A/N: Alrighty. Well, I have no idea how this format is gonna look, so sorry if it's all screwy. I just got a new laptop and I have yet to install Microsoft Word. However, WordPad came with it and that's what I'm using. And there is no Spell Check I can find. This, dear readers, is what you would consider a first draft. BUT I needed to give something. So...yeah. Enjoy. I think my writing's improved since the last update, as well.

I do not own PJO, or the song "Come Away to the Water" by Maroon 5 ft. Rossi Crane, featured in The Hunger Games (Songs from District 12 and Beyond)

Chapter 11: Come Away to the Water Part Two

Hours ago, Athena was in the arms of a man. As if this weren't bad enough, now she is dealing with her-no, their-daughter missing.

If anything, Athena bet she knew who was behind it.

But she wasn't dumb. Oh, quite the contrary. There was a reason she used to be the goddess of wisdom.

It was a trap. A cruel, decietful trap. And she knew that one person, whether it be herself, her daughter, or even one of her friends, would not be coming back from Olympus. Not necessarily in the terms of dying (though, with Hera as the one behind this, it was quite possible), but surely in terms of torture or punishment.

Artemis, still slightly hungover, glanced at the crib. "Geez. Baby's...gone."

Aphrodite solemnly walked up beside Athena, grabbing her hand. "We'll get her back, 'Thena. Don't you worry,"

Poseidon huffed. "Damn. Just when I was getting good at this whole 'father' thing."

Apollo shrugged, majorly drunk. "I sayz that we allz jus...just go ta bed. Leeeky will show up...soona a lata."

Zeus looked around the room. "As I said before, Hera has taken her. If you want her, you must go forth and bring her back."

"Zeus, Hera certainly will not be pleased to see us. And I know what tricks she's going to pull out of her too-tight crown." Athena said, walking towards the god. "But I also know that you know one of us will not be coming back. Or vice versa, one of us will not be a god again. Am I correct?"

Zeus looked down at the mortal. "Athena, you have great wisdom. I am not perplexed or shocked to see you figure it out."

"So...one of us is going to either be mortal and the others a god, or they will be a god and others mortal?" Aphrodite asked.

"Correct, Aphrodite."

"Well, I say that we all just stay mortal. I mean, I'm all in for giving that bitch a piece of my mind and bringing back my niece. But after that, I don't want to look at that wench. Ever again."

Poseidon nodded. "If Athena and Aphrodite are staying, so am I. I can't abandon another child. I need to have responsibility for once in my life."

After Ares agreed to staying, as well as Apollo, though drunkenly and without knowing, they looked at Artemis. "Oh, all right. Guess Phoebe's gonna be a goddess."

Athena shook her head. Monotonously, she said, "I cannot let my friends give such a great sacrifice. Besides, any longer in waiting, the world will fall without the leaders of each. Zeus is powerful, but even he know he cannot control everything at once. I believe he has learned this now that we are mortals."

They all looked at her. Poseidon walked next to her and simply said, "No."

She lowered her head. "Friends, I am sorry. Hera is luring us into a dark path. She is calling for me, bringing me to the water, as they say. I save Aleeka, I stay mortal and raise her by myself. She watches as I suffer the life of a normal being. Watch as I see my daughter grow. Watch as I grow old myself. Watch me die. But she knows she cannot let me die, so she'll put me through immense suffering in that hour. But take me up last minute. I shall be with you soon," she promised. "And I will be as I am now once again with you. But for now, I must do what is right. What is right for you is to go to Olympus and gain your immortality back."

Aphrodite giggled. "You're really funny, did you know that?" She suddenly had a straight face. "But nah, I think I'm just gonna help you kick the witch's butt. Then I'll come back here and spoil my baby rotten!"

Zeus looked at the friends, appauled. "You would actually give up being gods for years to come, just to be with Athena?"

Aphrodite slung her arm around her friend's shoulder, feeling no need to show respect to Zeus, for she was not a goddess. "What can I say, Z? What we have here is true love,"

Athena smiled at her friend. "Oh, you act like such a teenage girl."

The newly-brunette shrugged. "I am at heart,"

"Anyway, let's get a cracka-lackin'. Can't wait to see the look on poor old Mommy dearest's face when we walk in to fight." Ares chuckled.

Zeus spoke. "You have three days to save her, before Hera does her deed. I wish the best of luck."

"Wait a second!" Poseidon called.

"Yes?"

"Brother, you are the, as you say, 'freaking ruler of the gods'! Why can you not stop her?"

Zeus grimaced. "Many things have changed since you became mortal."

Athena crossed her arms. "What exactly has happend, Zeus?"

"Hera has...overthrown me."

"That is not possible, Zeus!" Aphrodite said.

"I did not think it was. But she did it, she outsmarted me. She is not completely rule of the gods, but she has taken control over everything you were in charge of, friends. And she threatens to stop if everyone does not do as she says. Basically, she is holding the strings to the world, but also the sicssors. I'm just the one trying to grasp it franctically."

Athena sighed. "Oh, damnit." Six heads turned, mouts agape. "So what? I swore! I think this is an OK time to do so!"

"Okay. So, we have to save my daughter, keep Athena from being tortured, and blast Hera out of power without blowing up the world?" Poseidon asked.

Zeus sighed. He sat on the couch next to the crib an poked at the wood gently. "Yes. For lack of better words." He glanced up at Athena. "I am sorry, daughter, that you and your loved ones must go through this. I am most sorry that I was not a better father."

Athena shrugged Aphrodite off her, but kept her arm linked to hers, and her hand in Poseidon's. "I am not your daughter. I never will be your daughter. I have a daughter, and I know now what it is like to have a family. I am a mother, and I have two beautiful sisters and two wonderful brothers." She glanced at Poseidon. "And whatever he turns out to be, he will always now hold a band around my heart, as he also shares in my daughter's life. This is family, and I feel no such feelings towards you or Hera."

"You go guuurl!" Apollo whooped.

"Make that two imbecile brothers," Athena grinned.

"So, we're off!"

"Wait! You may want to think about this! This will be no easy task, friends." Zeus said, as he disappeared.

Glancing around the room, Athena saw Apollo passed out on the carpet. Artemis slumped on the couch, clutching her head, moaning about how complicated her life was. Ares just stood proped against a wall, arms crossed. "Alright. Rest up. I'll think of something with these two. Tomorrow, we go in."

Athena then walked into her bedroom. Aphrodite and Poseidon followed.

Chp 12~Chp 12

Athena set the paper down on her desk. Aphrodite had been laying onher bed, twirling and braiding her hair as she threw around ideas. Poseidon sat next to Athena, right next to her, noticied by Aphrodite, and was writing down things Athena said.

"Oh, this is useless. No matter which road we take, one of us gets captured when trying to save Aleeka! And most ways I do, which is fine, but there's still the almost thirty-percent chance that one of you will. And no matter who goes, it causes a loss on the rest!" She slumped down in her chair. "I'm just going to pull an Apollo."

Aphrodite froze. "Oh, my. Oh! My! Gods! Athena, you can't just wing it! Look where it gets him!"

Athena paused. She smiled. "No, no, I have to. Hera will be expecting some big elaborate plan and have things ready. Defenses. If I go in, and just float around, who knows? Maybe I won't pull any trigger in her mind. Maybe I'll just be...there. And she will feel no threat, as I have no defense myself!"

Poseidon and Aphrodite glanced at each other. "Really...?"

A/N: Well, there you go!
Actually, I'm not gonna explain. Just enjoy.

I do have something to say, though! After this story, I do not think I will write FF anymore. I am...ready to move on. So, I do hope you enjoy it while it lasts!

~Suzie