Going back to school was a relief for the four teens. At least, it was until they realized how much homework they had accumulated during their absences. Hermes spoke to their teachers, not bothering to hide who he was this time. With his mediation, he got them leniency and plenty of time to get their homework done. And then he promised to help them each day with anything they needed assistance with.

Cassandra's parents were so pleased to have her back home, and when Hermes explained, in sparse detail, why she had left, they thanked him again and again and promised to give him offerings as soon as they could. Hermes smiled and nodded, saying that anything they gave would be appreciated, but that they shouldn't bankrupt themselves just to offer him anything. They invited him for dinner that night, and he graciously accepted, stating that he would return after talking to Daedalus and his new wife about Icarus.

Daedalus was ecstatic to have his son back. Myrina, the former Miss Thespis, embraced him and immediately ran to make Icarus's favorite foods. As she cooked, Hermes sat in the kitchen with Icarus and Daedalus and talked for an hour about what had happened. At the news that all was well, Daedalus let out a shaky sigh.

"My dear boy," he said quietly, subdued for the first time since his divorce from Tryphaina. "You're safe, and that's all that matters. How can I repay you, Hermes, for saving my son?"

Hermes smiled and shrugged one shoulder. "I don't really need any repayment. But I know how you mortals are. Anything you give me will be just fine. But don't feel obligated. It was my pleasure to save such a smart, brave boy."

Myrina insisted he stay for dinner, and Hermes shook his head, laughing. "I already accepted a dinner invitation from Cassandra's parents. Maybe tomorrow."

"Tomorrow then," Myrina said. "Come and I'll make you a feast!"

"That sounds fine," Hermes said. "I've got to go now. See you later, Icarus. And start on that homework tonight."

Icarus smiled. "Hey, at least it's something to do!"

Daedalus and Myrina watched in bemusement as Hermes laughed. He headed for the door and waved then shot into the air and headed back to Cassandra's house. Vic and Evelyn were still doting over their daughter, who, in a rare display of love, was allowing them to coddle her. She smiled at Hermes, who smiled back as he took his seat at the table. They had chosen a rich lamb dish with plenty of sauce and lots of sides. Hermes filled his plate and ate with relish.

Vic and Evelyn had eyes only for their daughter, and they asked many questions. Hermes watched Cassandra take in the affection. She had mentioned on the way back to her home from Olympus that she had begun to miss them, despite their overly happy and sweet attitudes. Hermes had listened in his usual, patient manner, and he reminded her that she would always want her parents' affection, even though she cringed from it most of the time.

"They love you in the only way they know how, Cassandra," he said, twirling her through the air like they were dancing. "They're the sunshine to your raincloud. Rain is necessary, but without the sun, it wouldn't be possible for you to exist."

Cassandra smiled across the table at Hermes, who raised his glass of wine in a toast to her. The teenage girl nodded, and she looked down at her plate. Evelyn brushed her daughter's hair out of her face, and Vic placed his hand on hers.

"It's good to have you back, Casserole," he murmured.

"It's good to be back… Dad," she replied. "I've missed you two."

Vic smiled, lines crinkling around his eyes as he turned to Hermes. "You know, without you, we never would have had our Cassandra."

Hermes tilted his head, sipping on the rich, red wine. "What do you mean Victor?"

Vic rubbed his eyes. "We're not the youngest parents in Greece," he finally said. "We tried for years to have a child. Evelyn and I gave sacrifices every day for a year to Aphrodite, but she didn't hear us and didn't care. We were desperate. We needed luck. So we turned to you. We offered the last lamb we had to you for just a little bit of luck. And you answered. Within the next week, Evie got pregnant with Cassandra."

Hermes's eyes sparkled. "I remember that. You weren't exactly young back then, but you wanted luck so badly. The lamb was an excellent piece of meat, and I enjoyed it. I hope you've enjoyed Cassandra as much as I enjoyed that excellent sacrifice."

There was a pause, and Vic and Evelyn stared at him in amazement. "You remember our sacrifice?" Evelyn asked, her voice soft.

"Of course I do. Why shouldn't I?"

"Aphrodite didn't even acknowledge our sacrifices. But you remember only one?"

Hermes chewed on his last bite of the flavorful lamb. After swallowing, he leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table, his eyes full of silver light. "I remember every sacrifice I've ever gotten."

"How?"

"Because I make an effort to," Hermes replied. "Mortals make sacrifices in times of great pain, joy, sadness, or some other strong emotion. It's important to them, so it's important to me. I take the time to listen and understand before deciding how I will react to each sacrifice."

"Why not just answer every one?"

Hermes smiled. "I am the god of thieves, but I don't grant every request of every thief. There would be a never-ending parade of thieves flocking to my temple, and personal property would mean absolutely nothing anymore. But if a thief needs food or drink or something was stolen from them that they want back, I grant favor."

