(Ares POV)

I watched as Hermes sent a note through the air. We sat on a balcony hanging off the tallest part of Mount Olympus. As I wanted to retreat back to the Underworld, instead I followed Hermes home to access his problem. He's pretty much back to normal, but I know Hermes more than anyone else.

"Hey, who did you send the letter to?"

"Oh, Aphrodite. She prayed to me a minute ago."

"You didn't want to meet with her directly?"

Hermes sighed and turned over to his side. "We've been bothering them enough. Hephaestus is most likely tired of our sudden visits."

"Not really. He seems like an easy guy." I said while also turning to lay on my side. "Wouldn't it become boring if they were alone all the time."

"How would you know? You've never been married."

"I see Hades and Persephone all the time and when they're alone..."
"When they're alone what?"

"...Well never mind...they're never bored with one another."

"Is that so." Hermes closed his eyes.

"Hey, I want to ask, why were you mad before?"

Hermes slowly opened his eyes and glared at me. His eyes didn't waver from mine for a second.

"Hermes!" Suddenly, Dionysus was grabbing Hermes and pulling him into a hug. "How I've missed our nights together."

"Nights?" I said confused.

"Yes, our nights of partying that is."

Oh good because of anyone should be having nights with Hermes, I would be his first choi--

"Can you let go, you're crushing me."

"Aha! Sorry, my dear brother."

What brings you here?" I was annoyed that Dionysus interrupted our conversation.

"You can't have Hermes all to yourself, Ares. Selfishness is for those who are lonely."

I rolled my eyes at Dionysus's balladry. It was truly annoying how he has a quote for everything!

"We were having a conversation."

"Oh, is that so..." Dionysus spoke with the same words Hermes did before. It made me just realize just how much Dionysus looks up to Hermes.

"Anyway, Hermes let us drink tonight! I've gathered a couple of Nymphs to party with us when the sun sets. Of course, you are invited as well, Ares."

"Why is it always partying with you?"
"How can you not understand? As I've said before, Wine is bottled poetry and partying is the yearning for two."

"What does that even mean?" I stood up and looked at the wine god.

"You never understand me. No wonder Aphrodite can't get through to you."

"What does this have to do with her?"

"Huh? You don't know? Well--" Hermes covered up his little brother's mouth.

"I'll go partying with you tonight so let us go." Hermes' helmet and shoes began to glow.

"Wait! Hermes, don't tell me you're going to carry me there?" Dionysus panicked and tried to get away, but it was already too late, they were both in the sky.

"I'll see you at the party, Ares." Hermes said before zooming off into the air with the screaming wine god.

"Tsk. Party, party." I said while walking towards my chariot. "Guess I'll go and have some fun."

(Aphrodite POV)

Walking around and looking at the wonderful spring greenery was the best way to calm my thoughts.

The afternoon breeze was as pleasant as I sat down between the flowery grass. I looked up at the temple and beamed at its superb exterior. It was a gift from Hera as well were the house servants. It seems she really wanted Hephaestus to forgive her.

"Aphrodite?" A calm voice impeded my thoughts. Quickly, I turned around to see Artemis standing a few inches away.
"Artemis! What are you doing here?"
Artemis, Apollo's twin sister, and the one who helped with my pregnancy.
I haven't seen her for quite some time; excluding the summit of the gods. To put it frankly, we haven't talked in 3 decades.

Artemis took her bow and arrow sack off of her back and sat down.

"I was out hunting and decided to stop by."

"Well, I'm glad. I haven't spoken to you for some time."

Artemis frowned. "Don't play coy with me Aphrodite. You know exactly why we haven't."

I looked down at the grass and began picking at the small roots.
"How's Eros?"

"How do you think he should be?"

I didn't answer.

Sigh. "He longs for his mother of course and won't stop pestering about seeing you."

"I'm sorry, I will try seeing him when I can."

"Do you not understand that you haven't seen him since he was a child?"

"Please forgive me...I haven't had time."

"I cannot believe you. This boy has already been affected without seeing you for so long. He acts like the child you once knew before you left."

I kept quiet because I couldn't say anything to deny the fact that she was telling the truth.

The gods were wondering where I was all the time and so I asked Artemis to watch over Eros, while I went to go try and win Ares's affection.

"As I said before, I promise to keep this a secret, but I cannot take care of him anymore. At least go and see him." Artemis stood and picked up her hunting weapons.

"I'm sorry I have to yell at you, but I hate lying." My sister turned around to leave.

"

Oh, and one more thing." Artemis leered at me before she spoke. "Apollo knows."

"What!? How?" I screamed as I picked myself up off the ground.

"He's not a fool. He saw Eros's bowing skills and decided to confront him out of curiosity. Of course, Eros had to boast about how he was a god and his mother was the goddess of love."

"You could have denied it!"

"My brother knows when I lie, it's not something I can deny."

Damn it! Not Apollo as well.

"I'll be taking my leave now. Please come and visit Eros like you said you would." Artemis slowly walked back the way she came.

