Come Back To Me

Hephaestus remarries, and as a friendly gesture invites Aphrodite. Believe it or not, she is heartbroken.

She watches them from afar, with her drink in hand, and eyes his new to become dearly beloved. She is beautiful; there is no denying it. She has soft golden ringlets that frame her heart shaped face, and the most beautiful green eyes.

Green is his favorite color.

They dance hand in hand. A bright smile is etched on his lips. Aphrodite had barely seen him smile.

She remembers their wedding night, he was happy and she was as miserable as ever. How could a beautiful woman like me, end up with a crippled man like him? She had thought. I should be married to a man as beautiful like me.

He treated her with kindness, and all she gave him was rage, anger, and cruelty. He made her jewelry, brought her presents. They were beautiful, but he wasn't. He wasn't as beautiful as her, or his presents.

And that all paid off in the end hadn't it? I never loved him; I hate him. Good riddance. She can have him for all I care.

But as the wedding progressed she felt her heart slowly and painfully start to crack. She watched them share a kiss, she watched them dance, hug, feed each other, smile, laugh together.

They had never done that. And now as she watched she wish that they had.

When she and Ares were together, all they did was sleep together. They didn't share laughs, they didn't talk much— it was all intercourse. They may be brothers, but they were very different.

Finally she cannot take it anymore. She leaves after they serve dinner. Her eyes lock with Hephaestus as she leaves. Hers are full of regret, and his are sympathetic.

Aphrodite doesn't meet with Ares that night. Instead she visits the sea, where she came from. The sound of the waves calm her and she lets a tear fall from her deep blue sparkling eyes. From behind her she hears footsteps, she doesn't turn around to greet them.

"I know what you are feeling." Hera says. Aphrodite wipes away another tear, "Did you honestly think that my son wasn't capable enough to find true love?" She snapped. Aphrodite narrowed her eyes and shot Hera a glare.

"I do not need your sympathy."

"I do not sympathize for you, I feel pity."

"Then leave, I do not need you around me."

"I know you don't. But I just wanted to let you know that I have blessed them for eternity."

"And you didn't bless our marriage." Aphrodite snapped. Hera remained emotionless towards her.

"Why should I? You did not deserve one. Let alone a marriage with my son. And let me tell you this, she is more than what you will ever be, Goddess or not. Even if you wanted to have what they have, what Hades and Persephone have, what Eros and Psyche have, you wouldn't have gotten it. Do you know why?"

"Why?"

"Because you are to try at least."

"You are a fool Hera."

"I am not the fool Aphrodite, you are. How can your beauty help you now? You stupid girl. I do not care what you do with Ares, but know this. Hephaestus is over you, and he was a long a time ago."

"And how do you know I am not over him?" She shot back. Hera laughed.

"Did you think I did not see at the wedding? I know you wanted what they had—but you never will. See Aphrodite with great beauty comes consequence."

"I do not need love. Love is for the weak."

"Spoken like Ares. Of course you don't, you long to lust. And that is all you shall ever get. And then Hera leaves without looking back.

Aphrodite lets the tears fall freely. Never has she felt like this and never has she cried over any man. Over Hephaestus, and she reflects on what Hera had said, on what she felt at the wedding.

She did love him after all.

A/N: So this is my first Hephaestus and Aphrodite Fanfiction, Hope you liked it sorry about the wedding. I just wanted to write about it. :P