Sorry for such a long hiatus. The story shall continue.

Thanks to both original authors for allowing me to use the characters from their wonderful stories!

I hope everyone is well in these difficult times and wish everyone good health.

Chapter 3 – Weekend of Randomness Part 2:

The group from the Archery Range decided to walk back. They realized that accepting Lady Artemis' suggestion to flash them back could have potentially disastrous results. The Deity was walking with them only to keep an eye on several individuals. The teens were broken up in pairs still, occasionally having conversations as a group.

"So, what are you going to make me do?" Thalia grumbled to Angelica, still a little sore that she lost the contest.

She was the lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis for Olympus sake! She should have won that contest!

"Hmmm," The slightly taller girl took a brief pause.

The goddess of the hunt had a skeptical look on her face.

"We kinda made a bet. The losers have to do what the winner wants them to do for the next two days." Ashlynn informed the goddess, who did not look amused by that answer.

It was easy to tell that she did not give her approval.

"I'm not quite sure yet, might make you listen to some Taylor Swift or Jesse McCartney."

The look of horror on the punk girl's face caused Ashlynn to laugh from behind them.

"You Wouldn't Dare!"

The whole group burst out laughing at the girl's screech, Lady Artemis cracked a smile.

Of course, she had no idea who the two artists were. But it's nice to see such a light-hearted exchange between youths, especially two youths who come from different timelines.

Thalia, however, did not appreciate the joke since she kept glaring at Angelica.

"So," Ashlynn began turning to her brother's alternate self. "You and Nico dating yet?"

The lack of subtlety in that question caused Will to lose his balance mid-step and choke on his saliva.

"W-What brought that question up?"

His response was a slight shrug and a hum.

From the front of the group, Seth looked over his shoulder for a glance before turning to Armani.

"So what is she like in your time?"

Armani turned his head slightly to look at Seth.

"I'm assuming you mean mother?"

Seth gave a subtle wince but nodded.

'Am I the only one to not call her that?'

Armani didn't notice as he turned his gaze to the sky with a hum.

"I suppose you could say the mother of my time is overprotective. I would say she definitely tries and can be kind of awkward- especially when we first started interacting."

Armani gave a small chuckle towards the end of speaking, his head still raised to the sky. Seth looked away from Armani and faced forward, an unreadable and calculating expression on his

face.

How different were the two of them? Armani made Artemis sound…..motherly…but surely she couldn't be too different from the one in his time, could she?

What about Armani? Sure, it would be foolish to believe they had the same experiences with the goddess. Especially since they were reading two separate piles of books. But they couldn't be too different, right?

Out of the three children of the Huntress. Surely the one with the most different experience from the other two would be Angelica, right? After all, Seth was sure that Artemis would be more accepting of a daughter.

Surely, now that there were more children than just him -hell, maybe now that there was a daughter in the picture- her views of him would change.

Perhaps one of them would become her heir.

Seth's internal musings were cut short by Armani's next sentence.

"You know, you look a lot like her. Identical almost."

Armani glanced at Seth out of the corner of his eye. The taller boy was now tense and let out a wince.

Perhaps not the best thing to say...

Seth forced himself to relax, setting his jaw and let out an irritable sigh.

"I would appreciate it if you would refrain from mentioning my appearance Armani."

"Noted." The younger boy nodded. He was curious about the reaction but figured that the reason for his actions would be revealed sooner or later. "What about you? What's mother like in your time?"

"Difficult."

The response was quick, and Armani seemed shocked about the bitter note in his tone.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, difficult to understand at least. It's like walking on eggshells around her. I'm not sure what I can say around her or what will set her off. I don't really trust her."

Armani was now giving Seth all of his attention. What happened between the two of them to cause this reaction?

The mother Seth seemed to be describing was almost like a time bomb. Sure Armani's version of mother wasn't an open book, but at least she expressed her feelings and was understanding.

Like with Nico for example. She even admitted that she held back on going all divine being on him or turning him into a jackalope because Armani was there and he was his friend.

The impression he was getting from Seth's description was that she would have vaporized Nico, perhaps even with him watching.

'No, perhaps I'm just misinterpreting his words. There's no way mother could be so different, she is the same being in both times after all.'

Armani looked behind him for a minute. Angelica was now talking to Will, and Thalia was talking to Ashlynn. Lady Artemis, however?

She was staring directly at Seth, face unreadable but eyes narrowed, she was obviously displeased.

If Armani had to take a gander as to the reason? The exact thing Seth requested he refrain from mentioning.

But Armani was only partially correct.

True, the appearance of Seth did bother the goddess greatly.

However, while walking with the group, Artemis realized something else.

