A/N:

The response was positive for the most part, so I have decided to continue this story. Unfortunately, summertime is the busy period at work which leads to a lot of overtime. So, throughout August, expect updates every 2 weeks or so. Once September hits I should be able to do up to one chapter a week.

This chapter was partially written in 2019 as well, so you may notice a slight change in writing style part way through. After this, all future chapters will be completely new material and follow the same writing structure.

I own nothing. All rights are reserved for the original author, good ole Rick.

Chapter 1

"Fate… But if you are the God of Fate, what of the Fates themselves? Those that weave the strings of life?" Sally asked.

"Well, we have, or had, a working relationship of sorts. I left the weaving of the strings and the overall plan to them, as it would be a 24/7 job for me if I were to take it on. I am simply an instrument of fate. I guide it when necessary, nudging it when needed, and providing slight alterations to receive the overall desired outcome. I by no means have control over the entirety of Fate itself. To be quite honest, my domain of Fate doesn't grant me much power over Fate itself. The domain simply gives me the ability to interfere from time to time where I see fit. Most immortals do not have this liberty, so it is extremely valuable. Other than that, however, the only ability it gives me are… glimpses of sorts. Parts of the future as a whole, and feelings of where Fate may need guidance." Hector explained.

"So, what did you mean exactly when you said that Fate had a different plan for you?"

"Well from what I understand, I have a large role to play in the near future, but it is not a direct role. You see, my siblings, family and the Olympians are the only ones that were able to remember me. Gaea's actions struck me from the history books, and not even the minor gods can recall who I am. Yet I have tried, and it seems it is not my Fate to contact my family. The Fates and Ananke herself have made that clear." He said with a slightly bitter tone.

"Ananke… The Primordial of Fate?" Sally supplied.

"Yes, the Lady of Fate herself. No power is greater than her when it comes to the fate of this world. She has forbidden me from contacting my family, claiming that it is necessary to maintain the balance and for fate to take the proper course. Being the God of Fate, I at least have a sense that she is right. Also, I would do anything to protect my family. If it means not contacting them, then so be it." He said sadly.

"Well, it's good to know that you live up to your name. It roughly translates to Steadfast Protector, doesn't it?" Sally asked.

Hector smiled, "It does indeed. As you may know, Artemis and Apollo were the patrons of Troy, and Athena the patron of Athens. I daresay that Artemis may have planted the idea for the Price of Troy, Hector, to be my namesake. The same could be said for Athena giving the idea for naming Aegeus, who was one of the eventual founders of Athens." He said mischievously while smirking. "It's good to know that they cared so much about their dear uncle." He said with pride.

Sally smiled at the positive turn in Hector's mood. "So what role is it that you have to play then, if not a direct one?" Sally asked.

At this, Hector almost appeared nervous. "All in good time my dear Sally. Unfortunately, time is the very thing that we are out of at the moment. Sustaining this contact even in your dreams can be somewhat taxing for me after a while." He said.

"Wait, will I ever see you again? It's not that I am not grateful for the information that you have already given me; I am. It's good to know that I'm not simply crazy." Sally said.

Hector smiled and pulled something out of his pocket, "Yes, I will return, don't worry. It may not be right away, but I promise I will eventually." He gently grabbed her hand and placed the item in it. "Take this. It is one of my symbols. It's of great importance, so be sure never to lose it."

Sally opened her hand to see what could be so important to the god and found a necklace in her hand. The chain of the necklace was a shining silver with a pendant hanging from it. She recognized the pendant itself as a bident of sorts that was a dark graphite gray.

It was not a traditional fork-like bident as most depictions are described. Instead of two wide prongs, the bident instead had two prongs that were relatively close together. Each prong was a slight crescent shape that appeared to be bladed along the outside of each prong before coming to two points that were fairly close together at the end. The pendant also seemed to have engravings that were a slightly lighter shade of gray. Though the pendant was extremely detailed, it was far too small for her to appreciate the apparent intricate engravings. A thought came to Sally's mind after a moment of examination.

"I thought the bident was one of the symbols of Hades? How is it that it is also your apparent symbol?" Sally inquired.

Hector gave a sad smile at the thought of his eldest brother before responding. "Well, you see Hades is an exceptionally misunderstood being. Many believe that he is evil simply because of his domain of the underworld. They believe that just because a being lives in the shadows, that he is inherently evil. That couldn't be further from the truth.

