Haley woke up the next day, Melin had left already. Haley looked around, “Huh, that is new.” She went to the bathroom and freshened up. Then she got dressed. As she walked downstairs, a huge breakfast awaited her. Melin had made bacon, eggs, croissants, scones, bread with chocolate, and a lot of coffee. Haley smiled, “When did you do this?”

“While you were sleeping, silly.”

“Where are the others?”

Melin giggled, “I might have chased all of them away.”

“Even Stevie?”

“Yeah, he might come over as a big meany, but he is quite soft and squishy inside.”

Haley sat down, “What is the occasion?”

“Hera is coming to town today! She is going to help plan our wedding, we cannot have a wedding without the goddess of Marriage. She holds a big secret, she wants to tell you. And, well, plan our wedding. You met her husband.”

Haley nodded, “Zeus.”

Melin gave Haley a croissant, she greedily took a bite of it. “Oh damn, where did you get this food? It is godly,” she giggled, “See what I did there?”

Melin giggled, “Give me one of those croissants, I am hungry, waiting for your sleepy ass to wake up. You get so grumpy if I wake you up.”

Haley grimaced, “Usually I wake up early but after Stevie, my energy pool has increased by an insane amount. Needing to replenish that much in a short time, I need extra sleep. Are there certain people you want at our wedding, Melin?”

She nodded, “My family off course, my mom has warmed up to you completely!”

Haley smiled, “She was on edge about me for a while. It helps that she knows what side I am on. Well, you know who I want to invite. I think I would like to ask Abby to be my bridesmaid.”

Melin smiled back at her, “That sounds fun, I am going to ask Bella. We have grown quite close, believe it or not.”

They both enjoyed their breakfast. Haley stretched, “I wonder when Hera will be here, and what her opinion is for a good wedding. Zeus is her brother, right?”

Melin nodded, “Yeah, there are many stories and rumors about Zeus, The truth is much simpler about how that happened. Greek gods are strange anyway, some of them married their brother or sister, others even their mom or dad. While other Greek gods seek comfort with the mortals. It all started with their dad, Cronus. He is a titan, there are not many friendly titans left. Most of them have been banished. Cronus had received a warning, one of his children will usurp him. Thus, when Hera was born, and later Zeus, Hades, Demeter, Hestia and Poseidon, Cronus ate them.”

Haley frowned an eyebrow, “Well, damn.”

“Except for Zeus, since Cronus got tricked by Rhea, Zeus got raised and trained in secret to fight his father. Zeus came back, and he managed to let Cronus spit out his siblings. They led a war against the titans together. Hera fell in love with Zeus. It just happens. Demeter had a child called Persephone. My mom. She married Hades, it was a bit, touch and go with how they all handled it, but it all worked out in the end. The Greek gods, and others for that matter, the Primals, the Norse ones, all of them have one common enemy. If you are wondering what happened to the Roman gods, don’t even ask.”

Haley looked up, “What did happen to them? You are making me curious.”

Melin took a bite out of a scone, “Micheal happened. He killed all of them.”

Haley just stared at Melin for a while, “What, how!?”

Melin shook her head, “I was not around back then, my dad told me as a bedtime story. The Baba Yaga of the gods. Learning me that even if I am a goddess, things can kill me. Micheal wanted a child from Minerva, an important Roman Goddess. She declined.”

Haley nodded, “And then?”

Melin sighed, “There is a whole story to it, but Micheal unleashed his fury on them. Screaming how no one can or should reject him.”

Haley let out a deep sigh, “And I need to kill that person?”

Melin nodded, “You volunteered, remember?”

Haley chuckled awkwardly, “Yeah, you might want to tell these things to the next volunteer after I get my head ripped off.”

Melin laughed, “No worries, I believe in you, everyone is putting their faith in you.”

Haley looked around, “What the fuck did I do that the gods want me to kill that maniac?”

Melin got up, “I am going to clean up breakfast, and, you know why. You might be the only one that truly has a shot at defeating him, I know you dislike being called that, but it does not take away the fact, you have Micheal's, Steve's and Captain's genes. Along with those of your mom.”

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Haley nodded and got up, “The first thing we should do, is get married.”

Melin grinned, “We should meet with Hera.”

