Hera still hadn't come out of her room. Actually, Zeus hadn't summoned Adiya since the day he declared he would live with them. She felt uncomfortable as she watched Apollo, Hermes, and a few of the muses move around boxes containing her belongings into a room across the hall from Zeus and Hera's. This room was bage with a nice comfy bed and and a sofa on the side. A dresser stood shyly in the corner the TV outdoing it in glory somehow.

She looked out at the hall at Hera's door. A part of her hoped Hera would come and kick her out but she knew that was unlikely. She remembered the violent storm that had happened that night she and Hera fought. The outcome of the storm announcing Zeus's victory. She sighed and left back to her old home.

She walked back into the square and up to an empty house. She had been offered a temple but she never liked the idea of living in a big fancy mansion. She always preferred a more domesticated kind of home. She walked in looking around the empty rooms and closed the door behind her.

She walked down the hall to the master bedroom and sat in the center staring out the window at the apple tree that stood in the backyard. Why was Hera going through with this? The first month of Adiya's stay was terrifying. Someone was always with her because they were afraid Hera would try to do something life threatening to her but nothing ever happened. Why was Hera being so tolerant of her presence? As far as she knew not even Demeter got such treatment.

She sighed laying down on the wooden floor letting the sun's rays shine on her. She had reason to believe Zeus had something to do with Hera's tolerant behaviour toward her but that didn't help her uneasiness. She closed her eyes resting for a bit. Soon enough she fell asleep and she didn't hear the door open.

~o0o~

Adiya woke up in her bed in her new home. She was tucked in but she still wore her blue sundress from yesterday. How'd she end up here? She rubbed her eyes stretching and yawning before getting out of bed. She looked out the window and saw Hera strolling through her garden. She wore a nice red dress today.

Adiya stared at her for a bit not really paying attention to her until she turned in her direction and waved. Adiya ducked out of view her heart stopping.

What was she doing? Waving? At her? Why? What did she want? Was she finally giving in to her serial killer instincts and luring her into a false sense of security so she could stab her in the back when she least suspected it? That was oddly specific, Adiya shook her head and peeked over the ledge again, small strands of hair falling in front of her eyes.

Hera sat on a bench brushing her hand over a peacock's head. She looked back toward her and gave her smile. Adiya ducked again. She was a goner. She finally did it. She made Hera snap with rage.

She began to pack her clothes in a small bag and while her mind raced with a million thoughts as to what Hera was going to do to her she screamed when she heard a knock at the door. She grabbed a nearby lamp and held it up protectively as the door opened slowly.

Hera peeked her head inside. She still held her smile but now that Adiya had a closer look she could see that it was pained, almost forced,"What's wrong, love? Have a nightmare?"

Adiya narrowed her eyes at Hera suspiciously,"I think I'm still in one."

The latter forced a laugh,"Oh you kill me. Come on, love. Zeus is waiting."

She turned away from the door and Adiya could hear the goddess's footsteps travel down the hall and down the stairs. She set down the lamp and searched through a box labeled with the letters SF. She took out a small comb and tucked it into her belt and the followed the goddess into the dining room.

Sure enough Zeus was there helping himself to a hearty meal topped with ambrosia and a drink of nectar. Hera sat across from him. Her plate remained untouched but she was busy with some paperwork she had laid next to her plate. Adiya stood at the entrance awkwardly. The only other seats with food was one next to Zeus and another next to Hera.

Ah, so it was a pick your poison kind of game. Well she wasn't gonna play it. She walked into the kitchen that was next door and had breakfast there. As she ate she heard the murmur of a conversation in the dining room. She opened the door a crack and listened in.

"Have you been behaving."

"Yes, my lord."

"She didn't sit with us. Are you sure you've not said an ill word to her at all this morning?"

"When I tell you I didn't it means I didn't."

"Don't take an attitude with me, Hera. I haven't been in the best of moods with you lately."

"So I've noticed."

"Why can't you understand that all this will simply be easier if you just got to know her and learned to play well with others."

"I would play well with others if they could just stay out of my bedroom."

"Why do you think she has her own room, now."

Adiya tensed up and wandered away from the door. A little bit later Hera entered the kitchen looking less than happy. The moment she noticed her though a thin smile spread on her lips again.

"How was breakfast, child?"

Adiya just knew Hera was itching to throw an insult by the way she spat the word child out of her mouth. She simply nodded as she watched Hera give sharp orders to the servants that worked in the kitchen. Finally she turned to Adiya once more,"Would you care for a walk in the gardens, Slag?"

Adiya shrugged and nodded. If Hera tried anything she was armed. The two meandered through the temple's gardens in silence. It was a magnificent sight. There were flowers everywhere and tree in convenient spots to offer shade and rest. In the center of the garden was a white fountain. The two women stopped to rest at the fountain neither one saying a word.

