I'd like to apologize profusely for the delay in getting this chapter out. This chapter is entirely dedicated to Rose and I hope you all enjoy.

The Olympians sat imperiously on their thrones, staring at the god in the center of the throne room. Golden chains, kin to the ones used to trap Hermes, encircled Hypnos' wrists and threaded through heavy rings attached to the floor. Hypnos had long since given up rattling them and now stood silently, staring at the wall without seeing.

"Hypnos," Zeus' voice was solemn, "you have been charged with treason, willingly and deliberately plotting against your rulers. This charge will not be revoked under any circumstances. One vote has already been cast for your punishment." He looked around the circle at the other gods. "Hermes has voted, but has not requested specific action. Does anyone wish to submit a punishment?"

Apollo leaned forward. "Tartarus."

Zeus inclined his head. "Objections?"

"Who will take over his position?" Athena asked quietly.

Apollo glared. "We will find someone. It'll be easy enough to promote one of his assistants. Calisto, maybe."

"Well, I do not recommend Tartarus."

"What do you recommend, Athena?"

She smiled, and the smile sent a thrill of fear through Hypnos. "He should live as a mortal."

Zeus leaned back, his fingertips together against his chin. "Interesting proposition. Turning a god into a mortal is very difficult, Athena."

"But not impossible, Zeus. It has been done before," she reminded him.

"Yes it has." He looked around the circle again. "Any objections to this punishment?"

"How do you know he won't try something like this again?" Apollo's eyes were hard.

Athena laughed. "If he tries to tell anyone about us, he'll be locked up in a mental hospital. And if he does ever try something." Her dark eyes slide to Hypnos. "It'll be easy enough to render him harmless."

Zeus nodded. "Any other suggestions?" The gods shook their heads. "Okay, so votes. Who votes for Apollo's plan?"

Ares, Poseidon, Hephaestus, and Demeter raised their hands.

"And Athena's?"

When the rest raised their hands, Zeus nodded again. "Okay, so it has been decided. Hypnos will be turned into a mortal. Ares," Zeus gestured to his son, "take Hypnos away to a secure location to await his mortalization."

Ares nodded and untied the chains, jerking Hypnos from the hall.

"Next order of business. The treatment of Hypnos' army."

Dionysus lifted his finger. "I've got them divided into who can be switched back and who can't."

"What shall we do to those who will return their loyalty to us?"

"Do nothing," Hera said quietly. "We will know to watch them. Anything beyond that will only drive them away."

Zeus frowned. "Any objections?" The others shook their heads. "Okay. And for those who will not?"

"Tartarus."

Artemis rolled her eyes at her twin. "Is that all you can suggest?"

"What else do you propose?"

"Their whole argument was that we have more recognition than they do. That we benefit from our role in mortal society than they do. I propose we integrate their images into the mortal world. We're already going to have to alter history again. Why not add in their stories while we're at it?"

Zeus thought. "That's interesting. Athena, Apollo? Anything you see possibly going wrong?"

Athena tilted her head. "No, it's a good plan."

Apollo closed his eyes, searching the future, and nodded grudgingly. "I don't see anything bad happening. It should go off without a hitch."

"And votes? Who agrees with Artemis' plan?"

They all raised their hands, this time, and Zeus nodded again. He sighed and rubbed his temples. "Okay, final order of business. What to do about the mortals? Obviously we can't leave them remembering all this. And considering all the gods we normally go to for this are rather affected by it, how will we go about this?"

The Olympians were silent for a long moment.

"I think," Athena said slowly, "that with our plan for the minor gods' recognition, most of them will help. Hecate most definitely. Morpheus might be difficult, considering our punishment for his father. Dionysus, of course, will be helpful." The god in question nodded. "It should work."

Zeus didn't even look up. "Objections?" No one spoke. "Votes?" He glanced up to see everyone raising their hands and nodded. "Good. Athena, you and Dionysus start working on gathering the pertinent gods together, explaining the plan, and executing it. I trust you to create the necessary historical changes. Aphrodite, you, Apollo, and Artemis, gather the other gods and explain our plan. Make sure they agree. If they do not, come back to me."

The gods nodded and disappeared. The remainder looked at the king.

"And what shall we do?" Poseidon asked.

"Start the cleanup," Zeus sighed. "There's a lot to do."

They disappeared as well. Hera glanced at her husband. "You have successfully quelled a rebellion. Something none of your predecessors can boast. Congratulations."

