"...what?! Eilithya, are you kidding me?"

"Shush, if you don't she will wake up! No, I am not. I'm just... This is the truth. I don't know what will happen right now."

"So, what are we gonna do?"

"It sounds impossible. It must be impossible. It shouldn't have been like... like that!" Poseidon nearly shouted and Hera opened her eyes slowly. First thing she realized was the blueness of the pure sky. It's beautiful, she thought. Breathtaking. Remarkable. But it... breaks my heart.

"She's awake,thanks to you." Someone said sternly and Hera realised her daughter, Eilithya, holding her head in her lap, murmuring some magical words to make her better. Hera murmured for she was so weak to get up.

"My flower?" she asked, as she used to call her always. Eilithya smiled and squuezed her mother's hand.

"Yes, mom, it's me." She called in a gentle tone. But Hera frowned.

"What...happened?" she said, then she heard footsteps and saw Hebe, Hestia and Poseidon. They all were smiling to her.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty." Poseidon joked, then kissed her forearm. "How do you feel now?"

"I feel...sick. And tired. Wait. Ares was there... With Zeus. And Hephaistos... Oh my gods!" Hera tried to sit up but they stopped her.

"Hey, hey, hey! You shouldn't get up for a while, sister. You need to rest." Hestia said, trying to smile. She was always gentle to her, like she was to everyone. Hera shook her head stubbornly.

"No, my sons are in danger. You don't know, he almost slapped me, he could hurt them... Even they are warriors, I don't think they can stand against his anger." Hestia held her arm once again.

"Hera, please. You need to gather your power, otherwise you cannot stand against him too. Besides... We have an other thing to discuss." Then she exhaled.

"What...other thing?" Hera asked in a quiet tone. Every another moment, she was feeling more and more sick. She saw all af them exhaled too.

"Mother, you have to promise me that you'll stay calm. No matter what I say. I don't know how will you react to this, so I need you to promise." Eilithya said, and Hera could feel that she was very nervous so she, once again frowned. "What's wrong with all of you? What's so important now?"

"Promise."

She sighed. "Okay, okay, I promise. Now, say what."

Hera also saw Hebe closed her eyes and inhaled.

"Mother, you... You are... You're pregnant." Eilithya said. "I'm so sorry."

Hera sucked her breath.

She couldn't understand anything from now on.

"What... did you say?" Her beautiful eyes were filled by shock. "I'm... I'm what?"

Hestia grounded beside her and grasped her hand. "Hera, we are really sorry. You were fainted when Poseidon brought you here. Eilithya,Hebe and me were nursing you and all of a sudden Eilithya froze in her place as we were around your stomach. She,she said you were...pregnant,Hera, I'm really really sorry." She said in tears and Hera looked down at her gown.

Quickly, she raised her hand and a blue light gleamed into her hand. She put her hand on her belly. A heartbeat. Suddenly, Hera's eyes were shining with tears. Tick, tock. Tick, tock. An other heartbeating. Once again.

All through her life, she had always wanted to be a mother. Ares was the first one who blessed her with happiness, and the feeling she felt when she took him in her arms, it was the most amazing moment ever. Despite all the fights they had with her fighter son, and all the moment he broke her heart, he was still so special to her, always has been. She really wished she could whisper to his ear, that how much she loved him.

She remembered when she first had Hebe, the first daughter of her. She was so beautiful that took all of her breath away. Then Eilithya, and Hephaistos... Oh her beloved ones... Hera was crying now. She had always prayed for children, and to have children, with the man of her life, her deary husband. The perfect marriage with children. It was the dream of her immortal life. She had never given a thought that Zeus was to be that husband, once. Maybe Hades. But not him. There was no way she could be in love with him. But it had happened. She had fallen in love with that arrogant yet handsome king and look at her life: a mess. She didn't want the baby inside her right now. She didn't want to bear her or him. She didn't want the child of the man who doesn't love her. And she doesn't love anymore. No. It was unfair. It was unfair for her and her child. It couldn't be like this...

"Sister?" Hestia called, still holding her hands. "What will we do now?"

"Go away." Hera hissed. They all sighed. Hebe tried to reach her.

"Mother..." But Hera turned to her with tears.

"Go away!" she snapped again. They all flinched but nodded and left unassured. Hera touched her belly, to feel the heartbeat again. Then she looked at the pure sky. It was too much. She burst into the tears.

