Hey there readers I hope you like the new cover. Just something I threw together since I have Photoshop Elements going to waste on my laptop :P Well this chapter comes to you live from my dorm at uni, so now all that you have to worry about is me having too much work to update haha. Anyway I hope you enjoy the chapter. Shout outs!

Lexi77 – Thanks! Here's hoping you continue to love it.

Mimi – I'm glad you liked my decision to keep true to the Medusa side of things. Moving went fine thank you.

Jlover97 – I hope you don't stop reading it :P

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Guest – I wish I had your name so I could address you properly, but thank you for your kind words about my story. I've been moving and getting used to a new area, which is the cause of my tardiness, but I'm back now

Okay, other than that the usual notices: PM me with anything you might have to add to the story etc. etc. Other than that I hope you enjoy. Oh, and I don't want you to think that because I've been away I've been ignoring you. I really haven't. It brightens up my day when I receive emails telling me I have reviews

Gee xx

Following the cry was an eerie silence as all the Gods stood stock-still. There then came a rumbling that shook the very floor beneath them. It started low, and then gradually got louder until it was the only thing they could hear. The Olympians flocked out of the temple and down the steps into the courtyard, from which they could see the large golden gates in the distance. Beyond them was the army of satyrs, centaurs, nymphs, phoenix's and demi-gods they had gathered armed and waiting as the titans bore down on them. It wasn't long before they too came into view, pounding ever closer towards the gates filled with hate and the desire for revenge.

The army charged, not seeming to care that they were outmatched. The titans raged against them with iron fists and chains; what they lacked in armour and weaponry, they made up in fury, determination and strength. The Olympians watched in horror as whole hordes of satyrs were knocked airborne by a single swing of Cronus' chain. Poseidon looked back at Zeus, who caught his eye nervously. The screaming and wailing of those dying in their names pricked at their ears and stung their consciences. Athena then stood forward.

"They're fish in a barrel. If we plan to stall them for longer, we will need more than this. Artemis, Apollo." She called the twins, who stood forwards also. "Use your arrows. As far as I can see, the titans are unarmed and relying on strength alone. Rain fire on them from above."

The twins nodded and ran to their chariots, stationed in the square for use in battle. Taking flight the two of them soared over their loyal army, and loosed arrow after flaming arrow at the titans with pin-point precision. One hit Coeus in the shoulder, and he recoiled in pain, doubling over. The pause it caused him gave a herd of centaurs their chance to attack, blinding him with arrow fire from below. The attack made him momentarily fall and sink beneath the hordes, but he soon resurfaced, sacking the herd and sending hundreds flying. Their blood painted the ground in thick, steady streams of scarlet.

Rhea stood aside and did nothing as the battle ensued. She did not want to fight with her husband and their brothers and sisters, but could not risk fighting against them; she was outnumbered. It made her weep to see these good and innocent creatures fighting and dying for what they believed in as they wailed and bled. They were fighting a losing battle against the might of the titans. She then heard a crashing above her head, and watched Artemis fly overhead on her golden chariot at speed. She strung her bow and loosed several flaming arrows at Cronus who stood mere feet away. Cronus turned and looked up angrily at her as she continued her assault, her flaming hair blowing in the wind and framing her face in fire. He pulled the arrows she fired out of his shoulder and sent them flying back at her. Artemis' chariot failed as they struck, and she began to fall. Rhea, acting of instinct, flung herself in its path and cushioned its landing.

Pain flew through her in striking throbs as she lay motionless under the chariot. Her eyelids became heavy and her sight blurred, reducing everything she saw to faded shapes. She could feel golden ichor seeping steadily from a gash cut deep into her leg by one of the chariot's large golden wheels. Artemis, who had not seen her grandmother beneath her, raised the chariot again to flee her charging grandfather. As she rose, it cut into Rhea further before releasing, and left her lying bleeding on the battlefield with many others.

