Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson world or characters, or anything related to the Greek Mythology world etc., I'm just a fan :)
Short A/N-
Great, leave it to me to sit down and attempt to write book 5, and instead write four long chapters about the year before book 5.
But well, it was fun. And they turned out quite crucial for the story, I don't know how I did without them.
This one is the last part, after that book 5 will officially begin.
Also, this chapter was my first run-in with writers-block - that is, I've had it before, but never with this story. But honestly, your feedback, the 14 reviews (!) I've received, a number I never thought I'll receive, and 12 new favorites and followers, it was insane and it gave me the motivation to sit down and write, haha. You guys have a lot of power!
Hades
Hades had no idea at what point he and the Underworld had become so popular.
That is - he just decided to reach out to the Jacksons and offer them help, at no point did he expect the entire Olympian clan to show up. And he had no idea how it happened, either.
His son came again, two days later, the infamous twins in toe.
And then a light show of gods appearing in his throne-room happened.
First Hermes and Apollo (and Apollo teleporting somewhere was a bright, noticeable experience, and more often than not involved light, sparks and on occasion, actual fire).
Then his prideful brother appeared in a great, shiny ball of water, the drama-queen that he was, immediately standing next to his kids, and specifically, his daughter, and towering over her like a hawk.
Hades cleared his throat. "So we're gathered here to finally start planning what we ought to do this coming summer. All involved did arrive, yes?"
He asked that out of formality. He did not expect that Penelope girl to raise her hand.
He arched an eyebrows as everyone else watched her in surprise. "Yes?"
"I, umm," she hesitated, "well, you said all involved, and there's actually someone involved who's not here."
He furrowed his brows. "Well it makes sense that some vital demigods are not present, honestly you two and Nico are representatives enough -"
"Not demigods," she interrupted, but was embarrassed enough to lessen his anger over it.
"Not demigods?" She shook her head. "Then who?"
Her twin watched her in confusion. "You don't mean…"
"I do."
"I don't see how's she's relevant!"
"Don't speak so about a goddess!"
"Penny," her father tilted his head, "which goddess can you mean?"
She smiled nervously. "Hestia. You see, she has chosen me as her champion."
"What?!" Poseidon and, surprisingly enough, Hermes, asked together.
"Her champion?" Apollo smiled his overly-bright smile, "what does that entail? Any special… oaths?"
Penelope shook her head. "Not that I'm aware of."
"Well, always read the fine print," Hermes muttered.
"Let's put it this way," Apollo was still quite amused, his eyes sparkling, "will you be like my twin's Hunters? Are you expected to remain… or rather, to refrain from male company?"
Penelope narrowed her eyes. "She said I don't have to remain a maiden, if that's what you're implying. Anyway," she turned her head to watch Hades again, "can we please invite her, as well? She is so wise."
And he liked the fact that she was sensible enough to ask for his permission. It was reasonable, of course, as he was the master of the house. "I will not object."
"Me neither," Poseidon nodded, "Hestia is a very rational, very sensible deity."
The rest nodded, and then all eyes moved to Hermes, who arched his eyebrows and then rolled his eyes. "Right. Get her here, right, that means me. Alright, I suppose. Anyone else you want me to bring, while I'm at it? All this back and forth is not amazing if I'm honest."
"My sister, now that I think about it," Apollo tapped his finger against his chin, "she'd like to join."
"Hephaestus?" Poseidon offered, "he could be useful."
"So could Athena," Hermes pointed out and Poseidon grimaced, the long rivalry between the two clearly still in effect.
"The more you bring here, the harder it'll be to keep it a secret," Hades reminded them.
"That's true," they all agreed.
"Hestia and Artemis?" Apollo summarized.
"That sounds reasonable."
Hermes walked out of the room, and the next time he appeared he had the two goddesses following him, Hestia her serene, calm self, and Artemis clearly agitated.
"Apollo, what is this?" She demanded from her twin.
Apollo grinned back, opening his arms as if expecting a hug. "Sis, welcome to the party!"
Hestia
Things were shifting and changing for Hestia, and in the best way possible.
Her chosen champion, Penelope, was such a sensible, loyal soul. She was single-handedly responsible for involving Hestia in the action, something that failed to happen in almost the entire history of the pantheon.
Walking into the room, Hestia could actually feel the tension.
Mistrust between the twin-archers and between her brothers, the two Elder Gods; Mockery on the face of Apollo, constantly directed at Hermes for some reason; and Hermes himself directing many furtive glances at her champion, Penelope, to which the girl seemed oblivious, as she kept her worried gaze solely on her brother.
Now, being on the sidelines meant Hestia actually was more aware of what was happening than others, since she had the time to really look, and she knew why Hermes kept looking at Penny. It was for the same reason the first thing Penny did when Hestia offered her the position of being her champion, was to make sure keeping her maidenhood wasn't a part of it.
A dangerous, complicated path, these two have chosen to walk. But it was also the reason Hestia knew to choose Penny in the first place; the depth, the strength, the warmth of the emotions the deity triggered in that girl were quite noteworthy, and something Hestia appreciated as goddess of fire.
Not to mention the emotions she triggered in return in the god.
"We're gathered here to plan the upcoming summer, possibly the biggest, most important summer in the history of our pantheon," Hades started.
"Indeed," Poseidon agreed as he looked at Penny and Perseus, "my two children, my twins, are expected to be the heroes of the big prophecy, and it has been Lord Hades's wise observation that sending them to save Olympus without any aid from us is irresponsible and ungrateful, not to mention… daft."
Everyone smiled, even the prim Artemis.
"My contribution is quite clear," the goddess then said, "my Hunt is to join the fight."
"Yes," Apollo nodded at her, "and surely they'd be great. But sis, you and I both know we can do more."
She arched an eyebrow. "Meaning?"
"Meaning allies," Hermes crossed his hands, "blessings, artifacts. We have more to do."
"Not much without it crossing the line of direct involvement!" Goddess of the Moon glared at him. "I will not disobey my father in such an obvious manner!"
"These means of help are not direct!" Hermes barked back heatedly, "if I was to choose, say, my oldest children and bless them with a certain ability, that's not direct! It's not like I myself am stepping into battle!"
"A fine point you make," Hestia nodded at him, always looking for ways to calm down everyone and ease everyone's anger, "not to mention how I, given how I'm not an Olympian, am under no such limitation."
"That's true," Apollo nodded at her, "so… what can you do?"
Hestia didn't want to hesitate on her answer, but she did. She wasn't made for battle like the others were, so she didn't have as much to offer.
