AN: Yay! Chapter Three! I'm rather proud of this one. It was gonna end rather abruptly five hundred words sooner but I deleted that ending and rewrote it out. To Unkown (a guest), thank you for your nice review! Thank you all for favoriting and following this fic! It means at lot. I hope you enjoy!

After the brief game of tag they started to amble through the forest on their way back.

"Who should we choose?" Andrew asked as stepped over a large fallen branch.

"One of your siblings? Have another Athena brain with us?"

"Nah, we'll need someone real sneaky. We can plan our quest as much as we want but without someone to execute it–" he cut off with a shrug.

"True. So who's sneaky? A Hermes kid? Danielle?"

"Maybe." Andrew hummed. "Thomas or Alex?"

"The Tyche Twins? If we chose them I'd prefer Alex. She's a little more patient."

"One of your cabin mates? Slowing time would be useful and, let's face it, you don't have the training."

"Maybe...Rey's a little more skilled with time than Tessa, she's stronger with the trust and loyalty."

"I wonder what you'll advance in." Jessica thought back to what Percy told her. Time, trust, loyalty, breathing underwater, and talking to horses and fish. I wonder what the limitations are. Then she realized that Andrew didn't know the extent of her new powers. He continued speaking before she could. "Wait, there's a chance that whoever we bring along will learn of Lord Apollo cheating on Percy. We should ask them to pick our last member, someone they trust to keep the secret."

"Oh, you're right! But we should tell them tonight so its not so last minute."

"Why not now?"

"Percy seemed like she was being contacted. She's probably busy with that right now." Andrew hummed his agreement and they finished the walk in silence.

Later, that night...

Jessica was walking back from dinner with her cabin mates ('Siblings silly, Percy is like our mom.' Tessa had drawled with an arm around her shoulder on her second day of being claimed.) "Hey." Tessa bounced next to her. "Since Percy is busy do you want us to tutor you in the powers you got?" She gestured to Rey, a dirty blond green eyed, sixteen year old. He had never known his parents, mortal or divine. He grew up in foster care for awhile before being adopted at age seven and then came to camp at nine. He was prone to violence but wasn't a son of Ares. No one really knew who his divine parent was, Jessica wasn't even sure he knew his own parent.

"I was actually thinking about that. Why does it matter if Percy's busy though?"

Tessa tossed her head to get her bangs out of her face. "She's the one who taught us, personally. We're thinking she'll do the same for you but with this whole–" She circled her finger in the air, pointing to the sunless day. "We figured she was busy with that. Once it settles down she'll help." Tessa had shoulder length black hair and reddish brown eyes. Apparently, unlike Rey, Tessa knew her divine mother and denied the goddess the right to claim her. The confrontation happened in the seclusion of the forest, Jessica was told that Tessa had come sprinting out of the forest in tears and right to Percy, who had replaced Dionysus at camp. From then on Percy was her new divine mother.

"Probably. But yeah, I'd love it if you guys would help." They made it back to their cabin and Jessica was left with Rey to learn about time while Tessa doodled in her sketch book.

"So the best way to think of time is as a stream with pieces branching off and moving around. It's always changing. We, meaning all demigods and all the gods with few exceptions, are only able to be carried with the stream. We can't move back on it, we can't skip over pieces, we have to experience it. Percy however, from what she's explained, can completely freeze the stream, we can only slow it. She can separate herself and others and transplant them, which is different than reversing time apparently."

"Wait remember when she said that transplanting someone preserves their already lived time. Memories and physical things stay the same. Reversing the stream just undos events that have happened." Tessa interjected.

"I must've been asleep."

"You're better at that than me and you don't know the difference?" Tessa finally raised her head to look at her adopted brother.

"Well we can't do either so who cares?" Tessa merely went back to drawing. "Anyway, where was I? Right, so we're pulled along on the stream. Imagine the stream, it's slightly different for Tessa and I so I won't try to give you any preconceptions."

