[A/N] Let the final chapter commence…

The Lost Prince

Chapter 11: Ever After

This one was particularly bumpy. We emerged into darkness, hurtled out of the vortex and crashed into a wall of rock. Luckily, I'd gone last, so when I emerged the landing wasn't so bad.

It was obviously much worse for Aemilia, as she ended up breaking my fall.

I crumbled to the floor on top of the groaning priestess.

"Would it be too much to ask for you to get your dead weight off me?" she grumbled into the ground.

"Sorry about that..." I said, pushing up and patting myself down whilst Aemilia stood, her back cracking slightly as she stretched.

She shot me a look out the corner of her eye. "Thanks for letting us know about that part in advance."

I shrugged. "Sorry, wasn't nearly that bad on any of the earlier jumps," I replied, looking around. Theia was still recovering, but Aren was already up and looking about. The cats, of course, had landed on their feet, the tom licking some stray dust of his paw whilst his companion sat beside their mistress.

Percy dusted himself down as he surveyed his surroundings. "This place again?" he said as he looked up at the ramp we had landed on, and then up to the walkway that lead around the cavern where we had first picked up the shard.

I cocked my head. "Could've been worse," I said, looking down into the void. "We could've been hurled right off the edge."

Hippolytus, who looked like he had landed without incident, approached the edge. "That looks like the Empty Space. Where are we?"

I looked around us. "The bronze mines under Olympus. Looks like the hunt ends where it began, how apt..."

"Will you all stop speaking in that odd tongue?" said Aemilia, who was starting to sport a nasty bruise on her face.

Aren sighed. "Get used to it. It's the language of choice these days. I'm afraid few people even speak Latin any more."

I shrugged. "You're both half-bloods. You're attuned to whatever language the gods speak, so hopefully that means you'll pick it up sooner rather than later. In the meantime," I added, looking down at the shard in my hand, "it's time to leave."

"What are you going to do with that?" asked Aren.

I looked at the shard, remembering the way Percy reacted when he had first seen it. "There's only one thing to do," I said, and flicked it down into the darkness below without a second thought.

Percy watched as the tiny point of red light vanished from view. "Sent it to join the rest of it?" he asked.

I nodded. "It seemed only fitting. Besides, seems a little too dangerous a thing to have laying about the attic back at camp."

A smile tugged at Percy's lips. "I can see the tag now: 'One time-travelling shard, just add blood'."

I nodded and turned around. "Well, that's that. Let's be go-"

I was cut off as a bright tendril of crimson light erupted from the darkness behind me and carved a massive chunk out of the ramp.

I staggered back. "Back away!" shouted Aren, grabbing my shoulder to steady me.

I looked to the side and into the dark. More tendrils of crimson and golden light erupted like searching tentacles and began piercing into the walls of the cavern, tearing away at the walls and the ledges around us.

"Looks like it really doesn't want to go quietly!" shouted Percy as we backed into a circle.

We watched as the cavern's entrances collapsed. I saw Percy's panicked gaze darken as from within the darkness, seemingly part of the destructive light itself, came a deep, echoing chuckle, barely audible over the crashing debris.

It was the sound of a fragmented soul trying to get the last laugh.

More and more of the cavern started to collapse around us, the void becoming wider.

One of the limbs smashed down to our left, cutting us off from circling around the cavern. We swung about to the ramp just as three of the limbs sliced up and down it, carving it into pieces.

"I'm open to suggestions!" shouted Aren as she backed towards us.

"I'm blaming you for this!" snapped Aemilia as she backed up to Percy.

I blinked. "Me? What'd I do?"

She rolled her eyes. "Come with us, you say. You'll be safe, you say. As far as I'm concerned, you've just exchanged running for our lives for falling to our deaths!"

I opened my mouth to retort, paused, then inclined my head acceptingly. "Yeah, suppose I did...Sorry about that."

Aemilia gaped. "Sorry? Oh, well that's great. At least you're sorry."

Theia sighed, and I noticed her hands were clasped behind her back, as composed as ever. "Really, Aemilia. Only you would pick a moment like this to complain."

"We're about to die! When do you suggest I wait until?"

She glanced about. "Now, now. There's no need to panic."

My father staggered back as we found ourselves standing on a circle of rock surrounded by nothing but darkness. "On the contrary, Miss Theia, I think that would be a very prudent course of action, given the circumstances."

Theia continued looking about as her cats curled around her legs, fur standing on end. "Come now. There's always a way out."

Aemilia rounded on her, grabbing onto my father to stop herself falling. "Then what do you suggest we do? Sing a song and summon a flying carpet?"

Her words struck a cord. Suddenly I realized, and with no small amount of abject horror, that there was one way, just one, that I could save everyone.

Oh, gods... I don't want to do this.

Might I recommend swallowing your pride for just this one moment?

I glanced down over the edge, weighing my options.

Maybe it wouldn't be so bad...

DO IT!

Fine!

My eyes trailed to Aren as she backed further away from the crumbling edge. And suddenly my hesitation vanished.

I still really didn't want to do it, though.

"This never happened," I said suddenly, eyes fixed on the opposite wall, only partly aware of the single remaining tendril of light, hanging almost tauntingly, ready to swipe away our last foothold.

Percy glanced back. "What did you say?"

"This never happened!" I snapped angrily.

The others looked at me. "What are you talking about?" Aemilia demanded. "What never happened?"

And so I did the one thing I swore I would never do, even on pain of death and torture; the one humiliating thing that I promised myself I would never be driven to; but then, it wasn't just my life on the line. I had no choice... I had to invoke his name.

The tentacle aimed sideways at the rock under our feet and, just as it prepared to strike, I opened my mouth, took a deep breath...

-?-

"Here is comes!" Shouted Percy, and the group tensed as the limb struck, hacking a huge chunk out of their remaining foothold. The platform lurched sideways.

"I must admit, I find myself starting to lose confidence," said Theia, reaching down to cradle her cats protectively in her arms.

"Lose confidence?" echoed Aemilia. "You say that when were are one hundred percent, royally, well and truly-"

Suddenly Aemilia was cut off as a melodic sound filled the cavern while the ground underneath them cracked.

"I hear your voice..."

Aren frowned and glanced back over her shoulder. "What the-"

"...it's like an angel sighing..." continued the voice which, as it turned out, was coming from the demigod behind her.

