A few seconds after Aphrodite vanished, an alarm bell began to ring. Hestia immediately threw a protection shield over where the Flame would usually be. Then she remembered that the Flame was gone and immediately sought out the source of commotion, sending her blessing into the surrounding buildings. She recognized Fern and Ivy, two nymphs, quickly gathering their supplies and ducking into their respective plants. A few young satyrs hustled some of the newly born Olympian nature spirits to safety. One named Ved gave her a quick nod.

Then, a second later, a panicked and flustered Aphrodite reappeared in front of Hestia.

"What's going on?" she begged Hestia.

"I don't know," Hestia told Aphrodite. "We've never had an alarm go off before. I already checked the wards and there doesn't appear to be any sign of attack. It's quite possible one of the younger gods accidently set the alarms off as part of a prank."

Inside, Hestia felt her heart clench as she started to realize what might be going on. The alarms must be related to the Flame leaving Olympus. She hadn't expected that. Zeus must have set that under her nose. As if he didn't trust that she could do her job herself. If he didn't trust her, why would he leave her in charge of the Flame?

Her heart froze. What if Prometheus got caught because of the alarms? Hestia hoped he was safe. He was the Titan of Foresight. He must have had a contingency in place for this.

Aphrodite's eyes suddenly lit up.

"That's a lie, isn't it?" She looked exceptionally pleased with herself.

Hestia felt her heart pick up. "What was a lie?" It was only mostly a lie. She hadn't realized what was going on when she'd answered Aphrodite's question.

Hestia bit her lower lip. She needed to do something. Only, she couldn't exactly reach out to Prometheus without endangering him, particularly with Aphrodite right there.

"You know what's going on," Aphrodite smirked conspiratorially, brushing off her skirts from non-existent dust or wrinkles. "You can tell me. I won't tell anyone."

Hestia blinked and tried to school her expression. It wasn't one of her greatest skills. According to Demeter, it was why everyone loved her so much.

"I can't believe it," Aphrodite squealed. "You do have an independent streak. So, who convinced you to betray your family? Was it a boy?"

"No one convinced me to do anything," Hestia nervously rubbed her hands together.

Aphrodite laughed. "Puh-lease, I can see it in the nervous tilt of your head. In your rapid glances around as if expecting to see someone in trouble. Oh, this is just so pure-"

"I didn't do anything," Hestia insisted. "I'm just nervous for my family." That was mostly true. She just also happened to see Prometheus as part of the family.

"Oh, keep denying it," Aphrodite sighed. "Your secret is safe with me. I'll cover for you. Though, are you sure that you haven't accidentally done something that really endangers your family? Everyone seems pretty tense."

Aphrodite was looking towards a group of godly soldiers. Hestia recognized Ares, Apollo, and Enyo as the gods (and goddess) in the front of the group. Hestia thought she noticed the other goddess suddenly do a double take as Aphrodite noticed that Ares had forgotten how to wear a toga modestly, again.

"Hello handsome," Aphrodite whispered to herself, staring intently at Ares' chest. Even through his toga, his well-muscled chest was visible. Every time Hestia saw it, she couldn't help thinking about how much he and his sister had really grown up. She still remembered them playing tug of war by the hearth.

The group of soldiers quickly neared them.

"Are you alright?" Ares demanded.

"Any pressing injuries to deal with?" Apollo asked. "God of Medicine at your service. Ladies?"

Aphrodite just sighed loudly, now staring at both gods.

"Just shaken," she told the gods. "Would you be ever so kind as to fill us in as to what is occurring." She fluttered her eyelashes and smiled at them. Somehow, every single god and goddess in the group suddenly had flushed cheeks.

"Well, ma'am," Enyo blushed. "Our father sent us to retrieve you. There's been a break in. Someone stole the Flame of Olympus."

Aphrodite let out a small gasp and a perfect hand gently covered her mouth. Hestia felt her heart clench. She'd guessed right.

"That's terrible," Aphrodite pouted and flipped her hair. "Well thank goodness you found me. I can't imagine what I'd ever have done if you hadn't come to be my hero."

She pressed a dainty hand on Ares' chest and fluttered her eyelashes in a rather flirtatious style. Apparently, Aphrodite flirted when she got nervous. Based on Ares' and the gathered gods' and goddesses' reactions, it was a tactic that worked.

Aphrodite let out a gentle sigh and seemed to swoon. The entire cohort immediately rushed to catch her and suddenly Aphrodite's eyes opened with an excited glimmer.

I got it here, you go rescue your 'friend'.

