A/N: I had mostly given up on this story until I realized that some people were still into it (just goes to show, reviews are important!). I'm back in the game baby! So here's chapter 4!

Aphrodite's Story

The goddess of love and beauty was many things. She was clever and suave. She was charming and conniving. She was mischievous and petty. And of course, she was lovely and beautiful. But by no means was Aphrodite ever oblivious… until she was.

The sweet melody of the muses coming from the courtyard of Olympus was meant to sooth the minds of the gods. But at that very moment, all the music served to do was piss Aphrodite off.

"Will you turn that racket down?" she yelled out the doors of the Throne Room. The muses kept playing. Whether that was because they hadn't heard her or because they didn't really care what she thought, no one could say.

"What has you so tense?" Ares asked her, smirking.

Aphrodite knew he was trying to bait her, though she wasn't sure if it was for a fight or for sex. And while on a normal day, either would have been perfectly acceptable to her, today Aphrodite was very, very much NOT in the mood.

"Fuck-off, Ares." Aphrodite spit out. "I have neither the time nor the patience to play your childish games right now."

Ares' smug smile was wiped clean off his face. Of all the reactions he had expected out of his lover, cruel dismissal was not one of them. With a stunned look, Ares hastily retreated to the far corner of the room, partially out of shock that she would speak to him that way, and partially because even the god of bloodlust knew to never mess with a woman when she is in a bad mood. Especially, a goddess when she is in a bad mood.

Aphrodite's loud rebuff of Ares' attention drew many different reactions from the other gods in the room. Hera looked proud. Zeus looked annoyed. Demeter and Hermes actually started giggling. And Hephaestus looked downright giddy. Almost all of the Olympians had gathered in the Throne Room to begin discussing the preparation plans of Apollo's wedding. All of the gods were delighted to gain a new source of entertainment and gossip material.

Everyone was putting great effort into the event, while Apollo himself and been dragged back down to Earth to spend time with his fiancé. The goddesses loved to organize the main event, the arrangements, the food, the attire. The gods were enjoying planning Olympus' best bachelor party. Everyone was putting 110% into making Apollo's big day, BIG.

All but one.

Artemis had not even bothered to show up. And thus, was source of Aphrodite's frustration.

Aphrodite knew the problem. She had known for a while now. But she had made a promise. One that she didn't plan on breaking anytime soon.

