Shut the door

Turn the light off

If I wanna be with you

I wanna feel your love

I wanna lay beside you

I cannot hide this

Even though I try

Moments – One Direction

After their week of holidays, the gods came back to piles and piles of work, which they all threw themselves into. This meant that Poseidon and Athena had had no time to spend together. As the months went by, Christmas and New Year drew nearer. Athena and Poseidon hadn't so much as kissed since their week alone.

Finally, December 21st came up, and the couple was excited to finally have some alone time. As much as they loved their dysfunctional family, they still needed time to be themselves.

That night, the two got a free night; in which Poseidon snuck to Athena's temple. The two were snuggled up on the lounge, fighting to stay awake.

"Hmm," Athena hummed, her eyes slipping closed, before she snapped them open. Her head was resting on Poseidon's chest, and she was listening to his heartbeat.

"Sweetheart," Poseidon whispered, as Athena's eyes drifted closed again; this time she couldn't open them. "I'm going to go. We're both too tired for this."

Athena's response took a few seconds to formulate, but they came out rather forcefully. "No, don't go! We haven't - no time . . . Stay . . ."

Poseidon kissed the top of her head, and scooped her up into his arms bridal style.

"Shh, sweetheart, go to sleep. I'll come back in the morning."

She nodded feebly against his chest, before her breathing evened out and she slumped against him. He smiled tiredly, walking quietly through the temple. Once he got to her room, he put her on her bed, and pulled the covers over her.

He hesitated, before pressing his lips to hers; their first kiss in months.

"Sweet dreams," he whispered.

The next morning, Athena awoke alone, something she was disappointed about.

Finally, Christmas day came, something the gods were abnormally happy about.

This was, of course, because they all got the day off. Athena and Poseidon decided that, after the Secret Santa Apollo had arranged, the two would head to some distant country and spend the day there, before coming back for a romantic dinner and walk along the beach.

The Secret Santa went fairly well; Hermes got Poseidon a deep-sea fishing rod (Poseidon laughed heartily at that); Poseidon got Hera a new tiara (Hera thanked Poseidon and smiled for the first time in years); Dionysus got Athena a book on modern technology (something everyone was surprised about); and Athena got Demeter a pot-plant with a rare flower, to remind her of Persephone (Demeter teared up); a summary of how Poseidon and Athena were involved.

After that, Poseidon took Athena to Singapore; they spent the day walking around the city and looking at the sights. When they went home, the two parted and Poseidon instructed Athena to get dressed up.

She got back to her temple to find Artemis on her couch. She looked around nineteen, and had on a simple white dress.

"Oh, umm ... Artemis, what are you doing here?" Athena asked.

Artemis looked up. "Well, since we had a free night and we've been so busy, I was hoping we could talk."

"Oh ..." Athena shifted uncomfortably. "Can we talk while I get ready? I've, um, got a date."

Artemis stood up. "I'll help you get ready."

Athena grinned and the two walked to her wardrobe.

"What's wrong Artemis?" Athena asked as she flicked through her meager supply of dresses.

"Well, it's just ... There's this guy . . ."

Athena stopped flicking immediately.

"WHAT?" she screamed. "Since when is there a guy?"

Artemis flinched. "Well . . . A while now . . . He's very kind, and was recently broken hearted . . ."

Athena nodded slowly. "As long as he makes you happy . . . Who is the lucky guy?" Athena called as she went back to looking at dresses. She found a dress that's top section was black and the skirt of it was deep red. She liked it, so she slipped in on. Artemis made a noise of approval.

Athena decided she would wear flats, because she knew Poseidon liked being much taller than her ("Better for when we kiss," he had grinned).

She put on black sparkly flats and demanded the name from Artemis.

"Only if you tell me who you're going out with."

This made Athena hesitate. Should she tell Artemis? For such a long time, she had been dying to tell someone. After all, her and Poseidon were nearing their one-year anniversary; it came up in one month. She wanted someone to share that with, besides her lovely boyfriend, of course. But, who with? And she could trust Artemis! And, maybe Artemis could even help her and Poseidon rendezvous. The two hadn't seen each other privately for months since last night, and Athena was missing him intensely. Maybe Athena and Artemis could even bond over their boyfriends (assuming the mystery guy and Artemis were up to that in their 'relationship').

"Artemis," Athena began. "Firstly, I want to apologize for keeping this from you for so long-,"

"How long?" Artemis said suspiciously. "I assumed that this was your first date?"

Athena started. "Hm? No, uh, he and I have been in a relationship for almost a, ah, a year now, uh-hem."

Athena stumbled over the words, and cleared her throat at the end.

Artemis spluttered and coughed. "WHAT? A YEAR?"

"Shh!" Athena hushed, rubbing her best friends back.

"I'm fine, I'm fine!" Artemis coughed. Then in a angry whisper, "A year? Athena, how have you kept this a secret? Especially with a mortal!"

Athena stared at Artemis. "Mortal? What? No, he's an Olympian!"

