Warning: Long Chapter and Heartbreaks /3


Chapter 6- Hephaestus: Flashbacks with Triton

Hephaestus' P.O.V.

Uncle P appeared, Ares disappeared.

I'm sure I was not much introduced to everybody. I'm Hephaestus, Third Child and Second Son of Zeus and Hera. I was an innocent and bubbly child like Dionysus, But everything changed when I heard 'something'. I learned that sometimes, Secrets are best kept hidden and not to be revealed at the world.

Back to Reality, So Uncle Poseidon came. Greetings were exchanged between us and them. Though, The Junior Batch (I like to call them that, Which is: The Twins, Hermes & Dionysus) did not come down. My guess is that...A) They did not know Uncle P is here and B) They don't want to come down because of what happened to Athena.

How naive and innocent my younger siblings are. I sometimes pity them for not knowing what is happening in their own home. I know they all wonder on what were the secrets of this family that have been kept hidden from them all these years. But as I have said, Secrets are best kept hidden. Our lips were tightly shut. Besides if they knew that secret, They might do the same mistake I did.

What is that mistake? The mistake that have been eating my conscience for years. The mistake that changed my whole personality. The mistake that broke the brotherly bond between Ares and I.

The mistake of using a secret as an advantage.


I am now helping Triton, Who is my roommate. To carry his luggage upstairs to our room and fixing his clothes and things. We were now at our room. He, fixing, his clothes to put it in the closet while I, sitting, at my twin-sized bed. There are two twin-sized beds here. One for me and One for Triton. We talked about random conversations. Like "How are you?" "How is school?".

Triton is at the same age as me. That's why we can get along pretty well. He knows my secrets and he keeps it well. I know his' secrets too but they are not much drastic and dreadful such as mine.

But there's something with Triton. He tends to forget things. A reason why I'm helping him fix his clothes and things at this room.

Random conversations. Random conversations. But there are times where some random conversations turn into serious ones.

"Can you tell me again what happened between you and Ares?" He asked, Closing the cabinet of clothes because he was finished setting his clothes in there. He went to his bed and sat in there, Positioning himself in an Indian seat.

"Why?" I whined, pouting. To Triton, I was becoming myself. I was becoming the real me. With Triton, I can truly express my own feelings.

"You do know that I don't remember things well. I just wanted to hear the dramatic story of you and your brother. Maybe we can put it on a soap opera" Triton and I laughed at what he said. Yes, Our family has too much drama that it could be compared to the TV series that mother kept watching whole day at weekends.

"It's a long story." I said, But he is stubborn.

"We have plenty of time."


Flashback, When Hephaestus is 14 years old. a.k.a. 2 years ago. ( A/N: You see, Hephaestus today is 16 yet a 12th Grade student. I changed the fact that he was 2 years older than the twins. I only now realize my aging mistakes. So Ares is 6 years older than Hephaestus [As it was before] and Hephaestus is ONLY a year older than the twins. I, now, edited that chapter and if you went back to read it again. Hephaestus will just be a year older than the twins.)

People could say I'm lucky. I was smart for my own age. I'm 14 years old yet my intelligence can be a year advanced. I took a test to advance my year so what happened?

I PASSED THE FRICKIN' TEST!

I'm so awesome!

Instead of me taking a 9th Grade class, I skipped a year and at the only age of 14 I am now a 10th Grade student.

Everyone in the family were proud of me. Mother kept boasting the fact that I am 'too smart for my own age' to her officemates. And Yes, Mom and Dad were quarreling on which genes did I get my 'smartness'.

So First day of school as an advanced 10th Grade student.

I walked into the classroom of my first class. Things are usual, Noisy students, Bullying (Though, I was lucky I wasn't the target), Sluts using compact powders and mirrors. I'm telling you, The Usual.

I sat at very corner end of the classroom, As much as I wanted to be in the front row so I could concentrate on the teacher, I didn't. Seats are occupied, How unlucky.

What I did not notice was beside me was a very beautiful woman. She has a petite body. Rosy Cheeks. Luscious lips. Shiny curly blonde hair. Dresses simply yet elegantly. Over all she's beautiful. It's like she's beauty itself!

