(Chapter uploaded: September 12, 2021)

Chapter 2: To Camp or not to Camp?

(Author's Note)

Hello guys, gals and non-binary pals, and welcome to the second chapter of Daughters Of Olympus book 1! Thank you *SO* much for all the support, reviews, follows and faves on ch1. Y'all are amazing! I'll try to make this quick, but I have a few announcements/things to say first:

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Chapter 2: To Camp or not to Camp?

[The Next Day, Jackson Household, Chicago, Illinois]

"Why the hell do I have to learn this?" Astraea whined dramatically, dropping the heavy textbook on the table. "Ugh! I'd rather stab out my own eyes with a rusty spoon."

Aurora paused her own studying to indulge her sisters' dramatics. "Thanks for that graphic image, Astraea. What are you even reading?"

"I dunno."

Aurora's brow raised. "You don't know?"

"Uh-huh."

"How do you not know?"

"Cus' it makes no freaking sense."

Aurora let out a sigh and took her sister's book. "Fine, what do you need help with?"

"I can't solve problem seventeen, it literally makes no sense—."

"X is 42." Her sister cut her off.

Astraea grabbed the math book back, "How did you solve it so fast?"

She shrugged, "I passed Geometry like a year and a half ago. Grandma Athena thinks I can try some Trigonometry this year."

Astraea groaned loudly, dropping her head onto the table. "Just rub your genius in my face, why don't you?"

Aurora rolled her eyes, ignoring her sister. "I'm sure she can help you too. Isn't she coming back on Monday to tutor you again?"

"I can't."

"Can't what?"

"Ask her."

"And why not?"

"Because she already went over it yesterday with me for twenty minuets." Astraea mumbled, sitting back up straight. "And I told her I got it just so we could move on to something else. Then she had to give me an even harder problem to solve!"

"...So you lied to Grandma Athena that you figured out how to do it and now you're too embarrassed to do it?"

"I'm not embarrassed!" Astraea defended herself. "I just don't wanna go over it again."

"You're right. I apologize, that was uncalled for."

"That's better. I forgive—."

"You don't want to ask her because you're scared of looking dumb."

Astraea let out a low growl. "I ain't scared of shit."

Aurora shrugged as she continued her studying. "Then prove it."

"Fine, fine! I'll ask her for help on Monday." Astraea grabbed her book with a deathgrip and slammed it open, violently turning the pages until she found the right one. Mumbling under her breath about her 'know-it-all' little sister the whole time.

Aurora gave a small victorious smile, smiling down her own textbook with the intent of getting in another few hours of study before dinner. She knew she could easily move to another place in their mom's private library to study in peace away from Astraea, but after the bad fight yesterday between Astraea and their dad, they hadn't spoken much. Aurora knew her sister wouldn't admit it, but she could tell she was feeling lonely and needed to be around someone, so she decided to sacrifice some of her study time to spend with her sister.

Aurora was only given three minutes of silence before her sister spoke up again. "He still hasn't spoken with me. Not really. I mean, he lectured me about World War I for an hour this morning in class, but did he even bring up our fight? Nope." She loudly popped the 'p', rolling her eyes and putting her book down.

"Don't get me wrong, I don't wanna fight again, but I can't stand him acting like nothing happened."

"I don't think he's acting like nothing happened." Aurora told her, reluctantly putting her own book down. "You didn't see him after you left, he looked like he was about to cry."

"Pfft. Dad doesn't cry."

"He does when he's really sad."

"And why would he be sad?" Astraea all but demanded. "He's the one who's kept me locked up my entire life and won't let me have any friends or fly or anything."

"...Because he realized that he was making you miserable… And because he thinks you might… hate him."

That made Astraea pause. She hadn't really considered how her outburst would make her dad feel, at least not like that. She let out a breath through her nose, moving her book away absentmindedly.

"Well, if he decides to talk to me, then I'll apologize."

"...He really does feel bad, you know."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. I feel shitty about it too."