Artemis POV:

It would have been much faster for me to teleport the demigods and myself. However, the demigods had refused my offer, since they did not want to risk an accidental death. So we chose to walk back.

By 'we' I actually meant 'they', I only chose to walk with them to keep an eye on the girl Angelica and the boy Seth.

Out of the six demigods, those two I found to be the most peculiar.

Seth, due to his alarmingly similar appearance to myself. Luna, due to those markings I saw on her arm.

There were three possibilities I found with Seth. One, being that my brother or someone changed his appearance as a prank. Second, being that someone altered their appearance to one similar to my own, found a mortal lover, and produced this demigod.

It was possible.

We were divine beings, after all. We could change our appearance at will.

I was particularly fond of changing my hair color between black, my natural auburn, and on rare occasions silver. Granted, I have only changed my hair color to silver a handful of times over the four and a half millennia of my existence.

'Hm, I wonder how a combination of two or all of those colors would look.'

I considered the possibility of altering my hair color. It had been nearly half a millennia since I had done so, so I allowed myself time to ponder it. It's not like I change my hair constantly like a certain Love Goddess.

The reactions of the other gods and goddesses were quite amusing whenever I did.

The same for my hunters.

'I'll dwell on this topic later.' I decided and returned my thoughts to the male half-blood in the front of the group.

If the second option did prove to be true. I would find it a direct insult, even if it was meant simply as a prank.

I would also be exchanging several...choice words...with the one responsible.

It was also something that I suspect Aphrodite would do. It certainly does not help that things have been…civil...between the two of us.

I have been...waiting for the shoe to drop, as mortals say.

The third option I admit I was trying to avoid considering.

Much like my half-sister Athena, I also had a method to create a demigod child. However, if I were to use it, the resulting child would be female.

It's not that I particularly despised males. I just was not very fond of them.

It's difficult to think highly of them when you see what I have. As well as what my hunters have experienced. It saddens me that there are so many girls and women who suffer from a males hand.

And so many female youths I could not protect.

Artemis

My attention was drawn to the spiky-haired female in the middle of the group of demigods.

Thalia had called out to me.

However, it seemed she had a mental guard raised. So, I was unsure if it was a prayer or just her thinking my name.

Names had power, after all.

Many were unaware that even thinking the name of a deity could draw our attention if we were not busy.

It could lead to unpleasant situations.

The mental guard over Thalia's thoughts intrigued me.

'Do the rest of these demigods have a mental guard?'

I decided to check and found that every demigod had their minds guarded. Thalia, Ashlynn, and Will seemed to have their minds protected by an outside force.

Most likely my brother's future selves.

I'm sure he was attempting to ensure that no future secrets were leaked until we read the books.

The girl, Angelica, seemed to be guarding her own thoughts.

However, there was also an external force that was present.

Most likely, she had difficulty keeping her guard up all the time.

Armani and Seth seemed to be guarding their thoughts entirely by themselves.

I took a moment to observe the two males in front of the group.

There was a five-inch height difference between the two. Armani had caramel-colored hair that reached the base of his neck. Seth had auburn hair like myself, except he had his hair cut short.

Another difference between the two was that Armani seemed to be more at ease.

In fact, all of the demigods seemed to be at ease.

All except Seth, who was tense.

I narrowed my eyes at the boy.

'How peculiar.'

The demigods were all greatly surprised. The temple that housed the throne room had more rooms than just the Hall of the Gods. There were rooms that a mortal house or apartment would have, a living room, a dining room, even a library.

Ok, so a library might not be in every house or apartment. They still had one, however.

When they arrived at the dining room, the immortals had a quick debate over the number of tables and seating arrangements. Eventually, it was decided that there would only be one table. The deities would sit at one half of the table, while the demigods would sit at the other. It would be the go-to seating arrangement until parentages were revealed. After that, the gods would spread out and the children could sit next to their parents if they chose.

The group from the kitchen had rejoined everyone else. It was only the group from the archery range that was missing.

"What's taking them so long?" Travis groaned, lifting his head to stare at the ceiling.

There seemed to be constellations on the ceiling, like in Grand Central Station.

"They probably decided to walk," Annabeth answered. "I imagine flashing back would be dangerous for a demigod."

With that, Annabeth returned to her conversation with Katie. The two were talking under their breath, so no one knew what they were talking about.

Travis sighed and placed his chin on the table, staring blankly across at Percy's plate.

That was the wrong thing to do because Lady Hera narrowed her eyes from her seat next to Zeus at the head of the table.

She called out sternly, her voice not raised but still able to be carried over the length of the table.

"Young man, remove your head from the table."

