Unconscious Desires

     [Image] By Aramis [Image]

     The characters belong to MCA/Universal. The writer is not making any
     money from this.

     [Image]

     The two friends entered Iolaus' room somewhat unsteadily. Iolaus was
     mildly tipsy and, surprisingly, Hercules was very much so. The latter
     bumped into a chair and fell over, swearing. Iolaus laughed and stood
     looking down at him.

     "Are you laughing at me?"

     "As if I would."

     "I'll give you something to laugh about." Hercules grasped Iolaus by
     the ankle and pulled him down. A brief wrestling bout ensued. That
     ended with Iolaus on his back and Hercules straddling his hips.
     Hercules had forced both of Iolaus' hands above his head and was
     pinning them there with his right hand. There was no way that Iolaus
     could break that grip. "Do you remember this position from when we
     were kids, Iolaus?" Hercules asked.

     "NO! Herc, you wouldn't!"

     "Yes, I would." He remembered the times when he had sat across the boy
     Iolaus like that and had taken retribution for whatever prank Iolaus
     had just pulled. Iolaus was deliciously ticklish and it was the work
     of moments to reduce him to an hysterical, giggling, pleading heap.
     Hercules had always continued the tickling longer than he thought he
     should have done as he'd always felt a mysterious twinge of excitement
     at the feel of Iolaus' body writhing beneath him and at the sight of
     his cheeky friend reduced to helpless, gasping pleading. As the
     memories flooded back, he ran the fingers of his left hand lightly
     across Iolaus' armpits.

     "That's not fair, Herc! Let me up!" Iolaus tried to wriggle free and
     Hercules felt the old excitement in his loins as his friend's body
     moved between his legs. He lowered his hand and began to tickle
     Iolaus' ribs. To his excitement, he found the hunter to be as
     susceptible as ever. He had the urge to increase the punishment and
     realized that he needed two hands. He stopped he tickling and fumbled
     for his belt. Once he had it off, he used it to tie Iolaus' wrists to
     a leg of the bed.

     Iolaus was now getting very concerned about what Hercules had in store
     for him. "What do you think you're doing, Herc? Come on, a joke is a
     joke, but let me up now please"

     But Hercules was past listening. Having secured Iolaus' wrists, he
     settled down on top of him again. He began to rake Iolaus' ribs
     unmercifully. Iolaus laughed, writhed, twisted and pleaded, but
     Hercules would not or could not stop. He did realize that Iolaus was
     getting rather loud and so pulled the sash from Iolaus' waist and used
     it to gag him.

     He then proceeded with the punishment. Iolaus was getting frantic and
     the more he struggled the more excited Hercules became. Finally he
     hesitated and heard himself ask, "Would you like me to stop?"

     Iolaus nodded frantically.

     "Will you do what I want if I stop?"

     Iolaus looked questioningly at him and did not respond. Hercules began
     to tickle him again and then paused and repeated the question.

     Iolaus nodded.

     "Anything?"

     Another nod.

     Hercules slid back onto Iolaus' thighs and, without conscious thought,
     began to undo his trousers. Iolaus began to struggle ineffectually
     again. Hercules pulled the hunter's leather trousers down to his
     knees. Then he turned and, still keeping his weight on Iolaus' legs,
     removed the latter's boots and trousers. That done he returned to his
     original position astride Iolaus' hips. Iolaus was looking at him with
     apprehension and was trying to object, but his voice was muffled by
     the gag.

     "You need cheering up, my friend." A devil was in Hercules as he
     resumed his assault on Iolaus' ribs.

     Then suddenly he stopped, shifted his weight onto his knees and
     flipped Iolaus onto his stomach. Iolaus began to struggle harder than
     ever. Hercules looked down at the slender hips and buttocks and a wave
     of lust such as he'd never known swept over him. He found himself
     virtually ripping open his own fly and then he plunged his member
     deeply into Iolaus' anus. Iolaus tried desperately to pull away as
     pain knifed through him. He felt as if his body was being split in
     half.

     Hercules stopped thrusting and reached for Iolaus' waist again. Now
     the hunter's struggles had the effect of moving his body up and down
     Hercules' penis. The feeling from Hercules' viewpoint was exquisite.
     He'd never known such bliss.

     Finally he could take no more of the tantalization and began to drive
     deeply into Iolaus. Each thrust was agonizing for Iolaus and
     incredibly exciting for Hercules. Faster and faster, harder and harder
     he thrust while Iolaus, with tears of pain and anguish pouring down
     his face, struggled feebly. Finally, Hercules climaxed and fell
     forward over Iolaus.

