Lottie set the basket down on the banks of the river and pulled out the blanket she'd tucked over the top. There was little doubt that she would be here for some time, so she might as well get comfortable and it was her favorite blanket for sitting on. It wasn't the sort that would work well on a bed, it was a bit too thick so it didn't conform to a prone body. But that thickness made it fantastic for things like picnics or staring at clouds or talking a sister out of a sulk.

( Actually, that wasn't really fair. )

Note: a few weeks after this

Hel missed Hades. For as lovely as Nyx was, and how welcoming her family had been, Hades was different. Nyx was a friend, but she was also almost a mother figure to Hel, whereas Hades was just a genuine friend. Whether or not Hel sort of, kind of had a crush on Hades might have had a bit to do with her wanting to see him.

( Okay, more than a bit. )

[set a few years after Titanomachy]

Though their time on Olympus had been a few years gone already, there were times when their new 'home' didn't feel quite much like that as it should. There were some times that it felt foreign and she just wanted the comfort of what had been. But that wasn't possible so she gathered all the inner strength she had and moved on

Nike had to be there for her siblings; she was the oldest and had to take care of the three of them since it was for the most part just the four of them now. There were those on Olympus who they could call friend and who would look after them but has they had learned from when they were very very young, family was the most important thing. On Olympus it was just the four of them; most of the rest of their family at least on their mother's side were in the Underworld, and they didn't get to see them often.

Or their mother either for that matter.

Since the ware with the Titan's Styx had taken to her river and stayed away, choosing solitude over company with others, even her children. Styx had been around since the War, when summoned, catching up with Kratos, Bia and Zelos but Nike always felt... distanced from it. Her mother was never hateful or mean to her but her expression never seemed to be as happy with her as she was with her siblings. Nike was too worried what the cause was at first to pose it to question. But as the years went by, and the feeling grew, the more it upset little Victory, to the point of annoyance and hurt.

Soon Styx would be back and for all of their sakes, she knew that her and her mother needed to confront this.

(Note: After this.)




Nyx could admit it: she was a little nervous. It was not that she thought her children would misbehave. In spite of their aspects, she'd taught all of them manners and demanded that they were used. Even when there wasn't company. After all, shouldn't your family be treated with at least as much respect as a guest?

And she certainly wasn't worried about her husband. He was charming. Occasionally too charming, but that only happened from time to time with pretty goddesses that didn't understand that he was not flirting with them. Nyx set them straight very quickly. But that would not happen tonight because she knew he viewed their guest in the same light that she did, so his charm would be entirely paternal.

( Nor was she overly concerned about the girl upon whose arrival she awaited. )