Travis bolted back into a sitting position. Turning to face the queen, he squeaked out an apology.

The Goddess of Marriage nodded and returned her attention to the conversation she was having with her sisters.

Connor grinned at his older brother.

Despite the both of them being so similar, Travis was certainly the more impatient of the two. Of course, Connor was only marginally better in comparison.

Plus it was amusing to see his older brother scolded by the queen.

Connor turned his gaze from his brother and looked to his right.

"So what did you end up making anyway?" Connor asked.

Alessa looked back at him with a small smile.

"We went with an Italian menu."

Nico turned away from his conversation with Theresa to look at Alessa. He had a blank look on his face but a practically begging look in his eyes.

"Please tell me you didn't just make spaghetti and meatballs or chicken alfredo."

If Nico was being honest, there was a point where he didn't mind either dish. But that was before he started to regain his memories. Now he doesn't like them as much.

Alessa looked him dead in the eye with a raised eyebrow.

"If I did that, my Nonna would disown me. I do have to confess that we made some more American and fusion dishes, though."

"Your Italian as well?" Nico asked with a strange look in his eyes.

The Lord of the Underworld and his wife looked at the goth fourteen-year-old and the brunette with wavy hair. The demigods did not notice the couple due to the lack of attention.

So without realizing it, Alessa gave the first clue to a demigod's identity in the group.

"I'm not from Italy like you and your sister, but my Nonna is. She and her family moved here a few years after the Korean war when she was six."

Nico's face fell at the mention of Bianca, but he nodded and continued with the conversation.

Lady Persephone studied Nico's features for a good minute or two with narrowed-eyes. She seemed to connect the dots as a look flashed in her eyes, and she slowly turned to look at her husband.

The God of the Dead met his wife's gaze.

"We are talking later, be happy my mother is absorbed with her own conversation."

Hades' eyes widened slightly and turned back to the Italian-born demigod with rapt attention. It took him a moment, but he realized that his wife's words rang true. It was a good thing that his sisters were all having what appeared to be a very engaging conversation.

"What did you make then?" Nico questioned.

Cassie sat up straighter and looked over with a big grin.

"Considering that this could be considered a special occasion, we decided to follow the traditional Italian meal structure that Alessa's family uses for holidays, birthdays, and special occasions. Except instead of the nine or ten courses, we shortened it to only five."

Percy, Connor, Travis, Clarisse, and Annabeth all looked disbelievingly at Katie, who simply nodded. Nico, however, had a thoughtful look on his face.

"...But that's not answering the question of what you made..." Dove pointed out with a sigh.

Cassie laughed nervously and turned sheepishly to the head counselor of cabin four.

"Katie? Could you tell them? I'm afraid if I do, I will probably just start rambling."

With a nod, the daughter of Demeter turned to the present half-bloods. As Katie was about to speak, however, Lady Artemis and the Archery group arrived.

"Whoa..." Will breathed in disbelief as he entered the room.

The demigods all had their jaws drop. The room had marble pillars like the rest of the building. The floors were made out of brown mosaic tiles with gold accents. The ceiling at first seemed to look like constellations were painted on it. However, both Seth and Armani quickly realized that it was enchanted to show the night sky.

Like the throne room, however, the marble pillars had a wall built between each one. There were golden curtains closed over some walls, but every other wall had the curtains parted to reveal the wall behind. The walls had a picture of a different symbol.

The wall directly across from the entrance was behind the head of the table. It housed pictures of a lightning bolt and a Diadem.

They were symbols of Zeus and Hera, respectively.

The two symbols were separated by a curtain, closed over the middle of the wall between two marble pillars. The wall next to the Diadem housed pictures of a cornucopia, an owl, a combination crescent moon and bow and arrow, a rose, and a thyrsus.

The symbols of Demeter, Athena, Artemis, Aphrodite, and Dionysus.

The wall next to the lightning bolt housed pictures of a trident, a set of bronze armor holding a spear, a sun and lyre combination, an anvil and hammer combination, and a caduceus.

They were the symbols of Poseidon, Ares, Apollo, Hephaestus, and Hermes.

In front of each symbol stood a sculpture of the god or goddess it represented.

When Armani noticed this, he sighed slightly in exasperation, letting out a barely audible:

"Of course"

Lady Artemis strolled past the stunned demigods and continued further into the room. She called back towards the demigods as she walked to the empty seat next to Athena.

"Well? Are you all coming to sit and eat? Or will you just be standing there gawking?"

That seemed to snap the group out of their marveling.

Thalia started to follow after the goddess but stopped after a second, a puzzled look on her face.

Seth stepped next to her, nudging her slightly on her arm to get her to look at him.