The other Olympians watched the carnage from their perch in the square. The clouds around them turned grey and the sky above them darkened. A stretch of the blackest black above their heads blotted with inky red, mirroring the hue of the masses of blood still spilling from those loyal to them. Zeus gripped his sword tighter, the itch to use it becoming ever stronger in him and his brothers and sisters. Then, suddenly out of the chaos, there was a strange quiet; a hush that fell over the battlefield. The gods waited for news on what was happening as they watched the groups of centaurs, phoenixes and nymphs, injured and broken, pick themselves up and regroup. Artemis and Apollo came sailing back to them on their chariots, leaping out of them before they even touched the ground.

"What news, daughter?" Zeus asked Artemis, as she was the first to approach him. She eyed them all gravely and Apollo came up behind her.

"The titans have ceased their attack. They request an audience with the council." She told them.

"Cronus is not to be tried, father." Apollo warned. "My sights tell me that if he is angered, he will declare war and raise Olympus to the ground." Zeus thought for a moment on what his children had told him, and then turned to face the others, who all looked to him loyally. He raised his eyes to them.

"Let them come. We will meet with them, but I will not allow them more than an hours' stay, and we will talk only. They are not to be trusted on this side of the gates. We run a great risk letting them in. Apollo, go to the gates and bring these terms to them. Be sure they understand that while we are allowing them temporary entrance, they are not welcome here." He ordered. Apollo nodded and clambered back onto his chariot. Hermes looked a little bitter that his father was sending Apollo rather than himself, but he said nothing. "The rest of you, get back into the temple. We await the arrival of our unwelcome guests. Prepare yourselves and be sure to remember that whatever they may say or promise us, they cannot be trusted."

The Olympians obediently filed back into the Grand High Temple. They muttered amongst themselves as to the worth of the meeting, and their opinions as to whether or not they were strong enough to resist the promises and bargains they might be offered. They didn't immediately sit in their thrones, as there were those there who did not have a place on the council, but huddled in small groups around the room. A similar sense of dread and worry spread through all of them. Poseidon stood alone in a far corner, where he was approached by Hermes.

"Might I join you, Uncle?" he asked. Poseidon said nothing, but nodded his consent. Honestly, he was glad to have the company. He needed something to lift his spirits even a little in a time such as this.

"How do you feel?" Hermes asked him. Poseidon waited a while as he thought of an answer. He was feeling a lot of things, but some were not for sharing in these circumstances.

"I feel as ill as any of you. Only I know the full rage of the titans, and you do not." He said darkly, not looking his nephew in the eye. Hermes nodded.

"I do not deny this." He said. "Based on your… experience, would you say there will be a great war? Will we stand a chance against them?"

Again Poseidon thought for a long time before answering. Across the room he saw Athena standing with Aphrodite. His ocean blue eyes collided with her stormy grey ones for a single moment, during which she gave him a smile. It was a secret sort of smile one only gives to a lover. A smile that lets the other know they are thinking of them fondly and that no one else around could understand. He smiled back at her, knowing he had something to fight for as long as she saved that look for him, and him only. And he made a promise to himself that never again would he disgrace her, and he would be true to her once more.

"Yes, yes there will be a war. A mighty war." He told Hermes. "It will be long and hard, and many will perish. We will not be able to defend all of mankind against the vengeance of the titans." Hermes looked as though he were silently despairing. He looked down, feeling lost and that there was no hope. However, Poseidon was not done, and his voice caused Hermes to look up again.

"But there is always a chance. We will always have hope as long as we have something to fight for. I don't know if even Apollo or the Fates themselves could tell you the outcome of this war, but I know that as long as we can see the worth of what we are fighting to defend, we will not give them the satisfaction of saying they truly conquered us, even if the victory is theirs." He said strongly. Hermes nodded, inspired by his uncle's words.

"What are you fighting for, uncle?" Hermes questioned, hanging on Poseidon's every word for some sort of assurance that victory was possible. He did not notice his constant glances at Athena.

"Redemption." Poseidon answered slowly.

"For what?" Hermes inquired.

"Have you ever loved someone, Hermes? Have you ever felt like you could not be without someone, and yet your folly and animalistic lust delayed you from realising it?" he asked of him calmly, but his eyes were as wild as a maelstrom in the ocean. Hermes silently shook his head. Words failed him.

