"Alright, just a few more steps and we'll be safe inside."

Four Huntresses, including Thalia, were carrying Artemis to the infirmary. They were already stepping into the doorway when Artemis clenched her teeth and whimpered. A tear ran down her cheek as she arched her back and grunted as if she were repeatedly being stabbed. There was a bright golden glow from beneath her garb.

"Percy… where's Percy?"

"He's okay."

"I want Percy! Where is he? He's in trouble. Percy is in trouble…" she continued, thrashing around. Thalia gritted her teeth, knowing either Percy failed or succeeded.

That doesn't help at all.

Then suddenly, something snapped. Artemis' back straightened, her eyes widened and watered, and her thrashing stopped. She brought a hand up to her mouth, gently rubbing a golden tattoo with her other hand she had on her side that seemed to be fading. Tears streamed down Artemis' wide eyes.

She was finally broken.

A loud sob escaped from between her fingers, so heartbreaking, it was making Thalia want to curl up and rock back and forth.

"No! No, no, no, no!"

Artemis cried even more, not caring that all the demigods could see. Her husband was gone, dead, and the one thing that confirms it is the fading bond on her side. Her Huntresses struggled to keep her from falling, but eventually they were able to set her on a bed. They all cursed the hormones.

Everyone was shooed out of the room, Thalia threatening to electrify everyone. She called for her half-brother Apollo, and he was there one full minute later, Artemis was already ready to deliver this baby.

_|M.M.J. 19|_

Percy laid in a large bed, covered in one thin sheet, and only in his boxers. His back felt as though it snapped like a pencil, and he pulled his eyes shut even tighter when he tried to move. He turned his head to the side to find a dresser with his cloak, weapons, bandolier, armor, and his Guardian uniform folded neatly on it and his dirty boots resting in front of the dresser.

Groaning, he sat up and looked down at himself. On his left side, he saw a star-shaped scar, a new addition to his ever-growing display. He winced as a memory pounded through his head. Tartarus gutting him; him beheading his enemy; dying.

"What the…" the simple, unfinished sentence banged around in his head like a pinball. He groaned and held his head, not being able to remember the last time he had a headache this big. His back felt as though some full-sized titan used it as a trampoline for days upon days. He was in pain.

Guess the only real way to live is by dying…

Suddenly, Percy felt a jerk in his essence, a pain in his abdominal area, a sense of loss and guilt in his heart. It was clear to him then what was going on.

Artemis had given birth to their daughter…

…and he wasn't there to see the miracle.

Sorry for the super long wait, yes I know this is sort of anticlimatic. I've had a SUPER busy few weeks, and I'm glad to know I still have some faithful readers left. This chapter, as is my most recent for AMWAH, and pretty soon TMFD, it is just to kick-start my writing so that I can get back into the game! Hope you guys are having fun, and don't forget to smile! =)