More problems arise every day it seems like. First Ares doesn't love me, Hermes is angry with me, Hephaestus is kind but undoubtedly suspicious of me, Zeus is planning something, and now Apollo knows of my child.

I wanted to pray for my safe ending, but what god would I pray to without revealing my secrets.

Hephaestus POV)

As I laid back, I looked up at the dark rock leading all the way up to the opening of the volcano. I laid like this for hours, wasting away my life. When I was like this, I wondered why I even attended that summit. This life as a god is dreadful.

During all this free time, I've built many things even golden servants to help me with my endless orders.

A sudden noise came from the entrance. It sounded like a very familiar laugh.

"What are these things?" My heart started to beat fast as I thought it was Aphrodite that came to see me after so long. To my surprise, it was Eros who came around the corner. He was enchanted with the automatons I built.
"Eros?" He looked around the golden servant then smiled.

"Hephaestus!" He awkwardly looked around the place.

"Impressive."

"What are you-- Don't tell me you ran out of arrows already?"

"Correct!"

"It has only been a week. You are extremely wasteful."

"Heh, I was just testing out my aim and how many arrows I can re-use."
"I guess you can be diligent as well."
"I always am!'

"Well, hold on for about half an hour. I'll make extra ones for you to test out." I responded while pulling out my golden hammer.

"That's fine, I'll just play with these-- Golden looking thingy's.

"Haha! They are called automatons."

"Oh, automatons." Eros sat down in front of my servants and stared up at them.

Every once in a while, I looked over at the winged god. He was indeed a child. He made faces at my servants and laughed at his own reflection.

I smiled slightly at his unimpeded happiness. I wish I could be similar to him in this aspect.

After a while of hammering the alloy, Eros yawned and laid on the ground.

"Didn't sleep well?"

"Not well at all. I can't stop thinking about my mother." Eros closed his eyes as he said this.

When I thought about it, Eros did say something about seeing his mother when he was talking with Hermes. His face looked horribly desperate when he spoke of her.

"Forgive me for prying into your personal life, but has it been long since you've seen her?"

"Heh, over 3 decades if that's long enough for a god."

"It's long enough."

"She does send me letters every once in a while, but..."

I stopped hammering the last arrow then looked at him. "You don't have to keep talking about it."

Eros opened his eyes then smiled. "Hephaestus you're so depressing."

"What?"

Eros stood up and leaned against one of the automatons. "Let's drop this, it's making my head hurt."

"Drop this? Drop what?"

"As in, let's stop talking about this. It's something the humans say."

I laughed a little and thought how Ares says weird words as well.

"Alright then." I smiled once more while looking at the finished arrows. "I'm finished."

"Heh, that was fast." Eros jumped up and grabbed his arrow quiver. He picked up one of the arrows then widened his eyes.

"Impressive!" Eros simpered. His smile brought my thoughts back to Aphrodite.

Oh, how I couldn't lie to myself any longer and say I didn't adore her beloved smile. That smile I saw at the summit had taken me aback and I remembered how I fell in love with her at first sight. I for one cannot deny that I am jealous of Ares, but then again, I was the once she kissed good morning ad goodnight to. I am the man she took as her husband, even when she probably did not love me back. I am the one who lives with her unemptied blush of words as she speaks to me.

The more I think about it, the less angry I am with her. I should go talk with Aphrodite.

Eros sighed as he continued to stare at the golden objects and then spoke,"Looking at this will definitely make me forget about the goddess of love for a while."

"Goddess of love?" I felt my face frown with confusion as I looked at Eros.

"Yes, the mother I haven't seen for 3 decades." Eros laughed that same laugh I thought sounded like Aphrodite's. Beamed that very same smile that I hated. Sported that excellent identical beauty of the one who I seemed to love. Extracted certain feelings from my soul that I thought I would never have.

How could I be such a fool....

And somewhere deep inside....I knew...

I knew he reminded me of true beauty.

That true beauty who I thought was mine...

...................... All time had stopped.................

Hephaestus slammed his hands onto the working stand and stormed out of the volcano.

"Hephaestus! What's wrong!" Eros ran after the rage eating god.

The blacksmith wouldn't stop even at the sound of Eros stumbling behind him.

"Hephaestus!" Eros called once more.
Hephaestus was already walking up the stairs to his temple. The angry god rumbled the ground with each step he took. Eros kept trailing him into his abode where the smithing god called a name oh so familiar.

"Aphrodite!!" The air felt heavy as Hephaestus slammed open every door.
"Where are you?!"

Eros stayed quiet at this point; he was confused as to what was happening.

"Aphrodite!"

Eros was frantic when he heard his mother's name being called. Was she actually here, he thought and hoped.
Hephaestus suddenly stopped when he looked out the window. Then he instantly headed back outside.
There stood Aphrodite looking at the field of colorful flowers. The air grew heavy as Hephaestus edged closer to the beautiful goddess.

"Aphrodite!" Hephaestus called.
The goddess of love turned around about to put on a fake smile until she looked over at the winged god. Her hidden worry was plastered on her face in the broad daylight as she looked at Hephaestus then to her son.

"Eros...."