"Oh...my...beautiful daughter..." she sobbed on her kness for the sake of her daughter, for she knew the gender as the goddess of childbirth. "Why..now? Why did you come to me now?"

Sure, there was no answer.

"How dare you to divorce mother, ha?!" Ares shouted again and hit Zeus's head to the wall once again. He groaned with pain but his eyes were burning with anger.

"Ares if you go on I WILL MURDER YOU!"

"Then why don't you DO IT?!" Ares shouted back but Zeus captured him with one of his lighting bolts and threw it at him. Ares flied to the other side of the room. Zeus laughed but he flinched as he felt the consuming fire around his neck.

"Don't ever try my family, not my mother or brother!" Hephaistos said as he was giving more power to the flames. Zeus closed his eyes at the pain but he was still so, so angry. Suddenly, the doors opened -crushed, actually- and someone came in.

"For gods STOP THIS RIGHT NOW!" Poseidon shouted and Hephaistos set the fire free. Zeus was coughing as he held his throat.

"This is our conflict, Poseidon. Let us do it." Ares said, recovered from the lighting effect. Poseidon sighed.

"I am your mother and father's brother, Ares, and your uncle. I have something to tell Zeus, and you should hear it too. About Hera."

"What about her?" Hephaistos asked, looking at Posedion finally. Poseidon sighed and looked at Zeus.

"Zeus, you cannot divorce." Zeus laughed, but anger was flooding him.

"You too, brother? I will divorce her in spite of whatever you do and marry my beloved Leto! None of you will be able to prevent this!" he shouted but Poseidon was also very angry now.

"It's not about my wish, you little brat! Ha, if you ask for my wish, I will support Hera until the end of time! I had protected her in Kronos's stomach. I had always been there, where you hadn't.I was there whenever she reached out for time or the place, it had never mattered. But you weren't.What I'm gonna say now will shock you and destroy your world and plans with Leto, believe me. You cannot divorce. Because the Queen is pregnant." Poseidon snapped and they all gasped.

Zeus was looking so blank right now. He shook his head as he stepped back.

"No, no, no..." he murmured, his eyes wide open. "No, NO! It cannot happen! We haven't even slept together for such a long time! We hav..."

And all of a sudden, he remembered. It was two months ago, and they were turning back from an Olympus party. Both drunk, both hopeless. When they went to the room, Zeus had taken her to his arms and kissed her like there was no tomorrow. One thing had led another and they had spent the whole night together. It was full of passion, and probably lack of any other emotion but it still had happened.

"I think you remembered how it happened, ha?" Poseidon joked, but it was lack of any mirth. "What will you do now, Zeus? You cannot divorce her for she is a queen with child, what will you do now if your sons don't kill you?" He said sternly and made a disgusted face. "I... You're completely a mess. We should never leave the throne to you. Hades was perfect for the throne alone. And, also a perfect husband for Hera, what do you think?" Then he shook his head, ready to get out. At the door, he turned to his nephews. "Come with me. I think you should see your mother."

After a moment, Zeus was alone in the room.

And completely destroyed.

As the beautiful sun was setting behind the great hills of Olympus, Apollo, his work's done, was watching his sister putting the night and the moonlight. He sighed, Gods he was tired. The sun was very heavy sometimes, even to him. The morning was the happiness of all good beings of the universe and the birth of the sun was a reason to start again. He was responsible of that gladly but sometimes, just sometimes, it could tire him.

He sighed once again with the thought just came to his mind. Hera. The elegant queen of Olympus. He had always admired her for her fire, patience and power. Even if she prisoned his and Artemis's mother, Leto and nearly banished her from bearing her children, after he and Artemis were accepted as Olympians and they came to the palace, Apollo had been really close to her and always respected. He loved the Queen, and he knew that all of her temper was because of his father and her husband, Zeus. Sometimes, when he talked to Hestia or Poseidon, he heard them saying that she was not like this at all. She was a lovely, happy,even funny and quite innocent rose, once. Everyone used to love being friends with her. She was so beautiful once. No, Apollo thought. She was still beautiful. Not once. Just... Maybe more peaceful. He just didn't know.

