Percy POV

22. It was an age I thought I would never make it to. An age I would live to see. Here I am against all odds probably against the fates themselves and somehow I'm still alive. To be honest though in a way I wish I had never made it to 22. Within the 22 years I've lived almost all of it I've seen pain. I had to do things I wish I never had to do, things I wish I hadn't seen.

I knew once I found out I was a Demi-god life wasn't going to be easy. Hell I knew that I probably would make it to be an adult and I accepted that. I knew however I would get to be by my friends sides and most likely die fighting. I was ok with that but then again the fates never were in favor of me. You see somehow after surviving two wars things only seemed to get worse.

I though I would finally get a little break but I guess in hindsight I should've know with my luck I was far from getting a break. After the war I was lost, broken, not the once naive boy who thought as long as I had my friends things would be ok. I saw to much and knew to much pain to still be that naive little boy.

Everything was taking a toll on me. Me and Annabeth could barely look at each other after everything that happened down there. We hardly could confide let alone find comfort in one another. After three months of basically avoiding one another we mutually broke things off with both of us knowing we could never be what we once were.

I needed space from everything and everyone. I was tired of the pressure of being at camp and just life in general. So after two weeks of doing nothing at camp and spending so much time away from home I thought I would go home and spend some time with my mom and Paul. Things didn't work out that way for me though. When I got to the apartment I knew something was off. Something felt off.

I really should have known. It was to late. When I walked into the apartment I found Paul and my mom laying on the floor laying In a pool of their own blood. I was to late. I couldn't save them. I don't remember what happened next all I remember was waking up on a beach that I didn't recognize. I saw a lady with tan skin and dark brown almost black hair sitting a little ways from me.

It took me a moment to remember what happened and the lady must have know I was awake because she turned to look at me. I could now see her brown eyes looking at me with a look of pure power. Hera. I didn't know what she was doing but she stood up and came to me. She came and sat by me and we sat there in silence for gods knows how long. After a while she finally broke the silence. She looked towards me once more with a soft look "I know what happened. There's nothing however I can say or do that will give you back what you want." She says quietly.

I turn away looking at the ocean in front of me. I tried to just keep my mind blank. I didn't want to thing of everything and everyone I lost. I didn't want to remember all the pain. I wanted to let go and just be free from the fate I was destined to have. "I no not the pain you suffer Perseus and I never will. I do however know with all that you have endured and have done for everyone this shouldn't have happened to you or your family. I can only do what I can to make amends with you and help you as much as I'm able to from now on. I can only try and help you grieve for what you have lost." Hera said softly.

I stay quiet for a few minutes just listening to the waves hitting the shore. I glance over to Hera who was also looking at the ocean. I look and see that she appears to be in her early forty's. I notice that she looks quite calm " Thank you." I say quietly looking at the sand beneath me. "I-I, Why are you helping me? Why me of all people?" I ask.

She stays quiet before looking over at me. I can see she is looking me over "No matter how tempting, no matter how bad things got you always stayed loyal to your family. You had many chances to get away from this life. You had a way out, yet you never took it. You realized how important family was and you stayed true to them even when they would wrong you." She says.

She stayed quiet for a minute "I understood why you stood up to us the way you did. I understand that you were trying to get us to see the flaws in our ways. You changed many of us for the better. You had every right to be against us in the titan war yet you stayed loyal to us gods. I'm sorry about what ended up happening after the switch between camps. I know that your alone. I could see that even when no else can. You try and stay strong, you put up a front but everything is tearing you apart from the inside out." She finishes.

I look back towards the ocean thinking about what she had just said. I stare back down at the ground "I feel like you would be the only one who does understand" I say quietly. I see quickly snap her head to look at me "You know what it's like to see family's destroyed or pulled apart. You also see the good that comes with family. But you see both the good and bad sides of family but also marriage. That's what your the goddess of. Your domains would have you see both the good and bad. But not only that you have to see your own husband be continuously unfaithful. You have to watch your own family fight and try and destroy one another. My guess is sooner or later it starts to destroy from within" I say.

She looks at me in shock "I know your not angry at Demi-gods. I know you don't hate us but your angry at your family. Your angry at how they treat us and then expect us to everything for them. I know your angry because you know most of them have been unfaithful. Your hurt when Zeus cheats because you know he's only going to do it again. Then more times then not you end up having a permanent reminder of his unfaithfulness. You don't hate anyone your just tired and frustrated after dealing with this for so long" I say.

