(Chapter uploaded: June 25, 2022)

Chapter 19: Birthdays

(Author's Note)

Hey guys, gals and non-binary pals! Welcome back to chapter 19 of Daughters of Olympus! Today we have another short chapter for you, but it's combined with ch18, so I hope that makes up for it. Ch20 will go up in a week.

We have another time skip this chapter, from the beginning of July to middle of August. The 18th of August, to be exact. You diehard Percy Jackson fans know what day that is. Next few chaps will pretty much all have time skips of some length until we get back to spring, so watch out for the date/location under the chapter title on each chapter going forward.

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Chapter 19: Birthdays

[Camp Half-Blood, a month and a half later]

"Happy birthday~!" A voice sung as her door burst open. Astraea had still been asleep, but now she was flapping somewhere near the ceiling, heart pounding in her chest.

"Fuck! Ketevan!" Astraea yelled, flying back down to the floor. "What are you-"

"Happy birthday, girl!" Reine said as she walked in, wrapped present in her hands.

"We brought cake!" Agatha declared, holding a giant cake with pink frosting.

"What?" Astraea said, unable to comprehend what was going on. As she stood there like a Medusa victim, Ketevan, Reine, Agatha, Huli, Reem, Kai, Lily and Valka greeted her with happy birthdays.

Kala growled from her side of the room, "Get out!" Her furry roommate yelled. "I'm trying to sleep!"

"Oh, sorry, Kala." Ketevan said honestly. "Come on, girls," she said to the assembled group. "Astraea, get dressed and meet us in the common area."

"Why?" Astraea asked, confused.

Valka gave her a look like she was an idiot. "Because we're taking you out for your birthday, idiot." Turns out Astraea was right.

"Stop asking questions and get dressed already," Ketevan ordered. "We're taking you out for your birthday and you don't get a say in it."

"Don't take too long." Lily said as they started to leave.

"Yeah," Agatha said. "Or we'll eat your cake!"

"No, we won't." Reem gave Agatha a look.

The group of girls left, leaving only Astraea and Kala in the room. Kala growled, before rolling over.

Astraea got up and got ready, quickly changing out of her sleep clothes and into her usual comfy workout ones. She grabbed her brush, intent on fixing her hair as she went, but paused in the doorway. She tentatively looked back to her grumpy, furry roommate, thinking of her conversation with her parents.

"Kala," she said, surprising herself. "Do you want to come?"

Kala jerked in her bed like she had been slapped, watching Astraea with confused, surprised and astonished eyes, like she was trying to figure out if Astraea had really spoken.

"...Why?" Kala asked, clearly suspicious. "Why are you asking me?"

"Because I've been a dick to you." Astraea admitted bluntly, turning to face her fully. "And I want to apologize."

Kala scoffed, throwing her blanket over her head.

"And because I want to be friends."

Kala froze, before rolling over and peeking her head out of the blanket. "...I don't believe you."

Astraea faltered. "Why?"

"Because no one wants to be my friend." Kala spitted coldly. "Look at me, I'm a monster."

"And I'm friends with a so-called 'demon'." Astraea told her, referencing Sacniete. She took a step closer. "I don't care about that."

"Easy fer you to say." Kala scoffed. "Look at you; pretty, popular, friends and family love you… Everything I want." Astraea could tell the words hurt Kala, if her shaking was anything to go by.

"I think you're pretty." Astraea said.

Kala scoffed again. "Now you're insulting me again-"

"I'm not insulting you." Astraea said firmly but softly. "And I'm not lying, either. I think you're pretty. Your eyes are beautiful, and just look at you, your body is beautiful, fur and all."

Kala regarded Astraea with conflicted eyes, unable to see herself in such a way. She held up one three fingered, furry hand in front of her snout. "Then you're the only person to think so. My own mother didn't even want me." Her voice was dripping with venom, a look of pure hatred on her face. "She gave birth to me, took one look at me, and threw me away, like garbage."

"Some people are assholes." Astraea told her. "Just like I was to you, and I'm sorry for that. I really didn't mean to insult you when we first met. You just caught me off-guard, sorry."

"It's okay," Kala said softly. "I have that effect on people."

Astraea looked at her hopefully. "Can we start over?" She held out her hand. "Hey, I'm Astraea. I like your eyes. Want to be friends?"

Kala scoffed, but a smile crept onto her face. "What are we, four?"

"Only ten year difference. So," Astraea said. "What do you say? Start over?"

"I say I'd like that." Kala stood up and took Astraea's hand in her own. Her furry, three fingered claws felt weird in her hand, but Astraea made sure to show no reaction.