Armani's voice picked up an octave, though from the look in his eyes it appeared as though part of his soul was dying. "...I have no choice, I hear your voice, feels like flying..."

"Have you lost your mind? We're about to DIE and you're singing Madonna?" gaped Percy.

"Armani-" Aren began, but was cut off as, with a final swipe, the tentacle shattered the ground from under them.

Terrified cries filled the cavern as they plunged off, all the while the harmonic voice continued "...I close my eyes, oh god I think I'm falling..."

"NO KIDDING!" cried Percy incredulously.

"...Out of the sky, I close my eyes..." Abruptly he opened his eyes wide, extended a hand upwards, and shouted upwards in that same voice, "...Apollo, save me!"

Suddenly he slammed his eyes shut and folded his arms about his head. Swirls of blinding flame began gathering about them as they plummeted into the void. Within a second it built into a blazing cage around them, drawing them closer together.

They were all forced to cover their eyes as a blinding flash of divine light lit up the darkness and a red Maserati materialized around them.

-A-

I landed with a thud in a leather bucket seat and immediately found myself with a certain god's arm casually wrapped about my shoulder. "Madonna, baby. I knew some day you'd-" he stopped dead as he glanced at me out the corner of his eye, his other hand resting casually on the steering wheel.

He frowned, turned fully to look at me, then leaned in very closely as I regarded him blankly.

He scrutinized me for a second, as if making sure of something.

"Armani?" he asked.

I continued looking at him, ignoring his arm for now. "Yes, uncle. Hello."

He was silent for a long moment, as if trying to work something out. Finally, he spoke.

"…You're not Madonna."

I was silent again for an even longer moment as I looked at him. "No, uncle..." I replied in an emotionless tone. "No I am not."

He melted away from me, regarding me cautiously. "How did you-"

"Remember that night about eight years ago when she shot you down?"

He nodded ponderingly. "I brought her back to the condo..."

"And she told you that it was never gonna happen."

"And I said-"

"-you said, 'If you ever change your mind, just sing a song to the heavens and call out my name and I'll come running back'. You even swore it on the river Styx. Not your brightest move..."

He glanced away nervously. "You heard that?"

I scowled at him. "Uncle... I was in the same room."

He glanced off to the side again, thinking on it. "Oh, yes, now I remember. You were eating a cheese sandwich."

"Can't say I remember that much..."

He scowled suddenly, looking back at me. "That was mean!"

"Uncle, I just died a little inside by calling you like that. Trust me, the sacrifice was on my part."

He stared intently ahead, grumbled something under his breath in Ancient Greek, and then finally looked in his rear view mirror at the group crammed tightly into the sports car's back seats.

"Howdy, troops!" he said happily, waving at them in the mirror.

Percy shrugged an arm free from under Aemilia to raise it in greeting. "Hey, uh, Lord Apollo. Thanks for the save."

Apollo grinned as he gunned the accelerator. "Don't mention it."

"Ever," I added numbly.

There was another flash around us, and suddenly we found ourselves cruising above the clouds.

Silence descended for a moment as Apollo leveled us out. "You have a lovely singing voice, "said Theia out of nowhere.

I shuddered noticeably and took a calming breath. I reached into the ashtray and pulled out a silver dollar, holding it up.

"See this?" I said, winding down the window beside me. "This is my last shed of self-respect." I flicked it out the window. "And away it goes."

Apollo glanced at me out the corner of his eye. "You owe me a dollar." He then glanced back into his rear-view mirror and cocked his head. "That you, H?"

My father inclined his head. "Lord Apollo."

"You never showed up at my temple for our weekly game of Super Mario Brothers last...ah...wait, how long ago was that now?"

"Sixteen years?" I asked dryly.

He nodded. "Yeah, what's up with that?"

I rolled my eyes. "Prophecy, Uncle..."

He nodded. "Ah, yes. The child of Troizenos. Welcome back." He frowned suddenly, then turned to me. "Wait a minute, but that would mean... Sixteen years? So…he's your-" he asked me with a raised eyebrow, as if needing confirmation.

I nodded sadly.

"Oh..." He glanced away. "Funny...Probably should've worked that one out myself."

"You mean he wasn't in your list of suspects? One of my mother's only male servants goes missing just before I'm born and you don't put the pieces together?"

He shrugged. "I just thought he went out to get tacos or something..."

"And what? Got lost for sixteen years?"

"Either that or he just didn't want to give me a rematch at Mortal Kombat. That does explain a lot, come to think of it..."

I just groaned. "I do despair sometimes, uncle..."

He just gave me that irritating toothy smile as his gaze travelled to the others. His eyes fixed on the two Roman half-bloods.

"Aemilia?" he asked uncertainly, and then "…Theia?"

Aemilia inclined her head curtly. "Lord Phoebus."

"Phoebus," added Theia, slightly less formally.

Apollo's eyes seemed to widen a tad as they flicked for an instant to Percy and I, before returning to the two girls, switching instantly to Latin. "Well... I must say, it's been a few years since I last saw the pair of you."

"Your chariot has changed much. Though you yourself appear much the same."

I half scoffed. "That's unsurprising."

Apollo patted the steering wheel. "I think I like it this way. And as for me, well, why try to improve on perfection?" he asked. He winked suggestively at her, then glanced at the animals on her lap. "Just try not to get any fur on the leather, I just had the girl reupholstered." Sacra, wedged tightly between the two Romans and her partner, gave a muffled mrow of acknowledgement and pushed Divus onto the floor.

I found it odd that the sun god wasn't questioning the idea of a pair of demigods from thousands of years in the past dropping in with us.

"So where are we going, Phoebus?" I asked, putting a little emphasis on his Roman name. His brow twitched as I said it. Odd that it didn't when the girls said it, though.

He continued in Latin, for the sake of the Roman demigods. "Well, since you're here, I thought it best that I take you somewhere and show you something. I'd land you at Olympus, but my dad's still getting up at me for the last time I parked there. So...how was the past?"

Percy cocked his head. "You knew where we went?"

He laughed. "God of prophecy, of course I knew. I know everything." He glanced at me to cut off the sarcastic remark he knew I was about to make.

Aemilia looked down out the window as we cruised above the clouds. "We've left everything behind."

