Golden Apple Challenge: Hercules and Iolaus genuinely disagree about an issue.

BETTER FOR EVERYONE
by Amorette

So. . .what does Iolaus do when Hercules is off hanging around with Salmoneous or somebody?

Hercules shook his head in disbelief even before Iolaus was finished. Iolaus ignored his friend's obvious disapproval and continued.

"It's the most reasonable thing to do, Herc, you have to see that?"

"Reasonable?" Hercules wanted to shout but kept his voice down because of the child asleep in the next room. Instead, he threw his hands up in the air. "What's reasonable about abandoning your own child?"

Iolaus' face flushed red, then went pale. "Is that what you think I'm doing? Is that what you think of me?"

Realizing he had chosen the wrong words, Hercules tried to apologize. "No, that's not what I think of you. But to give your child away because. . ."

"Because I can't take care of him." Iolaus blinked and Hercules only now saw the tears in his friend's eyes. "Because I can't do justice to him as a parent. Because I'm failing him as a father. . ."

"Iolaus." Too late, Hercules saw what he should have seen before, had he not been so surprised by Iolaus suggestion that Iolaus take his son and leave the boy with relatives. This wasn't what Iolaus wanted. This was what he thought he should do. "Iolaus, you're a wonderful father. . ."

Iolaus' gesture cut him off. "No, I'm not. And if you weren't my best friend and a lousy judge of my behavior, you'd see that. Alcmene has. Deinairia has."

"What? What did either of them say to you. . ."

"They don't say anything." Sighing, Iolaus slumped back in his chair, running his hands through his hair. "They try to help, but look at this place." The sweep of Iolaus' hand took in the unwashed dishes, the cobwebs in the corners, the pile of mending by the hearth. "It's filthy."

"So you're not tidy." Hercules tried to smile and only managed a weak twitch of his cheeks. "Boys aren't tidy."

"That's not all." Iolaus was twisting the ties of his gauntlets. "I'm broke, Hercules. If your mother hadn't loaned me the money to pay my taxes, I'd have lost my land. And I can't pay her back unless I can earn some money. To do that, I need to be able to work in my forge without worrying about a two-year-old getting burned." He looked up at his friend, his anguish plain in his face. "I can't go hunting or trapping. I managed to do some farming with him strapped on my back last year but he's too big to carry around that way anymore. And I can't afford to pay someone to watch him."

"Iolaus." Hercules' throat was tight with sorrow. He reached out and laid a hand on Iolaus' shoulder. "There has to be another way. . ."

Iolaus shook his head slowly. "I've tried, Herc. I've tried so hard, as best I can." He wiped his nose on his gauntlet, hanging his head. "But I can't raise a child alone and keep up the farm and the forge. I used to take the money I earned trapping in the winter to buy seed and materials in the spring. Last year, I couldn't go trapping. This year. . ."

"If it's money. . ."

The fair head came up, the eyes flashing. "I am not becoming your family's charity case." Iolaus' anger died as quickly as it flared. "And it's not just money. Ania's sister and her husband are wonderful people, with two children of their own. They genuinely love my son. When we go visit, you can tell how much he enjoys playing with his cousins and having. . ." Iolaus took a deep breath. "a mother."

Hercules started to say something but Iolaus stopped him. "I've been thinking about this very seriously for a long time. I know, I swore I'd raise Ania's child myself but that was my grief and my vanity talking." He shrugged. "And my inexperience. I didn't know how hard it would be."

"Iolaus, sending your son away will break your heart. It's not just that he needs you, you need him!"

"I know." Iolaus sniffled again. "And I'll still have him. I'm not sending him to foster in some distant kingdom. His aunt and uncle just live half a day's walk from here. I can see him whenever I want and know he is safe, well-cared for and loved when I'm away. Don't you see?"

Iolaus looked up at his friend, his expression pleading.

Hercules didn't know what to say. He didn't agree with Iolaus' decision. He knew how much his friend depended on the love of his child to get Iolaus through a day. He knew how close they were, father and son. And, as much as Hercules hated to admit it, he knew he would miss his friend's child. Still, if Hercules looked carefully, non-judgementally, he could see Iolaus' point. To a point. It was hard for Iolaus to earn a living and care for his son.

"Are you sure? " asked Hercules hesitantly. He could see how upset Iolaus was and didn't want to distress him further.

Iolaus nodded miserably. "I talked it over with Ania's sister and her husband and they love the idea. They lost their little boy that was just his age and he fits in between their other two children perfectly. I've agreed that once I get my finances in order, I'll pay them something for his keep and I'll see him whenever I want."

"And your son?"

"He. . ." Iolaus couldn't speak for a moment. "When I asked him if he wanted to go live with his aunt and uncle and cousins, he was delighted by the idea." Iolaus managed a weak smile. "Ania's sister is much better cook than she was. And he loves his cousins. They have a pony named Aster. . ."

Hercules pulled his friend into his arms, hugging him as Iolaus cried. He was sure Iolaus was wrong to give his son to someone else to care for but Hercules knew Iolaus had made up his mind and what Iolaus needed was Hercules' support. And it wasn't as if Iolaus couldn't change his mind.

"If it doesn't work out. . ."

Iolaus pushed free of his friend' embrace, wiping his nose and eyes again. "If it doesn't work out, I'll bring him home so fast the dust won't have time to settle. Besides, if you need someone to back you up when you go chasing monsters, I'll be available."

"So." Hercules cleared his throat. "Ah, when. . ."

"Tomorrow."

"Ah."

"And I'll stay a couple of days, then come back here for a few days to give him time to settle in, then go back and see how it's going."

Hercules hoped it was a disaster but he didn't say that out loud, just nodded. Maybe it would work out. It would be nice to have Iolaus at his back again. And someday, when Iolaus remarried, as he was bound to do, then he could take his son home and have a new family to love. Reluctantly, Hercules convinced himself that this was all for the best.

The End

Author's note: In "Amazon Women," Iolaus is engaged. Four movies later, Iolaus remarks how difficult it is to be a mother and a father and Deinairia comforts him by saying how proud Ania would be of him. Then the series starts and all that back story disappears, except for the reference to Iolaus being lonely in "Warrior Princess" AND no explanation for what Iolaus is doing when he isn't with Hercules. Maybe he is off visiting his child/children, hmmm? Works for me.

June 2001