A.N. Hello all. Again.
Yeah, here's another one. Another big one. Another big massive giant one that I'm just putting out there.
I'm just putting a little warning here. You may have noticed this story's rated M as opposed to part 1 that was rated T. The main reason for that is mature themes and a LOT of swearing later on, bit it's also because of the end of this chapter.
It's... well, it's me testing my skill and seeing if I'm any good at writing a scene like that, to be honest.
Don't worry, it's tasteful, and if I ever end up doing something like that again it will still be tasteful. There's no vulgar language and it's left mostly to you to figure out what happens, but I do want to leave a little warning, just in case you don't like scenes like that.
At any rate, enjoy.
Also, chapters will probably get much shorter after these two.
Chapter 2
Percy's first thoughts were she doesn't look as pissed as she used to.
It was true. There was a time pretty early on where Artemis was, quite appropriately, visibly disgusted whenever she walked in on them kissing, or hugging, or cuddling, even sitting too close to each other.
On one hand, Percy was a little bothered by it. She hadn't really had a problem with it when she'd first found out, but then again, for all she knew they were all going to die, so he'd always assumed she just wanted them to perish thinking she approved. The disgust lasted a while, about as long as one could expect from the goddess of maidens, but nowadays her visible disgust had simmered down to simple eye rolls and sighs.
Right now he'd managed to bring out a glare, which was usually a good sign that he'd done something bad. What was that line Brokkr had said in the mountain? We found a line and dared to toe it. Well there he was, toeing the Artemis line.
That sounded worse than he'd meant it to.
He sighed, opening the door as Zoe slipped off his lap and stood up on the ground, pretty immediately pulling Artemis into a hug that the goddess eagerly returned.
That was one of the nice things about dating Zoe. Whenever Artemis showed up, and got pissed, Zoe was usually able to calm her down damn quickly. Then again, Zoe was usually the reason Artemis showed up, so it was kind of a problem that solved itself.
Zoe pulled away from Artemis, a smile still on her face as she did a slight bow.
"Lady Artemis."
The goddess waved her off with a smile, "Oh hush, Zoe. You and I both know we're past formalities by now." She let her gaze drift over to Percy, who'd also stepped out of the truck, "Now you on the other hand..."
He quickly bowed his head, uttering out a "Lady Artemis..." As the surrounding hunters laughed to themselves. He'd made quite and effort in improving his standing with the hunters the past year, considering how their most memorable encounter had went.
Boxers and revolvers usually didn't make for a good combo.
They'd taken him up on his cooking visits offer. Multiple times. Each time bringing game that was more impressive than the last, and each time getting a little more and more okay with the idea of their sister dating him.
That being said, they were still hunters, so he was still only barely considered okay to be around. But so long as that made Zoe happy, which it did, that was more than enough for him.
He watched as Artemis settled her hands on her hips, offering Zoe a soft smile as she gestured towards the house.
"Why don't you head inside, Zoe. Me and your... boyfriend..." He could tell the word hurt to say, "...have some talking to do."
Zoenlet her smile fall a bit as she gave her boyfriend a concerned look. He just forced a smile and handed her the Tupperware of cookies.
"Don't worry, I'll catch up."
She took the Tupperware from him, before she planted a kiss on his cheek.
"You better." She warned him, before walking off to the house and heading inside.
Percy sighed, watching as his girlfriend disappeared into the Redd's homestead before he turned back to the goddess, who had crossed her arms and sighed as she dropped her head.
"Percy. How..." She looked up at him, her silver eyes glinting as they shone daggers into his, "How do you manage to pull off such things?"
Percy shrugged and smiled, "Guess it's just in my nature." His eyes widened and his smile disappeared, "Oh christ, please don't say the hero line."
Artemis chuckled, "I won't."
She turned to her hunters, looking at the farmhouse and giving them a nod. Some sighed, most shrugged, but they all left the two and headed off to the farmhouse, joining their sister as they piled into it.
The snow crunched underfoot as Artemis took a step forward, breaking the silence between them. It was further broken when Artemis spoke.
"How's the leg?"
Percy smiled, knocking his fist against it a couple times. "Hurts when it rains, and when I remember how I missed out on quoting my favorite movie to you."
Artemis let out an exhausted sigh, "Percy..."
He was already rolling up his pant leg, clicking the button below his knee, and pulling off his prosthetic as he hopped next to her.
"Bah." He said in a mock British accent, "Tis but a scratch."
She was silent, giving him a vacant stare before rolled her eyes, hard, which only made his smile grow as he slipped his prosthetic back on.
"Sorry." He said, rubbing the back of his neck, "Can never help it with you."
Artemis sighed as they stood by the car, her hands stuffed under her poncho into her pockets.
"Nice to see things are still going well with Zoe."
Percy couldn't help the smile that beamed over his face, "Yeah. I don't think things are ever gonna get this good again, so I've been trying extra hard not to screw it up."
Artemis smiled softly at that, "I'd hope so. She seems... quite enamored with you."
His smile softened as a thought passed behind his eyes.
"She loves me more than I thought anyone could. Especially after..."
He trailed off, his mind clearly distracted by old memories that stopped his train of thought dead in its tracks.. That being said, Artemis wasn't stupid, and she had enough of an idea who he was talking about.
"Do you still talk to her?"
She hoped her prying wouldn't sadden him, and it didn't. He just nodded as simply as he could.
"Here and there." He replied, sticking his hands in his pockets, "I try not to talk too much. She's got her life down in NewYork, I've got mine up here. We catch up when we can, but..." He shrugged, "It's not what it used to be."
Artemis nodded, keeping quiet as she listened to the son of poseidon speak. He had that look in his eye, the same look he'd had the day before they'd all left for the mountain, as they'd sat in his yard and spoke about Zoe.
The look that meant Percy had been doing some thinking. Worthwhile thinking.
"Thinking about coming by again soon?" Percy added, "Zoe's been talking about you recently, and the hunt."
He let out a soft smile, "I actually built some overhangs in the yard recently. Just in case you guys wanted shelter that isn't tents."
Artemis sighed, "That wasn't necessary Percy."
The young man shrugged, "I don't mind. Zoe helped, and she's honestly better with a hammer than I could ever hope to be."
Artemis let her eyes soften as the young man mentioned his girlfriend again. She sighed, letting her gaze fall to the snow that lined the ground.
