Stories in families are colossally important. Every family has stories: some funny, some proud, some embarrassing, some shameful. Knowing them is proof of belonging to the family. - Salman Rushdie


Home sweet home. "Hi, mom."

"Percy," was Sally Jackson's reply, warm and happy. Percy let himself be drawn, swept into his mother's embrace, before returning it with a quiet smile.

"Dear, you're going to smother him if you hug him any longer. Percy, do I finally get to meet the lovely lady in your life?"

Paul appeared behind his mother, carrying Daphne in one arm. And his sweet, beautiful little half-sister was blinking oh so innocently at him, suckling on a pacifier like no tomorrow.

"Indeed, Mr. Blowfish," replied Artemis, eyes cautious but mirthful. "I'm Luna."

"Did he tell you to call me that?" The man raised an eyebrow, before stepping around Percy and his mother to offer his hand in greeting. "Just call me Paul, please."

Artemis inclined her head in response and gave his hand a single shake before quickly dropping it.

Paul turned to his stepson, amused. "Percy, are you ever going to not bring that up?"

Percy just laughed, extricating himself from his mother's death-grip. "No comment."

At least Artemis wasn't going to look down on him too much for his gender. She might've been a complete misandrist in the past, but to call her a man-hater now was extreme. She was sexist enough to have a bias, but she tended to recognize people of their own merit nowadays, male or female. Even if the males had to work a little harder to be worthwhile in her eyes.

Percy reached out to take Artemis's hand, the one she used to greet Paul. Rubbing it gently, he received a squeeze of acknowledgment in return.

That, and she'd remembered his stories about first meeting Paul and managed to pull off a joke on both of them. First with her tease, then getting him blamed for it.

He'd have to get back at her for that.

In the meantime, his mother pulled away from the entrance to give the couple space to enter.

"And how are you, sis?" Percy approached Paul and leaned closer to Daphne, who blinked back at him. With his free hand, he poked her stomach, before letting her grab his finger and let her explore and have her fun. He smiled softly, then took Daphne, whom his stepfather passed over without comment.

It was plainly obvious how much his sibling looked like his mother. The same vibrant black hair, the same almost dainty nose. But it was the eyes that always drew Percy's attention the most. They were wide and curious, like any content baby's, but they were the same blue as his mother's. Exactly, from the rich depth of color to the strange shifting shade that seemed to be a trick of the light.

While the trait for clearsight wasn't genetic, Percy would bet a million of drachma Daphne had it too.

"So why are you two here so soon?" asked Sally. "I thought you weren't supposed to arrive in New York until tomorrow."

As a Son of Poseidon, it was pretty damn inconvenient to not be able to fly across the entire country in just five hours. He'd driven the first time to bring his luggage, but had taken a train for the few other times. But … "We took Mrs. O'Leary. Just decided not to pop out in the apartment this time. Or, at least, not your apartment."

Shadow travel. Faster than a plane, but almost even more uncomfortable. Just almost.

Artemis rapped the back of his head. "Because we ended up in our apartment. Next time, my dear idiot, why don't you simply ask her to bring us to Central Park?"

Percy flushed as his family, even Daphne, laughed at his expense. "Yes, yes."

She was just asking for revenge.

But it was good to be back.


It's a while later, when Percy and his stepfather leaves to buy some groceries for all to cook a hearty dinner, that Artemis finds the right moment to talk candidly with Sally Jackson.

"So, Luna. Why the secrecy around my husband?" Sally reclined on the sofa, cradling Daphne in her arms as the child slept.

Artemis had met Sally thrice before, over the summer. The first hadn't quite been a meeting—Percy had been late to their arranged location by an hour, so she'd gone to his apartment. Sally had answered the doorbell for half a second before Percy had come charging out with an apology for oversleeping and a "Thanks, Mom! That's Luna, we're heading out, bye!"

The second time had been by Sally's insistence. Sally had made Percy bring her to meet Artemis at their rendezvous. The encounter had lasted perhaps 10 minutes before the mortal had somehow deduced her identity and left with a simple, "Percy, I trust you know what you're doing. Artemis, it was wonderful meeting you. Enjoy your date now."

The last time had been one on one—Artemis had visited Sally at a time she'd known she would be alone at home. Or, at least only with Daphne. Breastfeeding was a curious sight. For that to be in her future …

It was then that they had discussed Percy and Artemis living together in New Rome, and Sally's thoughts on the matter, and on their relationship.

It was disconcerting, meeting Percy's mortal parent. To her peripheral understanding, other gods didn't bother with their paramour's relatives when conceiving new demigods. They didn't need to. She certainly hadn't cared much for Sally's, or hell, Poseidon's input at the time, distraught as she was. It was just a bit too late for that, now, but matters have always been simple between the two. Artemis assumes that as long as Percy is happy, she won't have any trouble with her Uncle. If she ever sees the God of the Sea again, she hopes things will be fine.

