Di Immortals, is it difficult updating like this. For some reason when a chapter goes from the word pad, to the email, to my phone, to fanfiction, it duplicates random sections of text. I probably spent a good hour editing out the duplicated parts of the last chapter once it was in fanfiction. I have no idea why it does that but dang it's annoying and time consuming. :-(

This is a short chapter but it is the second chapter I've loaded today.

Starts as Percabeth, will eventually be Percy x Apollo

Important thing to note... this will be yaio (boy x 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

December 15th

Apollo POV

His mood didn't improve.

He seemed distracted. The closer we got to New Rome, the more obvious that it became. I just couldn't pinpoint the cause of it. I didn't know of anything that would have upset him. It reminded me of the other day when he went grocery shopping with me. I had a feeling that whatever had been bothering him than, was bothering him now too.

We flew in silence all the way back to Camp Jupiter.

I opened my mouth several times to broach the subject, but I couldn't figure out how to word it. It wasn't often that I found myself at a loss for words, yet I couldn't think of a way to ask Percy what was wrong. I knew him. He would say that he was fine, even when we both knew he wasn't.

It wasn't until we were about to head our separate ways that I figured it out...

I was just about to say goodbye and head inside to my apartment when I noticed him sending a frown in the direction of his house. Even if I hadn't known anything more about him than where he lived, it would have been obvious that he didn't want to go home.

"Did you and Annabeth get into a fight?" The surprised look on his face said it all.

"What makes you think that?"

I rolled my eyes, "Because you've been slightly off all day and now you have the look of a man who doesn't want to go home. The only reason someone tries to avoid their house is if they're trying to avoid something. As you openly admit when you have a huge to-do list that you're trying to avoid, that leaves your girlfriend."

He winced and looked away. I was clearly right on target. Percy shrugged, "I don't even know why it's bothering me. It's nothing really."

I looked at him and raised one eyebrow, "Do you really believe that Percy?"

He sighed. "Not really, but I'm trying to."

I nodded in understanding and signaled him to follow me into my apartment.

ΩΩΩ

Once we were both sitting in the living room he shook his head. He was silent for a few minutes before he spoke.

"I just... you remember how I fell asleep here last night?"

I nodded. I wasn't sure as to what that had to do with anything, but I figured he would tell me.

"Well I promised Annabeth that I would tell her if I was going to be out past midnight because she tends to worry about me. So I was worried that she had been up all night panicking since I didn't come home. After all, it's not like I have a cell phone she could call. So when I got home and saw her, I apologized."

"Okay..." I still didn't see the problem.

He gave me a downhearted look and shrugged. "That's it. All I did was apologize to her. After all, I figured she would have been worried about me."

I raised one eyebrow in question, "What do you mean, 'figured' she would have been worried?"

He bit his lip and shook his head. It was clear that, whatever he was about to say, was the real reason that he had been so upset all day.

"It's... she didn't even realize I wasn't there last night. I mean... how is that even possible?"

I frowned. I wasn't certain as to how to answer his question.

"I don't know what to tell you Percy. I will freely admit. I do not know how she could have been unaware of your absence."

"Me either," He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "It's not just last night though."

I decided to keep silent. By the way his voice was rising in pitch; I could tell that he needed to speak his mind. This was clearly bothering him far more then he was letting on.

"We hardly ever see each other anymore. Before we came to New Rome we spent at least four hours a day together. Now I'm lucky if I see her for an hour a week. Lately, I've found myself asking Jason where she is or what she's doing. She's my girlfriend. I shouldn't be relying on other people for that, I should know. We don't spend time together, we don't talk, it's not normal. I know she's busy and I know that she has responsibilities but, I just... I don't understand."

When it became clear that he had said all he needed to, I nodded.

I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. "The only thing that I can tell you is that Annabeth is a lot like her mother. They're idea of fun is what most would consider work. It's as much a part of her as your playfulness is part of you."

He nodded in agreement but I could tell he wasn't happy to hear it. "I know. I just don't know what to do about it..."

ΩΩΩ

Percy POV

I had finally gotten what was bothering me off my chest. Even if it was only to Apollo, not the person I knew I needed to eventually confront...

I was lost in my own thoughts when Apollo spoke again.

"So tell me..." I shook my head to clear it and glanced up. I didn't really want to continue talking about it but I didn't know how to say so. "Are you excited for Christmas?"

I blinked in surprise before I smiled. "I'm always excited for Christmas."

He smirked and gave me a wink.

I should have known Apollo wouldn't push for more information. It was one of the things I liked most about him. He seemed to have a sixth sense for when I needed to drop a topic.

I returned his grin and continued my train of thought. "We need to find a way to watch Christmas movies. That is the one thing I've decided I don't like about New Rome, no TV. I don't understand how no one has invented demigod friendly TV yet."

The god of the sun laughed. "It has been. It's called Hephaestus TV. One guess as to who invented it."

"What? Then why haven't I heard of it?"

The son of Leto gave me a smug look, "Gods tend to keep the coolest inventions for ourselves."

I pouted, "That's not fair. I've been missing out on Saturday cartoons for years just because you guys don't like to share? I'm jealous."

He chuckled, "What can I say. Being a god does have its perks."

I gave him a fake glare, "So not fair."

"You're a god too now Percy. If you decide to accept godhood, I guarantee you your dad will buy you a T.V."

I laughed, "Sounds good. I'll tell the council, yep. I want to stay a god. And when they ask why? I will tell them that you said I get my own Hephaestus T.V."

He joined in on my laughter. "What better reason for accepting immortality is there?"

ΩΩΩ

I hadn't planned to stay out of the house all day but at the same time, I didn't regret it. Talking to Apollo always helped ease my mind.

By the time I left his apartment, I felt worlds better. It didn't solve my problems but at least it helped me put them into perspective. Sometimes all you needed was someone to listen to you rant.

Apollo had a way of making my problems seem less monumental. If I could figure out a way to defeat the titans, Kronos, and the giants, I could figure out a way to deal with my girlfriend problems.