Hera

The rustle of the waves from the ocean were heard in the death of the night as Hera was sitting alone at a bench observing the ocean. The pier was lightened up by streetlights that were standing there. The streetlights were like small stars that were engulfed by the darkness of the night.

Hera couldn't sleep tonight, partly because of Nico's outburst, but mainly because of this trip. It was exhausting her. When her brothers made the decision that she, Amphitrite and Persephone should bond with their demigod children, she was pretty much insulted. Hera was a proud goddess. She knew that, people that knew her knew that. It wasn't such a mystery. When the trip was suggested, it was a slap in her face. It reminded her how broken her whole family was. Everybody was cheating on everyone without caring for each other. And as goddess of the family she failed. She failed to keep her family together.

Truth to be said, Hera kinda liked this trip. She didn't went out for ages, mainly because her stupid husband. He always tried to keep her from the mortal world fearing she might cheat on him, but that hypocrite then cheats on her with thousand of other women. She loved him, she really did, but it was hard to see him cheating on her almost every day with a new woman.

She became bitter, people called her the Ice Queen and began to hate her, thinking she couldn't love and hated all demigods. In reality she was jealous of all gods and goddesses that could have demigods. Those gods seem to have so much fun, they had a family. Hera sighed thinking about that. There were times when she wanted just to cry and sob her heart out, but she wasn't like that. She had hid her feelings behind a mask of steel for millenniums and would continue doing this.

Hera could understood why Nico di Angelo reacted that way. She never really cared for the boy, but she felt sympathy towards him. She knew how it was to be the outcast, the one being feared and hated. Nico probably hid himself behind a mask like herself, but the mask broke. She sighed. Maybe she would talk to him about this. In the end this was a bonding trip and she had to bond with all people, not just Zeus demigod children.

"Lady Hera?" a voice called from behind. Hera turned around to see an awkwardly standing Percy Jackson looking at her unsure whether to approach to her or not.

"Perseus, what are you doing here that late?" she asked him wondering what was keeping the son of Poseidon from his sleep.

Percy rubbed his neck nervously. "I…I couldn't sleep. I had to think about Nico. Poor kid is kinda broken." he said.

Hera nodded. She was actually worried for the teenager. She was his aunt in a way. "Yes, poor child, I hope gets better." she said.

Percy just looked at her like a fish as if he learned that Hephaestus won the Beauty contest. Hera rolled her eyes. "Seriously Perseus. I may be a cold hearted goddess sometimes, but that doesn't mean I am heartless." she said.

Percy blinked. He seemed to process the fact that Hera cared for anything. He shook his head. "I'm sorry, it's just you never seemed to care for anyone besides yourself. You are always in a bad mood and are always so…cold hearted." he said not thinking about that he was talking to a goddess.

Hera glared at him. How dared he to talk to her like this. But then she thought about her promise. Maybe the others were right. I get too angry too easy.

"I tell you what Perseus. Would you be warm hearted and sweet, if your girlfriend would be cheating on you every day with a different man?" she said glaring at him. "Would you be sweet and happy, if every single god, goddess, nymph and demigod hated you, just because you are seen as the Ice Queen who is in reality broken by her own family? Would you be in a good mood, if you realize that everyone besides you has a happy family?!" she asked almost shrieking now. She tried not to cry at this point. It was just too much.

Percy looked at her in shock at this point. He probably never expected her to feel that way. Just like everyone else. She thought bitterly.

Percy rubbed his back nervously. He seemed to find the right words now. "I'm sorry. I…I never knew you felt this way…I think I would be bitter too, if I had such a life." he said.

Hera laughed at that. It was a bitter laugh, she hadn't really laughed for centuries now. "It doesn't matter. My life will never change. I didn't wanted to go to this "bonding" trip, because I knew that it will never change anything." she said.

Percy shifted around awkwardly. "Have…have you ever tried?" he asked nervously.

Hera examined him and tried to figure out what he meant with this. She read his mind and knew, what he meant now.

She nodded. "I have many times…but I am tired and sick. People call me the Ice Queen not for nothing Perseus. I…I am tired of all of it." she said sadly.

Percy shook his head. "It's never too late, you have to try." he said.

Hera laughed bitterly. "Thank you Perseus, but I fear that won't help. I have lived on this planet for over three thousand years now and I think I know what's going to change and what not." she said firmly her expression pretty much emotionless. "I don't think your girlfriend would like it if you try to conform me." she said.

Percy just blinked. "Annabeth has good reason to not like you, but just because she doesn't like you, doesn't mean I can't help you." he said.

Hera looked at him in surprise. She thought he was mocking her, but his mind told her a different thing. "I thought you hated me too." she said.

Percy laughed. "You aren't one of my favorites goddesses, but I don't hate you. Through my life I have learned that gods and goddesses are just simply different than us humans." he said.

Hera chuckled. "Good observation, Perseus." she said smiling a bit. She always kinda admired his loyalty to his friends and family.

Percy smiled at her a bit. "It doesn't always have to be this way…I am sure a lot more people would be more friendly to you if you returned it. Love is based on mutuality." he said.

Hera just looked at him thinking about his words. Maybe they had some truth in it. "You know, you are not that bad Perseus." she said to him.

Percy just grinned at her. "Funny, my steppie said the same thing. I guess I am just too likable." he said grinning.

