I noticed that there are few writings about Hephaestus second wife she deserves some appreciation as well
"Fine I'll do it myself"~Thanos
"I believe that's all for today ladies we can retire for the night" Aglaia confirms checking off all the completed duties from today.
Her sisters rose from their chairs stretching in exhaustion as they begin to head towards the door wishing their farewells and goodnights. Aglaia stays behind to clean up the rest of the make-up materials and sign off on a few requests for tomorrow.
"Momma?" A small gurgled voice calls from beside her.
Aglaia looks down and sees Eucleia clutching at the end of her peplos; her chignon bun a mess from her possibly sleeping in a funny position with the flowers placed in her hair in disarray, and her eyes, clouded with sleep still shined an auburn brown.
"Yes love we're leaving now," she says hoisting her daughter onto her hip and softly blows out the rest of the lights.
The clip clap of her sandals is loud against the pavement as they head toward their abode. All the gods begin to retire into their respective homes as Artemis chariot pulls the moon higher and higher into the sky shining the streets in a bewitching blue and white.
"Did you have fun today?" Aglaia asks starting a small conversation to lessen the quiet.
"Mhm, auntie Euphrosyne and I got to make poems with Lord Hymen today and auntie Thalia taught me how to weave a basket, and feed the cranes" she mumbles against her shoulder, "I liked their feathers"
"Did Aunt Thalia do your hair too?" She chuckled noticing her hair slowly becoming a mess on her little head.
She gently shakes her head and mumbles, "M'lady Aphrodite did it"
Aglaia falters in her footsteps as goosebumps rise on her forearms and shoulders. It wasn't— odd for her Lady to tend to her attendants' heads now and then,— I usually do it out of boredom — she once told her, but Aphrodite had been keeping somewhat of a distance from her daughters, so it did puzzle her for her to suddenly want to do Eucleia's hair. But then again her Lady was always a mystery.
"— she was so pretty to momma, I couldn't stop staring at her I got to sit in her lap and eat all kinds of sweets, she smelled really nice too," Eucleia's hand then goes to her hair and pouts, "But aunt Pasithea made me take a nap and I ruined it".
Aglaia giggles and assures her that she can fix it in the morning; When walking inside their home Aglaia is attacked by Philophrosyne sudden outburst and raw energy of "Welcome" and is nearly sent flying back out the doorway with Eucleia in tow who was clutching at her neck hazardously in fright. Aglaia regains her footing and puts her daughter down carefully with an exaggerated breath.
"Philophrosyne. I told you to stop doing that!" She reprimands furiously as the little girl bounces on the balls of her feet.
"Sorry momma I couldn't help it I'm very happy you're home!" she squeals tackling her legs in a hug.
Sighing once more she pats her on the head and notices a big hammer and tool belt on the table.
"Did your father come home?" Aglaia asks
walking around the living space searching for his lumbering frame.
"Uh-huh! He's in the bath, but I think he fell asleep! He looked so tired coming inside I thought he was gonna fall over and squish me!"Philophrosyne emphasized loudly squashing her cheeks to make it seem like she really was squished flat.
"Thank you, love," her mother said placing a kiss on her head and walks towards the bathing area.
Hephaestus had personally crafted the bathing room by hand; from the detailed lions on the pillars to the jade marble jars spouting outgushes of green water into the large bathing pit. The way was lit with bright fiery candles that had engulfed the whole room with heat. She spots her husband at the end of the bath, clearly dozed off like Philophrosyne said he would be; nearly half his face was almost submerged under the water with a shake of her head she loosens her hair, quietly disrobes, and walks into the water stalking towards him like a predator.
Once reaching the end she gently pushes his heavy sun-kissed body upward. His face was littered with scars going diagonally across his eye and lips and one deeply embedded in his left cheek the consequences from his fall as a newborn, his black wavy hair disheveled upon his head shined from the water of the bath and possibly grease from work, his face was newly shaven and smooth to the touch. He was more buff and taller compared to his brother Ares a courtesy from working day and night in the Forge. To the gods of Olympus, he was an ugly malformed bastard child of Hera. To her? He was beautiful.
"Hephaestus" she whispers gently shaking him a bit, but he doesn't stir she does this again for a while, yet he still continues to snooze.
A sneaky idea crosses her mind as she props a kiss onto his lips and plugs his nose. It only felt like minutes until his body begins to flinch from the lack of oxygen and he pulls away with a big gasp splashing water everywhere in his wake searching the whole area, until his gaze landed on her.
"Aglaia," he inhales with surprise slowly calming down from his fit "when did you get back?"
"Just now. I thought I told you to stop falling asleep in here darling?" She chastises with a quirk of her brow.
"I was just resting my eyes," he says nonchalantly sitting back down.