"She already did a lot," Penny immediately jumped to her defence, and again, wasn't her champion loyal, "she blessed me."
Hermes narrowed his eyes. "... With?"
Penny's eyes warmed as she looked back at him. "The power of the Hearth."
He opened his mouth to answer, and then closed it, his eyes settling on Penny unsurely. Her father picked up where he left off, gazing at Hestia.
"Dear sister, what does your blessing entail?"
"Poseidon, think about the potential," Hestia smiled at him, and his face softened at the smile, "it was never done before. A child of the sea, blessed by the hearth."
Perseus, Penelope's twin, raised his hand. "Sorry to intervene, but wasn't it never done with reason? I mean… Water… put off fire."
Silence followed that.
Apollo swallowed a smile, Artemis looked at the ground, Hermes watched Penny with intensity in his gaze and Hestia's two siblings gazed at her with concentration.
Hades moved his hand in his smooth, shiny, black hair. "Sister, why did you do it?"
"Water does not put off fire," Hestia answered calmly, smiling at everyone. "They transform it. Change it. They turn it into something else."
Hermes' gaze snapped to Hestia. "Steam."
"Precisely," her smile widened, "this union grants the two elements the one thing they're missing."
"Free motion," Hades smiled now. "Flight."
Hermes smiled too. "It also creates one hell of an engine."
"I don't get it," Percy Jackson looked at all the smiling gods. "What engine? Do you want Penny to be a… a truck driver?"
They all stared at him in shock.
Then Poseidon snickered and ruffled his son's hair, his eyes glinting. "Always so crude. I love my kid!"
"Not a truck driver, Percy!" Penny rolled her eyes, "don't you see the potential in this? The symbolism?"
Percy glared back. "No, but I do have this wonderful picture in my head of you as a big, foul-mouth truck driver with a mustache."
"I love this kid too," Apollo grinned.
"Alright, so allies!" Poseidon rubbed his hands, grinning at the deep glare his daughter sent to his son. "And, sister, I think me, you and Penny should have a word later." Hestia nodded back with a smile. "Well, you guys will have all sweet-water and salt-water inhabitants at your service."
"The sun and the moon too, right sis?" Apollo smiled at Artemis, who crossed her hands.
"I... suppose," she finally allowed, "that one can arrange for the moon to opportunely… disappear. Or appear. Or for the night to darken."
"Or for the sun to shine brightly!" Apollo cheered, "in one's eyes!"
The Olympic twins shared a rare smile.
"Also, better archery abilities!" Apollo added, "and, well, how come Penny gets all the blessings? I choose Percy." Penelope stuck her tongue at Apollo, who laughed in return.
"Great choice, my Lord," Percy grinned as Apollo stepped closer to him.
"Now Percy," Apollo said as he put two fingers against the teen's forehead, "there's nothing I believe in more than in one, bright smile. So smile at the sun, and I'll stop what I'm doing and do a little multitasking in order to help you."
Hermes narrowed his eyes at him. "You suck at multitasking."
"I'm superb at multitasking!"
"And I will bless Thalia," Artemis said, "but, well…" and she smiled at Penny, "I cannot ignore how brave you were when you helped me, two years ago. How you took the weight of the skies and almost sacrificed yourself."
"The cause justifies the means," Penelope smiled her nice smile at the goddess, who seemed even more serene, more at ease as she smiled back.
"A worthy hero," and she waved her hand and a silver necklace conjured in her palm, one with a moon pendant, made out of real moonstone, "it's intended for one use," Artemis warned her as she handed her the jewelry, "and should help you in battle. Use it wisely. I am now, with this, repaying my debt."
"I'm truly honored, Lady Artemis," Penny beamed back, watching the tender necklace with wonder.
"Such a shame," Artemis watched Penny's honest gratitude before turning her head to glare at Hermes, "you would have made such a great huntress, Penelope."
"Hunting is not for me, Lady Artemis," Penelope smiled as Hermes glared back at the goddess, "I love animals too much."
"As Pan's father I commend that," Hermes then said with a smirk, but Penny didn't smile back, moving her eyes to gaze at Percy instead.
Hermes cleared his throat. "Well, I'll… The animal kingdom will join the fight as well," his eyes seemed worried as they moved away from Penny, "So will the nymphs and the satyrs and the rest of them. I'll have a word with the Council of Cloven Elders. And Lord Hades, I suppose Persephone will help with that as well?"
"Of course," Hades nodded, "she's just as involved as me, and was she not on land with her mother, she'd be present in this gathering."
Hermes nodded. "And, and I'll talk to Hephaestus too, see what he can build for us. Zeus cannot watch us and see what we're doing when we're at each other's domains. Not to mention how disinterested he and Hera are of, of…"
"Of Hephaestus," Poseidon completed him, and Hermes nodded uneasily.
"Yes. Irrational, that. He's great. But what can you do. Anyway, as for blessings…" His eyes moved again to Penny with some hope in them, perhaps wanting to bless her the same way Apollo chose Percy, but when the girl still didn't create eye-contact with him he sighed and rubbed his neck. "Well, yes. A bit less effective, you could say, but my powers were always better when they're more… widespread. Yes. I suppose I could bless… the whole camp?"
"You mean… bless us with sporting-abilities?" Percy asked.
"Athleticism," Hermes corrected. "It could be useful in battle. None of you will win the Olympics with it, truly, when a blessing is so widespread it weakens, but all of you will be a bit stronger, a bit faster -"
"That's perfect," Penny suddenly said, her eyes glinting, "that way everyone gets a better shot, not just one of us."
He smiled at her, his eyes warmer now. "That's the idea, anyway."
"Maybe your other abilities too, Hermes," Hades said as Poseidon looked between his nephew and his daughter with a frown on his face, "all the demigods can benefit from being a bit more innovative and a bit more shrewd."
Hermes moved his eyes to The Lord of the Underworld and nodded as Hades hugged his son's shoulders, smiling at them.
"And anyway, as for me, well…" and he patted Nico's back, "you're looking at the general of the Underworld's armies. At least until I join the fighting. Much like Hestia, I am less bound to my younger brother's restrictions, so I will be able to fight alongside the demigods. And let me assure you, the monsters I plan to awake…"
"You really think me ready?" Nico looked at his father with surprise.
"I really do," Hades smiled, "I've gotten to know you over the past few months, and you're worthy."
When Nico beamed at his dad, Hestia smiled at father at son, always a fan of warm, familial connections.
"Great!" Apollo clapped his hands and nodded, "let's regather if the need arises, and until then - it's been lovely, gang," and he stepped out, followed by his sister.
