Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or Harry Potter

The Unrelenting Frozen Seas: Symphony of Tempering

Chapter Eighteen: And Christmas was Saved, Sorta

Beta: ShadowofAxios

"And we all agree to recognize the state of war between the Titans and ourselves?" Rhode heard Zeus address the rest of the Olympian Council, looking unhappy at the very words that were coming out of his mouth. Not surprising, since he was one of those who had abstained from voting for war.

This was met by agreement, some grudging but all ultimately accepting from the other Olympians.

"Alright then, we will plan out our next steps and discuss them at a later date." Zeus said, looking to Athena and Ares meaningfully and getting nods from both war gods before continuing. "For now, we need to move on to the next order of business today."

"You mean, your first order of business." Hera cut in with a roll of her eyes.

Zeus shot her a look and she quieted. He kept it up for a long moment to make sure she had nothing more to say before he turned back to address the Council and its onlookers.

"Thalia, my daughter, step forward." The King of the Gods boomed.

Rhode saw Thalia gulp nervously and shoot the daughter of Poseidon a look, her nerves clearly doing a number on her.

"You can do this, Thalia." Rhode reassured her, giving her sister's shoulder a comforting squeeze. "Remember the plan that Bethy helped us come up with."

Thalia nodded and taking a deep breath, she stepped into the centre of the Hall of the Gods.

"Father, my Lords and Ladies of Olympus," Thalia said with a respectful bow to the assembled Olympian Council and Hades.

"You know why I have called you forward?" Zeus asked, looking at his daughter with a surprisingly gentle look.

"You worry that I might be the Child of the Great Prophecy." Thalia said, her voice firm despite the faint trembling of her clenched fists.

Hang in there, Thalia.

"But you don't need to worry." Thalia said, keeping her voice steady. "Like my sister Rhode before me, I swear on the Styx that I refuse the mantle of the Child of the Great Prophecy."

Supernatural thunder boomed as the Oath was sealed and the gods all exchanged a look.

"Can she do that?" Hermes asked, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "Just renounce the mantle like that?"

"Not normally," Aunt Hestia said from where she'd been tending the Hall's central hearth the whole time. "But if the Fates didn't intervene to stop her. Then-"

"She's not the child of the prophecy in the first place." Apollo said with a thoughtful frown. "Well played, Thalia Grace. Well played."

"Thank you, Lord Apollo." Thalia said as she breathed a sigh of relief. "My sister Annabeth came up with the idea."

"An idea worthy of my daughter." Athena said with a proud little grin. "And one I think we can replicate."

At this she turned to look meaningfully at Percy and Bianca.

Ares looked ready to say something whilst eyeing Percy with a glare of his flaming eyes but before the war god could speak, someone unexpected spoke first.

"No," Zeus said suddenly. "That would be hasty, Athena. Or do you want to remove all possible candidates for the mantle within the ranks of our heroes?"

Athena seemed startled by her father's astute observation. And she wasn't the only one. Everyone in the Hall of the Gods was looking at the King of the Gods in disbelief.

"What!?" He barked, crossing his arms.

Wisely nobody said a word on the matter. Instead, Artemis cut in and changed the topic.

"We should reward these heroes." The goddess of the hunt said, offering the Questers a smile. "For rescuing me."

"Isn't that your private business?" Dionysus said disinterestedly.

"And you have no interest in rewarding those who rescued your champion?" Artemis asked the wine god pointedly.

"Well, she's alive?" Dionysus shrugged. "Isn't that a reward? I mean, raise a glass to the living!"

"You just don't want to reward them in front of the Council and give the impression you actually have a heart under that prickly exterior of yours." Apollo teased.

Dionysus gave his half-brother an annoyed look. "Next time you need a good wine? Make it yourself."

Ignoring the byplay, Father cut in with a roll of his eyes.

"Yes, they have done a great service to Olympus. I second Artemis' suggestion, these heroes should be rewarded."

"Yes, they should." Hera, of all goddesses, agreed. Though the way she was looking at Rhode and Su was making her just a little uncomfortable. Only the comforting hand her best friend put on her shoulder stopped her from fidgeting and appearing disrespectful.

"I concur." Demeter said, shooting both of them a reassuring smile.

"Me too." Aphrodite said, looking up from filing her nails. "If not for them, Lesbos' crimes against my domain would've never come to light."

"Let's just vote." Hephaestus said, sounding annoyed at the delay. "Do we reward them or not? I vote yay."

"Nay," Hermes said, shooting Su in particular a glare. Earning himself one in return from Demeter whose wheat laurel popped threateningly.

"You guys know how I'd vote." Apollo said with a shrug. "Ares? Athena? Dionysus? Father?"

"Didn't I make my stand clear enough?" Dionysus said with a groan.

"I vote yay and no, Dionysus, you did not." Athena said with a roll of her eyes.

"Oh, yay I guess. What's the harm this one time. My good deed of the century."

"Nay," Ares said, still glaring at Percy like he had been all night.

"Not that it matters with a nine vote majority already, but I vote in favour as well." Zeus said with a decisive nod.

"Yay." Hades simply said from his seat in the far corner, his eyes never leaving his daughter's, before Zeus could continue.

"Ah, sorry about that brother. I had forgotten you get a vote at the Solstice meetings." Zeus said insincerely.

"Clearly." Hades scoffed. "Just move on to the rewards already."

Zeus looked annoyed at Hades' dismissal but he nevertheless complied.

"Now then, does anyone have particular rewards in mind?"

"I bless Su Li with the fate of a happy marriage despite the hardship her relationship will bring." Hera said, surprising everyone. "Remember to use the rings, dear, when you get around to the ceremony."

Clutching the chain she wore all the time through her Camp tee, Su bowed respectfully to the goddess of marriage.

"Thank you, Lady Hera." The daughter of Demeter said with a grateful smile.

Rhode gave Su a surprised look, confused as to what the goddess was talking about.

Zeus shot his wife a suspicious look but shaking his head, he turned to Thalia.

"To my daughter, Thalia," he said as with a snap of his fingers her spear suddenly appeared in front of her. "As your reward, I shall imbue your spear with some of my divine lightning. It shall now serve as an external store of your power. That should help with the trouble you've been having with that speed technique you've been working with."

"That's, um, very thoughtful, Father." Thalia said, blinking in surprise as she grabbed her spear from the air. "Thank you."

"Think nothing of it, Thalia." Zeus said with a surprisingly gentle smile.

"And for Percy," Father said, shooting her brother a smile. "I have the perfect gift. I know you worry for the Ophiotaurus. You have a kind heart, my son. So my gift to you will be to take Bessie, as you have named the monster, into my care."

"Thank you, Father." Percy smiled, looking both happy and relieved at the news.

"You want the Ophiotaurus?" Zeus asked, looking at Father suspiciously. "In your domain, brother? I think not."

"It will be kept here on Olympus, of course. And we shall all combine our powers to protect it." Father said with a roll of his eyes. "However, it is a sea creature, as such who would be best equipped to be in charge of its care?"

"I can think of plenty of nymphs."

"I'm sure you do, brother." Hades scoffed. "But Poseidon is right. Let him take charge of the creature. It is a beast of his domain. That it will be kept here on Olympus should be enough of a compromise."

The way the other gods were shooting Zeus looks of exasperation had him finally sighing and backing down.

"Fine," Zeus said in a huff. "But Hephaestus, I want you to oversee the construction of the tank and its defenses. Athena, see if you can find the time to look them over as well."

"Very well." "Yes, Father."

"Now, if there's no other business-" Dionsyus began, an eager grin on his face.

"Actually, I have an announcement as well." Artemis stood and walked up to the heroes. "As my Lieutenant, Zoë Nightshade, has passed and now lives among the stars, I find myself in need of a replacement."

Shrinking down from her godly height to more human proportions, she came to a stop before Bianca.

"Bianca di Angelo, daughter of Hades, would you do me the honour of being my new Lieutenant? Despite this being your first quest, you succeeded in saving me. You aided this quest in ways no one else could. I'd ask no one else."

"Lady Artemis?" Bianca gasped, shocked and looking to her fellow Questers for guidance and receiving encouraging nods in reply.

"Do what you think is best for you, Bianca." Rhode heard Su say from next to her.

Nodding, Bianca turned back to her matron.

"I humbly accept, my lady." Bianca said, as she knelt before the goddess of the hunt.

Artemis smiled, white teeth shining like stars as a silver circlet materialised around Bianca's head, and nestled itself on her brow, her hair flowing around it.

In his corner, Hades sighed at the sight but managed a small smile for his daughter as Bianca turned to look for his approval.

"Now! We all make merry!" Zeus announced with a clap of thunder and the party finally got under way.

"You'll make sure he gets back to Camp alright? That his pyre will be ready for him by the time we are allowed back?" Rhode asked Flóga and Blackjack as the two pegasi prepared to escort Jack's body back to Camp on the flying chariot the Questers had earned during their journey West.

No problem Bosslady. We'll get him right to the centaur. Flóga promised as she nuzzled against Rhode's neck. I'm just so glad you're back though.

"I am too." Rhode said, rubbing her mount's neck comfortingly. "I am too."

Even if it had cost Olympus two of its heavy hitters. First there was Zoë Nightshade, the lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis. A girl whom she'd met once before she'd made it to Camp all those years ago and hadn't recognised when she'd shown up on Othrys, who had, if what she understood, served Artemis for millennia and whose death presented a loss of invaluable experience. And then there was Jack-

Rhode sobbed just thinking of his death. Thankfully before she could break down, Su interrupted her.

"Flóga, Blackjack, you two better go." Su said, as she popped her head in from outside the stable where she was keeping watch so Rhode had some privacy. "The party is moving this way. If you get caught up in it, who knows when you'll have the wherewithal to leave."

Rhode winced. Olympian parties had that effect on people. Even in her absolute grief over Jack's death, just being in the midst of its party atmosphere made her want to make merry regardless. If the pegasi got caught up in it, it was doubtful they'd maintain the presence of mind to do what needed to be done.

Gotcha, Miss Su. Blackjack said with a whinny before butting his head lightly against Flóga's side. Let's go.

Right. Flóga said reluctantly as she pulled away from Rhode. See you in Camp, Bosslady.

"Yeah, I'll be back soon." Rhode reassured her mount with a wave.

Offering her an equine smile, Flóga leapt into the air with a powerful beat of her wings followed shortly after by Blackjack and the flying chariot containing Jack's body. Rhode watched them go, waving at them as they flew out of the stables and into the air over New York City.

"Rhode, you alright?" Su asked from her side.