     A few minutes later, he felt excitement building again. "Ready for
     another bout, Iolaus?" he asked, reaching out and removing the gag.

     "Please don't touch me again, Herc," Iolaus begged.

     "I need to, Iolaus, and you agreed that I could do anything I wanted."

     "Please just give me a few minutes," Iolaus pleaded. "It hurts so
     much."

     Hercules hesitated, but could not wait and plunged in again. Iolaus
     cried out in agony and Hercules reached out and replaced the gag. He
     then went to work quickly and it was soon over. Iolaus lay still
     beneath him. The pain of the last few thrusts had been too much and he
     had fainted.

     Hercules sat up and looked at the motionless form. He released Iolaus'
     wrists, vaguely noticing that they were bleeding from his struggles,
     and lifted him onto the bed. He then lay down beside the hunter and
     fell into a deep sleep, a proprietary arm flung across Iolaus' body.

     When Iolaus regained consciousness all he could think of was removing
     himself from Hercules' presence. He eased out of the bed and dressed
     quickly. He was very sore and was bleeding from his anus. He limped
     downstairs and out into the cold night. He went to the stables,
     located Argo's stall, crawled into the hay and sobbed and shivered
     himself to sleep.
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------

     Early the next morning, he was awakened by a hand on his shoulder. He
     woke with a jolt and a fear that it would be Hercules. "It's okay,
     Iolaus, it's me, Xena. I came to check on Argo. What are you doing out
     here?"

     What could he say? Xena knelt beside him waiting for a reply,
     observing his red eyes and tearstained face. His lips moved, but he
     couldn't speak. "What on earth has happened? What's wrong?"

     "N-Nothing's wrong. I just...I just l-let Hercules have the room."

     "Iolaus, I know you both had separate rooms."

     "W-Well we...we gave up the other one to someone else."

     "Iolaus, stop lying! What's wrong."

     "Nothing. Just leave me alone!" But at that moment a tear betrayed him
     and once he'd started crying he could not stop. He buried his face in
     his hands.

     "What is it, Iolaus? Is it Hercules?"

     He nodded.

     "Has something happened to him?"

     The blond curls shook a denial and the sobs increased.

     "Pull yourself together," Xena commanded sternly. "Tell me what the
     trouble is."

     "I-I can't."

     "Well I'd better go and ask Hercules then."

     "NO!"

     "I'll have to if you don't tell me."

     "He f-forced..." His voice trailed off.

     "What on earth are you on about?" Xena was getting very exasperated.
     She reached for his shoulders intending to give him a good shake. He
     raised his hands to stop her and she saw the bloody state of his
     wrists. She grasped his right arm. "How did this happen?"

     "He t-tied me to the...to the bed."

     "Tied you? Who?" A glimmer of understanding was starting.

     "He was...He was d-drunk, but I don't...I don't know why because he
     didn't seem to be drinking more than usual."

     "WHO?"

     "H-Herc."

     "Iolaus, are you trying to tell me Hercules has...has..."

     "Raped me." His voice was a whisper. He began to weep again.

     Xena sat back on her haunches stunned. "Not Hercules!"

     "I cou-couldn't believe he'd do it."

     "Tell me about it."

     With difficulty, Iolaus managed to recount events. He added, "I-I'm
     sure there's something wrong. Hercules would n-never act like that
     normally."

     "Are you *still* defending him?"

     "I always will."

     There was no answer for that, so Xena changed tack. "Well we'd better
     get you inside and get you cleaned up a bit before there's too many
     people around. Come on." She offered him a hand and helped him rise.
     She observed his awkward gait. "Has he hurt you much?"

     "I'm a bit sore and I've been bleeding a bit, that's all. I'm okay."

     They went to Hercules' original room, assuming it to be unoccupied. To
     their surprise, there was a woman in the bed. The curtains were pulled
     across so the room was still dark. As they entered, the woman roused
     and, still half-asleep and having no idea that it was daybreak, said,
     "Hercules, you've come to me at last. I was beginning to think my
     little potion had failed."

     Xena crossed the room and drew the curtains back. The woman recoiled
     in horror when she realized who were present. She tried to argue her
     way out, but she had already betrayed herself. Xena applied a little
     force and soon a full explanation tumbled out.