Hermes looked at Penny one last time before frowning and nodding to everyone. "I should head out too."
And after he walked out Poseidon grabbed his daughter's hand and the two advanced to Hestia. "Now," Lord of the Sea smiled, "we three should have a conversation about this whole… champion thing."
"Yes," Hestia nodded. "It has a wonderful potential. As Penelope said earlier, it is about something a bit beyond, a bit above us."
"Symbolism," Penny grinned.
"Yes. Yes. Symbolism and, and fate. I do believe it meant to be. I've watched you from afar for a long time, and you're capable of such deep, warm emotions. For me to bless it would -"
"Strengthen it," Poseidon supplied before watching his daughter. "Strengthen you Penny, really. But is it safe? Would it not create… instability? After all, my kingdom when truly warm can create quite dangerous forces."
"Like, like…" Penny's eyes widened as her brother stepped over to them.
"Like earthquakes and tropical storms."
"Abilities you're both blessed with," Poseidon added, watching his two children.
"Both of us?" Penny asked, "because of the Styx river and because of Lady Hestia?"
"No, my girl," Hestia smiled, "the abilities are inside you both, these are just means for you to reach a place where you could use them."
The twins looked at each other, before Percy scratched his head. "I mean… I created a volcanic outburst, and I'm not too sure it was very good. Perhaps it's better without these powers."
"Regardless, you two have them," Poseidon's hand tightened on Percy's shoulder, "whether it is a curse or a blessing, you have them. What's next is for you to decide what to do with them."
Penny smiled nervously at her dad, before leaning her head on her twin's shoulder. "Can we possibly… sleep on it? Today has been too much to take in."
Poseidon smiled back. "Yes. Sleep on it. No reason to try figuring it all out as it will become clearer as time goes by."
"And you, Penelope, we will meet again, soon," Hestia smiled at her.
"I'm glad," Penny smiled back and then walked forward to hug the goddess, who was surprised, but overjoyed by the foreign gesture (she had so few beings in her life to do so with). Penny then pulled away. "Will we meet… before the battle?"
"I cannot say," Hestia smiled, "but I hope it'll be soon."
She had a visitor that night.
"Hi," Hermes smiled when she went to greet the person who knocked on the door of her shrine, and he seemed a bit fidgety, moving his hand in his curly hair.
"Hello," she answered, stepping back to allow him entrance, "do I have… mail?"
She rarely had mail. Another part of no longer being an Olympian and having no children.
"Oh," he seemed nervous. "No."
"I see," she said, and they both walked in quietly.
"I'm sorry for intruding," he shuffled his feet against the floor, "and I have no right to ask about it, but… well…" he looked up to gaze at her.
She knew very well what was bothering him.
"My blessing of Penelope?"
He nodded uneasily. "It is not a formal, official thing, you see, me and her, so I don't have a right to ask about it. I was yet to even speak to her father about it."
"But you plan to."
"I want to," he admitted, "I'm not too sure how mutual it is, lately… but I still want to. Anyway, forgive any disrespect, but she said it doesn't include maidenhood -"
"It doesn't," Hestia smiled at him.
He smiled back. "I see," but his smile soon faded, "but do you plan to… that is, will you encourage -" he stopped himself and looked down. "Forgive me, this was a bad idea. I should go. Thank you for your time."
And he turned around and started to walk away.
Hestia's heart warmed at how clearly he cared for Penny. "Lord Hermes, wait," he turned around slowly to face her, wincing, and Hestia couldn't recall ever seeing the deity so confused and unsure, "I do not wish for my champions to resemble me. Just for them to be a truer, fiercer version of what they are. So I will not encourage Penny to remain a maiden."
"Is that so?" His eyes brightened up with hope, "well, that sounds great, actually. A fiercer Penny. She really never was as confident in herself as she should be."
"Maybe other deities could help with that too," Hestia smiled at him and he grinned back.
"Truly, Lady Hestia," his eyes sparkled at her, "how were you casted aside like that? And for Dionysus of all people. You're so much more… worthy. The hearth, the home are much more important than… wine."
She smiled back, shrugging, never one to slight others.
"You're not against it, then?" He asked, watching her closely, "you're not against your champion… not remaining a maiden?"
"I told her myself that she has romantic love in her fate."
His smile widened, but then it faded again. "Well… now it's just up to me to realize why she doesn't seem interested anymore. But I shouldn't burden you with that. Thank you very much, Lady Hestia."
Hermes
Hermes was a bit confused.
Penny was avoiding him, there was no doubt in the matter.
She wouldn't look him in the eye anymore, she was more nervous around him than ever before, and she kept hiding behind Percy each time he tried to have a small word with her as if her twin was her shield.
And it wasn't because of Hestia, he asked the goddess quite explicitly about it.
It was such a 180 from their past interactions, in which she openly flirted with him and clearly reciprocated his emotions.
What happened?
Alright, confused didn't cut it - he was frustrated.
At this point, he was 'fixated' on her, for a lack of a better word. Ever since the Labyrinth and the beginning of their bond, he didn't meet any women, let alone sleep with any. It wasn't out of the ordinary for him - he would date casually for the most part, but every once in a while he'd meet someone intriguing enough to ground him and make him halt. Travis and Connor's mom, Ellie, was like that, the funny, gentle mortal, and during the time between Travis' birth and Connor's second birthday (which was when Ellie decided to start seeing others and to look for a husband) he was committed to her. And when he met the mother of Julia, his youngest, they dated for a year. And of course, when he was with May, he thought of no one else.
And those were just the recent examples.
He just did that. He had many one night stands, quite a few children from mothers he wasn't too infatuated with, as did most male Olympians, but he was quite focused when he really liked a girl.
And Penny…
It was only in its very, very beginning, but it was already proving to be more intense, deeper than most serious connections he had.
And now she pulled away, and just when he thought they were finally heading somewhere, finally making progress.
He watched her, he looked when his schedule allowed that, and she still sat with Nico in the park almost twice a week.
But she never called him anymore. No prayers, no mail for Hades…
It was a bit weird to connect the boy now to his father when the two met weekly, but still. The excuse was there, and the bottom line was that she pulled away exactly when he thought they were closer than ever, and he had no clue why.
/
He found his chance when she went alone to the park on one of the weekends Nico spent in the Underworld, and in an hour when his schedule allowed a break.
No one around her, in jeans and a jacket, and she was as upset as she was the past few weeks, as he observed from afar.
So yes, he took the initiative.