"No, not really." Rhode confessed. "But we have a party to attend."

Su frowned but nodded, even as she put a comforting arm over Rhode's shoulders and gave them a squeeze. One that Rhode deeply appreciated. She honestly didn't know what she'd do if Su wasn't here with her right now.

A short while later found Rhode sitting on a bench in a small plaza listening to a band that Rhode had never heard of before. Their music was unlike anything she'd ever encountered. Its sad beat wormed its way into her ear and she found it irritating, but it also somehow eased her heart. Though she was pretty sure almost everyone was hearing something else since they were enjoying themselves.

The daughter of Poseidon felt solace with Su's supportive presence near her. It made the hurt less painful, but her heart still felt like it was stinging. She ran a hand through her hair, catching the strands of white that ran down her curly black locks.

Another gift from carrying the weight of the sky it seemed.

"It reminds me of when you would dye your hair." Su commented as she brushed the snow white streak.

Rhode smiled at the fond memories. She laughed softly. "Yeah, a lot less confusion and far more straightforward times, huh?"

"You mortals always say that about the past." Dionysus said as he strolled over with his wife, Ariadne, on his arm.

"Hey Mr. D. Enjoying yourself?" Rhode asked kindly as she nursed a cup of nectar and punch. "Hello Lady Ariadne."

"It's Dionysus right now, actually." Dionysus corrected. "But you already knew that, didn't you, you cheeky brat."

"Guilty." Rhode said, offering her patron a wan smile.

Ariadne looked between Rhode and her husband with a look of shock that soon faded into a smile. Her beautiful brown eyes radiating amusement as she reached some kind of epiphany.

"I can see why you chose her as your Champion now, husband." The goddess of Labyrinths and Paths said with a chuckle. "You two have much the same temperament."

"Bah," Dionsyus said with a dismissive snort. "As if that's the reason. I chose her because of chance. No more than that."

"Whatever you say dear." Ariadne said with a giggle as she pulled her arm free from her husband's and walked over to Su. "Why don't you come talk to me for a second, Miss Li. I believe our spouses have important things to discuss."

"S-Spouse!?" Rhode sputtered, a blush burning across her tanned skin.

For her part, despite a blush of her own Su did not dispute Ariadne's joke, though the slight widening of her eyes told Rhode that she was as shocked by this revelation as she was. She hid it better though and just nodded to the goddess' request.

"Of course, Lady Ariadne." The daughter of Demeter said as she turned to follow the goddess as she walked off.

"You're married, by the way." Dionysus said as he took Su's seat. "Hera blessed the Li girl. That's as good as marrying you two. At least in the eyes of the gods, so basically everyone else's too. Expect the mortal paperwork to show up in your Cabin when you get back to Camp."

"I-I don't think I can process that just yet." Rhode rubbed her eyes, thrown by the latest curveball.

"You want a divorce?" Dionysus asked, serious. "If you do, I can make it happen."

"What?! No! I, I just-! Who gets married right after a loved one dies?" Rhode struggled to get out.

Dionysus shot her a look. "Remember your history, Rhode. A lot of people did."

"Yeah, but weren't many of those forced-"

"And what Hera did wasn't?"

"I guess…"

"Just tell me, do you love Li?" Dionysus asked, sternly. "Because that's really all that matters. Hera blessed your marriage, so it will work out. So the only stumbling block is whether you love the girl. Besides, you know how that girl is. She'll be whatever you need her to be for as long as you need her. That means your marriage will be a paper marriage, if that's what you want, till you say otherwise."

"I do, gods I do love her." Rhode said as she let a hand rest on her stomach, feeling the tiny life stirring within. "...I just feel like I've cheapened everything. To both of them."

"Blame Despoina and the other idiots who cursed you." Dionysus said with a sigh. "They sped up your love life to an insane degree. Even at this ending stage."

"And I'm going to have to live with the consequences huh?"

"Unfortunately. You just have to make the best of it." Her patron informed her. "However, take heart in knowing that thanks to holding up the sky, the curses have been dispelled. Though that came with its own price."

The daughter of the sea swallowed heavily at that. "I'll do what I can."

"That's all we can ever do. Trust me."

"What price though?"

"You'll find out," Dionysus told her with a shake of his head. "Aphrodite will literally skin me alive if I spoil it."

"Lady Aphrodite? It's about my love life, isn't it?"

"Like I said, no spoilers."

"That just makes me want to know." Rhode deadpanned, which made the god chuckle.

"Well, as they say, tough. Just…" Dionysus trailed off for a moment before sighing and somehow adopting an understanding look that Rhode would've never thought possible for the god. "I know this situation is horrible. Hera really overstepped her bounds earlier but she is the goddess of marriage and no one can interfere with her domain. It's why none of us said anything. That and we didn't realise how serious she was about her blessing until we left the meeting and she sent out the bulletin about your marriage. I have it on good authority that your father and Amphitrite are over at her palace arguing with her right now. But Hera is stubborn. She won't budge."

"So she's taking a page out of Despoina's book?"

"Sadly," Dionysus said. "Though in this case, it's more Lesbos'. She's using you to expand her influence. I swear it's like India all over again."

Rhode didn't see how it possibly related but just nodded in understanding.

"Argh, but enough of this serious talk." Dionysus said as with a snap of his fingers, Rhode's lost Questing gear appeared on the bench next to her. "I actually came over to return these to you. Had to trade a favor with Phoebe to get her to sneak them back but here they are."

"A favor?"

"Don't worry about it, Artemis and Apollo paid for it already. Their reward to you for your part, involuntary though it was, in Artemis' rescue. Phoebe's domains are oracles and the moon, so she wanted some of her power back. They gave it to her."

Rhode just nodded, realising again the incredible complexity of divine politics. And how truly little she understood about it.

Ariadne and Su were walking back to them, the latter looking very nervous. Dionysus seemed to take this as his cue and leapt to his feet.

"Now if you will excuse me, there's a fondue fountain with my name on it." Dionysus, no, Mr. D said as he mozied on over to the refreshment table. Behind him Ariadne rolled her eyes but followed after him.

Su though sank down beside Rhode.

"So, um, Rhode, did Mr D tell you what Lady Hera's blessing really means?" Su, her new wife, fidgeted nervously. "That we're, uh-"

"Married? Yeah." Rhode said with a tired sigh. "It sucks. I wanted to be given a choice in this, but when the gods choose to be capricious there's nothing we can really do to stop them."

"So you're okay with it?"

"It doesn't change anything between us, right?" Rhode asked, looking at Su uncertainly. "It's just a piece of paper."

"If that's what you want." Su said, unable to keep her disappointment entirely out of her voice.

"For now, yeah, I think that's what I want."

"Then that's what it'll be." Su reassured her. "I'll be whatever you need me to be, Rhode."

Just like Dionysus said you would.

"Thank you, Su. Thanks." Rhode said, offering her wife a grateful smile.

Even as Rhode, and Su, were busy coming to terms with Hera screwing with their lives. Thalia found herself in a private corner of some garden or other as she tried to make sense of something that she'd been putting off for ages but which she couldn't any longer. With the Quest to rescue her over and Rhode safe, Thalia finally had a chance to come to terms with Luke's betrayal.

Until she'd seen him on Othrys and all the horrible things he'd done there like killing Jack, fighting Rhode and Su, etc., she'd not believed that he'd turned traitor. Not fully. She'd held out hope that it was all a trick. Some ploy of his to destroy the Titans from within. But now…

"Why?" She whispered, tears rolling down her face as the music from the party washed over her in the form of sad melodies. "How could you betray our family like this? And what Rhode said you wanted to do to her… That was just…"

No words could describe how angry that made her feel. And sad as well. For it was a man who she'd once called brother who threatened to do those things to her sister.

"If he tries it, I'll kill him." Percy said and Thalia spun to her right to see him standing there, looking at her with concern. "You'd help me right, Thalia?"

"In a heartbeat." Thalia said, wiping her tears away with her sleeve quickly.

"But it hurts to have to think, much less say that, doesn't it?" Percy confessed as he came to sit down opposite her in the gazebo she'd snuck off to.

"Yeah… it honestly sucks. This whole day sucks, Percy." Thalia said, feeling tired from the stress of this Quest and the coming war.

"Yeah, but we just have to keep trudging on." Percy said with a sigh. "Make each action, each day count. And don't let our hurt feelings bog us down as we do. Because if we do-"

"We'll stop moving forward." Thalia said with a nod. "I know."

It was a sentiment that Chiron taught all Campers.

"But still…"

"It's okay to cry, Thalia." Percy said. "I won't judge you. Nobody that matters will. Luke's betrayal hurt me and I didn't even know him all that well. You were his sister in all but blood. I can't imagine how much it must hurt you."

"How did Annie manage?"

"She cried. A lot. And cursed him a lot too." Percy said with a shrug, a faraway look in his eyes. Just like Rhode's eyes. "But she's not you, Thalia. You need to figure out how you need to deal with it."

"That's a work in progress." Thalia said, offering the son of Poseidon a bittersweet smile. "B-But I think I have an idea. Percy, could you hold me?"

Percy blinked in confusion for a second but did not otherwise hesitate to stand up and come over to pull her into a hug.

Safe and secure in the arms of her new brother, Thalia let go of the last of her inhibitions and burst into tears. Of pain, loss, anger and everything in between. She let it all out into Percy's strong, comforting chest. Her new brother comforting as she mourned the betrayal and lost of her old one.

"Daughter," Bianca heard the unmistakable smooth voice of her father call out from behind her as she stopped by a refreshment table to get some nectar for Percy and Thalia. She'd just checked in on her friends, and they were busy crying it out over something. Bianca didn't want to pry but she knew that crying like Thalia was doing left a person very thirsty afterwards so she'd decided to help them by getting some drinks for when they were done.

"Father," Bianca greeted the god who she only vaguely remembered from her childhood and she'd only met again earlier in the Hall of the Gods.

The two looked at each other uneasily for a moment, as if both of them were struggling to come up with something to break the ice.

"So where are your friends, Bianca?" Father said, awkwardly making the first move.

After their dismissal from the Hall of the Gods, Lady Artemis had all but ordered Bianca to spend time with her fellow Questers, pointing out as she did that Bianca had eternity to learn her new duties as her Lieutenant and that for now, she could afford some time with her friends.

"Uh, Thalia and Percy are having a moment. I dunno where Rhode and Su went after they headed off to arrange for Jack's body to be sent back to Camp. Were you looking for them?"

