The Giant War was over.
Lizzie Jackson sat alone on the beach, staring out into the sea, where the water sparkled underneath the moonlight. She closed her eyes and let the teardrops fall as the sea breeze caressed her cheeks.
So many had died. So many had been sacrificed. So much had been lost. So much had been destroyed.
She ran a hand through her long black hair as she thought about everyone who were gone. The death count had been close to two hundred, with hundred others injured and some demigods missing. Most of the others were severely injured.
Annabeth, her best friend, had taken a sword to the stomach when she pushed a Hermes demigod out of the way of an enemy giant. She was not dead, but she was very badly injured.
Lou Ellen, a daughter of Hecate, and one of her friends, had been killed by a giant.
Leo Valdez, one of the seven, a close friend and the joker among them, was still missing. His whereabouts were unknown,and whether he was dead, Lizzie did not know. When Lizzie had learnt of his plan, her heart broke. Stupid Leo. How could he not have told them. Well, she would probably have held him back to prevent him from carrying it out. Right now, Lizzie wanted to find Leo and smack the living daylights out of him, before crushing him in a hug.
Lizzie had first discovered her heritage as a demigod when she was twelve. She had fought many battles, lost many friends, but this was just too much. So many dead, too much lost or destroyed to salvage.
The camp had been destroyed pretty badly and they were rebuilding it now. Lizzie had wanted to help more. But Chiron had told her that she had overworked herself for the past few hours and that she should go take a rest. So here she was, near the sea.
As she lay back down on the soft white sand, Lizzie wondered what it would have been like, to grow up like a normal teenage mortal. Studying in High school, squeal over bands, go out with friends, fall in love.
Fall in love.
Lizzie was not blind when it came to feelings. She knew someone had stolen her heart already.
The first time Lizzie saw him, she was on a quest. He was standing outside his sun chariot, blindingly handsome. Lizzie wasn't one to go for looks, but she had to admit, Apollo was hot.
The next time they met, it was on a train while Lizzie and her friends were seeking out Artemis. Apollo had looked funny as an old man. Lizzie found herself noticing the depth of emotion his blue eyes held when he talked about finding his sister. This caused her to like the god better, for he was just like her,
family was important. And Apollo had been willing to break the ancient laws for his sister's sake, and to help them on their quest.
At Olympus, Lizzie had been extremely grateful when Apollo had voted for her not to be killed. He had even given her a thumbs up from his throne. Lizzie had turned away, blushing.
One day after Lizzie's fifteenth birthday, when she was out in the streets, Apollo had bumped into her at the cafe. Or rather, he had stalked her there. Lizzie knew that the gods didn't simply just bumped into anyone.
Lizzie was sitting alone at the cafe table, with a cup of hot chocolate in her hand. Her fifteenth birthday had just passed. Great, one year closer to her doom. She thought.
"Why the glum look? Aren't people who usually had their birthdays smiling radiantly?" Lizzie looked up at the voice. The man was dressed in casual wear, a white tee shirt that showed off his muscles and black pants, but Lizzie immediately recognized who it was from his blond hair and blue eyes.
"Well, not really. Considering that I'm one year closer to making a choice that I may very well regret." She said.
"I see. You've grown beautiful over your birthday." Apollo remarked. Lizzie raised an eyebrow.
"You should know that flattery doesn't work well on me. Lord Apollo."
He gave her a lopsided grin. "Of course, Lizzie Jackson. I was merely stating the truth."
She rolled her eyes.
"So what are you doing here? Don't you have a sun chariot to drive?" She asked.
"Well, my sun chariot doesn't need driving all day. Besides, I saw you here and figured I might as well stop by to chat."
Lizzie gave him a look that said, oh really?
Apollo pretended to sigh. "Well, and to thank you for saving my sister."
"We had help. And if I remember, your help too."
"Yes, but you still risked your life for the quest. Especially you, who did not even need to go in the first place." He gave her a serious look. "For that, I thank you."
Lizzie swallowed. "Uhm, well."
Apollo then leaned back onto his chair and studied Lizzie's face. "You've really grown prettier." He mused before taking something out of his pocket and passing it to Lizzie. "A happy belated birthday my dear, I really must go." Apollo grinned at her before he walked out of the cafe.
