Sundays are always my quieter days of the week.

Triton has a three day meeting undersea with some diplomats about the current crisis in Bangladesh where a bunch of ferries keep getting sunk. He told me about this when he left on Friday afternoon so I knew that he wasn't coming around today.

My homework was done, Ms Athena's assignments too, I finished my scarf yesterday and I'll give it to Triton when he comes around on Tuesday. There's nothing to do.

In the end, I grabbed my copy of the Iliad to reread and curled up on the couch with Spongebob playing on the TV.

I smiled at Athena's appearance in the book, she wasn't very nice here but I suppose she has a very good reason for being so.

...Who's knocking at the door?

Is Triton back early? Mom? Did Gabe forget his keys- wait no, if Gabe was at the door he'd be yelling at me through the wood.

I quickly scampered to open the door.

"Mr Hermes?" I blinked in surprise at the appearance of the Messenger god.

"Hey there kiddo," he smiled down at me.

"Hello?" I'm confused, why is he here? "Um, wanna come in?"

He walked in, ruffling my hair as he passed, and then stopping dead when he spotted the state the apartment was in.

"I know," I was quick to interrupt before he said anything. "Gabe makes a mess, mom isn't around enough to clean everything and I've been banned from the cleaning supplies."

He frowned, "This still isn't healthy conditions for you to live in. There might be rats."

"Rats? Where?" His talking snake phone piped up, "Can we have some rats?"

I stared. I've never heard anything about talking snakes in the myths about Hermes, did they not know about them or is this a new development?

"Hush, don't speak." He chided the snakes, "What have I told you?"

"Sorry," they responded back.

"Do most snakes talk?" I asked, drawing his attention. "Or just them?"

"Erm," Hermes side-eyed his phone. "Just them."

"Right." I'm not going to question this. "Not to be rude Mr Hermes, but why are you here?"

He beamed, a look of mischief in his eye. "Well, since you said you don't get out much, I thought I should take you out for a day of fun!"

"Uh, Mr Hermes-"

"Call me Uncle Hermes, not enough of you kiddos do," he interrupted.

"Okay, Uncle Hermes," I corrected. "I don't think this is necessary."

He crouched down to my height, "Kids should have some fun in their life, Percy."

He stood up, gesturing to the evidence of my idea of fun. "You deserve a break, come on, what were you even reading- oh, the Iliad? You're ten what're you doing reading that? Athena has ruined you-" I squawked in protest, "- don't try to deny it, I know that it's the truth. You need some fresh air and sunshine!"

"I can read outside!" I tried to compromise, "Seriously, Uncle, you don't have to waste your time with me."

He stopped, frowning down at me. "You think that you're a waste of time? Wha- who put that ridiculous idea in your head? Nope. No, I'm not hearing it. Go get your coat, we're going to the park."

I gave in. I don't think he was going to give up anytime soon.

oOo

Central Park was busy.

I held Hermes hand as he guided us towards the grassier area of the park, watching as other people strolled about their day. We wove around the usual traffic of the area, kids running wild, dogs off the leash, even a few horse-drawn carriages that I waved 'hi' to.

We settled in an empty area, Hermes putting down a sports bag he most definitely did not have earlier and pulling out a football.

Why did he keep doing impossible things and then pretend it didn't happen? I can see that he pulled that from nowhere. In fact, Athena did the same thing with those knitting supplies three days ago. Are gods just uncaring? Do most people not notice?

"Perce!"

I snapped out of my thoughts, "Yeah?"

"Think fast!"

I quickly scrambled to catch the football, nearly tripping over my own feet when I did.

He was beaming, a mischievous look overcoming his features. "Good job, kiddo, you caught it! Come 'ere, let Uncle Hermes teach you how to throw it."

oOo

Football was a fun disaster.

I wasn't the best thrower, but Uncle said that I just needed some practice. Uncle, on the other hand, got tackled by me and abandoned the ball to dissolve the game into a tickle battle. My protests that this was cheating were ignored as I ended up screeching for mercy.

At one point the Football got up a tree and while Hermes tried to hit it down with another ball, I climbed up and got it, making him panic for a second as he yelled at me, "Get down before you fall and break your arm!"

We got lunch at the Loeb Boathouse, a nice restaurant overviewing the Lake. I got a cheeseburger and fries, and Uncle Hermes got a salad. We both had lemonade, and for dessert an ice-cream!

oOo

I giggled as I ran faster.

Uncle Hermes had given me a piggy-back ride back from the Boathouse, and in retaliation from his constant hair-ruffling, I messed up his hair too.

