There was a slight annoyance in her walk as Athena carried the young Heracles outside. She was busy, and the child was getting on her last nerve. Setting him down on the ground, she had scolded him regarding the bringing home of yet another cat. The Ancient's child had already had five, and he wanted another one, but the elder nation had to put her foot down. He pouted and looked up at her with begging eyes. The Ancient did not give in.
"Heracles, I said no…so you will abide by my rules, and take that infernal beast somewhere else, because it is not staying here." She looked down to the boy, expecting a response. The green eyed child looked up with his lip quivering.
"Yes…yes Mama…" He pulled the cat over to him, and sat in a little pile, sniffling. He was sad the cat would not be able to live with him. Ancient Greece walked away, shaking her head, but before she turned back to face the boy.
"Young man, I am making something for you and I to eat. You stay close, and don't go wandering. Oh and, please don't get dirty, wouldn't want to get your new tunic soiled." The child nodded and sat still. Ancient Greece smiled, and headed back to the house to finish cleaning, doing some washing of clothing, and preparing something for the two to consume.
With his mother gone, Heracles stayed sitting, and petting the cat. He was wearing a little tunic robe, and had on his little white hat. He looked down at the cat and smiled. It purred and he switched positions and took to laying down on his stomach. There was not much to do, but it was still early in the day. He rested his chin on his arm, and sighed. He did not know why he could not have the cat, but then a thought popped into his head. His fifth birthday was coming up, and he thought, he usually gets a present on his birthdays, so why not ask to keep the cat? Believing it to be a brilliant idea, he celebrated in the joy of having a little nap. Sleep was something he was in love with.
Athena stayed in the kitchen and was preparing something for herself and her son. She sighed, and looked around the large and elaborate kitchen. Her home was very large, lavish, and held many beautiful things, but she kept a simple life, only having a few servants in her house. She usually liked to do things herself, so they were not needed as often.
She smiled, and settled on a dish of mashed beans, as they were a favorite of Heracles. She glanced out at the window and noticed that the child was sleeping. This did not faze her, as she was just glad he was not getting into mischief. All was well, until she heard a knocking at the door. Wiping her brow, she walked over, and opened it. There he was. Standing with his broad shoulders, his tan smooth skin, and his charming good looks, Athena could not turn away. It was Ancient Rome, and she hated every time he showed up. She was at a loss for words.
"Ohh…Sandrino…so good to see you, I guess…I just have been so busy and…" She could not say more as the Ancient waltzed in, and embraced her in a seductive kiss. She did not pull away, as she was always tempted by the fruits of his being. "Mmmm….ohm…" She held him, and grazed the back of his head, running her hands through his hair. He held her close, wrapping both hands around her backside.
Once the kissing ceased, Rome pulled himself away, and leaned up against the table. He smiled, and watched as she walked back over to the dish she was preparing.
"Hello 'Thena…you are looking beautiful 'Mama. What are you doing today? And where is the little one?"
She took to continue mashing, while looking back at him blushing. He had literally took the energy from her with that kiss. Catching her breath, and composure, she responded.
"I am making dinner for my little one, and um…Heracles is outside." She pointed.
In the that time, the child had managed to wake up, and walk off somewhere else to nap. This was common. Rome looked outside, and did not see. Athena responded further.
"Um you should have seen him when you walked in, though, he was sleeping. I had to be firm with him, wanted another cat." She put up her hands, and went back to preparing. Rome smiled, and cleared his throat.
"Maybe perhaps I should go and check on him." The nation lingered for a moment to take in the beauty that was standing before him. Greece noticed that the other nation was looking at her, and she turned to him, pursing her lips.
"Yes? Can I help you with something else?" Rome caught himself gazing and looked back to her, and shook his head.
"Eh, no…sorry for lingering too long lovely girl." He then he walked away, and headed outside.