"No, I was just- Argh! By the Pit! Small talk is not my forte." The god growled in frustration. "Your mother was far better at it…"

Bianca almost giggled at her Father's behavior but managed to hold her amusement in. She didn't think the Lord of the Dead who prided himself on his intimidating reputation would like being laughed at, even by his own daughter.

"So you were looking for me? For what?" Bianca asked, offering her flustered father a helping hand.

"Yes, I wished to congratulate you on your new position." Father smiled, though he looked sad. "You will have a difficult road ahead of you, daughter. And since Artemis is your matron, I cannot do much except give my blessings to you. Though I can at least give you a gift. All gods leave something for their children after all. You are no exception."

With a dramatic swing of his cape, the god pulled a pair of Stygian Iron knives with serrated cutting edges and pummels made out of a pair of femurs from the shadows of his sleeves and presented them to her.

"These are yours, Bianca." Father said as she took the weapons.

"They're, uh, very morbid." Bianca said carefully.

Honestly, what was with the bone for handles!? Yes, she was a daughter of the Underworld but couldn't Father have come up with something just a little more feminine!? And less like something from a horror movie!? She was a girl, you know!

"You are my daughter, morbid fits you." Father said with a shrug. "It is made from Stygian Iron so-"

"I know what Stygian Iron is, Father." Bianca said with a roll of her eyes. "The divine metals are one of the first things we learn as Hunters. It's part of the process of picking our favored weapons. Point of fact, I'm more of a bow and arrow girl."

"Oh, well, that's good. It saves us time. I guess." Father said as he awkwardly cleared his throat. "And sorry, I did not know your preference for the bow. Though Stygian Iron arrows would be difficult to manage. You'd need to recover them after every battle to get the most out of them and you could get around that with some retrieval magic but that can be blocked so-"

"Daggers are better," Bianca said with a nod, narrowly fighting off the urge to roll her eyes at her Father succumbing to a nervous rant. "I get it. The daggers are lovely. They can do anything special besides being Stygian Iron?"

"With some practice you can fire darkness bolts from them, which I hope will fit in with your preference for ranged combat better?"

"It would." Bianca agreed. "Thank you, Father!"

"I'm glad you like them, Bianca." Father said with a tight smile. One that spoke of how little he had the chance to do so.

"Father?"

"Yes, Bianca?"

"You'll look after Nico, right?" Bianca asked, a nervous flutter in her chest as she remembered her brother being all alone now. At least he'd have good friends at Camp.

"As best as I can." Father said, a promise in his tone. He reached a bone white hand out, brushing her hair softly as if he was lost in nostalgia. "Live long, daughter. I'd rather not see you in Elysium too soon."

She hoped she would get there on her own merits and not because her Father gave her an E-ZPass to the afterlife.

Wow, she was good at morbid humor. Guess the apple didn't fall as far from the tree as she'd thought.

"Hera! You go too far!" Poseidon shouted into his sister's face as they sat in the Queen of the Heavens' sitting room inside her palace.

"Poseidon, indoor voice please." His sister said, as if she was acting reasonable! She sipped her nectar-laced wine and placed it down and smiled at him, like she was indulging him. "Now can we talk like gods or should we reduce ourselves to children?"

He resisted the urge to slap that fake smile off her face.

"Considering what you've done, I am reminded how thin that distinction is." Amphitrite said archly from her seat next to him, her arm on his own the only thing keeping him from leaping out of his chair to punch his sister.

"Sister-in-law, I thought this would be great news. After all, Rhode needs someone after this tragedy. What better than a spouse to bring comfort and warmth during the trials to come?"

"Yes and taking away their agency in the matter will lead to a healthy start to their marriage?" Hestia said as she walked in, waving a fire poker that was glowing white accusingly at Hera.

Hera tilted her head, as if considering the notion. "Last I checked, many marriages in this family started off poorly but have become successes in the long term. Just look at yourselves, Poseidon, Amphitrite. You've flourished wonderfully. I can hardly see Rhode and her wife not emulating yourselves and achieving matrimonial bliss. I was even going to surprise you by gifting the dowry."

"Oh? And what is that exactly?" Demeter said excitedly as she materialised in a chair next to Hera.

"I haven't decided yet." Hera said with a dainty shrug. "I was waiting to see how this discussion played out."

"Come off your high horse Hera." Zeus said as he flashed into the room in a lightning bolt. "You did this merely to expand your influence. Are you that threatened by the declining marriage rates and climbing divorce rates?"

"Honestly, Husband, Brother, I am only looking out for my Niece's best interest. Well, both of them of course. Is there anything an Aunt would not do to help family?"

She's doubling down on the family angle. We might as well be going in circles. Poseidon thought as he flared his nostrils and tried to calm his heated ichor.

"And I for one appreciate your efforts, Hera." Demeter said with a smile.

"Thank you, Sister. Of course the three of us should talk about the wedding ceremony, Demeter, Amphitrite. I think holding it off until after the war would be best. A wedding to commemorate a victory always gives the best results from what I've witnessed."

"You are not backing down no matter what we say are you?" Hestia said with an exasperated glare. "You never change Hera."

"Why would I break up a happy marriage?" Hera said with a haughty smirk.

Poseidon moved to punch it off her face and only Amphitrite wrapping both of her arms around his right arm kept him in his seat.

"Hera, you leave me at a loss for words." His wife said, shooting his sister a chilling glare.

"I have that effect on people."

And people wondered why the Greek legends were so messed up. Why couldn't his fellow gods be more like the Bodhisattvas? At least they reserved their cruelty for their demons!

"How about a compromise?" Hades said as he walked out of the shadows and shot Hera a glare. "Hera, we stop making an issue over what you've done so far and in exchange you stop interfering in the lives of our children."

"I support Hades' suggestion." Zeus said with a nod. "It is a fair compromise."

"Fine, fine, but can I still bless their marriages? Am I allowed my domain?" Hera asked, pouting as if robbed of her toys. How typical of her.

"Yes, but no more arranging or forcing marriages." Hestia demanded, pointing her white hot poker at their sister's face. "For all of our brothers' children."

"I promise upon the River Styx." Hera smiled broadly as if she were a devil, even as supernatural thunder sealed her Oath.

"Alright, with that out of the way." Demeter said with an eager grin. "You mentioned a dowry, Hera?"

"Oh, yes! I was thinking of adding to that project that Rhode's handmaidens are working on. Maybe a-"

Poseidon, leave this to Hestia and I. Amphitrite told him telepathically. We will make sure Hera doesn't go overboard. In the meantime, why don't you go with your brothers and have a drink to cool down? You need it, Husband.

Hestia nodded at him sharply, signifying that she agreed with his wife.

"Come on, brother." Hades said as he pulled Poseidon out of his seat. "Let us go get some wine. I think after dealing with Hera we need it. You too, Zeus."

Poseidon and Zeus both nodded.

After what had happened, he wanted to be sloshed like a fish right now.

So it was with a dark cloud literally storming over his head that he followed his brothers as they made their way out of Hera's palace and into the partying Olympus beyond in search of enough alcohol to give a god a legendary hangover.

"Is this really necessary Chiron?" Rhode asked her mentor irritably as she, and for some reason Su and Su alone, were separated from the other returning Questers and ushered into the Trainer of Heroes' private examination room inside the infirmary. "I'm fine!"

"You spent time holding up the sky whilst pregnant." Chiron informed her pointedly. "You need an examination. For my ease of mind, if nothing else."

"Rhode you're pregnant?" Su gasped from beside her and the daughter of the seas just nodded at her best friend, before leveling a glare at Chiron.

"Who told you I'm pregnant?" Rhode demanded.

"I did," Mr. D said as he teleported in, releasing a grapey scent that permeated the room as he did. "And we'll need to talk about what your punishment is for that, but let Chiron examine you first."

"Fine," Rhode conceded, recognising an order when she heard one and trusting the god enough to obey. "But must Su be here for this? No offense Su."

Su shook her head distractedly, clearly still shaken by the revelation of Rhode's pregnancy to say anything.

"She's your wife. She deserves to be here." Mr. D said with a shrug, causing Chiron to turn to him sharply.

"Wife?"

"Hera's meddling. She was making a power play. Again."

"Um, I could go if you're not comfortable with me being here, Rhode." Su suggested, having found her voice again.

"No, it's fine." Rhode said with a sigh. "Honestly, I need the support for this. But before we do anything else, I've gotta know Su, are you upset that I'm pregnant with Jack's baby?"

Chiron and Mr. D seemed to get that this was important to Rhode because they kept quiet as Su contemplated the matter for a long moment before replying.

"On one hand I'm overjoyed by the prospect of a baby and I'm already thinking about what I can do to prepare to help you raise the baby. On the other hand, I am angry that you let Jack knock you up." Su said after a long moment. "But I think I can keep a lid on the latter and focus on the former. I'm ready to help be your co-parent or whatever else you want if you'd let me."

"Of course I'd let you." Rhode said with a relieved sigh. "I'm thinking I'll need all the help I can get."

"You two done?" Mr. D said, sounding exasperated.

Rhode and Su exchanged a look, before Su nodded.

"Yes, we are." Rhode said for both of them as they turned back to the two men.

"Good. Chiron get on with your examination." Mr. D ordered and Chiron obliged.

About fifteen minutes and a thorough examination of Rhode by Chiron later, Rhode, Su and Mr. D sat patiently as they waited for the centaur to tell them his findings.

"Well, it looks like everything lines up with what Apollo said from his cursory visual examination of you whilst you were on Olympus."

"Lord Apollo examined me?"

"He examines everyone when he looks at them. It comes with being the god of healing." Mr. D told her dismissively. "Don't think too much about it."

"Indeed, but he doesn't take the effort to remember what he learns much less share it with the attending physician of just anyone." Chiron countered. "He likes you, Rhode."

Rhode smiled at that. Glad that she had some people on Olympus besides just Mr. D and Father in her corner.

"Chiron, the results?" Su asked, nudging the conversation back on track.

"Ah, right." The centaur said, sounding slightly abashed. "It seems that you've come away from your stint holding up the sky remarkably well despite your condition. The baby is fine. And it seems the burden has even served to shatter the curses that had previously been afflicting you with minimal effect on yourself."

Rhode nodded, Mr. D had told her about the curses already on Olympus and she'd been feeling fine since her brief stint holding the sky so nothing he was saying was news to her.

"So besides the new streak in my hair, I'm fine."

"Physically, yes." Chiron said with a nod. "Though I did detect some small injury to you metaphysically with my vitakinesis, I cannot however say with any certainty what that is. Only time will tell what that is, I'm afraid."

I think I might have an idea. Rhode thought as she recalled Mr. D mentioning a price she had to pay for coming out of her kidnapping so well. A price that would revolve around her love life.

