Chapter 21: We share a heartful moment

POV: Annabeth

With Zeus' dramatic exit the council ended, and the gods started dispersing. Some like Ares flashed away immediately, why others started walking out of the doors.

"Good job," I whispered to Percy. "Though I hope you didn't just use up all the respect you had for the next few years early."

Percy snickered. "If I have to talk to Zeus a few more times, our chances are going to end up pretty bad in the future."

I had to swallow my answer because not all of the gods had left immediately, seemingly wanting to talk to us.

Of those that stayed back, the one who approached us first was Dionysus, still holding a goblet of wine in his hands.

"I better head back then, now that I was charged with extra work thanks to you," he said giving an exaggerated sighed. "Well, I guess I can now at least finally take care of this terrible headache that was trying to rip my head in two, so I suppose thanks are in order, Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase."

I couldn't help but raise a brow at that. He must be quite content, to not only use our real names but also thank us on top of it. Well, if you can really call that thanking somebody, I guess.

"We were just trying to get your father to fire-, ahem, lift your punishment, I mean. Though it doesn't seem as if he was quite grateful enough for that," Percy answered him smirking.

"Hah! As if he would do that. He loves making me suffer. Have you noticed how Ares did not get any kind of punishment for his outright betrayal? Figures that he would care more about a nymph than Ares helping in grandfather's untimely grab for power." Dionysus answered, rolling his eyes then gave Percy a long look. "Hm, it seems you though have proven true to your words. You might actually be different than other heroes. It's all thanks to how your mother raised you, I suppose."

He might have looked the same as always, but he was still different. His words might be the same as always, but he usually had this cranky tone to everything he said. Now it didn't sound as condescending as he normally did but more like he was actually bantering with us.

Percy couldn't do anything but stare at him, his smile slowly widening.

"Don't get so excited, Jackson," Dionysus said. "You still have a lot of time to forget what she taught you and turn out as all the others did before you. And I still plan on making your life miserable."

"Naturally," Percy said smiling.

"Just so we understand each other," he said, before finally including me as well. "You are the more levelheaded of the two of you, Chase, so you better listen up. I will make sure all the necessary preparations are made, so meet me at the big house this evening. The two of you are the ones who have caused this, so you better not think about shrinking from your responsibility."

The "like I plan on doing" went unsaid of course.

Without waiting for an answer, he disappeared, giving me a chance to look around the throne room again.

Except for Dionysus, my mother and Percy's dad had stayed behind as well. They were talking quietly in a corner of the room with each other. In another stood Artemis and Apollo immersed in their own discussion. Neither of them stepped forward next though. Instead, Aphrodite, who had watched Percy and me ever since we stepped foot into the room seemed keen on talking with us.

Having the attention of the Goddess of Love wasn't really what I wanted for us, so I was trying to come up with a plan to cut this conversation short, though something seemed strange.

From all I heard about Aphrodite, having to meet her, I would have expected to be unable to form any kind of rational thought, to fall madly in love with her, especially having to meet her in here, in her godly height. After all, it was what happened to the gods when they first met her. And I knew she could have the same effect on girls, just as much as she could on boys.

It was what I had tried to brace myself for, but it never happened, making me wonder why that would be. Of course, she could have been suppressing her aura, but by the way, she looked at us, I doubted it. Taking a glance at Percy the strange feeling only got stronger, something he seemed to be aware of as well, possibly more than me, as he had already met her personally once before after all.

"Ah, the two of you are just too adorable together," she said, her expression changing. Now she was beaming and giving us an excited smile. Having us not reacte to her magic seemed to have made her extremely happy for some reason. "And how you protected your young lady from danger in the water park. Such a gentleman, Percy. Yes, yes, I can see it, you truly are the perfect couple."

Oh.

I didn't really appreciate her attempt at what I would guess was a test of our feelings for each other, even if we seemed to have passed it. I still vividly remembered her past attempts of throwing complications into it. My anger was short-lived though as something about her changed and distracted me.

Where before I couldn't have told what she had looked like, and her features had been changing through different people, now they had settled.

