Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
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The next day at school Persephone made it to Homeroom with several minutes to spare and realized that Tina and Matt were both in the class with her. From what she and her siblings had figured out, Homeroom was mainly there to take roll call and talk about any school announcements. If there weren't any school announcements then the students could just use the time to study or finish homework. Both Tina and Matt chose to sit beside her when they entered the room.

"What's up?" Matt asked.

Honey looked at him in curiosity for a moment before she realized he was asking what she was doing. "Nothing. I did all my homework last night, and read some more stories out of that ridiculous book."

Tina leaned in to make sure both could hear her, "So, you say it's ridiculous, and you're from Greece, so you've obviously heard stories of the Greek Gods, aren't any of them the same as what we know? I mean, I see stories on the Discovery channel all the time telling the same kind of stories as are in that book."

Persephone was saddened. "I suppose our parents just kept us very sheltered. Do not get me wrong, the stories I grew up with were not what you would consider fairytales, but… they were… magical."

"Maybe you could share some of them with us some time?" Matt suggested just as the bell rang and everyone stood, ready to head to their next class.

**

Aphrodite walked the halls of McKinley High School with her shoulders back and her head held high. She was absolutely stunning and she knew it. She was the Goddess of love and beauty for Zeus' sake, of course she was beautiful. But truly? That didn't mean her sisters were any less attractive. And to 'Dite, it didn't mean that some of the humans she saw or interacted with were less than her either. The two boys Ares had worked on the day before had spoken. They had formed a fragile truce, but she knew that there was a true love between the two boys, that of brothers; one who'd lost his father to death and the other who'd lost his father to the sin of self-absorption. This would be the true test of their friendship, but it would not break it.

'Dite saw Finn standing, staring into his open locker so she moved up to him and leaned on the locker next to it. "There must be something truly fascinating in there."

Finn jumped a bit and blushed to realize Didi, the really pretty girl was talking to him. "No, not really. Just hard to concentrate."

"I have heard many tales and rumors since yesterday. I do not gossip, but it is hard to tune the stories out. And of course my brother, Ari, told me you, and your friend Puck were working on something important?"

Finn took out his book, and the two began walking to class. "I was dating a girl. My best friend slept with her and got her pregnant. They lied to me in the beginning. I mean, he lied, but she was the one who wanted to lie about it. It's like I've got all these different little balls of guilt and I keep having trouble figuring out who to apply them to, and does it mean I'm supposed to hate them both? Forever? If I don't, if I accept them as friends again, does that make me even stupider than I was?"

They stopped outside of the classroom they shared, still having a few minutes. "Do you want my advice?" she asked.

"Couldn't hurt?" he shrugged.

"Your girl and your best friend were stupid and selfish and made a terrible mistake. They should have come to you immediately after they made the mistake. When Quinn found herself pregnant? She should have told you then Puck was the father. She was terrified and all she worried about were the problems she had to deal with. Puck was the same. He wanted to own up and state out right from the beginning that he was the father. He did not want to hide it. Did not want anyone to think he was like his father, but he respected her and followed her wishes. They should have been the two to tell you. But they were not, and now we cannot go back. It cannot be undone. You are right, there is blame to go everywhere, but blame reaches out to everyone... including you, and including Rachel in her own small way. What you need to figure out is do you care if people think you are stupid for being friends with them? Or do you love them both enough to put the ugliness behind you and say I am your friend and I will be there for my friends?"

"You think I should forgive them," he whispered, his gaze still caught by hers.

'Dite smiled sweetly, raising her hand to the side of his face. "Finn Hudson, I do not think it is in you to NOT forgive them. Your heart is one of the biggest and most compassionate I have ever seen. Noah is your brother and you both need each other. Perhaps the level of intimacy you shared with her has passed, but Quinn needs your love as a friend right now too."

**

Quinn felt like all she did lately was weep. She wasn't weeping currently, but she felt like she might at any moment. The latch on her necklace had broken, and there was no way she could fix it. Her grandmother had given her the cross necklace a week before she'd died, and Quinn hadn't taken it off since. Until today. When it broke. The halls were empty, so she slowly lowered her bulky, ungraceful body down to the ground hoping at least to find the other part of the clasp. She didn't know how much it was going to cost, but maybe… maybe after the baby was born and she had a job, well then maybe she could pay to have it fixed… or maybe one of the guys in shop…

She was broken out of her thoughts by someone clearing his throat.

"Should you be on the ground right now?" Hephaestus looked at the pregnant girl through narrowed eyes. She looked frantic and as if she might burst into tears at any moment. He didn't think she should be down on her knees while pregnant though. Probably wasn't good for the baby. He tried to remember what Demeter had done while pregnant with Persephone, but was fairly certain it was different.

