`Part 1

        The Gods and Goddesses of Olympus were a combination of many thing one fine
day in  the new millennium.  Nervous.  Excited.  Anxious.  Worried.
Wondrous.  Joyful.  All because of what was taking place in one of the
newest temples to have appeared on Olympus in the past two thousand years.
The home of the Goddess of Retail and Shopping and her husband, the God of
the Undead and Demons.  For it was the place where the first Gods of the new
age were being born to the happy couple.
        "Goddess, how much longer can this take?" Willow asked nervously, pacing
outside of the room where her friend and fellow Goddess was in labor.
Cordelia’s screams could be heard through the thick doors and with each one,
Wesley paled more and more.  He began to represent one of the vampires that
he was the God of.  The soon-to-be father had been told, in no uncertain
terms, that he had to leave his bedroom because his fretting was getting to
Aphrodite and Hera, both of whom were helping Cordelia with the delivery.
        "I wish I knew kitten," Angel comforted his wife just as another scream
came from the room.  This one much closer than the others, signaling that
the time was near.
        "Okay, I so don’t know if I will ever want to go through that," Faith
muttered.  "I mean, sure, I’m the Goddess of Children, well lost ones
anyway, but if it hurts that much to have one, no thanks.  I’m not sure if I
want one of my own."
        "Trust me, Faith," Cupid said as he listened to his sister go through her
delivery.  "IT hurts like a bitch but its all worth it as soon as you feel
your little one in your arms.  There’s not a feeling like it in the world."
        "And how would you know, flyboy?" Faith questioned.  "Last time I checked,
guys couldn’t have kids."  Cupid blushed as he looked down at something on
the floor.   "What?"  Then Faith got it.  "Wait a minute.  Are you telling
me that Gods can have babies?  As in the male Gods?"  Strife grinned broadly
as his consort nodded his head.  "Who?"
        "ME," Cupid replied.  "Considering the way that Strife was born, what with
his mom not exactly giving him the best of treatment even before his birth.
Not to mention the nature of his Godhood.  We decided that maybe it would be
better if I was the one to carry our children."
        "Children?" Xander repeated, surprised that a man would even consider
having a child let alone actually doing it.  "How many kids did the two of
you have?"
        "We had four," Strife answered quietly.  There was a sadness in his voice
that one wouldn’t normally associate with the God of Mischief.  "Two boys
and two girls.  And the girls were twins just like Cordelia now.  I’m
beginning to think that they’re gonna run in the family. I mean, mom and
Ares were twins.  Then Deimos and Phobos.  Then ours.  And now Cordelia."
        "Where are your kids now?" Willow questioned.  "Why haven’t we met them
yet?"
        "They were born after the decision was made," Cupid said sadly, his eyes
glistening with tears as he remembered the children he had carried and then
lost as soon as they had been born.  He was grateful that his grandmother
had allowed him and Strife a moment alone with the children before they were
taken away from them.
        None of the others had to ask what they meant by the decision.  Everyone on
Olympus referred to the law that stated that all children born to the Gods
would be given up so that they would be allowed to live a life as a mortal
as the "decision."  But now, with the arrival of Cordelia and Wesley, not to
mention the knowledge that the Gods of Olympus were back, couples were
planning on becoming pregnant quickly.  In fact, there were already three
couples that were expecting.
        "I’m sorry," Willow whispered, wishing there was a way that she could help
her new friends with the hurt they were so obviously still feeling at the
loss of their children.  She didn’t know what she would do if she had a
child taken from her and she was grateful that the law had been changed.
And that Angel was now able to give her children when the two of them were
ready.  But she knew that would be a long way off, considering the fact that
they were still getting used to their God hoods.
        Suddenly the silence that was overwhelming the room was broken by the sound
of a new born crying.  Then, a few minutes later, but seemed like hours, the
sounds of another child.  Both cries were a welcome relief to the couples
that had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the new Gods.  They all
looked towards the door when it opened, revealing a frazzled Goddess of
Love.  Aphrodite’s normally perfectly coifed hair was falling out of place.
Her face was drawn and there were tears of joy falling down her face.
        "Congratulations, Wesley," she announced.  "You are the proud new father of
a God and Goddess."
        "Can I go in and see them?" The proud new father asked, even as he headed
towards the room that held his family.  Aphrodite nodded and let him pass.
