"How long is she going to stay here," Apollo asks with a frown.
"I don't know. Look how long she's hung on to Persephone. I'm afraid she's not capable of being by herself," Meredith says sadly.
"So I'm going to have to kick her out? That's what you're saying?" Apollo asks coldly.
"As much as I want her to leave us alone, I'm afraid of what she might do if you try that," she says. "Do you want me to fix you breakfast before you head out this morning?"
"I'd like that, if you're up to it," he says giving her a kiss.
"I love cooking for you," she says leading him downstairs.
"Sleeping in?" Demeter asks when they reach the kitchen.
"What do you mean, it's plenty early," Apollo says with a raised brow.
"I've had breakfast ready for an hour," the goddess replies.
"We're not having cereal this morning," her daughter says pushing the bowls to the side and getting a basket of eggs from the fridge.
"No cereal," her mom says offended.
"Would you like for me to fix some eggs and bacon for you as well?" Meredith asks her mom. "You might like it."
"Please tell me you are at least having toast," Demeter says with her hands on her hips.
"Sure, and I'll even make it wheat toast just for you," her daughter says with a smile.
"So, um, Mom," Apollo says placing an emphasis on the Mom part. "When you heading back to the Underworld?"
"I haven't thought about it," Demeter says watching as Meredith cooks.
"I figured with that new baby and all," the god says trying to make her want to go down there.
"I would have advised against the baby had I been consulted, so I have no intent to go down there and change diapers," the goddess says. "You're going to burn that!"
"It's fine, Mom," her daughter says knowing her mother has never cooked a thing in her life.
"So you're fine with your little grandson growing up without you around?" Apollo asks
"I see what you are trying to do. I am not a fool, Apollon," Demeter snaps at him.
"I can take care of Meredith," Apollo says going over and putting his hand on his girl's shoulder. "You don't have to stay around here all the time. I don't want you to think you aren't welcome to visit, but you have your own palace."
"I think I have made it clear that I do not trust you, son of Zeus," the goddess says bluntly.
After breakfast, Apollo heads out to where Eos has the Maserati ready to roll. "Thank you dear," the god says giving her a kiss on her rosy cheek like he does every morning. "How about we go down and do some shopping when I get back," he says pulling Meredith to him for one last hug before heading out to work.
"That would be fun," she say with a kiss then a sudden wail of pain.
"Ow, damn it to Hades!" Apollo yells looking over his shoulder. "Eros, I know you did that!" he screams recognizing the feeling of a arrow piercing his heart. "Are you alright?" he now asks Meredith, who is rubbing her chest.
"I'm fine. What was that?" she asks.
"Eros, just shot us with an arrow," he says then looks to the sky again. "You can't hide from me you little..." he yells to the sky again. Slowly Eros flutters into view. "What do you think you're doing. I warned you before that if you ever shot me with one of those things again, I'd skin you alive."
"I'm sorry, Apollo," the god of love says, "but she made me."
"She?" Apollo barks.
"She said she would finally forgive me for what happened with Hades if I did this. I told her it wasn't even necessary because you two were already in love," Eros says landing and Apollo's feet. "Please forgive me. She's been tormenting me with. I thought that since I was not changing how either of you feel..."
"I have to go," Apollo says taking Meredith in his arms again. "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yes, it doesn't even hurt any longer," she assures him with another kiss.
"If you need me, let Iris or Hermes know," he says, and she nods that she understands. "As for you," Apollo says looking at Eros, "We need to have a little talk. Get it."
As the sun chariot travels along, Eros can't resist the urge to hold his hands up and let the swift air blow through his fingers. "Would you grow up," the sun god tells his nephew.
"Sorry," Eros says with a grin, "but this is a cool car."
"What exactly did Demeter tell you to do?" Apollo continues.
"At first she told me to shoot the two of you with my lead arrows, so you would fall out of love," the love god explains. "I told her no. I ruined your life once before with my arrows, even if you did deserve it. I told her I wouldn't do it again. She went to Mom to complain, but Mom stood behind me, so Demeter insisted that if I wouldn't use my arrows to split you guys up, that I use them to make sure you remained true to Meredith."
"I don't need your silly little arrows for that," Apollo says.
"I know, but I figured it would get her off my back, and it wouldn't really make any difference to you," Eros says now playing with the side mirror.
"Would you stop messing with that," Apollo snaps at him.
"Sorry," Eros says again.
Apollo uses the control on his side of the car to fix the mirror back the way he had it then says, "Well, no harm no fowl, but the way I see it you owe me now."
"What do you want?" Eros asks nervously.
"I want you to help get Demeter out of my palace," the sun god tells him.
"How?"
"I figure the only way to keep her out of her kids lives is to give her one of her own. I want you to make her fall in love with somebody," Apollo tells him.
"Who's gonna want Demeter? She's so grumpy," Eros asks.
"I don't care who you choose as long as she leaves us alone."
"Look, I'll do it, but you've gotta help me figure out who. I won't break up any other couples."
"Well, that eliminates Dad, Uncle Poseidon, Uncle Hades, me, Erebus, Hypnos and Thanatos," Apollo says making a mental list.
"My dad is involved now too," Eros adds. "I also noticed that Triton was dating your sister Clio."
"Since when?"
"It's been a couple of weeks," the god of love says. "Um, is my stepdad off limits. I mean he's married, but..."
"Let's consider Hephaestus available but not the first choice," Apollo suggests.
"Hermes is available," Eros says.
"Yeah, I actually like my little brother, so let's not make him first choice either," Apollo laughs. "What about your brothers?"
"Which ones, the love ones or the war ones?"
"Either."
"Gods, I don't know. They might kill me, well, not literally."
"The Oneiroi are available," Apollo offers.
"Not Phantasos, he's living with Melinoe," Eros says.
"How do you know all of this?" Apollo asks with a shake of his head.
"It's my business to know who's hooked up with who," the love god reminds him.
"Well, what about the winds?"
"That's an idea. Aeolus is single so is Boreas," Eros says.
"I'm afrain Boreas wouldn't work out well. Their work schedules would interfere," Apollo says.
"Yeah, you're right, Zephyrus might be a good choice," Eros suggests. "They're both associated with spring, so they already have something in common."
"It would serve that jerk right to get stuck with Demeter after what he did to my beautiful Hyacinth," Apollo agrees.
"So is he the one then?" Eros asks.
"Sounds good to me," the sun god says. "Now, are you staying for the rest of the ride or you getting out?"
"This is sweet. Can I stay?"
"Just don't touch anything," Apollo warns him.