When Hercules came home that evening, there was defeat in his eyes; he sat down heavily on his favorite chair and Megara draped herself over him, lifting a hand to her forehead melodramatically (the children giggled).

"Have you heard - " she asked, "Oh have you heard - that crazy demigod Hercules has slaughtered his whole family because of the jealousy of Hera?"

Hercules frowned, but Megara just rolled her eyes and continued, "You'd think that your uncle would know better than to spread rumors and make your mother mad; don't worry, last I heard, all the fire in Hades had gone out," and then her husband smiled.