Mr. D's confirming nod was all she needed to know that she'd guessed correctly.

"Other than that, I'm pleased to announce that you are in good health."

"Are you satisfied now, Chiron?" Mr. D asked, a touch impatient. "Reassured that Rhode isn't just gonna drop dead?"

Chiron rolled his eyes but nodded. "Yes, I am. And I presume you want to move on to your favourite part of things? The punishment?"

"I'd hardly call it that. Not this time." Mr. D said with a shake of his head. "But it must be done."

"I get it Mr. D. Let's do it." Rhode said after taking a fortifying breath. Hands balled into tight fists as she steeled herself for what was to come.

Mr. D gave her a searching look for a moment before nodding in satisfaction.

"First thing first, you need to decide what do you want to do with the baby? Keep it? Abort it? Put it up for adoption? I'll need to know to decide what kind of punishment to issue that'll keep the others off our backs."

What did she want to do with the baby? That was a really good question. They were in the middle of a war, she couldn't be carrying a baby at a time like this.

Maybe I should abort it? Rhode thought even as the very idea repulsed her. She knew her baby was another life distinct from her own, she'd felt it as it fought to protect itself and her while she'd held up the sky. The mere thought of thinking it as a clump of cells or that killing it wasn't murder like some abortion advocates said about foetuses was just abhorrent.

And didn't even take into account that the baby wasn't just hers. It was Jack's too. And killing it would be snuffing out the last thing he left in this world.

But the idea of being pregnant, of giving birth and raising a baby during the Titanomachy? That's madness, right?

Looking for some support she turned to Su and shot her a questioning look.

"It's your decision to make Rhode," Su said with a shake of her head. "Just know that whatever decision you make, I'll support you all the way."

"I know this is a tough decision Rhode," Mr. D said, sounding surprisingly comforting. "But you need to make a choice. I need to know to issue a fair punishment. I hate putting you in this position, but other Campers have been punished for this in the past and so I can't just give you a free pass or their parents will take their anger out on you. You've just got a clean bill on the curses front, so I doubt you want to rack up a new one. Do you?"

"No, I don't." Rhode acknowledged with a shaky breath. "And I've made my choice."

"And that is?" Chiron asked gently.

"I'm keeping the baby." Rhode declared strongly, her voice firm. "Aborting it is murder of an innocent and I'd never do that. Least of all to Jack's baby. My baby."

"That's good and all but you do know that's gonna mean the worst possible punishments right?" Mr. D asked with a frown.

"Not necessarily!" Dad said as he teleported into the room with a burst of blue green light and the sound of crashing waves and a hint of sea salt. "We pull a Zeus thigh trick."

Mr. D grimaced at the reminder of his conception. "Uncle, you can't be serious!"

"I am." Dad said as he pulled an oversized amphora out of nowhere and placed it directly in front of her. "Rhode, with your permission, I can transfer your baby into this vessel where it will grow till it's ready to be born, whereupon it'll break the vessel. This way, you won't be pregnant and Mr. D won't need to turn you into an animal and run you over in his SUV."

"He wouldn't actually do that, right?" Su asked, shooting Mr. D a worried look.

The wine god just whistled innocently.

"Unfortunately, he's done similar to others in your situation, Rhode. So if you chose to be a pregnant teenager here in Camp, I'm afraid to uphold precedent he would indeed have to do so."

"Dad, is this really the best way?" Rhode asked, feeling helpless. It was almost like she was back with the Dursleys all over again. She was just as bereft of any good options. Just as stuck in a hopeless situation with no way out. "I mean even if this saves me from getting run over, I'd still be putting a child through a war like Lily Potter did to me. I don't want that. Can't you, I dunno, put the pregnancy on pause?"

"That would require very specific brands of magic with prices too steep to contemplate, Rhode." Dad said with a wince as he pulled her into a hug. "This is really the best option I can think of. Unless you're willing to put the child up for adoption. If you did that and we cut ties to it, we could conceivably turn it fully mortal and then it would be safe from the war."

"No!" Rhode wailed. "I can't do that! I won't abandon my baby."

"Then I think that Lord Poseidon's offer is your best option, Rhode." Chiron offered reassuringly. "There is sadly, no ideal solution to this. Not with the Titanomachy upon us as it is."

Rhode sobbed at that before pulling away from her Dad's hug. She looked down at her still flat stomach and hugged it tight, metaphorically hugging her unborn child.

"Do it, Dad. Before I lose my nerve." Rhode pleaded to her father while still hugging her womb.

Without a word, Dad cupped his hands over her crossed arms, over her womb and a soothing sea green aura built around them, one that pulled out a brilliant orb of blue light from inside her. A light that she knew was her baby.

Tenderly, Dad transferred his grandchild into the amphora he'd brought. As the blue light had finished squeezing its way into the vessel, it began to glow with the same blue light. Her baby's light. And started to give off a slight chill.

"Sorry to rush you Rhode, Uncle, but that baby needs to go ASAP." Mr. D urged, a grumpy look on his face. "The rules say it shouldn't be here and unless we want someone to take offense-"

"I understand nephew." Dad said with an understanding nod. "Rhode?"

"Go, Dad. Before any of the other gods decide to start flinging curses." Rhode told him, fighting back tears. She felt something clawing up her throat as she tried not to reach out to the light.

Rhode honestly didn't know why she was crying. She had barely known the baby existed for a few weeks yet… It was breaking her heart to see it being separated from her.

How can I be so attached already?

"Bye bye, baby." She said, rubbing a hand lovingly over the outside of her child's amphora.

"See you soon, little one." Su added, with a wave, her voice sounding choked like she was trying to hold back tears.

"Uncle-"

"Right," Dad said, before offering Rhode a final apologetic smile before teleporting away, with her baby in tow.

Rhode couldn't help it, she shrieked in grief at that and Su pulled her into a hug even as she too sobbed at the loss of the baby. The two of them held each other and cried their hearts out for an unknown amount of time, all whilst Chiron and Mr. D had a hushed conversation that they barely heard. Something about Hera? Perhaps they were implying that their strangely strong attachment to the baby was the Goddess of Motherhood's doing? Rhode didn't know and she honestly didn't care. All she cared about right now was that her baby was gone and her heart was breaking.

"Okay, it's been like a whole hour! Are you two done crying?" Mr. D said irritably, his uncharacteristic patience seemingly finally spent.

"Sorry about that, Mr. D." Su said as she reluctantly pulled away from Rhode and rubbed at her eyes in a bid to stem the lingering tears.

Rhode herself didn't even bother simply hugging herself miserably.

"Could we continue this another time?" Su begged. "I think Rhode needs a break."

"Sadly, I'm afraid not." Mr. D said with a sigh. "But I'll get it brief. Thankfully, I've talked things over with Chiron while the two of you were weeping and we've agreed on something that should work to satisfy everyone."

"What is it?" Rhode asked. Her voice was strained from all the crying and she sounded so, so tired but she nevertheless shot the wine god a determined look, ready for whatever punishment he meted out.

It's that unbeatable determination of hers that's one of the many things that made me fall in love with her.

"Are you sure you're ready to hear it Rhode, we could delay your punishment for a few hours I think." Chiron offered.

"Chiron," Mr. D hissed angrily. "You know the others wi-"

"It's okay Chiron," Rhode cut in. "Mr. D, I'm ready. What's my punishment going to be?"

"For the punishment of having underage sex here in Camp Half-Blood." Mr. D began, sounding more officious than Su ever remembering him being. It wasn't quite him shifting into his full Dionysus persona as she'd seen him up on Olympus but it was pretty close. "You, Rhode Evans, shall be confined to the form of a doe till an hour before the Christmas Party on Twenty Fourth of December."

That's only a few days. Su noted in surprise. How the hell did Rhode get off so lightly?

"And until such time you regain your human form, you shall be entrusted to the care of your wife Su Li."

With that Mr. D snapped his fingers and in a burst of purple light, Rhode was transformed into a beautiful white-tailed deer doe, one with a collar wrapped around her neck and an attached leash that had suddenly found its way into Su's hands.

"Count yourself lucky Rhode. Lady Hera's meddling earned you plenty of sympathy points and that got your punishment cut down a great deal." Chiron told the transformed daughter of Poseidon. "It's unlikely you'd get off as lightly for something like this ever again."

"I usually do rabbits, but deer are fine. This time at least." Mr. D off-handedly commented.

"We discussed this Mr. D," Chiron said with a tired sigh. "A rabbit would too easily be mistaken for a target during archery practice out in the woods. We don't have deer in the woods thanks to the monsters so it's a safer choice."

"My dear, dear centaur. That is half the fun!"

"Mr. D, do you want Rhode to die by friendly fire?" Su asked daringly. "After all the trouble you just went through to have her rescued from Othrys?"

"Psst. Point." Mr. D conceded with a pout.

"Mr. D, do you have anything else for the girls?"

"Yes, don't groom her too much, Li."

Su blanched at the joke as the mad god cackled.

"Su, Rhode, just go." Chiron said, rubbing the bridge of his nose tiredly. "Otherwise, we'll be here all night listening to Mr. D's deliberately bad jokes."

"Hey! At least I'm making them bad on purpose instead of some people."

"Uh, Mr. D, can we, um, go?" Su asked warily as she looked between an irritated Mr. D and an annoyed Chiron.

"Yeah, yeah, go already." Mr. D said distractedly, his attention mainly focused on glaring at Chiron.

Su breathed a sigh of relief at the dismissal and leading Rhode along on her leash, she beat as hasty a retreat from the examination room as she could. Even as the sounds of an argument trailed behind her.

Rhode, now a doe, allowed herself to be led along by Su as they made their way out of the Big House. It was a strange experience being a deer. The walking on all fours and the having a completely different body thing was oddly enough, not even the strangest bit. That, she was surprised to find, was something that she adapted to easily enough probably thanks to some element of the transformation magic. What was the most strange was the sense of peace that came from being a deer. Her mind was still human, but there was something about having an animal brain that seemed to just strip away all the complex worries and emotions that seemed to stress her out so much when she was human. It was relaxing being free, if only temporarily, from all that.

It was why she made no effort to resist as Su led her along like she would've if she'd been human. If she had, she'd have been insulted by the idea of anyone leading her around on a leash. But as a deer, that didn't bother her. She trusted Su to take good care of her and so she trusted her to lead her to wherever they needed to go. It made life easier to leave the decision-making in the hands of another. At least for a while.

"Su? Where's Rhode?" Rhode heard Percy ask as they exited the Big House's main entrance and found him, Flóga, Thalia, Grover and Annabeth waiting for them.

