A/N: Here's another past chapter, this time from Thalassa's POV!

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Chapter Ten – 24 Years Ago: A Haunting Past

Thalassa

I leaned against the wall next to the door, watching as Zeus played with our one year old toddler, Apollo. Zeus chased after the toddling boy as he stumbled around our dressing room, giggling up a storm.

"Gotcha!" Zeus shouted playfully, grabbing the toddler and scooping him up into the air. Apollo squealed, giggling even more, and smacked at Zeus's face as he pulled up Apollo's shirt and blew a raspberry on his stomach. Apollo squealed louder, causing Zeus to laugh hard. I laughed as well, putting a hand over my mouth.

"It sounds like you're torturing him!" I said, causing Zeus to laugh harder. Apollo, noticing his distraction, began trying to escape, his tiny little eyebrows drawing together in concentration. I laughed more at this, holding up a camera and taking a picture.

They were totally out of date, but it was one of those Polaroid cameras that instantly printed the picture. Zeus, hearing the shutter of the camera, looked up and grinned. Apollo also looked up, his eyes wide and confused. I laughed, taking another picture of them.

Just then, there was a knock on the door. Zeus looked over at it.

"Come in!" he called. The door opened, and one of the stage hands looked in.

"Mr. Justice? You're next. You uh… might want to get ready now. I heard this guy's been booed off stage before," the man said. Zeus nodded.

"Alright. Thanks," he said, coming over to me and passing Apollo over. I took him so that I was just holding him with my right arm on my hip, then kissed Zeus's cheek.

"Good luck," I said.

Apollo pouted, stretching towards his father. Zeus chuckled, kissing the top of Apollo's head.

"Don't worry, kiddo. I'll be back soon, okay?" he said. Apollo huffed, but let Zeus kiss me in peace.

"Thanks," he said. Carrying Apollo, I quickly slipped out, going and finding the seat in the front row that was reserved for me. Apollo stayed in my lap, looking up at the current performer.

I hadn't seen him for two years, but I never forgot a face. He was tall and skinny, fine, platinum blond hair brushing the tops of his ears. His small green eyes flickered around the audience, rather then staying on any one thing, showing his lack of confidence; poor showmanship.

"My name i-is Magnus Star," he said, bowing. "Th-thank you for coming!"

He started out with some basic tricks that were part of any magician's arsenal. Cute for kids' parties, but boring for a Los Vegas crowd.

Apollo, at least, enjoyed when Star pulled a bunny from his hat. He squealed, clapping and bouncing in my lap. I chuckled at that before looking forward again. Star moved across the stage towards a vanishing cabinet (another classic…) and tripped. His hat fell off, releasing the two rabbits hidden in there. He quickly pushing himself up to chase after them, and a few cards fell out of his sleeves.

"BOO!" someone close to us yelled. The rest of the audience joined in, until everyone was yelling. Apollo was usually good with large crowds and loud noises, but the obvious negativity started to upset him. He looked up at me with the biggest, watery eyes. I bounced him slightly.

"Hey, hey… it's okay," I said before getting an idea. "Look!" I showed him my hand, empty, before reaching over, brushing his ear with my finger tips, and making a chocolate coin appear between my fingers, showing him.

Apollo squealed excitedly, clapping happily, before tugging at his own ear, probably hoping for more chocolate. I smiled warmly, pulling the gold foil off of the piece of chocolate and giving it to him. Letting go of his ear, he took it and leaned back against me, happily eating it.

Magnus Star was booed offstage. In his place, was Zeus. Now that I wasn't pregnant and emotionally unstable, I didn't mind him doing the slightly more dangerous stunts. He also had a new assistant, since I had to stay with Apollo during his shows.

Not disappointing, Zeus gave an amazing show. In fact, I was so focused on him (and making sure Apollo didn't choke on the piece of chocolate he was savoring and getting all over himself), I didn't notice when a very familiar person sat next to me.

"Well, hello there," a deep, smooth voice said, bending down to talk to Apollo. Both Apollo and I looked up at the dark skinned, young man, dressed in a yellow cloak and a matching silk hat that his long, black hair spilled out of. Apollo grinned hugely at him, and stole the man's hat.

"Valant…" I said in surprise as the man laughed at Apollo. Apollo tried to put the hat on his own head, but it fell down, stopped only by his shoulders. Valant laughed again at the surprised noise Apollo made, before carefully taking his hat back and looking at me.

"It's been a long time, Thalassa. I see you're doing well for yourself," he said with a smile. Apollo frowned deeply, reaching for Valant's hat again. I was almost sad that I didn't still wear mine to give him.

"It has, and I am, Valant," I said with a smile, snuggling Apollo and distracting him yet again with another chocolate coin. He happily took it, thoroughly distracted from Valant's hat. "How is the Troupe though?" I asked. "How's… my father?"

"We're doing good. Working hard," Valant said before sighing. "Your father hasn't been the same since you left," he said, just as the crowd gasped in surprise at something Zeus did.

"He drove me to it," I replied stubbornly. Valant stayed quiet for a moment before sighing.

"Please, don't shoot the messenger, but… Magnifi wants you to come back to the Troupe," he said. My eyes widened.

"H-he does?" I asked, a slow smile crossing my face.

"On one condition."

The smile immediately vanished, and I scowled.

"Of course there's a condition," I sighed. "Well? What is it?"

"Thalassa… he wants you to come back… alone. Without Zeus or your son," Valant said. My eyes widened again, before narrowing, my arms tightening around my son.

"Well, Valant, you can tell my father," I sneered the familiar address, "that I would never leave Zeus or my son. And that he can go to hell."

I stood, Apollo in my arms, just as the audience erupted into applause. Zeus had just finished his grand finale escape, ending his show. Apollo looked around, confused at the excitement and happiness from everyone else, while I was furious, something I knew he could sense.

Wait until Zeus heard about this one…

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A/N: Baby Apollo! Sorry, I'm gushing, heh.

Baby's begin walking between 9-12 months, and can safely eat chocolate at about a year, and Apollo is a year old here. Research for the win!