I'm happy about all the positive comments I got from you guys in my first chapter, and I'm so glad you like the story. Here's your reward for being awesome: CHAPTER 2 :D! Okay, first of all some shout outs:

Anna

Mage202

PercyJackson7

Thanks for your reviews and I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much as the last one. Review again if you like or if you have a request or suggestion.

Gee xx

Poseidon lay awake facing the brilliant white marble ceiling of Athena's bedchambers. He had been up for quite a long time, but Athena wasn't so he was stuck with her lying partially on top of him and sleeping peacefully. Even if she hadn't been draped over him, he couldn't think of one plausible reason why getting up would be better than this. He could hear her soft, slow breathing. The mild exhalation from her nose created a small draft that tickled against his chest every time she drew breath. She was warm and soft and as he looked down on her, she smiled slightly in her sleep. Giving out a contented sigh, he smiled himself and went back to staring at the ceiling.

It wasn't long before Athena began to stir, nuzzling into Poseidon's side. Her early morning groan caught his attention and he look down again to see her smiling up at him through her sparkling grey eyes. He beamed at her and stroked her forehead.

"Good morning." He greeted her in a whisper. She giggled at the way his hair stuck up at the top and moved so she was lying on top of him, her face a few inches above his as her arms rested on his chest, propping her up. She leaned down slightly and pecked his lips.

"Good morning yourself." She replied before weaving her delicate fingers into his thick hair to attempt to flatten it. After a few minutes of losing to his stubborn hair's resistance, she gave up and just played with it aimlessly while he watched her. Even watching her do something useless for no reason enchanted him. She noticed him staring at her and ceased her actions with his hair, withdrawing her hand to meet the other resting on his chest. She cocked her head and looked at him pensively. He groaned at the loss of contact.

"I was enjoying that." He joked. She continued to look at him.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Nothing. I just love you." He said simply, causing her face to erupt into a wide grin.

"Good. I love you too." she replied. He smirked out of satisfaction over having won her over and a little surprise, but she never saw it. She leant down and kissed him again, but this kiss was open-mouthed and more hot and needy than the last. Poseidon moved his hands to behind her head in an effort to draw her nearer. At first she yielded to him and kissed him with more passion, wanting to apologise to him as much as she could for her actions the evening before. As she opened her mouth and allowed his tongue to enter her mouth, they both heard a familiar whooshing sound at the window and a breeze that caused the silk curtains to fly up into the room. Athena tore herself reluctantly from Poseidon and looked towards the window with a start. She covered herself with the sheets.

"It's Hermes! Poseidon you have to go!" she exclaimed, flustered as she clambered out of the bed and wrapped on of the bed's the satin sheets around her naked frame. Poseidon leapt up and began gathering his clothes from the floor of the room. Athena helped him until they both froze, hearing a voice at the window.

"Athena? Are you in there?" it was Hermes. For a moment their hearts stopped as they thought they had been caught. They had worked so hard to keep their affair from the other gods and they didn't want it getting out like this. Luckily, when their heads snapped up to the window, they let out sighs of relief seeing that the curtains had fallen back into place covering it. Athena pointed towards the door and Poseidon nodded, carrying his clothes into the hallway. She pinned the thin fabric of the sheet tight against her body and approached the window, pulling back the curtains and looking at Hermes, who was hovering in front of her.

"Oh," he said, looking her up and down in nothing but the sheet and a put-out expression, "I didn't realise you were… erm… no matter. I just came to give you this." He held out a scroll to Athena, who took it with one hand as she used the other to keep the sheet up.

"Who sent it?" she asked, not opening it.

"Ares. He said it was important and that Zeus instructed him to inform you of whatever it is in there so I took the liberty of not reading it." he said with a sly grin. She shot him a disbelieving look. "Honestly! I swear to Zeus I didn't read this one." He insisted.

"Okay, if you say so." Athena replied with a hint of warning in her voice. "Forgive me for doubting you, but you do have a… custom for reading other people's messages."

"Well not this one. If someone says 'urgent' I'm out. I'm a prankster, not an idiot." He assured her, now looking serious. She gave him a small smile as she took a step back from the window.

"Thank you, Hermes." She said appreciatively. His face broke back into its mischievous grin and he gave her a wink.

"Any time." He chortled before turning on his heels and whizzing away into the early morning sky. Athena rolled her eyes in amusement and discarded the scroll on her dresser. As soon as Hermes was out of sight, she let the sheet drop and closed the curtains. Poseidon then came back in behind her, refastening his jerkin.

