AN: I am very sorry for the long wait and comparatively short chapter.

I got into a bit of a slump with this one, not really writer's block since I knew the drection of the piece. I don't know. I'm sorry though.

Not much happens. It's basically a filler and a set up chapter. The action will really take off next chapter.

This chapter was not beta'd fyi.

Also I'm curious to see if a more than year long gap has any bearing on my writing style/quality. The first paragraph or two was written about a year ago and the rest written in the past couple days. Lemme know if you notice a difference between this chapter the the previous ones. Thanks.

NOTICE: Unless the writing gods deign to bless me. Chapter lengths will be shortened from 4-5k to 2-3k. Hopefully this will allow shorter times between updates.

Triton...

He held Percy while she wept against him, trying to comfort her. When her breaths slowed and he was sure she was asleep, he laid her on her bed before swimming out.

He needed to take his anger out on someone and attacking an Olympian was an awful idea. He didn't want to persecute and alienate Jessica. He was actually on semi decent terms with Tessa and Rey and didn't want Jessica to be the only one of Percy's kids he didn't get along with. He'd go after the mother...but what if she didn't know she was with a married man? How would he figure this out? He was so deep in thought that he bumped into someone, absentmindedly apologized before continuing on.

Poseidon...

The King of the Sea stared after his son. Triton was usually not so deep in thought that he was unaware of his surroundings. He mentally shrugged it off and continued on, only just noticing that Percy's door was ajar. Typically they kept the door closed while she wasn't there. Poseidon knocked lightly, he didn't get a response so he nudged the door open and peeked in. He smiled when he saw his daughter curled up in bed. It dimmed slightly as he realized that she never came to greet him like she usually does and she had no reason to nap in Atlantis as opposed to either her palace or at Camp. He opened the door further before stepping in fully. He glided over to his daughter, studying her face. He felt his heart throb as he took in the tear stains, reddened face, and pinched expression. Something happened, Triton had come from this direction, he probably knew.

If Apollo was further responsible for this...well he wasn't a mortal anymore. The king of Atlantis glared at the wall before glancing down at his sleeping daughter. He hated that this happened to her, with what she went through as a demigod. He didn't know why the Fates were so cruel as to put her through two wars, through the loss of Annabeth, and now this? He hoped his daughter could find peace soon though.

Apollo...

The sun god had flashed back to his palace after talking to Percy. He had to plan his caper. Apollo knew that reversing time so none of this would happen was the best way to go. He also knew that there were several artifacts that Percy was in charge of protecting that could do what he needed.

Not many knew she was in possession of Kronos's scythe. It didn't have much time capabilities but enough power had been absorbed from it's owner for it to do the trick. He knew that she kept it at her palace, he'd seen it a couple times the few occasions he went to her place. There was an underground wing that housed all the artifacts. He'd have to gain access somehow to get the scythe but it was doable. He had the god of thieves as his half-brother, how hard could it be?

A couple days later in a New York Apartment...

Kate hummed as she slid the key into the lock. Work was exhausting and she was looking forward to a nice glass or two of wine and TV before bed. She opened the door and set her bag down, hanging the keys up by the mirror in the short hallway.

She jumped out of her skin when she turned on the lights. A man stood by her couch, arms behind his back and face blank. Although a smirk was threatening to break through.

Please don't kill me.

"What do you want?" Her voice was far less steady than she wanted it to be.

"How well versed are you in Greek mythology?" The man studied her with green tinted blue eyes. His stance was tense but he looked in control.

"W-what?" The question came out of left field and Kate wasn't sure why a strange man would be asking her about myths after breaking into her apartment.

He merely raised an eyebrow instead of repeating himself.

"Uh, I know the major gods. Some creatures?" Her heart hammered in her chest. Is he going to attack? Is he trying to distract me? Oh God, is he one of those killers that plays games with his victims?

"What about the goddess Percia?" Kate's heart dropped. After learning that Fred was actually Apollo she researched the gods. Mainly to figure out who his wife was. She had been paranoid that she would be struck down like so many of Zeus's mistresses. Or that her child would be cursed. If this man was asking about Percia it couldn't lead to anything good.

"She's the wife of Apollo and the goddess of Time and a couple of other things."

"So you knew." The man's eyes sparkled with otherworldly light.

"What?" She took a step back before she was frozen in place. Power washed over the room. Tears gathered in her eyes. This man was undoubtedly a god, which one though, she had no clue. However, she wasn't left in the dark for long.

"I'm Triton." Kate started shaking. Percia's brother. "You had relations with a man even though you knew he had a wife."

"I didn't know it was Percia!"

"And that makes it better?" He stepped closer, his voice nearly a growl. "You don't deny that you knew he was a married man." Kate kept quiet. "You've caused a lot of trouble. Caused my sister a lot of pain. What. To do. With you?" He started circling her. Her trembling becoming more pronounced as he disappeared from her sight.

