I love you and I'm proud of you.

Artemis truly meant those words. She thought back to the last time she had seen her daughter…

It was Luna's first birthday, the last day her mother could see her.

Percy and Artemis were visiting together. They chose to use the front door, so that they could feel like regular parents, Artemis slipped her hand into Percy's.

"you must be nervous," Percy said.

"why do you say that?" Artemis countered, her voice betraying her anxiety.

"you're 12"

Artemis looked down at herself, "I'm sorry Percy it's just that," she started

"Artemis," Percy interrupted, "it's fine, that's how you cope with stress."

Artemis thought that it was funny that even all those years ago Percy had understood her so well, better than she did, even.

"what do you mean," Artemis asked as Percy.

He took a breath, "I think that you feel at home in that form. Whenever you're with your hunters your in the form of a 12 year old, so it make sense that you would automatically go to that form when you're nervous."

"what are you now, god of phycology," Artemis said as Sally opened the door, holding Luna.

"come in, come in, aren't you excited, the girls' first birthday (remember Paul and Sally had a baby, for the record, they were coincidentally born on the same day.)"

"yes," Artemis said, a hint of sadness in her voice.

"Artemis, honey, what's wrong?"

"Sally," Artemis said quietly, "I can't be near Luna after today, it would be too dangerous for her," Percy came up from behind and put his hands on her shoulders, as that was all he could do to comfort the love of his life in her 12 year old form.

"oh," Sally said, "well then, why don't we go sit in the living room, then Luna can walk around, and-"

"Sally," Artemis whispered, so that Sally had to strain to hear, "can, can I hold her? Please?"

Just then her thoughts were interrupted by Thalia walking in, "my Lady," she said surprised to actually see her here, " the Hunters have been looking for you, they're wondering what our next hunt will be, then we couldn't find you and assumed the worst."

"for now," Artemis said her voice level, "our hunt will be for the others"

Or so she thought, "is something wrong my Lady," Thalia's voice now that of a comforting friend.

"no," Artemis replied quickly, "I'm fine, I just need to be left to my thoughts."

"OK" Thalia still looked unsure, but complied.

Artemis returned to her memories…

"I don't see why not," Artemis then took her child and held her close.

They walked into the living room. Percy sat down, Artemis was feeling nervous about leaving her daughter, so she sat on his lap.

Percy stiffened from surprize, then relaxed, putting his arms around his family.

"family," Artemis murmered, surprising even herself, "that's what we are isn't it."

"what, my lady," Thalia had walked in now she was staring at Artemis stunned, "did you just say?"

"yes, I mean no, uh, I was, umm thinking about the hunters, yes that's it," Artemis sputtered.

"my lady if I may,"

"you may not."

"I think I'll take my chances," Thalia was a girl who was never afread, "were you talking about Percy, I, um, heard that he had a kid, and uhh…"

"leave," Artemis said with finality, " get out of my tent before you say something you'll regret!"

As she left again Artemis sighed, a moment later she was wrapped back up in her memories…

Artemis and Percy stared down at their child, then Artemis started to get worried, "Percy," she whispered, so as not to disturb Luna, now napping in her mother's arms.

"yes my huntress," Percy responded, murmuring into her ear.

"promise me one thing."

"anything," he responded, niether of them remembering, or caring, that Sally was on a coutch at a 90 degree andle to theirs.

"take good care of Luna when I can't," Artemis' voice was cracking.

"I will, but I'll do it for her, because she's my daughter, not because her mother asked me to."

"I know Percy," Artemis clarified, tears streaming down here cheeks, "but I need to know she'll be safe."

Percy leaned down and kissed her.

"I'll never get used to seeing that." Paul mused as he walked into the room, "she should at least look older!"

They had talked for the rest of the night, Artemis stared at her daughter for most of the conversation, taking her in, just before they left she kissed Luna's forhead and said,

"no matter what you say, I'll love you,

No matter what you do, I'll be proud."

787, that's how many words there were before the AN, I wouldn't have written this because of my English paper I need to write, but I just couldn't focus all day, this was running around in my head.

I'm gald about how this story is going, and I'm glad that the feedback has been so positive, the worst thing I've gotten is a "don't like the pairing".

I do want to add the seconds in, Percy's is Nico just FYI, that way I don't have to make sure I say it later.