Theia glanced up from filing her nails, seemingly and beguilingly un-shocked about being taken through time. "Left what behind? I'm practically the only person you ever talked to. Besides, I'm sure things haven't changed that much. Right, Phoebus?"

Apollo shrugged. "Right. Well...Dental care's improved a lot, but besides that it's pretty much all cosmetic."

"Where are we going?" I asked, looking down and noticing we were cruising above the coastline.

A smile tugged at the side of his mouth. "Just giving you a ride home."

I was about to question him further when my stomach suddenly lurched as Apollo swung the steering wheel around and we arched into a steep descent.

I glared at him. "It saddens me that I've somehow gotten used to the way you drive, Uncle."

"Ah, you know you love it."

"I'm not sure I do," muttered my father, grasping his stomach.

"Can you please land soon, Apollo? I think my legs are falling asleep," said Aren as she shifted uncomfortably between my father and Aemilia.

The noise around us lessened as Apollo settled us into a slow, vertical descent. "It's okay, kiddies," he said, nodding ahead. "We're here."

"And where exactly is-" I began to ask, but stopped dead as I looked out over what loomed before us. I couldn't help but smile despite myself. "So...You finally got around to it."

Apollo grinned as he set us down next to the pavement in front of the seafront condo that I had called home for the majority of my life.

I slid out of the car and stretched. It looked pretty much exactly as I remembered. Well, almost exactly. The large spruce that now dominated the left side of the house looked a little bit out of place.

Funny, that almost looks like...

I cut the thought off and turned to look at Apollo. "When did this get done?"

He shrugged. "Like I told you: As soon as I got around to it."

I frowned. "Which was when, exactly?"

He cocked his head. "The next day. I think it was about lunch time..."

My jaw dropped as I stared at him in shock while the others climbed out of the sun chariot. "Are you trying to tell me that I've spent the past god-knows how long at a summer camp... when I could've come home at any time?"

Apollo pursed his lips and nodded ponderingly, as if considering it. "…Pretty much, yeah."

I considered for a long moment, unsure if I should thank him or hit him. In the end I chose to fall into silent disdain.

"Come now, Armani. Don't look at me like that. Sure; you've had a few blips here and there, but think of all you've gained. You look your old uncle in the eye and tell me that it wasn't worth it."

He smiled at me in that infuriating way - that way that made me both want to dislodge some of his blinding white teeth and, even more maddeningly, want to smile back.

I grumbled under my breath and looked away to hide an annoyed flush, only for him to reach out and ruffle my hair affectionately.

Percy seemed impressed, at least. "Nice house. Is this yours, Apollo?"

He inclined his head. "I built it, but technically it belongs to my sister." He said as we followed him to the door. Above the doorway, where there had once been a large golden sun emblazoned, there was now a silver crescent moon; and resting within its curve was a smaller, almost subservient golden sun.

He led us inside.

It was extremely nostalgic; eerily so, actually. He hadn't just rebuilt it, he had put it exactly back to the way it was before. Sitting on the counter in the kitchen, in what I can only assume is the exact position I left it in, was a bottle of nectar, and resting in an umbrella stand by the door was a lone arrow with a glass head, its core glowing an angry green.

I glanced around. "I must admit, your attention to detail is almost disturbing."

He just grinned innocently. "It's the little things in life that matter."

I glanced into the main lounge area and Apollo suddenly called out, "Wait, I haven't finished-"

He was cut off as my father let out an astonished gasp.

The living room was full, and I mean full, of piles of packing paper, empty boxes and polystyrene. Apollo let out a resigned sigh.

"-cleaning," he finished tiredly.

"Lord Apollo!" Hippolytus said in a reprimanding tone. There was an almost manic look in his eyes.

Apollo raised his palms defensively and took a step away from him. "Ahh, why don't you... think of it as your first job back? Surprise?"

My father's hand instinctively gripped the handle of the telescopic broom/sword slung over his back.

I guess that's his instinct: Don't mess up a temple of Artemis, even if you're the one who built it.

"Anyway," butted in Percy. "Mess aside... good job, Apollo," he said, though I assume he had no idea what was going on and was merely attempting to diffuse the situation.

The sun god's smile immediately returned. "Thanks, Percy!" he beamed.

I took the opportunity to have another quick look around.

I glanced in my room which, happily, was exactly as I remembered it, with the exception of a hammock made out of fine golden thread, strung up in the corner.

Leaning back and glancing into the next room gave me a surprise: Apollo's old chambers were gone. Instead was a single bed in the centre of the room, the walls lined with bunks and a pair of wardrobes. A single dresser stood with an empty wooden stand on top of it, my mother's symbol carved into the side. It occupied almost the same spot Apollo's own bow once had.

So, he gave the Hunters and even my mother a spot to rest. Not sure where he expects to stay when he drops-

My mind stalled as I recalled the hammock, and I found myself shouting, "Apollo! You're not sleeping in my room!"

His voice trailed in from the lounge, "Don't worry, Nephew. I won't!"

I gave a sigh of relief.

"Technically, I don't actually sleep."

Deep breaths... Deep breaths... Count to ten…

I returned to the lounge, stepped over the cats that were stretched out in the doorway, and looked at Apollo. "There is one thing I want to know," I said, unconsciously switching to Latin as I walked past him and glanced up and out of the patio doors.

"And what's that?" asked Apollo.

I inclined my head outside. "What's that tree doing out there?" I asked. I heard a shuffling from among the cardboard behind me. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say that looked just like- GAAH!"

I was cut off as something strong and forceful practically torpedoed into me from behind, smushing my face flat against the glass door.

"Don't tell me..." I said, my voice muffled by the glass. "Tackleglomp..."

"Welcome home!" Lya's gleeful voice squealed. I managed to push away from the glass and glance over my shoulder to find the nymph nuzzling happily into my lower back. I turned about and took a step forward, lifting Lya a step off the ground in the process, and, as usual, she remained firmly latched onto me.

I looked at Apollo as I reached down and patted the nymph on the head. She detached herself from me and instead took to gripping possessively onto my lower arm. I couldn't help but notice Aren looking at me with a form of weary exasperation. "You moved her tree into my back yard?" I asked the sun god.

"You're talking funny."

