This is my sequel to "Avenger". When I wrote "You have no idea what disruptions your insolence will cause! You violate not only the laws of the Gods but the laws of the Cosmos itself!" I left that unaddressed, and even after all this time it bugs the shit out of me I left such a large concept completely unaddressed. So here's the tale of the consequences that resulted from Hercules' unnatural solution to Meg's predicament. I am aware that I wrote an epilogue, but this obviously takes place before the epilogue. Hope you enjoy. And I hope people are actually still willing to read my slop even after all this time.

Also, I realize in ancient Greece the wealthy often had servants and slaves, and that it was a completely social norm. However, I don't feel like dealing with that kind of a plot point, and Hercules is too innocent to ever enslave anyone, social norm or not.

Meg slunk out of the lavatory, drying her hair with a towel as she moved towards the wardrobe to fetch something to wear for the day. As her wet feet made a soft patting sound as she crossed the room, Herc's sleepy groan was the only other sound to break the winter morning silence. He opened his eyes and saw her blurry form across the room. He rubbed the sleep from his face, his vision coming into focus as he gazed at his wife dressing across the room. 18 months had done naught to diminish her allure, and the brisk temperatures brought a flush to her skin that only made her sexier. Even the now faded pink scars across her chest and stomach failed to fill him with feelings of guilt and dread. Meg heard the stirring of sheets and turned after she finished fastening an olive green dress.

"It's about time you wake up" She felt goose flesh roll up her arms, and she reached for a shawl from the closet. "I'm surprised the cold didn't wake you. I think we need to pull the winter gear from storage. Also, I'm not up for heating up more water. I'd jump in that tub while the water's still hot."

"Since when are you up earlier than me? You're not what I'd call a morning person" He sat up, and as the covers slid away he became aware of the morning chill. "And I think I'll take your offer of that bath while the water is still warm"

"I wasn't feeling well this morning. Must be something I ate"

"Are you feeling okay now?"

"Still queasy… I'm going to go eat something. Maybe something simple will make me feel better." She crossed the room, hearing the door creak as Herc went to take his bath. She slipped on some sandals, wishing she had her fur lined slippers that were locked away from last winter. She moved down the elegant marble stairs to the kitchen, and lit a fire in the hearth to chase away the cold. "Gods damn it got cold fast." She muttered to herself. There was some flatbread left on the table that she had baked the night before, and attempted nibbling on it to chase the nausea in her stomach, but it was already stale. There was some goat milk in the ice box, and she used it to soften the bread and eat her simple breakfast.

By the time Hercules joined her in the kitchen the hearth had a roaring fire that brought the kitchen to a more comfortable temperature. Meg looked up, almost surprised to see him.

"What's for breakfast?"

"I haven't started anything yet. We have some barely flatbread, oranges, pomegranates… a bit of honey. We need to go to the market," she replied, scrunching her nose at their limited options. Hercules settled on a honeyed orange, but when he offered some to Meg the rich smells brought the bread up from her stomach, and she ran to the sink and vomited her meager breakfast. "Yeah… goats milk… pretty high on the list of worst possible things to throw up" Herc couldn't help but laugh, but when she shot him a cold look his smile quickly changed to guilt.

"Hey at least it's not as bad as the time we bought some weird peppers from a traveling merchant."

"Oh dear Gods don't remind me of that night of hell" Those peppers had first lit their mouths on fire, Meg had thrown up setting her nose and throat on fire, and then the resulting gastrointestinal distress seemed to ensure that no part of her would emerge from that ordeal unscathed by liquid fire. "At least your damn demigod blood saved you from most of the after effects." She reached to the rags hanging above the sink to clean the mess she made, ignoring Hercules snickering behind her.

"Aw come on, those peppers were delicious!"

"You ever bring those things home again, I swear…"

"They weren't that bad"

"You weren't the one living in the outhouse for a day and a half!" Milk sprayed across the table as Hercules roared with laughter, pounding his fist.

"Fire in the hole!"

"Not funny!" Her red cheeks only made him laugh harder. She jut her jaw in frustration, and gave him a thwap across the back of the head.

"I think you dried out the well with how much water you were drinking!"

Hercules managed to stifle his laughter, "sorry hun. But you have to admit… it was pretty funny."

"As funny as the time you mistook the vinegar I was cooking with, with wine?"

"Ugh, that was horrible. Not a mistake I'll make twice."

"You did make that mistake twice…" Herc squinted at her suspiciously,

"I don't think I should trust random liquids on the table when you cook anymore"

"Shit! All my horrible plans! Foiled!" Meg then dramatically looked upwards, "Eris, its off, he's on to me" Hercules finished his orange and reached for some of the flatbread, also coating it in honey. "Did you want to go to the market with me today? We're pretty low on food."

"You sure you're up for it? You're sick. Why don't you just go lay in bed and let me go to the market."

"No offense wonderboy, but you aren't exactly good at food shopping. You only buy snacks and treats. It's hard to make a meal out of sweet cakes and olives."

"I buy more than that…" He paused, thinking. "I bought these fruits"

"We need some fish, barley, we have some eggs from the chickens out back , I used the last of the milk. We could even see if they have venison. It sells fast, so we should go down while the hunters still have some stocked."

"Okay I'll be good and buy everything we need this time. Just go lay down and rest. I don't think dealing with the agora is very fun if you're sick." Meg turned around, and suddenly gripped the edge of the counter to maintain her balance as a swoon swept over her. "You alright?" Herc stood up, alarmed.

