Updated: 4/2/2022

Warning: A Couple of Swear Words.

Chapter 21: Homecoming: (1)

Apollo was worried. Very worried. He hadn't seen his sister in 6 years. 6 years! Why you might ask. Well, he had been gone to spend a couple of weeks helping set Meg up. And when he got back, he learnt that his Father had sent Artemis on a top secret quest. And no matter what he did he couldn't get his Father to tell him about it. And he couldn't get a hold of Artemis. And when he did try, he got nothing and Zeus had laid into him.

He had even tried finding her in her Hunt, but Thalia had told him Artemis said she was going away on a quest for a while and that Thalia was in charge unto farther notice.

And damn it their LINK wasn't working. So, he didn't know if she was hurt or dead or anything! And it had sent him into a spin.

Athena and Hermes had to drag him out of it and Meg had to knock some sense into him. Trying to drill into him that Artemis was a grown woman and could look after herself.

But still Artemis was his Little Sister! His Twin! And this whole situation was unnatural!

But noooo nobody would listen to him. Or believe he had a point.

So, he had been stuck with no contact and it had been 6 bloody years and not a word or sighting of Artemis.

He was about ready to go on a rampage to find her when he heard a group of natural spirits gossiping with a couple of Goddesses.

"Yes, did you hear she is back"

"Looks like she was dragged through a bush backwards"

"Actually, it looks like she hasn't slept it 6 years"

"What do you think she was doing?"

"Damn I had Lady Artemis coming back it ten years in the pool. And last I heard the pool was several hundred drachmas large…"

Apollo's eyes widen hearing Artemis's name.

Arty was back? For real?

"What did you just say?" Apollo asks going over to them.

"Lord Apollo", they say eyes widening.

"Is Artemis back?" Apollo demands.

"Yeh she is", one stutters, "Saw her myself walking to the Throne Room in a foul mood"

"Are you sure?" Apollo asks.
"Pretty sure my Lord"

"Is she ok?" Apollo asks.
"We don't know. She looks like she has been in a fight, as she was limping and cradling her wrist and she was kind of cursing under her breath"

"Where did you last see her?" Apollo ask/demands.

"Throne Room", they say.

Apollo takes off towards the Throne Room. He had to see she was back for himself. He wasn't really watching where he was going and slammed right into someone.

"Sorry…", Apollo starts trying to move on.

He had slammed into an annoyed Hermes and Athena.
"What is the rush? We are meant to be going clubbing", Hermes tells him.

"Sorry have to cancel", Apollo says starting to rush off again.
"What has gotten into you?" Athena asks curiously.

"I heard Artemis is home. Have you seen her?" Apollo asks them.

"That is news to us. Are you sure?" Hermes asks.

"I am going to the Throne Room to find out", Apollo replies.

"Who said this anyway?" Athena asks as they move into step beside Apollo.

"A group of Natural Spirits and a couple of Goddesses", Apollo replies.
"Apollo", Athena sighs, "You can't take what they say at face value. They are probably mistaken"

"Not taking that chance", Apollo replies moving faster.

Athena and Hermes sigh and continue to follow. They knew they couldn't reason with him in this state. He had been worried about Artemis since he found out she was on a quest and uncontactable.

After all, could you blame him with what happened the last time she went on a quest/hunt?

They made it to the Throne Room in record time and Apollo barges it only to find Zeus arguing with Hera.
"What is going on here?" Zeus asks them looking annoyed by the interruption, "Did you have to barge in?"

"Is it true? Is she here?" Apollo asks eyes scanning the room trying to spot his sister.

Hera rolls her eyes at Apollo. Oh, course he would want to know about her.

Zeus sighs he really should have expected this. So, she didn't go to him like he told her too. Why wasn't he surprised?

"Father just tell him those nymphs were just messing with…", Hermes starts not believing that it was possible Artemis was back.
"She is back", Zeus replies interrupting Hermes rant.