Hera rolled her eyes. "Don't be too self-sure of yourself Perseus." she said, but smiling anyway.

Percy smiled back awkwardly. "Well, this is a bonding trip, right? So we have to form bondings and help each other and get past or differences." he said.

Hera thought about his words. Maybe he was right. She kinda giving up trying centuries ago and just fell into this bitter woman that she was now. Maybe…maybe she should try to be nice once in a while.

Percy rubbed his neck nervously. "Well, I better go back sleeping now. If…well if you need anybody, you can talk to me Lady Hera." he said smiling a bit.

Hera stared at the half-blood incredulously, then smiled at him. "I will acknowledge your offer, Perseus. Good night." she said.

Percy smiled at that. "Well…good night then, Lady Hera." he said then turning around going back to the hotel.

As he went away, Hera cried: "Wait!"

Percy turned around looking at him surprised. He probably feared she would know hurt him, but she just smiled at him and said something that she hadn't said for a while. "Thank you Perseus. And please call me Aunt Hera. We are family after all." she said.

Percy grinned at her. "No problem. You know Zeus is an idiot for cheating on you. You are not that bad either. Night, auntie!" he said then running away.

Hera frowned, but smiled nevertheless. "Don't call me auntie!"

Percy just laughed and ran back to the hotel. Hera smiled at him as he ran away. Maybe…maybe there was a hope for her at all.

Percy

Well that went better then I thought Percy thought as he went into the hotel. He never really liked Hera, but hearing her saying this he understood why she was the way she was. For the first time Percy saw the goddess as a person with feelings and not just as a cold hearted ruler. She was actually nice, when she wasn't in her usual mood. This bonding trip was really helping. First his step-mother, now Hera. He had never thought about this, but those goddesses were actually fun to hang out with.

Percy opened the door to his room and what he saw shocked him. Jason was there comforting Nico while he sobbed. Percy's heart broke at the scene.

Percy ran over to him and engulfed him in a hug. Nico simply accepted it and continued to cry. He turned to Jason. "How long has he been doing this now?" he asked.

Jason looked down. It was clearly to see that he was not comfortable about this. "About ten minutes, I think. That's when I woke up from his crying. I…I saw him there crying his heart out and immediately went to him hugging him." he said while some tears came out from his eyes. "Poor Nico." he said.

Percy just hugged Nico. He tried not to cry too. "Shh, it's okay. Your big brothers are here." he said.

Nico continued to cry. "Bianca…I want my sister." he just said crying. Percy looked at him in shock, then he turned around to Jason. "I…I don't know. He has been talking things like that for ten minutes now." he said shakily.

Jason went over to Nico. "Hey, listen to me. It's going to be okay. You have me, Percy and the others. You aren't alone anymore."

Nico didn't said anything. He just mumbled. "Bianca…" Percy's heart broke at this. He knew that Nico loved his sister to death, but he had never seen him so down. "I don't want to be alone anymore." he whispered. Percy eyes widened in shock at this. He knew that Nico always felt a little bit alone, but he thought that he pushed those thoughts away.

"You are not alone anymore. You have me, Jason, Hazel, Reyna and so many people more. You aren't alone anymore." he said soothingly.

"Persephone hates me." Nico just mumbled back. He had stopped crying now, but some tears were still dripping down his cheek.

Percy now felt angry at Persephone. How dared she hurt his little brother! He laid a hand on his shoulder. "She does not hate you, Nico." he said soothingly. "She just don't know how to express it." he said. Jason gave him a incredulous look and Percy responded it with a glare telling him to shut up. Jason looked away sheepishly.

"Bianca…" Nico murmured again. Percy hugged him more. "Bianca will be always be in your memories. She may not be alive, but she will always be in your heart and memories." he said.

Jason joined the hug. "And you have us now. You will never be alone again." he said.

Nico just nodded not saying anything. He just hugged the two of them tightly. The three of them remained in their position not moving anywhere. Percy looked down on the broken kid. He would make sure that Nico would never feel alone anymore. He would make sure. Because he was his big brother, because Nico was family.

I AM SUCH AN AWFUL PERSON! WHAT HAVE I DONE TO MY NICO?! *tries not to sob*. GOD; I DESERVED TO BE PUNISHED! Well, I hope you liked this chapter. I tried to make it emotional, but I suck at emotional stuff (my opinion). This chapter is going to be like one of the turning points of the story. With Percy and Amphitrite a relationship has been fixed already. Hazel and Persephone's just started bonding, but now their bonding became a huge scar, because Persephone hurt her brother. Hera and Jason are still neutral and have to bond. Thalia and Hera is going to be hard, but she at least sees Hera in a slightly different light now. Nico and Persephone is going to be the hardest. I know I made the two of them bond really quickly in my other story Mission Solangelo. But in this story, they must renew their whole relationship. Persephone will feel guilty and Nico probably hate her more than ever now. It's still going to be a long way. Don't expect this story to become one where everyone bonds immediately. It has a lot of drama, angst, hurt/comfort, some humor and a lot of tears. So I hope you liked it. Please review. I will update soon. *still trying not to sob* GODDAMN IT! WHO PUT THESE ONIONS HERE?! WHY DID I HAD TO WRITE THIS CHAPTER?!