A/N:

This is it, the end of this fic. It was only supposed to be a one-shot. I didn't want to leave it off without a goodbye to Ares though so I found a perfect way to do it.

Thank you to Rachel for making it possible to write fics like this.

P.S. How To Train Your Dragons and How To Train Your Dragons: Race to the Edge was a huge inspiration here and can be seen by both visuals and the funeral words.

I hope you enjoy.

This chapter is in Honor of all of the Brave men and women who have fought and died in wars throughout the years. Thank you for your service.

When the Sun Doesn't Shine

Chapter 2 - Where the brave shall live Forever

She wasn't sure who had picked her up, and she wasn't aware that the rain was falling down, soaking her curved body. She didn't even notice her son's panicked voice at seeing her. She couldn't think, couldn't breathe, couldn't process. She wanted Ares - only Ares - and she couldn't have him.

She wanted his arms around her. She wanted his voice in her ear, his kisses on her neck, his hands on her hips. If she slipped away enough maybe she could feel his body curving into hers just one more time. How was she supposed to live without him, raise their kids without him?

Her heart ached, it was like losing a piece of her soul. He was her best friend, her other half. He was everything to her. Now she would be expected to go on and just move forward, but it wouldn't be by his side. He would never be there again.

He wouldn't be there to be her strength, to catch her when she fell, to tuck the kids in, to help Eros as he continued his journey to being a man. He would never see Eros or the others marry, or have kids of their own, or see his grandchildren. What was she supposed to do? She wished the grief would swallow her.

Hades carried Aphrodite up the walk to her house, the others following after him. Eros was about to need all the help he could get. Ares had always been very close with Eros and he knew Eros was going to lose it when he heard the news. Hades himself had always like Ares and gotten on well with him.

Today's events made him both angry and sad. Demeter and Hera were supporting a wounded Persephone, who had insisted on accompanying him as "Eros would need his friend" and Hades could deny her nothing. He knew there would be a lot to deal with in the coming days but they would do so together.

"Mom!" Eros ran out of the house, but Hades didn't allow him to take Aphrodite from him. "Hades? Why are you…? Where's dad? Hades where's my dad?!"

The look in Hades' eyes was enough to tell him what had happened and Eros hit the ground on his knees, sobbing into his hands. It was Persephone who reached Eros first and he gathered her in a hug crying into her shoulder. She held him to her, stroking his hair and whispering sweet nothings to soothe him.

Persephone signaled him to go inside and so he did. Finding Aphrodite's room easily enough he laid her on the bed, pulling off her shoes. Hera came in behind him, touching his arm to let him know that she would take care of her daughter in law. So Hades went off in search of the other children, today was going to be a long day for the whole family.

Everything hurt from the wounds on her skin that still leaked ichor to her heart for a great friend she had grown up knowing. She couldn't believe that he was gone. She held her best friend in her arms and let him cry, promising him that he would never be alone. It was several long minutes they kneeled there just holding each other before Eros pulled back. It was then that he noticed her state.

"Persephone you're hurt! Oh my God, we need to get you to a hospital or get a doctor, something." It was Poseidon and Amphitrite who kneeled next to the pair.

"Asclepius is on his way to take care of her. I've already messaged him. Hades would kill us if she wasn't taken care of. You don't need to worry yourself, especially right now." It wasn't often anyone saw Poseidon this serious, but now he was, he was hurting too, they all were.

Ares was someone important to all of them: husband, father, son, nephew, friend, and he was already greatly missed by them all. His nonpresence was gratingly obvious to each person gathered. The two friends just sat there, holding each other, not wanting to let go, scared that if they let go they would lose each other.

The following days were long and tear-filled as they prepared the final send-off for their hero. It had taken a couple of days, but they had roused Aphrodite from her bed. She had thrown herself into taking care of her kids with the help of Eros and the extended family. The hours had been long as they explained to the young children that their father would not be returning home. The planning had been specific and detailed as Ares had known what he wanted, for when he was a young boy he had fallen in love with the Norse pantheon and how they sent off their warriors.

The morning of the funeral was dreary as rain poured over both Olympus and the Underworld. The black dress Aphrodite wore was very conservative, especially for her. It was full lace a little longer than knee length. It was a simple sheath dress with long sleeves. She wore demure black studs in her ears and pulled her hair up into a tight bun. She finished off with a black pillbox hat with a fascinator birdcage veil that had just a few feathers.

The look made her sick to her stomach and she wanted to tear it from her body and burn it. She was young, she wasn't supposed to have to bury her husband, it wasn't right, he wasn't supposed to die. How was this fair? How was any of this fair?! Ares was a good man!

He did right by others! Sure, he joked around, had a temper, and loved to rile people up but he was a protector, a father, a friend, a son, a nephew,her husband. He stood by her even when she messed up. He loved a child who wasn't his no differently than the children who were. He was one of the best their pantheon had to offer, and now he wasgone.

She grabbed her clutch before leaving the room to join the others who had gathered at her house. They had decided to drive down to the funeral area together as a procession. She felt naked, like she was on full view and others would be judging her if they saw them pass.