"I have." Poseidon continued. "My stupidity has kept me from my true love, whom I should have sought to marry long ago. And I intend to marry her as soon as this crisis is over."

Hermes was speechless. He had seen his uncle after carnal embraces with that nymph in the forests of Sandora more than once now, but he could not believe he sought to marry her, or even that he had found love with her. He couldn't think of a union Zeus would be less happy with for his brother. He was not fond of Parnicus nymphs, for what reason no other Olympian knew, but he would definitely see this nymph as beneath his favourite brother. Zeus always voiced his concern in letting that clan stay in the Paradise Gardens every time he heard of them stirring up trouble with mortals. He began to wonder if, providing he survived this war, he would survive the one the two of them would start over a union such as this. He thought perhaps it might be best to express this fear to someone should it still be an issue at the end of this battle, but at this moment in time, it was far from important.

Apollo then arrived, swiftly striding into the throne room and looking around at his relations with a grave stare. The quiet mutterings from them hushed in a matter of moments and all eyes fixed upon him. Congregations of gods and goddesses broke up and moved closer to the centre of the room. Zeus and Hera descended from their thrones and approached Apollo in silence, conscious of the tension in the air.

"The titans approach. They have agreed to our terms and say they have some sort of bargain to strike." Apollo addressed the room. There was muttering again.

"There is no bargain they can offer that will gain them Olympus." Zeus said sternly.

"They said that you would say that. Cronus says you will yet hear their offer and consider it." Apollo countered. Zeus' brow creased, but he did not flinch or shy away.

"Take your seats, council members. Others, position yourselves behind my throne." He ordered. Everyone did as he commanded without question.

Poseidon took his seat as usual at his brother's side and rested his chin on his hand, leaning his elbow on the armrest of his throne. Apollo walked out to show the titans in. There was a chilling silence in the room for a moment, and then a loud thudding got closer and closer to the temple. The ground began to shake once more, and the unease on each god and goddesses face became even clearer.

Then, through the doorway, Apollo appeared and behind him, the titans came into view. The Olympians all drew a slow breath in unison. At the front of the titans came their father, Cronus, towering at 7 feet high and scowling angrily around at them with his grey-green eyes glinting. Coeus – who was a little singed – and Oceanus followed him, the latter giving Athena a look that made her stomach churn though she did not show it. Poseidon noticed and glared at Oceanus, though his gaze did not leave Athena. Tethys, Phoebe and Mnemosyne followed by Themis, Crius and Hyperion. Soon all the titans had been shown through the door and were looming menacingly over the younger Olympians, each one looking as fear-inspiring as the next. Zeus dared not show fear or concern. He bravely stared his father down.

"Father." He said, the word seething from his tongue as though it were poisonous. Cronus gave a cruel smile.

"You are no son of mine." He sneered callously, the other titans sniggering amongst themselves. "You are, however, wise to have welcomed us back to our rightful home. The damage we were willing to do to get back by our own means would have far exceeded the damage we have already done."

"You presume much to think you are welcome here." Zeus countered cleverly. Poseidon nodded, as did Hera, their brows furrowed and their gazes unyielding. Cronus seemed unhindered. "Why have you requested audience?"

"I need request nothing from you, usurper!" Cronus spat, anger boiling in those cruel eyes. Zeus did not flinch.

"I am King of Olympus. True that is a position you once held. You were a king. A poor king, but a king none the less. As far as succession goes, since I was your only living son at the time your rule came into question, the throne belongs to me now." He explained slowly to ensure its effect was excruciating upon his father. Cronus roared with rage.

"Not while I live, you traitorous bastard!" he bellowed.

"Then live no longer!" Zeus cried, taking a lightning bolt from the bronze quiver beside his throne and raising it to strike. Cronus got ready to charge.