"Um, she's right here?" Su tried nervously, causing Percy to pale and turn to look at her.

Guess my break time is over. Rhode thought with a sigh as she hastily turned to address Grover before Percy did something he would regret. She knew her brother and hasty, emotion driven actions was practically his forte.

Grover! Rhode grunted. Translate for me!

"Got it, Rhode." Grover said with a nod,

Bosslady!? That's really you? Flóga asked, but Rhode ignored her mount for now. She had a powderkeg of a brother to disarm.

Percy, yes, it's me. Rhode said in a series of grunts which were all she seemed capable of as a deer and which Grover dutifully translated. I got turned into this as punishment by Mr. D for breaking the 'no sex' rule.

"What!? This is too much!" Thalia hissed, sparks dancing off her body in her agitation. "This is totally unfair."

It seemed Percy wasn't the only ticking time bomb she had to defuse. Speaking of Percy...

"Agreed." He said, his hand slipping into the pocket where Rhode knew he kept Riptide.

Shit! I need to talk fast.

All of you! Calm down! Rhode said as fast as quickly as she could, forcing Grover to struggle to keep up with his translation. He didn't have a choice. He had to punish me. I did break the rule. He couldn't just give me a free pass, even if he really seemed like he wanted to. The other gods would throw a fit if he showed that level of favoritism.

"It was either this," Su said, gesturing to Rhode's transformed body. "Or piss off the gods whose kids got punished for the same rule in the past and have them curse Rhode in revenge."

Everyone winced at that. They all knew Rhode's terrible history with curses and none of them wanted to add to it.

Wait! Hold up! Bosslady, you had sex! Flóga asked, looking at Rhode pointedly and causing everyone else to do the same.

Yeah. With Jack. And I'm having a baby-

At the mention of the baby, Grover blushed atomic red and sputtered in shock, putting an end to his translation. That however paled in comparison to Flóga's reaction. The Pegasus immediately fainted, falling to her side like a tower, mumbling about having a brother or sister.

"Uh, what did Rhode say?" Percy asked, blinking in surprise.

"You're pregnant aren't you, Rhode?" Annabeth asked, rubbing the bridge of her nose in agitation.

Rhode just nodded.

"What!?" Percy and Thalia shouted in remarkable unison as they both shot Rhode's belly a shocked look.

"She isn't right now." Su stepped in to explain when it was clear by Grover's continued incoherent stuttering that he was in no position to continue to help to translate. Not that Rhode really wanted to do the explaining for this. The mere thought of what had been done was enough to twist her heart. "Lord Poseidon showed up just now to magically extract the baby, he put it into an amphora to incubate and take it back to Atlantis until it is ready to be born."

"So Rhode wouldn't be punished for being pregnant at Camp." Annabeth said with a knowing nod. "Nice workaround."

I thought so too. Rhode said even if no one could understand, Grover still looked too out of it to do so much less translate her words for the others, and nodded, hoping at least some of her meaning was successfully conveyed.

"Guys, we can talk about this more later." Su said as she glanced over in the direction of the yard between the Cabins, the place where funeral pyres were usually set up after Quests.

Oh gods! I forgot about the pyre! Rhode thought aghast. How could I forget that!?

Su's reminder didn't just sober Rhode up though. It had that effect on everyone except the insensate Flóga.

"Right," Percy said, his mood turning from one of disbelief to one of sadness just as mercurially as the sea that they both descended from could be at times. "Jack's pyre."

Rhode nodded and began trotting off in the direction of where the final goodbye to her baby's father was waiting for her, her family trailing behind her in silent support.

Huh, didn't know I could smell rainbows. Rhode said as she sniffed the conjured rainbow they intended to use for their I.M.s for the day.

"It's not rainbows so much as the magic." Grover told her, gesturing at the rainbow conjuring fountain in Cabin Three they were gathered around. "The rainbows this fountain of yours makes are magical. Normal rainbows don't really have smells, unless you count the smell of wet from whatever water body created them."

Su tugged on her leash as she fished out a drachma. "Rhode, pay attention. We're about to start. We agreed on Emily, Gaige and Penny first, right?"

Fiiine. Is that corn? Rhode asked as she eyed the bag of corn feed that Su had hung on a hook nearby.

"I think she's going native." Grover said, sounding worried.

"No, she's just trying to joke around." Su said with a roll of her eyes. "Rhode, be serious. You were the one who wanted to do this. So stop fooling around."

"Could've fooled me." Grover grumbled while Rhode bobbed her head.

"Rhode," Su said sternly. "If you're not going to cooperate then we're not doing this, got it? So behave."

Sorry, honest. Rhode said as she shuffled her hooves, looking sullen.

And she was honestly sorry. Ever since becoming a deer, the subsequent suspension of her responsibilities had combined with the relaxing effect it had on her mind to awaken a mischievous side of her that she just found impossible to resist.

Animals just had it so simple that it was a treat.

Not that Su, as the one responsible for her for the time being, felt the same way. Since she had to deal with all the pranks that Rhode pulled and/or clean up after her. It was exhausting and Rhode didn't blame her for developing a low tolerance for her antics. Even though it had only been a day so far.

"She's apologizing."

Su stared at her doe eyes and nodded. "You better be, Rhode. And stop being such a pest, would you?"

I'll try. Rhode said fidgeting.

"She said she'd try."

Su just sighed. "That's as good as I'm going to get."

"Probably," Grover agreed. "I think being an animal is messing with her self-control."

"It definitely is." Su corrected. "But enough dallying. Let's get started. We have multiple calls to make. Emily and her family first, right? They should all be home at this hour if I remember her schedule right, so let's do a group call."

Rhode nodded.

"Alright. Toss the drachma, Su."

Su obliged Grorver and tossed the coin into the waiting rainbow. "Emily, Gaige and Penny. Campbell, California."

The rainbow blurred and transformed into an image of a living room that was an odd mix of orderly and messy with the two Campers and their automaton daughter seated in front of a TV and watching some show or other. Emily and Gaige were cuddling on a sofa whilst Penny was sitting in a loveseat, pointedly not looking at her parents.

"Hi guys," Su greeted.

"Hi Su, Grover." Emily greeted as she nudged Gaige who dutifully used a remote lying on the sofa next to her to turn their TV off. "What's up? And is that a deer?"

"Um, how do I say this?" Su said, looking lost.

Grover, just tell them I'm here too. Rhode suggested.

"Uh, guys, you're missing someone." Grover said, gesturing to Rhode. "Actually this is-"

"Hello Rhode," Penny said with a wave. "Why are you a deer?"

Emily shot up in her seat at that and shot Penny an alarmed look, before turning to look at Rhode with a horrified expression.

"That's Rhode!?" She practically shrieked.

"Um, yeah." Su admitted sheepishly as she ran a hand up and down Rhode's back in what was fast becoming a nervous tic.

"Is she a deer?! How'd that happen?!" Gaige exclaimed from the I.M. "Is it a witch thing? This feels like a witch thing."

"No, she got a little grounded?" Su said with a slight grimace.

"...Who did she- No. Let me guess." Emily pinched her nose, understanding written all over her face. "Jack?"

Su nodded curtly.

"Wait what? Oh, ooooh!" Gaige said, noises of understanding escaping her. "Well, shit. Where is the guy huh? Too scared to face us?"

As the ginger fumed, Su gave a wince. "He didn't make it during the last Quest."

"Oh, well. Good, never liked him that much after he went all angst."

"Creator! Please show some sympathy for life!" Penny scolded her mother.

"Enough." Emily said suddenly as she stood. "We'll be there on the next flight over. Rhode?"

Yes? Rhode asked, shuffling back from the I.M. image slightly, thoroughly intimidated by the very serious stare Emily shot her.

Somehow realising that she'd gotten her message across, Emily continued.

"Don't do anything else stupid until I get there and am in a position to stop you. Got it?"

Rhode, and Su and Grover for that matter, nodded in furious agreement.

"Good, see you guys in a day or two." Emily said, sounding all cheery as she waved her hand through the I.M. and cut the connection.

"Was Emily always that scary?" Grover asked, earning a shake of Rhode's head.

"Yes." Su said, cheeks pink. "Sometimes. She can get very intense when she's worked up."

There's a story there. Rhode said and Grover translated per verbatim.

"Yeah, but I'm not telling." Su said, her blush deepening. "It's about you, Rhode. She was giving me advice. That's everything I'm willing to say."

Advice? Rhode asked, blinking in confusion. You don't mean that kind of advice, right…

"Huh? What kind of advice?" Grover asked, sounding oh so curious.

"Nothing!" Nothing!

Grover cocked his head in confusion for a long moment before he blushed as he figured it out.

"Oh! Ahem! Bedroom advice!" He practically squealed, as his face imitated a tomato.

"Yes. That." Su said, blushing atomic red now. "Let's just call the next person on the list. Who is it?"

Next on the docket is Lee.

"It's Lee, Su." A blushing Grover squeaked out.

Su tossed another drachma into the fluttering rainbow and said. "Lee Jordan, London."

"Hiya Su, Grover, Bambi Rhode." Lee said with a cheeky smile as he answered the call.

Wait! How the hell did he know about me being a deer!? Rhode grunted in shock.

"How?" Grover asked much more succinctly.

"Penny texted me," Lee said, raising a smart phone for them to see. "Did you know that since she's an automaton she can use phones just fine? Or that magical interference means that so long as I stay in a wizarding enclave I can too? Though the reception is abysmal."

"Hi Lee," Su said with a roll of her eyes at their friend's antics. "And yes to the former though I didn't know Penny got a phone. Last I checked she was still trying to convince Gaige to get her one. The latter is news to me, you just figured it out?"

"Yup. Phones are getting popular in the British Wizarding World after the reformation so I decided to give it a try. No monsters started boiling out of the woodwork when I did, so I kept it."

Rhode huffed. Just try and be careful. I got lucky with a divine one. Just keep an eye out.

"Rhode says to keep an eye out, she got lucky with her phone." Grover helpfully translated.

"Yeah, I know. Don't worry so much." Lee said, putting his phone aside and flashing them a V sign.

"So, um, why are you taking the fact that Rhode's currently a deer so well?"

"What should I do? Faint? I could do it if it helps." Lee asked with a roll of his eyes.

"Please don't," Grover said with a sigh. "Flóga did it already. Carrying her back to the stables was a pain."

"Damn horse is good. Not to mention Rhode looks adorable, no need to panic."

Rhode snorted and stomped her hoof at that.

"Please don't. The younger kids have been trying to pet her nonstop." Grover said, begging from his tone alone for the conversion to not go in that direction.

