Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus. I don't own anything written by Rick Riordan.

Author's Note: Hey, everybody. Thanks for all the support and ideas for names. I used a combination of various options and then used some ideas to come up with different ones. I realized that the Romans gave the gods a couple of names, so I gave Seph a combination as well. You'll see what it is.

I have to apologize. I won't be able to write at all for at least two weeks and even after that, it is doubtful for a bit. The reason? I sprained my wrist, and it hurts to type or write. I'm barely managing my school work because it's the wrist I write with. The point is that I can't update for a bit.

So, after this update, I, once again, will not be updating till at least July. I am so sorry. I WILL NOT FORGET THIS STORY, THOUGH, OR DISCONTINUE IT. THANKS SO MUCH FOR STICKING WITH ME THROUGH ALL OF THESE BUMPS, GUYS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PM ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.

Also, missawesome-demigodish submitted the 100th review and I will be writing a one-shot to her specifications! Wow, this is super difficult. So if anyone has any ideas for this prompt, please send them in: How 'bout Fem!Percy/Jason, Fem!Percy/Leo, Fem!Percy/Nico, etc etc. Like they're fighting over her, and Percy being oblivious goofball she is, she won't even notice (Until someone actually asks her out, like straight forward). Jason gets her in the end. (Like bringing her gifts and such, taking her out to "dates" and all that. Not too OOC, like, whatever they do still fits in their personalities in the books but you know. I think you get the idea.)

Guest:

fearlessshadowhunter: Thanks for the idea, but I have a much more nefarious plot in mind.

Pink lady of love: Thank you.

Dizzyizzy124: Octavian won't be involved, because he died in The Blood of Olympus. I'm not staying canon with that book on a lot of things, but I think that, in particular, was important. You will be seeing more of the Seven, just not in the immediate chapters. They will be involved in the war, though.

Chapter X: The Romans

Seph and Iapetus flashed back to her palace late in the evening to find Damasen putting the finishing touches to a large pot of ambrosia soup.

"Hey, Sen," greeted the woman. "That smells good."

The Giant turned to grin at her. "I should hope so. Why don't you go set the dining table while I finish this up?"

Seph nodded and exited the kitchen.

Damasen turned to Iapetus. "How is she?" he asked, wasting no time in getting to the point.

Iapetus grimaced. "I don't know. It seems that the Seven and Triton believed her; Amphitrite did not. Sally and her husband have forgiven her for her absence this last decade," he reported. "She will visit Camp Jupiter tomorrow and then try to track down Nico di Angelo. But she refuses to give Camp Half-Blood a chance - she says that Chiron was a witness against her and has probably convinced all the Greek demigods of her guilt."

Damasen sighed. "Well, I can't say I disagree with her assessment."

Iapetus nodded. "I know... At this point, all we can do is support her and prepare for the war with Tartarus.

Seph pulled Iapetus to his feet. "We need to get out of here," she yelled, tugging at his hand. "There's a whole pack of Hellhounds making its way here. There are Cyclopses with them. I think they mean to set fire to the hut!"

Iapetus sprang into action, grabbing his weapons. "Where's Damasen?" he asked, strapping on his spear.

"He's packing food and other supplies. He's already taken his weapons," replied Seph promptly, struggling to attach her sheaths to her back with a broken arm.

"There," said Iapetus, gently batting her hand away from the buckle, "let me." He made quick work of the strap and then plunged her swords into the sheaths and her dagger into her boot. "Come on." He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of their room and into the main area of the hut.

"Iapetus!" yelled Damasen. "Catch!" he tossed the Titan a bag of food, before picking one up, himself.

The immortals rushed out of the hut they had learned to call home and battled their way through the swamp's murky waters.

They stopped a hundred yards away and looked back, just in time to see the hut go up in flames.

"We'll have to stay on the move, now," decided Damasen forlornly.

Iapetus and Seph reluctantly nodded in agreement.

Without another word, the three turned in unison and raced off into the darkness.

Iapetus wrapped his arms around Seph's waist from behind as she stepped out of her room after changing into a blood red tank top that showed off the scars lining her pale skin, her drakon-skin leggings, and her leather boots. "What's up with you?" he asked, running a hand down her bare arm. "You've never let your scars show before. In fact, you've gone out of your way to hide them."

Seph leaned into him. "I need them to understand what they did to me, Iapetus, by sending me to that infernal pit. They hurt me, and now they think it'll all be fine - that I'll just forgive them... I can't, though, and I need them to understand." She paused and turned in his embrace to bury her face in his chest. "I know that I got most of these scars before I fell into Tartarus, but... They don't see the emotional scars. But they can see the physical ones.

"I just need them to understand."

Iapetus tightened his grip on her. "They will," he whispered fiercely. "They will understand what they did to you. And on that day, they will beg for your forgiveness."