Deciding to change the subject, Astraea asked, "Maybe mom'll actually be able to convince him to let me go to school this year. I'll be a Freshman. I don't wanna miss out on all of high school just 'cus he's paranoid."

"You are literally the only person I know who is excited to go to school. It's not as good as you think it is." Her voice lowered and her eyes dropped. "I'd rather just learn at home with dad and Grandma Athena."

Astraea noticed her sisters' change of demeanor and leaned forward, keeping her voice down despite them being alone. "Those assholes still messing with you at school? 'Cus I'd be happy to kick their asses again."

The last time Astraea caught word of her sister's troubles with bullies, she risked it all to sneak out of the house while her dad was away and sought them out. She remembered following the boys and cornering them in an alley, then nothing.

Nothing but red.

When she came to, one of the boys was laying on the pavement in a puddle of blood and vomit, screaming in agony as he clenched his face in breathless anguish. Her knuckles quaked in pain, but it didn't matter. She only cared about hurting him for hurting her sister.

It wasn't until the next morning at the police station that she learned that he shattered his orbital bone, fractured his jaw and broke several others in his face. The boy would most likely suffer permanent damage to his vision on top of a long and painful recovery process. It was only with the aid of her parents' connections and having gods as relatives that kept Astraea out of juvie and kept her record clean.

She didn't mean to hurt him so much, of course. But she'd be lying to herself if she said that she didn't want him to hurt. Because she did. And that worried her sometimes.

"It's nothing, I promise." Aurora mumbled, snapping Astraea out of her thoughts. But she didn't believe her, however. Aurora may be stupidly clever, but she was a terrible liar.

"Whatever. But if I ever see anyone messing with you at school when I finally get to go, I'll teach them to leave you alone."

"Just please promise me that if we ever go to school together, that you won't pick a fight with someone and get expelled on the first day. I don't want to be known for having a crazy older sister that got arrested for picking a fight with the janitor."

"I don't make promises I don't intend to keep, you know that." Astraea smiled.

Aurora had to cover her mouth to keep from chuckling in disbelief. "You know, sometimes I don't get how you're always so ready to fight someone. Like, I'm literally the only person you talk to on a weekly basis besides our parents and family. "

"I dunno, maybe it's just my godly blood. Heracles was always getting into fights, so it makes sense." Astraea flexed dramatically. "With muscles like these, I have to use them sometime."

Aurora snorted, rolling her eyes. "Maybe you should try using your brain sometime."

"Fuck. You." Astraea laughed. "You're just jealous that you don't look as good as me."

"If you think looking like a boy makes you look good, then you must be crazy." Aurora joked.

"Why you little—." Astraea flew over the table and trapped her sister in a headlock. "Say that again, I dare you!"

"You look like a boy!" Aurora challenged, giggling.

"I'm gonna become an only child if you don't take it back!" Astraea squeezed a little harder, shaking her sister back and forth, causing her to laugh despite herself.

"Alright, alright! I take it back. I take it back!" Aurora struggled in vain to get away. "Just let me go!"

Astraea gave her sister a big squeeze before letting her go. "Maybe now you'll watch what ya say, huh?"

Her sister sprinted back to her chair just in case, smiling. "Maybe."

"Pfft, you're lucky you're adorable, 'cus I've been this close to snapping you in two forever now."

Aurora batted her eyelashes and swept her curls back dramatically. "Awe, you really do care."

"You sarcastic little shit."

"You should be careful, dad might hear you."

"Nah," Astraea shrugged, deciding to stay standing. "He knows it's a lost cause to keep me from cussing. He lets me spend too much time with aunt Thalia."

"Ah, makes sense." Aurora nodded in understanding.

"Mom doesn't seem to mind, I think. But she warned me about cussing in front of grandma Sally if I want to survive."

"Speaking of aunt Thalia, do you know she'll be coming by to visit?"

Astraea shrugged, walking further into the spacious library slash personal study that belonged to their mom. "She usually comes by every summer to spend a week with us, so it should be any time now."