"Thank you, boys," Aphrodite breathed. "I have no idea what came over me. It's just ever so frighten-"

Hestia didn't waste any time and took off into the unfamiliar streets of Olympus, completely missing Aphrodite full on decking Apollo in the face. Hestia raced down unfamiliar paths suddenly realizing, that yes, Aphrodite was right, she did need to get out more. She hadn't realized how much their little kingdom on a mountain had grown. The trails that should have been familiar had thousands of smaller new branches. Still after a few minutes, she quickly found herself traversing a well-worn and familiar little path. A few moments later, Hephaestus' workshop grew in front of her. Hestia lifted her right arm slightly and the door lifted in front of her.

Hestia blinked. The inside of the workroom felt exceptionally different than she was used to. There were still flames filling the forge, but none seemed to have the same intensity of knowledge as they'd used to.

"You've heard the news?" Hephaestus asked her. "I came back to find this." He gestured to the near empty workroom. "One instant I was working on my wedding gift for my bride and the next minute, the Flame's presence appeared to vanish. I managed to finish the gift manually, but I'd have preferred to have gotten the Flame's approval before I presented it to my wife."

There was a reason why Hestia loved her nephew. He was one of the most thoughtful gods she knew. There were very few gods or goddesses who would go through the entire effort to personally make a gift for their spouse as opposed to just conjuring it.

Hephaestus looked concerned.

"Do you know what's going on? Is the Flame alright? Has she gotten a cold? Are you alright?"

Hestia took a deep breath. "The Flame's been taken." She didn't dare try to explain more without risking giving herself away.

Hephaestus took a deep breath. "Is that what the alarm is ringing about? Do you know if you can call the Flame back?"

"I can try…" Hestia reached her presence out, figuring that was a good time to reach out to Prometheus. Whether or not she reached him, she could always claim she couldn't sense the Flame. Fortunately, it only took a moment before she felt Prometheus' presence. He was exceptionally nervous.

I've nearly made it. He assured her. Just a few more seconds and then humanity will be safe. Stay strong Hestia.

Hestia felt her chest heat up with pride. They'd nearly done it. Still, she had to make sure Prometheus was aware of the danger he was in.

Just be careful. They've noticed she's missing.

There was a sense of intense concern from his end.

I'll be fine. He nearly sounded like he wasn't completely terrified.

Then the connection broke off.

Hestia stumbled a bit. For the first time, it really dawned on her that they might get in trouble for this.

"You weren't able to find her, were you?" Hephaestus asked gently.

Hestia just shuddered.

Hephaestus didn't push her, instead he pulled the chair from his office and sat her down. He went over to a wall and pressed a button. There was a whistling sound and suddenly a hot cup of tea appeared in his hands.

"Here," he handed the tea over to Hestia. "This will help you calm down. It's always worked for me." Then he absent mindedly patted a few of the flames that danced on his head.

Hestia sipped the tea as Hephaestus regaled her with stories of all the inventions, he planned to shower his bride with.

Under his care, she could almost forget the danger Prometheus was in.

"Hephaestus," a familiar voice called from the front of the workshop.

"Hermes," Hephaestus greeted the young god. "Not after my power tools again, are you?"

"My dear brother," Hermes bowed deeply. "Why would I ever endeavor to steal your power tools?"

"You mean like you stole our other brother's cows?"

"I was a baby! You can't hold me accountable for not knowing better!" Hermes was one of the youngest gods and had immediately gained attention by stealing Apollo's prized cows within minutes of being born. He also loved playing little tricks on everyone. Still, even with all his tricks, Hestia's newest nephew was already one of the most reliable gods in times of need. Hades had even sent Hestia hundreds of letters praising the young man's work ethic (and complaining about the significant number of snakes and dogs that had recently wandered into his domain under mysterious circumstances).

"If you aren't here for my power tools, then what are you here for?" Hephaestus asked, nervously.

"Firstly, I've been sent to ask for your help," Hermes started. "If you know anything about what happened to the Flame or anyone who might have had anything to do with it being stolen-"

"Come on in," Hephaestus invited his stepbrother in. "Hestia let me know about that."

"Hestia's here?" Hestia could hear the relief in her nephew's voice.

"She came in a few minutes ago completely rattled. I made her a cup of tea and she's been relaxing."

Hermes' eyes glanced around the workshop before coming to rest on Hestia. "Thank the Fates," he breathed. "My father was terrified something had happened to you as well. We couldn't find you in your normal location. He'll be pleased to know that you've been taken care of so well."

Hestia smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Hermes."

"Now, if you don't mind, Hephaestus," Hermes bowed gently to the blacksmith god. "I am going to have to take our aunt from here. Zeus insisted that she be brought to the council chamber right away."