"You really love her, don't you?"
The question might've taken him off guard a year and a half ago, but now all it did was make him smile.
"More than anything."
She nodded at his words, giving him a once over with her eyes before she looked up at the sky, admittedly scanning for what she already knew wouldn't be visible through the snow clouds.
Her constellation. Zoe's constellation.
"Percy." She said, drawing the young man's attention.
"Yeah?" He replied.
She drew a deep breath and closed her eyes, sighing slowly through her nose as she opened her eyes and stared into his.
"When are you going to ask Zoe to marry you?"
He froze. There was an immediate look of intense panic that passed behind his eyes as he forced out a chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck.
"What? I don't, uh... I dont know what, uh..."
He had a smile on his face, a forced one, which faded as Artemis rolled her eyes and met his gaze. He sighed, letting his head drop as his shoulders slouched.
"Wanna see the ring?" He mumbled, as he stared at the floor. She let out another breath through her nose, the faintest hint of a smile appearing on her lips as she did.
"Of course I want to see it."
He sighed and turned back to the truck, reaching up to the glove compartment and grabbing the box. He showed it to Artemis, flicking it open so she could see it. She took in the piece of jewelry, nodding as her smile grew a bit.
"It matches her eyes."
Percy perked up at that, smiling widely as he looked at the ring himself.
"You think so? That's what I thought too." He softly ran a finger over the ring as words poured out of his eager mouth, "You don't think it's too gaudy, right? Or too showy? I think she'd like something small and simple like this, something that didn't draw the eye too much, but was still tasteful to her, right? Something-"
"Percy." Artemis interrupted. He looked up at her.
"Yeah?"
She let out a long breath oit of her nose as she gently closed the box and pressed it, and his hand, against his chest.
"What are you waiting for?"
He stood there for a moment, eyes staring into Artemis' as thoughts seemed to swirl in those sea green orbs of his, all before he let out a groan and dropped his head again.
"I don't know." He said with a sigh, "I just... I'm terrified Artemis."
The goddess crossed her arms and cocked an eyebrow, "Of what. Me?"
"Well, partially. Or at least up until now." He replied, as his gaze drifted up to hers, "I'm just scared. I mean... what if she says no?"
Artemis let out her own groan as she let her head fall, "Do you seriously think she'd say no, Percy?"
His eyes were dark for a moment as those thoughts seemed to return, swirling behind his eyes yet again.
"Sometimes I do."
His words seemed to stun the goddess, making her uncross her arms as she looked at the young man.
"Why would you say that, Percy? Zoe loves you." Her brow furrowed as she gave her head a soft shake "More than even I thought she was capable of."
He sighed as he tucked the ring back into his glove compartment and shut his car door, "It's just... she was a hunter for millenia, Artemis. For thousands of years, longer than I could ever imagine."
Artemis sighed and shook her head, "Percy, I am the goddess of the hunt. So it means a lot coming from me when I say: so what?"
"So..." He said, shaking his head, "So why do I have any right to ask her to marry me? We've been dating barely a year and a half, Artemis. A year and a half for her to adjust to me, to us, to this. I know what I want, I want to be with her. Forever. But I'm already pushing her, and so fast..." He looked away from the goddess, letting his eyes settle on the homestead, his face drooping a little as his next words came out.
"What if I end up pushing her away?"
Artemis was quiet for a moment as the snow continued to fall on the pair. He looked back at her, letting a soft breath out as he forced a smile.
"I'm right, aren't I? That's why you're not saying anything."
"No." Artemis said, shaking her head, "I'm just looking for the right way to call you an idiot."
Percy sighed, leaning his head back as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"Getting cold?" He asked. She shook her head.
"I'm a goddess, Percy. We don't get cold. Besides..." She let a smirk play at her lips, "...I know you just want to go see Zoe."
He nodded, his own smile forming, "Am I really so predictable?"
Artemis sighed, clapping a hand on his shoulder.
"Only with her."
With that, she turned him towards the homestead and they walked up to the Redd's house together.
Percy was in the door not even a second before two pair of arms wrapped around both his legs while two fits of laughter rang out.
"Uncle Percy!" The two kids cried as they practically dragged the young man to the floor, making the few people who were standing in the foyer step back at the whole affair. Percy chuckled, ruffling the two kids heads as he placed his hands on their shoulders.
"Jack. Ingrid." He said, as the two kids stared at him. He smiled, pulling them both into a hug as they gladly squeezed him as tight as they could.
"I missed you two." He said, as the two kids pulled away.
"It's only been a week, uncle Percy." Jack said.
"Yeah, well..." Percy stood back up and put his hands on his hips, looking around the house, "...it's been a long week."
Ingrid giggled as she watched Percy.
"Are you looking for your girlfriend, uncle Percy?"
"I might be." He said in a playful tone as he leaned towards the kids, "Any clue where she went?"
Ingrid giggled again and pointed towards the living room. Percy smiled, giving the kids hair another ruffle as they ran off up the stairs.
He turned back to Artemis, who'd been watching him with an ever so curious look on her face. He caught it, and gave her a puzzled look.
"What?" He asked. She just kept her gaze.
"You like kids, Percy?"
He let his look fade, as his gaze drifted up the stairs, "I like Jack and Ingrid."
Artemis pressed forward a bit, letting her eyes narrow as she eyed up the demigod.
"Do you want kids Percy?"
Yes, a daughter, one in specific, and more than I could ever hope to- He caught his thoughts, steeling himself as he took a deep breath through his nose.
"Maybe."
She was silent for a moment before she pressed forward towards the living room.
"Come on. Let's go find your girlfriend, Percy."
The young man smiled as he followed Artemis into the room, pretty immediately being net with several familiar and unfamiliar faces.
There was Freya, of course, who met him at the entrance with a smile, as well as Erik, sat as always in his easy chair. The hunters were strewn about the room, chatting with mostly women (naturally), with some standing out on the back deck.
Percy noticed the twins outside, Magni and Modi. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but from the way their heads were nodding and their arms were crossed in that perfect, creepy, twin synch they always had, Percy decided it was best to save his brain from stoll twin related flashbacks.
Percy brought his attention back forward as Freya approached, giving him a hug before pulling away with narrowed eyes.