     Very attracted to the demigod, and aware from her earlier attempts at
     flirtation that he had no interest in her, she had put a strong, but
     tasteless aphrodisiac into what Hercules had proclaimed would be his
     last drink for the evening. She had then hurried to his room to wait
     for him. She commented that she supposed it had not worked because he
     was not a normal human and they didn't disillusion her. They ordered
     her to leave the inn and Xena warned her it would not be in her best
     interest to remain in the town. Xena turned to Iolaus, "Well that
     explains it. What now?"

     "We'd better go and check that Hercules is okay. You never know how
     drugs will affect someone."

     Even though now aware of Hercules' innocence, Xena could hardly
     believe his concern. "Are you going to say anything about it to him?"

     "That will depend on what Hercules remembers once the drug has worn
     off. It wasn't his fault. If he doesn't remember, please don't tell
     him because he'd be so upset."

     "If you're going to try to pretend that nothing has happened you'd
     better keep your wrists out of sight and give your eyes a good
     bathing."

     That done, they entered Iolaus' room to find Hercules just stirring.
     He felt oddly light-headed. He was surprised to see the two of them
     together. From the way he greeted them, it was obvious that he
     remembered nothing. They said they were going to get breakfast and he
     said he would join them later.

     Neither Iolaus nor Xena actually felt much like eating so, instead of
     going downstairs, they returned to Hercules' old room. Xena turned to
     the hunter, "Can I ask you a personal question?"

     "Yes."

     "Was what happened completely distasteful to you? If Hercules had
     asked you for sex, would you have rejected him?"

     Iolaus hesitated and then said, "If he'd asked I would have said yes.
     I'd have been scared, but I'd do anything for him...I love him."

     "And he's never hinted at it?"

     "No, but others have said things. Some have suggested it could be the
     only reason for the son of Zeus to befriend someone like me."

     "How did he react to that?"

     "People don't usually say things like that in his hearing, only in
     mine."

     "Now that its happened don't you think you should tell him."

     "No! Please, Xena, try to forget what's happened for Hercules'
     sake...and mine."

     Xena looked searchingly at the hunter. "You always make me feel so
     guilty, Iolaus, and now more than ever."

     "What do you mean?"

     "Every time I see you, I feel ashamed at how I tried to use you
     against Hercules now that I know you and what a good person you are.
     Also, now that I have Gabrielle, I can understand the feeling of
     wanting to look after someone and putting their needs before my own,
     but listening to your concern for Hercules and your capacity for
     self-sacrifice and love, all I can feel is amazement and my guilt is
     worse than ever."

     "Xena, you know I've forgiven you for what you did. Please forgive
     yourself. A lot of what happened was my fault. I was lonely and not
     thinking clearly. I should have realized someone like you would never
     prefer me to Hercules." Xena went to interrupt, but he continued, "As
     for Hercules, perhaps...perhaps I should tell you a bit about myself
     to explain how I feel. My f-father never wanted me. I-I wasn't the
     sort...the sort of son he wanted. He was always c-cursing me, telling
     me I was weak and undersized and would never be a warrior like he was.
     He was so ashamed of me. He used to beat me at the slightest
     provocation...I think...I think he actually enjoyed doing so. My
     mother would never stand up to him. She...She seemed to think he could
     do what he liked because he was the head of the household. Fortunately
     he wasn't at home much. W-When I was ten years old, we moved to a new
     village. I went to school for the first time and because I was...I was
     small and new, a group of boys began to bully me after school. They
     had me down and were kicking me when I heard a voice cry out, "Leave
     him alone!" That was Hercules! Together we defeated the bullies and
     then he put his arm around my shoulders and hugged me and said, "We
     make a great team!" Nobody had...had ever h-hugged me before. I-I
     couldn't believe that...that someone would want to...We've been
     together now for over twenty-five years and I could never love anybody
     more."

     Xena found her eyes stinging. She blinked back the tears that
     threatened. She had had a happy childhood and had never given a
     thought to Iolaus' background. I must have made him feel far worse
     than I ever imagined, she thought, when he found out I'd only been
     using him, that my show of affection was an act. I used him sexually
     for my own ends and I did it deliberately and he's forgiven me, so
     it's no wonder he's forgiven Hercules for what he could not help. She
     stepped towards him and held out her arms and he walked into them.
     They clung tightly to each other, each wrapped in his/her own
     thoughts. She looked at him and said, "It never happened."

     "Thank you...We'd better go downstairs. If Herc gets there first he'll
     wonder what's happened to us."