Hermes and Athena's jaws drop, and Apollo's eyes widen and light up and he looks around again. Hoping for just a glimpse of her.
"Where is she?" Apollo asks.
"I told her to go and see you", Zeus replies, "Why can't my children listen to me?" he grumbles.

"Why is that? Besides that, fact I have been worried sick", Apollo asks.
"I am not getting in the middle of this. Just go and find her and make sure she actually listens to you", Zeus replies.

"Just tell him Zeus. So, he can stop annoying us", Hera replies.
"She had a little mishap on the way here", Zeus replies with a sigh.

"How bad?" Apollo asks worriedly.

"Not life threatening", Zeus replies.

"I wish", Hera grumbles.

Apollo glares at her with a little growl.

"She will probably be in her Temple Apollo. Why don't you go and find her?" Athena asks butting in before Apollo did something to Hera.

"And tell her she owes us a story and we will get her drinks to celebrate her coming home", Hermes suggests helping Athena.

With one last glare at Hera, he leaves to go and find her.

Just as Zeus says, "Don't do anything…", the door slams closed making a crack, "…rash"

Why couldn't his children listen to him?

Maybe he would have better luck next time…

Apollo's worry had only increased. Why had his Father told Artemis to come directly to him? Why hadn't she? What had been her mission?

He makes it to her Temple in record time and decides that because of the circumstances he would just walk in. She could kill him later.

Opening the Temple door, he found the warmth and light greeting him. Signalling she was home.

He could hear muttering coming from the lounge room.

"Arty?" he calls.

He heard a yelp, smash and a curse.
"What the fuck? Apollo?" he hears her say.

He was already rushing to the room. He found his sister sitting on her couch. A broken wine glass on the floor. Obviously having been dropped when he called out.

He looked into her tired silver eyes. He saw in those eyes she was tired. She looked annoyed and had a hint of pain in her eyes. He noticed she was cradling her arm. And had seemed to have had her leg up.

Obviously, she was injured and when he called out she jarred her injuries.

"Arty", he murmurs.

Artemis looked at her brother annoyed. Well kind of. She had only gotten back two hours ago. From the stupid quest her father had given her. Something she hadn't been too keen on. He had even the nerve to cut her off from everyone for 6 years.

Artemis had completed her quest early today and returned to Olympus having been ordered to report to her Father what happened.

And then he had the nerve to order her to the infirmary or to see her brother. Yes, she wanted to see him. But she just wanted to rest in her Temple.

She had missed her brother and had wanted to see him. But she was tried, sore and in need of a stiff drink after dealing with a f'ing idiot.

Artemis had gotten to her Temple finally not long ago to put her leg up and hopefully, maybe find some ice for her injuries. Have a glass of wine. And then she WAS going to call her Brother.

She just hadn't expected him to barge in.

Well maybe she should have expected it. But she was just so tired.

So, when he had called her name, he had startled her making her jump, jar her injuries and drop her drink.

Artemis looked up into those blue eyes and she could see he was worried. Artemis could tell he had obviously been running around trying to find her.

So, it was likely their Father had told him she had returned OR he heard it somewhere else. That she wouldn't be surprised of.

"Arty", she heard him murmur.

She hated to admit it, but she had missed that bloody nickname.

"Brother. Do you have to startle me?" Artemis asks a little annoyed, but she was secretly relieved.

"I wouldn't have startled you if you had come to me like Father said for you to do", Apollo replies pointing out the fact he HAD gone to their Father.

"Bugger", Artemis mutters.

Apollo kneels down in front of her. Being careful not to lean in glass and the wine. So, he could get a better look at her.

Artemis could basically smell and feel the worry pouring off him. Artemis used her good arm to squeeze HIS arm.

"I'm alright Brother", she says tiredly.

Apollo could tell she was going to be stubborn.

"Let me look. Where are you hurt?" Apollo tells her softly.

Artemis could tell he wasn't going to let this go. Rolling her eyes fondly she said, "My arm and leg. Maybe a couple of ribs. Did you have to make me spill my drink?"

"Don't change the subject. And anyway, you don't need a drink anyway", Apollo replies.

