Part 1

The blue whirlpool shimmered brightly into a pristine green courtyard. Quinn held fast to Wade's hand. As they sailed he thought back to how tired he felt. It had been a hard couple of days and he knew the whole team needed the rest.

"Look out!" shouted Wade as they flew in conjunction onto some soft green grass that was conveniently beneath them. They rolled to avoid a nearby tree and waited for Remmy and the Professor to follow. But Remmy and the Professor weren't so lucky. They fell out of the vortex at a run and collided face first into the tree.

"Argggh!" said the Professor shaking the leaves from his mouth. Remmy stumbled behind him and fell into him, knocking him into tree again.

"Mr. Brown do you mind!" shouted the muffled voice of the Professor.

"Sorry Prof," said Remmy with a half hidden smile.

"Enough with the bickering you two," said Quinn with a faint grin. "Have you looked around you?"

Indeed the sight that they could see through the treetops looked promising indeed.

"God, it's beautiful..." breathed Wade.

"I'll second that one girl," repeated Remmy.

The sight that lay before them was a magnificent temple. The building was pure white without so much of a scratch on her. There were pillars in front of the building. Instead of looking threatening however, these looked inviting. Above the rousing metropolis was a huge courtyard. It was neatly kept and the lawn's green color was so beautiful it hurt the eyes to see.

"Wade what are you doing?" asked Quinn as she started down the slope.

"Taking a closer look," she called over her shoulder.

"Then we're all going," decided Quinn with a slight shake of his head.

Wade walked down the slope, careful not to loosen the dirt beneath her feet. She felt tiny as compared to the huge building. Gingerly she reached to touch one of the pristine white poles. Her fingers had barely grazed the surface when a loud booming voice called out from in the building.

"Who DARES disturb my rest!"

Wade pulled her hand away. Heart beating loudly in her ears, she replied "Ummm...I'm sorry."

The voice sounded angry but a bit mollified. "Come here child...let me have a look at you."

Wade gulped as Quinn shook his head slightly. Who knew what the person inside the temple-like building was all about?

Wade gave a decisive nod, then started towards the direction that the voice had come from. She gingerly opened the front door to find it slid open automatically. But the inside of the temple was like something she had never seen in her life. There were offerings of food and wine on several tables. The walls were covered with a red velvet material that was soft and inviting to the touch, Before the slider's eyes a throne which had been facing away from them slowly began it's decent to face them.

The throne slid away to reveal an astonishingly beautiful woman. She had flaxen hair, a pearly white complexion and a figure that Wade would have killed for. As it was however, Wade merely stated. "Hello I'm Wade, and these are my friends, Remmy, Quinn, and Professor Arturo.

Quinn merely stared at the woman. "I think I'm in love," he said in a whisper. Wade heard the whisper and quickly whacked him on the arm. "Sorry," he replied sheepishly looking down at her irritated face.

"Where are we?" Wade asked. "It's so beautiful here."

"Ah...yes it is," replied the woman. This is one of my many homes." As she spoke a quirky half smile lit her beautiful features. "But then again you wouldn't know that would you? Being so far from home and all."

"Miss..." started the Professor.

"Just call me Aphrodite," the woman replied mysteriously.

"Aphrodite it is then...named after the greek goddess?"

"In a manner of speaking."

"Look Aphrodite, my friends and I are bone tired right now...is there a hotel in the area?" asked Quinn.

"And some food," interjected Remmy.

"Guys...that's sorta rude...I mean we just pop into her lawn and..." began Wade

"It's all right Wade." said Aphrodite with that smile again.

"How..."

"How did I know your name?"

"Yes..."

"Let's just say I have certain abilities."

"Utter nonsense," retorted the Professor. He began eyeing the plate of food on the table nearest to him.

"Professor, psychic abilities are real...there have been medical studies..." argued Wade.

"Miss Welles, those quacks that call themselves scientists should be shot."

"Don't be so quick on the trigger my dear Arturo," said Aphrodite. "You are here for a specific purpose...and it is I who led you here."

"What is it you want from us Aphrodite?" said Quinn. "We only have three days here."

"Ah yes...still at the mercy of that infernal machine are you?" she replied.

Quinn nodded slowly. He felt uncomfortable...here was this woman who seemed to know all about them, and yet they knew almost nothing of her.

"Who are you?" he asked slowly. "And I mean really."

"I am a great many things," replied Aphrodite. "But if you mean am I a Goddess well then, I guess that I am."

"Don't be ridiculous Mr. Mallory. This is obviously some overpaid actress meant to scare tourists." retorted the Professor.

"Professor Maximillian Arturo. I am no charlatan. I am a Goddess." she said firmly. "Now repeat after me: Aphrodite...is...a...Goddess."

Slowly the Professor repeated the words feeling as though a great burden was being lifted from his chest. When done, he stopped and started breathing faintly.

