Percy PoV

"Apollo keeps being an idiot," Artemis complained. "He never thinks about the consequences."

"Well, maybe you should show him an awful consequence," I suggested.

She stood, pulling me up with her.

I watched as she pulled out what seemed to be a makeup palette and several tools.

"I have this for instances like this," my wife said proudly. "I'm going to make it look like you've been hitting me and go meet my brother."

"But I don't have to hit you, right?" I clarified.

She nodded. "Hold my wrist."

I did as told, watching as she traced an outline.

"Now I need you to make a fist," she instructed.

Again, I did as told, and she brought it to her eye, tracing the hand.

Having helped my mother with her makeup before she went to work when I was younger, I was able to help shade in the outlines.

"That looks painful," I muttered, finishing up.

"That's the point," Artemis said, putting away the makeup. "Do you want to come?"

"Yes," I replied, smiling at the feeling of her lips on my cheek.

She handed me a small white package with English writing that I couldn't read. "They're makeup removal wipes. Put them in your pocket."

I did as instructed, and we appeared in Apollo's office.

Leaning against the wall, I watched his reaction through a reflection in the powered off television.

Artemis was a great actress. Apollo almost came over to fight me before she explained.

My wife walked over as her brother sat spluttering in a chair.

I handed her the small packet, and the cloth unfolded into a massive wipe.

When she had finished, she threw away the used wipe and thanked me for my help in messing with her brother.

"So..." Apollo trailed off. "This was a trick? You haven't hurt Artemis?"

"Correct," I confirmed. "I would never hurt her."

She held my hand, kissing my cheek. "I was lucky, Apollo. I found a decent man, but I might not have. I might have been stuck with one of my long time rivals and been defiled by force. If you had voted on my side, I wouldn't be married right now, and you wouldn't be so upset."

With her lecture out of the way, we appeared back at her palace.

"What would you like to do for dinner?" My wife asked.

"I would like to cook whatever you're craving right now," I replied.

"Think something that takes less time," she rephrased.

"Pizza down in the mortal world?" I asked.

Artemis responded with a hug, and we appeared at a Manhattan street,

illuminated by street lights and storefronts.

We walked inside and up to the register, where there seemed to be no line.

"What would you like, sweetheart?" The young man at the counter asked my wife.

Annoyed at this, I put an arm around her.

"I'll take two slices of the Supreme," she replied.

"And I'll take two slices of the Meat Lovers' pizza, but hold the anchovies. I swim with the fish as opposed to eating them," I explained. He nodded, and we sat down at our booth.

Artemis leaned across the table and kissed my cheek quickly before pulling back. Within five minutes, our pizzas had arrived.

"Either they weren't made fresh, or mortal technology relative to pizza has advanced greatly," she observed.

As we ate, I noticed birds not native to the streets perched on the window sill.

"I can see you," my wife called. "Just grab some food and sit down with us."

A moment later, some of the mighty Olympians were in line for pizza.

We moved to a larger booth, half-circle, with Artemis sitting at the aisle and me next to her.

The Olympians in attendance piled in after that, having ordered some of the strangest pizzas.

"Why would you get pineapple pizza?" I asked incredulously, looking at Aphrodite's plate.

"It makes male semen taste better," she said. "Want some?"

"No thanks," I declined. "I don't see anyone consuming my semen in the near future."

"Well," the love goddess attempted. "I could change that."

"No thanks," I repeated. "I do happen to be married at the moment."

Hera, who appeared just for that moment, high fived me.

That's right.

The queen of the gods gave me a high five.

Artemis touched my hand under the table briefly.

"So, why are you here?" She asked.

"We just wanted to see how you were doing with the whole marriage situation," Ares tried to lie.

My wife snorted. "So you wanted to see whether I had bed him yet and you didn't think I could handle myself if my husband became violent."

When there was no response, she disappeared.

Figuring I was supposed to follow her, I grabbed the pizzas and did so.

Artemis was angrily pacing back and forth in the living room.

I set the pizzas down on the coffee table and pulled her into my chest.

She hammered, cussed at, and even tried to scratch me, but I didn't let go until she'd calmed down.

My wife drew in a shuddery breath. "Why won't they just accept me? Yes, I'm a bit strange, but so are they! What makes it so they treat me like I'm not one of them?"

I hugged her. "Maybe it's because you have morals. Maybe it's because you're prettier. Maybe because they're just jealous."

Artemis touched my cheek. "I'm going to take a shower. Could you draw the curtains?"

"Yeah, sure," I complied, turning to complete my task.

When Artemis stepped out of her bedroom, my eyes just about popped out of my head.

She was wearing a short, silky nightgown that stopped at about her mid-thigh, which was not helping me keep my boner down.

I, on the other hand, wore a faded shirt and pyjama pants.

"Come," she said. "I want to show you where you'll be sleeping."

As we walked, I tried very hard not to look at the places where the nightgown was tight or the fabric rode up.

Everything in the room was some shade of blue, black, or silver.

I loved it.

When I hugged my wife, it became clear that the room wasn't the only thing I was enjoying.

I began to apologize, but she stopped me. "Perseus, I wore this for your benefit. I'm not upset."

"Oh," I stated. "Um..."

"I wanted to do something scandalous," she explained. "I just..."

"You have so much lust you want to act on but it goes against your morals to give in to those feelings so early in a relationship?" I guessed.

Artemis nodded, burying her face in my neck.

I held her until she'd gotten over her embarrassment.

"Would you prefer my presence in your bed?" I asked. "I know I would. You're adorable."

She nodded again, dozing off. I carried her back to her bedroom, gently laying her down and kissing her forehead before sliding in next to her.

My wife, a surprisingly cuddly person, allowed me to hold her close and kiss the top of her head.

I rocked gently back and forth, easing her to sleep.

Yes, it was only our second night of marriage, but I could almost feel myself falling for her. She was gorgeous but not vain, intelligent but not overly prideful, and incredible but not arrogant.

She was perfect.

I held her just a little bit tighter as I drifted off, not wanting this to end.