Hey people! Guess who's back! I am!

Anyway, so this is one of the longest chapters I have ever written!

Plus, I don't know how sexual this chapter got. I tried my best to keep it PG-13, so if you think it's to bad then do tell me, and I will try to fix it up as best I can!

And thanks for all the wonderful reviews you got me! I do love hearing from you all.

Warning: This story contains strong LGBT themes, and minor sexual situations.

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or HoO. Or anything else but the plot.

Enjoy~

I was nervous.

"Hmm," Travis put his chin in his hand and mimicked his best thinking face. "I wonder why?"

Katie glared, "Let Queen Hera read so that we can find out!"

"OKAY! Gosh, sorry."

I was very nervous. Screw that, I was the queen of nervous!

"But you're the Queen of Olympus, not nervous." Apollo stated slowly; as if he were trying to understand it himself.

Artemis banged her head on the back of her throne as the other gods all groaned in unison.

Apollo blinked, "What?"

Why?

"That's what we all want to know." Drew commented; fixing her hair.

Well, today is Friday.

"Friday. What happens on Friday?" Hermes muttered to himself. before his eye's suddenly brightened. "OH! Now I remember!"

Hera blushed and stared down at the book; ignoring the smirks and grins she was getting from the immature ones.

Zeus scowled and grumbled; leaning back in his throne.

Hades and Poseidon rolled their eyes.

Today is the day I promised Susan we would try too...

Hera glared at every single person who laughed or giggled.

Harley squirmed on her lap; twisting so that he was sitting in a comfortable sideways position, and that he would not get in the way of Hera reading.

Gods of freaking Olympus, was I nervous!

"Yeah," Leo laughed. "We got that Tia."

The demigods all chuckled lightly, and smiled at the son of Hepaestus.

I stood outside the mansion/cabin on my property.

A couple of Hermes children all got miscevious glints in their eyes, "That is still freaking cool."

Chiron shook his head, "No."

"Aww come'on Chiron! You didn't even know what we were going to say!"

"I didn't have to. The answer is No."

The walk to the smaller cabin was about an hour and a half; since it was a few miles away,

Artemis and Demeter smiled, while Thalia perked up. "You could hike there!"

Zoe cocked her head at her successor, "Thou enjoys to hike?"

"Are you kidding?" Thalia grinned at the former huntress, "I love to hike with the other Hunters!"

Zoe stared for a moment, before smiling at the daughter of Zeus.

Artemis watched her former and current lieutenent interacting.

and Susan and I thought it would be fun to hike there.

Artemis nodded approvingly.

However, I only agreed because Aphrodite had told me Artemis and her Hunters were tracking a pack of hell-hounds somewhere in the Sierras,

Artemis closed her eyes for a moment, then snapped her fingers, "I remember that hunt! Those hellhounds kept going back and forth from Yosemite and Sequoia for a couple of days."

Zoe nodded, "There was a lot of running involved. I can remember that much clearly."

Athena looked thoughtful for a moment, and adressed her step-mother. "You didn't want to flash in case Artemis was nearby?"

"Yes."

and flashing us to the cabin could alert my step-daughter of my presence if she was anywhere in the immediate area.

"Ahh," Athena leaned back; a smug look on her face. "I was correct."

Poseidon rolled his eyes, "No one doubted you bird brains."

Which of course is a big no no.

"It is?" Jason asked; looking at his patron.

"I didn't want to be found."

"Oh yeah."

So, I decided I'm not taking any chances.

"That is a smart decision," Iris acknowledged.

Susan smiled brightly at me; pulling on a large sweater and adjusting her backpack as she walked out of the house.

Percy grinned, "Make sure you have everything. It can be hard when you don't have all your supplies."

Annabeth and Grover snorted; remembering the quest for the master bolt.

Looking up at the sky, I realized it was starting to lightly snow.

Hera, Jason, Piper, and Leo made a face, "Hate her."

Frank looked at the queen, "Why do you hate her? I thought only Jason, Piper, and Leo only meet her."

"She tried to kill me at the Wolf House," Hera explained; shifting on her seat as she remembered that uncomfortable and terrifing event.

Turning back towards my girlfriend; I held out my hand for her, "Ready?"

Aphrodite grinned, "That's adorable!"

"What is?"

"How you're treating her so well!" The love goddess gushed, "It's so cute!"

Some rolled their eyes as the Aphrodite cabin (sans Piper) all squealed and nodded in agreement.

She grinned, "Ready!"

"Good."

"Alright," I replied; before sticking my head in the doorway and yelling down the main entryway. "Everyone remember the rules?!"

"You sound like a controlling mother," Poseidon said; smiling at his sister.

"I am a controlling mother," Hera retorted. "And I had to make sure they didn't wreck everything. It's happened before you know."

Maia's voice echoed down the hallway from the kitchen,

Hermes looked longingly at the book. It was clear he wanted to know more about what happened to his mother.

Hera shifted in her seat; carefully adjusting Harley's sitting position. As it was getting late; he began to get tired and doze off.

"We're fine! Go have fun!"

A certain goddess snickered in her seat, "Oh they will."

"APHRODITE!"

Chuckling, I closed the door and grabbed Susan's hand, "Let's be off then."

Sue cocked her head, and stared at me as we started walking. "How did Maia get roped into working for you?"

"That's what I want to know," Hermes muttered; staring at the book in Hera's hands.

Zeus nodded, "Me too."

I sighed, and rubbed the back of my head. "It's a long story."

Connor blinked, "It must have a lot of back story then."

Dakota burped, "Isn't that what long story means?"

"I don't know," Connor shrugged. "I didn't ever pay attention in school."

Athena frowned at the same time Hermes cracked a proud smile.

Susan smiled, "We have time."

"Yes," A Hecate demigod said. "We do have some time."

"Well," I began. "I guess it really started right after the Titan War;

Zeus looked surprised, "It started back then? Did you know her all that time ago?"

Hera smirked at her husband, "Let me read, and we'll find out."

before I was married to Zeus.

"Well," Hades threw his hands into the air. "That explains it!"

"What do you mean?" Nico asked his father; looking back and forth between the tense queen and his agititated dad.

"Before Hera married Zeus, she used to live in solitude away from Olympus." Demeter explained.

"Really?" Nico asked; facing his youngest aunt.

Hera sighed, "Yes. After the Titan War; I preferred to live in a simple cottage in the woods. The palace life wasn't always for me."

Thalia frowned, "But didn't you ever get lonely?"

Her step-mother stared at the ground, and spoke carefully; as if she was worried she might say too much, "I did have company every now and then. Plus, I did tend to spend time with the local nymphs and naiads. They were very friendly."

You see, Maia used to be really shy,

Hermes smiled slightly, "Mother was always shy. She just slowly got better over time."

Hera nodded, "Yeah. She did. But, she's still not very good with strangers."

and one day while I was out exploring I ran into her near her cave.

Zeus stiffened in his seat, "You've found her cave before?"

Hera smirked, "Yep."

The lightning god leaned back and sighed. This was something he did not know.

She was terrified of the Olympians,

"Why?" Clarisse asked. "Did she fight on the Titan's side?"

"No." Hermes shook his head, "She was mostly neutral during the war. Mother just didn't know them very well at the time, and she was very attached to her family."

since we had locked her family, the titans, in Tartarus.

"Oh."

Yet, somehow we became friends;

Hestia smiled over at her sister, "You were her friend?"

"I still am actually," Hera replied; staring at the book.

we didn't really get to see each other that often, so most of the times we wrote letters and whatnot.

"Like a penpal!" Travis shouted. "That's so cool! I didn't know you had penpals in the ancient world!"

Katie glared at the prankster, "Did you have to shout?"

"No, but I wanted too anyway."

It was nice since I really didn't have many friends then,

Hera sighed and mumbled to herself; interuppting her reading, "I still don't have a whole lot of friends."

