Sorry for the delay. I got sidetracked working on my newest Nico x Percy story. Don't worry; I won't stop working on this one simply because I'm writing Never Two Late. I will be working on both, though this one will probably be limited to two chapters a week until I have finished the other one. :-) I hope you enjoy the new chapter.

Starts as Percabeth, will eventually be Percy x Apollo.

Important thing to note... This will be yaoi (boy-boy). Don't like? You do not have to read.

Disclaimer- I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus series. (One can dream though) All rights go to the proper parties.

ΩΩΩ

November 7th

Percy POV

I had woken up with the intent of unpacking. I changed my mind though when Annabeth knocked on my door. She wanted to show me where the temples were going. So I got changed and headed downstairs. Annabeth was just putting food on the table. Not just any food though, blue pancakes!

I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face. I came up behind her while she was grabbing the syrup and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Not my best plan...

She jumped and let out a squeal. She spun around already on the defensive, raising her fists into a fighting stance. I stepped back in surprise.

"Whoa there wise girl," I raised my hands in surrender. "I didn't mean to startle you."

She blinked at me before she relaxed her stance. "Sorry Percy. You scared the crap out of me. I didn't hear you coming at all."

I tilted my head in confusion, "Really?" It hadn't sounded that quiet to me.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "No I just said it to see if you were listening," she teased.

I winced and stuck out my tongue, "Very funny."

She laughed at the childishness of the action. She passed me the syrup and peanut butter. "Go be a good boy and put this on the table for me."

I winked at her, "Yes mom."

She grabbed the plates and silverware. We had just finished setting the table when Jason came downstairs.

It wasn't until I had sat down with a plate full of the fluffy goodness that is blue pancakes that I came to a disturbing realization. I wasn't hungry. Usually just the sight of blue pancakes was enough to make my stomach grumble. I watched as Annabeth and Jason started eating the delicious food but I still felt no stirrings of hunger. It was unnerving.

I wasn't certain what my expression looked like but it was enough that Annabeth stopped moving, a fork halfway to her mouth. "Percy, are you okay?"

I couldn't understand why I was reacting so powerfully. I would have thought that by now I would have understood that I was no longer a mortal. I had seen myself bleed ichor, why should a lack of appetite for human food matter?

I swallowed hard and nodded. "Ya, I'm fine."

Jason looked at me in concern, "Are you sure? Blue pancakes are your favorite. You usually attack them."

I frowned, "I know."

"Then what's wrong?"

"I... I'm not hungry."

Jason looked confused but I saw a flash of understanding in Annabeth's eyes.

The daughter of Athena gave me an unreadable look. "Hey Percy, I just remembered. I forgot a load of laundry in the washer last night. Would you be able to switch it to the dryer for me?"

I nodded and gladly left the table. It was just too strange to sit there and not eat.

ΩΩΩ

I sat on the front porch and waited for Annabeth and Jason to finish up. I couldn't stay in the house. I ran a hand through my hair and looked up. The sky was a perfect cloudless blue. The sun was warming my skin through my t-shirt.

When I thought about the sun, I began thinking about Apollo. I wondered how he was settling in. He would have been able to help me with the food issue. I remembered Apollo telling me something about mortal food but I couldn't remember what it was. I sighed and let my head fall back. I would need to ask him next time I saw him.

I wished that I could have gone to see him but I didn't know where his apartment was. Plus, how would I explain to Jason and Annabeth that I needed to go talk to 'Fred' about being a god. That would definitely raise some questions. I was already surprised enough that the two of them accepted my 'Chiron asked me to help him get here safely' excuse for the reason we traveled together.

Apollo had never told me a back-story for Fred. I didn't even know if he had one. I hoped he wouldn't mind the few things I had to make up. Also, I hoped that I would get a chance to tell him his 'history' before either Annabeth or Jason got to him. I was just lucky that the two of them didn't ask too many questions.

Eventually the two of them came out of the house. I stood up and dusted off my hands. Annabeth stepped forward and placed a quick kiss on my cheek. She grabbed my hand and gave it a playful tug.

"Come on. Let's get going sea-weed brain."

I smiled at her and fell into step with Jason on my other side. It was still early enough that the streets were mostly empty. I was fairly nervous about what it would be like when everyone started to wake up. It was fairly quiet right now but once everyone started walking around and talking, I didn't know how I would react. I had begun to grow accustom my enhanced vision but the sound was still strange to me. I figured that if Jason could handle his change so easily, I could as well.

