As the fresh spring air filled Hermes's lungs, he sighed happily. The bubbling cauldron in front of him was flashing from color to color, the prismatic display lighting up in front of him. He studied it and scooped up some of the dazzling liquid, which poured from the ladle easily. Too easily. It was still too thin. Hermes reached down and plucked up a handful of green stones. He tossed them in and gave it another stir. Hopefully that would be enough to thicken the potion.
Wiping his hands on a towel, Hermes turned to appraise the rest of the clearing. Nymphs of all colors and types ran about. Some stood in front of various fires, cooking lamb and fish and vegetables. Others were preparing jugs of wine and organizing cups. Hercules and Triton were helping to carry the tables into place, chatting and laughing. Phil was chewing on salad leaves, staring around. Icarus carried little Elpis as Cassandra cradled Eva. Evelyn was resting in a chair, Vic holding a cup of wine for her.
As Hermes smiled at the hustle and bustle, the sound of raucous laughter broke through the trees. The nymphs looked up, then rushed the food to the tables. As soon as the food was set out, they smiled at Hermes then scurried into the trees. They might trust Hermes's brother, cousin, and friends, but they didn't trust the gods, even if they were still mortal. Hermes made sure that none could be seen, then he turned to see Daphne adjusting the dishes.
"Daph?" he asked. "You're staying?"
"I know you won't let them hurt me," she replied.
She straightened up, and brushed her hair from the scarred side of her face. Her pink eyes were intense, and Hermes smiled and nodded. Then there was no more time for her to leave. They were there. Hermes turned to look at them. They were ruddy and dark from working in the son, and they were all in very good spirits. Zeus led them, his sunburned face split into a wide grin.
"Hermes!" he boomed. Hercules looked up, surprised that his father sounded happy to see Hermes. But Hermes took it in stride.
"Hello, Father," he said pleasantly. "I thought a feast to celebrate a year well-lived would be appropriate. It's no feast on Olympus, but I think it'll suffice."
Triton and Hercules glanced at each other, their eyes wide. Hermes had just called Zeus 'father.' What in the world had they missed? The mortal-gods looked around at the glorious feast. There was more food there than they had seen since their feasts on Olympus.
"Dig in," Hermes said, gesturing at the table. "The potion isn't quite ready yet. It'll probably be another hour or so."
The mortal-gods headed for the table and began to heap their plates with the hot, fresh food, laughing and talking. Zeus was reaching for a plate when he saw the babies. Eva was in Vic's arms, and Elpis waved his fat fists up at his mother's face, cooing. Zeus paused then walked over and smiled at the babies. Vic and Evelyn, aware that Zeus was a god but not knowing which one, smiled tightly at him.
"Cute little things," Zeus said fondly, reaching out to place his finger in Eva's little fist. She clutched it and cooed. Zeus laughed. "Hercules did that when he was only a day old. Lifted me clear off the floor."
Eva stuck out her tongue. Zeus laughed. "How old are they?" he asked the proud parents.
"Three months," Vic said. "If it wasn't for Hermes, we wouldn't have them."
Zeus turned to look at his son, who smiled at him, shrugging one shoulder. The mortal-god turned back and gently tugged his finger away from Eva. He congratulated the parents then headed for the table. He took a generous helping of food, then he strode over to Hermes and sat down on a chair nearby. Hermes gave the potion another stir then wiped his hands again and headed for the table. He got his food then returned to sit beside Zeus.
"How have you been?" Hermes asked, taking a big, messy bite of a rib.
Zeus chewed his bite of fish then swallowed. "Fine, fine. It's been a long year." He paused and took a drink then added. "A good year, true, but a long one."
"Learned your lesson, did you?" Hermes asked, his silver eyes sparkling.
There was silence as every eye turned to Hermes. Some were hostile, some were cool and appraising, and all of them watched to see what Zeus would say and do to the one who had punished them. Zeus turned to see them staring.