Some people who heard her exchanged glances.

and I was living with my patron at the time;

"What!?" Zeus exclaimed, "What do you mean!? I thought you were living in the woods! And who is this patron!?"

Hera flinched, "You'll find out eventually."

Zeus narrowed his eyes, but dropped the subject.

The other gods and demigods all whispered and murmured to eachother about the new information.

who had me constantly working on learning to control my more dangerous domains.

"Dangerous domains?" Butch thought for a second, "Like the ones from chapter 2?"

"What do you mean?" Hera demanded; panic was clear on her face.

"In one of the previous chapters; you mentioned how your demigod children can inherit a dangerous power," Athena answered.

"Hmm," Hera slumped in her seat; accidently waking Harley momentarily.

However, it was after my unfortunate engagement to Zeus that we grew rather distant."

"It was an unfortunate engagement," Demeter grumbled; glaring at the sky god. "You need to treat her better or I'll break your other leg."

Zeus grimanced and absently rubbed his left knee; warily watching Demeter as his brothers laughed out loud.

Hera smiled from behind the book.

"Why?" Susan asked; looking up at me as we followed the twisting trail path. "What happened?"

"I think I can guess," Nyx commented; looking between Zeus, who blushed, and Hermes, who shifted on his throne at her gaze.

I looked up at the sky, "Zeus didn't let me leave Olympus as much, and kept tabs on all my mail.

Demeter scowled and lashed her foot out; effectively kicking Zeus's shin. Hard.

"Ow!" Zeus yelled, jumping in his seat.

Demeter smiled innocently, while the gods and the braver demigods cracked up.

After a few minutes, Hera was able to continue reading.

Nothing ever got past him. And, I don't think Maia liked that.

"I don't think anyone would," Hazel said. "Your mail is your mail. It's your buisness. She might not have liked the fact that he was going through it."

Or at least, that's what I thought. Turns out Zeus was chasing after her too,

"When is he not chasing after someone?" Poseidon asked; twirling his trident in his hand.

Zeus sneered, "Your one to talk."

"At least I actually cared for my lovers!" Poseidon retorted.

"I cared for them!" Zeus exclaimed; causing lightning to flash overhead.

"That's enough!" Athena said, "Father. Poseidon. We need to continue to read."

They both glared at her for a second, before relaxing back into their seats.

Percy, Thalia, and Jason exchanged looks over in their seats.

and she was too afraid that I would hate her.

Hera's expression softened for just a moment, but she quickly read on before anyone noticed.

It didn't work.

She, like me, didn't have many friends; which caused her to fear losing one."

Percy exhaled silently, looking over at all his friends. "I hate losing friends. It feels like a vital part of you was ripped away."

Susan gasped, "Hermes right!? She had his son didn't she!? Now I remember!"

Annabeth looked at the gods, "It seems like everytime you have a relationship; a chilld is born."

The gods all exchanged glances, and Hebe spoke up. "Our blood is very fertile. It's always striving to multiply. That's why children of the gods are born so often."

Piper looked at the daughter of Athena, "I think Hera mentioned something like that in a previous chapter."

I laughed quietly, "Yes, she did have Hermes.

"Why are you laughing!?" Apollo asked, "I thought you would be furious if Dad cheated on you again."

Hera shook her head, "I'm not as jealous as the myths point me out to be. That's something you guys made up over time."

The Olympians and minor deities all squirmed on their thrones.

But, I knew of his existence before he was even born.

Zeus and Hermes jerked in their thrones, "You did!?"

Hera nodded, and turned back to the book.

As soon as Maia discovered she was pregnant, she went right to me."

"She did?" Reyna asked. "No offense my queen, it's just that wouldn't the mistress prefer to avoid the wife?"

Hera stared at the roman, "I suppose so. But, Maia is a friend. The situation was different."

"She did?" Susan asked; looking fairly surprised.

"I believe we already went through this," Nemesis yawned.

"Why would she do that?

"Exactly what we want to know," Leo smiled; casually making sparks pop out of his ears and nose.

His siblings all grinned at him.

I thought she didn't want to risk your friendship."

"She thought not telling me would be worse than me finding out early on." Hera said; drumming her fingers on the arm-rests of her thrones.

"She felt guilty I guess," I sighed,

"It would be sad if you didn't feel guilty," Lou Ellen shivered. "I mean you just had an affair with your friend's husband."

Hades rolled his eyes, "Which never would of happened if Zeus learned to keep his hands to himself. Sadly, I don't think that's ever going to happen."

Zeus glared at his elder brother, "You have other children too!"

Persephone sighed, "Even if I am not happy with Hades having demigods; he does not have as many as you do."

absently kicking a stone on the path.

Travis grinned, "Hey I do that when I'm walking!"

Katie chucked an apple at his head, "I don't think kicking rocks at the younger campers count!"

"She woke me up in the middle of the night.

Hypnos and his children all shivered, "That's horrible."

Nemesis and Hecate rolled their eyes.

I hadn't seen her in years, but she was just hysterical.

A few flinched and Hestia sighed sadly, "She must have felt a lot of guilt."

Hera looked down at the floor, "She did."

Zeus grimaced and avoided some of his families glares.

Hermes looked uncomfortable.

She came clean, and begged for my forgiveness.

Percy smiled, "She really wants to repent."

Thalia gasped, "You know what repent means?!"

Percy stuck his tongue out at his cousin before throwing an arm over Annabeths' shoulders, "I guess I just spend too much time with my girlfriend."

Honestly, I wasn't surprised to hear of Zeus's parentage.

"Honestly," Hera sighed. "Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to this jerk."

Zeus grumped, "Hey!"

"Oh, you know it's true."

The first century of our marriage was spent with him knocking up every friend I had,

Demeter scowled, "Seriously? Zeus, you're lucky Hera even stayed with you."

"But didn't you have Persephone with Zeus?" Katie asked her mother.

Persephone waved off her sister, "I was born before Zeus married Hera. We really don't have a problem with each other."

Everyone looked between the two queens; who shrugged and nodded.

but she was the first to react like this.

"She was?" Hermes asked; looking at his stepmother, "I thought she would of been terrified to tell you."

Hera leaned back in her throne, "She was terrified. She wouldn't stop trembling, and couldn't look me in the eye. But, I was still her friend. I wasn't going to hurt her."

Hermes smiled slightly, "Good."

I couldn't get her to calm down. I couldn't get her to stop crying.

Nyx exhaled, "Poor child."

She was just so afraid I was furious with her.

"Anyone would be," Thalia said sadly; remembering how paranoid her mother had been.

Jason grabbed his sister's hand.

So, I had to promise her I wasn't angry.

"That would be helpful." Leo commented.

I swore on the Styx I wouldn't harm her or her child,

Immediately, every pair of eyes turned to face Hera. Zeus gaped at his wife, "You swore on the Styx?"

Hera rolled her eyes, "That's what it says doesn't it?"

Jason gasped, "But to swear on the Styx... That's an unbreakable vow! It's dangerous!"

"Oh for the love of the gods! This happened a long time ago! And I've kept my vow have I not?" Hera exclaimed; only to wince and check to make sure she hadn't accidently awoken Harley.

Everyone exchanged uneasy glances, but let her read.

and I even offered to be her midwife during childbirth."

At this Apollo nodded, "You are an excellent midwife."

Hera shrugged; as if to say 'Yeah I know.'

Will blinked, "Wait. You're a midwife?"

"Yeah. I help your father with some of the more difficult demigod births on Olympus." Hera answered; carefully once again adjusting Harley so that he didn't roll off her lap.

"You mean you were there when some of us were born?" A Hebe camper asked.

Hera smiled at her granddaughter, "Yes. I mostly help my daughter's and sister Demeter."

Demeter nodded, "Yeah. We have to call her when you little brats don't want come out."

The younger demigods all giggled and laughed, while the older watched their younger siblings happily.

