Apollo on his chariot pulled the sun earlier than usual as its rays seep through the curtains into Aphrodite and Hephaestus room. Aphrodite was stirring, waking up from her dreamless sleep. She had forgotten to close the window as she felt a chilly breeze blowing in, no matter Hephaestus was like a furnace next to her remitting heat.
"Good Morning." A whisper next to her.
"Good morning, love." She kissed his droopy eyes. "Why don't you sleep a little longer? You need it."
"I'm fine. That was already a good solid 8-hour sleep. Besides, I miss being with my wife." He locked her in his embrace as their legs got tangled.
"You are so silly sometimes! I'm right here." she giggled. All he did was stared at her when she said that.
"You are here." he mused.
"I'm right here," she assures him.
But of course being parents to a hyper child their 'quiet time' broke when Eros burst through their doors.
"Wake Up! Wake Up! Let's go!" he shouted with excitement as he jumped up and down their bed.
"Eros! Darling, please do be careful with Hephaestus legs." Aphrodite intrudes.
"Sorry, Hephaestus."
"It's no worry. No harm, no foul."
"Are you guys ready yet?" Eros asked finally calming down and lying between his parents.
"We have not even eaten yet my darling. Hephaestus hasn't even eaten dinner." Aphrodite hugged her son.
"Alright! Come on! Let's go eat! Get up! Get up!"
Alright! We're up. We're up." Hephaestus sat up. "Go and change and we'll be down in a second."
Once Eros was gone Hephaestus was pulled down and attack by his wife who straddled him at his waist.
"Hey?!" He shouted.
"Payback for last night!" She giggled as she attacked his chest and face with kisses.
"What have I ever done to deserve waking up to a wife and a son?" He asked when he tucks back Aphrodite hair behind her ear.
"You didn't give up on us." She smiled.
"Well not to mention you stayed."
"I don't think I could ever leave you Hephaestus."
After lying in for a few more minutes and bantering from Eros, the couple finally got out of bed and went downstairs for breakfast. Hephaestus and Eros gobbled up their food as the Smith God had not eaten since last night and Eros being excited to show his foster dad his new skills. The food was cleared and the family of three stepped out to the spacious garden outside where all of Eros equipment are kept. A few shots here and there with a moving target as well. The parents beamed and overflowed with pride and happiness until there was a sudden slow applause coming from behind them.
"Well Done my son!" Just the voice itself made Aphrodite shivered.
"My dear brother! What brings you to MY home." Hephaestus spoke with detest.
"Why? To visit you of course and my son." Ares looked at Eros who has taken shelter behind Hephaestus.
"What do you want Ares?" Aphrodite said sternly.
"Is this the kind of greetings you present to your guest? How rude indeed!"
"What do you want?!" Aphrodite puffed like a mother lion taking care of her pride.
"My, my, my so touchy. What's the matter Goddess? Your Husband not giving enough 'attention'? You miss me, don't you? Admit it, I am far better and I do 'perform' better than my weakling Brother!" He grinned.
"Watch it you pig! You're in OUR home! What the heck do you want!?!" Aphrodite clenched her teeth, trying and failing not to explode.
"Your husband is not carrying out his duties so I have come to see why."
Before Hephaestus could say anything."He is unwell and requires rest." Aphrodite stated as she held her husband closely.
"If you are unaware we are going to war and we need to be fully prepared. Our weapons need to be at its best!" Ares patience is running low.
"He has done thousands! Thousands! Don't tell me that is not enough? Tell me Ares are you losing your touch?" She smirked.
"Why you little sl..." Ares was stepping forward but Hephaestus was quick and stepped in front of Aphrodite. Now he is looking at The God of War in the eye.
"I think what my wife is trying to say is that I have sharpened and forged plenty of swords enough for all the Gods to use. If you still think that is insufficient I will make more." Hephaestus said sternly and fiercely. Ares knew very well that his glare was sending different messages than the words coming out from his half-brother's mouth.
"Very well." Ares spit out.
As he turns to leave. "Oh! By the way, next time you come to my house you would first knock on the door and you will address my family properly!" Hephaestus said as Ares walk out.
"Hephaestus?" A whimper coming from behind him.
"Yes?" He slowly bent down and lifted the young God.
"You are my father right?" Aphrodite's heart broke when she heard that.
"Why of course I am! Your mother loves you and I love you both, nothing will ever change that." He smiled. "Now let's continue with that move you made."
Eros just went on with the assurance he just had from his stepfather and oblivious to the fact that his mother's eyes were watery.
"You know I love you right?" Aphrodite spoke out.
"We are being very emotional today." Hephaestus jest.
"You still don't believe me." After all these times, he still doubts his stand in her life and her love for him. She held his hand. "I won't leave you Hepfie! I love you and I'm not going to leave you."
"I know you do. It's just that I fear that one day I'm going to wake up and see that you are not there. All this would go away, every morning my heart skips a beat knowing that you might not be there next to me. I can't... I can't handle it if this or you are just..." He was shaking as he only could look at their hands intertwined.
"Shh... This isn't a dream, love. It isn't. Eros is here. I am here. We won't leave you." She cupped his face and held it to her forehead.
