Recuperation

Hera was walking in the fields of poppy she had run through once the War with Kronus was over, she remembered this vividly. Perhaps it was the fact that life had seemed easier then, than it was now. She knew this couldn't be happening, she couldn't possibly be in the exact same field again, she knew this because Zeus had burnt it down.

Perhaps he did it to hurt her feelings, or perhaps it was just an accident as he had said. He had been having a fit, throwing thunderbolts everywhere upon the earth, without really looking, over something as trivial as an incomplete sword.

Hera continued walking through this field and was glad when she met Hades there. She hadn't seen her brother in quite some time, as she approached him, she realized that were he stood, all the ground and flowers were dead. Although he was Lord of the Dead, she knew her brother did not cause this when he stood upon living things, he actually nourished them and they seemed to sway towards him, as if he were Persephone, and maybe she had given him some of her powers.

"Hades?"

The man turned and Hera was paralyzed with fear, her father stared back at her, his blue eyes terrifying to gaze into, as if he had been born frozen and without emotion. Never had she seen her fathers eyes alight with warmth or even love. She tried to leave but found that she was immobile. He could keep a person still, just by looking at them, why else would he be called Father Time?

"Hera, how nice of you to join me. I've been waiting for you, for quite some time, now."

"You have?"

"Why yes." He said smiling, which did not suit his face, for he did not seem jovial at all.

"Kronus, what is the meaning of this?"

"Oh, Hera. Always so impatient, let us walk and have a little chat about why you are here."

Of her own accord Hera's feet began walking forward, following her father. As soon as she stood next to him, Kronus placed her arm in his, walking away to begin their little chat.

"Hera, I know you don't care much for me, and I care not for you. So we are on the same page here. But this is rather important or I wouldn't be here. You see, while you and your brothers resided in my stomach, I made a deal with an ancient one, or as you call them a Gigantes. I promised them that they would make a powerful enemy, not out of me but out of you. I knew from the moment the oracle stated the prophecy that said my son would overthrow me, that I had nothing to fear for as soon as they stated that one, they also stated that a daughter with hair like fire would be the death of any who chose to cross her. I know, you're probably thinking, why am I telling you this, well you see Hera. I need you to fulfill your part in the prophecy, and I need you to destroy the Gigantes, not for me. But for the family you so care about, if you don't, the ones you care about the most will die, and you will be alone."

Hera couldn't believe what Kronus was saying, how ridiculous was this? How was she suppose to defeat an army of Gigantes if she couldn't even get close enough to attack them, fearing their ademantium blade?

"Oh, Hera. Come now, you mustn't be scared of such creatures, just because they are abnormally big, doesn't mean they don't have a weakness, the only thing that I will tell you is to find it, and defeat these, for I know how much your family means to you. I am sorry, that I could not care for you or any of your siblings enough to say that I am helping you, because you are my children, but I can't. I am helping you for my own selfish needs, my pride will be hurt if you do not defeat these monsters."

"But… father- uh- Kronus, what do you want me to do? And how can you possibly know such things? Why would I believe you in the first place? How do I know you aren't lying? As you have said, you don't care about us, so why would you try to help us?"

Kronus stopped walking and stood under a tree, Hera turned and realized that they had traveled a great distance, and she had no idea how they had gotten here, this frightened her.

"Let me show you," Kronus said, with a flick of his wrist and the whole scene changed.

Hades was in battle with Polythemis and had sung just as the Giant swung his blade down. Hades was too slow for his opponent, and fell. Soon she saw that Poseidon rushed over to try and help, but in his moment of distraction, he too was slain. Soon even the mighty Zeus himself fell. Hera stood paralyzed as she realized that the only family she had ever had, was taken from her, and there was nothing she could do about it.

Hera gasped as she felt Kronus' cold grip on her shoulder, she didn't realize she was crying until she tasted the salt on her lips. She slowly turned towards Kronus, and never before had she thought she'd utter those words to her biological father, "What do I have to do?"

"No!" Hera jerked upright with a start; never had she felt fear that intense before. She realized that someone was holding her down, yet she kept struggling, she needed to get free then she realized that her dream was coming true and felt the tears, she couldn't get the tears to stop, until she heard his voice.

"Hera! Hera, it's okay, you're fine. Everything is going to be okay, I need you to calm down."

Zeus knew she has heard him, when she stopped struggling and looked up at him, with those big emerald eyes, shining with unshed tears. She hugged him, as if her life depended on it, "Oh, Zeus. I was so scared. Please promise you wont leave me here, by myself? Promise me, Zeus."

Zeus hugged her even more closely, "Of course, my love, I will never leave you."

Hera relaxed a little bit, and took in her surroundings. She was in what looked to be a medical tent, how she got here, was beyond her.

"Zeus?"

"Yes, my love?"

"Why am I in the medical tent, and how did I get here?"

"You were injured, and I brought you here, after I found you half-frozen in the forest."

"Oh."

"Oh? That's all you have to say?" He said, sitting back down.

"Yes, that is all, which is why it would explain the reason I am unreasonably cold, even under these covers."

"Let me get them to start a fire, so you can stay warm, I wouldn't want you to get sick."

"No! I mean, no, it's fine. I just think it would be nice if you can come and lie besides me, and perhaps hold me in your arms, I believe that will keep me sufficiently warm enough."

"Are you sure? I can get Hestia to create a fire in no time, and you'll be warm, I assure you."

"No, I just want to lay here with my husband, if that is alright with you."

"I would love nothing more," he said as he climbed into the cot next to her, and wrapped his arms around her, and tucked her head into the crook of his neck. She sought out his heartbeat with her palm, and he couldn't help but smile.

"Hera?"

"Hmm?" she answered, sounding half-asleep.

"What were you dreaming of?"

"Nothing, don't worry about it, let's just rest."

"Hera, it's not nothing, it must have been important, or you wouldn't have been scared. Hera?"

He looked at her and she was fast asleep with a content smile on her face, she was even regaining some of her color in her cheeks. He was glad, but also a little concerned about the dream that scared her enough for her to want his company. But at the moment he was happy so he wasn't going to question it, this was his last thought as he too drifted off to sleep while holding the love of his life in his arms.