Aurora followed her sister, forgetting about her studying and instead settling into a several millennia old couch. She knew it was her sister's favorite, since it belonged to her mother. Their mom said it was one of the most priceless things in her collection, and she only let them sit on it if they promised to be careful. And because of how much it made Astraea feel closer to her mother, of course.

"What kind of story do you think she'll have for us this time?" Aurora asked. "I wonder what kind of Monsters she's fighting right now with her Hunters. A dracon, maybe?"

"No idea." Astraea said, settling into the old couch with uncharacteristic grace. "But whatever it is can't be cooler than the Elder Hydra she killed last summer."

"You're probably right."

"Hey," Astraea suddenly said. "Have you had any luck at using your water powers? Dad said they should be kicking in anytime now, right?"

Aurora's eyes dropped along with her tiny shoulders. "...No. I haven't been able to control a single drop of water."

Astraea looked confused. "But isn't dad coaching you everyday after school? He trains me to fight while you're at school. That's what he told me."

"...I just can't do it."

"Because you're scared of them." Astraea said seriously, her joking from earlier gone.

"I'm not scared of them. It's more complicated than that—."

"Yeah, you kinda are." Astraea fixed her with a pointed look. "...But that's okay. Because I understand… The storm scared me too."

"Y-you want to know the worst part?" Aurora all but whispered. "...Dad keeps telling me how I'm going to be stronger than him one day. How I will be able to c-control the water and earth… How I could even gain a Domain one day… But every time I try to control water— nothing."

Aurora turned away from her sister, looking to where their dad's old sword Riptide hung on the wall, shattered and broken from his last battle on the Promised Day. "I'm the daughter of Percy Jackson, one of the strongest demigods to ever live. One who could control the seas… but I can't even make a ripple.

"...I'm afraid that he's going to realize that I can't do it, that it just won't come with time like he thinks, and he'll be disappointed in me." She brought her knees to her chest in a hug as ters freely fell from her eyes.

"Dad would never be disappointed in you." Astraea warped her little sister in a giant hug, squeezing her tight. She spoke, her voice light and comforting as she joked. "Think about it, Aurora, he'll be too busy being disappointed in me because I can't swim. I have an Olympic swimmer as a dad and coach, and I can't even float."

Aurora couldn't help but give the slightest of smiles. "Yeah, you really do suck at swimming." Her voice warming, ending in a chuckle. "You sink like a rock."

"Don't worry, Aurora. Dad probably wouldn't even care if you never get water powers. You're already smart like mom, you don't even need them."

"...Yeah, but he's so sure about it—."

"Well, I hate to break it to ya, sis, but dad ain't perfect. He could be wrong."

But Aurora didn't look convinced, and Astraea could tell. "What?"

"...I'm not sure. But sometimes, I swear I can feel the sea calling me— like I get this pulling feeling in my gut, but then nothing happens when I try to do it."

"Huh, that's weird." Astraea was stumped. She didn't know much about controlling water beyond what their dad had told them. And there was only one place she could think of where Aurora could learn to harness her power. "Maybe try asking mom to convince dad into letting us go to Camp this year? Chiron is supposed to be the best trainer in the world, right? Maybe he'd have ideas."

Aurora shrugged. "Or maybe Aunt Kym."

"Maybe her."

It was silent between them for a few minutes. Each of them thinking and reflecting on what they had talked about. That is, until Aurora suddenly broke the silence. "...H-hey, sis?" Her voice was hesitant and her stutter was back, so Astraea knew it had to be serious.

"Yeah?"

"...W-what you said about being afraid of t-the storm. Was it the storm t-that scared you, or dad?"

Astraea's eyes went wide. Turning to her sister, she asked, "What do you mean? Why would I be scared of dad?"

"...I g-guess asking if you're afraid of him isn't right." She mused to herself, thinking. "I guess it's more accurate to ask if you were afraid of his power?"

This time Astraea was the one to hesitate. "...You mean when he battled the storm?"

