Please Note: Okay . . . So, I'm guessing that some of you will like this story, some of you will hate it, and some of you won't even get past the first line. Whatever you do, please remember that reviews are my only payment. :)
Mythology says that Hestia, virgin goddess of the hearth, was sought after by both Poseidon and Apollo for her hand in marriage, but she was supposedly immune to the charms of Aphrodite so she denied both of them, and swore by the head of Zeus to remain an eternal maiden (aka forever a virgin). Or that's how the Greeks thought it went. . .
"Why?" Zeus asked her, completely confused. "What I mean to say is, what reasoning could have leaded you to this conclusion? Why, not even Artemis—"
"Brother, please respect my wishes. There is more thought behind it than you think."
"But Hestia, surely you will tell me why this . . . request fulfilled." Zeus would have been sure Hestia was kidding except for the fact that his sister never joked around.
"You want the truth?" Hestia tried not to be impatient with Zeus. "Both Poseidon and Apollo have asked me to marry them. I. . ." Hestia hesitated. Come on, you've rehearsed this! She thought to herself. "I fear that, if I deny one for the other, this may cause some . . . discontent among us." Hestia reassured herself that she was doing the right thing.
"Very well," Zeus boomed. "You will have your wish. At sunrise tomorrow, I will call the council and you shall become an eternal maiden." There was a tone of finality in his voice that made it clear that Hestia would get her wish, one way or another.
Hestia walked past the council, looking out of the corners of her eyes at each god and goddess as she passed them. Artemis had an approving look on her face, as did Athena. Aphrodite was shaking her head sadly, and Poseidon looked regretful. Hestia held her head as she passed the thrones, accidentally brushing Apollo as she passed. He flinched, and she quickened her step, looking toward Zeus and Hera.
"Take your oath." Zeus commanded, staring down at Hestia in the pale morning sunlight.
"I swear," Hestia began, determinedly keeping her gaze on Zeus. "On the head of Zeus, to give up men, and to remain and eternal maiden."
Thunder crashed around the throne room, finalizing the oath. Hestia blinked back tears of sorrow and relief. Sometimes, she thought with half glance at the thrones behind her, the wisest choices were the hardest to make.
The goddess exited the throne room as soon as Zeus dismissed the council, hoping that she wouldn't have to talk to him. Of course, the Fates couldn't let her get off so easily. He was waiting for her, casually leaning on one of the minor gods' houses.
"So you're an eternal maiden now," He wasn't looking at her, and Hestia felt guilty for a moment.
"You know why I did it, Apollo." She snapped, her anger at her decision finally surfacing.
"But you didn't have to!" He yelled at her. "You could have just said no to Poseidon, and then you wouldn't have to be lonely forever!"
Hestia bit her tongue. "And then what would have happened? Poseidon would have gotten mad, and he probably would have attacked you. Apollo, you may have the gift of prophecy, but you need to start thinking about the consequences of your decisions."
"So . . . this is it then." Apollo huffed. "You're just going to leave me like this, leave us like this?"
"I swore—but . . . I want you to know something, Apollo, before we say good-bye permanently. I loved you. I still do." Hestia whispered.
Before he could respond, Hestia kissed Apollo, putting every regret she had about her decision into it. For a second, he didn't respond, and the goddess almost pulled away, but then he grabbed her chin and kissed her back. When Hestia pulled away, she was red in the face and so was he.
"Good-Bye Hestia." Apollo whispered, his lips barely moving.
"Good-Bye."
Yes, this is a one-shot, so I don't think there'll be any add-ons. . .