Haley started helping with cleaning up the remnants of their breakfast. They had barely finished cleaning up or someone knocked on the door, Haley answered the door. A woman stood there, Gray, short hair slightly covers a furrowed, tense face. Narrow hazel eyes, set elegantly within her sockets. “Hello, my name is Hera, I am a bit early, may I come in?”

Haley nodded, “Come in, sit down, do you want something to drink?”

“No, I just had breakfast.” Hera sat down and looked at Melin, “Hello there, it is good to see your face again.”

Melin walked over and hugged Hera, “Yeah, it has been a while. You don’t come down under a lot.”

Hera shook her head, “This is not really my style.”

Haley sat down across Hera and Melin took a seat next to her. Hera smiled, “Love, it is beautiful. I can feel it in this home.”

Haley smiled at her, “I managed to beat the trial, Hades told me he would only give his daughter away to a special and strong person.”

Hera nodded, “I can understand that. Having a few children of my own. It is a mournful tale, as I have lost some of my children.”

Haley sighed, “That is bad, do you have many children?”

“Yes. Most of the children I have are the result of Zeus’s love for me, even if he cannot think with his brain when he sees another woman.”

Melin chuckled. Haley looked at Melin, “What is so funny?”

“Zeus cheats a lot.”

Hera nodded, “He does, I punish the bastard children, it is a whole thing we have going on.”

Haley shook her head, “Why don’t you leave him then?”

Hera smiled, “he does make me happy, and he cares for me, and not even I am without mistakes. Many of the powers I have, have been spread to my children as well. But we are not here to talk about me, we are here to talk about you.”

Haley held up her hand, “Give me a moment.”

Haley got up and walked over to her bookcase, she started going through the books. Hera looked at Melin, “Is she always like this?”

Melin nodded, “Yep, once she sees a link in something, she has to figure it out. Have you seen the recording?”

Hera nodded, “I did, I was, amazed. It reminded me of someone, a man with whom I have had children when I got back at Zeus.”

Haley walked back with a book, “I have been told a lot these last weeks, but I just figured something out.”

Melin looked at her, “Do we need to do this now, darling?”

“Yes, because you know it, but you don’t realize it. Eris.”

Haley suddenly had Hera’s full attention. “Yes, go on, Haley.”

Melin gasped, “Holy fuck.”

Haley nodded, “Indeed, after what you told me, I am sure, Thanos is one of Micheal's covers. He was always in control, he took down Eris, he must have commanded Thanos.” You saw him at the BBQ?”

“Yes, Thanos.”

Hera gasped, “That dude is still alive inside of Micheal!?”

Melin nodded, “Very much so, and Micheal, or Thanos killed Eris.”

Hera got up, “Fuck that.”

Melin looked surprised, “I have never heard you curse before.”

“My daughter is dead!?”

Haley scratched her head, “Not exactly.” Haley grabbed a pen and paper. “I cannot say this out loud.”

Haley wrote something down and showed the paper to Hera. She stared at Haley. She looked back at the paper. “I understand Haley. We should, drop this for the moment. There will come a time when this can be addressed properly.”

Melin grabbed the paper and looked at what Haley had written down. Melin nodded, “Yes, we will address this at a later time. Now, shall we talk about our wedding?”

Haley nodded. They conversed for a few hours, talking about the details and loads more. After they were done, Hera got up, “I am going to arrange everything. I will come by for dresses, and Hades will be of great help. You two have nothing to worry about. I will let myself out.”

Hera left without saying another word. Melin looked at Haley, “I think you shook her world.”

“When the time comes, her fury will be unleashed, awesome.”

Melin looked at Haley, “How is that awesome?”

Haley smiled, “I am just curious as to what Hera is capable off. She has the power of love on her side.”

Melin started giggling, “That was a terrible line, Haley.” She came closer, “Hey, but we have love on our side as well. We are going to get married soon.” Melin grabbed Haley and kissed her, “I cannot wait to be married to you. This wedding will be amazing, there are not many weddings in the underworld.”

Haley turned Melin around and pushed her against the wall. “If you think we’ll wait for our wedding, then you are mistaken.”

Melin smiled flirtatiously, “I am game if you are thinking the same thing!”