I glanced down at Lya. "It's Latin." Then back up at Apollo. "Well?"

He shrugged. "Well, I had help. I'm the sun god, it's not like it's my field of expertise."

"My mother did this?"

He shook his head. "Nah, I asked Lanaya to help."

I gave a start. "You asked my old English teacher to help you move a tree?"

"Well, it's not like Lya could move her own tree."

I shook my head. "No. There is no way Ms. Lanaya would help you," I said firmly. She was, after all, one of the few people I missed from my days of living in solitude, though I hadn't seen her in nearly two years. "Not after what happened the last time she was here."

Lya looked up. "I asked her! She's my distant cousin!"

I sighed. "Of course you did..."

Apollo smiled. "She said, and I quote, 'Just know that I'm not doing it for you, you blonde jackanapes'."

I suppressed a small smile; she always was the stern-if-somewhat-concerned type. I was surprised an Oxford oak like her would come so far just to help out, but then thanks to the root system it probably wasn't that hard to get here.

"What happened last time?" asked Percy.

I exhaled a tired breath. "Let's just say it involved Apollo's busy hands and a certain tutor threatening to ram his bow, and I quote, 'where even the sodding sun god doesn't shine'."

Percy cocked his head. "She sounds... nice."

"Yeah..." I glanced down at Lya. "Why were you hiding under there?"

Lya nodded at Apollo. "I needed some shade. For some reason my skin kept drying out when he was around."

I nodded. "Yeah, he does have a sort of withering effect on people."

"Hey! I'm right here, you know!"

"What's with the sprite?" asked Aemila to Percy.

"She's his ex-wife."

"Anyway," Aren butted in, none-too-subtly detaching Lya from my arm. "Can we please get back to business?" The nymph seemed equally as content to latch onto her instead, causing the Huntress to groan slightly.

The son of Poseidon looked around. "So, this place belongs to Artemis?" he asked, pausing to frown a little in confusion. "You built your sister a house?"

Apollo's smile widened a tad. "Not exactly. Oh! Speak of the hellhound," he added, glancing to the side. A sudden shock went through me as I sensed her appear nearby.

Apollo turned around. "Come along then, best go let her in."

-A-

I opened the door to find my mother standing alone, her head was arched up, regarding the symbol above the door with a blank expression.

"Like it?" asked Apollo with a grin.

She merely cocked her head sideways an inch. "I approve..."

She reached out and touched the doorpost. I saw a shimmer spread from her fingertips, showing the golden barrier that encompassed the building and the large tree that stood on its grounds. She rapped gently on the wood once with her knuckles, and the light changed from yellow to a warm silvery glow.

She nodded her head, satisfied. "Much better."

"And you call me superficial," sighed Apollo.

My mother didn't reply as she walked past us into the hallway.

"Sis..." Apollo suddenly said.

My mother stopped.

"If you don't mind my asking: Do you know what happened to my motorbikes? I know my nephew here was tagged leaving the condo on one a while back. You wouldn't happen to know what...happened to the others, would you?"

My mother was quiet for a long while.

She glanced back at him. "What motorbikes?" she asked innocently, and carried right on walking.

Apollo just looked on in shock as I stood at his side. "…I'm never going to see my babies again, am I?"

I patted him consolingly on the shoulder. "I think it's time you moved on, uncle."

He let out a small sob. "Oh, the humanity..."

I cocked my head. "Technically-"

He raised his index finger up, cutting me off. "If you complete that sentence-"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah, you'll hurt me, I know. Come on," I said, following after my mother. "If you're good I'll make you an ambrosia smoothie later."

"Ooh."

-A-

We re-entered with my mother, Aren and the three demigods looking unsurprisingly shocked to see the goddess.

"Lady Artemis!" said Aren, dropping to a knee in front of her mistress. The others bowed politely. Divus mewed in welcome, stretched, and slipped into the room between my feet.

She gave the huntress a small smile. Her eyes, however, were flitting about the room, searching for something.

"Lady who?" called a voice. It appeared to be emanating from a massive mound of cardboard with legs. Several more pieces of trash were impaled on a sword sticking out from the side.

"I'm sorry, my lady," said Aren, smiling. "To be fair, though, he did last nearly five minutes around all this mess before he had to start cleaning."

My mother's eyes glistened a little as she stepped towards my father, who was still hidden behind his load and appeared to be attempting to open the patio door with his foot.

My mother sighed. "Hippolytus..."

"M'lady!" came his muffled voice happily. "Is that you?"

"It is indeed, old friend."

"I beg you give me a moment, mistress. I have many apologies to give you and much cardboard in my hands."

"Just put it down, Hippolytus."

"Sorry, my lady, I didn't quite hear you!"

"Drop it!" she barked suddenly, causing my father to instantly open his hands in shock, dropping the entire load on top of the black cat who had been sitting unsuspectingly at his feet.

"Mrrroww..."

"Sorry, m'lady. Old habits," he said, dusting his long hair and robes down. He cocked his head at my mother, concern appearing on his face at the strange expression in her eyes. "My lady, is something the matter?"

She smiled and shook her head. "No, my faithful servant, it is just... I have lost too many good companions in recent years. It warms me to see one return to me... Welcome home, dear friend."

He bowed with a smile as he tapped his broom to the side of his head in salute. "M'lady. Though I must apologize for how long I have neglected my post. Truly, I will accept any punishment you see fit to-"

"-It's alright, I-" she tried to cut in.

"-be it banishment, death, evisceration-" he went on.

"-really, you don't-" she tried again to say.

"-incarceration, being cast into Tartarus, ripped apart by wild beasts-"

"-Hippolytus..." she said coolly as he went on.

"-being dropped from Olympus, dragged over broken glass-though I would appreciate it if not by horses-"

"-Hippolytus..."she repeated.

"-being hurled from the very top of-"

"HIPPOLYTUS!"

"Yes, my lady?" he asked, immediately shutting up.

My mother looked about to speak, and then just sighed and waved a hand at the room in general. "Clean up this mess."

"Yes, my lady."

She shook her head as he happily went about his task, though I couldn't help but notice the ghost of a smile on her face as she watched him do so. Meanwhile, an irritated black cat trotted back over to his companion, shaking plaster dust out of his fur.

The goddess then turned back to us, her eyes lingering on the two Roman demigods.

