Enjoy.

"I'll kill them." Hermes stood, leaving Lucy on the bed. "I'll kill them both."

"No!" Lucy scrambled to the edge, grabbing his arm. "Don't, please, Hermes, I asked you not to get angry."

"I never promised I wouldn't. And they can't be allowed to get away with this, Lucy."

"They haven't, didn't you tell me they were punished? Hermes, please don't."

He didn't move, unwilling to break Lucy's grip on his arm, but scowled darkly. "Not nearly enough."

"Hermes." She looked to Artemis pleadingly. "Artemis, help me."

The blonde goddess frowned at her brother. "Hermes, sit down. This is my realm."

Hermes glared at her. "I don't care, I get to do it."

Lucy moaned and leaned forward to circle her arms around Hermes' waist and try to pull him back. "No, don't!"

"Give me a reason why I shouldn't."

She pressed her face against his hip and his hand moved to stroke her hair absently. When she spoke, her voice was muffled against his trousers. "Because then you'd leave." He stiffened and she looked up. "Please don't leave," she said softly.

He dropped onto the bed and hugged her and she rewrapped her arms around his neck. "I won't," he promised.

Artemis stood. "Okay, so I can go get them."

"No!" Lucy lifted her head to plead with the goddess. "Please don't."

The blonde sat down with an exasperated huff. "Why not?"

"I don't want you to." She looked imploringly at Artemis. "Why do we have to focus on this? Can't we just move on?"

Hermes sighed and dropped his chin to kiss Lucy's hair. "If that's what you want, we won't do anything to them." He looked sharply at Artemis when she started to protest. "I don't understand why you don't want us to, but we won't. Right, Artemis?"

The goddess scowled. "We won't," she agreed reluctantly.

"Promise," Lucy said earnestly.

"I promise."

Lucy twisted to see Hermes and he nodded. "I promise."

She smiled with satisfaction and settled back in Hermes' lap. Her fingers crept up to the bandage on her chest and she scratched at it. "Why's this here?" Hermes shrugged and so she looked to Artemis.

"I…" The goddess looked away. "I didn't want to see your…wound."

Lucy stilled. "Oh."

Artemis' gaze returned to the girl. "You're probably safe to take it off now."

"We should ask Asclepius just in case," Hermes interjected before Lucy could peel the gauze away. "Will you go get him, Art?"

The goddess nodded and stood, disappearing.

With the two of them finally alone, Hermes lifted Lucy by her waist to turn her facing him. He cupped her cheeks and kissed her, long and lingering.

When she finally pulled away, he rested his forehead against hers.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't know what else to do."

"What happened, Luce? Why did you do it?"

She closed her eyes. "Hypnos found me here." She could feel Hermes stiffen. "He…offered me a place in his government. I just had to drink the Lethe. But I-I couldn't. I couldn't imagine forgetting you, replacing what I think of you now with whatever he wanted. Or, I could imagine it, but I didn't want to." She shuddered, opening her eyes and pressing her lips to his quickly, urgently before pulling away again. "Sacrificing myself was all I could think of. I'm sorry."

He turned his head slightly to kiss her cheek. "It's okay."

Artemis entered then, a young man with light brown hair following behind her. Hermes and Lucy broke apart. Asclepius went to their bedside and knelt, reaching out to Lucy's bandage. She shied back automatically, but Hermes squeezed her hand lightly and she stopped.

"Sorry," she apologized, and the man smiled.

"It's fine. I should have asked. May I see your wound?" She nodded and he reached out again to separate the tape from her skin. He pulled away the gauze and stared at the area behind it in confusion. "That's…I…I don't know what happened…"

Lucy craned her neck to see. Hermes leaned forward to look and started to laugh. The other three turned to him in bewilderment and he forced himself to sober. "I'm sorry, it's really not funny. I've only heard of this happening, never seen it myself." He wrapped an arm around Lucy's shoulders and pulled her close. "Luce, remember when I told you about claiming?" She nodded, staring at him with wide eyes. "And I said there was only one way to do it with you?" She nodded again, looking scared, and Artemis rolled her eyes in disgust, turning to gaze out the window. "I wasn't being completely honest. But in my defense, it was only because I never dreamed of this happening."