Bad idea.

He immediately called me a traitor and put me down on the grass.

"Because I'm so merciful, I'll give you a ten second headstart. I suggest you start running before I catch you!" He warned me.

I didn't need to be told twice.

I jumped over another bush, skidding to a stop to hide behind a tree.

"Oh Percy! You can run but you can't hide!" I heard his too close voice, coming from the direction of the sun.

I slapped my hand over my mouth, hoping to muffle my ragged breaths.

"Damn it, great. Now where did he go? Athena's going to be so angry that I lost her kid." I heard his retreating footsteps.

I waited there for a beat. Then two.

He's gone.

I peaked over the edge of the tree, only to shriek when Hermes popped out.

"Gotcha!"

He grabbed me, picking me up only to attack me with tickles.

"N-no!" I gasped out in between giggles, "Un-uncle! Please! No, mercy!"

"What's the magic word?" He teased.

I don't know the magic word! "Ple-please! Sorry! Uncle, sto-!" I let out another high-pitched shout, "I yield! Please!"

He stopped, "Why didn't you say earlier?" He gave me a cheeky grin.

I lay gasping on the ground for a bit. I'm so out of breath!

"You okay there kiddo? No asthma?" Hermes checked, and I gave him a nod.

He gave a deep chuckle, laying down on the grass next to me.

As I'm trying to gather my breath, I heard him mutter, "I miss this."

Huh?

"What do you miss, uncle?" I asked after a pause.

He looked back at me, almost like he'd forgotten that I'm here.

"In my family, Percy, we aren't allowed custody of our own children. We can't see them, can't play with them, can't raise them, can't even send a birthday card! I hate it. We all hate it."

He sounded so sad, so frustrated, I didn't even hesitate to roll over and crawl into his arms for a hug.

"I'm sorry," I told him.

"It's not your fault kiddo," he brushed some of my hair away from my face. "You have no blame for this."

I nodded. I was silent, thinking for a moment.

"But you can visit each other's kids, can't you?" I asked.

"Yeah," he whispered sadly. "We can, but it's discouraged."

Discouraged. They're discouraged from talking to their own family.

Is that… Is that why my dad isn't around?

"Uncle Hermes?" I spoke up tentatively.

"Yeah kid?"

"Is that why my dad is gone? Because he's a god?" I asked quietly, tears gathering in my eyes.

"You know-?" He looked at me in shock, but quickly waved that away.

"Yes, your dad's not allowed to see you because he's a god." He sighed, pressing a kiss to my forehead. "I'm sorry Percy."

I burrowed even more into his arms. "Can you tell me why?"

He sighed, letting his head fall back and stared into the sun. "There's consequences. I was not born until after the Law came into place, but I've heard of what happened enough times to be scared of it. There's a story, we don't talk about it, but once my father and his wife raised his demigod son, the only demigod Hera ever let herself love. The child left them, they were used to the silent healing and strength that the presence of divinity gives, they were weaker in the mortal world and that led them to a death in battle. Their grief, well, it was so strong that, for a few moments, they lost their godhood. They began to fade. They learnt to be cold after that- hating your children then regretting it is easier than loving and losing them."

I gasped, trying to stifle a sob.

"Hey, no, it's okay," he crooned. "You can cry if you want, I'm here. I'm here."

I buried my face in his neck, balling a handful of his shirt in my fist as I sobbed.

I want my dad. I hate that stupid law! I wish my dad could be here!

Uncle Hermes held me as I cried, soothing me softly.

oOo

I fell asleep crying.

I don't know what happened after that, but I woke up in my bed a few hours later.

There was a box and a note next to my headboard, and when I read it, I smiled.

Dear Percy,

Sorry to leave you so suddenly, but I thought you'd sleep better in your own bed.

There's a gift for you in the box, hope you enjoy using it. Like I said, you need more fun, kiddo.

~Hermes

A lollipop was taped to the note, and I stuck it in my mouth.

Inside the box was a Nerf gun.

Thanks Uncle Hermes.

A/N

Worldbuilding! This isn't the canon explanation but fuck canon so here is my new explanation that makes the gods not sound like arses and actually be a bit sympathetic for.

Adorable percy is adorable and uncle hermes is the best!

Also, I do love reviews guys! Talk to me about your ideas! What do you think is going to happen next? Do you like Hermes' characterisation? Can you tell which character I based him off? What do you think will happen when Triton finds out that Athena and Hermes know his little brother? Reviews are really encouraging and do encourage me to write faster!