Prologue
She mutely watches her child play in the swings situated in the playground. "Higher, higher!" She hears her child tell another. The swing does not go high enough for the child to risk falling and worry her, and so she does not disturb them. She soothingly rubs her hand over her swelling belly, not minding Zeus who had ceased talking and had started watching the scene she was watching as well. She feels the child thrash and kick relentlessly inside her, and it makes her smile. She had just surpassed her sixth month, and the child was not big enough for its movements to hurt and bug her to no end.
"Was it worth it?" Zeus asks her quietly. "It was worth everything," She replies. "I do not regret anything."
"It brings me joy that it was—is," He says afterwards. "I had originally thought you were under a spell. It seems that I was wrong,"
"I love him." She declares. "And he loves me. And our children; including the one growing inside me. My sacrifice was worth everything. It is the best decision I have ever made."
Zeus does not answer, and merely nods. "I best go," He says, "Hera is no doubt searching for me again. She must think that I am off with another mortal."
"I am glad that you are happy, daughter."
And I am glad too, she thinks as she watches him stand up from his seat and leave the park. Her life was perfect—never mind that they weren't gods anymore. Her husband loved her; her child was perfect; and she was expecting another one soon enough. They had food to eat, money to pay the bills, and Poseidon had a job that was more than enough to sustain their needs. She could not ask for more.