I gave a short glance to Percy but there was no denying it. She looked like him, the same sea-green eyes, the same unruly jet-black hair – broken only by a grey streak – swept to one side as if he just got a walk to the beach. Lean but athletic, with muscles showing on her naked arms, not covered by the Greek armor she seemed to be wearing now.

She was looking like a sixteen-year-old Percy alright, but as similar as she looked, there were slight differences.

Because she looked like a sixteen-year-old female version of Percy.

A really cute female version that made me feel strangely warm in the same way a male version would have done.

As if she could have felt my gaze, Aphrodite turned her head to give me a playful smile and winked, making me flush scarlet.

Ok, I could feel that her magic obviously now started to affect me, so it seems I was as attracted to a female version of Percy, as to a male. No problem at all. At least I now knew that even having a vengeful god or goddess transform him - not that unlikely knowing Percy - wouldn't be a problem for our relationship.

I shot a glance over at Percy. Did he see the same-

Yeah, on second thought - seeing him share the same flush I had - I rather not know what he was seeing. For my own sanity's sake.

Trying to hide my blush unsuccessful, I instead unpacked Aphrodite's scarf we had fetched in Denver and offered it to her.

"W-we would like to return this to you," I said and almost managed to do so without stuttering.

"If you could just, like, you know, ah, not mess with our love life? That would be great," Percy added not meeting her eyes.

Aphrodite took the scarf but frowned. "Hm, I wonder. It is strange really. You already show all the signs of having overcome many adversaries threatening the love between the two of you," she said, giving us this intense look, I couldn't make off what it meant. "You even seem to already have my blessing, too. How interesting."

I shared an uneasy look with Percy.

Aphrodite seemed to have caught it because she gave us a beautiful sounding melodic laugh. The way she sounded and having her still look like she did, didn't make it any easier for me to think of something to say. At least Percy seemed to be as distracted as I was.

"You are so cute. No need to fret my dears. You seem to have already gone through enough. What you two deserve is a long and loving relationship for having overcome all those hardships. I can tell these things," she said in a gentle voice.

I didn't know what to say. I hadn't expected her to be so… understanding.

"Thank you?" the two of us offered nervously.

"Oh, that's alright dears, after all, love conquers all," she said, then suddenly her expression lighted up even more. "Oh, I know just what to do. One can never have too much love, so how about I just-."

Percy's and my gaze met again and we both cringed at imagining what she could think of.

"Please don't."

She just gave us another playful smile and winked at us again before she disappeared as well.

I gave a long-suffering sigh. Without her presence, her magic did as well, and my blush finally started receding. At least it went better than I had expected.

I didn't get a long pause though as Apollo and Artemis were approaching now. Artemis had been in her adult form earlier but had now taken the form of a girl around our age, and unlike Dionysus and Aphrodite, she and Apollo shrunk themselves to normal size after they had walked over.

"It is such a shame," Artemis said, though she sounded more amused. "You would have made a great huntress."

Great, now my blush had returned again.

"Oh, you wouldn't say that if you could see their future," Apollo said, giving us a knowing look before raising his hands in a stop everything gesture. "I feel a haiku coming on."

Next to me, Percy groaned.

"Love that conquers all.

A great fall from heavens tall.

Oh! Sun's hopeful call."

"That one wasn't so bad actually, even if I don't think I liked the topic," Percy mumbled to me and I had to agree.

"I just wish you wouldn't use only bad ones all the time to annoy my hunters," Artemis said sighing before her expression turned serious again. "Anyway, I thank you, for the information you have given today. I had my suspicions but was yet unable to prove them myself."

"Not that it matters. Zeus has declared the topic over," Percy couldn't help but grumble under his breath.

"He has," she answered, a gleam in her eyes. "At least until somebody has found enough proof that no one can deny in how much danger we are."

Apollo looked decidedly unhappy about this. "I agree with you, but I still think you shouldn't do this on your own, little sister."

Artemis sighed. "I will have my hunters to accompany me for now, but it will likely turn too dangerous for them. I will be fine on my own, Apollo. There are other things for you to do, you know that. And I am not your little sister."

"Hey, I was born first."

"We're twins! How many millennia do we have to argue-"

"I think Apollo is right," Percy suddenly interrupted.