     As the day progressed, the hunter endeavored to act as normally as
     possible. He had genuinely forgiven his friend or, more to the point,
     felt there was nothing to forgive since what had happened had not been
     the fault of the demigod, and he did not fear a repetition of the
     attack. Fortunately his wrist-guards concealed the thin bandages
     around his painfully skinned wrists, although they meant he suffered
     more discomfort than he would have done had he been able to bandage
     them properly. He was still sore from the assault as well, but forced
     himself to walk and sit normally.

     However he was aware that Hercules' eyes were upon him and he wondered
     why he was drawing the attention. In truth, Hercules was having
     flashbacks. Parts of what had happened kept returning. Unaware that
     this was recall, he was wondering why he had suddenly started having
     lustful thoughts about the hunter. What on earth was wrong with him
     and, worse, what would Iolaus think if he could read the demigod's
     confused and guilty mind. This made him rather withdrawn and touchy,
     especially with his friend. Iolaus was hurt by this, but said nothing
     about it.

     The day drew on and Hercules elected to retire to bed early as he
     needed time alone to think. Iolaus observed his departure with
     concern. He was worried that his friend might be feeling ill as a
     side-effect of the potion. Accordingly, he gave Hercules about quarter
     of an hour to get settled and then followed him. He tapped lightly on
     Hercules' door and then, receiving no reply, entered. Hercules was in
     bed, but had not extinguished the lamp. "What is it now, Iolaus?" he
     demanded harshly. The hunter was the last person that he wanted to
     see.

     Taken aback by his reception, Iolaus asked, "Are you feeling all
     right, Herc?"

     "Of course I'm all right! Why shouldn't I be?"

     "Well it's much earlier than you usually go to bed and..."

     Hercules interrupted, snapping, "Surely I can go to bed early without
     an inquisition. If that's all you want go away and leave me in peace."

     The hunter paled and a look of hurt passed over his normally sunny
     features. "Okay, I know when I'm not wanted." He turned on his heel
     and groped blindly for the door, his eyes clouded with tears. After
     the trauma of the previous night and the tensions of the day, it was
     too much for him.

     Hercules watched him go, his emotions in turmoil. Iolaus' parting
     comment had been singularly inappropriate. The trouble was Hercules
     seemed to want him too much and in a way that he feared would horrify
     the hunter.

     Iolaus went to his room, flung himself facedown on the bed and began
     to weep, hugging the pillow tightly. It was some hours before he
     drifted off into an uneasy sleep, hours spent worrying about Hercules
     and the effect the potion seemed to be having on him.

     Hercules also passed a rough night. He felt regret for his words and
     guilt at his thoughts, but sandwiched between these emotions was a
     stronger one, lust. Lascivious images kept popping into his mind no
     matter how he tried to suppress them. He could see himself astride
     Iolaus' writhing body. He watched himself tying the hunter down. He
     heard his friend pleading with him to stop, to let him up. And
     then...And then he saw...NO!! He mustn't think such things! But the
     images came strong and clear. What could he do to stop them?
     ----------------------------------------------------------------------

     The new day dawned and Hercules was pleased to quit his bed and go
     down for breakfast. He was relieved to find the hunter absent. Indeed,
     no other of the tavern's guests were present. A few minutes later,
     Xena appeared. "Good morning, you're up early," he greeted.

     "Didn't you remember I'm leaving today to meet up with Gabrielle? Here
     I was thinking you'd got up early just to see me off."

     "Sorry, no, but I'm glad I'm up to say farewell to you."

     "Where's Iolaus?" It was a reasonable question as the hunter was
     usually up at the crack of dawn, unless he was nursing a hangover or
     had attractive company. He always seemed full of twice as much energy
     as the average mortal and lying in bed wasn't for him.

     "I haven't seen him." Hadn't seen him! His whole night had been filled
     with images of the golden hunter.

     There was something odd about Hercules' tone of voice. Xena noted it
     and asked, "Is everything okay between the two of you?"

     "Yes, of course!" he answered, rather too quickly and emphatically.
     "Why shouldn't it be?"

     "No reason."

     But the Warrior Princess was not one for idle small talk and Hercules
     was immediately suspicious. "What did Iolaus say about last night?" he
     demanded, imagining that an annoyed hunter had gone downstairs after
     he'd told him to go and had told people how Hercules had treated him.
     The fact that Iolaus had never done such a thing in his life didn't
     come into it. A tense and confused Hercules was no longer reasoning
     coolly and clearly.

