Hello there, long time no see. Yes, I'm an asshat, I'll admit it. I have learned going back to school brings back my depression, to a whole new level. I'm finally stable enough to write without throwing crap around my room. So, I hope you enjoy this long overdue chapter. By the way, sometime in this chapter, there will be an age gap, seeing as how this will take forever if I write through all of Percy's years. Do me a favor, and either pm or review some angsty songs, I find they make me feel better.
LACHESIS POV
As Hades and Poseidon rented a stroller for Perseus, they began to explore the park. They first checked out the dolphins, much to Perseus' joy, the little tyke shook his hands and threw out his feet as he watched the dolphins at play with a ball. Everything was going great until Perseus got a little too excited. As he waved his hands, the water began to respond, splashing against the sides of the tank, each wave hitting making a smack sound. As Poseidon and Hades looked on in shock, families began casting nervous glances at the trainers, unsure if this was a part of the playing usually. The answer was clear on the trainer's faces as they began pacing along the sides of the tank, quickly signing to the dolphins to come to the trainers, hoping it would stop.
Finally, with a great groan, cracks began to web themselves across the glass surface, and broke with a great crashing. Water flooded the theater, the first few rows of seats underwater. Luckily, the dolphins had escaped to the channel leading to their other tank. The trainers were running to the stands, directing people to the exit, many of them slipping as they did so. Poseidon looked at Hades, receiving a nod in return. Deciding that was enough Sea World for the day, they both grabbed one end of the stroller before booking it up the stairs.
TIME SKIP SON!
Athena held a squirming three year old Perseus, now with a mop of jet black hair, and chunky cheeks and limbs. He was giggling as Athena attempted to wrestle him into a pair of footie pajamas, but it was difficult because Perseus was very ticklish. Athena was visibly sweating as Perseus giggled and writhed in joy.
"Perseus, stay still, it's time for bed!" Athena begged of him.
"Hehe, it tickles mama," Perseus squealed.
As Athena struggled not to burst out in tears at the word "mama", she finally managed to stuff his arms and legs into the pajamas, and zipped him up. They were inside of Athena's living room in her palace, with a roaring fireplace, and dozens of miniature sculptures of various monuments scattered throughout the halls and on top of tables. Athena scooped him up into her arms, and began to carry him to his room.
His room was right across hers, with a small race car bed in the middle, surrounded by various toys strewn on the floor, and several maps tacked on the wall. She plopped him into his bed, tucked him in and smoothed his hair down before flicking on the nightlight, and closing the door.
It was 1:59 when Athena was alerted to a small figure opening her door. Blearily opening her eyes, she looked up as Perseus plodded over to her side of the bed, carrying his blanket that Aphrodite had given him. He rubbed his eyes sleepily before yawning. Athena grabbed him under his arms, and hoisted him next to her on the bed.
"Couldn't sleep I guess, huh?" she asked him.
He shook his head before tucking his head under her head, cuddling close to her body. Sadly, Perseus seemed to have a lot of trouble sleeping, he would go days with maybe 4-5 hours of sleep, and then crash as he was going down the slide. Athena had often asked Apollo for help putting him to sleep, but they feared using medicine on him at such an early age. So it went that when he couldn't sleep he would shuffle to one of the god's beds, and sleep with them.
Athena glanced down at him in concern, and to her delight, he was already fast asleep, his tiny arm wrapped around hers. She allowed herself to kiss his forehead lightly before closing her eyes once more.
THE NEXT MORNING
Athena was in the kitchen, making pancakes along with eggs and bacon. Perseus shuffled inside, blinking his eyes at all the sunlight streaming in through the windows. She grabbed him before seating him on the counter, next to the bowl of pancake batter. She opened the cabinet above him and got out salt and pepper for the eggs. She was turned away for just a second, but when she turned around, she saw Perseus with a blue food coloring bottle. She ran forwards, but already he had spurted several drops inside the batter, laughing as he did so.
She turned away to toss the batter in the sink, but was interrupted by Perseus crying out, "Mama, I want to try it!"
Glancing at the blue streaked mess, she sighed before mixing the batter again and began to make the pancakes.
15 minutes later, Athena watched in amazement as Perseus devoured two and a half pancakes, hardly touching his eggs or bacon, which says a lot, the boy seriously loved his bacon. Smiling at her with his mouth full, he managed to say, "Blue is better," before wolfing down the rest of his food.
SAME AGE, AT THE END OF ATHENA'S TURN, NOW WITH APOLLO
Apollo had just finished his duties with the sun chariot, and he just grabbed Perseus from Athena's palace. Perseus was babbling in his little child voice about blue food. Apparently after making breakfast, Athena proceeded to make blue chicken noodle soup for lunch, and then a blue macaroni and cheese dinner, with blue ice cream for dessert.
Bewildered, Apollo smiled before poofing them into his palace. The walls were gleaming goldIME SKIP SON!
, everything was bright and shiny inside, with dozens of mirrors lining the walls. Since it was winter and it was barely 6:00, Apollo decided to put on a movie for him and Perseus. He sat the baby boy on the sofa overlooking a large TV, before digging through his DVD and VHS collections. Deciding on "The Little Mermaid" he pushed the tape into the VHS. He began rewinding it as he hummed, noting Perseus kicking his feet against the sides of the couch, still babbling about the "Pretty Blue Food". Apollo smiled and began to play the movie.
As they watched, Apollo watched as Perseus's face went slack in wonder at seeing the fish dance and sing. He was absolutely transfixed by Ariel, watching as she swam to save Prince Eric. Apollo nearly laughed aloud as he watched Perseus's face scrunch up in confusion as he witnessed Ariel kiss Prince Eric, finally, as the movie ended.
When the movie was over, Apollo fished (Hehe, pun intended) out the tape before returning it to its proper place. He sat back on the couch with Perseus, stretching out to relax.
"Ap-ap-Apwollo, what did the fishy lady do to the Pwince? With her face on his?" Perseus asked.
Chucking to himself, Apollo turned to face Perseus, crossing his legs so he could explain.
"Well, buddy, that's called kissing, it's what people do when they really like someone, or they really love them." He said patiently, expecting questions.
"Okay," Perseus said before yawning, and curling up to Apollo. With Apollo resisting the urge to laugh, he held Perseus in his arms as he too drifted off to sleep.
Just before dawn, Apollo snapped awake, before smiling down at Perseus's still sleeping form. Without waking him, Apollo slipped out from under Perseus as he stretched, and snapped on new clothes. He grabbed the baby bag before gently picking up Perseus and flashing into the Olympian throne room. He saw Hera already waiting for him, her arms reached out to grasp Perseus, and she shouldered the bag as Apollo waved goodbye and flashed away. Hera went to the room set up for Perseus, the crib now replaced with a small bed. She set him down, before returning to her own bed with her husband.
Okay, there's one right there, it's not that long, but I'm working on the next right now. By the time I am able to update, I should have two or three chapters to put out. Thank y'all for your patience, and for continuing to review on this story. Just a heads up, I will be deleting my first two stories, and I'll be editing them and redoing them, because I really hate them. Tell me what you thought, and I hope you continue to enjoy this story.