Martin... He's carrying and has started to have a hard time getting up and down. Welcome to the family." Sam had frowned at the first part, but smiled again. Then at the last part, his smile faltered a fraction as his face spasmed slightly and Brian blinked in bafflement at the human's reaction to that statement.

"Good morning, Uncle Sam," the toddler Jeffrey piped up at him from his feet.

"Uncle Sam?" the human asked in confusion as he looked down to the child.

"Sorry," Ryan said apologetically. "He's already taken to calling you 'Uncle'," the father said gently.

"Aren't you jumping the gun a little, kid?" Sam asked the boy with an amused smile. "I mean Daniel and I only just met. We haven't even officially started dating yet."

Several of the adults' smiles faltered at that in surprise.

"Sam's... Still getting used to the bond," Matthew explained to the group. "I think he just needs a little time to adjust, is all."

Sam looked around at the gathered people, wondering what that meant and also wondering how there managed to be so many gay couples in one family as he noted their looks of confusion. He shrugged helplessly as Daniel entered the room, having just dressed after finishing his own separate shower that he had started as Sam had finished his own. Daniel had wanted to shower with him, but the bond was becoming less painful for them after the time spent together thus far and he saw that the human he loved was still struggling with what was happening to him. He had sacrificed his desire for the sake of Sam's comfort and had given him privacy as he bathed.

"Uncle Martin," he said brightly and walked over eagerly to the sitting man. "Glad you could make it, but you know you shouldn't be traveling in your condition," he said as he leaned down and gave an awkward hug to the sitting man, as if afraid to get too close to him. It was only as Daniel pulled away that Sam finally got a good look at the seated person who sat with his shirt pulled open and his jaw dropped in shock.

Martin's exposed stomach was covered with a large, strange mass that looked like someone had thrown a pot of rubber cement at his gut and the mass had adhered to his abdominal area. It protruded like a small beer gut except that it was perfectly rounded. He was smiling up at Daniel. "It's ok. I still have a few more weeks until I go on faternity leave. This'll be my last outing until he's born."

Sam pointed a trembling finger at the man's growth. "What the fuck is that?!?" he exclaimed in shock.

"He said fu-" Jeffrey began before an angry Ryan slapped his hand over the boy's mouth to silence him.

"Will you please watch your language?" Ryan snapped at the shell-shocked human with fury. "Jeffrey's very impressionable!"

"I'm not making any promises!" Sam answered in a trembling voice. "What is that thing?"

"It's his filaments, Sam," Matthew said gently. "Martin's gestating." At the human's look of blank-eyed shock, he elaborated. "You would call it 'being pregnant'," he finished gently.

"HUH?!?" Sam grunted loudly in bewilderment.

"Sam," David said with shock, disturbed at his fellow human's reaction. "We thought you knew... When we met you at the door for dinner the other night, you sounded like you understood."

"Understood what?" Sam asked with difficulty.

"Well... Other than you and I, everyone here is Spartan."

Sam processed that slowly and looked around the room in a traumatized fashion. "You mean... You're all those freaky hermaphrodite people?!?" he blurted out without thinking. He stumbled back until he hit the edge of the countertop and clutched the edge of it until his knuckles turned white.

"Sam! Sam, breathe!" David instructed, rushing to the lad's side to keep him from collapsing with shock.

Meanwhile, everyone else was staring at the human in various states of shock or offense at his comment. Matthew stepped forward slowly. "Sam, I'm sorry... We honestly thought you knew. You sounded like you did. Remember when we asked you if it was alright that David and I were partners?"

"I thought you meant -gay- partners," Sam said weakly. "Not some cross-species..." His voice trailed off.

"But we introduced Ryan and Jeffrey as -our- offspring," David added, alarmed at Sam's violent reaction of shock.

"I thought that one of you had fathered him and the other partner adopted him," he said as he pointed at Ryan. "It's not unheard of for a gay partner to adopt his lover's son so that they can become a legal parent to the kid. I thought that's what you meant," Sam finished weakly.

"No," Matthew said. "I gave birth to both of my sons and my partner David is also their biological father. He's... What -you- would think of as a traditional father."

Sam looked up at Daniel with shock. "You mean you're one too?"

"Yeah," Daniel answered quietly as his uncle Martin rubbed his arm supportively. "I really thought you already knew. I didn't mean to deceive you," he finished, a tear falling down his cheek.

Sam turned away slowly, trembling. "I'm dating a shemale," he said quietly. His hand rose up to clutch the pendant underneath his shirt self-consciously. "I'm supposed to just use it as a symbol, not date it," he gasped in a whisper. "Going out with a reverse Baph-" His head snapped up with horror to see David watching him closely, paling as he realized that he'd nearly blurted out the truth about himself. These people owned weapon-quality swords. The last thing he needed was for them to see him as a monster. With extreme difficulty he released the pendant and smoothed his hand down his shirt to try to disguise the gesture.

"Sam?" David asked, looking at his fellow human with confusion and concern. "What do you mean?"

Sam looked at David and paled further with fear. "Nothing," he said weakly.

David looked to Daniel with concern, who shook his head. 'It's private', he mouthed to his human parent, who nodded slowly after a moment. "Come on, Sam, come sit down." David gently led Sam over to the table, sitting him down next to Martin.

Sam looked over at Martin's filaments with shock, then the expression faded away to numbness with a slight bit of curiosity as he calmed down.

"Sam, it's ok." David said kindly. "I was really shocked too when I first found out the truth. But it's actually not so bad. I truly love my partner and we're very happy together. We've raise two wonderful sons and now have two grandchildren as well."

Sam cocked his head, noting that once the initial shock was past, the filaments, while still odd looking, weren't really quite so bad. "So there's really a baby in there?" he asked the expectant Spartan.

"Yes," Martin said kindly. "He'll be my first."

Sam raised a hand helplessly. "Ok, I guess." He began to reach gently over. "Is it ok if I-?"

"NO SAM!" David said in alarm, grabbing his wrist before his hand got too close. "You can't!"

"What?" Sam asked, both shocked and hurt. "I wasn't... I wouldn't hurt him, or anything!"

"No," David answered kindly. "We know you wouldn't hurt the baby. But you just can't touch him. No one can, not even Martin himself."

"Why not?"

"The filaments are made entirely of raw nerve endings. Just having them is incredibly painful for Spartans, but it gets even worse if anyone or anything were to come into contact with them. It would cause Martin unbearable agony and jeopardize the life of the baby. It could possibly even kill the child."

"What?!?" Sam asked with shock. "That doesn't make any sense!" he said, pulling away willingly to avoid causing any harm. "That's crazy! How can anyone have a child that way? It defies logic! There's no way you could've survived as a species long enough in the wild to make it all the way up to modern times with a defect like that."

"That's part of our origin, Sam," Matthew said. "We didn't evolve naturally. We were created by our god Apollo... We are called Spartans for a reason... Because that is the place of our origin. Over twenty five hundred years ago, during the last days of Sparta, our warrior ancestors were away at war when their enemies snuck around past the army and entered into our homelands... Where they proceeded to slaughter every man, woman and child they could find. They were very thorough and killed every last citizen of Sparta there was. There were no survivors. When the last surviving warriors of Sparta's armies returned home, they found their culture devastated beyond all repair and knew that they were the last of their kind. After that generation of all male warriors passed away, the people of Sparta would be forever gone.

"And so the warrior priests prayed to our lord Apollo, god of war and the sun, for his intervention that the Spartan people would live on both as a people, as well as to exact vengeance against those who took away the future of our nation. Apollo answered their prayers and gave them a miraculous gift. He transformed the men of Sparta into what we are now... Beings that resemble the human men we are descended from, yet able to bear young by each other as well as by human men. In this way, the future of Sparta was secured once more.

"But Hera, mother of the gods, looked upon what the Spartans had become and grew angry, feeling that men had transgressed against her by violating the natural order and giving birth as women do. She cursed the men of Sparta by stealing away the gift Apollo had given. Grief-stricken, the Spartans prayed to Zeus, father of the gods and husband to Hera for him to grant mercy upon Sparta and spare us her wrath. In difference to Hera, yet wishing to answer the prayers, Zeus restored the gift that Apollo had originally given, but with a curse as well. That Hera be appeased, any Spartan that is to give birth must suffer agonizing pains from the first moment of Emergence to the birth of their child. Also, the chances of miscarriage are very great, so Spartans who are gestating must be very, very careful while they do so in the hope of avoiding stillbirth of the child to be.

"However, the part about being able to breed with human men as well as other Spartans was only given by Apollo after Hera, enraged that Zeus had overrode her will, cursed our kind that we would never be able to interbreed with human women, out of spite that her will had been thwarted. He changed us further, allowing us to find mates either among our own, or with human males. You will most likely never find a Spartan who desires women. We are always attracted to other males. Also, there is the special blessing that is the partner bond, which you may know better as the concept of a soul mate. Each Spartan has one partner in their lives and one only. Only that man, be he Spartan or human, can help us to conceive children."

Sam stared at them in shock. "You're saying that you can give birth because some ancient gods transformed you? And what's more, there's only one 'soul mate' that can knock you up?" he asked in disbelief. "Oh come on! That's ridiculous!"

Ryan scowled at Sam. "It's true!"

"Oh please!" Sam exploded. "Divine miracles? Soul mates? Come on already! You guys really believe all of that? That's nuts!"

The family, David included, frowned at Sam's sudden hostility. "Why?" Matthew asked calmly. "Because we choose to believe in something that you don't?"

"Yeah," Liam asked him. "What do -you- believe in?"

A difficult expression crossed Sam's face and he looked down to the floor. It was Daniel who answered for him. "Sam's an atheist."

"Why?" Ryan asked, shocked that a man would chose to never believe in any god at all. "That sounds like a very lonely way to live," he added softly.

"Because..." Sam began with difficulty. "Gods don't exist. ...If they did, they'd answer our prayers. But my prayers were always ignored... Therefore they don't exist. If they did, then I wouldn't have grown up in that damned place..." He trailed off.

Everyone went silent. "Sam was raised in an orphanage from infancy up to adulthood," Daniel explained for him, sensing that Sam wouldn't mind. "He never knew his parents."

The family looked at Sam with sympathy, seeing him trying very hard not to show his pain outwardly. "My mother developed severe post mortem depression after I was born and committed suicide when I was two months old," he said. "My father was already serving a life sentence in prison for murder while on a drug-high induced robbery. He was stabbed to death by another inmate when I was four. He never wanted to see me when he was still alive and they were both single children, so without any relatives, I was placed in the orphanage as an infant. But no one ever wanted to adopt me... Anyone but me, I guess."

Daniel rushed to his side, knelt down and hugged him fiercely. Even he hadn't been told exactly how Sam's parents had died.

David looked at the newest member of their family sadly. "You'd prayed that someone would adopt you, didn't you?" he asked sadly.

Sam couldn't speak, so he only nodded his agreement.

"Uncle Sam, please don't cry," Jeffrey said softly from his knee, making the human look up at the child in shock.

"I'm sorry," he answered softly. "It's just that I don't like to remember stuff like that... It hurts too much to think about." He sighed and looked up at everyone. "Ah shi-" he stopped himself, looking down at the toddler at his knee. "Jeffrey, can you make me a promise? Your... Uncle Sam," he said with a shrug, "...has a very bad habit of saying naughty things by accident. But that does -not- mean that it's ok to go copying me. If you ever hear me say anything bad, you listen to your dad and his-"

"-Dads-... Plural," Daniel corrected him softly.

"You listen to you dads and don't go repeating the bad things I say, ok? Promise me?"

"Ok," the boy said solemnly.

Ryan looked at his new relative with a newfound respect.

Sam sniffed. "And what the hey... Just because I don't believe in anything doesn't mean I have the right to force my opinions down everyone else's' throats. Go ahead and believe whatever you want. Just try to respect that I'm not like that, ok?"

Everyone murmured their agreement, feeling glad that the human was willing to try to be respectful.

"And congratulations, by the way," he said to Martin, who smiled until the human's face fell again.

"What's wrong?" Martin asked.

"Look... I'm not a bigot, or a species-ist or anything, But Daniel... I can't... I can't do something like that," he said, staring at the filaments on Martin's torso. "I'm gay. I like men. I can't do something like that because I can't be around..." He glanced down at Jeffrey. "Lady parts, like that." he said, looking down at his own crotch. "If you want kids, then you'll need a donor or something, because I'm literally not capable of being able to be that way around things like a vag-" he cut himself off at that.

Everyone stared at him in shock, then Liam began to giggle. "Oh no! He thinks we're like women and Amazons... In the groin area."

"Oh, no, Sam, No!" Matthew said, looking half embarrassed and half amused. "We're built like men that way. All of the receptive reproductive parts come out through the stomach as a network of translucent, feather-like filaments like what Martin has. His have formed into a temporary womb-like structure during gestation, which then falls away once the child is born. The only time anyone can tell that we're anything other than a human man is during Emergence and gestation. The rest of the time, we look exactly like a human man... In every way. That's why we can have human gay men as partners, because we're a lot like them when not reproducing. Everything else is all strictly internal."

"Oh..." Sam said, looking deeply relieved. "Ok then." he said. Everyone gave him a moment of quiet to process that, before he turned to Martin. "So, uh... How far along are you?"

Martin smiled. "Almost four months now. After this, I'll be stuck at home for the rest of the gestation." He saw Sam's questioning look. "About five more months, just like with humans."

After that, the conversation became friendlier and happier as Sam helped steer the focus of the gathering back to the expectant father and he slowly grew more comfortable being around the Spartans...

As the day and evening wore onwards, Matthew kept a close eye on Sam and noted that the human was slowly shedding his fears and misconceptions about the Spartans and their beliefs. Over time, the truth dawned on him. Apollo had not sent Sam to them for Daniel's sake, but rather for the human's own...

By the time that Martin and Brian had left, it was already dark and Daniel asked if they could wait until the next day to go to Sam's place so that he could practice his religion with his father Matthew, brother Ryan, and his brother's partner Liam that evening. Sam didn't see the harm of missing one more day, so he agreed. Daniel pulled him aside as the family gathered out in the yard.

"Sam, you don't have to be a part of this, you know," Daniel said nervously. "I know you don't believe as we do and it's ok if you want to go inside."

"This all really means a lot to you, doesn't it?" Sam asked softly.

"Yes. I have felt the presence and power of my lord and wish to worship him in gratitude for bring you to me and for everything else he offers." He saw the pained expression of doubt within Sam's eyes and kissed him softly. "Then I'll believe for both of us."

He walked over to join his father Matthew, Ryan, and Liam. David was inside tending to Jeffrey and Nick as he wasn't a follower of Apollo himself. Sam watched as the Spartans stripped naked before him. "Skyclad?" he asked them.

"What?" Liam asked, looking confused.

"You worship nude?" Sam clarified.

Matthew nodded. "We bare ourselves before Apollo as we were when we entered the world," he said calmly, removing his shirt and Sam was shocked to see that every one of them had the kind of body he'd kill for. Each of them was well tanned and athletically muscled. When he saw Daniel shed his clothing without inhibition, Sam averted his eyes for fear that he'd get an erection from seeing his boyfriend nude. He looked up after a moment with effort, hoping desperately that he wouldn't become aroused.

As they shed their clothing, Sam saw that they did indeed look identical to human men. He gazed upon them without shame, but after a moment noticed something very odd... Not in them, but in himself. Although he found all of them very attractive, his eyes and lusts were for Daniel alone. He realized that despite the amazing bodies and faces of each of them, he had not the slightest shred of desire for anyone other than Daniel. He noted that with a sense of confusion, unable to understand why he felt absolutely nothing for Matthew, Ryan or Liam despite the fact that they each were all very gorgeous in his mind. To him, even with their intense beauty, they were completely undesirable to him.

He stood there mutely as they donned their swords, then Matthew walked over to him. "Are you certain you want to see this? You do know that we're offering sacrifice to our lord this night." Matthew looked at Sam with concern as Liam led a sheep into the center of the clearing and tied its guide chains to a pair of steel rings stuck firmly into the ground. Within the circle was a fire pit that Ryan and Daniel were lighting.

"Why sacrifice?" Sam asked, feeling curious, yet not repulsed.

The Spartan looked at the human for a moment, wondering why he wasn't even slightly disturbed by the act itself... He merely wished to understand the reason. "Because," he said slowly, confused at the man's oddly calm attitude, "Apollo is a god of war who is nourished by death. Our sacrifices feed his power and keep him strong. And in return for the lives we take in his name, he offers us his blessings and protection. We owe Apollo our very lives and through our worship and the shedding of blood, we seek to thank and sustain him in honor of all that he gives us."

Sam shook his head sadly. "Look... To me this is all just psychodrama. As far as I can tell, this is all just a form of ego-fulfillment. If you feel the need to kill beasts to empower yourselves, then fine by me..." Matthew frowned at the human's words, but saw that Sam wasn't being insulting about it. He was merely letting his own thoughts and feelings be known. "What do you do with the animals afterwards?" he asked.

"We prepare the carcass for eating. We freeze the meat to store away and cook later for our meals. We value the bodies of the animals we sacrifice and treat them with dignity. Also, the deaths are done skillfully so that the animals die quickly. We don't make them suffer needlessly. Apollo is sustained by death, not suffering."

Sam shrugged. "Ok," he said simply, completely unphased.

"You're really not bothered by watching us sacrifice?" Matthew asked, shocked.

"You're talking to someone who's watched every blood and gore movie ever made. I've seen every blood-soaked bit of film footage ever made, including 'Dead Alive', so don't worry. I know what to expect."

Matthew had no idea what 'Dead Alive' was, but was sure he didn't want to know. Then he received another shock as Sam began to remove his clothing. "What are you doing?"

"I'm not taking part in the ritual, but I don't mind following the dress code. I'll just stay back, remain quiet and hold still until it's over. Just don't stare at me too long, or you'll go blind." Sam said calmly with a frown at his inadequate body as compared to theirs, while he tossed aside his shirt. As he rose, a pendant swung down to his chest.

"What's that?" Matthew asked, trying to get a good look at it in the dim lighting. Suddenly, Sam looked shocked and grabbed it with his hand, hiding it from view.

"Just a pendant, is all," Sam said quickly, looking deeply disturbed.

Matthew looked at the flustered human, surprised by his sudden, nervous reaction. "You don't have to hide anything from me, you know. You're Daniel's partner... I trust you."

Sam looked at him nervously. "It's just private, is all," he said simply, pulling the cord off over his neck and stuffing it into his pants pocket quickly without letting the Spartan see it. Matthew looked at the human with concern that his was the one and only thing that truly bothered him about this evening... Not wanting anyone to see a pendant that he liked to wear. Matthew could only shake his head in bewilderment and move over to join his sons and son's partner.

They checked their swords and stood as one near the sheep, tall and proud, standing in a line side by side and a few feet apart so as not to interfere with each others' movements, as well as to stay out of range of any harm they might otherwise cause each other. Then they moved and spoke in unison, drawing their swords fluidly, spun them around and knelt on their right knees in the position of prayer, facing the fire pit. "Apollo come to us. We, sons of Spartan blood, offer sacrifice this night in honor of you. Receive this offering and hear our prayers."

Then they rose as one and Liam and Ryan sheathing their weapons as they moved to each grab one of the back legs of the sheep, which tried to thrash around, but was unable to move due to the hold on the rear legs and the chains and rings that held the head immobile. Matthew stood to the animal's left side and Daniel to its right and in a pair of movements that were well practiced, Matthew slit the beast's throat as Daniel stabbed it in the heart. As they slashed, blood sprayed across the ground and onto the pair of them.

Sam raised an eyebrow at just how far the blood splattered, but had no other reaction. He was surprisingly calm, even to himself. He watched as the sheep's life ended quickly and the creature laid still. Then in unison, they turned back to the fire, knelt in prayer and spoke as one. "Apollo... A sacrifice has been made this night. Watch over us and offer us blessings and protection of us and ours. We exist by your divine will, we live to carry on the glorious name and spirit of Sparta. Lord, hear our prayers."

They continued to kneel in silence for some time, frozen in place. As they did so, Sam saw that they truly believed in Apollo and he began to feel a deep sadness within himself. As he stood there silently, his eyes became moist. Why do they do it? Why worship him? he wondered silently. It was a beautiful ceremony to him, but why do it for someone who was one of the kind of beings who...

He found himself thinking back to what he had said to the family in the kitchen. The gods didn't exist... They couldn't. Tears began to fall from his eyes. They couldn't possibly exist, because his heartfelt prayers from his childhood, sent up again and again, had never been answered. No one had answered his prayers and he had remained alone throughout his life, always passed up for adoption. No one had wanted him. His prayers had never been answered, no matter how long and hard he had prayed, cried and begged. So gods couldn't exist... Because the alternative was too painful to face...

Because if the gods truly did exist... Then they were just like all of those potential parents that had passed him up for someone else.... They didn't want him either.

He bowed his head to hide his face and cried silently at his personal pain, not wanting to be rude and disruptive as the Spartans prayed.

Unknown to Sam, the presence of Apollo paused in his blessings of Matthew and his kin to turn his focus for a moment to the sad human who stood a ways away, crying silently. He felt sad for Sam as the human shed his tears of pain. Sam was not ready for him... His pain and mistrust were still too great. Instead, Apollo finished bestowing his blessings upon his worshippers then withdrew his presence.

Matthew felt the power of Apollo touch him briefly, then after it faded, he rose. He looked over at a sniffing sound and saw Sam wiping his face fiercely. He turned away quickly, not wanting the man to know he had seen his pain. He was certain now that there was more to Sam's heartache and refusal to believe in the gods than he had said there was.

Daniel rose up and turned to see Sam standing in place, sniffling slightly. He walked over to him, stopping a distance away from him. "Sam?" he asked, worried that Sam was bothered by what he had witnessed.

Sam looked up at him trying to look calm. "I can't tell if it's the allergens or the smoke from the fire that's getting to me. Maybe I should head inside."

"Are you ok?" Daniel asked nervously.

Sam smiled at him gently. "I'm not freaking out or anything, if that's what you're wondering. Don't feel the need to hide your beliefs from me... They don't bother me." Daniel was shocked when Sam reached forward and wiped a bit of the splattered blood off of his chest. "Better wash this off before it gets sticky." Then he kissed Daniel quickly on his shocked cheek, then headed back inside with his clothing under his arm.

But... Daniel thought to himself, feeling confused. If the sacrifice didn't upset him, then why was he crying?

He could only stand there and wonder what it was that Sam wouldn't tell him. Matthew came over to him. "Clean your sword, Son. Then help to slaughter the carcass."

"Yes Sir," he said, moving to fulfill his post worship duties...

Sam unlocked the door, then paused. "I should warn you," he said to Daniel nervously. "I'm a bit of a slob. But it's not as bad as it could be... I don't own a lot so the place is a bit spar-" he stopped suddenly, his facial muscles twitching as he realized what he had been about to say and changed his wording. "-Bare," he finished.

Daniel smiled broadly with amusement at Sam's embarrassment at his blunder. "Let me judge for myself," he said kindly.

"I warned you," Sam said, opening the door.

He's right, Daniel thought to himself. There's not much here.

The apartment had a kitchen area where the sink was filled with dirty dishes. The dining area held only a table that held the computer, printer and various stationary supplies for his job scattered about in a disorganized fashion, and the living room contained a coffee table, couch, TV with DVD/VCR machine, Playstations two and three, a Nintendo Wii and a massive bookcase crammed to bursting with tons of DVD movies, TV shows and video games. Next to that was a small used stereo and a rack containing music CDs. Across the extra blank walls of the living and dining rooms were pasted thousands of scenery pictures that had been printed out in color from the printer, making a riot of wilderness and recreational park images that gave the illusion of being outdoors. Other than that, there were scattered piles of papers and clothes everywhere.

"Sorry," Sam said by way of apology. "Mrs. Clara, the director of the orphanage was a major neat freak and I got so sick of cleaning over the years that now I can't stand to clean. It's not dirty, mind you... Just messy."

"It's fine," Daniel answered with a kindly smile. "You don't entertain much, do you?" he asked.

"Actually, you're the first person I've ever had here," Sam said simply.

Daniel stopped. "What about your friends?"

Sam turned away so as not to face him. "I don't have anyone close... I'm pretty much a hermit. You want anything?" he asked conversationally, heading for the kitchen.

Daniel stared after him sadly for a moment. "...What do you have?" he asked, letting his love change the subject.

Sam rattled off a list of sodas, milk and orange juice. He opened the milk container and gagged. "Scratch the milk," he wheezed and rushed it to the bathroom to dump it down the toilet. Daniel chuckled and looked around, stopping to look at the movie collection and paled slightly. Almost half of the titles were horror movies. Sam came back out a minute later. "Oh... Duh!" he said, realizing Daniel was still holding his suitcases. "Sorry! Let's put those away in the bedroom. Here," he said, taking the large suitcase from Daniel, then turning purple from its weight. "You got bricks in here?" he gasped, waddling his way with it down the hallway to the bedroom.

Daniel followed him with a smile. "Text books for school," he answered. Apparently Sam wasn't quite as strong as Daniel. The Spartan noted that there wasn't an actual dresser in the bedroom. The laundry system seemed to consist of several cardboard boxes containing wadded up clothes and a large laundry basket for the used garments waiting to be washed. The bed was a mess of scattered blankets and some more clothing. A small particle-board nightstand made to look like stained wood held a CD playing alarm clock, pill jars of store-bought pain killers, allergy pills and a box of tissues. Daniel noted that the bed was only a double. It'd be a tight fit, but that would just make cuddling easier.

Sam grunted as he put the suitcase in an empty corner. He straightened up. "Ok," he gasped. "Kick anything out of the way... You need to... I need to go check my messages," he panted, pecking Daniel on the cheek before leaving the room.

After he left the room, Daniel put his other bags next to the suitcase and tisked at the state of the room. This was definitely a bachelor's apartment. Well, I'm here now, so we can see about making this into a real home. Daniel wasn't officially moving in quite yet, as he felt that he needed to finish his schooling. Fortunately, he was in his final year of school and hoped he could snag some extra credit work to make up for the classes he'd missed the last two weeks. He felt a sharp pang as he realized that he'd have to be away from Sam for several hours a day to attend classes, then his time while at work each day, but he needed to learn how to endure such separations. As much as he loved Sam, he did need to make a living as well as it was highly unfair to make Sam support him forever. Besides, Daniel hated being house-bound.

