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Published:
2025-05-15
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2025-05-25
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5/?
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To have your heart go walking around outside your body

Summary:

So the brilliant neal-illustrator drew a picture of Zeus helping baby Athena learn to walk with the caption, "The tale says that Athena popped out of Zeus’s head an adult but rumor on Olympus is we just didn’t get to meet her till she was grown."

And that inspired me to write a fic where Athena pops out of Zeus's head as a 7 month old.

Notes:

I apologize in advance. You might want to grab a box of tissues. I cried a little writing this.

Chapter 1: Dearest Love and Greatest Joy

Chapter Text

Metis could feel herself fading. The pregnancy had been difficult. The birth even more so. A whole day of labor with no one to even hold her hand. She had screamed for her own mother until her throat bled.

"It's not fair!" Metis sobbed to herself, "It's not fair!"

Ever since she was eaten she could feel Zeus's power trying to snuff her out. She was not gonna let that happen. Not when her baby hadn't felt the warmth of the sun yet. Not when her baby hadn't felt the warmth of her arms yet.

Athena was asleep, snuggled up against her mom's chest. Metis had just met her dearest love and greatest joy only 7 months ago. And now . . . now she was going to have to say goodbye. She wasn't going to get to hold her anymore, she wasn't going to see her smile anymore. And she wasn't gonna get to see her grow up. Metis had spent the days playing with her daughter. Trying to pour every last ounce of her infinite love into her. Athena wouldn't remember her consciously but maybe the peace and love her first several months would leave some mark on her. She didn't even leave her alone when either of them slept.

She felt Athena roll onto her belly. Athena looked up at her mother with a smile. Metis wiped her tears and picked up her daughter she spun her around in her arms and earning her many giggles. Metis's favorite sound in the world.

Metis was hoping to have another day left with her little girl but she could feel herself fading quickly. She took the spear she had made from the iron she pulled from from Zeus's blood. She put her octopus medallion around her daughter's neck.

"Athena, my dear daughter. The light of my life. My greatest joy and infinite love . . . Mommy has to go now," Metis said trying not to cry, she didn't want her last moments with Athena to be tearful, " . . . Thank you . . thank you for being born . . if I could go back and never had gotten pregnant with you I wouldn't! Even if it meant I never got eaten. I would always choose meeting you over and immortal life. Thank you for giving me the best 7 months of my life."

Metis smiled through her tears and her baby girl smiled back, unaware that this was goodbye. Blissfully ignorant in the safety and warmth of her mother's arms.

Metis began bang the spear against Zeus's skull. Athena clapping her hands to the rhythm. It was all Metis could do not to cry. Metis soon was having trouble breathing. She felt dizzy.

Chapter 2: For one so small you seem so strong, my arms will hold you keep you safe and warm

Summary:

A screaming seven-month-old appears on mount olympus.

Notes:

Okay, I struggled with deciding who Athena's first interaction outside Zeus's head should be with. I wrote two versions but decided on this one.

Chapter Text

The pounding in Zeus's head stopped only to be replaced by a greater and sharper pain that he could only describe as shriek. The shriek didn't let up. Zeus wasn't sure how much he could take. Prometheus looked concerned as he examined Zeus's head.

"Do something, Prometheus?" The God King yelled at his cousin.

"My king there - I - I don't -" Prometheus started to say unsure how to explain that he felt like there was a whole other life force inside Zeus's head.

"Just cut it open!"

"My king!"

"I don't even care anymore! Anything to make it stop!"

Zeus handed Prometheus an axe. Prometheus felt the God King's skull crack then was thrown black my a blast. When the light faded there was a crying infant on the ground. She was covered in ichor but Prometheus could find no wounds. Yet she continued to shriek.

"Prometheus!" Zeus shouted

"Coming, my king!" Prometheus.

Prometheus put Athena down on the god king's desk as he healed Zeus's head wound. Thankfully the wound was pretty minor. The axe had barely fractured the skull before the explosion.

The child attempted to roll onto her belly but in doing so ended up rolling off the desk. Zeus caught her just in time.

"You're okay, you're okay, don't cry," Zeus told the infant as he held her against his chest and rubbed little circles onto her back. He hummed the song he remembered his mother singing to him and it seemed to calm her down. Zeus's heart fluttered when she rested her head against him. He looked down to see that she had also closed her eyes, long eyelashes resting on her chubby cheeks. He put his hand under her nose to make sure she was still breathing.