Jessica closed her eyes and imagined a golden stream, sparkling and appearing like it was made of sand. Grains floated off on their own, and mini streams looped around.

"Do you have it?" Rey whispered as not to startle her out of her image. Jessica nodded. "Can you see me?" Her brows furrowed as she considered it. What does he mean? But then she saw it. Currently she sat atop the sand like it was a river, next to her she saw sand that was a little less brilliant than the rest and she realized that she too was an amorphous sand silhouette, a little less bright than her surroundings.

"Yes." She answered out loud this time.

"Okay, I won't be left behind when you change the flow, since we're connected in the stream." Jessica still heard his real voice speaking in the physical world. "Try to slow the stream." Jessica focused on the sand around her. Tried think it to slow. She felt light headed for a second before suddenly feeling like she had been physically thrown forward, a disorienting mess of information popped into her head: she had succeed in slowing time, at least for a bit before she broke concentration in her excitement. She had apparently finished for the night and said goodnight to her new siblings. She stayed up a little later reading before going to bed.

More information continued to pour forth before her metaphysical wrist equivalent was grabbed and she was suddenly back in her body. She had a head rush and felt nauseous, she couldn't tell what time it was because the sun was still missing but she thought it was morning somehow. She couldn't hold down what she had for dinner, suddenly a trash can was in front of her and she puked.

"Mom!" Tessa sounded startled. Once she got her sight and stomach under control she looked up at the room. Tessa wasn't on her bed sketching anymore but rather had a towel over her shoulder and her hair was wet, she'd apparently just come from a shower. Rey looked pretty nauseous as well and Jessica remember what he said about not being left behind (had that happened seconds or hours ago?).

"Whoa, I said slow, not fast, Whiplash." He didn't sound too miffed about it.

"Whiplash?" Jessica had to ask.

"The way you slung us forward like that. Thanks for getting us." He directed the last bit to Percy who stood in jeans and fitted blue t-shirt, the most causal she's seen her.

"Getting us?"

"I grabbed you and stopped you from continuing forward at that speed. You're welcome Rey. I need to borrow Jessica before breakfast."

They went just outside, to the porch. "That was crazy." Jessica felt her head clear a little more with the fresh air.

"It's pretty intense. I had a lot of mishaps without a teacher. But that's not why I'm here. Have you picked your third quest mate?"

"Oh! I meant to talk to you before. Andrew and I figured that whoever comes might find out about you and Apollo. We decided that you should probably choose who you trust to keep the secret for now."

"Hmmm, I know a lot of trustworthy demigods..." Jessica watched as Percy looked off in thought. "Would you be okay with a hunter?"

"Yeah, I think I've met most of them at least once."

Percy nodded. "I'll be back after breakfast. You'll meet your quest mate and Artemis and I will explain what exactly will happen on the quest. Thank you Jessica, for doing this."

"I'm glad I can help. I'll see you after breakfast then."

"See you then." Percy flashed away and Jessica went back to the cabin to get ready for breakfast.

Artemis and Percy...

"Artemis!" The moon goddess turned at the sound of her friend's call.

"Hello Percy."

"I just talked with Jessica and she pointed out that whoever else they bring will probably find out about me and Apollo. They've decided to let us pick the third quest member. I was thinking one of your hunters. Agile, trustworthy and if it does get out, it's contained within the group and not an entire camp."

"I wish I hadn't sent Thalia off on that hunt to Alaska. She's been gone so long."

"She'll be pissed when she gets back that she missed all of this." They shared a smile when they pictured the daughter of Zeus zapping Apollo.

"Do you have any girl in mind?" They continued walking through the forest they were in.

"Maybe one of Hephaestus's daughters? We can't be sure what form the chariot will take and we might need to contend with the horses. Having a fire resistant demigod might be useful."

Artemis hummed in thought. "Then I'd recommend Julia. She'd be fire resistant and if the chariot is still in a car form then she knows how to drive."

"I can't remember...would she work with Andrew?" Percy hopped onto a fallen log, walking the length of it.