"Hey! What do you think..." Quinn began but with a wave of her palm Aphrodite had frozen him in mid-sentence. He couldn't move or think and so he just sat there, numbly watching the scene unfold.

"Aphrodite please let them go," pleaded Wade. "We'll try to help you, I promise."

"I will hold you to that young slider." She turned and got off the chair revealing the most beautiful creature Wade had ever seen. Her long blond hair fell in ringlets around a petite lovely face with large blue-green eyes and a pearly white complexion. Wade couldn't help feeling a little envious. She slowly ran her hands over her own stomach and avoided looking directly at the Goddess who wore a simple white shift which since it was almost June seemed appropriate.

"Oh fine," said Aphrodite and will a wave of her hand the walls opened. "Here have some food. I am not completely heartless after all."

Slowly the door slid back to reveal a large table covered with a white tablecloth. There was fruit and cheeses spread all over it. Wade's stomach rumbled. "Um...Aphrodite, do you think you could release them so that we can all eat something?"

"Oh...oh yes." she replied with a sweet smile. And with a wave of her hand both the Professor and Quinn were freed from the suspended animation they had just been locked to.

"Blistering..." began the Professor, but Quinn silenced him with a look.

"How do you know we're far from home Aphrodite?" asked Quinn.

"I am a Goddess," came the reply, rather curtly this time. She sounded as though she was losing patience. "Now eat, we have much to discuss sliders."

The four sliders decided to take a good thing when it was offered and proceeded to stuff themselves full of food Aphrodite left the room and allowed them to eat in peace.

"What do you think this is all about Wade?" asked Quinn.

"If she's the real Aphrodite, whatever she wants from us will be requiring love."

"Why's that?"

"Because Quinn that's who Aphrodite is. She is the greek Goddess of love."

"And if she's a loon?"

"Could a loon have frozen you in your tracks?"

"Well..." he conceded. "No I guess not. But that means all that mythology stuff is real."

"Utter nonsense" mumbled the Professor.

"Professor she froze you in your tracks!" repeated Wade, exasperated.

"A magician's trick my dear," replied the Professor.

"Oh forget it," said Wade. "You two are hopeless. You can't even have faith in what is happening to you right now." So saying, she took a piece of cheese off of the table and began to nibble it with her fingers. Quinn helped himself to some grapes and both Remmy and the Professor ate whatever was closest to reach.

When they had finished, Wade decided to explore a bit more of the home they were occupying. She didn't get further than the hallway though, because Aphrodite stood in her path suddenly, blocking the way to the back of the house/temple.

"You love him don't you?" Aphrodite suddenly asked.

"Love who?" Wade answered. She'd been dreading something like this.

"You know who Wade." answered Aphrodite. "I can make it happen."

Wade felt confused and a little frightened at the prospect. She could tell what she felt for Quinn? But after a few minutes she finally shook her head. "I want him to love me under my own terms, not because of some spell...pardon me Aphrodite."

Aphrodite looked pleased. "And he will," she said. "Meanwhile I have a proposition for you."

She motioned towards the hallway. "Bring the others, you all should hear it."

Part 2

Wade walked down the expansive hallway. Her thoughts were racing. "And he will," she murmured to herself. A little tingle of gooseflesh stood up on her arms when she thought about it.

She reached the room with the food with ease. The others looked up when she came in the door. "Ah Miss Welles," said the Professor. "Care for some exquisite Brie?"

"Not right now Professor." responded Wade.

With a whoosh and a puff of smoke, Aphrodite appeared before them. This time she had red hair and green eyes. Her exquisite face remained the same.

"I have an offer for you all," she said lazily. "I have a daughter. Her name is Heron. She doesn't know her mother is a goddess. And she is being entrapped by Poseidon who loves her against her will and wants to make her his wife."

"Would make a good song," mumbled Remmy. "Oh...Heron by the sea...come back to me..."

Aphrodite gave him a sweet smile and he thought his heart would melt. "Hell I'll make up all the lyrics if you want," he finally choked out.

"That won't be necessary Mr. Brown." she responded. "But you *do* have a beautiful voice."

"Why should we make this trip for you Aphrodite?" asked Quinn.

Aphrodite laughed. "Because Mr. Mallory...it is I can send you home."

Wade pulled the group aside. "I think she's for reals guys."

"You are suggesting that we go gallivanting to the ocean on the whim of this delusional woman..."

"Yes Professor, and I think we should go," said Quinn.

Aphrodite smiled. "Of course there is a catch."

"Catch?" repeated Wade.

"To save my daughter, one of you must fall in love. It is the only way for her to learn what true love rather than possession is."

Quinn looked at Wade nervously, who was shuffling her feet. "I don't know if we can do that on command Aphrodite."

"Oh...I think you can," she replied. "Now rest up," she said, pointing to a large expansive hallway filled with bedrooms.

"Uh..." repeated Quinn.

To be continued...