She sighed, slouching in her chair and downing a glass of nectar. It wasn't her fault. None of this was her fault… and that somehow made it worse.

~~~~~~~~~Flashback~~~~~~~~~~

Aphrodite was sitting in her room, staring at her reflection in the vanity mirror. She had once reflected centuries ago on why she even needed a mirror, when as the goddess of beauty she would always look amazing. She had realized soon after that it was because she liked looking at herself. And really, who could blame her? She looked stunning!

BANG!

"What in Hades? Artemis!" Aphrodite screamed, startled as Artemis slammed the door to her room wide open.

It was then that Aphrodite took in Artemis' appearance. She didn't look like a child. Instead, Artemis had brown hair, and dark olive skin. She looked feminine and curvy… sexy. This, Aphrodite knew, was her real form. The form that the huntress reverted back to when she felt human emotions. The young, auburn haired, huntress look was a cover, a mask that she showed to her hunters. But when things became too real, Artemis' facade cracked, and she became normal.

That's how Aphrodite knew something was horribly wrong.

"Stop it." Artemis growled, her tone deathly quiet.

"Stop what?" Aphrodite asked, her hands clutching the desk in slight fear of Artemis' anger.

"You know exactly what!" Artemis yelled, her tone and volume increasing by the second. "I want the connection severed and an explanation on why in Tartarus you thought this was a smart idea. Did you think I wouldn't notice?"

"Notice what?" she repeated, trying to understand what she might have done to piss Artemis off. She played with heartstrings all the time, but never with Artemis'. She had tried once and had been extremely disciplined by Zeus for meddling in the virgin goddess' affairs.

"The feelings!" Artemis snapped, her silver-speckled eyes narrowing in accusation. "The attraction. The emotions! I might not have such an active a sex life as you, but I know what sexual attraction is! And I sure as Hades shouldn't be feeling that way about him, so you had to have something to do with this!"

"Him?" Aphrodite questioned in shock, Artemis was having feelings for someone? This hadn't happened in centuries!

"Apollo!" Artemis bit out, looking as if the word caused her actual pain.

Aphrodite almost started to laugh before she realized just how serious Artemis was being.

"You mean like a brother, right?" Aphrodite clarified

"Yes, Aphrodite." Artemis said slowly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I have sisterly feelings of sexual attraction. You hit the nail right on the head."

Aphrodite would have gotten angry at Artemis' implications on her level of intelligence had she not been too engrossed on the actual subject.

"Artemis, I never did anything."

Artemis froze, her breath sped up, and her tone became panicky. "Yes you did! You must have!"

"I didn't. I swear on the River Styx, I didn't."

Upon hearing her last words, Artemis broke. Aphrodite was shocked. Artemis had always been a goddess with a tough shell. She was the distant goddess who glared at any man within a 50 foot radius. She stayed out of Olympian debates, but was fierce about a topic she believed in. She wasn't afraid to go head to head against Zeus, a feat even Athena couldn't claim. Artemis was stone cold when she wanted to be.

So now, Aphrodite was at a loss at what to do as Artemis collapsed onto the bed. Tears streaming down her face, dark bags hanging underneath her eyes, Artemis looked like a mess. Aphrodite couldn't believe she hadn't seen it before. She had looked nothing but wrathful when she burst into the room uninvited, but at Aphrodite's words, all of the fight seemed to disappear from her body. Aphrodite had never seen her so vulnerable.

For a moment, Aphrodite considered pulling Artemis into her arms and giving her a hug, but immediately shot the idea down. The action would only serve to make Artemis angry again. Instead, Aphrodite resigned herself to sit beside Artemis on the bed. She didn't touch her. Didn't even look at her. She just sat on the bed, letting her presence be known.

After a minute or two, Artemis' breathing slowed. She rolled over, wiping the tears from her face. Aphrodite did her best to ignore that.

"What now?" Artemis asked, bitterly "You going to go spread the rumor?"

Aphrodite was stunned at the question. Yes, she was not always the nicest person on Olympus. And perhaps, she had shown the tendency to spread a rumor here or there. But only about people already in established relationships, people that were happy. Unless you had seriously pissed Aphrodite off, she wouldn't expose people like that. She loved love.

"I think you should rethink your opinion of me." Aphrodite gave a small smile, handing a handkerchief to the woman beside her.

Artemis snorted, but grudgingly admitted that Aphrodite had been more than understand since the moment she had burst into her room. Artemis also realized that had not been her best plan ever.

"It's not wrong you know." Aphrodite said casually "You and Apollo."

"Excuse me?" Artemis admonished

"Well, I just mean no one would judge you for it. I mean, come on, the Ruler of Olympus married his sister! What's wrong with Apollo and his?"

"It doesn't work like that, Aphrodite, and you know it." Artemis resisted

"It does work like that, Artemis, you just don't want to know it." Aphrodite wisely retorted "How long has it been?"

"A couple decades now." Artemis blushed. "I thought it was fake. I didn't want to give you the satisfaction."