"Please don't kill me." She whimpered. He did one more circuit around her before stilling.

"No." Triton clenched his jaw. Oh how he wished he could. But neither Jessica nor Percia would forgive him. Instead, he decided on a curse. He had some of his men spy on her and settled on the curse. He had brought it to Dionysus and he agreed, giving Triton his metaphorical blessing and instructions. Dionysus also gave him advice on how to close certain loopholes that had been discovered.

Triton scanned the room, confirming what his men had already reported. The woman consumed alcohol, at a rate nearing Dionysus. It was a wonder she was allowed to work anywhere. He stepped away from Kate and towards one of the discarded bottles on the table. "You're rather fond of these drinks?" He held one and pretended to study the label before glancing sideways at her. He didn't wait for her reply. He lashed out and grabbed her throat. "Well, you'll never have one again." His power left his hand and went to work. Afterwards he snatched his hand back and thrusted the bottle at her, one he had magically refilled. "Drink." He demanded.

Kate took the bottle slowly. Terrified of what the god wanted. She brought the bottle to her lips and as soon as the liquid hit her tongue she gagged. She wasn't even sure what she would call the taste except bad. Without even hitting her stomach she was nauseous.

"What-what did you do?!" Kate coughed. The taste stayed in her mouth.

"All alcohol you touch, will transform. No longer will you be able to drink it." No. She thought in despair. Triton smiled in glee. "Good day." He flashed away suddenly, her body suddenly ached as she barely closed her eyes in time.

Percy...

She'll admit: she was hiding. After the whole chariot ordeal she just felt drained. She wasn't sure what would happen if she ran into Apollo again so she hid in her father's kingdom.

Triton was acting a little shifty but she let it go. Amphitrite was trying to be comforting, trying to be a mother to her. After the loss of Sally, Percy didn't mind, even welcomed it sometimes. But with this, she just wanted to be left alone. Poseidon was looking rather murderous the past few days and Percy couldn't really blame him.

Percy ventured out of her room to head to one of the gardens when she bumped into a smug looking Triton.

"What did you do?" Her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"What makes you think I did anything?"

"You look like the cat that got the cream, canary, and the best sunspot." Triton blinked a little at the metaphor. "No one looks like that for no reason. Spill." She poked him in the chest for emphasis.

"Fine." Triton rolled his eyes. "I cursed a wench."

"Who?"

Triton wished his sister wasn't so protective of the mortals. "Kate. Kate Barnes."

"Jessica's mom!? What did you do to her?"

"Nothing major and nothing she didn't deserve." Percy stepped closer. "Okay, so I got Dionysus's help and cursed her so she wouldn't be able to drink alcohol ever again. If you ask me that's her getting off light." He really wished he could maim her or do some more serious cursing.

He wanted to snarl at the indecision on Percy's face. He could practically hear her thoughts. She personally did want Kate to have some sort of punishment, but as a sort of guardian over mortals; could she really condone it?

"Come on. It's not even that bad. She can continue her life. Jessica still gets a mom. Everything's fine."

"Oh, alright." Triton could tell she was still tense so decided to help distract her.

"C'mon, let's spar." Percy gave a tight smile and they made their way to the training grounds where several soldiers were battling.

Apollo...

At first glance, Percy's palace looks like Poseidon's with more gold. She was still very much a daughter of Poseidon and thus kept the sea theme, adding gold to represent her time domain.

Apollo glanced around before approaching, making sure that no one was around. Having been built quite some time later, Percy's palace was a little farther away, closer to the minor gods' places than the Olympians. She requested it be smaller than someone of her standing would get and made sure the outside wasn't too flashy.

He was mostly certain she wasn't there. After letting his son Asclepius drive the chariot for the agreed two days, he returned to Olympus and drove it himself. In all that time, he never saw Percy. Either she was in her palace and only flashed in and out of it, or she wasn't there at all.

Being a well loved and respected goddess, her palace was never broken into. No one had any reason to really. They knew she never stayed there and that her belongings wouldn't be there. There were security measures of course: locks, wards, and straight up booby traps (after not building a palace for a few millennia Hephaestus got excited).

The lock on the front door was easy, Hermes taught him how to pick locks once they had a moment to themselves where no one could scold them for breaking and entering (though it was his own temple so he had every right to be there). He kept all his senses open for any traps or magical wards. He was vaguely hoping that Percy forgot to take him off the "people who are allowed in the palace" list and thus be able to waltz past with no problem.

He encountered a few traps, a net that barely missed him and an arrow that scratched by his thigh. He hissed in pain, cursing the fact it was covered in magic and thus he wouldn't be able to heal the damage right away.

He made it down the flight of stairs that lead to the vault. It was rather unassuming. It was a normal door with a normal looking lock and an inset circle to the side of that. Apollo kneeled to assess the lock. It appeared normal and if he remembered correctly Percy carried the key with her. The circle was in the wall to the left of the door, next to the handle. It was just wide enough for three fingers to fit in and about two and a half knuckled deep. It had to have a purpose. Experimentally he put his fingers on the ledge it created.