That'll make it hard once I start gestating, he thought to himself. He knew he'd be able to remain active for the first four months, but the later five would mean he would be limited to home and then limited even further to bed for the final three months. He refused to force Sam to deal with it all alone, though. He knew their family would gladly chip in to help out during that time. Daniel found himself both excited and nervous about it. He knew it would hurt, but he knew Apollo would help him find the strength to endure the agony. He was of the nation of Sparta, after all and had centuries of warrior's blood flowing through his veins. As long as he was careful, he knew that things would be alright.

Of course, he was getting way head of himself. It would probably take up to a year for him to achieve his first Emergence.... He sighed as he looked down at the boxes of clothing. He shook his head, knelt down and began to pick each piece out and carefully fold them. As he worked, he frowned at the frayed state of Sam's clothing. Does he never by anything new? Daniel wondered. Or can't he afford new clothing? The large collection of DVDs and games suggested he made enough to get by on and had some extra for frivolous spending. Or maybe... Maybe he just figures that his appearance doesn't matter.

He knew that Sam was hurting deep inside. What does growing up like that... Being passed over again and again for adoption... Getting your hopes up only to have them dashed again and again... What does something like that do to a person? Daniel no longer blamed Sam for having run away when he had first felt the bond form between them. He had been terrified of feeling hope, scared that it would only be dashed yet again. That must be why he had no friends, as well as why he had turned to such a dark belief system... Daniel was mostly over the shock of learning that his partner was a Satanist. It was probably the only way that he had been able to survive with any sense of sanity. By turning to a religion that focuses only on the self, he could justify not having to reach out to or trust others. It allowed him to endure the horrible loneliness he always seemed to feel. Daniel knew this because of the pain he'd seen in Sam's eyes and the hurt in his voice whenever he spoke of anything personal.

Dad Matthew was right about the bond though... When I first felt it, it was like I'd been struck by lightning! He chuckled at just how goofy he must have looked to everyone at that moment. But he felt the deepest joy that he had found his partner, especially so early in life. Old enough to understand what it was he was feeling and also avoid any legal entanglements, yet young enough to have a long healthy life with his partner and spend plenty of happy years with their children. Plus, he's only about six years older than me, which isn't all that bad. It could be worse, like that couple in Australia who were fifty seven years apart in age.

One thing was for certain, though... Daniel and Sam definitely had their work cut out for them. Money will be really tight once I have to go on faternity leave. If Sam doesn't make all that much, then we'll need to save up enough to cover for my time away from work to make sure ends are met until I can go back to work after our first son is born. But what will I do? I can't just take a baby around with me all day when taking clients around to show houses. I wonder how much Sam likes his job. If he doesn't make a lot then maybe he can find something better... Well, I'm getting ahead of myself again.

"Hey you wanted orange, right?" Sam asked from the doorway, holding a pair of large plastic glasses. He stopped as he saw what Daniel was doing. "Don't do that!" he said in exasperation. "You're not my maid, or anything."

"I wanted to. I don't mind, honest." He reached up to take the offered glass. "Yeah, orange is great. Come sit down for a minute."

Sam sat down and looked at the bed. "Sorry it's so small."

"It's cozy." He held up his glass for a toast. As Sam raised his, Daniel crossed their arms and they managed the cross armed sip while only spilling a little of their drinks. They chuckled when they did, then began to kiss afterwards.

As they kissed, Sam found that he felt as though they were already married or something. That night, they made love for the first time and both deeply enjoyed the experience. To Sam's surprise, even though the manner in which Spartans reproduced didn't involve any actual form of penetration, Daniel revealed that Spartans enjoyed having sex all the same ways as gay men, allowing them to pleasure each other in multiple ways, although they both used protection as they wanted to amke sure to get tested to makes sure that they were each clean. Sam didn't think it was neccessary for him personaly to get tested as he had basically been celibate for several years now, but felt that it was only fair for Daniel's sake.

After that night, Daniel returned to school and Sam re-devoted himself to his job in web design as they began to basically share the apartment together...

Sam stood there outside the door to the second bedroom of his apartment. He turned to the Spartan, feeling a bit nervous. "You sure you want to witness this?"

Daniel smiled at his human partner. "You've born witness to my religious rites, so now I'll do the same. I'll just stand in the corner and remain silent, right?"

"Right," Sam said, nodding. "Try to avoid speaking unless it's an emergency and don't open the door for the same reason. Also, don't touch anything in the altar, either... You don't mind sandalwood incense, do you?"

"No, it's fine."

Sam nodded, and pulled up the hood of the black robe and red belt cord he was wearing over his otherwise nude body, his Baphomet pendant worn visibly over his heart. "Now I'll warn you that the ritual itself may sound theistic, but it's not. The whole purpose of that is to trick the brain into thinking that it's real in order to bring about a change in my mind in order to achieve success. Basically, I'm tricking myself into making what I want to happen by pretending.

"Why pretend?" Daniel asked. "Why not just believe instead of simply going through the effort of trying to convince yourself that it's real instead of accepting the possibility that it is real?"

Sam hung his head so that the hood hid his face. "It doesn't always work that way for people. Not everyone can believe like that," he answered softly. "...Maybe this is a bad idea. I'll just wait for a day when you're at classes-"

"No! I'm sorry, Sam," Daniel said. "I didn't mean to upset you. Really. I just want to understand, is all. I didn't mean any offense. Please... Don't feel that this bothers me or feel that I'm trying to change you. This is part of who and what you are and I want to see it and try to understand. That's all."

Sam nodded slowly, then opened the door. Daniel got his first look at a Satanic altar and noted that it looked like something out of a horror movie. The altar itself consisted of a cabinet set against the south wall. On it were an unadorned silver chalice, a strange and small dark statue of a winged figure sitting on a sphere that had a goat's head on a body that seemed both male and female at the same time, a black-handled double-edged dagger, a long tray incense burner containing a stick of smoldering sandalwood incense, a miniature black cauldron of cast iron, several black candles and, of all things, a black rubber dildo with a suction cup base next to a small silver bowl filled with water. Hanging from the ceiling was a small bronze gong, its striker on the altar, and on the wall behind the altar was a rounded plaque bearing the same goat and star symbol as Sam's pendant, but made to look like it was carved from gray stone.

They entered, closed the door and Sam gestured Daniel to the southwest corner of the room. Moving silently, Sam moved to the altar and gazed at the plaque on the wall for several moments, then lifted his hand and saluted the plaque, making the sign of the horns by extending his index and pinky fingers, the other three folded so that the tips touched each other over the palm, which faced downwards and spoke in a firm voice.

"In nomine Dei nostri Satanas Luciferi excelsi! In the name of Satan, the ruler of the Earth, the king of the world, I command the forces of darkness to bestow their infernal power upon me! Open wide the gates of Hell and come forth to greet me as your brother and friend! Grant me the indulgences of which I speak! I have taken thy name as a part of myself! I live as the beasts of the field, rejoicing in the fleshly life! I favor the just and curse the rotten! By all the gods of the pit, I command that these things of which I speak shall come to pass! Come forth and answer to your names by manifesting my desires! Oh hear the names! Baphomet! Mephistopheles! Marduk! Behemoth! Pan! Apollyn!" Then he set the dagger back upon the altar without looking up and hung his head, the hood hiding his face for a few moments.

Daniel's eyes bulged in shock. Apollyn?!? That's another name for Apollo!!! He hung his head quickly and silently, fervently begged his god for mercy on Sam's behalf for this blasphemous use of one of the Spartan's lord's names... That Apollo not see this as a reason to smite the human.

Sam, however, seemed oblivious. His head remained bowed and therefore, he had missed Daniel's reaction. Sam took a deep breath, picked up the chalice full of wine and drank deeply, draining the chalice before placing it back upon his altar. He took up the dagger and pointed it to the altar. He spoke again, pointing the dagger at each of the four compass directions as he spoke before turning clockwise to the next.

"From the South, I invoke the power of Satan, lord of fire. From the West, I invoke the power of Leviathan, lord of water. From the North, I invoke the power of Belial, lord of earth. From the East, I invoke the power of Lucifer, lord of air."

He turned back to the altar, held the dagger up and used it to salute the altar, then placed it back and took up the dildo and bowl of water. He dipped the head of the shaft into the water and shook the fake penis at the altar. Then he turned to the west and repeated the gesture, followed by the north and lastly the east. While Sam's back was turned, Daniel fought very hard not to laugh. Why is he doing that?!? The wiggling of the artificial phallus looked slightly comical and Daniel had to literally bite his tongue to avoid laughing. He hung his head to hide his face, feeling it burning from embarrassment. He waited until Sam had placed the dildo and water bowl back onto the altar before he was able to look up with a calm expression.

Sam took a deep breath and spoke aloud again with passion.

"With the anger of anguish and the wrath of the stifled, I pour forth my voice, wrapped in rolling thunder, that you may hear! Oh great lurkers in the darkness, oh guardians of the way, oh minions of the might of Thoth! Move and appear! Present yourselves to me in your benign power, in behalf of one who believes and is stricken with torment. Isolate me in the bulwark of your protection, for I am undeserving of anguish and deserve it not. Let that which bears against me be rendered powerless and devoid of substance. Succor me through fire and water, earth and air, to regain what I have lost. Strengthen with fire my marrow, for I am a companion and friend of the Left-Hand path. Through the power of Satan let the Earth and its pleasures re-enter my being. Allow my vital salts to flow unhampered, that I may savor the carnal nectars of my future desires. Strike dumb my adversary, formed or formless, that I may emerge joyful and strong from that which afflicts me. Allow no misfortune to allay my path, for I am of they and therefore to be cherished. Restore me to power, to joy, to unending dominion over the reverses that have befallen me. Build around and within me the exultant radiance that will herald my emergence from the stagnant morass which engulfs me. This, I command, in the name of Satan, whose mercies flourish and whose sustenance will prevail! As Satan reigns so shall his own whose name is as this sound... Sam Henry Smith ...is the vessel whose flesh is as the earth, life everlasting, world without end! Shemhamforash! Hail Satan!"

He quickly took up the striker and struck the gong firmly, its loud, deep voice filling the room with sound. He set the striker down. Then he bowed his head and spoke quietly under his breath in a whisper so that Daniel could not hear what he was saying. He spoke for a few minutes as the Spartan watched his human partner speak lowly. As Daniel watched Sam, he had to admit to himself that a Satanic ritual was certainly interesting to observe, if a bit long-winded. Sam seemed strangely confident, with a look of fierce pride in his eyes as he had executed the ritual so far.

Finally, Sam lifted his head as he finished whispering, stuck a small folded piece of paper onto the tip of his dagger, lit it from the flame of one of the burning black candles and then dropped it into the cauldron to burn to ashes. Once that was done, the dagger went back to the altar and Sam spoke again.

"O thou second flame, the house of justice, which hast thy beginnings in glory and shalt comfort the just, which walketh upon the Earth with feet of fire, which understands and separates creatures! Great art thou in the god of stretch-forth-and-conquer. Move therefore and appear! Open the mysteries of your creation! Be friendly unto me, for I am the same! The true worshipper of the highest and ineffable king of Hell!"

Wait... What? He said he -didn't- worship Satan and now he says he does? Oh, this must be what he meant by saying he believed even though he doesn't... And what's all that about? Is it some kind of dark poetry or something? Daniel suddenly felt very confused, even more so then the few times he'd been at the temple in New York and heard the head priest speaking in Greek, which Daniel barely knew very few words of. He remained silent and confused as Sam spoke again, this time with an expression of lustful amusement and with occasional sly glances at Daniel.

"The East is a house of harlots singing praises among the flames of the first glory wherein the Dark Lord hath opened His mouth, and they are become as living dwellings in whom the strength of man rejoiceth, and they are appareled with ornaments of brightness, such as work wonders on all creatures. Whose kingdoms and continuance are as the Third and Fourth, strong towers and places of comfort, the seats of pleasure and continuance. O ye servants of pleasure, Move! Appear! Sing praises unto the Earth and be mighty amongst us. For that to this remembrance is given power and our strength waxeth strong in our comforter."

Daniel gulped nervously as Sam finished, gazing at the Spartan as though in the deepest levels of lust and seeming to be moments from jumping him then and there. Sam sighed and looked down, trembling slightly as he recovered from his speech. He picked up the striker and rang the gong. "So it is done!" He said firmly, then placed the striker back onto the altar, snuffed the candles and moved to the door. He opened it and gestured for Daniel to exit the chamber, then followed and shut the door behind himself.

He turned to Daniel and lowered the hood of his robe, looking at the Spartan apprehensively. Daniel saw the worry in those green eyes, stepped close and spoke softly. "I accept you as you are." Then he kissed his partner passionately for several minutes, smelling the sandalwood smoke in his partner as they embraced. They moved to the bedroom where they stripped and made love before falling asleep in each other's arms, Sam's face looking peaceful...

Daniel awoke some time later to see the look of relaxation on his partner's face and kissed the human's head. While he didn't understand the human's religious beliefs, he could admit that there was a certain artistry to the rite, needlessly complicated though it was. He had seen just how passionate and proud Sam had seemed during the ritual, his face free from any negative emotions. Daniel knew that Sam was truly at home in his beliefs while in the ritual and that was what mattered the most.

If Sam could be supportive of Daniel's beliefs, then Daniel knew that he could do the same for the human. Feeling content, he snuggled closer to Sam and fell back to sleep...

Six months later, Sam and Daniel stood before the judge at the Minneapolis courthouse, each reciting their words one at a time. The rest of the family watched the proceedings happily. As Sam stood there, he felt as though this were a marriage ceremony, rather than a legally-binding contract that would insure that if ever one of them were arrested and confined, then the other, by law, must be kept by their side to avoid serious mental and emotional suffering from being forcibly separated for any length of time. The law had originated in England, but had rapidly crossed the seas to ensure that lifebonded partners in Spartan relationships were protected worldwide.

Sam spoke first. "I do solemnly declare that I, Sam Henry Smith, am certain beyond any doubt that I am joined in a partner bond with Daniel Matthewson." He smiled at Daniel, who spoke second.

"I do solemnly declare that I, Daniel Matthewson, am certain beyond any doubt that I am joined in a partner bond with Sam Henry Smith."

"Do you understand," the judge asked, "that in signing your names into this database you are entering into a permanent, life-long, unalterable contract?"

"I do," Sam said, repeated by Daniel a moment later when he too, was asked that question.

"Now each of you read the second paragraph of your copy of the contract," the judge ordered dully.

"I understand that on entering myself into the database that I, Sam Henry Smith, will be committing myself to a permanent, life-long, unalterable contract in law. I agree to take equal legal responsibility for the actions of Daniel Matthewson, up to and including incarceration and withholding of all rights, in order that we are not forcibly separated."

Daniel followed with the same statement in regards to Sam.

"Now come forward and sign the paperwork to verify that your names will be entered into the database in connection to each other and in conjunction with the Spartan Partner Nonseparation Act. By virtue of registering in the database of legally recognized Spartan partnered pairings and in the presence of the court of the state of Minnesota and before these witnesses, I declare that Sam Henry Smith and Daniel Matthewson are to be entered into said database in accordance with the law and that no act of law will ever permit the two of you to be forcibly separated. Furthermore, I hereby confirm that your legal rights will be upheld, that you both remain in partnership under law as recognized by the United States of America in accordance with the law of all nations."

The judge looked around the room dully. "Does anyone find fault with this contract being instated under due process?" No one objected. "Then the contract is hereby instated and shall be filed with the law enforcement authorities of the state of Minnesota to be accessible to all states, nations, counties and principalities. Next case."

"Guess this makes us husbands now, after a fashion," Sam said.

"Well technically," Daniel answered with a wry smile, "Spartans don't believe in marriage. That's what the partner bond is for."

"I know, but I like thinking of you as my husband... It feels right."

"Ok then... Husband," Daniel said, kissing him gently before they collected the legal documentation and leaving to go celebrate at a nearby restaurant...

Five months after Martin had given birth to his first child, the family was all flown out to New York, New York, where a Temple to Apollo had been erected several years back. Although it had opened under less fanfare than the recreation of the one in London, England, where the miracle resurrection of Michael Apolloson had occurred and High Priest James Phillipson had received his ordination as High Priest from Apollo himself, It too possessed an eternal flame and boasted a traditional appearance to that of the legendary temples of ancient Greece.

As they stood within the temple, waiting to enter the altar room for the confirmation of baby Jacob, Martin's son, the waiting people milled about. As they did, Sam and Daniel wandered around, meeting several people. Sam was shocked to see that women were here too, but Daniel explained that by the will of Apollo as passed down though his holiness High Priest James, all beings, man, woman, Spartan or Amazon who wished to pray to the god were welcome within his temples and permitted to wear swords, whereas prior to those days, only Spartans and their partners could worship Apollo and only Spartans were permitted to wear swords.

As they walked around, Sam heard a man calling out to him. "Sam? Sam Smith?"

"Yeah, that's me," he said, turning to a pair of men, arm in arm.

"From Westerfeld In Minneapolis?"

"Yeah," Sam answered, looking at the man with interest.

"It's Ben, Ben Johnson," the man answered with a big smile.

"Ben! You're kidding me!" Sam said with a smile. "Daniel, this is Ben. We were in the orphanage for awhile." he said to his partner, having long since become able to admit that Daniel was far more than a mere boyfriend or lover. "Daniel's my partner."

"Daniel Matthewson, Spartan," he said by way of introduction.

"Well I'm Ben Johnson, human, and my own partner, Derik Milesson, Spartan." Derik nodded in greeting.

"So Ben, what happened to you after you were adopted?"

"Well, my dad got transferred out here, and we've lived here ever since. I met Derik three years ago at a coffee shop and thought I was having a heart attack the moment our eyes met. So you ended up with a Spartan too, huh?"

"Yeah, we only met about ten months ago, but we're already living together."

"So what happened after I left? When did you get adopted?"

Sam's smile faltered slightly. "I didn't... I was there until they discharged me at eighteen."

"Oh man! I'm sorry! If I had known, I wouldn't have gone on like that!"

"No, it's ok," Sam said, waving away Ben's apology as Daniel squeezed his hand in a silent display of comfort. They talked further before parting ways. Martin and Brian found them sometime later. "Are you sure you're ok with me being here for this?" Sam asked them.

"Sam, you're family. And even though you don't take part in worship, you've always been a part of family worship in silent support of Daniel, so how can we not have you here? It's ok that you don't share our beliefs. It's just enough to have you here with us... Although," Martin said, suddenly looking very worried, "It's ok if you'd rather wait outside. No one will think any less of you."

A gong sounded, signaling the beginning of services. As they filed forward and disrobed, Daniel paused before turning to Sam, looking deeply worried. "You know you can sit this one out, right? You don't have to come in with us and even if you do, you can leave any time you want. Just remember that, ok?"

Sam looked at his partner who was trembling slightly. "Dan, what's wrong?" he asked, having taken to shortening Daniel's name as a term of endearment. "What are you so nervous about?"

Daniel shook his head. "I'm forbidden to speak of it. Please wait outside?"

"Dan, whatever happens, we face it together, ok? Don't be scared."

The Spartan closed his eyes as if asking for strength. "Then please promise me that whatever happens, you'll stay by my side no matter what. Please!"

Sam saw the fear in his partner's eyes and placed a hand on his cheek. "I promise... Have you done this before?"

"Only twice since my own but everyone in the family has received it except Dad David and you since neither of you are Spartan."

They stripped naked and walked over to the entrance to the altar room. Sam noted as they went that only Spartans and their partners were allowed inside. "Why aren't the others coming?" Sam asked.

"This is a special rite. The others aren't allowed inside for this. They'll be admitted afterwards... Baring any delays," Daniel finished weakly. As they reached the doorway to enter, the attending priest stopped Sam before he could enter. "You'll need a sword to enter."

"But I'm human," he answered.

The priest shook his head. "That was in the old days. Now, all who appear before Apollo must be armed."

"Sam, you can always wait out here," Daniel said timidly.

Sam didn't understand why, but he felt affronted at that, feeling as though his strength were being challenged. Ignoring Daniel's nervousness, he turned to the priest. "Arm me," he said firmly and took the offered sword. "Help me put this on," he said to his stunned partner, who swallowed nervously and helped him don the sheathed weapon and made sure it was fastened properly.

"Are you alright?" Daniel asked him with a look of concern as he arouse.

"I want to be there with everyone," Sam answered. "Sorry if I sounded bossy there for a moment. I just... I don't want to feel weak, is all."

"I could never think of you that way," Daniel said, smiling gently at his human partner.

"But I could of myself," Sam said to him. "Come on," he added, once Daniel had secured his own weapon, took his hand and they walked inside together.

The main room of worship was covered with white marble tiled flooring and had grey pillars around the outer edges of the circular room. In the center was a large stone altar of obsidian. Behind it was a massive bronze statue of Apollo which presided over the room as though watching the proceedings. After a few minutes, an attendant passed out laminated cards bearing the prayers with portions starting with an 'A' for everyone to speak, or an 'S' for the portions only Spartans could say. For some reason, Sam feel deeply resentful of that, as though he were being denied his-

Another gong sounded, breaking his concentration. The priests entered and Sam noted that the head priest bore two swords, whereas everyone else present wore only a single blade. The head priest stood before the statue, facing it with hands on the hilts of his weapons and spoke for a long time, chanting in a foreign language that Sam suspected was Greek.

"I'll need to draw my sword in this next part, so keep a few steps away," Daniel whispered and Sam nodded, moving a ways away to give his partner the needed space.

As the priest's chant continued, Sam felt something odd begin to happen. Sunlight surrounded him, blinding him for a moment. He winced slightly until it faded and as his vision returned, he felt his jaw drop open in shock. He wasn't in the temple any longer. Instead, he found himself outdoors, the sun shining down upon him as he saw that he was in the center of an ancient city. Then he saw what else was there and gasped with horror.

All around him were many people. Young boys, elderly men and women of all ages were before him in every direction... And every single one of them was dead. They laid there where they had fallen when murdered, some stabbed, others cut open, some with arrows in them, others crushed or burned. The stench of vast amounts of rotting flesh baking in the warm sun hit him, bringing a wave of nausea. He saw and heard the flies buzzing and crows picking at the corpses. He felt sick to his stomach, but couldn't vomit.

As he took in the horror around him, an intense feeling built up within him. A grief and rage beyond anything he had ever felt before in his life arose slowly within him like a tidal wave. How could they do this? These people had no way to defend themselves! This was the act of cowards! He wanted nothing more in that moment to find the ones responsible and cut every last one of them down! If his sword should break, then he would resort to his bare hands! He vowed to make every last one of them pay for what they had done! ...Even if he had to give his life to do so!!!

"Vengeance!" he snarled under his breath, beginning to draw his sword, his entire body trembling with rage.

"Sam?" someone called to him from far away as his sword began to slide out of its sheath. "Sam!" Someone grabbed his shoulder, turning him to his right and suddenly Daniel was standing before him, looking at him with shock. Sam realized that he was back in the temple, surrounded by the worshippers. He looked back to Daniel, who was looking down at his waist. Sam looked down with shock to see that his right hand was on the hilt of the sword on his left side and had partially withdrawn it from the sheath.

He slid it back in quickly and pulled his hand away. "Sam?" Daniel whispered with shock. "What are you doing?"

"I don't know," he answered weakly and felt dampness on his cheeks. He touched his face and discovered that he had been crying.

"Do you need to leave?" Daniel asked gently and Sam looked at him with an expression of deep offense.

"No," he whispered back sharply, his feeling of offense thick in his voice. He saw that Daniel had sheathed his sword and reaching out, the human took his partner's arm in his own and turned his attention back to the proceedings to see that everyone had stopped to stare at him with shock. He looked to the head priest, who was glancing upwards at nothing. Then the holy man nodded, cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention and lowering his gaze back to those gathered, he spoke.

"Who do you bring?" the priest asked, recovering with difficulty and Sam looked at the card, then noted with shock that he had somehow missed the entire first prayer, unaware that he had said the word 'vengeance' at the same time as all of the Spartan worshippers during that prayer.

Sam returned his attention back to the proceedings, noting that Martin still had his sword out. "A son of Sparta," he and his partner replied as one.

"And how is he called?" the priest called out.

"Jacob, son of Martin and Brian," the parents answered.

"And he was borne of?"

"Martin, son of Mike."

Sam tuned out the next few lines of prayer, wondering back on what had just happened. He saw Daniel cast a worried glance at him and squeezed his hand comfortingly to show he wasn't too out of sorts.

He watched as the priest called to the parents. "Martin and Brian, bring Jacob forward. Offer him upon the altar."

Looking deeply disturbed, Brian set his infant son onto the stone altar with his blanket beneath him and backed away, looking as though he were fighting back panic. As he backed away, he mouthed 'I love you' to Martin with tears in his eyes. Matthew moved up to Sam's side and nudged him to gain his attention.

"If you're going to leave," he whispered to Sam. "Leave now."

Sam looked at him baffled and shook his head. He would stay. Matthew sighed and placed his hand onto Sam's left shoulder as the human felt his partner's arm around his tighten, taking a death grip on his hand that was almost painful.

The priest continued as he placed his hands upon the hilts of his swords. "You claim this boy to be a son of Sparta?"

"I do," Martin said.

"Do you know what Apollo requires from those who take the Spartan name in vain?"

"I do," Martin answered again.

"And should your claim be proven false do you have the strength to do what is necessary?"

"I do" Martin answered again, his voice trembling with emotion. He spun the sword upwards, then around and took the hilt in both hands, the blade pointing downwards. Sam watched as the father raised the blade, aiming it downwards to point at his baby upon the altar.

What is this? Sam wondered. It must be ceremonial... An indication of true devotion and dedication to Apollo, he thought. He wasn't worried, as Daniel had said that every Spartan member of the family had undergone this same thing, so it must merely be symbolic.

Then he noted the fearful look on Brian's face and glancing around, the human saw looks of dread, fear and some people praying fervently under their breath. Sam looked back to the altar and saw Martin's hands trembling as they held the blade. Sam saw movement from his side and saw Ben walking out rapidly, looking like he was about to throw up.