You see, I was in a unique position when it came to understanding Hades. I am a being born of the Night. A creature of darkness and shadow in my own right. I understood Hades better than any one of my siblings ever could. He can be a bit somber and will never be the 'life of a party' as you say, but he is far from evil. He loves his family, but unfortunately due to them not understanding him as I do, they neglected him. You could say I was the bridge between Hades and my family. Unfortunately, without that bridge, he has been on the outside looking in ever since. I believe Hades took up my symbol to honor me. He doesn't possess my weapon of power, but he wields a similar weapon in my honor. He may be the sibling that misses me the most to be quite honest. Well… aside from one other." At the conclusion of his sentence, he seemed to drift off into thought.

As Sally waited for him to seemingly return to reality, she slipped the necklace on. Upon placing the necklace on, she felt an indescribable feeling of tranquility wash over her. Her expression did not go unnoticed by Hector. Seeing her reaction, he spoke. "Yes, after hearing that you could sense my aura, I suppose you would be able to feel my essence emitting from the pendant. It isn't exactly easy to describe, but simply put each god has their own aura. Each gives off a different… feeling of sorts. This feeling can of course change depending on the mood of the god in question, but they each have what you could call a 'base' aura. The aura they emit without emotional influence, such as anger." He explained with some difficulty.

Sally nodded and proceeded to explain the tranquil feeling that the pendant gave off. He listened to her explanation and nodded. "That is correct. You see, though I have the domain of Night, the Night itself is not foreboding or menacing as many people would think. The night is calm, tranquil, and full of life. The creatures of the night forage and wonder in harmony. Wolves howling in the distance, embracing the glow of the moon, and the stars of the night sky. This mixed with my domains of Tides and Constellations, results in a rather calming aura; one that is essentially, at peace. Now that of course can change if I am angered, but that is of no matter. I am rarely angered in such a way, though I admit that when I am, it is not a pretty sight. Especially when my more minor domain of Storms is added to the mix…" He said sheepishly.

Upon hearing the explanation Hector offered about the symbol of Hades, she couldn't help but have a bit more respect for him even though she didn't know him well at all. If everything he was telling her was to be believed, then he seemed like a truly compassionate individual. Individual? Deity? She decided to come back to that quandary later.

"I see. Well, it seems that you love your family a great deal. Thank you for answering my questions. I'm still not quite sure whether to believe if this is real, but it's the best explanation I have so far given all the evidence…" Sally trailed off.

"Yes, I know that it is a lot to take in even if you have some evidence. It does go against everything that is currently known to the mortal world after all." Hector said.

He shuffled his feet a bit and set the saucer and cup on the coffee table. "Well, I must take my leave. Know that everything I have told you is the truth my dear. I swear it upon the river Styx." As he fished the oath distant thunder rolled even in the world of her dreams. Sally wasn't sure what the significance of this 'oath' he had taken was, but if the serious voice he used was any indication, it was not one that was made lightly.

Sally nodded to him and almost instantly woke up with a start. As she pondered the dream she had just had and whether or not it was even possible, Sally looked out the window of her apartment. As she stared into the night sky, she swore that the stars of the night sky started to become visible even through the pollution and lights of the city. Never in all her years had she been able to see the stars while she was in the city. As Sally was staring at the stars, she noticed a slight glow out of the corner of her eye. She looked down to see the necklace from her dream seemingly reflecting the starlight. As Sally turned her attention back to the stars, they seemed to glow a little brighter in response. With this Sally finally was at peace. She finally, after all these years, had an explanation for the odd events throughout her life. Not only that, but she had proof. The necklace and the stars were proof enough that it was not a simple dream. At her internal revelation the stars glowed brighter once more before slowly fading back to the star-less sky she was accustomed to.

—

Over the following months Sally went through her life being more at peace than she had ever been with the world. She finally had an explanation, and as such she stopped trying to ignore the abnormal things happening around her. Instead, she actually looked for every mythological thing that she could. With her eyes truly open for the first time she saw more of the mythological world than she ever had before. Sadly, the one being that had opened her eyes to the world around her had yet to visit her again.

