Chapter 51

Jason

Okay so Annabeth, Rachel and Percy had told Piper and I to expect weirdness at the Christmas dinner but none of us could figure out what would have the gods so interested. Nevertheless along with Leo and Jennifer we traveled to Vail, to Piper's father's place there. Jennifer zapped us there, Leo installed a door discretely on the side of the gate house and then Harry, Ginny, Neville, Reyna, Hazel and Frank were able to join us. Jennifer could have probably zapped us all there, but Piper insisted on having a speedy exit available. She was nervous enough about having me there without the god's interests.

The first time I had met Piper's father had been erased from his memory. I had met her dad for the second time earlier in the summer, and while he wasn't exactly warm and friendly he wasn't a total jerk either. He was clearly skeptical of me and protective of Piper but that was like any father. That he was insanely famous and rich didn't make him less protective of the most valuable treasure he had. I understood that. The lengths he would go to turned out to be a bit of a surprise however.

At first things started out pretty normal. Piper reintroduced me and Tristan, her father, stared at me as though lasers were going to shoot from his eyes and burn me in half. That isn't uncommon and every teen guy meeting his girlfriend's father goes through it. He asked about school, we answered, the usual small talk, then Piper introduced her friends from "finishing school" which was the cover we agreed on. Her father knew she wasn't at camp this year but was at a school in Scotland that didn't often allow parental visits and was world renown for being one of the finest finishing schools anywhere. Or so the mist said. That I was attending it with her I think led him to believe that somehow he was being hoodooed as Leo would say.

Piper introduced everyone else, Tristan was warm to all, except me of course, wished all a happy Christmas, and invited us into the dining hall. That's when it went from awkward to truly weird.

"Ah, yes. Piper, I'd like you to meet a colleague of mine, Daniel. He just finished up a film called "Horns" but most know him for his recurring role as a teenage magician. We're working together and he couldn't get home for Christmas and when I told him about you, well, of course he wanted to meet you. Piper doesn't watch a lot of films Daniel, she may be the only person her age in the world that hasn't heard of you."

"You... have we met?" Daniel asked, looking past Piper and myself and right at Harry.

"Uh, no, but... well you do look familiar. Have you ever been to Surry?"

"I grew up in Wellham, not far from Surry. Why?"

"Oh I live there when I'm not at school. Perhaps we've run into each other there."

"Could be, you look spectacularly familiar." Daniel said.

"You too, I.. I just can't seem to place you." Harry replied. In truth, everyone else could see that they might as well be looking in a mirror. Except for Harry's scar and that Daniel was a few years older they could have been the same person.

Piper noticed the name tags put her between her father and Daniel and me at the other end of a very long table and fumed.

"Father. We will speak. Now." She said and everyone could tell she was furious. I can't say that she used her command voice on her father but it hardly mattered. He stood and followed her as she added, "Jason. Come here."

"What did I do?" I wondered as Annabeth and Percy followed me to the door.

"Uh, you guys better wait out here." I said with a forced smile.

"We will, but we're on a mission from gods. Plus we've got to keep you safe." Annabeth said with a twinkle in her eye, causing me to giggle, which only served to piss Piper off more. The room was an adjoining parlor with plush leather chairs, a warm fireplace and a window that overlooked the slopes covered with skiers as the snow fell. If it wasn't so stressful, it would be the perfect place to relax.

"Father, you shipped me off to every school in America and rarely checked to see how I was. Do you really think you can pick my boyfriends for me now? Or is that something your staff does for you?" she asked as her eyes glared at him.

"Oh Pipes honey, its not like that, I just thought you might like to meet Daniel, he's a very nice young man, I've known him a couple years now. He's probably the most eligible bachelor in the UK next to Prince Harry" was all he got out before Piper was on him like a tigress on wounded prey.

"I already have the guy I want. You don't know me well enough to know what I want, and what and who I love and its not like I don't know something about love..and... and... Damn it!" Piper shouted as she walked across the room to one of those indoor meditation ponds that had a fountain in it. She reached in her purse, pulled out a gold drachma and threw it hard into the mist from the waterfall.

"Iris I need my mother. Mother! Its time!" She shouted.

"Honey, please, your mother is gone she... well, she.. shouting and throwing things like that won't..." Tristan said concerned that his beloved daughter was now quite insane. He turned to look at me and sadly said "She never met her mother, she was out of our lives before Piper was a month old and has never returned."

Nothing happened.

"Mother! Its time he knew. You can wipe his memory again later, but I won't have him picking out guys for me! I won't have him ruining what Jason and I have no matter how well intentioned. You need to tell him or I will!"

"Piper, your mother is gone, don't you understan..."

"There's no reason to shout." Aphrodite said from behind us.

"Ari?" Tristen said as his voice swelled with emotion.

"Hello Tristen, the years have been kind." The goddess of love replied. I guess I should mention that as usual her presence controlled the room. Her eyes changed color depending on who she focused on, but always sparkled. Her smile one could drown in, and everything about her was flawless and perfect. One simply cannot look away, she is beyond beautiful. Just like her daughter.

"I... what, where did you go? Why?"