     Xena started at the words "last night" and at the cold note in
     Hercules' voice. Hell! she thought, surely he hasn't had another go at
     Iolaus. She forced herself to reply calmly, "Nothing. I haven't seen
     him today and he went up to bed just after you last night." She paused
     and then added, "I thought he might have been going to see you."

     "Why?"

     Xena bristled. She resented the interrogation and would have said so
     had she not been aware that something was definitely wrong for
     Hercules to act so out of character. "You know how he worries about
     you - almost as much as you worry about him." The small joke went down
     like a lead balloon. She hurried on, "I think he thought you were
     unwell. You weren't exactly a bundle of laughs yesterday you know, and
     then with you going to bed early..." She trailed off at the look on
     Hercules' face.

     A wave of jealousy had suddenly washed over Hercules. He was aware
     that he was jealous of Xena being with Iolaus, not vice versa as might
     once have been the case. He lashed out verbally, "How come you're
     putting his case anyway? Why are you two suddenly so chummy? Surely
     you're not back together again. After the way you used him last..."

     "Stop it, Hercules," Xena interrupted, "you're talking a load of
     rubbish and you know it."

     "No, I'm not! And I'll say what I damn well like!" Hercules retorted,
     rising to his feet. Xena jumped up as well.

     The innkeeper, who had been on the point of entering the room, beat a
     strategic retreat. If the son of Zeus and the Warrior Princess came to
     blows there wouldn't be much left of the room. Iolaus! That's who was
     needed. The little blond was obviously a friend of both. If anyone
     could prevent the conflict he could. The innkeeper hurried upstairs.

     He bust into the hunter's room to find him lying asleep, on top of the
     bed, fully clothed. Normally, Iolaus would have been fully alert at he
     sound of the approaching footsteps, let alone the sound of the door,
     but he was exhausted after the emotional stress and a night of tossing
     and turning, and had only just fallen into a deep sleep. The innkeeper
     grasped Iolaus' shoulder and shook him violently in his agitation.
     Iolaus sat up hurriedly, groping for his sword, only to sink back down
     as his blurry eyes identified his assailant.

     "Please get up! Hercules and Xena are arguing and it looks like they
     are going to come to blows. My inn will be wrecked."

     Hercules and Xena? Fighting? The hunter rose quickly. The room seemed
     to swim around him. He staggered and put out a hand to steady himself
     against the wall. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes. He felt like
     death warmed up. However, he hastened downstairs and burst into the
     room.

     The two were still arguing and Xena's hand was resting on her sword
     hilt, but he was in time. He pushed his way between them. "What have
     you two managed to find to argue about this early in the morning?" he
     asked, trying to smile at them to lighten the situation.

     The demigod shot out a hand and grasped the hunter's right arm in a
     grip of iron. "What have you been saying to Xena about me?" he
     demanded.

     Gods! Surely she hadn't broken her promise not to tell Hercules. He
     glanced swiftly at her and she gave a brief shake of her head. The
     interchange was not lost on Hercules, who tightened his grip.

     "Answer me! What have you been saying?" Hercules demanded, shaking the
     hunter's arm viciously.

     "What do you mean?" Iolaus winced and tried to pull free as he spoke,
     but to no avail. Hercules squeezed harder. It was like having his arm
     caught in a vice.

     "Just what I said!"

     Trying to ignore the crushing pain, Iolaus said, "Look, Herc, I don't
     know what you're talking about, but how about we talk about it in
     private. This is a very public place for a discussion."

     "Great idea!" Hercules turned and strode out of the room dragging the
     hapless hunter after him. He stormed upstairs, flung open the door to
     his room, pulled Iolaus in after him and slammed the door.

     Xena was in a quandary. She didn't know whether to follow or not.
     Normally she would have left them to it if they'd had a real quarrel
     (a rare thing with them anyway) knowing that Hercules would never hurt
     the hunter, but now? In the end, she compromised, heading for Iolaus'
     room so that she would be near at hand if she needed to intervene.
     However, she knew she and Iolaus would have no chance against
     Hercules, in the confined space of a room, if he asserted his full
     powers.

     Hercules yanked the hunter brutally across the room and flung him down
     on the bed. As soon as he hit the bed, Iolaus tried to struggle up.
     Hercules straight-armed him, knocking him back violently. "Stay right
     where you are, Iolaus," he commanded.

     The trouble was right where he was was the last place Iolaus wanted to
     be after his experience of two nights past. He tried to rise again.
     "IOLAUS!" The threat in the voice was unmistakable, especially when
     accompanied by a large hand thrusting him back. He lay still,
     clutching his aching arm, watching Hercules apprehensively. "Right,
     now that we've got that settled, I want you to tell me what's going
     on."