        "How are they mom," Cupid questioned as Aphrodite closed to the door to the
bedroom, giving the couple some privacy.  Well, other than the new doting
great grandmother that was still in the room.
        "They’re perfect," she answered.  "I can already tell that they are going
to be beautiful, just like their aunt and uncles before them."
        "When can we see them?" Iolaus asked the question that everyone wanted to
know.  Aphrodite thought about it for a moment before finally answering.
        "I would say to give them all until tomorrow.  Its not easy giving birth to
a child, let alone twins and Cordelia really needs her rest."  The blonde
Goddess grinned.  "And they need some time alone as a family before the rest
of Olympus descends upon them.  Which, knowing my family, will be any
minute."  Aphrodite looks around and notices who was absent from the
collection.  "Where’s Ares?  I would have thought for sure he would have
been here for this."
        "Unk had to go take care of something down in New York," Strife informed
his mother in law.  "Seems a couple of gangs decided that since there was
now a God of War, that it would be the perfect excuse to kill some rivals.
In the process, some innocents were killed.  He’s telling them exactly what
he thought of their idea."  Strife’s trademark grin was apparent as he
thought of exactly what his uncle had planned for the leaders of the two
gangs.  He was pretty sure that they wouldn’t be in any rush to kill people
in the name of Ares again.
        "Well, I’m sure that the rest of you have other things to do," Aphrodite
told them all.
        "I better go tell Anya about Cordelia’s babies," Willow said, remembering
her promise to the former vengeance demon.  "Her and Graham have almost been
as anxious as we have waiting for them to be born."
        "Well, she is Delia’s high Priestess after all," Xander chuckled.  "You
know, I’m pretty sure that should scare me."
        "What luv?" Spike questioned.
        "Well, that my first girlfriend in now a Goddess who had my other former
girlfriend as a high priestess.  For some reason, that doesn’t sound exactly
safe."
        "No, but luckily they’ve both moved on and have no intention of doing
anything against you," Spike informed his mate, teasing him.  "Besides, if
they even thought about it, they would have to go through me and you know I
wouldn’t let them do anything to hurt you.  They only one that can do that
is me."
        "Oh that makes it so much better."  Xander rolled his eyes.  Spike leaned
over and kissed the former mortal and Xander quickly forgot whatever it was
they were talking about.  Just like he always did whenever Spike was in the
room.
        "Do the two of you ever keep your hands of each other,?" Angel groaned as
he watched the kiss between his childe and his mate heat up.  "And I thought
Strife and Cupid were bad."
        "Actually I always thought it was Faith and Iolaus my self," Willow
amended.
        "Hey, I have over two thousand years to make up for," Iolaus shot back at
the smiling red head.  "Besides, what kind of Love God would I be if I
didn’t show my Wife how much I loved her?"  Everyone groaned at Iolaus’
attempt at humor.
        "And on that note, I’m off," Willow, Goddess of Computers said, standing.
Angel, God of Redemption, Stood next to her, giving her a quick kiss on the
lips.
        "Tell Anya and Graham I said hi," he asked.  "And if you see Giles, tell
him that whenever he wants to talk to just call for me.  He said that he had
some news for me but he hasn’t said anything yet."
        "I’ll let them know."  In a flash of pink, Willow disappeared.
        "Well, all, I’m going to take that as my cue and leave.  Tell Delia and Wes
that We’ll stop by tomorrow to see them."  Angel left in a show of black
sparks.
        "Looks like its clearing out," Cupid observed.  "What say you and I go
celebrate the newest editions to the family."  Strife grinned at his
consort.
        "I’m with you there."  The God of Mischief turned to his two assistants.
"I will see you two tomorrow for some work. There’s a little project I need
the two of you to do."
        "We’ll be there," Xander promise.  Strife and Cupid disappeared together.
        "Well, I don’t know about anybody else, but I’m tired and I have a long day
tomorrow," Faith commented.
        "Then let’s get you home and to bed."  Iolaus volunteered.  The couple
waved goodbye to the three remaining Gods before blinking out.
        "Well, Pet.  Just you and me.  What say we go have a little fun," Spike
offered.
        "Have anything in mind."  Spike leered at his lover before the two of them
vanished, leaving Aphrodite behind.  The Goddess of Love knew that night
that Hephy would be getting quite a bit of attention.  Then again, the God
of Smiths was getting used to that since it had been happening ever since
the former mortals joined the family on Olympus.  Yup, they were definitely
livening things up.

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