That was why he had gone to Underworld, the Realm of Hades. He only wanted to get more knowledge about Hera. To understand her better. Yes, Posedion, Hestia and maybe even Demeter would give him some information about her, but Apollo didn't believe that someone other than Zeus or Hades could know more about the Queen. Zeus was her husband, the one who could get her love once; and Hades, her brother. Apollo knew that he was so much more than brother, and he believed that Hades and Hera had always shared a special bond between them, not like being in love, well not completely, as Poseidon said that two had some relationship beyond friendship before Zeus. But it was different. He could see that in their eyes. In the general celebrations on Olympus, he could see the way Hades and Hera looked at each other. One look was enough to understand what was on the other's mind. When Hera smiled at him, Hades would smile back. Apollo understood. They were both isolated but yet powerful people. Hades was dismissed from Olympus so his home, his family, and Hera was the most hated nearly by eveyone, especially by her husband. They were both miserable. But also, they were the only true ones. Both Hades and Hera were the fairest gods, in all ways, they could always decide the right and keep the justice between all. And no one, had ever seen it.

Apollo could still remember the big dark corridors of Underworld .

God of Sun shivered under the presence of Cerberus's evil looks, which was the loyal guard dog of Hades leading him to his Master's room. Apollo could hear all the irritating voices of dead souls whom are prisoned between the walls.. Definetly not my place, he thought as they reached the doors. Cerbeus showed him his teeth before Apollo knocked the mighty door. Soon, a voice answered.

"Come in."

Apollo opened the doors, and saw the dark king's room -he had to admit, it was very impressive, and big. He knew that Persephone was with he mother in this time of year, but still the room was enchating. One of the best royalty signs he has ever seen. Then he shook his head before thunder boomed. He bowed in front of the Lord of Underworld and greeted. "Lord Hades." With this, Hades turned his eyes onto him. "I hope you're doing well."

The God of Underworld watched him with his dark stormy eyes for a while which caused Apollo to worry a little bit. Then he turned to the window, watching River Styks's outrageous waters.

"What do you want?" he asked, still not looking at him. Apollo sighed. He was, you know, a scary god anyway. Also very cold, and it wasn't helping. He gathered his courage and looked at him.

"I need some information." he said, trying to be confident.

"About what?"

Apollo sighed again. "About Hera."

For the first time since he arrived to Hades's throne room, he looked interested and turned Apollo. At least I could attract his attention, God of Art and Culture thought. Hades stayed silent for a while. Then spoke.

"About Hera? What do you want to learn about her?"

"I want to learn about old her. I know that she is not herself now, because of her, you know, marriage. I've heard about her past, that she had been a lovely, beautiful, happy woman. Not the queen who is the most hated. I really respect her and want to have more knowledge about her and her feelings." Apollo said in one breath, eager to her the God's answer. But Hades was silent.

"Why do you care about her?" Hades asked, and Apollo was puzzled. He quickly thought of an answer. But did he really know the answer?

"Because she suffers from the lack of affection and love." He answered, and Hades raised an eyebrow.

"Don't you know the Queen hates all the pity the others feel for her? Besides, you're her husband's son of other woman so, I don't think she bears any compassion towards you." God of Underworld said, not pairing his eyes from Apollo as he bowed his head in a sad way. Then he closed his eyes in a careless way.

"I'm sorry if my wish disturbs you, Lord Hades. But I only want to know about her. I have my own feelings and I believe that I can win Queen's respect and even her love one day. Just like you did once."

And with this sentence, Hades opened his closed eyes.

"You shouldn't be much interested in past, child. It is no useful. It would pain both you and me." He said then filled a golden goblet with French wine. However, he only stopped with the other god's voice.

"It is probably better if you were the suffering one instead of her who suffers every day because of your and her other loved one's that careless attidute."

And for the first time, Hades shut his eyes closed and inhaled. After some struggle inside with his emotions, he turned to Apollo.

"Tell me what do you want to learn about her."

Apollo smiled gratefully and cleared his throat.

"Well, how was her before her marriage to Zeus? Were you two close?"

Hades merely laughed. "She always used to dance. All the time. She used to open her arms, turn around and around by laughing really hard and she was the happiness flower among her siblings. She would always smile. Also, at slow and romantic dances, I had to admit, she was pretty good, too." He murmured, drinking his wine in golden goblet, offering Apollo one. He gladly accept it, determined to listen the rest of the story.

