People always do crazy things when they're in love. This maxim had ruled his existence since the first time Megara spoke it to him. He'd always known it was true. It spoke to the core of his being.

Yet.

Why hadn't he stopped to think this through?

He should have been more calculated, maybe less public. Smarter gods than him carried on correspondences with mortals, and they didn't wind up on a social gossip platform. What was wrong with him?

That was a silly question. Only one thing was setting him off-kilter, and there was no going back on it.

He was in contact with her again.

The very thought made his blood sing her name.

Megara. Meg.

Alive. His Megara. If he called for her by name, using any godly power to reach for her, she would answer, and it would be her voice. He could reach out and take her hand… and even kiss her!

That thought set him off, and he willed himself to the stadium on Olympus, where he could cartwheel and vault like a madman without consequences. Among the clouds, he could leave no destruction and crow his shouts of joy into the aether.

Soon, he'd have to address the situation with Athena. She'd help him strategize. Aphrodite would be a better strategist for the whole love affair, but... he'd done this before without help...

He landed on a bed of clouds, limbs bouncing like a fallen ragdoll. He'd done it alone last time and lost her within two years. That wasn't a legend he'd like to see retold for a new generation.

He had to steady himself. Think.

Megara's life was too important to fritter away on impulses. She needed a careful approach. Patience. Some planning might help her live forever. If Hades thought he'd taken his eyes off of her permanently, he might strike without warning to remove her from his godsdamned chessboard. But if he knew Hercules was looking after his wife as he'd always done, there was no telling how cruelly he would torment them both.

Hercules glared into the brilliant azure sky, picturing the stygian green of Hades's domain superimposed over it. He wouldn't let her go back there. She belonged topside and breathing. Preferably with him, but that was her choice to make.

The initial rush of joy at revealing his presence to Megara faded under the weight of ill portent. With no conceivable alternative, Hercules approached Athena, who was predictably gazing fondly down at Athens. She sat on a throne made of books—their invention had caused an insufferable stir—and she didn't even acknowledge Hercules's approach.

For a solid five minutes, Hercules contained his anxiety and allowed her to gaze upon her beloved polis. However, he could only wait so long while Megara's life was involved. Minutes may not be much to immortals, but she was a plaything of the Fates, and they could pull out the scissors whenever they pleased. Hercules cleared his throat. "Athena," he said in his intentionally theatrical "hero" voice, "I need your help strategizing on an extremely important matter."

"That's nice, dear," Athena replied, not looking up.

"My wife is alive, and I'm keeping her this time," Hercules said, maintaining his voice of authority.

"Your wife?" Athena frowned. "Aren't you a confirmed widower in mourning for eternity?"

"I'm telling you this first because I trust you..." Hercules moved closer to her and said, "Megara has a new life... I need to know if I should be part of it or leave her alone... I've already proven I've paid attention to her... but it's not the same as appearing personally to her... or... more..."

Athena sighed. "Is there a reason you must go after the vulnerable little mortal women? Why not find a nice goddess? Hebe has always been—

"My sister," Hercules emphasized. "Just like you. No thanks."

"I've never understood the logic of remaining so stubbornly distraught," Athena sighed. "Ten years, I'd understand. But you haven't given up on her since the Classical Age."

"Trust me, it's been a struggle, but this time it's different. She's back. She has a real body and a life. I don't want to ruin that for her, but I know now that I've let her know I..."

She was glancing at one of his statues again. Was that a wink?

Thousands of years melted off him. With her eyes on him again, it was like falling in love with her for the first time, except now he knew what he was missing. When she was a fantasy, he fell over himself as a stuttering fool who lacked tactful ways to express his attraction. What was he supposed to say now? She'd been the one to fill in all their blanks with her adorable sass and her witty commentary.

Should he let her do all that again, or would she think less of him if he didn't gallantly rush into her life and impress her in every conceivable way? No, no, she hadn't changed that much. She'd hate the second option. He'd have to present himself as he was and hope that same alchemical reaction would bring them back together.

"Oh, and she's attending university!" Athena waved a hand, and the image of Athens focused on the train station. There she was, with her friends and Harmonia. The four of them navigated the crowd on the platform and went to collect their luggage.

Hercules leaned over the images of his wife and daughter together, chatting about something or other. How had they already learned to get along so well?

Could he do the same? Would he fumble it as soon as he met her again? He must have so many traits that would show him for who he'd been after her death, instead of who he'd been when he was with her. What if he could never be the same again, and she wouldn't love him the way he was now?

"How should I approach her?" Hercules asked, "I need to make sure this is a foolproof plan."

"You should wait until she's out of school to speak to her," Athena said. "She ought to focus on her studies. She's never had a better opportunity to learn!"

Hercules smacked his own forehead. Why had he gone to a virgin goddess for romantic advice?

While his eyes were still covered, he still noticed a bright pink light. The same song he'd heard for thousands of years whenever Aphrodite appeared had somehow never made him tear out his own hair.

Hercules peeked out from behind his hand. "Did you come to see how humiliated I could be trying to get my wife back?"

"Oh, no, not at all!" Aphrodite wore heart-shaped sunglasses, which she tossed over her shoulder so they'd vanish in a pink puff of smoke. "I'm here to make sure I get a front-row seat to true love!" She leaned an arm on Hercules's shoulder and looked down at Athena's view of her city. "Oh! Yeah, there she is! Still prettier than me?"

Hercules blushed, curling his fingers and toes with the tension of how he ought to answer that question.

Aphrodite laughed uproariously into his ear. "Don't be so afraid! I know you're into brunettes. I helped create one for you!"

Somehow, Hercules found a way to cringe harder.

"Let me guess. Your big plan was to come to ask Athena to help you strategize. I can't believe how long it took you to ask me for advice!"

"I didn't…" Hercules admitted through gritted teeth.

That seemed to amuse Aphrodite just as much as anything else he'd said. "You're the cutest little hero I've ever personally invested in!"

"Could the two of you possibly take this conversation somewhere else?" Athena asked, disgust heavy in her tone. "I'm trying to enjoy the first day of university!"

Hercules's eyes were still locked on Megara. Her walk, her hair, her eyes, her ruby smirk… gods. In another epoch, he'd been able to hurry after her and hold her close… and she wanted him to…

"Seems like we've got a lot of work to do!" Athena surrounded them both in pink smoke. "Better get started right away!"