"You're late."
He let out a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his neck, "Yeah, we uh... had some trouble cooking the cookies."
Freya rolled her eyes and shook her head, "Oh I'll bet, sheriff."
He let out a breath through his nose and looked down, "Sorry about that."
She shook her head, "Don't be. It's you and Zoe, I knew you were gonna be late, Percy."
Percy sighed, letting a sile spread over his face as he took a look around, "Where is she, by the way?"
Freya sighed, "Kitchen, and she's... not happy."
Percy frowned, his eyebrows pulling in confusion as he gave Freya's shoulder a friendly squeeze and headed off to the kitchen.
He found Zoe there, looking... well, yeah. Looking not too happy. There was a roast on the counter, probably one that Freya had made, that Zoe was really just going at with one of her hunting knives. A knife that, in hindsight, Percy should've made sure she left in the car...
She carved at the roast, grumbling to herself as she did so. The grumbling lessened noticeably when Percy wrapped his arms around her shoulders and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"Something on your mind?" He mused into her ear as he rested his chin on her shoulder.
She sighed, stabbing the knife into the cutting board, "They just... started asking about you. Right away. To me."
"Who did?" He asked, already knowing the answer, but hoping his feigned ignorance might ease her mind.
It didn't, evidently, when she let out a huff, "You know who. Your little... fan club."
He could practically hear her teeth grit in her jaw as the words came out.
Percy sighed, squeezing her shoulders a little tighter as a small smile pulled at his lips, "I hope you're not jealous, Ms Nightshade."
"No. Of course not." She replied as she drummed her fingers on the counter, "Of course I'm not jealous that a bunch of girls who know I'm your girlfriend and know I have been for a year and a half are asking about you, to me, right to my face." She turned around in his grip, leaning against the counter as his hands lowered to her waist.
"Why on earth would I be jealous?"
He sighed, "I can't imagine why."
She looked away, "Sorry. I know I'm being ridiculous..." Her eyes tightened into a glare as she stared at the floor, "Its just... several thousand years of no men, and now I've got this man..." She poked him in the chest to emphasize her point, "...it's a lot of emotion to deal with."
He let the smile waver a bit as his insecurities started to pick at him, "It's not too much, is it?"
"Feels like it is, sometimes." She mumbled as her eyes laid on his chest, before they rose to his and she smiled, "But I'll tolerate it for my Percy."
He pushed away his thoughts and let a smile break back through, "Your Percy?"
She frowned a bit, "Yes. My Percy. Got a problem with that, Jackson?"
He softly chuckled before he plucked his hat off his head, "Not a chance. I know you'd whoop my ass if I did."
She narrowed her eyes and poked him in the chest, "Damn right I would." She let her eyes drift away, towards the living room as she let out a soft sigh, "Now if only they'd realize that, too."
He breathed his own sigh out of his nose, "Well, how about we give them a very obvious sign." He plopped his hat down on her head, "There. Percy's girlfriend gets Percy's hat."
She blushed as he placed it, "Is that all Percy's girlfriend gets?"
He smiled, straightening the hat on her head, and letting his own hand slide down to her cheek.
It was another one of those moments. A moment where they both knew a kiss was coming and their hearts just went ahead and Jack hammered in their chests because of it. He let his hands slide down to her waist as he pulled her close.
They got close. Real close. Close enough that they didn't notice the person who'd been watching their entire little display. Not until she loudly cleared her throat.
They separated immediately, Percy's cheeks flushing red as he turned around to see a thoroughly unimpressed Freya standing by the kitchen entrance.
"Percy?" She said. He steeled himself, straightening out his coat and running a hand through his hair.
"Yes deputy?"
She crossed the room, straightening his coat a bit more before she gave him a smile and leaned over to whisper right into his ear.
"There's a guest bedroom upstairs if you two can't wait until you get home."
He felt his blush darken a bit as he rubbed the back of his neck and shot a glance back at Zoe, who'd heard what she'd said and was blushing just as hard.
She shook her head with a sigh.
"I would like to talk to Zoe for a minute, if that's alright..." She let her piercing blue eyes meet his, "...and my husband would like to talk to you."
Percy let out a nervous chuckle as he tucked his hands in his pockets and shot another glance at his girlfriend.
"See you soon."
She nodded, before reaching over and giving his hand a squeeze, a bit of nervousness in her eye.
"Just... don't let them get all over you. Please."
He gave her a warm smile, "Wouldn't dream of it."
With that, he let his hand slip from hers and made his way to the living room to have a conversation with a literal viking. Which was somehow a bit less scary than knowing he was going into a room with town girls.
He silently prayed Zoe was just being dramatic with what she'd said.
Zoe was not being dramatic.
He got maybe 15 feet into the room and had only just barely spotted Erik before the first girl made her way over.
She was a town girl, and one he had the faintest recollection of having spoken to. She crossed the room just about the second she'd spotted him and, like the natural prey he always was with women, he kinda just froze in place as his mind kicked into fifth gear trying to think of ways to avoid what was coming.
Like it always did, his brain let him down, and the girl got up close, too close, and started giving him quite a look as she twirled her hair.
Her black hair, that he could tell was dyed.
"Hi Percy." She said, her voice tone just about as flirty as one could make it.
He cleared his throat, trying his best to maintain a polite demeanor even as he internally panicked looking for a way out of this.
"Hi... Jen."
It took him a moment to remember her name. Either she didn't notice or didn't care.
"So I was wondering..." She asked, taking another step closer, "Any chance you'd be free this weekend? I've got a couple tickets to a movie in town, and I'd love to have you come."
He shuffled nervously on his feet, trying to move back a bit from the girl.
"Well actually, me and Zoe were planning... something that day."
That was a lie. He wasn't planning anything on the weekend. Well, honestly he was, and it definitely involved Zoe, but Percy wasn't cruel, and telling Liv he planned on spending the weekend watching movies and sucking face with his girlfriend seemed at least a little cruel.
On the other hand, Jen probably should've known that he and Zoe were a thing by now, but still...
She let a hint of a frown spread over her face as she took another step toward him.
"You sure? I mean, I'd really love to have you over. Just the two of us..."
She took another step forward and Percy did the same backwards. He did have to give her a little credit. If she was anything, it was committed. Maybe a little pointlessly committed, but still. Committed.
