A/N: Two things to say! 1) This is a sequel to that One-Shot "You're Dating Who?" 2) For all of my Cahills Read the 39 Clues, I'm on a vacation and I forgot to pack The Maze of Bones and my notebook where I keep up with everything (because I'm paranoid) at home on my bed. So that's why I haven't updated. Once I get back this weekend, I'll work on CRt39C. So, now to my evil schemes! Er, I mean… um… never mind.
Winter Solstice, Olympus
Zeus sighed. He was late – again. My idiot son, he thought, propping his head in his fist.
Apollo – ever since he's been with that demigod girl, Kate Matthews, he's been late to every meeting and been care free. Well, the last part was normal even before he met Kate, but he's made North Carolina go into a very hot winter season. He's been with her… six months now? Zeus couldn't tell. Either way, it was a good thing, because that way, he didn't have to watch him because he knew where he was at.
Aphrodite seemed awful pleased with herself on her throne made of makeup cases, heels, and mirrors so she could stare at herself while he talked. Hades was sitting on his temporary throne that four of the dead warriors carried for him. He was annoyed, looking around silently while twiddling his thumbs. Hermes was on the phone, pacing in the back of the room, arguing about where to ship and who to ship with. Artemis was sharping her knives, but she kept glancing at the door, frowning, and then continuing with her knife.
"I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH IT IS!" Hermes yelled into the phone. "DID YOU FORGET I'M A GOD?"
He closed his phone with an annoyed look. "That's why I hate hiring mortals."
He walked back towards his throne, but Artemis jumped up and stopped him. Aphrodite looked up at them, her kaleidoscope eyes glittering with amusement at them. Artemis rolled her eyes and pulled Hermes outside of the throne room.
"Hey," she said, "where's Apollo?"
Hermes shrugged. "I dunno. It isn't my day to keep him."
"But he is dating your daughter," she hissed.
"Good point," he said. "It has been cloudy a lot lately. Maybe they're in a fight. Hm…" He looked around. "That is suspicious."
Then, a flash of light appeared from outside – Apollo's Lamborghini. Hermes and Artemis ran back inside, jumping into their thrones. Apollo busted in the door, dressed in a black leather jacket, black jeans, black Converse, and a black shirt under his jacket. He didn't look happy; actually, he looked ticked. His hair was ruffled, he was soaked, and there was a dark cloud floating above outside, making it look like it was pitch black. He sat down on his throne next to Artemis's.
"What?" he growled at Zeus, who was in shock at what Apollo was wearing.
Aphrodite smiled a little. Ares frowned at that. Apollo shook the rain out of his hair and glanced at Hermes. A hint of sadness and worry was in his eyes. Hermes raised an eyebrow, but Apollo looked away as quickly as he drove, which was pretty fast.
Zeus starting talking about the meeting, but Aphrodite was staring at Apollo the whole time. Gods, he's hot, she thought. Ares was getting jealous. Aphrodite looked over at him and wagged her fingers, smiling at him. That should keep him oblivious for a while.
Something about Apollo was just… wow. But ever since he's been with that demigod, he's been different. Gods weren't even supposed to be with demigods.
Something's would have to change because Aphrodite would be with Apollo before the New Year, and that Kate Matthews would never cross his mind again.
After the meeting, Apollo grabbed Hermes and pulled him away from earshot.
"Did Martha and George tell you my message?" he whispered, a look of nervousness, panic, and worry all in one in his eyes.
"No," Hermes said. "Why? What's wrong?"
Apollo ran his hands threw his hair and glanced around nervously. "It's Kate," he said shakily. "I was supposed to meet her at our usual spot and she's usually there before me, but she wasn't there. I waited forever, but she never showed. I went to her house and asked her mom, but she said she never came home from school. I looked around, but I couldn't find her. That was two days ago. I called you, but Martha and George said they'd tell you."
Hermes reached in his pocket and pulled out Martha and George. "Guys… why didn't you tell me?"
Well, you see, Boss, it was Martha's idea, George stuttered.
Stop! Martha snapped at George. You told me not to!
And you listened to me? George said astonished.
Hermes gripped his phone and the snakes began coughing and sputtering. "What did I say about calls about my kids?"
A minute later, George and Martha were not allowed to speak.
Apollo glanced around. "Look, I know that some of the others think it's not right for me to be dating a demigod, but you don't think one of them would…?"
Artemis ran in, Aphrodite walking behind her with her giant heels and perfect makeup. Artemis slowed down and Aphrodite appeared next to her, standing perfect in her heels.
Aphrodite twirled her hair with her finger, looking around all innocent. She winked at Apollo and kept looking around. Apollo wanted to hurl a shoe at her. Kate would.
He sighed. Kate. It killed him that he couldn't find her. She was great. He was even thinking about... but she's a demigod. She wouldn't become immortal… or would she? But what about him having kids? Would they go extinct? He hadn't cheated on Kate, and with Aphrodite winking at him only made him feel worse.
He missed Kate's blonde curly hair, with her worn out sneakers that she always wore, and the way she would kiss him when he did something stupid, and how she would jump on his back, wrap her legs and arms around him, and point stuff out as they walked. He smiled thinking about it and slipped his hand in his pocket.
Apollo froze. He was about to pull it out in front of Aphrodite. He let go of it and pulled his hand out.
Artemis punched him on the arm – her way of saying "I gotcha back."
"We'll find her," she said. "First things first, I'll need a ride to North Carolina if you want me and Hermes to help."
Aphrodite's eyes gleamed. "I can help!" she said.
Artemis, Hermes, and Apollo silently cursed. Aphrodite…? They exchanged glances, and then silently decided.
"Fine," Apollo said. "You can come; but, you're mostly here for the ride, not for getting guys."
"Of course," she said, batting her eyes and twirling her hair at him.
Apollo sighed and walked away towards his car. Hermes, his sister, and Aphrodite followed. Apollo tried to push his guilt aside, but he had a bad feeling about this. Something wrong was going on – and it had to be someone trying to get to him.
Aphrodite sat down in the passenger seat, now known to Apollo as Kate's seat. He froze. There were only three people who sat there, and Aphrodite was not one of them: Artemis, Hermes, and Kate. He glanced at Artemis in the back seat and sighed.
He sat in the driver's seat as Hermes flew in the backseat next to Artemis. It was a small backseat, but even though they were half-brothers and sisters, that was still awkward. Aphrodite started to move the seat up to give Hermes room, but Apollo gripped the wheel.
"Don't move the seat," he growled.
"Why?" she asked.
"Because that's Kate's seat and that's where she likes it. Don't move it."
Artemis nudged Hermes with her arm because he was snickering. She shot him a look and he cleared his throat, stopping. She moved her hand away from it, rolling her eyes.
"Ok…?" she mumbled.
The last time the seat got moved, Kate wouldn't let Apollo leave until she got it back the way she had it before. Aphrodite had moved the seat an inch, and he knew that Kate was going to be annoyed about that – very annoyed.
Aphrodite's elbow propped on the arm rest next to his, where Kate puts hers, just barely touching his. He looked at it, scowling. Apollo moved his arm over closer to him and shot off, causing Aphrodite to move her arm. He set his back, grinning.
She's trying to act like Kate, Hermes's voice said in his head.
I know, and I'm going to choke her, Apollo said back.
Hey, give me a ten second warning before you do so I can get my camera, Hermes said, grinning.
This was going to be a long ride, because right then, Aphrodite began talking. Nonstop. About Justin Bieber and One Direction.