"Yes."

"Good."

Later, at the end of breakfast...

Demigods were clearing out of the pavilion while Andrew made his way over to Jessica.

"Nervous?" Andrew asked.

"A little? Not really. I mean we just have made to make sure we're not seen right?"

"Yeah and we might not even have to do anything if Lady Percia can persuade Lord Apollo."

"That's true." They waited for a few more minutes before the goddesses came.

"Hello." Artemis greeted. "This is Julia, daughter of Hephaestus. Julia, this is Andrew, son of Athena and Jessica, claimed by Percia."

"Nice to meet you." Julia shook hands with Andrew, she was tall and broad, matching Percy's six feet and definitely taller than her five five, given the physical age difference it wasn't much of a surprise. "Good to see you again." She nodded to Jessica, chestnut curly hair swaying.

"We're going to flash to Delos and meet with Leto and tell you what we're planning." Percy explained. At the demigods' consenting nods they flashed away, the pavilion around them turning into a sturdy stone house in front of them. Artemis stepped up and knocked.

"Artemis!" Leto exclaimed, pulling her daughter into a hug. Pulling back she tugged Percy into one.

"Hello, Mother. Can we come in?" The moon goddess gestured to the demigods behind her.

"Of course! May I ask why you are here? Is it about the missing sun?"

"Yes. We believe Apollo is hiding it." They sat on the couch and chairs, Percy remained standing.

"Because of..." Leto trailed off, eyes drifting to the mortals.

"I believe so." Percy answered. Leto could tell her daughter's hunter was burning with curiosity her hand twisted in her silver pants, the two on the other hand, were not.

"Why are you here?"

"I have a strong feeling he's here on the island. Percy and I came to try to talk him into bringing the sun up but if we can't then the demigods will steal it." Artemis explained.

"The Council suggested that you come with us to talk to him." Percy said.

"Oh, no, I believe this is something between you and him." Leto said softly.

"This is only about getting the sun back!" Percy's voice was almost a shout, startling Jessica who sat one the arm of the couch next to her. The time goddess took a deep breath, briefly putting a hand on Jessica's shoulder. "I'm sorry." She said to the room at large. "Our priority is the sun. It's putting undue stress on some. What's going on between Apollo and I will have to wait."

"If it is you he speaks to, then you'll have a harder time of convincing him of returning the sun. He might focus too much on you." Leto appeared almost completely unruffled from Percy's outburst, though the set of her shoulders seemed to softened.

"Mi'ladies, if I may." Andrew continued after a nod from Percy. "I would suggest Lady Artemis and Lady Leto, if she's willing, go to talk with Lord Apollo. If it doesn't seem to be working then perhaps Lady Percia can go in and we'll," he gestured to the girls sitting next to him with a nod, "be the back up plan of going in and getting the chariot."

"That sounds reasonable. However, I will not go. I have my reasons." She said ahead of the question the hunter was about to ask. I have to be firmly in his corner. I can't risk him seeing this as a betrayal.

"Understandable." Percy agreed. "Let's head out and find him."

They left Leto behind and started out. Artemis leading them, recommending they start with caves and the like, seeing as Apollo would need shelter and he'd already been there for a week. The first one they came across housed a sleeping bear family. Artemis stroked the head of one of the cubs before apologizing for waking them before they headed out again. The second cave was empty, but signs of previous animal life were scattered around. They got lucky on the third one. The chariot stood off to the side of the entrance, four white horses napped soundly, their fire manes low and calm.

"Apollo?" Artemis stepped out of their hiding spot, the demigods moving around so as to be as close as they could be to the chariot. "Apollo? Are you here?"

"Artemis?" Apollo stepped out of the cave, one of the horses waking at his approach. He stroked the mane once, keeping his hand on the horse's neck. He didn't seem too worse for wear. His eyes did seem a bit dim in comparison to his normal self and they were a little red, presumably from crying.

