I'm betting this is not when people expected after the last one.

The first thing I noticed after all the drunken after effects was the sharp pain in my side. It wasn't like a constant pain, it was like someone was jabbing me in the side. Please can it not be a monster checking me out for food, I've had enough of trying not to be eaten at this moment in time.

I rolled over on to my back with a groan and looked up at my intruder. Not much I can tell since they're partly silhouetted against the sky. Has to be a woman with curves like that, quiver, bow, red hair (I think), empty scabbard, it can't be... "`Lanta?" I pushed myself up on to my elbows and took a closer look.

"If you dare start comparing me that insufferable daughter of mine then I swear-" She came off the horizon and it was clear that it wasn't my girlfriend. Though she did look surprisingly similar when in the form of an adult. No freckles and different eyes but other than that they were virtually the same, then it hit me, `lanta had really short hair and Artemis didn't.

I pushed myself up on to my feet. "Yeah, yeah, don't have a fit; simple mistake-"

"With her the way she is, yeah, it's a simple mistake." Note the heavy sarcasm. She folded her arms across her chest and placed all her weight onto one foot. Actually she was right, `lanta would never dress like that or wear a tiara (if that's what you call it) and she certainly wouldn't be here. Artemis sighed and turned her back on me, guess I'm a disgrace to the human race being a guy and all.

"She does have a name though-"

She turned round quickly and her thick plait span out around her. "And it's not `lanta!"

"It was to me!" There was silence as neither of us moved. I heard something off to my right and her ear pricked up at the noise. I felt so bad for talking about her like that. I only mentioned her name once and I'm fighting it out with her mom about what her name is.

She was the first to look away. "I didn't come here to fight with you."

"Well it seems like that plan has gone to the wind." She glared at me and I smirked at her. It had gone astray though.

I picked my bag up and threw it over my shoulder before folding my arms. "Fine, why are you here then?" She raised an eyebrow. "Alright! What honour has been bestowed on me to be graced by your presence, Lady Artemis?" I spat her title out in disgust. I still don't like the Gods, especially Hermes and Artemis.

"That's better, you could learn some manners boy." She came over and stood in front of me. I had a good two inches on her at least, she's taller than `lanta like this. "I'm here for my daughter's knife." I didn't falter. I should have known that was why she was here. "There's no point denying it, I know you have it."

"I'm not denying it, I want to know why you want it." I fixed her with that demanding stare.

She scoffed. "Your tricks won't work on me, boy." She was determined to call me a boy, am I not worthy of the term man in your eyes, Lady Artemis? "I wish to return it to its rightful owner." She raised her gaze up and held her hand out.

"At what cost?" She faltered at the unexpected question. She almost started laughing at me.

"I am not paying a boy for what he stole from my daughter and what rightfully belongs to her." I fixed her another stare, a deadly serious one.

"I'm not talking about payment." She frowned. "I'm talking about the cost it will have on her life by giving it back." I sneered at her, remembering what a thrill fighting them was.

"Wha-what?" Got you. I broke gaze and dug my hands deep into my pockets and rocked on my heels.

"Oh, so do you not know? You don't know what your daughter does with this knife-"

"It's not my business!"

"Life do funny things to a person. It can make them go insane, give them riches, twist their minds and shatter their hopes, Hades it might even make them," I fixed her confused face in my gaze, "use things to-"

"Atlanta does not do self-harm! How dare you insult her like this-"

"And how would you know, it's. Not. Your. Business!" She stood back. "You can't keep denying it Artemis, I've seen it and you know as well as I do!" I made a gesture with my arm.

She flinched and her silvery eyes had a watery sheen to them. "I..."

"So, you do care." I pulled `lanta's knife from my bag and held it, hilt out, to her. "If you do care for her then you will listen to me. Do. Not. Give. Atlanta. This. Knife." I was holding it too tight and red liquid dripped from under the blade and on to the ground.

"Your hand..."

"There's the knife Artemis, it's what you came for." Yes it hurt but knowing that she had the chance to save her was better than any healing touch. She took the hilt and pulled it out of my grasp before I had chance to let go. I winced as it dug deeper into my hand causing more liquid to spill. "You are holding one of the last chances Atlanta has at rebuilding her life." I turned my back on her. "Don't ruin it." I started to leave.

"Luke..." She sounds just like `lanta when she was on that cliff edge. I turned my head to her and she grabbed my arm to stop me going any further. "I may not approve of your relationship with my daughter but maybe you're not as bad as I though, for a man."

I could feel the gashes in my hand closing up with her touch. She called me a man not a boy. Do I- what the Hades does that even mean now I'm dead. I pulled my arm back out of her grip. "Remember you're Atlanta's final hope."

"What about the medication and therapy?" I could tell she was frowning.

"I know what she needs and it isn't that. She needs someone who's always there for her, whenever she needs it."

"You sound like you're talking from experience." Her voice was getting fainter. She wasn't following me.

"I am." I remember bitterly my early child hood. No father and psychotic mother I had no one I could talk to. No one would have understood. Atlanta did, that's why I left with her.

"I can't be there for her all the time and I know Andrew can't-"

"And?"

"There's only one person who that could be."

"I know." I know only too well. "Me."