Artemis looked at him, her features softening it when the only thing she saw on his face was genuine worry.

"It's just," he added. "He was trying to divide my father and uncles. So, searching on your own would make you vulnerable and play right in his cards."

I could understand where he was coming from. She had been captured the last time and both Bianca and Zoe had died trying to save her.

"They are right, my lady," I said. "I don't think you should go on your own either. It would be safer for you to take a hunting companion with you instead."

Artemis grimaced unhappily for a moment when I said hunting companion.

"I will try to be careful, but this will need to be done by the time of the winter solstice, or we will lose too much time to prepare," she explained patiently. "What you have shown made it clear that we are in far more danger than even I realized, and these are risks that I am willing to take. Risks that must be taken."

"I understand," I said lowering my head.

We could have told her more, hinted about what happened last time, but I doubted there would have been any point in doing so. I was sure that this time, as well as last time she was quite aware of the danger and risks she was facing.

And I still had the suspicion that she had let herself get captured on purpose. Maybe not the part where she was getting imprisoned under the sky instead of me, but I think she had tried to use the enemy to find what she sought. And even then, not even Zeus could have denied the danger if she had failed to show up for the solstice. At least I didn't think he would have.

"But please come to camp if there is anything, we can do to help you," Percy added.

She gave us an understanding smile.

"I will remember your offer," she promised before leaving us alone with her brother.

Apollo pursed his lips looking after her. Shaking his head, he looked at us, and a smile was slowly spreading on his face again.

"Yes, well, I believe a thank you is the appropriate thing to give now, considering what you have done for me. So, if you need anything, feel free to call me anytime you need help," he told us. "Actually, anytime except right now that is. I have a previous appointment to keep. Something I have been waiting for far more years than I ever wanted. See you hopefully soon and watch out for those prophecies you two."

Then he walked in direction of the doors, a spring in his steps, happily humming a song.

PJ&AC

The doors fell shut after Apollo cutting off his humming and an uncomfortable silence filled the throne room.

Poseidon and my mother had approached while I had been distracted. I had long planned this meeting with them, but now that they were standing in front of us, my mind was blank, and I had no idea how to start.

I mean, I had met my mother a few times already, but even then I hardly had the chance to have a real conversation with her. And when I had met her she had been far more reserved and distant than she showed herself now. I actually couldn't remember having talked about anything but the reason we had been to Olympus during any of those times. How does one even start a face-to-face conversation with your godly parent?

"Hey, Dad," Percy said next to me.

Poseidon grinned in return. "Love what you did to my dear brother. Was that your idea?"

I blinked. Well, turns out you start by greeting them. Who would have thought?

"Annabeth's actually," Percy said bringing all the attention to me.

The two of them had turned into their human sizes as well, but being in my younger self, I still had to look up. Seeing my mother smile, I returned it nervously.

"A good idea, Annabeth," she said, and I blushed again.

When I glanced at him, Percy gave me an understanding smile and I realized he had done this on purpose. He had given me all the credit even though he deserved at least half of it. He understood me better than anyone else, something I couldn't be more grateful for. Now my mother had given me genuine praise, which was something any demigod would long for.

"Thank you… mum."

"She is right," Poseidon agreed with a serious look. "We have much to be grateful for to you."

There it was.

"You are talking about your daughter, right?" I asked, carefully not to specify if I meant only of him or both of them, as I was unsure if it was safe to talk here.

My mother caught my eyes, understanding passing through them.

"While retelling your story earlier, you seem to have forgotten a few minor details," she said with what I thought was approval for doing so. "I am interested just how much it is that you actually have found out. Feel free to speak your mind."

I thought for a moment how best to start this but then decided to just jump right in.

"Erechtheus. He actually was your child, right? I mean, in the stories you only adopted him, and he is supposed to have been born to Gaea when you dropped the stained cloth to the earth. But that version doesn't make much sense then. Why would he be mortal if he has two immortal parents?" I asked slowly carefully trying to gauge their reaction. "What Hephaestus tried was because of Aphrodite's love magic, so it would not be unthinkable that with it, it would have resulted in a child anyway. And even if your vow would not actually have been broken, your son still might have been affected as if it were, right?