"Just tell us what it is, Hermes," Artemis snapped in annoyance.

He only grinned at her and nuzzled Lucy's hair. "She sacrificed herself for me. She completely devoted herself, mind, body, and soul, to me. She's mine." He hugged her, the possessiveness tingeing his voice evident in his actions. "All that worry about claiming and you did it all by yourself." He laughed again. "I love you, Lucy."

The girl touched the small caduceus marked in inky darkness right above her heart. Right where she remembered the coldness of the knife. "I'm…yours?" she asked faintly.

Hermes nodded, grinning into her hair. "All mine. As much mine as I am yours."

Asclepius backed out of the room and Artemis followed him. Lucy didn't even notice their absence, turning to look at Hermes in wonder. "You're mine?"

Hermes kissed her cheek. "I've been yours since the very first day I met you, Lucy. It's just that now it's official."

"Oh." She curled smaller in his lap, resting her head against his chest. "So you aren't mad at me now? It's okay?"

"Lucy!" She sat up in alarm. "Sorry," he added sheepishly. "It's just…I'm not mad at you! How could you think that?"

She shrugged, her cheeks flushing pink. "I thought you were."

He rolled his eyes, hugging her closer. "I can't believe you thought that." She turned her face into his chest, blushing harder. His momentary bad mood gone, he smiled, resting his chin on her head.

"Lucy Harrison!"

Lucy jumped, pulling away from Hermes and blushing deeply. Hermes glared in irritation at Zeus, who had stormed into his room followed by what seemed like the entire pantheon. "Is my suite not private anymore?"

"Not when you're breaking the laws of the universe." His air held a hint of smugness, just enough to make Hermes narrow his eyes.

"What laws of the universe? You said it was okay to bring her back."

"Well apparently I was wrong. She cannot remain alive. No mortals can be brought back from the Underworld. It is against the Fates' decree. Lucy Harrison, you must return to the Underworld."

Lucy looked from Zeus to Hermes in panic. "O-okay," she whispered weakly. She started to stand.

Hermes held his arm out to prevent her from leaving the bed. "I'd like to speak with the Twelve," he said darkly. "Alone." The gods crowding his room began to leave, the Twelve going to the throne room and the others simply leaving. Hermes turned back to Lucy anxiously. "I'm sorry, I know I promised I wouldn't leave but—"

"It's okay." She attempted to smile comfortingly. He wasn't reassured at all, but stooped to kiss her forehead and left. She slipped under the covers and pulled them over her head, curling her body around a pillow and trying not to think about what might happen.

"What do you want now, Hermes?"

The messenger god's arm tensed and the others drew back, afraid he'd throw the caduceus that was now gripped in his hand. "I want you to get over whatever shit you have against Lucy."

"You seem to be under the impression that I carry a personal vendetta against your mortal."

"Because all of your actions against her have shown nothing else!"

Zeus glowered at his son. "Your mortal has shown an exceptional distaste for following our rules. I am merely doing my job. You are the one adding unnecessary emotion."

"Why are you just now saying that Lucy has to go back to the Underworld?"

"The Fates have decreed that no mortal can be raised from the dead. This must be followed or we risk the Fates' wrath."

"And you only just discovered this? How convenient."

"Hermes," Athena intervened, "did you have a specific reason you needed all of us gathered? If you merely wished to speak to Zeus, the rest of us wish to take leave and continue the cleanup of Olympus."

Hermes wrenched his glare away from his father and turned to her. "What I wished to speak to you about depended on whether Zeus would stop his foolish grudge against Lucy."

"So do you still need to speak to us?" Athena asked over Zeus' protest.

"Yes." Some of the gods repressed sighs of annoyance, but still Hermes noticed. "I'll make this as succinct as possible. Zeus, you say that mortals cannot be taken from the Underworld."

"So I did," the king replied dryly.

Hermes rolled his eyes. "What about immortals?"

Zeus frowned and leaned forward in his seat, steepling his fingers against his chin. "What do you mean?"