I did not notice her at first. I was gazing at the window beside me. I only noticed her when a hand was tapping my shoulder. I turned to see her, The Most Beautiful being on Earth. I could see she was a bit shy yet she smiled at me. A shy smile. She took out her hand to have shake hands with me. Then, She introduced herself.

"Hello, I'm Aphrodite"

I took her hand, How soft it was. I looked at her eyes, Sparkling Baby Blue eyes. I shook her hand and gave her a genuine smile, then gave my name.

"Hephaestus."

She smiled again, More widely this time. After a few moments of starting at each other we finally notice that we're still holding hands. We looked at our clasped hands and awkwardly remove it from each other. We avoided each other's eyes for a moment. I felt my heart beat so fast. It was like I was sweating buckets inside but my skin is completely dry and the climate was pretty cold.

"So...You're a transfer student?" She asked first, Finally, I had the guts to look at her once again. And Thank God, I did not froze to my seat.

"Hmm..No, But I'm an advanced student. I was suppose to be in the 9th Grade but I took a test to advance my year and luckily I passed" I said smoothly, Her eyes twinkled with amazement at my statement and smiled again.

"That's amazing." She commented, I returned the smile that she gave me.

"Thanks"


After months of having 'coincidentally' the same classes with her. We became the best of Friends. I was always with her and she's always with me. We've made some friends too with other people like Charles, who prefers to be Beckendorf but it was strange that only he lets Silena Beauregard (Our Other friend) call him by his first name with a little change on it. Silena calls Beckendorf as Charlie. Which Aphrodite and I found strange.

We also met Drew Tanaka. Who's have an ancestry of Japanese line in her veins. She seems to have a love/hate (in a friendly way) relationship with Silena. They fight like cats and dogs but doesn't take it seriously and in the end they are still friends.

They were all amazed by the fact that I am one year younger than them.

Aphrodite is a nice girl. Just don't get on her friends, She kills people who pick on her friends (figuratively). And my feelings for her seems to grow stronger at every moment I spent with her.

When I met her I was like: I like her

But now,

I love her.


Today was a weekend. I took Aphrodite out to an amusement park. I didn't ask her to a 'date' it's just you know going out and bonding with your friends. Just like what Apollo and Artemis do, Monthly, They go out once in a while going to malls etc. Just the two of them.

But this time, I plan to confess these undeniable feelings for her.

I nervously reached for her hand while walking. It was still soft just like the first time I shook hands with her. She seemed to be taken aback at this action so she stopped and I halted. I turned to face to her, My hand still holding hers. I pulled her hand to place it in front of us and my other hand on top of it. How soft her hand was. Her eyes widen in surprise and confusion but did I see a twinkle of hope in her eyes?

Hope to what?

This is it. I'm gonna confess it to her.

"Aphy," I started, It was a nickname made by me to her. She in turned, started calling me 'Hephy'. We started using that months ago.

"You know that I am a year younger than you...But do you know that age doesn't matter?" I continued, What shocked me more is that she placed her other hand on top of mine.

"In terms of love; That is" She replied, I nodded.

"Yes...Well...Aphrodite...I-" She cut me off and gave me the best gift.

She leaned up and placed her lips on top of mine. It was only a peck but God...It feels so...Everlasting.

My eyes widened in shock as I stared at her who was giggling madly but cutely, I say. She took out her hands out of my grasp and squeezed my cheeks which honestly saying, hurts a bit.

"You're so cute when you blush!" She said, with a faint blush in her cheeks. My finger started to trail on my lips. It was a bit Cliche.

"D-Does this m-mean?" I stuttered, She just smiled widely than before.

"You're so obvious! I've been waiting for you to confess! And it just only took you now to have the guts to do this?" She and I laughed at the statement she said. I gently collided my forehead to her (Because even if I'm a year younger, I'm still taller than her). My Brown eyes never left her blue ones. I tucked a loose strand of her hair to her ears. And I decided to take the reins of this situation. I kissed her. Tasting those sweet cherry lips that I have yearned for so long.

"So you like me?" I asked, after pulling away from that breathtaking kiss. It was my first real kiss. Not only a peck, A kiss. A true kiss.

"Nope, I love you" She said, Our foreheads are still connected. Noses mere inches apart. And without me noticing, I have already took her hands in mine.

"I love you too Aphrodite"

And we both delved in to another life remembering kiss.


(A/N: If it is in straight formatting, it means this is the present.)