The living room was filled with family and friends, all there to support her and her children. Hades, Persephone, Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, and Amphitrite had come by earlier to get all of the children ready so she and Eros could have some time to themselves. They had all been a huge help over the past days.

Her entrance was met with hugs from everyone. Persephone stood out to her in a black dress that had flowers going up one side, it was perfect for her. She looked much better than she had in past days, the attack had been so hard on her, both physically and mentally, the worst she knew wasn't seen but was a bruised kidney, broken ribs, and a perforated uterus.

Thanks to Apollo, Persephone would struggle to have children when she was ready. Persephone had been devastated, and so had Hades. It had taken the attack for him to finally get rid of Minthe and be with Persephone. He was good to her, especially now as she dealt with everything.

It had been decided that she would leave the TGOEM, but that they would continue to provide for her schooling when she was ready to return. It would probably be a while before she returned though, because while she may heal mostly physically, the mental and emotional scars ran much deeper and would need much more time to be dealt with.

Hera had been a great friend to her, standing beside her. They may have had their differences, but Hera had always tried her best to make their relationship work for Ares. Hera had really stepped up for her and promised to remain by Aphrodite's side. She could not have asked for a better mother-in-law.

Hera wore a simple short sleeve plain black sheath dress. Aphrodite felt horrible for Hera because she knew the pain of burying a child. That had been Aphrodites only comfort mentally over the last few days is that her Philia would not be alone anymore, that she would be watched over and protected by her father.

On her signal, the group made their way from the house to the cars. Eros, Hades, Poseidon, Zeus, Hephaestus, and Hermes carried Ares from where he had rested on a plank of decorated wood to the waiting magnificently elaborate hearse pulled by the black Friesian stallions of the Underworld. Their bodies were thick with muscles. Their long wavy manes and tails flew as they pranced in place. The feathers that surrounded their hooves seemed to be tipped with fire and sparks flew as their shoes struck the ground. Their red eyes glowed with a profound ferocity.

The hearse slowly pulled forward as each car followed. It didn't hit Aphrodite how beloved her husband had been until they drove by people lined up outside their houses dressed in black to watch the procession and pay homage as it passed. As she was in the front, Aphrodite did not see as the mourners joined the end of the line of cars to follow at a walk so they could join in saying a final goodbye.

The procession was passive and quiet as it made its way through the streets of Olympus to the underworld before coming to rest at the River Styx. On the river sat an ornate boat ready for its final voyage onto the water. The plank made its way from the hearse into the boat. Each of the family and friends loaded into the boat food, drinks, and possession that Ares would carry with him. The last thing to be laid with him was his wedding band, Aphrodite slipped it onto his finger for the last time before stepping back and taking up a bow as Hades spoke the funeral words and the boat was set to sail out onto the River, his voice echoing off the cavern walls that surrounded the river.

"May the Valkyries welcome you and lead you through Odin's great battlefield. May they sing your name with love and fury, so that we might hear it rise from the depths of Valhalla and know that you've taken your rightful place at the table of kings. For a great man has fallen: A warrior. A chieftain. A father. A friend."

Aphrodite and Eros were the first to dip the pointed arrows into the funeral fire, raise their weapons, and shoot out towards the floating boat. They all watched as the arrows soared until they found their mark. It was then that a slew of flaming arrows flowed hitting all over the boat. They watched as it went up in flames burning bright and hot accompanied by the gentle hum of Hades' voice.

"Lo, There do I see my Father

Lo, There do I see my Mother

Lo, There do I see my Brothers and my Sisters

Lo, There do I see the line of my people back to the beginning

Lo, They do call to me

They bid me take my place among them in the halls of Valhalla

Where thine enemies have been vanquished

Where the brave shall live Forever

Nor shall we mourn but rejoice for those that have died the glorious death." The gathered began to sing a song of goodbye as they watched their beloved warrior make his way to the final destination.

They were not the only ones watching the scene though for unbeknownst to everyone there on the other side of the river stood the spirit of their great warrior. He watched as his family and friends said goodbye. His heart was broken into a million pieces for he longed to be with them. His gaze was broken by a little hand slipping into his much larger one.

"Will they be alright without me?" He asked softly his eyes brimming with tears that fell silently down his face.

"Yes and someday when the time is right they will all join us at the final resting ground. When the World is at peace and no longer needs us." Her gaze was soft and knowing and it struck him how much his little girl had matured in her time gone from him.

"What do we do now?" He didn't want to leave them, but he knew there was no way of returning.

"Now we rest and wait for them to join us in the glorious afterworld of Valhalla. Come, daddy, it's time to go." The he turned at her guidance he saw a line of soldiers waiting for there for him saluting their commander. These had all been men he had led into battle. There beside them stood the Valkyries in all of their glory ready to lead them on. As they turned and walked off without a word Ares and Philia fell into step behind them flanked by column after column of soldiers marching after.

A/N: The End. It feels bittersweet, doesn't it? There's really nothing more to say here. I just can't wait to see your reactions.

Leave me a comment down below, hit that kudos button, and don't forget to follow so you don't miss chapters from my other stories or any upcoming stories.

As always my faithful readers,

With Love,

Faithy