That being said, he was just about done with this.
"Look, Jen..." He said, circling around her so they swapped sides, " I'm really sorry, I am. But... me and Zoe, we're..." He trailed off when he noticed the hurt in her eyes.
On one hand, she kinda deserved it. He was not in any way private about his relationship and the fact that she'd dyed her hair the same colour as Zoe's pretty well proved that. On the other hand, Percy was, as he'd said before, not cruel. So it wasn't exactly easy to let the girl down.
She frowned, forcing the hurt from her face as she crossed her arms over her chest, "Alright. Maybe you could give me a call? I'd still like to meet up or something."
He forced a smile on his face, "Sure thing."
Her smile came back, "You got my number?"
He nodded as he turned away, "Of course."
He didn't, and he wasn't about to ask. Instead he just focused on the man sitting in the easy chair by the fireplace. The man who'd had a sly grin on his face the whole time he'd watched Percy's little struggle.
Percy say down with a groan as he settled into his own chair. He held up his hand before Erik had a chance to talk and closed his eyes.
"I don't even want to hear it."
The older man smiled and let out a dry chuckle.
"Y'know, I can see why Zoe's so on edge all the time."
Percy sighed, letting his hand fall to the arm rest as he leaned his head back into the seat.
"Why did you do this to us, Erik?" He opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, "Me and Zoe were gonna have a nice evening. Just talk all night, I would cook her some dinner, we'd watch a movie after, it would be perfect. But no. You gotta trap me in your house with all these..." He waved his hand in the air, "...predators."
Erik smiled as the man ranted, "Well, maybe you just need to give them a sign to stop."
Percy met Erik's eyes, "Is dating Zoe not enough? I'm pretty sure she's told me how she'll kill every one of the girls who's hit on me at least a hundred times each. Surely they've got some notion of the two of us."
Erik shook his head and leaned forward.
"Percy." He said, his voice reminiscent of an unimpressed father.
Percy leaned his head back and closed his eyes with a sigh, "Yeah Erik?"
The man sighed and leaned on his knees, shaking his head as he looked at Percy.
"When are you gonna ask Zoe to marry you?"
Percy was quiet for a moment, his body frozen as his gaze stayed locked on the ceiling. He opened his mouth, ready to say some stupid excuse, but he closed it as he realized there was no chance Erik was gonna buy whatever shit he said.
He sighed, leaning forward in his seat to match Erik's pose as he finally let some honesty out of that big dumb mouth of his.
"I have wanted to marry her for at least a year now, Erik."
It should've terrified him, just saying that. But there was something about the giant of a man that just brought honesty out and kept fear on the backburner.
"I love her. A lot. Like, a crazily stupid amount, and I want to marry her so bad that it hurts not to."
Erik smiled, a satisfied one that spread over his face as he continued.
"You've already got a ring, don't you? A silver one, with a black gemstone, that matches her eyes."
Percy nodded as his eyes narrowed, "How did you know?"
"Because the ring that's been sitting at Sven's jewelry shop for the better part of a decade went up and vanished not too long ago and you have one of the worst poker faces on the planet, sheriff." Erik shook his head as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "I mean, you could not stop smiling. Not that I blame you, but come on now..."
Percy sighed as he leaned back into his seat, feeling that Erik magic work it's way into his brain.
"Do you wanna know why I haven't asked her yet?" He leaned forward and met the vikings eyes.
"Because you're a dumbass who thinks she's too good for you, and you think you're pushing her too far, too fast?"
Percy sighed, easing back into his seat as Erik did what he always did: Read his mind like an open book. He tucked his hands behind his neck and shot a glance over at the man.
"Yeah. Exactly."
Erik shook his head, "You're overthinking this, you know that, right?"
Percy let a sigh drift out of his nose, "Maybe I am..." He said in a soft tone, before he leaned forward and followed it up with a curious tone, "How did you propose, anyway?"
Erik gave his beard a stroke as he furrowed his brow.
"To be honest? I don't even remember."
Percy let his mouth drop a bit as his eyes narrowed.
"You don't remember? Don't tell me Frey knows that."
The man chuckled, "To be honest, I'm not too sure she remembers either. It's all kinda just a blur of smiles and I do's."
Percy shook his head as a breath hissed out his nose, "Was it at least a little special? From what you remember?"
Erik leaned back in his seat, looked up at the ceiling, and brought his hand over his chin.
"I think I asked her during dinner."
Percy was quiet for a moment, his mouth hanging open slightly, before he sputtered out a sound that didn't quite convey anything but confusion.
"You're kidding."
Erik shook his head, "Pretty sure it just kinda... happened."
Percy leaned back into his seat, letting his eyes gaze off into the distance.
"And she said yes?" He asked, "Right away?"
Erik shrugged with a smile, "Well, it took her a moment to collect herself."
Percy leaned into the chair and kept his eyes on Erik, staring at him with... well, a really empty look. One that reflected what he was feeling, and that was a whole lot of confusion.
"Percy." Erik said snapping the sheriff from his daze.
"Yeah?" He replied in a soft tone.
"You don't need to make it special." Erik said, a soft look on his viking face. "It's not special because of what happens, it's special because of who it's with. You."
Percy felt his mouth close and his nerves settle as he let what the man had said really sink in. On one hand, Erik was right. This didn't need to be something he stressed over. He loved Zoe, and from what he could gather despite his insecurities, she loved him too. He drew a shaky breath as he felt a bit more tension ease off his shoulders.
"Alright Erik." He said with a slow, semi confident nod, "But I still want it to be at least somewhat special though."
His shift in tone drew Erik's attention, and brought a soft smile to his face as Percy continued.
"I can't just... I don't know, pop it out when we're watching star wars or something. I want it to be somewhere special. I want it to be something she'll never forget."
Erik smiled. It was a quiet, knowing smile that really said a lot more than the man was willing to.
"Well... I might just be able to help with that."
Erik and Percy smiled to themselves for a moment, but Erik's smile faded as sympathy worked it's way into his eyes.
"Percy... have you been overthinking things this much the whole time?"
The young man shrugged, forcing a sad smile on his face.
"Pretty much. At least when I'm alone." The smile spread a bit as his mind wandered to a better topic, "Why do you think I spend every second I can with Zoe?"