Lizzie looked inside the small bag he had passed her. Inside was a pretty looking hair clip in the shape of the sun. Only to be used when needed, was written on the note beside it.
And Lizzie had used it. She had used it in the labyrinth. She had thrown it at the Sphinx, and the clip had transformed into a blinding ray of light that had blinded the Sphinx long enough for Grover to use his woodland magic and Tyson to throw her correcting machine at her.
After the battle with Kronos, Lizzie met Apollo again.
She was woke up in the middle of the night in the Poseidon Cabin. Hell, she was tired. Physically and mentally. So many had died. She still couldn't believe that Silena had died. She still couldn't believe so many things, like Luke and...
Besides, she had a killer headache.
A soft whistle beside her warned her that she was not alone.
Turning her head, Lizzie saw Apollo sitting in one corner of the cabin. She groaned, she was really in no mood to deal with anything now.
Apollo turned to look at her. "Hello."
Lizzie groaned in reply.
"Would you mind hurrying up with whatever you are going to say please? No offense, but I'm having a killer headache."
Apollo looked at her worriedly, before walking up to her. He brushed some hair from her forehead, before touching her forehead. Lizzie stared. "What are you-" She was cut short as her head finally cleared and the throbbing pain disappeared.
"God of medicine, remember?" Apollo winked.
"Yeah, yeah." Lizzie grumbled. "Hurry up with it. I'm tired."
Apollo sat beside her.
"Aren't we all?"
"True."
"You must be the most tired though." Apollo continued. "I guess, saving Olympus was definitely hard work."
"You don't say." Lizzie muttered. "Still, many fought. It wasn't just me." She shook her head. "Many died. Silena, Luke-" Her breath hitched. Maybe she could have prevented all the deaths that had happened. Maybe she just hadn't worked hard enough, what if there had been another way to stop Kronos without Luke having to die? What if she had out in more effort into convincing Clarrisse to fight? What if she had put in more effort to prevent the deaths?
Apollo saw her expression. "Don't beat yourself up about it." He said softly. "There are things we can prevent and things which we can't. Sacrifice is necessary for everyone."
Lizzie blinked as hot tears threatened to fall. She wasn't going to cry, especially not in front of a god. She had to be strong.
"It's better to let it out. Everyone has something to cry about. It makes us human."
"Not you. You are a god." Lizzie said.
"But we also have what makes us happy, angry, and sad. Its like this for everyone." Lizzie couldn't take it anymore, she let the tears fall.
And it fell for quite some time, while Apollo held her there, and she cried into his shoulder.
Apollo had talked to her quite a few times after that. And their chats had been quite lengthy. Slowly, Lizzie found herself liking the God more and more. Apollo was hilarious and fun to tease. He was a wonderful companion to talk to. Slowly, liking turned into something else.
Admist the battle with the Giants, Apollo had pulled Lizzie aside for awhile.
Lizzie was running around, slashing at every enemy in her way. Panting, she was about to trip when a strong hand yanked her aside and pulled her to one side.
"Wha-" she stopped short when she saw Apollo. "What are you doing? We are in the middle of battle!" She hissed.
"Yeah." Apollo said as he shot an arrow at a wolf that lunged at them.
"So would you mind letting me get back into the fight?"
"Not until I've finished what I have to say."
"Well,then get on with it." Lizzie urged as she raised Riptide and slashed at an incoming gorgon, and golden dust showered around them.
"Well, don't die. Come back alive. Or I will hound Hades to allow me to torment your ghost." Apollo told her.
"You dragged me out of the battle to tell me to stay alive?" Lizzie asked incredulously.
"Yeah." Apollo looked at her seriously as he grabbed her wrist. "Don't. Get. Yourself. Killed." He said before flying away.
Lizzie stared at the ocean. What had he meant by that? Could she allow herself to hope that she meant something to him?
Gods always play with you. You are nothing to them.
She had learnt that already. How many Greek myths, books and stories had she read? She didn't need anyone to tell her that.
But that didn't mean a small part of her wasn't allowed to hope.
.
.
.
Apollo stared at the figure sitting on the beach.
Lizzie Jackson. She was not ordinary at all, even for demigod standards. She was a refreshing character.
