Percy PoV

It was really adorable, the way she did that.

I sighed, looking down at the goddess sleeping on my chest, and the peaceful smile that graced her lips.

I smiled, closing my eyes.

A few minutes later, I felt Artemis shifting. I looked down and saw that she had my hand between her legs, and she was snapping her hips up on my wrist.

She moaned softly, the sounds gradually getting louder until she stopped, and I felt a dampness.

My wife just had a wet dream.

The moon goddess shot up in bed, gasping for breath.

A blush crept up her face as she realized what'd happened.

I leaned forward, kissing her forehead. "Nothing to be embarrassed about, love. If you lust, it's my job to satisfy you."

My wife remained silent.

I tilted my head. "Are you still horny?"

"Yes," Artemis responded. "But that's not what I was concerned about."

I turned to see a crisp black envelope with the symbol of Tartarus emblazoned in red.

I went to grab it, but Artemis took my hand. "Don't touch it, Percy."

I nodded and got up, pulling Artemis into my arms.

There was a sudden knock at the door, and Artemis swiftly ran to answer.

Dionysus and Aphrodite were at the door.

"What're you two doing here?" My wife asked.

"The signature of Tartarus is strong here, and we've come to investigate," Dionysus answered curtly.

Aphrodite pulled Artemis aside and I showed Dionysus where the envelope was.

After I had explained what little I knew about it, we walked back over to the atrium, where I heard snippets of Aphrodite's conversation with my wife.

"..Is that a cum stain on your pants?" Aphrodite inquired.

Artemis mumbled a response, blushing deeply.

I walked over to Artemis, hugging her from behind.

"Hi Arty, Hi Aphrodite. So, what's going on?" I asked.

Aphrodite struck a flirtatious pose. "Hey Percy, how're you doing? Life must be so boring with a wife that hates you."

"I don't hate my husband," Artemis interjected.

I just grinned at the love goddess and pecked my wife's cheek.

"W-what?" Aphrodite stuttered.

"I love Artemis, and she loves me," I

clarified.

"So you're taken? Like, not-even-going-to cheat taken?" Aphrodite asked miserably.

I nodded. "Yeah, I mean, I've been married to her the past decade."

"But, but, but, that wasn't even either of your choice!" Aphrodite exclaimed.

"That doesn't mean we can't try. Besides, I'd be stupid not to try if the one decent male is wed to me," Artemis spoke.

"You've never even had sex!" The love goddess exclaimed. "Such a fine male specimen has to have sex at least once!"

I chuckled. "What makes you think that's never going to happen with my wife?"

Artemis suddenly elbowed me in the gut. "Shut up, Percy. She's going to repeat everything you say at the next council meeting."

I cleared my throat. "Moving on, my question wasn't even answered. What's going on?"

"Ahh, you see, because of the evidence found, you've been placed under probation," Dionysus cut in, looking straight at me.

"What's probation?" I asked.

"Oh, nothing much. You basically just get your life taken away until someone's found a speck of evidence. Then you get banished to Tartarus. Oh yeah, did I mention the whipping?" The wine god laughed sadistically.

I saw that Artemis was pale, and I squeezed her hand.

"Everything's gonna be fine," I murmured.

"Come, the whipping's to be in five

minutes," Dionysus spoke sternly.

I nodded, and felt my wife's hand grasp mine.

I sighed, somehow feeling this would hurt Artemis more than it would hurt me.

Next thing I knew, I was bound to iron poles in the middle of the Olympian Council Room.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Artemis, still as a stone, shutting everything out. Any outburst from her would only result in more whippings for me.

I grit my teeth as I felt the first strike on my back.

With horror, I realized that the whip was spiked.

It seemed like hours, the whip tearing the skin and muscle tissue in my back. The splatters of ichor around me looked horrifying.

One landed near Artemis, and she looked ready to faint.

I let out a yell as I felt a spike dig in my shoulder and stay there, coming off the whip.

When I thought they were finally finished, there were spikes adorning my back, burning my flesh.

Then a heavy object I perceived to be a bottle of alcohol was slammed into the back of my head.

The glass shattered, scattering along the floor if not stuck in my back. The alcohol burned on my wounds.

"Now we watch him suffer," Zeus boomed.

Artemis stood. "Father, that is unjust. Not only have you punished one of the Heroes of Olympus for a piece of paper he knew nothing of, but you're also having him suffer through the pain of a criminal, probably to die and need to wait a century 'til he reforms."

"Artemis! What's become of you? Defending a male?" Zeus smirked, thinking he had her.

As my vision darkened, I saw Artemis leave her throne, coming closer. I heard her speaking, but I could barely make them out.

Something about them not having emotions, and her loving me.

When I finally awoke from my pain-induced unconsciousness, I heard sobbing to my left.

I rolled over onto my back, which turned out to be a massive mistake. I screamed in pain, feeling the sensitive skin tear.

Instantly, the sobbing ceased. I felt soft hands rolling me back onto my stomach, then what I assumed to be nectar being poured on my back.

I sighed in relief as the pain was quenched.

I looked up to see my wife, shaking. Trying to be strong for me.

I reached out and grasped her hand. "I'm here, Moon. I'm with you, everything will be just fine."

Artemis bit her lip, nodding. To her protest, I got up.

The protest stopped when I pulled her into a hug.

"Percy," she breathed.

"I'm here with you, Artemis. I'm right here, and I'm not leaving, never will." I smiled as she sunk back into my chest.

Her attention suddenly switched. "I need to check your wounds. So much movement after months of stiffness-"

"Wait, what do you mean by 'months of stiffness'? How long was I out?" I questioned.

"A-a long time," Artemis choked.

I looked at her imploringly.

Artemis sighed in defeat. "Twelve months, Percy. You were out for a whole year."

"I'm so sorry," I murmured against her hair.

My wife assured me that it wasn't my fault, kissing my cheek as she led me back to bed.

"Percy, I still need to check your wounds," she mumbled.

I nodded and laid down on my stomach.

I felt her hands tracing along my back, then what felt like gauze.

She sat down next to my head, playing with my hair.

"So, how much longer am I confined to this bed?" I asked.

Artemis giggled. "When you're finally able to leave the bed, you'll want to be in bed with me."

"I'm not gonna deny that, but you like it too," I pointed out, resting my head in her lap.

"Moving on," Artemis said, "Your wounds should be healed within a week."

I looked up at her. "I know this sounds stupid, and you'd never do anything like that, but I wanna hear you say it. Did you cheat on me while I was unconscious?"

Artemis smiled. "Of course not. I have not, am not, and will not cheat on you. Besides, you're worth waiting for."