"If you knew the last few years, I have had you would agree", Artemis retorts stiffly.

"And whose fault would that be?" Apollo retorts sharply.

Artemis flinches. She HAD wanted to tell him. She didn't want the mental silence. She didn't like silence between them.

Apollo noticed the flinch and felt guilty. But he couldn't say anything yet. He didn't trust his voice. So, he summoned his first aid kit.

He lifts his hands and starts to work. He found her ankle and knee was sprained. And some muscle in her ankle was pulled. And her wrist was broken. With three ribs broken and a couple of cuts. A concussion too. How she got back home would be a mystery to him.

Artemis winces as he tends to her wounds. But she doesn't complain. He was helping her, and he was likely still really worried about her.

"Apoll…", she starts.

"It is fine you don't trust me Artemis", Apollo interrupts.

That shocked her.
"Who says I don't tru…"

"Everything", Apollo mutters tying the bandages.

He cleaned the cut and gave her some nectar mixed with a pain pill.

It was a second later that Artemis's good arm flashes out and grasps HIS wrist.

"Artemis what…?" Apollo asks shocked.

And suddenly HIS mind was full of images. And he realised she had opened their bond and was projecting her memories into his mind.

He sees everything. What the hell? Their Dad had another child. And he basically ordered Artemis to keep him safe. And he forced her into mental and physical silence with him. He saw how she didn't want the silence. He felt her accidently slip and reveal the fact she doesn't like mental silence. That it made her uncomfortable and surprisingly scared.

He couldn't comment as more image's past into his mind of her taking care of their brat of a Half-Brother, who according to Zeus would be the next great God.

'Well, that explains why Hera is pissed', Apollo thinks to himself.

He sees the constant monster attacks and her silent nightmares and her insomnia and the brat's demanding and whinny nature. Until she finally had enough and had escorting him to camp. Where she got injured as the brat had gotten in her way.

He saw her limp to Olympus, she had heard about some of his exploits. He saw her give her report which Hera had commented about how she couldn't let the brat die. Their Father ordering her to him.

Then the memories stop and Artemis leans back exhausted showing him everything that happened.

Apollo was stunned. So, she had wanted to tell him or at least speak to him. But their bastard Father got in the way.

Apollo moves and splints her limbs.

"Please talk to me Apolly", she mumbles tiredly.

Apollo could see nearly all the barriers she had kept around herself coming down. And he was shocked she called him by a disused nickname.

"Come here Moonling", he murmurs and gathers her up gently into his arms.

Careful not to jar her injuries farer.

To his surprise she snuggles down in his lap nearly asleep within seconds.

"I missed you", Artemis says mumbles, "Even if you are annoying"

He laughs softly running his fingers through her hair.
"I missed you more", he tells her, "I have been worried sick"

"I know", she mumbles half asleep, "Heard the stories going around the City when I arrived"

Apollo laughs quietly, "I think Hermes and Athena could give you a more accurate account"

"Mmm maybe I should ask them", she murmurs getting sleepier and the pill was working as the ache of her injuries was leaving her.

"They invited us for drinks", Apollo tells her offhandedly.

He could see she was basically asleep he brushes his fingers across her temple and pushes his powers into her to lull her too sleep.

Not sleeping soundly in 6 years was not good on you.

"Thank you", she whispers.
"For what?"

"For being here when I got back", she mumbles.

"Why wouldn't I?" Apollo asks her.

But he found her sound asleep. Snuggled in his lap.

Apollo sighs knowing he wasn't going to get anything else out of her for a while and besides she needed her rest.

He had plenty of time to ask her questions later.

Now he just wanted to enjoy having her back and safe. And maybe give her a proper homecoming other than sharp words, injuries, medication and a very tried Moon Goddess snuggled asleep in his lap.

Apollo grabs the blanket off the couch half amused it was one of his from years ago and wraps it around her and him.

He holds her tight as he started to feel peace for the first time since Artemis left.

At last, he could sleep peacefully knowing she was safe.

Now she was home…

Author's Note: What do you think? Please Review:)