He popped to where she was, holding two steaming mugs of coffee (by now he knew she shared his love for coffee, and he thought it'd be better if he offered some excuse for his arrival), not even considering to surprise her from behind, but even his appearance in front of her when she clearly expected to be alone still clearly shocked her to her core.
"Hermes!" She gaped.
He gave her a small smile and sat next to her on the grass, handing her one of the mugs. "I hope I'm not intruding."
"Not at all," but he didn't know if she said it because she was too timid a person to ever refuse an Olympian, "how are you?"
"I'm fine," he shrugged but then narrowed his eyes, "how are you? Are you alright?"
"Yes," she smiled unconvincingly, her eyes scared as if she was a panicked, cornered animal.
What went wrong? Why was she like this?
He looked down, twirling his caduceus-phone nervously.
She was silent too, and it was just so awkward. He wasn't used to this… embarrassment. He never really had that.
He was a confident being, the patron of businessmen, of politicians, of diplomats. He was rarely, if ever, nervous. It was bad for business.
Peeking up at her again, she was bright red, and her eyes moved rapidly from one end of the park to the other, as if wishing to escape.
"What…" his eyes bore into hers now, "what happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean… I mean just that. I… I feel like you can't look at me now, and I have no idea what I did."
And then her eyes filled with tears and he felt his eyes widening, completely unsure what to do now.
What was he to do?
Hug her?
Give her space?
Demand an answer?
Apologize blindly?
And Hades, he hated when girls cried.
He decided to sip from his coffee instead, truly having nothing better to do. As his eyes were cast downward, he still saw her wiping at her eyes and smiling nervously at him. "I'm so sorry, Hermes."
"You're sorry? What are you sorry for?" His voice softened as he leaned closer, "just tell me what happened, Penny. Two weeks ago we get along great, and now you can't even look at me, and you cry, and I have no idea what happened."
"Ugh, I'm acting so stupid right now," she groaned as she buried her face in her hands. He took another sip, looking away and allowing her some space. "I… I met May."
"You -" he choked on his coffee and started to cough roughly.
"Gods, Hermes, I'm sorry! Are you okay?"
"Fine -" he coughed and then snapped his fingers, and that cleared his throat, "what do you mean, you met May? May Castellan?"
She started to play with the green grass, passing her fingers through the green straws. "... Yeah," she finally admitted, "and she was so sweet, and I felt so bad about all that happened to her…"
Penny felt bad? Hermes felt bad!
He closed his eyes, frustration, anger and sadness rumbling fiercely in his stomach. But he kept quiet.
"And she clearly loves you so much, Hermes," Penny said tearfully, and Hermes opened his eyes and stared at the ground, trying to block the image of his lonely ex-lover, the woman who used to mean the world to him away from his eyes, "and then, the night after our meeting, I dreamt about you two, and I guess I never realized how much you loved her too, not so long ago," and when his eyes widened and met hers she jumped to her feet, horrified, "I'm sorry! I should not have said that. To say that, it sounds like I assume you feel anything to me, and I have no justification to believe that -" and he was too shocked to shut her up, "- I'm being so blunt and so brazen! I'm gonna go."
And she did just that.
He watched her retreating back, perplexed, before finally snapping back to his senses and reappearing where she was, grabbing her hand gently and stopping her in place.
"Wait," he looked at her, "I can't… I can't keep up. Why would it be brazen for you to think I like you? I do like you."
Relief appeared in her eyes.
He shook his head slowly. "How can you not know that? Everyone else does - I'm talking mortals and immortals. Apollo, Hestia, Dionysus, your dad, Hera. Each time Aphrodite sees me lately she has a giggling fit and she teases me about the sea. Penny, you're the most clueless girl I've ever met!"
She smiled at the frustration in his voice as they slowly sat back on the grass.
"As for May…" he winced, "what exactly did you dream about?"
She shrugged, the smile wiping off. "Her attempt to become the oracle… your reaction when she became crazed…"
At least not the proposal, though.
"... The proposal…"
Fates.
Still wincing, he looked up again. "Well, I… I did mean that… at the time. I was very much in love with her. But a lot has changed since," he rubbed his neck. "I don't really know what to say."
He couldn't outright tell Penny he liked her as much as he liked May when they first met, could he? Penny wasn't just some mortal unconnected to Olympus, she was Poseidon's daughter and one of the heroes of the great prophecy. It was too complicated for blunt, impulsive confessions.
Not to mention how nervous the girl was about everything.
"Don't say anything," she gave him a small, sad smile. "I understand. Really, I do."
And she leaned forward and kissed his cheek, and even though he loved the fact she did that, it still felt like a goodbye, "thank you… thank you for everything."
And she got up and turned around again, and he just got tired of this Greek tragedy.
He was never a fan of those, anyway. He wasn't Aphrodite.
"Why the past tense?" He called after her.
She turned around to face him.
"I did love her," he continued unashamedly, truly feeling like he had nothing to lose now, so why not say the entire truth, "it was real, and it was pretty rare for me - to fall so deeply for someone. I really did want to marry her. And her fate was and is... agonizing to me. But she…" and he cleared his throat, looking down, "she made her choice, and her choice wasn't me. She was entitled to choose that, of course she was…" and their eyes met again, "but don't I deserve to move on?"
Penny's eyes softened. "Of course you do."
He gave her a small, self-conscious smile. "So can it… can it be with you?"
She gaped slightly, before finally, finally, giving him a real smile and nodding.
"Great," and a big, honest smile spread on his face as well, "now, to save myself from further embarrassment," and he pointed at the skies, referencing to all their eavesdroppers, "I'm gonna go. Take care and close your eyes, you wonderful, dense girl."
And she laughed in surprise as he teleported away.
Penny
She didn't intend to tell Nico anything, to tell anyone anything, even if she was shocked and confused and elated to have Hermes confess all that he did.
But when son of Hades saw her that night, after returning from the Underworld, he just seemed to know. Smirking at her, he sat on a chair across from her bed as she sat down slowly too. "So you've met?"
"How did you know?"
"Well…" and he shrugged, "you're smiling. You didn't do that in a while. Percy even," and Nico rubbed his neck, "he even asked me if I know what was wrong with you."
She smiled and looked down.
"So you've met, and he told you how stupid you are?"
"What?" Her head snapped up and she laughed, "you're the worst."
"You're the worst!" Nico laughed, "most of us don't get to have that, that mutuality. You should enjoy it, not question it at every step."
"Mutuality?" She repeated slowly, before her eyes settled on him, "why? You don't have it?"
"... Well…" he blushed now.