Artemis nodded. "Oh, ok. Wait, what? How have you kept that a secret? I mean, I guess I could understand a mortal, y'know, late night rendezvous and such, but with a god? That's a hard secret to keep! Especially for him. Which of the gods wouldn't brag about being with you for a year? Please, those guys are all just-,"

Athena covered Artemis' hand, and Artemis looked up at her with wide, innocent eyes, knowing she had been rambling.

"Sorry," she mumbled against Athena's hand. Athena removed her hand and Artemis breathed out. "So, which of those low-lives have you convinced to keep quiet?"

"Well, it was his idea to keep quiet. It was our compromise," Athena stalled.

"Athena!" Artemis barked. "I'm telling you who I'm with – and trust me, your man cannot be more surprising than mine."

"Poseidon," Athena squeaked out.

"What?"

"Poseidon is the man I'm with," Athena sighed.

Artemis sat in quiet shock. Then, she started to giggle.

"What?" Athena questioned. "What's funny?"

"I'm – with – Percy," Artemis gasped out.

"Percy?" Athena demanded. "Percy Jackson?"

Artemis nodded, still laughing. "Why is that so funny?" Athena asked. "And what about Annabeth? . . ."

Athena trailed off at Artemis now subdued and confused face. "You don't know?"

Now Athena looked confused. "Know what?"

Artemis said, "About Percy and Annabeth? About two months ago, Annabeth left a note for Percy, saying that she didn't want to be with him anymore, then up and left the camp with some guy from the Demeter cabin. They came back to camp just last week and announced their marriage . . . You really didn't know?"

Athena stood angrily. "No-one told me?"

Artemis stood too. "I assumed you knew, but no-one else really does. We've all been too busy to take much notice in the camper's lives. The only reason I know is because I came across Percy, er, trying to kill himself in the forest. I, of course, told him that Annabeth wasn't worth his life – sorry! – and stopped him. From there, we got closer and our relationship just . . . started. Last week, when Annabeth came back, he confronted her about what had happened, but he doesn't want to tell me exactly what transpired. I didn't push him, after all, he did looked like a puppy that had been kicked . . ."

Athena sighed. "My Annabeth did that? But, Percy, he's a good man, and she loved him, then - . . . What?"

A knocking on the bedroom door made Athena and Artemis looked up sharply. "That's Poseidon," Athena said. "Gods, I'm not ready. Um, stall him will you? Five minutes, that's it."

Then, she ran off to the bathroom to finish getting ready.

Artemis shook her head and opened to door-

-to see both Poseidon and Percy standing there.

Poseidon looked confused, but Percy's face lit up.

"Hello, love," Percy said, bringing Artemis in for hug, and a quick kiss.

Poseidon stammered, "Oh, Artemis . . . um, I was just bringing Percy here, I'll, um, be going-,"

Artemis laughed. "Athena just told me, Poseidon."

"Oh," Poseidon said sheepishly. "Well, then . . . er, where is she?"

"Right here," Athena called, emerging from the bathroom. She had curled her hair and put it in an intricate bun, and her make-up was light.

Poseidon stood still for a moment, stunned, then broke into a grin and picked her up, spinning her around.

"You look beautiful," Poseidon murmured into her ear.

Athena laughed breathlessly, and then brought him in for a passionate kiss. He wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing her closer, and Athena ran her hands through his hair. Poseidon reluctantly pulled away, and said, "Artemis . . . Percy," as he kissed her neck. Athena let out a low moan, before saying, "I don't think that matters."

Poseidon broke off and looked over his shoulder, to see Artemis and Percy locked in a fiery kiss.

Poseidon chuckled lightly, before turning back and bringing Athena in for another kiss. This one quickly turned rough, Athena slipping her hands over his back, before-

-"Ahem. This is a compromising situation."

Both couples broke off, and turned to see the intruder.

"Hermes," Artemis and Athena said together. "Let us explain!"

Hermes chuckled. "I won't say anything." Then, he flashed away.

"Think we can trust him?" Athena said.

"Doubt it," Poseidon chuckled. "But, who knows?"

Before he pulled Athena in for another kiss.

Athena and Poseidon lay on a beach, at about midnight, Christmas day. They were holding hands, and looking out over the water. Poseidon was providing the entertainment; little pictures lifted from the water and played out scenes. Athena laughed heartily, and Poseidon grinned every time.

Gods, how he loved her.

Wait. Love her? Did he love her? She was beautiful, smart, caring, loving; there was that word again.

Yes, he thought. I do love her.

He grinned as the perfect idea for an anniversary gift came to mind.

I have a few later chapters done, so I'm hoping I'll get to those quickly. Oh, and about that Pertamis bit . . . I needed some way for Athena to tell Artemis, because that will be important for a later chapter, and then I needed a way out of Percabeth, cuz, yes Pothena will get married . . . but maybe in an epilogue, hahah, so still ages away. :)

Review.