Astraea couldn't help the grin on her face. "So, do you want to come?"

Kala looked a little concerned. "I don't think the others would like it if I was there."

Astraea scoffed. "They can deal with it." She told Kala. "If they don't like my friends, then we won't be friends anymore."

Kala didn't look sure. "I don't know-"

"Oh, come on, you'll like it!" Astraea smiled, dragging her to the dresser. "Get dressed, we're leaving in three minutes."

Kala changed as fast as possible, fitting her misshapen and unproportional limbs through the clothing with practiced ease. She couldn't wear shorts or pants or anything with legs because her legs were wide and bent backwards like a boars', so she always wore long skirts. She also couldn't wear shoes, her weird toed hooves would never fit. Kala grabbed a dog brush and began brushing the fur on her arms, trying to avoid Astraea's gaze, thinking Astraea would make fun of her for it. But Astraea just stepped up next to her, holding her own hair brush.

"Mind if I brush your hair?"

Astraea could see everyone tense when they saw Kala following behind her, so she spoke up. "She's coming with us."

A few of the girls looked hesitant, but Ketevan nodded. "Alright, then. The birthday girl gets the say, after all. Ready to go?"

"Not yet," Astraea said, heading down the path. "We have one more person to get."

"Who?" Agatha asked. She eyed the forbidden bunkhouse in the distance. "...Where are we going?"

"We have to break her out of prison again."

"Prison? Reem asked.

"Again?" Reem said.

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The twelve of them; Astraea, Aurora, Sacniete, Kala, Ketevan, Huli, Reem, Agatha, Valka, Kai, Reine and Lily met at the same half-blood run pizza place in Perseus City. After asking the elderly owner, they pushed a few tables so they could all sit together. The restaurant was mostly empty, since it was still morning, well before the lunch rush.

They ordered a few pizzas and drinks before returning to their tables. Sacniete sat silently on her right, while Kala sat nervously on her left. Aurora sat across from her, the only Greek camper and feeling more than a little outnumbered. The girls started to pass Astraea gifts, and at the end, she had a small pile.

"Thanks, everyone." Astraea couldn't keep the smile off her face. "Should I open them now or later?"

"Now~!" Reem sung.

"Alright." Astraea chuckled, reaching for the first present. It was medium sized, with pink confetti wrapping. She read the card, it was from Reine. She ripped open the paper and pulled out a cute black dress.

"It's from both of us," Reine said, nodding her head to her girlfriend, Ketevan, who sat next to her. "Kete wanted to get you a knife."

"I like practical presents!" Ketevan defended. "You can't stab anyone with a dress."

"Thanks," Astraea said. "Both of you."

"I hope it fits." Reine told her. "I mostly guessed your size by looking at you, and while I'm usually right, it might not fit perfectly. We can ask Taffeta or Taylor to tailor it for you."

"The daughters of Rhapso," Ketevan told Astraea, seeing her confusion. "Goddess of sewing. They can fit and tailor anything. They'll also make you just about anything you want, for a fee, of course."

"Huh, cool." Astraea looked over the dress again. Her dad probably wouldn't like it, but she figured her mom might allow it. "I'll try it on when I get back to bunkhouse two."

"Open mine next!" Agatha shoved a wide, thin box into Astraea's arms. Opening it, Astraea found it was a box of assorted chocolates and candies.

"Thanks, Agatha."

As Astraea was opening her pile of presents, the bell above the door jingled, announcing another customer. Worried the Sherman assholes were back, Astraea turned to the door. But instead of meathead Sherman kids with bad buzz cuts, she saw a camper she had only seen around camp a few times. Half of the girls caught their breaths.

"That's Romeo." Reem whispered under her breath, before trying her best to fix her hair.

"He's so hot!" Kai whispered excitedly.

Astraea watched the boy walk up to the counter. He was attractive, Astraea decided. He was tall and broad with flawless dark skin, he had tattoos down his arms and chest. His hair was styled back and he wore a pair of red tinted sunglasses. He was muscular, like a chiseled marble statue.

"Why isn't he wearing a shirt?" Astraea asked the table who was still watching him. "Isn't that against a health code or something?"

"Oh, let him do what he wants." Agatha said dreamily. "Look at his abs."

"I've only seen him wear a shirt like twice in my life." Ketevan told her, shrugging. "Best not question it."

The son of Adonis turned to face them as if he had heard them drooling over him. "Sup, ladies?" He gave them a wink before turning back towards the menu and the elderly owner who was still waiting for him to make his order.

