AN: Here's another chapter...so sorry again

Love and her son

In Olympus, Zeus rose from his marble throne, chaos is happening, frost spread over the earth and there's no one who can stop it. When Demeter couldn't find her daughter, she swore that the whole earth will weep with her and she wouldn't let a single thing grow unless her daughter is back. Zeus is going frantic. All the rest of the gods looked disappointed. Zeus had to give up, he called for Demeter and talked to her and told her about Hades.

"What! I can't believe you were even involved. You let that creature, that monster, take away my daughter!"

"She's my daughter too, Demeter. And don't speak like that about Hades; he is, after all, our brother."

"I never considered him as a brother."

"You are completely losing your mind, Demeter. Be reasonable about matters. Maybe Hades felt too alone in the Underworld."

"Why couldn't he marry some other god or some other creature in the Underworld; Hecate, even?"

"She's a half-titan. Hades wouldn't have her and he told me that he loved Persephone."

"Love? That cold heart of his could love?"

"That was his reason when he confronted me. Why not, Aphrodite and her son had been busy these past months."

"Then I think we have to consult her for this matter."

"Then so be it. Hermes, call for Aphrodite at once."

Hermes returned after a while with Aphrodite following, her young son following closely by.

"Good day, my lord Zeus, my lady Demeter."

Demeter hastily asked, "Does Hades love my daughter?"

"Ah, my lady, you doubt the Lord Hades? Do you not think it rather insulting in his part?"

"Insulting? I don't think he can even feel anything."

"My lady, Lord Hades is a god and living in the Underworld doesn't mean you can't feel anything."

She was speaking in an annoyingly calm and sweet manner that it ticked Demeter even more.

"What if it does?"

"What if it doesn't?"

"Are you trying to provoke me, Lady Aphrodite?"

"I certainly am not, my lady but if you find me intimidating, then I cannot do anything about it."

"I think you are certainly trying to provoke me."

Aphrodite looked away from Demeter and spoke to Zeus in a voice loud enough for Demeter to hear.

"Lord Zeus, my king, good day. It seems that our Lady Demeter here seemed to forget everything else in the absence of her daughter. Many have been dying lately because of the drought over the land. I think she should think over her actions. What she is doing is an insult to my part. She is suggesting that the Lord Hades can not feel anything, even love. I don't think she really understands the scope of my power. It is even a greater insult upon Lord Hades, who I think did nothing wrong. He just wanted to be with the one he loves."

Aphrodite turned to Demeter.

"Have you not thought about it, lady? The cause of all the conflict is love; can you not realize that maybe your selfish love was of my command? You tend to underestimate what you don't know. What you don't know won't hurt you but I guess I want you to be hurt." she said in her irritatingly calm voice in Demeter's opinion.

They looked at each other with pure loathing or at least Demeter did, Aphrodite just smiled in a mocking and taunting way. Demeter broke the silence.

"You, young devil, you are the cause of all this!" she said directly to Eros, "you little winged demon, No doubt you are her son!"

Eros, still being a mere child at that time, started to redden. His perfect cheeks turned dangerously pink and his eyes grew red. Aphrodite immediately came to her son's defense.

"Lady Demeter! Such a disgrace! Blaming my son!"

"I am not blaming him. I know he did it."

"He did not!"

"I am quite sure that he did it."

"Father…" Aphrodite now turned to Zeus.

"Demeter, stop it."

"Now you're siding with her, your precious child from Dione and her darling son. Now, let me remind you that Persephone is your daughter too."

"I do not forget that Demeter."

Aphrodite was starting to lose patience at this point.

"To clear it all, it was not my son, it was me. I have used my powers to bring two unlikely lovers together. And what can you do Demeter? I am the goddess of love," Aphrodite interrupted, "and if it is of my will, then no one can do anything about it, I refuse to undo what I have done."

Zeus looked at Demeter. She was a very furious Demeter indeed.

"Demeter, do you want to speak?"

"Certainly! Everything will remain as it is unless Persephone is back. Frost will remain; nothing will change unless that wretched son of hers would undo what he did."

"Now Lady Aphrodite?"

"Yes my lord," she then turned to Demeter, "Do not blame my son for what is happening. I already told you that it was me. I will stand by my conviction. I will support Lord Hades if need be. And in the event that Persephone learns to love Lord Hades then the more will I be in their back if it had to mean going against you."

"Hah! My daughter, in love with that monster?"

"Now Demeter, contain yourself." Zeus said "Is there anything more to discuss? If none, then give me your final word, both of you."

"I stand with what I said earlier", Demeter replied.

Aphrodite responded, "Only one thing my lord. Lady Demeter, with all due respect oh great goddess of harvest," she said ironically as her perfect lips curled into a mischievous smile, "soon you'll realize how powerful I am. Come along now, my child," she said facing Eros.

Aphrodite walked away, Eros flying to his mother's arms, her flowing robes trailing behind her. Demeter was astounded, and then she turned to Zeus.

"I will not leave without a solution."

"I cannot. Everything in the Underworld belongs to Hades."

"I don't care. If you still want the race of humans to linger, you shall give me back my daughter!"

"Then I will have to talk to Hades. Hermes, attend to me at once." He shouted, his eyebrows meeting as he thought of how could he possibly get through with this.

Hermes appeared in all his glory asking the King what he needs.

"Go to the Underworld and tell Hades to let Persephone go."

"At once, your majesty."

Hermes looked confused but he left without much word. Demeter looked pleased with herself. Zeus looked worried, he knew Hades wouldn't like this and he was rather fond of his brother, never complaining about his share of the world.