Aglaia makes a sarcastic 'mhm' and takes her place in between his legs with her back facing him. His hands then make it's way around her stomach and immerses her in a tight hug resting his head over her shoulder taking in each other's presence from a long day.
"You're home early, I thought you would've still been at the forge again tonight" Aglaia finally says after a momentary silence reaching back to stroke his cheek.
"I didn't have many demands of me today and I had already finished a request from Hermès just yesterday, so I was able to come home...Philophrosyne nearly blew me out of the house thought" he laughs which makes Aglaia giggle too as the same thing almost happened a few minutes ago.
Their daughters are unique compared to the other godlings. Philophrosyne was born shining and laughing when Aglaia had her. She remembers Eileithyia's flabbergasted face as she stood there holding the whimsical newly born. It's because of this raw and pure energy that anyone can feel at ease when she greets them the downside is that you might get sent flying 6ft away. Just remembering the other day when she accidentally sent a poor servant girl hurdling across the room by her just saying 'hello' was evidence of how strong she was.
Aglaia lost count of how many times she's apologized and has been demanded to ask her husband to put a dampener on her abilities to minimize the casualties she causes.
Eucleia seemed to earn a lot of acknowledgment from just being present in one room. Hymen praised her skills highly today and wants to work with her more for bridal engagements, but because of her weak legs, she can't do too much for a substantial amount of time.
"Philo and Eucleia didn't seem to escape the repercussions of Hephaestus deformities"
She overheard one of the girls say.
"I truly pity them, the only good thing that came from them being born is that they aren't ugly, well Eucleia anyway, haha, the others one's eyes are so creepy being different colors than the other"
"Maybe Aglaia was raped and had no choice but to marry that hideous blacksmith"
"I can't think of any logical reason on why she would love him more or less bare his children"
"How embarrassing"
"Pitiful really"
"As the oldest of the Kharites I expected her to be wiser, or at least have a better taste in Gods"
"Aglaia? What's the matter?" Hephaestus asks worrisomely noticing her body beginning to tremble and hands form into tight fists.
When he had proposed to her that day in front of everyone he was a timid trembling mess. Broken and betrayed by his mother, cheated on and unloved by his siblings and her Lady, and his own leg being supported by either a cane or an iron brace constantly caused him pain that he was seen as lesser than the other gods despite his talents. The sneers and giggles didn't go unheard to her, and the silence was even more deafening when she said yes.
"—e you" she mumbled finally.
"Speak louder love I can't hear you"
Turning in his arms to face him fully her eyes were filled to the brim with tears and adoration, her cheeks pink and puffy a smile appears on her thin lips as she laughs out,
"I love you" enveloping him into a deep kiss.
The Smith god confused and taken aback by his wife's sudden proclaim of love eases back into the kiss with a newfound passion. The heat within the bath seemed to grow into a solid fog the longer they stayed intertwined in each other's embrace. Hephaestus's hand left her hips and groped her breast with fervor while the other brought her closer. Algaia parted from his mouth with a collective gasp at his eager touch and he found his way into her neck pressing firm yet gentle kisses against it. Her arms wrapped around his neck, one hand tangling within his thick curly hair to keep him in place of his wanton actions her hips soon grinding passionately against his newly risen member.
"MOMMA! PAPA! HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO BE IN HERE? WHY IS THERE SO MUCH FOG?"
At the sudden shouts of Philophrosyne calling into the bathroom Aglaia quickly parts from Hephaestus in a crazed haste water swirling and splashing everywhere as they try to correct themselves like they were teenagers getting caught by their nosey parents.
"W-We'll be out in a minute honey!" Aglaia finally manages to call back her heart beating wildly in her chest from the sudden intrusion.
"OK!" She answers and the sound of her retreating feet puts the flushed couple at ease.
There's silence between them for five minutes until a small snort escapes Hephaestus as he tries not to laugh at the almost heart-failing revelation of their daughter almost catching them in the act, it seems to be contagious because Aglaia begins to giggle herself. The giggling and snorting turned into full-blown laughter between the two.
"She must SURELY get this from Hebe" she says mid-laugh.
"I'd have to disagree and suspect it may be from YOUR sister Euphrosyne"
The merriment coming to an end the pair climb out of the bath and dry off to go attend to the two impatient little girls.
"Working from the forge all day I'm sure you must be tired," Aglaia says tying up her hair into a messy chignon
"Not at all, but you however must be exhausted from attending your duties"
"Not really"
A heavy silence filled the bathing room, but the answers were clear.
"If we manage to get the girls to sleep I'm sure we can "tire" ourselves out somehow" Hephaestus suggested.
"If you manage to put Philo to sleep in under twenty minutes I'd love to take you up on that offer" she complied walking back into the living area not before her husband pulled her back and whispered.
"Deal"
Truly it was to be a lovely night.