Quinn looked up into the handsome face of Gus. Sure, he was scarred, but as far as Quinn was concerned those scars did nothing to take away from his looks. "My necklace broke. I was hoping I could find the other half of the latch and maybe one of the shop guys could fix it." She knew it sounded stupid even as she said it.

His eyebrows rose, "Have you seen the guys in your shop classes?" Heph moved over and bending slightly lifted her gently to her feet. Quinn was surprised because he acted as if she weighed nothing. "Why do not you have me take a look? My mother and my aunts all say I have a way with metal and things like that. I have made jewelry for many of them."

She looked hesitant, but still handed him her necklace. He peered at it for a few minutes and then granted her a smile, which made her feel warm and happy. "I can easily fix this. Let me hold onto it and I will bring it to Glee this afternoon. It will be just as good as new."

"Really?" she said, hope very evident in her voice.

"I would not tease about this," he promised. "I have to get to class. I will see you in Glee."

**

Artemis and Athena entered the one class they shared, English Literature, and took their assigned seats. Puck and Matt sat right behind them, although they hadn't noticed that the day before. The boy to the left of Artemis turned in his seat to face her.

"Ya know, you and your sisters are pretty hot. We're havin' a party after the game tonight, you girls should all come to it."

Artemis blinked at him slowly as her mind processed his words. "Who shall be at this… party?"

"Well, me, the rest of the hockey guys, a lot of the Cheerios; you know, the cool people," he finished talking with a grin.

"I do apologize, but I am afraid my sisters and I shall be unable to attend your gathering this evening,"

He blinked at her from confused eyes and she sighed.

"No, we cannot come to your party."

"Another time then," he told her with a large wink.

"Dude, you talk like Berry!"

Artemis turned to face Noah Puckerman. "Excuse me?"

"You're all wordy and shit, when all you had to say was no."

"Well, where I was raised, we were taught to speak like humans, not baboons," she told him and turned back correctly in her seat. Athena was trying to squelch her snickering.

It took Puck a moment but he finally understood he'd been insulted. Unfortunately he wasn't able to say anything else because their teacher arrived in the room and began speaking.

**

Athena, done with her English class headed for History. She ran into Mike Chang right outside the door. He looked stricken. "Mike? Are you unwell?"

He looked at her from wide eyes, "There's a pop quiz today. I studied, I did, and I read the chapter, but every time there's a pop quiz I completely freak out and forget everything. Then I fail the quiz. If I fail another quiz it's gonna make me ineligible for basketball, and then coach is gonna be pissed. I won't get to play. Everyone will know I didn't get to play 'cuz I'm a loser who couldn't pass a class. Everyone'll laugh at me… and if we lose games because I'm ineligible… then everyone'll hate me too…"

Athena finally cut him off, "Mike!" He shut up and looked at her. She reached her hand up and patted him on the shoulder. "You will do fine. You have studied and you have read the chapter. Stay calm and do not stress yourself out and I promise you, you will do well on this quiz."

The two entered the room and took their seats and it was as Mike had said. The teacher, Mr. McGlone, gave a pop quiz first thing. He came around and picked up the papers and assigned two chapters to read while he graded the tests. Right before the bell rang, Mr. McGlone passes the tests back out so that everyone would have their grade. Athena was not surprised that she'd gotten one hundred percent on her test, but now she wondered how Mike had done. She didn't have to wait long. He was standing right outside the door and when she made it out of the class he was grinning.

"I take it you did well?" she inquired, and couldn't help but smile back.

"I got a ninety-six, Mr. McGlone put a note on the test telling me how impressed he was and how he knew I had it in me," Mike told her, still grinning and blushing slightly.

"I am glad for you. Any time you need assistance, please, feel free to seek me out. I do very well in all of my classes."

"Thank you Thea, I really mean that! I'll see you in Glee."

The two separated and headed in different directions. Athena was heading to the library. She had gotten her homework done, but there was a book report that their English teacher was talking about and Athena had decided she would pick a book now, and get started on it. Plus, she had a feeling Brittany and Santana might need more of her help with their Algebra.

**

"Okay you delinquents, listen up!" Coach Tanaka yelled. "We've got three more players joining our team, and I expect you to welcome them and show them Titan pride. Our new players are Ari, Hermes and Pollo Pallas. Let's see what you got; Puckerman, Hudson, Pallas, all three of you, and Hummel you're skins, Azimio, Patrick, O'Hare, Jamison, Montgomery and Denver, you're shirts. Get out there and give me a game."