"Your right. I guess I got bitter to the point I blamed everyone and tried to shut everyone out. I see the same battle I have had within myself that you now have within yourself Perseus. The constant struggle and wonder of the what if's. Wondering how things would have been different if you did different things. If you made different choices would things have changed. Your angry at the fates probably angry at your father and us other gods. I don't want you to have to be alone Perseus I want you to know that even though your father is not here I am. I will be there for you as much as I can be. As much as you will allow me to be" she finishes off hesitantly.

I nod "Thank you. I-I don't want to go back though. I know anywhere I stay monsters will follow. I can't... I won't put anyone else in danger. I'm sorry for the things I've said to you. I was quick to judge you when I shouldn't have been. It seems like your the one of the very few gods that care. I was naive then when I said those things about you. Some things I said I still stand by but I understand why you did what you did during the prophecy of 7. Your the only one I think that's even checked on me since the end of the last war" I say to her.

"I understand why you said what you did. You were angry and rightfully so. I want to be your patron Perseus. I want to help you. I know you wish to be left alone mostly so will see to it that the council will not know where you are. You will be free from us if you wish it. You can travel figure out your life. Find and do what you need to do. Know this though if you need me I will come. I wish to be there for you so know I will try and see you when I can if you accept" Hera says.

I look at the ground thinking of everything that's happened throughout my life. I stand up and move closer to Hera. I look towards her "You have no reason to help me. You have no reason to try and make peace or even talk to me. You however are the only one who has tried talking to me or even know what has happened. I would be honored to call you my patron queen Hera" I say before kneeling before her.

I knew she had no reason to do this, let alone be this nice and caring about it. She stands before me before grabbing my hand softly and pulling me to my feet. "You will not bow to me anymore. As far as I can see we are equals, you are my family Perseus and it I who have the honor of being your patron" she says placing a hand on my shoulder. She close her eyes for a minute whispering something that I could not hear before a soft glowing light formed beneath the hand she had on my shoulder. A warm sensation fulfilling my body.

After a few seconds the glow went away "You are now my champion Perseus with that I bear you some abilities that may be useful to you in the future. You can now block those who wish to try and see your memories or read your mind. It can be most useful in case you ever run into a immortal which you seem to have a knack for. The other abilities I will tell you about in time. I will be there for you Perseus guiding you as much as I can. Just know I will always be listening" she states.

That was four years ago. That one conversation got me a new start. A lot has changed since then, I have changed since then. After finishing the conversation with Hera she aided me. She knew that with how powerful I was and with the blood of powerful god I wouldn't be able to stay in one place for long.

She gave me credit card that was unlimited. She basically let me do as I pleased. For a year I just traveled just wanting to forget about all the horrible things I saw and try to find some sense of peace for myself. However no matter the distance I put between myself and the godly world I always felt like it was following wherever I went. Something I was I proud of was for a time I would just drink to forget.

To be honest though it was a hard task. As a son of Poseidon I had a higher tolerance I alcohol. For a little over half a year I couldn't get out of the depression I was in. It was until one day when I was drunk and got into another fight and blacked out that I realized I had a problem. You see when I woke up the next day I was in a hotel room with no memory of how I got there. However once I got up and walked into a separate room I realized how I got there. Sitting there on a small couch looking at me with a emotionless face I saw Hera.

Once I saw her I went and sat across from her in a accent chair. I looked down at the floor disappointment in myself now consuming my body. Instead of saying anything she got up and and kneeled in front of me. She then grabbed my hand and gave in a general squeeze "I know you want to forget Perseus but we both know this isn't you. We both know this isn't who you want to be" she states gently.

I look towards her my eyes starting to fill with unshed tears that I wanted to refuse to let fall. However before I could stop it a single tear escaped my eye "I don't blame you Perseus" she says softly. For the first time since I left my old life behind I broke down, I willingly let all my tears drop from my eyes and curled into myself. I started to tremble in my seat, Hera immediately wrapped her arms around me and held me until I no longer had any tears to shed.

I don't know how long I cried or how long I was silent after that. After a while Hera began to speak "Your lost Perseus. You also lost a lot but your struggling not having a purpose. Not knowing what to do, and not having anyone. However you forget, you do still have a mortal family. A cousin and uncle I believe you still remember, and were quite fond of"I nod. "You must protect her however, but you have to do it from afar. She is a bit younger then you but if any monster or any other threat comes back they will take everything that you care about. She is mortal she can't protect herself from our world. You will have to do it for her. I know it isn't going to be easy but perhaps one day we can find peace for you. For now try and find comfort that you can watch your cousin grow. You can keep her safe, I can't watch you do this Perseus. You've come to mean much to me Perseus. You are my son in all but blood know that" she states sternly.

I look into her eyes "where"? I ask.