.1.
The first time Oure and Zoe were introduced to fear was when they were five years old–give or take, they can't really tell time.
They were playing in their mother's garden–typical of them since the garden was their playground. It was normal, but when they spotted something out of the ordinary, they had stood still as the gigantic dog the size of a bull lifted its two heads that had been lapping water and stared at them. Four pairs of burning red eyes locked on two identical jade ones. Oure raised an eyebrow while Zoe blinked, when they noticed that instead of a tail, the dog had two large snake coming out of it's back.
The monster–for they were taught so they knew–let out a simultaneous growl and hiss as the twins tried to silently retreat. Zoe opted to stand behind Oure who didn't move. Just as the dog had pounced at them, multiple sets of fangs bared, a man appeared. He raised a hand, all the while looking at the twins, and zapped the monster who turned into nothingness.
This time, both twins retreated–apparently sensing danger. Oure gathered the courage to ask, seeing as he was the older of the twins.
"Who are you?" The man raised an eyebrow. That was when their mother came running towards them, fear and worry etched onto her face. The man looked up and narrowed his eyes at her.
"I hope you have an explanation for this, Calypso." Calypso ignored him in favor of looking over her children.
"Are you two okay?" She asked, worried. The twins nodded wordlessly. Zoe walked up and buried her face in the crook of her mother's neck, sighing in relief.
-0-
Hermes looked at the two children that was on the island Ogygia. Last time he visited, they were never were twins and they reminded him eerily of someone. Both have dark hair, jade eyes and tan skin. They have almond shaped eyes–inherited from their mother, if Calypso really was their mother.
"I hope you have an explanation for this." He demanded. But Calypso ignored him. His eyebrow twitched at that.
"Who are they?" His eyes softened when he saw the girl buried her face in her mother's neck. So she was frightened. He couldn't tell seeing as they both wore emotionless faces.
"My children." Calypso answered guardedly.
"And who's the father?" Hermes asked, voice lowing dangerously. She pursed her lips, refusing to answer.
"Is there anything you need, Lord Hermes?" She changed the subject. A bead of perspiration fell from her forehead. "Let's find a shelter to talk at." She hoisted both her children up and headed to the porch near her garden.
Calypso had been pardoned, thanks to Percy Jackson. Hermes visited her five years later because it has slipped his mind about her–not good at all. He smiled. "Your curse has been lifted. You are pardoned."
Calypso did not even look up. "I'm planting Moonlace, Hermes. This is not time for one of your cruel jokes."
Hermes shook his head in exasperation. "No, Calypso, dear. I'm telling the truth."
Said woman finally looked up. "... Really?" She looked hopeful. Hermes nodded, grinning.
"When was I pardoned?" Hermes' smile faltered.
He fidgeted uncomfortably. "Five years ago ...?"
Calypso smiled, finally looking up from her garden. "Is that so, Hermes?" Her smiled was slightly chilly and scary. Hermes shifted uncomfortably.
"So ... the father ... was he here five years ago?" He only knew one person that came here five years ago. Calypso nodded.
"If you're thinking of getting rid of them ..." Her voice was dangerous, it lost all the familiarity and gentleness in them.
"No, of course not." Hermes denied hurriedly. Sometimes, it was hard to forget that Calypso was a Titan with how gentle and kind she looked.
"So ... what now?" Calypso asked.
"Are we going to leave, mama?" Oure interjected quietly.
"Perhaps." Hermes was surprised.
"You don't want to leave?"
"I would love to–but–where will we go, especially them?" Calypso asked. Hermes grinned.
"I've got an idea."
-0-
Calypso swallowed the lump in her throat. The gods have made their decision, she and her children were too dangerous. They have to live with their father–so they could be kept an eye on. And Calypso have absolutely no idea how to deal with an old lover. There's still his girlfriend to deal with. Athena was glaring daggers at her and her children who glared right back. Hera had looked smug and satisfied–not surprising, she had it in for Annabeth. Aphrodite had looked happy and Calypso caught her muttering a 'finally'.
And the biggest problem of it all : How she was going to break the news. Calypso was no idiot, she has no doubt that Percy would give Annabeth up for their children. She has no wish to ruin their relationship. Thinking about them together still brings a pang of loss and emptiness to her heart.
"Mama?" Zoe was tugging on her dress–that Hermes and Aphrodite had oh-so-helpfully supplied. Her kids each have a bag full of clothes.
"Yes, sweetie?" She asked.
"Why are we standing here?" Oure asked the question lingering in his sister's mind.
Calypso smiled, albeit stiffly. "We're heading in now." She lagged behind in the current technologies–she had been cursed for centuries–but she learned fast. Hermes had taught her every single thing that she needed to know. Its been a week since she had been pardoned–she had lived at Olympus.
She ushered her children into the lift–ahh, wonderful technologies these days. She pressed a button that will take them to the apartment floor Percy lives in with his family. She giggled at that, he was such a baby sometimes, already an adult but still living with his parents. It hadn't been like that for her. She had to learn how to live by herself at a very young age.
"Mama, the thing gave a weird sound!" Oure cried, shuffling closer to her. She smiled and patted his head.
"Its fine. Now, let's go." They made their way out. Calypso looked at the hastily drewn map. Apartment 302. Turn left, then right and straight ahead.
She stopped short and barely managed to pull the twins out of the way before a woman–she dimly noted that had blonde hair and grey eyes–came running out of the apartment room, screaming. "Its over, Percy!" She turned into a corner but her voice was still audible. "You can die for all I care!"
"Annabeth–wait!" A man in his young twenties, with dark hair and jade eyes came tumbling out.
"Oof." He stopped when he collided with Oure, who stumbled and would've fallen on his butt if Calypso hadn't caught him in time.
Zoe glared at the man. "Your should watch where you're going next time."
Percy–for it had to be Percy, she just recognize his face; she hadn't forgotten him no matter how much time had pass–apologized immediately, flushing as he was being berated by a child.
"Sorry–I'm so sorry. I really am but I just–Calypso! Is that really you?" Percy stopped stumbling over his words when he saw her.
Calypso giggled but remembering the severity of the situation stopped. "Percy, can–can I come in?" Percy nodded and moved around, giving them more space to enter.
"Calypso ... long time no see." He started awkwardly. He then noticed the kids. "Are they your children?"
She nodded. The twins were eying him curiously now–they were smart, she wondered whether they had chalked it down that the man standing in front of them was their father. From the light of recognition and slight joy, they have already known.
"What are their names?" From her vantage point of view, she caught sight of an elderly woman–most likely Percy's mother–and an elderly man in his fifties–Percy's step-father perhaps?– peeking out from a room. She was frowning but Calypso noticed that she was regarding the newcomers with open curiosity.
"Oure." Calypso pointed at her son. "And Zoe–named after my sister."
"Err–not that I don't want you here but–why are you here?" Percy asked, awkward. He was too blunt. And from how his mother wince, she thought so too. Must be why he and Annabeth broke up. Just a few minutes ago.
"The gods decided that we–me and my children–must live here." They were getting closer to the point and by now, she was fidgeting nervously.
"Umm ... why?" Percy looked dumbfounded–obviously since he still didn't know the whole situation.
Calypso took a deep breath. "Because Oure and Zoe is your children"–She swallowed–"and I'm their mother."