Hera had been in a coma for three months. Hephaestus sent word to Ares in Tartarus and he had returned immediately. He sat at her bed side daring anyone one to come near her. Apollo was the only one allowed to touch and that was because he had to bring her out of her coma slowly. He was glad he had been able to save her at all. Zeus stood just outside of the door; he was not allowed in and was still nursing a wound Ares had given him upon his return. Apollo refused to heal him. He took a timid step over the threshold. Ares free hand moved to the hilt of his sword. Zeus backed away and Apollo's eyebrows rose slightly but he said nothing he was still working.

"How much longer will she be like this?" Ares asked his voice thick with grief.

"Just a few more days. Her body is healing itself at this point I am just speeding up the process." Apollo gripped Hera's free hand. Over the three months he had finally begun to forgive her and it upset him that she had been in so much pain.

"Can I come in?" Hephaestus asked as he stood in the archway.

"No! I blame you for this entire thing. If you weren't so helpless she would have come with me and she would have been safe!" Hephaestus' face colored with shame before he had a flash of the anger his brother was famous for.

"This has nothing to do with me! I don't need to be protected and she's my mother too! I will not be kept away from her." Hephaestus then proceeded to cross the threshold without Ares permission. Ares left his seat beside his mother and shoved Hephaestus through the wall.

"No!" Hera screamed as she shot up violently. Apollo had to restrain her as she watched her sons fight. She was shaking almost uncontrollably and it was very hard to contain her. "Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!"

The cries of their mother were completely lost on the two gods as they rolled around on the floor. Hephaestus was surprisingly able to hold his own in this fight despite his lack of training. It was Ares' temper that kept him from fighting at his best.

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Artemis walked the corridors with Athena headed to check on Hera. Apollo always seemed to be with her these days so the girls made it a habit to check on the queen of the gods. Nearing the room where Hera was kept they passed their father. Zeus was sulking in his throne. Athena threw him a disgusted look and walked on to Hera's suite. Artemis however walked up to her father and sat on the right arm of his throne.

"Hi daddy." She greeted in her most childlike voice.

"Hello dearest. How is daddy's little angel today?"

"I'm fine. I was wondering if I could ask you something."

"Anything."

"Would you be upset if I started dating?"

Zeus was unable to answer though his face turned slightly purple. There was a crash that came from Hera's room and screaming. Artemis rose and ran toward the noise with an unparalleled speed and grace. She arrived next to Athena and watched in horror as Ares and Hephaestus rolled and fought on the floor. She heard Hera's screams and couldn't understand why Ares didn't stop. She didn't want to expose herself but she couldn't let him kill his brother.

"Stop!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Ares' fist froze above his brother's bloodied face. "Walk away. You're upsetting your mother."

Ares turned to see his mother. Her eyes were filled with pain and killed him to have put it there. Disgusted with his behavior he rose and stalked away. Not bothering to look at Hephaestus fearing that his temper would flare up again. His heart ached for putting his mother in pain. He would have to apologize to her when he was calmer.

"Artemis how did you…..?" Athena asked trailing off and pointing to Ares.

"Let's get Hephaestus up so Apollo can get a look at him." Artemis replied not answering Athena and heading toward the smith god.

"Thank you from the bottom of my heart. He couldn't hear me." Hera said while Athena and Artemis dragged Hephaestus in and set him on the bed beside his mother's. "I am forever in you debt."

"Think nothing of it. I'm sure he would have stopped without my interference." Athena began to question this response but Apollo silenced her with a look as he began to work on Hephaestus and while they were distracted Artemis slipped away.

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It was dusk and Artemis was going to relive her brother. She headed to the courtyard to meet him. She would raise the moon from the depths it rested in and let it glow in its full glory. She approached her brother from behind and embraced him. The sun flickered slightly as Apollo was taken by surprise.

"Um. How about getting to work instead of fooling around." Apollo said pretending to be angry.

"Umph. Happy to see you too big brother."

She turned her attention to the pool across from her and begun to rise the moon out of its depths. Her concentration unlike her brother's was not easily wavered. Apollo tested this by picking her up and swinging her around just as soon as the sun was safely in its sheath. The moon didn't move a millimeter off its indented course.

"Show off." Apollo muttered setting her down.

"It isn't my fault you can't concentrate." She said smugly.

(As you can see I took some creative liberty with Apollo's and Artemis' control of their respective celestial bodies. I know that traditionally speaking they would be in chariots instead of lifting them with telekinesis, but this worked better for my purposes so I hope you will forgive the change.)