"Is he gone?" he asked her, not looking up to see she was naked. Without thinking she turned around and threw herself at him, pressing her full lips firmly on his and cradling his face with her hands. He was taken aback at first but it didn't take long for him to respond. He kissed her back fiercely with immense passion. Caressing her tiny waist and lifting her off her feet he spun her around and then put her down and let her go. She was breathing heavily and looking at her hands as her fingers ran over the contours of his breastplate, which moulded to the shape of his sculpted chest underneath with remarkable precision.

"I don't know why I did that." She chuckled, bemused at her own behaviours as she looked up into his sea-green eyes. He smiled back at her.

"I do." He replied and he kissed her again causing her knees to go weak. He held her steady and they began to sway. As they broke their heated kiss, Athena tilted her head back to allow Poseidon the access he needed to leave a path of smaller kisses down her throat. She hummed contently as his tongue darted out and drew a trail down her neck towards her exposed chest and one of his hands reached up to softly tease and knead one of her breasts.

As she moaned and purred in response to the pleasure Poseidon was lavishing her with, she flicked her long hair out of her face with a quick swing of her neck. As she did so, she caught a glimpse of the scroll still sitting on her dresser in the corner of her eye. She knew then that as much as she wanted Poseidon to continue, she had to see what was so important for Ares to send the message urgently.

"Poseidon…" she tried to say in a strict tone, but it came out in a gasping moan. Thinking she wanted him to carry on, he kissed further down and reached her right breast. He nipped it gently and took her hardened nipple into her mouth, causing Athena to cry out.

"Poseidon!" she screamed, unable to think straight for a moment. She knew she had to stop this before she became powerless to do so. Sliding her hands into his thick hair, she tugged softly on the messy strands forcing him to face her. His brow furrowed as he stopped pleasuring her, confused.

"Are you alright, my love?" he asked, his voice laced with concern. She smiled at his attentiveness and pecked his nose.

"I'm fine. I just think I should read what Ares sent me." She assured him. He reluctantly let her go and she walked across the room to the dresser and picked up the scroll. Poseidon opened the door to her wardrobe and fetched her silk robe. He walked up behind her and wrapped the garment around her shoulders, his hands sliding around her waist as he fastened it and staying there just to hold her close. Athena slid in one arm into the sleeves followed by the other and then opened the scroll, studying it with her brow furrowed in concentration.

As she read, she leant her head back against Poseidon, enjoying the simple contact and getting comfortable. Poseidon buried his face in the crook of her neck and began kissing down her shoulder. It wasn't until Athena read about halfway down the page that her expression changed to one of horror.

"Oh my Gods and Goddesses." She muttered as she yielded from Poseidon's grip and refolded the scroll so he couldn't see what was written there. Poseidon looked confused once more as she yielded herself from his grip and turned around to face him.

"You have to go." she said in a rushed and flustered voice, pushing on his chest to guide him towards the door. He let of a disordered huff of breath and his eyebrows knitted together.

"W-what? What is it? What's wrong?" he asked, standing strong so she couldn't push him away. She was persistent and continued to try and manoeuvre him to her bedroom door although she knew she was fighting a losing battle if he didn't want to go.

"Poseidon you can't see this. Trust me, if I could tell you I would in a heartbeat but I can't." she insisted.

"Why can't you tell me? What-" he began but Athena cut him off mid-sentence.

"Do you love me?"

"W-what?" Poseidon asked, stumped at her sudden question.

"Do you love me?" Athena repeated with just as much sincerity in her voice.

"O-of course I do, Athena. You know I do." He replied firmly. Athena gave a small smile then nodded.

"Then trust me. As soon as I can tell you what's going on, I will. That's a promise. But right now I have to deal with it on my own, and you have to go." he said gently. She ran her hands over his breastplate covered chest affectionately and applied light pressure to push him towards the door again. He took her hands in his and nodded in understanding.

"Okay." He whispered, "I'll go. But if there's anything going on that upsets you, tell me."

"I will." She agreed.

"And as soon as this is cleared with Zeus, you'll tell me what's going on?" he inquired.

"I promise." She assured him. Poseidon then leaned down slightly and planted a small kiss on to her soft lips. She missed the contact immediately after it was gone.

"Alright. I'll leave you to it. Farewell." Poseidon whispered against her lips. He stepped backwards from her and turned to walk to the door. Once, he reached it, he stopped for a moment and looked back at her over his shoulder.

"I love you." He said a final time.

"I love you too." she muttered so quietly he only just heard it. He smiled to himself as he disappeared from her view, down the stairs, and exited her temple.

