The Pink Sky

Twelve.

Hera's reading was interrupted by incessant banging on the front door.

She rolled her eyes and scoffed, setting down her copy of The Odyssey.

"What a load." She said to herself and sat her glass down on top of it.

The banging continued all the way to the front door, she wasn't expecting anyone but she had a fair idea of who it was.

As Hera opened the front door a fist passed the threshold, obviously not expecting the door to open so quickly.

"So you found Alec?"

"If you knew I would just end up back here, why didn't you tell me in the first place?" Seph demanded as she stepped into house.

"You wouldn't have found Alectrona and Artemis wouldn't have gotten her back." Hera answered calmly.

"We would have found her," Seph insisted, "she's in almost every photo we have, we couldn't have just ignored her."

Hera sat on the same chair she had before, watching Seph pace.

"You sent me on a wild goose chase that led right back to you." She shook her head. "Why do you hate me so much?"

Seph fell back onto the sofa facing Hera and hung her head low.

"Did I do something horrible to you before, because if I did I'm sorry." She said honestly, defeat present in her voice. "I just want to find out my history, who I am."

Hera slowly got out of her seat, never taking her eyes off Seph and sitting down next to her.

"I do not hate you, Persephone," She smiled softly and nudged her shoulder with her own, "I hate your father."

Seph laughed quietly and looked up at her.

"There's something we can both agree on." She told her. "Why are you still married? He's not a good person, never mind a good husband or father."

Hera sighed and straightened herself up.

"Zeus has children all over Olympus because he thinks I'm not good enough for him," she spat, "yet he won't let me go, he has to save face."

Seph furrowed her eyebrows and shook her head.

"You're the most beautiful and intelligent women I've ever seen, you're far too good for my father," She laughed humourlessly "everyone's too good for my father."

Hera took her hand and squeezed it gently, turning to face her again.

"Especially you," Hera nodded, "you have one of the purest loves I have ever seen and he doesn't believe it's true because he didn't choose it for you."

Seph froze in place, staring at her and trying to regulate her breathing.

"What?"

"That's why you're here isn't it?" Hera smirked, "to ask about you and Hades."

"Yes," Seph answered quickly, "I just wanted to know if you blessed the marriage or not."

"I didn't need to bless it, you two are written in the stars," she grinned, "but yes I did bless the wedding, free wine."

Seph let out a small laugh in relief

"So I am supposed to feel this way, then?"

"And then some," Hera smiled fondly, "you two are perfectly matched."

She could feel tears pricking her eyes, she was so relieved that her feelings were right.

"He lives for you and you live for him." Hera promised. "Everything you feel, he deserves from you."