Goodbye P. 18: Greece and Mamma Greece

She held her sons hand as she walked through the crowded streets of Greece; she never once let the option come up that he could get away from her. It was too much of a risk, as he was more precious than all the jewels in the city. He clung just as tightly as she did to him, intimidated by all the large men surrounding him. Yet even though he was scared, Heracles still walked with his head held high and tried his best to meet the gaze of everyone who caught his eye. Akantha watched everyone around her, just to make sure that nothing bad was going to happen to her precious son.

He would be the one to lead everyone to the next generation; her time had come and passed. Now it was the duty of her son to make sure that their country thrived.

He was her strong little Heracles; one named after the hero and is destined to be one. Now how would she be able to explain that she wasn't going to be around anymore to comfort him? How could she explain that he would have to be the one to watch where he went and who he met? He was only a child, yet some power far above had declared that he was going to be fine on his own, and that Akantha was going to have to move on. Yet she dreaded having to leave him to live on his own, to not be there when he needed her the most. It made her want to cry, but she gracefully held back her tears.

"Mamma, where are we going?" A sweet voice came from below Akantha. She looked down to see her son staring at her with wide and trusting eyes.

"We're going to my special place, we just need to get a few things for lunch first," Akantha said before moving on to but some fruit and bread for their lunch.

They walked for a while. Akantha had walked the road a million times before in her life, but now what had always been a long journey went by way to fast for her. When she felt her son start to tire she grabbed Heracles up and carried him on her back, not minding the weight. It was just another joy of being a parent for her.

"Wow mamma, you're so strong," Heracles exclaimed in her ear, his voice filled with that childlike innocence that she loved so much.

"I'm not strong Hera," Akantha said with a chuckle, "one day, you will be even stronger than me."

"Wow really?" Akantha nodded as she felt him slowly fall asleep on her shoulder, suddenly tired from the all the walking and talking.

It wasn't long before they reached where Akantha wanted to be. It was the statue of Poseidon, one of her favorites besides the ones that were in the temples. It sat on the edge of a cliff, watching the sea as it stood erect with his trident in hand. It was also meant to guide weary sailors home. Many sailors had just lost hope when they saw the statue, and knew that they were home. Akantha sat down right at the base, putting some of the food down at Poseidon's feet as an offering, and woke her son up. He was always hard to wake up, and sometimes he would fall asleep in the most random places. It worried her a bit but Akantha knew that it was just a part of her son, something that she couldn't change.

"Hera, honey have some lunch," she said, shaking her son awake and giving him some of the fruit.

They ate in silence. Just a mother and son enjoying the view and spending some always needed time together. It was funny, one would think that a parent would need a break once and while, but Akantha never felt like she needed one. Germania obviously would have liked one, what with dealing with Prussia and everything, but Akantha just enjoyed spending time with her son.

She wasn't meant to get emotionally attached though, but it was impossible not to. He was her heir, the one who would inherit her empire and rule for a new dawn. Even callous Britannia had gotten a soft spot for her sons.

"Momma, are you okay? You look sad," Heracles broke through her thoughts, looking at her while eating another olive.

"Momma is just thinking, that's all," she said, but Heracles didn't seem to be convinced.

"There is something that we should talk about through Hera."

Heracles crawled into his mother's lap, obediently waiting for what he was going to be told.

"You see, everyone only lives for a certain amount of time. Even us, who are special in our own way. Do you remember who we are special?" Heracles nodded. "Good. Well we don't leave this world like others. When we leave we don't leave anything behind, except our memories. One day my dear, you might wake up and I will be gone," Akantha said and tears formed in Heracles' eyes.

"Do you really have to go mamma?"

"I'm afraid so dear. But it won't happen for a while, okay?" Akantha knew it was lie, she had no control over when she left. For all she knew she could leave right now without a trace.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes honey. Now listen, when I disappear it will be your job to keep on going. Even though I'm gone, you must keep going," Akantha had tears in her own eyes now.

"Okay mamma."

Akantha wrapped her arms around her son, holding him close as to never let him go. Her tears fell into his hair, fading into his locks as soon as they appeared. He cried into her as well, his tears staining his tunic. She didn't mind though, it was a part of the job that she loved, one of being a mother.

"You're just going to leave? How will I remember you then?" Heracles' muffled words came from her bosom, where she was still holding him.

"You see the sky? See the mountain way off in the distance?" Heracles nodded, his eyes squinting in the effort to see that far.

"Well when I leave, every time you feel the least bit lonely just look there and remember that I'm there, watching from Olympus. I'll always be watching you Hera, never forget. I love you." Akantha felt more tears fall down her cheeks, even as Heracles continued to watch the mountain so far away.

"I love you to momma."

Heracles walked through the hallways of his house, barely older than nine. He was calling for his mother, thinking that maybe she had just gone out for an errand and will be back soon.

She never came back. And a child cried until he looked towards the sky, and remembered what she said on that fateful day.

"I'll always be watching you Hera, never forget. I love you"