A/N: And…it has arrived. THE UPDATE!

Yeah, I kind of broke my Lenten Promise. But it's okay—I made a new one! And Jesus forgives. After all, I am just human.

The song for this chapter is Safe and Sound by Taylor Swift feat. The Civil Wars. This song will appear later, too. I hope you enjoy this chapter! Inspiration struck when I was playing with a baby today :)

OH! And most of the previews I gave last chapter are in here, but some come to play in a bit.

OH! No. 2: Remember how Annabeth and Percy are 18 in this? That means it's about a year and a half later in their (the book's) world. So, it'd be about 2013 our time…which means The Hunger Games would've already been out :D

I don't own PJO, Taylor Swift, The Civil Wars, The Hunger Games, Safe & Sound, or any characters in PJO & THG.

Short chapter. Aphrodite & Athena girl bonding. :D

Chapter Six: Safe & Sound

Athena, Ares, and Artemis returned to the house near midnight. Apollo had already been asleep, not wanting to be awake for when Poseidon and Athena would see each other again. Poseidon, horrified at what he said earlier, had known he was wrong. He may not be fond of Athena…but he knew he did have feelings for her. And not the ones he told her he did. Artemis and Ares walked straight inside, and seeing their arrival, Poseidon looked up. Ares just nodded, as if to say she was right behind them.

Minutes turned to hours. Mickey, Poseidon and Athena's dog, sat with his head on his front paws, staring at the door. "I know. I hope she comes in soon, too, Mick."

Near two, Athena finally came into the house from the garage. She had been thinking about what to say—what to do. She knew Poseidon would be waiting for her. Finally plucking up the courage, she left the truck. Her hand was on the doorknob. Hearing her return, Poseidon quickly ran to the door. Mickey looked up and his ears pointed as if to show he heard his owner coming, too. Poseidon yanked the door open. What he saw was different than he expected.

It was a girl with knotted, messy black hair, and dull gray eyes instead of the normally fierce and stormy ones that chastised people when she was piqued at them. They were puffy, and her cheeks had been stained with tears. He quickly wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. Athena, who had expected a much colder welcome, was surprised. Nevertheless, she wrapped her arms around him, too.

After a minute, she sniffled and said quietly, "Get out."

"What do you mean?" Poseidon asked, letting go of her.

"I told you—get out!"

"Athena…"

"No! You try spending an afternoon in the park crying your eyes out! Being told that someone hates you! That the father of your child called it a thing! I thought I loved you! Did you ever love me at all? DID YOU?" She screamed. No doubt the whole house had awoken, but nobody was willing to come down just yet.

Poseidon didn't want to say no. But he did…and the one little word had escaped his lips before he could think about it. "No…"

Athena choked back a sob. She turned away. "Do you even feel any emotion whatsoever to your kid, Poseidon?"

"Yes, I do—"

"Well, you're sure great at showing it." Athena remarked sarcastically.

She walked up the many stairs that led to the top floor. She turned right, walked into her bedroom, which was more a library than anything, and slammed her door shut. Sitting on her bed, she wrapped her arms around her abdomen. Was there anything there? Or should she have called Hera's bluff? She had no way to find out—except to wait.

She lay down and closed her eyes, now just her hands resting on her stomach. She remembered, for some odd reason, a book series that Annabeth had read. She had borrowed the books from her daughter, and found them very good. The…Hungry Games? No…The Hunger Games! That was the name. She had seen the movie as well. A song from it came to mind, one by that famous country singer, Taylor Swift. Safe & Sound.

She hummed the song for a while, trying to remember the words. When she finally got it, she quietly sang. To her baby? Or to no one? She had no clue whether there was a child or not, but she sang away.

"I remember tears streaming down your face,
when I said 'I'll never let you go'.
When all those shadows almost killed your light…

I remember you said, 'Don't leave me here alone,'
But all that's dead and gone and passed,
tonight.

Just close your eyes,
the sun is goin' down.
You'll be alright,
no one can hurt you now.
Come morning light!
You and I'll be safe and sound.

Don't you dare look out your window,
darlin' everything's on fire…
The war outside our door keeps raging on.
Hold on to this lullaby.
Even when the music's gone,
gone…

Just close your eyes,
the sun is goin' down.
You'll be alright;
no one can hurt you now.
Come morning light!
You and I'll be safe and sound.

Ooooh,
ooooh,
ooooh, oooh,
oooh, oooh.
Oooh, ooh, ooh, ooh.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh!
Whoa! Oh, whoa, whoa.

Just close your eyes!
You'll be alright!
Come morning light,
You and I'll be safe…and…sound…."

Aphrodite sat outside Athena's door. She had heard her singing, and she knew that, even if Athena didn't think so, she would be a great mother to the child. Aphrodite smiled a little to herself; she had never known Athena to be a good singer. Much less a good Taylor Swift singer. She knocked quietly on the door. A whispered, 'Go away' came from inside. Aphrodite did no such thing. Instead, she walked on in. Closing the door quietly behind her, she sat on Athena's bed, beside her.

"The baby…is it alright?" Aphrodite asked Athena.

"I don't know if there was even one in the first place,"

Aphrodite smiled. "I may not be the best mother, but it really is a joy to have a kid inside you. Of course, when you're a goddess, it's not the full nine months; but it was nice for the short time. I remember Piper…she had a feisty attitude even before she was born. Strong kicker, that girl. I made Apollo give me medicine just to stop her." Aphrodite laughed. "It was annoying."

Knowing she was just trying to help her, Athena smiled slightly. "Annabeth wouldn't let me decide on things for her when I was thinking her up. It was really bothersome—the whole time, it just felt wrong not to give her this trait, or to give her that one."

"Kids are pains in the neck. But we'll get used to it. And I'll help you, Athena. I promise."

"Thank you, Aphrodite."

Aphrodite began to leave, when she turned around. "You have a pretty voice, Athena. I'm sure your baby will love it. She'll fall asleep very easily."

Athena shrugged. "It's not all that great."

Aphrodite smiled and left the room.

A/N: That was deplorable, wasn't it? Yes, it rather was. I hope you enjoyed it somewhat, though!

Q'S TIME!

-What do you think will happen next?

-Is there a baby?

-And last but not least…WHO'S PUMPED FOR THE HUNGER GAMES?

I love feedback almost as much as Aphrodite loves love!

~Suzie