He smiled gently at Hestia. "That's also assuming you're up for it. I can't imagine what you've been through, but your brother just wants you to be safe. If you feel more comfortable here under my brother's protection, I can still let my father know and I'm sure he'd be fine with that as well."

Hestia probably should have guessed something like this would happen. She just hadn't thought past setting the Flame free. She'd sort of hoped that her siblings would calm down at that point and see things clearly. Either way, Prometheus was relying on her, she had to do her part to see this through. She was going to have to do this at some point and she might as well do it on her own terms. Even if it meant lying to her family. Especially if it meant lying to her family.

"I can do this," Hestia finally said. "Thank you, Hephaestus, for your hospitality. I wish you best of luck with your marriage."

Hephaestus chuckled. "Thank you. I wish you luck on your trip, may it be safe and uneventful."

"Hey," Hermes griped. "How can it not be? She'll be traveling with me. I'm literally the god of travel."

"I'll see you around brother and don't think I didn't notice you grabbing that lug nut."

"You can't prove anything if it's not there," Hermes laughed, not so secretly putting a lug nut back in its box. "Come on, let's get out here."

The throne room was in a state of turmoil when they arrived.

Hermes landed elegantly with her in the center of the gathered group of gods and goddesses. They all were looking around nervously and as soon as Hestia's feet touched the ground, Hera immediately bundled her into a hug. She seemed exceptionally distraught.

"I got her," Hermes told Zeus, who was sparkling with a dangerous energy. "She appears to have been in a bit of shock, but overall unharmed."

"Thank the Fates," Zeus praised Hermes. "If anything had happened to our sister…"

"I'm fine," Hestia insisted, trying to shake off her sister's arms. It wasn't that she minded getting a hug, so much as surprise that Hera was the one trying to hug her. The last time Hera had allowed Hestia (or anyone for that matter) to hug her had been… quite some time ago.

"What's going on?" Demeter demanded. "I'm busy."

She always complained of being busy all year. Hestia guessed it had to do with her daughter. Hestia had never received a letter from this sister without there also being long paragraphs just describing the various antics Kore got herself into.

"Someone stole the Flame of Olympus," Zeus declared. "Fortunately, due to our excellent deductive skills and quick response time, we found the culprit." Hestia's heart froze. After all that, had they failed? "She tried to worm her way into our midst. Pretending to join our family only to throw all of our hospitality in our face." Hestia felt her face blanche. He couldn't be talking about her, could he?

"It's alright," Hera whispered gently in Hestia's ear. "We got her before she could go far." Hestia picked up a frightening prick of cold queenly pride in her voice.

If it wasn't her, then what poor soul was Zeus blaming?

"She flirted with us while only trying to weaken us. We opened our arms while she used that to seek out our weak points. When we sent our guards to retain her, she had the gall to be found directly where the Flame is normally kept." Hestia tried to push down the lump in her throat. Oh fates, no! This was so much worse.

"Ares, bring out our prisoner."

Hestia felt her heart completely freeze as Aphrodite was dragged out onto the floor. Her hair was a mess and the goddess of love and beauty suddenly looked helpless, confused, and terrified.

"You did this?" Hestia urgently asked Hera.

"I can't believe we didn't catch this before. We always knew that children of Primordials can't be trusted."

"But she's not the thief!"

"Listen, I know you have a big heart," Hera tried to comfort Hestia.

"No," Hestia insisted, trying to push herself free. "She's not the thief. Her arrival was just poor timing, but she didn't have a thing to do with it. I KNOW WHO THE THIEF IS!"

Everyone turned to her, and she finally managed to pull herself free from Hera's grasp. Hestia met everyone's gaze. Fates help her, but she refused to let anyone take the fall for something that she'd done. Unlike her father, unlike her family she would admit to her 'mistakes'. Particularly if she still stood by them.

"She was found at the scene of the crime," Zeus insisted. "She sent divisions through our ranks. The Flame was perfectly safe until she showed up. All evidence points to her being guilty."

"Father." Athena suddenly stepped forward. "As much as my dislike of the newest arrival has been made clear, we do need to listen to Hestia. She is the Flame's keeper. If anyone knows who took the Flame, it would have to be her."

Zeus stared at his daughter then finally nodded. "Very well, Hestia proceed. You said you know who the thief is. Who is it?"

Hestia nodded and took a deep breath. If this worked then Aphrodite would be off the hook. Everything would calm down. Everyone would be off the hook and the only person who would have to pay the price would be-

"Me."

A/N: Thank you so much for reading!