Happy Halloween? - chapter ten.

"I saw him first in Dead Man. And you can probably imagine how that aroused my interest. ... since I have a bit to do with death myself - and - and he get hunted through most of the movie. Then somebody told me about Sleepy Hollow ... And O.K. - Ichabod is a wimp but ... he is also a rather appealing and attractive wimp. And knows his way around ghosts"
Johnny winced a bit at the word "wimp" He knew it was true - but still ... Then Meeps snuggled up to him and kissed his check whispering she love him and suddenly it didn´t matter at all.
And Diana - not having her attention on either of them - just went on "He is a marvellous guy - for being one of the mortals - so of course I wanted him. I ... then heard about your - eh - experience, Auntie, and became even more interested"
Here "Auntie" - that is Aphrodite - frowned a bit and Diana hurried on "I mean - any son of yours has to be top quality - the best there is ... The very best! Anyway ... I didn´t want a whole lot of trouble with the mortals for having just abducted him and brought to me so I hatched the plan of making it appear like he was dead! And I still think that was a wonderful plan ..."
Here she look defensively around. But nobody wanted to discuss the point yet. So she went on "But then that there little obnoxious ... Yes, Uncle Hermes, I know you love her. But Meeps HAD TO send her Johnny out on the road last night and - and ... I didn´t want him! ... he´s way too - too - twee!!! She has totally spoiled him by making him feeling safe and happy and sweet and - it´s disgusting! That is what it is !!! ... so I tried to make him think he was the real thing ... Rebellious - dangerous ... gorgeous ... But Meeps of course had to come running with you to help him and - and ... And Cerberus had to cure him so I couldn´t save him from his pain. And - and ... that stupid demon recognized him and brought him to uncle Hades´ attention and - and ... I was suppose to come save him so he would be eternal grateful and beholding to me - ME!"
Suddenly Diana to Johnny´s big surprise started to bawl - loudly - sounding very much like a spoiled child who can´t get her way and find that very unfair.
For a second he was about to get up and go over and try to comfort her.
But then he remembered she had apparently engineered the whole thing ... And she had called Meeps "obnoxious" (Here Johnny conveniently forgot Meeps thought some of the gods were just the same)
... and was he twee !!! O.K. maybe he was - but Meeps loved a cute guy and why shouldn't he try to please the girl he loved by playing at being nice? It was of course only something he played to please Meeps since he was as tough as the next bloke!
Beside - the three older gods also started to comfort her themselves. Then suddenly a tall blond man came running up - and pushing Hermes rather roughly aside - hugged Diana to him saying "There, there, sister. I´m here now! I won´t allow them to hurt you! Get away from her, you ... Eh - hello, Auntie?"
"Hi, Apollo" Aphrodite said with a little tired smile "Really - what a family gathering, this is turning into ... Maybe we better get inside and - get that paper work done so the children - Meeps and Johnny, that is - can get home safely. Don´t say another word, Diana! ... I may not always have stuck to that myself - but as I get older I am more and more against forcing or tricking people into loving you! ... seducing them is still O.K. But you, my dear Artemis, went way out of line ..."
Unfortunately for Johnny and Meeps the Godfather - erm - the father of the gods Zeus had arrived at the party by the time they entered the big ball room again. And since he had a big soft spot for his son Apollo - and same Apollo thought it was totally Johnny and Meeps´ fault his sister had been crying - Zeus decided that Johnny could only get back his life if he passed a test.
Aphrodite and Athena protested vehemently. With Uncle Hermes shaking his head in the background. They pointing out that the whole thing had been Artemis´ work in the first place - by her own admission.
Zeus just roared he was the boss ... After having first looked around to check that his wife hadn't arrived yet -o*
And the rest of the gods thought it would either be interesting or entertaining to see.
At first the gods wouldn´t let Meeps go with Johnny. Said it had nothing what so ever to do with a silly chicken. But Aphrodite suddenly smiled broadly and say "How do you lot like for me to spoil your love lives by making everybody say NO to you!"
After that all the men - gods - and even some of the goddesses agreed that Meeps should certainly go with her beloved Johnny!
But they couldn´t quite decide what the test should be until Hermes quietly said "How about the Augean stable ... Hercules let the river run through it in order to clean it. But now the cows have no where to live. How about we let the kids find a way for the cows to get their stable back"
Johnny thought it sounded impossible for two humans to stop a river running where it wanted. Apparently Apollo and Artemis/Diana thought the same because they agreed with rather wicked smiles.
Aphrodite started to protest. But Athena took hold of her arm and said quietly "Trust him" After that both the love goddess and Johnny decided to trust Uncle Hermes. Meeps looked like she had done so all the time.