EagleClaws- Ah you should review more. I like getting them, and the more this story gets the more likely people are to read it. But thank you, and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
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ScribeOfPoseidon- I'm sad you weren't going to read it. That hurts. But I'm glad you did. And I'm hoping it's better or at least on the same level. Enjoy this chapter.
Another Random Human- I'm glad you enjoy the update. And yes, I was ready to get into the future and that part of the storyline. And you'd probably be right, but you'll have to read this chapter to begin getting an idea if you do. And there will be a seven to ten chapter story after this sequel is finished that will be a detailed account of their life in between Tamers of the Sea, and Tamers of the Heart.
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Nitrous- Thank you very much. I hope you like this story as well, and this new chapter. And who knows on Nicole. She does have more to play in this series, but as to when and how, that is for later.
Chapter 2
Percy awoke to a sensation he hadn't known for years. Weight upon his body, and hair under his chin.
Before he could jerk awake his mother's voice echoed in his head. "Don't worry Love. Everything will be explained soon. Please don't wake her. And take care of her until everything is explained. I would myself, but it is not my place. Also, don't forget to get coffee on your way to school!"
Looking down he saw that the head of hair splayed across his chest was auburn in colour. Reminisce of his Aunt Artemis' hair. He noticed now that she was very light, and very little, her feet ending well above his knees with her head upon his chest, and it seemed her arms tucked underneath her and between them.
As he wondered about who this was sleeping atop him, as well as how she'd gotten there, other than the obvious the gods did it. He wondered why. As he did so his hands began absentmindedly stroking her hair and running his hands through it, hid mind far off and thinking of the possibilities.
He was brought back from his musings when he felt the girl stir atop him, her head slowly rising from his chest to gaze into his eyes. "You wake now?"
Percy noticed now that she was very young, perhaps only five or six years old, her face young and small. He knew she was a demigod, her glow and the sense of power reverberating off her now that she was awake attested to that. Her eyes were slightly upturned, with the childish rounded cheeks, though Percy could detect the beginnings of high cheek bones and a very regal gaze as she looked at him.
But what caught his attention the most about her was her hair and eyes. Her hair, that Auburn colour he rarely saw other than on his Aunt, as well as he eyes. A curious Sea Green, closely matching his own.
Her gaze got slightly annoyed as she leaned forward and pocked his cheek. "Hey! You wake yet?" She said louder.
Laughing slightly he pulled her hand away from his face. "Yes, yes I'm awake now. When did you arrive little one? And what might your name be?" He questioned, sitting up as she stayed in his lap, pulling the blankets closer around her to keep in the heat.
"Kaia. Name is Kaia. Last night. But you sleeping. Mommy said to go to sleep, so got… in the bed and sleep." She muttered, looking around for said mother as she spoke.
"And who is your mother little one?"
"Don't know." She whispered, gazing around his room with wonder and awe as she took it in. Especially loving his view from the top of his condo out over the Sacramento skyline. Her gaze was next attracted to the harpoon and swords over his bed, causing a small chuckle from Percy as he followed her gaze.
"Have you ever held a sword little one?" He questioned, taking Riptide from the night table next to his bed and uncapping it from its pen form, smiling as she stepped back in awe before reaching a tentative hand for the sword he held out to her.
"No. It Pretty." She softly said, still admiring the sword as her hand trailed over the trident design on the hilt.
"So how did you get here then, if you don't know what your mother looks like, she much have been speaking to you then. So how did you get here, and find me?"
"Momma told me, you would… would keep me safe… from… mon... mon…. bad guys." She stumbled along, the larger words she was unfamiliar with tripping her up some.
"Well, then let's get you breakfast. You hungry?"
She nodded enthusiastically while nodding as Percy got out of bed and turned towards his closet. Her gasp caused him pause as he looked over his shoulder to see her eyes glued to his back and arms. His tattoo's now visible to her.
"Would you like to touch them?" He asked, amused, sitting back down on the bed with his back to her.
Nodding slightly she scooted forward in bed, her hand outstretched as she traced the trident on his back, and the waves the spilled out behind it. "Pretty." She whispered as she continued tracing them.