"Brother." Artemis was relieved to see her twin. A week without any contact frazzled her nerves. Apollo seemed to brighten slightly at her genuine smile. He stepped forward more, hugging her tightly.

"What happened Apollo? Why would you take the sun with you?" She asked as she pulled back and matched his physical age of twenty years old, cupping his cheek.

"I saw Percy and Jessica–and she was getting claimed. It...it was after I'd been to our–my palace since the Claiming...she–" He swallowed back tears. "–had taken her stuff. Then they were together...without–" me. Went unsaid. "I wasn't thinking and I just–" He waved a hand weakly.

"It's okay. But we need the sun back, it's important and many gods are working overtime to keep things alive." She said softly. To her surprise he shook his head. "Why not?"

"At first it was an accident." His voice lost its wobbly note. "But she won't talk to me and I was hoping this would force her to."

"But Apollo, we need the sun back."

"Not until she and I talk." He took a step back and Artemis's hand fell to her side.

Percy? Artemis asked her friend.

I–I can't...do it.

We need the sun. Please Percy. There was no response and Artemis hoped that meant that her friend was going to step in. If Percy didn't then she would have to distract her brother as the demigods got the chariot. But she didn't have to worry very long.

"I'm here." Artemis watched as the time goddess stepped out of the tree line, she studied her friend, not being able to get anything from her expression.

"Percy." Apollo's voice broke on the 'r'.

"Apollo." Percy's greeting wasn't cold, but tired and sad.

"What can I do to make it right?" He stepped towards her, walking past his twin.

"I don't know." Percy shook her head. "The pain I felt was unbearable and I haven't been able to move past it. After Annabeth died I thought she was it. Then you helped me and I thought we could be forever, with Annabeth I knew there was a possibility of an end but–" Her voice shook and she blinked rapidly. "Apollo, you must understand, it was worse than just..." She swallowed back tears. "It was the fact you betrayed me so thoroughly." A tear slipped down her face. "I'm not sure I'll ever forgive you for that."

"Percy, I truly am sorry for what I did. Please give me a chance. I won't do anything like that again." He stepped forward again, slowly approaching her.

"How can I trust you? You'll swear and promise to me but...that's what you said when we got married." Percy crossed her arms defensively across her stomach, halting the sun god's approach.

"It was a mistake. A-a stupid...mistake." He finished lamely.

"I'm a mistake?" Jessica stepped out of the trees, tears in her eyes. "Do you even love me?" She gasped back a sob. She knew it, he only loved her because he had to as her father.

"Of course I do!" He said vehemently.

"But you'd rather I wasn't born."

Apollo didn't know what to say. Percy might've forgiven him a little easier if he didn't have a child and Jessica wouldn't have to endure a rough life because of the broken Oath. But you can't say you'd prefer some to not be born, especially since he did love and had watched her grow up. He just wished the circumstances were different.

He had spent too much time thinking, Jessica took his silence as confirmation and had darted back into the tree line. Percy immediately cloaked her from godly senses, the girl would need time.

"Jessica!" Apollo made an aborted move toward the forest but stayed where he was.

"Apollo." Percy called, voice low. "Give me time. Don't push and we'll see what happens. Take some time for yourself. Maybe someday we can start fresh." Percy turned away, shoulders scrunched.

"Percy...I'm sorry." Artemis's heart broke at his tone, at the sadness radiating from both her friend and her brother.

Apollo desperately wanted to hug Percy when her body shook and the first gasping sob broke through. He missed her dearly, missed hugging her, missed her kisses, missed the grumpy mornings. He missed everything about her. There was a moment where nobody moved, Percy took one more deep breath before turning around. "The ch–"

"Hey!" Apollo shouted angrily, previous longing forgotten, he threw a hand out and sent a blast at the demigods sneaking up to the chariot. He felt vulnerable already and taking his chariot without his permission made him feel like he had no control anymore. Everything was spiraling away and nothing he did would keep it together. But he realized what he'd done too late. The power left his hand, flying towards the demigods.