Aurora nodded. "Seeing dad battle that storm and saving all those people was— awe inspiring and impressive, and I'm proud to be his daughter for it, and I understand why he did it… But knowing that that power is inside of me somewhere, just ready to break out at any time…"

"What?" Astraea prompted.

The blood drained from her face and her eyes dropped. Biting her lip, she said. "It scared me."

Continuing, she said. "Being gifted with the power that could just as easily be used to protect and save people as to hurt and kill people…." She hugged herself again. Tears fully broke from her eyes and she buried her face in her knees.

Astraea didn't know what to say, how could she. And it made her heart ache at not being able to help her little sister. So she only did what she knew how to do, she wrapped her sister in a big hug.

After a few minutes Astraea rose to her feet and helped her sister up. "Come on, Aurora, that's enough depressing talk for one day. Let's go downstairs, I need to hit something."

"...Maybe I'll try practicing controlling water before dad gets done with dinner." Aurora mused as she followed her sister.

Astraea bumped her sisters' shoulder as they walked side by side down the two flights of stairs. "You'll get it in time, Aurora. Dad says you can't force it. It'll come when it's ready."

They reached the ground floor and were about to pass by the kitchen where they could hear their dad hard at work on dinner when Aurora suddenly elbowed her sister, whispering frantically under her breath, "Your wings!"

"Shit." Astraea's eyes went wide as she willed them to hide in her back.

"Let's try to ease up on the language, huh?" Their dad smiled as they passed. "You two heading downstairs?"

"Yes." Aurora answered for her sister.

Their dad turned around and buried his head in the fridge, looking for something. "Okay, I just got started on dinner, but don't tire yourselves out too much. You still have practice after dinner."

"...Will mom be home for dinner?" Aurora asked hopefully as they paused by the door that led down to the basement.

Their dad hesitated. "Not sure. Her new project at work is really important and it's taking up a lot of her time. But she'll try her best to make it tonight."

Astraea continued walking, mumbling under her breath. "More important than us." Before disappearing downstairs.

~Page Break~

After dinner found Percy Jackson coaching his daughters in their basement that he had converted into a state-of-the art home gym complete with an indoor pool when he was preparing for the 2012 and 2016 Summer Olympics.

He had a major advantage being a demigod son of Poseidon, but he still had to be in and stay in peak shape to compete on such a level. The annual Olympic Games at Camp were nothing compared to the level of competitiveness he faced in London and Rio.

His mom might not have liked that his sole reason for competing was money, but even she understood that he was doing it to make sure that he would be able to support and take care of his girls and wife long into the future. And several choice sponsorships ensured that they had enough money to live comfortably after his retirement in 2016 to look after their girls full time.

Astraea may use the home gym more than him nowadays, but he still kept in shape and exercised everyday. Speaking of his eldest, he found his eyes travelling to where she was beating on a heavy bag with a little more force than necessary. Or normal. She was still mad at him, he knew that. But he didn't know how to apologize and explain to her why he kept her hidden at home. He knew he could never tell her, though. It was too dangerous, if she was anything like her father, then knowing would only spur her into action.

So until he figured out what to do, he'd try his best to keep her happy and oblivious to the truths of who her father really was and how he died.

Shaking his head of his thoughts, he turned to watch his youngest who was doing laps in the pool at a speed that was impressive for a mortal her age, but not nearly close to where he knew she could go. While he passed effortlessly through the water, she still forced her way through. Her form was perfect, not a single action was wasted, but she still hadn't found that connection with the water yet.

And maybe she never would, he didn't know. Aurora was as smart as her mother, so maybe she would never develop water powers like he assumed. And hoped.

"I know that look, Seaweed Brain. What's the matter?"

Percy greeted his wife with a hug and a kiss to her cheek. "How was work? Busy, I assume."

"Always busy." Annabeth returned the kiss before following his eyes to their girls. "Sorry I missed dinner again, but we're really getting close to sealing the deal for a new skyscraper in NYC. If we get this deal, then I might be finally able to open my own architecture firm in the next year or two."