Susan smiled at me, "That was nice of you."

"It really was." Hestia poked the hearth; the flames warming the half-bloods as it got darker and late into the day.

"It was," I said. "But, even then she thought it wasn't enough. She wanted to be in my service; be a servant or something so that she could personally repay the debt she believed she owed me."

Nemesis raised an eyebrow, "She had a sense of payment. She wanted to repay her debt."

One of her children smiled, "She has good sense."

Nemesis smirked proudly at her children.

"Did you let her?"

"I did," I replied; looking around for any sign of Artemis and her Hunters.

Ares snorted, "You seem a little paranoid mother."

"Well, I didn't want to get caught." Hera scoffed, "That's hardly my fault if I'm a little paranoid."

"Oh Ares, you just got told!"

"Shut it Hermes!"

"I told her not to worry about it. That I would call on her to repay her debt when the time was right."

Leo shivered. This reminded him of his fortune cookie incident, since no matter what the others say; he knew it was his fault Percy and Annabeth fell into Tartarus.

Piper and Jason, as if sensing his discomfort, put a hand on his shoulder.

Leo grinned at his two friends.

Susan grabbed my arm; leaning slightly against my shoulder as we walked, "Your a good friend."

"And your a good pillow," Harley giggled as he woke up from his fulfilling nap.

A few people snorted and tried to cover their laughs, as Harley's voice echoed across the amphitheater.

Hera fought to hide her smile.

She lost.

"Thanks," I smiled at her. "But, honestly I just wanted her to stop crying. I hate when my friends are upset, and I ended up letting her stay the night."

"Oh!" Aphrodite squealed. "You had a sleepover!"

Hera looked mildly annoyed, "A sleepover? Please it was hardly a sleepover."

"Aww. Don't ruin my fun."

"Hmm," Susan mused. "You were afraid to let her go back home in that state of mind weren't you?"

"That was smart thinking," Athena praised. "It's always good to keep someone in weak mental health in sight, so that they won't do anything to harm themselves and others."

"But," Apollo looked confused. "We let Ares walk around without anyone watching him."

"HEY!"

"Yeah," I sighed through my nose. "After Hermes was born we stayed in touch.

"Good. You do that."

Every now and then she would visit her son on Olympus and stop by for a little bit, but it wasn't until a few hundred years ago that I had to call on her debt."

"Dang. You put it off for quite some time didn't you?"

"Well, I didn't want to have her in my debt in the first place."

"What happened?"

"She almost faded," I whispered; thinking back towards all the lost deities and close calls we've been having with the immortals of mount Olympus.

At that, every single deity flinched. Apollo and Artemis simultaneously looked down; remembering Helios and Selene, while others remembered the lesser deities who faded over the years.

Hermes clenched his fists, "That was when I thought she faded, but apparently she didn't. Why didn't you tell me!?"

Hera sighed, "It was her choice not to tell you Hermes. I do not know why, but I had nothing to do with that part."

"I remember hearing a frantic prayer from her. She was apologizing about not being able to settle her debt, and as soon as I found out why I immediately called on her services.

"Good idea," Nyx acknowledged. "Nymphs and other minor nature deities can be prevented from fading by calling up upon unfinished duties. Calling upon her would of stopped the process for about a day. Then an item of immortality would restore hers."

"Exactly."

I had her eat one of the golden apples, which restored her immortality.

Percy and Thalia blinked, "The same apples from the Garden of the Hesperides? The ones we saw on the Quest to rescue Artemis?"

Zoe shuffled uncomfortably in her seat, and Thalia placed her hand on the former lieutenants' shoulder.

Artemis looked at the ground sadly.

Hera nodded, "Yes."

After that, I put her in charge of my cabin. And that's were she's been ever since."

Leo whistled, "Stuck in that cabin for a few centuries? I would of went stir-crazy a long time ago."

Connor snorted, "Are you kidding me? That place is like an amusement park. I would love to live there forever."

"Yeah, but I'm not you dude."

Susan blinked, "That must have been scary for her."

All the gods flinched; Dionysus actually setting his magazine down.

Nike sighed, "I would freak out."

Athena smiled sadly at her friend, "I think we all would."

Throughout the whole conversation that followed, only the Seven, Nico, Reyna, and Thalia saw how pale and resigned Hera looked; as if she knew something everyone else didn't.

"It was."

After that we walked mostly in a comfortable silence.

"At least it wasn't an awkward silence," Frank mused. "Those are so... awkward."

Hazel laughed and kissed Frank, causing Hades to narrow his eyes at the son of Mars.

Susan sometimes would talk about how she wanted to open a veterinary clinic,

Artemis and the Hunters all nodded their heads approvingly, "A fine career."

Grover spoke up for the first time in a while, scaring everyone who forgot he was there, "I agree."

"Well you are a Lord of the Wild."

or about how excited she was about the first snowfall.

Hera scrunched her nose, "I don't know how happy I am with snow anymore."

Jason, Piper, and Leo all agreed, "Me too."

Abruptly, she tugged on my arm as I zoned out. "Hera!"

"Ha!" Chris laughed; proving his Hermes heritage, "You were totally phasing her out!"

"No, my attention wandered."

"Same thing."

"Your arguing with a goddess, hun."

"Oh right... Sorry..."

"Huh?!" I looked around frantically, "What?! Did someone see us!?"

"Okay," Poseidon threw his hands up. "You are seriously paranoid."

"I can't help it," Hera shrugged. "As I've said before. I didn't want to get caught."

"Still, you're paranoid and you can't say your not!" Poseidon teased.

"Keep talking and I will drown you in your own domain," Hera growled.

"Ouch, someone's a bad sport." Poseidon smiled.

"Shut up and let me read!"

"No," She reassured, "I was just wondering if you could teach me to ice skate or how to play football and soccer."

"You play sports?" A random roman asked.

Hera nodded, "I had the sports complex built for a reason."

"Cool!" Leo grinned; a plan forming in his head, "We should play capture the flag!"

"Capture the flag?" Reyna asked.

"It's like War Games." Percy explained, "And that's actually a good idea! We could do gods verses demigods!"

The demigods all cheered and began stomping their feet; chanting to the rhythm and clapping their hands.

"We want to Play! We want to Play! We want to Play! We want to play!"

Abruptly, a loud clashing sound echoed across the area, and Dakota stood up and caught a piece of parchment as it floated down, "It's another note!"

Dionysus peeked over his magazine, "Well? Go on and read it my son!"

Dakota blushed but looked down at the paper and began to read, "Capture the Flag sounds like a wonderful idea, but I ask that you wait until tomorrow when we send more guests. They could be very important parts of your team. Love, Rhea."

Zeus thundered; commanding the attention of everyone. "Very well! Tomorrow we will read after lunch instead of after dinner, and then we will play Capture the Flag!"

The occupants of the amphitheater all cheered and Zeus rose his hand for silence, "We shall go over the official rules tomorrow with Chiron, and divide the teams accordingly."

After he sat down, he looked over to his wife and nodded at her to continue reading.

"Oh, but why me? I could always get you a professional teacher." I replied.

Iris chuckled, "Oh how we spoil them."

"No," Susan shook her head fiercely. "I want you to do it. I saw you ice-skating yesterday. You were really good; doing twirls and flips and all that.

Aphrodite squealed, "How come you never told me you could ice-skate!?"

Hera stared at the other goddess, "You never asked."

Hebe smiled at her mom, "When did you learn?"

Hera had to think for a moment, "Umm, the winter of 1779 I believe."

Aphrodite squealed again, "We should go ice-skating sometime!"

Artemis looked unbelieving, "You know how to ice-skate Aphrodite?"

Said goddess smirked, "Why? Would you like me to teach you sweetheart?"

Artemis glared, but was unable to hide the blush that peppered her face, "I know how to ice-skate!"

"That doesn't answer my question Arty."

