Chapter 2

I pulled away from Artemis as fast as I could and turned to face my daughter.

She was standing in the doorway with red cheeks and she was completely dry despite having been out in the snow. Just one of the perks of being my daughter.

"What were you doing?" she asked with an innocent voice. She kept looking between me and Artemis looking for an answer.

There was a short tense silence after that question luckily Artemis broke it.

"We were getting to know each other better," Artemis replied leaning down to be at eye level with Alex.

Alex frowned as if not accepting that answer. "But you do that with mommy," she whined.

She got me there.

"Yes I do honey, but…" I stammered looking for an explanation.

"He does it with the pretty lady too," Artemis assisted sneaking a smile in my direction.

"You're going to tell mommy right?" she asked hopefully. Looking for the promise from both me and Artemis. I don't know how she knew that Annabeth should be notified, but I guess she was smarter than I thought.

"Yes sweetheart," Artemis soothed while reaching over to ruffle Alex's hair.

Alex smiled happy with the answer and skipped into the hallway.

Artemis and I stood in an awkward silence. My daughter walking in didn't give me any time to think about what had just happened. I don't even know what I was thinking; I suppose I had a moment of weakness. It didn't really mean anything right?

I started fiddling with my fingers until I heard a key turning in the lock and to say I had a heart attack would be an understatement.

When the door opened and it turned out to be my wife. Although it couldn't have been anyone else because no one else had the key.

She smiled brightly at me as she always did whenever she entered the house. I was reminded of fond memories that would probably come to an end. It was clear she thought I was the only one here until she saw Lady Artemis.

"Milady," she addressed politely with a bow, making her blonde curls curtain over her face "To what do I owe the honor?"

I almost laughed. Annabeth being respectful? It was unheard of, but I knew I wasn't any better. Well that may still be an understatement.

Artemis gave her a curt nod in response. How she wasn't nervous I'm not sure. One of the perks of being immortal I guess.

Annabeth turned back to me and gave me the same smile from when she first entered. She obviously wasn't aware of the tense atmosphere. Artemis and I continued to stand around awkwardly. She looked back and forth between me and Artemis probably confused as to why we didn't share her enthusiasm.

Artemis and I shared a look and came to the agreement that I was the one who was going to tell her.

"I ought to get back to Olympus," Artemis said as she went to the door. Right as she was about to close it she turned back and nodded at me.

I looked up at Mrs. Jackson. I wouldn't be able to call her that after this is over. C'mon you're not going to get a divorce, you kissed another girl you didn't sleep with her.

I went over and sat on the couch patting the space next to me for her to sit came over and sat next to me confused at why I hadn't talked. I took a deep breath and faced her grabbing and holding her hands.

"Wise girl," I started nervously, "I have something to tell you."

Her face showed suspicion and she seemed to be thinking deeply about something. "What's wrong?" she asked with concern of my sudden timidness.

"You know how Lady Artemis was just in here a few seconds ago?" I started softly. She nodded.

"Well me and her-"I stuttered, "We uh- we kinda." She gestured with her hands for me to spit it out.

"Mommy!" Alex yelled running into my wife's arms.

"Hey baby," Annabeth said while picking her up," Did you miss me?"

Alex nodded her head enthusiastically as I watched as they enjoyed their mother-daughter bonding time. I zoned out for a little bit just thinking about how many nights I'm going to be spending on the couch.

"So what were you saying about you and Artemis?" Annabeth asked as I snapped back into reality.

"You mean the pretty lady with the short necked giraffes?" Alex asked innocently

Annabeth smiled at our daughter, "Yes honey, that lady."

"Oh, she and daddy were trying to get to know each other better," She said excitedly. There wasn't a time that she wasn't excited.

"What do you mean?" Annabeth asked smoothing back Alex's curly blond hair.

"They told me that they were trying to get to know each other better. At first I was scared, but when the pretty lady told me that I felt a lot better." Alex explained still referring to Artemis as the "pretty lady."

Annabeth frowned. "What does she mean?" She asked. "Why would Alex have been scared?"

My blood turned cold. How could I explain it? Should I just tell her that I and the pretty lady practically made out? I mean Artemis. Seems like Alex is rubbing off on me again. I wished that Artemis had stayed, then maybe she can take a part of the punishment I was about to receive. "Stop thinking like that," I told myself," it's all your fault."

"Earth to Seaweed Brain," Annabeth called snapping me out of yet another trance. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and ran a hand through my hair. I took another deep breath. I was gonna have to tell her.

"We kissed, Annabeth," I whispered so she couldn't hear me.

"What?' She asked.

I took another deep breath. "I kissed her," I told her loud enough so that she could hear.

I looked over at her and saw that she had turned away from me. I didn't know exactly what she was thinking, but it was fair to say that it was pretty obvious.

"You're kidding right?" She asked still not turning to look at me. The silence following spoke volumes.

She turned to look at me and I saw silent tears falling from her eyes. My heart broke as I saw them.

"Wise Girl," I pleaded. "Please don't cry. You can do anything punch me, yell at me, castrate me for all I care, but please don't cry."

She shook her head as she backed away from me. "Alex!" she yelled urgently. "Go outside and get inside the car," She demanded.

"What's wrong mommy?" Alex asked looking up at her mother and pulling on her arm.

"Say goodbye to daddy, you won't be seeing him for a while," She told Alex.

"You can't take my daughter away from me!" I yelled at her.

"Oh, yes I can!" She snapped back while pulling out her phone. She dialed the number and the person picked up on the first ring. "Yeah, Thalia" She told her. "I'm going to need a place to stay for a while.

"Annabeth," I murmured reaching out for her.

She backed away from me tears still falling from her eyes. She grabbed Alex who was looking at me longingly and dragged her out the door.

"Wise Girl!" I yelled out for her as she slammed the door in my face. I sat there for a second to process what just happened before spurning into action. I opened the door and saw that she was already getting ready to pull out of our driveway. I sat there dejectedly as I watched her leave. It was my own fault. I was the one who pushed her to leave me.

I slumped back in my apartment and sank down to the floor behind the closed door. I sat in the silence for a few moments then hit my head back against the wall. I was so stupid! I just lost the girl of my dreams because I was being an idiot. I can't bring myself to blame anything on Artemis I have to take full responsibility for what happened.

I got back up to my feet, and walked over to the couch.I fell back into it and put my head in my hands.

I knew that this would happen. I knew that she was going to get sad then turn mad and leave me. That's just the way my wise girl is. I knew that I would have to plead no beg on my hands and knees for her to take me back.

I steeled in determination.

And I would get her back.