"I won't be at ease for another hundred years or so," Zeus muttered. "But thank you."

Hera stood, patted his shoulder, and left.

Hermes' eyes were closed, his forehead rested against Lucy's hand. He looked still, almost as still at the body on his bed, but his mind raced. Memories flashed through his mind, pausing at seemingly random moments, everything too fast for a mortal to comprehend. The crest of a wave, the turning page of a book, the package in his hand. His eyes flew open.

"Zeus!"

The king looked up, surprised. "Hermes?"

The messenger god strode into the hall, eyes ablaze. "Zeus, I want her."

"What?" Zeus straightened, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"Lucy. I want her back."

The king narrowed his eyes. "You can't, Hermes, she's…it's not possible."

Hermes stepped right up to Zeus' throne. "You know it's possible."

He stared at Hermes. "That is Hades' domain."

Hermes spun around, disappearing and reappearing a moment later, yanking Hades behind him. The lord of the Underworld looked disgruntled, brushing off his robes. "What is the meaning of this? I believe I've given evidence that I don't actually want to take over the universe, Zeus."

"I know, brother, my son has an…interesting request."

Hades turned to Hermes.

"I want Lucy back."

Hades' eyes widened. "Whoa, that's against the rules. You can't—"

Hermes grabbed his arm. "I want her back, Hades. You know as well as I do that it can happen. Give her back."

Hades straightened, crossing his arms. "Why should I?"

Hermes gave a cold smile. "Oh, believe me, I've thought of that. Which is why I got you two alone, instead of calling a meeting. I thought you'd want this to stay between us three."

Zeus frowned, leaning forward. "And what, exactly, is this and why do you expect it to change our minds on this matter?"

Hermes waited for Hades to conjure a throne for himself. When the lord of the Underworld had taken his seat, the messenger god began to pace between the thrones of the two brothers. When he began to speak, it seemed as if he was talking to himself, and the two brothers wondered if he'd finally gone insane.

"I really didn't have any idea of what to do about Lucy for a long time. I have to admit, I'd thought getting her back was hopeless, any option ridiculous. I knew Zeus wouldn't want her to come back—he doesn't trust her for some reason—and Hades would want her to stay in the Underworld—finds her fascinating and worthy of 'study'. Since those two are the two most necessary to agree with any plan to revive her, I'd need some way to persuade them to vote yes. I'd thought there was no way, that I had nothing to convince them. So I'd resigned myself to remembering every moment I'd spent with Lucy instead. Wasn't the worst way to spend time, but I'd rather be making more memories with her than remembering old ones. But then something caught my interest, something that had taken place while I was with Lucy. Or, more accurately, something that pulled me away from her." For the first time, Hermes looked up and connected his gaze with Zeus'. His stare was so cold, so calculating that Zeus almost feared his own son. "You see, father, this was a judgment error on your part. If you'd chosen a time when I wasn't with Lucy, when you weren't taking me from her, I might never have remembered this. So when you're trying to find someone to blame, choose only yourself. Or maybe him." Hermes turned to Hades, and the lord of the Underworld tensed, sitting straighter in his chair. "I remembered a time quite recently, where I was called to deliver a package. A package! Me, when I have hundreds of assistants to do that for you, you called on me. How strange, I thought, what must be inside this package that you see fit to pull me from my vacation to deliver a measly package."

Zeus stiffened. "You looked inside."

Hermes smirked. "You bet. What did you expect? I may be the messenger god, but I'm also the god of pranks, of cleverness. I figured it'd be useful information in the future. And oh, what deliciously useful information it turns out to be." Hermes looked at Hades, tossing something from hand to hand.

Hades recognized the crimson fruit and leapt from his throne, brandishing his sword. "You wouldn't," he growled.

Hermes laughed. "Oh, wouldn't I? What I said to Hypnos was true. I don't have anything to lose."

"I don't believe that one little mortal changed you all that much, Hermes. I think, inside, you still only look out for yourself. You wouldn't dare."

Hermes' laugh ended abruptly and he stared coldly at Hades. "You of all people should not be saying that. What about your dear Persephone? What if Zeus had sided with her mother, not ever allowed her back to your realm? What would you do?"

Hades glared at his nephew. "So that's it, then? You blackmail us and expect us to vote yes?"

The smirk returned. "Pretty much, yes."

"Not very creative."

"Maybe not, but it's oh so effective." Hades didn't reply, and Hermes spun away, turning to his father. "So, Zeus, shall I call the council? Or would you rather have a moment to think about your choice?"

