Delayed because of the death of someone I was very close to. Enjoy some fluffy stuff.

And to whoever complained about me making shit up for my enjoyment, may I remind you that all Greek mythology is made up by people for their own enjoyment. Besides. Roughly 90% of the expanded mythos in this story is from research I've conducted.

Sorry for the rant. I don't normally respond to negative comments. I've been told I'm in the anger stage of grief.

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Her son, Amphitrite decided, hadn't looked this happy in decades, if not centuries, as he did in the past month. Percy brought a sort of contentment and focus to him. Triton loved his little brother and wanted to help him and be the best role model he could. It grounded him.

These days, Triton didn't lose track of time when performing his duties. He was prompt at mealtimes and spent plenty of time with the demigod, showing him all of Atlantis with a small smile at Percy's awe. He was settled, and it was nice. It was as though Percy had brought her son back to her.

And yet, seeing her child now, she understood that Percy, Poseidon, and herself were not the ones he needed most to heal himself.

Both Triton's arms wrapped tightly around his wife's waist, their foreheads pressed firmly together. His face was pinched with pain and relief. Libya offered him a trembling smile and a quiet "hiya, handsome".

He laughed, incredulous, and tightened his hold. "I have missed you, my heart."

Libya hadn't left on good terms last. She'd ran when Triton was busy, only stopping long enough to write a quick note that she needed space and quiet. It'd been shortly after Franklin Roosevelt, one of Amphitrite's husband's previous demigods, had been paralyzed and almost killed. It'd brought back bitter memories of Pallas that hadn't ever truly healed.

"'M sorry I left. I shouldn't have abandoned you. You were in as much pain as me."

Triton pulled back enough to see her face fully. "As long as you return to me, I have not been abandoned." Here, her son communicated something rather inappropriate to say in front of his mother and little brother. Thankfully as a high enough pitch that Percy couldn't perceive it.

As happy as she was to see her son so passionate about something other than work and Percy, she didn't want to listen to her son wooing his wife, so she was quick to hustle a bewildered demigod out of Triton's room. Her sweet one was too innocent to witness Triton and Libya reacquainting themselves.

Percy shot her a grateful look as they moved to his room. The demigod was wearing days-old clothes and his hair was floating about like a kelp forest. Sally had called about the kidnapping only hours earlier.

"Let's get you freshened up. Did Libya feed you? Was it okay? If it was too spicy, I can get you something else to eat-"

Percy snorted. "I'm fine, ma."

Mouth shutting with an audible click, Percy turned to watch her with wide eyes. They were sporting matching blushes, but Amphitrite couldn't deny the curl of pleasure at the title, whether her sweet one meant it or not. All the same, Percy leaned heavily into her touch as she scritched at his mop of hair.

"As I have told you, sweetheart, You may call me whatever you wish."

She pulled back to give the clearly struggling child some space. Wandering to her step son's closet, she debated what to lay out for him to wear. Green was a good signifier of new beginnings and growth, but a greedy, and probably Roman, part of her demanded the littlest prince be decked in sumptuous fabrics of purple and gold. The colors of gods and emperors.

What with some insignificant little sprite getting uppity and stealing away a child of the sea gods, she felt a reminder to the people of Percy's station would not be remiss. Plus, she had just finished a matching set for her sons in a nice Tyrian purple. She had special-ordered the dye from Lebanon itself, home of the original sea snails.

Neptune had crafted them when she complained about a lack of color variety. Unfortunately, her idiot nephew, Hercules, had let his dog eat the prototypes and Jupiter had found out that they had a nice purple color and demanded it be shared with the rest of the pantheon. Amphitrite was still sour about the mess. At least now the color was a signifier of divinity.

By the time she had picked out a handful of golden hair beads and an arm band that looked like a coiled serpent, Percy had emerged from his restroom in a light cotton robe. He quirked an eyebrow at her choice of outfit, but wisely kept his mouth shut as he grabbed the clothes and disappeared behind the changing screen. Adorably bashful, this child of her heart.

"What's been happening down here for the last few days?"

She sighed. "Following our little heart-to-heart, your father's locked himself in his workshop for the first time in centuries. I have no idea what he's making, but it's not going well, judging by his cursing. Triton has had to take over all discussions with the Hudson god, and the East River god is displeased he was not included. I have had to handle court matters myself."

The top part of Percy's head peaked over the top of the screen. "Is there anything I can do to help? Er, I-I'm not too good at the whole "royal" thing, but maybe there's something I can take off your plate?"

He looked so unsure, she had to bite back a coo. It would be so easy to pull the child into her arms.

"With your father and brother… indisposed, I could use some company. Today we are hosting an open floor for Atlanteans to voice concerns, and I find it helps to not go at it alone."

This would be a nice way to ease Percy into courtly duties, test the water, so to speak, and see if he has any interest in the role. And she did so love showing off the little prince to his people. Boosting natural ascension and all that.

At his unsure look, she added, "You would not be expected to make decisions or address the people. And if it gets to be too much, you can leave."

"Any time I want?"

"Any time you want," she confirmed.

At his hesitant nod, she changed her plans for doing his hair. Several of the smiths Poseidon's forges had gotten bored and hosted a competition to see who could craft the royal family the be set of crowns. She loved the results and was wearing hers that very moment. And, well, Percy would look darling in the pearl and diamond number they had made him.

