Normally, she was annoyed in her brother's presence, but not today. She shifted on her feet under his gaze with a mixture of nerves of anticipation, waiting for him to break the silence.

"Well?" Apollo finally prompted, his expression unreadable. Aphrodite, standing beside Artemis, decided to speak up.

"Artemis thinks she deserves a second chance."

"I know I deserve a second chance," she said defensively. Apollo shot a warning look at Aphrodite, silently telling her not to say anything more. He then turned his attention back to Artemis, his eyes locked onto hers.

"Tell me, little sister, why do you think you deserve a second chance? What have you done to deserve it?" Artemis met her brother's gaze and replied, her voice steady but filled with remorse.

"Because I screwed up, I know it, and I really want to make amends."

Apollo continued to study her, his expression thoughtful. Finally, after a long pause, he started walking towards the kitchen, with Aphrodite and Artemis following closely. He opened the fridge, grabbed a glass of orange juice, and filled it up. Aside from the sound of liquid sloshing around in his cup, the room was uncomfortably silent. Apollo took a long sip from the glass and then, to Artemis's surprise, began to wash the cup manually at the sink. The sound of running water and clinking dishes filled the room as he worked in silence. Finally, he dried the cup and walked back to Artemis, still without saying a word.

"Aphrodite," he began, his voice tinged with sadness. "Have I ever told you the story about where I… messed up pretty badly?" The love goddess shook her head.

"No, you haven't." Apollo leaned against the kitchen counter, his eyes distant.

"It was a year ago, during a time when I was playing my lyre. I accidentally shattered a vase that was precious to Artemis."
"No!" she groaned. "You can't tell this story! The situation was completely different!" Apollo ignored her, continuing his story.

"Of course, I didn't mean to do it, but it happened in the heat of the moment. At first, I thought it was just a vase, and I asked her to forgive me. But Artemis, oh no, she was so upset. She ran to our father, over-exaggerated everything I did, and in return, Zeus banned me from all Olympian and mortal bars for six months. I asked her for a second chance, a chance to right my wrongs, but did she give it? No."

"That's…" It was clear Aphrodite was struggling not to laugh. "That's one fascinating story. I can already see just how cruel Artemis is to you."

"They were from Zoë! You deserved to be banned!"
"Wait, is she telling the truth?" Aphrodite asked. "Apollo, that is bad of you!"
"I know," he grinned. "I just wanted Artemis to feel nervous that I wouldn't help her."

If she wasn't in this sticky situation, she would've run and slapped that grin off her brother's face for pranking her like that. Instead, she ended up shooting him dirty looks.

"So does that mean you'll help me?" she asked hopefully. He nodded.

"Of course, sis. I need you to get a date! Jeez, I've been waiting for millenia now!" She blushed lightly at the thought of dating Percy. Artemis had never been against dating, just against the modern type of dating. She believed that if you were to date someone, you should know enough about them that you're prepared for the relationship to last, well, in perpetuity. Casual flings and one night stands were what she frowned down upon. Even after the whole dating issue, Artemis was… picky. She wanted someone with a heart of gold, someone loyal yet kind, funny yet protective, strong yet emotional. Percy checked all her criteria, and if there was one person in this world who'd let Artemis keep her oath, it would be Percy. The funniest thing about it all was that it took her 'rejecting' him, to understand how she felt about him. Thinking about it almost made her chuckle.

"I'm still not so sure about this," Aphrodite frowned. Artemis took a deep breath, trying to explain herself again to the love goddess.

"Aphrodite, I understand your concerns, but it's different this time. Thalia helped me realise how much Percy means to me, and I don't want to make the same mistake twice. All I want is for me to honestly answer the question he asked me last night." Aphrodite remained sceptical, her gaze focused on Artemis, as if she was trying to read her mind.

"And what if you hurt him again?" she asked icily. "You did it before."
"I've changed-"
"Oh don't start with that," she grumbled. "If I had a drachma for every time someone said that, Zeus would be jealous." Artemis opened her mouth, only to find she had nothing to say. Aphrodite had to trust her, and it seems like she didn't want to.

"Aphrodite," Apollo began, interrupting the silence. "I'll vouch for Artemis. She just wants a second chance, so stop holding pointless grudges and help her out. Unless you want her to screw up, but that can't be true because you were telling me the other night how much chemistry Percy and Artemis have, and how excited you'd be to see them together." Aphrodite glanced between the two siblings, her uncertainty slowly fading. She let out a sigh before nodding.
"Alright, Artemis, I'll trust your judgement this time. But remember, Percy's heart is at stake."

It felt like a burden had been lifted off her shoulders. Aphrodite was his mentor, and, as much as she hated to admit it, the love goddess literally held the power to make or break any chance Percy and Artemis had. The good news was giving her a second chance. The bad news? It's Aphrodite…

Artemis watched as Aphrodite's sly grin grew wider, a sense of foreboding creeping over her.

"Oh no, why are you smiling like that?" she groaned. Aphrodite leaned in closer, her tone teasing.

"Well, Artemis, I've just granted you a second chance, and I think that deserves a little something in return." She'd had a feeling this was gonna come up.

"What do you want?" the moon goddess muttered. All of a sudden, Apollo started chuckling, causing Artemis to turn to him, demanding.

"Why are you laughing?" Apollo grinned mischievously.

"Sis, there's only one thing Aphrodite would want from you." Artemis was growing increasingly anxious.

"What is it?" she asked, dreading the response. Aphrodite's eyes sparkled with mischief as she revealed her request.