Seph and Iapetus flashed into the forum of Camp Jupiter to be met with a yelling and screaming senator adamantly disagreeing with something the praetor, Michael Kahale, had just said.

The second Reyna, the other praetor, laid eyes on Seph, she shouted for quiet. "Quies!"

The senate piped down to see what the fuss was about. They quickly knelt when they saw the goddess.

"Lady Maris," asked Reyna, "what brings you here?"

Seph's form quickly flickered into her Roman one. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun, a few stray curls escaping it. A short, leather dress replaced her clothing and her feet bore golden gladiator sandals. Imperial Gold shin and arm guards protected her.

Fortis Praelia Maris revelled in the feeling of assuming her Roman form after a decade. "Romans," she ordered, "at ease."

The senators reclaimed their seats silently as Maris walked to the head of the table. The praetors moved to side to make room for her.

"I came here to find out whether the Twelfth Legion remained loyal to me despite the accusations that were flung at me," announced the goddess, scrutinizing the Senate.

Reyna stepped forward. "We did, milady. You were once a praetor and we never leave one of our own behind on the words of those who have never known the trials we have faced together regardless of how long it has been since they served. You proved yourself with valor and distinction during your short stint with us and you earned our undying loyalty and trust. Regardless of what our gods may have said, you, being one of our patrons, have the final word."

Maris smiled. "I thank you for your loyalty." She turned to Reyna and spoke quietly. "I would like to meet you in the Principia once the meeting is over. We need to catch up."

Reyna allowed a rare grin to cross her face. "It would be an honor."

Maris sat on a chair in the Principia, awaiting Reyna's arrival alone. Iapetus had returned to Olympus to talk to Damasen about something.

"Hello, Percy," greeted Reyna, as she strode in.

Immediately, Maris reverted to her Greek form of Persephone. "It's Seph, now, actually."

The praetor raised an amused eyebrow. "Very well, Seph. How are you?" She was serious, now.

Seph sighed. "I- I'm doing as well as can be expected," she answered honestly. "I'm not on the road to forgiveness, by any means, but at least I'm not trying to kill the gods for what they did to me."

Reyna smiled. "That's the best we can hope for. If anyone expects any more of you, they are a fool."

Seph crossed the room to give Reyna a hug. "I'm glad you're still here, Rey," she said.

The Roman raised an eyebrow. "I'm not that easy to kill, you know. Now, I know that part of the reason you're here is so you can track down Nico."

Seph gave a firm nod. "That is true. Are you aware of his whereabouts?"

Reyna nodded. "Rachel - you oracle - moved here after the whole fiasco about your banishment. She didn't agree with the ruling, but she still wanted to be helpful, so she came here and has been providing prophecies in the augur's stead since Octavian died. She recently foretold your arrival and IMed Nico about your wish to meet him. The Ambassador of Pluto will be here shortly."

Seph grinned. "That's so like Rachel!" She sobered quickly. "Do you know if Nico believed what they said about my betrayal?"

"Nico... He spoke to the dead souls of those six demigods. They confirmed that you did, indeed, kill them. But Nico had a niggling feeling that there was something missing from the equations. The past decade was spent researching different ways of possession. The last time he was here, he mentioned he was starting to look into blessed monsters. He'll be glad to know he was on the right track."

The goddess's grin returned. She was about to speak, when the room darkened as the shadows coalesced.

A dark haired, olive skinned boy stumbled out of them. His aura was demanding, powerful. His eyes were intense. His body was built powerfully, like a warrior's.

But Seph found the love and childish excitement she was looking for in him and flung her arms around her cousin.

"Hey," greeted the boy breathlessly.

"Nico!" exclaimed Seph. "It's so good to see you again."

The son of Hades grinned. "So, I heard you're going by Seph, now."

The woman nodded, humming, arms still wrapped around him.

"Awesome!" he exclaimed. "It sounds cooler than Percy."

She chuckled and ruffled his hair. "How 'bout you, di Angelo? Any changes I should know about?"

"Well," he said, "Hades is thinking of getting the Council to make me immortal. Something about needing a lieutenant for his armies."

Seph gasped. "Now I can bug you for eternity."

Nico gave a mock groan. "Maybe I should turn the offer down."

Seph suppressed a smile. "Don't you dare," she warned.

Nico nodded. "Of course I wouldn't," he said softly. His form straightened and he regained some of the edges he'd had before Seph had hugged him. "Now, we need to talk."

Seph frowned. "What about?"

The room darkened.

"Tartarus."

A/N: Like I said, I won't be updating till July because of a sprained wrist.

How did you like this chapter? I haven't edited it yet, because writing out the A/Ns took long enough with one hand.

Anyways, give me ideas for this plot as well as the plot for the one-shot I promised in the first A/N.

Thanks, and review!