"I have this one too." Percy pushed his hair back, revealing his mother's mark above his right eye, her hand immediately going to trace it before once again returning to his back and the ocean that was etched upon it. "Do you like the ocean little one?"
"Yes. It my favorite. It Pretty." She said, still marveling at his back, her other hand coming to trace out over either shoulder blade and down his back as she stared.
"I love the ocean too, it's my favorite. Now let's get you breakfast. Come on." As he put his hands under her arms and around her back, he noticed her wince in pain. "Are you hurt?" His eyes searched hers as she shook her head no.
"Don't lie to me little one. Don't worry, I just want to know so I can heal it for you if so. Come here, let me see." He said, turning her around as she began voicing her disapproval, trying to turn back around. Fighting him wildly.
"NO! Don't! Don't want!" She shouted, Percy finally relenting as she turned back around, tears in her eyes as she wiped them away.
"What's the matter little one? I can heal you if you show me where you're hurt at. I'll make it all better. I just need to see your back so I know what the problem is."
"No one likes back. They hate Kaia when they see." She muttered, still wiping her eyes as she sniffed loudly.
It was then Percy noticed the stated of her clothes, baggy and torn, they looked like rags upon her body. He knew that the reason people must hate her back, is she must be marked by her parent. Some in this time knew of the Greek gods still, and some despised the gods, or those born of them.
"Come here Kaia. I promise I won't hate you after I see your back. You've got to trust me. I just want to heal you. And let's get you into something else as those clothes just won't do little one." He kneeled down so he could look her in her eyes as he spoke. Sniffling one last time she nodded, turning around as Percy began to pull her shirt up, noticing how she tensed preparing for the anger.
His anger hit like a storm, but not from anything he had yet to see on her back, as her back was only a few inches revealed. What did spark his anger were the whipping marks on her back, red with welts, some scabbed over where the whip had bit deep. As the shirt came farther up he was stunned. There in the center of her back, and covered by the most whipping marks, was a full moon. The mark of Artemis.
/-/-/
Deciding to put aside who her mother apparently was, his anger returned as his eyes were once again drawn to all the marks upon her back. Come here little one." He muttered, pulling the shirt completely off her back as she turned about, flinching at the anger there. He immediately pulled her into a gentle hug, mindful of her back. "No Kaia. I'm not mad at you, I'm mad at what's been done to you. Who hurt you little one?"
"Aunty… and Uncle…" She whispered, tears leaking again as she clutched Percy tight, as if afraid by saying their names they'd suddenly appear in the room to take her away.
"Sshh. Don't worry Kaia. You're safe now. I won't let anyone take you, or hurt you like this again. Promise. Now come on. Let's get you cleaned and healed up alright?"
Her face buried in his shoulder she simply nodded as she sniffed again, her tears not quite finished falling yet. Taking her into the back room he set her down, helping her take off the ripped and torn jeans she wore. Revealing more of her little beaten body. "You want a bath or a shower?" He asked, anger flashing momentarily as her eyes widened in wonder and excitement.
"I can have bath?!" She asked excitedly, bouncing a little in happiness as she looked up at him hopefully.
"Yes. Yes you can. Let me get the water going. Take your underwear off, and grab whatever towel from in that cupboard you want while I get the water ready." Percy said, pointing towards the towel cabinet.
Turning to the large bathtub he turned the water on, using his powers to make it the perfect temperature while also taking the salt out of the water and putting it in the trash, for Kaia as he made a silent wish to Aphrodite. Smiling as a bottle of bubble bath, along with kids shampoo and body wash appeared on the side of the bath. Pouring in a two caps full of bubble bath, Percy turned to find Kaia wrapped up in two of his larger and softer towels, marveling at the softness of the texture on her skin.
"You want them both then?" He questioned with a smile as she nodded, walking awkwardly towards him, trying to keep as much of the two towels wrapped around her as possible. "Alright, climb on in." He said, taking the towels from her and pointing towards the bath.
Her eyes lit up. "Bubbles!" She shouted, practically jumping in as Percy chuckled.
He went to the kitchen and began some batter for pancakes, giving her some time to play in the water for a little while. Returning soon after to find her submerged under the water, and swimming around his large bathtub.
