Disclaimer: Rick Riordan's

Aphrodite stood, hand on hip, the epitome of pure beauty in Poseidon's palace halls. Aphrodite radiated euphoria, representing love in its most beautiful moments. With her own active heart adding to the play, she seemed to glow with the brilliance and energy of a supernova.

A volatile Ares had insisted in accompanying her to collect ''old seaweed's spawn'', and was now pacing in agitation behind her. Ares spun a bottle of beer in his hands, taking a swig every few seconds, and magically filling it when it emptied.

'Are you being serious about this? The sea brat is going to ruin everything! He's interrupting our time for starters, and he's going to freakin find some freakin way to mess with MY plans while he's at it!' His words were slurred though from his anger or the alcohol she did not know. The fire that was Are's eyes raged with fury.

'He isn't going to have anything to do with you, I'll make sure of it' Aphrodite spoke in a frosty tone that caused Ares to growl and take another swig of beer. He had sulked during their entire journey to the palace, regarding Aphrodite with a fairly suspicious glance that portrayed he had felt the difference in her demeanor. He was aggressive and abrasive, but he usually conducted himself in her presence, and did as she pleased simply to feel her smile upon him. Now he knew no limits.

And yet it didn't touch her like it used to, she barely flinched at the red-hot anger he emitted. No matter how many arguments he upheld or curses he uttered, she refused to be swayed. The goddess of love would not turn her back on her own love interest. Ares could go to Hades if it was between him and Percy; she had enough on her plate dealing with Annabeth. Not that it's much of a challenge she thought running her fingers through her tresses. Her soul was the perceiver and revealer of the truth, and she knew the truth when she saw it, let skeptic and scoffer say what they choose. Her truth was walking down the hallway towards her.

She upheld her figure and shook her curls, smoothing her dress down.

An exquisite smile stirred on her lips and she felt the euphoria radiate through her again.

Percy was walking with his shoulders slightly hunched and his father's arm around him. Poseidon was muttering something to him. Poseidon's facial expressions were never easy to read, but Aphrodite perceived the doubt written upon his physiognomy.

Percy however, still lay in a vast degree of confusion. Visits to his father's palace had become regular and he hadn't been told that anything different was happening; just the usual tag along to his father's affairs. But this morning his father had greeted him evidently disgruntled. The only thing he had told him was that he would be in Aphrodite's guardianship for the next few weeks and then he whisked him off, halfway through the palace. Percy was on the verge of protesting but restricted himself in case he angered his father further.

The thought of an adolescent, hormone- infused teenage boy being in Aphrodite's company for several weeks was enough to scare any male demigod. He shook of the shadow creeping over his heart and reminded himself what Chiron taught him everyday, that a hero's mind must always be at balance so that no disturbances could shake his will.

Yeah he thought, sure. Chiron was not getting past puberty.

In an instant, Percy felt like a wave had swept over him. He felt unfathomably angry. Why couldn't his dad have told him more about what was going on? Why the hell were the gods using him like some kind of puppet? He wanted to give someone hell about it. For no particular reason, he had the sudden urge to punch his own father in the face and pick a fight with someone.

He clenched his fists and gritted his teeth when the source of his anger came in to view. His least favorite Olympian, Ares the god of war. Ares was sitting idly in an armchair, the carpet in the hallway scruffed as if someone had been tunneling through it. Percy blinked; he didn't remember there being an armchair in this corridor. Ares legs hung off of it and he was picking something out from underneath his boots using a foot long dagger. There was hell in the waters.

Just as Ares caught sight of him; and had begun to lean forward with a scowl on his face. Someone intercepted Percy's view of Ares.

It had been ages since he'd seen her face to face and he found himself reenacting their first meeting. He stopped with a jolt and gaped.

Aphrodite fluttered her eyelashes, and if possible seemed to glow even brighter. She was always attended by the emotion of the sublime, but coming from Percy it was a compliment a thousand times over.

'Percy!' she squealed and clasped her hands together. 'How absolutely charming of you to agree to come!' We'll make a lover…god out of you yet!'

'Uhhhhhh….um' Percy gabbled, not able to form coherent words. This should not be happening a second time.

Even though Aphrodite was standing shock still, her long curls seemed to be swaying from side to side. She stood royally upright but she seemed to be flowing, her elegant curves fixed in a perfect dancing posture and her eyes sparkling with a thousand lights.

There was heaven in the waters.

In a flash Ares appeared behind Aphrodite and Percy felt his father tighten his grip on his shoulder. Poseidon and Ares glared at each other, Ares face pulling into a sneer.

'I don't think you should be around my son or your girlfriend in that kind of state' Poseidon was unsuccessfully attempting to remain calm when he spotted the empty beer bottle Ares clutched in his fist.

Ares glowered 'I don't think that's any of your goddamn business'. Ares words were slurred.

While Ares and Poseidon erupted into a full blown argument, Percy looked up when he heard a sniff of disdain. His father had released him and was now cornering Ares at the back of the hall. Aphrodite was regarding her boyfriend with distaste, before she noticed Percy looking at her. Her face melted into the most exquisite of smiles that reminded Percy of all things beautiful in the world.

Aphrodite beamed at him and pursed her lips, surveying him; she felt a yearning in her heart settle ever so slightly. He was now within her reach. Everything that was his- his name, his powers, his tentativeness- enhanced her fancy. His goodness was better than their goodness, his nature finer, and his temptation less. How could they even fathom that he could be good enough for a mere mortal? How could anyone but her be good enough for him?

They weren't.

Percy shifted uncomfortably at the silence between them and at her intense observation. Well, that was the reason for his discomfort at the moment. People almost always felt either giddy or uncomfortable in Aphrodite's presence, Percy as hardly an exception.

Aphrodite held out her hand with all the gracefulness of a princess, her mind however, was at a lesser station of matter. Percy blinked. Was it just him, or did the way she did that gesture seem almost…amorous.

Aphrodite noticed his hesitation but did not retract her hand. A tiger does not lose sight of its prey .She winked at Percy and shot him the hint of a smirk. 'I think its best we leave them to it and go and collect your bags'. Her voice spilled out of her lips like silk. For a very strange reason Percy was reminded of baby angels. His discomfort was swerving into a delusional lane.

He tentatively put his hand in hers and with a simple turn of her ankle they were out of the room. She had literally twirled them out of the hallway and into his own room. His room being the guest room in which he kept his possessions. Aphrodite sat on the edge of his desk and crossed her legs.

'Get packing' she ordered, a book appeared out of thin air and she laid it across her lap. A pen appeared in her hand.

A smile graced her face when she surveyed the contents of the book. Just a few minor adjustments to what was written and it would all fall into place. Out of the corner of her eye she saw that Percy had begun throwing objects on to his bed vigorously face turned away; obviously feeling the need to obey her, and restricting himself from comment. But she didn't miss the confusion etched on his face, and she knew had he been the apprentice of Ares he would have surely lost it by now.

'Ummm Lady Aphrodite?'

She looked up at him, prompting him with her gaze.

'Could I please… know exactly what I'm supposed to pack?

She waved her hand at him nonchalantly 'That hardly matters' she said dismissively.

Percy shrugged and resumed his task.

Aphrodite's eyes sparkled as she envisioned what was yet to come. She wasn't about to leave anything hanging or halfway. She wasn't about to let anything manifest into it's own nature.

She was the goddess of love after all.

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