Hephaestus snorted, "Leave Artemis alone Aphrodite. Your going to mortify her."

Aphrodite pouted, "Fine."

Then you totally dominated the nymphs and satyrs when you were playing in the football and soccer employee game too."

Ares grinned wickedly, "Good. Pummel the punks into submission."

Percy laughed, "Your one to talk."

"I wouldn't say I was dominating them," I snorted. "The other team tackled me like a hundred times."

"Oww." Travis winced, "I hate getting tackled."

Katie cocked her head to the side, "When did you get tackled?"

"Yesterday, by my adoring admirers."

"Travis..."

"But yet you still were able to score the most touchdowns and soccer goals.

"Seriously?" Jason asked, "I didn't know you were that athletic."

Leo groaned, "Tell me about it. She would of had to out run the nymphs to score a touchdown."

Hera smirked as she read ahead.

Plus you even outran the nymphs;

"That's it!" Leo threw his hand's up in the air, "My godly grandmother is a badass."

Around the son of Hephaestus other demigods were looking at the Queen of the Gods with stars in their eyes, while the nymphs exchanged surprised glances.

"Tell us you secrets!" The Stoll's wailed; falling out of their seats.

"Uh, exercise. Yeah, lots of exercise."

"Really?" Hermes asked; looking up from his email, "I get more exercise than any other god, and I still can't keep up with them during races."

"Not with an attitude like that you can't," Hera chided.

which from what you told me takes some serious skills." Susan persisted.

Annabeth nodded, "Very serious skills."

"Okay fine," I threw my hands up in the air.

"Saying Ayooo!" Travis sang.

"Gotta let go!" Connor finished.

Katie and Lou Ellen contemplated murder.

"I'll teach you. But only if you teach me some of your veterinarian stuff."

Athena cracked a smirk, "A fair trade."

"Deal," Susan grabbed my hand and shook it. "We have a deal."

Nemesis cackled, "Ah! How I love deals!"

"Yeah, I know." Leo muttered.

"I look forward to it my star."

"Oh great, the nicknames are back."

"Who says they ever left my love?"

"Ugh."

Aphrodite (once again) squealed, "That's adorable!"

Ares winced and complained, "Babe! Your breaking my eardrums!"

"Oh your adorable!" I gushed; nuzzling her warm neck.

She rolled her hazel eyes, "Your just a big teddy bear aren't you?"

Demeter laughed, "I think that's the first time I've ever heard someone describe you as a teddy bear Hera."

"It was a joke!" Hera complained, "And Hermes don't you dare!"

Hermes pouted, "I wasn't recording anything."

"Oh, but you were going to! Put that camera away!"

I smirked against her skin, "But i'm your teddy bear aren't I?"

Zeus grumbled in his seat; causing lightning and thunder to dance across the sky.

Hera shifted a bit, and waved Leo and Nyssa over to her throne; who looked confused.

Leo and Nyssa approached the Queen carefully, and watched as she shifted the once again sleeping Harley in her arms into the bridal position; standing at regular mortal height, and handing their sleeping brother over to them. "The way this chapter's going. I'm going to get struck by lightning at least three times, so take your brother over back with you so he doesn't get caught in the crossfire."

The two demigod's exchanged glances, before turning and heading back to the seats.

Jason leaned over to Leo, "What happened?"

"I don't exactly know man, but I think we're going to have blackmail material in a second." Leo grinned.

Susan smirked, "Of course you are."

Will leaned toward Katie and Miranda, "I'm sensing someone might be a little whipped."

"Tell me about it."

I laughed; the noise echoing throughout the treeline. Within minutes, the cabin became visible in the distance. After a minute or two we finished the long hike, and approached the small homely cabin.

"So this one isn't a mansion?" Jake Mason asked; carefully stretching his arms up as he yawned for the millionth time.

"No. It's a regular cabin." Hera replied.

"That's good."

Her grip on my hand tightened,

"Someone's getting nervous!" Aphrodite sang.

Artemis chucked a shoe at her.

The love goddess was not a happy camper.

"It looks so normal."

I nodded, "It is. A two bedroom, one bath, with 900 square feet inside. Plus, a five minute walk away from the lake."

Athena nodded, "That's practical and roomy at the same time. It makes an excellent cabin."

Artemis made a sound of agreement.

"And it's private?"

"Of course she want's to know if it's private," Zeus muttered; causing Hera to look at her husband.

"Yep. There is only two other people who even know it exists." I confirmed.

"I knew!" Aphrodite squealed. "I know where it is."

"Well, we did just read about it."

"No, no." Aphrodite shook her head, "Before this whole book reading! I knew all about it!"

She let out a sigh and melted against my side, "Good."

Zeus sneered.

I kissed the top of her head, before picking her up bridal style and carrying her over the threshold of the cabin.

Piper blinked, "I thought you were only suppose to do that on honeymoons."

Hera shrugged, "That was as close to a honeymoon as we were going to get."

"True."

Upon my arrival, the fireplace roared to life,

Hestia smiled.

and the frigid air warmed instantly. Susan gasped and looked around, inspecting the decor of the cabin.

"The décor is always very important," Aphrodite lectured.

The walls and floor were decorated with animal pelts and other outdoorsy stuff.

Artemis smiled lightly, and Percy leaned toward Thalia, "Reminds me of the your tents."

Thalia grinned, "Well we are called the Hunters, are we not?"

I grinned, "Impressed?"

"A little."

Susan marveled at everything, "It's amazing! I love how you incorporated everything!"

"Thanks," I smiled. "Most of the pelts are gifts from Artemis. Birthday presents or gifts for political favor."

"Thing's she gives me for political support during council meetings and whatnot," Hera explained once she saw all the questioning looks turning her way.

A collective "Ohhh" echoed across the amphitheater.

Susan looked confused, "Political favor?"

"She wasn't the only one confused," A few Hermes campers muttered.

"Things she gives me in exchange for my support during council meetings and such.

"Sometimes they're used for political things," Artemis sighed. "However, most of the time they're used for dealing with Apollo."

The Hunters snorted, and Thalia laughed, "Really?"

Artemis nodded, "Yes."

Apollo and his greek and roman children all blushed.

Although most of the time they're for dealing with Apollo." I sighed, "Those two are always fighting,

"Tell me about it," the Olympians, sans the twins, muttered.

The demigods exchanged glances, "Is it really that bad?"

Dionysus scoffed, "Is it that bad? OF COURSE it's that bad! They can be worse than when Poseidon and Athena argue."

Artemis and Apollo looked a little embarrassed at that.

and sometimes Artemis gives me something in exchange for scaring the crap out of her brother."

"What!" Apollo whined; turning to look back and forth between his twin sister and step-mother, "You ask Hera to scare me!? And you actually do it! That's not fair! Do you know how intimidating you can be!?"

Hera shrugged, "I had to find a way to pass the time."

"Seriously?" Susan laughed, "They must have major sibling dynamics going on."

Apollo and Artemis looked at each other, before each made a face.

"Don't I know it," I groaned; before setting Sue down on the couch and walking to the small kitchen. "What do you want for dinner love?"

At this all the boys groaned, "Dinner. I'm hungry."

The females rolled their eyes.

"Uhh, do you have Mac and Cheese?" She asked; sitting up on the couch and stretching.

"Pfft," I laughed. "Do I have Mac and Cheese, of course I do!"

"Then that's what I want!"

Leo nodded approvingly and announced in a strong voice, "A fine choice."

Piper and Jason rolled their eyes, and Nyssa smacked her brother upside the head.

"Alright, alright." I replied; opening the cabinets and pulling out some mac and cheese, and following the cooking instructions as best I could.

"How hard can it be to make macaroni?" Hazel asked; casually playing with a diamond that had appeared by her.

Hera made a face, "It's not that it was hard, I just had other things on my mind."

Aphrodite smirked, "Because you were thinking about se-!"

