A/N: Here is chapter 2!

Enjoy!

Be My Soldier

Chapter 2 - In Her Defense

She shook, tears cascading down her face as she looked at the modern Madrona house, the white walls plain against the shimmering glass walls from which light shined down on the green landscaped lawn giving a view in the darkness. The overhanging verandas gave just a hint of nostalgia.

"I don't know if I can go in there." He hated how timid she sounded. He pulled himself from his car and walked around to her door, opening it and squatting down to her level.

"Sephie look at me. You are not alone. I am right here. I will be here with you as long as you want me to be. I'm not going anywhere no matter what anyone says." He rubbed her chilled hands.

"They're all here. The TGOEM." Her eyes widened and her breaths sped up.

"Hey, ignore them. If they don't want to listen to what happened and help you then screw them." She looked into his eyes, searching for any wavering, but she could see he wouldn't let her down, especially not now.

She nodded and allowed him to lead her from the car. He could see eyes peering out as they walked up the walkway. The door opened before they could reach it and out stepped a few women. They were all dressed in the same garb and looked with disappointment and disgust at Persephone causing Ares to growl as Persephone shrunk back.

"How about you allow her to explain before you jump to conclusions and ambush her. Her wrist also needs looking at - I believe it's broken." Most of the group looked thoroughly abashed. They allowed them to go in, following behind the pair as they led the way to the living room. Ares sat beside Persephone leaving only one seat for Artemis who took Persephone's right hand in her own balking at the damage.

"It's definitely broken. How did this happen?" Persephone winced as Artemis worked to heal her wrist?

"Why don't you ask your stupid fucking brother. Seems he likes to break stuff." Artemis flinched at Ares' words looking between him and Persephone.

"Apollo did this? Why would he do that?" Her eyes were filled with concern.

"Why does Apollo do anything, Artemis? Because he is dad's fucking golden child, "he reminds him so much of himself at a young age." Yeah, he's a narcissistic, abusive piece of crap." His eyes were narrowed as hatred burning hotly in his veins.

"What are you talking about, Ares?! What the hell is going on?! And why the fuck are you taking it out on me?! I didn't do anything wrong!" Ares rolled his eyes, typical Artemis; always the victim.

"I don't know, why don't you fucking tell me Artemis. Isn't this house supposed to remain guy free?" Artemis looked confused.

"What are you talking about? It is guy free, except for a few rare occasions." She genuinely could not fathom that any guy she let in her house could do something wrong.

"Enough!" Hestia blew her top. "This isn't about Apollo. This is about how Persephone was given a scholarship complete with rules and she has been squandering it away, sleeping around with several guys - complete with pictures - and hanging out with those guys alone. She is the farthest thing from a sacred virgin." Demeter looked mixed between angry and upset, but she wasn't defending her daughter at all. None of them were. This made Ares' blood boil especially when he looked at the young girl next to him, so dejected and heartbroken.

"Do you want to explain or do you want me to?" He whispered to her.

"Would you please." Her voice sounded so broken and flat and her hair fell straight down her back, black vines growing along the fuschia locks

"You think you're so damn smart Hestia. Did you even bother to look at those pictures? Did any of you? Could you not see the pure terror and confusion on her face? Or how about the purple object in the one picture?" He showed them the pictures and they all finally saw what he did. "Does that look consensual? Yeah, right - it was consensual, and I'm the fucking king of the gods. Apollorapedher." Gasps could be heard around the room and something seemed to click in Artemis' mind she looked devastated and irate all in one.

"When did this happen Persephone?" She gently prompted.

"The movie night we had with him and Hermes. I was uncomfortable with guys in the house, especially Apollo, but it is your house Artemis and I didn't feel like I had the right to say anything, especially since Apollo is your brother. I shouldn't take away from your life just because I'm living here." Her soft voice was barely audible, but they all caught her words.

"No, Persephone. I am the one who should be sorry. When you came here I told you no guys were allowed in the house and I should have stuck by that no matter who it was. It's my fault you're hurt. I can't believe my brother could be such an evil person. I will never forgive myself for this." He wanted to feel bad for her, she was his half-sister, but he couldn't, not right now. She could have prevented what happened; it happened under her roof. Artemis rose from the couch walking away from Persephone in tears.

"As for you Hestia. Where do I begin? Well, first the coat...I want you to give it back to Persephone; it wasn't yours to take. Hades gave her that because unknown to her she was drugged at my dad's party and put in the back of Hades' car because he compared her to Aphrodite. Persephone woke up cold after sleeping off the drug in the guest room and so Hades gave it to her. You took it without even asking why it had been given to her. For another thing, Persephone has been " hanging out" with guys because they have offered her a place to get away from what's going on. Even if they don't know the details, they can tell something is going on. Hades is her boss and in a relationship, nothing is happening there, Hermes she grew up with, Eros is her best friend and the only other one who knows the full story, and me - I'm a friend who cares about her and her well being - which is more than I can say about the women who supposedly care about her, who didn't even notice something was wrong. I'm not going to let her fight this battle alone." Persephone shrank into his side trying to hide from the women. Ares placed a protective arm around the small-framed woman.

"Well, we need to decide what to do about her scholarship," Hestia stated to the group.

"I'll pay you back, it's not fair that I keep it. Hades said I can continue working in the underworld and he might move me to a permanent position." It was Demeter who came and sat beside her daughter stroking her hair.

"No darling, the scholarship isn't being taken from you, you didn't go against it, it wouldn't be fair to take it from you. You won't be able to be in the TGOEM, but we will make sure that you get to finish school. Hades has told me how hard you have been working at your internship and at school. I am so proud of you." Athena spoke softly as she sat in front of Persephone. Aries had always like Athena and had enjoyed working beside the woman several times.

"I can continue school and my internship?" Persephone couldn't seem to believe what she was hearing.

"Yes, you can. We will discuss the new rules with you later, but right now I think you need some time to deal with everything and get some sleep. We will help to counteract what Apollo has done, but it is going to take time ok?" Persephone nodded not moving from her spot. Athena shared a concerned look with Demeter and Ares, a look that was mirrored around the room. No one had ever seen the goddess of spring this broken.

"Artemis would you mind getting some clothes for Persephone? I'm going to take her to stay at mom and dad's for a bit, I want her within reach if Apollo tries to get to her. If mom and dad's doesn't work I will take her to the underworld and hide her away. But know this, if Apollo does come for her I will not hesitate in killing him in retribution for what he has done." Artemis wasn't gone long, but she came back holding a bag and Apollo's Lyre.

"I don't know when you managed to take this, but honestly I can't blame you, but I'm going to hold on to this, ok? I don't want you to get in trouble or have him come after you for it. Honestly, he is an idiot for not noticing it missing. I do love you Persephone, like a sister." She handed Persephone her bag and leaned down to give her a hug before backing away. Demeter laid a kiss on her head after whispering sweet nothings and comforts in her ear.

"Take care of my daughter, Ares." He nodded and stood from the couch, lifting Persephone into his arms as he did so she wouldn't have to walk. He left the house without another look; he knew Apollo would come, but he would do everything in his power to protect the woman in his arms.

The woman he was falling in love with.

A/N: Ares for the win!! Isn't he awesome? :) He and Persephone is so cute together and he is going to help her a lot.

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As always my faithful readers,

With Love,

Faithy