"You know what? I take it back," Iolaus said, bending to pick a handful of feathery grass and handing it to Hercules.

"Take what back?"

"What I said earlier, that I missed having a family. There are some parts I don't miss at all." Iolaus wrinkled his nose as he watched the demigod wipe Obie's slime off his vest. "Like that, for example. Ugh."

"And then there's the midnight feedings, and the diapers..." Hercules shook his head. "I'm glad he's back safe in his mother's arms."

"Yeah," Iolaus added, suspiciously solemn-faced. "All six of them."