Needless to say, Artemis was shoeless, and Aphrodite was once again not a happy camper.

Ten minutes later, I successfully carried out two plates to the main area, and handed Susan one.

"Thanks," she said; opening her backpack and pulling out a movie.

"Hmm, I wonder what movie she brought?" Gwen pondered.

"I hope it's a good one," Dakota said, taking a chug of his Kool-Aid.

"Do you have a VCR? I thought we could watch a movie while we eat."

"Yeah," I pulled out the VCR from under the couch and plugged it into the TV's input. "What movie did you bring?"

"And now we find out," Gwen grinned and leaned forward in her seat.

Susan smiled, "I brought Star Trek."

At that Piper, Jason, Annabeth, Will, and anyone else who were there when Leo was claimed cracked up.

Leo made an appalled sound, "Seriously!? Star Trek!? But..But...!"

Piper snickered, "Man I remember that! You confused your dad's name with the planet Vulcan from that movie!"

Hephaestus looked at his son, who was sputtering and choking on his words, "Bu... But I didn't know."

The god of fire simply chuckled and waved his concern off, "It's fine my boy."

"Seriously?" I asked. "That's like my favorite movie!"

Everyone looked weirdly at the queen of the gods.

Hera glared, "What?"

"You like Star Trek?" Enyo asked her mother.

"Yes. I do." Hera replied, before turning to look at everyone, "Yes I like Star Trek! Can I read now?"

"Really?" Susan blushed, "I didn't know that."

"Neither did I," Zeus said, raising an eyebrow at his wife.

Hera shrugged at him, "I didn't think you cared of my taste of movies."

"Well now you do," I chuckled; taking the movie from her, and setting it inside the VCR. After turning the movie on, we reclined on the couch; Sue decided my lap was a better seat though,

Aphrodite squealed in her seat, "Oh! That's so cute! She sat on your lap."

Zeus scowled and leaned back in his seat moodily.

Hera sighed in exasperation and rolled her eyes at the two's actions.

and made her self comfortable. I adjusted my sitting position, so that I could rest my legs, and eat my macaroni.

"Was it good?" Connor asked.

Hera looked at him in confusion, "Was what good?"

"The macaroni," Connor replied; waiting eagerly for an answer.

Lou Ellen face-palmed epically.

"Who's your favorite character?" Susan asked; leaning back against me and laying her cute little head on my shoulder.

"Cute little head?" Lacy asked while giggling.

Hera smiled lightly, "What can I say? She did have a cute head."

"Sulu," I answered.

Iris grinned.

"He's a legacy of Iris in real life you 'know?

"He is?" Percy asked, a look of surprise evident on his face, "I didn't know that."

Iris nodded, "He is my grandson."

Percy widened his eyes, "Sometimes I forget most famous people are related to the gods."

Annabeth rolled her eyes and kissed her boyfriend, "Sometimes you can be such a seaweed brain."

And he never forgets to pay tribute where it is due.

Nemesis and her children nodded, "Good man."

Iris smiled smugly.

He has my respect for that."

Nemesis grinned, "He has my respect too."

"Hmm," Sue turned her head into my neck and smiled. "I like Spock. He reminds me of you."

Will snorted and turned towards Leo, "Brings back memories."

Leo stuck his tongue out at him, "Shut up."

Athena meanwhile was thinking, "How does Spock remind her of Hera?"

Poseidon rolled his eyes, "Maybe she didn't mean it too literally bird-brain."

"Me?" I asked surprised. "How does he remind you of me?"

Hecate cracked a smile. She had a good guess.

Hera continued reading hesitantly; as if the words were painful to read.

"Your ears," Susan giggled. "Some times you have elf ears."

"WHAT!?" Leo exclaimed, "You have pointy ears! Since when!?"

Hera sighed, "It's a little complicated."

"Elf ears!?" I gasped and instinctively covered my ears, "How did you know that!?"

Malcolm blinked and put on a thinking face, "Perhaps Susan can see through magical means of disguise."

"It certainly seems that way," Athena muttered before looking at her step-mother. "Can she?"

"Let me read and we'll find out."

Susan blinked, "I see them. But, it's like theres this fog covering them sometimes; like mist floating around your ears."

"Oh," Annabeth gasped. "You have another layer of mist around your ears to keep people from seeing them."

I sighed, "That is mist. I had Hecate personally custom make the mist to disguise my ears;

"Why?" Leo asked, gesturing to his own elf ears, "Pointy ears are awesome!"

Hera pinched the bridge of her nose, "Maybe to you they're awesome. I don't like them."

"But why?" Hephaestus grunted, "You haven't given us an answer."

Hera glared, "I just don't like them okay!?"

since I really don't want people to see them."

"Yeah, we kinda figured that out," Percy stated.

"Why not?" Susan asked, "They're really cute."

"Really?!" Aphrodite squealed, before turning towards the queen of the gods, "You should show everyone!"

"No! Absolutely not!"

"But-"

"No. And that's final."

Aphrodite huffed, "Fine."

I managed a small grin, "Well, they're inherited from my mother.

The six children of Rhea all smiled as they thought of their mother; Hestia poked the coals in the hearth, "She did have those ears. Although I can just barely remember them."

"It's not uncommon for those with immortal blood to inherit those type of ears," Athena explained to the demigods. "And now you know where you got your ears from son of Hephaestus."

Leo blushed and turned away from all the faces that looked back and forth between him and his godly grandmother.

Hera stared stubbornly at the book.

She had what we would call 'Nymph Ears.' I was the only child to inherit her unique look,

"True," Poseidon sighed. "You do look a lot more like mother than any of us do."

"But Hestia and Demeter also inherited her hair color too. It wasn't just me." Hera countered.

Said goddesses inspected their hair.

and I don't particularly care for them."

"But they're cute!" Lacy protested.

"I just don't like them," Hera said; bending the next page in the book.

Sue laughed, "Well, I think they are adorable. You should keep your ears like that when I'm around."

"How about when everyone's around!?" Aphrodite exclaimed; flipping her perfect hair over her shoulder.

Hera groaned silently and counted to ten in her mind. 'Don't kill her.'

I nuzzled her cheek, "I think I will."

"Yet you won't when you're around your family!?" Apollo whined.

"That was a completely different situation!" Hera protested.

"Oh yeah. You were trying to get lai-"

Let's just say, Artemis ensured Apollo won't be having kids for a while; thanks to the efficiency of her bow and arrows.

The males all winced and sent the sun god a sympathetic look.

Hera meanwhile read ahead, and began to look around for an escape route. You know, just in case she get's attacked by lightning.

I traced my lips down to her neck, and gently kissed her pulse point.

Thunder and lightning dominated the sky as Zeus growled in his throne; glaring evilly at this wife, who hid her blushing face in the book.

Hermes and Apollo were leading the amphitheater in wolf-whistles and cat-calls, and the more sympathetic ones just stayed quiet; giving the other troublemakers threatening looks.

Jason looked a little green, as Leo elbowed him in the side lightly; snickering childishly, "Dude that's your step-mother."

Jason glared, "She's your grandmother you know."

Leo paled.

She gasped and shoved me away, then hid her blushing face in my shoulder, "No fair."

Eros chuckled, "Seems like someone is a little surprised."

I smirked, "Seems fair to me."

Zeus scowled, while Aphrodite grinned, "You're a little pushy aren't you Hera?"

Hera glared murderously from behind the safety of the book.

Smack!

A few Hermes and Apollo campers snickered.

"Sorry, not fair."

"You're whipped aren't you?" Travis asked slyly.

Hera glared at the son of Hermes, before turning her attention back to the book.

Connor high-fived his brother.

Laughing, I leaned back in my seat; thinking about our situation.

"It is rather interesting, is it not?" Chiron asked, "I never thought I would see the day that Queen Hera falls in love with a mortal. It is quite surprising. Although, it is not a bad surprise."