"No!" came Hera's voice as she stood in front of Zeus, hands pressed against his chest and staring at him sternly with a warning glare. Zeus looked away from his father and turned his gaze to her. They looked at each other for a while, as if having a silent conversation with their eyes only. Eventually, Zeus' face softened and he lowered his lightning bolt, though he grimaced at his father as he sat back down. Cronus came out of his battle stance and his expression returned to his cruel smile.

"Ah, yes, I was told you had a new wife. You had a little problem with the old one, didn't you?" he growled with a smirk. "Perhaps I should have taken a leaf out of your book, boy, and swallowed your mother when she was first pregnant. Because then NONE OF YOU WOULD EXIST!"

Zeus' eyes widened and he looked as though he were about to explode at his father for saying such a thing. Athena winced a little at his words about her mother. It was true her father had intended to kill both of them, but she had failed to hold him in contempt since she was now his favourite and he treated her so well. Cronus looked thoroughly pleased with himself. Hera looked livid also, her dark green eyes blazing and her nostrils flaring as they did whenever she found out about a new lover her husband had found.

"Not a bad choice for a wife though, I assure you. You have blossomed quite beautifully, daughter." Cronus continued. Hera scowled and Zeus reached over and clasped her hand protectively. "Married properly this time. The way a god should: to his most beautiful sister." Demeter and Hestia frowned at this, but did nothing to contribute. Zeus raised his eyebrows in testing.

"If you had swallowed your own wife, your fate would have been the same, if not by myself. A titan such as yourself does not go long without a consort. You are more animalistic and lust filled than any of us here put together. You are altogether evil, and any spawn of yours would want nothing more than to destroy you. Your wife was your one redeeming feature." He said coolly. As he spoke, Hera's eyes flitted around the room. She noticed that his wife was nowhere to be seen. Hades, Poseidon and Hestia saw what she was doing and looked around too, as did Demeter. Zeus soon realised what they were doing and looked around for a moment, but stopped himself and looked at his father hiding his newfound sinking feeling.

"Where is she?" he asked, as calmly as his nerves would allow. Cronus began to laugh; a cold and humourless laugh. He then slowly stood aside and revealed Rhea, who was gagged and bound in the titan's chains, held at each end by her other two brothers. The wound on her leg continued to weep golden ichor onto the marble floor, and she sobbed quietly, her face red and tear-stained.

"Shut up, woman!" Cronus snapped at her, kicking her wound hard and causing more ichor to rush out. Her scream of pain was muffled by the chain that muzzled her. Zeus flew up out of his seat, as did the other five of Rhea's children. He looked incredulously at his father, shocked that even he could stoop to such a level. He had not always been so vicious to his mother; in fact he had loved her once. Zeus had seen it while he was working as his cupbearer. He only turned on her when she chose her children over her husband, a choice no woman should have to make anyway.

"Let. Her. Go." he stressed through gritted teeth. Cronus smirked, knowing he had touched the nerve he had been aiming for.

"I intend to. My bargain is this: when you return Olympus to its rightful king, you shall have your mother back. The choice is yours, boy." He jeered. The other titans laughed harshly. Zeus and the others sat down again, but he did not take his eyes off of his mother, and she continued to look at him. She shook her head as much as her chains would allow. Zeus' eyes welled, the pressure of the decision getting to him. Minutes passed in silence. Cronus didn't seem to mind the wait. In fact he looked as though he enjoyed greatly watching his son wrestle with his conscience. After a long wait, Hera stood and glared at her husband.

"Oh, for the old Gods and the new, how can you see her like this? That's our mother!" she shrieked.

"And how can he just hand over Olympus for her? The wound won't kill her, he's cheating us!" Hades countered her. She turned to glower at him.

"You are right, of course." Cronus interrupted. "But it will fester. It will not heal without attention. Leave it untreated and it will remain for the rest of her life, which I assure you, will be miserable until the day you decide to save her."

"See! How can we leave her with these animals?! If it were not for we would not even be here!" Hera shouted.

"And I suppose you now think that he can be trusted?" Poseidon put in.

"Of course not!" Hera snapped defensively.

"Hera is right! Do you not care for her?" Demeter joined in the argument. Poseidon looked livid at her.

