There was no doubt that this night made it onto my top-ten-list-of-worst-nights. Right above the night Zeus thought becoming a race car driver in Delaware was a good idea. Competition brought out the worst in him and the end result was four critically injured men and the majority of them needing psychiatric attention. I didn't let him race after that. Or go to Delaware.

Now I was thinking that these get-togethers were a terrible idea. Especially with Hades and Poseidon involved. The two of them were nothing but trouble alone; put them together and it was like an explosion of drama. Now the remaining four were dead silent, freaked out at having lost two of their sisters in the span of five minutes. "Hestia wouldn't have just left." Zeus said softly. I nodded, agreeing. Demeter was more likely to get up and leave, but Hestia wasn't like that.

"She was saying something about the woods." I said, looking over my shoulder at the dark forest. The snow was falling faster now, making it nearly impossible to see. "We should go look. Make sure she's not in there." Hades nodded. If there was one person (besides Persephone) that Hades always got along with, it was Hestia. Everyone got along with Hestia. She was our big sister who always looked out for us, and without her, we felt lost.

Zeus looked as if he were about to sob. Poseidon was sobbing. He'd changed appearances and looked more like a teenage boy at this point. I sighed. "I'll lead, then, since no one else seems to be willing." I took a step forward and started walking towards the woods. Zeus appeared at my side, most likely worried that he'd lose me too. At least, I wanted to believe that. Poseidon had jumped on Hades' back and refused to let go, so Hades had no choice but to carry him. "I want to go home," Poseidon whimpered. Hades rolled his eyes.

"Once we find Demeter and Hestia, we'll head back." Zeus assured, "But we aren't leaving without them."

We all walked to the edge of the woods, unsure if we should actually go in. "It doesn't make sense that Hestia would go in here alone." Hades said, glaring at the trees. I almost laughed when I imagined them glaring back. Then Poseidon gasped and pointed to the ground. "Look! Footprints!" We all looked down and sure enough, the same large footprints were in the snow. But there was also a strange path that looked like someone had been dragged. "Oh my goodness." I said, frowning. "Hestia was taken by force!"

Poseidon buried his face in Hades' shoulder and cried harder. "There, there." Hades said in a droll voice. After less than a second, Hades shoved Poseidon off. "I just want you to hold me!" Poseidon cried. "Is that so wrong?!" Hades nodded. "Considering you are not a child anymore, yes, yes it is wrong." I rolled my eyes. "Poseidon, you really need to grow up."

"I do not!" Poseidon argued. Zeus coughed. "We really should be looking for our sisters." I nodded in agreement. We all started walking slowly into the woods, keeping close to each other. I heard a screeching noise and grabbed Zeus's hand, only to realize it was actually Hades'. "I'm already dealing with Poseidon, I don't need you too." He said in a low voice. I let go, glared at him, and found Zeus's hand. He squeezed mine in return.

"Hestia?" Hades called out. "Demeter?" We all stopped, listening for any form of reply. Poseidon frowned. "Did you hear that?" We all looked at him. Poseidon was many things, but he wasn't one to lie. "Hear what?" I asked, keeping my voice soft in case there was another noise. "There was a... like a sob." Poseidon said. He looked pretty shaken up, so I wasn't sure whether to believe him. Never trust a guy with permanently waterlogged ears.

The others seemed to think the same thing. "It was probably just the wind." Zeus insisted. Hades nodded while Poseidon began to flail. "No, it was definitely a person! Hestia!"

That caught Zeus's attention. "Where did it come from?" He asked, voice dead serious. Something everyone learned quickly was the bond between the eldest sibling and the youngest sibling. Hestia didn't look like an older sister, but she sure acted like it. Always scolding Poseidon for throwing things at me, telling Hades he needed a haircut. Actually, forget Hestia being a sister. Hestia was like a mom.

A mom that everyone fought over for her attention.

So Hestia was pretty important. Her getting taken could mean anything. The worst being that a new war was coming, and they wanted her as a hostage. The best scenario being that someone got cold and wanted a nice warm fire. Though no matter the cause, Zeus would surely smite whoever took her. Demeter being gone was also upsetting, but not as much. At least not to me. When your sister sleeps with your husband and has a really cute child together, you become a little salty towards that sister. Especially when that really cute child becomes queen of the Underworld.

Then I heard what Poseidon must have heard. A small sob coming from my left. Without thinking I started fast walking in that direction, Hades behind me. "Where are you going?" He asked, keeping close. I shook my head. "I heard her. Hestia. She's in trouble!" I walked faster, pausing when I spotted a soft orange glow up ahead. "There." I noticed that Zeus had not followed, most likely trying to calm Poseidon down. I tried to get the thought of them secretly making out out of my head.

Hades placed a hand on my shoulder, looking down at me with his cold black eyes. We got along for a while, before I married Zeus. Then Hades stopped visiting me. It was upsetting, since Hades seemed to be the only person I could have an intellectual conversation with. Though if his siblings were in danger, Hades put his personal feelings aside and did all he could to protect us. He was the oldest male, after all. He felt it was his responsibility.

"I'll go check it out. I need you to stay here and keep safe." Hades said. Normally I would protest, but that did no good with Hades. He gave my shoulder a squeeze and walked off in the direction of the glow. "Hello," someone said behind me. Their voice was low, definitely male. I turned and blinked. "What are you-" The man grabbed me. I looked over my shoulder and screamed, trying to reach out to Hades. He looked over, his expression instantly murderous. "LET GO OF MY SISTER!" He took a step forward but I vanished, the man having teleported us.

At least I now knew he wasn't human.

A/N: Writing Hera is difficult. Don't judge me.