Hera looked at her half-brother and smiled happily, "You know I was just as surprised as you are."

The gods and demigods all blinked and stared at the smiling goddess. It had been so long since anyone had truly seen her smile like that.

Vaguely my thought drifted to ancient times, and I wondered how our story would play out back then.

"Oh, I'm sure it would be a scandalous affair my lady," Iris laughed.

Hera sighed and nodded, "Oh, it would."

I must've had a thinking face on, because Susan spoke up.

"Thinking face?" Connor wondered, "I wonder what that's like."

Lou Ellen smirked, "To bad you've never had one."

"HEY!" Connor complained, while Hecate looked on proudly at her daughter and Hermes rolled his eyes at the goddess.

"What are you thinking about?" She asked; casually looking up at me.

"How things would play out in the ancient world," I replied; twirling her hair in my fingers.

"It would be a big deal," Hermes commented. "I mean 'the Queen of Olympus strays.' My gods, it would be all over the pantheons."

Annabeth narrowed her eyes, "Pantheons?"

Hermes looked panicked for a second, before Athena stepped in and diverted her daughters' attention, "He means greek and roman my dear."

Annabeth opened her mouth to argue for a second, but catching Percy's warning look decided not to.

"What do you mean? How would things play out?"

"What the situation between the two of them would of been back in ancient Greece," Reyna said; answering the question for the half-bloods who still hadn't figured it out.

"I mean how this situation would be back when I was still in Greece," I smirked. "I bet it would be quite the scandal."

"Definitely a scandal," Zeus muttered; staring angrily at the ground.

Hera looked appalled and shook her head frantically, "Oh my gods! Do I have to read this!?"

"Why?!" Aphrodite asked; bouncing in her seat, "Does it go into details?"

Piper gave her friends a 'Why am I related to her?' look, and Hera sputtered unbelievably at the love goddess, "Not really! But still! This is embarrassing!"

"I'll read it," Hestia offered. "If it really is going to mortify you, maybe it's better if you don't read it."

Hera gave her sister a hesitant look, "Are you sure? It might make you a little uncomfortable..."

"It's not that bad is it?" Hestia asked; looking up from the flames of the hearth.

"Well no. It's not too bad," Hera replied.

Hestia got up from her seat by the fire, and walked to her sister's throne. "Well, then give it here."

Hera reluctantly handed over the book, and flopped back into her throne; bracing herself for all the crap the more immature gods are sure to give her.

Susan inadvertently shivered as I teasingly ran my hands up and down her sides,

Zeus growled, which kept everyone silent; since they didn't want to be electrocuted today.

"For starters, you would be a beautiful maiden.

"Aren't they always?" Hazel asked, "I mean it seems like every woman you go after has to be beautiful."

The gods and (goddesses too) blushed and looked away from their children's faces.

Most likely a princess, and you would accomplish the impossible and attract the attention of the Queen of Olympus."

"That is quite the accomplishment," Nemesis mused. "You hardly ever even look at someone else. Much less like this."

Hera shrugged, "I do try as hard as I can to stay faithful, but certain event's made it that much harder."

Demeter scowled and kicked Zeus's leg, again.

She laughed, "Well, that actually wasn't all that hard."

"Seriously," Leo thought. "All she had to do was look at you, and you were all over that."

Hera sent him a stern look; to which Leo responded with a grin.

I faked a hurt look, "What? You think I'm easy?"

Zeus scoffed silently, "As if."

Hera looked at her husband out of the corner of her eye.

She reached up and smacked the back of my head, before pulling my face back into the crook of her neck. "Finish your story."

"Oh! Someone is eager!"

"APHRODITE!"

I chuckled and kissed her neck tenderly; flipping our positions and pinning her to the couch,

Zeus, once again, growled; causing his brother's to roll their eyes.

Poseidon laughed, "Oh put a can in it brother. You're being a hypocrite."

Zeus was about to argue, when he caught Nyx shaking her head disapprovingly, "You are being a hypocrite Zeus. I would not argue if I were you."

"Your family, perhaps your parents, would become paranoid.

Iris grinned, "Don't they always?"

They would not believe I'm who I say I am,

"That's another problem for demigods," Katie muttered. "Some don't believe you were really immortal gods, and they think you just gave them crazy children."

A few gods shifted on their thrones uncomfortably, as they watched some of their children stare at the ground sadly.

and they would punish you for it.

Some winced at that.

Maybe they'll lock you in a tower, or they might chain you to a cliff to appease some god.

"Most likely my immature little brother," Hades drawled.

Zeus glared and lightning flashed overhead, but otherwise did not do anything.

Hera watched nervously.

They would foolishly try to deny a goddess her lover,

"Which never works anyway," Aphrodite smirked. "If our lover really wanted to see us, we would find a way to be with them."

A couple of major and minor gods nodded along, and the half-bloods exchanged glances.

and I won't be denied."

A few raised an eyebrow at the goddess of marriage; who, for her part, hid her blushing face in her hands.

I ghosted my lips over her collarbone, carefully moving the fabric of her shirt out of the way, and marking the pale, untouched skin.

Zeus growled loudly, and everyone jumped as lightning touched down only ten feet away from Hera's throne.

Hera looked horrified as everyone stared at the sulking king of the gods, "What the heck Zeus!? This happened like twenty-five years ago!"

"Doesn't mean I have to tolerate this," Zeus grumbled.

"Dad," Jason spoke up. "You can't react like this. I know it bothers you, but everyone has to play nice, remember?"

Zeus sighed and nodded, "Fine."

Her breath hitched and she knotted her hands in my hair, "What would you do?"

"I would seek revenge. First, I would abduct you; carry you off to Argos most likely, or maybe even Olympus.

"How romantic!" Aphrodite squealed.

Meanwhile, Artemis banged her head against the back of her throne.

I would make sure there are witnesses too; make sure your family knew just how foolish they really were."

"Wouldn't we all?" Nemesis stated; messing with a couple fortune cookies, as Tyche glared at her.

I smirked, "Then I would make an example of them. I would have them erect a huge temple in my honor as penance; right in the middle of their city."

"That's not too bad compared to what other gods would do," Mitchell remarked.

Said other gods looked anywhere else, but their children.

I traced my lips back up to her neck; gently leaving little bite marks on the rosy skin.

Apollo opened his mouth to comment, but was stopped by the positively evil look Hera was giving him.

The demigods covered some of the younger one's ears.

This time she moaned quietly, and arched her back; pressing her body against my own.

Hera's horrifying glare stopped anyone from commenting.

Although, you could tell some were trying really hard to hold it back.

My heart beat pounded in my ears, and Susan regained control once more. Although, her eyes were glazed over, "And once you got me all to yourself; what do you do?"

Aphrodite smiled devilishly, "Why you have-!"

Artemis had gotten Apollo to give her his shoes, and chucked one of them right at Aphrodite's head.

The goddess of love was not happy at all.

I smirked and wrapped her legs around my waist; expertly picking her up and making my way to the main bedroom. I captured her lips in a heated kiss, and kicked the door closed behind us. Laying Susan on the bed; she pulled me down on top of her, and I ran my lips along the shell of her ear. "I ravish the fair maiden."

This time no one could hold back the wolf-whistles and cat-calls, which caused a visibly mortified Hera to slump in her throne, and Zeus to glare murderously at the book in his eldest siblings' hands.

The Seven demigod's of the prophecy all exchanged shocked glances, and the Hunter's looked a little uneasy at all this grown up talk.

Hera's children, on the other hand, looked just as mortified as their mother did.

After a good twenty minutes passed and everyone had significantly calmed down, Hestia read on.

I woke up in a good mood. A very good mood.

"Oh I bet you did," Apollo teased, wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.

Artemis smacked him.

Still rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I looked around to inspect the room. I was the largest of the two bedrooms; with a dresser, closet, fireplace, and king-sized bed. The bed itself was built into the ground, and the fireplace warmed the whole room. The finest sheets and pelts I owned covered the bed, and the whole room had a very outdoorsy feel.