"You gave him a snake that would have restored his immortality in due time, but something went wrong, and the snake disappeared, just like Allapsar has one with her. A sea serpent no less," I added, taking a deep breath. "We got the idea after Medusa had hinted at it, but after all that we have learned recently, I am sure now. The similarities to the story are uncanny. You broke your vow."

For a moment there was silence, then my mother solemnly nodded her head. "I did."

I silently exhaled. I had already known, but it was still a lot to take in.

Neither my mother nor Poseidon tried to explain themselves. Which was something I was glad about, as there wasn't really any point to it, and if they had tried, it would just have sounded like them making excuses.

"Was that the reason you were angry at Poseidon?" I asked, glancing at Percy. "Because what happened to her? And that he broke his own oath as well?"

Even though I wanted to know, it still felt awkward asking these questions. Being the brainchild of a sworn maiden had the advantage of you not having to think about all your monstrous half-siblings and your parent's love life. Knowing that your mother broke that very oath only made thinking about it worse though.

At least the question seemed to make them feel as uncomfortable as it made me feel asking.

"We had a few… disagreements to work out," Poseidon answered chuckling nervously.

"But thanks to your help we were able to overcome them," my mother added.

"And I have the perfect gift to give you for that. After what Aphrodite said, I am sure you will find it quite useful to sneak a view moments together," Poseidon said winking at us.

"Dad!" Percy exclaimed looking mortified.

I would have laughed at the fearful looks he was shooting at my mother even though she didn't look offended and only rolled her eyes at his father. But urgh, really? Why was it that all the gods had to be so crude? We were twelve. At least we looked as if we were.

Well, after the types of questions we had asked I probably couldn't really complain. It sounded more like he was trying to direct the attention away from them and the previous topic anyway.

"It is rather rude to eavesdrop on other's people's conversations, Lord Poseidon," I said giving him a criticizing look. "Though we will graciously accept your gift anyway. Though you have failed to tell what exactly it is."

"Something you have rightfully earned, child," he said chuckling.

With a wave of his hands a warm breeze, smelling like the sea, swept through the room converging on me. Having experienced a familiar feeling already before I of course realized what he had done.

"You are not one of my descendants, so I cannot give you too much. Though now there shouldn't be any problems for the two of you to visit me in my palace when you have time."

I looked wide-eyed first at him and then at Percy, not sure how to answer that.

"I feel like I should apologize at this point," my mother started before I could think of something. "It is not like I am not grateful for what you did. Far from it actually, but…"

"But you do not want to risk drawing attention to Allapsar," Percy said. "We understand."

She nodded thankfully, but it still didn't seem fair to me, that only I got something for having saved our sister. There had to be something we could do, right? An idea formed in my head.

"What if we were to ask you to give something to somebody else instead? If that person theoretically would have been deserving of gaining your attention for her wise decisions and self-sacrificing attitude? It wouldn't be too strange for the patron of heroic endeavor to pay attention to somebody like this right?"

Percy's eyes widened. "You don't mean…?"

"It wouldn't," Athena answered smiling approvingly. "I will see what I can do."

Percy looked up gratefully. "Thank you."

What followed could have been another uncomfortable silence until I found a good way to change subjects again, but somebody else did before that could happen.

"So, if you have discovered any more unspeakable secrets, now would be the time to share them," Poseidon said smiling.

I shared a quick look with Percy and couldn't help but smirk.

"Well, we experienced that Ares is a sore loser," Percy said with a fake thoughtful look on his face.

"Hera has a serious problem with heroes and with her anger management?" I offered.

"Hm, how about that Echidna doesn't like hearing she shares a name with an anteater?"

"No, those are all common knowledge," my mother answered giving us a knowing look, hiding her smile as well.

"Well, then I only have the gods messing seriously up to the point where you ended up creating a split personality and basically ripped the world apart," I said. "Nothing else comes to mind."

Poseidon gave a wry smile. "Ah, yes so only trifle things."

"That's why Hera was punished by your, right? She sent Roman demigods after us and risked exposing the secret to us?" Percy asked.

"Officially at least," Poseidon answered winking at us. "The fact that you brushed over that part completely in your story made me wondered if you had realized though."