When he was out of view, Athena ran back to her desk and picked up the scroll, unfolding it again and continuing to read the note Ares had sent her. Every time she read over the words, the panic and worry set in even deeper within her soul. She had wanted to tell Poseidon what it said so badly, but she knew it was her duty to do as Zeus instructed.

Dear sister Athena,

Zeus has received word from Hades in the Underworld that the Pit of Tartarus has been compromised by forces unknown from the inside, and that the ruptures are expanding daily. He is doing all he can to prevent the breach from opening the gates but he fears his efforts alone will not be enough if it continues to grow at the rate it is. It brings me the gravest displeasure to convey this message to you, my dear sister. The Olympians' worst fear has been realised: The Titans are planning to escape and take back Mount Olympus.

Apollo has already prophesied the Titans are planning to break free. You and I both know that means it will happen. He is never wrong. Only he, Zeus, I and now you now of this and I must insist that you do not tell anyone else. Zeus himself commands it. You and I are needed at the Olympian council room at noon to theorise what strategy would be best to defend and repel the Titans' forces when they come.

Ares

Athena was motionless for a moment. She couldn't believe that this was actually happening. The titans were banished before she was born. She knew her mother had been one, but she was hardly coming back now having made her way through Zeus' digestive system. It wasn't her she was worried about facing again anyway. It was Oceanus.

Oceanus had not originally fought against Zeus with the rest of the Titans when the Olympians revolted (along with Prometheus and a few others), so had first escaped the judgement they received. After Athena had sprouted from Zeus' forehead a short while later, Poseidon wasn't the only one to be taken by her beauty; Oceanus had too. With his previous consort now in Tartarus, God's law allowed him to marry again. While Poseidon kept his affection for Athena quiet so as not to chase her away or upset her, Oceanus had made is lust for her quite clear. He even followed her to her temple and tried to persuade her to let him inside. She was sure he knew she was too wise to comply with such a request, but she was also wise enough to know he was more likely trying to get her attention than into bed so quickly. However, after this, he repeatedly pestered Athena and continually offered himself to her, though she showed little interest.

His infatuation soon became an obsession, and Athena continued to reject his advances. Oceanus brought himself before Zeus, and flattered him tactically with compliments. Zeus shouldn't have fallen for this in Athena's opinion, but Zeus' ego was always his weakness. He begged Zeus for his permission to marry Athena, and at this point, Zeus began to see through his tactics. He suggested that Athena make the decision by giving him a riddle and, provided he could give her the answer within 3 days, he would give him Athena as a prize. Athena still remembered the riddle. It was suspended in her subconscious like oil in water:

I am the beginning of the end, and the end of time and space. I am essential to creation, and I surround every place. What am I?

Unable to give the correct answer in 3 days, Zeus rejected his wish to marry Athena. Enraged, Oceanus laid waste to Olympus and kidnapped Athena, taking him with her back to Arcadia. While she was there, the paradise of Arcadia began to decay, as the peace and tranquillity it represented had been corrupted. It was soon a baron wasteland and Athena drifted through it feeling miserable and lonely, refusing Oceanus' pleas for her to come to his bed. Embittered by her distain for him after everything he had done 'for her' as he put it, he denied her access to his palace (the only place that remained untainted) until she bowed to his wishes. She was left to sleep outside in the crumbling runs of Arcadia amongst the rocks and dead foliage for a year. Every night before going to bed, he would descend from the palace and ask her to come to bed with him. Every night she refused saying 'I'll die first'.

The Olympians, led by Zeus who was enraged at the kidnapping of his favourite daughter, used this year to come up with a plan of attack to release Athena from the now barricaded Arcadia and bring her back to Olympus. Zeus' patience with Oceanus had run out and he planned to throw him in Tartarus with the rest of the Titans when they apprehended him. Oceanus during this time, had become impatient with Athena, and descended this time with no intention of asking Athena to bed. He pinned her to the cold dry ground of what had once been a paradise and attempted to rape her. This furthered the corruption and decay of the land, and allowed the Olympians to smash through the barricade and rescue her before he could complete the act, leaving Athena with her virginity intact and safe back at home.

Athena was present with all the other members of the Olympian council when Oceanus with condemned, despite initial reservation about seeing him again. She showed him no mercy, and watched silently as Hades opened the door to the Pit of Tartarus and pushed him in along with Poseidon and Zeus. He never took his eyes off of her while he fell. His cruel, icy pale steely blue eyes locked on hers until they were finally consumed by the fires below. She knew he would never forgive her for not interjecting, not that she had any reason to. Now he was sure to escape with the rest of the Titans and come after her again. He would probably have re-joined their ranks now he too was banished. If he wasn't stupid, he would know the Fates favour those in large numbers and that he would have a better shot at revenge with them. And Athena knew Oceanus wasn't stupid. He was cruel, spiteful, vengeful and vindictive, but never stupid.