As they were leaving the lockerroom and heading to the gym Azimio slammed his shoulder into the smaller Hermes, "Move aside songbird, real men coming through."

Hermes just grinned. "Was he trying to intimidate me?"

"I believe he was," Pollo murmured.

"We have seen this game. When we have watched the Olympics."

"I remember. So, he thinks his team will defeat our team?" Hermes kept his voice low.

Ares began to smile, and it was a smile his brothers knew well. "I believe now is the time we show them that we are assets in both Glee and in Sports."

Pollo was already nodding. "Yes. I have come to several conclusions we should discuss, but later. Right now, let us win this competition."

(MEANWHILE)

"Guys, I don't even know if they know what basketball is," Kurt told Puck and Finn worriedly.

"Who doesn't know what basketball is?" Finn blinked. "I mean that's kind of crazy. It's everywhere."

Puck shrugged. "Okay, so they grew up on some small island somewhere, that doesn't mean they don't know what it is. I mean, these are some cool dudes, right? Too bad Gus can't do it too."

"Is everyone ready to play?" Ares interrupted them.

Kurt jumped a little, but the others didn't. Kurt smiled in relief, "So you do know how to play?"

"We have never played this game; however, we have watched this game played during the Olympics. We feel comfortable enough to say we can play. What we do not know, we shall pick up quickly," Pollo assured them.

(HALF AN HOUR LATER)

Coach Tanaka was grinning ear to ear. Unfortunately the same could not be said for the kids the Coach had assigned as 'shirts'. It had been amazing, Kurt thought even as Coach continued to heap praise on his team. Coach was even praising Kurt and talking to him about joining the team. Kurt had never thought he'd see the day. He wasn't an athlete. Also, there was a lot of sweat involved with basketball. Not that he couldn't, or didn't already, bring his skin cleansing regime with him to school. Coach was looking at him, waiting for a yay or nay on joining the Basketball Team.

Hermes was standing next to him and bumped shoulders. "You should do this, it will be fun."

Kurt found himself looking up into brown eyes with golden flecks swimming in them. "Why not," he heard himself murmur. "I'm already on the Football team."

"Are you?" Hermes asked. The students had already taken their showers and were heading out to Glee. "Myself, Pollo and Ari, submitted our request to play on the Football team earlier today. After our basketball game Coach Tanaka told us we were accepted."

"Probably because you kicked complete ass on the basketball court," Kurt reminded the other boy. "I think you actually broke Azimio's nose."

Hermes shrugged. "He tried to foul me. You will find my family does not tolerate bullies very well. And Azimio, and the other boy, Karofsky, they are bullies. They are bullies and they lead others to act in the same manner." Hermes smiled wickedly. "I think this school is going to be a lot of fun."

**

Rachel was the first person to the choir room, and she decided to take advantage of it. She took a seat at the piano and began warming up her vocal chords for a few minutes; very quickly she became lost in her thoughts.

"You have an exquisite voice," Aphrodite told Rachel as she entered the room.

Rachel's fingers stilled on the keys. "I know." Then she shook her head. "Sorry."

Aphrodite moved forward and sat next to Rachel on the piano bench. "What are you sorry for?"

"Everyone else tells me I'm conceited when I say things like that. I suppose the proper response would be thank you for the compliment. And then I'm supposed to put on a fake smile." Rachel didn't meet 'Dite's eyes, just looked at her finger rubbing the ivory key light enough so no sound came out.

"Do you know what I think, Rachel? I think that it is an amazing thing that you at sixteen know your talent. You know what your gifts are and you continue to build upon them. I see no flaw in that."

"You'd be one of the only ones who don't. Oh, don't get me wrong. I've done plenty of stupid things that later I sit and think and wonder why?" Now Rachel's voice was growing thick with emotion. "Things that have hurt other people and I did them for my benefit."

"Look at me," 'Dite whispered, and Rachel found herself staring into eyes that were a cross between light blue and light green, a sea-foam color perhaps. "There is not a soul on this world that has not at one time or another done something for their own gain. That you realize it and feel guilt; that is what makes you a special person, Rachel Berry."

"Thank you, Didi."

"Any time," the blonde assured her. "So, do you play the piano?"

"Oh yes. The instrument I wanted to learn to play but didn't get to learn was the guitar. Maybe one day."

"Do you know Making Love Out of Nothing At All?"

"Air Supply? Actually I do!"