"It's okay, Beth. You'd be here if you could. Besides, this is really important to you. The girls understand, even if they don't like it."

"I don't like missing dinners either. I get home after they go to bed and leave before they get up. Sometimes I feel like I don't see them anymore." She bit her lip.

Percy wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry, Beth, the girls know you love them. If you can get next weekend off, we can all do something as a family."

"That'd be nice." She smiled. "But, before we talk about that, we have something really serious to discuss."

"Uh-oh, am I in trouble?" Percy joked. "I didn't do it, no one saw me, and you can't prove a thing."

Annabeth rolled her eyes affectionately. "This is serious, babe."

Percy didn't need to be told twice. He nodded before leading the two of them to a couch they had at the far side of the gym. Close enough to watch the girls, but far enough not to be overheard.

"What's up?"

"I think that the girls should go to Camp this summer."

Percy's response was instantaneous. "No."

"Percy, just hear me out—."

"If they go to Camp, then I can't protect them anymore. They could be sent out on a Quest, or get hurt in capture the flag, or people could find out who Astraea's parents are. The only people who know are my mom and Paul, Thalia, Nico, Artemis, Apollo, Athena, Hera and Heracles and Hebe. If Astraea goes to Camp, then the Campers or even the other gods could find out who her parents are."

"And would that really be that bad? We could at least tell them—."

"Tell them what?" He cut her off. "That her father attacked Camp, killed two Campers, then killed Ares? All of Olympus besides a few we trust think that Leonidas was planning on destroying Olympus and killing all the gods. And what about the fact that all of Olympus and Camp think that Leonidas killed Zeus? Beth, you are the only one I've told the truth; that I was the one who killed Zeus…"

Percy shook his head. "No. If Astraea goes to Camp, then they could figure out who her parents were. And if that happens, then there's nothing stopping the other gods or even Campers from trying to hurt… or even kill, her." His voice shook, tears threatening to break from his eyes. "No, I won't put her in any danger. I promised Leonidas to protect her."

"I understand that, Percy. But keeping her hidden away in our house isn't what Leonidas would have wanted. Nor is it what's best for Astraea." She put a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Astraea may be better suited to protect herself than most her age, but if she were to ever be put in actual danger, I want her to be best prepared to protect herself.

"And what about Aurora? She is still holding herself back, you said it yourself. She isn't any closer to being able to use her abilities than when she was twelve. And if you can't teach her how to connect with them, then the best and only place to send her to develop her half-blood abilities is Camp. Chiron is the best trainer of heroes in history, if anyone can teach her how to control water, then it would be him."

"But I don't want my girls to become heroes, Beth." Percy stressed. "You of all people know what the life of a hero is like. The girls will face nothing but hardships, pain, loss and death. And as their father, I can't put them through that."

"And no good father would want to put their children through that, babe. But you know as well as I that the Fates don't care how much you try, you just can't fight Fate. And the life of a half-blood is never an easy one." She paused to turn his chin to face her, looking deep into his eyes. "And the sooner you accept that our girls are going to grow up despite your wishes, the sooner you can start preparing them for the real world.

"The Greek world is the only place of danger for them, Percy. With those Zealots running around, no half-blood is safe in the mortal world. Even if the Monsters are all but gone, the streets are still no longer safe from those that wish us harm.

"I know that you only want our girls to be safe— and I love you for it, but while doing so, you're making them miserable."

Percy's eyes widened, his heart stopping. "I-I'm not—."

"Yes, you are." Annabeth gestured over to where their girls were still exercising, none the wiser. "Astraea doesn't have any friends. She is almost fifteen and she has never been allowed to have a friend, much less a best friend or boyfriend. And for a child her age, they are important. You don't let her out of the house without you, and even then she only leaves two or three times a month. When she was a toddler I didn't have a problem with it, she had wings after all and it was a risk to show them in public. But now she has full control over them, and you still won't let her leave the house.