"Ha!"

Tell him about the baby. Rhode told Grover. If he got the news from Penny, he won't know about it.

"Uh, Lee, there's more to Rhode's situation-"

"Let me guess, she's not just a deer because Jack talked her into having sex with him. There were consequences to what they did?"

"You guessed it?" Su asked, blinking in surprise.

"Yeah, it wasn't hard." Lee said with a shrug. It was easy to forget that for all his jokes, Lee was a clever guy. "Though Gaige giving Chiron an I.M. to check after, in Penny's words, Emily had a fit and cut you guys off, helped."

Sounds like Gaige. Rhode opined. Whilst it was usually Emily that was the level headed one between them, whenever the daughter of Aphrodite lost her cool, her partner always stepped up to serve as their voice of reason.

"So you know the baby is in Atlantis with Lord Poseidon?"

"Yeah, so Mr. D doesn't need to run her over with his SUV." Lee nodded. "Your Dad takes super good care of you, you know that Rhode?"

Yeah, I know. Rhode said with a nod.

"Jordan! Are you ready? You're on air in ten minutes?" A voice shouted from somewhere nearby through the I.M..

"I'll be there in a minute!" Lee shouted back. "Sorry about that, you guys honestly caught me at a bad time. If Penny hadn't texted ahead and I was expecting your I.M., things would've been messy. We'll catch up at another time, okay?"

"Sure," Su nodded. "You know our schedule here at Camp, drop us a I.M. during our free hours when it's convenient for you."

"Will do. Take care guys! Air Jordan signing off!" Lee said with a cheeky wave that they returned, Rhode awkwardly standing on three legs as she used one of her forelimbs to do so, before he swiped a hand through the I.M. on his end and cut the link.

"Alright, anyone else?" Grover asked, looking at Rhode as Su fished out a fresh Drachma.

Fergus and Atlanta? Rhode suggested and Grover relayed it to Su.

"You sure about that, Rhode? They haven't really been keeping in touch with us lately…"

Rhode nodded decisively and Su sighed.

"Grover, the two of them are still living together in Dallas?" Su asked, as she scrunched her forehead together to try and recall the details.

Grover nodded. "But I dunno if they're both home or whatever, don't think they shared their schedule with us. Better to call them one at a time."

"Gotcha, who first?"

Fergus. Rhode said with certainty. She missed the old fiery Scotsman.

"Okay." Su said as she tossed the Drachma into the waiting rainbow created by Cabin Three's enchanted fountain. "Fergus Wallace, Dallas, Texas."

The image formed almost instantly and fortunately Atlanta was with Fergus. Unfortunately, their two friends were currently in flagrante delicto and the trio in Camp were greeted with a view of more of the two half-bloods than they'd ever wanted.

"Oh my!" Su covered her eyes quickly, putting her other hand over Rhode's eyes too even as Grover made distressed goat noises and turned around quickly.

Man, I forgot how sculpted Fergus was. Or that Atlanta had such nicely shaped boobs.

"Rhode, please!" Grover bleated.

Both lovers on the other end of the I.M. finally seemed to notice their company and their heads spun towards the image.

"We'll call back later!" Su shouted as she reached out to cut the call.

"Thank you!" Fergus cheerfully said before the image was cut.

"Wa-!" Atlanta shouted, only to be cut off as the image faded.

...So, you think they're going to finish or blue ball it?

The answer presented itself when seconds later the rainbow of the fountain transformed into an incoming I.M. image.

"Grover, Su, what's up?" Atlanta asked, holding a sheet tightly to herself to cover her modesty whilst a grumpy looking Fergus sat next to her in a set of clearly freshly thrown on boxers. "You never call. This has got to be important."

Su and Rhode exchanged a look.

Don't tell me… Rhode said as a sinking feeling grew in her gut.

"W-We're so sorry. It's just been so chaotic and it slipped my mind." Su said, sounding guilty. "I'm so sorry, you two. I'm sure Rhode is too."

"Speaking of the lass, where is she?" Fergus frowned, looking around. Seemingly setting aside his grumpiness at the mention of Rhode.

Rhode raised her head up and awkwardly used one of her forelimbs to nudge her head in an imitation of pointing at herself.

"...Well, that's new." The son of Ares mumbled.

"You got caught having sex at Camp didn't you?" Atlanta said with a sigh.

Rhode ducked her head.

"Ha! Knew she would do it." Fergus snickered. "With all them lads and lasses pining for her? Never stood a chance."

"Honestly, Rhode, that's like the most elementary mistake to make." Atlanta said with a shake of her head. "I'm surprised Emily didn't teach you the workaround. All you needed to do was hitch a ride with Argus into town and fool around there. It's how the rest of us did it while we were still staying at Camp."

Su stood a little straighter at that. "This has been noted. Though considering Emily and the rest of us were trying hard to not let Rhode get taken advantage of, I don't think she would've shared that little trick."

"Taken advantage of? You guys are talking about Jack aren't you?" Fergus asked with a growl. "What did he do?"

It's not important anymore. Rhode said in a series of sad grunts. He died on a Quest while saving me so it's all forgiven. And he gave me a gift beyond anything anyway.

"He died on a quest, saving Rhode. And he, um, left her a parting present."

"Saved? What the frick did we miss?!" Fergus stood up from the bed in a panic.

"A lot it seems." Atlanta said with a sigh. "By parting present, I take it that Rhode's pregnant?"

"Not at the moment," Su said with a shake of her head. "Lord Poseidon took the baby to Atlantis so Mr. D wouldn't have to-

"Run Rhode over with his SUV." Atlanta said with a nod. "I'm familiar with the general plan. Aphrodite does it for her kids in Cabin Ten when they need it, though she usually turns the fetuses into dove eggs and looks after them in her temple on Olympus before returning them to her daughters once they leave Camp for the year."

"She does that?" Su gasped, putting words to Rhode's own surprise.

"Yeah," Grover said with a nod. "Cabin Ten doesn't advertise it of course, but it's something of an open secret."

"Frick lass, you could have talked to us about this stuff. See all the new advice Atlanta just gave you? I know we brushed you off a little, we were busy, but if ya tried harder to reach out..."

"It's fine, Fergus. What's done is done and we were at fault too." Atlanta said, running a hand through her hair tiredly.

It hit Rhode like buckshot as a stone filled her gut. She turned to Grover, nudging him with her wet nose.

Grover, tell them I'm sorry. I-I miss them and I should have called them. Rhode pleaded as she felt all emotional and hungry as she padded around, feeling upset. I'll try to keep in touch more.

"Rhode, apologizes." Grover said succinctly. "And she'll try harder to keep in touch."

"Alright, cool. Cool, we uh, we'll chat later." Atlanta said, shifting her sheet shield a bit. "It was nice hearing from you. Hugs and kisses girls. I need to I.M. Emily and shout at her. There were plenty of things she could've told you that would've helped you loads but didn't."

"Frick yes." Fergus pumped his fist. "I've got a few things to say to her too."

Grover, tell them not to be too harsh on her. Emily was probably too focused on trying to protect me from Jack, so…

"Rhode says not to be too hard on Emily. She was trying to protect Rhode from Jack and left things out."

"Protect Rhode from Jack?" Fergus asked with a growl. "Ya know what? I'll ask Emily about that. Gods, what the frick did we not know about!?"

"A lot apparently. And yes, we'll go shout at Emily and get what we need to know from her. No need for us to vent on you guys, not when it isn't really your fault. So again, girls, Grover. Take care."

Su shot Rhode a look and received a nod in reply.

"Right, seems like Rhode's done too. So until next time." Su said with a smile.

"Till next time, everyone." Fergus practically growled, obviously trying to keep a lid on his anger so he didn't explode at the wrong person. "Gods Bless!"

"Gods Bless, Fergus, Atlanta." Su said as she waved a hand through the I.M. image, dismissing it.

Am I the only one worried about Emily's eardrums?

"No, you aren't." Grover said with a shake of his head, causing Su to look at him questioningly. "Rhode asked if we should worry about Emily's eardrums."

"I'm sure it'll be fine." Su said uncertainly. "I mean Gaige and Penny will protect her."

They would. Just like Su and the rest of her family would protect her whenever she needed it.

I really am blessed to have them as my family. Rhode thought as she nuzzled into Su's side in a display of her gratitude and affection, one that was returned as the daughter of Demeter hugged her neck, leaving Rhode to lick her cheek.

Days later, Rhode and Su watched in fond exasperation as Percy, Annabeth, Thalia, Charles and even a visiting Tyson were baby proofing Cabin Three and musing about her three half-blood siblings' reaction to Rhode's impending baby.

After overcoming his anger at Jack knocking Rhode up, something made easy by his ultimate sacrifice, Percy had become over the moon at the idea of a niece. He was absolutely sure that Rhode's baby was a girl. In fact baby proofing their Cabin was his idea and he was the one directing things, with the help of books. He had been the one to rope in Beckendorf and even called Tyson back to Camp to help.

Said cyclops baby brother of Rhode's was in fact very much driving the son of Hephaestus up the wall if the pinched look that Charlie was sporting was any indication, no mean feat considering his usually laidback, accommodating nature. Then again he was the one having to dissuade her overenthusiastic brother from one over the top baby gift to another.

"Uh, Tyson, I don't think the baby is going to need armor. Much less a matching chainmail bib and studded rattle." Charlie said, rubbing his temples tiredly in response to Tyson's latest suggestion for a present for the baby as they both worked to stock the newly installed cupboards at the 'baby supply corner' as Percy had dubbed it with the mountain of baby supplies her brothers had already somehow conned him into emptying his credit, and their own, with the Camp store to buy.

"No? What about-"

Tuning out her little brother's latest crazy idea and rolling her eyes at Su's giggles at it, Rhode turned her attention to her other little brother.

"Percy, are you sure we need to round off every sharp corner?" Annabeth asked, as Percy barked his latest order from the book he was using as a reference. "That sounds a little excessive."

"It's what the book says, Wise Girl." Percy said, looking up from the book with a frown.

"Let me see that," Annabeth said as she walked over to double check Percy's instructions.

"Annabeth has come round to the idea of the baby, huh?" Su observed.

Rhode could only nod.

Bethy had initially been unsure about the situation, unhappy that Jack had done this to Rhode. At the same time unable, as she admitted to Rhode, to hold it against the baby because that would've been just like how her stepmom first viewed her. So whilst she hadn't fully given up on her misgivings, she had promised to help out the best she could.