Before she came into his life, Apollo was just his normal self. Doing his godly duties, finding mortals to seduce and sire demigods, finding new music and creating new haikus.
Then Lizzie Jackson came in. She came into his world like a thousand shooting stars that collided together, and burst into a huge ray of white light.
And Apollo had been blinded by it.
Lizzie Jackson was many things.
She was the most loyal person Apollo knew.
She was the bravest person Apollo knew.
She was the kindest person Apollo knew.
She was the most determined person Apollo knew.
Apollo remembered the first time he had seen her, it was on Hephaestus's live broadcast to Olympus, when he had hoped to catch Aphrodite and Ares in the water slide. Apollo had been in his mansion than, enjoying life and watching tv.
That was when she appeared on screen.
Apollo had watched as Lizzie dealt with the traps Hephaestus had set watched as her hair flew behind her back and her sea green eyes filled with determination as she controlled the water. She had been a pretty girl at the age of twelve.
He had laughed when she looked at the cameras and said thank you and goodnight cheekily. The demigod certainly knew how to end the show.
Apollo remembered laying eyes on her when she was fourteen. She had matured and grown even better looking. Her sea green eyes held more life than ever. He had even seen her smile. And the smile suited her face perfectly, it was like looking at an angel.
When she had turned up with the other demigods after rescuing his sister, Apollo had pretended to be listening to his iPod while watching her. He studied Lizzie. He had been extremely grateful to her for rescuing his sister, and wanted to get to know her more.
The day after she turned fifteen, Apollo had prepared a present for her. One year closer to her sixteenth birthday, strangely, Apollo didn't want her to be defenseless in the face of danger.
He had meant it when he said that she had grown prettier. Her hair was falling in silky waves behind her back. And her sea green eyes were once again a sight to behold.
Her eyes.
Apollo loved her eyes. It had many emotions running through them. If Apollo had his way, he would never let any of the emotions be negative ones.
Talking with Lizzie, Apollo felt at ease. He was happy. No demigod had made him so happy before. They spent so much time together, and Apollo slowly felt himself becoming more and more drawn to her.
During the Battle with the Giants, Apollo remembered yanking her aside.
"Wha-" she stopped short when she saw Apollo. "What are you doing? We are in the middle of battle!" She hissed.
"Yeah." Apollo said as he shot an arrow at a wolf that lunged at them. "I know." he thought.
"So would you mind letting me get back into the fight?" Apollo loved that about hr, she was always battle ready, her eyes sparked wth determination.
"Not until I've finished what I have to say."
"Well,then get on with it." Lizzie urged as she raised Riptide and slashed at an incoming gorgon, and golden dust showered around them. Apollo raised an eyebrow, impressed. She was getting better each time he saw her fight.
"Well, don't die. Come back alive. Or I will hound Hades to allow me to torment your ghost." Apollo told her. Gods know what he would do if she even died.
"You dragged me out of the battle to tell me to stay alive?" Lizzie asked incredulously.
"Yeah." Apollo looked at her seriously as he grabbed her wrist. "Don't. Get. Yourself. Killed." He said before flying away. If she did, Apollo didn't know what his world would become.
Apollo slowly went up to her and sat beside her. She barely moved.
"It's a quiet night."
Lizzie didn't answer but instead, shifted closer to Apollo and buried her face in her shoulder. Apollo stroked her hair.
"It's fine. Everything's over. We'll find Leo Valdez. He's not dead. Annabeth Chase will be fin. Remember I'm the God of medicine?"
Lizzie sobbed and she looked up. Apollo looked into her eyes.
She had grown up and faced so many horrors, more than even other demigods had faced. She didn't deserve to go through so much pain. It jus 'twas the fair for her.
Unconsciously, Apollo had moved his face closer to hers until their noses were just inches apart.
Filled with a sudden rush of feeling, Apollo tilted his head and leaned in to brush his lips against hers.
He was encouraged when Lizzie didn't move away. He leaned in again and this time, she kissed him back and parted her lips to make way for him.
Well, I don't know about anything else. But this is perfect. Apollo thought as he closed his eyes and let the feeling of bliss sink in.
Hope you like it:)