HERA TIGHTENED THE BELT of her trench coat as she walked down the wet pavement of a dimly lit side street, making her way to an inconspicuous coffee house. She wore a hat that covered her face, in the vain attempt to not draw attention to herself. The walk felt neverending due to the crippling anxiety that was building up inside her. She normally would never beg. She never had to beg, everything came to her when she wanted it, so why would this be any different?

After a whole ten minutes of walking from her home to the coffee house, she made her way inside. She instantly felt the warmth of the building and the reality of the situation. She was not going to leave unsuccessful nor without a salmon bagel. She surveyed the area and found a couple seats in the corner of the room and made her way there with her precious bagel. Hera figured that inpunctuality ran in the family because it was not until an hour after the agreed meeting time that Poseidon strolled in, unkept, with his hands wrapped around a young girl's waist. The unidentified girl looked no older than twenty four but looked like she's had a lot more fun than Hera over the past hour. At the sight of this, Hera's jaw clenched in anger and her grip on her coffee cup was so extreme, her knuckles were as white as her face. Some say that she was so angry, the coffee was reheated in her hands. Poseidon had the nerve to throw her a half hearted wave and ordered a black coffee. He seemed to whisper something in the girls ear, before she kissed him goodbye.

Hera watched as the arrogant boy slauntered over to the table, draping his jacket over the chair. Slouching he took a bite of her food and with a full mouth asked, "why am I here?" Hera stared at the man in front of her in disbelief.

"I texted you everything you needed to know..?" Hera raised a brow, drawing her food closer to her, she was on her third muffin of the outing. Poseidon waved his hand around.

"I don't read my texts, my assistant does." He stole her muffin once again and took a large bite. Hera rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"I'm pregnant." she stated bluntly. Poseidon nodded and wiped his mouth with a napkin.

"I am happy for you and Zeus, how long have you known?" He asked with complete seriousness.

Hera's patience was running as thin as Chiron's hairline. "The baby is yours and since Persephone and Hades came over to my house to ask questions."

"Does Zeus know?"

"He better not."

Poseidon sat up, paused and considered her words. For a split second, Hera was under the belief that he might be perceptive and mature for once.

"So what, are you going to have an abortion?" He asked.

"No."

"Adoption?"

"No."

"Then why are you complaining to me? Just tell Zeus it's his, he won't know." Poseidon shrugged. Hera was starting to see why Zeus was the CEO and not him. Zeus could handle responsibilty whereas Poseidon lacked general common sense.

"You're fucking kidding. You have to be. You did grow up with him, right? You are aware that your features are different. He'll know this child isn't his. Please, just.." Hera's voice began to crack and she caught herself before she lost herself. This wasn't her. It was the hormones. Only, it was her. It was every inch her. The vulnerable woman she sees herself as was rising to the surface and Hera wasn't sure if the wall she built is strong enough to stop it. "This baby is yours. Whether you like it or not, you will pay child support, on principle. I sat here for an hour waiting for your sleezy ass to turn up with a pratical child in your arms -"

"She's actually twenty four."

"And you're twenty eight, next. You've fucked me over so many times, literally and figuratively. Own up to responsibility. This is why you have to cheat people out of their positions, because you don't have the spine -"

Hera was cut off by a slam on the table and a shadow looming over her, Poseidon effectively gaining the attention of those around them. She could hear whispers of those questioning if is it really Hera? What is she doing with Poseidon, should we ask for a picture? Record her! "Don't talk to me about having a spine you whore. You're the one who can't tell her husband she's pregnant. You're scared of the man who's wrapped around your finger. Your precious baby is coming into a family of wealth and you need my support? Fuck off Hera, I don't know what dream world you're living in but it isn't reality. As for cheating, you must know what it's like to cheat, huh? Let's put it this way. If you don't tell Zeus, I will. I'll go to Hades and confirm his theories. I have a spine, bitch." A worker came over to the table and insisted on escorting Poseidon out of the building. Hera didn't really notice what was going around her as her mind was focused on one thing.

I'll go to Hades and confirm his theories.

After a few minutes, Hera got up to leave when a group of teenage girls swarmed her. "I'm sorry girls i won't be taking any pictures today but I love you all."

"What about videos?"

"None of those either, i'm sorry!" She waved at them before making her way to the door.

"Damn she really just pulled a Rami Malek."

-

Hera finally got home and was greeted by the sight of Zeus, sprawled across the bed, fascinated with something on his phone, "hey." she smiled at him, only to recieve a blank look back. "What did I do now?" She scoffed, hanging her coat on the back of the door. Zeus took out his earphones and played the clip he was watching previously.

Poseidon's voice boomed around the room. His voice made her shiver and her blood ran cold. She froze.

"I thought you were out with Artemis? I thought you didn't have anything to do with Hades' case? I thought you were mine?"

"Zeus it's not what it looks like, you have it all wrong, Poseidon he-"

"I don't want to hear it. You wanna know what he said to me before we got married? Hm? Do you?" By now Hera was in tears, shaking her head at her husband. "He told me that you're one of those girls that can't be trusted. That you'll bring me nothing but pain. I'm starting to see that now." Zeus got up from the bed and removed Hera's pillows.

Hera watched Zeus storm out of his room with Hera's belongings in hand and watched as he closed the door to her room with an unnecessary amount of force, she watched as he turned to give her one last prolonged look of disgust before turning away and slamming the door to his office. The picture frame of the couple that hung in the hallway shattered to the ground. A moment of silence. A lock clicked and a sigh was breathed. Tears were wiped away. Hera tapped the screen of her phone absentmindedly before scrolling through her contacts. "Hey Athena? I need a favour."