"Sounds cozy," Hestia smiled; interrupting her own reading to comment.

Hera nodded; getting over her embarrassment caused by the previous sentences, "I wanted to give it a homely feel. Make it seem more relaxing than the mansion was."

"Well, it seems like you did a good job," Athena stated.

However, I also noticed one side of the bed was empty. She must've went to the kitchen or something.

"Probably hungry," Chris said, while his brothers grabbed their stomachs and groaned.

"I know the feeling."

Climbing out of bed, I stretched and looked around for my clothes; which seemed to be missing in action.

"Oh! So you did get lai-!"

Hermes also, was not going to be having kids anytime soon.

Sighing, I pulled out some sweats and a tee-shirt, got dressed, then exited the bedroom.

Immediately, I smelled bacon and eggs;

All the boy's mouths began to water at the thought of food.

They were getting hungry again, even though they just ate.

which happily surprised me. I walked to the kitchen, and was greeted by the sight of Susan in my immediate line of vision.

"Oh, so she was cooking?" Demeter asked.

Hera nodded, "She's really good at it too. She could be a professional chef if she wanted."

Sneaking up behind her, I wrapped my arms around her slim waist. "Your wearing my clothes you know."

"That is so cute!" Aphrodite grinned, "It's like the official sign of a consummated relationship!"

Hera blushed scarlet, and Piper looked disgusted, "Mom!"

"Sorry dear."

Susan giggled and turned around, wrapping her arms around my neck and planting a kiss on my lips, "Is that a problem?"

"I don't think that would be a problem with anyone," Percy said, before immediately wishing he never said anything at all.

Athena glared, "It wouldn't!?" She asked dangerously.

Annabeth held her hands up, "Calm down mom. I'm sure that's not what he meant. We haven't done anything like that."

"Yeah," Percy added frantically. "I didn't mean it like that."

Athena glared for a few seconds, before tearing her gaze away from the sea-spawn and giving Poseidon an evil look, "Your son got lucky this time."

Poseidon smirked, "Luck had nothing to do with it bird-brain."

"Gods no," I smirked. "Now I won't feel bad when I tear them off."

More cat-calls echoed across the amphitheater; as Hera's mortification returned full force.

Zeus raised a eyebrow, and gave his wife a testy look.

Giggling suddenly broke through the room,

Aphrodite smirked, as everyone else chorused, "You got caught!"

Hera glared at the ground fiercely.

and despair sank into my stomach. I know that giggle.

Aphrodite suddenly burst out laughing.

Everyone looked at her weirdly, but for once she didn't care.

Susan looked embarrassed, and blushed lightly. "Umm, we have a visitor."

"Oh I wonder who that could be," Hera muttered angrily, as Aphrodite's smirk became even more smug.

A few were able to put together the mystery visitor's identity.

Groaning, I looked over at the table and sighed; as my worst nightmare was spotted, "What are you doing here Aphrodite?"

"Hey!" Aphrodite complained, "If anything, I'm people's greatest dream! Not their worst nightmare!"

Hera smiled mockingly, "Not to me."

Aphrodite smiled, "Oh don't let me stop you! I can always come back later."

"You're quite the smart-aleck aren't you mother," Lacy laughed.

Aphrodite shrugged sheepishly.

I glared, "Why. Are. You. Here?"

"Someone's angry," Hermes sang.

"I HAD GOOD REASON TO BE ANGRY!"

She fluttered her hands throughout the air, "Oh, I was in the area is all. There's quiet the rumor going around in these parts you know."

"A rumor?" Frank murmured, "Something tells me that isn't good."

"It wasn't," Hera responded, which caused Frank to jump since he didn't think anyone could hear him.

My body felt tight, as if every muscle I had suddenly contracted. My heart resonated in my head, and my palms felt sweaty,

"You're nervous," Malcolm realized; looking over at the Queen.

Hera tensed and stared at her husband silently, "Of course I was."

"A rumor? What rumor?"

Aphrodite absently filed her nails, "Oh, theres a rumor about some goddess got lucky recently.

Snickers resonated throughout the amphitheater, and Hera had to glare at every single person to make them stop.

After five minutes, Hestia was able to read again.

Apparently, a few nymphs heard some questionable sounds."

More snickers and cat-calls once again filled the amphitheater.

Zeus leaned back in his throne, and glared at the book with intense hate.

Susan stiffened and blushed; immediately staring at the ground. "Sorry."

Now the older, and more immature, campers and gods, downright cracked up. Some (CoughApollo&HermesCough) even fell out of their thrones from laughing to hard.

The other mature ones (mostly females) smacked the laughing men upside the head as hard as they could.

The love goddess laughed heartily, "Oh you two have nothing to worry about. I put a stop to that rumor as soon as it started, but next time; I would sound proof the cabin."

"Seriously," Percy fought to catch his breath. "That's an idea."

Athena glared, but said nothing.

Susan blushed once more, and I cracked a smile. "Thanks Aphrodite. Although, you scared me for a moment."

"You enjoyed that," Hera complained; looking at the beauty goddess. "Didn't you?"

"Maybe, just a little bit." Aphrodite faltered at the look she was getting, "Okay yeah I did."

"Jerk."

"That was the point."

"You jerk of jerks."

"I appreciate that."

Susan set the table, and I finished the food that was cooking. After that was done, all three of us sat down at the table and spent most of the morning talking.

"That must've been nice," Thalia said; leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes. "Being able to just sit down and relax like that. Talking and having a good time without having to worry about wars or anything."

The half-bloods all let out a wanton sigh, and the gods looked guiltily at their children.

I noticed something peculiar about Aphrodite though. She seemed more relaxed and happy, as if the weight of the world had been lifted from her shoulders.

"I know what that's like," Percy shuddered. "Never want to experience that again."

Annabeth and Artemis nodded in agreement, while Thalia winced as she remembered the quest.

Zoe stared at the stars.

"Okay," I said; interupting her conversation with Susan. "What happened to you?"

"What do you mean?" Piper asked.

Hestia smiled slightly.

Aphrodite smirked, "What do you mean?"

"Ha!" Leo laughed, "You think like your mom, beauty queen!"

"Well she is my mother, repair boy!"

"Your all happy and peppy;

"And that's unusual?" Artemis scoffed.

Aphrodite smirked at the huntress, "Oh I can be different if you prefer."

Artemis glared, but a blush lightly colored her pale face.

Everyone else stared unbelievably at the interaction.

Apollo gaped.

even more so than usual. Spill."

The love goddess smiled widely, and leaned back in her chair. "Alright. Well if you must know; Hephaestus and I have been sorting out the kinks in our marriage. We've been seeing a councilor."

Hephaestus raised an eyebrow, "So you were happy with the councilor?"

"Yes dear." Aphrodite smiled, patting her husband's arm.

My eyebrows shot up into my forehead in surprise, "A councilor? I never thought you two would ever agree on anything. Much less a councilor."

"I remember this," Tyche said; looking at her mother, the love goddess, "You guys seemed really happy."

"We were honey," Aphrodite replied.

Aphrodite sighed, and her shoulders relaxed; a calm and peaceful look came over her, and no matter how many times I've seen the outgoing goddess; I've never seen her this content.

"It's good to be content," Athena said wisely. "It leads to better state of mind, and promotes good health."

Poseidon rolled his eyes, "Good to know."

"We have been able to come to agreements, and it has helped our strained relationship."

Nyssa smiled; glad to hear her father was doing better, "That's good."

Hephaestus smirked at his daughter, although it was hard to see due to his beard.

Susan cocked her head, "Agreements?"

"Well," Aphrodite laughed a bit. "After going over our options, we decided to declare it an open marriage."

"Really!" The demigods gasped in surprise, "I've never heard of gods doing that. At least officially."

