The divorce was so rushed that she could barely keep track of the days. On the day she received the letter, she didn't know what to do. She had nearly fainted from the words hastily scrawled on the parchment. After coming back to her senses, Ares and Eros had helped her regain some composure, much to her own embarrassment. Once she was fully functioning again, she was reminded of her anger, and with little fanfare, she was dressed up and was bounding through the still quiet streets of Olympus and stomped her way up the marble steps leading to Zeus and Hera's palace.

She was in the throne room before she knew it, stomping in and demanding to see Zeus in a loud and regal voice. Sitting in her throne, Hera looked awful; the queen of the gods was slouched, a large goblet of wine resting almost lazily in her hand. Her normally sleek brown hair was braided as her golden eyes fell upon Aphrodite.

"If you're looking for him, he's in our chambers.." the goddess sneered before rising and making her way back towards her own personal quarters, her handmaidens offering the love goddess a sympathetic look.

Even more angered, Aphrodite, tossed her hand in the air with frustration before storming her way into Zeus's chambers, scaring off some poor young nymph, and demanded that the request of her estranged husband be denied. Her king well...hadn't been pleased with the intrusion, and sat up in bed with a stern and tired expression.

"Aphrodite." He began, having not a care about what his blanket was or wasn't covering. "Is this really so important that you had to interrupt me? I've been chasing that one for weeks." Sighing he rises, lifting a robe from his pillow and wrapping his muscular frame. Making his way towards the older goddess, his fingers easily slip through her silken hair. "And why are you complaining about this, my dear? Isn't this what you wanted? To sever your ties with that blob of a man and be free?" His lips were pressed to her ear, sending shivers down her spine. She almost forgot how persuasive Zeus could be...

Shuddering, Aphrodite looped her arms around his neck, letting out a soft noise as he buried his face in her neck. He was right...this had been what she wanted..so why was she so adamantly fighting against it?

"It's alright my dear. You'll forget this denial soon. I mean, how dare someone like him deny you?" Zeus whispers one more, pressing her body flush against his.

He was right. Of course, that must be why she was so upset. She was offended that he dare turn away from her. What else could it be?

"No more thinking of this, pet." He coos, guiding her to bed.

—-

After their shared night, Zeus moved the plans for hers and Hephaestus' divorce at a much faster rate. This was the first time that it had happened among their own, so protocols had to be made, properties to be divided. The few times she had seen Hephaestus had been brief, filled with hurt filled eyes and one-word answers.

It was over before she knew it...she gained the palace he had built for them and any treasures that had built in her honor. His forge would be moved further into the volcanic center of Mt. Olympus. Once these things were decided it was over. Zeus held a small ceremony to sever their ties, and just like that, Hephaestus was gone. His personal items were removed from their- no, her- palace, and she heard no more from him. Her and Ares stepped up as lovers, deciding not to wed, but to develop the first "domestic partnership". Life was, perfect, to say the least. Anytime she and Ares argued, he would leave a few nights, return to her and they would reunite in lovemaking that made the other gods envious.

And then, years later, Aglaea, her top handmaiden, left her service. The quiet goddess had requested an audience with her early one morning, the third spring since her divorce. Aphrodite eagerly spoke with the younger goddess for some time, Aglaea being a favorite of hers. The two had been friends with for years. So when the small, meek woman had given her a scared look, Aphrodite had been confused.

"My love, what's wrong?" Aphrodite had asked as the two sat together, snacking on small crisps of seasoned bread and peaches, a fruit the two had grown quite fond of in their time together.

The younger goddess, whose pink eyes were focused on the floor, nervously wrung a slip of silk in her dainty hands. Reaching out to gently cradle the younger goddess's face. "Come now love, there's no reason to fear. Tell me what troubles you."

Pink eyes welled with tears as Aphrodite's fingers combed comfortingly through chocolate locks. "My goddess..." the younger woman whimpered before looking up at the woman who had grown to be her closest friend. "I'm sorry...but..." rising and stepping away from Aphrodite, Aglaea offered the other woman a mournful bow. "I wish to leave your staff..."

At first, the elder goddess was shocked. Her most loyal maid, her dearest friend, wished to leave her. But she knew the look in her friend's eyes. Giving the younger woman a knowing smile she offered her hand, gently petting her friend's hair. "You've met the one, haven't you? Oh my sweet, you've fallen in love." She whispered before turning to her vanity, stepping away from the still bowing woman.

"I'm so sorry Aphrodite. I can stay just...I do. I love him so. My heart throbs with yearning...his eyes make me weak. He's so gentle and loving, with everything he does. I tried to deny it, but I can't anymore. I love him."

"Does he know?" Letting her fingers graze over her favorite jewelry box, Aphrodite opened the pearl and gold container, gold and silver, and jewels glittering inside.

"No, my feelings...I haven't told him..." the voice behind her is meek and quiet.

Lifting a delicate gold necklace embed with a cut of heart-shaped pink diamond, Aphrodite turns and gently places it on the goddess's neck, cupping that nearly perfectly rounded face and lifting her friend's eyes to meet her own.

"Then go, my love. With my blessing. That man would be a fool to turn you away."

Tears fell from Aglaea's eyes as she flung her arms around her friend and mentor. "Thank you. Thank you so much."

A year later, Aglaea and Hephaestus were wed, the ceremony being almost as large and grand as her own.

Author's Note: This chapter, right here. is the whole ass reason I have been having trouble with this entire story. This one. Because let me tell you I try to keep this series a little accurate to mythology and I fell head over heels for Heph's second wife once I read on her. She's precious and I love her and just. Aaah. I didn't know what to do once I learned about her because like I said, I try to keep it somewhat accurate and I wanted her to be a part of these two's story. But don't be too worried guys, Aph and Heph will have a happy ending, I'm just glad most of you stuck along for the ride that is this story. Now that I have this part out of the way I hope that I'll be able to post more chapters soon.