"I'd say I did," he finally said, taking another bite of marinated fish. "I didn't even know that I needed a lesson. Then again, when you think that you know everything, you don't even consider that you could learn something new. Nobody knows everything." He took another swig of wine. "I won't be punishing you. I learned a lot. It was difficult, but I understand that we were very unfair to mortals. Things will be changing, Hermes. So I suppose I should thank you."
Hermes smiled, holding up his cup. Zeus tapped it with his own then turned back to his food. Hera stood and slowly walked over.
"May I sit with you?" she asked timidly.
Hermes's expression went blank. Hermes's godly glow flashed, and his silver eyes glowed dangerously. The look on his face made Zeus freeze. Hera wilted, taking one step back. Then Hermes nodded once, his features sharp in the rainbow light emitting from the cauldron. Hera quickly sat down before Hermes changed his mind again.
"Are you well?" she asked.
Hermes shrugged, his bright eyes boring into her slim form. Hera flinched.
"I am sorry, Hermes," she murmured. "Please forgive me."
"I told you already, Hera," Hermes said, his voice clipped. "I promised that I never would."
Zeus glanced from Hermes to Hera. "Hermes," he begged softly. Hermes didn't move. "Son, please."
"I may be your son, but Hera is not my mother," Hermes said coldly. "She made my life a living nightmare. Besides, you're trying to make amends. She hasn't even tried."
"I am," she said earnestly. "What do I need to do?"
Hermes narrowed his eyes. "Daphne?" he said.
The only remaining nymph glided forward and stopped in front of Hermes. Hera and Zeus stared in shock at the terrible, dark scar that marred her incredible beauty. Her eyes were pink, but they were set like flint knives. Hera recognized her as the nymph who stood up to her. She had slapped her, cursing her in her rage. Hera didn't even have to be told.
"I'll try to heal her," she said.
Daphne threw her dark green hair over her shoulder. "About time," she said angrily.
A soft laugh filtered, and Zeus paled, the food in his stomach struck with the sudden desire to reverse direction as a beautiful woman came through the trees. Hermes smiled warmly at her, pointedly ignoring Hera.
"Mother," he said. "You remember Zeus?"
Maia's blue eyes flashed as she looked over the mortal-god. "Zeus," she said icily.
"Maia," Zeus muttered.
Maia sauntered over, unafraid. She stopped by her son and placed her hand on his shoulder. Zeus glanced at her.
"Sorry," he said.
Maia considered him then moved in a flash. The crack of her hand against his face sounded like thunder in the silent clearing. Zeus tumbled backward, his empty plate flying as his hand grasped his cheek, which was blazing bright red in the perfect imprint of a dainty hand. The mortal-gods stared in shock as Zeus struggled to sit up, his cheek throbbing. Being one of the Pleiades, Maia was much stronger than her slight stature suggested. Zeus, being mostly mortal, could do nothing about it, and it hurt.
"I forgive you," Maia said slyly. "Hermes is the only good thing that came out of that. And he's quite different from you and your brood."
"He is one of my brood," Zeus muttered.
Hermes snorted. "Who here isn't?" he asked blandly.
Zeus flinched again. "True."
There was a bright flash from the cauldron, and Hermes jumped up, handing his plate to his mother. He picked up the ladle and stirred vigorously, filling it up and pouring out the liquid. This time, the potion plopped out in a thick stream. Hermes nodded then grabbed a few long, thin purple tubes and tossed them in. An explosive bang sounded out, and the potion began to bubble frantically.
"About ten more minutes," Hermes said, turning to Zeus.
Zeus nodded, glancing at his wife. "Hermes is there any way—"
"Don't," Hermes said coldly. "That is between me and Hera. You've started to mend things. She hasn't." He paused as Hera looked down into her lap. Hermes considered his words. He hated to hurt anybody. Even Hera. "To be fair," he said evenly. "Hera did take the punishment the best. She took my advice and accepted everything that I ordered. I suppose, Hera, that that's a start. But you have a long way to go."
