It took three days of bed rest before Alexa felt mentally ready to get back to work, and another day to convince Jazz of that fact.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Jazz asked, squeezing her tight as they stood in the airport. It had taken her quite a bit of convincing to get the family to agree to go back home; Jazz, Melody and even Sean wanted to give Hera a stern talking to for this particular labor, though Sean at least had the excuse of ignorance. But she wasn't about to let them get in trouble with the queen of the gods for her sake.
"No." Alexa admitted. "But I think I'm on the mend. That'll have to be enough." Alexa felt as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders, but she had been carrying it for so long she still didn't know if she could correct her balance without it or not.
"Lexba!" Eddie squeaked from Melody's arms, reaching out his pudgy hands towards Alexa. Alexa blinked in surprise; he certainly hadn't done that before. His little grasping digits and his wiggling did bring a smile to her face. She took the baby from Melody's arms and gave him a hug. Eddie giggled and gave her a quick punch to the throat.
"I'm going to miss you too, you little stinker!" She half coughed, giving him a little dig in the ribs with the tip of her finger. Sean laughed and gently took his son from Alexa's arms.
"Take care, Alexa. And seriously, if you need anything don't hesitate to ask. We'll be there." Melody nodded her head in agreement with Sean's statement.
"Even if you just want to come by for dinner, there's always a place at the table." Melody added. Alexa couldn't help but smile.
"I'll try to keep you guys more in the loop from now on." Alexa promised, giving Melody a squeeze and Sean a quick handshake. Those two started to turn away, but Jazz stayed behind.
"You guys go ahead, I'll catch up in a bit." She assured them when they looked back at her. Once Sean and Melody had started for the luggage checking line, Jazz turned back to Alexa.
"Spits…are you absolutely sure you're okay?" Jazz asked. She could tell Alexa was holding things together, but after what she had been asked to do she'd be a terrible big sister and therapist if she didn't at least do everything she could to make sure. Alexa's smile was shaky at best, but she made it, regardless.
"No…but I think I've spent enough time doing nothing. If I do something, maybe I can fake it until I make it, you know?" Alexa said in a half serious tone. Jazz sighed and shook her head.
"Spits, I worry about you every second you're out there. I know I can't convince you to not go…" She hesitated before pulling something out of her pocket. "But I'd feel a lot better if you took this with you."
Alexa nearly gasped aloud. What was in Jazz's hand was an old but well cared for New York Giants cap.
"Jazz…that's a gift from your dad! I can't just-" Alexa's protests were cut off quickly.
"Yeah, and dad wanted it to see combat! Closest it gets with me is when I get the kids to hit the sandbag. Besides…" She pressed the baseball cap into Alexa's hands. "It's way more useful to you right now than it is to me…I think he'd get it."
Alexa hesitated, but slowly her fingers closed around the hat's brim.
"Thank you." She half whispered. Jazz's smile suddenly turned much more predatory. She gave Alexa a hard punch to the arm.
"And if you ever let yourself go into that sort of funk without calling again, I'll personally track you down and put you into a headlock to drag your ass back home!" Jazz declared. Alexa couldn't help but laugh as she rubbed her arm where Jazz had punched her.
"Miss Barber to see Mrs. White." The doorman could clearly hear the frostiness in her tone as she stepped up to the desk. He glanced up from his book with a start and stared into Alexa's eyes, still ringed with red. He seemed about ready to ask about it but seemed to think better of it. He closed his mouth, nodded, and passed her a card key.
The ride up to Olympus felt longer than usual, but she eventually arrived on the floating bridge overlooking Manhattan. The crowd of godlings seemed to sense her mood and kept their distance as she climbed up the great marble steps towards the palace. She pushed the doors open and stepped into the throne room with its twelve great seats of power.
"Welcome back, my dear." Hera said from her throne. "I see you were successful! Wonderful!"
Alexa glared up at Hera, folding her arms over her chest. Had looks been able to kill, and Hera capable of dying, the goddess's head would've been rolling across the floor right then. But neither was the case and the only thing Hera seemed to be feeling was contentment.
"Well, I can see you're still angry about it all, so you'll be happy to hear that your next labor won't take place for a few months." The queen of the gods leaned forward slightly for emphasis. "I've spoken with Persephone about you. She has agreed, for your fifth labor, she will take you on as her handmaiden over the winter."
"What does that entail, exactly?" Alexa asked.
"Oh, you know; follow her to the Underworld, do a few chores, help out around the palace, do a few tasks for her, the usual." Hera explained breezily.
"It sounds like you're trying to squeeze multiple labors into one. " Alexa pointed out with a huff. Hera chose to ignore this and continued as if Alexa hadn't spoken.
"They've decided on a long winter this year, so you're expected to meet Persephone in meeting room 112 to start your journey on September 5th, at 3:30 pm. Be prepared for some crying. Her mother always kicks up a storm on the first day of autumn." Hera lists off as the tattoo on Alexa's arm suddenly sizzles with electricity. She winced, but barely resisted the urge to grab at her arm. Hera barely seemed to notice.
"Anything else?" Alexa grunted.
"About the labor? No, it's pretty straightforward. But there is one other thing. Your father asked me to pass along a message." For the first time since she had arrived, Alexa visibly perked up.
"What did he say?" She asked.
"He wanted me to tell you that he has tremendous faith in you, and that you have his support for what's to come." Those words sent an icy droplet of anticipation rolling down Alexa's spine. What did her father mean? What was coming? But Hera wasn't done piling on her anxiety. "I think that's a lovely sentiment, so I'd very much like to echo it. You also have my support going forward!
Alexa stared at the goddess who smiled back at her placidly. Just when the temptation to ask grew to be too much for her, Hera gave her a small wave of her hand.
"Well, go on, my dear! Go enjoy your summer." With this clear and obvious dismissal Alexa had little choice but to hurry out of the throne room. By the time she got to the alley where Luna waited Alexa had made up her summer plans. She'd go back to Camp and try to relax before the trip to the Underworld. A quiet vacation at home would be just what the doctor ordered.