Erik sighed, "Because you're obsessed with her, Percy."
The young man furrowed his brow and squinted his eyes in mock thought, "Yeah. I suppose I am. How on earth did you come to this conclusion?"
The older man pinched the bridge of his nose and gave his head a shake.
"See, now that's the attitude I want you in. None of this self doubt stuff, alright?"
Percy shrugged and smiled, "I'll try my best."
Erik grumbled to himself, "Try your best... last time I heard someone tell me they'd try their best I nearly died to a horde of draugr."
Percy squinted, "Was this a recent thing or a pre-zombified thing?"
Erik sighed out of his nose and crossed his arms, "It was an old thing, and we've been over this Percy. I'm not a zombie, I was resurrected."
Percy nodded, "Okay yeah, but your name is still Erik. Was that just a crazy coincidence, or what?"
Erik shook his head, "When you get resurrected you... look your name doesn't change you're just younger, but you don't remember things, and..." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as he trailed off, "Y'know, my status is already confusing enough without you making me actively think about it, Percy."
Percy smiled, "That's what I'm here for. Asking stupid questions."
Except for one question, one that wasn't stupid he thought to himself, but he pushed it aside.
Erik stood up with a deeply annoyed sigh before Percy could make more jokes and gestured to the dining room, "Shall we? Pretty sure dinner is ready and I'm guessing you brought something delicious."
Percy shrugged, "You like chocolate chip cookies?"
Erik nodded, "I do, but knowing my kids? I won't be allowed to eat them anyways."
Percy smiled at that, standing up to follow the giant of a man into his dining room, all while hoping that Zoe might be a little lenient to the town girls when they sat down at the table.
He didn't know why he even bothered thinking that.
Zoe did not waste any time laying things down nice and simple for all the girls in the room.
The second she saw her boyfriend enter the dining room she made a beeline straight for him She held Percy's hand, straightened Percy's hat on her head, and planted a kiss on Percy's cheek. All of which were seen by anyone who happened to be watching (most of the girls) and all of which gave two clear messages.
He's mine. Back off.
Percy didn't really know how to feel about that.
On one hand, Percy was charmed, which was not a foreign emotion with Zoe. On the other hand, he was pretty worried for her. She seemed on edge, very much so, and frankly the sooner they could get back to their nice little cabin (and probably their nice little bed), the better.
There was a third hand that was trying really, really hard not to carry her upstairs and make use of that guest bedroom Freya had mentioned, but he buried that emotion back where it belonged.
In the part of his brain marked for later.
He cleared his throat, tightening his grip as he gave Zoe a smile. A smile she didn't notice as she was far too busy glaring down any girls even daring to shoot a flirty glance at him. He sighed, slipping his hand from hers and wrapping it around her shoulder instead. He felt her settle in his grip and a smile pulled at his lips.
"Better?" He asked her, she glanced up at him with a small smile.
"Much." He felt her let out a sigh as her hand went up and squeezed the palm that was resting on her shoulder, "Let's just... get this over with."
He softly chuckled as they walked to the table, "Promise me something."
She looked up at him, "Anything."
"You're not gonna kill anyone here. Especially not any girls."
She frowned, "Anything but that."
He sighed, stopping her about a dozen feet away from the table as everyone else got seated. He turned to face her, his hands resting on her shoulders as a look of minor defeat spread over his face. He leaned into her ear, pulling her close so he could whisper.
"Promise me not to kill anyone, and I'll do that thing you like tonight."
He pulled back and could see the excitement spark in her eyes as they flicked up and down his body, a very... non-innocent look in them. He watched her stance change as her legs shifted absent-mindedly. She took a deep breath and met his eyes with her own.
"You mean..." She reached up and traced a hand up his jaw as he let out a soft sigh.
"Yes, Zoe. I mean-" He couldn't finish. She put her hand over his mouth and took a step closer.
"No more talking." She said, a small smile playing at her lips, "Your jaw is gonna be plenty busy tonight..." She let her eyes flick up to his, and that non-innocent look came with it, "...and I don't want you wearing yourself out beforehand, sheriff."
He sighed though her palm as he realized the grave mistake he'd made. She pulled her hand away and led him over to the dining table, taking a seat by the head of the table as Percy sat right next to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as he did.
Freya, who'd been watching the whole time, clapped her hands together as they sat and let a smile spread over her face.
"Right. Now that we're all here, I'd just like to say, from both Erik and I, thank you all for coming." She rested a hand on her husband's shoulder and Erik reached up to give it a soft squeeze.
"We just want to start this dinner with some congratulations. First of all, Magni and Modi, my lovely brothers..." She gestured to the twins, who were still in the living room, headphones on their heads and hooked up to an ancient record player that sat by the fireplace, completely oblivious to anything around them.
Freya just sighed.
"My lovely brothers," She continued, "Have finally moved off the mountain and into town. After me pestering them to for years."
Magni noticed Freya's gestures and poked Modi, pointing at the table. The two pulled off their headphones and stood up, worried looks on their faces.
"Are we in trouble?" Magni asked.
"Whatever it was, it wasn't us." Modi added.
Freya just shook her head, pinched the bridge of her nose, and let out another sigh, all while the people at the table familiar with the twins tried their best not to laugh.
"No, boys. Don't worry about it. It's nothing, just go back to your music."
The two held their nervous gazes for a moment, before stuffing their headphones back on their heads.
"Okie doke." Magni said.
"Love you, Freya." Modi quickly added, as the two sat back down at the record player.
Freya took a deep breath as she turned back to the table, all while Percy could feel Zoe's barely suppressed laughs shake through his arms.
"Children... I'm related to immortal children..." Freya grumbled under her breath as she smiled again and faced the table, "On another note, we'd also like to thank Artemis and the hunt on providing us with the stag we're eating tonight."
Percy took a glance down the table at the goddess of maidens, who'd raised a glass of what he could swear was wine and shot Freya a smile.
"Anything for the savior of Asgard, you know that, Frey."
Freya smiled as a couple cheers and claps came out from the table.
Percy glanced a little farther down and spotted a couple hunters sat at the table too, ones who half forced/half genuinely smiled at him when he caught their eyes. He knew he'd probably never live to see them all okay with him and Zoe, but they didn't kill him on sight, so that was a start. He returned their smiles.