"We had our suspicions ever since before we left Camp, but we actually had them confirmed already even before we met Hera. We tricked Ares into telling us," I explained. "It was-"

"Rather easy, I imagine," my mother said amused.

Percy snorted. "That's what Annabeth told him as well."

"You don't seem to particularly care that we know?" I asked wondering.

"Holding this information secret does more damage than it does good. Zeus decided this. The rest of us didn't agree-" Athena started.

"Not like that is surprising. Nobody agrees with anything he says any time else either," Poseidon said offhandedly.

"-and while we are not allowed to tell you anything about it, we will not forbid you trying to find out more. With what lies ahead of us it might be for the best," she finished not batting an eye about Poseidon's comment.

I nodded in agreement. We had come to the same conclusion after all as well.

"Speaking of not agreeing with Zeus. You are not really going to listen to him and do nothing, right?" Percy asked.

They were silent for a long time before Poseidon finally answered. "Lord Zeus has closed discussion on this matter. He will not allow talk of Kronos. You have completed your quest, children. That is all you need to do."

"We will be the first ones to suffer because of that approach, you know that?" Percy asked quietly. "Us and all other demigods."

They didn't answer, but I saw Poseidon's face twitch.

"This time will be different than any time he stirred before. The Great Stirring is happening after all. He has tried to make you weaken each other. Since it failed, he will most likely at least try to divide you, so that you cannot resist him with your full strength," I said. "He tried that by turning Nike against her other half and he will try to do the same with you and your brothers. If he stalls you and Hades with armies in your own domains, prevents you from supporting Zeus, he will weaken Olympus severely."

"You cannot wait, father," Percy added. "How many of the ones that stayed neutral during the last war will do so again? How many that were on your side will turn against you? If you cannot openly prepare troops, at least try to make sure to reduce the number of your enemies."

"Like you did with Calypso," Athena realized.

"She deserves better," I said, "but yes, that was one of the other reasons. He has spies in Camp and we will do something to try to keep the number of demigods that join him to a minimum, but demigods aren't the only ones that are unhappy with the situation."

"The children are right," my mother said. "Though we have to be careful less we risk father getting even more suspicious than he already is. That would not help but only divide us further."

Poseidon sighed but agreed as well.

"Now, as much as I would like to continue our conversation, I fear my dear brother wouldn't be as happy if he were to find you upon his return," he said, his eyes taking on a little sadness. "Now, when you return home, Percy, you must make an important choice. You will find a package waiting in your room."

Percy already being aware of what he meant just nodded his head.

"And please take care of our daughter," Athena asked. "It would be safer for her if nobody found out about her heritage. But should somebody find out-"

"We will do our best to protect her, we promise," I said, and Athena smiled sadly at me.

"I hope you don't mind her sharing your cabin with you, Percy," Poseidon asked.

"That's fine by me. I have a question though," he said. "How exactly did you intend that cabin? And everything at camp really?"

Poseidon frowned. "What do you mean?"

Percy shrugged. "It's just, we have really strict rules at camp about everything that has to do with the gods because nobody knows how you would react if we did it otherwise."

Understanding appeared on his face and his expression softened. "I cannot speak for anyone else, but everything at Camp that was given by me was intended as a gift to all my demigod children."

"So, if I had promised Uncle Hades that my cousins could stay with me?"

"I would approve, but it would still be your decision to make no matter what I think of it. Even in cases where I don't approve, I promise that I will not take offense. All I ask is for whoever you invite to at least stay respectful though."

I gave a questioning glance to my mother. She met my gaze and nodded.

"Camp Half-blood always was meant for our children. I will not interfere in anything you do there or bear enmity for any decision made."

"Thank you."

"So if there is nothing else, you better-" Poseidon began again, but was interrupted by Percy.

"Wait, can we have a quick talk? There's still something I want to ask."

The two of them stepped aside, leaving me alone with my mother who was giving me a loving smile.

I was just glad that my mind was actually older than my body, and that I knew better than I would have had I really been twelve. The way she had treated us, the way she looked at me now, I was sure it would have felt insulting had she acted like this back then.