"I'm fine. Just a little lightheaded is all. Don't call in the calvary." She smirked. She walked up to him and gave him a quick kiss, "Look if it'll make you feel better I'll stay here. But if you come back with just sweets again, I'm going down there myself." Herc laughed and kissed the stubborn woman on the forehead gently,

"Feel better honey." Meg smiled, a blush coming to her cheeks at the endearment. Hercules had only taken to calling her that shortly after they were married, and it was still new to her ears. Get a grip… she thought to herself, embarrassed that she still blushed like a virginal schoolgirl whenever he called her 'honey'

It was later in the morning by the time Hercules had woken Pegasus, and flown down to the agora. The area was bustling with fishermen calling out their wares, a few hunters boasting about the quality of their kill, jewelers displaying various trinkets with elaborate stories of the queens who used to own them, bakers laying hot loaves of flatbread on their counters, a farmer selling chickens and his day's harvest. The crowds and the noise disguised Hercules enough to keep most of the fans' collective attentions on the goods for sale. He slung his hemp sack across his shoulders as he made his way to the hunter's booth to see if they had any venison as Meg had asked.

"What do you have today?" The large man behind the counter spun around, the leather apron he wore covered with blood stains new and old, his calloused hands holding a dull butcher knife as he half hazardly hacked at the rack of ribs he had on the buter's block.

"Wild boar and two suckling pigs."

"What about venison?"

"I ain't got that pansy meat. Hearty boar, that's what a man needs! Strong meat from a strong animal!" Across the way a competing hunter shouted his reply,

"Venison over here pal! Last of the season, you're in luck my friend! Finest meat you'll ever taste!"

"Deer are thin sickly creatures! They run away from a threat! Deer are cowards, don't eat the meat of a coward!"

"Deer are quick! They survive! Unlike the hardheaded boar who runs at the hunter. You don't need any skill to kill a boar! Make some noise and it'll run right into your spear!"

"Then that boar will gouge you with its tusks unless you are a strong hunter! You can only become a strong hunter if you eat strong meat!" Hercules looked back and forth, confused at the arguing. He knew Meg was home waiting for him, so he disregarded their arguments and went to the venison merchant. He looked at the cuts that were still available and settled on two large stakes. "Our great hero has great taste! Only the finest cut of meat for you! I'll even throw in a sack of olives, free of charge! It would be a crime to eat such a fine meat without such fine olives!" The man wrapped up the meat in grape leaves, and handed the small satchel of olives to Herc. "Don't let that oaf of a man fool you into thinking boar meat is better. Nothing is sweeter than venison my friend!" Hercules thanked the man, paid and continued to shop.

He bought a sack of barley, a new jar of honey, some pomegranates, grapes, oranges, cheese, several spices, and a jug of sweet red wine. As he made his way through the bustling agora, more people were pouring in, several of them teenagers.

"Oh my Gods! It's him!" Hercules groaned, not having much time to react and turned as one collided with his chest. He staggered back to try and keep his footing, his arms full of the goods he had purchased. As a second girl slammed into him the wine jug was thrown from his hands, shattering next to a homeless man trying to sleep. The noise woke the man, who quickly snatched what was left of the jug and drank what little wine hadn't poured into the sand.

"Hey! Ow! Watch out… please! Get off!" He pleaded, squirming away trying to fend of what Meg frequently referred to as "the hormone tsunami" The local merchants were very familiar with Hercules, not just as the famous hero, but as a returning customer who always left generous tips. Several came running to his rescue, shoving the girls away and threatening to throw water at them if they didn't stop. "You know you can just approach me… you don't have to tackle me. " Hercules offered meekly to the disappointed girls when he saw how dejected they looked.

Used to the world of fame, Hercules pulled some papyrus from his back, and a carefully wrapped quil and inkpot to offer each of the girls his autograph. Their disappointed looks turned into screams of joy.

"Where's Megara?" one girl asked. Herc's wife was nearly as famous as he was, the announcement of their engagement had led to a lot of vandalism in local schools.

"She stayed home. Not feeling well this morning." The girl frowned, and plucked a flower from the bouquet she had in her hands. "Here, a get well gift." The group of girls left, the one with the flowers shouting prices and bragging about her gardening skills. He was about to ask them why they weren't in school when he realized it was a Saturday.

The remainder of the trip to the agora was uneventful, Hercules making his last stop at the sweets stall. He had only told Meg he wouldn't only buy sweets. Herc made his way back to the fields at the entrance of the agora where he left Pegasus to graze. He let out a shrill whistle and his loyal companion returned. He gave Pegasus an apple before swinging on his back. They decided to ride back rather than fly, due to the temperatures. When he returned to the villa he placed the food in the kitchen, placing the milk into the icebox. "We should get a goat, fresh milk all the time. " He said to himself, remembering the farm he grew up on. "Meg?" He called out, wondering how she was feeling. He couldn't hear a reply so he went up to the bedroom. "Meg?" He called again. He opened the bedroom door and saw her sitting on the edge of the bed, wringing her hands and looking pensive. "Honey?" He couldn't help but notice she didn't blush.

"Hercules… I'm pregnant"

I also realize "Tsunami" was a term coined by the Japanese, and unless Herc had spent time in Japan and had learned about that word, he wouldn't know it. But it's a story. Enjoy despite my loopholes. It's a story about a demigod. It's already unrealistic =P