Ah, it's a magic lock. Presumably her power signature would open it. Apollo stood scanning the door and surrounding area one last time before starting his way back out of the palace. There wouldn't be a way I can trick her into opening it while I'm there. They were barely on speaking terms to start with. Maybe an object with her power in it?

Apollo tried to think of a suitable object that would have absorbed enough of Percy's power to trick the lock. Riptide was an option, she had had it even as a demigod. It was on her person almost all the time since she wore it in her hair or merely pinned to her clothes. But because of that, it would be impossible to steal it. And if he did, then he wouldn't have much time before she realized it was gone.

What else?

What else did she have on her all the time? He conjured up a mental picture of her. He scanned her head to toe. Riptide was a no go, or at least a last resort. Her camp necklace? She still wore it even if she stopped adding beads to it. The latest addition happened centuries ago when Percy took the coral pendant she had given Annabeth and put it on her own necklace after Annabeth's death. But never took that off either. That would be even harder to get then Riptide. Her clothes were rotated so often that the magic would have faded before she wore them again.

She wore no other jewelry...he paused as he reached half way. Her wedding ring. He still wore his but Percy left hers behind when she moved out. Her power would funnel through her hand and pass over the ring, making it even more imbued than Riptide or her necklace.

He stood in his bedroom. Where did I put it? Originally he had wanted to wear it but it was too small. He didn't want it in the open but he wanted it safe. Scanning his room he remembered he put it in what had been Percy's bedside table. Opening it, his eyes zeroed into the corner where he tucked the ring. Grabbing it he conjured a string, threaded it on and pulled it over his head. He'll need it with him after he nabbed the key.

Now the key could be in one of many forms. Threaded on her camp necklace, as a charm on a bracelet, or simply in her pocket. He'd have to be patient if he wanted to get it.

Hermes...

Hermes squinted as he watched his half brother in the distance. He was acting weird.

Percy had been MIA for a few days before Hermes saw her at Camp again. Then he started seeing her around Olympus again. Apollo had made himself scarce whenever Percy appeared, which, really, was ideal since Percy wanted space from him. But Hermes knew his brother well enough. He wouldn't change so abruptly. Apollo desperately wanted Percy back, something Hermes was sure wasn't going to happen. Apollo wouldn't just...give up. He had to be up to something. But what? Being who he was Hermes had a pretty good clue. Apollo was planning, a prank or a heist. And considering Apollo probably wasn't in the pranking mood, he was likely going to steal something.

Hermes wanted to write if off as Apollo planning on wooing Percy back or something. He wanted to believe his brother was planning some grand gesture. But something prodded at him. Something just wasn't right.

Apollo would eye Percy, and not in the loving way he did before this whole mess. He was looking for something. Scanning her every time he saw her. It was too analytical for Hermes to ignore. So, he watched Apollo watch Percy.

For the life of him he coudn't figure out why. He took to hovering a little closer to Percy and making sure he knew where his brother and Percy were at all times. Something was going to happen.

Something big.

AN: Once again I apologize. Time just sort of slipped by and suddenly I realized it had been over a year since I updated this. I truly want to see this story to the end as I don't have many non-one shot fics. (The other ones I do have over on I don't think I'll finish/continue).

But I'm pretty proud of this one and I think I set myself up well. The story is flowing and I haven't written myself into a corner yet.

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ:

Percy will not get back with Apollo. That is certain. My next questions being A) should she enter another romantic relationship (either semi soon or after a long time skip and B) with who? (She is bi (maybe pan) in this universe so it could be almost anyone.) I'm hesitant to do Hermes but he's not completely disqualified. I'm saying no now to maiden goddesses (or gods if they have canon celibacy vows) and married god(ess)(e)s (unless both spouses are okay with a poly relationship), although I'm not opposed to writing a queerplatonic relationship(s) either if people don't want her getting romantically involved. (I'll even consider minor god(desse)s so if you have a minor god you wanna see lemme know and I'll consider them.) (I got a review that I wanna address now. Percy will not be in a harem. She will be in an equal, consensual, and loving relationship if she ever enters one again.)

NEXT:
I have written that Thalia is alive but in a hunt in Alaska. But I failed to realize that Thalia would have to be on this hunt for more than a decade. (Otherwise Percy would've told her when it happened so Thalia would have to be gone when Apollo had the affair and all the way up to present day.) Should I A) go back and delete that little tidbit from the previous chapter (it's only a couple of lines and woudn't affect anything else) B) introduce Thalia into the story and try to come up with an excuse why she was gone so long (although she's non-essential to the plot so bringing her in might prove useless and cumbersome) or C) leave the previous mention but just fail to acknowledge her existence for the rest of the fic unless she's needed?

~Dawnmoon