(A/N Okay, don't hate me. This is an info dump via random scenes throughout the POJ and subsequent series that should lead up to a Pertamis fic. Should being key word because I have not written that. This has been sitting in my docs forever and I'm tossing it out there and maybe someday I'll finish it, but you've been warned: Ye who pass shall not expect a satisfying ending.

Chapters will be super short because they are, as said, just random scenes.)

12 years before The Lightning Thief

Artemis

Artemis awoke in her tent. It was a lovely space and she felt completely comfortable here. True, here could be anywhere, but the tent always felt the same. Warm. Safe. Home. Her hunters could come and go as needed, but they knew to be respectful in her space. Usually her lieutenant was the only one who dared enter while she slept. Of course her sister was more daring than smart.

Artemis sat up, glaring daggers at Aphrodite. The love goddess hadn't noticed her awaken and was pacing quietly, chewing on her lip and wringing her hands. Artemis sat cross legged and analyzed the intruder's agitated state. Something was definitely wrong.

"Well, don't keep me in suspense." Aphrodite jumped at Artemis's words.

"Oh! You're awake…" She looked like a rabbit that just realized it had run into a corner while trying to escape a fox. Artemis waited. "I didn't want to alert your huntresses. But I didn't want to wake you. But I didn't want them to wonder why I was coming to see you. So I'm sorry to intrude, I just…" she sighed heavily and slumped her shoulders.

With a furrowed brow Artemis approached the distressed goddess and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong?" she whispered.

"I-" Aphrodite's voice caught and she tried again. "I know you don't think I respect you and Athena's decision. But I do."

"I know. You just see love everywhere. I can respect that about you too." Artemis was uncertain where this was going. They'd never really spoken about their obvious differences except in jest around the rest of the Olympians. Respect was palpable between them, but they couldn't spend much quality time together without the atmosphere becoming awkward.

"I do! I do see love!" Tears sprang to her eyes as she locked gazes with Artemis. "And I ignore it so often, because I think that's what the respectful thing to do is. But what if it's not? What if letting someone choose love is better?"

"It is," Artemis stated simply.

"It is?"

"Of course." Artemis couldn't see what was causing Aphrodite so much distress. Usually she loved playing with the affairs of mortals and demigods. And they'd just spoken on how much she respected Artemis and Athena's decisions, their choices. Leaning down Aphrodite seemed to grab something off the ground, though Artemis didn't catch what it was.

"You see," she began, "I've sat back twice. Watching the passing of ships in the night. Never knowing the other. But this is his third incarnation. This is his last before reaching the Isles of the Blest. So I've been fretting for a while trying to decide what is right. But I must offer the choice!" She looked to Artemis with such joy, presumably because the right course was laid in front of her. Artemis was still trying to catch up to her though.

"So, he has an immortal soulmate?" she spoke slowly. Aphrodite's tension melted as she looked down to her hand. She was holding a single red thread...that led to Artemis's finger.

She felt her jaw go slack as all intelligible thought fell from her mind. "Nuh-nuh-no!" she shouted with a stutter. This could not be true.

"It's your decision to follow the string. But I wanted you to know," Aphrodite whispered. Her joy had faded and she looked sad, maybe a little regretful even. Finally, Artemis understood Aphrodite's dilemma. Artemis had already made her choice, but the fates set another choice in front of her. She nodded, but didn't try for a smile, afraid it would become a grimace.

"Thank you," she said slowly. She meant it too. She had already made her decision, but she knew it must have taken all of Aphrodite's self control to leave such things alone the first two times and she saw how badly the love goddess wanted to do good this time.

"You don't have to tell me anything, but if you want to you can come to me with anything."

Artemis smiled sadly. "Your care is appreciated, but I-" she didn't know how to put it into words and simply shook her head. Aphrodite shared her sad smile and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Will he suffer from my choice?"

"I'll make sure he doesn't." They shared one last smile before Aphrodite departed.

Artemis slumped onto her furs and held the red string, loosely pooling it in her palms. She stared at it dumbly, wondering what kind of a man could possibly lay on the other side. It didn't matter, but it was like an enigmatic puzzle calling to her mind. She didn't even realize Zoë had entered her tent until the lieutenant cleared her throat, startling Artemis out of her musing thoughts.