"At any rate," Freya continued, "Dinner isn't quite the same without a fresh meal, one that has a very special recipe provided by the third focus of congratulation." She turned to face Percy, who just like always, went all deer-in-the-headlights at her piercing blue stare.
"Percy Jackson..." She said, turning to Zoe with a smile, "A too a much greater extent, Zoe Nightshade, have been dating for quite some time now."
Percy blushed, and he had a feeling that hidden behind the glare Zoe cast over all the girls at the table, she was doing the same. Freya continued.
"These two have spent quite some time in Hammer Falls, and it's only relatively recently that these two, and by two I mean Percy, finally stopped being stupid and admitted their feelings for each other."
Percy let out a nervous chuckle and rubbed the back of his neck while Zoe leaned into his shoulder.
"Now, normally I'd have waited for the two year anniversary to roll around," Freya said, reaching under the table, "But considering I'm about to go insane from Percy tapping his lighter on his leg every shift, I figured now is a better time than any."
She held up her hands and showed off what was in them. A box, a simple cardboard gift box with the words To PZ written on it in a soft calligraphy.
Percy and Zoe glanced at each other before Percy reached over and slid the box over to them. He pulled it open and took a look inside, and his heart nearly dropped to the floor.
It was a pair of tickets. Of plane tickets, marked for departure in not even a week. Percy and Zoe both looked up at Freya with shocked looks on their faces as the young woman gave them a warm smile.
"We won a sweepstakes." She said, resting a hand on Erik's shoulder, "But, unfortunately, it was two tickets and not four."
Percy let his gaze fall back down to the tickets. "Freya, this..."
The woman smiled, "Is exactly what you two need. A vacation, a proper vacation. One where the mountain isn't literally in view."
Percy let out a breathy laugh as he looked over at Zoe, who's reaction matched his own. He turned back to Freya.
"Where's it headed?"
She smiled, "England, and it's all expenses paid. Hotels, transportation, food. Everything. You two just get to sit back and enjoy."
Percy leaned back in his seat holding the tickets up in front of him as his brain struggled to find words.
"I... You... this..." He strung together fragments of sentences before Zoe put her hand over his mouth and answered for him.
"Thank you, Frey. A simple thank you isn't enough, but we still want to say it. We promise to look after the kids, and come over every weekend, and Percy will cook you guys dinner whenever you ask."
"Mhmf." Percy added, nodding as he talked through her hand.
Freya nodded as her eyes narrowed slightly, "I'd expect as much, at least from Percy. Zoe, you always get a pass for owing me anyything, considering you have to deal with him every day."
Zoe smiled as she wrapped an arm around her boyfriends shoulders, "I deal with him exactly how I want to."
Freya smiled at the two before her gaze settled on Percy and her eyes narrowed.
"And sheriff?" She said, leaning into the table.
Zoe took her hand away from Percy's face, and the sheriff swallowed.
"Yes deputy?"
She slowly and methodically drummed her fingers on the table, "When you get back, that tapping? I'd better never hear it again."
He let out a nervous chuckle as he gave her a warm smile.
"Wouldn't dream of it."
Dinner went by quick. So did the evening, now that he thought about it. Really, just about everything that had happened that night, after Freya had went and blown Percy's brain out the back of his skull, was really just a fuzzy blur that sat in his peripheral.
His focus was mainly on the tickets. The tickets, and whenever his gaze would leave them, Zoe. He went back and forth between the two, exchanging stares at the two pieces of paper in the box and his girlfriend who was trying her best to keep conversations going while her boyfriend was having his little mental moment.
Percy eventually stopped looking at the tickets, stuck the box in his pocket, and just stared at his girlfriend as thoughts organized themselves in his brain. Well, mainly one thought.
Holy shit, this is it.
This was it. This was undeniably, ireffutably, absolutely it. This was how he'd propose. He could picture it in his stupid brain right now. They'd go down to Big Ben or Downton Abbey or something, he'd fake a British accent and say something (most likely Monty python related) to make her laugh, get her in a really good mood, one where she'd be willing to make a really stupid decision, and bam.
Zoe Nightshade? Will you marry me?
Then... that was the problem.
Then what?
Then she'd probably say no, call him dumbass, hail a cab, head home, and change the locks so he had to live in the woods. He'd absolutely deserve every bit of it and spend every second of his life wondering why he thought he deserved her, all while trying to survive off squirrels and berries.
He was brought back to reality when the subject of his thoughts soft hand laid itself on his cheek.
"You alright?" Zoe asked, her voice tinged with worry, "You've been doing the thousand yard stare all night."
Percy shook his head, taking back in reality as he realized two things: One, he was standing by the door with his coat on, two, they were the last ones in the house.
"Yeah." He said as his eyes settled on her and his face drew into a smile, "Yeah. Just... thinking, is all."
She smiled, "Well, how about we get home, then you can keep thinking, sheriff."
He chuckled as she led him out of the house and back towards the truck. She walked around to the passenger door and hopped in, and Percy was about to follow, before a voice behind him caught his attention.
"Sheriff. A word, if you will."
Percy felt his body stiffen and his breath hitch. He gave the window a couple knocks and shot Zoe a smile before he turned around, swallowed, and approached them.
Both of them, Artemis and Freya.
He stood in front of the two, not sure which one he was more scared of at this moment. They stood in the same pose. Arms crossed, eyes narrowed, brow furrowed. He swore these two could've been sisters if he didn't know better...
"Perseus." Artemis began, making his brain say oh no. Her using his full name was never good.
"Yes, Perseus." Freya repeated, making Percy chuckle nervously as the two women took a step forward.
"Uh... yeah?" He asked, nerves on full display as he rubbed the back of his head.
"If you come back here, back to town, and Zoe doesn't have a ring on her finger..." Artemis said.
"The ring my husband was gracious enough to tell us about..." Freya added, with Artemis nodding but not breaking eye contact with Percy.
"Then you are going to regret it." The goddess of the hunt rested her hand on one of her hunting knives as she spoke, as if to emphasize the point, "Clear?"
Percy swallowed, nodded, and forced a smile.
"Crystal."
The two women stepped back, letting out soft smiles as Freya tossed a hand over her (apparent) besties shoulder and let her smile spread into a grin.
"In that case, have fun you two. Trip is scheduled for a week. Perfect amount of time for you to steel your wits, sheriff."