"How dare you even insinuate that!" he yelled. The entire hall then erupted into heated and fuming debate. Even Olympians who had not met Rhea were joining in. Zeus, however, did not. He continued looking forlornly at his mother, torn between his desire to set her free and guilt over having let her reside with them in Tartarus, and his duty to his fellow Olympians and to protect mankind. She looked back at him, her blue eyes gleaming, and then, as if it had been there the whole time, his mother's voice appeared inside his head.

You must not give Olympus back to him, no matter what he threatens to do if you don't. She said softly.

I will not leave you again. He argued firmly.

You must. I can handle him. I have done so my whole life. She insisted.

I can't let him keep you prisoner. Zeus stayed adamant.

And if you free me, what then? He will throw us all in Tartarus. You will have accomplished nothing, and lost everything. Either way my fate is set. But yours has yet to be decided. She soothed him.

But then you will never be free of him. You deserve freedom as much as any. More than most. You should not have to suffer him for all eternity. He protested.

Don't worry about me. No matter how different I might be from my brothers and sisters I am still one of them. The time of the titans is over. You must fight to lead the world into its new age, my son. She told him. And, although the chains covered her mouth, her eyes seemed to lighten as if she was giving him a sad smile. He nodded, then became aware of the noise around him.

"SILENCE!" he bellowed above them all. The abruptly hushed and looked at him, some casting bitter looks at those who had disagreed with them. They all sat back down, leaving Zeus alone standing. Cronus looked at his son, smiling expectantly. Zeus kept his eyes locked on his mother's to give him strength.

"You have made your decision, then?" Cronus asked him. Zeus nodded silently, still staring into his mother's worried eyes.

"I will never yield Olympus. If you declare war, so be it." he stated in a low and shaky voice. Rhea looked relieved. Her other children, however, looked devastated but said nothing. Cronus' eyes lit up with an anger so deep it had not been seen in them since the first time his children had defied him. Zeus looked up bravely at him.

"If war is war you wish, my son, then you shall receive it." he growled through gritted teeth, his entire body shaking with rage. He suddenly exploded with a voice that shook the heavens. "WE SHALL TAKE BACK OUR DOMAIN BY FORCE!"

"Then we shall meet you in battle. We shall fight to defend this land from you to the last man." Zeus countered defiantly. Cronus, a little taken aback at his son's bravery, calmed himself.

"At sunrise tomorrow, the battle begins." He eyed them all gravely.

With that, he turned and thundered out of the temple, followed by the rest of his kin. Oceanus and Coeus tugged violently on the chains binding Rhea, flipping her over onto her back with an ear-splitting crack. Zeus and his siblings winced, and a tear rolled down Hera's cheek. They pulled her out and down the steps, leaving a trail of ichor. They watched them go, with Apollo and Artemis following close behind to close the gates behind them to ensure they didn't plan to give a sudden attack. Once they were gone, Hera stood and slapped Zeus across the face.

"How could you have done that?! How could you just let her go after all she has done for us? For you!" she screamed. The rest of the gods were stunned into silence. Zeus did not fly into a rage, however, and remained of a gentle demeanour.

"Because she told me to." He answered simply, looking his wife in the eye. She looked even more shocked if that were possible.

"She – she what?" she asked, too stunned now to sound angry.

"In my head. She told me that even if I agreed to save her, the titans would throw us all right into the Pit of Tartarus. I'd be saving nobody. And she was right. Our only hope in saving our home is war." He said dejectedly. "We must be prepared at sunrise."

"Without me there will be no sunrise." Apollo pointed out. "I can give us some more time."

"My son, do not think that they will hold their forces merely because the sun is not in the sky. They will attack regardless. Do your duty for mankind. Do not keep their sun from the skies. If they are to perish that day, do not let it be a day lived in panic." Zeus told him. Apollo deflated his pride a little, and nodded. "Take leave for a few hours, prepare yourselves and take some rest. Be back here at nightfall."