"Well, we wanted to continue to be able to have demigods," Aphrodite explained.

Hephaestus grunted in agreement, but if you looked closely, you could see a twinkle in his eye as he looked at his greek and roman children and legacies.

I gaped at her, "An open marriage? I thought Hephaestus would be to bitter about all the cheating to even consider that. But," I sighed. "He has demigods of his own, and it seems he enjoys having them. He's always so proud of his cabin, is he not?"

"Of couse he is!" Aphrodite exclaimed joyfully, "And so am I! It's because of this we declared the open marriage, and honestly it has eased lot's of the tension between us."

Hera nodded approvingly, "A good marriage is based on a good relationship. Tension between you two would only strain the relationship."

Zeus scoffed, and Hera scowled at her husband.

"That's good," I nodded; but a thought soon popped into my head. "And what of Ares?"

Aphrodite slunked in her seat, "Hephaestus and Ares are always going to keep fighting. Even if our marriage is an open one; I doubt either of them is going to let go of their riverly."

Said gods glared at eachother, but one could tell it wasn't as harsh as most had been lead to believe.

That surprised some people.

I sighed and shook my head, "That's not surprising."

Aphrodite laughed, "Yep."

"Anyways," I waved my hand. "You two seem to have made a break through. Congrats on that."

"Yes," Demeter commented. "I remember the official announcement you two made, it seems like that was the right choice."

Aphrodite smiled, while Hephaestus looked thankfully at his aunt.

Aphrodite grinned at me, "Thanks mommy."

Hera glared at the love goddess.

Aphrodite smirked back.

The demigods laughed and giggled at the interaction between the two of them.

I glared at the goddess, "Techniquely, you're older than me."

Aphrodite frowned, while some looked confused, "She is?"

Hera smirked, "Oh, she's the daughter of Ouranos. She's older than me."

The love goddess glared murderously at the other goddess.

She frowned, "It's not nice to point out a ladies age you know."

"It really isn't," Aphrodite muttered; not looking to attractive at the moment.

"Yes grandma."

A few burst out laughing at that, but sadly they were attacked by makeup products.

"HEY!"

Susan giggled; covering her mouth with her hand as she shook lightly with laughter. I couldn't help but stare at her;

Hermes waggled his eyebrows at his step-mother, "Oh is that true?"

"Shut up. Brat."

my clothes were large on her slim frame,

"Oh," Hecate cocked her head to the side. "Is she shorted than you."

"Yeah, by like six inches. And she's just naturally skinnier. She never gains weight."

and her hair was in little ringlets. Her eyes sparkled in the light, her smile seemed to warm the whole cabin, and her lips just looked so freaking kissable.

More cat-calls. More horrific glares.

It was an endless cycle really.

Gods, she is alluring.

The cycle continues.

Aphrodite grinned evily at me, and her eyes traveled between Susan and I. Her revenge was imminent,

Aphrodite suddenly sat up and smiled widely.

Hera paled.

"So, Susan do tell. Is Hera good in bed?"

Hera once again sunk in her throne, as more hoots and hollers echoed around her.

Zeus's eye twitched dangerously, and Aphrodite was cracking up.

After a few minutes, once again, passed Hestia was able to read again.

My food instantly caught in my throat, and I coughed and covered my mouth; as Susan suddenly turned a deep shade of scarlet.

"Embarrassing!" Dakota sang; taking another swing of his Kool-Aid.

I snapped at the stupid goddess, "That is none of your buisness!"

"HEY!" Aphrodite snapped, "I'm not stupid!"

"Could've fooled me," Artemis mumbled.

"You be quiet." Aphrodite commanded; mixing in some of her idiotic charmspeak.

Drew chuckled lightly, "That's going to be bad."

Piper scrunched her nose, as if the words physically hurt her to say, "I agree."

Drew looked a little satisfied with that.

I sat stiff in my seat; mentally plotting the murder of a fellow Olympian.

"I'll help," Artemis offered. "I won't mind."

Aphrodite looked a little hurt, "Oh, you would betray me so easily dear?"

"Oh shut up."

"Not a chance," Aphrodite smirked.

Aphrodite turned back to Susan, who shuffled uncomfortably as the love goddess clearly used charmspeak.

"Mom!" Piper complained, "That's not fair."

"Sorry honey. I wasn't trying to be mean." Aphrodite waved a hand. "Just wanted to piss of Hera."

Said goddess glared.

"Now sweethart, is Hera good in the sack or not?"

A few of the older campers covered their younger siblings' ears.

It didn't help though.

Sue blushed and played with her hair nervously as she was forced to answer, "Umm, yes... I... I would say she is."

"Well," Eros sighed. "She is a goddess. It's not unbelievable. She does have experience you know."

Hera blushed, "Did you have to word it like that?"

"Yes. Yes I did."

Aphrodite smirked evilly at me, "And how is her stamina?

"Seriously, why didn't I kill you?"

"The world will suffer if I'm not here."

"Yeah right."

Did she take you to... you know." She wiggled her eyebrows sugestively at Susan, "Cloud nine?"

"Mom!" Piper exclaimed, "Did you really have to ask that?"

"Why of course I did!" Aphrodite happily replied.

Susan covered her mouth and leaned forward onto the table; her face resembled a tomato, "Uhhh..."

"Your mortifying the poor girl!" Demeter scolded.

"I didn't mean too. Jeez."

"Stop!" I broke the charmspeaks' power, and glared at the love goddess. "Stop mortifying my girlfriend!"

"Hmm girl!" Travis snapped his fingers in the Z formation, "You made Hera angry!"

"I don't care," Aphrodite yawned. "She's not that scary."

Hera was plotting first degree murder.

"Aww, come on! It was just some harmless questions!" Aphrodite complained.

"I don't think that's harmless," Annabeth said.

"Yeah right."

"She agrees."

"But you really should answer my question."

Piper shook her head, "Mother..."

"I know."

"Aphrodite!"

Hestia sighed and closed the book, "That's the end of the chapter."

Everyone stood up and stretched, Chiron stomped his legs for attention, "I think that is enough for tonight. How about we all get some sleep now?"

Murmurs of agreement echoed around, and everyone started towards the cabins.

"Wait!" Reyna exclaimed; causing everyone to turn and look at the praetor, "What about us? We don't have our tents or any of our camping equipment."

Hecate walked to the front, "I can enlarge the cabins inside so that they automatically adjust to the appropriate number of bunks needed for both greek and roman. But you will all have to get along."

The Greeks and romans exchanged glances, before reluctantly nodding their assent. The half-bloods all followed their respective parents to their cabins, and turned in for the night.

However, Hera stood outside her cabin; staring at the night sky. She didn't even have to look to see who had moved to stand next to her to recognize the presence, "Nyx."

Nyx nodded a greeting, before also looking up at the sky, "Are you nervous?"

Hera laughed sadly, "About what? The reading? My future?"

"Both," Nyx replied; closing her eyes as if she already knew the answer.

The younger goddess sighed, "Yes. I'm scared. I don't know what to expect. This book, it's going to tell them everything. All my secrets, and I don't know if I want them to find out."

"And your future?" Nyx asked softly, "Does that also scare you?"

Hera tore her gaze away from the sky, and let out another sad laugh, "It terrifies me."

Nyx gave the Queen of Olympus a sad look, "Be strong Hera. It's the only thing you can do right now."

Hera looked back up at the sky; her eyes sad and hollow, yet hopeful and strong at the same time. She gazed at the stars, as if she was looking past all her problems and towards a bright and happy future instead of the horror approaching, "I know. Believe me I know."

So how was this chapter!? What was your favorite part and what not?

Also, after this things are hopefully going to start to pick up. This part of the story is Part One of Three, so it's mostly backstory and other stuff.

But not to worry! The action will pick up!

Review please! I absolutely love reading what you thought of it. Trust me.

I'll try to update soon~

Later!