"Get me something warm to wrap her in I don't want her to get cold," Zeus ordered his cousin.

Prometheus took off his himation.

"I'll get something better but this should work until I get back," Prometheus said, leaving the room.

Zeus tried to wrap the himation around her but the fabric got caught on the chain of her medallion. Carefully Zeus removed the medallion from the baby. It had an octopus on it. Zeus knew this medallion. He was the who designed it. She was wearing it that day, Zeus thought, fighting back tears. His fingers brushed the back where he felt something engraved. Turning the medallion over he saw a name scratched onto it "ATHENA" and under it "Her mother's greatest joy and dearest love."

Chapter 3: Daughter of my heart

Summary:

Hera arrives at the scene having heard rumors that her husband had a kid.

Notes:

"I recognize that Greek Mythology has made Hera a certain way. But Given that it's a stupid ass sexist and contradictory way, I've elected to ignore it!"
You can pry mom Hera from my cold dead hands.

Chapter Text

Hera walked in to the room and discovered the rumors were true. Her husband did have a daughter. And she was not the mother. When Hera lost her first pregnancy Zeus comforted her. When she lost her second pregnancy he held her and told her that it would be alright. Had he lost faith in her, had she failed as the goddess of marriage and motherhood, did he think it was her fault and got with another woman.

"Oh there you are, just in time," Zeus said carefully moving over to her so as not to disturb the baby in his arms, "I need to go do some smiting but I don't want the sound to scare Athena so I need you to hold her for me."

"What?!" Hera exclaimed.

"You're great with babies, you'll be fine," Zeus said gently taking Athena off his chest. She started to cry when Zeus removed her form his chest,

"I know, I know, baby girl, I'm sorry," Zeus said, placing her against Hera's chest.

Hera's instinctively started bouncing the baby and rubbing her back

"She takes a little while to soothe, but she'll calm down quickly."

"Zeus what - Zeus!" Hera shouted as her husband ran off.

Hera turned back to the crying infant in her arms.

"You're okay, you're okay," Hera said gently to the child, she rubbed the baby's back and sang to her as she gently bounced her. Eventually, the baby stopped crying and rested her head on Hera's chest causing her heart to flutter. She didn't want to disturb the poor little thing by moving her around to much but she was very curious how soft those shiny little curls on her head were. After singing and rubbing her back for several minutes Hera touched the babies beautiful little locks (finding them even softer than she could have imagined). The baby looked up at her with he large grey eyes and titled her head.

"You're a curious one, aren't you," Hera told the little girl, her voice and facial expressions naturally becoming more animated, "Yeah, you're gonna grow up to be a genius! Are you gonna be the goddess of wisdom?"

Athena smiled back at the woman's silly faces.

"Was that smile? Was that a smile, baby girl?" Hera said to the infant, who beamed even more brightly, "It is! It is a smile! You know with a smile like that you could also be the goddess of beauty! Yes! Yes, you could!"

Athena babbled back at Hera.

"Yeah," Hera replied, "What else, what else are you gonna do?

"Are you gonna fly?" Hera asked, switching her hold so that she could spin her around and toss her in the air.

Athena smiled and squealed. Hera thought she had never heard such a beautiful sound as this girl's giggle.

"Let's get you washed, my golden baby," Hera said walking to the bathhouse.

Chapter 4: "Love is like water. You can fall in it. You can drown in it and you can't live without it." - Leticia Rae

Summary:

Splish splash they are taking a bath.
Hera bonds more with baby Athena.

Notes:

I know I am reusing some tropes! Deal with it! . . . . love you!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The servants stared as the god queen walk down the hall talking affectionately to her husband's baby. She held Athena tighter and glared at them. They bowed and scurried away. The disrespect, Hera thought.

Athena babbled something.

"I'm sorry about that, baby girl," Hera said, "Don't worry no one will harm you while I'm here."

What did Zeus say her name was again, was it Athena? Hera wondered.

"Athena?" Hera said tentatively. The curious child suddenly shifted her gaze from her new surroundings to Hera.

"Ga ba?" Athena babbled tilting her head to the side as she looked up at Hera.

