"It is time for me to return to my husband, Mother," Persephone says softly as the goddesses walk through a barren field.
"Yes, I realize that most crops have been harvested," Demeter says, "I just hate this time of year."
"Are you coming with me again this year?"
"Actually, I thought I would stay up here and look for that scoundrel Apollo," her mom answers much to Persephone's pleasant surprise.
"You really should let them be together," Persephone says. "Look at Hades and me. We made it."
"Hades is much different from Apollo. He doesn't have women throwing themselves at him," Demeter replies.
"Are you trying to say that my Hades is homely?" her daughter asks offended.
"What?" her mom says looking at her surprised that she is upset. "No, I mean, he's no Adonis, but I meant because of his station in life not because of his looks."
"Hades is beautiful to me. He has a heart of gold, and he loves me Momma. He has always loved me. I think Apollo really love Meredith too. Please give them a chance," Persephone says.
"You take care my beautiful Persephone. I will join you in the Underworld once I have settled this business with your sister," Demeter says then leaves her daughter to return home alone.
"Yipee!" Persephone shouts once her mother is gone then starts running for the nearest entrance to the Underworld.
"What is this?" Isis asks joining her husband in the throne room of the Land of the Dead. She is looking at a large black screen on the wall behind the Scales of Truth. Ammit is sitting below the screen mesmerized at her own reflection.
"It is a television," Osiris replies. "Hermes delivered it earlier today."
"What does it do?" the goddess asks. "Is it just a looking glass?"
"No. It does more than that," he says picking up the remote from the arm of his throne. When he turns it on, both Ammit and Isis jump back. Osiris has to stop himself from busting out in a laugh.
"I do not understand," she says reaching out and touching the screen. "Are these souls who are trapped somehow?"
"No." he says again then walks over to her. He then proceeds to explain about cameras, satellites, and the general process of broadcasting.
"But it's all Greek?" she asks like why would we want to watch them?
"It's a gift, Dear, but Hermes did say that if we wanted to start our own channel, he would talk to Hephaestus."
"Well you watch it if you want," she says like she's too good to watch Greek programming. "I'm sure this is Julius' idea anyway."
"What is that supposed to mean," her husband says of the jab.
"Nothing my dearest," she says then leaves the room.
"Hades, I'm home," Persephone calls out as soon as she reaches her garden. Cerberus, who is chasing what remains of a red ball around through the trees, runs to her. "Hello little sweetie," she says scratching each of his heads. He whimpers with delight then goes back to his ball. Hades now meets her at the doorway to the palace.
"My Persephone," he says happily as she runs to him.
"I'm home and without Mother, for now," she says throwing herself into his arms.
"How did you manage that?" he asks delightfully shocked.
"She's still mad at Apollo," she tells him resting her head against his chest.
"Well let's hope she never finds him," her husband says with a hearty laugh.
"Hades, my love, I've been thinking about what you asked of me," she says as he leads her inside.
"We need not think on that now. I am just happy that you are home," he says.
"No, I want to talk about it. I've decided that I want to have a baby, and if we did it now, I would be here with both of you until springtime," she says watching his face for his reaction.
Hades sweeps her up in his arms and carries he toward their bedchamber without saying anything. The smile on his face tells her all she needs to know.
"How long are you planning on being here?" Rachel asks her cave guest.
"I figure Demeter should be going to the Underworld with Persephone any day now. When she does, I'll go home," he assures her.
"I can't believe you are such a chicken," she says picking up the jeans he wore yesterday and adding, "or slob."
"Sorry, but I need not worry with such things at home," he says grabbing his t-shirt from the floor before she can get to it. "I shall try to be more tidy," he tells her with a grin. She shakes her head because she knows he'll never be able to do it.
He walks over to the hamper the Harpies use for collecting dirty laundry and tosses the shirt inside just as Henry, Iris' boy, runs up the path calling out for Rachel.
"Lady Rachel, where are you?" he shouts.
She steps to the curtain and pulls it back. "I'm here Henry what is it?"
"It's Lady Demeter," he says trying to catch his breath. "She...she's here in camp, over at her cabin. She's looking for Lord Apollo. Hi Lord Apollo," he continues panting.
"She's here in camp right now?" Apollo says with panic in his voice.
Henry nods then says, "She told Meredith that she was staying here until she finds you and gets the matter taken care of."
"I need to get out of here?" Apollo says.
"No," Rachel says grabbing his arm before he can shimmer away. "You need to face this, here and now. You need to figure something out and be a father to your child."
"She's going to kill me," he says.
"She can't kill you. Your immortal," Henry reminds him.
"She could run to Dad again. He could punish me. I don't want to build any more walls," Apollo says.
"Would you grow up," Rachel says. "Henry would you bring Lady Demeter to the big house?"
"Sure," he says then starts to go.
"What are you doing?" Apollo asks in shock.
"I'm going to take care of this. Come on."
Horus is sitting in the Palace of the Gods watching the television Hermes installed earlier that day and stewing in his own juices. He can't believe Hathor is playing games like this. He's gone for long periods of time without calling on her, but she is always supposed to be there for him. He is pharaoh after all.
He hasn't decided what to make of this box with magic pictures that he's had on for a couple of hours, but according to previews, The Wedding of Thoth and Athena is supposed to be on and he wants to watch that, so he can pick out all the times Ares was looking at his girl. He watches as everyone arrives for the ceremony; the count is at 3 already. Then something he wasn't expecting happens. The sound changes from the wedding to one long beep followed by three short beeps, then a man's voice. "We interrupt this previously recorded program to bring you live breaking coverage. Then the screen goes black and in writing in three languages, Greek, Egyptian, and English, the following warning appears.
The following program is rated TV-MA and is intended for mature audiences only.
This program may contain:
Nudity
Explicit Sexual Content
Adult Language
Viewer discretion is advised.
"Now this might be more interesting," he says anxious to see what's going to happen next.