"They are overdoing it," Thalia said, gesturing at the others in Cabin Three as she took a seat on the opposite side of Rhode from Su on the daughter of Poseidon's bed and joined in on watching the show. "You really only need to start baby proofing when the kid starts crawling and even then so long as you keep them in a fixed area, there's no real need to proof the whole place."

You'd know. Rhode thought even as she nodded, thinking back on everything Thalia said both in the past and in the last few days about how she'd practically raised her little brother Jason when he was a baby due to how neglectful her mother had been.

"Really?" Su asked, looking uncertain.

"I've got experience with babies." Thalia admitted evasively.

Su thankfully got the hint and didn't press and subtly changed the topic. "So anything in particular to take note of?"

"Keep the kid away from staples, trust me. They'll nibble on anything if you give them the chance." Thalia said, only half joking.

Rhode and Su both nodded slowly. Rhode didn't know what her best friend was thinking but she was wondering how the hell had Thalia learned that? Did Jason get his hands on some staples at some point? And if so how!?

Her thoughts on the matter were derailed when the familiar voice of Penny shouted from outside the Cabin door.

"Rhode, Percy, could Creator Two and I have permission to enter?" The automaton's voice boomed.

Emily and Penny are here!? She wasn't kidding when she said she'd be coming over!? Rhode gasped as she leapt off her bed. Despite Emily's words, she hadn't honestly expected her to really just drop everything and pay a visit again.

"Do they have permission?" Su asked formally as she walked alongside Rhode as they both made it towards the door, to which Rhode nodded distractedly.

The moment Su opened the door, Emily ran inside and swept Rhode into a hug that took her clean off her feet, completely unmindful of her state as a doe.

Too tight, Emily! Su! Help! Rhode grunted in distress, shooting Su a pleading look as her legs flailed.

Su, the traitor, just smiled and politely greeted the new arrivals. "Welcome back, Emily, Penny. It's only the two of you?"

"Yes, unfortunately Creator can't leave her job this time." Penny explained as she stepped into the Cabin.

And Emily didn't have any commitments? That doesn't sound right. Rhode said, something that Penny must've understood because she promptly offered an explanation.

"Creator Two is taking an extended Christmas break from her internship to be here. Thankfully, her boss is understanding but we don't know if this will affect her grade."

This is the second time she's done something like this. Rhode noted in confusion. I appreciate it but why?

Penny, much to Rhode and Su's surprise, translated Rhode's words for them.

"How is Penny translating?"

"I installed a Deer Translator, or as close as one that Creator could make on such short notice. Though I do wonder why Rhode was asking for macaroni when Creator Two hugged her." Penny knitted her synthetic brows together.

"I think that was a bug, Penny." Emiily said with a laugh as with one last hug, she finally put Rhode down.

"I will make a note of it." Penny chirped in delight.

"And as for why I'm here. Of course I'd come, I'll come whenever and wherever you need me Rhode. Always."

Rhode was overwhelmed with gratitude at that and as Thalia made it over to stand next to her, she was struck with a realisation. Emily was behaving like what she imagined Thalia would have been like in the situation if their roles hadn't been reversed by the daughter of Zeus' time as a tree. Emily was treating her like a little sister and Rhode loved it.

She missed it when she would be the one being taken care of.

"Alright, so what help do you guys need?" Emily asked as she surveyed Cabin Three and her eyes settled on where Charlie and Tyson were putting away the baby supplies. "I see you guys have some baby supplies already, but we've brought a truckload-"

"Literally." Penny interjected informatively. "We bought a whole truck full of supplies after we got off the plane before driving up. We even bought the truck."

Emily rolled her eyes at the interruption but otherwise continued like it hadn't happened. "-more. Where should I put them?"

An hour before the Christmas Party on the Twenty Fourth, Rhode trotted alone into Mr. D's office to get her punishment lifted only to find Dionysus sitting behind his desk waiting for her with a serious look on his normally jovial face.

"I take it you were expecting Mr. D?" Dionysus asked, clearly having sensed her surprise. "Well, I thought this persona of mine was more suited to the discussion we are about to have."

Discussion? Rhode asked, blinking in confusion.

"Let's get you in person. I am not in the mood for talking to an animal." The mad god said, snapping his fingers as Rhode was changed back in a burst of purple smoke. She coughed a bit from the powerful wine smell but the fact that she could do so was a relief in itself as it came out as a human cough, not a deer one.

"Thank you, Lord Dionysus." Rhode said as she stretched her now human limbs.

The god waved the thanks away and gestured to a seat in front of his desk. "Sit down, Rhode. There are things I need to explain to you."

Rhode nodded and obeyed, feeling awkward actually sitting in a chair after the ordeal of deerhood.

"First of all, I must explain that I allowed what happened to you with Jack because it was a choice between two bad options. Either you went through all the torment that you did with Jack or you'd suffer worse at Castellan's hands while you were his prisoner. Both would mess up your mind but you'd survive the experience with Jack, but Castellan would've broken you irreparably."

Rhode shuddered at that and the god shot her a sympathetic look but nevertheless continued without pausing. She remembered her nightmare and thanked the Fates for dodging that bullet.

"Oh, I didn't know the exact details of what would've happened. Future Sight is not within my domain so my power of prophecy is weak at best, but I had enough of an inkling of what might happen to make the choice I did." He said firmly, showing how he continued to feel his decision was the right one. And considering the options, Rhode had to agree with him. "The latter was unacceptable to me. I'd blessed you by that point, I'd invested in you, and you would not be allowed to shame my choice in that regard. So that's why I did my best to steer things towards the lesser of two evils."

"Thank you for that, Lord Dionysus. I have an inkling of what might've happened to me and- If what I had gone through with Luke was the lesser version, then I'm beyond grateful. What he put me through, his advances and bearing the sky, already almost broke me… If I had endured worse, I shudder to think how bad things would be for me... Just thank you!"

Rhode bowed her head, fists tight in her lap as she felt her throat tighten up and a choked sob escaped her.

"You're welcome, Rhode." Mr. D told her with his stereotypical sardonic grin. "Now run along. I believe you have a party to get dressed for. Your mother sent you a new dress I believe?"

"Yes, Mum did." Rhode confirmed as she stood. "Thank you again, Lord Dionysus."

Mr. D just waved her thanks away and gestured for her to hurry up and leave.

Smiling at this side of her patron and how easily he slipped into it, Rhode offered him one last grateful bow before leaving the office. She had a party to prepare for.

Rhode stood in one corner of the Dining Pavilion having some drinks and snacks with Percy as they watched the other Campers enjoy the Christmas Party. Dressed up for the occasion, like the Pavilion had, in the dress Amphtrite had sent her she was thoroughly enjoying the party. And her Mum had really outdone herself this time.

The blue dress with a see-through halter neckline that featured a row of appliques at the top was absolutely captivating. The see-through tulle over a straight neckline of the upper body gave a touch of sexiness to the dress. One that was only added to by the additional appliques that circled around the waist forming a waistband that pinched at the waist to create a tighter fit, below which was a gorgeous tulle skirt that extended to the floor and added a stunning charm to the A-line silhouette dress.

It alone had garnered her more than her fair share of turned heads so far. Though quite a few she was sure was also from the curiosity of her being a doe just hours ago. Many Aphrodite Cabin Campers at least, she knew from a few questions they tossed her way, were flabbergasted at how quickly she'd managed to get ready for the party.

"Rhode, you sure you don't want to head back to the Cabin early and rest?" Percy asked, his tone was tinged with worry, like it had been ever since she had been rescued. "I mean, you were a deer like literally a couple hours ago."

"Don't worry so much, Percy. The whole experience as a doe was a joke, I'm totally over it. Though I do like corn a lot more now." The daughter of Poseidon noted, holding a finger to her chin playfully.

"You sure?" Percy asked, being the total helicopter brother he'd been ever since she got back from Olympus.

"I'm fine, Percy." Rhode insisted, pulling him into a headlock and giving him a noogie. "I'm not fragile."

"Okay! Okay! I get it!" Percy said pitifully, prompting Rhode to let him go. "Did you have to mess with my hair?"

Rhode just giggled at her brother as he desperately tried to smooth his hair into something resembling order.

"Don't worry about your hair, Percy." Su said as she walked over. "I doubt Annabeth will mind. She knows messy hair makes you look perfect."

"Su~!" Percy whined, earning him another giggle at his expense from Rhode.

"Dearest Percy, it's true." Su insisted with a teasing smirk. "And talking about Annabeth, she's about to finish her dance with Thalia. I think she might want the next one to be with her boyfriend."

"I get the hint, Su. Watch Rhode for me okay?"

Both Rhode and Su rolled their eyes at his overprotectiveness, but he just grunted and marched off to find his girlfriend.

"That was sneaky of you, Su." Rhode commented as she eyed the woman who was legally her wife up and down and appreciated the view. She was rocking the deep red thigh split mermaid hem qipao she had chosen for the occasion.

"I've no idea what you mean, Rhode." Su said with a coy smile on her painted lips. "I was just telling Percy the truth."

"Maybe." Rhode allowed with a smile of her own tugging at her face. "But what about how you engineered Tyson dancing with Penny? Or Thalia taking a spin around the dance floor with Chiron, of all people, now that she's free?"

"I'm feeling shippy today."

"Or you wanted some alone time with me." Rhode said with a roll of her eyes, cocking her hip and resting her hand on it. "You know you just needed to ask, right?"

Su just shrugged and changed the topic.

"By the way, the way you handle Percy is amusing as the Pit, you know that?"

"And you should learn a thing or two about it." Rhode suggested teasingly. "You'll need to, since he's your brother-in-law now."

Su blushed.

"Nothing's changed that much between us." Su insisted, fiddling with her hands nervously. "I mean, like we agreed on Olympus, right now it's just a piece of paper that Hera forced onto us."

"Is it?" Rhode asked with a raised eyebrow. "I know you were supposed to be taking care of me while I was a deer but we've been going in and out of each other's Cabins all the time since Olympus. That's a change isn't it?"

"I-It was just 'cos I was made responsible for you." Su said with a pretty blush that flattered her pale skin.

"If you say so, Su." Thalia said as she walked over with a drink in hand, her dance with Chiron apparently over. "Seriously, girl, I suck at this relationship thing and even I have to say that you should just be more honest with yourself."

"Thalia!" Rhode chided her sister warningly.

"Fine~! I'll shut up." Thalia said with a sigh.

"So~! Thalia, how did you like that porcupine plush that we got you for Christmas?" Su asked in a desperate bid to change the topic by bringing up the present that they'd bought for Thalia. By virtue of being a deer in the gift buying period available to her, Rhode hadn't been able to get the gifts she wanted for her friends and family on her own and had to share them with Su hence Thalia's new plush having come from both of them.