"No!" Artemis and Percy yelled. They both moved forward but Percy wouldn't make it, Artemis, however, was able to push Julia out of the way and cover Andrew, Jessica not in the line of fire. Artemis was shoved back, crashing into Andrew, hitting the side of the chariot before slumping to the ground, Andrew landed off to the side.

"Artemis!" This time it was Apollo, Percy, and Jessica who chorused together. Jessica ran to the moon goddess, holding the sun charm and putting the other over the worst of the burns on her chest.

"Back off!" Jessica growled at the god as he tried to step closer to his twin. Apollo was suddenly reminded of the conversation on the night of her birthday. I'm giving you a single chance, but if you hurt Lady Percia any more. If you hurt me. If you keep messing up, then that's it. You'll just be another god to me. He considered this under the 'keep messing up' part.

After his daughter snarled at him, he turned a helpless gaze to Percy. Surprised to see indecision on her face. She took a deep breath and suddenly he was staring at her back again. Artemis was standing behind him and a glance at the chariot proved to be demigodless. Percy turned around and her eyes were gold.

"I can't see anymore broken bonds." Her voice sounded with the same power shinning in her eyes. "It's for Artemis. To save her from the hurt inflicted upon her by her own blood. For Jessica, one less wound you don't have to try to overcome. Your own guilt is your punishment. To move forward we must stop slipping back. I'm tired Apollo. So very tired. I need to move on from this, you need to move on. " She turned around again, he didn't miss a beat as she started time again, he's done it before.

"The ch–" She repeated.

"Hey!" He shouted, this time without the blast of power. The demigods started before backing away as he approached. The horses were awake and aggravated, sensing his emotions.

"We need the chariot! If you're not willing to drive it again at least let us find someone to until you will." Artemis pleaded and he couldn't help but imagine the burns he had caused running up her arms and across her chest. The burns on Andrew's arms and the anger on Jessica's face.

He didn't know what to do. He didn't really want to drive it but he was unwilling to part with it. It was his job and without it then he'd only have more time to dwell on what happened.

"Two days. Let someone else bring it up for two days and then you'll decide what to do after that. You can decide who drives it." Percy said. He nodded his consent and the demigods moved to take it but the horses reared.

No, no, no! Our lord is upset! Do not separate us!

Jessica and Percy heard. Jessica hung back, deciding that she wanted to keep her extra powers a secret.

Percy walked up to the horses, her own fire resistance from being the daughter of Poseidon protected her as she ran a hand down one of the horse's nose.

I understand and respect your loyalty but the chariot is needed and Apollo is not ready to drive it. Please understand. This is not permanent.

To the others she had leaned forward until her forehead touched the horses. Her other hand reaching to soothe the horse to her left.

Princess. They acknowledged, the ones out of reach nodded in respect. We will cooperate, but after two days if Lord Apollo does not return, we will refuse to pull the chariot.

Thank you. The demigods will fly with you back to Olympus. Make sure they get there safely?

Of course mi'lady.

"Thank you Apollo." Jessica saw the remaining hurt in Percy but read something else, she couldn't help but feel like she was missing something. Percy being the time goddess, it was entirely possible. "Alright, Jessica, Andrew, and Julia will travel back in the chariot to Olympus. Artemis, you know how to drive it, will you go with them?"

"What will you do?" Julia asked, petting one of the horses.

Percy didn't say anything, she looked away and didn't answer.

"Let's go." Artemis herded her hunter onto the chariot similar but so very different from her own. The other two followed and Apollo and Percy were left alone.

"What exactly happened between Lady Percia and Lord Apollo, mi'lady?" They heard as the chariot flew away.

They stood in silence as they watched the chariot get smaller and smaller.

"Is there any possibility of us being together again?" Apollo asked, looking steadfastly at the ground, voice small.

"I don't know." Percy continued to watch the speck of the sky where the chariot disappeared into.