She ignored that by wearing complimenting regalia in public without Poseidon present, Amphitrite was specifically claiming the sweet little demigod as her child.

Her son's attendants were waiting on the other side of the door, looking rather relieved to see Percy well. Partly, she was sure, because the venomous, green fish that had been pestering them was content to drop the conversation in favor of buzzing about Percy.

Just let me at them next time, my lord! I'll give those nymphs the what-for!

Cassandra snorted and crossed her corded arms. "And just how do you plan to swim up a freshwater river to find them?"

I would find a way!

"No doubt you would, but we are on a tight schedule. Come along, sweet one. Alexios, I trust your taste. Ensure your lord has somewhere comfortable to sit. I don't want him standing all day after that blow to the head."

He nodded and was off with a flick of scarlet and gold fins. Percy's aides were brutally efficient, and Amphitrite probably would have conscripted them into her service if her child didn't adore them so. They took care of her boy and kept him safe when his family could not physically be there. And, loathe as she was to admit it, they could understand Percy's time on the surface in a way she could not.

Alexios had set up a cushioned low chair between her and her husband's thrones, Triton and Libya's on the other side of Poseidon's from hers. Until Percy officially ascended, he could not hold a throne of his own, but this was a nice compromise. The chair was draped in silks and linens, a small table between hers and her son's that held goblaki and nectar, which they both enjoyed.

Efficient indeed.

Flotsam and Jetsam had wormed their way through the blankets, but were quick to perk up and rush to Percy. His laughter was like a seal's- loud and deep. She loved his joy at simple reunions.

Amphitrite made sure Percy was settled in his place comfortably and made sure his hair and clothes were just so. He rolled his eyes but leaned into the soft kiss she placed on his temple.

Flotsam, the more wily of her son's two serpents, settled about Percy's shoulders to offer advice and answer any of his questions. Jetsam, his most ardent protector, was coiled at his feet, ready to strike any who might seek to harm the littlest prince. Cassandra and Alexios melted into the shadows, like the assassins they were trained to be, after shooing the ornery little green fish back towards Percy's corral bed.

Her sweet one looked resplendent, like an emperor, like a god, waiting to hear the pleas of his people.

Amphtrite nodded her head, content that everything was in place, before waving her hand for the sentries to open the great doors.

Percy was so darling as he tried to sit still and focus. He'd get this serious look with a small pout that must have come from his birth mother's side. This was obviously not his favorite activity, but she glowed with pride all the same. Her little prince, content to do something he didn't like to help his mother. What a wonderful child.

Nothing held his attention until two mermaids burst into the room, clawing and snarling at each other. Percy was quick to leave his seat and pull the two apart. Flotsam hissed, startled, as he was jostled from his perch.

Neither women were willing to harm their clearly royal interloper and settled into a heated silence.

"What is this all about?" Amphitrite demanded sharply. The court was a place of decorum and respect… not whatever this was.

The dark blue one covered in large, white spots like a trigger fish spoke up. "My queen, my lord. Baris has cursed my pearl farm! My clams are being poisoned and I cannot make a living without them!"

Baris was pitch black with the flowing fins of an angel fish. "Hah! You're one to talk, Verona! Your clams are eating my krill! My precious Marco can't survive without the free range krill I grow! Do you know how much food a whale eats?"

Amphitrite shifted, ready to end this ridiculous argument, when Percy started speaking.

"Verona. It is Verona, right?" When she nodded, Percy gave the woman a sunny smile. "I'm not sure krill are the best diet for clams. Maybe, if we moved your field or found a way to protect it from them, we could keep your clams eating Baris' stock and dying. Nice and easy. No curse involved."

Baris laughed and Verona sneered at her, but Percy wasn't done. His stormy eyes flashed, so like his father and brother, and the demigod turned a stern face on Baris. Quick to change emotions on a dime, just like the seas.

"I'm all for taking care of your companion and providing him with proper nutrients, but it is irresponsible for you to let your shrimp wander and cause problems." He sighed, looking exhausted. "Is there a reason you both felt you needed to try and escalate the situation as well? This is a simple problem with an easy solution. Fighting didn't need to be the first resort. I've seen enough of that for the past few years. We should all try for peace."

Oh, he was wonderful. Percy not only offered a solution that benefitted both of the squabbling women, but diffused the situation and gave the surrounding crowd something to think about. She was sure word would spread quickly. Her son would be known for his yearning for peace, prosperity, and impartiality. Fitting image for a child of the summer seas.

"Mother?" he asked in a voice that carried just right through the hall. Oh, she was pleased. The thrumming purr that reached out for her child proved it. Sweet little Percy had claimed himself as hers to the public, accepted the power she readily gave to him as a prince. He sounded a little nervous, but steadfast, as was his character.

"Yes, my sweet one?"

"Would you help me find a way to keep the krill out of the farm?"

She left her throne to join her son's side, tickled pink at his difference to her greater knowledge base. A chance to see if Percy was adept at sea magic beyond his innate gifts was not something she would give up easily. Amphitrite righted his crown, which had gotten skewed from his mad dash to stop Baris and Verona's fight.

"Oh, I might know a spell or two that would work. I would love to teach you, my dear child."