Knowing there was no time to lose, Athena hurried to get dressed and left, heading for the grand high Olympian council temple at the centre of Olympus. It was noon exactly when she got there, and a she entered he saw that Ares, Apollo and Zeus were already there. She put on her brave, passive-aggressive face and strolled in confidently as they eyed her gravely. She approached them at the table where they had a small, moving replica of the entrance to Tartarus to analyse.

"Welcome, my daughter." Zeus greeted sternly. He then went back to staring at the replica. Little bursts of fire spat from crack in the miniaturised black iron gates, indicating the damage done to them. "Hades tells me this breach will not hold until the end of this month."

"Time runs short." Apollo said, "They'll be coming soon. We must defend ourselves."

"Like hell we do. We need to attack!" Ares interrupted, "We need to go down there and push them back into hell before they can even rise up out of it!" Athena shook her head as she thought.

"No. That's not a rational plan. If the Titans can cause a breach like this in the gates of Tartarus, they've clearly thought of a way out of the Underworld. To attack there would be doing them a favour. If we're here when they come we'll at least have the home advantage." She explained. Zeus and Apollo nodded in agreement but Ares looked even angrier.

"So the plan is we wait here like sitting ducks for them to come and butcher us?! I don't think so!" he raved.

"Peace, Ares!" Zeus calmed him he then looked at Athena, who was deep in thought. You could almost see the cogs whirring and ticking inside her head.

"I propose we guard the gate with as many allies as we can gather. That will slow them down and decrease their numbers. Zeus can stay here and assist with thunderbolts. If and when our barricade in penetrated. We should remain up here and keep the high ground. That way we keep the tactical advantage over them." She eventually came out with, earning a nod of approval from Zeus and Apollo and a reluctant tilt of the head from Ares.

"Alright, sister. But when it comes to the battle, I have jurisdiction over how we attack." Ares growled.

"I do not deny you that." Athena assured him. She then remembered her promise to Poseidon to tell him of the events as soon as she could. "Father, the other Gods, we must warn them." She added. Zeus thought, and then slowly nodded.

"Yes, we must. I feel however that calling a meeting of the council will lead to arguments about how best to attack and we must not fall apart now of all times. Tonight I will summon Demeter, Hestia, Aphrodite and Hermes to mine and Hera's chamber. There I will tell them. I will then end Hermes to inform Persephone and Hades of our plans."

"I'll tell Artemis." Apollo offered.

"I'll tell Hephaestus and tell him to make more thunderbolts." Ares said.

"I guess that leaves me to tell Poseidon." Athena finished, not showing through her joy at how that had worked out for her. Her brothers and father still didn't know about their relationship and she intended to keep it that way. Anyway, right now they had enough to worry about.

"Dismissed." Zeus muttered, turning to leave through the back of the temple towards his own bedchambers. Athena, Apollo and Ares all left through the entrance where Apollo boarded his chariot and took off, and Ares left in the direction of Hephaestus' workshop. Athena continued alone to her own temple. If Poseidon wasn't already there, she would have to send her owl to summon him. This was a technique she had adapted to since she had begun this affair. They couldn't risk using Hermes. He always did have a weakness for read other peoples' messages and that would be a disaster.

Reaching her bedchambers and releasing her owl from its cage, letting it fly out of the window, Athena lay back on her bed. The bed she and Poseidon had made passionate love in just a few short hours before. Where he told her he would never let her fall, where he promised to be there to catch her. Where he told her she was nothing short of sweet perfection, beautiful, and where he told her that he loved her. Biting her lip and the fervour and passion of the memories, Athena allowed a small moan to escape her lips. Only looking up and seeing Ares' message again still sitting on her dressing table killed the mood.

Oceanus was still coming, and he was coming for Athena. And if he found out about her love for Poseidon, he'd come for him too. He'd kill him slowly, intimately, and he'd make her watch. He'd tell her it was all her fault and make her witness his handiwork. The mere thought of him hurting Poseidon because of her caused her breathing to increase and her pulse to rise. She was panicking now. She couldn't live without Poseidon. Not now. Not anymore. She needed him more than anything else in the cosmos. She could only hope he would keep his promise to her to not let her fall, and that he wouldn't fall himself in the process. They both needed to survive this. She didn't want to survive without him.