Sam turned his attention back to Martin and understood the purpose of this... If the baby wasn't Spartan, he would be killed. A part of Sam was horrified, as he had held that baby in his arms and seen him smile. But the rest of him, although he couldn't understand why he felt this way, knew that this was a matter of Spartan purity and honor. If the child was not true, then his existence would be a lie... One that would dishonor all Spartans everywhere. If that honor were to be compromised, then the strength of Sparta would be forever torn down. Hera's wrath would destroy them all, for only Spartan children could claim that birthright. If any non-Spartan were to do so, the wrath of the gods would destroy the entire species. Also, for the child himself, better to meet his end than live a lie. Much as Sam hated and dreaded the possibility that the child was not Spartan, this was necessary for the sake of the entire species.

All of the Spartan men began to pray as one as the human men remained silent. The head priest knelt as all the Spartans prayed. "Mighty Apollo. We thank you for your divine intervention. We most humbly beg that you identify and claim as your own the sons of Sparta here present and accept as a sacrifice those who claim your parentage falsely."

Suddenly, Sam heard both Matthew and Daniel groan in pain and looked at his partner, who glanced at him, grunting and grimacing, then looked down at himself. Sam followed his gaze and with a gasp of shock, saw the true nature of the person he loved. Protruding from Daniel's navel where things that looked like feathers of translucent white material. He looked back up to Daniel's face, which was looking at him with worry. Sam smiled reassuringly at him and squeezed his hand, then looked back down at his partner's filaments to study them for a moment, realizing that he wouldn't see them again until Daniel was ready to become gestant.

He glanced behind himself as he heard a cry from the hallway, then returned his attention back to the altar as he heard the baby wail in agony and saw that the priest was pinching small filaments protruding from baby Jacob's navel with a look of deepest relief on his face. He saw Martin's posture almost wilt with relief and Brian was looking so relieved that he wanted to cry.

The priest sighed with equal relief and Sam felt partially proud and partially relieved as well that Jacob was truly Spartan. The priest spoke. "Apollo, you bless us with your gift and your presence, hold us in your arms we pray. Hera your curse is our dignity and identity, look with mercy upon us we pray. Zeus we present this our brother Jacob Martinson as a true son of Sparta and worthy by all present to be called kin."

"Worthy by all present to be called kin," everyone, Sam included, said in response. Ironically, the only prayer he had said aloud during the entire rite.

"Son of Sparta" the priest spoke to Martin, "Lower your sword and recognize your brother."

With trembling hands, Martin lowered the blade and a priest took pity on him as his hands trembled violently and helped him resheath his sword. With sighs of relief, Matthew and Daniel released their grips on Sam as the head priest gently picked up the wailing baby, kissed his forehead softly and handed him to his sobbing dad Brian with a tender smile.

"Let us welcome our son and brother" the head priest finished and suddenly the somber mood broke amid sobs and laughter. Many people came forward to kiss the bawling infant or shake hands with the proud parents.

The three of them came forward to the deeply relieved parents, who held and kissed their boy. "Come on now," Sam said gently to the traumatized infant. "It's all over now, no need to cry."

"He's still in pain is all," Martin said weakly. "But he'll be alright now. Are you ok?" he asked the human.

"I'm ok," he said good-naturedly with a shrug, glad the child was pure.

"That didn't freak you out too much?" Brian asked him.

"Nah," Sam shrugged. "It was necessary. Welcome to the family once more, Jacob," he said. "I'm glad you're truly Spartan." He leaned down to kiss the baby's forehead as the rest of the family looked at him with stunned expressions at his nonchalant behavior...

Daniel and Matthew pulled Sam aside after the rite with worried expressions. "Sam," Matthew began, sounding half angry and half worried. "What were you doing in there?" he said, nodding his head at the altar chamber. "You knew you could leave at any time you wished if it bothered you so much. No one would've thought any less of you, you know."

Sam scowled, wishing everyone would stop saying things like that. It made him feel weak. "I'm fine," he sighed in exasperation. "And as for what happened... Well... You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Just then, the head priest of the temple approached them. "Are you Sam?" he asked the human, who nodded. "I was wondering if I could have a word with you?"

"Look," Sam began nervously. "I'm sorry about what happened," but the priest raised a calming hand.

"I'm not angry... I just wish to understand, is all," he said in a soothing manner. He looked around and saw a nearby daycare room where parents could tend to their babies' needs privately. "Let's get a bit of privacy," he said and led the way in, closing the door after entering. It was a bit of a tight fit for the four of them, but not too bad. Sam felt a sudden twinge at noting that he was the shortest person in the room by at least four inches. The priest turned to him. "May I ask what happened?" he spoke calmly.

Sam shook his head sadly. "You'd think I was nuts if I told you... Truth be told, I'm not sure what to make of it any better than anyone else."

"Try me," the holy man said with a calm smile.

The human sighed. "From what I can tell, I must have astrally projected or something."

"Astrally projected?" Daniel asked, sounding confused.

"Out of body experience." Sam elaborated to his partner.

"Is that part of your beliefs?" Matthew asked him, making the priest raise an eyebrow.

Sam looked up at their host a bit nervously. At Daniel's continued urging, Sam had finally come out to Matthew and David as Satanic four months ago. Needless to say, they'd both been shocked to learn of his beliefs. While David was still struggling with the discovery, Matthew was proving to be tolerant, if not fully accepting. It was seeing just how much their patience was needed by their son that had helped the pair to deal with the stunning revelation. It helped Matthew to see that Sam was so willing to be supportive of Daniel's own religion that helped him to be as open-minded as he was.

"From my spiritual training, yes." At the priest's raised eyebrow, he sighed. "I'm a Satanist."

The holy man didn't bat an eye. "Modern or Traditional?"

Sam looked up at him with surprise at the priest's easy acceptance. "Modern," he answered.

"What happened?" Matthew asked as Daniel took Sam's hand into his own as a silent show of support.

Sam described the experience in full to them, as the Spartans, the priest included, stood or sat in stunned silence. "I mean I had the full sensory experience," Sam added as he finished. "I could smell the rot, feel the sun bearing down on me and hear the wind and the scavengers picking away at the corpses. It was the single most intense experience in my entire life! All I could feel was an overwhelming sense of rage. All I wanted was to find the people responsible and make them pay regardless of what it cost me. Next thing I know, I'm looking at Daniel's scared face with my sword part-way drawn and tears in my eyes." Sam shook his head slowly, then looked up to see the Spartans staring at him with looks of shock and wonder. "What? What did I say?"

"You had a vision of Sparta," Matthew breathed.

Sam sat a moment in silence. "I guess so," he finally admitted with difficulty.

"It is the will-" the priest began, but suddenly stopped short with a glazed expression, as though listening to something from far away. He blinked and cleared his throat nervously as he recovered. "Well, it's something to dwell upon, at least." He sniffed. "And you are alright after the rite for Baby Jacob?"

"It was necessary," Sam answered with a sigh.

"Necessary?" the priest asked, sounding taken aback.

"Well yeah," Sam replied with a shrug. "If the child had claimed Spartan blood falsely, then it would've not just been an insult to his Spartan ancestors and the gods, but it would've resulted in disaster and retribution for every Spartan alive. It would mean the end of the Spartan species as a whole and serve as an insult to every one of them who had ever lived. It was difficult to watch, but it had to be done for the sake of all Spartans. Anyone who falsely claims Spartan lineage must be sacrificed for the good of all." He looked up to see the three of them standing there, looking at him with stunned expressions. "What?"

The priest, who had stood there with his mouth hung open, snapped his jaw shut. "I... Couldn't have said it better myself."

They all left the room, the Spartans looking thoughtful.

The family left the temple later to return to their hotel, the head priest watching them go, especially Sam. He stared after the man thoughtfully... For Sam understood Spartan beliefs better than all save the priesthood of Apollo themselves...

Three months later, Sam and Daniel were asleep in bed just before sunrise. Sam shifted in his sleep, his right elbow brushing against Daniel... Who bolted awake screaming in agony.

Sam jolted awake in alarm. "What? What's wrong?" He reached for Daniel, who flinched.

"Careful! Careful!" the Spartan wheezed, and Sam rolled over to turn on the nightstand light Daniel had bought him. He heard a gasp and turned back around. He felt his jaw drop slightly in shock.

"Oh wow," he breathed, looking down at Daniel's stomach, where a fine network of filaments had begun to protrude from his navel. Daniel looked up at him with a smile laced with pain. Sam took his hand and held it, looking down at the feathery substance.

A short time later, while an emotional, yet happy Daniel was on the phone with his parents to explain the good news, Sam sat at the dining room table which had been cleared of the workstation, which had been squeezed into the living room area so that they could use the dining room for its original purpose and host get togethers with Daniel's family, which he insisted Sam now call his family, too.

What am I going to do? he wondered to himself.

They couldn't afford to raise a child, that was certain. While Daniel had finished his schooling, he was having a hard time. The existence of the Spartans and Amazons had only become public knowledge a few years ago. While America had joined in with the other countries that now legally recognized the rights of Spartans and Amazons, there was still a lot of mistrust and as such, not many people wanted to hire them out of prejudice or simple nervousness. Daniel was struggling to find work and so far, his job hunting wasn't paying off. Also, Sam's business reputation had been severely damaged by his shirking his contracts during the days when they'd first met and the bond just formed and now wasn't getting as much work as before, so it was now a struggle to make ends meet each month just for the two of them.

He wanted the child almost as much as his husband, as he liked to call Daniel, but what did he know about being a parent? He was very nervous that he'd screw it up. That, combined with the money troubles made for a very poor environment to raise a child in. He felt helpless and weak for being unable to provide as well as he should for his partner. He knew that Daniel was his own man and didn't see the Spartan as any weaker or lesser than himself just because Daniel was able to bear young. It wasn't Daniel's mannerisms, either, for Daniel gave off no sense of effeminacy or weakness. He was just as strong and virile a warrior type of person as Sam himself now found himself becoming. Sam just couldn't see him like some straight men would see a woman who was someone who needed protecting, either. It wasn't that... Although he did feel a need to protect his mate and provide for their son-to-be.

Maybe I'm a bit old-fashioned that way, he thought. He felt more like a warrior who needed to look after his mate during their time of need, even though that mate was fully as strong and self-sufficient as he was. It seemed proper somehow for him to think and feel that way. He didn't mean any disrespect in his feelings. He recognized it as a defense mechanism for his mate during the Spartan's time of need. He'd found his attitudes and thought processes slowly changing over time... Ever since the day they had spent at the temple in New York. Something, some fundamental shift, had started in him that day. Something that was changing him in ways he found acceptable.

He glanced up at the living room wall where his sword hung. After that day, he'd quickly found himself desiring one of his own. He wasn't abandoning his own faith or anything, or becoming Apolline, either... It was that it somehow felt both right and important for him to own a sword of his own. Unfortunately, he wasn't able to afford a good one, so his was a cheap knockoff that was solely decorative. Made of stainless steel, its double edged blade couldn't even cut paper.

He got up, walked over and pulled it down from its bracket over the couch. He sat down on the couch, keeping it in its sheath and holding it by the hilt, the point resting on the floor, the weight of it feeling comforting and empowering at the same time. This was a nervous habit he had developed, one he used whenever he felt conflicted. He rolled it slightly, twisting the weapon back and forth.

"You shouldn't do that, you know," Daniel said to him with amusement as he entered the room after ending the call to his excited parents. "You'll damage the sheath, or dull the point if the blade were exposed." He looked at his partner with concern. Ever since the trip to New York, Sam had begun to fundamentally change. He'd bought the sword within a week of their return and was often seen fondling the weapon in quiet moments. He liked the changes that were occurring in his love and wondered if he would someday find his way to Apollo. Daniel knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Sam had indeed had a vision of ancient Sparta, one that had changed him forever. If they were living in ancient times, Daniel would refer to his partner as a warrior now.

He glanced down as Sam stopped twisting the sword around and looked at the weapon. It wasn't the kind of weapon that Sam deserved and Daniel wished he made enough to buy his love a proper one. He had offered to allow Sam to hold his own, but Sam had refused the offer kindly, saying each man needed a blade of his own. Daniel had learned this was a nervous habit for the human, for if Sam were a believer, Daniel knew the human would be praying at this moment instead of idly twirling the sword in his hands.

He moved to Sam's side, hissing with pain as he sat down. "Still hurts?" Sam asked with concern, looking at his partner with worry.

"I'll be fine," Daniel answered kindly. "I'd better get used to it, because one way or the other, I'll be in pain for at least a week. Sam... You know we don't have to go through with this, right? I don't want to force you into this if you're not ready."

Sam shook his head sadly. "Who knows when you'll next Emerge. Besides, I'm nearly thirty already. If we wait, it could be another decade before we get another chance. I want to be able to have at least our first son while I'm still young enough to be here for him for a long time. I don't want him to grow up not knowing both his dads. I'm just... Worried about money. How the fuck are we going to be able to afford to raise a kid, Dan? My job's dying slowly and painfully and you can't find work because of all the bigots who refuse to hire you regardless of how competent you are. I just don't see how we can afford a baby, is all."

"We could apply for Welfare," Daniel suggested.

Sam growled as his pride flared up. "That's for poor people! We deserve better then that!" he said firmly.

Daniel sighed in frustration. "Well... There is another way..." He hedged.

"What?" Sam asked.

"Well... Since Ryan and Liam have their own place now, there's loads of empty space at the dads' place. We could always move in with them..."

Sam sighed. "There's no way David will put up with me being there. He barely says two words to me nowadays as it is." David was finding it very difficult to have a Satanist for a son-in-law and always expressed deep discomfort at being around Sam. He tried to be civil about it, But Sam knew that David felt very nervous about being around him, seeing as the older man was a devout Lutheran. He took Sam's opposing religion as a deep affront and remained polite primarily for the sake of his son, knowing that Daniel was lifebonded to a man he felt was untrustworthy and possibly even dangerous. The bond itself was the only thing that made him remain civil with Sam whenever they were around each other.

Sam, personally, felt just the same, seeing David as a weakling who was unable to go through life without the crutch of his religion to fall back upon. While Sam was accepting of the rest of the family's Apolline faith, to him David's Lutheranism was deeply offensive. It was only for Daniel's sake that he kept his opinion to himself about how he truly felt, although the Spartan knew his partner's thoughts about the human parent's faith.

"Actually," Daniel said with a blush. "It was Dad David who asked us to move in."

"Both of us?" he asked and at Daniel's nod, Sam felt his jaw drop. That was shocking, to say the least, seeing as how David didn't seem to like having Sam around at all now that the fellow human knew of Sam's religious beliefs, so he would often stay at home and work whenever Daniel would visit his parents. David was always very reluctant to come over to their apartment, knowing that Sam kept the second bedroom of the apartment devoted to his own religious purposes by serving as his altar room. Daniel didn't mind, as he didn't like to keep a lot of possessions either, living the stereotypical 'Spartan' lifestyle. Besides, Sam deserved to have a place where he could practice his religion and Daniel felt that it was only proper for him to have it as such.

He found his voice again with difficulty. "But what about my work? It's all from home and takes up a fair amount of space."

"Dad Matthew said we can turn the guest room into a workroom for you. The only thing you won't be able to have..." He said, trailing off and glancing at the hallway.

"...Is my altar," Sam said with a sigh.

Daniel nodded. "He thinks it'd be asking too much of Dad David."

Sam sat back, stroking the handle of his sword. He shook his head in disgust at David's attitude. "First Welfare and now this."

"I know it sucks, Sam, but if we want to have our son then you need to ask yourself which is more important... Your pride or the baby."

Sam sighed. "Do I really have to pick only one?" he asked with a pained expression.

Daniel snorted with amusement, then grunted in pain. "Please don't make me laugh."

"Does it really hurt that bad?" Sam asked with pity, leaning his head gently against Daniel's.

"Yeah, but I'll endure it. It's through the forbearance of Hera that we endure this pain in order to have our sons... As atonement for our transgression against her." He waited for Sam's inevitable sigh or snort of discontent, but was surprised that it never came. This was the first time Sam had ever not reacted negatively to mention of the gods of Daniel's faith. He opened his mouth to speak of this, but Sam spoke first.

"Call your dads later and tell them we accept... But let's wait until next week after conception before we move there. I can't feel very comfortable blowing my load on your stomach under their roof."

"Eww!" Daniel exclaimed, blushing furiously. "Don't be vulgar!" He chuckled slightly, wincing at the stinging pains his filaments caused as his abdominals contracted...

For the next several days, they began to pack up their belongings in preparation for the move. Ryan and Liam came over to help often, as did dad Mathew, saying that dad David was running the book store, although Sam knew it was more of an excuse than anything else. He refrained from saying anything, however, not wanting to upset Daniel, who had become very emotionally on edge and between that and the pain he was enduring, his temper was getting short.

"No, not there!" Daniel snapped at his brother's partner in irritation. "Put it with the dishes!"

"Fine! Fine!" Liam said defensively, moving the scrub brush to the indicated box. After Daniel left the room he snorted. "What's it matter, anyways? All the kitchen stuff will just stay boxed up until after you guys find a new place anyways!" he muttered more to himself than to Sam, who shook his head sadly...

Finally, the night arrived and Daniel laid back in their bed, Sam laying beside him as they caressed each others' nude bodies, Sam being very careful to avoid coming into contact with the filaments, which had fully emerged and were awaiting Sam's essence. They were fully emerged now, having extended over Daniel's torso from his navel, spread out into a circular shape. The Spartan now looked as though he had a nearly flat layer of feathers lying against the skin of his torso.

"You sure you want to do this?" Daniel asked softly. "We can always change our minds."

"Do you want to have a son?" Sam asked gently, stroking the side of Daniel's head softly.

"Yeah," Daniel said sincerely with a smile laced with discomfort at the pain he felt.

"Then I want him too. This is really something... Kids are really special for Spartans, aren't they?"

"Yes... Children are so rare and special to us. Unlike humans, we only get a few chances in life to have children."

"Humans breed more like roaches than anything else," Sam answered. "Maybe that's why we're the way we are about life, like it's disposable or something. When you can just keep pumping out more kids all the time, life becomes cheap. But this is different. We'll be having the boy because we want him, not just because we were careless... Nothing's worse than to be an unwanted child..." He finished, a ghost of pain on his face.

Daniel felt a surge of pity for Sam at the way he had been forced to grow up all alone and reached up to his face to stroke his bearded cheek. "Then you'll value the life of our son just as much as I will..." Daniel nearly whispered. "Because you know how much the alternative hurts. It's ok, Babe... You're gonna be a great dad."

"I love you," Sam said, leaning down to kiss Daniel.

"I love you too," he breathed, returning the kiss tenderly with passion.

"Help me get ready for you," Sam sighed against Daniel's lips and moaned as his partner took his penis into his strong hand and began to fondle it tenderly. They had abstained from sex this week, half from Daniel's pains and half from Sam wanting to make sure he was ready with plenty of semen to help ensure fertilization.

Once he was sufficiently hard, he kissed Daniel again. "You ready?" he asked softly.

"Yes," Daniel breathed.

Sam rose up and carefully positioned himself on his knees overtop of his partner's legs. He leaned back a bit as he stroked himself rapidly, not wanting to accidentally scrape the sensitive filaments. He stared deeply into Daniel's eyes as he pleasured himself, his breathing becoming more rapid. Finally, he moved closer. "Are you ready?" He grunted.

Daniel nodded silently, bracing himself for what was to come. Matthew had sat them down and explained in detail, much to Daniel's embarrassment, what all to do and expect, especially Daniel who would bear the child.

Sam nodded as well and groaned, leaning in close as his orgasm hit and his sperm flooded out onto the network of filaments on the Spartan's stomach. He kept his eyes locked onto Daniel's, his expression of orgasmic bliss faltering slightly with pity as he watched Daniel writhe and groan in agony as the semen came into contact with the painfully sensitive feathery substance.

Daniel stared deep into Sam's worried eyes, his hands twisting the sheets in white-knuckled hands on reaction to the agony he felt, hissing in pain as the filaments began to writhe, adding to the terrible pain he felt. "Thank you," he gasped through the torment, showing that despite the agony he endured, he wanted it and was grateful to Sam for helping him to conceive.

Once Sam was finished, he carefully moved off of him and laid at Daniel's side, holding his hand and kissing his head softly as over the course of the next hour, the filaments pulled the spent semen into him to fertilize his egg which rested in the center of the mass of translucent nerve endings. Finally, an hour later, the mass finished it's movement inwards as the last of them pulled in until the entire mass of filaments had squeezed down into a small bubble about the size of a bottle cap resting against Daniel's navel.

Finally, Daniel's breathing eased and he sighed with relief as his pains eased back down to a manageable level. He laid there, panting and covered with sweat. Sam reached over to a collection of towels they had ready and cleaned his partner's body as best he could without moving him and also making sure to be very careful when drying the stomach to make sure nothing came into contact with the bubble that held the beginnings of their son-to-be's life.

"Sam?" Daniel asked weakly.

"What is it, Love?"

"Thank you for fathering my child."

Sam leaned over and gently kissed him. "Thank you for doing the same."

They laid together until Daniel fell asleep, exhausted from the ordeal, with Sam stroking his still sweat-dampened hair softly...

"You sure I can be the one?" Sam asked his now expectant husband.

"Yeah," Daniel said. "This is just as much you moment as mine. Go ahead."

Sam sighed to brace himself, dialed and listened to the phone ring.

"Daniel?" David asked expectantly.

"It's Sam," he corrected.

"Oh," David said, disappointment thick in his voice. "What's up?"

"Is Matthew there? We need to talk to both of you guys about something before we move in."

"Hold on," he said and called out off the phone.

A few moments later, Matthew picked up another phone in the house. "Sam? Is everything ok?"

"That depends... I have a slight confession to make and that might well affect whether or not you both are still willing to let me live there with Daniel."

Matthew began to protest, but David interrupted. "What is it?" he asked, sounding like he was dreading something awful.

Sam began to mock sob and wailed lowly into the phone. "I done went and knocked up your son!" he cried, sounding like Lucille Ball.

David sputtered, then began to laugh and Matthew joined in as Daniel pressed his head against Sam's shoulder as he too began to laugh...

They settled into the parents' house two days later in the larger of the two free bedrooms, setting up Sam's office in the one next to it. That evening, Sam was in the kitchen when David entered. "Hey," he said a bit nervously.

"Are you settling in well enough?" David asked, trying not to sound rude.

"Pretty good... Thanks for letting us come here."

"Daniel's my son... You're his partner... That's the way it works."

Sam sighed. "Look, we can't keep going on like this! It's not fair to Daniel or Matthew! Can we just agree to disagree and leave it at that? You have your beliefs, I have my beliefs and we both can't stand the other's. Let's just never talk about our religions to each other and leave it at that, ok?"

"Alright, but one thing first... I need to ask you something," David said with a sigh. "What are your intentions towards my grandson? Are you going to try to raise him to be like you?"

"My son will be Spartan and I feel he would do best to learn his native faith. I may not be able to believe in ancient gods, but I know it'll mean a lot to Daniel to be able raise him to be Apolline if the boy wishes. However, I have no intention of hiding my own beliefs from him and when he's old enough, I'll tell him about my own religious beliefs and let him decide on what he wants to be. Religion is a personal choice and only he will be able to decide what is best for him. Whatever choice he makes, I'll accept."

David stared at Sam. "You mean you wouldn't try to force him?"

"No!" Sam answered firmly. "Only the boy has the right to choose his belief system. As a Lutheran man with two sons who worship Apollo, I'm a bit surprised that you would think that I'd force my beliefs off onto my boy when you allow yours to believe in a pagan god rather than your own."

"It was Matthew's idea to worship with them. I wanted them to turn to God and instead they turned to Apollo. I don't worship him, but there's no denying the fact that they believe that he exists, although I can't understand how or why. All I know is that my love and our sons believe in him and that belief brings them joy. For me, that is what allows me to tolerate their beliefs... As well as knowing that to do otherwise would break Matthew's heart... And that's something I just can't do. I love him too much to hurt him like that." David finished thickly, hanging his head. After a moment, David lifted his head and looked into Sam's eyes. "Why do you believe what you do? Why turn your back on God?"

"I wasn't the one who turned his back on the other," Sam said with effort, then turned away. "I gotta go to the bathroom," he said and left the room.

David stood there numbly, shocked by the hurt he had seen buried deep in Sam's eyes...

After that, life settled down into the new routine. Martin and Brian as well as Ryan, Liam and their boys came over and they all threw a party to celebrate Daniel's gestation, much to his embarrassment.

"Don't mind him," Sam said as Daniel blushed at all of the attention. "He's just embarrassed that it's now painfully obvious that we've had sex."

Everyone busted up laughing, even Daniel despite his swatting Sam's shoulder, feeling mortified. David choked on that, as he'd been taking a sip of tea at that moment and began coughing violently as Matthew patted his back sympathetically...

Sam was mounting his sword rack in the bedroom when Matthew entered and watched him. "Looks nice," he said.

"Oh... Thanks."

"Daniel says you've developed a real affinity for swords after the trip to New York for Jacob's rite. He says you like to spend a lot of time holding it."

"It's kind of comforting, I guess."

"We're offering sacrifice to Apollo tonight. You want to be there?"

Sam looked to his sword. "...Would it be sacrilegious for me to wear mine... Even though I'm not participating?"

"That would be fine," Matthew said kindly. "But you don't have a proper sword belt."

"I know," Sam said, his face falling. "I wish I could afford a real sword, but..." He sighed. Matthew saw the deep disappointment and embarrassment on Sam's face. "Things will be a lot harder once the boy is born. I'm going to have to find a better job that the one I have... Guess I should've planned my life better than this."

"Hey, I can appreciate how hard it can be for humans. You never considered the possibility of children before, did you?"

Sam shook his head. "Silly me, thinking it was only women who could get pregnant."

Matthew chuckled. "Well, it wasn't all that long ago that we were first able to start living openly. Before that, we had to keep our existence hidden from humans, so how were you supposed to know you'd end up in a Spartan partner-bonded relationship? We had to remain underground."

"Or end up in prison like you all did... I can't imagine what it must've been like."