"Tristen, there, well, as Piper said, it is time you knew everything about your daughter, and some things about me. First, and I know it is a cliche', when I left it wasn't you, it was me. In the most technical sense it was due to the law of Olympus. You see, I wasn't really an actress trying out for parts and waitressing on the side when we met. I knew who you were and had been watching your career for some time. Part of my role in this world is inspiring people like you, so that you can inspire the rest of the mortals. I'm not an aspiring actress from British Columbia, I am Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. And procreation for those spying behind the door now Annabeth. Once we fell in love and I had a child with you, the laws of Olympus required me to leave. My work was done. You've had a wonderful career and inspired millions around the world. And we had the most wonderful gift we could give each other, Piper."

"Uh"

"I understand this is overwhelming, and you knew all this two years ago but your memory was blanked as you could not handle it. Many mortals can't. At that time though you had undergone a great deal of stress at the hands of our enemies, so perhaps now is better. You are wondering why I couldn't stay. It is because staying, however wonderful it would have been for me it would have taken me away from my duty, which is to spread love and beauty throughout the world. Also my husband might have decided to kill you."

"You're married?" Tristen asked, seemingly shocked.

"Oh yes, but fidelity has different applications in the pantheon. Piper's friend Leo is the child of my husband. He fell in love with Leo's mother because I willed the love between them. Never mind that though. My willingness to give up my duties for the better part of a century would have been ruinous, Piper would have gotten nothing out of it, and it is forbidden for the gods to show particular favoritism to our children, or to marry mortals. Our children are expected to sink or swim, as you used to say, on their own. Zeus allows very little interaction, and most of our children don't live to become adults as Piper has. At one time gods and mortals did marry and it was no end to trouble. Now, I could spend the next thousand years telling you about me, but what is important tonight is that I tell you about our daughter. She is my representative to the mortals. She learned of her true nature just a year or so ago and has grown into one of the most powerful demigods since Hercules. In fact, earlier this year she defeated Hercules so I guess she is more powerful. She is the leader of all my demigod children, and there are quite a few. Its a goddess of procreation thing as you might say. Anyway, to be brief, don't try to hook her up with any boys. All the gods of Olympus are following the love stories of Piper and Jason, Annabeth and Percy, Leo and Calypso and now, for some reason, Hermione and Ron. I'm truly not sure where the interest in those two came from, although they are adorable. We can guide our children, but interacting too much places them above those they are here to lead and assist. Our children are not meant to be rulers, although as a side effect many are. They are created to be leaders, to help man remember the examples and lessons of Olympus, and to protect humanity from the monsters their minds can seldom comprehend. We can guide our children, we can advise our children, but we cannot interfere with the choices they make. Your efforts to find someone other than Jason are entertaining, but she has chosen her mate. He is the son of Zeus, or Jupiter in the Roman pantheon that he is familiar with. There are few more powerful demigods out there and he is a fine young man, responsible for saving humanity at least twice now. Give him a chance, he will grow on you. Oh and our daughter. Well, she is the,.. she is the apple of my eye. My chosen one to lead the others. That greek fighting you learned for your movie? She could teach it to you and so much more. She has killed innumerable monsters, giants and titans and like her boyfriend, has saved your world twice now. You need not worry about her being hurt, as I know you do, as any parent would. I assure you if a stranger ever attacked our Piper they would end up in the morgue whether Jason was there or not."

"Now, do I need to make all this disappear from your mind again?" She asked.

"No... I need, I need to know. But..."

"Yes Tristan?"

"Could you join us for dinner? Just to be with you an hour or so would..."

"Would probably cause you more harm than good. But yes, I will. I am curious about Piper and her father, I have kept up with both of you, both with great pride. I would love to stay for dinner."

We returned to the dining room where Aphrodite immediately told all to rise and then made small talk with Annabeth, Reyna, Ginny, Hazel and Jennifer. She was especially excited to meet Neville and complimented him on his courage. No one was quite sure what she meant by that. Then she turned to Daniel, told him she enjoyed his films and that he would forget everything about this dinner after she left, but that he should call his friend Emma as the whole world thought there was something there. None of us had any idea what she was talking about, the gods can be cryptic and weird sometimes. She lamented that Hermione and Ron were not present so a patronus was sent to fetch them and when they appeared she doted on Hermione and Ginny, saying that if they ever stayed at Camp Half Blood for any amount of time she would adopt them, rules be damned.

Ginny said "Thanks! And, uh, thanks for the mark at the ball. It was a real confidence builder." to which Hermione quickly agreed.

"Ha! Like you two would need it! All the world sees your beauty and grace, why can't you?" the goddess replied.

"That's what I've been telling them!" Piper grinned.

"I know, I keep track of goings on. You've done well and made me proud my daughter. I suspect even more than Athena is of Annabeth. Annabeth, I fear my touch may have caused you some difficulties my dear, but I assure you it will all be worth it this time next year. As your mother gives you wisdom, accept the challenges and joys of romance from me as my gift. It will not always make sense, but I promise you that it will, as you say, work out. Jennifer, I know what you want to ask, but you know I cannot answer. All I can tell you is wait, and I think you will be happy." She smiled.

"So turkey! Who is going to carve? Tristan?"

We ate and ate and talked then ate some more. We were all stuffed when Aphrodite told Tristan it was time he moved on with his life, with her blessing and everlasting love, kissed his cheek and then vanished with a wave of her hand as we warned all to look away. Daniel acted as though he had suddenly woke up, but had full memories of dinner, only without the goddess of love. He added that since it was Christmas there was a call he needed to make and rose to do so. We moved to the next room and relaxed into the evening, watching the skiers as Tristan, Piper and myself chatted about everything and nothing at all.