With slow careful steps, Eris approached Daddy's bed. It was barely morning, and Eris could feel her skin buzzing from what was happening downstairs. She didn't know how to say what was happening exactly, or what words matched the feeling in her heart. Her heart buzzed too. It was a wasp nest with a million tiny bees. That was why Eris broke things and didn't understand why they got mad afterwards. They'd understand too if they had hearts that were wasp nests with bees. What was happening went beyond that though. They'd created something that was so big. Bigger than anything Eris had ever seen made before, and Eris knew her parents would want to be a part of it. She couldn't take that away from them.

She didn't know where Mommy was, but that was okay because Eris got to spend more time with her than with Daddy anyway, and Eris wanted Daddy to see even more. He didn't ever say he was proud of them, but Eris felt like this could change that. ( She just wanted everyone to be happy. )

It was rare that Apollon should come before his father with a scowl on his face. Well, that wasn't entirely true. The far-shooter had a way of showing up to whine whenever he had troubles with a potential lover. As if Zeus was supposed to sort it out for him. So, this wasn't all that unusual. But it was rare that Apollon would show up before Zeus' throne with a scowl on his face and a small child in his grasp. So rare that it had never actually happened before.

So, with this curious set up, Zeus sat back with hands resting comfortably on the arm of his throne and listened patiently as Apollon retold the events from his side. Why cows were so ridiculously important was beyond Zeus' comprehension. They were just cows. Apollon could easily start another herd. And Hermes was but a babe. How could he have stolen his half-brother's herd away? And made the cows walk backwards?

( This was all very ridiculous. )

It wasn't like Hades to call on Zeus for anything.

It wasn't unexpected for Zeus -being King of the heavens... of Olympus, considered himself a fair and just king, as well as one whose accomplishments warranted the occasional request for advice. But even given his accomplishments, it still wasn't like his older brother to call on him. Zeus didn't have the sort of relationship with Hades that Hera did. Which was something he just brushed off as having not experienced what they did by not having been in the belly of the beast -the beast being their father, and therefore not bonded together the same way that Hera, Demeter, Hestia, Poseidon and Hades were.

He loved his siblings, though, and that was something that should have been taken into consideration more often. If he didn't, he would have long since told his brother exactly what he thought of the kingdom of the Underworld and the residents within. Hades was far too... lax with his people. This was how things went awry. ( If given the opportunity, Zeus would have loved to give ruling advice to his brother on how those miscreant descendants of Erebos and Nxy should be handled.  )

There were many things one might say of Zeus. Some would say he was wise. Some would say that he was foolhardy and ruled by his loins. Some would call him a tyrant while others would claim he was a good and just king. There were some that would call him patient and understanding and then some that would claim that his patience was thin and that he was thunderbolt happy. Some of his children might question his parenting techniques, but those children were few and far between. At least as far as he knew.

Unfortunately, one of his more difficult children had managed to produce some of Zeus' most difficult grandchildren. It wasn't that Ares and his more warlike children weren't skilled at what they did. It was just that, and Enyo had a similar problem, he had hoped they would branch out more. (  Use their talents to the benefit of others and the pantheon, not just for bloodshed. )

It was over.

The Titan War had been exhausting -mentally and physically, but persistence paid off and the Olympians were victorious. A bittersweet victory, as so many had perished, but a victory none-the-less. Then the three Olympian brothers were left with the task of divvying up the spoils of war. There was no easy agreement, so lots were drawn. Poseidon had the seas to claim his rule over. Hades had the Underworld and Zeus... Zeus got the heavens. Which he far considered the best of the three.

( Fate, it seemed, was on his side. )

There was always something bittersweet about seeing Hades. It wasn't for a dislike of his brother. On the contrary, Zeus was very fond his family. Sure, he was rather smug that between himself, Hades and Poseidon, he got the best lot of rule, but that wasn't out of malice. It was out of general sibling rivalry. At least that was how he saw it. No, if Zeus wanted to be malicious... well... Hades would know it. In the meanwhile, the youngest of Cronos' children tried not to rub it in too much when he made the rare excursion to the Underworld.

( Well, maybe just a little. )