Hera sat reading mortals requests in a tree in the garden the tree had been there since the beginning and was a good place to read in peace. Sitting on one of the thick branches Hera heard her husbands and sons voices calling her. They both stood under the tree.
"Where the heck is she, your sure Mom is here"
"Positive lad this is were she said she was going"
"Then where is she".
"Up here".
Looking up both saw Hera sat in the tree calmly looking down at them.
"Should have know, how the heck did you get up there?" asked Zeus.
"I used magic of course just a trick I learned of an old friend, I'll come down".
The next minute she was standing in front of them with the paperwork next to her.
"See you managed to get through that lot at last" Zeus said.
"Finally it has taken me ages but it needed doing".
"Hi Mom its great here cool that we can spend to afternoon together".
"Yes it is we don't get a lot of time with one thing and another just the three of us" Hera replied.
Hercules was lead to a waterfall he gasped at its size and beauty they sat down on grass next to the pool. As they ate they chatted happily of the goings on, on Olympus and Earth. Leaning back against an apple tree Hera let the conversation wash over her enjoying being with her husband and son.
"Mom is it true that you have more influence over Dad then all the others put together?"
The question jolted her out of the daydream and back to reality.
"Looked like you were about to fall asleep as you have countless times" said Zeus.
"It's the sun and being here plus I get tired more easily now then I used to. Yes I do have influence over him I've lost track of the number of times I've talked him out of throwing thunderbolts"
"You know when I was a kid did you watch me from Olympus just that I sometimes like I was being watched".
"Of course we did just because you couldn't be with us didn't mean we didn't watch you. You may have felt our eyes on you what happen had a bad effect on us, your mother especial was hit bad" said Zeus.
"I have this strange memory or it could be a dream as a very young child maybe what a year I got scared once and a woman picked me up, she was wearing white and her face was coved by a mask."
"Can't hep you there son I have no clue who that could have been". Replied Zeus.
"That person was me; I could bear not being with you so when you got scared I wanted to comfort you." said Hera looking away.
Both Zeus and Hercules were surprised by this, Hercules embraced her and said.
"Don't feel embarrassed it's nice to know that it was you all those years watching over me".
"I can understand why you did it but I wish you had told me what you were doing" Zeus said.
"I wanted to but it hurt to mention what happened, I blamed myself for not protecting our son, so I, ah".
"Mom are you ok?"
"I'm fine you sister is just restless that's all" she replied stroking her stomach.
"You are certain that the baby's a girl aren't you" chuckled Zeus.
"Yes I can't explain why but I'm near certain it's a girl"
"Well you guest right with this lad so I trust your instincts" Zeus replied laying his hand on her stomach.
Hercules was surprised at how relaxed his parents were and how they could show affection on front of him, he trued away in embarrassment.
"You don't need to fell embarrassed we saw you with Meg the other day, only natural for a man and women to show their affection".
"Hercules come place you hand here I want you to feel you sister" Hera said.
"Ok this is weird thought, I don't feel easy that I have any right" he replied gingerly placing is hand next to Zeus and Heras.
"You're this little ones older brother you have every right to feel her move" came Hera's reply.
Before Hercules could reply the baby kicked hard causing him to gap in wonder and surprise, seeing their sons look both smiled knowing he had fully got used to the idea of a brother or sister. The three sat there for what seamed like hours feeling the child move few words passed between them. Hera felt herself relax totally knowing that she was safe.
"That was strange I'm glad you allowed me" said Hercules.
"I understand completely felt the same way first time with you" Zeus replied.
Hercules went with his parents to Olympus as now he achieved his godhood he was allowed there when ever he wanted to visit. As soon as the other Gods knew he had come he and Zeus were invited to the card game that night. Hera awoke to a crash downstairs descending she saw her husband and son totally plastered, shacking her head she headed back to bed before either saw her.
Both men woke next morning to terrible hangovers the worst they had had since Hercules stag do.
"Can't believe I let myself get in such a state" muttered Zeus looking at Hera he saw she was still asleep.
Hercules was having one of the worst mornings ever the alcohol had gone strait to his head as it had been especial strong stuff. Staggering into the breakfast room he saw his father was in a similar state.
"You both got plastered from the look of you last night I knew it would happen, can't resist the drink can you". Hera said tartly coming down.
"Please Hera don't start on us we are not feeling well, I know it's our own fault but please skip the lecture" said Zeus.
Shaking her head at her husband and son she put a class of green liquid in front of them.
"Drink this it'll cure you both" both swelled the stuff and gagged.
"Bloody Hades that's foul out it works" both said.
"It's meant to taste like that because of what's in it" came the replies.
Hercules went to check on Pegasus and to his surprise found that he wasn't there, after a search it became clear that the horse wasn't on Olympus.
"Mom Dad I can't find Peg any ideas where he's got to?"
"That horse he's done this before gone off, was common before he became yours again" Zeus said angrily.
"He'll be with Sunray he sees her as a sister and used to like her so they may be playing together as friends." said Hera.
"Can't see why she would like Peg anyway".
"Because Sunray is already seeing another unicorn and there is an 250 year age gap between them. Alternatively he could be with another winged unicorn that I know may like him. Look lest scry for him but he is more then lily not with Sunray he has begun to see her as more a sister and friend. He could be with Moonlight the other unicorn but if he is done count on him coming back before midnight."
"Hope he's lucky and stars seeing her he deserves a girl of his own; say this means unicorns are immortal".
"Yes unless killed like a lot of other creatures, ah" she winced as the child moved.
Hera proved to be right and it was 10pm before Pegasus got home, which then meant Hercules couldn't get home.