Sally carried the necklace that she was gifted everywhere she went. Even during the most hectic of days, the pendant seemed to almost exude a sense of tranquility that was a great comfort to her. Every night when the stars would come out only for Sally to be deprived of the ability to see them, the pendant would begin glowing with the silvery-white of starlight. As Sally gazed at it, she pondered over what made the pendant so important to the God of Night. Aside from it seemingly responding to the domain of its master, she had yet to notice any exceptional qualities.

The last few months had been eye-opening to Sally for yet another reason. She had realized just how solitary her life had become. The talk she had had with the Son of Nyx, though it was a dream, was the most she had spoken with another person in quite some time.

Sally didn't crave the company of the god in particular; she had just met him after all. Sally instead wanted something that had been in her mind for quite some time. Family. More than anything Sally wanted a child to call her own. Being the kind and compassionate soul that she was, it was unsurprising that she wished to care for a child of her own.

Make no mistake, Sally wasn't necessarily looking for love, a soulmate, or anything of the sort. She would be more than content with a child filling her need for family. She had such a desire to start a family that she had even begun to consider adoption as of late.

Sally's thoughts drifted as she walked home to her apartment after closing the store for the evening. She had been working extra shifts as of late seeing that the owner was having a hard time finding help. The extra time worked, though tiring, had been profitable. Sally didn't have much of a desire for material things, so the majority of what she had earned working overtime these past few months had been saved.

Even with the modest pay that the store offered, her lack of spending had led to her having a decent sum of money set aside for the future. She had envisioned it helping quite a bit if she was ever able to act on her thoughts of adoption.

After such a long day Sally did what any sane person would have done. As she arrived at her apartment, she didn't waste any time in taking a quick shower and going straight to bed. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep, only to have a much different dream than any she could have anticipated.

—

Sally instantly 'woke' to find herself in a familiar scene. She was in her living room with a familiar figure sitting across from her. He was sitting with his hands in his lap seemingly deep in thought. As he realized that Sally had 'arrived,' an odd concept given this was her own head and her own dream, his face flickered to one of happiness and… trepidation? Sally wasn't quite sure.

"Hello again Sally. I must apologize. It has taken far longer for me to regain the energy that I needed for this meeting." Hector said. Sally wasn't quite sure why, but something about the way that he said this meeting made it seem like there was more to it than simply talking to her.

"That's alright Hector, there is no need to apologize. Your circumstances seem… unique to say the least."

He sighed, "Oh how right you are Sally. I don't believe there has ever been a circumstance that has even been close to mine. Not to mention mine seems to get more complicated over time…" He trailed off.

"What do you mean? Have your circumstances changed since our last meeting?"

Hector looked into Sally's eyes, "Very much so. However, just how much remains to be seen. I believe that will depend on the outcome of this meeting."

"Outcome?" Sally asked.

"Indeed. We will make our way to that point. First, let us simply start with a question. How are you, Sally?" He inquired with a tone of sincerity.

The simplicity of the question and the sincerity with which he seemed to ask it surprised her slightly. As if the god could read her thoughts, which now that she thought about it, he probably could… He interrupted before she could respond.

"I understand your surprise. Much of Greek Mythology relays the message that the Gods are not overly kind or compassionate." His sad expression said that he was disappointed in how his family was portrayed. "It's sad that this is the reputation that they have garnered for themselves. I truly wish it wasn't the case… Anyway, I am one of the exceptions. I care for mortals in a way that most immortal beings do not." He said.

"And why is that?" Sally interjected. Hector frowned a bit, and she quickly amended the question. "Forgive me, it's not that I'm trying to be accusatory or anything… I'm just trying to understand."

"Fair enough." He responded. "The actual reason is a topic that is up for debate. Some would argue that given my domain of Fate, I have a natural predisposition towards caring about the fate of all beings including mortals. However, some would also say that that's just who I am in general. As I said before, I would like to think I have always been one of the most compassionate gods. There's truly only one other that holds these values as highly as I do." A wistful smile adorned his face.

Sally, upon seeing the look on his face, couldn't help but ask the obvious question. "Who would this 'one other' that you speak of?"

Hector broke into a wide smile. "Well, my favorite immortal of course. Don't let my mother know that I said that mind you. I speak of Hestia. Goddess of the Hearth, Home, Family and Hope." He said with a sense of pride.

