Persephone hated this time of year. She was stuck on Olympus with her mother and the rest of her family. Back then, the gods thought they were doing her a favor by "rescuing" her from the Underworld. They were so shortsighted. It never occurred to them that she might be happy. All of their marriages were rocky, their lovers uncooperative, the mortals they dallied with so… mortal.

"Persephone, honey!"

Persephone put a smile on her face before she turned around. Aphrodite was approaching, arms spread wide. Her appearance flickered a few times before settling on dark hair and eyes. She always ended up looking like the person you most wanted to see.

Aphrodite swept Persephone into a hug and kissed her on both cheeks. "Planting flowers, I see. How are you?"

Conflicted. As much as Persephone wanted to leave Olympus, she knew that she might start a fight with Hades. They didn't butt heads often, but ever since the existence of the di Angelos was brought to light, their relationship had taken a few hits. Persephone had suffered. She had cried for hours when the news first reached her.

And now Alecto had mentioned Nico's most recent visit with another demigod friend in tow. Persephone was angry. He was constantly reminding her of the mistake her husband had made. She wished he would stop going to the Underworld, no matter how much Hades wanted to connect with him.

"I guess I'm a little tired," Persephone lied. She waved her hand over a window box, encouraging pansies to pop out of the dirt. "What have you been up to?"

"Oh, this and that! Summer is such a romantic time." Aphrodite's eyes fluttered closed. She smiled to herself and hummed a few bars of "Summer Love." Tell me more, tell me more.

"It's a sad time, too."

"Yes! That's what makes it so perfect! First love! Young people coming together for three months and having to drift apart. There's nothing like a camp love story."

"I think it's awful," Persephone said forcefully. She moved to the next window box. More pansies sprung up. Zeus hated pansies. She'd fill the room with them. "Why do they have to be separated? Doesn't that seem counter-intuitive to you?"

Aphrodite tilted her head. "Love is complex, Persephone. I know it's probably hard to understand, your husband being who he is."

Persephone rolled her eyes. If only Aphrodite could understand.

"I do like happy endings though. Those are the best. Fate works out in the end and the lovers reunite." Aphrodite was giving her the sparkly eyed look. "Of course there has to be some grand sacrifice or gesture. Oh! A flash mob, maybe. Or a serenade!"

"Or," Persephone said without pausing to think, "saving someone from their rightful punishment, like my stepson did." Her tongue curled on that word: stepson.

"Your stepson? Nico di Angelo?"

"Do I have any other stepsons? Yes, Nico." Persephone studied the pansies. Despite everything, she had forgiven Hades. She loved him too much to do anything else. But she would never forgive Nico.

In the old days, Persephone was known for her curses. She wasn't just a pretty little girl picking flowers; the ancient Greeks used to fear her name. Nowadays, she didn't do much in that vein, but she could stir up trouble as well as the next Olympian. Persephone saw a golden opportunity and took it.

"Actually…" she said slowly, figuring out what she was going to say, "Nico has a complicated history with romance, which I'm sure you know."

"Yes. Poor boy. Unrequited love. That's one of the worst tortures imaginable." Aphrodite shook her head. "I don't know what he'll do. I hate to think of anyone going their whole life single. He has so much anxiety regarding his preferences. He should know that none of us frown on him."

Persephone nodded. "There could be hope. He brought a boy home a few weeks ago."

Aphrodite, who had continued shaking her head at the floor, suddenly perked up. "He did? Does that mean…?"

"Of course, my husband was quick to judge and almost didn't let the poor demigod leave. Nico had to complete Orpheus's task to set him free."

"Orpheus!" Aphrodite squeaked. "He must care about this boy a lot! Did he give up on his old crush?"

"It looks like it." Persephone smiled to herself. "Unfortunately, I doubt it will go anywhere. Nico needs a little push. He's very shy. Even if he feels deeply about this new boy, he would never admit it."

Aphrodite flushed. "That's awful! That boy could be his âme soeur and he'd just let him go."

"His what?"

"His soulmate! Who is it? Is it someone from the camp? Please tell me it's not one of my children. They would never."

For a moment, Persephone was offended on Nico's behalf. She wanted to know what was wrong with a child of Aphrodite getting involved with a child of Hades. Oh, are my husband's genes tainted? Is my stepson not good enough for your kids? She managed to shake it, though.

"It's actually one of Hermes'."

Aphrodite gasped. She nudged Persephone with her shoulder. "Quit playing coy! Tell me, tell me." She leaned closer so that Persephone could whisper it to her. When she heard the name, her entire appearance rippled with glee.

"I never would've guessed," she said.

"Neither did I. But then again, Nico and I don't talk much. I only get the occasional updates." And thank us that's all.

Aphrodite appeared to be thinking something over. Persephone could almost see the lightbulb going off above her head. The goddess of love never did anything that was directly suggested to her, but if you laid enough breadcrumbs along the path, she could be persuaded to take a certain direction.

"Persephone." Aphrodite grew serious. She took Persephone's hands in hers. "It's obvious you're really concerned about your stepson's happiness. Since we're close friends, I feel like I should do you a favor."

"Oh no. You don't have to do that."

"But I want to. It's been a while since I directly involved myself with a mortal's love life, but I'm sure I can arrange something." She winked.

"Well…" Persephone feigned hesitation. "If you did, I'd be very grateful."

"Consider it done!" Aphrodite beamed. "I'll head down right now." She crushed Persephone in another sweet scented hug and ran off.

Persephone, alone again, returned to her flowers.