"Ahhh…" Aphrodite nodded, that would be Artemis' first reaction.

"It's just that after Orion," Artemis winced, remembering the man she had once fallen for. "I was just looking for someone to….."

"Looking for someone to love?" Aphrodite prompted sympathetically

Artemis nodded.

"You'll keep quiet about it?" she asked meekly

"If that's what you want." Aphrodite said, her disapproving tone making it clear that she disagreed with the decision.

"Yes." Artemis agreed. "I don't want anyone else knowing. Promise?"

"Promise."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~End Flashback~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That conversation had been about 2 to 3 centuries ago, by Aphrodite's count. And the hidden love story had only gotten more pathetic with time. Aphrodite wished Artemis had just told her brother. Things would have worked out much better that way, and they wouldn't be in this mess! Aphrodite was getting many strange looks because she was sitting around moping. Normally she would be flying all over the place at the mere suggestion of a wedding, but Artemis had to go and make things difficult, didn't she!

It wasn't even like she had anything to worry about! Though Apollo had never come to Aphrodite about it, she knew that Apollo loved Artemis. He had loved her much longer than she had him. He wouldn't have been so jealous about Orion if he hadn't. He was just more used to the feelings of love. It was easier for him to bury.

"Artemis!"

Aphrodite's gaze snapped to the doors of the throne room, in time to see that Poseidon was right, Artemis had indeed finally arrived.

She had reverted back to her Hunter's form. But even in the body of a preteen, Artemis looked old and tired. She ignored all of the gods who were trying to get her attention, instead strolling out the grand doors that lead into the garden.

The gods muttered amongst themselves at the Huntress' strange behavior and Aphrodite herself received some bewildered looks as she sprinted to join her.

"Artemis?" Aphrodite found the goddess standing at the edge of the pond, staring down at her reflection, her arms crossed over her chest in a stubborn stance.

"Why me?" she asked, spinning around and glaring at Aphrodite "Why is all of this happening to me?"

Aphrodite sighed. "I don't know."

"I was happy, you know?" Artemis cried, her voice rising with her rant. "For decades, for centuries, I was fine with my life! My life made sense! My mom was my confidant, my brother was my closest ally, my hunters were always at my side, and every man was my enemy! And then I met him!"

"Orion?" Aphrodite questioned

"Orion." Artemis spit out. "The dashing, modest, respectful, honorable, mortal hunter, that not even the goddess Artemis could resist! I was so angry at Apollo the day I killed him. But you know what? He was right! Apollo knew I was becoming weak. He didn't want me to break my vows."

Aphrodite had to bit her tongue in order to not correct her. To not tell Artemis the truth of exactly why Apollo had Orion killed. Orion's death had less to do with Artemis' vow than it did with Apollo's jealousy.

"Orion was the biggest mistake I ever made." Artemis yelled, kicking at the water fruitlessly. "Maybe if I had never considered love in the first place…"

"Love doesn't work like that Artemis." Aphrodite tried to tell her.

"Then how does it work?" Artemis demanded "Please help me understand this giant mess that is called my love life, because I am certainly very, very lost!"

"I don't know what to tell you." Aphrodite said, at a loss for words. "It's just something you have to learn for yourself."

"Can you take it away?"

"Take what away?"

"The feelings. The attraction, can you take it away. You said you didn't give them to me, but you never said you couldn't take them away."

"No," Aphrodite grimaced. "Not without taking away all your emotions for your brother. All of them. I can't do that."

Artemis gave her a bitter laugh. "Then what can you do?"

Aphrodite felt a spike of hurt at her words, but she knew that was just grief talking. She opened her mouth to try and comfort Artemis when the doors to the garden opened and Athena appeared.

"Aphrodite! Artemis!" Athena smiled, gesturing them inside. "You must come in! He's back!"

"Who is?" Aphrodite asked

"Apollo! And he's brought Fleur with him!" Athena said excitingly, before disappearing back into the throne room. Aphrodite had never seen Athena so hyped about a wedding before. She wasn't really the type.

Artemis paled, her posture tensing. She was obviously very uncomfortable with the prospect of meeting the mystery woman.

"Are going to leave?" Aphrodite asked, observing the petrified deer look that Artemis was sporting.

Artemis took a deep breath before meeting Aphrodite's eyes.

"No." she said determined "I can't run from them forever. I might as well get it over with."

Artemis steeled her shoulders and walked purposefully towards the throne room. She could hear laughter and loud conversations and Aphrodite wondered what Artemis saw as she paused at the window before fully striding into the room.

Aphrodite stayed standing by the pond, observing the garden of Olympus. She couldn't believe the mess she had been dragged into, although she secretly realized she wouldn't have it any other way.

The silent tranquility of the garden was interrupted by a loud crash that echoed out from the throne room. Loud yelling was heard right before a tension filled silence surrounded the air and Aphrodite sprinted back inside.

It seemed the day was not over yet…..