Thoughts
"And now, my son, you can come home!" Zeus's voice boomed throughout the heavens and the golden gates of Olympus opened. Zeus and Hera stepped aside and let Hercules take it all in. He stood at the top of the steps, glowing with a divine aura, breathing it all in until the other Greek gods swamped him with hugs, slaps on the back, warm words of congratulations, and, from Dionysius, glasses of the finest wine.
Then there was me… Standing at the foot of the stairs to Olympus, beholding this great celebration that only brought me heartache. I was about to lose the man that I loved more that anything or anyone in this world or the next. I would die on-thousand times to save him, but he was a god and I was simply a fragile and ordinary mortal. I already felt so incomplete without him. I was so close to running up the stairs, pushing all of the gods aside and falling on him, begging him to stay with me, but I reminended myself that if I loved him enough to do that, I should love him enough to let him go and do what makes him happy.
"Congratulations, Wonderboy. You'll make one heck of a god," I whispered, part of me vainly hoping that somehow he would hear my words. I turned and began to walk away. Now that I think about it, where would I have walked away to? I was on a cloud on top of a mountain.
A strong hand grabbed my arm. I turned around. It was Hercules! He had a gentle look on his face. My heart leapt and my face flushed. He wants to stay with me! Wait, no. He's probably just here to say good-bye, I thought. My face fell and I waited for the words I never wanted to hear from him.
"A life without Meg, even an immortal one, would be…empty," he said, not just to his parents, but to me. What was going on? What was he doing?! He's giving up immortality! He's giving up immortality…for me. He took my hand and brought it to his face.
"I wish to stay on Earth with her. I finally know where I belong!" I pulled him close as he wrapped his muscular arms around me.
It was the second-best moment of my life! I put my head on his chest and he put his chin on my head. In the arms of my lover, my protector, I felt so safe. I knew I was loved and wanted. We let go and went in for the kiss. He stopped glowing right before our lips met, but neither did I notice at the time or care. Nothing was going to interrupt this kiss! All I was focused on was giving Hercules the best dang kiss of his life! Oh boy, was it ever! He hugged me closer and I put my hands on the back of his head and pushed his lips as close as they would go to mine. We released our holds on each other and stared into each other's eyes. We smiled and the gods celebrated and the Muses sang about Hercules. It was the best moment of my life!