*Awkward Cough* I've really not been very good lately about updating in a timely manner...

I'm not sure what I think of this chapter. It didn't really come out like I wanted it to. However I had already spent like 4 days trying to get it right and it just wasn't working so I decided that it was good enough. Sorry in advance for it not being my best.

As to the guest who asked if I have a Tumblr account, I do indeed. I would be honoured if you are willing to draw art for my story. If you do would you send me a link to it? I'd love to see it. :-)

Disclaimer- I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus series. (One can dream though) All rights go to the proper parties.

ΩΩΩ

December 19th

Percy POV

I had to admit, I was not a morning person. That said, very little will wake me up more effectively than the smell of bacon and pancakes.

I was very reluctant to open my eyes. I couldn't remember the last time I had slept that soundly. For some reason my bed felt way softer than usual. If it wasn't for the delicious smell of breakfast, I don't think I would have bothered opening my eyes. Yet no matter how much I wanted to go back to sleep, I wanted pancakes more.

I stretched my arms over my head with a yawn. I opened my eyes and frowned.

This is not my bedroom.

I sat up and looked around. I was in Apollo's apartment. That's when it all came rushing back. The fight with Annabeth, losing control, unleashing my godly form...

I looked down at my skin and frowned. Yep, still glowing.

"Good morning sleeping beauty. It's about time you woke up."

I groaned and turned to the kitchen. The god of the sun was standing at the stove. When he caught my gaze, he winked. I rolled my eyes. It was way too early to be so chipper.

"Not all of us can be morning people Apollo. What time is it anyway?"

He shrugged, "Seven o'clock. I've been up for almost an hour already."

I gave him a look of pure disbelief. "Why would anyone choose to be up this early?"

He laughed, "Just because you don't like mornings, doesn't mean everyone's the same way."

I sighed and shook my head. "If you want to be awake at this ungodly hour, all the power to you. I however, am going back to sleep for another hour or so."

I flopped back down on the couch and brought the blanket up over my face, fully intending to slip back into the peaceful sleep I'd been enjoying earlier.

I heard Apollo chuckle. "That's fine. I will just have to eat all these blue pancakes by myself then."

I sat up and turned to him with a glower. "Bribing me with blue food is cheating."

The god of the sun winked, "I regret nothing. So do you want some or do you still want to go back to bed?"

I ran a hand through my hair with another yawn. "I'm up."

I reluctantly left my blanket cocoon and went to the table. Apollo finished putting the food on the table and joined me.

I smiled as I started dishing up the food. "Bacon, chocolate milk, and blue pancakes, the food of the gods."

The god of poetry gave me an amused smirk, "If that was supposed to be a pun, it was terrible... I liked it."

I chuckled as I took my first bite of the fluffy sky-blue pancakes. My eyes widened in surprise, "Holy Poseidon! These are amazing. They taste exactly like my mom's! How'd you make them? No matter what recipe I try, it never tastes the same."

The sun god looked shocked at my outburst for a minute before he started laughing. He gave me a playful look. "It's a secret family recipe."

"Please Apollo? You have to tell me!"

His eyes were practically glowing with mischief. "I don't know Perce..." I raised an eyebrow at the new nickname but I didn't say anything. "How do I know I can trust you not to spread my cooking secrets all around Olympus?"

"I swear on the river Styx I won't tell anyone." He looked surprised by my oath but he still seemed too amused to tell me.

It was time to bring out the big guns...

I looked down at my plate for a moment before giving him my best puppy dog face.

The god of music scoffed. "And you accuse me of cheating." I continued pouting. He broke down and laughed. "Percy, it's just pre-boxed pancake mix. All I had to do was add water."

I felt my jaw drop. "What? My mom always told me she made it from scratch."

The son of Leto shrugged, "Maybe she does. I however, made it from a box."

It took me a few minutes to shake off the surprise. By the time I had, he was already on his second pancake.

I gave a belated laugh. He raised an eyebrow and I gave him an amused look, "A secret family recipe, hey?"

He smirked and sent me a wink. "We may be immortal but that doesn't mean most of us bother learning how to cook. My cooking skills are limited to bacon and microwavable or instant food."

I smiled in amusement and continued eating. We were silent as we finished up breakfast. I helped him load the dishwasher before I asked the question that had been bothering me.

"Hey Apollo?" He gave me a curious look to show he was listening. "Why did you make the pancakes blue?"