"I like it," Thalia begrudgingly admitted. "I mean, I'm not usually into plushies but…"

"But?" Rhode asked curiously.

"It's really cute, you know? So, thanks you two." Thalia said, her freckles glowing from her flush expression. "And well… It's a gift from you, Rhode. Of course I'd like it."

"That's sweet, Thalia, but do you actually like it?" Rhode pressed.

"Yeah, it looks good on my bed. The contrast with my sheets makes it pop." Thalia said with a cheeky grin. "It's all cute and my sheets are all-"

"Overly serious?" Su supplied with a teasing grin.

Thalia nodded. "It's totally gap moe."

"You're reading too much slang trivia again Thalia." Rhode said with a giggle. "You know you don't need to try so hard to pretend to be your age, right?"

"I know." Thalia shrugged with a pout. "But enough about me! Why don't you two lovebirds go dance?"

Rhode exchanged a look with Su who just shrugged.

"Sure, we'll get out of your hair for a bit." Rhode said as she offered Su a hand, which her best friend graciously accepted.

"Take a breather and chill." Su said as she allowed Rhode to lead her to the dance floor. "We'll be back in a bit."

Even as most of Camp was enjoying themselves at the Christmas Party, Nico di Angelo was sitting out and inside Cabin Eleven having a I.M. conversation with his sister Bianca. They'd always spent Christmas together and this year wasn't going to be an exception. Not even if they couldn't do so physically.

"I'm so sorry I had to just up and disappear like that Nico, but with the war we Hunters had to move out ASAP." Bianca said as the prearranged I.M. call was established.

"I understand Bianca," Nico lied. He didn't, but he wasn't about to tell his sister that and upset her.

"No, you're wearing your grumpy face. You're upset." Bianca said, seeing through him easily. "I am sorry, Nico. But… I needed to do something for me. You know? I'm the Lieutenant of the Hunters. So I should be able to get them to swing by Camp more often. I think strengthening our relationship would do the rest of the Hunters some good."

"So being a Hunter is what you choose to do for yourself?" Nico said, struggling and mostly failing to follow his sister's logic.

"Yeah. You probably hate me for it, but I need to be me, Nico. I-I wanted to spread my wings. I am sorry. I'll say it as many times as I have to for you to understand."

"I don't hate you, I can't hate you. But I miss you."

"I miss you too, Nico." Bianca sighed, pressing her hand against the rainbow on her end, Nico did the same, but all it felt like was cold and wet in the winter air. "I'll make sure to always call you when I can. I promise you that. No matter how old you get, little mister."

Nico snorted. "Soon I'm going to be older than you. Taller too."

"Physically maybe, but you'll always be my little brother."

"How long is puberty going to be for you? Forever?" Nico couldn't help but tease her, it felt nice. Just, just talking to her like this.

"Wouldn't know." Bianca said with a shrug. "I escaped that fate."

"Bianca~!" Nico whined. A little disappointed that she wasn't willing to play along.

"I'm sorry Nico, but well… Becoming a Hunter. Becoming Lady Artemis' Lieutenant. It's changed me. It's hard sometimes to act like I used to. But for you, I'll try okay?"

"Okay," Nico said with a tight smile.

"Father should be contacting you soon. If he hasn't already. Just, please give him a chance, Nico. He loves us, he loves us so much. Please get along. For me?" She asked with those pleading eyes he couldn't help but crumble to. He nodded in understanding.

"I'll trust you. He sent me a sword the other day and a letter. He said he'd make arrangements with Chiron so I could visit him in the Underworld to get some 'proper' training."

Bianca winced. "That must have ruffled Chiron's flank."

"A little," Nico agreed. "But he okayed it. I'll be going in Spring. I'll see how Father is like then."

Still, getting a chance to learn from the ancient heroes of yore? That was too good a chance to pass up. Even Chiron agreed to that. The only problem was Father… But like he said, he'd decide how he felt about him after he'd met him.

At least his stepmother wouldn't be there from what that nice girl Su informed him. Apparently since it would be Spring by then, she'd be back up here in the surface world with Aunt Demeter.

"Anything else interesting happen since I left?" Bianca asked.

And Nico proceeded to regale her with everything that had happened in the days since. It was almost like she was still there with him. Almost. From some pranks he pulled, to learning how to play Poker and the many uses of pocket sand.

And it was that small difference that he would remember always. For as much as he understood, mostly, why she'd left. He also was angry with her for doing so. And he would be forever. Such was the way of a child of Hades, at least that's what Chiron said when they talked about it.

For now though, he would set that aside and just enjoy what time he could with his sister. Time that he knew would be few and far between in the future.

As Nico chatted with his sister, back at the Christmas Party things had wound down and Rhode was walking back to Cabin Three with Su. The two of them enjoying a moment together as the festive red and green fireballs that had been created by the nymphs for the occasion danced around the Camp grounds.

"Thanks Su, for being all supportive since Olympus. I don't think I've thanked you for that yet." Rhode said, breaking the companionable silence that had enveloped them along the walk till now. "Especially since I know how you feel about me and how the fact that we're married now must be such a temptation to you to push our relationship forward."

"Not at all. I wasn't tempted at all." Su reassured her with a shake of her head. "I know you're not ready for a relationship yet, Rhode. And no matter what Hera or the mortal law says, I'll always put your needs ahead of anything."

Rhode blushed at that and Su smiled before adding jokingly.

"Besides, the whole time since you've been back at Camp you've been a doe, there's not much I could've done anyways."

Rhode laughed at that and nodded.

"True that. But thanks for not being pushy anyways, not just the past few days, but always. You're really the best friend a girl could have, you know?"

"That's not true." Su countered. "There were plenty of times that I was selfish."

"Maybe. But no one is perfect. Ultimately, you've been a net good in my life. Always there supporting me when it counts, even times when I wasn't willing to listen to you."

"Didn't I say I'd always be there for you, Rhode?"

"Not quite," Rhode teased.

Su rolled her eyes and a giggling Rhode continued before her friend could retort.

"But yeah, you were close enough and I got what you meant." Rhode admitted. "Thanks for that too."

"If you keep thanking me for everything, you won't be stopping anytime tonight." Su teased back.

"True," Rhode agreed with a giggle.

They continued the walk in companionable silence after that, both of them luxuriating in the others' comforting presence

As they reached Cabin Three, Su turned to Rhode clearly about to say her goodbyes

I think Su deserves something for how good she's been lately. Rhode thought just a little mischievously.

Reaching out she put a finger over Su's lips before the daughter of Demeter could open her mouth.

"Su, this is my final thank you for the night." Rhode said as she leaned in and gave her best friend, and legal wife and maybe in the future more, a chaste peck on the lips.

I feel strange. Rhode thought as she pulled away from a stunned and blushing Su. I liked the kiss, it didn't feel bad or sloppy. But there was something missing.

And it wasn't the depth of feeling she'd felt and tried to convey. That she felt just fine. It was almost overwhelming even. Enough that it filled Rhode's heart to bursting. But there was just something that she couldn't put into words that was missing.

"Rhode? W-What did you mean by this?" Su asked, still looking dazed and touching her lips tenderly.

Su thankfully was too dazed to have spotted Rhode's unease like she normally would have. If she did, it would've ruined everything the daughter of Poseidon had wanted to convey through the kiss.

"A promise." Rhode said, offering Su a gentle smile and tossing aside her strange reaction to the kiss to think about later. "I am not ready for anything more than friendship for now. But just give me time and when I'm up for it, I am willing to try to make our marriage real."

"Rhode, you don't-"

"I want to," Rhode said firmly, cutting Su off. "And not because Hera will probably make sure I will. This has nothing to do with the gods. They can stoke the flames, and she and others probably have or will, but I know myself and I want this. Part of me, I think, has always wanted this. Wanted us to work out."

"Rhode, are you sure?" Su asked, looking uncertainly. "Are you sure you're not just settling for me because Lady Hera took away your choices?"

"Did you know Lord Dionysus offered me a divorce if I wanted it almost as soon as he told me what Hera had done?"

Su shook her head, but didn't look surprised.

"I'm sure he'd make it happen too. Father would've been behind him and I have plenty of other favours with other gods I could've cashed in to help. But he asked me an important question when he offered. You know what that was?"

"What was it?" Su asked, looking adorably confused.

"He asked me if I loved you." Rhode revealed, causing Su to look at her with a hopeful, expectant look. "And I didn't even think about it. I told him that of course I loved you."

Su smiled at that. A happy- No, happy didn't cover how pleased she looked. She looked practically euphoric. Rhode was honestly surprised the other girl hadn't jumped her with how giddy she looked.

"I stand by that." Rhode told Su earnestly. "I love you. And that's why I, when I'm over what happened to Jack, over holding up the sky, over everything! Then the first thing I want to do is make our relationship work. Just, Just give me some time, okay, Su?"

"Take all the time in the world, Rhode." Su told her, a giddy smile still on her face. "I'd wait for you till the end of time if need be."

"I know I've been saying this a lot tonight." Rhode said with a chuckle. "But thanks. For everything."

Done and done! Thanks to Nameless and Axios as always!

And so, the wrap up of Titan's Curse is concluded. A lot of things happened. Yes, Rhode will be having a baby. Which gender? Who knows! Yes, Su and Rhode are married, Hera be a meddler as we stated in the chapter.

Nameless: We know some readers have been wondering what happened to Fergus and Atlanta for some time. Some even dropped reviews wondering if they might've joined the Titans. So we decided to give you guys an explanation at last. And it was a mundane one. 'Cos not everything even in a Riordanverse needs a supernatural explanation.

Miscommunication and the insanity of life is a bitch, am I right people?

Nameless: How did you guys find the high levels of bittersweet in the last two scenes? We wanted to make them feel real and that's how they came out. Hope we succeeded.

For the ending, Nico and Bianca were fun to write. The bittersweet of it all as well as Nico probably getting a better foundation is going to be something. Bianca is at least going to be more active and try to speak with him and spend time with him when she can.

Nameless: No ideas on where that'll lead though. I mean we haven't fleshed out Nico's development yet. Or have we? Read to find out. ;)

And finally, Rhode… yep, the lifting or stirpping of her curses really did a number on her. To be exact what the curses latched onto. Her love life. Or in this case, her divine libido. *wink wink*. Rhode's been sexually nerfed. That's right, she's [SPOILER] now. How will that play out? You'll have to wait to see!

You know what to do! Smash that review button and tell us what you love! No flames and peace off my peeps!