"You're blushing." Triton commented, Just as I have told him my first kiss with Aph. What he didn't know was at the same time, I am also feeling pain. I knew what the next things will happen. And it is heartbreakening.

"Shut up! Let me continue my story!" I shouted, He let out a series of restricted laughs. He's stopping himself from laughing.

"F-Fine, Continue" He said, Bad timing. I forgot what was next. Damn you, Triton, It seems like I am now being infected by your short-term memory losses. Shouldn't have shared a room with you. But, It's better with him than Ares.

"Where were we?" I asked, Now, He's laughing crazy, pointing his fingers at me.

"Hahaha! You, Hephaestus, Are now being infected by my Alzheimer's diseases!" He said, Alzheimer's is what he calls at his 'short-term memory losses'. Which I found befitting.

"Fuck up! Just tell me where did I stop!" I said, Irritated, Why won't he just damn tell me?

"Calm bro, Take a chill pill. Where did you stop...? Ah, I think it is when you said your first kiss with your dear Aph-" I cut him off, I don't want to hear her name. But wasn't it ironic because I kept saying her name while I am not letting the others say her name?

"Don't say her name, Okay, I remember it now..."


It was dinner, Just after a few weeks when Aphrodite and I confessed our feelings for each other. Beckendorf and Drew congratulated me, Silena kept squealing. Truthfully, I haven't told my parents that I have a girlfriend. I started to become conscious, I just turned 15 and Aphrodite was now 16. But no, I will not let go of her. We may be young but our love feels so right.

Okay back to dinner. It was just a peaceful dinner to our family. Spats between the twins happen. Hermes was once again being sermon by Father because of him being late coming home due to his detention. Dionysus was being spoon-fed by mom. Athena and Ares were talking.

I was about to announce that I have a girlfriend.

But my darn siblings got in front of me. Before I was about to announce my joyous news. The twins were staring at me and grinning like crazy people. I admit, It was very creepy.

"Mom! Dad!" The twins synchronized, Catching everyone's attention. Apollo and Artemis turned their heads to mom and dad. They looked at each other once more and finally said what they wanted to say.

"Hephaestus have a Girlfriend!"

My jaw dropped, How did they...? Oh, Yeah, Reminds me that Aphrodite is the most famous girl around Goode High. So, I should have expected this since they are now High Schoolers at Goode.

I was expecting for Mom and Dad to be angry at me because I was too young but here's what happened.

"I want to meet her"-Mom

"If its your girlfriend, That means she must be beautiful like your mom"-Dad

"Congrats! Heph! You've finally grown up!"-Ares

"She must be wise too."-Athena

"What's a girlfriend?"-Dionysus

So this led of me inviting Aphrodite to the house for Dinner.


Luckily, Aphrodite agreed. She seems to be optimistic about it, And that made me fall in love with her more. I like people who like my family, I am blessed with this family. They are crazy but we are all happy.

Aphrodite and I were walking alone from our school to our are over and this is also the day that my parents and Aphrodite had agreed to have dinner. It was raining, I was holding our umbrella with my left hand while my other hand were holding hers'.

"What was your childhood like, Hephaestus?" Aphrodite asked, Our steps in walking are in sync, Just as our feelings for each other were. Aphrodite tends to ask crazy things. One day, She even asked me what was the size of my shirt, But she didn't even bought me one at the end (Though, I was hoping she would buy me one since she asked...). She also asked on at what age did I get circumcised. I asked her on why does she want to know but she just shrug and said it's in her nature to ask things out of nowhere.

"My childhood?" I asked, Not that because I did not hear her but I just wanted to make sure that my ears heard the right thing. From all of our long conversations this was the first one she asked me about my childhood. (Except for the fact that she asked on what age did I get circumcised-God, Remembering it was so embarrassing. Imagine, A girl asking you questions like that?).

"Yup." Aphrodite nodded, There was a guy who passed us by and was staring at MY girlfriend with drooling eyes. I glared at him and he turned his head away. Good. I thought. No one looks at Aphrodite like that. Aphrodite didn't seem to notice that guy, But I will protect her. Protect her from what Athena suffered from.


(A/N: Present..)

"Wait!" Triton shouted. stopping me from continuing my story. Fuck you, Triton. Fuck you. I rolled my eyes at him.