"She's never been to school, or a real doctor, never been to a movie, or an amusement park, or on vacation, or to the beach, or the mall, or anything that a normal fourteen year old girl is supposed to do." Annabeth let out a long breath, calming herself down. She didn't want to yell at her husband, but she was getting really frustrated lately with his overprotectiveness for their daughters.

"Percy, I know that you are only doing what you think is best for Astraea, but you've taken it too far. If her last fight with you is any indication, then it will only get worse as time goes on, and I cannot bear to watch you two split apart. So, please, Percy, for my sake and for Astraea and Aurora's, think about what I am telling you. And consider letting them go to Camp this summer. And, after that, if there are no incidents, let Astraea go to school in the fall and have a regular childhood."

Percy cursed, tears running down his face. All he could think about was how he only wanted what was best for his girls, only to find out that he was making them miserable. And if he didn't change soon, then they might hate him forever.

"I only wanted to protect Astraea…" He cried. "I promised Leonidas as he was dying to protect and look after her… But now I see that he would be furious with me for how I raised her."

With a nod to himself, he let out a breath and composed himself. "You're right, Beth, as always. I haven't been the best father to our girls as I can, and that kills me. So I'm going to think about what you told me— as well as what Astraea said, I promise."

Annabeth smiled. "That's all I ask, Seaweed Brain."

"There's just one person whose advice I want to get first before I make my decision. I want to see what my mom thinks."

~Page Break~

"O Fleecy, do me a solid." Percy waited for the mist to disappear as he saw his mom's living room form before his eyes. Her and Paul's new house was easily several times larger and nicer than their old apartment, and Percy couldn't think that his mom deserved it more. That's why he bought it for her and Paul on her birthday a few years ago. It was the least he could do for everything she did for him as a child. She tried to reject the gift at first, and in the end it took Paul's convincing to make her accept it.

Paul appeared in the IM first, he was busy going over some papers at the kitchen table when he saw Percy. His eyes lit up like they always did, and it made Percy feel somewhat better. Even if Paul wasn't his real dad, he was a great man and a member of the family in his eyes. Someone who he tried to emulate now that he was a father.

It didn't take Paul long to notice the look on Percy's face. His smile dropped slightly but it was replaced by a supportive expression. "Hello, my boy. What can I do to help?"

"Hey, Paul. Sorry to drop in like this so late, but I was hoping to get some advice."

Paul's smile peaked. "Your wife is always right, even when she is not. That is my greatest advice to you, my boy."

Percy chuckled without humor. "Thanks, Paul. But I already learned that years ago."

"Then you are far smarter than I. As I'm still learning it myself." His eyes twinkled for a moment, before studying Percy. Finally, he let out a breath and gave him a reassuring smile. "But I assume you didn't call to get marriage advice from me, did you? Something big is troubling you, something only your mom is equipped to handle. Wait there, I'll get her for you."

A few moments later, his mom appeared in the IM. "Percy, honey, are you okay?"

"Mom, am I a bad father?"

His mom nearly crawled through the IM. "No, you're not! Why would you ask that?" When he didn't answer for nearly a minute, she spoke again. "Percy, dear, what's wrong? What happened?"

So Percy told her about his fight with Astraea, and what Annabeth told him. As well as how he had been hiding Astraea away for most of her life in order to protect her. They spoke for nearly two hours, Percy unloading all of his concerns and fears onto her. It felt good to get it all off his chest. And in the end, he had a better idea of what he needed to do.

After he finished they both sat in silence for a while, his mom thinking about her response. And finally, she looked up to him with her comforting smile. "Percy, you've fallen into the trap that all parents face at one time or another."

"What's that?" He asked, hoping for an answer.

"You are afraid of your children growing up. And you're holding them back because of it. Percy, I understand that being a parent of a half-blood can be really scary at times, but there comes a time that we must accept that in order for them to grow up and achieve their fates, that we must let them go.

