A/N: A big ty to my two reviewers and now on with chapter 3

Chapter 3: A Snake in Eden

The next morning Athena woke beside Ares, who was still sleeping soundly, in his room. Athena smiled slightly as she looked at his sleeping form. She shifted over slightly so she could place a soft kiss on his cheek and quietly got up from the bed and retrieved her clothes from the floor. She exited the room quietly and walked as quickly as she could to her own room. Once there she disrobed and pulled on her nightgown to give the appearance of normalcy as she walked to the bathhouse to clean up. On the way there Athena ran into Hephaestus, the smith god was on his way to the bathhouse as well, so they walked together.

"Good morning Hephaestus." Athena greeted kindly, as she walked up to him.

"Hello Athena." Hephaestus said as he walked beside her and Athena noticed that he looked rather sad, which was unusal for the god. She knew Hephaestus as a cheerful god always happy to see her and make time for her regardless of what he was doing.

"Is something the matter?" Athena asked curiously.

"N-no Athena nothing's wrong." Hephaestus answered nervously.

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"Well, you see, there's this goddess that I really like but I'm afraid that she won't like me."

"Oh, Heph you have nothing to worry about any goddess would be lucky to have you."

Hephaestus smiled at her kindly as they walked the rest of the way to the bathhouse in silence. Once there they separated and Athena slid into the warm waters and began to clean herself.

Meanwhile Ares had just woken up and was confused as to why Athena had left him so early the sun had only just come up, but perhaps that was why she had left. He would let it go for now he had never been this clingy with any of his other lovers before, especially Aphrodite, that chick was just high maintenance. Ares shuddered slightly as he thought of his ex-lover, but Athena was different sure she could annoy the hell out of him but things had been different lately, but he needed to be careful that he didn't smother her with attention but he also couldn't fight with her. This was going to be difficult.

After her bath Athena walked back to her room to feed Ibid and get ready for the day. She was at her vanity brushing out her ringlets of white hair when Hermes zipped in through the window.

"Hermes! What if I had been naked!" Athena yelled.

"Hey hey a brother can dream can't he, anyway not why I'm here babe. The big Z wants to see you."

"Great." Athena said as she slouched back in her seat.

"Hey I'm here for you babe." Hermes said as he zipped back out the window.

"And use the bloody door next time." Athena yelled after him.

Sighing Athena placed her hair brush down and walked up to the council chambers where Zeus and Hera were waiting for her.

"Athena so glad you could come."

"Well the attendance was 'by order of Zeus'"

Zeus was unfazed as he continued to smile at Athena oblivious to the fact that he had ruined her good mood and barrelled on ahead.

"I've informed Hercules that you'll start tutoring him in his godhood today." Zeus said in his typical domineering way.

"Awesome." Athena said sarcastically, but being Zeus he didn't notice.

"Have a seat dear." Hera said gently from her place next to Zeus.

"Now Hera there's no time for that. Athena, Hercules is waiting for you in your temple in Athens. I expect that you will go there immediately."

Athena glared at him angrily because she had so many things that she needed to do today, well not really needed but wanted to. She had wanted to spend the day with her new lover, but that was obviously not going to happen. Now she had to spend the day babysitting her little brother instead. The only thing left to do now was to tell Ares and then head to Athens.

Athena left the council chambers and headed to the war room. Ares was already there planning out strategies for the occupation of Carthage that was to take place in a few weeks. Athena was just glad that for once Athens was not the target of her brother's bloodlust. Athena checked the room before walking up to her brother and placing a kiss on his cheek and wrapped her arms around his neck. He shrugged off her arms and turned to face her.

"What's wrong." Athena asked

"I heard about your conversation with Hephaestus. What are you doing with him, we all know that he's a complete loser don't waste your time with him." Ares said in a jealous tone.

"Why are you jealous?" Athena laughed and then grew serious "and I don't appreciate you talking about Hephaestus like that he is a kind and caring god and you shouldn't speak about him like that."

"And why do you care it's not like you actually like him." Ares said and then realised with a horrified look on his face that Athena did like Hephaestus, he just didn't realise as a friend.

"Are you sleeping with him too?" Ares asked fury overcoming his horror.

"How dare you! I am not cheating on you, Hephaestus is my friend you jackass!"

"Well it sure doesn't look that way you whore."

With that Athena slapped Ares across the face and stormed out the door, tears slowly coursing their way down her face. The first time that she ever got close to someone and he happens to be a psychotic possessive jerk. While Athena was lost in her thoughts she didn't notice where she was going until she ran into Hephaestus.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just..."

"Athena? Are you alright?" Hephaestus asked concerned when he saw her tears.

"Yes, yes I'm fine."

"There's no need to lie Athena I have eyes I can see that you're upset...was it Ares?"

At her nod Hephaestus sighed before wrapping his arms around her in a consoling hug. After a few minutes of crying Athena noticed the flowers sitting next to Hephaestus.

"Oh Hephaestus I'm so sorry, were you on your was to see that goddess you were talking about."

"Yes erm you see th-these are oh dear. Um, here these, these are for you." Hephaestus said as he presented Athena with a bouquet of flowers.

"Oh, thank you Heph they're lovely." Athena said with a smile on her face. It was then that she realised that the mystery goddess was her. Overcome with feelings of joy and sorrow Athena leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on Hephaestus' mouth. Hephaestus nervously placed his arms around her and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss as he did so. It was in that moment that Athena wished that Ares could be more like Hephaestus, kind, caring and sweet, with only her best interests at heart. Unfortunately for the two gods, lost in the other's embrace, another was watching them jealousy consuming him and the ensuing fight was going to make the war of the titans seem like a garden party.