"You could have the best. You can have the best. There are others out there better than..."
"Don't you dare finish that sentence! I already do have the best. I have the most caring, kind, strongest and the most handsome one of them all." She wraps her arms around his neck but he only nods to acknowledge. Aphrodite called Eros over saying that it was closer to lunchtime. After putting away his bow and arrow, Eros jumped on Hephaestus to be carried he felt that his father was holding on to him tighter than usual.
As the day draws closer to an end, Hermes flew right into the palace den in a fright.
"My Lord and Lady there has been an emergency! You are required to be with the council immediately!"
"We'll be there!" Hephaestus responded.
"Eros, Hephaestus and I need to go for a meeting for a while. You stay right here and don't go anywhere alright?"
"Yes, mummy!" With that, they left and met the other Gods in the chambers.
It was loud and chaotic. Gods and Goddesses were shouting and screaming, stomping the floors and banging on the tables. Hephaestus held his wife closely as they made their way to their seats and trying to make sense out of everything. Zeus finally finished rubbing his temple and silence the crowd with the crack of his thunderbolt.
"What happened, father?" Hephaestus ask.
"The Titans are reaching sooner than expected and they have become even stronger in strength and numbers. Kronus is, as usual, the one that is leading them."
"How long more until they reach they reach the mountain?" Hera questioned.
"Another 2 more days my lady," Hermes answered.
"This is it! We are at war! Our enemies are getting closer to our front gates! we need to move now before they come any further!" Ares announced and hollered.
"Calm Ares. We need to handle this way properly, we might get an upper hand in this." Athena interrupted.
"Calm?! Calm?! Woman, we might not be able to see the light of day if we just sit and wait!"
"Silence both of you! Athena, you have one day to come up with a plan if not we shall follow Ares into battle." Zeus declared. Athena tried to debate but was stopped by the King of Gods.
"Hephaestus?"
"Yes my Lord?" he stepped forward.
"Is everything ready?"
"Yes. All is in order."
"Hah! No, it isn't! We are in times of conflict and he decides to take the day off." Ares intrude.
All the other Gods looked at Ares and back at Hephaestus but they weren't eyes of scrutiny.
"Yes! He did because Hephaestus and the Cyclops have been working tirelessly day and night at the forge while you just laid back and feed your ego in the comfort of your home!" Aphrodite burst out taking everyone even Zeus by surprise.
"How dare you! You have no idea what I and all of us have sacrificed!"
"Plenty I am sure so does that mean my husband has not?"
Hera had enough of this, she looked at her son and her husband hinting to them to do something. Hephaestus went to Aphrodite side and held her arm and hands. "Come now my flower, it's not worth it." He whispered to her ear.
"But Hephaestus..."
"Yeah! Listen to your disgusting crippled!" When he said that all hell broke loose. Aphrodite wanted to jump at him but was held down by Hephaestus, the Gods were fighting among each other Apollo and Hermes were enraged by what Ares said while Dionysus and Poseidon were defending the God of War. The whole room looked like it was about to collapse when suddenly Zeus and Hera intervened. "Enough! we are not battling each other! Everyone knows what to do, so get out! You are all dismissed. Except for both of you." Hera looked at Hephaestus and Aphrodite.
As the rest left, the couple were waiting to hear what the power couple had to say.
"What was that all about?" Hera questioned the Goddess of Beauty.
"He pushed us too far my lady! What gave him the right to question Hephaestus well being."
"We understand my dear but creating a riot among the Gods is no way to solve this," Zeus replied.
"Forgive us, father. We just have a lot on our minds." Hephaestus stepped in.
"I know. The Cyclops told me. But this isn't the reason why we have asked for you." Zeus calm stated.
"We are worried about Eros." Hera continued.
"Yes. I see, we too are trying to protect him just not sure how." Hephaestus now speaking up.
"The Titans are approaching and there is no way to assure that they will not reach Olympus. Perhaps we could place him somewhere safer where even the Titans cannot reach." Hera suggested.
"Where will that be, mother?"
"Persephone has volunteered to take care of him."
"The Underworld! My Lord and Lady! My son cannot be in such a place." Aphrodite was shocked.
"Have no worries, he is not bound to that place nor is it permanent. Just somewhere safe away from the fight." Zeus reassures.
"Think about it and then you may send him off with Hermes whenever you are ready," Hera announces and left it there.
The way back was silent the couple had not said a single word since their meeting with Hera and Zeus. There was no doubt that Persephone will take good care for Eros, it's just the thought of leaving him and being separated from him.
"We can't leave him there." Aphrodite finally said sitting on one of the clouds.
"I know. But it would be safe there, the Titans won't find him. Perhaps you too should go with him." Hephaestus remained standing in front of her.
"No! I'm staying right here." She stood up. "I can't go to the Underworld you know that."
"Very well."
"It is decided then. He shall leave tomorrow at dawn, will you please let Hermes know." Aphrodite stood up looking at Hephaestus with watery eyes.
"It will all be alright. I promise." he went closer to her.
"Don't make promises you can't keep."
"Aphrodite, I will promise that nothing will ever happen to you and Eros." Holding her tight.