Percy sighed, tucking his hands into his pockets as his head fell a bit.
"I hope." He muttered. The goddess and the equally scary deputy gave him one last pair of glares before they both disappeared into the Redd family ranch, probably to go compare hunting notes or prepare their Percy-torture chamber if he failed his love quest.
Quest. Was this a quest? Guess he couldn't avoid them after all...
He was pulled from his thoughts when his trucks horn rang out into the night. He whirled around and spotted his girlfriend leaning over onto the driver's seat.
"Hurry up." She called to him, "If we're quick, we can still catch The naked gun. It's on tonight."
He smiled, bought ding over to the truck and hopping right in as he shifted his keys out of his pocket, sticking them into the ignition and feeling the truck roar to life and he pulled away from rhe deputy's home.
They made it a good ways home in silence when Zoe finally spoke up.
"So." Zoe said, drawing his gaze over.
"So?" He replied.
"So, what was all that about?" Zoe asked. He swallowed, trying his absolute best to think up a lie, all while he couldn't help but focus on the fact that the ring was mere feet away from her in the glove compartment.
"Uh... well..."
He silently screamed at his brain, demanding it come up with an answer.
"We were just... talking about how pretty you looked today." He said, the words coming out as a garbled, nervous, stammered cacophony. She let her eyes narrow a bit.
"About how pretty I am?"
"Yeah." Percy replied, "You just... you've been looking so... radiant lately, they just couldn't help but notice."
Percy was such a bad liar it hurt. Well, he wasn't really lying, Zoe always looked drop dead gorgeous, but still. There was no way she was buying this shit.
She crossed her arms and faced forward.
"Percy." His name came out of her direct and commanding.
He swallowed as they rounded a corner, "Yes my love?"
"Pull over. Now."
He did, even though he really didn't want to. He shut the truck off and pulled out the key, sitting in the darkness as neither moved for a moment, silent as they sat.
She broke the silence with three swift movements. Unbuckling her seatbelt, shifting over the cab, and sliding into his lap.
He froze at her touch as he felt his breath get heavy just about immediately. He let his eyes drift away as he slowly but surely started to get exactly how she wanted him.
Excited, and easy to interrogate.
"Zoe..." He started, but she pressed a finger to his lips.
"Percy..." She said, grabbing his hands and bringing them up to her cheeks, "You can tell me. Whatever it is, I won't get upset."
He sighed deeply, letting his gaze fall down in front of him. She frowned a bit, sliding her hands up his jaw.
"Percy. I mean it, you can-"
She stopped talking when his hand softly pressed over her mouth and his eyes flicked back up to hers. He let a very definitive look nestle into his gaze, one that said I am taking control.
"If you stop asking me what they said..." He leaned in to her ear and let his voice slip into the seductive whisper he saved for when he really needed to distract her.
"...I'll do both the things you like tonight."
He heard her let out another shaky breath as he felt her either intentionally or unintentionally grind against his lap a little.
She snapped her eyes to his, tightly holding his cheeks as she looked into them.
"Home. Now."
They got home, just about as fast as he could.
Truth be told, they'd only really been around five or so minutes away when he'd pulled over, but man, those five minutes felt like hours with how restless Zoe was in the passenger seat. Her knee was bouncing and her hands were running up and down her thighs and just about every glance she gave Percy felt like a wolf staring at its prey.
In hindsight? He really shouldn't have said what he'd said, but then again he wasn't gonna think of anything else to say, now was he?
He pulled up to the house and Zoe wasted no time whipping her door open and hopping out. Percy followed her, stepping out of the car and shutting the door behind him, before he waltzed on up to the door, only to find her standing at the door, tapping her foot with her arms crossed.
"Unlock it." She essentially demanded. He chuckled as he fished our his key ring.
"Any reason you can't?" He mused in a teasing tone. She crossed her arms a little tighter.
"I forgot my key..." She mumbled. He grinned and moved for the lock, sticking it in just slowly enough to be frustrating, and turning it at an equally infuriating speed.
He really should've known better, considering the second the door was open she pushed him inside and kicked it closed behind her.
She gave him a moment. A moment to put his coat on the rack and his hat there all the same. It was a very difficult moment for her, and he could tell, considering her next move.
Her next move was practically slamming him into the wall as she pressed her lips against his.
The kiss was a lot of things. Hard. Rough. Hungry. Aggressive. Barely hiding her moans. It was all those things and showed a lot of emotions that Zoe didn't seem too worried about hiding right now. It made him smile knowing he was the source of that comfort.
It was another reason why he loved her.
She broke the kiss, grabbing two fistfuls of his shirt as she breathed heavy breaths and stared up into his eyes with those big, onyx orbs of hers.
He kinda just stared back for a moment, breathing his own deep breaths as he reacquainted himself with the taste of air.
"So." He began, "Do you wanna-"
She clasped her hand over his mouth and hissed what was basically an order at him.
"Bed. Now."
He grinned, lifting her up into his arms as she took the opportunity to press her lips to his again. He slid down the wall, down the hall to his door all while they got their tongues nice and acquainted with each other.
He reached his door and fumbled with the door handle, working it open and practically falling backwards into his room. He landed in a sitting position on his bed while she got busy tearing her jacket off her shoulders.
She took a second to break the kiss and grab his shirt again, this time making damn sure he was looking at her as she growled out another order.
"Either that shirt comes off, or I cut it off."
He smiled, reaching down to pull the garment over his head. An act he wouldn't have even considered not too long ago, but he was far past being insecure about his body around Zoe.
She pulled the shirt over his head and pushed him back onto the bed, tearing off her own shirt as she descended on him again. He rolled as she landed on him, rotating their bodies so he was on top now.
On top and in control, just how she didn't like it.
He smiled against her lips as he pulled back, leaning on his haunches as he took in his girlfriend.
"Y'know..." He said, smiling as he spoke, "...I don't think I'll ever get tired of looking at you."
She let a scowl pull over her face, "Why are you talking and not kissing me, Jackson?"
He shrugged, "Well, I was gonna take my pants off, but if you're so opposed to that..."
He trailed off, a smile pulling at his cheeks as she threw him on the bed, taking her place on top like she always liked once again.
