Chapter 1

It was morning that word got out that Zeus had found another mistress, lunch when word reached Hera, and the afternoon when Hera packed her things and left Olympus without a fit to be thrown. At first, the Gods thought nothing of it, sometimes an affair leaves their Queen needing a break for a day or two, never anything longer than that. But when the third day came, and the fourth. . .Even Zeus took notice despite being very distracted with the nymph that laid on her back for him. In fact, the Gods were so confused that an emergency Council meeting was held. . .and Hera did not attend.

The only ones unbothered were Hephaestus and Dionysus, each for various reasons of their own.

"I think she's tired of your bullshit, Zeus, and have decided she wants to be left alone." Demeter shrugged. "Good for her, I say."

"But nobody asked," Zeus snapped. "Do we know her whereabouts?"

"She's in the Mortal Realm, in the city of New York," Hermes answered. "She's not too far from Olympus."

"She's fine, Zeus," Hestia spoke up from her heath. "Let her calm down and return on her own free will. Forcing her, will only make her want to stay longer in the Mortal Realm."

Zeus sighed sharply through his nose, and stared at each of his fellow Olympians. All seemed to agree with Hestia, and so he followed the crowd.

"Fine, if it's peace and isolation that she wants, it's what she'll receive. Meeting adjourned."

He stood up and clapped his hands, disappearing, probably to return to his nymph. The rest of the Olympians stayed and mingled, all beating around the bush to ask the question that only Hera could answer: How long would she be away?

"There's no need to speculate," Hestia said. "Like I said, she's fine, let her be."

"You've spoken to her," Athena said.

"And not me?" Poseidon pouted.

"Like how you tell her everything?" Demeter asked, rolling her eyes at her brother's antics.

"Well. . .no."

"Exactly, if she wanted you to know, she would've told you and she didn't."

"You're just jealous because you're not as close to Hera as I am."

As the two began to bickered, Artemis rolled her eyes and turned to Hermes.

"Did she know you were there?"

Hermes smiled sheepishly and nodded.

"Like Hestia said, nothing to worry about."

~0~

"I see that you've ignored both Hermes and Hestia's warnings."

Hera hadn't bothered to look behind her, to know that Aphrodite stood behind her. It was a warm Saturday morning, the sun shining through the many windows of her apartment. Her hair was pulled into a messy bun, and she wore a white tanktop that was splattered with paint. In fact, her shoulders, arms, shorts and legs were covered in paint. She placed the brush back into the container, and turned around and crossed her arms.

"I'm fine and you can go back to Olympus and mind your business," Hera said.

"It's amazing that A) you still look intimidating covered in paint and B) think you can get rid of me so easily." Aphrodite said. "And besides, I'm just getting you ready for the onslaught of everybody coming here despite the fact that you didn't want us to."

Hera pinched the bridge of her nose, leaving paint there, as she groaned loudly.

"Why do you all start caring about me when I want to be left alone?" Hera asked, angry. "When I'm on Olympus it's "Hera's such a bitch." "I wish she was gone." blah blah blah, and then I do that just that for me, and now it's "What are we going to do without her?" All of you can go to Tartarus."

Aphrodite had the decency to look sympathetic as Hera turned her back on the Love Goddess and went back painting.

"I know, we're pretty shitty." Aphrodite winced. "But hey, at least you know that your siblings are genuinely concerned for you."

"Don't tell me, they're having that dumb argument again."

"Last thing I heard before I came here."

Hera shook her head.

"Well, you've checked on me, you can go now."

Aphrodite was already shaking her head, and she walked over to Hera, squatted beside her.

"No, I'm not leaving you to be this edgy artist. We're going out."

Hera let out a loud groan, dropping her brush back into the paint, knowing that her current project would have to wait for another day. She stood up and headed to the kitchen with Aphrodite close behind.

"I don't want to go out." Hera said.

She opened the fridge, to grab two water bottles, tossing one to Aphrodite and keeping one to herself. She let out a sigh of frustration when she realized that she left paint stains on the white handle.

"Oh come on, it'll be fun."

"No, it will not." Hera said. "Not for me anyways. I'm basically an old woman, I like staying in the house and watching tv or reading a book. Going out is so boring and uncomfortable for me."

"Hera, clubbing would be so much fun-"

"Clubbing? No, I'm not doing it. I don't even enjoy clubbing at all. It's too crowded, too loud, and there's drunk, annoying mortals everywhere. I last about 5 minutes tops, we only go because you love the attention."

"And you can learn to love the attention too!" Aphrodite said.

"Maybe it was sober, respectable attention." Hera said. "I do not have fun being hit on."

"And that's your problem!"

"That I have limits?"

"No, that you don't allow yourself to have fun with it."

"I don't find it fun because the only reason why they're flirting because they hoping to have sex with me. I know how this works," Hera said. "And I'm not for it."

"Not all of them are like that."

"Those are the only ones I seemed to attract." Hera fired back. "I'm not going."

~0~

Hera didn't even know why she bothered trying to argue with Aphrodite. She always ended going along with whatever crazy plan that the Love Goddess had. And Aphrodite wanted to go clubbing then that's what they were going to do.

It didn't mean that all her hate for it would disappear, of course, only that she would bear it as much as she can for her. Which wasn't very long but still it was the effort that counted.

Aphrodite had decided what they were going to wear, their hairstyles, make up and more, and all Hera had to do, quote unquote "flaunt what she had."

It was around ten at night when they left and went to a popular club, that was one of Aphrodite's favorites. They got in without a problem, Aphrodite flash a pretty smile and nodded to Hera "She's with me." and they were in.

Hera had already hated when they walked in, all the things she had already told Aphrodite that she hated, hitting her all at once and she could feel herself straining to smile and enjoy herself.

But like she said before, she hated this type of scene.

Still she and Aphrodite danced to the music, singing along to songs that they knew, and laughing and gradually, Hera allowed herself to enjoy the moment. Of course, like all things, the moment passed and just as Hera predicted, mortal men that couldn't leave things well alone flocked them. Aphrodite accepted them graciously, switching her attention from Hera to them.

The guys that weren't up and against Aphrodite turned to Hera, but she was already walking backwards, saying she was going to take a break and hang out at the bar, and empathized alone before any one of them suggested going with her.

"Martini please," Hera called out to the bartender.

"Oooo fancy."

Hera rolled her eyes and turned her attention to the voice and was surprised to come face to face with a woman. She was pretty Latina with black hair and hazel eyes, she was leaning against the bar with a drink in hand.

"You don't drink Martinis at bars?" Hera asked.

"Not at this type of bar," the girl said. "And not often cause I don't see the appeal of drinking that."

"And why not?"

"Cause it's expensive and not my cup of tea." She said, "My name is Una, you?"

Hera blanked on a cover name and decided to be honest. "Hera."

Una perked up at this and returned that intrigued Hera.

"Like the Greek Goddess?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Cool! It's such a pretty name, prettier than Una," She sighed. "And it's got an interesting origin to it. All the history and myths to it. . ."

Hera nodded, unsure of how to respond to Una.

"Unless you don't know the myths about Hera, which by the way, why wouldn't you? With such a badass name, I want to learn all about it! Wait, in fact, let's get out of here and I can tell you all about it."

Hera stared at Una with wide eyes and an amused, hesitated smile. This mortal was a little too eager about her name, and to share stories that Hera herself had lived through. Not that Una knew this but still. . .It was better than staying here waiting for Aphrodite to be done or til Aphrodite finally left with one of the guys.

She was tired of being the wait around friend, the backup, and decided to take Aphrodite's advice for once and enjoy herself.

"Sure."