"He turned and left through the back door to his own chambers, with Hera scuttling off after him, tears still streaming down her face. The other gods filtered out, with Demeter allowing Hades to leave with Persephone and herself, and Aphrodite leaving on the arm of Hephaestus, looking at him as though to apologise for all she had done to him as if this were the last chance she would have to do so. He gave her the same look. Seeing that seemed to give Poseidon a little more confidence about his own situation. He wasn't sure if Aphrodite and Hephaestus loved each other truly, or if they even would, but he knew Athena loved him. If they could forgive one another and be together for what could possibly be their last free night, he was sure he and Athena could work through what he had done.

Poseidon was the last to leave the temple. The clouds around Olympus were still dark and heavy, despite it not yet being night. He saw the titans on the other side of the gates regrouping. What remained of the army were on the safe side of the gates, where Hestia and Artemis were tending to them. He did not think to go home would be wise seeing as he would be alone and vulnerable to attack outside of Olympus, so instead, he headed for Athena's temple. He did not think she would object to seeing him, this of all times. Reaching her temple, he walked straight through the archway and looked around for her.

"Athena?" he called out. It was strangely quiet on Olympus since this threat began, and without the background noises, his voice reverberated off the walls. She then appeared at the top of the stairs and, seeing him, rushed down and flung her arms around his neck.

"Poseidon." She whispered when she let him go. "How can this be happening? How can we be forced into a war so suddenly just when everything was going right for us?"

"Be calm, my love." Poseidon soothed, holding her close in his arms. "Things will be right again when this is over."

"But what if something happens to you?" she simpered. He smiled at her.

"I do not intend to die." He told her simply. She beamed.

"I do not intend to die, either." She agreed. "I would sooner give up all my titles, and forsake all that I stand for than to die at their hands and give them that satisfaction." Poseidon felt a swelling sense of pride for her. She was the most perfect creature ever to exist in the cosmos. So brave, so fierce, so wild. He stroked a lock of her curls out of her face and tucked it behind her ear, and then kissed her forehead.

"And I would sooner give up all my titles than to see that adulterous, lust filled beast within ten feet of you again." He said. Her smile fell, and she looked into his eyes, her own silver ones gleaming brightly with determination.

"I do not fear him." She stated plainly. He just smiled again, and cupped her cheek.

"I know." He grinned. He leaned down and kissed her lips passionately, and all over again he thought of how wonderful it would be to have this woman like this forever. To have her always beside him. She pulled away from the kiss first and stoked his face, taking in every inch of it. She then leaned her forehead against his and whispered.

"Make love to me."

He could feel her words on his lips she was so close. Without saying a word he lifted her into his arms and leaned his head down to kiss her again. This kiss was a lot gentler than the previous one. Their lips didn't move hungrily against one another, they just connected. She wrapped her arms around his neck in an effort to be as close to him as their bodies would allow, weaving one hand into his thick hair. When they broke apart the second time, he smiled down at her.

"As you wish." He consented in words so quiet she would not have heard them had she not been staring so intently at his lips. He carried her up the stairs and into her bedroom, where he lay her down delicately onto the soft silken sheets. She unclipped her own breastplate and cast it aside as he stood over her and did the same with his own. He took off his armour and weapons and left himself standing before her in just his tunic, bare and vulnerable before her. She was reduced to just her thin gown, and she reached out a hand to him for him to join her. He took it and lay down on top of her, shielding her from the view of the world.

Athena brought his lips back to hers, and Poseidon's hands removed her dress sleeves from her shoulders and began to peel them down her arms. She wriggled her arms out as he moved them down and soon her chest was completely exposed to him. She loved it when he went slow like this and took the time to pleasure each part of her individually. She wrapped both her legs around his hips to keep him close to her, and to encourage him.

"Athena, was there ever a man as lucky as I to have found a woman as perfect as you?" Poseidon asked lovingly, raking his eyes over her chest and descending his lips to it to plant tender kisses over her breasts.

"I ask myself the same thing." She moaned as he kissed her neck. "How was I so lucky as to have you brought into my life? To have you love me like you do."

