Names of children:
Alexandra.
Feminine form of ALEXANDER. Latinized form of the Greek name Αλεξανδρος (Alexandros), which meant "defending men" from Greek αλεξω (alexo) "to defend, help" and ανηρ (aner) "man" (genitive ανδρος). In Greek mythology this was a Mycenaean epithet of the goddess Hera, and an alternate name of Cassandra. It was also borne by the wife of Nicholas II, the last czar of Russia.
Cleopatra.
From the Greek name Κλεοπατρα (Kleopatra) which meant "glory of the father", derived from κλεος (kleos) "glory" combined with πατρος (patros) "of the father". This was the name of queens of Egypt from the Ptolemaic royal family, including Cleopatra VII, the mistress of both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. After being defeated by Augustus she committed suicide by allowing herself to be bitten by an asp.
Andronikos.
Means "victory of a man" from Greek ανδρος (andros) "of a man" and νικη (nike) "victory". The Latinized form of this name, Andronicus, was used by Shakespeare in his play 'Titus Andronicus' (1593).
Apollonios.
From an ancient Greek personal name which was derived from the name of the Greek god APOLLO. It was borne by a Greek poet of the 3rd century BC. Several saints have also had this name.
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"Athena."
"Yes, Ares?" she prompted, turning away from the various scrolls she had spread out on her side of the bed to face him. As she looked at him, she was once more struck by what a handsome man her husband was. She leaned over and kissed him.
After a few moments, he disengaged from her. "Wait," he murmured against her lips.
"Why?" she asked, confused.
He took her chin gently in his hand and tilted her face up. "I want to see something."
She laughed lightly. "What is it? Is there something the matter with my appearance?"
He gazed at her intently before responding. "I just wanted to make sure it was still there."
"What?" she asked with a smile. Her husband was truly incomprehensible.
"The sparkle," he whispered.
"Hmn. And what sparkle would that be?" she queried as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"The sparkle I fell in love with," he responded before covering her lips with his own.
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"Come on, darling, stop crying," Merope murmured soothingly, taking the baby from Cleo's arms. "Smile for me. Smile," she urged in her comfortingly melodic voice. She gasped, her face lighting up with a grin, "Why isn't that a beautiful smile? You'll look just like your mama some day, won't you? Yes, you will." She tickled Alexandra's stomach and smiled as the baby let out a happy gurgle, stretching her arms out playfully.
"Alexandra Cleopatra. The name is quite a mouthful," noted Aëdon.
"I think it's pretty," said Cleo.
"Girls, try to keep quiet, you'll upset the baby," hushed Merope. "Personally, I think it's sweet, naming her Cleopatra. He cares so much for her."
"That's true," agreed Cleo. "I never thought I'd live to see Ares brought to heel, nevertheless by a tiny baby girl."
"There's something about holding a child in his arms that changes a man," said Apollo, an odd light in his eyes. The girls turned, having forgotten he was there keeping Andronikos Apollonius occupied and away from his little sister so he wouldn't disrupt her nap.
The precocious two-year-old bearing his namesake tugged earnestly on his hand. "Uncle, you promised." Because Athena had expressly forbidden her son being allowed to pick up a weapon of any sort before the age of five, despite Ares' objections, Apollo had begun to train the boy in the arts of music and prophecy.
"Alright," he said with a smile, the look fading from his eyes as quickly as it had come. "Let's hear it."
Andronikos drew himself up proudly and began to strum on his lyre. His voice was bright and harmonious, blending his mother's soft tones with his father's deep, rich voice. However, his lyrics left something to be desired.
Apollo struggled not to cringe through the song of a brave warrior who went into battle and "cut of everyone's heads 'cause they were bad and it was a war and that's what happens" being rewarded with "loads and gold and riches and everybody liked him and they cheered his name when he went by on parade" who finally died and from his grave "a bunch of roses grew and everyone cried because songs always end with girly things like that". He mustered up a grin at the end. "Well, it was certainly interesting."
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Ares and Athena were sitting by the lake in the favorite spot while their friends watched over the children for the day. She had told him about her day and the books she had just finished reading. He had told her about his and amused her with a story about an awkward situation he had experienced in his past. His head was pillowed in her lap and she stroked his hair absentmindedly. "Ares?"
"Yes, my love?"
"When did you fall in love with me?" she asked.
He sat up, wrapping his arms around her. She happily nestled her head into his chest. He stroked the graceful curve of her arm. "Do you remember that day on the practice field when you told me I was an arrogant, philandering ass and you were far too intelligent to ever get involved with someone like me?"
"Yes," she said warily. "Though you can't expect me to believe that was what..."
"We went back and forth for a while and I can't remember what I said, but it made you laugh, and suddenly it struck me how beautiful you are when you laugh. I realized that I wanted to hear that laugh everyday, and I wanted to be the one to cause it. And I just knew," he finished softly.
"Oh, Ares, you never fail to surprise me. I don't know why it took me so long to see past the veneer of bloodlust and unpredictable violence to discover the sweetest man I have ever known," she said, kissing him softly.
As with all of their embraces, it quickly escalated until they were forced to break apart for air. "Perhaps we should return to the children," she suggested breathlessly.
He took in her rumpled hair, slightly swollen lips, and darkened gray eyes and wordlessly tackled her to the ground.
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THE END.
Considering maybe writing a more realistic story where Ares' many affairs and 'women' are actually included and she still falls for him anyway. We will see.
As always, PLEASE REVIEW!!!
Much love, Cat.