Okay, everyone. So sorry I haven't updated in a while. I have been sick and doing homework/projects. Plus, Icy's had severe writer's block. I have another Fruitface chapter for you, and then I PROMISE I WILL DO SOME DEMIGOD STUFF 'CAUSE I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE PRETTY ANXIOUS ABOUT THAT!
RANDOM FACT OF THE DAY: I don't own PJO. I've also never had what I made little Fruitcake have, so hopefully I'll never get it. If you've ever had what he did in this chapter, feel free to correct me in a review!
RANDOM FACT OF THE DAY #2: Icy can now spell EILEITHYIA correctly! Yay!
CHAPTER 67: FRUCTUS GETS A GET-WELL CARD
It was a beautiful spring morning on Olympus. Everyone's palaces were dark. In one particular palace, however, Demeter was sleeping peacefully next to Triptolemus. Both of them were dreaming about pretty wheat fields and whatnot, when "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" started to play, causing Demeter to get an instant headache (that song sucked, according to Demeter).
Trip must've been in a pretty deep sleep since he didn't turn off his phone. Demeter finally sighed heavily and yelled, "TRIPTOLEMUS!"
"E-I-E-I-O," Trip sang in his sleep. "And on his farm, he had a cow—"
"No one CARES about your stupid cow!" Demeter screamed. "Get your ass up! Fructus cannot afford to miss school! He has had perfect attendance since the first day and I'd really like to keep it that way!"
Trip sighed, got on his clothes, and headed into Fructus' room to wake up the fruit god. "Good morning, Fructus," he said, gently shaking Fructus awake. "Time to get up and go to school."
Fructus was excited because he and Hebe had arranged to play dress-up (where they were married). But when he sat up to get out of bed, he found something very odd. He didn't feel very well today. His tummy hurt and he felt cold one minute and hot the next.
"Do you want cereal or oatmeal this morning?" asked Trip.
"Nothing," said Fructus. "I don't feel good, Daddy."
"What's wrong?" Trip sat on the edge of Fructus' bed and felt his forehead. "Buddy, you're all sweaty. Did you have a nightmare about the wheat monster?"
"No," said Fructus. "My tummy hurts."
"Well, maybe some oatmeal will make it better. Maybe you're just hungry," said Trip. "What should we wear today, buddy?"
"My jammies," said Fructus.
"No. It's not Pajama Day at school. How about some overalls?"
Fructus shrugged. "Okay."
FRUCTUS' POV
Daddy got me my favorite overalls that I got from Aunt Hestia for my birthday. They had three buttons missing ('cause I was bored one day and decided that pulling buttons off would be fun). They also had a tear in the butt where I climbed the tree in the backyard. (And Mommy still doesn't know!)
Daddy took me by the hand and we headed downstairs together. Mommy was at the table, eating a bowl of Apple Jacks. She was wearing a pretty dress and had sandals on. "Good morning, honey," she told me, giving me a hug. "Are you ready for school today?"
"No," I told her sadly, my stomach giving an almighty churn as I glanced at my breakfast—a small bowl of oatmeal.
"What's wrong? Did something happen yesterday that Mommy needs to know?" Mommy asked.
"No," I told her as I sat at the table. "My tummy hurts and I'm freezing."
"I told him he was just hungry," said Daddy, sitting down next to Mommy and kissing her on the cheek. Mommy did this thing where she giggled and squeaked like an annoying mouse. Then her face turned all pink.
I clutched my tummy. "It hurts, Mommy. Can you make it stop?"
"Trip, dear, run and get the thermometer," Mommy said. "I think he's running a fever."
NO ONE'S POV
As soon as Triptolemus handed Demeter the thermometer, she uncapped it and stuck it under Fructus' tongue. Demeter made a tsk-tsk noise as she pulled it out. "103," she said, shaking her head. "Okay. I'll call Hecate and tell her he's got a high fever and a bellyache. Take him upstairs and put his jammies on. I'll be up in a few minutes."
Trip and Fructus headed upstairs, where Trip put Fructus in his green footy pajamas and tucked him back in bed, kissing him before he left the room.
Meanwhile, Demeter called Ms. Hecate. "Hi, Hecate, it's Demeter."
"Hi, Dem. What's up?"
"Nothing much. Fructus is very sick, so he won't be coming into school today," Demeter said.
"Oh, well…I hope he feels better and I'll let Psyche know," said Hecate.