I looked over at the son of Jupiter and felt my curiosity growing. I had almost forgotten that he was now an immortal. He seemed to be handling it a hell of a lot better than me.

"Hey Jason, how are you not freaking out?"

The golden boy gave me a confused look, "What am I supposed to be freaking out over?"

I blushed. Okay, maybe I could have explained that a bit more... "I mean, how are you not overwhelmed by the noise here? You seem so calm. Are you already used to it?"

Jason looked at Annabeth and then back to me, "The noise? New Rome isn't that bad. Aren't you the one who used to live in New York? Compared to that, New Rome is nothing."

I felt my confusion growing. "Well ya, but that was before I was granted godhood. I'm still overwhelmed by the level of noise. I've more or less gotten used to the whole super vision thing but since me and... Fred spent most of the time in the country I haven't had to deal with crowds yet. Is it as bad as I think it's going to be?" I had been half a second away from calling him Apollo. I need to work on that...

Annabeth stopped and turned to me in surprise. "Wait Percy, are you saying that you have heightened senses now?"

"Well, ya." Judging by the shocked looks I was getting I began to doubt myself. "Doesn't Jason?"

Jason shook his head. "I'm not a god Percy. I'm more like a huntress, immortal unless struck down in battle. I have a boost in strength and endurance but I haven't discovered any super hearing or anything."

I didn't know how to respond to that. I had expected Jason to be going through all the same weird experiences I was. I suddenly felt very alone.

Annabeth however looked like she had just won the lottery. "Percy, you have to tell me everything. This is a once in a millennia opportunity. Just think of everything we could learn! Oh, I'm going to have to send an Iris message back to camp. I'm sure that Malcolm and the others will have tons of questions about the differences between demigods and gods. This could..." Annabeth went off on a tangent about possible applications for the knowledge.

I smiled at my girlfriend. Somehow, no matter what we went through, she had a way of making me smile. Something that was overwhelming for me was a learning experience for her. It was one of the things I loved most about her.

ΩΩΩ

To me it was just an empty field but by the way Annabeth was talking about it I could tell that she was seeing it filled with temples and statues to every god. I zoned out on most of what she was saying. It wasn't that I was not interested. It was just that I couldn't understand most of what she was saying.

Instead I watched her as she described buildings that were already complete in her mind. I loved the way that she lit up at the thought of architecture. She loved it and her passion was easy to see. Jason stood off to the side. When I glanced over at him he just shook his head and gestured to her as if to say, 'she always gets like this'. I shrugged and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She did tend to get too absorbed in her designs but I didn't really mind.

Eventually Jason interrupted her to reminder her that we were supposed to meet up with Reyna, Frank, and Hazel. We were all going to go out for lunch. I was excited to see my friends but I wasn't looking forward to repeating the awkward experience of breakfast. Regardless of my reluctance, we headed towards the square where we would be meeting up with the roman demigods.

I tried to keep up with what Annabeth and Jason were talking about but my attention kept fading in and out. Now that everyone in New Rome was out and about, I found it very hard to focus on one source of sound. It was similar to trying to hold a conversation in a hall filled with people. Everyone was talking at once and it made it hard to listen to just one person. It wasn't quite as bad as I had expected but it was close enough. I was just glad that New Rome didn't have cars. That probably would have pushed me over the edge.

The others were waiting by the time we reached the square. As soon as they saw me Hazel ran up and gave me a sisterly hug. I laughed as I pulled back. I smiled and waved at Frank. The son of Mars waved back and wrapped an arm around his girlfriend.

Reyna nodded at me. She looked serious but I could see the smile shinning in her dark brown eyes. "It's nice to see you again Percy."

I felt my smile widen at her serious nature, "Same to you."

The roman's joined our group and together, we started heading towards the closest restaurant. Frank instantly started chatting with Jason. Annabeth soon joined in on their conversation and Hazel just walked along beside Frank in silence. I somehow found myself in the back of our group, walking next to the black haired daughter of Bellona.

"So are you glad to be back?"

I looked at her and nodded, "I didn't realize how much I missed New Rome until I got back here."

"You don't find the order too stifling to your naturally Greek disorganization?"

I couldn't help but laugh. I didn't think I had ever heard her tell a joke before. "Who knew that you Romans actually had a sense of humor?"

She looked at me and I saw a small smile appear on her face. "Who said I was joking?"