Rating: PG-13
Series: Part two of my four-part series dealing with events in Joxer and Meg's life between Looking Death in the Eye and Livia. The other stories in this series are "In Healing Arms", "The Value of Family", and "Past Best Forgotten". You do not need to reread "In Healing Arms" to understand this story, though there are a few references to events in the previous story. Part one and part three will be closely related to each other, as will part two to part four. Thus, for instance, even though I make several references to Joxer's mother Jacinda, who played a major role in part one, she will not appear in person in this story. She will return in part three for a major role. This story deals with events leading up to and including Virgil's birth.
Pairings: Joxer/Meg, some Joxer/Gabrielle
Content Warning: There are references to Meg's past and to childbirth in this story. Though there is nothing graphic, this story is not recommended for younger readers.

Late March

The empty sheets woke Joxer. He reached out to cuddle Meg before going back to sleep, like he usually did, but this time she wasn't there. Joxer opened his eyes and looked around. He saw it was still nighttime, so Meg couldn't be getting breakfast ready yet. He turned over and sat up, and finally found Meg standing by the window looking out. Despite the warm early spring night, Meg had the top blanket of the bed draped around her.

"Meg?" Joxer asked, his voice thick with sleep.

Meg didn't turn around. "Go back to sleep, Jox. I'll be there in a minute."

Joxer, ignoring her, put on some clothes and came over. "What's wrong?" he asked softly. "Come on, you can tell me." He brushed a lock of hair off her shoulder so he could touch it.

Meg put her hand over his. "Joxer, please, I can't take this."

Joxer stiffened. "What? Take what? Meg, what's going on?" he asked, his voice firmer.

Meg sighed. "Joxer, I...." She sighed. "I think you'd be better off finding someone else."

Joxer exhaled in disgust. "Meg, we've been through this before. I don't want to leave you, honest. You're the only-"

"Oh, stop it!" said Meg, turning to fast him at last, her face dark. "I can't be the only woman you've wanted to marry!"

Joxer didn't say anything. He didn't know if Meg knew how he felt about Gabrielle, but he didn't want to tell her about it.

Meg turned away again. "We've been trying for two years, Joxer. I've known lots of gals get pregnant a lot faster than that. I'm no good to you." She hung her head, and Joxer could see her shoulders shaking. "I want a baby more than anything, and I'm not getting one. I even got married, and I'm not getting one. I don't know what in Tartarus is wrong with me. Pretty soon I'll be too old for a baby, and then what'll I do?"

Joxer tried to put his hands on her shoulders again to calm her down, but Meg shrugged him off. "I'm going back to bed," she said flatly, and retreated. Joxer followed her quietly, but he had a plan in mind as he climbed into bed.

"Aphrodite?" Joxer called out nervously while standing in the goddess's temple. He hadn't been there for a while, and was feeling bad for it. "I- I need to talk. Please."

Aphrodite popped in with her usual shower of sparks. "Hi, Joxie. Been a long time, honey. I was getting worried about you."

Joxer blushed. "Oh. Uh, sorry about that. I'll try coming more often."

Aphrodite shrugged. "No prob. So, how're you and the Xena clone doing? Happy as rabbits?"

"The what?" Joxer asked. "You mean Meg, right?" Aphrodite smiled and nodded. "Uh, actually, we're... we're having a lot of problems right now."

"Aw," said Aphrodite. "Well, don't worry, Joxie, I'll give you all the help you want. What is it?"

Joxer blushed deeply. "Uh, me and Meg aren't having any... well, you know."

"Fun times?" Aphrodite asked. "Hey, if you need a vay-kay, I can help with that, get you away from it all. I know this great place in-"

"Ah, no, no, it's- it's not that," said Joxer. He cleared his throat. "Um, we're... Meg really wants kids," he managed to blurt out. "And, um, nothing's happening."

Aphrodite slowly nodded. "Okay, I got ya. The Megster wants a few little ones, huh?"

"Yeah," Joxer said. "And, uh, since you're the goddess of love, well... I thought-"

"Hey, that's not my department. It gets so icky," said Aphrodite, making a face.

Joxer was confused. "What, the getting pregnant part?"

"No, the 'coming out' part," said Aphrodite. Joxer looked dejected, and Aphrodite lightened up. "Listen, since you guys really want this, I'll talk to the one in charge. Pull a few strings. Okay?"

Joxer looked relieved. "Great. Thanks, Aphrodite."

"No prob," she said. "Just pay me a visit more often, okay?"

Meg was getting ready for bed that night when Joxer suddenly took her in his arms and started kissing her. Meg pulled back. "What're you doing? I thought-"

Joxer sighed. "Meg, I really want to keep trying. I think maybe it'll work now."

Meg narrowed her eyes. "What'd you do?"

Joxer tried to look innocent. "Mmm, nothing. I-I just thought we'd finally get lucky."

Meg sighed. "Jox, we've been trying and trying and-" Joxer interrupted her with a kiss, and Meg kissed back after a few moments this time. She pulled back again. "Okay, I'll try again. But I don't think it'll work." They moved to the bedroom.

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