Hera looked up and nodded. "Thank you. I understand why you feel like that. As soon as I can, I'll heal that nymph."
Daphne looked up from the table, where she was eating a cluster of grapes. Her eyes narrowed. "You'll heal me, eh?" she asked coldly.
Hera looked over, surprised. Though all of the mortal-gods had seen the nymph, they were so excited to become themselves again that they paid no attention to her. But as she looked up, her pink eyes flashing with defiance. When the mortal-gods saw the dark scar that slashed across Daphne's beautiful face, they stared in horror. Hera's eyes widened as she saw the damage that she had inflicted so long ago.
"You're the one I hurt?" she asked in her small voice.
"What do you think?" Daphne asked.
Maia reached over and wrapped her arm around Daphne's slim shoulders. She looked coolly at Hera. "You will keep your promise."
Hera nodded at once. "I will. As soon as I'm a goddess again."
Daphne reached up and stroked the scar that had been a part of her appearance for over four hundred years. Then she inclined her head.
"We'll see how it goes."
Hera lowered her eyes and nodded again. "We will."
A ripple in the air drew every eye in the clearing. A blue portal opened and all of Hermes's kids came through. Pan glanced over the mortal-gods then turned to his father.
"All ready?" Hermes asked.
"Everything is removed," he said. "Mom's setting up the house."
"Excellent," Hermes said. He turned to Apollo. "You will not take Dryope away from me again. She is no longer a tree, and if you come near her again, you'll have to deal with me."
Apollo frowned. "What?"
"Oh, and Cassandra's curse has been lifted. Mess with her again, and I will knock you out of the sky."
"What are you talking about?" Apollo demanded.
"You tried to rape them, and when they refused, you cursed them," Hermes said coldly. "And I will cut a little something off of you if you try to do that to another woman."
Apollo flushed and looked down. Hermes nodded once. Zeus watched everything with a furrowed brow.
"I don't understand," he said. "What house?"
Hermes turned and shrugged one shoulder. "I figured that staying away from all of you for a while will help me clear my head. I'm not going to come back to Olympus with you. My children and I will be living with the nymphs."
"You're not coming back?" Zeus asked.
The blue god shook his head. "There's a lot of things that I need to think about. Doing it away from you is the best thing."
Zeus opened his mouth to argue, then he shut it and deflated. "If that's what you feel is best."
Hermes nodded then turned to the cauldron. The rippling colors were sparkling, and he spooned it out.
"Daphne, I need the goblets," he said. "Pan, help her."
Within five minutes, all of the mortal-gods held a golden goblet full of potion. Each one was the color of their skin when they were in their godly forms. A shimmer of gold came up from the liquid.
The blue god took up a bag from Pan and looked around. "Drink it. Olympus is cleaned and all of your rooms are organized."
"Where will you be?" Zeus asked.
Hermes pursed his lips and shook his head. "If you want to talk, call for me. If I'm free, I'll show up. And just to be clear, right now I'm not your messenger. You're on your own."
He turned and began to walk away. Zeus took a step forward. "Will you ever come back to Olympus?"
Hermes paused. He looked back and shrugged. "I don't know. Depends on how things go." He turned to Cassandra. "Let me know when you want to go home. I'll run you back." There was a pause as he reached the edge of the clearing. Then he spoke softly. "Welcome back, big guy."
Zeus nodded. Hermes and his family left, and there was silence. Then Zeus turned, raised his goblet, and then drank deeply. As liquid gold flashed through his veins, he sadly turned to stare at the spot where Hermes had stood. He had thought to spend time with him in Olympus, but things were still on Hermes's terms. Even as power rushed into Zeus's frame, obliterating any trace of mortality left in him and returning him to his status as king, Zeus knew that he wasn't in control of everything. He'd never be in control of Hermes's heart. And he wondered if things with his son would ever be okay again.