So sorry. *Hides behind very heavy bunker door* RL got in the way. I have good news though. Two words. HE'S BACK.
Yay. He is back. Now enjoy and hopefully no one kills me. I don't own Percy Jackson.
I was working on the living room when I heard a knock on the door. I answered it and the person who was there made my blood boil and my heart sing.
"What the fuck are you doing here?!" I growled.
I flew at Ares and pounded his chest.
"It's all your fault. You were the one who was sick. You were the one I had to go on that quest for. You were the reason why I had amnesia. You were the reason my dad had to save me. And you're the reason my dad is dead. Get out. Go away. I don't want to see you. Leave." I punched his chest with every word.
Ares gathered my wrists in his hands. "Hold up. Apollo is dead?"
I tried jerking my hands from his grip. "Yes. I saw him die in front of me. I know he'll be back, but he still left."
His gaze shifted. I saw he was looking at my wrist.
I gave one huge tug and he let go of my wrist.
"What's that?" He asked.
"Nothing. Get out. I don't want you-" I yelled.
"Yeah? Well I don't want you either." He roughly let go of my other wrist. He turned and walked away.
I fumed. My heart was still racing. Traitorous heart. Then I felt my heart shatter.
I felt more than heard Mari behind me. I wiped away a stray tear.
"I don't want to talk. I'm going on a grocery run. I'll be back in a bit. He's probably going to tell the council. I'll be back in time for the backlash." I said numbly. I ran out the door.
Three months later . . .
Life was miserable. Mom hadn't done much other than stare at a picture of them. I felt bad. This was all my fault. If I hadn't gone on that stupid quest, if I had just let HIM fade. I was pissed at him. I hadn't spoken to him since that day that the council came over. Aunt April's family helped us out as much as they could.
Mari still cried herself to sleep every night. Since her room is next to mine I heard her cry for our "father". Every morning she would come down with her eyes red and puffy. And every morning I would get angrier and angrier.
Tasha hasn't listened to a single song since he died. That crash I heard that morning was her destroying her stereo.
Dylan has tried to step up and be the man of the house, but I have been encouraging him to be a kid.
Riley hasn't spoken since he died. Not a word. She just cuddles up to mom and cries sometimes.
All of that happened in June. It was now September. I was taking out the trash when a golden glow that looked awfully familiar shot past me and into the house. I frowned as it seemed to caress my face before it went in through a window.
I gasped and ran inside.
I stopped short as the light solidified into a man.
"Honey, I'm home." A familiar voice called.
I heard a gasp and watched as mom woke up from her trance, an angry look on her face.
She stormed into the room and slapped him hard across the face. "Phoebus Apollo. You have the freaking nerve to die on me than come back and make a joke like that. I oughta-" She reached forward and kissed him.
"Hey guys, daughter in the room." I called out.
Dad pulled away. "Le?"
I pushed off from the wall with tears in my eyes. "Hey daddy."
He strode forward and pulled me into a hug. "I'm sorry. It was the only way I knew how to heal you." he murmured into my hair.
I wrapped my arms around him in a fierce hug. "Don't leave us again."
"I won't iliachtida. I promise."
A choked sob came from the doorway. A black blur ran past me and barreled into dad's legs.
Riley latched onto him. She sobbed into his waist. A blonde blur ran and attacked his other side.
I watched as dad murmured comforting words to them.
He looked at me. "Where's Mari?" He asked.
"Probably out with Tasha at Aunt April's house. They've gotten closer over the months." I said, getting in an unintended dig at him.
"Le." Mom said sternly.
"Yeah, yeah, sorry." I said carelessly.
"I'm gonna go get Mari and Tasha." Mom said and walked out the door taking Riley and Dylan with her.
"I'll come with you." I offered. Anything to get out of this awkward conversation.
"Le, you and I need to talk." Dad said.
I huffed. "Fine."
He pulled me into the living room and we both sat down on the couch. "I'm sorry, Le. I didn't mean to do that. It was the only way I knew how to save you." He started.
I sniffled, trying to hold back the tears. "You hurt me dad. I felt it was my fault you were gone. That I was the one responsible for you dying. You know when after you left, I wanted to leave too. I wanted to leave Olympus and never look back. I just wanted a break. Then I got home and saw the shambles my family was in. Everyone in this family felt your death. It felt like the one person who made this family work was cut out of our lives. I wanted to hurt myself but I had to be strong because no one else was. Mari cried for you every night. She would come downstairs every morning with red eyes and tear streaks down her face. Tasha destroyed the stereo you got her. The music people of the world went through a period of no inspiration. Riley wouldn't speak. Dylan tried so hard to fill your place in this family, I had to try ever harder to make him be a kid for a bit. Mom didn't move for a week after you left. I had to coax her to eat, to sleep, to even move and do things. Uncle Hermes tried to help but it wasn't the same. He wasn't you. He also had his own family. He couldn't be here at night to tuck in Dylan and Riley. He wasn't you." I broke down sobbing.