"What now?" I asked, VERY irritated. My story wasn't finished yet! He cut me off in the middle of the story.

"Protect her from what Athena suffered...? That means...Her..." I jolted up from my seat and clamped my hand to his mouth shut. Accidentally, We both fell down to the bed in an awkward position. I, on top of him, covering his mouth.

We both scrambled back to our beds and laughed at what happened.

"Dude...That was so AWKWARD!" Triton laughed, rolling his body to his bed, laughing to his death.

"I know. Let's just forget that. So just whisper to me on what you were about to say." I said, The laughing died down and I gestured him to come near me so he could whisper what was he about to say awhile ago. The moment that I cut him off.

"Protect her from what Athena suffered from...Does that mean about her rape?" Triton whispered, I nodded.

"Yeah, By the looks of that man. I could say he was stripping her body naked in his dirty mind of hi-" I clenched my fists at the thought. But I didn't finished my statement due to him, cutting me off, again.

"You told me that that secret was very confidential. You weren't suppose to know that right? I mean, You said, You found it out. So tell me, How did you find out about that secret?" Was he talking about Athena's rape? Yes, he's right. I wasn't suppose to know it. Only, Mom, Dad, Ares and Athena should know it. They didn't tell it to me and neither to my younger siblings.

Flashback (A/N: I know there's a lot of flashbacks. This flashback is three years ago. Athena's last seizure attack. [2 years ago is where Aph and Heph had a relationship])

Something happened.

It was summer. The Junior Batch went to Hestia's. They stay there during summer. We, too, stay there but for some matters (Which was unexplained) we did not go there. For me? I did not go because Triton said he wasn't going there because he's having summer classes. What would I do there without Triton? For Ares and Athena? Well, I don't know why they did not go there.

Okay back to 'What happened'.

Athena was screaming bloody murder.

I was at my room, lying on the bed. About to fall asleep. But then I jolted awake at the screeching scream that Athena made. I know it was Athena. Don't ask me, I just know. Like an instinct. Speaking of instincts, I ran to where Athena is. She's in front of mom and dad's room. While Mom and Dad were in the bed and only blankets were covering their nude bodies.

A bit awkward. And Disgusting, I tell you.

I went beside Athena and comforted her. Ares, Where the hell is he? I mean, Sure, I wanted to comfort and reassure Athena but...It's just that...Ares is more capable of this job. They're close. And heck, I even don't know why the hell is she panicking at the sight before her! Wasn't she used to this? I mean its like every week mom and dad kept smooching at each other.

"Shh, Athena, Calm Down. Just calm down" I said, while rubbing her shoulders. Why mom and dad are not doing anything? Oh, Well, if they went out of their bed and closed the door they would effin naked so yeah. No good. Mom and Dad were tugging at the blanket, It was like one of them wanted to use the blanket to cover their body so they could go and ran to:

A.) Close the Door, So they could either continue smooching OR take some clothes on and help me in Athena's situation.

B.) Cover his/her body so that they could ran to me (Having the blanket their only cover) and help Athena.

Athena kept screaming and thrashing at my hold. I could say, she's pretty strong. I kept whispering soothing words at her but I think she really needs Ares.

After a few moments of Athena thrashing and Mom and Dad arguing over the blanket.

Athena went limp in my arms.

Uh oh, This is not good, Ares is gonna kill me. Just as Apollo is protective of Artemis. Ares is also 'that' protective with Athena. I clearly don't get it. At the twins, I might understand on why the hell are they so protective of each other but between Athena and Ares? Hell nah. I have no idea why.

"Athena? Athena wake up!" I shouted, Finally, The hero of the movie came. Finally, Ares came.

"I'm Hom-WHAT THE HELL?! Hephaestus, take Athena to her room! Mom and Dad get some clothes, We're talking after you two have some decency in yourselves!" Ares glared at mom and dad and closed their door. I carried Athena's limp body to her room and settled down her body to her bed.

I sat to the computer chair I pulled from her study table.

I kept wondering, What the hell is happening? Why is she screaming when she saw Mom and Dad like that? But my thoughts were cut off when she started writhing in her bed and shouting.

"Go! Go away! Don't come near me!" She kept shouting, I was about to calm her but she shouted louder this time.

