Here's another chapter! Thank you to everyone who reviewed.
However, I do have to say that people keep telling me that they've been waiting however long for an update, and it's starting to get annoying. Normally I manage one chapter a month, sometimes more, sometimes less, but I'm positive that the longest hasn't even been four months. That might still be a long time, but it's not as long as what it take some people, even if it is longer than some. Honestly, I'm amazed at how fast some people update - I have no idea how they do it, and I wish I had their dedication. But I'm still in school, and I have homework, and when I have free time I want to relax with a good book, movie, family, and/or friends. I write when I have the inspiration to, especially since when I force myself to the result is awful. So while I appreciate and love the fact that people want me to update quickly, I have said that I will never abandon this story, and the way that some people word their reviews just makes me feel bad about my updating time and flushes the good mood I'm in from getting another review down the drain. You can critique my writing, but don't hammer me about how long I take. I'm doing the best I can, and I will say it again - I will NEVER abandon this story.
I do not own Percy Jackson.
July 25, 2023; 22:36:52; Lost Creek:
Poseidon sank to the ground and cuddled with his son and nephew. Catching sight of his youngest, he reached out quickly and, snagging his arm, pulled him into the pile. "I love you," he whispered, the relief of telling his children what he had feared he never would filling him. "I know I've never really said it before, but I love you both so much. Don't ever do this to me again, or I might just fade from fear alone."
The silence that followed was interrupted only by the peaceful sighs of Percy and Dylan for a few minutes, but then the sea god was jolted as the elder pulled away. "I'm sorry!" Percy cried. "I was so scared of how you would react, I didn't consider how you would feel if I left!"
"No, I'm sorry," Dylan shook his head quickly. "I didn't even meet you before I left!"
Poseidon opened his mouth to them that no, he was sorry for not being a good enough father, but he was beaten by Nico. "The only person who should be sorry here - and yes, that includes Olympian gods - is me."
The other three in the pile started to say something, paused, began again, and then stopped. "I don't understand," Percy finally said. "What are you sorry for?"
Nico took a deep breath, prepared himself to shadow travel himself and Percy if needed, and stated, "I'm sorry, Poseidon, that I didn't ask you for Percy's hand."
The entire clearing, including those whispering to each other on the edge as they watched the reunion, fell silent. Then the sea god blinked several times to prevent tears and hugged Percy even tighter. "In that case," he began, "I'm the one who's sorry for not giving him away at the wedding." He paused, then verified, "You are married, right?"
"Yes," Percy smiled, both at the answer and in relief that his dad wasn't angry.
Then Amy butted in, "You all are nuts." Everyone else looked at her with wide eyes, and several jaws dropped. Realizing the confusion, she clarified, "Nobody's at fault here. You all had your reasons for doing whatever you did, and it's not as if anything was morally wrong. You were driven by natural emotions - fear, love, etcetera. And now that you're all together, forget it and move on. No harm no foul. Celebrate the here and now. Do I have to say more to really make this a speech? No? Great, I'm eating." Amy moved towards where they kept their food, ignoring the eyes that followed her but still relaxing slightly when they moved away and popping grapes - unnecessary as food was for her now - into her mouth.
Poseidon looked at his sons and nephew with wide eyes and hoped they communicated the question well enough.
"Two words," Percy sighed. "Teenager, Phoebe."
"Plus raising Kathryne on her own for a few years on the streets," Nico added.
The sea god nodded slowly, and then they all looked up from their position still on the ground to see Artemis and the other teenagers approaching. "So... who is everyone? I knew Dylan and Nico were with Percy, but I wasn't aware that anyone else was."
"They're our adopted kids," Percy told his dad proudly. "You already met Amy, daughter of Hephaestus. These are James, son of Hermes, and Kathryne, daughter of Dionysus. And you know about Haley, daughter of Hades."
Poseidon couldn't contain his laugh. "You're creating your own Camp out here!"
Percy's eyes lit up and he turned to his husband - who had a look of horror on his face- with lips pushing out in a small pout. "Nico," he began.
"No," the son of Hades shook his head, but even the kids could see it was weak. "No, Percy, we can't," Nico tried again, more firm this time.
"He's right," Artemis agreed. "You've created a family, but risked everything when you agreed to take them in. You can't keep doing that if you want to remain hidden."
"But why hide?" Poseidon asked. "That's the one thing I could never figure out. Why did you run? You were still dating Annabeth, so you weren't afraid of reactions to your relationship, which you shouldn't be anyway considering how many gods and goddesses have done the same."
Percy gulped, shared a look with Nico, and turned back to his dad. "Maybe... you should sit down properly?" Poseidon frowned, worry shining in his eyes, but he removed his arms from his sons' shoulders and moved back a bit so he could see them better, legs criss-cross-applesauce.
Percy swallowed again, tongue darting out to wet his lips, and glanced once more at Nico, who gave him an encouraging smile and a reassuring smile before whispering, "It's fine" and reaching out to give his husband's hand a squeeze.
Poseidon, watching all of this with worry rapidly growing more on his face, exclaimed, "What?" He saw Artemis shoot him a half-exasperated-half-comforting look from the corner of his eye, but ignored it in favor of focusing on his son.
"Iwasbittenbyavampire," Percy blurted, and his father blinked, tried to slow down the incomprehensible words in his head, and shook his head while trying to let support take over the worry.
"Can you repeat that, son? I didn't quite catch that."
The son of Poseidon took a deep breath, but said slowly, "I was bitten by a vampire."
July 25, 2023; 23:44:01; Lost Creek:
"Poseidon!" Artemis called, dashing through the forest. "POSEIDON! If you don't come out right now I swear I'll -"
"You'll what?" the sea god asked bitterly, stepping out from behind a tree, eyes suspiciously wet. "You'll turn my baby boy into a vampire?"
"Uncle, I know it's upsetting, but -"
"Upsetting?" Poseidon repeated. "Upsetting? My son was attacked, turned into something he was taught to hate, and didn't come to me for help! And you say it's upsetting," he sneered the last word.
"He didn't tell anyone," Artemis pointed out, and quickly added before the sea god could argue her point, "And Percy didn't tell Nico, he figured it out for himself. Also, while Percy definitely wasn't happy with the situation, he's adapted to it. He's happy, Poseidon," she stressed.
"But Nico isn't immortal!" The sea god latched on to the new problem. "He didn't become a god because he didn't want to leave his friends, and now -"
"Now Nico is a vampire too," the Huntress sighed. "Completely by accident, and Percy punished himself when it happened, but now it's better and they both have full control over themselves. It's in the past, but you tearing out of there like Chaos himself was on your tail isn't helping! The longer you stay out here, and don't back and explain, the more old wounds will reappear. So go! Now! Stop staring at me and fix this!"
Poseidon stared at his niece after her rant, and nodded slowly as her words sank in. "Alright," he said softly. "Alright." He turned away from her and stepped back in the direction they had both come, the faint light of the distant campfire guiding him to the clearing.
I hope you all enjoyed, and please review!