After awhile she decided to break the silence,"What does slag mean?"

"You needn't know the meaning for the term, barmy."

Adiya watched her carefully. What was she saying? She looked around the gardens once more noticing all the flowers were facing toward the center. It unnerved her. Hiw did Hera get them to do that before she could ask Hera spoke first,"So has my husband called for you recently."

Adiya shook her head,"Not in awhile, no."

Hera nodded as if confirming something. She gave her another false smile,"That's quite alright, poppet. Has anyone else payed you a visit?"

"Hera, I think it'd be easier for the both of us if you would try not to fake your kindness."

Hera stayed quiet and let out a breath. She stood and walked away. Adiya called to her,"But I would like to have a normal conversation."

Hera shook her head,"No. I don't talk to muppets."

What the hell was she calling her? "Oh please, Hera. If we're gonna live together we might as well try to get along."

"Oh and I suppose we'll frolick in a field of flowers and ride off into the sunset together once we do. Listen here, you numpty. I'm not about to make amends with a pillock like you just because you feel guilty for fetching a pail of water with my husband."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

Hera merely rolled her eyes at the statement,"Figure it out. But it's a fat chance for you and I to ever have a 'civilized conversation.' Good day."

Adiya blew a small raspberry watching Hera walk away. Until she got an idea. A rather dickish and dangerous idea.

"Fine then. I guess I'll just tell Zeus you weren't in a very good mood for an afternoon stroll with me."

Hera stopped in her tracks and looked back at Adiya surprised.

"Yup, I'll just get going. Good day,"Adiya stood and started walking away from the gardens when she heard Hera growl.

"This scrubber's going to end up on a pyre very soon. Wait just one second, you little vex."

Adiya smirked and turned to face her,"Yes?"

"It would give me great displeasure if you and I went for a stroll but if it'll keep Zeus off my back then I'll tolerate it for a short while."

"Great!"

"A very short while."

Adiya and Hera wandered deeper in the gardens. The two quiet for quite some time. Adiya looked at the flowers and realized they weren't ever facing the center they were facing Hera. As they strolled along they bent forward trying to reach out to her and turned in place following her the way a sunflower followed the sun.

"Lady Hera, if Zeus betrays your vows so much why don't you ever leave him?"

"I have and when I do he always finds a way to make it up to me."

"But, why? Why do you fall for him? Have you ever thought of divorce?"

Hera rolled her eyes scoffing,"I'm goddess of marriage divorce isn't an option for either one of us. The closest we have to divorce is living in separate homes. Why do you care anyway? Trying to make a move for the throne, I see?"

"No! No. It's just," Adiya rubbed her neck subconsciously. "I-I-I've seen the scars he's left on you and-"

"I don't need or want your pity so you can stop right there. I agreed to walk with you not become moral support. I'm doing fine without it and I don't need it now."

"I just think we should try to know each other better so we don't have another scene like the night-"

"First off, that never would've happened if you had knocked like a civilized person. Second, if you had kept your grubby little hands to yourself I wouldn't have conked you."

"I pushed you because you threw me down a flight of stairs!"

"Like I said it wasn't on purpose. If I had wanted to kill you I would've done it long ago."

"Then why did you touch me?"

"I only wanted to rip out some your hair."

They remained silent for a bit. Hera was definitely a bitch. Adiya was definitely a nuisance. It was a wonder why as to how they kept to themselves at the moment. Finally Hera looked around the garden and her eyes landed on Adiya again.

She felt herself fill with envy. She hadn't combed her hair. She had no make up on. She still had on the dress from yesterday and she still looked as beautiful as ever. Her face flushed with anger and she was just itching to tear her apart. But she stood her ground and kept walking.

"Where street corner did Zeus find you anyway."

"I used to live in California. In the San Fernando Valley. I met him on my way to the park for a friend's birthday party."

"You had friends," the goddess rose an eyebrow

Adiya nodded,"Lots. We grew pretty distant this past year. I miss them though."

Hera examined Adiya with curiosity. She watched how she looked at all the different flowers with a somber look and she listened intently at how she talked about all the people from her past life with a kind of longing and passion. Hera finally let out a soft sigh.

She couldn't help it. She looked back to her life before she married Zeus and reminisced some long forgotten memories of old friends and a lost love. She stopped walking and looked at Adiya with a new sense of wonder.

No one had made her think back to old memories like that. No one. Adiya looked back to her with concern,"Hera? Are you okay?"

The goddess nodded and quickly regained her composure. She gave Adiya an intense stare and said,"I'm fine, love. You simply talk too much. Your voice was beginning to irk me. Anyway, you said you wanted a stroll through the gardens you got your stroll. Now I take my leave. I have work to finish."

Hera left the gardens without another word.