Percy PoV

When I had woken up, she was gone.

The dog, the necklace, the warmth, they were all there.

But she wasn't. Why?

I felt a horrible pain in my chest, like a crucial part of me was missing.

It was her decision. She hadn't wanted to stay, so she left.

But why did she allow last night? Why didn't she tell me goodbye?

Why didn't she give me the chance to tell her how I felt?

Was it all just an act?

Did she just think of our time as a fling? The kisses, the hugs, they felt real.

Was she faking when we made love? Artemis had made her decision.

We were just friends.

I got up and fed Spot.

Then I saw the necklace.

I opened the locket, feeling another stab in my heart. The pictures of us smiling together. How did everything end so quickly?

I respected her privacy, leaving her be for a few weeks.

A few long, lonely, restless weeks.

I hoped every sound was Artemis returning. But it wasn't.

I finally walked over to her palace, ringing the doorbell.

As I waited, I put on a stoic expression.

When she opened the door, I gave her a grin.

"Percy?" She asked.

"Hey," I mumbled pathetically.

Artemis let me inside and we sat down on the couch.

"What's up?" She asked.

I shrugged. "You're my best friend. Is that not reason enough to visit?"

A sad look flitted across her face before she smiled.

We ended up talking about topics such as her father's surprising density.

We still could not figure out how he

managed to be so stupid, yet so powerful.

I woke up with her head on my chest, remembering last night.

She had been so vocal. There was no way she would leave now, was there?

If she was, I was setting myself up for a lot of hurt.

Artemis whimpered, amid a nightmare.

I kissed her cheek. "Shhh. Everything is fine." She snuggled deeper into my chest.

So she was staying.

I went back to sleep, arms around my goddess. When I woke up, she was gone. I sighed.

It was just so unlike her. Artemis had values against this sleep-n-leave behaviour.

It wasn't a one night stand, because it wasn't the first time it happened.

Then I spotted the black strap poking out from under the bed.

Turns out, Artemis had forgotten her bra.

I got dressed, fed Spot, and visited the goddess's house.

After she let me in, I cleared my throat.

"Artemis," I coughed. "I don't know what you're doing. I don't know how you feel. I don't know what all this means to you. I do know how I feel, and I think you should know that too."

Artemis looked up at me with apprehension.

It turned to a look of mortification when I set her black, lacy bra on the table.

"I know it was only supposed to be temporary," I rushed, thinking she might cut me off. "But I grew attached. My feeling for you became romantic. You stayed after that night, so I thought you felt the same. You stayed for the rest of the month, and the next day. I was the happiest man in the world."

Artemis opened her mouth to say something, but I continued. "When I come here as your friend, like I thought you wanted, we end up in bed. You always slip away while I'm sleeping, and it hurts. It hurts like my heart is being ripped out of my chest, because I know you don't feel the same."

"Percy, I-" she started.

"No," I choked. "Let me finish. I was with you for a month, and I fell in love with you. It was stupid and foolhardy of me to think you'd feel the same, but you keep stringing me along. You have to choose if you want me to be your lover or your friend."

"What if I don't want to choose?" Artemis asked. "If it didn't work, I would lose you as a friend."

Hearing that, I pushed her up against the wall, my lips grazing her ear.

"I swear on the River Styx that I will never hurt you," I mumbled.

Artemis was flabbergasted.

Artemis PoV

He did it.

He made my worry go away.

"Percy," I murmured.

He kissed my temple. "Whatever it is, yes." This made me smile.

"Take me home," I murmured. "I miss my boyfriend. And my dog."

Percy took me back to his place, setting me on the bed.

His words from earlier were still bouncing around in my head.

I could be a real ass sometimes.

My thoughts were interrupted by the puppy nuzzling my leg.

"Hey, Spot," I cooed, lifting the dog.

I felt Percy's arms wrap around my waist, kissing my temple.

Spot tried to lick me, and I scrunched my nose.

Percy pouted. "No, only I can kiss Artemis. She's all mine, Spot!"

I chuckled, shrieking in surprise as he lifted me off my feet.

Spot scampered out of sight, and Percy tossed me onto the bed.

I inhaled sharply as I felt him on top of me, staring into his eyes, sparkling with hope.

"Stop staring and start kissing me already, Perseus," I murmured in his ear.

Percy gladly obeyed, and, well, one thing led to another.

I woke up, my lover's arm around me. Yawning, I sat up, feeling his grip tighten.

"Nnnnnh, five more minutes," he mumbled. "I'm going to take a shower," I told him.

"Mmmm, if I get up, can I join you?" He asked.

I nodded.

I had forgotten he was a son of Poseidon, and water replenished his energy.

Many screams later, I lay in bed with my head in Percy's lap.

"I'm going to be so sore later," I mumbled.

Percy snickered. "It's not my fault you're so sexy."

I scoffed. "You're a horny bastard."

He smiled. "Perhaps, but I'm your horny bastard."

"How cheesy," I remarked.

"Hey!" Percy complained. "At least I'm loyal!"

"I would hope so. You are the god of loyalty," I scoffed.

Percy kissed my cheek. "One of my powers is to tell the faithfulness of others, you know."

"I don't see myself cheating on you," I murmured. "You're loyal and more than capable in bed."

"Is that all?" He asked in mock offence.

I nuzzled into his chest. "The kindness and all that was a given."

Percy held me close, kissing the top of my head.

"You should probably rest," he mumbled into my hair. "There's an event marked on the calendar tonight."

I sighed. "Make sure I'm awake by four."

Percy woke me up at 3:59.

I groaned and sat up. "I'm taking a shower. No, you can't join me."