He moved down her throat with his lips at her words. It made him smile uncontrollably to hear her say such things about him. He felt her raise her legs slightly and hook her toes into the side of his tunic. Straightening her legs, she pulled the tunic clean off and kicked it away. Leaving him naked and his desire for her pressed against her thigh with only the thin fabric of her dress separating it from her. He groaned as she bucked up her hips and pressed her heated core against him. He momentarily ceased his kissing of her chest to move down her body and pull her dress all the way down. She raised her hips to for him, and then he slowly pulled it further along her shapely bronze legs, holding one up as he did so.

Once he had discarded of the dress, he kept hold of her leg at the ankle and planted small kisses up her calf to her knee. Putting it down and lying once more on top of her, he kissed her thighs, her hips, her stomach until he was back at her chest, and kissed her breasts. Warmth spread through Athena from the connection, and she drew Poseidon closer. Her hands slid down his back, and she raked her nails across it gently. His lips then found her nipples, and she bit her lip in an ill-contrived effort to supress the groan she let slip. He took one between his teeth and softly rolled it back and forth. Athena writhed in pleasure. Her moans were still soft but more clear and distinct now, and she had begun to mutter his name breathlessly. Poseidon gripped her hips tightly and raised his head to look Athena in the eye. He smiled down at her.

"Marry me." He said. It was neither a question nor a command, but rather a polite request made even though the answer is already clear. Tears welled in Athena's eyes and she cupped his cheek. She seemed unable to answer for a moment. "When this is over, Athena, marry me."

"I will." She sighed sweetly. He leaned down and kissed her lips slowly. She wrapped her arms and legs around him to keep him as close as possible. She opened her lips without him needing to ask for entrance, and his tongue explored her mouth freely. She moaned, and he could feel the tears trickling down her cheeks. He didn't want to pull away, but he wanted to see why she was crying. She whimpered at the loss of contact. As he looked upon her face, he could see she was smiling, and the tears were ones of happiness. She gave a watery smile and caressed his cheek lovingly.

"I love you." She murmured.

"I love you, too." he replied, leaning down to kiss her once more before aligning himself at her entrance and pushing his throbbing member into her, making them one once again.

Poseidon's rhythm was slow but hard, making Athena moan and thrash around on the sheets. He took his time, slowly pouring all his love into every thrust. They didn't have all the time in the world, but the least he could do was use the time that they had to make this perfect for her. She leaned her head up and began to kiss his neck, whispering sweet nothings into his ear. One of her hands reached down and ghosted over his abdomen, tracing the lined of his muscles, something she knew he loved.

Athena continued to moan softly and rocked with each stroke Poseidon made. He thrust slowly into her, building momentum and she moved her lips from his neck up to his own lips. She kissed him with fire and passion and he returned it with lust and love, still pumping into her throughout. It was as if they were made for each other since the beginning of time, before even the titans came into existence. His thrusts became more intense, deeper and shorter. His hastened pace caused Athena to gasp, and that sound pushed him over the edge.

Poseidon's climax triggered Athena's and they let go together, getting lost in each other. They forgot everything around them; all their troubles and fears no longer existed. They rode out their climaxes, and then Poseidon collapsed on top of Athena. His arms could no longer hold his weight after his release. He rolled onto the side and wrapped Athena in a tight embrace, still intent on keeping her close for as long as she was his. Right up until their time was up. Now was what mattered, and now it was all her.

"Poseidon?" she whispered.

"Mmm" he mumbled, not able to string together a coherent sentence with his energy so depleted.

"Do you remember when I told you that relationships were not my forte, and I didn't know how they worked or what to do? And that I was scared I would hurt you." she asked him.

"Yes." He muttered.

"That is no longer true." He sighed, kissing his chest above his heart and snuggling up to him. "And I know now that, whatever tomorrow may bring, my life is complete now, with you by my side." Poseidon smiled softly at the goddess in his arms.

"You are right." he agreed warmly. "You are always right. I will fight with your heart beside me, and know that you will fight with mine beside you."

"I know." She said, and then sleep took them both.