"Can you...can you look?" Time wasn't fixed, decisions bore alternate paths. Percy could see these different futures, the what could be.

"You know I don't like doing that." He didn't say anything as she sighed. "By merely looking at outcomes there are futures where we reconcile. I did not look at the means to those futures."

"There's a chance?"

"Apollo, please don't obsess over this, there's an infinite amount of outcomes." Not many have us together. "Let it happen." He finally looked up at her. The glow of her eyes fading.

"What can I do? I am sorry for what I did to you. I lied to you, I stomped on loyalty. What will make it better? Tell me Percy."

"Nothing! Don't try to do anything! There's nothing that will make what you did better. Let it pass Apollo. Let both of us heal, we'll see what happens then."

He couldn't get a word in before she flashed away, he felt guilty when he saw tears going down her face.

As the demigods and Artemis flew away in the chariot...

"What exactly happened between Lady Percia and Lord Apollo, mi'lady?" Julia asked.

"My brother cheated on Percy. As the goddess of trust and loyalty it attacked her domains, weakened her for a couple days." Artemis watched her hunter. Julia's face went through shock, sadness, and anger before relaxing.

"Jessica..." Said demigod had watery eyes. "Why did you ask if you were a mistake?" Despite asking it as gently as possible Jessica still let out a gasping breath.

"I'm his daughter, the product of his affair."

The rest of the ride was silent. Artemis trying to figure out who would drive the chariot. Percy had told Apollo that he could choose but they never got an answer to that. Perhaps one of his godly children. They made it back to Olympus and left the chariot at Apollo's palace before heading over to Artemis's.

"Julia." Artemis caught the attention of her hunter. "You can tell no one of what happened exactly. No one but the Council knows of what Apollo has done."

"I swear on the Styx not to tell anyone." Artemis smiled slightly before pulling her hunter into a hug.

"I don't know what will happen after Percy and Apollo are done talking. I can take you back to camp." Artemis addressed Jessica and Andrew.

"Yes please." Her palace faded and Percy's cabin appeared around them. "Keep us in the loop Lady Artemis?" Jessica asked.

"If I have the opportunity." With that, she left with Julia.

Apollo...

He stared at the spot Percy stood numbly. He had to let her go...

He didn't want to

He loved her too much

But his attempts could push her farther away

He wanted her back

He wanted it to go away

He wished it never happened

If only he could reverse time...

Reverse time

Percy...

"Percy!" Triton exclaimed as he nearly swam into his sister. He paused when he saw the tears on her face. "Oh." He said sadly and pulled her into a hug, flashing them into her room in the underwater palace. He sat them on her bed as she clung to him.

Several times he caught her trying to talk but grief blocked her throat. When he finally heard her it was telepathically.

I've lost him for good

It was enough to bring tears to his own eyes. He held her tighter. The sea prince knew he couldn't take his revenge on the Olympian but perhaps someone more vulnerable...

AN: Oh no! Who is Triton gonna go for?! (Hehe, I know who but you'll have to wait~! sorrynotsorry) So these things tend to write themselves, I honestly didn't think I'd finish the chariot quest in this chap. So, tentatively, I'm gonna say that next chapter will hit one Triton's and Apollo's ending thoughts. Hopefully Jessica (she doesn't have as much dimension as I'd like...I mean the main thing is Percy and Apollo's relationship but Jessica is pretty important too).

OH YEAH— I almost forgot. I know I asked about a companion fic about Apollo being banished (and I have a vague outline for that) but would anybody like a fic that were tidbits of Percy becoming a goddess and her developing powers? (Tentative title Percia's Misadventures in Time Traveling but maybe as not to restrict myself to timetraveling incidents maybe something like...Percia's Misadventures in Godhood. Basically things preceding the events of Pumpkin Eater.) I have some of it written out. If it's voted yes then I'll write out an end, clean it up and post it. If y'all wanted you could request fluffly happy couple stuff instead of this sadness. Let me know in reviews!

Thanks!

~Dawnmoon