"Nico!" And it was her turn to grin. "Who do you like?"
"No one!"
"I don't believe you!" She shook her head, "tell me. I told you!"
"You didn't plan to! I guessed it!"
"So can I guess it?"
"You can try," and he smiled a bit arrogantly, "but I doubt you could guess it."
"Give me a hint then?"
He looked deep into her eyes before sighing. "Well, you could say I just did."
"What?"
"The fact that you cannot guess it is the hint."
She kept quiet.
What could he mean by that?
That it was unexpected.
But any girl he'd crush on would be unexpected, as she saw him close to no one, no girl but her, really.
But it couldn't be her. He was so clearly supportive of her and Hermes…
So who was it?
"You're close to no girl," she mumbled, "it makes no sense."
His eyes settled on her sadly as he nodded.
"I really am close to no girl, but you. And you're more of a sister to me."
"Close to no girl…" and her eyes widened, "oh Nico!"
His eyes filled with tears as she jumped on him and hugged him close to her chest.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"How can one… how can one admit to being g-gay?!" He spat as her arms tightened around him.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of. You love who you love. I'm the last person to judge someone for who they're fond of."
"Funny, I said to myself the same thing when I discovered you like Hermes."
They smiled at each other, and she stroked his arm as he looked down.
"It's nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, it's not even that frowned upon in our world. Apollo, Zeus, and even my dad I think, they're all documented to have been involved in such relations."
"Apollo especially," and Nico smiled, "he was in love with a mortal man. I remember reading that and feeling less of an outcast. And then he gave us a ride and was nice to me and I felt like it was his way to let me know that he knows what I am and that it's okay with him."
"I'm sure that's what he did," and she smiled warmly, "Apollo is so kind. And it is, clearly, okay. I'm so glad you told me, Nico."
"Ah. But I didn't tell you. You guessed it."
"I'm doing this for your own good," Thalia said to her, squaring her shoulders.
Between them sat Annabeth, silent and torn between her two best female friends.
Penny frowned at her. "You're criticizing all that I believe in and am. How is that for my own good?"
"You have a damsel in distress mentality! It's alright, live your life the way you wish to, but it's hardly the way the demigoddess from the prophecy should act -"
"Thalia!" Annabeth looked uncomfortable as Penny glared at the daughter of Zeus.
"What does that even mean, 'a damsel in distress mentality'?"
"Well, don't you always wait for big, strong men to come and save you?"
"No!" She protested angrily, "besides, you make me sound like a cartoon! I'm a real, living person!"
"Thalia, you're being harsh!" Annabeth protested.
"Look, this isn't easy for me, okay?" Thalia moved her hand in her short hair, "I really do want what's best for you. You need to be as strong, as fierce as you can when the fate of the world is on your shoulders! You cannot rely on Percy so heavily anymore!"
"What right, what right to you have -" Penny's throat choked with bitter affront, "what right do you have to judge me -"
"I'm not judging you, I'm trying to do what's best for you!" Thalia seemed frustrated.
"What's best for me is to join the Hunt like you and not die for Olympus, is it not? That's the easy way out!" Penny's eyes gleamed with anger, "what was it that you said to us? What was it, 'sorry, I cannot be the demigod from the prophecy, I will not turn 17'. Easy way out!" And she pushed away from the table with a noticeable creak and threw a 5 dollar bill on the table. "It's been lovely to see you both, I really missed you. Bye now," and she ignored their calls for her to come back, and ignored the fact that she was making a scene as she took a taxi to the train station and went back home.
/
That night she locked the door to her room, sat on her bed and cried her eyes out.
She missed her friends so much. She loved Percy and Nico, but really, she missed her female friends so much. And when Annabeth called, she was so happy.
But then, but then…
Did they really view her as so weak, so helpless, such a caricature? She was a real, living person, she made real decisions out of real, rational reasons! She made mistakes as the next person, but she wasn't weak, she wasn't that dependent… Was she?
There was a knock on her door.
"Pen?" Her mother's worried voice was heard from the other side, "what happened?"
"I -" she tried to swallow a sob, wiping at her eyes hurriedly, "nothing, mom! I'm fine!"
"You're not," her mother sounded irritated that she was lying, "I'm coming in," and she did, noticing in mere seconds that she was crying, "oh, my sweet girl, what's wrong?"
She immediately accepted her mother's hug, whimpering. "I've just discovered no one respects me, mom."
"I'm sure that's not true!"
"You, and Percy, and dad, you-you love me, and my friends, they're fond of me, and, and He-" she stopped herself from saying Hermes because she never really told her mom about him, "- Hestia chose me because she likes me enough but none of you really think me brave or, or strong, or…" she started to cry again, "and no wonder, look at me! She tells me all these mean things, and instead of putting her in her place I cry my eyes out!"
"Pen…" Sally sighed deeply as she pushed a curl away from her tearful face, "my sweet, sweet girl. My sweet, brave girl. How can you not think yourself brave after all the quests you did, all the monsters you slayed?"
"I always had help," she said sadly, tracing the drawings of circles on her blanket with her finger, "if not Percy then Nico or dad or… or others."
"And what's wrong with help? What's wrong with allowing your loved ones to care for you and care for them in return?"
"You should see those other girls, mom," Penny mumbled, "they're… they're independent. In a way I'm not. They don't need anyone else in their lives."
"And what's wrong with needing others?" Sally stroked her cheek now, "we're social creatures. Pen, you could do anything in the world, I truly believe that. You could manage yourself alone if it comes down to it. But why would you wish for that to happen? Why would you aspire to that?"
Penny looked back at her as Sally continued her little speech.
"I'm the same. I like having people in my life. I like helping them in any way I can and have them help me. I don't see a reason to insist on doing things by yourself always when a lot of the time you can have someone else help you with them, someone else who's better in them. And then, in return, you can help them back when they struggle with something you're good at."
"That makes sense," Penny gave her a small smile. "It's not the most admired model the Greek world, but it… makes sense."
"What's the most admired model then?"
"Girls like Annabeth," she said quietly, before lowering her eyes, "girls like Thalia."
Sally noticed her abashment when mentioning Thalia, and she remembered the fierce, somewhat belligerent girl, so unlike her Penny. In fact, the two were like complete opposites.
"Pen," Sally returned her fingers to her daughter's hair and stroked it softly, "is she the one who said all those things to you?"
Penny looked up and nodded slowly.
"Well, Pen," and Sally looked down, a bit irritated, "for a girl so transfixed with bravery, she wasn't too brave herself, was she? She left you and Percy to face the hard decisions and granted herself with immortality. Not to mention how -" Sally frowned and stopped herself. "Nevermind."