Demeter rushed up to see her son fast asleep, his thumb in his mouth, beads of sweat trickling down his face, although he looked like he was freezing.
Trip appeared beside her. "I'm going shopping," he said. "You need anything?"
"I'm good," Demeter replied. "But why don't you get Fructus some soup?"
"Sounds good," said Trip.
MS. HECATE'S ACADEMY
Ms. Psyche took attendance, telling the class that Fructus was out today because of a tummy ache and a fever. Hebe, who was hoping Fructus would be here today, started sobbing quietly.
Ms. Danae came to the rescue, though! "What's wrong, honey?"
"Fructus and I were supposed to play dress-up and we got married," Hebe cried in her shoulder.
"Well, maybe Fructus would like it if you made him a get-well card," said Ms. Danae. "Would you like to make him a card, Hebe?"
Hebe looked up at Ms. Danae. "Y-yes, Ms. D-Danae."
"Okay. Let's go get some paper and some crayons, huh?"
DEMETER'S PALACE
Demeter was in the kitchen baking bread and making pasta sauce for that night's dinner. She was about to put the sauce on the stove and throw in a few pinches of salt, when she heard a little voice yell, "Mommy! I gots to throw up!"
Demeter sighed and rushed upstairs. Fructus was sitting up in bed with the trashcan in his hands. He was sweating and looked almost gray.
Demeter took the can away and ran her son to the bathroom, where he began to vomit. Then Fructus had diarrhea all over himself, and Demeter almost threw up because that's just not right.
Finally, Fructus told her he was done puking and pooping everywhere, so Demeter put him in the bathtub and told him to sit there while she ran to call someone at the OMC.
"Hello, this is Hestia from the Olympus Medical Center. How may I—"
"Hestia! It's Demeter! Fructus is in need of urgent medical attention!" Demeter practically screamed into the phone.
"Okay, Demeter. Is Fructus there with you?"
"Yes!" Demeter screamed.
"Ma'am, I'm going to ask you to not panic, otherwise you'll scare the crap out of your son. I will send a godly ambulance over to your palace immediately."
Seconds later, Iris—the rainbow goddess—appeared in front of Demeter and Fructus. "Hi," said Iris, looking at her clipboard. "I'm supposed to pick up someone named Fructus."
"Here he is!" Demeter screamed, shoving the naked Fructus into Iris' arms. "Fix him!"
"Demeter. Chill," Iris scolded gently. She snapped her fingers and she and Fructus ended up in the operating room of the OMC.
Fructus—who didn't really register where he was—panicked instantly and hid behind Demeter. And can you guess who was doing this thing?
"Hi, Fructus. I'm Dr. Asclepius. Please lie down on the table," said Asclepius.
Fructus screamed. Despite the fact that he was in loads and loads of pain, he ran all around the operating room, screaming out agricultural terminology that even Demeter didn't recognize!
Demeter sighed, picked up her son, and placed him on the table. Asclepius got ready for surgery (because he's one of those doctors who knows what's wrong even if the patient doesn't say anything). He put a mask over Fructus' face. Fructus was out like a light in less than five minutes.
MS. HECATE'S ACADEMY
Hebe was trying to fold her get-well card for Fructus, when Makaria came over to her. "So…are you two…um…ya know…"
"Yes," Hebe replied proudly. "We're in love! See? I drew a heart in the middle of the front page so he'll feel better!"
Makaria laughed. "I think Fructus' mommy called and said he was in the hospital."
Hebe pulled a face. "I hope he doesn't have to eat that gross hospital food."
"How would you know about that?"
"Eileithyia took me to work one day and she said the hospital food sucks."
"Mommy told me that it was okay at some hospitals."
OMC
Fructus' vision was blurry, but he knew he was out of surgery. Demeter and Trip were both at his side. Demeter was stroking his hair and Trip was reading an almanac in Greek.
Before Fructus could ask what Asclepius had done to him, the door flew open. Hebe and Hera walked into the room, Hebe holding a piece of paper in the shape of a heart.
"Fructus, I thought you'd like a card, so I made one for you. See, it's in the shape of a heart 'cause I love you," said Hebe, giving Fructus a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks, Hebe," Fructus croaked.
"Honey, Dr. Asclepius ripped out your appendix," said Demeter. "So you don't have to worry about it anymore."
Fructus smiled at Hebe and held out his hand, which she took. He brought her hand over to his face and kissed it gently. Hebe was a good friend.
Aw…so romantic!