Thief Of Truth's Heart

Chapter 30

Several days have passed since Hera had conducted her little question-answer session and Atlanta had come back home to her husband attacking her with comforting hugs and gentle kisses immediately upon her return. Everything was back to normal, or as much normal as it could be.

However, the absence of Dodo and Jimmy had dampened the spirits of the Gods of Olympus who were under the care of Atlanta and Apollo. Atlanta was sad about her missing arrow and koala while her best friend comforted her about it, secretly being happy to get rid of two annoying competitors for his beloved Lana's affection.

Yeah, so what if he was childish? Deal with it.

However, it seemed as if the daughter of Poseidon was absolutely done with her elder brother hogging the time of two of her charges, and had finally demanded him with a strong pout and baby seal eyes to release them from his tyrannical hold.

"Dodo!! Jimmy!! You guys are finally back!!", the nine little girls screamed in unison along with Cygnus and Lyra, and immediately went to their mother who had them in her arms.

"Okay, you little monsters. Back up and let your mother come inside the living room before surrounding her. We made a long trip, you know.", Apollo finally declared, pulling his best friend closer to his side and placing a gentle kiss on her forehead while ignoring the growling of the familiar koala.

Ares scoffed in reply. "You just need an excuse to keep Mother to yourself.You aren't going to get away with it. I am quite observant, you know."

"Get lost. Lana is my wife and my best friend. It also means that she's my comfort person as well. After all, I need to deal with the trauma that I experience everyday, courtesy of you lot, and Lana gives amazing cuddles. I am her husband too, and I declare that her cuddles are restricted to me only. I rest my case.", Apollo ranted in frustration.

"You can't do this!!", Cygnus protested.

"Unfair!! I demand justice!!", Ares voiced out angrily.

"Seriously Apollo, this is too much. You can't just keep Mother's cuddles to yourself. We would all die of depression then.", Athena said with a worried expression.

Apollo's expression softened by a margin. "I might make an exception for you angels, since you are so well behaved and everything. As for my lovely boys, good luck. Hope you have a slow and painful death."

Cygnus and Ares gritted their teeth in anger, making Apollo smile smugly in response.

"Phoebus, that's not nice.", Atlanta scolded her best friend, making him smile sheepishly before she turned back to her kids. "Alright, so I have finally been successful in freeing your brothers from my evil elder brother. I take it that you are quite eager to meet them?"

All the children in the house nodded excitedly.

Atlanta smiled at them. "Very well. Jimmy, would you please wake up Dodo? You both can go and mingle with your siblings while Phoebus and I make the lunch."

The koala in her arms merely nodded. Pawing at the arrow in her hold, he took hold of it before leaving the Goddess' embrace and eagerly going into the waiting arms of Ares.

"We missed you!!", Ares told Dodo and Jimmy the moment they were comfortably cradled in his arms.

I am joyous to see'th thee as well, Dodo said happily with a hint of morning grumpiness.

Jimmy nodded in agreement to his statement.

"The house isn't the same without you both in it.", Athena told them with a slight smile before hesitating a bit and then giving them both a hug.