"I hope you didn't take me the wrong way before," she said with a hint of worry. "I didn't mean to insinuate that I care more about your sister than you or any of my other children. It's just-"

"You gave Thalia Aegis, and you lead them to find me when I ran away, right?" I said and smiled at her. "You only want to protect her, like you did for me. Like you try for any of us. I understand, don't worry."

Then she did something that surprised me even more. She pulled me into a hug.

"I truly am proud of you my child," she whispered to me before she pulled away again. Putting a hand on my cheek she looked down at me, a proud gleam in her eyes. "I truly am proud of you Annabeth. But be careful, and trust in your friends to keep you grounded."

She might have said friends, but I had the feeling she meant one person specifically who happened to be across the room.

"There is much to learn from mistakes, but nobody said it has to be your own," she said and gave me a humorous smile. "We might come far closer than others, but nobody is perfect, not even me. So, learn from the mistakes I made, will you?"

PJ&AC

Our moment didn't last for long before we regrettable had to make our way out.

"Well, that worked out a lot better than I expected," Percy mused. "They were a lot more… approachable. At least your mother. My father just warmed up faster, though I don't know if that is because of me changing or him."

Before I could answer a silhouette emerged out of the shadow of a side courtyard of the palace and my good mood soured again. It also reminded me that we should take more consideration in choosing where we talked about some topics.

"Will you join me?" he asked pointing at a bunch of benches around a fountain. "Far quieter and less crowded here."

Standing before us was Hermes looking quite jittery, scanning our surroundings as if he was afraid of being watched.

The fact that he was trying to talk to us now instead of back in the throne room told me everything I needed to know what this had to be about.

"Nobody to eavesdrop on our conversation you mean," I said frostily, cutting right to the subject at hand.

I was everything but happy to have to talk with him. The last time we did, he basically told pushed all fault for Luke's choices on me. Even though he was the one who was a terrible father. Add to that the time he sent us straight at the enemy's headquarter without warning and we almost got eaten alive, it should be clear just how high my opinion of him was. It might be wrong to be resentful for something that this version of him hadn't done yet, but I didn't really care, and Luke still was his fault anyway.

He dropped his head looking defeated. "So, you know."

I had a biting remark on my lips about just how much I knew, but Percy was faster.

"Once you realized it, it is pretty obvious," he said trying to keep the conversation civil, though I could tell he too still remembered our last meeting. "So, were you just here to warn us, or…?"

Hermes grimaced. He clearly hadn't planned on warning us, more like trying to find out if his son was safe from us, no matter at what consequences.

"We don't want to hear your excuses for his behavior," I said before he had a chance to answer. "He knows exactly what he is doing, and he is doing it out of hate for the gods, especially you. Nothing you have to say will change anything now. It is far too late for that. The only reason we haven't revealed his identity yet is that having the council kill him would only make him a martyr for Kronos' cause."

Hermes bristled and started glaring at me.

"Lord Hermes," Percy said, interfering on my behalf again, "we don't plan on killing him when we return."

We wouldn't? It wasn't just Hermes who looked surprised at Percy now. I mean, we hadn't decided yet what to do about him, had wanted to wait how it would play out first and I had told Percy he should make the decision, but still.

"I mean not immediately," Percy added. "We will give him one final chance, but after that, there is nothing more we can do for him."

Hermes gazed into the fountain. "My dear young cousin, if there's one thing I've learned over the eons, it's that you can't give up on your family, no matter how tempting they make it. It doesn't matter if they hate you, or embarrass you, or simply don't appreciate your genius for inventing the Internet—"

"It's not about that," I interrupted, angry at his attempt of distracting us from the topic and how he just brushed off everything else. "This might work for an immortal god, but it is not something we can do."

I should know, I had tried that the last time and look how it had turned out in the end.

"You have seen the shoes," I said trying to calm myself again. "If we were to do what you want from us, we would risk getting killed by him every single time. It is too high a risk to face in hope that he might one day realize what he did. And how many others are going to die only because we can't accept that he has to be stopped no matter the means necessary?"

Hermes had flinched the moment I had reminded him of the shoes. He clearly was aware of just what they were supposed to do to the one wearing them.