"Smug jackass..." She muttered against his lips as her hands worked his belt off and his jeans off him all the same. He took the opportunity to match her motions, slipping her belt off her waist and pulling off her pants in one swift motion.
They stopped when they reached an equal ground, laying on their sides in their bed as they stared into each other's eyes. Percy had his hand on her cheek and was softly tracing circles into her skin, all while her fingers softly dragged up and down his chest. He took a deep breath as a smile formed on his lips.
"This isn't heaven, right?"
She met his eyes, allowing her own lips to grin with happiness.
"Why don't you tell me, sheriff?"
He sighed, resting his palm flat against her cheek, "Well, I don't think it is. Most people don't need to go on vacation from heaven."
She shrugged, "Maybe they do."
They were quiet for a moment, just staring into each other's eyes as their hands rested against each other's skin. Zoe felt her palm grip a little tighter against his chest as she felt something pull itself out from deep inside her.
"Sometimes I still think this is the stars."
He furrowed his brow, confusion spreading over his face, "What do you mean."
She sighed, "Y'know, when you first showed up, I thought to myself that's it, this isn't the stars. There's no way this moron made it here too."
"That's fair." He admitted, "I was, and still am, a mess."
She laughed at his comment, before the look she'd had before returned. Her hand slid up his cheek, before tracing its way down to his neck and resting there as she continued.
"But now, here I am. Here I am, laying with you in our bed, in our home, with... just, everything that we have, and that we are."
She let her eyes settle on his.
"Heaven and the stars, to me they're one and the same. Heaven is supposed to be everything you've ever wanted, isn't it?"
He nodded, "Everything your heart desires."
She was quiet for a moment, before she tucked herself a little closer to him, letting her voice fall into a whisper as a gentle, honest truth flowed from her lips.
"It wasn't until I got here that I learned all I ever wanted was you."
He didn't say anything for a moment, just letting what she'd said settle into every bit of his heart and soul that it needed to. He slid his hand down her body, pulling her close to him as he pressed his forehead to hers.
"I love you, Zoe."
His words were gentle, just as gentle as what she'd said. So gentle that they nearly made her tear up when they came out of him. Both her hands slid up to his cheeks as she pressed even closer to him.
"Just shut up and kiss me, you sap."
He did. Just how he knew she wanted it. Long and sweet and passionate. Everything that made a kiss with Percy special.
He broke away and cleared his throat, reaching down to pull the blanket over them.
"Bedtime?" He asked. She glared at him and shook her head.
"No, it's not. As I recall..." She traced a finger over his chest, "...you promised me something tonight Percy."
He was quiet for a moment, before he rolled over on top of her, propped up on one arm as the other rested gently on her collarbone.
She went stiff, just about the second he'd moved. He saw it, she knew he saw it, and neither made any attempt to hide it. She knew who held the cards now: Him. He held them in those hands of his.
Those wonderful, talented hands...
"I did promise something, didn't I?" He asked, in a playful tone. She couldn't help herself, she brought her hand up and traced a finger over her mouth, softly biting a finger as she did.
"Mhm." She mumbled out. Words barely escaped her, dying on her tongue just like they always did when this happened.
He let out a soft laugh as his hand started tracing it's way down. Past her chest. Past her stomach. Down a little past her belly button.
It slipped a little farther before he hooked onto her underwear and slid it off her legs. Her legs that she couldn't even pretend didn't tremble when he touched them.
"You know, I've always wondered something." He mused, as his hand gently rested on her stomach, just above where she wanted it.
"Uhuh." She breathed out, not even pretending to hide what they both knew.
She wanted it. Bad.
He smiled, letting his face slip a bit closer to hers as his voice got nice and quiet.
"I've always wondered, were you always like this, deep down..." His hand floated down a little farther, tracing along her thigh as she let a soft moan slip through her lips, "...or was it only after we got together?"
She'd reached her end. The end of her wits, of her patience, and of her own personal resistance. She reached up and grabbed his cheeks with both hands, pulling his face up to hers as she growled something out.
"I thought I said no talking, Percy. Your jaw's got other work to do."
He was quiet for second, before a smile spread over his face.
"Say please."
She trembled at the two words as his hand grazed by exactly where she wanted it.
"Percy..." She got out, but he shook his head.
"Do you want it, Zoe?" She nodded.
"Do you really?" She nodded again, harder this time.
He smiled, letting his hand trace its way back up her body so it could rest on her chin and softly tilt her head.
"Then say please."
She kept her mouth shut as she shot him a frustrated glare. She knew what he wanted, he wanted her to beg, so in a futile act of resistance, she held onto her pride. Just about as long as possible. Just about as long as she could hold back the words she knew he wanted to hear.
He didn't break eye contact even for a second. He simply slipped his hand back down and did exactly what her body had begged him for.
He touched.
It was soft, a gentle lovers touch. It was barely contact, a gentle caress, but... Gods above, she knew he wasn't a son of Aphrodite. But at that moment? As they laid under their bedsheets?
He could've fooled her.
Her lip quivered as her walls collapsed and she stopped acting like this was gonna go any other way. She went ahead and did what he wanted, did the one thing she knew he wanted to hear.
She begged him.
"Please, Percy. Please."
The words fell out of her like a whisper. Evidently, though, it wasn't enough. He shrugged, pulling his hand away and nearly bringing her to tears at the action. She let out a soft growl as her hands reached up and tightly gripped his cheeks, frustration flashing in her eyes.
"Please, Percy. Gods, this is all I want so will you stop fucking teasing me and just give it to me."
He was quiet for a moment, then he smiled.
"Alright." He replied, "But only because you asked nicely."
He disappeared under the bed sheets and her hands followed with him, softly digging into his scalp as he finally stopped teasing and gave her exactly what she wanted.
Boy, did he ever.
Her hips bucked, her breathing became heavy, and every sound that slipped from her lips was his name, a moan, or a combination of the two.
He didn't hold back, and neither did she as their bodies pressed together under their bedsheets. He was... really giving it his all, and from the way she was reacting, it was a good all he was giving.
She moaned, taking a shaky breath as he let his hands come back up and... Gods. If there were ever doubts in her mind, that this place was heaven, they were really hard to hold onto right now.
Then again, it was kinda hard to hold anything but the fistfuls of his hair she was gripping.
A.N. That's what I was talking about in the beginning.