"I was never more terrified in my life," Matthew said softly. "Every day we thought would be our last... Every time the door from outside opened, we felt that they were coming to take us all away to be dissected or executed. The gestating ones they took away... When they came back after the doctors had tried to study them and ended up violating their gestations and the babies died... They looked dead inside. After you ran away the day you and Daniel met... The way he behaved... He was acting just like them. It felt like we were right back in prison. I didn't think he'd ever recover... I thought I was going to lose him..." Matthew choked on his sorrow at the painful memories, unable to continue.

He looked up at a sniffling sound to see Sam crying. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt him."

Matthew saw the man's pain and swept his crying son-in-law into his arms. "I forgive you."

Sam continued to cry. "Growing up, all I ever wanted was to be loved, but no one ever wanted me. So I prayed and prayed that someone would, but my prayers were never answered and I realized that even the gods didn't love me. After I was discharged, I couldn't make a relationship that lasted." Matthew cried for Sam's pain, holding him tightly as Sam continued. "Then I met Daniel and thought that I was losing my mind. I thought that it was just me who felt that way. It just reminded me of all the pain I'd ever felt and I couldn't bear to go through it all over again. That's why I ran. But he was always there in my mind. He was all I could think about."

"You didn't know, Sam. You couldn't understand. It's ok now. We're all here for you. We're your family now... As for the gods... Maybe someday that will change too. Even if it doesn't, you've still got us."

"Thanks," Sam said, hugging his father-in-law tightly. He chuckled weakly after a moment. "You know we're breaking an unwritten law, right?"

"Which one is that?"

"The one where you're supposed to hate your in-laws," Sam said with another weak chuckle.

The Spartan chuckled as well. After a few moments, Matthew's eyes fell to the sword on the rack, lost in thought...

As the months passed, Sam began to devote time to taking online courses to expand his knowledge of computers further so that once he graduated, he could look for a better job to support his family. He sped through the courses quickly, determined to get as far through the classes as possible before the birth. Fortunately the online university he was attending was Spartan friendly and he put in advanced notice that his partner was expecting and would give birth in January, so he'd be needing some time off. They emailed back saying that he could take all of January off and offered their congratulations.

He maintained the small amount of business he still had and when he offered to pay part of the electric and grocery bills only to have Matthew and David refuse, he had to all but force the money down their throats. They eventually relented however, when they kept finding money laying around for them that he kept trying to give them, making it into a game as to where to hide it next. It wasn't until he offered to make up some boiled eggs and they reached for them only to have them fall open to reveal rolled up twenties stashed inside and marveled at the time and effort Sam had gone through just to get them in there, that the older couple relented, laughing at their son-in-law's determination.

In the meantime, Daniel's womb began to spread farther as the gestating child slowly grew. The expectant father helped out around the house as much as he could for as long as possible except when his parents forced him to rest. He became even moodier from the pain, hormones and being forced to avoid any strenuous activities. Sometimes he would lose his temper over the way they kept treating him so delicately and snap at people, including Sam, only to burst into apologetic tears as he saw the hurt on Sam's face at being yelled at for only trying to keep him and the unborn child safe.

October came and with it, the beginnings of the colder weather. The heat was kept higher in the house to make Daniel comfortable, as due to the painful sensitivity from the filaments he was unable to drape anything, not even soft cloth, over his stomach to keep himself warm. As he realized that he was going to be completely house-bound for the final four months of gestation, he became resentful. It was only the fact that Sam was an indoor person who hated going out much that helped to keep him from growing hostile at everyone.

On the thirteenth, the family celebrated Sam's thirtieth birthday. Sam was shocked, however, when he opened the gift from Matthew, which turned out to be a real sword of nice quality with a full sword belt and sheath. The look of joy in his eyes at finally having a proper weapon was all the thanks Matthew needed. He then offered to give Sam sword lessons and teach him how to care for his blade properly.

As the weather grew colder still, the family began to use the barn on the property for their rituals. That month, Sam stood back and watched as the three non-gestating Spartans knelt in prayer, his own sword at his side.

"Are you sure you're ok with doing this?" Daniel asked in November, looking worried. "I can just ask dad Matthew to do it for me."

Sam shook his head. "Relax, I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't ok with doing this. Besides, as your partner, I'm the best possible choice to do this for you."

"But you're not a believer."

"Then you believe for me. Imagine that it's you there and I'll just be marking the place for you, ok?"

"Thank you for doing this," Daniel said, starting to cry. "Dammit!" he suddenly swore with fury. "I hate this! I feel like a damned cripple!"

"Dan! The baby!" Sam replied, reminding his partner of the fact that if he got too worked up, it could jeopardize the child.

Daniel paled and laid back with a sigh of disgust. "I hate being like this."

"I know, Love, but your life isn't just your own anymore. Please try to take it easy... For the baby?"

"Ok, I promise. Let me know how it goes, ok?"

"I will," Sam promised, kissed his husband and left the room to join the others.

"You know you don't have to do this, Sam," Matthew said to the human as they donned their swords on their nude bodies. "We understand that you're not a worshipper of Apollo. I can offer Daniel's prayers for you if you want."

Sam sighed with annoyance. "If I wasn't ok doing this, then I wouldn't even be here right now. I'm fine. Besides, I've watched you guys enough times now to know what the motions are. Trust me, compared to my own rituals, this is actually pretty simple."

"Right," Matthew said weakly, not really wanting to know what all Sam did during his Satanic rituals. "So you really don't mind? I mean... This won't violate your own faith, will it?"

Sam shook his head. "Rituals are just psychodrama designed to affect alterations in the individual in order to bring about the desired changes. By going through the motions, you cause subtle changes in your mind and habits that bring about the desired outcome. It's all just a way of tricking yourself into helping your subconscious mind make you alter your behavior enough to achieve success."

"Huh?" Matthew asked in confusion.

Sam smiled. "Think of it as giving yourself a post-hypnotic suggestion, like for quitting smoking or something."

Matthew blinked, staring at the human in confusion. How can anyone actually believe something like that? He really doesn't believe in divine intervention at all, does he?

"Relax!" Sam added, seeing the Spartan's nervousness. "It's not like I'm going to get blasted with lightning, or anything!"

Matthew paled in shock. "Don't say things like that!" he wheezed, feeling horrified.

The human blinked with surprise, seeing just how upset Matthew was becoming. He shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. It's just that I can't understand why you believe in something that terrifies you so much."

Matthew took a deep breath to steady his nerves. "Perhaps you should-" he began.

"I'm sorry," Sam said, interrupting him. "I won't say any more. I'll just follow the motions and speak the lines. That's all I need to do, right?"

Believing wouldn't hurt, Matthew thought, but just nodded instead weakly. "You're ok being involved in the sacrifice?"

"All I have to do is hold a leg still, right? So no worries."

He looked past the parent to see his partnered pair of relatives dealing with their burden. Liam and Ryan moved the sheep into position. They'd wanted to sacrifice a cow this time, but due to Sam's inexperience, they'd settled on the sheep instead, knowing that the type of life taken wasn't as important as the act itself. They chained the creature in place, then tended to the fire. Once everything was ready, they all stood nude inside the heated barn, the smaller fire pit burning brightly and illuminating the interior of the barn in the light of the flames.

Once everything was ready, the four of them stood before the fire, Sam setting the page with the lines for him to read at his feet, ignoring the struggling protests of the beast as they drew their swords as one in a single fluid motion and took the position of prayer. As they knelt, Sam was pleased that he had been able to move in unison with the Spartans, having been slightly nervous that he'd mess up the timing. He took it as a good sign that the ritual would be played out properly.

"Apollo come to us," they said as one. "We, the sons of Sparta..." The three Spartans said, then paused.

"And I," Sam added speaking alone, reading from the page and making it sound as though he weren't doing so, "human partner to the Spartan Daniel Matthewson, standing in his stead during his time of gestation that his prayers may be heard..."

Then everyone continued, speaking as one, "...Do offer onto you sacrifice and ask that you hear our prayers. Apollo be with us."

They rose up and moved to the beast, Matthew and Ryan brandishing their swords as Sam and Liam sheathed their own. Sam and Liam each grabbed a hind leg, Sam on Matthew's side of the animal, and pulled the sheep back until the chains restraining it went tight, holding the beast firmly in place. Sam kept his grip firm, making sure the animal wouldn't escape him as the armed Spartans readied themselves. Matthew looked at Sam, who nodded his readiness. They struck quickly, slashing and stabbing as one and the two sword wielders ended the animal's life in an instant. Blood splattered onto Sam's feet and legs as he released the beast and it dropped to the ground as its existence came to a close.

Still covered in blood, they returned quickly to their positions, Sam and Liam redrawing their blades and knelt once more in prayer. "A sacrifice has been made," they called out. "Apollo... Accept our offering and hear our prayers."

As they knelt in silence, Sam looked down at the page as his forehead rested against the pommel of his sword and spoke silently within his mind the words that Daniel had written down for him to say in prayer. Daniel was asking for Apollo to bless their unborn son with a long and healthy life full of happiness, as well as praying for Sam's happiness and peace of mind and heart. Sam was both oddly touched at that and annoyed about it at the same time. His love for Daniel's thoughtfulness clashing with his Satanic resentment at being prayed for regardless of the reason.

He sighed mentally and allowed the matter to drop. Arguing with Daniel wouldn't be helpful to the gestating Spartan and he did mean well, Sam supposed. Once he finished reciting the lines in his head, he closed his eyes and meditated. Suddenly, he felt a firm but gentle hand touch the back of his bowed head for a moment and his eyes snapped open as it pulled away.

He glanced forward, then quickly twisted his head against the pommel, looking to Liam next to him as the sensation left him, but saw that the Spartan, the only person close enough to touch him, was still frozen in the prayer position, his eyes closed and his mouth moving silently. What the fuck? Sam wondered to himself, feeling confused. Then he realized that he must have really gotten into the experience if he was having a psychosomatic reaction. That must mean that he'd played along successfully and that he could say to Daniel that everything had gone well without having to lie to the expectant father in order to make him feel better.

The others rose, him following suit, and they opened their eyes as the ritual ended. "Thank you for being a part of that. You did very well," Matthew said to him with a smile of gratitude.

"Pretty good for a heathen?" Sam asked with a smile of his own.

"I wouldn't say that," the father replied, still smiling. "But thank you anyways."

Sam shrugged. "I could see how much it hurt Daniel not being able to worship with you guys and I love him, so for him, I was willing to play the substitute." He reached up to rub the back of his head self-consciously, frowning at the memory of that phantom touch.

"You alright?" Matthew asked, noting the expression and gesture with a touch of concern.

"It's nothing," the human replied. "You guys want help with the butchering?"

"No, we're fine. Get cleaned up and go back to your partner's side. Oh," he added, looking down at Sam's sword sheath. "You've got some blood on there. Remember to wax it out."

"I will," Sam answered and went to the small shower setup built into the corner of the barn to clean the splattered blood from his body. As he cleaned himself up without the slightest trace of negative emotions about being doused in the vital fluid of the sheep, he thought back to that touch once more. It couldn't have been Liam, he realized the more he thought on how the touch on his head had felt. It wasn't the kind of touch that could be made from someone beside him, the positioning of the hand upon him had been as though it were coming from someone standing directly in front of him...

And there hadn't been anyone there...

He returned to the house, still not knowing what to think about that and went to talk to Daniel. "Hey," the Spartan said from the bed, rubbing the back of his head with a smile. Sam saw the gesture and felt an odd sensation of mild shock run through him.

"You ok?" he asked with difficulty he fought hard to hide.

"I'm good," Daniel said with a smile tinged with pain. "I felt the touch of Apollo and knew that my prayers that you'd offered for me had been heard."

Sam leaned in quickly and kissed Daniel's forehead to mask his expression of shock and confusion. After a few difficult moments, he spoke. "I knew how much it meant to you, so I was willing to stand in for you. I love you too much to say no," he replied, pulling away only once he felt he had his emotions under control.

"You really were ok doing that?" Daniel asked, looking concerned.

"I was worried that I'd screw up the timing of the sword motions, but I matched the guys pretty good. Other than that, All I had to do was read lines, posture and hold a leg, so no worries."

"But still... I know it's not your faith and is vastly different from your own religious beliefs in principle. That you were willing to do that for me-"

Sam silenced him with a finger to his lips. "Daniel, you should know by know that out of all the people in the world, you are the one and only person I could ever set aside my pride for... I love you too much to do otherwise."

"I love you too, Babe," Daniel said softly in reply.

"I'm kinda hungry.. You want anything?"

"Some hot tea would be nice."

"I'll be back soon," Sam answered with a smile and a kiss, then rose and left the room. Outside in the hallway, he collapsed against the wall softly, his shock returning. There was no way that Daniel had felt the exact same thing that Sam had...

It was impossible...

It was January and Sam was taken out by Matthew to shop for all of the things the baby would require after he was born. They had a very enjoyable time, then returned with everything where Sam sat showing the tiny clothes that the baby would wear to Daniel, who fawned over the teeny tiny shoes and rattle.

Then Sam had to unravel the mystery of how to assemble the crib in the corner of their bedroom, which he tackled with relish, making very sure that it was the highest safety-rated model and was very surely constructed, even quadruple-checking it's secureness once successfully assembled.

Two days later, Sam was finally allowed to touch his love's womb gently for a few seconds at a time, the sensation still sensitive, yet bearable for the expectant father. Sam had longed to put his face to it, but his prickly beard would have been far too much sensation for Daniel, so he settled for his hand instead, keeping it in place over the womb without moving it...

"Sam! Sam! Wake up!" Daniel called out, slapping him urgently.

"Um... What's wrong?" Sam replied groggily at being awoken from a sound sleep in the middle of the night.

"It's happening... I'm in labor!" Daniel gasped in pain.

"Umm... Ok... WHAT?!?" He exclaimed in shock as his sleepiness vanished instantly in a surge of adrenaline, bolting upright to see that moisture was seeping down Daniel's front and the bottom edge of the filaments that formed his temporary womb had begun to separate from his torso. Daniel was panting rapidly. "Ok, breath slowly," he instructed. "Remember, deep breaths!"

Daniel nodded and slowed his breathing. "I'll get Matthew. Stay still, ok?" Daniel nodded again.

Sam rushed out of the room and pounded on Matthew and David's' bedroom door. "Guys! Wake up! Dan's in labor!"

Matthew bolted out of the room and past Sam, who hurried back to his partner's side accompanied by David. They reached the laboring Spartan and the birthing father examined Daniel's condition. "Yeah," the parent said, "It's time. David, get the stuff."

"Right," David said, and took off to gather the supplies they would need for the birthing.

"You remember what all to do, right?" Matthew asked Sam.

"Yeah," he said and David returned with a mound of clean towels and a knife. Sam helped him to quickly spread some of the towels across the floor.

"Ok, Sam," Matthew said. "Help me move him down." He turned to his son. "We need to move you to the floor."

Daniel nodded, drenched in sweat, then screamed in agony as they picked him up and moved him carefully down to the floor on top of the spread towels. "SHIT THAT FUCKING HURTS! AHH!!!"

"I know! I know!" Sam said with difficulty, feeling horrible at causing his husband pain. "Ok, now you need to lean on my shoulders," he instructed.

Daniel let out a long, shuddering groan as he was made to kneel on both knees with Sam in the same position, facing him, then bent forward with his hands on his human partner's shoulders in order to intentionally cause the baby's weight to make the filaments tear more. He hissed and growled in agony as the sensitive filaments snapped and tore bit by bit over the course of the next few minutes, causing the fluids inside the womb to leak out steadily.

"Lean forward farther, Son," Matthew instructed and Sam inched back to help his love lean forward farther, Daniel sobbing from the pain.

"Come on, Love, you can do this," Sam said into his ear. "You're strong enough to get through this... I believe in you... I love you."

"I love you too-" Daniel panted through the pain. "Ah dammit it hurts so much!"

"It won't be long," Sam assured him. Meanwhile, David was busy readying the baby clothes and such for once the child was out.

Matthew kept checking the tear from both sides, watching the rate at which it lengthened for some time, until he announced that Daniel was ready for the birthing itself. "Ok Sam, he's ready for you," Matthew instructed.

"I'm sorry I have to hurt you," Sam breathed. "I wish I didn't have to..."

"Sam," Daniel growled in agony. "Stop stalling and get this baby out of me or I swear I'll tear your fucking head off!" he finished with a snarl.

Sam eased his hands gently into the tears on Daniel's sides where the womb had separated from the father-to-be's torso. Daniel hissed and groaned in unbearable pain as Sam worked his hands into the network of filaments that held their baby. It seemed to take forever before he located the infant's head and back, supporting them properly.

"I got him... You ready?" Sam asked Daniel, who could only nod in pain. "I love you."

"I love you too," Daniel gasped.

"One..." Sam counted. "Two... Three!" he yanked downward on three, ripping the womb from Daniel's torso to free their son from his father. Daniel screamed so hard Sam would've sworn he'd gone deaf from the pain and ringing in his ears. The birth wasn't yet complete, however, as the umbilical cord that ran from the navel of the father to that of the son still had to be severed and it too was composed of painfully sensitive filaments. Daniel screamed anew as the umbilical was tied tightly by Matthew close to the infant's stomach, the baby howling in his own agony from the shared pain of that act. Then another tie was made at Daniel's stomach, the father trembling violently and groaning in agony. Matthew then sliced the knife quickly, cutting the cord as close to Daniel's stomach as possible. The Spartan let out a strangled gurgle and passed out from the blinding pain, Matthew catching his son and easing him to the floor before passing the knife to Sam, who at David's instructions, cut the cord close to his baby's own stomach, eliciting an ear-splitting wail of agony from the child which broke his human father's heart at having to cause his child pain.

Matthew cleaned the rest of the filaments from his son's torso and cleaned him up as Sam did the same for the child, then dressed him quickly to ward off the chill. David taught Sam how to hold the infant properly... And as Sam looked into his son's wailing face, he felt his life change forever... He had never thought there would be anyone he could love anywhere near as much as Daniel, but as he gazed down at his child, Sam knew he would do anything, even kill, for his child's sake. He wept with joy as he held the baby, smiling tearfully down at him as the baby continued to wail.

It was several minutes before Daniel awoke and was sat up, then gently raised back up into bed and given his child, crying with happiness as he took his child into his arms. He held the baby close as the newborn began to calm and quiet down as his pain faded and Daniel guided the infant into place so that he could begin to nurse him. Sam was shocked at that for a second before he recalled that this had been explained to him as well. He smiled as his happiness returned in full. "What will you name him?" he asked softly.

Daniel smiled down at the boy, then looked into his partner's eyes. "I'll name him Henry, after you."

"My middle name?" Sam asked with wonder and gratitude.

"Yeah... I want our son to bear both our names."

Daniel had seen the hurt in Sam's eyes when he had been told that the child always took the name of his birthing father with the suffix 'son' at the end, rather than carry the last name of the other father. Daniel had seen that pain of exclusion and had made up his mind on the boy's name then, waiting until now so that it would be a surprise to Sam.

Sam began to cry at that, and leaned in to kiss Daniel. "Thank you," he breathed against Daniel's lips. He looked down and smiled at their son. "Welcome to the world, Henry Danielson... We love you."

Matthew and David left softly with kisses to Daniel's head and pats to Sam's back, letting the parents begin to bond with their new baby boy...

Ryan and Liam came by with their own boys two days later to greet their new nephew and cousin respectively. The following week, Martin, Brian and Jacob visited as well and a party of celebration was thrown.

"Man," Ryan breathed, examining his nephew closely in the bedroom. "He has Sam's creepy eyes!"

"My eyes!" Sam moaned, staggering into the room with his hands covering his upper face. "My Eyes! He took my eyes!"

"Cute!" Ryan said with a laugh...

It was a good thing Sam had so many people around him who had experience in childcare, as he was nearly clueless as to how to take care of an infant properly. The family was very patient in teaching him the ins and outs of fatherhood in regards to his infant son, showing him everything from changing diapers and bathing the boy, to safety, health, proper handling of the boy when Sam had Henry in his arms, and even preparing a bottle for him should Daniel be unavailable to feed the child. Sam spent as much time with his son as possible, getting to know him and bonding with him further. Even the nasty parts of having a baby boy, such as having to clean the baby whenever he soiled himself were enjoyable to the human.

The only real downside that required vast amounts of patience was whenever Henry would wake up crying, usually half a dozen times per night. Between Henry's erratic sleep schedule and Sam's class load as he returned to his online courses, he began to have headaches on a regular basis and resorted to taking store-bought painkillers to cope with his discomfort...

Four months passed and Sam was getting close to graduating with a bachelor's in computer sciences. Baby Henry slowly grew and his parents couldn't be any prouder of their boy. Sam came out to the kitchen table one morning, frowning with pain and greeted the family before pouring a handful of painkillers and grabbing some milk.

"Sam," Matthew said with worry. "Isn't that too much?"

"I know, but my head's killing me," Sam replied weakly, wincing in pain.

"Sam," Daniel said with worry as he nursed their son. "Another headache?"

"I'm just stressed out is all. I think I'm studying too hard. Between that and Henry waking us up every few hours, it's a wonder I get any rest at all."

"Maybe you should see a doctor," his partner said with worry.

"It's just a headache, is all!" Sam answered moodily.

"But still Sam," Matthew added with concern. "It's not normal to keep having them all the time like this," he said, as Sam sat down. "I think Daniel's right. You need to see someone about this."

"Will you both stop treating me like a weakling? I'm fine!" the human answered testily, hating the fact that the Spartans were making him look like a wimp.

"Sam, please," Daniel pleaded. "For me and the baby?"

Sam finished his milk and sighed with disgust as David came in. "Alright, alright!" he growled, getting up quickly.

Suddenly, the room lurched violently around him as a wave of vertigo and nausea hit him like a sledgehammer...

And everything went black...

Sam awoke in a hospital bed to find Daniel asleep with his head against Sam's leg and a look of deepest grief on his unconscious face. Sam's head was still hurting, but not as much as before. He reached down and stroked Daniel's hair, causing the Spartan to awaken.

"Sam!" Daniel half-whispered, looking up at the human with a look of hope and sadness mixed together.

"What happened? Where am I?" Sam asked weakly.

"In the hospital. You collapsed at the table when you went to get up... Oh Sam," Daniel sobbed. "I thought you'd never wake up..."

"How long was I out?"

"Two days..."

The human was shocked and had to force himself to get past his feelings when he saw how upset Daniel was. "It's ok," Sam answered softly. "I'm fine now... Everything will be ok." But the look of deepest grief on Daniel's face made him hesitate. "What is it? What's wrong?"

Daniel tried to tell him, but broke down and sobbed in grief, hugging Sam's legs fiercely as he cried...

Two weeks later, Sam and Daniel sat in a doctor's office, Sam staring dully at the x-ray as the doctor, the second one in a week, explained what they were looking at as Daniel sniffled.

"The tumor is located at the base of the brain," Dr. Westfeld said gently. "It's what's been causing your headaches as well as the vertigo and nausea. I'm sorry, but due to its location, there's no way we can operate."

"There has to be something!" Daniel sobbed.

The doctor shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, but there's nothing that can be done."

"How long have I got?" Sam asked grimly.

"Based on the rate of growth I'd say about two or three months. I'm sorry I can't help you... I recommend you begin to put your affairs in order."

"But what about chemo?" Daniel asked. "There's always that!"

But the doctor shook his head sadly. "I'm sorry, but the tumor has advanced very rapidly. Even if we started treatment immediately, we wouldn't be able to stop the tumor's growth in time... If we'd gotten to it earlier, then we might have had a chance, but at this point there's nothing that can be done."

"Thanks anyways," Sam said softly, as Daniel broke down in grief...

Sam hired a lawyer and wrote out his will, deeding everything he had to Daniel to do with as he wished and paid off his credit cards so that he would leave as little debt behind as possible.

David found him outside one day a month after his diagnosis, crying behind the barn.

"Oh Sam!" he said, taking his fellow human into his arms.

"It's not fair!" Sam sobbed. "I don't deserve this!"

David agreed, but didn't know what to say, so instead he rocked Sam gently, trying to comfort him.

"What about Daniel and Henry?" Sam asked weakly. "I don't want to leave them... Promise me that you and Matthew will take care of them after I'm gone."

"I promise," David said, crying as well.

"Don't let Daniel know I've been crying... I need to be strong for him and the baby."

"I won't."

"It's not fair!" Sam cried, choking the words out between sobs of grief. "I was finally happy..."

Sam laid in bed alone with Daniel, the two spending as much time as possible together to make the most of the time they had left.

"Dan... Do you want Henry to worship Apollo?"

"If you don't want him too-"

"No. If you want to raise him in your faith, that's ok by me."

"Really? But what about yours?"

"I think I'm losing my faith... How can I believe in myself when I'm letting everyone else down? It's ok, I want you to. I know how much it means to you."

"Thank you," Daniel breathed softly.

"Did you want him to be confirmed before Apollo?"

"Yes."

"Then let's do it... As soon as possible. I want to be there for it... I want us to do it together... While I still can."

"Don't say that!" Daniel sobbed. "I... I can't live without you!"

He hugged Sam tight, sobbing...

And a cold chill of fear for Daniel ran through Sam at his partner's words...

They arrived at the temple in New York and as a special honor, Sam was allowed to draw his sword and stand in silence at the call that the Spartans existed for vengeance.

He was scared for the baby as he laid him upon the altar. "I believe in you," he said, kissing Henry's forehead. Then he looked to Daniel. "I believe in you, too. I love you both." With that, he stepped away as Daniel raised the sword over their son, looking grief-stricken and afraid. But Henry's filaments emerged and all was well. Sam was never prouder of either of them.

After the rite, aseveryone turned to leave, Sam stopped the head priest who knew of Sam's condition. Daniel stopped, holding Henry in his arms and looking back with worry and confusion. "Sam?"

"I just want a few minutes is all. I'll be there soon," he said softly, then turned to the priest as Daniel took Henry out. "Can I make a really odd request?"

"What is it?" the priest asked softly.

"This is the last time I'll ever get to be here... Can I stay in here for a bit? Alone? I promise I won't trash the place, or anything."

"Of course," the head priest said gently before leaving, instructing the lesser priests to give Sam some privacy.

Once Sam was alone and the doors closed behind him, he stood looking up at the statue of Apollo and took a deep breath. For them, he thought and drew his sword, then knelt in prayer. Never before would he have done this, but he didn't know what else to do anymore. This would be the last time he ever prayed to anyone and he didn't know if the being he was praying to was even real, let alone whether or not he would answer.