Zeus scowled at Hermes, but no one could outwit the trickster god, not even Zeus. "Call them now, if you please, you troublesome boy."

Hermes bowed elaborately, turning the insult into a compliment, and swept his arm through the air. Beams of light rearranged themselves onto the thrones, and turned into people. They looked around with a mixture of curiosity, annoyance, and fear—not another meeting. Hermes cleared his throat and Hades rolled his eyes.

"Don't worry, this isn't another war. Hopefully not, anyway." Hermes glanced at Zeus. "I have a…request to make."

The gods nodded agreeably. Hermes was a major reason the war was over and that they were victorious. A request didn't sound unreasonable.

"You all know Lucy."

The few that knew of Lucy's true role in the war shook their heads sadly; the others frowned suspiciously. Hermes noted this and sighed.

"For those of you that don't know, Lucy was taken hostage by Hypnos to trap me. When she was freed, she…" He looked away, blinking rapidly. "She sacrificed herself to free me."

The gods who'd reacted badly now looked embarrassed and avoided Hermes' eyes.

Hermes cleared his throat again, and when he spoke his voice was strong. "I know she's…dead. I know that people in the Underworld aren't supposed to come back. I know this better than any of you, except Hades. But it wasn't her time. It was my fault she died, mine and this war's. She ought to be alive right now. I just…I want her back." This drew shocked gasps from the gods. "Please," Hermes whispered, "I just want her back."

He didn't move to his throne, staying instead in the center of the circle. He closed his eyes and held his hands behind his back, listening to the others debate.

"It's not allowed," muttered Ares. "It's not right."

"But they're so in love," murmured Aphrodite dreamily. "I want them to be back together."

"I don't think so," Apollo said tersely. "I don't…I just don't think so."

Hermes' grip tightened.

"Why not?" asked Artemis. "I like her."

"Of course you do," Hephaestus replied. "Doesn't that make you biased?"

"I don't see why not," Poseidon added. "Hermes makes a good argument."

Hermes shifted on his feet.

"What about you, dear?" Zeus asked Hera. "What do you think?"

Hera took a long time to respond. "I think, though we must all vote, it is more up to you, as king, and Hades, as presider over the dead."

"Hm," Zeus mused. He raised his voice. "Everyone discussed enough?"

There were murmurs of consent and Hermes opened his eyes. Zeus turned to his left. "Poseidon? Should the mortal—" Hermes cleared his throat pointedly and Zeus sighed. "Should Lucy Harrison be allowed up from the Underworld?"

The sea god tilted his head. "Yes."

"Demeter?"

"No."

"Athena?"

The grey-eyed goddess looked at Hermes as she said, "No."

"Ares?"

"No." He glanced at Hermes briefly before looking away.

"Aphrodite?"

"Yes," she beamed. Hermes returned the smile for an instant.

"Hephaestus?"

He hesitated. "No."

"Dionysus?"

"Yes," the god of madness replied calmly.

"Artemis?"

"Yes."

"Apollo."

"No." He avoided Hermes' accusing glare.

"Hera?"

"Yes."

"Hades?"

The lord of the Underworld stared flatly at Hermes. "Yes."

"My vote, bearing the weight of two as I am king, could either make a tie—in which case, I would break the vote—or decide."

"What do you vote, father?" Hermes asked coolly.

"I vote…" Zeus drew out the sentence and Hermes frowned impatiently. Zeus allowed himself a small smirk. "I vote…yes."

Hermes nodded curtly. "Hades, I will accompany you to retrieve her—"

"Wait a moment, boy," Zeus interrupted.

Hermes turned back in annoyance. "What?"

"One requirement." He leaned forward and his voice lowered ominously. "If she has already drank the Lethe, if she has forgotten her life, you may not bring her back."

Hermes glared. "That wasn't part of the deal!" The anger in his voice masked the growing layer of fear quite well, he thought. "You said I could bring her back!"

"Those are the rules, Hermes. They must be obeyed."

Hermes growled, turning sharply on his heel, and grabbed Hades' arm again—which elicited a protest from Hades—and disappeared.

Zeus sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes. Hermes used to be his favorite son. Why did he have to change? Why did that mortal have to change him?

Hm, so I don't really have much to say. Oh, except I do have something to announce rather soon on the blog that pertains to Mercurial, so check that out in the next week or so. Thank you for sticking with the story.