Agatha clutched her chest like she had a heart attack, and Kala was blushing so hard Astraea was wondering how it was even possible through all her fur. Only Sacniete, Valka and Lily seemed to be unaffected.

"What's the deal with him?" Astraea asked quietly. "I haven't met him yet."

"He's the hottest guy at Camp." Ketevan told her. "And a really decent guy, too."

"I think he was winking at you, Astraea." Reem said with a wink of her own. "Maybe he likes you."

Astraea blushed despite herself, half of the girls laughing around her. "I don't know," she said. "He's cute, but not my type."

"How is he not your type?" Agatha demanded, as if upset over the insult to Romeo. "He's ripped, hot, tall, clueless- the same as you."

Astraea frowned, unsure if that was a compliment or not. She shrugged. "I dunno, he's not my type."

"I'd literally do anything to go out with him." Agatha sighed, having not taken her eyes off his back yet. "I want to say something so bad."

Astraea nudged Kala's arm with her elbow. "What about you, Kala? I saw you blush when he came in? Want to say something to him?"

Kala blushed like mad, trying her best to avert her eyes of the Camp heartthrob. "I-I can't do that." She shrunk into her seat, wishing she could turn invisible. All of the girls laughed, even Sacniete, who had remained silent throughout the party so far.

Heads spun to the counter where Romeo, in all his handsome glory, was paying for his pizza, looking at the coins in his hand like they were foreign objects. The cashier had to help him count the correct payment.

"That's the only bad thing about Romeo," Ketevan said with a sigh, like he'd be perfect otherwise. "He's dumber than a rock."

"Really?" Astraea asked. She watched the handsome boy nod his head to the cashier like he understood the change he was being handed back.

"Yeah," Ketevan said. "He's hot, handsome, nice and sweet and all that. Pure of heart, dumb of ass. No thoughts, head empty. That boy should thank the gods he's so hot, because I don't think he knows what two plus two equals."

"Are you serious?"

"You don't even know." Reine told her. "Romeo's the nicest guy in the world, sure, but I think it's because he's too stupid to be an asshole. Sometimes I think he's too dumb to realize he's so hot, and why girls always give him so much attention. He must think we're all just nice or something."

Astraea turned back to the handsome boy, trying in vain to get soda out of a machine that had a sign on it that clearly read 'broken'. But still, he tried over and over to press the button to no avail. The cashier took pity on him and took his cup, filling it behind the counter, before handing it back to him.

"He makes a cyclops look like Daedalus." Valka said, before shrugging approvingly. "But he does have some nice abs."

"Stop talking about my future husband like that." Agatha defended, looking back to Romeo. "He's perfect."

He started to leave, finding them all looking at him. If he was surprised or upset, it didn't show. He merely smiled and carried his pizza box with one hand in such a way that his bicep was in full display. Astraea heard Agatha squeak from across the table.

He gave them a friendly wave as he passed. "Girls." He said in way of goodbye.

Half of the girls waved back, telling him goodbye. Kala was blushing through her fur, but didn't dare wave.

"I love you, Romeo!" Agatha blurted out, standing and reaching out to him like she was in a dumb romantic comedy movie.

He gave Agatha a smile that should have been illegal. "I love you, too!" He threw back his head and gave a hearty laugh, nearly dropping his pizza.

"Marry me!"

"Sounds good!" He gave her a finger gun and another wink. "Love you all." Then he was gone. Astraea could see him through the large glass window that spanned the front of the shop, he was standing there with a confused look on his face, as if he couldn't remember where he was going. A passerby she recognized as a Malcolm kid pointed the other direction. Romeo gave him a finger gun and laughed, before heading out of sight.

Yup, that boy was an idiot. Hot, but an idiot.

Agatha slammed her face into the table in a way that Astraea was worried she might have broken her glasses or nose. "AAAAHHH!" She screamed into her plate. "I was such a dork! That was so embarrassing. Why didn't any of you stop me?"

"I like to see people suffer." Valka said casually, before grabbing another slice of pizza.

~Romeo: Pure of heart, dumb of ass~

After opening all her gifts, Astraea thanked her friends. She had gotten a blade sharpening kit from Valka, an autobiography on famous weightlifters and bodybuilders from Aurora, more clothes from Reem and Kai, a beautiful houseplant from Lily, and an expensive makeup kit from Huli. The only ones who didn't get her anything were Sacniete and Kala.

"Sorry," Sacniete told her after pulling her to the side towards the end of the party. "I didn't know it was your birthday." She gave a sheepish look. "And I don't have any money."

"That's okay, girl." Astraea gave her friend a hug, letting her know it was okay. "You didn't know, besides, you don't have to get me anything anyway."