But with Sally … and now, Paul?

Once upon a time, they would have been beneath her feet. Then, as her perspective as an immortal matured, they would have been just mortals—irrelevant to her life, a fact of existence, etc. Not exactly to be looked down upon, but certainly not to be cared for.

But now, the most relevant time of all … they are her boyfriend's immediate, accessible parents.

She respects Sally. From the stories Percy has told her, it's all too clear that Sally is a strong woman in her own right. And Artemis respects both Percy and Sally enough to not be too biased against Paul, since both hold the man in such regard to accept him. And from what she sees, he's a good, solid man.

Artemis has still to interact with many mortals in her new form, besides in the most basic tenets of life. Primarily shopping. Percy's mother was a good place to start from. His stepfather …

"Ms. Jackson, to be frank, it would be simpler for both Percy and me if my identity was just Luna. The name Artemis simply raises too many questions—at this time, none of Percy's closest friends are aware of the greater details of my fictional background. We are sure a few suspect, and Percy and I are discussing even now, how to properly … explain." Artemis shrugs eloquently. "If things had proceeded as I desired, you would not have known so soon either. But, not to be insulting, even in your advanced age, your sight is clearer than even the most visually acute mortal of those I'd met."

"I … understand," Sally admits, absentmindedly patting Daphne's back. "You are certainly not who I expected, from the myths that I've none. Though neither was Percy's father, so I'm not surprised. Still, with your reputation, so many things that I'm aware of ... contradict. Your history versus your current situation, for one."

Artemis waits patiently for Sally to complete her train of thought.

"Percy knows what he's doing, he's a smart boy. But besides the bigger picture—silly boy, trying to keep secrets from me—and the tidbits he's told me, I wasn't sure how much you cared for him until your sudden visit." Sally smiles at the memory. "You can imagine my surprise at the time, a goddess so nervous meeting me, just to talk about how best to help someone we both love."

Artemis blushes. "I am no goddess."

And despite their massive age difference, Artemis can't help as if she's being treated as a teenager when Sally sends her a critical look, one that dissects her every thought. And no doubt, Artemis is less experienced in the matters of dedicated love compared with the mortal woman, but the gaze is uncomfortable nonetheless. "No … not any more. But you didn't deny that you love him. Living in the same apartment, first in New Rome, and now even here in New York … you two must be going at it like rabbits."

How did the conversation get even more embarrassing? Artemis hides her face behind her hands. "Wha-? No, no, we haven't gone that far yet—whyever are you even bringing this up?"

Sally's laugh, so reminiscent of her son's, bubbles merrily into the air. "Oh, my! You two haven't—no wonder Percy's still so worked up-"

Artemis coughs. "Please, don't- what? Stop, he hasn't pushed for us to copulate or anything! He asked, he- he's very much the gentleman, respecting my wishes!"

Sally's amusement is replaced by softness frighteningly quickly. "Well, then I'm proud of my boy."

Artemis swallows her fears and nervousness, before one of Percy's most beloved people. "I've been seeking advice, on how to move forward from my predicament. Advice from someone who could possibly comprehend my situation. And despite your … proximity to the matter, I'd hoped you could provide. This is how I imagined the conversation to proceed, but nonetheless ... "

The mortal woman, so much younger yet the wiser, after a moment of thought, asks, "What are you afraid of?"

"Despite rejecting my maidenhood, my godhood … I'm- I'm afraid of giving away something I've protected so dearly for millennia. I'm afraid that things will change after the deed is done. I'm afraid of what the act could mean, both of now and for the future. This is all so … new, so very alien, and I can't help but be anxious … "

And it's Percy's mother, ever so matronly, smoothing over Daphne's hair and rocking the baby ever so gently to keep her asleep, that answers the questions that have been quietly eating away at her for many, many months. "Oh, my dear. It's simple. I only have a single question for you."

"What?"

"Do you trust Percy?"

"I … yes." Yes, she did.

"Then that should be reason enough. And when you're ready, tell him about these fears of yours, so he can prove himself and do his best to make you feel better. And when you're ready, and after the fact, you'll realize you were being just a little stupid and wished you'd done it sooner."

"... Thank you for your advice." Artemis had a lot of things to think about. But one thing she'd always wanted to do … "May I hold Daphne?"

"Certainly."

It's when Daphne is secure in her arms, the lovely babe snoring away, that Percy's mother shows her from whom Percy inherited his humor from.

"I can't wait until the day I get to tell Percy I got him laid."

"MS. JACKSON!"

"Please, call me Sally!"