"Apollo come to me and hear my prayer... I apologize for not having a sacrifice to offer, so I can only offer my tears..." He wept openly and placing his right hand over the sharp edge of the blade, hissing as he used it to cut his palm, "...And blood," he added, holding his bleeding palm up to the burning fire. "Apollo... I pray for my partner and my son that they may have the strength to endure after I am dead. Please watch over them and help them to find what happiness that they can. I pray not for myself, but for them. Please," he begged, sobbing openly, "I don't want Daniel to suffer. I'm scared of what will happen to him after I'm gone. I'm afraid that he will give in to his grief and end his life... Leaving our son all alone. I don't want Henry to end up like I did, sad and alone, never knowing his parents. Please! Give Daniel the strength to endure! ...I beg you..." He knelt in prayer, sobbing with his eyes closed and holding up his palm to the fire for several moments with his eyes closed.

Suddenly, the fire flared spectacularly, roaring higher and Sam looked up with shock to see Daniel standing before him nude and with sheathed sword, his back to Sam and staring into the fire, unmoving. Sam was so shocked at Daniel seeing him there that he was frozen in place, unable to speak or move. Daniel turned to him slowly, looking at him with an amused smile. He tilted his head, gazing at Sam curiously.

"You, Sam Smith, are a very interesting man," Daniel spoke in a deep and radiating voice that echoed off the walls and thrummed inside of Sam's chest, making the human gasp in shock at the power behind that voice.

The human stared in shock. That voice was nothing like Daniel's, nor was the intense and fierce look in his eyes, which seemed to sparkle with grim humor and power as he looked at Sam. An intense, raw power washed over the kneeling man, a power beyond anything that he had ever felt, nearly overwhelming him in its might.

"Daniel?" Sam asked, confused and trembling.

"No, but he is here all the same."

Sam's eyes widened in shock. "This is impossible," he breathed in a stunned whisper.

"Then why did you pray to me?"

Sam's chin trembled. "For them... Because they believe in you."

"So here you are... Sacrificing your pride that they might possibly be aided by a person you don't even believe in... I am here, Sam Smith... And I hear your prayer... But you have not yet finished praying properly."

"What?" Sam asked, dumbfounded.

"A sacrifice must be offered, Sam. That is how it must be," Apollo said through Daniel.

An odd calmness settled over the human. He understood what was being asked of him. Did it really matter when it happened? He knew that his life was drawing to a close and that nothing could prevent it. Would it be better to die now, with some dignity, rather than later in a hospital bed? He didn't want to end his life like that. His sense of self pride made him want a more dignified end. And if there was even the slightest chance that in doing so, in this way, that Daniel and Henry would gain the power to endure without him, then he would do so gladly.

As if in a dream, he rose and walked to the altar where he climbed up onto it, then stood facing the god within his love. His hand tightened upon the hilt of his sword. An expression of suffering came to his face and he spoke with difficulty. "I'm scared... I've... I've never done anything like this. I don't want to screw it up." Apollo watched him calmly through Daniel, seeing as Sam swallowed with difficulty, shedding the last of his pride. "Will you... Will you help me to do it right?" Sam asked, Apollo seeing just how much it had cost Sam to ask for the aid of a god.

"I shall guide your hand," Apollo said gently.

Sam braced himself, standing tall and proud, as though a warrior of old, and raised his sword in salute with tears in his eyes. "Lord Apollo, I, Sam Henry Smith, Human, do pray to you for the sake of my beloved Daniel Matthewson, Spartan. Grant him the strength to carry on after I am dead, that he may live with whatever happiness he may and raise our son Henry Danielson well. Accept this sacrifice and answer my prayer."

As a strange, instinctual knowledge filled him, Sam knew what to do. He calmly raised the sword. "For you, Daniel," he said softly and slashed his throat wide open with a single stroke. A pain unlike any he had ever felt before filled him, his throat screaming and feeling like liquid fire was pouring from it. He gagged in agony as his lifeblood poured freely from the wound and he staggered, yet somehow remained standing. Knowing he had only seconds left, he raised the sword, took it in both hands with the point to his chest and shoved, impaling himself through the heart. Darkness enveloped him as he collapsed sideways onto the altar stone, his life gone before his body came to rest, his blood soaking the stone slab in a wash of scarlet essence.

Within his own mind, Daniel screamed in agony while he was forced to watch helplessly as his partner's life ended by his own hand. He screamed and wailed, beating against the inside of his head, trying to make his body move, to draw his own sword and take his life that he could be with his beloved in death, unable to live without him.

BE STILL!!! Apollo's voice rang within his head. Daniel froze in terror and obeyed his lord even though his grief was all-consuming. He could not disobey his lord, yet wept silently. Do not grieve for him, Daniel, son of Matthew. Sam knew that his life was soon to end and chose to offer up what little time he had left with you and the son that you share that you may endure without him. Would you belittle his sacrifice, taking his death in vain by denying the very thing he had wanted most for you? the god asked in a strong, yet gentle voice. His was a warrior's death and he offered his life to me for the sake of you and the child you share. Honor his sacrifice and thank him for what he has given you.

But I love him! Daniel sobbed in grief. It hurts too much. Please, lord, I can't live without him...

I know... Apollo answered softly.

Apollo walked Daniel's body over to the altar and stared down into the blank, unseeing eyes of the human. "I will say it again... You, Sam Smith, are a very interesting man. You have done what no other human man has ever done before... Sacrificed yourself in prayer out of love for the sake of one of my chosen sons. Perhaps you were not as you should have been..." He willed Daniel not to hear him as he leaned down and put his lips to the dead man's ear. "Do you want to know a secret, Sam Smith?" he whispered and somewhere deep within the cooling body, the human heard his words. "It is you, Sam... You are the source of Daniel's strength. The love you share with him was what allowed him to bear your son as well as to live his life. The happiness your love gave him made his life a joy... A treasure."

He rose up, placed a hand to the sword in the human corpse's chest and in a smooth motion pulled the sword free and laid it near Sam's lifeless hand. Sam's body jerked as the blade was freed. "Your offering is accepted, Sam Smith," Apollo said softly. "I will answer your prayer... I will give him the strength he will need to live his life."

A burst of power, as though a flash of sudden fire, filled the body and Sam began to hack and cough, groaning in pain and retching up the blood that remained in his throat and lungs. He rolled onto his side, his lungs screaming with fire as his breathing resumed and he cleared them of blood and filled them with air. He panted hard, his trembling hand going to his throat self-consciously, but the wound was gone, sealed shut by the god's will, as was the wound in his chest, his fatal injuries healed. After a time he looked up at Daniel to see that Apollo was still within him.

"Arise Sam, for you have given me your life and I therefore claim you as my own. Arise Sam Apolloson and stand before me."

Sam was confused at the god's words, but arose slowly, took up his sword and staggered into place before Daniel. He spun his sword and knelt in prayer before Apollo in Daniel's body, his own body trembling with shock and confusion, yet no longer able to doubt that the deity was real. "My lord," he said weakly, speaking the truth within his heart. "Thank you for this... But I don't understand. What's the point of bringing me back if I'm only going to die again in another month anyways? I don't want Daniel to suffer losing me again."

Apollo looked down upon him. "If you could have one wish for yourself, Sam Apolloson, what would it be?"

"To live... For them," he spoke calmly. "To live and watch Henry grow up, to share the rest of Daniel's life with him that he is never alone. Maybe even to have further children with my beloved. I want to live... For them."

"Rise," the god commanded and Sam arose slowly to stand before him. "Kiss me," the god commanded.

But at this the human hesitated. "D-daniel..."

"He will understand," Apollo said firmly. "Kiss me," he commanded once more and Sam knew he couldn't disobey.

Sam paused, his lips an inch from Daniel's. "Forgive me, Daniel," he whispered and kissed the god, a tear running down his cheek and into his beard.

As he did so, intense power, like fire from the heart of the sun, poured into him. He screamed in agony as his body felt like it was being crushed by tremendous forces and he passed out.

"Sam! Sam please wake up!"

Sam groaned and opened eyes that felt very heavy. "What happened?" he asked weakly.

"Sam, you're alive," Daniel sobbed, hugging and kissing him gently.

Sam kissed him back weakly. "I'm ok," he whispered. As he took stock of himself, he noticed something. "Hey, my head doesn't hurt anymore." It was true, the constant migraine he had been enduring from the tumor was suddenly gone. "As a matter of fact, I feel pretty good, except for my stomach," he said, reaching down to rub his guts... And screamed in agony as white-hot pain lanced through him. He writhed on the floor in a mixture of agony and shocked confusion, not understanding what was happening to him.

"Sam, you have to be careful," Matthew said from above him. "Don't disturb your filaments."

"My what?" Sam gasped, looking down in shock to see that his stomach was now tanned and smooth with six-pack abs... And there, protruding from his navel, were objects that resembled white feathers... Just like those of a Spartan. "What the fuck's happening to me?" he wheezed.

"It is the will of Apollo," the head priest breathed in wonder, gazing at the miracle before him.

Sam looked around to see virtually everyone in the temple, man, woman, Spartan and Amazon gathered around him, staring at him in a mixture of shock and awe. He rose up weakly, waving away Daniel's silent offer to help. Once he was standing, he saw that everyone was staring at him, waiting for him to speak, but he didn't know what to say. He held out his hand. "My sword," he whispered to his beloved, who picked up the bloodstained blade and handed it to him, looking at his partner in awe.

He took it firmly in hand, stepped forward and raised it in salute. Then he turned to the fire and assumed the prayer position, groaning in pain as he disturbed his new filaments, feeling everyone else follow suit and kneeling in prayer. "Apollo be with us." He spoke aloud in a firm voice.

"Apollo be with us," everyone intoned in response. Sam knelt there in silent prayer, thanking Apollo for these gifts.

He stayed in that state for some time, then arose and turned to the people, who arose and came forward as Sam gasped, looking down to see his filaments retract back inside his body. Then he stood and touched the offered hands of each of the people who came forward, wanting to touch a person blessed by the power of the gods, masking his confusion as he did so...

Sam found that he had a big problem when he wanted to leave the temple... Emphasis on 'big'. As a Spartan now, his height had increased by four inches and as a result, his clothing and shoes no longer fit. Many people offered him their clothes, but he suddenly felt very guilty and politely refused, thanking them for the gesture, but telling them that he would be alright. Ryan, who was the same size, offered to run out and buy him some clothes to wear for the trip home.

People continued to flood in and Sam had to exercise patience at everyone trying to treat him like a messiah or something. Many attributed his miraculous resurrection and transformation as being akin to that of the works of his holiness, high priest James Phillipson and his partner Michael Apolloson, also known more humbly by his human name of Mike Hill. This made Sam feel very uncomfortable and self-conscious, as he politely, yet vehemently refused. Part of him was surprised at this, as his Satanic pride should have been flattered at the comparison, but all it did was serve to make him feel like a freak of nature when all he wanted was to be treated normally.

Despite several protests for him to stay in New York, Sam really wanted to get away from all of the attention and just return home. He was shocked when the media arrived at the temple, wanting an interview, which he refused. He did, however, offer a written statement that the head priest offered to the public explaining that Sam thanked everyone for their support and interest, yet needed time to recover and get his thoughts sorted out before he spoke to anyone personally, asking for their patience and understanding.

The family had to fight their way through the crowds, accompanied by a police escort, all the way to the airport and fly home. They arrived at the Minneapolis International airport to more crowds and media, who pressed up close to Sam, wanting to speak with or touch him. "Everyone please! I'm not a priest or a messiah or anything. I'm just a Spartan now is all!" he would protest, but no one was listening.

Police had to keep everyone away from the house the following morning, setting up a barrier to keep people out. Sam sat at the table as Matthew handed him his breakfast, looking at him in awe. Sam sighed explosively. "Alright! That's it! Family meeting right now! Everyone sit down!"

The Spartan members of the family moved quickly to obey, making Sam sigh again in frustration as david stood there looking nervous before he too sat down at the table. "I can't do this!" he exclaimed. "It's bad enough that they," he said, gesturing to the world outside, "Treat me like this, but I can't take it from my own family too! Can't you all just try to treat me normally?" he pleaded. "Please! I need... I just want to feel normal... Well, as normal as I can be, that is. I'm just Sam, nothing more. I can't cope with you all acting like I'm about to start performing miracles or something. Apollo already has his chosen priests for that. I'm just me. Can't you just at least try to act normal around me?" He began to cry and seeing how much he was suffering, the family relented and did their best to treat Sam like a normal person as much as they were able...

Sam laid in bed, wanting to be as close to Daniel as possible. After his transformation, he found that his love for his partner had flared in intensity and they spent all of their time together over the next few days. To Sam, it felt more like a second honeymoon than anything else. "What's happening to me?" he breathed against Daniel. "I like this, but I'm confused."

"It's the partner bond, I think," Daniel explained softly. "Now that you're a Spartan, you're experiencing it all over again."

"I love you so much it almost hurts. Is this how you always feel about me?"

"Yes."

"I love you so much."

"I love you too."

They kissed passionately, then began to make love tenderly...

Daniel laid there, staring gently down at his sleeping partner, who laid on his side facing Daniel. Daniel smiled down in wonder at his love, studying his face and feeling unable to comprehend the miracle before him. Sam was touched by the power of Apollo, yet was still Sam. Daniel reflected back, remembering with a shudder as he relived the events from the day at the temple.

He'd been a bit shocked that Sam had wanted to be alone within the temple, yet had respected his wishes. After a few moments, a sensation had begun within him, pulling him to Sam's side. He had stripped, donned a sword and entered, drawn to the sacred flame of Apollo. Part of him had been shocked to see Sam kneeling in prayer, but the call of the fire could not be denied. Once he was before it, he had felt the power of his lord wash over him.

Daniel, son of Matthew, may I use your voice and body? Daniel had heard his lord speaking into his mind.

I am yours, lord, he had thought, unable to deny the request of his god, honored that he would be chosen as a vessel for Apollo's will.

He recalled the events that followed, feeling Apollo's amusement at Sam, an atheist who shunned the very notion of any divinity out of hurt and betrayal that his prayers had never been answered, who had prayed to him for the sake of his family. And when Apollo called for sacrifice, he had reacted in horror. No! Please! Please don't! he had begged within his mind, trying to break free of his lord's will, but the power held him firmly, unwilling to release him and forcing him to watch what followed.

When Sam's life had been freely given to the god, Daniel felt his world come to an end. All he wanted was to die, unable to live without his love by his side. But Apollo remained firm, chiding him for his selfishness and telling him to see the nobility of Sam's death. He felt shame then at his own behavior despite his grief. He now knew that Sam had known that Daniel had planned on committing suicide once Sam was gone. He also knew that the last thing Sam had wanted was for baby Henry to grow up an orphan the same way as his human father. It was love for them both that had given Sam the strength to do what Apollo had willed.

But Apollo had said something which Daniel had not been allowed to hear and suddenly, Sam was alive once more. Daniel had then been shocked to hear his lord claim Sam as his own, naming the human his son, then granting him a wish. Daniel had wept at that wish and when Sam had begged his forgiveness at being made to kiss the god, Daniel had gladly forgiven him, knowing that Apollo's will was undeniable. Then he had felt the god's power flow through him and into Sam and they had both passed out. Daniel had awoken first, staring in wonder at his transformed love, gazing in wonder at Sam's filaments and seeing that his love was now Spartan.

He looked to Sam now and realized that the god had healed him. The future they had thought robbed from them now restored as equals, for Daniel now knew within his heart that his and Sam's lives were one. Also, Sam had the Spartan gift and could bear Daniel's sons if he wished. He felt certain that Sam would want at least one.

Sam shifted then, rolling onto his back. Daniel paled slightly as Sam's head leaned back and the thin scar across his throat stood out in the morning light coming in through the window. Then Daniel looked down to see the thin vertical scar over Sam's breastbone and stared at it. It had cost all of Sam's pride to do this for Daniel, to pray to a god he refused to acknowledge for the sake of his love and their son, then offer his life to that god that his prayer be answered. Daniel leaned forward, kissed the chest scar over the heart in gratitude, then the one at his throat, then his lips.

Sam reacted unconsciously to that kiss, pursing his lips before relaxing them, yet remained deeply asleep. He had slept so poorly the last few months that he now slept very deeply as he recovered. A gentle coughing came from the crib and Daniel rose quickly yet quietly, picking up little Henry and holding him close to ease the boy's discomfort. Daniel kissed his baby's head softly.

"I'm sorry," he said softly. "I'm sorry I was so selfish. I'll never leave you, Henry. I love you so much... Please forgive me. I promise I'll never leave you... No matter what..."

It was a half hour later that Sam awoke for the day. "Morning," he said, stretching and rising to join them. He stood beside them, kissing little Henry gently, then Daniel.

"Morning," Daniel relied.

"How is he?"

"He's fine," Daniel said with a smile, which became one of suffering as Henry began to cry with need. "Just hungry," he sighed, sat on the bed and began to nurse the baby.

Sam sat down thoughtfully. "We need to talk..."

Daniel looked to him and nodded.

"I need you to know that all of this," Sam said, waving at the world outside, "Isn't something that I wanted. All I wanted was to be here for you both. But I guess that what's happened is bigger than just the three of us. Try to be patient, is all I ask. I don't know what all will happen, but try to promise me two things. First, that no matter what happens, all that matters to me is you guys and that you'll try to be patient with everything that's going on. The second is that you'll try you best to treat me normally. I don't think that I'm an embodiment of Apollo or anything, but my life is His."

"So you truly do believe in him now?" Daniel asked with a smile.

Sam's hand went to the scar across his throat self-consciously. "Kind of hard not to."

"What about Satanism? Are you abandoning your faith?"

"I guess so, but I wouldn't really say abandon. It's a good, healthy religion full of things that are very helpful. It gives strength and happiness to people. It's just that I'm not the person I used to be anymore. I thank my former faith for all that it gave me and will continue to abide by some of the principles of it. I'm still a prideful person, even if that pride was always self-directed only. I still believe in treating people the way they deserve, rather than being all loving all the time. I just can't work that way. I worship Apollo now, but I'm still me... I'm only hu-," he gave a cross between a snort and a chuckle. "Spartan.... And not some kind of super-being, or anything. My life's going to be a lot different now, just try to be patient."

"I promise," Daniel said softly, looking into his eyes.

"And I need you to promise me something else... You don't know what it's like to be an orphan, Dan. It's very lonely. If... If something ever happens to me, I need you to promise that you'll live on after I'm gone for the sake of Henry... And any other children we may have," he added, stroking his stomach thoughtfully, making Daniel smile that he'd been right to guess that one day Sam would want a baby of his own.

"I promise," Daniel answered softly and kissed him gently.

"I think this happened for a reason, Dan. This is something really important. As long as I have you and you promise to try to just treat me like Sam, just your partner and husband, then I think I can do what will be required of me. I still need to learn more about Apollo and how to worship him properly... It's strange. I honestly never thought that I'd be like this. I... Thought that the gods had felt that I was worthless, just like all of the potential parents who always passed me by. I thought that they didn't want me either..." Tears came to his eyes.

Daniel wrapped his free arm around Sam and held him while he cried.

"Please tell me I'm not going to always be weepy like this?" Sam asked with humor through his tears.

"No, it's not that. You're fine. You've just been through a lot is all, so it's ok to be a bit emotional. You're still my big strong He-man. But if you think this is bad, just wait 'til Emergence!" They laughed. "So," Dan asked. "Would you want to have a baby?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Then next Emergence will be yours, ok?"

Sam nodded, got up and stretched, then gazed at himself in the mirror, admiring his new Spartan physique, flexing his muscles with a smile of satisfaction. "Please tell me you're not turning narcissistic," Daniel teased, getting up after burping Henry.

"Why shouldn't I? I'm a real hunk now!" Sam said with a smile as he admired himself further. Daniel set the baby back into his crib and walked over to stand next to him in the mirror's reflection. Sam turned and embraced him, becoming aroused. As Daniel leaned down slightly to kiss him, Sam snorted.

"What?" he asked.

He saw Sam compare his new height of six foot two to Daniel's six foot four and pouted. "You're still taller than me!"

Daniel laughed and kissed him...

They went out to the kitchen after making love, then taking turns bathing. Daniel had washed, changed and dressed Henry and the trio went out to the kitchen where Matthew sat there reading the paper while David made breakfast. They greeted each other, Matthew looking at Sam with an expression of wonder, which he quashed at Sam's slight frown.

"Sorry," he said by way of apology.

"It's alright," Sam answered with a sigh. "I guess I need to get used to it, is all."

"Yeah," the older Spartan said with a frown. "But you'd asked me not to treat you that way."

They sat and ate, Daniel noting that for well over a month now, even before Sam's transformation, the relations between him and David had been much more pleasant. As they ate, Matthew glanced at his son-in-law. "How are you feeling? Any side effects or anything?"

"No," Sam replied, "But I still want to go see a doctor. Get another x-ray to make sure the tumor's really gone, as well as make sure everything I've got now works ok. Better safe than sorry."

Everyone nodded. Sam thought for awhile before he spoke. "Hey Matthew?"

"Yeah?"

"There's no priests around here, so you're the best person to ask. Can you teach me about Apollo and worship?"

"What about... You other religion," David asked, hesitating only slightly as he asked.

"I thank it for what it gave me, but that's a part of my past now."

"I'd be honored," Matthew said, "but don't feel that you -have- to worship our lord just because you're a Spartan now. There's many of our kind who don't worship."

"It's not that..." Sam answered slowly. "It's just that it feels right, is all. I think that it's what's meant for me."

"So you're not an atheist anymore?" David asked with an amused smile.

"Kind of hard not to believe in gods after what I've been though," Sam said honestly, running a thumb down the scar over his heart gently.

They were finishing up when Sam cleared his throat. "Can I ask you guys' help with something?"

"What is it, Sam?" David asked.

"Since it's tax time and I've got some extra money, I want to see about changing my name. Since Apollo gave me his name, I want to make it official and I'll need witnesses who've known me for at least a year to bear witness and testify on my behalf. Truth is, I never was a big fan of the name Smith. Far too ordinary and it comes from people I have no attachment to, either."

The family was glad to offer their support...

The doctor visit was interesting, to say the least. The doctors were baffled at Sam's transformation, as well as morbidly curious about the scars. He underwent a full body scan, which verified the absence of the tumor, as well as the presence of the reproductive organs that all Spartans had. He was given a clean bill of health and his medical data updated, then they went to the courthouse to apply for a hearing on the name change. A month later, the judge declared his change granted, and that he would be known henceforth as Sam Henry Apolloson. He kept his middle name out of deference to the baby as well as the fact that he liked it well himself. They had to also file a hearing to update his name in the database for the Spartan Partner Nonseparation Act and obtain updated documentation to that effect, as well as update Henry's birth certificate and all of Sam's documentation.

As they walked down the street, everyone stared at Sam, many wanting to stop him and either speak to him or shake his hand and he relented with dignity to the treatment. They arrived home to find a bit of mail for Sam with a heartfelt letter from a new convert to Apollo... Accompanied by a personal check bearing a donation of a hundred dollars. He blanched at that, feeling like he was being given a handout.

That donation turned out to be only the first of thousands and Sam began to feel guilty... Then he got an idea, opened a special checking account and began to place all of the donations he received into it, refusing to touch the money, which began to accumulate rapidly. In the meantime, Sam set up a facebook page and within a month he found himself flooded with hundreds of messages of requests for the blessings of Apollo, gratitude and praise...

Over the next few months, the hype over Sam's resurrection and transformation died down some and many of his admirers had been talked to and explained to that Sam was not a holy man, merely one who had been given a miraculous gift. Many of the crowd dispersed over the next few weeks and peace returned to the home.

He walked out of the house one day to make his way to the barn for his personal prayers to Apollo. Sam's atheism was a thing of the past, for a god had finally showed Sam that his prayers mattered and would be answered. After a week of long and hard thought, Sam had realized that he felt the call to worship the god that had given him so much and became Apolline without any trance of shame or regret. He was heading to the barn when a few of his admirers stopped him, seeing the sword in his hand. "Sam, are you going to pray to Apollo?" one of them asked in a manner full of hope.

"Yes," he said kindly. "I go to worship my god."

"Can we come and pray with you?" Another asked hopefully.

Sam looked upon the woman kindly with pity. "But you do not have a sword. One must have a sword in order to pray properly before Apollo."

"But..." One of them faltered.

"To do otherwise would be an insult both to Him and to you yourself. However... I would be willing to pray to Apollo on this and ask his will... Also, I feel the need to make certain that you all understand that I am not any form of clergy, ordained or otherwise. I am merely a Spartan who worships the one who gave him so much. I will pray and seek wisdom and understanding that I may know of his desires. If you were armed properly, I would allow you to join me, but as you are not, I cannot do so. I do not mean this as any form of insult, nor do I mean to imply that any of you are in any way unworthy. It is merely how one worships Apollo properly, is all. Proud, bearing all and with sword in hand. Please try to understand."

He felt very sorry that he couldn't let them worship along with him, but one must approach the god properly. He said a few more words of kindness, then entered the barn, disrobed, donned his sword belt and walked to the center of the room, wishing that there was a temple in which to worship properly. There were no clergy in Minnesota as there were few Spartans here and most did not worship Apollo at all. The family of Matthew were quite probably the single most devout family of Spartans in the entire region of the country despite having no formal religious training or ordinations among any of the family.

Sam knelt in prayer, praying to his god for a way he could help those outside who had so wanted to worship by his side. He also prayed for wisdom and inspiration as well as thanking Apollo for all that he had. Then an idea began to form within his mind and he knew what he wanted to do with his life. He realized that he had already set some of it into motion, but the rest would take time. First, he would need to learn properly.

He contacted Apolline clergy and began a dialogue with them, becoming shocked when High Priest James Phillipson contacted him personally, to whom Sam proposed his idea. James seemed to be all for it and they chatted often, comparing notes. A priest of Apollo came to Minnesota and began a formal religious training of Sam, teaching him thoroughly in the ways of Apolline worship. Priest Walter Samson, a Spartan, arrived, eliciting a laugh from both of them at the irony of the priest's last name in regards to his pupil's first and they set to work on teaching Sam and his family the official ways of worship.