"About earlier….." Apollo started hesitantly. "Why do you think he listened to you?"

"I'd rather not discuss it, but I figure you have to tell Athena something. Right?" He nodded. "Well in that case tell her that Hera had been screaming the whole time and the sound of a new voice snapped him out of it."

"Alright she won't by it but I'll tell her. Unless…."

"Unless?"

"Unless you want to tell her about the party and what happened afterward. You know, let her in on our little secret." If looks could kill and an immortal could die a lasting death than Apollo would have been dead at his sister's hand.

"You promised!" Artemis was furious beyond mortal comprehension, so much so in fact that the moon wavered for a second before she regained her control. "You promised that you could keep this secret for me. That you wouldn't tell anyone. You swore it! What have you told her?"

"Nothing. I haven't said anything to anyone. It's just that she's getting suspicions and the lies aren't coming any easier. It would be better if I could tell her, and we could use her insight."

"Leave. I'm so angry I'm considering canceling the eclipse. Just get away from me. And you better not say a word. If you do, you'll regret. I hate you!"

Apollo left. Ashamed that he put his wants in front of a promise he had made to his sister. He would sleep alone tonight as a self inflicted punishment. He would apologize later.

&&&

Ares sat beside his mother's bed. He felt very guilty his back was still turned to Hephaestus. He didn't feel regret for injuring his brother. However he did feel remorse for upsetting his mother, she was all he had on this cursed mountain and he had let her down. Hera was awake and staring at her eldest son through silted eyes. He was patting her hand absently while he stared into space. She was sure there wouldn't be a repeat performance. So she pretended to wake up just as Ares mumbled another apology.

"Ares. I forgive you.

"Thank you mother. I am very sorry for upsetting you, I just ….lost my temper." He hung his head in shame again. Hera lifted his chin weakly.

"Your temper has never been kept. No one can be angry with you for losing it."

Truer words have never been spoken. Ares spent the rest of the night by his mother's side. Hera slept soundly. Ares did not; he kept guard over his mother. Zeus had again tried to enter her room and he was bold upon entering because he assumed she would be alone. He was wrong.

"What are you doing here Zeus?" Ares asked not even bothering to raise his gaze.

"I…I was…." The god king stuttered.

"You…you were?" Ares prodded mocking him.

"She is my wife and you cannot prevent me from seeing her. Besides she would want me here." Zeus crossed the threshold. It was all Ares could do not to throw him through the newly repaired wall he had thrown Hephaestus through earlier, but he had already upset his mother so he wouldn't do it again. Zeus was about to sit down when Apollo appeared and took the only available seat. Ares glanced at him gratefully and Zeus again left defeated.

"I know what you did." Apollo stated quietly. Ares looked up in surprise. "I know what you did to my sister."

"She told you!?"

"There are no secrets between twins." Apollo's gaze turned hateful. "I should kill you for what you've done."

They stared each other down. Neither willing to show weakness by turning away. Apollo was taking his anger at his self out on Ares but he didn't care. Artemis was everything to him and for this beast to take away her happiness was unforgiveable. Their contest continued until it was once again time for the sun rise. Neither had spoken a word all night. Ares would not justify himself. What had happed between Artemis and him was just for the two of them. It was none her brother's business. Apollo left without a word and returned to the courtyard to raise the sun. Artemis was lowering the moon back into the depths that housed and kept it cool during the day. Apollo walked up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She shrugged it off. He sighed, she was still angry with him. He put his hands on both off her shoulders and spun her around to face him.

"What can I do?" He pleaded "How can I make things right with you?"

"There is nothing. You have betrayed me. I cannot forgive what you have done." Artemis' eyes were colder than he had ever seen them. Apollo let her go and when to raise the sun. Athena from her hiding place wept. She has never seen them fight before and she was crushed with the guilt that she was the reason that they were fighting. Well her desire to know what was troubling her friend and the secret they were keeping from her.

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Leigh: Well I'm back. Not so sure if you'll like this chapter but I'm doing my best. Any who I got some advice in a review from one of my other stories that I'm gonna give a try. I'd like to introduce everyone to my Conscience.

Conscience: Hi everyone! It's really great to be here.

Leigh: As I was saying, Conscience shows up to do the closing with me and offer her opinions on how the story is going.

Conscience: I can talk. It is so nice to be let in on the rest of the stories. But I see that you're still causing trouble. Can't you just write a nice story for once?!?!

Leigh: I'm going to regret this…….