"I'd like permission to make Lucy immortal."

The atmosphere in the room changed immediately from disinterested annoyance to shocked disbelief. Across the circle, gods sat up straight, their eyes widening at the unexpected entreaty.

"That hasn't been done since Ariadne," Hephaestus said quietly.

"I know. I know it's a tremendous request."

Zeus cleared his throat. "What are your reasons behind this application?"

"She won the war."

"She didn't even fight in the war," Ares argued.

Hermes' eyes narrowed at his brother. "Perhaps I should have been clearer. She made it possible for us to emerge triumphant."

"How so?"

"Had she not…sacrificed herself, I never would have gotten free. She suffered unspeakable tortures because she wouldn't cooperate with Hypnos' demands. She willingly gave her life to free me, fully believing that she would never return to life. I think we can all agree that the sacrifice she made was one that precious few mortals would have made. What she did was the epitome of selflessness and was indeed an act that helped save the war. She may not have fought directly, but she suffered the worst out of all of us. She gave everything for a war that wasn't even hers to begin with."

"Are those your only reasons?" Zeus asked.

Hermes shrugged. "Nothing else I could say would convince anyone but Aphrodite."

"I'm already convinced," the goddess said pleasantly. "But please do tell us anyway."

The messenger god looked up at the ceiling to keep from rolling his eyes. "Because I can't imagine living without her. I ignored it as best I could for a long time because I was able to convince myself that it didn't matter yet. That I could keep putting it off. But you've forced my hand, and now I have to imagine it. I don't like it. I highly doubt you'd like it either. You saw how I was before." The gods exchanged glances. "That part doesn't matter, though. This is about Lucy. She deserves it. You know she does. That's why I nominate Lucy Harrison for deification."

Zeus sighed. "Any objections?"

Apollo frowned. "So she died in a war and we're considering her for immortality? If we did that with everyone, the world would have more gods than mortals."

Hermes scowled at his brother. "She did much more than that. And you seem to forget, Apollo, that it was not merely a mortal war, but one between the gods."

"But all she did was die."

Artemis pressed her lips together. "You do not know what they did to her while she was trapped within her mind, Apollo. Do not speak of things you do not comprehend."

"So tell me if you want me to 'comprehend!'"

"It is not my story to tell. You may ask Lucy later, if you wish. With your hostile attitude, I'm not sure if she will comply."

"Yeah." Hermes rounded on Apollo. "Why do you suddenly hate Lucy so much? You were rather enthusiastic about her before."

Apollo glowered at his brother. "I've seen how badly she can hurt you."

Hermes' jaw dropped. "That wasn't her! That was Morpheus controlling her body! I thought you knew that!"

"I know that," Apollo said gruffly. "I meant that you care too much for her. She can be used very easily to hurt you, as we've seen."

"That's why I want her to be immortal. She'd be stronger and more resistant to those kinds of things if she were."

"Oh, that's why?" Apollo raised his eyebrows challengingly.

Hermes scowled. "That's one of the reasons, obviously. The most important reason is the one I started with."

"That she deserves it?"

"Yes," Hermes growled.

"Enough!" interrupted Zeus wearily. "Any other objections?"

"You are sure about this?"

Hermes turned towards Dionysus' quiet voice in shock. "What?"

"You are completely certain in this course of action? You are positive you won't regret allowing her immortality?"

"Of course I am!" Hermes snapped indignantly. "Why would you ask me that?"

Dionysus shrugged. "I've seen how fickle hearts can be. And I've seen the damage it causes."

Hermes' face fell. "I won't leave her."

The god of madness shrugged. "I'm sure Theseus said that too."

Hermes blinked. "I won't do that. I'm not a mortal. She's mine. I claimed her."

Zeus' eyes widened. "You claimed her? When?"

Hermes spun around. "When she sacrificed herself, she bound herself to me. She's marked."

The other gods murmured restlessly.

"Well that certainly changes things," Hephaestus put in wryly.

Hermes stared at them in exasperation. "If I'd told you that in the beginning, could we have spared all this?"