Matthew was pleased that his own form of worship was deemed very appropriate by the priest, although the animals should have been tranquilized before being sacrificed. Matthew had mumbled in embarrassment that he had no way to obtain the needed medications and the priest vowed to look into the matter on his behalf...

One morning, about a year after his transformation, Sam awoke to sharp stinging pains in his abdomen to find Daniel in a similar state. They, like all partner bonds that were Spartan to Spartan, had become Emergent at the same time. Everyone was very happy for them. They waited several days, having to be careful about cuddling and hugging due to the sensitive, feathery filaments, but waited patiently until full Emergence was achieved. That night, Sam was the one to lay back, waiting patiently and looking up into Daniel's eyes, watching as his love got close to orgasm.

Daniel groaned with release and Sam snarled in pain, gritting his teeth as the semen coated his sensitive filaments. The next hour was one of agony, Daniel holding his hand in sympathy, as the feathers slowly curled inwards, compacting in on themselves and bringing Daniel's sperm to the waiting egg to fertilize it. Sam grunted and winced, using meditative techniques to help him endure the pain. Finally, after what had seemed to be forever in terms of time, the last of the movement of the filaments ended, leaving the bubble that would be his womb resting against his navel.

Priest Walter announced a three year break in Sam's training that he be allowed the time to deal with the gestation and care for the child once he was born. Sam allowed pics to be taken, which he shamelessly posted online and received a flood of congratulations from his admirers, as well as a few death threats and bits of hate speech from bigots. But his supporters counter-threatened and defended him, making Sam cry with gratitude as his spiking hormones made him more emotional...

The next few months were racked with stinging pains in Sam's growing womb and he had to be very careful. He had to make sure never to lean over things like counters and tables and avoid putting any pressure on his stomach which could either cause intense pain, or damage the womb and void his gestation. The hardest part was not being able to sleep on his stomach, which was Sam's preferred position of rest. Fortunately, the pain in his belly prevented him from moving into that position in his sleep. As the womb wasn't attached to the circulatory system and any painkillers that worked on the nervous system would instantly kill the growing child, he had to resort to meditation to deal with the pain and his fragile emotional state.

Over time, however, the family began to note with concern that his womb seemed to be growing somewhat faster than normal. By the fourth month of gestation, Sam was in so much pain that he became restricted to the house. As the sixth month began, he was already bedridden... A full month sooner that was normal. The more his womb grew and the pain increased, the more Sam had to meditate to deal with the pain as well as to fight off his growing fears.

"Something's wrong, isn't it?" He asked David one night.

"I don't know," David said softly. "I'm no expert on Spartan pregnancies, but you're progressing faster than most."

"I'm scared," Sam admitted, beginning to sob. "I don't want to lose my baby..."

Daniel and Matthew were just as nervous and felt helpless to do anything. They asked every other Spartan they knew and even tried to search around online for answers, but everyone was just as baffled and worried for Sam. The family did the only thing they could... They prayed for the safety of Sam and the life within his womb...

"Daddy Sam, please don't cry," Little Henry, now a toddler, said to his sobbing and pain-racked parent.

"I'm sorry Sweetness," he said to his son. "I just hurt a lot and am a bit scared for your potential brother... I don't know what to do."

"Can I pray for you? Like what Daddy Daniel does?"

Sam felt like crying. "You'd do that for me?"

Henry nodded solemnly.

"Thank you," Sam said, as Henry kissed his cheek...

"Ok," Daniel said as he looked out the window of their bedroom after getting off the phone. "The bull will be here soon," he said to Sam.

"A Bull? Dan! We can't afford a Bull!" Sam protested.

"Hey! The whole family chipped in for one. For you, it's worth it. The whole family's here for you. We'll pray to Apollo with all we have."

"How are you guys going to hold something that big still long enough to sacrifice?"

"Priest Walter obtained the needed sedatives. Don't worry, it'll be fine. He's leading worship tonight, too..."

Later that night, Sam heard the bull's last cry as it was sacrificed, then laid back with his eyes closed, imagining that he was at Daniel's side, praying along with him. Suddenly, Sam felt an invisible hand upon his head and he sobbed as his god made his presence known. "Please, I beg you lord, I don't want to lose my child. I'm scared... Please help me and him to get through this ok."

He felt the fingers of the hand tighten against his scalp in a reassuring manner and felt some of his fear ease. "Thank you," he sighed, crying...

Sam grunted in pain. "Dammit! What are you doing in there? A break dancing routine or something?" The baby was restless, twitching around and seeming to hit his stomach and womb wall everywhere with no predictable pattern in multiple places at once.

"What's happening?" he asked Ryan.

"Seems like the little guy's restless is all. It's normal... Just so long as he doesn't get too reckless..."

"And rip the womb," Sam finished the thought that Ryan was reluctant to voice aloud.

"Yeah."

Sam snarled with pain. "Knock it off in there! You're coming out when the time's right and not before!" Another sharp kick. "OWW! Oh you little fuck!" he exclaimed, raising his fist and glaring furiously at his womb.

"Sam!" Ryan blurted with alarm.

"Hey! If I don't start disciplining him right away, then he'll walk all over me!" Sam growled, but lowered his fist.

"You're just a bit on edge from the pain. Here, I'll put on some soft music to try to help calm him down."

"Anything!" Sam grunted. "Just so long as it's nothing that's on 'Dance Dance Revolution'... I don't want the kid getting any ideas!"

Ryan began to laugh...

Sam groaned as his lower body was very carefully lifted by Matthew as Daniel slid the bedpan under his buttocks. "This is so fucking gross," Sam sobbed as he released his bowels, filling the pan. "I hate this! I feel like a pig with no damned legs!"

"Sam, meditate," Matthew ordered, holding Sam's legs carefully as Daniel waited patiently for his partner to finish.

"It's ok, Sam," Daniel said soothingly. "We all go through this. You did it for me."

"Yeah! But you don't throw up over doing it like I did! ...I'm so fucking disgusting!"

"Come on Sam," Matthew answered softly. "We don't think any less of you for going through this. That's what families are for. You know you can't get up without risking tearing the womb prematurely and causing stillbirth."

"I know..." Sam sighed. "But I'm not supposed to be this big, either!"

His partner and the father didn't know how to answer... As Sam's statement was very true...

Sam was reading when a sudden, sharp pain hit him in the lower abdomen, just above the pubic region, followed by a trickle of wetness. Alarmed, he reached down and his fingers came away wet.

"Oh shit!" he groaned, reaching for the bell they'd set up for him. Sam had been very sparse with the use of the bell, much to the family's relief, so they knew that if he rang it, the matter was important and not just him wanting to waste everyone's time on something trivial.

"Sam?" Daniel said, hurrying to his side.

"I think I sprung a leak, and not piss, either..." He grunted, as the stinging pains began to worsen.

Daniel examined the womb and came up smiling. "Yeah! It's happening! I'll get the dads."

The worst part so far was the horrible agony he experienced as he was moved to the floor and he began his meditations to help deal with the pain. He leaned against Daniel while on his knees on the towels, groaning in pain as he was made to lean forward farther.

"Damn that's tearing fast!" Matthew muttered as he checked again a few minutes in.

"Is.... That bad?" Sam grunted, fighting to keep his breathing steady.

"I don't know," Matthew answered grimly.

Finally, after about fifteen minutes, Matthew said it was time. "Sam, support yourself against Daniel... He'll need both hands."

Sam nodded, holding himself up and drenched with sweat from the incredible pain he was enduring. Daniel slowly worked his hands inside, Sam hissing with the extra pain. Daniel began to feel around, frowning with concentration.

After several moments, however, Matthew became worried. "Daniel, hurry up and get a hold of him already!"

Suddenly, Daniel's expression changed to one of shock. "Dad! Dad Matt! You have to help me!"

"What is it? What's wrong?" he asked, moving closer quickly. "What's wrong with him?"

Daniel shook his head in shock. "Not him... THEM!!!"

"WHAT?!?" Matthew exclaimed, his mouth falling open in shock.

"Dan, are you sure?" David asked.

Daniel felt around. "Yeah! I'm sure of it!"

"T-twins?!?" Sam gasped in shock and pain.

"Yeah!" Daniel exclaimed. "I'm sure of it... What do we do?"

Matthew thought quickly... "Ok, David, run and get a second set of clothes. Daniel, how are they positioned?"

Daniel felt around. "Side by side, lengthwise."

"Ok... Pull your hands out carefully," he instructed and his son did so as Sam hissed in pain. David returned with the second set of baby clothes and extra towels.

"Damn, we can't change positions..." Matthew muttered. "Ok, David you on Sam's left, I'll take the right. Daniel, help support Sam." They all moved to position. "Alright, David. Put both hands in slowly and gently until you have the boy on your side and wait 'til I have the other one."

They dug their hands inside, making Sam scream in pain. "I know it hurts more Sam, but hang in there," David told him. "Just breathe! You can't pass out or the babies might drown before we can get them out of you!" Sam nodded to show he understood as he tried to steady his breathing further.

They got their hands onto the boys and told the other. "Ok," Matthew said. "We do this on three. Remember, -on- three!" One! Two! Three!!!"

They tore the babies from Sam and his scream nearly deafened them as the womb of filaments shredded apart. Matthew then studied the umbilical cord to see what they were dealing with. "Ok, the cord comes out of Sam and splits into a 'Y', then runs to them from there. We tie off the cord at Sam between him and the 'Y', then the babies like normal. We cut Sam's end first."

Sam groaned in agony as they used string to tie off the ends of the cord. "Ok Sam. Last step for you," David said. He counted under his breath, then sliced. Sam let out a strangled gurgle and passed out from shock at the unbelievable amount of pain as the sensitive nerve bundles in the cord were cut in two. David handed the knife to Daniel, who cut his babies' cords, then quickly cleaned and dressed them with Matthew passing him the needed things quickly, the pair working fast to ensure the children didn't take a chill.

Meanwhile, David tended to Sam, removing the remaining filaments from him and cleaning him as best as he could. By the time Sam had painfully regained consciousness, the babies were ready for him. David helped him back into bed and Matthew and Daniel handed him his boys. He moved them carefully to a nipple each and they began to feed.

"Oh fuck that feels weird!" Sam gasped, then laughed. He smiled down at his children lovingly as they fed greedily, falling instantly in love with them.

"I don't know how you managed to pull this off Sam," Matthew breathed in wonder.

"Why?" Sam asked with confusion, looking up at the grandparent.

"Sam... You have to only be the second Spartan in ages to successfully carry twins to term! Every other pair I've ever heard of didn't survive to birth. I think you're the first here in America to do so. Priest Gabriel Michelson in England has just had twins himself only a few months ago, but you're the first American Spartan to have them successfully. These boys are a miracle!"

"Do you have names for them?" Daniel asked, smiling with joy at his newest sons.

"Well, they came out together... So which one was on the left?" Sam asked.

"This little guy," Daniel said, petting the head of the baby on Sam's right.

Sam looked at the boy and smiled. "I'll name you Marcus." He then turned to the other twin. "And I'll name you Jason."

"I like those names," Daniel said softly.

"Sorry I didn't name either of them after you, but Spartans don't use middle names and I'd hate to be a junior as that lacks imagination. I figure that since we're of Spartan descent, then they should have names of Greek origin as that's the closest parallel I can think of."

"It's ok," Daniel said, leaning in to kiss Sam gently. "I'm so proud of you."

"Time for a picture," David said, readying the camera.

"Hold on," Sam said. "I want to make sure I look right for it and capture the mood appropriately." He then tilted his head to the side with mostly lidded eyes and an exhausted look of deepest relief. "Ok," he said, maintaining that pose. "Ready."

David sighed with deepest suffering and took the picture. "Can we have a serious one too?" he moaned. Sam complied, smiling warmly at the camera as David took another shot.

It was several minutes later after admiring the newest members of the family that David suddenly groaned.

"What's wrong," Matthew asked him with concern.

"This means that not only do we have to shop for more things for the second child now, but we'll also need to take back the stroller and get a bigger one... And it took me hours to get it together in the first place!" he mock-sobbed.

Everyone laughed, including David himself...

Sam laid there in bed the next day as Ryan and Liam came into the bedroom to greet their new nephews with a sense of wonder. Martin and Brian made the trip with little Jacob to meet the grand nephews and nephews respectively. Daniel had posted the pics to Sam's facebook page and the praise and well wishes rolled in. The oddest one of all, though, was from priest Gabriel in England, who congratulated him on his rare, wonderful and unique achievement. 'Unique'? ...What about his own set of twins? Sam puzzled over that remark, but left it alone when he figured that it must have been a typo in the message... Or maybe it was a just British turn of phrase.

Henry loved his new brothers instantly and although still little, wanted to help take care of them all the time. A week after the birth, Sam's and the babies' umbilical cords finally detached, taking with it the last of the father's pain. For the first time in nearly nine and a half months, Sam was able to move without flinching and his tensed up muscles were finally able to truly relax. He sighed with relief and was able to begin exercises with his legs to regain the strength he had lost in them from being bedridden for the last four months.

About a week or so after the birth, Sam noted that Marcus' eyes were slightly darker than Jason's, giving him a way to tell them apart and relieving Sam's worries of accidentally mixing them up and calling them by the wrong names. He also began to think long and hard, wondering which of the boys would turn out to be the evil twin. The other, naturally, would have to go, as Sam didn't think he could bear the shame of having fathered such a child and was worried about what it would do for his reputation. He started laughing at that.

"What's so funny?" Daniel asked as he walked into the bedroom to begin today's exercises for Sam's legs.

"You'd smack me if I told you," Sam answered with a goofy smile.

"Ok," Daniel said, reaching for Jason. "Come to Daddy Daniel... Ready for a nap?" he asked and Jason yawned in answer. "Guess so."

"Any luck on finding that hockey mask for Jason yet?" Sam asked.

Daniel sighed with disgust. "We're not buying him a hockey mask! Fuck... Is that why you named him that?" he asked as he set Jason into the crib and turned back to Sam and Marcus.

"Not at first, but you know..." Daniel shot Sam a dirty look. "What?" Sam asked defensively. "Hey, at least I'm willing to wait until he's old enough to decide for himself if he's a machete man or an axe man. It's his choice!" Daniel drug his hand down his face as Sam smiled at baby Marcus. "I should've named you Freddy," he cooed. "Don't go playing with fire or other people's dreams, now."

Daniel prayed to Apollo for patience...

The public was very excited and curious at the news that Sam had successfully had twins and many admirers sent further donations to aid the shocked and embarrassed father, who resolutely refused to touch the money for any reason. Unbeknownst to him, Daniel took the money and used it to start up a college fund for the twins, that they could receive the best education possible once they were older.

Sam was sitting outside under a tree, his legs crossed Indian-style and his sheathed sword across his nude lap. He closed his eyes and lifted his face to the sun, feeling its warmth wash over him as it filtered down through the leaves. He knew what he would like to do with his life, but was unsure if it was the right thing to do. He wanted it, but felt unworthy. That unworthiness confused him. As a prideful man, shouldn't he be free of such doubts? His pride was a big part of him and he thought that it would be interfering in his decision-making process more than it was, which only made him feel more confused over just how much he had changed in the last few years. He didn't understand why he felt so conflicted.

For the first time in the last few years, Sam wished he had someone to talk to, a father perhaps. He didn't want to burden Matthew with this and David wasn't of their faith, so he wouldn't understand. He just needed someone to talk to, someone who could offer him their wisdom and guidance. He wished he had a father of his own...

You do have a father, A voice spoke softly to him.

Sam suddenly became aware of a powerful presence around him, like the power of the sun made manifest as a field of invisible force that surrounded him. "L-lord Apollo?" he asked, stunned and unsure.

You wished to speak to a father figure, did you not? How can I ignore my son when he needs me?

"Your son? I don't understand. You're a god and I'm only-"

When I gave you my name to carry as your own, it was not just merely words, Sam... In that moment, I adopted you as my own.

Sam became overwhelmed, as the one thing he had always wanted more than anything else in life was to have a parent. Now, Apollo had called himself such. He cried, shedding tears of deep indefinable emotion. It was several minutes before he recovered from the revelation. As he sat crying, he felt the sensation of arms around him and he cried for joy and pain he could finally let go after keeping it buried deep within his heart for longer than he could remember.

"Why me? Why choose to adopt me of all people?"

You have many qualities that I respect and admire. You have the pride of the warrior and the inner strength of one as well. You are wise beyond your years, yet also full of innocence. You endure pain and suffering with dignity... But most of all, there is the primary quality that you possess. That thing is love, Sam. It is both your greatest weakness and also your greatest strength, for it is the love of others that defines you so strongly that when you feel as though it is not being offered to you, you experience deep emotional pain. You both possess and require it in great quantities. It was the love you feel for Daniel and Henry that allowed you to sacrifice yourself to me for their sakes. It is love for your family that guides your path as you pursue your goals. And love is the one thing you want most from others. Love is your greatest power. Even when you were a Satanist, you understood the power and strength of love. You understand that Satanists do not shun love, they accept it as a valuable part of life and know to exercise it wisely. And it is love that brought you to me. How can I not love one such as you?

Sam sat there with tears in his eyes, seeing the truth that he had feared would never be. That the gods, one at least, did want him. "You know what I want to do with my life, don't you?" he said after several minutes.

Yes... And you have both my blessings and my gratitude for your selflessness. You desire to help others, even after all of the pain that you have endured...

"Then you're ok with it? ...You'd really accept me as one of your priests?"

I would be deeply honored, Sam. You shall make a fine priest... But first, there are things that you must do. Firstly, you must tend to your sons, so that they grow enough to endure the times when you will not be able to be by their sides. And you know what else you must do...

"Daniel... I need to make sure he's ok with it, as well as my plans for once I do become a priest."

Go and speak to him. Ask for his blessings... And Sam... Call upon me whenever you have need.

Sam sputtered. "Lord... Father... I don't want to tie up your time with my insecurities. I mean what if you are needed elsewhere? It wouldn't be right for you to just be a shoulder for me to cry on when someone needs you elsewhere, like to save someone's life or something."

Sam was stunned to hear cordial laughter within his head. Oh Sam, you truly are interesting! Tell me... Do you know what the term 'omnipresent' means?

"Something you get the leader of the Autobots for his birthday?" Sam asked with a cocked eyebrow.

He heard a groan in his head, followed by light-hearted muttering. No Sam... Besides, I think you mean 'Optimus', not omni. Omnipresence means that I can be everywhere at once. As I am here talking to you, I am also currently accepting sacrifice from my priests in Sydney, listening to the prayers of my worshippers in London, comforting a man in mourning in France who has just lost his beloved wife to illness and watching my loved ones sleep. I am everywhere at once and can divide my attention appropriately, keeping each action separate from the others while maintaining full awareness and concentration on each simultaneously. That is what omnipresence is.

"Doesn't that give you a headache or something?"

The god laughed gently. The point, Sam, is that you will never be taking away my time from others. Whenever you wish to speak with me, offer your prayers and I will come to you. You are my son. I will always be here for you as much as I am able, regardless of whether you worship, offer sacrifice, or merely need some fatherly advice.

"Thank you, Father."

Now go and speak with Daniel. He is very curious of late as to what you plan for the future. It will affect him very deeply as well as you and your sons... And he wants and deserves to know.

"I will."

He felt a squeeze upon his shoulder in a gesture of reassurance, then the presence of his parent and god lifted. Sam sighed and rose slowly, then put on the bathrobe he had worn to come outside before heading into the house, his heart feeling lighter as his fears dissipated...

"Hey," he whispered to Daniel, who was reading a sci-fi novel.

"Hey," he whispered back, not wanting to wake the twins.

"They been down long?"

"Just a few minutes, why?"

"Can we talk?"

"Sure," Daniel said, getting up quietly as Sam grabbed the baby monitor, placed the transmitter next to the crib before turning it on and smiling down at his sons, who cuddled together in sleep, thumbs in their mouths. He took the receiver and they quietly left the room and closed the door partway. They walked to the kitchen and sat down, setting the receiver on the table so that they could hear if anything were to be wrong with the babies. Matthew and David were out shopping for groceries with Henry, so they had the house to themselves.

"I'm sure that you've been wondering what I've been up to lately, but I wasn't really sure about it myself until now."

"Why now?" Daniel asked. "What's happened?"

"Father stopped by, so to speak, and we had a talk. He's all for what I want to do, but wants me to make sure you're ok with it too."

"Father...? You mean-?" Daniel looked shocked, then stared at Sam with the deepest awe.

"Stop that!" Sam half-whispered, not wanting to raise his voice and disturb the babies. "Please don't look at me like that!"

"Right," Daniel said, recovering with effort. "Sorry."

Sam sighed and shifted in his chair. "I'm sure you know part of it at least. I've been receiving training in preparation for it, but I won't go through with it unless it's ok with you... I feel the call, Daniel. I want to become a priest of Apollo."

"Oh Sam," Daniel said, taking his partner's hand into his own with a smile. "Of course it's ok with me! I'd be honored to be the partner of a priest to our lord. He's given so much to us, given us our future back, not to mention the twins because of his gift to you. You have my blessings. And don't worry, I'll take care of the boys."

"Whoa! Slow down a bit! I'm not joining right away! He said he wants me to help you raise the kids some more so that they can handle me being away sometimes. This is our time to be a family. Priesthood can wait a few years."

"But even priests have family, Sam. I can see about the twins, but Henry is old enough to begin to understand."

"There's more... America is a huge country, Daniel. It can take a week or more to drive all the way across it and that's with minimal stops along the way for rest, gas and food and traveling at top speed. There are potential worshippers who can't find the time and/or resources to make such a trip, so they don't worship Apollo as they wish they could. You know the donations I've been storing away in the bank? I've looked at the amount, Dan, and it's enough for not one, but two temples to be built. People want to believe and worship, but they can't, so they send me money instead. I want to use that money to set up two new temples to Apollo. One here in the Midwest and another on the west coast. That way those who want to worship can be able to do so without bankrupting themselves to travel to a temple.

"That's going to be a major undertaking, though and will take up a lot of my time, possibly for several years. I won't have a lot of time to spend with you and the boys if I do this. I love you all and I won't just drag you guys all across the country behind me. That's no real way to live, especially for children. The only alternative is to leave you here and I couldn't bear to do that. I... Just don't know what to do, is all," Sam finished, looking torn.

"Sam," Daniel said softly, taking his partner's hand into his own. "We're your family. I can see how much this means to you. Besides, who says you have to do it all alone? You've been in contact with his holiness high priest James, why not ask for some help with this?"

"But they're all the way in England! I can't drag them all the way here!"

"Sam! High priest James would -want- to be involved! He -is- the conduit for Apollo's will on Earth, you know! If anyone should be involved, it's him! ...Sam... I think you're way too used to having to do everything for yourself. Now are you going to contact him? Or do I have to do it for you, then pray to Apollo to sit on you until you accept his holiness' help?"

"You'd actually do all of that, wouldn't you?" Sam asked dryly. "But this won't just affect us and the boys, Daniel, it'll affect the whole family. I don't want to put them through any more then I already have... I... I didn't mean for all of this to happen, you know. I just wanted what was best for you and Henry. Now I'm Spartan, have had twins and everyone treats me like the second coming, or something... And you know I can't stand that comparison!"

Just then, the granddads came in with Henry. "Quiet, everyone," Daniel said softly with a finger to his lips. "The boys just went down a bit ago."

Henry hurried over to Daniel, who chided him gently. "Don't run, you can fall and hurt yourself... Hey Lovey."

Henry came over and hugged Sam next. "Hiya kiddo. Have fun with your grandpas?"

"Yeah! W-" the boy began loudly before Sam interrupted him.

"Shhh!" Sam corrected him gently. "Your baby brothers are asleep and if you make too much noise you'll scare them awake and make them cry. Now quietly, ok?"

"Sorry," Henry whispered so timidly that he could barely be heard. "We got ice cream and walked around the lake!"

"And which lake is that?" Sam asked with amusement. "You'll have to narrow it down some, Son. There's over sixteen thousand lakes in Minnesota."

"How many is that, Daddy Sam?"

"Too many," he answered dryly. "I swear, if a pothole is knee deep and full of water, they brand it a lake!"

Daniel chuckled. "So which one was it?"

"Lake Calhoun," Matthew said with a smile. "Is something up?"

"Well," Sam said, glancing at his partner who nodded. "I'd like to tell the whole family, seeing as how it'll affect everyone."

"What is it?" David asked. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing bad," Sam said, "Assuming everyone's ok with it."

"Alright," Matthew said. "How about on Saturday after morning worship? The whole family can worship together, then we'll talk."

Sam nodded in agreement...

The Spartans came inside to join David and the boys after worshiping their lord and gathered in the living room. Just as Sam sat down, the babies began to cry. "Oh come on!" He moaned, rising and removing his shirt with a sigh of disgust. "I just fed them two hours ago!" The family chuckled in sympathy as Daniel helped him pick up the twins and moved to the couch where he began to feed them openly, the family smiling as they watched him nurse his boys without shame or discomfort from anyone present.

"Say," Sam asked wistfully. "Is it too late to change their names?"

"To what?" Liam asked.

"Nosferatu and Dracula... Because these two little vampires are determined to suck me dry!"

The family busted up laughing.

They chatted about idle things until the boys were full, burped and placed into their rockers after Sam and Daniel made sure they didn't need changing. Once the boys were tended to, Sam sat back down and cleared his throat to gain everyone's attention.

"I've asked everyone to be here because there's something I need to talk to you all about. I've decided what I want to do with my life and that's two things. As for the first... Well, you all know by now what I went through last year," he said, tapping the scar on his chest. "And since then, I've had a religious awakening and have begun to worship Apollo. I feel so strongly about my belief in him now that I've decided that once the boys are a bit older, I want to become a priest to Him."

An excited murmur came from the Spartans. Only David was the dissenting voice. "This from the Satanic atheist?"

"You try sacrificing yourself to someone you weren't even sure existed, get brought back to life and then be transformed into a different species by Him and see how you feel afterwards. It's kind of hard not to believe in Apollo after going through something like that!"

"Look," David said. "I don't have the slightest clue as to what happened to you. There's only one god and if any divine power transformed you, it must have been him."

"David," Matthew said softly. "I thought you were more open-minded then that."