"That's your name isn't it. Athena!" Hera said bouncing Athena little. Athena smiled at her.

"Well, if it wasn't it is now," Hera said as she stroked the baby girl's curls and planted a kiss on her head, "Mind of gods. Yes, your name is Athena."

 

 

Hera held Athena while her servants untied her dress and removed her jewelry. She then sat on the second step of the bathing pool with Athena on her lap. Athena squealed with delight as she splashed the water, hands flapping like the wings of a bird. She stopped a moment to watch the water drip from her fingers before she continued splashing. She had the largest grin on her face. She started leaning forward and trying to scooch off Hera's lap to get a closer look at the substance.

"Careful, Athena," Hera told the baby but Athena just babbled something back at her.

Hera picked Athena up under the arms and slowly carried her through the water. Athena's eyes went wide as she was further submerged in the water.

"You like the water, little one," Hera said fondly, "Does is feel nice?"

Athena smiled and babbled at Hera.

Athena studied the bubble that had formed on her arm while Hera was washing her. She reached out to touch the strange thing only to pop it with her chubby fingers. She startled a little but then smiled and squealed as Hera made more bubbles for her this time ones floating in the air.

 

 

Hera played peek-a-boo with Athena as she dried her off with a towel. She's so soft and chubby, Hera thought delightedly. Athena giggled and clapped her hands each time Hera reappeared behind the towel. But Hera was far more delighted each time she moved the towel to see the smiling little cherub on the other side.

 

 

Hera paused once she got to the nursery she hadn't been in there since before her last miscarriage. She had put so much care into everything. She had had so much excitement. And it was taken from her. Hera was brought back to the moment when Athena yawned and rested her head on Hera's shoulder. Athena fell asleep while Hera was dressing her. When Hera put her down in the crib she reached out and grabbed Hera's finger.

Zeus came back from smiting to find Hera had fallen asleep at the side of the crib, Athena still holding her finger.

Notes:

Hope you enjoyed it! Please leave a comment! I cannot describe how much joy they give me!
Also Zeus is like "I knew it would work, got my wife to accept her stepdaughter, good job Zeus!" *high fives himself*
Lmk if you guys wanna see some of the alternative ideas I had for Athena's first interactions on Olympus.

Chapter 5: You are my sunshine

Summary:

Hera wakes up back in her own bed with the terrifying thought that maybe it was all just a dream. But she's 5 months pregnant so she's going to have to go the nursery anyways so . . . .

Notes:

So Metis was an oceanid. Making Athena a child of the skies and the seas.
Sorry these chapters are so short.

Chapter Text

Hera woke up in a panic. She was back in her own room. Where is Athena? Tears fell down her face as she wondered if she had dreamed up the whole thing.

Either way she needed to get the nursery ready for her unborn son. If he makes it. She paused at the doors of the nursery, more tears streaming down her face. All she had to do was open the door and she would know if she had dreamt her or not. But Hera was not sure she could handle going in and finding the crib empty. Silly, you can't be sad about a baby you dreamt of, she wasn't real, Hera told herself, but her tears fell anyway.

Then she heard a cry. Hera burst through the door to find Athena very much alive. Sitting up in her crib shrieking. She reached out to Hera as Hera ran over to the crib. Hera had never been so happy to hear a baby crying, even if was a painfully scared shriek. She's real, and she's mine.

Athena soothed after being held for a bit. Hera changed her and dressed her in a new outfit. She learned the Athena did not like having things on her head. She pulled off anything Hera tried to put on her head.

"You don't want a golden wreath, but you're a princess and it looks so cute!" Hera told Athena.

Athena babbled something back at her.

"You're right, what am I saying, you're unbelievably adorable on your own," Hera told her earning a smile, "Yes, yes you are!"

 

 

"How are my favorite girls?" Zeus asked warmly as he entered the room, he took Athena from Hera's arms and tossed her in the air. Athena squealed in delight.

"You are such a perfect, little bird, aren't you," Zeus said bringing her towards him so he could kiss her little head, "you even have hair soft as feathers."

And as if cued Athena started flapping her arms as if trying to fly.

"You truly are a child of the skies," Zeus told his daughter before whirling her like she was flying, he was even making wind sounds to mimic flight. And although Athena was loving it, Hera couldn't help but feel sad. She's also a child of the seas, Hera thought.