"What's wrong?"

Thalia responded below her breath but just loud enough for him to hear.

"I'm not sure if I should reveal my position as a hunter."

Seth let out a hum and glanced around the room.

"Is that why you are not wearing the circlet?"

"I was advised by Lady Artemis to not wear it during my time in the past. As Zoe Nightshade is still alive and holding the title as her lieutenant."

"To avoid questions about her death? Or to avoid a potential dispute between the two of you?"

Thalia let out a sigh, unsure of the true reason herself.

"I'm not sure. She had said it was to avoid confusion with the hunters, but they're not here."

Seth caught Armani's eye from across the room, the younger of the two was giving him a questioning look.

"It's my personal suggestion, that you take the time before you introduce yourself fully….and view it as a vacation. I'm sure you love to serve your goddess, but how often do you get the chance to just spend time with your friends?"

Thalia just seemed to look more conflicted by Seth's advice. She looked up to face Seth, but the only response she got was a nod towards the table.

Armani and the demigods were looking at the two of them questioningly. They were the only two still by the door, and the gods were starting to notice. Lady Hera was looking at the two with a raised eyebrow, both Athena and Artemis were sending glances their way, and Apollo and Hermes were just looking at them confused and impatient.

Thalia blushed slightly in embarrassment and started to hurry as fast as she could without running towards the table, Seth took long strides to follow after her.

Surprisingly, dinner went off without any problems.

All demigods were well behaved, not wanting to anger the deities in the room.

It seemed the gods and goddesses didn't want to argue in front of the demigods because they were separated into groups that got along with each other.

Or at least Seth assumed so because the gods and goddesses with the obvious rivalries were separated.

Katie, Theresa, Cassandra, and Alessa had just gone around the table serving everyone dessert.

That confused the demigods greatly. Why didn't Lady Hera, Demeter, or Hestia summon the food? They were goddesses, they didn't need to wait for the girls to serve everyone.

Katie must have noticed the confusion as she placed a dessert plate in front of Clarisse.

"It seems that during this 'family bonding' period, Lady Hera wishes for the gods and goddesses to attempt to do mortal tasks without their powers."

That surprised Thalia.

"Lady Hera did?"

A small smile formed on Katie's face.

"Lady Hestia suggested it first. Lady Hera figured it wouldn't hurt to try."

"Huh," Thalia said as she turned to the plate in front of her.

The plate had a glass on top, inside the glass were three different layers. The bottom was white, the middle was light brown, and the top was dark brown. It was topped with whip cream and chocolate shavings.

"Whip cream, my favorite." Seth thought.

"What is this?" Armani asked across from Seth.

Theresa answered as she sat back down next to him, surprisingly she wasn't stuttering as she spoke. However, she was still soft-spoken.

"Panna Cotta. It's an Italian dessert made of sweetened cream. Each layer has a different flavor."

"It looks amazing." Percy complemented.

The demigods all agreed with Percy's assessment. Thalia, Will, and Nico turned to Percy, noticing something that caused them to hold back laughs.

"Is he drooling?"

Annabeth, noticing the drool as well, nudged Percy's arm with her elbow. She watched fondly as he wiped it away with his wrist, before addressing the four girls who took part in the cooking.

"Dinner was great by the way, thank you."

The four girls all smiled at her, Katie chuckling as she sat next to Theresa.

"No need to thank us," Cassandra waved off with a laugh. "We all had to eat after all."

Katie spoke up next.

"Besides, we barely did any of the work."

The conversation died down as everyone started on dessert.

"So what now?" Nico suddenly asked. "What are we even supposed to do for the next two days? We're supposed to bond with the gods and goddesses, but how?"

It seems the Deities in the room had overheard the emo teen's question as they all shared a look between themselves. None of them, except Lady Hestia, had thought about how they would bond with the demigods, some were even questioning if they could get out of it.

After all, they were the supreme beings, why did they need to bond with demigods?

Many found it bad enough they had to endure the 'family bonding' gatherings with just each other.

Lady Athena turned to address the demigods.

"We shall discuss this in the morning. When you all have finished, you will be escorted to your sleeping quarters for the night."

"I am getting pretty tired," Ashlynn muttered to herself. Dove, Travis, Clarisse, and Connor all nodded in agreement.

The demigods all returned to their desserts, wondering what tomorrow will bring.

The gods/goddesses and demigods reading 'When The Moon Fades' will begin after another chapter or two.

I started posting chapters for the Story my OC's belong to, so if you would like to check that out please go right ahead.

I'm aiming for the next chapter for this story to be posted by the end of 04/2021.

My OC's story will be updated in a week or two.