"Come here little one. It's time to get you cleaned up and healed."
Swimming over to the side of the tub she turned around, displaying, once again her beaten and whipped back, though Percy noticed it seemed to have healed some in the water. A curious fact he put away. Reigning in his anger, Percy pulled water from the sink around his hand. Placing it upon her back he concentrated, slowly healing her back of the lacerations and bruises, moving from her back to her arms and legs as she sat in front of him, letting him heal her as she played with the bubbles.
Next he took the bottle of kids shampoo, strawberry scented, and put a dollop in his hand. Taking his time as he washed her hair, making sure it got to the roots, and that nothing got in the little girls eyes as he did so.
Taking a big cup he'd brought from the kitchen, Percy began pouring water over her head, washing out the shampoo as did so. Finished with her hair, he took the body wash and squirted some upon a wash rag. Once again taking his time to slowly clean her of the filth the clung to her body.
During all this his mind was drawn to the day he'd had his cabin full of small children like this. Beaten and bruised, underfed, tortured and dirty. And how he'd slaved away to clean and care for them. Loosing himself in his grief before Annabeth had come in and taken him away. Bathing him and feeding him. Then pulling him into bed and singing him to sleep. Closing his eyes tightly for a moment, shutting the memory of his dead love from his mind, Percy finished cleaning and washing her off.
"Come on out of the tub Kaia. Let's get you all dried up." She stepped from the bath hesitantly, as if afraid that she'd never get another bath like that one. "Don't worry, you can have more bubble baths." Percy chuckled, smiling as she nodded before practically falling into the large fluffy towel Percy held at the ready for her.
After toweling her dry Percy left her wrapped up in the large towel, the second one wrapped around her head as he went to find clothes for her.
Digging around his drawers he pulled out one of his V-Necks and a pair of sweat pants, along with a pair of boxers. Walking back into the room, he smiled as he found her marveling at her healed back, looking at herself in the full body mirror he had.
"It better?"
"Yep. It's all better. Now, let's get you dressed little one."
Dressing her in the boxers, and using a safety pin, pulled the excess around and pinning it so they would fit her. Then putting on the sweat pants, pulling the drawstring tight till the pants fit her, and then rolled the legs up to her mid-calf. Finishing with the V-neck, which he used a rubber band to warp up and roll the extra length out of the way.
She still looked swallowed by his clothes by the time he was done, but he shrugged and picked her up, happy as she did not flinch from pain this time. Wrapping her arms and legs around him she placed a quick kiss on his cheek. "Thank you. Don't know name."
Laughing at forgetting himself, "My names Percy. Percy Jackson."
"Per-cy… Percy." She tried his name out, smiling as she got the hang of it.
"You ready for breakfast? How does Pancakes sound?"
'Pancakes!? Please!" She practically shouted, jumping a little in his arms as he smiled heading towards his kitchen.
He stopped dead in his tracks when he found the oven running and a pile of pancakes already cooked, Artemis, Apollo, and his mother talking amongst themselves as Amphitrite cooked the pancakes and Artemis made Orange Juice.
His question was stopped as Kaia kicked out of his arms and flew across the room and into Artemis' arms, shouting as she ran. "Momma!"
"Care to explain?" Percy asked, slightly annoyed as his mother walked over to him after shutting the stove off and placing the last pancake on the pile, giving him a hug and kiss on the forehead when she was next to him.
"Indeed. But first. Breakfast."
/-/-/
After finishing their breakfast, and explaining to Kaia that she could pour as much syrup over her pancakes as she wanted. Then with Amphitrite summoning some dolls for her, they sent her into the living room so they could talk.
Percy looked expectantly at the three gods in his dining room. "So?"
Artemis held up her hand to stop Amphitrite and Apollo from starting. "I shall begin. Percy, five years ago I decided that I wanted a demigod child of my own. But I did not wish to go through all the… steps shall we say, to get there. So I asked my brother to help me. And he did, he came to me with a way for me to have a child, without needed to have a relationship with a male."