"It would appear you have increased in number since last we met. Greetings, children," said the goddess curtly, switching to Latin.

Aemilia inclined her head, but Theia seemed less interested in the goddess than with helping her disheveled feline. "Lady Diana."

My mother's eyebrow raised a fraction of an inch and I noticed her share a strange glance with Apollo. "I'm afraid I haven't gone by that name in many years."

Aemilia looked perturbed. "Are you saying there are none in the world who know the gods as we do?"

Again a brief glance -barely a flicker of movement of her eyes, but still noticeable.

"Armani?"

"Yes, mother?" I asked, returning to English.

"Where did they come from?" she asked, a note of suspicion in her voice.

I have the sinking suspicion I may be about to get in trouble...

I adjusted the neck of my tunic. "Umm...Italy?"

She turned to look at me very slowly.

She regarded me blankly and without emotion.

"…Rome?" I elaborated.

Silence. And I wasn't sure what punishment my mother was contemplating for not answering her outright, but thankfully Apollo saw fit to save my bacon. "I think it's about time for me to take our guests to get settled in..." he said with a smile.

"You're going to take them to camp?" asked Percy.

I saw the smile on his face flicker for just an instant. "Something like that. I'll take them somewhere where they can get adjusted and then I'll drop them off at... at camp."

It wasn't like Apollo to stammer. If anything, being a smooth talker was one of his best talents, though he also wasn't one to lie, and so I nodded my head acceptingly. "I'll leave it to you, then."

"It would appear to be time for us to part company," said Aemilia tiredly. "It has been...unusual, to say the least."

I smiled. "Stay safe, Aemilia."

Theia hugged my father tightly, causing him to stagger a step. "And you be careful too. Your singing may have been terrible, but you were a good servant."

My father bowed his head formally. "It was my honor to serve you, Miss Theia."

"I expect you to be proper with them, Brother." Apollo turned and smiled that oh-so not innocent smile of his as he lead the girls out.

"You know me, sis." He paused to look at my father. "Drop by my temple when you get back to Olympus, we'll play some Xbox."

"Ex-what?" asked my father with a frown.

The sun god smiled widely. "Oh, you and I have much to discuss..."

"Brother."

"I'm going, I'm going..."

A moment later, the sound of a revving engine signaled the departure of Apollo and the two displaced demigods.

I stood looking out the window in silence, dwelling on something I felt I knew after thinking on Apollo's words. "We won't see them again, will we?" I asked, not turning around.

I saw Percy frown. "What do you mean? We'll probably-"

He was cut off as my mother replied after a moment's hesitation. "-I cannot be sure, perhaps. If you want to know the future, I'm afraid your best bet just walked out the door. Just know this, all of you: they will be cared for, and they will be safe. I do, however, ask that you not look further into this issue."

I turned to look at her. It was rare for her to sound so secretive, and I noticed the slight regret in her voice. It was as if it were a situation she wished wasn't so, but was resigned to.

She caught me looking and her shoulders slumped a little. "It is merely the way of things. Now do me a favor and allow our guest in."

I frowned. "What gue-"

And then the doorbell rang.

What is it with gods and jumping at any opportunity to show off?

"I heard that," muttered my mother as I walked for the door.

Thalia was standing outside. By her side, arms folded, dressed as normal in a pants suit, was Athena.

She scowled at me, and I flinched as lightning crackled menacingly in the air behind her.

Thalia shrugged. "Sorry. Built up a bit of static pacing outside."

Athena inclined her head. "Might I come in?"

"Was that a question?"

"No," she replied simply, and then walked right past me.

My mother's voice called from behind me, "And have Thalia come in too, my chariot will be quite safe unguarded for a time."

I stood aside and allowed the Daughter of Zeus to follow me in.

Percy let out a small whimper as Athena strode into the room. The goddess stopped, looking out of the patio windows over the open sea. Thalia walked over to stand at my mother's side.

My father glanced up from his brushing. "Oh, hello, Lady Athena."

She spared him a sidelong glance. "Hippolytus," she said politely before looking away again, "It's been some time."

He cocked his head as he collected some more trash and bagged it up. "So people tell me."

She hummed in agreement and remained silent for a moment, letting Aren, Percy and I stew in our own uneasiness for a moment.

Oh gods, here it comes...

"Did not a single one of you remember the oath I had you take in exchange for my help?"

We exchanged a nervous glance. "…I don't know what you mean," said Percy, trying and failing to sound innocent.

Athena glared at him and began walking slowly in his direction. "Is that so? Then would you care to inform me why I just saw two demigods and a pair of seers who went missing from Rome two thousand years ago leave with Apollo?"

"Armani?" said my mother.

I looked fearfully at the two deities.

Spiffing, talk about being caught between a rock and two hard places. I don't suppose you've got any smart ideas.

Hey, leave me out of this.

"Well?" prodded my mother. She did not sound amused.

I wiped away the sheen of sweat that was forming on my brow. "Well... you see... that was... kind of unavoidable. We sort of ran head on into some..."

"Some what?" breathed the battle goddess impatiently.

"...unforeseen circumstances?" I finished hopefully.

"Is that what you call what I just read?" demanded Athena, almost seething.

I frowned. "What do you mean-" I cut myself off when I realized I was in a room with two goddesses and two people incapable of hiding their thoughts. "Ah, crud..."

"Four people? You attacked four people?" Athena asked, glaring right at me.

My shoulders sagged. "Killed, I killed four people. Let's not mince words…"

"You did what?" breathed my mother with wide eyes.

"They would've killed Aren if I hadn't!" I objected, and turned back to Athena. "And I totally call predestination on that one. If I hadn't intervened, past Aren wouldn't have reached my mother and wouldn't be here today."

My mother glanced at Aren, "Is he referring to-"

She nodded.

"Ah." My mother turned back to Athena. "In that case, I rescind my objection."

Athena's scowl flicked back into a frown as she thought about it. "Very well," she said grudgingly, "but that doesn't eliminate the main issue; you took people out of the past and brought them back with you."

Again I felt the nervousness rise. "Well, like I said: unforeseen circumstances..."

The battle goddess' eyes narrowed. "And what, pray tell, might these circumstances be?"

I swallowed a gulp. "Well, you see..."