Zeus shrugged. "Are there any other objections that would like to be voiced?" He was met with silence. Hermes smiled and Zeus rolled his eyes. "We still have to vote, don't get too cocky. Poseidon?"

The sea god drummed his fingers on the arm of his throne. "I have not met her personally, but her actions seem commendable. I vote yes."

"Demeter?"

She sighed. "I agree with Apollo's objection. I vote no."

"Athena?"

"Discussion of this girl has peaked my interest. She could be a fascinating addition to our ranks. I vote yes."

"Ares?"

He sighed. "I don't like what she's done to you. The old you was more fun, in my opinion. I vote no."

"Aphrodite, should I even bother asking?"

She smiled hugely at Hermes. "I vote yes!" she sang.

"Hephaestus?"

"I agree with Dionysus. I know how capricious gods can be." Aphrodite wilted slightly. "I vote no."

"Dionysus?"

The god of madness stared calmly at Hermes. "My Ariadne is eager to meet your girl. I vote yes."

"Artemis?"

"She is one of the bravest mortals I have ever met. I vote yes."

"Apollo?"

"I still don't trust this. I vote no."

"Hera?"

The queen's face remained expressionless as she thought it over. "You realize, Hermes, that you would have full responsibility for her actions?"

"Yes."

"Anything she does, any time she breaks the rules, both you and her will be punished. It is your duty to ensure that she knows how to act, that she knows what is allowed and what is not. She will be bound to you and you to her; you cannot just leave her to her own devices if you grow uninterested in her."

"I know."

"Very well, then. I see no reason to argue against it. I vote yes."

Hermes beamed. "That's the majority vote!"

Zeus held up his hand. "Not exactly. With my double vote, I could make it a tie if I were to side against her immortality."

Hermes glowered. "How can I convince you?"

"How would she be useful?"

"Useful? So now people have to be—" Hermes cut off abruptly. "She is a talented artist and musician."

"We have many of those," Zeus remarked coolly.

Hermes gritted his teeth. "She is a skilled mediator; she could work under my domain."

"You have assistants for that."

"None that can calm me down as well as she can."

Zeus shrugged.

"She is a distraction." The gods turned to Dionysus in surprise. "Do you not see her potential? We have just finished a war between the gods. We need to gain back their trust by showing them that we can be merciful, that our reign is not tyranny as it was for our predecessors. What better way than to deify the mortal who assisted us? Make her one of the 'minor gods' and let her tell the others how much better it is than what she used to have. They will believe her. And we will stave off another revolt."

Hermes grinned gratefully at Dionysus as Zeus mulled this over. "What makes you so sure they'd believe her?"

Hermes intercepted this. "Have you not seen her? She personifies innocence. That she was lying would never even cross their minds. And besides, I highly doubt that she would feel the need to lie in the first place."

Zeus grumbled, rubbing his beard. "Fine. You've convinced me. I vote yes. You may return to your mortal's side and tell her." Hermes beamed and dashed out of the room. Zeus turned to Dionysus. "Why are you so heavily on his side?"

The god of revelries smiled. "I've been him before. You don't seem to remember that."

"Lucy!" The girl jumped and peeked out from under the covers as Hermes appeared. He ran to the side of her bed and picked her up, spinning her around. "Lucy!"

"What?" she asked, startled.

He set her down and hugged her, burying his face in her hair. "They said yes. They said you can," he murmured happily. "They said yes!"

"Yes to what?" She pulled away, looking at him in confusion.

"You can become immortal. You can be a god. They said yes!"

Lucy froze, the ecstatic expression he expected not appearing. "Oh," she said faintly.

Hermes' smile turned uncertain. "What's wrong, Luce? Aren't you happy? Come on, let's go, we can do it now, it's not difficult, just—"

Lucy resisted his tugging. "Hermes, wait."

He stopped, trepidation making his heart beat faster. "What?"

Her gaze darted around the room, pausing at her feet. "I don't…immortality…I can't…"

"What, Lucy? What's wrong? Don't you want immortality?" He bent down to lightly brush his thumb across her cheek. "Don't you want to be a god?" he asked softly.

Her eyes flickered up to meet his. "No."