Apollo picked up, "I had her pick a male from those we knew. In this case… You. I then stole some DNA from you. Just a small amount mind you. And with it, let Artemis choose what she wished from you to go into the child. She chose your eyes, your smile, the loyalty you possess, your sense of purpose, and a few other traits, both physical and otherwise. I then used them to make a pill that I had her take. She was then able to go through a pregnancy, well a Goddesses version of it, and had Kaia here. Kaia was then sent to an ex-hunter of Artemis' who left the hunt because she wished to age and had found a male that was worthy. She had to do this as, other than you and your brothers, gods cannot raise their own children. Especially if it's their first demi-god child."
"The first Demi-god children of any god or goddess is particularly more powerful than normal, often times the most powerful child that god will conceive. Here, you and your brother's are another anomaly, as you are the strongest children my husband and his brothers have ever had, and we've been told ever will have. That's without all the extra blessings and such you've received. This ex-hunter and her husband raised little Kaia and took great care of her."
Artemis picked up again from Amphitrite's telling, "Around five months ago I had to go on a long hunt, pursuing something that has dad a little worried. When I came back, and wen to visit Kaia in disguise as I have been doing. I learned that a car wreck had ended the lives of my ex-hunter and her husband, Kaia being the only survivor. Who, having no family on record, was sent and lost in the foster system. I looked for almost the full five months for her. Taking time in between that, to claim her as my own. Even though it was early, my blessing being a goddesses wouldn't hurt or incapacitate her as a god's blessing might have. Especially since she wasn't a baby as you'd been when your father's claimed you. I hoped it would cause whoever had her to make a big deal about it so I might find her, or at least treat her with the respect and care that was due. It turned out to be my biggest mistake." Artemis morosely spoke, eyes downcast as she wiped hastily at a tear that was falling form her eye.
"Long story short Percy. She'd been taken in by an abusive couple, who forced her to call them Aunt and Uncle and when her mark appeared, they, who were aware of the gods and recognized the mark. Angrily began to beat her almost daily for a full week. Eventually she ran away, but her strong scent attracted monsters who chased after her. It was during a full moon when she was attacked by a hell hound that Artemis finally found her. Saving her from the Hell hound from afar, Artemis began speaking to her in her dreams and mind. Guiding her near you, then eventually flashing her directly here after Zeus gave her permission to do that much." Apollo chimed in again.
"So, you stole my DNA, I basically have a child now, she has abusive people who could potentially be after her. What else?" Percy questioned, taking it all in stride. After four-hundred years with his family, even with avoiding his father and uncles. He was used to the crazy and just accepted it. Though he was silently bugging out about having a child. Whether he was actually involved in her making in any way or not.
"She has a small infinity to water, which I'm sure you noticed when you bathed her and healed her. Other than that is… Percy. Will you please, please take care of her for me? I can't accept her into the hunt until she is at least twelve, and only if she wants too. So could you, watch her for me? Please? She has your traits buried deep within her, loyalty, love, and all the things that make you and your brothers great I've gifted to her. But right now they are merely seeds to be grown. I need you to do this for me, I as a goddess cannot. Teach her, help her. Protect her. Please. Many will be after her as she is my first, and more than likely my only child I will ever have. They will seek to use her against me, or simply to harm her as she is my child. And should I send her to camp, then she will be targeted. By those who resent me for my maiden hood, or the way the hunters always prank and fight with the campers. It would not be wise to send her there either. So please?" Artemis pleaded, coming around the table to grab both Percy's hands in her own as she pleaded.
Sighing, Percy decided he rather liked having her around that morning, he'd been so distracted by her, and caring for her. He'd forgotten today was the anniversary of… Her passing.
"Yes. Yes I suppose I shall."
"Thank you!" She all but whispered, pulling him into a small hug as she did so.
"Besides, I think mom's been wanting a grandchild for a while now." Percy smirked as Amphitrite simply hummed her approval, calling Kaia back into the room.
Kaia came and ran to her mother, jumping into her arms as Artemis sighed in content. "Now listen Kaia. I have to go again. I'm not allowed to stay around you for long. But now I'm leaving you with Percy here. Who has agreed to be your father and raise you until I can come for you. How does that sound my little arrow?"