"What?" Penny prodded.
"Well, it seems to me like loving another, like professing love in front of the entire world takes a lot more guts and bravery than being a reserved, lone-wolf. You're allowing yourself to get hurt when you do that, and so few people dare to do so."
Penny sat up straighter. "You think so?"
"I know so. I've lived my life that way too, and it's not easy. But it is rewarding. Love without fear, and the love you'll get in return will be worth the heartbreak, my sweet girl. I'm so very happy that my daughter's only fault is that she loves too much, and not that she's incapable of opening her heart to others."
"That's a weird way to look at the situation," Penny finally giggled, "but thank you. If, if it means I'm following your path, then it's the right path, regardless of what others think."
"My sweet daughter," Sally pulled her closer to kiss her cheek, "I love you and your brother in ways words cannot describe. You two are the greatest thing I've ever done, the thing I'm most proud of. Don't ever, ever let others talk down to you. Be even half as proud of yourself as I am of you."
"I love you too mom, so so much," Penny hugged her back, "the only reason I'm capable of loving and risking not getting that love is return is because I've been dearly loved since the moment I was born, and that is thanks to you."
This time the letter was quite forced, but for a while now she and Hermes were pretty much using Nico's letters as an excuse to meet, and Nico himself was quite fine with that - especially since it meant deepening his relationship with his father.
Said relationship was going quite well, with Nico staying to live in the Underworld with his father on the weekends, only staying the rest of the week with the Jacksons.
But Penny wanted to meet Hermes after his confession and words from the last time they met, so Nico wrote a letter to ask his father something quite mundane.
Penny went to their usual spot, a patch of grass in the middle of Central Park, wearing her best dress and some light makeup, and prayed silently to the Messenger of the Gods.
His arrival time was becoming shorter and shorter - in a second or two he was sitting next to her, smiling widely as his winged sneakers fluttered and brushed the grass.
"Hello," he reached out an arm and gave her a sideways hug, pressing her to him.
"Hello," she answered, her hands circling around his middle and pressing for a second before they pulled away.
At some point, their relationship became quite physical (in an innocent way!) and she definitely wasn't complaining.
"How are you?"
"Alright," she answered slowly, before looking down. "Well, could be better, if I'm honest. We're drawing closer and closer to our seventeenth birthday."
"Yeah," he agreed, frowning, "things are a bit… unstable, and everywhere you look. A lot of things are… stirring."
"That doesn't sound so good."
"It's not."
They both sighed and Hermes looked around himself at the park and at the mortals, having picnics or chatting quietly.
"Hey," he smiled now, "how about a change of scene?"
"A change of scene?"
"Yeah," his hand went to rub his neck, "we did the picnic thing enough times now. What do you say about some coffee? I know a great place."
Her eyebrows arched. "Are we allowed to do that?"
He smirked. "When it comes to the grey areas, my motto is usually… not to ask. Besides… it's business, isn't it? You have a letter for me to deliver, after all. And there are some things I would love to have your opinion on, as a… as a mortal."
She grinned back at him. "Sure. If you think others wouldn't mind."
"The only one to worry over is your dad, the rest probably wouldn't care enough to notice."
"My dad…" she smiled down at her lap, "my dad should manage it, I'm a big girl now. If I'm old enough to die for Olympus, I'm old enough to…" and they smiled at each other, "to have a business meeting."
His eyes glinted at her. "Pure business, don't worry about it." She laughed. "Give me your hand."
She placed her hand in his slowly, and his fingers were warm as he pressed hers lightly.
"Now, close your eyes."
And when she did, she felt the weird sensation of being pulled strongly someplace as the air around her pressed her, the sensation quite tight and a bit claustrophobic as around her she could hear what sounded like great wind. She kept her eyes closed and focused on the one steady thing she had, his hand, and pressed it tighter.
But it was over before she knew it, and she opened her eyes to a lovely, wooden corner coffee shop, the front of the shop a large window, showing off mouth-watering cakes and a selection of colorful chocolates.
"This is lovely!" She squealed and he grinned, his hand tightening on hers.
"I knew you'd like it."
"Who wouldn't like this place?"
He smiled. "Let's go inside."
They sat at a small table in the corner and were handed menus.
"What would you like?" He soon asked as she finished reading the menu.
She inhaled deeply and grinned, the strong smell of caffeine filling her nose. "Honestly, this place has the smell of such good coffee I can hardly order anything else."
He nodded his head. "Smart choice. If I'm honest, the reason I like this place is for their coffee - it's Italian, and as close to the original as they get."
She smiled in amusement. "See, I was able to tell all that from just the smell."
"Sensible girl," he winked before waving to the waiter. "Yes, can we please get two cups of cappuccino, and a piece of that wonderful apple cake you have here?"
"Of course sir," the waiter hurried away to get their orders.
"Apple cake?"
"Yes," he had a lopsided grin on his face, "it's quite exceptional. You must try it."
"Alright - my rule is to never argue with an Olympian anyway."
His grin widened. "It's a wise rule with me, but a stupid one with the rest of them."
She laughed. "On the contrary, really. It's them I feel could kill me for mere words. With you, the more often we meet, the more I feel like the odds of you killing me are getting smaller and smaller."
"Non-existent, at this point," and he started to shake his head, "wow, joke aside, I can hardly think of anything you can do to make me harm you."
She giggled. "I'm not going to complain about that."
"You shouldn't," he chuckled too, "that's quite the sway to have on an Olympian."
She leaned forward to him, her chin placed on her open palms. "I promise not to misuse it."
They stared at each other as a small smile settled on his lips. "... Good."
And they continued to stare at each other, and she felt his eyes scanning her face slowly, before settling on her lips (as they sometimes did, lately).
It was a good thing the waiter broke the moment.
"Your orders," he placed between them two steaming mugs and a small plate with warm cake on it, along with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
"Thank you," Hermes told him, his eyes still on Penny.
The waiter stepped away and she looked down at her coffee, inhaling again and grinning. "This smells so good."
He smiled. "Then drink up, sea-girl."
/
"Is the cake good or is the cake good?" He smirked later on, when Penny took a first, tentative bite from the apple-pie.
"It's amazing!" Her eyes widened in surprise as she swallowed down the bite, "wow…"
"Told you," he smiled warmly.
"Don't you want some?"
"I'll take some," he leaned back, "later."
They were both quiet then.
"You know," he moved his hand through his curls, "I never did ask you how you came to meet May."
