Hello! Does anyone remember me? I know it's been a long time since I've updated this. A long, long, long time.

To be honest, I was considering putting all my fics on hiatus. Looking back over all these enthusiastic reviews, though, made me realize that there was no way I could abandon all of you who wrote "Write more!" and are probably checking their alerts every time they log on to see if that darned Fanless has updated her Apollo/Percy story yet. Especially the ones left on New Year's Eve. Those surprised me.

You guys shamed me into resolving this year to be faithful to my fanfictions. Thank you, from the bottom of my pencil holder.

Ch. V:

Better Start Worrying

"Percy, I want you to be straight with me."

Percy sits up, raising his head from Apollo's stomach, and gives him a Look.

"What did I s - oh. Right." The god snorts. "No, that'd be boring."

"And, uh, maybe kind of impossible."

"That too. - Hey! You're distracting me again!"

Percy tries not to laugh. He drops gently back down and gazes up into the summer night sky. It's clear tonight, clearer than it ever is in New York - they're down at Delphi again, draped over the hood of the Maserati. Artemis' moon beams down on them with its delicate light. He wonders if she can see them now, and if she can, what she thinks of it.

He's not sure he likes the idea entirely. But then, he kind of wishes someone would see them. Being with Apollo - well, it's amazing. Keeping it secret is like finding a million dollars - no, three million - lying in the street and keeping that secret: it's not easy, and it's not fun. But telling about this kind of relationship is never a good idea. The list of failed predecessors stretches back almost as far as the gods.

Typical. For the first time in his life he's got the perfect relationship, and he can't tell anyone.

"Like I was saying," Apollo continues determinedly. "Be honest, 'kay?"

"Okay." Percy is only half paying attention. The sun god's skin is always so warm.

"Did you tell anyone when you were seeing whatsisface?"

The fuzzy pinkness evaporates. "Luke? No way. Annabeth only found out because she, uh, saw us together."

Apollo looks keen. "Really? Was it messy?"

"Apollo, no! Geez! I told you, it wasn't like that. Well, okay, maybe we were making out." Percy's face burns. "Kind of."

"What kind of?" asks the god innocently. "Care to demonstrate?"

Percy punches him. Gently.

"Was it this kind of?" Apollo teases, pulling him higher so that their faces brush.

"Who's distracting who now?" mutters Percy, not minding much. Apollo smells nice. Like meadows and summer and music, if music had a smell. Luke just always smelled like Axe. "Anyway, it was a hush-hush thing. Like this."

"That's what I was getting at earlier!" Apollo lets go of Percy's face to snap his fingers and their skulls crack together. "Ow."

After the confusion and the snorts of laughter die down, the god continues. "Before I lose track again: I want you to tell your mother about me."

Percy's jaw drops. "What? No way! I mean- why?"

" 'Cause she's a nice lady, I like her pancakes and nice ladies who make good pancakes shouldn't be lied to. Remember how it felt when you found out she was keeping things from you? I'm the god of Prophecy, Percy. I know from deep dark secrets." Percy looks unconvinced. "Someone should know, don't you think? I'm damn proud of you, kid. Let me brag, at least, if you won't."

"The rest of the gods'll hear about it somehow," Percy mutters. "There's gonna be trouble..."

"Hey, remember who you're talking to! I can handle whatever they throw at us. Maybe literally. Possibly. Now promise."

"But..."

Apollo widens his eyes and lets himself glow a little.

"That's not fair!" barks Percy. "I hate the big shiny eyes!"

"Promise?"

Percy sighs. He'd sworn. Besides, it was really only fair. And if he doesn't do it Apollo will, and that just sounds like a really, really bad idea. "In a couple days."

"Tomorrow."

"What? Oh, fine. Tomorrow morning. But you have to come too."

"Don't I always?" Hands, slightly sunlight-dusted still in the dark, tracing his bones like the brush of a painter outlining a dream. "Of course, if you'd like to make me come now I'd be happy to oblige..."

"We're outside, Apollo."

"At midnight behind the Coliseum! What, you think someone's going to see us?"

If they only knew, Aphrodite thinks, grinning over her mirror. She's no fool when it comes to romantic subterfuge; when Apollo asked her to break Percy and Luke up, she knew right away something had to be afoot. Oh, Apollo, you rogue!

"Won't this be interesting!" she says out loud to herself.

And catching the echo of the goddess's voice as it crosses the moonbeams that dapple Aphrodite's boudoir floor, Artemis thinks: Won't what be interesting?

Oh, a minor cliffhanger. How classy. Am I forgiven yet? Drop me a review. Let me know.