     "What do you mean, Herc?"

     "You know damn well!"

     "No, I don't!"

     "Iolaus, stop lying! You've never been any good at it. Now tell me!"

     "I-I c-can't."

     Hearing the catch in Iolaus' voice, Hercules looked at the hunter's
     pale face and brimming eyes and was suddenly stricken with remorse. He
     tried again in a much softer tone, "Please, Iolaus, we've always been
     honest with each other." Hearing the softer note, which was the tone
     Hercules had usually used towards him before the distressing events,
     Iolaus could hold back no longer and tears began to run down his face.
     Hercules was aghast. Surely the hunter wasn't afraid of him. "Please
     tell me the truth, Iolaus...I won't hurt you."

     "But I...But I might hurt you. I don't want to...to hurt you, Herc."

     "The truth doesn't hurt as much as lies, Iolaus."

     "It m-might in this case."

     "I'd still prefer it."

     "All right. C-Can I sit up please?" The demigod nodded. He sat down in
     a chair beside the bed and Iolaus recounted events. He started by
     explaining what the woman had done as he thought recounting events in
     that order might make it easier on his friend. He stressed that what
     he was going to say would upset Hercules, but that he knew it wasn't
     his fault. He hesitated and then said, "Th-The woman d-didn't
     anticipate you'd come into m-my room..." He trailed off unable to
     continue.

     Hercules looked at him in some confusion. "And?" he asked. Iolaus put
     his head down. All Hercules could see was mop of golden curls, but he
     was aware that his friend was shaking. He put out a gentle hand and
     raised his friend's face. It was awash with tears. Seeing Iolaus'
     anguish, Hercules began to grasp the truth. In a voice that was little
     more than a whisper, he said, "Iolaus, I didn't...I didn't...did I?"

     Iolaus nodded and lowered his head again, covering his face with his
     left hand so that he would not have to see his friend's reaction.
     Hercules was in a state of shock. He realized he didn't need the
     hunter to provide more details as he could recall everything vividly.
     "Iolaus, I don't know..." He couldn't go on.

     Hearing the note of despair in his friend's voice, Iolaus forced
     himself to explain how Xena came to know of events, adding, "I'm
     sorry, Herc, I d-didn't have any choice but to tell her
     because...because otherwise s-she would have gone to you. I-I d-didn't
     know about the drug then, but I knew there was something wrong and I
     wanted...to find out what. When we found out, she thought I should
     tell you, but...but I thought...I thought...I shouldn't...I didn't
     want to upset you. It wasn't your fault."

     Hercules felt his eyes filling with tears as he listened to this. "I-I
     don't know what to say, Iolaus. I'm so sorry and I don't...don't know
     how I can..."

     Iolaus interrupted. "Herc, you don't have to say anything, I know you
     couldn't help it." He slid off the bed and put his good arm around the
     demigod, hugging him against his chest. Then he stepped back and
     looked at his friend. "I don't...I don't know that I sh-should say
     this, Herc, but...but you said you wanted honesty and...and it might
     make you feel less guilty..." He hesitated, afraid to go on and afraid
     not to.

     "What is it, Iolaus?"

     "Herc, you...you must know I-I've always...loved you. If you'd asked
     me for sex I would...I would have said...I would have said...yes."

     Hercules was speechless. He stared at the hunter. Iolaus felt a cold
     hand clutch his heart. I've really blown it now, he thought. "I'm
     sorry, Herc, I thought...it might help and I-I've made things worse."
     He started to move blindly towards the door.

     His passage was suddenly arrested by a large hand that shot out and
     grasped his right arm. Pain shot through him, but a moment later was
     forgotten as the demigod pulled him into his arms. He gazed
     wonderingly into Hercules' eyes and to his joy could see nothing but
     love. He put out a tentative hand and stroked Hercules' face, feeling
     the wetness of tears. Then, without conscious thought his mouth was on
     Hercules', and both experienced the sweetest kiss they'd ever known.
     Naturally one thing led to another and they soon found themselves
     enjoying what was for both the most erotic experience they'd ever had.

     They were both so engrossed that neither heard the door quietly open
     as the Warrior Princess gave in to a concern and curiosity that she
     could no longer resist. She smiled to herself as she closed it again,
     thinking, This is one story Gabrielle will never hear and one ending
     she'd never have anticipated.

                             [Image] The End [Image]