"But letting them go is the hardest part of being a parent. That instinct inside of us is always there, always wanting to protect them with everything we have, but at the same time, it holds them back. And our children will never achieve their fates or dreams if we hold them back, much less be happy."

She gave him the same smile that kept him going as a child, the one that always reassured him and kept him strong. "Percy, you are a wonderful father because you love and care for your girls with everything you have, but you are holding them back. Don't forget that children need freedom to grow. If they never have chances to make mistakes, then they will never grow. And if you keep them safe all their lives, then what will happen if you are no longer around to care for them? What will you do when Astraea turns eighteen? Will you still force her to stay at home in order to keep her safe? What if she finds someone and wants to get married? Will you make her and her husband live with you?

"How will you know she's ready to take care of herself if you always take care of her? How will she grow into a competent young woman if you are holding her back?"

Percy didn't know what to say. He just sat there absorbing all his mother had told him. He thanked her for the advice, wished her and Paul well, and closed the IM. He sat in his office for another hour, silently thinking over what he was going to do. He had several things in mind, but there was one thing he needed to do first.

Apologize to Astraea.

~Page Break~

It was well past eleven, but Percy knew his eldest would be awake, so he knocked on her door, but was met with silence. After knocking a few times and calling out, he tested the doorknob to find it surprisingly unlocked. He opened it hesitantly, calling out again. Walking into the spacious pink-clad room, he didn't see any sign of her. But from the open window along the far wall, he knew where to find her.

He climbed out of the window and onto the roof, where he found her hunched over, knees to her chest and frantically trying to wipe away a tear.

"So, this is where you go off to, huh? Pretty nice view."

"What do ya want, dad?" She mumbled, looking away from him. "I'm not in the mood to talk right now."

He let out a sigh. "Then you don't have to talk if you don't want to, but, please, just listen. I want to apologize."

"...What for?" She asked, pretending she didn't know. She wasn't going to make this easy for him.

"For not paying attention to how I was making you feel. For ignoring your wellbeing and happiness in favor of your safety."

He gave her a sad look, one that made her heart clench. "Since the day I first laid eyes on you thirteen years ago, I promised to take care of you the best I could. To give you the safe, fun, loving childhood that I never got. To love you every second of every day, and to make sure that you knew it… but, as I've been learning, I haven't done the best job of it the last few years."

He looked to her with pleading eyes, "Can you ever forgive me, Astraea? For making you feel like I was hiding you away? For not taking your wishes to heart? For not listening to you when you needed it most? ...Can you forgive me for failing you as a father?"

Astraea's own self-control broke, her tough façade crumbling, tears streaming from her eyes as she embraced him. "I'm sorry too, dad. For what I said about you loving Aurora more than me. Because I know it's not true! I forgive you, so, please, forgive me too."

Tears fell from his eyes as he held her, a relieved smile forming on his lips. "Of course I forgive you, Astraea. We both said and did things that we shouldn't have. Things we didn't mean. And I want you to know that I promise to do better, as a father. For you, and for your little sister too. I won't just focus on keeping you safe, but on keeping you happy."

He continued to hold her as she wept, silently running his fingers through her hair like he did when she was little. After she was able to calm herself, he kissed her hair before looking up to the sky. "Now I see why you come out here. They look really peaceful up there."

She followed his gaze to where her parents' constellation sat in the heavens. She bit her lip as she felt her emotions rise back up to the surface. "Dad?"

"Yeah, my little star?"

"Can you tell me another story about them? About my parents? One you haven't told me before?"

He scratched his chin in thought. "One I haven't told you before, huh? Do you want to hear a funny one, a sweet one, or a serious one?'

She thought about it for a few seconds, her hair blowing in the light breeze. "...A funny one? Or maybe a sweet one, about my mom?"

His sea-green eyes brightened. "Well then, how about a sweet one that's kinda funny? Your father may have been a rather serious guy most of the time, but he sure as Hades did get into a few hilarious situations.