"Matthew," he replied. "Look, I feel that I've been unbelievably tolerant of all this pagan worship of yours and even let you involve the boys in it, but you can't expect me to believe in all of that... Stuff. I mean I even let you murder animals for your rites, but to ask me to believe in your superstitions myself is too much for me. There's just no proof!"

Suddenly, Sam felt the same intense presence from earlier and looked up in shock. There was nothing visible, yet all of the Spartans noticed it and gasped in shock.

Sam, my son. May I ask a favor of you?

"Lord?" he asked aloud.

David is unable to believe and because of that, he cannot hear my voice unaided. Do you remember how I had first spoken to you through the body of your beloved Daniel? He allowed me to share of his body and voice that I could communicate to you in a way that did not require you to believe. May I borrow your body and voice that I may speak with David?

Will I still be able to see and hear what's happening? he thought, somehow knowing that his god could hear his thoughts.

Of course. I will only be sharing your body and controlling the muscles as I share your senses. You shall retain your awareness of all that transpires.

Suddenly, Sam realized that Daniel must have seen him when he had sacrificed himself--

We will speak of that later. For now, may I share your body and voice?

Of course, but let me warn them first. I don't want anyone to have a heart attack or anything.

Of course.

"Say everyone? I'm about to do something really strange. Please remain calm and understand that I'm still here and am aware of everything that's happening. I'll just... Be off to the side for a moment."

"Sam?" Matthew asked in confusion.

"Just... Take a deep breath and remain calm, is all."

I'm ready, he thought.

Suddenly, he had the oddest sensation as though something, a force, moved in front of him inside of his body and it rose without him consciously moving it. The effect was very strange and he began to feel a slight sense of panic as he realized that his body was moving seemingly on its own. Just then, a sensation of soothing calmness eased his rising alarm and he felt himself calming down. Duh, stupid! he chided himself mentally. This is exactly what he said would happen! He heard and felt a chuckle of humor within his mind at that.

He watched through his own eyes as everyone stared at him, feeling as though a second set of eyes was squashed into his eye sockets beside his own, but not in a painful way. The sensation was more like a mild, painless pressure more than anything else. "David, partner of Matthew, son of Mike," he said in a voice vastly unlike his own. The voice was deeper and seemed to fill the entire room with its sound, echoing very slightly and sounding very powerful. It was the kind of voice he had expected a god to possess. "I thank you for your indulgence in allowing your partner and his sons to worship me without obstruction."

Everyone gasped in shock, then all of the Spartans fell to their knees before the presence of their god. David, shocked, stumbled backwards in horror until his back was against the living room wall, where he crossed himself in fear and prayed fervently to his own god for protection.

"Calm yourself, David," Apollo said through Sam. "I am no threat to you. I respect your beliefs and loyalty to Jehovah and would never force you to do anything you would object to. I do not ask for your worship, only your patience and understanding."

David paused at this. "What is this?" he gasped, looking pale.

"I have asked Sam's permission to speak with you in this manner, first that you may understand and second that he may get used to me doing so. One day Sam shall become my priest and I wish for him to become used to me using his body and voice, always with his permission of course, to speak to others who cannot hear me due to their lack of belief in my existence. I would say to you David that I ask only for your patience and understanding. I do not ask for you to worship me, for your love for your god is very strong and your faith resolute. I want you to know that I both understand and approve of your continued belief in Jehovah. He is your god and I shall never place a sword to your throat and force you to worship me. I accept only those who choose to worship me of their own free will and acknowledge that each person must choose the path of spirituality that they find makes them happy. Again, I ask for you to have patience and understanding for what is to come.

"Sam has already agreed to become my priest when he is ready and wishes to use the money donated to him by those who believe in me to found two new temples to my worship within America, that those who wish to worship, yet cannot travel far will be able to do so. He wishes for all people who wish to do so be able to worship me and offer sacrifice more regularly. This will cause quite a stir and may prove somewhat disruptive within the family, yet Sam does not wish any of you to be harmed or burdened unfairly by this and seeks your blessings in his endeavor."

Matthew, still kneeling upon the floor with his head bowed, trembled. "Lord, of course we approve. We are not worthy!"

"Yes, Matthew," Apollo said firmly. "You -are- worthy. I have accepted your offerings and worship and shall continue to do so gladly. Although you have no formal religious training, I have seen the sincerity of your efforts and thank you for them. That you wish to do so makes you worthy."

Matthew began to sob with gratitude. "Thank you lord, you are most kind and benevolent."

"I would offer blessings to you all," Apollo spoke, "yet to do so now would cause Sam harm, as he is not yet used to my sharing his body. But know that they are always with those of you who would accept them."

With that, the god seated Sam within a chair, then left him. Sam's shoulders slumped with exhaustion and his breathing became raged. He felt worn out, as though he had just run a race or something. "It's me... Apollo has left me for now," he panted.

"Are you ok?" Daniel asked him gently.

Sam nodded. "It just took a lot out of me is all. I think that it'll become easier once I'm ordained and have a stronger connection to him, but for now I'm just not used to it. We got any gatorade or anything?"

The family rushed to comply, bringing food and drink for Sam who sat there slowly recovering from the experience. He looked up to David, who was still eyeing him nervously. "David... I was an atheist the first time I prayed to Apollo, I felt pretty much the same then as you do now. If you want to hold to your own beliefs that's fine with me, but this is our faith. I want to do this for my god. Please try to understand how important this is, not just to us, but for everyone in the world, let alone the country. If more people begin to believe in Apollo, then others will ask 'what else is out there?' and begin to believe even more strongly in other things, including your own god. Apollo isn't here to supplant anyone, but to help revitalize all religious faiths here in America. Just look around you. Your god has become a political tool as far as the media and politicians are concerned. By doing this, I can help the country and the world to 'get back on track' as it were in regards to true belief in divine forces."

The human recovered with difficulty. "I'll... I'll try," he said simply with effort. "Excuse me," he added, looking somewhat ill and left the room...

David prayed for guidance, not knowing what else to do and felt his fears ease somewhat as he took communion. He received the blessings of the priest during Sunday services, thinking long and hard on what he had experienced. He noticed that his own faith was only becoming stronger after this experience, which is exactly what Sam had said would happen when Apollo became more widely worshipped... That all faiths would become stronger. By the time he returned home that afternoon, he found that his objections had faded. He offered his approval to Sam's plans for the future... And the look of joy, love and the fading of fear from his Spartan partner's face was all the proof that David needed to know that he'd done the right thing...

Three months after the twins had been born, Sam made plans for the family to travel to New York for the confirmation of the boys before Apollo. Everyone was eager to go, but Sam made it clear to the temple priesthood that he wished this to be a private visit and that the last thing he wanted was for the children to be sensationalized by the media. They would have a hard enough childhood as it was and Sam was determined to give his boys what normalcy he could for as long as possible. The head priest agreed and quiet arrangements were made with the agreement that all Spartans and their partners that were present in the temple at the time could take part in the rite, but that it would not be advertised in advance. They set the trip for two weeks in the future and began to make their preparations.

Sam looked down on Marcus and Jason as they slept with a worried frown. Tomorrow was the day they would fly to New York, but all Sam could do was worry... For the life of him, he couldn't understand why he was so worried. He knew what would happen if the children were not pure and understood the purpose of doing what was needed. When they had performed the same rite for Henry, Sam had been proud and confident... But now he was merely full of dread... And doubt.

What if...? What if something was wrong? Something that didn't show. They had taken the boys to the doctor to be examined and both boy's natures as perfectly healthy Spartans was confirmed, so why the worry? He thought about them long and hard and finally understood. Sam was the first known Spartan in America to have successfully carried twins to term naturally, a feat which every expert on Spartan births that they had talked to had said was miraculous and unexplainable. But what did that mean?

Was he different somehow? Different in some unknowable way that meant that he wasn't truly, completely Spartan? If so, then what right did he have to call himself such? He had tried to contact Priest Gabriel to ask about how he had successfully had his own twins, but the priest had only said that he'd had 'special assistance' in having his children, could not go into detail and apologized for not being able to do so. Sam had nowhere else to turn and refused to speak to his lord father about this, for fear that he was not truly worthy to do so.

Doubt began to consume him like a slow poison. How could he truly worship Apollo if he could not go through with the rite of confirmation for the children he had only by Apollo's intervention in his life? And how could he live with himself if he had to do the unthinkable? He felt trapped between two impossible courses of action. He knew that it was his purpose in life to become an Apolline priest and worship the being who had given him so much, yet at the same time, he was terrified that the transformation was not true and that he would have to... How could he live with himself if he had to do it? What kind of monster was he to gamble his self-worth and his culture on the lives of two innocent children?

He had to do the rite if he truly wanted to serve his god, yet could not bear to possibly learn that he and the boys were living a lie, claiming a heritage that wasn't truly theirs? And if it was true and he and they were not pure, then could he really do it? Could he actually kill his own children? How strong was his conviction to serve his god? Would he hesitate? If so, the head priest was honor-bound to take his life, then that of the children by divine law. Sam no longer felt worthy, a deep shame filling him.

The doubts grew stronger and stronger the longer he dwelt on them...

Sam stood within the altar chamber, the statue of Apollo glaring down at him as he held the sword above his children as they laid upon the altar. The priest spoke grimly, asking Apollo to claim and identify the sons of Sparta and claim as sacrifice any whose claim was false. Sam grunted in pain as his filaments emerged and heard gasps of horror. He looked down and felt his heart shatter into countless pieces as he saw his sons lying there... Completely human. He sobbed with grief, knowing that Apollo's will must be done. He raised the sword high, tears running down his face and stabbed downward...

Or tried to, at least. He suddenly realized that his body had frozen stiff. Only his head could move. "I can't move!" he sobbed in shock to the glaring priest. "I'm trying! I swear!" he fought against his uncooperative body, which remained stubbornly frozen in place, trying to carry out the will of his god.

Suddenly, twin wails came from the altar and he looked down as the priest spoke. "Wait! ...behold!" and pinched the just exposed filaments of the boys, who wailed in agony. "Lower your sword, and recognize you brothers," the priest said.

Sam tossed aside the blade and snatched up his boys, sobbing hysterically. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" he cried over and over.

Daniel was suddenly at his side, hugging him and the boys, looking strangely calm. "Do you still doubt yourself, Spartan?" he asked in Apollo's voice, then kissed him and pulled back with a smile. "I forgive you, Sam," Daniel said in his own voice. "Sam... Sam? SAM!!!"

Sam jerked violently as he found himself in a tangle of sheets and blankets with darkness surrounding him. A nightstand lamp snapped on, blinding him a moment. He blinked away spots, gasping, and saw that he was in the hotel room bed beside his partner. In the corner, the babies cried at being jolted awake.

"Sam?" Daniel asked with concern as his partner calmed himself down, realizing what had just happened. "You were crying in your sleep. Did you have a nightmare?" Daniel looked to the boys. "Was it about...?"

Sam shook his head slowly. "No... Not a nightmare... But it was about the rite."

"Sam, let's cancel it... If you're having such fears about going through with this, when we can't do it! I can't watch you torture yourself with fear and doubt like this! You've been this way for over a week already! Let's just cancel the rite and go home! We don't have to go through with it! There's lots of Spartans who never undergo confirmation! We're not under any obligation-"

"We have to," Sam interrupted in a suddenly steady voice as his tears faded and calmness returned.

"But Sam-"

"What kind of priest would I be if I can't do the most difficult rites of our worship, Dan?" he asked softly, yet firmly. "If I can't do this, then I might as well give up on everything I've worked for and go live under a rock for the rest of my life! I have to do it, Dan... For the boys and for myself! I won't have our sons live a lie... and I can't do so either! I have to show that I believe in and trust Apollo and the gift that he has given me. I have to trust in him for the sake of all Spartans, most especially Marcus and Jason. This will be the ultimate test of my faith, Dan... And while I was afraid before, I'm not now... That dream... Just now... It proved something to me. It proved to me that I can endure any hardship, follow any decree of Apollo no matter what it might cost me personally... I'm being turned into a symbol of Apollo's might, Daniel... I cannot deny his will no matter what. I cannot let fear prevent me from following my god and believing in His power... It means too much to Him and the world for me to just run away in fear. I have to do it."

Daniel saw the conviction in Sam's eyes and remembered that he had done the same before. He too, was unable to deny their lord. He took Sam's hand and squeezed it gently to show that he understood. Then they rose and went to soothe the fears of the twins...

They went to the temple the next day and entered into the altar chamber after Sam was given the sword of confirmation by a grave-looking attendant. Then the assembled Spartans, many who were stunned to be able to bear witness to the confirmation of the sons of a man touched by their god's might, entered. Matthew held Henry's hand as the boy stood by his grandfathers side, near his dads as Sam carried Marcus with him and Daniel held Jason in his arms.

The head priest took his position facing the statue of Apollo and began to chant his Grecian prayer. As he did so, Sam noted that he felt calm and convicted. Finally, the priest turned to them, looking firm of stance and bearing. "Who do I see before me?" he asked in formal tones.

"The sons of Sparta!" the Spartan members of the assembly, Sam included, shouted.

"And how do you exist?" The priest asked.

"By the divine intervention of our most gracious god Apollo!" they cried.

"And what do you require?" the priest asked firmly.

"The blessing of holy Zeus, this day and always."

Daniel shuffled Jason up to lean carefully against his parent's left shoulder as Sam shuffled Marcus into the same position so that the boys were being supported against each dad by their parents' left hands only. Their right hands went to the pommel of their swords as the priest asked "And for what reason were you created?"

In unison, every one of the Spartan men drew their swords, which hissed in song as the steel blades came free of their sheaths. They raised them in the air and shouted as one "For vengeance!" Sam felt his warrior's blood singing in his veins as he sounded that cry with his kin, his doubts completely evaporated.

Everyone except Sam sheathed their swords, who lowered his blade to his side. The head priest stepped forward from the dais and approached Sam and Daniel. "Who do you bring?" he asked.

"Two sons of Sparta" both answered firmly.

"And how are they called?"

"Marcus, son of Sam and Daniel. Jason, son of Sam and Daniel," they answered just as firmly.

"And they were borne of?"

"Sam, son of Apollo."

"And how will they live?"

"By the creation of Apollo, the blessing of Zeus and through the forbearance of Hera" the parents again answered together firmly.

"Mighty Apollo" the Spartans prayed, "For vengeance and out of sympathy for our tears for our mothers you created us. You blessed us and set us apart from all other men. By your divine intervention alone we exist and give birth to new life and keep the memory of our home and your mercy alive across the years. We thank you for these, your new sons, born to keep the same memory alive into a new generation. Divine Hera, we cry with you and ask you to moderate your anger. Out of grief for our mothers we continue to accept both blessing and curse and pray to you, reluctant mother of us all, that you will one day forgive our impertinence. Mighty Zeus, creator of all, who granted your blessing on the whole world and confirmed your love for the men of Sparta, be with us this hour as we welcome our newest brothers and sons to the fold. In the name of the people of Sparta we pray."

"Sam and Daniel," the priest spoke, "Bring Marcus and Jason forward. Offer them upon the altar" he said, walking towards the stone bier and standing behind it. They walked forwards and Daniel carefully laid Jason in his blanket upon the altar, then took Marcus from Sam's arms and laid him beside his brother upon the stone slab. He then backed away slowly until he joined the others, but only after he gazed deeply into Sam's eyes with a mixture of confidence, pride and love upon his face.

"You claim these boys to be sons of Sparta?" the priest asked of Sam.

"Yes, I do," Sam answered firmly.

"Do you know what Apollo requires from those who take the Spartan name in vain?"

"Yes, I do."

"And should your claim be proven false do you have the strength to do what is necessary?"

Sam stilled himself and spoke with confidence. "Yes, I do" he answered, spinning the sword around and raising it upwards, aiming at Marcus' heart as Jason laid beside him.

The head priest put his hands on his own sword hilts and dropped to one knee. "Mighty Apollo. We thank you for your divine intervention. We most humbly beg that you identify and claim as your own the sons of Sparta here present and accept as a sacrifice those who claim your parentage falsely."

Sam grunted in pain as his filaments emerged and heard similar sounds of discomfort from the other Spartans within the room. Sam tightened the grip on the sword of confirmation as he gazed down at his children as they laid upon the altar. "I believe in you both," he whispered, then smiled with fierce pride as the feathery filaments emerged from each boy's navel. Looking deeply relieved, the head priest leaned over and grasped the tendrils between his thumbs and forefingers. The babies let out identical ear-splitting screams and began to wail. The head priest let go as quickly as he'd gotten hold, yet the boys continued to wail in pain.

"Apollo you bless us with your gift and your presence, hold us in your arms we pray," he said. "Hera your curse is our dignity and identity, look with mercy upon us we pray. Zeus we present these, our brothers Marcus Samson and Jason Samson as true sons of Sparta and worthy by all present to be called kin."

"Worthy by all present to be called kin" everyone repeated together.

The priest then got to his feet and let go of his swords. "Son of Sparta" he said to Sam, "Lower your sword and recognize your brothers."

Sam lowered and sheathed the vicious blade with an expression of pride and conviction. His sons were true to the lineage of Sparta... As was he himself. The priest bent down and lifted Marcus and Jason up off of the altar, one in each arm and making sure he held them carefully so as not to drop his double burden, kissed them each gently, walked down and handed them to Daniel with a smile. "Let us welcome our sons and brothers!" the priest called out, ending the rite and breaking the somber mood. Sam walked down to join his partner and sons, never feeling more proud in his life.

Everyone came forward with smiles and their congratulations, words of praise and claims of happy disbelief at the existence of the perfectly healthy set of twin Spartan boys. Many called their mere existence a miracle.

"You seemed so remarkably calm, Sam," Daniel said to him.

"It was the dream... I think it was a message from Apollo telling me that my fears were groundless and that I should believe in Him, myself and our boys.

Matthew came forward with Henry. "I can't believe that you were so calm during that, Sam," the grandfather spoke. "You must have nerves of steel!"

"It wasn't nerves... It was faith," Sam answered calmly.

He knelt down to his eldest son. "Are you ok, Henry? Were you scared?"

Henry shook his head, then hugged Sam's neck. "You looked like a gladiator," Henry said, making Sam laugh gently...

The family returned home and Sam soon resumed his training under priest Walter, who continued teaching Sam the ways of worshipping Apollo. Two parts of worship were the hardest for the acolyte-in-training... Swordsmanship and learning to both read and speak Greek. The Greek was interesting, yet the pronunciation was rather difficult, as was the written portion of the language. Walter worked hard to teach Sam to think in Greek, yet Sam was struggling. The swordsmanship was rather unnerving despite him practicing with iron rods the same length and weight as a sword. He kept smacking himself repeatedly while trying to learn how to spin them properly. Developing his stamina was just as difficult. Daniel took pity on him by massaging his sore and bruised muscles each night when he came to bed.

Daniel was very good-natured about Sam's training, being patient and sometimes watching in his free time along with Henry, who loved watching his daddy Sam work with the practice weapons to try to master the sword movements. Sam sat down one day with Daniel at the patio table in the back yard and watched as David played in a mock sword fight with the boy, chasing each other with nerf swords, Henry laughing with delight as they flailed away at each other. Sam suddenly frowned as he noticed that for a three-year old, Henry looked more like he was about five years old.

"Hey Dan... Is it just me, or is Henry growing up faster than normal?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Henry. He seems... I don't know... Older than he should be."

Daniel looked at their eldest child and studied him for a moment. "He looks fine to me."

Sam continued to watch the child with concern until David had to stop, panting with effort. "Enough! Enough! I yield, mighty warrior!"

"Granddad David, don't be a wimp!" the boy pouted, still full of restless energy.

Sam and Daniel laughed as David sputtered with indignation at his grandson. "I am not a wimp! I just can't keep up with you is all!"

Henry growled with frustration. "You get tired too easily!"

"Oh nonsense! Go ride your bike or something if you still have energy to burn. But stay out of the street, ok?"

"Ok," the boy sighed with great suffering, got onto his bicycle and rode away across the yard.

David lumbered over to the table to join them and Daniel offered him some ice water from the pitcher they'd brought out with them. "Thanks," he panted as he collapsed into a chair beside them. "I forgot... Just how exhausting Spartan children can be!"

"That kid's way too hyper!" Sam answered, shaking his head sadly. "You been giving him sugar or something? I mean look at him go. I never had that much energy as a kid!"

"Well," David said, "that's the problem with Spartan kids. They have much more stamina and strength than human children."

"That still doesn't explain how he looks like a five-year old to me," Sam said, still looking concerned.

David looked at Daniel with annoyance. "Daniel! I thought you've taken the time to explain it to him!"

"What?" the Spartan asked his parent.

David sighed with disgust and turned to his son-in-law. "Sam, you were born human, so it's only natural that you feel the way that you do. Spartans and humans are different in more ways that just reproduction. Spartans are stronger, faster, more agile and sturdier than humans. Think of yourselves as enhanced soldiers, in a way. Not supermen or anything, but all of your physical attributes are greater than those of humans. I'm guessing that you've noticed by now that you're stronger than you used to be, as well as other physical improvements?"

"Well yeah," Sam said, resting his left elbow on the table and his chin against his fist with a smile. "I do last a lot longer in the bedroom than I used to."

David snorted. "Save it for Emergence!" They all laughed at that.

"But yes," Sam answered. "I have noticed that I seem more... Athletic, I guess is the best way to describe it... Than I used to be."

David nodded. "There's other differences, however. Aging being the primary one. To you and me, Henry does look like a five-year old even though he's only three. He'll continue to age at about fifty percent faster than a human into adulthood-"

"Whoa! Wait! Fifty percent faster?!? ...Not to sound selfish here, but are you saying that when I'm forty five I'll look like I'm sixty?!?"

"No, no, no!" the human countered quickly. "Spartans only -mature- faster than humans, is all. Once Henry reaches adulthood, he'll slow down on development and remain fit and healthy for many decades. Spartan lifespans are around a century or so, so he'll have many healthy and happy years ahead of him. The maturation is the only fast part."

"So wait," Sam said slowly. "If he'll grow up faster, then what about things like puberty and such?"

"We tend to enter puberty at our tenth year or so," Daniel explained. "We reach full maturity at age 14 thereabouts."

"What?" Sam asked, looking at his partner in shock. "You mean we'll have to have 'the talk' with him at age ten?!?" he asked stunned, using his fingers to make quotation marks as he spoke.

"Well yeah... It's only natural. His sex drive will kick in pretty well around then, so we should make sure he knows about sex about that time so as to make sure he stays safe and doesn't get any STDs or anything. The last thing I'd want for our son is for him to get something horrible like HIV or SRV."

"-SRV-?" Sam asked in confusion.

"Spartan Reproductive Virus," David explained. "It only affects Spartans, and is incurable. It weakens the integrity of the filaments to the point where they become brittle and can't support the weight of a child. Any Spartan who gets it loses the ability to ever successfully gestate children. That's why I'm glad you two waited for us to get you both tested before you became intimate. No offense Sam, but you might've had either virus without knowing. SRV isn't harmful to humans, but we can carry it rather easily without ever even realizing that we have it and pass it on to Spartans unintentionally. It's always better to be safe than sorry."

"I understand," Sam answered good-naturedly, watching as Henry zipped past on his bike. "So anything else I need to know about Henry growing up?"

"Just that we Spartans can be..." Daniel blushed slightly as he continued. "...Promiscuous when we hit puberty."

"He's gonna be a man-whore, isn't he?" Sam asked with a sigh of disgust.

"Not quite, but yeah. He'll have the craving several times a day at the least."

"I'm not a prude by any means, but that's a bit too much to take in," Sam said weakly.

"He'll be fine, Sam, don't worry," Daniel said, but Sam wasn't reassured.

David reached over and rubbed his son-in-law's back in sympathy as Sam tried to assimilate what all he'd just been told...

Two months later, Sam, Daniel, Matthew and the boys all arrived at the Hilton Hotel in Minneapolis and were searched by security. Matthew was extremely nervous, self-consciously fiddling with his suit and tie, as well as checking his breath repeatedly.

"Dad Matthew," Daniel sighed with exasperation. "Just pop a tic-tac or something! You're driving me crazy!"

"How can you be so calm?" Matthew asked weakly. "You -do- realize who we're about to meet, don't you?"

Daniel shuffled in place self-consciously. "Of course I'm nervous... But I'm not practically having a seizure like you are. Just relax already!"

"Yeah, Matthew," Sam added as the security guard passed a metal detector over his body. "They masturbate just like anyone else... Probably together seeing as how they're partners," he finished with a thoughtful expression.

The grandparent gasped in shock. "SAM! Don't you dare say anything that crass to them! What's wrong with you?"

Sam looked at Matthew in confusion, then to Daniel who was blushing furiously, then down to the guard with the detector, who had paused in his work to stare up at Sam with a stunned expression. "What?" Sam asked simply. The guard shook his head in disbelief and finished his sweep with the scanner and nodded the all clear to his fellow guardsmen.

The baby bag containing the things needed for the twins was passed through the x-ray scanner and declared safe. With that out of the way, they were escorted to the private elevator that proceeded to carry them up to the top floor where the luxury suite was located for visiting dignitaries.

"You could've at least worn a tie," Matthew said softly to Sam, who scoffed.

"I can't stand ties! They always make me feel like I'm being strangled!"

"You ok, Henry?" Daniel asked their son, who nodded solemnly, looking rather sharp in the suit they had rented for him to wear for the occasion.

"I'm ok," he said, flipping the tie around like a toy.

"Henry, don't play with that," Daniel said with annoyance and knelt down with a sigh to straighten it for him.

They arrived at the door to the room and after a minute were let inside to be greeted by their hosts.

"Hello, welcome," the slightly younger of the pair said brightly. "Great to meet you. I'd like you to meet my partner, Michael Hill, Mike."

"Sir...Your Holiness," Matthew breathed, looking slightly green with nervousness after nodding in greeting to Michael.

"Please, call me James," the high priest of Apollo said with a kindly smile. "Though my full name is James Phillipson. But let's not stick with formalities." He turned and nodded to Sam.

"Well, you know me, Sam Apolloson," Sam said, "Then there's my husband/partner Daniel Matthewson, his dad Matthew Mikeson, our oldest son Henry Danielson and lastly are the twins, Marcus and Jason Samson."

"Sorry you were unable to meet my partner, David Williams," Matthew apologized, "But he has to run our book store today."