Hermes looked upset. His hands kept tapping and turning a phone he was holding.

"Look, we understand that you care about him a lot," Percy told him, "but what you are asking of us won't help."

We stood up and started leaving the courtyard. Hermes kept quiet, wasn't doing anything to stop us. He just kept looking into the fountain and his eye twitched. Some of my anger at him deflated when I realized he looked like he was about to cry.

Standing in the archway to the courtyard Percy suddenly stopped again.

"If I were to ask you now, could you truthfully say all of your children old enough to be in danger of monsters are safely at camp? Could you tell me that not a single one of yours at camp is still unclaimed?" he asked quietly. Pausing for a moment before going on. "If you really want to show that you care about Luke, that you care about your other children, then learn from your mistakes and try to do better to them, than you did with him. We would like nothing better than having the chance to help them reach Camp safely. All you would have to do is tell us where to find them."

And with that, we left Hermes sitting alone in the courtyard staring into the fountain in deep thought.

"So, you want to give him the last chance?" I asked after we had been walking for a while. "You know how risky that is, that we won't be able to trust him either way. Not after all we have seen."

Percy nodded. "I know he won't agree. I tried that once and almost got killed for it."

"Then why try? For what? A favor for Hermes?" I scoffed.

He shook his head. "Last time he revealed the truth what he and Kronos planned to me. All of it, down to how they want to basically destroy everything and how he won't care for those Kronos considers weak. I hope he will do the same this time again. Remember what I did when we got captured after we found the fleece?"

I realized immediately what he planned of course.

"I thought in combination with what we just gained…"

I nodded. "That could work."

As we walked back through the city, the party was still in full swing, but the moment we were spotted, silence fell over the city. They knelt before us bowing their heads in gratitude.

The scene had a bad taste to it though. If I had learned anything, then it was that Immortals were proud. For them to humble themselves like this, how bad had they expected it to turn out?

On the way down I shared my thoughts with Percy and we spent the rest of the way brainstorming about what to do after we returned to Camp, right until we climbed the stairway to Percy's apartment. We hadn't almost reached the right floor when we could already hear a male voice shouting angrily from somewhere down the hall.

Percy was off running in the direction of the voice immediately, me following behind him. He had reacted too fast for me to have a chance to tell him that Grover - our Grover - would be with Sally, so there would most likely be no real danger. I had heard enough of his ex-stepfather to understand why he had reacted like this though, so all I could do was run after him for now.

Before we even reached the door, there were crashing noises, as if somebody had thrown something heavy. A chair perhaps? But it sounded far heavier than that. Strange, this didn't sound like something Grover's would be doing, but the shouting had stopped so whoever it had been, it had worked.

Percy ripped the door open, his sword drawn – most likely on instinct – but whatever he saw made him freeze in the doorway. For a moment there was silence, then I could hear heavy footsteps approach the door.

"Brother!" a deep voice sounded. Then two arms appeared through the door and Percy was pulled up into a bone-crushing hug.

"Tyson?"

AN: As always thanks a lot for your reviews.

Writing the conversation with Athena and Poseidon was rather difficult I have to say. Hope it wasn't too bad. You might have realized Athena being OOC compared to canon though I hope it's understandable why she would be. It's just that myth Athena is a favorite of mine because she is actually helpful, unlike most others of the gods. And even though she sometimes does lose her temper, she usually tries to repay the injured party in some kind. I didn't really like how she was reduced to an obstacle for Percy's and Annabeth's relationship in canon instead of the patron of heroes she is depicted as in the myths.

And don't read too much into the conversation with Aphrodite. I realized over the last few chapters that the way it ended up working out it could have actually worked as a harem as well. Don't worry though, I'm not going to do that. Relationship will stay Percy/Annabeth and everyone else will be considered as family by them. As for the other one, I actually quite like the trope and thought about doing that before I started, but I'm not going to permanently turn Percy female either in this fic.

What did you think about my Haiku? Not sure I have done it right, I have never done that before. It's 5-7-5 though not sure if there are any other rules I should have watched out for.

Update is going to be next Saturday, it always ends up that day anyway. Or Sunday, depending on where you live, I guess.