Sally noted the expression and the tone with which he had used to speak of her and quickly figured out that perhaps there was more than a friendship there. The only problem with her train of thought was an obvious one. Attempting to broach this topic carefully, she first asked a different question.

"Could you tell me a bit about her? The way you speak of her makes her seem wonderful." Sally asked with a smile.

Hector's smile could have put a movie star to shame as he launched eagerly into an explanation. "She is! She is the true embodiment of everything that is good about an immortal being. She loves and cares for every member of her family, and always will. She was the only other to have an overwhelmingly positive relationship with Hades aside from myself. She'd always work hard to keep the peace in the family and keep all my siblings from arguing constantly." He said, exasperated.

"Hestia is one of the kindest and most compassionate beings the world has ever known. She is the one that keeps the fire burning, providing the light of Hope to the world. She is the peace and happiness. She has the most important job of all, to keep the flame of civilization, of hope, tended. Without her everything would fall out of balance. Western Civilization would crumble, and the gods would fade."

"And if all that wasn't enough, she is one of the most powerful goddesses in the Parthenon! And guess who knows it? Almost no one! If it were anyone else, they would be shouting about it and flaunting it for all the world to hear. But not Hestia."

"She is the eldest child of Kronos and Rhea. As a result of that, combined with the fact that she has the strongest claim to one of the most destructive elements, fire, she is exceptionally powerful. No one aside from me knows just how powerful. There are a few Olympians that can hazard a decent guess, but even their assumptions don't give her true power justice. I can confidently say that she could rival each of The Big Three if she so chose, but despite her power she is a peaceful goddess. And for that she has my utmost respect." He paused, giving Sally a moment to interject.

"The Big Three?" She asked questionably. "Given what I know of the subject, I have a decent guess as to who that could be. Hades, Poseidon and Zeus; correct?"

He chuckled slightly at his own internal joke, "Yes. However, the drama queen would most likely be a tad upset that you listed him last. He fancies himself as more powerful than his brothers. Not always the case, but anyway… Yes. Hestia could fight any one of them to at least a standstill, if not defeat them. The only one that could best her is probably Poseidon, and that is only near his own domain. The only reason he could even do that though is because of the natural elemental advantage he holds. Away from the sea however, Hestia could best him." He said confidently.

"This is all based on pure power capability alone of course. Combat skill is another matter entirely. Obviously if you took power itself out of the equation the results would change. Especially being that Hestia is a peaceful goddess and as such does not have much skill in any kind of combat situation." He said thoughtfully.

"If it came down to skill and no powers of any kind, Hestia would be at the bottom due to her peaceful nature. Zeus doesn't train much either, mostly he is a diplomat who is extremely powerful due to his domains. Now Hades and Poseidon… That would truly be a sight to behold. Though I have my guesses…"

"Oh! She is also the best cook in existence." He said suddenly, with a triumphant smile, as if it was the best argument out of everything that he had said. Sally mentally faces palmed at his child-like tone.

"So, you two were very close, weren't you?" Sally asked, though the tone made it seem like more of a statement than a question.

Hector smiled. "Yes. I love all of my family of course, but she was everything to me. We understood each other and both worked towards the same goal. When our family would fight, we'd both work together to stop it. When they would make mistakes or lead incorrectly, we'd talk to them. With both of us united, there wasn't a god on Olympus that would oppose our reasoning. Not out of fear, but out of love. They knew if we agreed on something that we were almost always right. As such, we kept the peace."

"Her aura is one of hope. Hope, peace, and almost serenity. You've felt my own aura for yourself. Mine is one of… tranquility in a sense. Unless angered, which takes a lot to do. When needed, the Night can be truly terrifying, but I digress. As a result, if both of us were to exude our auras' together, it's nearly impossible for anyone to continue an altercation in our presence. Keeping the peace was something we took great pride in. I'm sure they also realized how strong the two of us would be together if pushed too far as well, but I'd like to think that they were simply more afraid of disappointing us than us actually causing harm." Hector finished thoughtfully.

Sally took in the information, but she had a feeling that there was much more to it than that. Apparently, she didn't do a very good job of hiding that feeling; as Hector saw her face he spoke. "Yes, before you ask. There is more to it than that…"

He had a wistful look on his face as he paused, seemingly bracing himself for the words he was about to speak.

