Chapter 4: All's Fair in Love and War

"You cheating slut!" Ares yelled as he saw Athena and Hephaestus kissing. Athena and Hephaestus quickly broke apart and stared with wide eyes as Ares came storming down from the war room. Hephaestus quickly stood in front of Athena, determined to protect her from the livid god of war.

"Back off Heph this doesn't concern you." Ares screamed as he pointed his sword in Athena's face.

Athena winced and hid behind Hephaestus more.

"What do you want me to say Ares, I'm not seeing anyone you psycho, I am free to date Hephaestus if I so choose."

"Date Hephaestus ha don't make me laugh, you're a shrivelled up old shrew who couldn't land a man if her life depended on it."

"Leave her alone Ares! You are her brother not her lover, you have no jurisdiction here! Come on Athena." Hephaestus said as he grabbed her hand and pulled her away from her jealous brother.

They continued walking till they reached Hephaestus' forge on Mount Olympus, Athena sat down on the couch that was in the corner of the forge. Hephaestus sat next to her and placed his arms around her. Athena stopped holding back her tears and broke down in Hephaestus' arms.

Meanwhile in the realm of man, Hercules was waiting in the temple of Athena for his sister to appear and begin his tutoring in his godhood. Icarus and Cassandra were waiting with their friend, eager to witness a hero in training's god training.

"How long is she going to be?" Hercules sighed as he continued to read over his history notes.

"Hey life as a goddess must be pretty hectic maybe she got held up." Cassandra offered as she inspected the offerings on the altar.

"That's not like her at all though." Hercules said worriedly as he wrung out his chiton.

"Herc, relax, there's nothing to worry about, so she's a little bit late it's not the end of the world, buddy." Icarus consoled his friend.

Hercules sighed softly and said "You guys are right I'm making a mountain out of a mole hill...again."

Back on Olympus, Athena had calmed down and extracted herself from Hephaestus' grip.

"I'm so sorry Heph, I should have a better control over myself."

"Don't worry about it 'Ena I'm happy to help you out." Hephaestus said as he placed a hand on her shoulder. "by the way did you mean it when you said that you would date me?"

Athena took Hephaestus' face in her palms and gave him a sweet gentle kiss. She deepened the kiss and wrapped her arms around Hephaestus' neck, pulling herself up onto his lap. She pulled back and said "Of course Hephie, why are you asking me?"

Hephaestus paused for a moment and then answered back "Because I wanted to formally ask you if you would allow me to court you."

Athena let out a little squeal of delight and then reclaimed Hephaestus' lips in a searing kiss, but just as she was about take it to the next level, they heard a loud scream.

"ATHENA!!" Zeus yelled.

Athena winced as she heard her name being screamed across Mount Olympus.

"Sorry Heph, gotta go." Athena said as she disappeared to the mortal realm, but specifically to her temple in Athens. Once there she greeted Hercules and his friends before beginning his training.

As predicted it didn't go so well, Hercules tripped, bungled and bruised himself till he was black and blue from head to toe. Athena didn't think that it was possible but poor Hercules wanted to continue his training, even though she had pushed him to his limits. She had hoped that Hercules would fail and quit and then she would get out of having to teach him. Now that Hephaestus had asked her out she had wanted to spend more time with him and get to know him on a more intimate level. While Athena was getting lost in her thoughts her brother Ares was doing some serious thinking of his own.

Ares was in his room on Mount Olympus pacing and trying hard to comprehend what had taken place a few hours ago.

"I shouldn't have yelled at her." Ares said aloud to himself as he paced.

Noooo really? his conscience replied sarcastically

Ares growled at the response and continued with his conversation.

"It's not her fault that Hephaestus is a horny bastard that was just waiting till she was alone and vulnerable before waiting to pounce. She's my woman and I won't let him steal her from me." Ares proclaimed jealously.

Then what are you going to do about it?

"I'm going to -sigh- I don't know what I can do, I mean the way that I spoke to her. I doubt that she'd ever forgive me, besides she's with Hephaestus now. Oh Gods, what am I going to do."

Kick his ass

While Ares was moping in his room Athena had left Hercules and was back with Hephaestus in his forge, she was reclining on the couch while Hephaestus worked, watching him. Athena smiled at Hephaestus as he worked and Hephaestus stopped as she walked seductively up to him, her hips swaying from side to side. With a sexy smile on her face, she lifted her arms up and placed them around Hephaestus' neck and placed a kiss on his cheek, working her way round to his mouth.

"You need a break love." Athena whispered into his ear, before nibbling it lightly.

Hephaestus turned to face her and held her in his bulky arms.

"And what did you have in mind?" Hephaestus asked.

Athena raised her eyebrow and licked her lips.

"I have an idea." she giggled as Hephaestus surged forward to capture her lips in a bruising kiss, and with that he lowered her onto the couch where they ended up sharing ideas all night.

Meanwhile Ares was walking towards the forge determined to prove to Athena that he was willing to give their relationship a chance and that he was sorry. But when Ares crossed the thresh hold of the forge he noticed Athena's helmet lying by the door. Concerned Ares bent down and picked up the helmet before walking into the forge. It was then that Ares saw the most heartbreaking and horrifying thing he had ever seen and overcome with feelings of inadequacy he left the forge.