Kaia's head snapped around to look at Percy at the word Father. "Really? Dad?" She questioned, tears in her eyes as she looked to Percy who was watching her carefully.
"If that's what you want, then yes. I'll be your dad and raise you little one." Percy said, kneeling as she kicked free from her mother's grasp and ran to Percy.
"Thank you." She whispered, holding him tight as he returned her embrace.
"Well I must go, we've got another target to chase down. Goodbye my little arrow. Listen to your father now. And Amphitrite. The answer is yes." Artemis said, flashing out, followed soon after by Apollo who gave Kaia a hug and a kiss on the cheek before he too flashed out. Percy having to quickly cover Kaia's eyes each time it happened. He was now immune to the flashing since he was half immortal and so powerful. With power stronger than a minor gods, he was easily able to be around his family in their godly forms.
His mother was all that remained as she kneeled in front of Kaia. "Hello little one. You remind me so much of Percy when he was this young. Your eyes especially. Now I have a question for you little Kaia."
"Yes ma'am?" She shyly asked, burying herself into Percy as she peeked one eye towards the goddess.
"How would you like a grandmother?"
Her head shot up at this question, turning to face the nice looking lady before her. "Really?"
"Yes. Really. Would you like a grandmother? Or, more precisely, could I be your grandmother. I'm Percy's Mom you know."
Kaia's eyes went back and forth from Percy to the woman before her, now seeing that they had similar faces, and their eyes and hair was similar in colour as well.
"Please?" She whispered.
"Alright then. Close your eyes, this might be a little uncomfortable." Amphitrite said as Kaia obeyed, relaxing as Amphitrite took her from Percy and kissed her forehead above her right eye, just like Percy. Where her lips touched, her mark became evident, much like Percy's own, but smaller and with a few differences. Where Percy's was black with bright teal blue edges, hers was white with blue edges, almost inviable against her skin, as well as hers had two extra dots above the symbol, symbolizing two generations before her godly grandmother, Herself, then Percy, then Amphitrite. Slowly the girl changed a little to match the new power and claiming. Her features became a little more angled like Percy and Amphitrite's, there were other changes that would occur as she grew as well Amphitrite knew, but it was her eyes she was wanting to see.
"Alright my little Kaia. You may open your eyes now." Amphitrite smiled, as Kaia did so, looking right at Amphitrite. "Look here little one." Amphitrite summoned a mirror and held it up so she could see.
Her eyes went immediately to the mark above her forehead, then to Percy's. "Look! We same daddy!" She shouted excitedly as Percy laughed.
"Indeed we are little one. But that's not all. Look at your eyes and your grandmother's."
Doing so Kaia noticed her eyes were now a much darker sea green, matching Amphitrite's eyes almost perfectly. "We same too!" She smiled.
"Of course we are." Amphitrite agreed, pulling her into a tight hug. "You know, I love you my dear. Don't get me wrong. But I miss the days when you were this little and cuddly." She said to Percy who had the grace to stick his tongue out at her as he began cleaning off the table. "Well, I must to leave, I'll inform your father what has occurred, though I know you'd prefer I not. He'll already be feeling her now opened connection to the sea and will wonder. You should leave soon, she needs new clothing. These just won't do."
She handed Kaia back to Percy before motioning for Percy to cover her eyes, then flashed away.
/-/-/
Percy finished showering and getting dressed. Exiting his room in skinny jeans, a white V-neck, his sunglasses perched atop his head with his phone, Riptide, wallet, and keys in his pocket. "Come on Kaia, let's go get me to the gym, some coffee, and after class we'll go shopping for you."
She came running from the living room where she'd been watching Phineas and Ferb on his TV, a smile on her face as she launched herself from the floor and into his waiting arms.
"Ok daddy!" She shouted upon her arrival in his arms.
They quickly left his room, and took the elevator down to the bottom floor. It was there Percy pulled out Riptide and walking past a sitting visitor, with speed that few could match, and few could see, decapitated the visitor. Who dissolved into golden dust, no one the wiser that they had even been there, Kaia realizing that was one of the monster's that had been chasing her. Hugging Percy tighter in thanks as he walked out the door, capping Riptide with one hand and returning it to his pocket.