The god of the sun gave me a funny look. "Considering how often you've told me about them, I was under the impression that they were you're favorite."

I blushed and rubbed the back of my neck. "They are; that's not what I meant. I mean... why did you make my favourite breakfast?"

His eyes widened in understanding and he shrugged. "I figured you'd had a pretty crappy 24 hours. It seemed to be a blue pancake kinda day."

I smiled. I was touched by the fact that he cared enough to try and cheer me up. I met his eye and put as much of the appreciation I was feeling as I could into my expression, "Thanks."

He seemed a little taken aback by my gratitude. He ran a hand through his hair and gave me a hesitant smile. "No problem Perce, what are friends for?"

ΩΩΩ

Apollo POV

I could never get over just how much Percy appreciated the little things. I had made him breakfast to cheer him up and he acted as though I had just gave him a million drachmas. He certainly didn't need much to make him happy.

I didn't want to leave him alone since he was stuck in the apartment, but I did make a quick run to the house to pick up some clothes for him. Neither of us knew how long it would take before he would figure out how to turn his godly form off.

Honestly, with how quickly Percy picked up nearly everything else, I had expected him to have mastered mist manipulation by now. I knew his friends liked to call him seaweed brain, but I didn't think that the nickname fit him. Yes he could be pretty oblivious sometimes but that wasn't the same thing as idiocy.

If talking with Annabeth last night hadn't been awkward enough, having her stand in the doorway watching me pack a bag for the son of Poseidon was. The entire time I was in the house, she was following me, asking me about Percy. I would have been more inclined to answer her questions however, if she had put down her notebook and stopped working in order to do so.

I was quite grateful to escape that house and get back to my apartment. Spending time with your friends girlfriend without said friend being present was just plain awkward, especially when they were fighting. Plus for some reason that I couldn't put my finger on, I had never warmed up to the daughter of Athena like I had to his other friends. I certainly preferred hanging out with the son of the sea god, but I could talk with his other friends without being overly annoyed, just not her.

ΩΩΩ

As I made my way back to my apartment, I couldn't help but notice the drop in the temperature. It wasn't cold enough to be uncomfortable, but it was still chilly enough to need a jacket. I may not have been the god of weather, but I had a feeling that New Rome would be in for a white Christmas. We may have been in California but if enough demigods prayed for snow, the council would give in. Demeter probably wouldn't let the entire state freeze, but she had a soft spot for her kids. I had no doubt that she would eventually break down and let Khione freeze the valley.

I smiled as I imagined how Percy would react. If he responded like I thought he would, I could foresee a giant snowball fight in our near future. The son of Poseidon had such childlike enthusiasm for things like that. My heart did a little dance as I imagined him bundled up with flushed cheeks, building a snowman.

I hadn't even realized that I was smiling at the thought until I heard a group of girls giggling. I mentally shook myself out of my reverie and sent them a wink. Their enthusiastic reaction to my casual flirting would usually give me an ego boost, but I found I didn't really pay it any mind.

Recently I had found myself caring less and less about the random men and women who threw themselves at me. I used to think it was a failure if I went more than a few months without a conquest. I wasn't exactly certain when it had changed. I frowned at the realization. I would have to think on it when I had the time.

I got back to my apartment and opened the door to find the son of Poseidon attempting to build a card house. I say attempting to because as soon as I opened the door, the entire thing collapsed.

The young god looked at me in such shock that I couldn't help but laugh as I turned to lock the door behind me.

"You made me knock it down!"

I turned back to the son of the sea god with a sarcastic remark on the tip of my tongue only to feel my heart stutter in my chest. The black haired boy had his arms crossed. His eyes were wide and he was playfully pouting.

My entire mind went blank. I completely forgot what I was going to say. The only thing I could think of was how endearing he looked. It was only self-preservation that kept me from cooing at the adorable actions of the youngest god.

After a few moments his pout fell and he gave me a questioning look.

I cleared my throat and smirked. One of the best ways to avoid admitting the truth was by telling it while acting like you're not serious.

"Don't blame me for your failures. It's a good thing you're so cute, otherwise I wouldn't let you get away with it." I sent him a wink. The son of Poseidon rolled his eyes and started picking up the fallen cards.

Awkward situation adverted...

ΩΩΩ

We spent the rest of the day doing very little of consequence. We tried working on Percy's control of the mist for a while but the results were less then spectacular. I knew it was frustrating to him but there was nothing I could do to help. Eventually he would figure it out.

He just had to have patience.