"Well there's always next time," James said kindly.

"Lovely little tykes," Michael said as he smiled at the boys, then shook hands with each of the adults, followed by James.

"Come and have a sit," the priest said warmly. "Care for tea?"

"Sure," Sam said. "I'll take some, got any peach or cherry, or is it just iced?"

"Sam," Daniel said, smiling. "They're British. Tea is a bit more sophisticated for them than that."

"It's just a change of culture, it's understandable," Mike said with sympathy. "It was a bit of an adjust to the way of things are in the States for us as well, first time we hopped the pond." James nodded in agreement, then gestured to the waiting attendant to begin to pour the tea from the large china pot on the table.

"I still can't believe it," James said, looking at the twins in wonder. "It's remarkable! How did you manage it, Sam? How on Earth did you successfully carry twins to term? It's never been done! All Spartan twins have been birthed prematurely in the past and required respiration in order to survive."

"Just got lucky, I guess," Sam replied with a smile.

"It's more than luck," Mike breathed. "Sam, it's literally impossible for twins to remain in the womb full term! The filaments aren't strong enough! They can't handle the weight of two infants and break before their time, resulting in premature birth. There is absolutely no way that you could have carried them to completion!"

"Actually," Matthew said to them. "After they were born, I examined the filaments of the womb myself and noticed that they were a good deal thicker than normal. I don't know how he managed it any better than either of you, but Sam grew a stronger then average womb."

"Is that why I was in so much more pain than normal during gestation?" Sam asked. "Because they were thicker?"

"Maybe..." Matthew said thoughtfully.

"But still," James said, shaking his head. "I just don't understand how it possibly happened."

Allow me to explain, the voice of Apollo said, filling the room.

The guards shifted slightly at this, apparently still not quite used to having a god speak to his worshippers in their presence.

"Lord?" James asked, looking up in surprise.

My priest... Bring forth your swords. There is much for us to discuss and in order for us to speak freely, we must ensure that what is spoken of will not leave this room.

James nodded, rose and went to the bedroom. He returned a few moments later with a long case which he set down and opened. He pulled out a pair of old twin swords, the symbol of his faith and status as a member of the priesthood of Apollo. Then he stood before them. "Lord, are you sure about this?"

The oath will ensure their loyalty and trustworthiness.

"Will you all rise?" James asked their guests, who did so. Sam and Daniel making sure that Marcus and Jason were safe within their carriers before turning to face the priest. "There is a sacred oath that can be made," James said, "One that will make it literally impossible for you to speak of what will be said within this room. The things you will learn could cause serious harm if they were to be let out to the wrong people and it is used for our protection and the protection of our faith. If you accept the oath, then Apollo himself will be able to prevent you from ever speaking of these things to anyone. It's not that we don't trust you, it's for our protection. I won't force the oath on you and you may leave instead if you wish, rather than allow yourselves to become compromised in any fashion."

"So basically we'll be surrendering a portion of our freedom in order to take the oath?" Sam asked.

"Basically yes, but only insofar as the matters we shall discuss. In all else, you will be as you normally are."

Sam looked to his family. Matthew and Daniel nodded their agreement. Sam looked down to Henry. "Hey kiddo. Are you ok with allowing Lord Apollo to make sure you can keep a secret?"

"Yeah," Henry said simply with a nod, his face solemn.

James crossed the swords before him. Matthew approached him. "Matthew, son of Mike, Do you swear before Apollo to never reveal the secrets you shall learn this day?"

"I do so swear," Matthew said, his hand against the point where the swords crossed and accepting the oath.

Daniel came forward and swore to the same.

Daniel gestured for Henry to join him. James smiled down at the boy. "Henry," the priest said. "Do you swear before Apollo never to speak to anyone of what you will hear within this room today?"

"I can't," Henry said. "I'll get in trouble."

"What do you mean?" James asked with concern as everyone looked at the boy with stunned expressions of confusion.

"Daddy Sam always gets in trouble whenever he swears... I don't anyone mad at me."

Everyone burst out laughing, including the guards. Within their minds, they could hear the god laughing along with them.

"This is a bit different, Little One," James said kindly. "What this is, is a promise never to tell. It just means that you'll never be able say anything that will get any of us into trouble, ok? Can you make a promise?"

Henry nodded as James raised the swords. "Say 'I do so swear' and put your hand where the swords cross each other."

"I do so swear," Henry said, his palm near, but not on, the blades.

James turned to Sam, who looked thoughtful. "Can I take more than just the one oath?" Sam asked slowly.

"Yes. Why?" James inquired.

"I've got a real smart mouth that sometimes gets me into trouble. What kind of priest would I be if I go shooting my mouth off and offend someone, or damage the reputation of Apollo or the priesthood? If Apollo can prevent me from doing or saying anything that could cause harm, then maybe I should take an oath to make sure I never do that."

You would be willing to do this, my son?

Sam nodded. "Yeah... I want to become a priest, but I've been worried that I'd screw up badly just because I'm not very good at censoring myself. For the good of you and the priesthood, I'd be willing to accept such an oath."

James smiled at that and raised the swords once more as Sam approached. "Sam, son of Apollo. Do you swear never to speak to anyone of what is said within this room and do you also swear never to do or say anything that would cause harm to our lord or our faith?"

Sam placed his hand against the swords and looked firmly into James' eyes. "I do so swear."

Suddenly, Sam felt as though a soft cloth, or something similar, was draped gently over him. He raised an eyebrow in curiosity at that, but said nothing. It settled into place and he realized that it must be the power of the oath that had just engulfed him. He left out his breath with confidence, his last fears of joining the priesthood of his lord vanishing as the oath enclosed him. He lowered his hand as James returned his swords to their case.

"What about the guards?" Sam asked.

"They've already taken the oath," Mike said simply as they reached for their cups. "You know, for the life of me I don't know why people like these flimsy little teacups. Gim-me a big mug o' strong tea any day" he said with a broad northern English accent as he took a sip. He looked at the others, noticing that Sam cringed slightly when he took an experimental sip of the tea itself. "Milk and sugar?" Mike offered kindly, seeing the look of mild revulsion on Sam's face at the taste.

"Thanks," he answered with gratitude, spooning large portions of each into his cup to make the tea taste better to him.

"Biscuit?" James asked, offering the tray.

Sam frowned at it. "Those are cookies. I thought you meant actual biscuits."

James chuckled. "We call them biscuits."

"Sorry," Sam said sheepishly as he took one. "That's the curse of growing up in a bass ackwards country where we drive on the wrong side of the road and call it right, as well as change our leading family every four or eight years."

Their hosts chuckled with sympathy.

They talked of simple things during tea and as they finished, Sam gestured at the scar that ran across Michael's throat. "You too, huh?"

"Yeah," Mike said without any trace of self-consciousness. "After we were all released from detention, we returned to the temple of Apollo in London to find it in ruins and our faith in tatters. Apollo was very weak from lack of worship and sacrifice and so was unable to answer the prayers of James that his power would return. I came to join him and knew what must be done. Apollo feeds on death and only a death would give him the strength to renew his power. So I offered myself as sacrifice to him that the Spartan people would regain their god. In return, he returned me to life that I would remain by James' side, keep him from being gaoled for murder and serve as an example of our lord's power. After that, Apollo ordained James to become his high priest, restored the temple to its glory and we have been happy ever since. But what of you? We've heard stories and hearsay, but never anything certain."

"Well," Sam answered. "My story is more personally involved then that... I was born as a human who was raised up to age eighteen in an orphanage. My mother committed suicide two months after I was born and my father died in prison when I was little while serving a life sentence for murder. I prayed every day that someone would adopt me, but no one ever did. I could only watch as everyone else was given homes and finally gave up on making friends. I also lost my faith in the process. When I was discharged, I grew rebellious and turned to the occult. I studied Shamanism and witchcraft before I settled on LaVeyan Satanism."

"Bloody Hell!" Mike exclaimed, paling visibly. "You're a ruddy Devil worshipper?"

"No," Sam said coldly. "I never actually believed in him, either. I was an atheist who used black magic and ritual as psychotherapy and to give me a sense of control over my life." He sighed, letting go of his defensiveness. "Besides, I'm Apolline now. Anyways... I tried to make a few relationships with other guys, but when they learned I was a Satanist, they all dumped me. By the time I finally met Daniel, I was a hermit and an introvert who believed that he was completely unlovable." His face fell at the painfull memories.

Daniel got a pained look in his eyes, which began to mist up and kissed Sam's bearded cheek tenderly.

Sam took a deep breath and continued. "When we met," he said, taking Daniel's hand in his own and squeezing it, "we touched hands by accident and I looked up at him in shock from the ground..." He paused with a sigh.

"And it was love at first sight," James said with a smile... Which faltered at the sudden pained and guilty look on Sam's face as he hung his head.

Daniel rubbed his back in sympathy and looked to their hosts. "Sam didn't understand what was happening... He rejected the bond at first."

James and Mike looked at the bearded man with shock. "I thought I was going crazy," Sam said with difficulty. "I took off running... Literally."

"Shh," Daniel said, kissing the side of his head and hugging him tightly. "That's in the past. We're together now... That's all that matters."

Sam sighed and continued. "For the next week, I couldn't sleep, blew off my work and drank constantly. Daniel was all I could think about, but I couldn't believe that anyone would want me. I thought I was the only one who felt that way. Then Matthew and his partner David tricked me into coming over for dinner and that's when I saw Daniel again."

"I heard his voice from the bedroom," Daniel said with a blush, "knocked my brother's partner through a closet door and rushed out to Sam..."

"What happened?" James asked.

Sam gave a pained smile. "I took it pretty well... I passed out."

Everyone laughed. "I woke up," Sam said, "and Matthew explained everything to me, then I cried myself to sleep in his arms and woke up with Daniel. After that, we were a couple... Except that I thought he was merely gay. Finding out about the Spartans was pretty shocking, to say the least."

Matthew smiled. "We falsely believed that Sam understood that we're a Spartan family. My partner David is human, and we believed that Sam knew that when he came to supper. What was it you called us again?" he asked Sam. "'Those freaky hermaphrodite people'?"

James laughed at that and Sam shrugged weakly. "I didn't follow the news much and knew almost nothing about Spartans then. Anyways, we lived together happily after that and had Henry here... Then a few months later I started getting really bad headaches and finally passed out at the breakfast table. The hospital did some x-rays and found an inoperable tumor within my brain... They gave me only a few months to live. Dan and I talked it over and decided to take the boy for confirmation while I still had the time to do so. After we did it, I asked to stay behind... I..." He faltered, looking to Daniel, who sighed.

"Sam figured out the truth... I couldn't bear to live without him, so after he was gone... I was going to commit suicide."

"Daniel!" Matthew exclaimed, looking at his son horrified. They'd never told the family about why Sam had done what he had. James and Mike looked saddened, yet understanding.

"I'm sorry, Dad... But I couldn't bear the thought of living without him... Please forgive me."

Matthew took his son into his arms and hugged him fiercely for several moments. Then Daniel moved back to Sam's side.

Sam cleared his throat and continued. "I'd lost my faith even in Satanism and didn't know what to believe in anymore. I saw how much the family believed in Apollo and even though I didn't believe in Him myself, I was willing to pray to Him for their sake. Next thing I know, Daniel's in front of me, turns around and Apollo starts speaking through him. He called for sacrifice... I knew I was going to die no matter what, but if my death could help Dan and Henry, then I was willing to give up all that I had for their sakes. Then He brought me back, I knelt before Him and accepted Him as my god, but wasn't able to understand why He'd brought me back if I was just going to die all over again in a month or so-"

Actually, Sam... Apollo said softly, interrupting him, You wouldn't have made it home alive... You would have died on the plane trip home.

Sam was shocked. He hung his head as tears filled his eyes while Daniel hugged him fiercely. Everyone was stunned speechless at the revelation. Henry hurried over to hug his daddy Sam when he saw him start to cry. Matthew leaned over and placed a supporting hand on Sam's head. James and Mike looked on with pity. Sam even felt Apollo's pity and comfort washing over him. It took Sam several minutes to recover from that shocking revelation.

Finish your story, Sam, Apollo said gently once Sam had recovered.

He nodded, took a few deep breaths to steady his nerves and continued. "So I asked Apollo why He'd brought me back if I was only going to die again. He asked me what I would wish for and I said that I wanted to live for Daniel and Henrys' sakes. Then He transformed me into a Spartan and cured my tumor and now I-"

"Wait!" James said, raising his hand. "Sam... That's not possible. Apollo isn't able to cure people of terminal or life-altering illnesses. He can heal injuries, but reversing a tumor is beyond His abilities. He can turn back death under certain conditions, but not cure ailments like a tumor. If so, my son Andrew would be free of his HIV."

"But I don't get it," Sam answered, baffled. "If Apollo didn't cure me, then who did?"

You did, Sam... You cured yourself.

"How is that even possible?" Sam asked with shock.

Because you are very special. You possess a strong and powerful lineage that goes back many countless generations. Do you remember the vision of Sparta you experienced the day you first entered my temple? I was testing you to see how strong that lineage was within you. You are a descendant of the nation of Sparta, one whose ancestor left generations before the decimation of the Spartan nation. You are a direct blood descendant of a Spartan soldier who fell in love with a woman of the Germanic tribes and moved away to join her and her people. But there is more. Another one of your ancestors was one of my mortal lovers... Sam, you a direct descendant of me.

"What?!?" Sam exclaimed in shock.

"Lord?" James asked in shock. "You mean to say that Sam is a demigod?"

***Not quite... Over the generations, the bloodline has become very diluted. While Sam is of divine descent, that bloodline has weakened greatly to the point where he is merely mortal in every way, save one. He has a power buried very deeply within himself... One that only comes out in times of great stress. It was his fear for his partner and son that allowed him to use that power, with my help, to free himself of his illness. I merely gave that power a strong shove in the right direction. He has also used that power to ensure the healthy gestation of his sons. Sam's fear for the life within him allowed him to use that power to strengthen the filaments that they would be tough enough to endure the weight of his sons, as well as to keep the babies themselves healthy. Again, I had helped him to do so, slowly over time, for the sake of the infants in answer to his prayers.

But Sam... This power is not one that is reliable. It only works under times of great stress, when you feel both love and fear in great quantity for others. Also, it will only work on you, yourself, so you will never be a healer of others. You cannot depend on it to save you and yours in times of need. Do not try to rely on it, as I cannot guarantee that it will ever even manifest again.

Sam nodded thoughtfully. "Is that why I had such a strong reaction to the vision, though? Because I'm of divine and Spartan descent?"

Yes. I wanted to test you and see how strong your connection to your ancestry was... And you passed with flying colors. You truly are akin to the Spartan warriors of old as well as a man of great inner strength. I am proud to have you as part of my lineage. You truly are my son in many ways.

"Thanks," Sam said softly.

There was a meeting that Mike had to attend in Washington DC the next day, so the family took their leave with a promise from The British couple to meet again next month and begin talking in earnest about the foundation of the two new temples. After that, they headed home, with Sam lost deeply in thought over all that he had learned...

The next afternoon, Sam and Daniel made love, Sam grunting with pleasure as he rode Daniel's length while on his side, his partner nibbling his ear playfully and murmuring endearments before they swapped positions so that Sam could return the favor. Afterwards, they lay quietly and cuddled.

"I love you, Love" Sam breathed.

"I love you too, Babe," Daniel replied softly kissing him deeply for several minutes.

When they came up for air, Sam looked into Daniel's blue eyes with his own green ones. "Even knowing... All of that about me?"

"It doesn't matter who you're descended from..." Daniel said. "To me, it's an honor to have someone so special. It doesn't make me think any less of you or make me want to treat you any differently. You are you, the past is the past. Let's just focus on us, the children and the future."

"Yeah... Speaking of kids, will we be able to have more someday, or is that it for us?"

"We've each had only a single gestation. I'm sure you have another egg or two in there," Daniel said, stroking Sam's navel gently. "I've got another myself, maybe two as well... You want more kids?"

Sam nodded. "Someday, but I don't want to hold off too much on getting the new temples up and running and need to finish my religious training, get ordained and receive my swords, then make my first official sacrifice to Apollo so that I can become a full priest... I want more sons, but we need to get these guys grown up a bit and make sure we both have decent incomes on top of completing my priestly training first. Your income can't support us all, even with the added income from my web design contracts to supplement it."

"I know," Daniel answered, "but the good thing about working from the home is that you get to be here for the kids. We're doing better than we were back when we first met. I'm getting pretty good commissions and your notoriety has increased your contracts, so we'll be alright for now. Soon we'll have enough for a home of our own and can move out of here. I know the dads would like to have the place to themselves, but they're also enjoying us being here and love having the boys around, too."

"True... We'll have to thank them for taking the kids out so that we could have some 'us' time. I love the boys, but I've missed this, too."

"Same here... So... How are you holding up? Learning all of that must not have been very easy on you."

Sam sighed. "Knowing who I'm descended from doesn't change my relationship to Him. He's still no more or less my father and god than he was before. I'm ok with that. The only real hard part was learning how close I cut it... If I had chickened out... If I hadn't gone through with this..." He said, touching the scar on his chest, his voice faltering, "I wouldn't be here now. To know how close I was to dying... That I'd only had a few hours left..."

Sam couldn't continue. The pain and shock caught up with him and he began to cry. Daniel held him and let him release his pain. He comforted Sam and held him close, kissing and petting his partner for several hours even after he had finished crying...

Sam crept along, wearing only a pair of shorts and sword in hand as he edged his way around the bush. He kept his senses keen as he hunted for his prey. Suddenly the flat of his foe's blade swatted him across the butt, making him yelp with shock and humiliation. He spun around, hands on the hilt of his sword to face his adversary who looked at him grimly. Sam covered up his shock at being surprised and assumed a guard position as the enemy struck again. They traded a fierce volley of blows and counters, each unable to get past the other's guard. Sam barely avoided a swipe at his knee and yelped with shock as he evaded the blow.

I think I might be in serious trouble here, Sam realized as he began to sweat with effort. He gasped as a quick stab at his head nearly took off his left ear. He recovered and exchanged another volley with his sparring partner, feeling decidedly put off. I can't believe after nearly two years of sword training that I'm still not as good as I should be. He's really giving me a workout here!

In the distance, Priest Walter watched them with a critical eye, frowning at Sam's poor swordsmanship. Sam saw him looking on judgmentally and hesitated.

"Eyes on your opponent!" the priest snapped and Sam returned his gaze to his foe... But he was too late. The enemy's blade struck, impaling him through the stomach. He looked down in shock to his guts where the sword pushed into him... The soft Styrofoam of the nerf sword's blade bent sideways against him.

"My filaments..." Sam gasped in shock. "Have you no shame?" he asked weakly. He grunted dramatically as Henry yanked the sword from his father's stomach, who fell to his knees in the grass. "Why?" he whispered. "All I wanted was to destroy the world...That's all... What did I ever do to you? Except steal your allowance, eat up all of the rocky road ice cream, use your toothbrush to scrub grout out of the bathroom tile then put it back without washing it, forge your signature on five credit card accounts, fart into your pillow just before you went to bed every night and tell everyone that you were really an Amazon instead of a Spartan...? Who's the real monster here? ...Not me," he gasped and fell down in slow motion as his fatal injury overcame him. He was dead the instant he hit the ground.

"Looks like I got you, Daddy Sam," Henry crowed and danced in victory.

"Hey you," Sam said grumpily. "You should show more respect for a fallen enemy. At least spit on me or something to show your contempt!"

"Ok," Henry said brightly, and went to ready himself to do so.

"Don't you dare!" Sam exclaimed in shock. "I was only joking! Spitting's gross, anyways... I thought I raised you to never do what I tell you to, Son. You know your dad's nuts!"

"Henry!" David called from the house, "Lunchtime!"

"Yes!" Henry said, tossed down his sword and started to take off.

"STOP RIGHT THERE, MISTER!" Sam said firmly, sitting up sharply. "What are you doing? You never treat a sword that way!"

"But Daddy Sam, it's just a toy!"

"A sword is a sword, Henry and should always be respected! Pick it up and put it away properly," Sam ordered.

"Ok," Henry said, reaching for the blade.

"Stop! Take it by the hilt, Son. -Never- grab any sword by the blade, or you'll slice your hand up! I know that this is just a toy, but you must always treat any sword you handle as though it were a real one, ok?" Sam corrected.

Henry nodded gravely and picked up the sword correctly.

"Good fight, Son. I'm proud of you," he said with a smile, which the child returned. "Now tell your granddad you need to put your sword away then you'll eat. Go quickly before your lunch gets cold."

Henry took off towards the house and Sam collapsed back into the grass. He sighed and closed his eyes, letting the warmth of the sun soak into his naturally tanned skin. Footsteps heralded a shadow falling over him. "I know..." He said with a sigh.

"You underestimated your opponent and allowed yourself to become distracted. If that had been a real battle, you'd be dead again right now. You can't count on our lord to bring you back a second time... Especially when the reason for your second death was sloppiness."

"You're right," Sam said in defeat. "I'm not getting swordsmanship down as fast as I should be, huh?"

"Well," the British priest said. "You could be a bit faster, but you did start a bit later in life than you should've. Still, the mid-twenties isn't the worst place in life to start."

"Early thirties," Sam corrected.

"What?"

"I'm thirty two."

"Really? You look younger than that. I'd say you were twenty eight at the oldest. I'm very good at guessing people's ages and always guess correctly within a three year age range. I've never once guessed wrong."

"I'm thirty two though. I know that for a fact."

"Hmmm... Perhaps the transformation made you a bit younger. You look to be the same age as your partner Daniel."

"I did ask lord Apollo to be able to share all of Daniel's life with him. Do you think he made me the same age as part of it?"

"I'd say so. Anyways, your swordsmanship needs work. Rest for awhile and then we'll run you through the first and second presentations. You'll never get it right if you don't keep practicing." With that, the priest walked away, leaving Sam to rest.

Don't be so hard on yourself. You're doing better than you think you are, my son.

Father, he thought, knowing that the god could hear his mental voice even though he lacked telepathy.

Henry has a lot of innate talent.

True... He's learning faster than I am. Guess that's the power of youth... Say, I thought that you only talked to priests this way.

Well... You're well on your way to becoming my priest, so I might as well get you used to being spoken to this way. How are you feeling?

I thought you'd already know.

I do, but it's only polite to actually ask.

Well, I'll be honest, it doesn't bother me that I'm your descendant. I think it's actually kind of interesting. As for the Spartan ancestry, that's an honor too. I like knowing that I'm of such a noble people. As for the power within me, I understand that it's not something to lean on.

And the other thing?

To be honest... It still gives me the creeps. Knowing that I was only a few hours away from dying... Would it have been painful?

Yes... But brief. You would have died very quickly, Apollo said softly.

That's something, at least. If we hadn't had the confirmation on that day...

But you came and prayed as I knew you would. You were ready to believe in me even though you did not know that you were.

My sacrifice was a test, wasn't it?

Not entirely. I truly lacked the strength to transform you and help you to heal yourself. I did want to, but was unable. Your sacrifice gave me the power to bring you back, transform you into a Spartan and help you to heal your body of the tumor.

My death was that powerful? Sam asked, surprised.

Yes... A human sacrifice is very powerful, yet yours was the single most powerful one I have ever witnessed. The love you carry for your partner and son gave your sacrifice incredible power, as did the extreme formality with which you did it. After that, the things I did for you were very easy as your death gave me great power... But there's more... The time has come for honesty between us, my son... To be blunt, Sam, I'm using you.

I know... You need a living symbol to serve as proof that you exist and that your powers are real. While there's James and Michael, as well as their descendants, they live in England and can't be everywhere at once. You need someone here who can serve the same purpose in this part of the world. You are omnipresent, but your priests aren't.

You're not angry? Apollo asked, sounding surprised.

Well... To be honest... If you had told me that before I sacrificed myself, I would've hated and resented you. I was too full of anger then. But now? I just don't find that it matters anymore. I spent my entire life as a human feeling lonely and unwanted. I was bitter and felt like there was no point in my even being alive. I was just existing without purpose and feeling like shit because of it. But now I have love, a family and a purpose in life. So yeah, I'm not angry.

I need you Sam, more than you can know. Here in America, religion has become a tool and a weapon. For many, the original purpose of religion has become lost. By having a person who is an embodiment of my power and existence, it will be possible to help people to believe in the gods again... Not just me, but all gods. But just because I'm using you does not mean that I do not care about you. I adopted you as much because I like and admire you and that you are my descendant as well as for the symbol which you represent. You are my son and nothing will ever change that. I will always be here for you.

*Thanks, that means a lot, Father... * Sam thought a moment and chuckled. You sound like a civil servant, you know. He felt Apollo growl with annoyance. Sorry, but it does seem that way... I feel it's only fair to warn you though that I have a very rotten sense of humor. It's going to take a lot of patience for you to put up with me, but I don't ever mean any disrespect because of it. All I ask for is your patience. But I'll make you a deal. If I ever get to be too much of a pain, just smack me up back of the head or something.

Apollo chuckled at that. Fair enough.

...I don't know what the future holds exactly, but I'm looking forward to it... Say... Can I ask a personal question?

Yes?

I don't want any specifics, just a simple yes or no, Sam thought, rubbing his stomach. Will I be able to have more kids? I love the twins, but I'd like to know if that's it or not.

You will become Emergent again when you're ready... For now, concentrate on the sons you have and raise them properly.

Thanks, Sam thought, smiling softly. And one last thing... Are you the one responsible for the dreams I've had?

Yes... I saw how much you struggled to accept the bond you share with Daniel and gave you the gentle nudge you needed. I also saw how you struggled with your self-doubts and gave you the dream about the twins' confirmation. I would never make you go through that for real, but you needed to experience that moment in a way that felt real so that your guilt and doubts would be shown to be without need. Please forgive me for that.

I do.

Just then, Daniel came outside with the twins and sat down at the table.

Enough for now. Go spend time with your family... And be patient with yourself. You're doing very well in progressing on the path to priesthood. Just give it time. When you are ready, we will move to the next step on your path.

Sounds good, Sam thought, then rose and went to join his family at the table, giving Daniel a kiss then smiling at his twin sons.

Life was good... For the moment, the future could wait.

END OF BOOK 1 - Book 2 to come...