"Are you sure?" Sacniete looked up to her with slight worry, like Astraea would be upset.

"Of course, Sacniete. I'm sure." She assured her with another hug.

"I knew it was your birthday." Kala told her, looking a little sheepish herself. "But I didn't care until today, sorry." She scratched the back of her head. "I don't really have any money either. No one in Perseus city will give me a job because they're worried I'll scare away customers."

Astraea felt angry for her new friend, how could half-bloods treat their own like this? But these were the same people who treated Sacniete like an animal and locked her up, so she wasn't surprised.

"It's fine, Kala." She told her. "You don't have to get me anything."

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With the party wrapped up, Astraea and Aurora headed to a quiet spot in the woods to call their parents. Astraea and her dad shared a birthday, so the girls made sure to wish him a happy birthday as well.

"Thanks, girls." Her dad said through the Iris Messege, he had a blue party hat on his head. Their mom was sitting next to him, a blue party hat on her head as well. "How was your party, Astraea? We're sorry that we weren't able see you for your birthday."

"It's okay, dad." Astraea told him. "I had a lot of fun with my girlfriends, but I can't wait to see you for Christmas."

"Then I'll do my best to cook like I've never cooked before." He grinned.

"How were your first weeks of school, girls?" Their mom asked.

"Good." Astraea shrugged. "Everyone's still staring at me, but I ignore them. Football is going good, though. Our first game is coming up, and the coaches put me on the varsity team. I can't wait to crush some heads."

"Go easy on them, dear." Her mom said with a smile. "We won't be able to make it, but we'll watch the livestream of it, and we'll be cheering for you."

"We'll cheer so loud you'll be able to hear us all the way in the city." Her dad smiled, "The neighbors will probably complain."

They all shared a laugh at that, knowing that the nearest neighbors were ten minutes away.

"How has school been, Aurora?" Their mom asked.

"Fine." Aurora said, subdued. "The work is hard, but I like it."

"Any troubles this year?" Her dad asked, choosing his words carefully to as not ruin the happy atmosphere.

"No." Aurora said.

Astraea hadn't seen anyone try to mess with her sister, but she had seen that her sister hadn't made any friends either, while Astraea had.

"Well, let us know if you have any, okay?" Their mom said.

"...I will."

"Have you opened our gifts yet, dad?" Astraea asked, trying to bring the happy conversation back.

"Of course not," he told her. " Why would I open your gifts before I could see you?"

"I hope you like it." Astraea said, watching him reach over and grab a crudely wrapped gift in blue paper. Astraea was many things, a good gift wrapper was not one of them.

"I'm sure I'll love it." He smiled, before opening it. "Oh, a new apron?"

"Read it." Astraea prompted.

He turned it over and smiled. The apron read 'World's Best Cook'. "Thanks, Astraea. I'll wear this at Christmas."

Aurora had given their dad a handmade card and a bag of blue candy. Their dad ate some as they finished the call.

"How's Camp going?" Their mom asked. "Has there been any word on restarting the Quest?"

"I wish." Astraea sighed, she was ready to head back to Utah right now, fight some Monsters and look for the clay tablet. "Chiron says we have to be patient."

"Being patient is boring," their dad said. "But it's important. You just have to wait."

"I'm tired of being patient," Astraea groaned. "I want to fight some Monsters."

"Your time will come," their mom said. "When the Fates decide."

Astraea sighed. "I know."

They talked for the rest of the night about school, Camp, the Quest, their new friends, whatever came to mind. But eventually, it got late and their parents ended the call, telling them to go to bed. Not that Astraea had any intention to go to bed, it was only 10:30.

"Goodnight, girls." Their dad said with a wave. "We'll call you next week, alright?"

"Bye, dad."

"Let us know if you need anything." Their mom told them. "We love you."

"Love you, too." She and Aurora chorused, ending the call.

To be continued

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(Author's Note:)

Well, there's chapter 19. How did you like it? It was a nice, fun chapter with some characters we haven't seen for a bit.

What did you think of this chapter? Let me know in a Review.

See you next time for chapter 20!

Fun Fact: Romeo Valentin, son of Adonis; Pure of heart, dumb of ass. No thoughts, head empty, loveable idiot. Literally too stupid to be mean. He's the desire of many at Camp, though he doesn't seem to notice.

Question of the Day: Do you have a crush from the Percy Jackson series? Any series set in the world, PJO, HOO, Kane Chronicles, Magnus Chase or ToA. Lemme know. OR, alternatively, is there a character or characters that you love the design of?

Next time: Wonder Woman, The Little Mermaid, and a skeleton walk into a house party