Arriving there, he noticed that while there should have been a little boy laying in a pile in the grass, there was nothing. He looked to each side, but there was no little nation. Walking back into the house, he alerted Ancient Greece.
"Eh…Athena? Where did you say Heracles was?" He looked to her as she stirred the food she was making, and she glanced at him with a kind smile. Putting her spoon down, she cleared her throat and spoke to him.
"He's outside. He was playing with that cat. He is trying to win me over and bring it in the house, and…um…" She looked to the Ancient, and raised an eyebrow looking slightly put out. "He's not outside is he?"
Rome shook his head, and this slightly annoyed Athena. She walked towards the outside, putting two hands on her hips. She called out to the child.
"Heracles? Heracles? Where are you? Come little one…Heracles?" She turned back to Rome, and smiled. "He might be around the other side of the house, don't worry, he knows to come when he is called, or risk getting spanked. I know my child. He is most likely not happy with me, but that is too bad." She walked away, humming to herself, and going to finish what she was doing.
Rome just looked over at her and scratched his head. This female nation was a tough one. Rome however knew that his own grandsons would often just play and have fun, coming and going when they wanted. He really wasn't fazed by some of the things they did, he just wished that they had a good time. Walking to the front of the house, he looked around, expecting to see a lazy little child lofting around in the grass sleeping.
The little one meanwhile had decided to wander off to some of the wondrous temples that surrounded the lay of the land. Heracle's mother was a prominent figure, and most of the structures were in her dedication. The little nation was always proud. He was told never to go alone, but with his mother busy, he figured he would not have to be back for a little while. That other elder nation was visiting, and his mother usually was preoccupied with him. He decided that he would go and then come back without her knowing. He sat on the edge of one of the small cliffs overlooking the beauteous structures, and gazed. The cat that he had wanted to keep followed him, and he just sat, swinging his bare little feet and smiling.
Rome was slightly upset now. The child was in no way his…or so he thought, but he needed to act responsibly and see about finding the little nation. Still though, he though about it as he walked. Ancient Greece had mentioned some things to him, and he would casually shake it off, and laugh, but sometimes he pondered. The female nation usually kept her lovers minimal, while Rome, well…he was a ladies man, and he knew this. He had been with Ancient Egypt a previous night ago and it was a momentous occasion. He shook off the memory, and continued looking for the child, he wanted to impress Athena, so he trotted along.
Meanwhile in her kitchen, Greece was finishing with the meal, and decided to put place settings, so that everything would be ready for her and the child. She had not had anything really to eat earlier in the day, so she was quite famished. She reached up into the cupboards and grabbed up the plates. She grabbed an extra one, just in case someone wanted some. She smiled to herself.
The cats in the house, ones that the child had adopted were all around her, mewing and rubbing up against her legs. All five of them. She looked down with hesitance.
"I suppose I need to feed all of you too. Oh where is that little one? Not taking care of his animals." She walked back into the kitchen and retrieved the large plate that she would set out for the cats when it was time for them to eat.
Little Greece leaned back, taking off his hat, because it was slightly warm, and gently closed his eyes. It was so peaceful out here, and his new found kitty friend was happily purring. He just settled on some more sleep without a care in the world. His mother always wondered why he was such a lazy and sleepy little nation, but she couldn't complain, he was good for the most part.
Rome walked around, desperately trying to find the kid, so maybe he would be in Athena's good grace's. As he got further and further from the house, he looked over to see the structures that Ancient Greece spoke about, and his eyes widened. Over in the grass was a small little pile, slumbering. He quickly ran over, and stood before the child, placing his hands on his waist, and glaring.
Heracles snored a little, but felt a presence. The sun was no longer on him, and he shivered slightly. Thinking now it was late, he gasped and opened his eyes, only to see an angry nation looking down at him. He rubbed at his eyes. The cat that had been meowing next to him, seemed to have gotten frightened, and scurried away. The boy turned his head.
