O Royal Hera of majestic mien, aerial-form'd, divine, Zeus' blessed queen,
Thron'd in the bosom of cærulean air, the race of mortals is thy constant care.
The cooling gales thy pow'r alone inspires, which nourish life, which ev'ry life desires.
Mother of clouds and winds, from thee alone producing all things, mortal life is known:
All natures share thy temp'rament divine, and universal sway alone is thine.
With founding blasts of wind, the swelling sea and rolling rivers roar, when shook by thee.
Come, blessed Goddess, fam'd almighty queen, with aspect kind, rejoicing and serene.
-Orphic Hymn to Hera
---------------------
Kronos sat on his throne with his beautiful daughter, Hestia. He was trying to spend as much time as possible with her. She was playing with his beard as they waited for her mother.
"Páppa, is Atwus coming today?"
"Yes, He'll be here along with his brother Menoetius."
"Yay! I can't wait to see Atwus."
Kronos looked slightly amused as his voice echoed throughout the room.
"What about Menoetius? Don't you care about him?"
"No! Me wanna see Atwus."
She turned her head as she spoke, and the door to the throne room opened. Rhea had an enormous belly as she entered along with a bronze-skinned woman with long, flowing hair the colour of periwinkle with large and luminous violet eyes. By her right side was a child a lighter shade of bronze with vermillion hair. His eyes had no whites and looked like the Milky Way galaxy. His chin was squared and his brows were prominent. To her left was a shorter child of the same shade. His eyes were scarlet and his chin and brows were just as squared and prominent, respectively. He had wild, curly hair the same shade as his eyes.
"Klymene, as always, you look gorgeous."
Klymene bowed as Kronos spoke, while Rhea took Hestia from him.
"Atwus! Atwus! Atwus!"
Hestia tried to jump out of Rhea's arms while reaching towards the galaxy-eyed child. Rhea set her down as Atlas rushed towards them.
"Hes-ya! Hes-ya!"
They hugged each other immediately as they came into contact with Hestia at Atlas's chest.
"Atlas and Menoitios are twins, yet Atlas is much taller for his age."
"Indeed, my liege Atlas is growing exceedingly taller."
Kronos got off his throne and slowly walked down the steps.
"You need not address me as king, you're married to my brother for Gaea's sake, so that makes you my sister."
"As you wish my lie- I mean Kronos."
Kronos beckoned them to walk with him. Rhea grabbed Atlas' hand since Hestia's hand was clasped in his. While Menoitios was still attached to his mother so he walked with her.
"How is my brother, by the way? I haven't seen him in so long. He didn't even come to Hestia and Demeter's birth party."
"He's fine, but he's very busy with the West. He has talked about visiting you recently though."
"I know, he should be here soon."
"We've arrived!"
Rhea's sweet, melodious voice interrupted their conversation as she opened a door to her right. She smiled as she presented a colourful room filled with inscriptions to Klymene. Kronos walked to Rhea's side while he explained exactly what this room was.
"This room is to house and protect our children. I know sometimes it's hard managing both our children and the duties we have to do, but you need not worry anymore. I call this a daycare. Throughout the day, my wife and Leto will take care of the children and it won't just be these three. My brother and your father, Okeanos, should be here very soon."
As he said that, rumbling footsteps echoed from down the hall and out of the shadows a man with skin the colour of the sea and long, flowing blue hair and beard with several babies in his hands and by his side. He had on a diadem of coral and seashells upon his head and parts of his skin were covered in scales and the other parts in tattoos reminiscent of waves. Jutting out of his forehead were two horns, one reminiscent of a bull and the other a crab claw.
"Okeanos, my brother, you're here. And I see you've brought your many children, just like I asked."
"I have brother, and I heard what you said from down the hall so you can take them and I'll leave."
His voice sounded as if there was a tsunami on the horizon, yet it was apparent that he was tired from the way he sounded and the bags around his ocean blue eyes.
"You seem so joyous leaving your children here, but I can't blame you considering how much you have. And I wasn't finished explaining the daycare to Klymene. I'm sure she wanted to hear more."
Klymene nodded as Okeanos handed his children to Rhea and Leto, who were already tending to Hestia, Atlas and Menoitois.
"Great! As I was saying, this daycare will be open throughout the day and even during the night if needed. Leto and Rhea will ensure that our children are well taken care of, and they will also provide educational activities and games to help them develop their skills and talents."
Kronos paused to glance around the room, looking at the toys and books scattered on the shelves and the colourful paintings adorning the walls.
"I want the children to have the best possible upbringing and education, and I believe this daycare will help us achieve that. It will also give us more time to focus on our duties and responsibilities without worrying about our children's safety and well-being."
Klymene smiled gratefully at Kronos and Rhea, feeling relieved and grateful for their generosity and care.
"Thank you, Kronos and Rhea. I appreciate your kindness and support. Now I'd like to go talk to my father, so I must leave."
"Health to you, Klymene, safe travels and tell my brother hello for me."
Klymene dashed to her leaving father, Okeanos. Kronos looked at their leaving figures before he started walking back to the throne, but before he could properly take two steps he heard his wife calling him.
"KRONOS!"
He quickly turned around and saw his wife on the ground with liquid all around her.
"What happened? Are you okay?" Kronos asked in a panic as he rushed towards her.
"It's time, my love. The baby is coming."
Kronos felt a wave of emotions rushing through him. He was excited to meet his child, but he was also terrified of the birthing process and the potential complications that could arise.
"Okay, okay. Let's get you to the Labour room. Leto follow us, once again you shall help birth our child."
Rhea nodded, trying to control her breathing as Kronos helped her up. He called out to one of the guards and instructed him to prepare the labour chamber immediately.
As they made their way to their chamber, Rhea's contractions intensified, and she began to feel the need to push. Kronos felt his heart racing as he tried to keep his composure and support his wife.
When they finally reached their chambers, the guard was already waiting for them with the necessary items. Leto set Rhea to lay on the kline and quickly assessed Rhea's condition and instructed her to push.
Kronos clenched his wife's hand tightly and whispered words of encouragement to her as she pushed with all her might. After what felt like an eternity, a cry filled the room, and Leto held up a tiny, wailing baby.
"It's a girl," she said with a smile.
Kronos looked at his daughter for the first time and saw her large, piercing eyes look back up at him. They were a deep shade of blue with a giant star in her eyes, reminding him of a show he once saw. Her hair was long and flowing with a rich golden hue. He was in awe of the tiny, fragile life that he had helped bring into the world once more.
Rhea was exhausted but happy, and she smiled weakly at her husband and her newborn daughter.
"Something about her reminds me of you, so you shall name her?" Kronos asked, still gazing at his daughter.
Rhea thought for a moment before speaking.
"Let's name her Hera," she said. "I just know she'll be a wonderful mother in the future, just like Demeter."
Kronos nodded, feeling a sense of pride and responsibility wash over him. As always, for every child that they shall have, they held a birth party for her in the following weeks.