"You see, Hestia and I were very much in love. Now, before you ask, she is a maiden goddess of course. She also remains a maiden goddess I might add. As I said before, I am the male equivalent of that if you choose to think of it that way. What I did not say earlier is that the reason for this is my love for Hestia. We knew we could never be together in that way, but that was of little importance. We loved each other for the beings we were. For what we valued in life. We valued family, peace and compassion. We were everything that love is meant to be, in my own humble opinion of course. We didn't require the more intimate parts of physical affection to love what we had. The more simple displays of affection were more than enough for us." He said most of this happily and with a smile, but at the word 'had,' it was clear the sadness of his loss had hit him.

Attempting to change the subject, and also to get back to the origins of the conversation, Sally asked a question. "So why is it that you're here Hector?"

As she asked the question, Sally noticed a change in Hector's demeaner. He suddenly looked sheepish… and dare she say, perhaps even nervous. What could possibly make a god nervous in her presence of all things?

Hector rubbed the back of neck in a nervous gesture before responding, "Well that is a more complicated question than you would think."

Hector signed and seemed to collect himself before continuing, "I have an offer for you. It is one I believe that you would like, but please listen to the entire explanation before jumping to any conclusions." He said with his hands raised in a placating gesture.

Sally frowned slightly and sat back in her chair with her arms crossed. Her ice blue eyes narrowed slightly as she looked back at Hector expectantly.

Now Hector may be a god, but there was just something about that look on a woman's face that made him want to tread carefully regardless.

Deciding on how to begin he started with the part she would be most interested in hearing. "I would like to offer you a chance at the one thing you want above all else Sally. I want to offer you the opportunity to have family. A child to call your own." He stated gently.

Sally's eyes widened slightly at the knowledge that he knew what she wanted most. Upon thinking further, she remembered again just who he was talking to. A god that would of course know what her inner most desires were.

After a few seconds of silence as she contemplated what Hector had said, she looked up to meet his eyes once again.

"How? Do you know of a child personally that needs a good home?" She asked with an obvious hopeful tone.

Hector allowed himself a smile at the sincerity that Sally displayed. She truly was one of a kind. She had a heart of gold that reminded him almost painfully of his Hestia. Thinking upon her further, his smile widened. Hestia would simply adore Sally. No question.

Getting back to the topic at hand, he became more serious. "Yes, I do, or rather I will. You see… there was a prophecy made some time ago. In simple terms, it spoke of a half-blood of the eldest gods bringing either prosperity or ruin to this age."

As he watched Sally's reaction, he could see the gears turning in her head attempting to figure out what this had to do with the supposed child that would need a mother.

"This child would need to be able to grow in an environment that would give a strong moral compass. One of love, and compassion. One that would set him on the correct path." Seeing her eyes hardening, he was quick to correct his wording before she could interrupt.

"I do not mean to completely control this child's life. I do not wasn't to manipulate them to do my bidding. This I swear to you Sally. I assure you that above all I value family." He said with a pointed look.

"No, I simply have glimpsed some of the challenges and hardships that he will face in life. Unfortunately, there will be many, and I know not how their story will ultimately end. However, I would want them to be loved. To have good values instilled in them, so that they may have the best chance possible." He said.

Sally thought about his words and couldn't fault him. A child that had such a destiny on his shoulders was surely would need all the help that he could get. If she could be the one to raise that child and give them everything they could possibly need, of course she would do it.

The question in her mind was why said child would need a parent or guardian in the first place. If the child was a half-blood, which she took to mean half god and half mortal given the context, who were the parents? Where were they? She asked Hector those very questions.

Upon hearing the questions, Hector almost seemed to get nervous. He shifted his weight slightly and averted his eyes, refusing to meet her ice blue ones.

"Well, this is where it becomes a bit complicated. You see the child isn't born yet. They also may not even be born. That, in all honesty, is completely up to you." He stated.

Sally's face took on a confused expression with the obviously vague answer. Seeing her face, he reluctantly continued his explanation.

"This child would theoretically be yours Sally. Not just by adoption, but actually your child. Yours and mine to be exact…" He paused and realized too late that perhaps he shouldn't have led with that part of the explanation.

For after a moment for Sally to process his words, her expression turned stormy. He looked up only to see the incoming feminine fury filled slap coming in his direction.