"Oh…its you!" He rubbed at his eyes, and looked around, slightly saddened that his little cat friend was gone. He put out his lip and looked up at Rome. "Go away, I am sleeping and resting, and you are not welcome here…" The boy went to lay back down, when he felt a prickle like sensation. Rome leaned down and had apprehended the child by his ear.
"Owwwwww…let go of me Mister Rome!" The Ancient nation shook his head, and spoke with a stern expression.
"Little Heracles…I'va been looking around for you, your Mama's been looking for you, called you're a' name…she'll be a very mad."
The child moaned, and whimpered as the two walked back, and then he started to get very scared. He knew the rules. Once his mother calls him, he has to come, and he did not hear her. This was not good, but still getting the other elder nation involved. This Ancient was not his parent, and he did not want to listen to him. He wiggled and squirmed, and got out of the nation's grip and went to make a run for it, but Rome caught up, and picked him up, under his arm, holding him firmly.
"Bad boy…we'll see what your mother says about this." He continued walking. Greece sobbed a little, and kicked his feet. He did not want to face his mother now.
Arriving towards his home little Heracles was not surprised to see his mother standing at the entryway, with his arms crossed. She had fire in her eyes. The boy shuddered, but was a little relieved, while his mother may have been upset at him wandering away, she did not know where he had actually gone. The main thing she was upset about was that the boy had not heard her when she called. She glanced at the way Rome was handling the situation, and she held out her arms.
"I will take him Sandrino…there is no other reason for you to be here, let me take care of my offspring, and I suggest you go and be with yours. I am sorry I can not invite you inside for some dinner now, as now it is not a good time." She waited, and seeing the look on her face, Rome handed the whining little nation over to his mother's open arms.
Heracles buried his face into his mother's chest, and held on tight, as he knew it was not a pleasant situation he was going to experience. Nodding her head, Greece gave the other elder nation a slight wink, and leaned forward to him.
"If you want." She sighed, because after all, as a pain as the elder nation was, most of the time she did actually enjoy his company. She smiled. "Please do come around later after I put this little one down for bed…shouldn't be a problem. He'll be out after a sound wearing out by my hand." She patted the child's bottom, and spoke to him gently. "Come now Heracles, inside with you, Mama is not pleased."
Rome walked off, shaking his head, he knew he should have gone back to his grandsons, but he decided to take a walk, and enjoy the surroundings. Ancient Greece's lands were breathtaking. How could they not be? He thought the same way with her as well.
Athena walked holding the boy, and arrived in the living room. She bent down, setting the child to his feet and stood back up, with a stern glare. The boy looked up with a gulp. It seemed like every time he got this look, time stopped. He had not misbehaved often, but when he did, his mother was very strict about it, and her rule was stern. His eyes slightly watered.
"Heracles…when I call you to come inside, I expect you to heed to my command. If you can not hear me, then you are too far away, and that means that you could be in danger. Now then…where were you?"
The little nation bit back his lip, and looked down, twisting his little foot to the ground. If he told his mother where he had really been, then he would be punished even more severely, not that he wasn't going to be punished fairly soon, but he needed to come up with something quick. He decided on a little white lie, because those sorts of things were not really bad, if they kept you out of certain doom. He looked up and pouted.
"Mama…Mama, I was sleeping. I was sleeping in the grass, and I didn't hear you…um…I am sorry. Mister Rome woke me up and brought me to you. I didn't mean it. Honest…please Mama…please don't spank me!" He walked up to her and he buried his head into her robes, and burst into tears. His little hands reaching up to her just wanting to feel her embrace.
The elder nation embraced his hands, and looked down with such compassion. This was the moment that killed her. She never liked to chastise him, as it always made her feel awful, but it needed to be done. She started to pull him forward, but the child just started to stamp his feet slightly.
"Noooooo, Mommy noooo! Please…" He was crying so hard now, he could not get it all out. Exasperated, Ancient Greece pulled away, and shook her head.