He took the faster route to the gym for his usual workout, opting out of driving and deciding a walk around and towards the gym would be nice for Kaia as he carried her on his side, hardly noticing her weight as he headed out.
/-/-/
They arrived at the gym thirty minutes Later, Kaia now walking as she held his hand, her eyes wide as she took in everything that was around her.
When Percy entered with the child almost the whole gym stopped as people stared. Their eyes going from the green eyed girl, to the man they'd all thought was single as could be.
"Hey everyone." Percy said sheepishly as Danielle and James walked up, curious expressions on their faces as they did so.
"Hey he says. As he walks in with who must be the cutest girl I've ever seen." Danielle said, kneeling down to look at Kaia as she backed up behind Percy's leg and out of sight, peeking out to look at the two large and muscled people talking to Percy.
"Hey guys. I'd like you all to meet my new daughter." Percy said, giving them a look that said he'd explain later. "Kaia. These are some friends of mind. This is Danielle, and that is James. Can you say hi?"
"Hi." She meekly whispered, stepping out a little bit from behind Percy's leg as Danielle extended a hand to shake.
"I'm not working out today, just taking her around to see the sights before class. So I'm not staying too long." By now a large crowd had gathered around them, many looking at the small girl behind Percy's legs.
"Well that's alright. We'll have to spar some other time then." James mentioned, smiling at the little girl before his eyes flashed. "Wait here. I've got something for you."
He ran to his bag hanging from some weight equipment, pulling out a piece of caramel candy and running back. "How'd you like some candy then eh?"
Looking to Percy for permission first, she hesitantly reached out and took the candy from him, whispering her thanks as she retreated behind Percy again.
"Thanks James. Well I'll see you all around. Work hard for me will ya?"
Turning he lead her from the gym, picking her up when she held both arms up to him.
/-/-/
Next the entered the coffee shop, Percy noticing the line and the apparent new barista behind the counter as he got in line, setting Kaia down once they'd arrived.
They were almost to the counter when Kaia tugged on his pant leg, wanting to tell him something. "Yes little one?"
"She's really pretty." She whispered.
"Well, from someone as cute as you that's quite the compliment. Thank you." A Feminine voice responded.
Percy froze in his tracks. Though it had been four hundred years, he'd recognize that voice anywhere. His eyes snapped up to the barista, Sea green meeting Gray as he froze.
"Annabeth?"
/-/-/
"How can I take your order today?" She asked, seemingly not recognizing who she was at all.
Percy's brain began to shut down, Kaia getting worried as she watched the emotions splayed across Percy's face, and the Barista began to look worried as well, though she was glad this man was the last in line for the time being.
"I know sweetheart. Pull yourself together. It's her, but she doesn't remember anything, and you can't tell her anything either. She must remember. Think of it as your new quest. Get her to remember."
Once again his mother's voice entered his thoughts, snapping him from his near meltdown.
"I'd uh-, um that is… I'd like a white chocolate mocha, and she'd like… Um well—what would you like little one?" Percy stuttered through, his mind trying to catch up with what he'd been told and who he was looking at, looking down on Kaia who was looking worriedly up at him.
"Same please." She said, not knowing what she was even getting, but thinking she'd like anything that was chocolate.
"Two white chocolate Mocha's coming up." Annabeth smiled as she smiled at the cute little girl who shyly looked up at her.
"Will that be cash or card?"
"Card." Percy responded, doing his best not to freak out, or stare at Annabeth. His dead lover, who was alive and apparently had no idea who he was.
"Tha—" Her words caught in her throat when she saw Percy's arms. A trident on either arm, but the one that was upon his right arm perfectly matched the one tattooed upon her back. A tattoo she could never track down an artist for, and who no one else had one as detailed or in that particular design.
Her hands latched onto his arm as she stared at his arm.
"Can I help you Anna—Ma'am?" Percy caught himself, his mind almost freezing up at her touch, harsh though it was, on his arm.
"Where did you get this?!" She all but shouted.