"What about Auto?" Cassandra challenged. Vic and Evelyn turned to her, and Hermes grinned.

"Auto is the prince of thieves," he said, shrugging. "I have set certain rules, and he follows them. Or else." He turned to her parents. "Autolycus is my son. Fourth child."

Vic and Evelyn smiled. Evelyn looked dreamy. "It must be nice to have so many children."

Hermes cupped his chin in his hands. "Would you like another?" They both froze and looked at him with wide eyes.

"We're too old," Vic said, but his eyes shone.

"A little luck is more than sufficient to cancel out any birth defects," Hermes said.

"I don't know if my body could handle another birth," Evelyn said quietly.

"If you're lucky, it'll be an easy birth," Hermes said.

They both looked at each other, hope burning in their eyes. Cassandra watched her parents, thinking about having a little brother or sister. She thumbed her lip. Then she looked over at Hermes.

"I think it's a good idea," she said. "But that's up to them."

"You wouldn't mind, Cassie?" Evelyn asked, hesitant and unsmiling.

"No," Cassandra said. "You have a lot of love left to give, and I'm almost old enough to be on my own."

Vic and Evelyn met each other's gazes, then they turned to Hermes. "We don't have any offerings right now. No lambs, no goats, nothing," Vic said.

Hermes smiled. "Consider it a gift," he said. He waved his hand in the air, and two vials of golden liquid appeared. He handed them over, the smaller one to Vic, the larger to Evelyn. "Drink this before any nightly activities, and you'll have enough luck to conceive. Evelyn, yours should last throughout the pregnancy, making it easy and gentle, and I'll give you a smaller dose when you go into labor, so it should be an easy birth with no complications."

Cassandra's face went red at the mention of 'nightly activities' but she couldn't help but smile. She would have a brother or sister in less than a year. That was exciting!

Hermes stood up, picking up his plate and carrying it to the dish tub. He set it in, picked out the lamb bones, and placed them aside. "I should get going," he said. "I need to go and see Hercules. Cassandra, make sure you start your homework. I'll send Tyche over to help you with your Home-Grec assignments. Just give a whistle if you need anything."

"Sure, Hermes. And thanks for everything."

The god winked, gave them a bow, and then turned and let himself out. Cassandra turned back to her parents, and she wanted to gag at the look of sappy, ooey-gooey lovesickness that they were giving each other. She stood and carried her plate to the tub.

"I'm going to go start my homework," she said, trying to tactfully leave them to any of the 'activities' Hermes mentioned.

They looked at her, startled. "No!" Evelyn said. She looked at the vial then set it aside. "Tonight we want to spend time with you, Casserole. We have time for the vials tomorrow."

Cassandra felt her heart swell with love for her parents. "Okay then. Let's go for a walk to the gardens."

Vic and Evelyn hurried to clean up the dinner dishes so that they could spend time with Cassandra. Cassandra tried to help, but she was told to sit. She obeyed, and she watched as her parents dashed around. Somehow, she wasn't sure exactly how, they were even more bubbly than usual. The thought of another child made them so happy. Cassandra had never wondered why she was an only child. The thought that she was an only child because they couldn't have another had never crossed her mind. Hermes had just given them the precious gift of hope, and she ducked her head and murmured.

"Thanks, Hermes."

A kind voice in her head replied, "You're welcome, Cassandra. Now have a good time with them. They'll be very busy with a newborn soon enough."

She nodded, and she stood up as her parents wiped their hands on a towel.

"Ready for our walk, Casserole?" Evelyn asked brightly.

"Yes, Mom," she said. Evelyn beamed.

Both her parents were used to her calling them by their names. It had bothered them at first. They had never understood why she'd begun to do that. She had called them Mom and Dad up until Apollo had cursed her. Her mood had dipped after so many gruesome visions, and their peppy attitudes had made her bitter and angry that she was no longer carefree. So to put distance between them, she stopped calling them Mom and Dad. They eventually put it down to teenage behavior. It still stung, but they had lived with it for so long.

Cassandra was happy now. Her visions were no longer spiked only with doom, thanks to Hermes. He had removed the curse of terrible, disastrous visions, and people would believe her now. With one flex of his power and a loud, forceful command, she was free of nothing but doom and gloom. She could still see disasters, but her visions were now expanded to see much more. Hermes was going to get her lessons with the seer of Delphi to learn how to use her powers. It would mean more homework, but it was exciting to have something to look forward to.

But those lessons were not going to start for a few weeks. And right now, she didn't want to think about anything but her parents. They loved her. And soon there would be a new baby to love, too. She wasn't jealous at the thought. She was happy. A baby would give her parents someone to love when she headed out on her own, which was only a year or two away. As she headed out the door with her beaming parents, she glanced up at the sky, stained crimson with the sunset, and she felt peace with the world for the first time in six years.