"GO AWAY!" I got scared, And ran to the door, I opened it and got away from the room. I closed the door behind me. Wishing, Ares will not kill me for leaving her. I took Deep breaths and leaned my back at her door.

I'm in a state of shock.

But then, I heard loud voices. It was coming from the Dining Hall. I went to the staircase and peeked at the discussion on what Ares and Mom and Dad are talking about. It seems so discreet. So secretly hidden. But of course, I was hidden well at the staircase.

"Mom! Dad! Why are you two not so careful?! You two know that what you two are doing affects every being of her!" I knew from where that rasped, brave voice came from, It was clearly determined that it is Ares.

Wait, Sex affects Athena? In what way?

"Ares..Calm down! It wasn't our fault she came to barged in our doors while we're having sex you know!" It was Father's voice that defended his and Mom's side.

"It WAS your fault that you didn't lock the door!" Ares retorted, I could hear him scoff.

"Now, You're talking about faults? Whose fault it is that Athena got rape?" Father shouted, But I know that it wasn't heard upstairs. Hearing range could only be to the stairs and first floor.

A-Athena got rape?

"It was your fault! If you and mom did not fight that night then Athena and I wouldn't have plans to go out of the house!" Ares shouted, Matching Father's voice.

"If you did not ran to the Candy Store and left Athena behind then she wouldn't get rape!" Mom shouted, Followed by gasps. Ares slammed the table.

"A-Ares.S-sorry..We're we didn't mean to b-blame you" It was mom's voice who croaked up, Followed by Father, Apologizing too. Ares slammed the table once again.

"Don't...It's my fault from the start anyway. It's my fault. I left her. I couldn't protect her. It's all my fault. It's my fault-" He kept saying its his fault.

I went back to Athena's room silently and sat again at the chair. I stared at her, She was now calm. Not thrashing nor shouting at her sleep.

Just like an angel who found its cloud to sleep in.

"A-Athena...Don't worry, We'll always be here."

End of Flashback

"Basically, You eavesdropped on your parents and boom! You knew their life secrets!" Triton opinionated, Triton, How many have I told you this story? This was like the third time.

I slapped my forehead and closed my eyes. Oh, Triton!

"Just...Shut the fuck up, Triton..So can we stop the mini flashback and went back to the story how my relationship with Ares crashed?" I asked, He nodded.

"Yep, So where were you?...Oh yeah, Going to the Dinner, Introducing 'her' to your family."


(A/N: Continuation of the last flashback before the flashback of '3 years ago')

"Well, My childhood was simple. Playing with my siblings and cousins..Having trips to our Aunt Hestia." I rambled, Lost in my childhood memories. Then, I turned to Aphy.

"You, What was your childhood like?" I asked, If she gets to know my childhood then I should know hers. Being Fair that was what they call to that.

"A-ah, My childhood?...Well...Hephaestus...I-"

"Yo Hephy Bro! You passed our house?" Apollo shouted who was in front of the house, holding an umbrella. Both Aphrodite and I turned our heads back and laughed. We passed by my house and didn't notice it. Apollo went back to the house. I saw Artemis in the window. Maybe that's how they found out I passed by the house.

"Oh Well" I murmured, My hand still clasped with Aphrodite's, We both went to our house.

"It's pretty big." Aphrodite commented as she went into the house, We both sat at the couches. While Aphrodite's eyes trail to the every inch of this house.

"Yeah, Well, We're pretty many you know." I just said, Aphrodite snapped her head to me.

"Wait! Wait! Wait! If I am correct, The man who came out of your house was Apollo?" She questioned, Haven't I told her that I have siblings? Oh shiznits! I think I forgot telling her about my family tree! How the hell did this happen?

"Yeah, That's Apollo. My brother." I answered, The twins came downstairs and greeted Aphrodite.

"Hello Aphrodite!" They synchronized, Both flashing their famous smiles that made the attention of Goode High turn to them.

"Oh Gosh! Hephaestus! You didn't tell me that these famous twins are your siblings!" Aphrodite playfully punched my shoulder, The Twins kept snickering at me.

You see, Apollo and Artemis are pretty famous in Goode High. Having clean reputations and high grades. And let me mention that haven't got the taste of detention. And as what I heard the other students say is that they are the 'most' perfect beings on Earth. Geniuses and not to mention Apollo and Artemis are pretty attractive (Not that I'm incest over them, But everyone in the school says that and they really have some 'good' physical attributes as I've observed them from most of the years)

"Umm, You didn't ask who are my siblings, You only asked if I have siblings." I answered sarcastically, I remembered when she ask me about that. She asked me if I have siblings, I told her yes, but she did not ask me their names so I did not tell her.