"Okay, this one he told me a few months after we first met. And it happened several months before the two of us met. When your mother was pregnant with you, actually."

He felt himself smile as her face lit up with glee. "Your father told me that while your mom was as sweet as can be, she was a really cranky pregnant lady. Just like your mom— don't tell her I said that." He gave her a wink, which made her smile. "And, one day before breakfast, as he was out working in the garden, he heard her yell from inside their cottage. Worrying something was wrong, he immediately dropped everything and ran inside… but bumped into her, knocking her tray of fresh homemade cheesecake onto the floor—."

"Wait," Astraea interrupted. "Why was she eating cheesecake before breakfast?"

Percy smiled, "Because women get these crazy cravings when they're pregnant. Could be cheesecake, could be ice cream and pickles, or it could be kelp and sardine smoothies like your mom—."

"Mom craved kelp and sardine smoothies? Gross." Astraea asked in disgust, a smile forming on her face.

"Yup, and boy did she love those disgusting things! It was kind of gross, actually. The apartment absolutely reeked of seaweed and sardines for three weeks. I may be a son of Poseidon, but even I couldn't stand the smell for very long. It nearly made me sick to my stomach.

"So anyway, Leonidas was stood in their tiny kitchen, looking around for trouble, when your mother looked down at the entire cheesecake on the floor and started crying. Just absolutely bawling like her horses had died. He tried to apologize, of course, and promised to make her more, but she just swatted him away, crying out "you murdered my beloved cheesecake, I hate you", over and over.'

Astraea broke out into laughter, wiping away a happy tear. Percy felt himself smile too, glad to see her happy again for the first time since their fight. Putting a comforting hand on her shoulder, he said, "It's good to see you smile again, Astraea. ...I was worried that it would be really bad between us for much longer. ...And, as your dad, there isn't a worse feeling than knowing that I hurt you and didn't even notice."

He pulled her in close, resting his chin on her hair. "All I can ask is for you to forgive me, and all I want from you going forward, is for you to always feel like you can talk to me. That you can tell me when I'm not being fair, that I'm not listening, that I'm worrying too much. ...That I'm making you feel unwanted."

Tears broke from his eyes again as he held her. "...I promised myself to be the father to you girls that I never had growing up… but I've failed that in the last couple of years. And it took you yelling at and breaking down in front of me to realize how I was making you feel…. And, for that, I have to apologize again." He gave her another big squeeze. "...So, can you ever forgive me, Astraea?"

She returned the hug immediately. "'Course, dad…. I love you."

His smile returned like it hadn't since he first laid eyes on her all those years ago. "O love you, too, Astraea."

To be continued

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(Author's Note:)

Welp, there's chapter 2 for ya. There was a lot of talking and info, and in Percy's POV too, but don't get used to that, okay? This is Astraea's story after all. Percy, Annabeth and all the main characters from the PJO & HOO series will take a back seat to Astraea, Aurora and all the new characters that will be introduced in later chapters and books. Think of the DOO series as less of a Percy Jackson series, and more of it's one series in the PJO universe.

Anywho, I'll try my best to get the third chapter out in under a month like this one, but no promises. I'm busy with work, life and trying to learn three languages, so I don't have as much free time as I did a few years ago.

For those who don't know, I started on FanFiction on Oct 18, 2016, almost FIVE years ago now. And I always try to do something for the anniversary every year, but I haven't had much time to plan this year, and frankly, I don't know what I want to do. So, if anyone has any ideas, like a short one-shot, a special post on Twitter or something, then, please, lemme know. I'll take any suggestions into consideration. Or should I just keep focusing on this story? Or perhaps put out chapter 1 of a story you've wanted for a while? Give me your thoughts in a Review or PM.

Have a good one,

Hephaestus

Fun Fact: Astraea has a HUGE appetite and can eat most guys under the table. It's actually kind of scary how much she can eat.

Question of the Day: 'If you could have ANY demigod or half-blood ability, what would it be and why?'

Next time: Constellations Make Poor Conversationalists