Apollo was supporting his head with his hand, while casually leaning in his throne. He got a far away look on his face, which showed that he wasn't listening at all. His eyes roamed around the familiar faces in the room without finding anything interesting to stop on. The headphones in his ears prevented him from hearing the conversations between his siblings. The I-pod in his pocked was giving him the opportunity to avoid getting bored on those meetings.

It was the summer solstice again and the council of the gods has gathered. It was terribly boring. Well, at least for the sun god. And that's why he preferred listening to music instead of listening to the non-stopping quarrels between the other Olympians.

Deep in thought, Apollo hadn't even noticed his siblings watching him and calling his name until his father's voice boomed in his ears.

"APOLLO!"

The angry shout was so loud that the young god jumped lightly, making his headphones fall off.

"Ye-yes, father?" He asked almost sacredly. Olympian or not no body dared to anger the mighty Zeus.

"Won't you say something about the matter, Apollo? After all it's you we've been discussing."

Apollo straightened a little, frown appearing on his beautiful face. "Me? Why me?"

Athena rolled her eyes from across the room. "And you ask why?" She crossed her hands in front of her chest, fixing him with her cold gaze. "You are irresponsible, you take nothing seriously. You don't even take part in the council anymore!"

The god of prophesy bowed his head, having nothing to say in his defense. After all, everything she said was true.

"That's why," Zeus took the word again. "We decided that you should find a wife and maybe finally start a family. We hope that it will make you more responsible."

Apollo's head spun. A wife? Marriage? Family? "But- I-" He tried to object but nothing coherent came out his mouth. In the end his father raised his hand to keep him quiet.

"I'm sorry but there is nothing you can do about it. The decision is already taken. But," Zeus paused for a second. "You can choose your bride yourself." The king god raised from his throne. "Council dismissed." Before he left he turned back at Apollo who hadn't moved from his place. "Good luck, my son. I hope you find love in the end. Don't forget that you have only a year." Golden light erupted from Zeus's body and he vanished, as did the other Olympians.

Only the sun god stayed there, staring at the flames of the hearth, deep in thoughts about what was expecting him.

Then an idea flashed across his mind. Of course!

"Aphrodite!" He called at the empty space and after less than a minute the goddess was standing in front of him in her whole glory. "I need your help." He admitted, looking almost ashamed.

But she just smirked and clapped her hands happily. "I know. Sooner or later everyone needs my help." She looked at him observingly. "You need my help with the little punishment father set you, don't you?" Aphrodite clicked her tongue. "Finding a wife – tough job. But I'm the right person for it."

"That means you'll help, right?" Apollo asked with a hopeful glint in his eyes.

"I'm goddess of love. That's my job." Her smile grew. "Plus I never miss the chance for an epic love story."

He didn't like the way she talked about 'the epic love story', but decided to stay quiet. He was in desperate need of her help right now.

"Hm, let me think." The goddess of loves pouted her lips thoughtfully. "Why don't we start our search from Camp Half Blood? There are few pretty daughters of mine there, too."

The golden-haired god couldn't help but shudder at the thought of a bunch of screaming, giggling Aphrodite girls. Nope, definitely not.

"Or maybe there is a specific girl that had captured your attention?"

Apollo tried to think about a demigoddess who had actually caught his eyes. Long black hair and a pair of sea green eyes flashed in front of his eyes.

The female watched his reaction carefully. "So? Is there a special girl?"

He nodded. "Very, very special one."