"Grr...So what more surprises could I get from meeting your family?" She asked, Why not tell her about Athena? Athena is famous too for her 'super' intelligent skills. She just did not decide to skip a year like me. I took a test to skip the year because I'm bored.

"Umm, YEah..A-" I was about to say that Athena is my sister but then the door opened and Athena went in. Whose wearing her famous thick eyeglasses.

"Athena is your sister?!" Aphrodite asked, More like shouted, Everyone laughed at me who was sweating buckets.

"Yeah...Erm..." I stuttered, Aphrodite hates to not know anything. Luckily, Athena saved me.

"Yeah, I'm his sister. Together with the twins too." Athena smiled gracefully at Aphrodite, I shot her a look of Thanks. She nodded in understatement.

"No wonder you're a genius." I heard Aphrodite whispered. Dionysus came downstairs together with Hermes. For once, I took note that Hermes is not at the detention room.

"Ahh! So you're Aphrodite!" Mom came from the Kitchen, Aphrodite stood up. Mom went to Aphrodite and they hugged each other, Making their cheeks contact side by side. Dad came behind Mom, and greeted Aphrodite with his usual 'old' style. That is, He, kneeling and kissing Aphrodite's hand. If this was not Dad, I would've punched the guy now.

"Zeus, Mademoiselle, And this Hera, My wife. As you can see, We're the parents of Hephaestus" Dad said and put an arm around my mother's waist. Aphrodite gasped again. What now?

"Mr. Z-Zeus and H-Hera? Famous MVP player and Prom Queen at your batch at Goode High?" Aphrodite asked, More like exclaimed. Wait? Dad, MVP? Mom, Prom Queen?

"Oh! Well that was the Old Age, It's good to hear that someone from Goode High still knows us." Mom smiled, Okay, So I did not know that Mom and Dad were famous too at Goode High. I looked at my siblings who were shocked like me knowing that our mom and dad were like the Kings and Queens at their High School life.

We heard the creaking of the gate open. (Outside this house is a gate first, for security reasons of course!)

"Oh that must be Ares" Mom said, I felt Aphrodite frozen beside me.

"A-Ares?" She whispered, looking down. It's like she doesn't want to see the door opening. I put an arm around her, I don't know why she acted like that but for now, I need to comfort her.

"My Older Brother," I answered to Aphrodite. She stiffened as the doors opened and Ares went in. Aphrodite lifted her head up to meet Ares' eyes at her. I'm not sure but its like both of them are shocked at seeing each other.

Have they met before?

"Oh! Well! The Family's complete! Let's all eat now, Shall we?" Dad said, And all of us headed to the Dining Hall.

I pulled Aphrodite's chair and she gave me a weak smile. A weak smile that I know was fake.

Then the Dinner started peacefully with of course questions here and there from my siblings but I took note that Ares did not asked her and was silent throughout the whole meal and Aphrodite was avoiding Ares' eyes at her.

What's going on between the two?


(A/N: Present Time (Cuz it is in straight formatting)

"So what happened after the dinner?" Triton asked, I placed my hand on my beardless chin and started stroking it like a wise man.

"The usual happened. Dinner Finished. Saying Goodbye. She left. The usual." I said, I remembered the fake smile she wore when she went inside the taxi that will drive her going home.

"Then..." Triton beckoned, I sighed.

"Then, She started avoiding me."


CLIFFHANGERS!

Okay, Guys, As much as I wanted to make this chapter only ONE chapter...Well, I think I'm exceeding MY word limit. I don't want this fic to reach above 6,000 words. I just don't like it. My minimum words are 2,000 and the maximum is around 6,000.

So the next chapter will be the Part 2 of this:

Chapter 6.5-Flashbacks with Triton

You still need to read it. DON'T SKIP IT okay?

(::)(::)(::)-Cookies to the Son of Athena, Guest, And GoddessofWisdomWar-Athena. Thanks for reviewing! Love ya guys!

Keep reviewing and cookies will be spread...

Love,

Cutedivaprincess