"He stabbed Caesar in the back," said my father calmly as he continued brushing, weaving about Athena's legs with his brush.

"Father!" I gasped.

He paused to look up. "What? You did."

"Well, yeah, but you didn't have to just out and say it, and you got into a fight with Mark Antony, so I don't know why you sound so innocent."

He nodded, thinking. "Yes, indeed I did..."

I sighed painfully and suddenly noticed my mother looking at me, agape. "Oh, don't look at me like that!"

She blinked. "You killed Caesar?"

I scowled. "I did not."

She closed her eyes, releasing a relieved breath. "Then why-"

"I only stabbed him once."

"Armani!"

"It's not just me!" I protested. "Percy beat up Hercules!"

"Hey!"

Artemis glanced at him. He flinched, but she immediately returned her gaze to me. "That, I don't care about."

"You wouldn't," I muttered under my breath.

"Is there anything else you would like to tell me?" asked my mother sharply.

I found myself scowling right back at her. "Why, yes, as a matter of fact, there is."

"Armani...maybe you shouldn't-" began Aren, but there was only so much a guy could take in one day.

"I also beat up some sailors in ancient Greece."

"Armani..." said Aren warningly.

"Later I picked a fight with Zoe Nightshade in ancient Rome..."

"Umm..."

"And got chased by half the Roman army!" I shouted at my wide-eyed mother. "And what else? Ah, yes, we stole some clothes, but forgive me if that pales somewhat in comparison."

"We paid for the clothes," mumbled Percy lamely.

I was pulled away from my mother's reaction as Athena spoke up. "So, an actual confession, that-"

She was cut off by my father, who was still contentedly sweeping up around us. "Well, technically, they hadn't even made the oath then," he said, not looking up as he paused to wipe a smudge off the TV screen.

Athena froze and then frowned. "Meaning?"

He paused and glanced sideways at her. "Well, all that happened centuries ago. How long were they gone, by the way?"

"A little over a week, why?"

"Then how can you hold them responsible for breaking an oath for things that happened before said oath was ever made?"

Athena looked about to respond, then hesitated, frowned in thought and finally looked right at my father, who was watching her with innocent expectance. "W-well, that hadn't... you see... when all that happened they had already... but that is to say they hadn't-"

"Yes?" asked Hippolytus with a cocked eyebrow.

She scowled at him openly, searching for a response. In the end she simply flung her hands in the air. "Fine, Just forget the whole thing then!" she snapped.

My father nodded. "As you wish." And went dutifully back to his cleaning.

Did he just... No, no that had to be an innocent fluke. No way did my divine janitor dad just knowingly outsmart her.

I looked sidelong at his proud features in silence for a moment as he carried on with his task with a laser-like focus in his eyes. Their usual vacancy was missing, replaced by something...else.

No...

Percy looked questioningly between them. "Sooo... Does this mean we're not going to be getting any divine wrath rained down on us?"

A rather red-faced Athena glared at him murderously. "Don't tempt me."

I let out a sigh of relief as silence descended, and when it did, suddenly another sound became audible:

Someone was laughing.

It was quiet, under their breath. I frowned and we found ourselves all exchanging glances as the noise became louder.

Finally, and seemingly all at the same time, we turned to the only other occupant in the room as the source became apparent.

It was coming from my mother.

She was chuckling to herself, her hand over her mouth. The hand came away as it became an out and out laugh, and it wasn't her usual sweet, gentle laugh. No, it was a borderline manic, I've-been-pushed-one-step-too-far kind of laugh.

Back away...very slowly.

I'm not sure if Athena could hear my instinct or something, but I noticed her taking several very slow and measured steps away from the moon goddess.

Has she finally cracked?

Artemis' laugh bordered between controlled and manic for a moment before she suddenly went deathly silent, her head hanging down.

We all glanced fearfully at each other until she suddenly broke the silence in a calm voice. "Percy Jackson. Athena."

They both seemed to flinch. "Y-yes?" Percy stammered.

She raised a single hand. "Out." The goddess snapped her fingers. Abruptly, the barrier around the building seemed to flow inwards around us, and as it made contact with the two in question they vanished in a flash of silver light.

She banished them.

I considered reminding my mother that there was a door, but I strongly believed correcting her at this moment would be a very unwise thing to do.

"I've come to a decision," My mother suddenly said. Her tone was even and level, a stark contrast to her outburst. "I know exactly what it is I must do with you. Two birds, one stone, as the mortals like to say. Yes..."

I gulped and took another step away from her. I wasn't sure what stone she was talking about, but I knew I probably didn't want to be one of the birds.

"M-mother?" I stammered.

Suddenly she whipped her head around. "Aren!" she snapped. The little Huntress jumped a foot in the air at being addressed.

"Aah!" she yelped. "I mean, yes, Lady Artemis?"

The goddess' eyes narrowed ever so slightly at her. "Have you come to a decision?"

Aren wrung her hands together and averted her eyes from the goddess. Thalia rested a hand on her shoulder, gripping it once supportively.

I looked between them. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't follow."

Thalia seemed about to speak, then glanced questioningly at Aren. The smaller huntress caught her gaze and nodded once. Thalia smiled warmly in response and turned back to me. "Do you remember before Aren left with you on your quest?"

I frowned and recalled the memory. "Yes, you were talking about something."

She nodded. "I was giving her a bit of advice."

"That advice being…?"

She glanced quickly at Aren and back. "I suggested that she use the time with you to make her mind up about…things. If there's one things quests do, it's open your eyes to what's important to you."

I caught on to what she was saying, and I didn't like it. "You were telling her to decide between staying with me and staying with the Hunters."

"N-not exactly," she said. "I was just telling her to be sure of what she wanted, and not just jump into a decision based on confused feelings."

"And have you?" asked my mother suddenly.

Aren seemed to be trembling slightly as she spoke. "Yes, my lady," she said in a barely audible voice.

"Aren," I said. "Don't."

My mother extended her hand at me and there was a ripple of power in the air. It pushed me back a step. A warning.

"Speak, child," she said soothingly.

Thalia put a supportive arm around Aren's shaking form, squeezing her reassuringly as the smaller girl whispered hoarsely, "I'm sorry, mistress. I'm so sorry..."

The goddess' face was impassive as she waited for the girl to continue.