"Okay, okay Heracles." She knelt down, and looked him in the eyes. "I will let this go with a warning, because well…sleeping is not an extremely bad thing, but you need to be closer to me so you can hear. In the meantime…" She pointed to the corner where a little stool was.
The boy looked over, and sniffed back some tears, and wiped his eyes with his hand. He was very relieved that he would not be punished now. This made him slightly giggle, but to himself. He looked to his mother, and shook his head. He had to make it seem like he was reluctant to go, because he was just that type of little boy.
"Mmmmph…Mama…I…I want to go and play. I have to say hi to my cats, and they missed me." He looked up and put his pinkie in his mouth, and stood still pouting.
"Your cats are fine, I fed them. And I am not going to tell you again. Go now Heracles, sit in the corner, lest I change my mind." She gave him a glare, and this made the child nod his head furiously, and he ran over to his little stool and sat down. He turned his head to look at his mother, and she twirled a finger at the child and spoke to him sternly. "Turn and face the wall little one." Huffing slightly, the boy obeyed, and Ancient Greece walked back into the kitchen to finish preparing.
Rome on the other hand was enjoying the view and breathed a sigh. He was given the invite by Greece, so he needed to go back home and prepare himself, and maybe see his grandchildren for a bit. As he walked, he approached the area where little Heracles had been laying and noticed a little hat lying there. Snatching it up, he decided to hand deliver the child's hat, because this gave him the option to visit Athena again, and that was always a good thing. He smiled, and just imagined all the wonderful things she would say to him for doing this wonderful act of kindness.
Greece never had a set amount of time that the child was to stay, but she figured he would sit for a good amount of time before he got up. She walked back filling the plates that she had for both her and her son. Casually glancing in the room where the little nation was, she could see that he was still sitting there, putting one little foot to the fall, and still pouting.
Walking further, Rome saw Ancient Greece's home, and he lit up. He knew that she would appreciate his troubles for going this far. He walked and arrived at the door. Knocking gently, he waited, biding his time on what he was going to say. Greece looked up while licking her finger from the beans that she had placed on the plate. She set the plate down, and walked over to the door, cocking her head to the side with a warm expression.
"Rome…I told you to come back later…the little one is having himself a time out, and well…I am getting ready to feed him. Its probably not a good time quite yet…you know his feelings on you. He just needs to get adjusted to the fact that his Mommy his going to have some adult friends…and not just cats." She shook her head with a smile, and paused as she looked down at a familiar looking hat in the male nation's hand. "Sandrino…what is that? Why do you have Heracles' hat?" She cast an eye back to the child, and then at the elder nation.
"Oh…well…after I dropped the little one off here, I decided to take a walk, and well…I found this over by your artist structures…and well, I think he left it there when I found him and…" Rome was caught off guard by Greece grabbing him by his robes.
"WHAT?" Her eyes suddenly enlarged, and there was literally a sense of fire, and she was frightening the other nation.
"Um…er, you know…where I found the hat, and…"
"You brought my child back from the structures? I thought he was somewhere sleeping near the house. That is why he couldn't hear me…hmmm…" She hauled the male nation inside, and then released him.
Walking to the entryway where the child was, she stood glaring at him, and crossed her arms over her chest. The boy was still sitting, but what she hadn't seen was that he had started to nod off, and was leaning forward with his little head against the wall, snoring. The nation did not overlook this when she heard little snores.
"HERACLES KARPUSI!" The loud voice from his mother woke him up right away and the little nation jumped a little from his seat. He was not sure why she was yelling, after all, he was not in trouble. He looked behind him, and he yawned.
"Mama? Mama…what did I do?" He rubbed at his eyes, and went to sit up, but the nation shook her head. Ancient Greece pursed her lips together, and with Rome standing behind her, she held up the boy's little white hat, and Heracles' eyes widened.
"Would you care to tell me where you were exactly little one?" Something in her eyes made the boy know that she already knew. He was in trouble now.
