A/N: Here's the next chapter! Enjoy!

XXVI

The Great Expectations

For the first time since he left Athens, Perseus felt as though his life had some merit and spirit to it. It wasn't just an empty shell of waking up and trying to make it through the day, and for a change, he had someone to truly talk to. He felt like waking up. He felt like getting dressed. And most of all, he felt like braving his father in the morning. Perseus strode over to the breakfast table, where Poseidon was already helping himself to the abundance of food.

"So you actually got yourself out of bed for a change," Poseidon remarked.

"I'm meeting someone in the gardens," Perseus replied quietly as he pulled his chair in and sat down. Poseidon came to, and leaned forward in interest,

"Meeting someone? Is it a girl?"

He tried not to roll his eyes in disgust at his father, "Yes, a girl." Poseidon nodded in approval, and reclined back into the leather of his chair.

"Excellent. Well, that only means you're one step closer to getting married."

"Married?" Perseus questioned, "But I hardly know her!"

Poseidon didn't make an effort to hide his impatience, "Yes, Perseus. Married. Do you really think that this little relationship with this girl is going to remain a friendship? No, it's more than that. There's something special between you."

"The last time I checked, father, you weren't a matchmaker. So don't act like one. Can't I at least have some say in who I marry?"

"No!" Poseidon roared, "And the last time I checked, I was the matchmaker for you! That's the way it works, Perseus. But since I am lenient, I'll allow this budding relationship between you and this girl play out for a little while longer. Oh, but only for a little longer, Perseus. And if time bodes over well, perhaps you'll be able to marry her over my own selection of a woman." Perseus scowled, but said nothing past his father. He supposed that this was the best way. After all, she was very beautiful, and quite kind. He wouldn't mind being married off to her.

Poseidon picked off some grapes and dropped them onto his plate, "So, who offered the walk? You or the girl?"

"Her name is Calypso, I'll remind you, and I offered it."

"Good. That's the way it should be."

Perseus narrowed his eyes, "The way it should be?"

"You should be the one deciding. You are the prince after all, and you wouldn't exactly want a woman telling you what you should be doing, no?"

He scoffed, "I can't stand you."

"It's the truth," His father replied, grinning devilishly.

"Well truth or no, I'm not hungry." Perseus stood, and a servant rushed forward and pulled his seat out of his way. He brushed off the crumbs that had landed in his lap during the short-lived meal before walking away from his pestering father.

"You'll have to invite her to dinner! But remember, that's your decision!" Poseidon called, followed by a jovial laugh.

"Hello, there." Perseus greeted with a smile as he walked over to Calypso's spot on a stone bench. She looked up from the book she had been reading,

"My Prince," She greeted tensely before curtsying to him.

"Please, you may call me Perseus." He urged, "Would you like to walk?"

"Of course." He put out his arm, and smiled faintly as she took it. They began to stroll through the gardens. Despite the hot, dry weather, they somehow managed to grow some of the most beautiful roses and flowers. He leaned forward, glancing over at the book she was holding.

"What's that you're reading?" Perseus questioned.

"Oh, you mean this?" She held up the small, crinkled book, "Just an old history book. My father has wanted me to read more, especially on this kingdom's history."

"Hmm," He sighed, "I've never liked history books. They're all so…dull."

Calypso laughed, "You can't expect them to be exciting all of the time. It's history, after all."

"So you like history books, then?" He asked, laughing along with her. She glanced over at him, blushing slightly, before shaking her head,

"Oh, I shouldn't say."

"Your secret will be safe with me. Don't worry, I'm not as talkative with my father as one might think." He pressed playfully.

"All right, then. I have to confess that history is not my favorite book genre."

"Well, there's something we both have in common." Perseus said, chuckling. Calypso smiled as she glanced up at the sky,

"It's a beautiful day out." She remarked. Perseus himself looked up, despite the fact that there wasn't anything to see.

"Yes, it is," He agreed as he looked back down. And as he did, something strange in the garden caught his sight. He peered over at a certain clumping of flowers in suspicion. Just as Athena had in a vase, an identical grouping of red and white lilies planted in the ground.

"What sort of books do you like?" Calypso's question brought him back to reality as he thought of an answer,

"To be honest, I don't particularly like books all around." He answered, glancing over at Calypso, "But what about you?" He listened for an answer, and was ready to hear her say the typical damsel in distress stories.

She sighed, almost dreamily so, "Ancient myths and heroes are my favorite, the few times I get to read them." Calypso walked over to the fountain and sat down on the edging of it.

"What? Does your father not let you read them?" He asked as he looked at the flowers again. Perhaps they were a common flower in the area...

"He's forbidden me to." She said in disgust, "He'd thinks they're silly, and insists that if I'm to waste my time reading, that I should read something historical. But…" Calypso stopped herself mid-sentence, but Perseus caught her hesitation.

He narrowed his eyes, "But what?"

She looked over at him, a faint and slightly mischievous grin playing on her mouth, "That doesn't mean I can't read them in secret." He raised his eyebrows in surprise, laughing out loud,

"I have to say, I didn't perceive you as the rebellious type."

"Oh, I'm not that rebellious," Calypso modestly replied, "The whole book ordeal is an exception to the rule." They were silent for a moment, until Perseus perked up.

"Would you like to return later for dinner?" He offered.

"Of course. Thank you for the offer."

He nodded once, "It is my pleasure. Though we will more than likely have my father in our company. He's been…eager, in a manner of speaking, to meet you."

"I would expect that. But I am looking forward to meeting him."

Perseus smiled faintly at her comment, but said nothing more. There was no point in making petty remarks about his father. She was genuinely interested in meeting him, even if he was the most powerful man in the entire city.

"Well," He straightened, "I must leave you for now. But I will see you at dinner."

"Goodbye." She said in farewell, waving slightly. Perseus waved back as he began the walk back up the palace.

"Dinner? Here, in the palace?" His father sputtered from his throne.

"Yes, Father. You wanted to meet her at some point, didn't you?" Perseus recalled.

"Most definitely, but you've barely given me any time to prepare!" Poseidon exclaimed as he folded his arms over his fairly pronounced stomach.

"The day is still young, and besides, it's just dinner."

"No, it's not just dinner, Perseus!" Poseidon bolted out of his seat, "This is your first meal together, despite the fact that there will certainly be more to come. There's something special about that first meal."

"And you're acting like you know," Perseus grumbled.

"I do know. I certainly didn't get married off to any of the women I shared dinner with, they were just to appease my own father long enough. But," Poseidon continued, a sickening grin crawling across his face, "They had their own ways of appeasing me afterwards."

"You're absolutely foul," Perseus's comment only made his father keel over from laughter. After his father got control over himself again, he straightened in his seat,

"This girl..." He continued, still chuckling a little, "I suppose she can come to dinner. And maybe, with the luck you have, that won't be the only thing she'll do." Poseidon howled with laughter once more, and Perseus sneered at the mere thought,

"Just get it organized." He ordered his father before striding off.

A/N: Oh, Poseidon and his innuendo. I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but Poseidon is one of my favorite characters to write dialogue. He's certainly a pig, but that's what makes it all the more interesting. So, when are you guys going back to school? Hopefully it isn't as early as I am, because it's painful counting down days right now.

Leaded-Pegasus