She gulped. "It wasn't on purpose. I met her because Nico thought me and Percy should dip in the river Styx -"
"Styx?!" She paused and watched his horrified expression warily. "I, I think I knew in the back of my head that Percy dipped in the river, but you - you don't plan to so too, do you?"
"No," she shook her head, and a horrible dread settled in her stomach, "... why?"
"Well…" he started to play with his teaspoon, "there's a reason they call it the Curse of Achilles. It's… it's dangerous beyond belief, and while it does enhance one's fighting abilities, it also enhances one's weakness to the point where the smallest, tiniest harm to it will kill that person immediately."
"Thank gods. Okay, yeah, I knew that."
"No, I don't think you understand. I'm not talking about the physical weakness, that one is easier to protect. I'm talking about the intangible weakness. It's… don't do it, Penny."
"I didn't. I didn't want to take the risk. I don't like half assed plans, and I don't like not understanding everything about something dangerous I do."
"Good," he sighed in obvious relief.
She smiled warmly at his obvious concern for her, genuinely touched, but chose not to comment on it. "Anyway, I didn't dip in it, but Percy did. And I assume you know… I assume you know Luke -"
"Dipped as well," his eyes were very hard as he looked down at his lap and was silent for at least a minute.
"Yeah," she reached forward and held onto one of his hands, interlacing their fingers together. That seemed to snap him from his anger as his face softened and he returned his gaze to her and sighed.
"Well, I mean, there's so much you can do to be able to host a titan in your body," his voice was hollow, "right?"
"I'm sorry," she said truthfully, pressing his hand, "I really, really am."
"I know," he gave her a small smile, "that's what makes you a wonderful person. You're empathic beyond belief."
She laughed self-consciously and looked down. "It also makes me, well, not amazing in combat. It's hard to be good in that when you always feel the other side's pain."
"Don't change anything," he uttered out unexpectedly.
"I won't," she shook her head slowly, "I can't, anyway. It is also part of the reason I didn't bathe in the Styx. I honestly don't know what Percy's fatal flaw is, but if I'm right about mine, then it would be quite problematic if enhanced."
"Who hurt you?" He asked again, like he did some time before.
Her cheeks heated up as she looked down.
He was the one pressing her hand now. "I'm sorry to ask," his voice was soft, "I just… you have no actual reason to not be self assured. You're an incredible fighter and a strong demigoddess, I've seen you in action. So, so it only leaves one option."
She looked up again, their eyes meeting. "Can we…" she whispered, "can we please leave the past, in the past?"
"Of course," he agreed immediately, not one to pressure her. He looked down again and pulled away from her hand slowly. "So… so that's how you met May?"
"Yeah."
He gulped. "And… and how was it?"
"Hard," she confessed quietly. He frowned somewhat, bitterness and anger and frustration tightening his features. But she didn't feel like those emotions were directed at her.
"You were never meant to meet her," he said quietly, clenching his lips.
"I'm sorry, Hermes," she felt shame and guilt surging inside of her, tightening her stomach, "Nico wanted to make sure a permission from the mother is needed before we went through with that with Percy, and it was only her as no one else but Luke went through with this in recent decades."
"I get it," he said in dismay, "I just… well, I hoped to show you all the good things about me before you see my worst."
"Your worst?" She asked softly, taking a hold of his hand again, "no, Hermes…"
He looked up at her, mostly sad, but something glimmered in his eyes.
"I don't know what happened there," Penny started, "that is, I do, from dreams, but it's none of my business."
"That's right, you dreamt about it," Hermes' eyes widened. "So how can you be sad for me then? You know it all."
"Yes, I had dreams about it. Including one where you blew up at Apollo and told him you want to raise Luke on Olympus, and one where you urged May not to do it, not to try… what she tried," he looked hopeful as she leaned closer, holding onto his hand tighter. "Hermes, I don't know what happened there, but I know in my heart you're not to blame. I really do feel it."
"Fates, Penny," and he laughed humorlessly, looking away, "how can you know that? I don't know that."
"Because it's above us. You were forbidden by the Fates to have any connection to him. What can you do about that?"
"Nothing," his eyes blazed, "believe me, nothing. Was there something to do… I'd do it."
"Besides," and she smiled now, "May said you visit her often, and that's honestly just the sweetest thing I've heard. I know you go there every once in a while to help her some and cheer her up."
"You dreamt about that too?"
"Yeah, and I think it's absolutely amazing. It shows how caring you are. Honestly, Hermes, I don't know who's to blame in all of this, but I don't in any way think you're to blame."
He smiled now. "Well, I can't say I agree with that, but I'm sure as hell happy you think that."
She beamed back at him, and he shook his head, his blue eyes still bright and gleaming.
"What?"
"Nothing," he grinned down at his lap, "nothing. So, so how was it, again?"
"She is such a sweet woman, Hermes," Penny confessed with a smile.
"You're sweet," he uttered out and then inhaled deeply, smiling at her, "I'm sorry. Continue."
She smiled in embarrassment and continued. "She fed us and told us all about Luke with such love and she just seemed amazing. It was, it was short, and she was incredibly nice. And I'm glad I got to tell you all about it, I don't like feeling as if I'm hiding this from you. I'm also glad I got your advice on whether or not I should bathe in the Styx."
"Yeah - don't."
"Yeah," and she chuckled. "I won't. They've been saying… well, they've been saying I shouldn't, because… because Percy will be the demigod from the prophecy anyway."
Hermes was silent as he gazed at her. Then he shrugged. "I don't have much to say about that. I will certainly not attempt to tell you what's to happen, as I have no clue. I'm as much a pawn in Fate's game as you are."
"Yeah," they smiled sadly at each other.
Suddenly they heard footsteps, and the waiter was back. "Is there anything else we can give you?"
"Yes," Hermes said, turning his head to him, "the check, please." When the waiter walked away Hermes smiled at Penny. "We really shouldn't test your father's patience any longer."
She chuckled. "That sounds smart."
The waiter handed them the check, and she bent down to reach for her wallet and took it out.
"Put that back," Hermes told her with amusement, "I got it. Olympian after all."
He pulled out a few dollar bills from his side bag.
"Thank you," she beamed at him, and he waved his hand dismissively, but he was smiling widely.
They stood up slowly, and Hermes teleported them back to Central Park.
As they landed there, she decided to be the initiator this time and stood on her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. "I had a lot of fun."
"I did too," he grinned down at her. "Well, sea-girl, you can bet we'll do this again."
"I can't wait," she smiled sweetly before walking away, all the while feeling his heated gaze on her back.