"But…I can't come with you anymore," she said in an almost choked sob. I wanted so much to stop her, to beg her to take it back.

"And why is that?" Artemis enquired, coolly still.

Aren replied, her voice more even, but tone still shaking. And, though I couldn't see her face from where I stood, I could tell that she was crying. "Long ago, you saved me, and gave me a new life, and I'm so grateful for that, but the original debt was not to you. On that night, all those years ago, the only reason I reached you was because…someone else stepped in and saved me, and sent us together." She paused to take a shuddering breath and raised her head up to meet the gaze of the goddess. "I'm so sorry, mistress, but I'm not your Hunter...I'm Armani's. And in a way, I always have been."

My mother was silent for a long moment, none of us talking as she regarded the Huntress. "Is that your decision?" she asked finally.

Aren closed her eyes, took a long breath to steady herself, and then met her goddess' stare head on. "It is, Lady Artemis."

The goddess nodded. "I see. Very well then. It would seem-"

"Mother," I cut in, finally finding my voice. "If you do this-"

She cut me off again. "-Let me guess. If I revoke Aren's power and immortality, you would have me do the same to you?" she queried wearily.

I blinked. "Well...kind of... yes."

She sighed. "You are as melodramatic as ever, my child. As I was about to say, it would appear my decision was correct, and my chosen method for resolving the problem was apt."

I frowned. "What are you saying? Does that mean Aren-"

The goddess scowled. cutting me off again, "-Aren may be an issue, but she is not the 'problem' I was referring to."

"Th-then…what is the problem?"

"You are," she said, and then turned back to Aren. "Aren."

She flinched in Thalia's arm. "Y-yes, Lady Artemis?"

"I am altering the terms of our accord."

The Hunter's eyes widened. "My lady?"

"You may consider the oath you originally took with me to now be void," Artemis said mildly. "You may retain your powers as a Hunter, but I will require a new agreement of you."

Aren, extremely confused, nodded silently in response.

Suddenly, and without turning around, my mother stabbed a finger in my direction. "Never let him out of your sight again!"

"Hey!" I objected reflexively.

Aren's jaw dropped slightly. "You mean..."

The goddess waved her hand. "I mean ever within reason, of course. I cannot expect you to keep him in your presence every minute of the day. However, those are the terms of our agreement. From now, until the day you die or choose to leave my service, you are my son's keeper."

"My what?" I gaped.

My mother turned to regard me with a raised eyebrow. "You would have preferred I used the term babysitter?"

I looked at her incredulously, "I don't need an eternal babysitter!" I snapped, and only as the last syllable left my mouth did I realize how unwise the objection was.

The goddess rounded fully on me suddenly and swiped an arm in my direction. A silver flash of light struck me in the face and sent me hurtling back onto the sofa. I shook my head and found Artemis glaring down at me; I'm not sure if she had used my moment of disorientation to alter her size, but she somehow seemed to tower over me.

"Shall I list the things that have happened every time I left you to your own devices?"

"I would really rather you didn't..." I muttered sheepishly.

Unsurprisingly, she didn't feel like complying with my wish, as she began counting things off on her fingers. "You came within seconds of dissolving completely into Oblivion."

"That was completely not my-"

"You made an enemy of Hades."

"Now, to be fair-"

"Unleashed the undead."

"Now really, that-"

"You ripped a hole in the fabric of the universe itself, the mere presence of two of you being more than reality could handle, for which reality has my complete sympathy."

"Okay, I suppose that was partially my-"

"The end of the cosmos was averted by a hairs breadth."

I nodded drearily.

"You effectively wiped yourself out of existence."

"I got better," I sighed.

She kept right on going.

"You robbed the mortal royal family and brought a criminal back into our reality."

"Well there were extenuating circumstances..."

"You got involved in the assassination of Julius Caesar, were chased by Romans and even went so far as to get into a fight with my former lieutenant!"

"Well, when you put it like that..."

She ignored me again, but she did take a deep, calming breath. "Now... Did I miss anything?"

Well, at least she didn't mention the sparkling-

"Ah yes," she cut in. "The vampire."

Damn.

"The fictional vampire," she added. "Do you grasp that fully, Armani? Things don't even need to be real for them to somehow want to try and kill you!"

For the first time in my life, I really did feel like a scolded child. "Well, to be fair..." I mumbled, "That's the sort of trouble demigods get into in their lifetimes."

"Yes," snapped my mother. "In their lifetimes. Not within the space of six months!"

"Six months?" I mused. "Feels like at least... twenty."

"Now... are you seeing a slight pattern emerging?" asked the goddess sardonically.

I heaved a defeated sigh as my eyes fell. "I suppose I really have caused you no end of problems..."

I heard her let out a relenting breath, and I suddenly felt her fingernail under my chin as she tilted my gaze back to meet hers. "Perhaps, but do not mistake frustration for regret, my child. I think I will be satisfied Aren can keep the calamities away from you, at least for a while."

I smiled sadly. "I suppose I really could use a rest. Feels like I've been running forever. It'd be nice to stop for a while."

A small smile spread across her features, her hand moving to brush my cheek. "Perhaps... Either way, I am sure you will do well, Armani." She turned about to face the blonde huntress. "Aren..."

Aren's head rose up. "Yes, my lady?"

"I leave him in your very capable hands." said the goddess, still smiling slightly.

Aren's eyes seemed to become moist with relief and gratitude as she smiled, nodding her head in response. "On my life, my lady."

The goddess paused to glance at Lya. "I suppose I can trust you to keep an eye on both of them."

Lya grinned and gave a rather adorable salute. "You can count on me!"

Artemis nodded. "Of course..." Her gaze turned to my father. "Hippolytus."

"Yes, mistress?"

"We're returning to Olympus. You have much work to catch up on."

Oddly, this just seemed to make him happier. "Cleanup's finished here. I look forward to returning to your service, my lady."

She smiled. "As do I."

In the hallway, a somewhat nervous Percy peeked his head round the door. "Umm, can I come back in now? The silence is a little uncomfortable out here..."

I glanced at my mother, who inclined her head. "Yeah, come in. I think we're about done," I said.

Percy slipped back in, and I was shocked to find Athena had materialized in the corner of the room without our noticing. "How courteous," said the goddess a little testily.