"You used to dance with her?" Apollo asked. Hades smiled slightly.

"Zeus was so busy in that days. Trying to build his palace, and you know, some stuff about his wives. I think he was married to Themis, in that times. In the parties of freedom that we as siblings organised together, Poseidon would court with every single nymphe in the room. And I used to be the only brother to dance with her. We used to love dancing together. We had a rythm between us. She could always make me smile and convince me to dance. I used to love her smile. I still do..." He sighed again. And this, attracted Apollo's attention.

"Only her smile?" he asked suddenly. At first, Hades gave him a hard look.

"Don't dare to talk before you think who are you talking to, child. I can be as harmful as your father." he said in a hard tone so Apollo felt his blood chill for a moment.

"I don't mean to offend you, Lord Hades. I just want to learn everything. If you become like this too, what will make you different from my father?" he asked. Hades looked into his eyes. Then he looked at his goblet.

"Select a new question, then." Apollo nodded.

"When did your relationship started to shatter? I mean, it's not like you dance together in every ceremony, nowadays." Hades nodded.

"Well," he started, carefully. "Everything was going well. Even if she chose Zeus and was going to be his wife, everything was nearly the same. We were still laughing, having fun together. And her eyes... Were still looking so full of love. You don't know old her, Apollo, nearly no one does. She could love everything in the universe. She even believed when we were in Kronos's stomach that he could change and everything could be okay. She was not this bitter, cold queen. It wasn't her fate. I should have stopped it..." Hades said as he closed his eyes once again and rubbed his forehead. Apollo was so silent to listen every word he could be saying.

"It was after Ares's birth." Hades went on. "They were a very happy family together. Hera had had her lovely family finally. She had a caring and lovely husband, and a little pure child, it was all her sacred powers, and the things she has protected, it was a perfect life for her. We were still so close. Then... Everything changed. " Hades sighed and drank more wine.

"Because of the affairs my father has started?" Apollo asked. Hades shook his head.

"The first time was horrible. We couldn't cheer her up for days. It took days, and days.I nearly visited her every day and tried to ease her. She cried so much in my chest. Then Zeus promised so hard and Hera forgave him. Bıut the line was crossed once. There was no replacement. However, we didn't know that fact at that times. Zeus cheated on her again. And again. And again... Then Hera finally started to break. She began to play cold, and punish him for his affairs also his women. She had done bad things to them. Leto, your mother was only one of them. I couldn't believe that Hera was changed into this woman. It was not her. It is still not her. I have never seen her old smile again. Or that perfect glow in her eyes. It was terrible... Yes, she had always chose to stay close with me. Probably more than everyone else, I am still close to her. But I could never, never break her walls again. It was never the old Hera. Althought I miss her, the real her so much; and althought everything I have tried to get our days back, she was never again..."

Apollo sighed. He could still remember the conversation they had. Actually, neither him nor Hades knew what happened between Hera and Zeus. And he was thinking about the details of their talk when suddenly a blonde woman appeared before him.

"My sunshine." she called out sweetly. Apollo turned her with a hearty smile.

"Mother." He called back, also making the woman smile too.

After couple of hours, Hera was finally preparing to get up from her kness. Her eyes were all red, so she tried to clean them. She stood up slowly, carefully with a hand on her belly. She could feel her unborn daughter move a little bit. She couldn't help but smile. Motherhood was her reason to survive instead of everything.

"I'm gonna be strong." she murmured. "No one is able to overthrow me. I am the Queen. You will not be able to change this, Zeus. I was born to be the Queen."

She slowly walked to the door of her beautiful garden. Only a voice, a voice that she hadn't heard in millions, and millions years, she had always hated, but also always missed very much secretly. It was so familiar, but impossible at the same time...

"Hera."

Someone was calling her. But it was too hard to believe. And again, instead of everything, she had to turn around. And unfortunately, she wasn't wrong.

She could only whisper.

"Father?"

FIRSTLY, I AM SORRY ABOUT THE DELAY FOR I HAD SO MUCH HOMEWORK AND THE OTHER WORKS ABOUT MY SCHOOL. BUT HERE I AM :) I AM GLAD TO YOUR COMMENTS, SO PLEASE MAKE ME SEE THEM AND BE HAPPY :) I LOVE YOU ALL! HAVE A GOOD DAY :)