Apollo
Apollo was at his shrine, just after setting the sun. He sat down, leaning his back on the bright yellow wall of the shrine and closing his eyes, attempting to see into the future.
But as it was always when a Great Prophecy neared, he was unable.
The door to the shrine opened and Hermes walked in slowly, nodding at him and handing him a box. He reached his hands up to take it.
"Who's it from?" He asked his brother as Hermes slowly sat down next to him, leaning his back against the wall as well.
"Your twin."
"Oh no," Apollo smiled, "then it might be trapped. She did such things in the past."
"Oh," Hermes chuckled, "then open it when I'm gone, please."
"You got it," Apollo chuckled too, and then shifted in place so he could see Hermes better. "What's up?"
"Oh, Apollo, I've really done it this time."
The tips of Apollo's lips twitched up. "What exactly did you do?"
"Well, it's not really what I did, as it is what I'm about to do."
"What are you about to do?"
Messenger god turned his head slowly to face him, and his eyes gleamed as he regarded him quietly. Then he gave him a small smile. "I'm going to court Sea-Lord's daughter."
"Penny?"
"That's the one. Not now, obviously… only when we come out of this war… but Fates, Apollo, why did I have to choose one of the heroes of the Great Prophecy, and the demigoddess daughter of Poseidon of all girls in the world?"
"You didn't," Apollo answered honestly, "it chose you."
Hermes gave him an amused smile. "Well, you would know, as god of prophecy and all that."
"All that, yeah," and they both laughed.
Then Hermes leaned his head on the wall, rubbing his face with his hands. "I'm totally screwed, huh?"
"I wouldn't say that," Apollo chuckled, "but it's going to be a tough ride."
A/N
Thank you for sharing that you all like longer chapters! It actually really helped me, as I knew to publish this one as is and not cut it in the middle. It's almost as long as the last one.
Some of you asked me whether I have a weekly update schedule. Well, yes and no.
Ideally yes, but since I have gaps and holes in my story (I write funny - I jump forward and backward so I have future parts fully written, like entire scenes in Mark of Athena, but not the entire fifth book) I don't always have the next chapter ready. But I try to do it every 6-10 days on average.
Thank you for the feedback! Please, please keep it up, I'm considering whether or not to take a break from all the Fanfiction related things, because it is so time-consuming, especially the weekly updates! So without having enough feedback I'll definitely be less active. Not out of anger, just because other things matter too XD
So let me know what you thought about the chapter :)
opheliac73 - thank you so much for reviewing again! Especially since you said you never review, so I appreciate so much the fact that you did again :D It's always very appriciated!
Divine Protector of Skyrim - longer it is! And I'm definitely not trying to fill a word count quota, on the contrary really. I always feel as if what I write is too long XD
Thank you for reviewing and sharing your opinion!
StrugglingGamer19 - I smiled so wide (as I always do) when I read your review. The fact that you check the site 5 times a day... Let me know what you thought of this one!
guest - thank you so much! Yes, Hestia was a surprise to me too, as it was an unplanned idea that just came to me, but now that it did it fits in the story wonderfully, haha. And there's more to come for her in future chapters :) As for Hermes and Penny, well they had quite a few conversations in this one, so let me know what you thought ;)
Emily - thank you so much, you're always so sweet! And you're right they should help them, because why not? They're powerful and capable, so why not? Thank you so much for letting me know your opinion of shorter vs. Longer chapters, and thank you for telling me my story is good. Honestly it makes me happy each time someone says that :D As for more Nico and Hermes doing their things... well there was a lot of them in this one. As always let me know what you thought!
the8horcrux - Haha you're probably right XD Although it is fair to say he dislikes her more than he does others.
I agree with your analysis 100 percent! Of course I'm not for degrading women and telling them all they can be is housewives, but nonetheless moving away from that to the other extreme means losing some old-world values that were alright and worked, and I touched that a bit with Sally and Penny's conversation. And yes, thank you for saying Penny's an example for that balance! I'm really trying my best to reach it, not to make her too weak and or too "greatest fighter in the world!1".
Yup, the gods are here to stay :) And you could say I do 6-10 days updates, haha. Thank you for reviewing again, and let me know your thoughts on this one!
Catta-chin - Can I honestly say that this review is amazing and I smiled so much when I read it? Thank you so much! It's such an incredible compliment, to say that it is the best PJ fanfic you've read, so thank you!
Ahh do you mean to say you've binged it? Yayyy I always wanted for someone to binge-read one of my stories :) Thank you for complimenting Penny as a character, again that is simply the most important thing to me, that the character will come across to you guys as genuine!
Yes, the twins' journey together and apart was, is and always will be the main plot and will be explored heavily! There's nothing like twins, the best connection in the world :)
I can honestly never stop smiling when I read that others enjoy the story, so if you really do have more to say about the story I'd be ecstatic to hear! So by all means, do :) And also, I'd be happy to know what you thought about this chapter :) Thank you so much for reviewing!
Guest- thank you so much! Yes, the twins are growing up, and being so different from each other, not to mention both loving different people means growing slowly apart, which is bound to be hard for them as the steadiest thing in their lives was always each other! So yeah, that's a dynamic I'm exploring. I'm so happy it really got through to you, there's nothing better to know than the fact that your story actually triggers emotions in people. So thanks for sharing that.
As for Hestia, just you wait ;) But yes, it will effect future event. And Nico is sweet! His friendship with Penny was not originally planned, but it's becoming more and more vital to the story as time goes by.
kurai neechan- Thank you for reviewing again! I aspire to update weekly with varying degrees of success XD You're welcome! Thank you for letting me know what you thought of it! And I mean, I love Apollo too so I totally get that. But hey, if I got you to love Hermes even a bit more, I did my job ;)
Guest - you got it ;)
Winter Frostine - Hey congratulations on the nephew! :D And you're right, some are born with hair and some are born without.
Arkytior's Song - I honestly worked on making the meeting even more amusing thanks to your review, so I hope you like the end result XD
Yes, that was quite dramatic and not too fun for Pen, but Hermes did a nice job clearing that up I'd say ;)
A lot of Penny and Hermes parts in this one! Would love your opinions on them :)
Guest2 - what a wonderful idea!
If I'm honest, I never got around to reading ToA, but I hope to sometimes in the future as I truly love the guy!
As for a story about Apollo falling in love, well, stick around with this one because I do plan to have him fall for someone! Not Penny, but someone just as great. You'll see :)
Stacy- I'm so glad to hear it triggered emotions in you! There's no better compliment :)