I rolled over in my silken sheets to meet curious brown eyes. "Well?" she whispered as if in fear someone would hear us.

I laughed and put my hand to my forehead, "My queen, I went to bed last night with this problem, now I wake up to be reminded? Could you be any more cruel?"

Hera smiled, raising herself, naked from the bed to lean over me, her chestnut brown hair brushing my chest in soft caress. "You like me cruel."

I wrapped my arms around her luscious body pulling her to me. "Yes, perhaps I do."

She smiled, but her eyes once again turned serious. She was conniving, jealous, an overall vicious woman, but she was glorious, brilliant, and absolutely my perfect match in every way. "How does our brother fare?"

I groaned, pushing her head to lay against my chest, "I'll admit when I got there I'd never seen him so..." I searched for a word, happy would never be connected to him, let alone in love. "Pleasant."

"Really?" Awe was evident in her voice. "Because of Persephone?"

I stroked her hair, twirling the soft curls in my fingers. "Persephone was much the same." The anger the vixen had shown on Hades behalf was enough to prove she had true feelings, even if she didn't realize the depth. It was not just love, it was truly meant, even if that damn daughter hadn't involved herself. I felt it as sure as the lightening that fell from my hand. "He didn't steal her, he didn't have too."

"What now?" she kissed my neck and I tightened my arm around her.

"We wait, he knows what must be done." I admitted. If we had been switched, I couldn't do it, but he was so much stronger in some ways. He was in his own way truly deserving of his position. He was a man to be feared, a man to be respected, and for the moment a man to be truly jealous. Hera looked at me with love, but never with the devotion that passed between the two lovers last night. She kept a piece of herself hidden, but I didn't deny her that. I had done the same. We were married, united, we ruled the kingdoms of heaven and Earth, but we were seperate in ways. It was almost a game anymore, she played her way, I played mine, and in times like this we joined to conquer another's board.

"Our brother shall truimph over any adversary." I nodded in agreement, but admittly Demeter was one hell of an adversary.

"I doubt he'll want to truimph over this one. It would break Persephone's heart."

Hera laughed cruelly, "Do you know so much about hearts, my husband?"

"Yes, my love, I believe I know more than you credit me for." I lay a passionate kiss upon her lips, allowing the lust I felt to touch her. She shivered, but her eyes were wickedly gleaming.

"I believe he's met his match." Her fingers curled around my manhood and I chuckled darkly. Wicked woman.