"That's private, and not at any artist if that's your question." He said, pulling his arm free and picking Kaia up as she started tugging on his pants.
"I'm sorry. It's just that… Never mind. I apologize, I have a similar tattoo like that one on my back. Sorry for that. The drinks are on the house today." She apologized, pulling back as if burnt, blushing as she realized how she'd just acted to a stranger. Though her mind screamed when she'd grabbed his arm, as if she should know that arm.
"It's not a problem. Not at all." He quickly responded, reaching for the coffee's as one of Annabeth's fellow employee's set the two cups down, Kaia hopping out of his arms to grab her own cup.
It was as she was reaching that Percy saw the problem. She was too short, therefore tipping the glass over, the scalding liquid would be landing right in her face.
With reflexes born from gods, and forged in war, Percy's hand swiped right in front of her face, using his powers a little, and scooped it away from her face and right onto his white shirt.
The scalding liquid didn't burn him that bad, his powers protecting him, but she was too young, the liquid would have really burned her.
"I'm so sorry!" Annabeth shouted as Percy pulled the shirt of his body, wiping up the rest of the spilled coffee and ensuring that Kaia was fine.
It was as his back was turned to the counter that he was stopped by a gasp of surprise for the second time that day.
"Where did you get that?"
Her question froze his blood, turning to find her eyes pinned to his back, where he knew his trident up his back, and ocean was visible. Very similar to the trident and owl he knew was upon her own back.
WHERE DID YOU GET IT?!" She shouted, coming around the corner, her eyes wild as she grabbed him. "Tell me! Please! Please!" Tears began forming in her eyes. "I woke up three months ago from a coma in a hospital, I didn't know my name, where I was, or anything. All I had was a wallet with cash, a license with my name and age, and a gaping hole in my memory. I have a trident tattooed up my back just like you, that is the exact same trident as the one on your left arm! And the ocean on your back is just like this one!" She frantically said, pulling up her sleeve to reveal Pontus' mark from her wrist up her shoulder blade. "So please. You must know something."
He tore his gaze away at that, trying to keep her out, though it was killing him inside.
"You do! I can see it in your eyes. Please. Tell me. Who am I?"
His mother's voice rang in his head again. "You can explain to her what the tattoos are, and what they mean. As well as that you know her, and some of the ship life. But you can't reveal anything to her unless she figures it out herself my love. That is all I can saw for now.
Looking at her Percy switched to Ancient Greek, a language he knew she'd understand some of, if she retained her knowledge, but that she'd never fully understand. "You are my day and my night. My everything. The most beautiful person I've ever met, and the thing I lost so many years ago."
"What did you just say? What was that?" She questioned, her mind racing as she tried to understand the beautiful words that had left his mouth. She now knew that she at least knew Greek as she picked up the roots of some of the words. Beautiful, Day, Night all sticking out to her.
"I can't tell you anything here. If you really wish to know, then meet me at my home tonight. Here's my address." Percy said, writing down his address upon the empty coffee cup and handing it to her. Grabbing Kaia and quickly leaving the store. Not looking back, knowing if he did, he'd run in, sweep her off her feet and kiss her with all four hundred years of longing and lost love.
/-/-/
"They'll be finding out soon, if they haven't already. Their mother's will be informing them of the rules and how they must approach this soon enough. This is will be the hardest part. If they mess up here, it could be death for millennia to come." His voice boomed in the room of Olympus, gazing down through a picture in the swirling water of a blonde haired boy walking into a story, a brunette haired employee on her way to greet him.
"Please. The hardest part was four hundred years of my son avoiding me and refusing to see me or talk to me. This will be easy. And soon enough, our sons will be back and we can tell them why we did what we had to. Explain everything to them, and then... Just maybe then. They might accept us back." The second voice responded, his own gaze captured on a picture of a man walking into a coffee shop with a little girl holding his hand.
"Of course they will. They might be angry, but they are forgiving and loving as we and our wives raised them to be. And with the final piece of the puzzle now being brought in. Their lives will be complete once we are in the fold again." The third voice admonished, his gaze on a black vortex portraying a picture of a black haired man enraptured by a girl and guy fighting against each other on a matt in a fighting gym.