"I apologize. There were some sensitive matters to attend to." said Artemis, obviously feeling slightly embarrassed about mystically booting the other goddess out of her house.

"So what was that about?" asked Percy quietly as he dropped back down onto the sofa next to me.

I considered my words. "My mother and I just had a couple of outstanding...issues...that needed resolving," I said, my gaze catching Aren's. She blushed noticeably.

I saw Percy's eyes flick between us for a second.

His eyebrows rose a little and he nodded acceptingly. "So... good news?"

Aren met my eyes for a moment, and I felt a small smile tug on my lips. "I think so, yes." The Hunter blushed a little redder and looked away again.

Percy patted me once on the arm, smiling goofily. "Good to hear."

I noticed Athena regarding me closely. "I sense I may have missed out on something. Something new...How unfortunate."

I smiled apologetically. "I'm sure you'll find out some day."

"No doubt," she said simply, and vanished from the room with a blaze of light.

Artemis clasped her hands behind her back. "I think it is time I depart as well." She glanced at me. "I assume you will be remaining here for a while."

I smiled. "I think I've spent enough time at camp this summer. Time to let someone else do the adventuring. Besides, there's always the Hunt, that's with me wherever I go."

She nodded curtly, again a small smile gracing her childlike features. "Always. Come, Thalia, Hippolytus. Percy Jackson?"

"Y-yes?"

"I will drop you at camp Half-Blood on my way back to Olympus."

He blinked in surprise. "Oh... Thanks, Artemis."

"Oh, and Percy," I said.

He paused and looked back at me. "Yeah?"

"Do me a favor?"

"Sure, anything."

"When you get back to camp, tell Clarisse...tell her that I owe her one."

He looked confused for a second but then just smiled that smile of his. "Will do."

"So..." began the goddess as they walked from the room. "Hercules?"

Percy shrugged as the door began to close behind them. "He was all talk..."

I smiled as they left. "I suspect that's one anecdote she'll enjoy hearing."

At that I let my eyes sweep over my familiar surroundings. Lya was curled up in the sun in front of the patio doors, and Aren regarded me from her position perched in one of the armchairs.

It was good to be home.

-A-

It was a little later on when I found myself sitting on the dune out back of the condo, legs drawn up to my chest as the sun set and day gave way for night.

I really did love evenings. It was when all the fun began.

I smiled contentedly as I inhaled the warm sea breeze mixed with the scents of the nearby forest. That and apple... apple and lotus.

Aren didn't need to announce herself and she knew it. "Funny..." she said, speaking quietly, as if to not breach my content silence.

"What is?" I asked, not turning about.

I heard her shift her feet from behind me. "I think this is where we first met."

I chuckled. "Feels like a lifetime ago, back when you weren't exactly my biggest fan."

"Understatement."

"Though hardly shocking -me being here, that is. It was always my favorite spot. Even seemed to make mornings tolerable." I didn't say it, but that was an understatement as well. Sitting in that spot, I always felt like I was watching the world go silently by. Either the sun or the moon would be high in the sky in front of me. I could sense the forest and feel the moon through the waves in the sea, even when it was hidden from view. I realized now that even back then, I had been seeking solace from my mother, even when I didn't know who she was.

I didn't say any of that. But I think Aren knew anyway.

Aren stepped forward and dropped down onto the sand beside me. I noticed idly that she had dressed down from her usual attire in favor of a loose pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. The glow in her skin seemed to shine subtly through the white cotton. "Why do you suppose she did it?" she asked after a moment. "Lady Artemis, I mean."

I went silent, dwelling on it. As I leaned against her shoulder, she gently ushered me down until I was lying with my head in her lap. I glanced up at her questioningly.

She smiled. "Just keeping you where I can see you."

I smiled back and then looked out towards the sea once more, considering her question. "I wonder..." I said ponderingly. "...perhaps it's just in the nature of the gods."

"What do you mean?" she asked, her fingers running idly through my hair. It was very distracting, but I tried to focus on her question.

"It's just a theory," I said, "but it ties in with the way they often work. The gods tend to act through their children, who aren't as restricted and bound by rules as they are. One could say it's their way of truly interacting with the world, if only by proxy. People often yearn for that which they cannot have, and by having children, a part of those gods can experience that which they themselves never can."

"You're saying that Lady Artemis-"

"I'm not saying anything," I said, cutting her off gently, "except that maybe she just wanted for me the things that she could never have herself."

Aren smiled weakly. "Well, I suppose even a lone wolf needs a partner sometimes."

"True, behind every successful alpha there is often a great beta."

Aren smirked. "Oh, and who says you're the alpha here? I'm your keeper, after all. You're barely more than a cub next to me."

"I won't dispute there is a slight age difference between us."

She smiled, her cheeky eyes glistening. "Just a slight one, but I suppose considering we're roommates now, we really will have to get used to each other."

I cocked an eyebrow. "You don't sing in the shower do you?"

Her brow scrunched into a frown. "Why would you ask that?"

I glanced away, blushing as her fingers idly brushed my cheek. "Just something Apollo used to do. He had an annoying habit of singing show tunes loud enough for anyone within a half-mile radius to hear. Drove me damn near insane."

"You have my word. I think I'll leave that sort of thing to you."

I frowned, propping myself up on my elbows. "Meaning?"

She smirked. "Well, you're the one with the lovely singing voice."

I scowled, and opened my mouth to give her a verbal lashing, but she silenced my retort by closing the gap between us and swiftly covering my lips with her own.

I felt myself frowning irritably, even as my eyes closed and I shifted onto one elbow, my free hand cupping the back of her neck, her fingers gripping my hair firmly.

Well... I suppose I'll let that one slide, just this once...

You really are hopeless.

Yes... Yes I am.

The End

[A/N] And thusly concludes the upload of the remastered version of this little tale, was nice going back over what I'd wrote and making some subtle changes and corrections. Kudos to Shrrgnien for her epic as always beta work, and I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it.

I guess I'll see you all next for a bit of one off christmas fun in Broken Bow: The 12 Years of Christmas.

UPDATE: A bit of christmas fun, plus a one-off I wrote a while later in Broken Bow: Hunter Tales.

Also been informed this saga now has it's own Trope page, that was a nice surprise I suppose. Thank you for reading.

-Xed Alpha-