"I missed you Daddy." I cried into his shoulder. He pulled me into his arms. I snuggled into his side. "Don't leave me again. I need you."
We cried out our feelings together. "So, did you heal Ares?" Dad asked.
I nodded. "Yup. It was so easy that Riley could've done it."
We chatted back and forth for a few minutes until a gasp was heard. I backed away slowly from the impact that was about to happen. Dad suddenly had his arms full of two squealing girls.
Mari and Tasha had run full tilt into his arms. Mari was crying as well as Tasha.
"Hi, my girls." Dad said into their hair.
I decided to let them be for a bit and walked out side. I could use some fresh air. I walked to the park and sat down on a bench.
I was sitting there for a while when I felt someone sit next to me. I looked over to see Aunt April.
"Did I ever tell you about the time when Hermes found out about Anthony?" She asked.
I shook my head. I had vague memories but that was it.
"Well, I was having mood swings and all that jazz and your mother dragged me over to see your father about them. You dad was about to tell me but you piped up and said that Anthony was dreaming of us. I had your mother and father promise to tell no one. I didn't want anyone to know yet. Well, Hermes came in and we had an argument. I left for a bit to cool off. I ended up getting hit by a cyclops in my car. I had flipped over and had almost lost Anthony. Luckily Demeter was nearby and saved me. She did what she could and I was unconscious for a week. I had to stay with her for a couple more weeks to be safe. When I got back, Hermes was frantic and angry, you understand that, right?"
I just nodded.
"So, my dad had made a joke and I had laughed at the wrong moment. Hermes had just walked in you see. He got angry said some things he shouldn't have." She gave a side glance at me. "Apparently you had told him about Anthony. You had said something about not promising Jack diddly squat. That's about all I got out of it from Hermes' laughter. My point is to not give up on Ares. Be your usual brash, stubborn self. Don't let him go. Well, I've got to get back. I left Hermes with the kids. I know scary. I can only imagine the kind of mischief they will get into."
Aunt April stood up and gave me a hug. "Be strong baby girl." She kissed my forehead.
I sat and thought for a few minutes and then went home.
When I got home I saw everyone had gathered in the living room.
"Yay, family meeting." I cheered sarcastically.
"Sit down Le." Mom said.
I sat. When mom talks to you in that Stern do it or else voice you do what she says.
"Your mother and I have decided that the whole family is going on a vacation. No buts. You get to decide where, and it can't be out of the USA unless we are going to Italy or Greece. Got it?" Dad said.
Everyone nodded except me. "Dad? Can I talk to you and Mom for a sec?" I asked.
They nodded. We got up and went into their room.
"So, you do realize that I haven't spoken to Ares since you left, right? And that now I need to fix things and it will take a while, yes?" I started.
"Get to the point Le, you're babbling. Although it is kinda adorable, your mother does the same thing." Dad said teasingly.
Mom gasped. "I do not."
"Yeah. You do." Dad said.
Mom pouted.
"Anyway. I need to stay here." I said to interrupt the grossness going on in the room.
The effect was like throwing a bucket of cold water on them.
"Excuse me, could you run that by me again?" Dad said stoically.
"I said I need to stay here. Or we can bring him along. Invite Pho, Deim and him with us." I pleaded.
Dad shook his head. "No. Absolutely not."
I pouted and made my eyes all watery. "Please?"
Dad closed his eyes. "Le, that's not gonna work on me."
I turned to mom.
"Apollo, let me and Le talk for a minute, please?" Mom asked.
Dad nodded. "Fine." He left the room.
"Le, I know you want to fix things with Ares, but can it wait a week? See this from your father's perspective. He's been gone for three months, he wants to spend time with his family. He has just gotten back and he finds out that his daughter is going to be with someone soon. Can you please, give your father a week with his family without anyone gone or barging in on us? Please sweetheart." Mom said gently.
I nodded. "Fine. I'll go."
I went to my room and packed for our trip.
When I came down, everyone else was ready. "Where are we going?" I asked.
"Well, we have two choices. We are split down the middle and we need your vote to tie break us. We have decided on Greece or South Dakota. You choose." Mari said.
"I choose-"
*Addy*