So the Glee kids began entering the room listening to Didi singing and Rachel playing piano. It surprised them. They'd never seen Rachel give up a chance to sing… except, as they listened to the song they realized that wasn't true. Tina sang True Colors, Artie, Tina and Mercedes did most of Proud Mary, Mercedes had her ballad, and since Sectionals, well since Sectionals… Rachel had barely spoken to any of them, they realized slowly. The only time she'd really spoken was when the Pallas teens had come and auditioned. Sure they hated that she was such a Drama Queen all the time, but they didn't want her to lose her spark. That was what made her so good. And her being so good was what made her kick their asses into being the best.

The song came to a close and Rachel laughed as she got to show off her piano skills. 'Dite turned to her immediately while everyone was speechless. "Thank you Rachel, that was excellent!"

"You were the one who was great," Rachel told the girl shyly. Didi was the kind of girl who pushed Rachel into lockers. They didn't befriend her. Everyone in the room started clapping and the boys even whistled. "I told you that you were good."

Mr. Schue stepped forward. "Rachel, I didn't know you played the piano that well?"

Rachel just shrugged and went to take the seat she'd been sitting in since after Sectionals. Now everyone noticed, although she didn't realize they noticed. She sat in a chair near the side door, away from the wooden risers and other chairs.

Quinn was frowning. Was Berry acting this way because she'd blabbed about the baby? Hadn't Quinn told her she wasn't mad? She looked up as a shadow fell on her.

Hephaestus gave the blonde a half smile. "Here, I told you I would have it back for you by Glee." Then he carefully dropped her necklace into her open palm.

It was fixed as if it had never been broken. Tears came to her eyes and overflowed. "I don't know how you did it so quickly, but thank you. Thank you so much. My grandmother gave it to me right before she died… and now that my parent's have kicked me out of their house… just, thank you."

"You are more than welcome, Quinn," he told her softly. "If you ever have such a problem again, come see me."

At the end of Glee most of the students hurried out of the classroom, but Quinn and Rachel both lingered.

"Berry," Quinn started. "Why are you acting like more of a freak than normal?"

"I don't believe I know what you're talking about," Rachel murmured, barely hiding her wince at being called a freak.

Quinn stared at her. "Really? How about not fighting anyone for getting every solo and you have none?"

"It's only fair to distribute solos evenly within New Directions. I was not being entirely fair previously, and I am trying to rectify that issue."

"Right, of course. I believe you," Quinn deadpanned. "How about not talking to anyone and sitting in the corner?"

"I," Rachel started and then closed her mouth. "I…" She tried to begin again. Then she met Quinn's eyes and a wry smile fell on her lips. "Let's be honest, Quinn. No one in this room is my friend. No one in this room cares whether or not I talk at all, as long as I do what's expected of me." Rachel laughed, but the laugh was dry and mocking. "The only reason anyone wanted me in here was because I was the best singer. I'm fairly certain we can all say that with our new additions, I'm probably not even needed any longer. So, why talk to people who don't really want to hear what I have to say, and the seat in the corner, normally, it gets me out of the room more expediently." Rachel took a moment to dig through her purse. "By the way, this is for you from my parents. No strings, just their offer. I have to go now."

Quinn watched the other girl leave and was speechless. She knew at one time she'd have relished every word coming out of Rachel Berry's mouth just then, but boy had things changed; which just meant she would have to work on getting things corrected for the other girl. Then Quinn looked at the card Rachel had handed her. She opened it, read it, and started crying.

"A-a-are you okay?"

Quinn looked over to see Honey in the doorway. "I'm fine. Rachel's fathers have invited me to live with them, until I have the baby, after I have the baby, however long I want."

A sweet smile broke out on the dark haired girl's face. "That is a very kind offer. They seem to be very generous men. Are you and Rachel very close?"

Quinn laughed through her tears. "No. I have been an absolutely wretched person to her since middle school… and I don't even remember why it started. Finn, my ex, he thinks she's great."

"I think… well, I think, from what I have seen here, that some times people belittle others in order to improve their own image," Honey offered, then shook her head. "Working with my mother in the fields and forests was much easier. Animals, plants, really don't have the same issues."

"No, I guess not," Quinn smiled. "I've been staying at Finn's, and then before Sectionals, he found out about the baby, I started staying with Brittany. She's sweet, but I can almost feel the neon sign above my head when we're eating meals with her parents, the big sign that says 'Don't end up like this'."

"Perhaps then, living with Rachel's family will help you in several ways. It will allow you freedom from the prejudice at Brittany's home, it will help you see why Finn was fond of her and perhaps you yourself can atone for some of the things you have done to hurt her in the past."

"You're right… will you… stay with me while I call?"

Persephone smiled at the girl. "Of course."

**