"Artemis, darling, I simply want the pleasure of making sure you're absolutely perfect for Percy!" Slowly, Artemis's eyes widened in horror at the thought of Aphrodite meddling in her love life, and she couldn't help but groan. This second chance might come with a lot more strings attached than she had anticipated.

Aphrodite noticed the annoyance written all over Artemis's face and waved it off dismissively.

"Okay, come on now, you're overexaggerating. It's not that bad. In fact, it's gonna be quite beneficial for you." Aphrodite turned to Apollo, giving him a meaningful look. He sighed, probably realising that his sister was unlikely to relent.

"I vouched for your second chance, Artemis," he conceded, "And now, I'm vouching for Aphrodite. I mean she does specialise in matters of the heart, and probably knows what she's doing better than both of us together." Artemis groaned inwardly.

"What exactly does this 'fixing up' involve?" she asked cautiously. Aphrodite's smile was sweet, but her answer didn't relieve her much.

"Oh, nothing much, dear," she giggled. "Just a small change in your wardrobe, a little cleanup, some better perfume, definitely a more appealing hairstyle, and of course, a mock interview to prepare you!" Apollo, who had been trying hard not to laugh, failed to contain his amusement, earning him a glare from his sister. Artemis let out a resigned sigh.

"And I suppose if I don't do this, you'll stop me from seeing Percy, won't you?"

Aphrodite considered for a moment.

"As much as I'd love to spite you," she admitted, "the truth is, Percy has, or at least had feelings for you. Despite my grudges, I've meddled enough in his love life, and I don't want to ruin it any further, so no, I won't stop you, despite our earlier argument." Artemis breathed a sigh of relief. "But," Aphrodite continued. "If you truly want the best chance of being with him, you'll play along and follow me to my room like a good girl. After all, it's for love's sake."

"A 'good girl'" Artemis glared. "Seriously? Aphrodite, I'm grateful and all for this second chance, but don't call me that!" The love goddess rolled her eyes, as if Artemis was acting dramatically.

"What, are you not into that kinda stuff? Well, no need to worry. I'm sure you and Percy will find something else to… bond over."

"That's one way of putting it," Apollo snickered. He expected at least Aphrodite to giggle, but no, she just looked at him lamely.

"Apollo, be quiet," Aphrodite sighed, causing him to furrow his eyebrows.

"Hey!" he protested."You get to make these jokes all the time! Why can't I?" She shrugged causally.
"That's because I'm Aphrodite," she smirked. "You, on the other hand, are not." Without waiting for his response, Aphrodite turned her attention back to Artemis.

"Now, my dear, we have much to discuss. Follow me."

The love goddess led Artemis up a grand staircase, the steps covered in plush, pink carpet that matched the walls of the palace. Getting off on the second floor, Aphrodite pushed open a door, and gestured for Artemis to come in. The bedroom she entered was bathed in natural light, courtesy of large windows that offered a stunning view of the lush gardens below. The room was an epitome of luxury, adorned with elegant furniture and overflowing wardrobes filled with a dazzling array of clothes in every colour, style and fabric imaginable. As Artemis's eyes wandered around, she couldn't help but notice a mysterious door tucked away in the corner of the room. However, before she could inquire about it, Aphrodite directed her attention.

"So that's the bathroom," she said, pointing at the mysterious door. "Go ahead, dear, and step into the bathroom. On your left, you'll find a rack of clean towels. Grab one and have a thorough shower," Aphrodite instructed, her voice as sweet as honey. "Oooh, make sure you wash your hair properly as well, and condition it. Boys love playing with hair, you know." Artemis tried to protest, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"We won't go that far, Aphrodite," she muttered. "Maybe a hug at most. I don't even know what to do on dates!"

"You'll thank me later," she assured her. "Besides, this is non negotiable. Conditioned hair is a must!." Without waiting for her reply, Aphrodite practically pushed Artemis into the bathroom and closed the door behind her, but not before adding with a sly grin, "Feel free to use any of my perfumes!"

Resigning herself to her fate, Artemis quickly took off her clothes and stepped into the shower. It was complicated to say the least. Back at her palace, she only needs two knobs for her shower. Aphrodite, however, deemed it necessary to have five hundred different buttons and screws. Artemis reckoned it took her half an hour just to figure out how to turn it on. Eventually, after much experimentation, the goddess stood under the warm spray of the shower, the water cascading down her body like a gentle caress. Her fingers ran through her hair, massaging the fragrant shampoo into her locks. The scent was intoxicating, and she was already nervous about Percy's reaction. As she rinsed her hair, the water flowed over her shoulders and down her back, the sensation making her shiver. Her skin tingled as she lathered up with a scented body wash, the scent wrapping around her like a seductive embrace. The minutes slipped away as she lost herself in the shower. After all, there were five hundred different buttons, and there was no way she wasn't gonna test them all out…

As she turned off the water and stepped out of the shower, the bathroom was filled with the scent of flowers and luxury. Artemis wrapped herself in a fluffy towel and stood before the mirror, her hair falling in damp tendrils around her face. She smelled and felt good, ready to face whatever Aphrodite had in store for her next.

Unlocking the bathroom door, Artemis peeked out, ensuring the coast was clear. Satisfied that there was no one else around, she strolled into the room. On the neatly made bed lay a set of clothes, someone had clearly pre-picked for ehr. A tight, white T-shirt that would emphasise her form, a pair of denim shorts that hinted at casual comfort, and a pink, woolly cardigan that looked so soft it practically begged to be touched. The cardigan was a delicate shade of pink, almost like the petals of a cherry blossom, and it exuded an air of cosy elegance. As nice as the gesture was, Artemis was sceptical. This was a far cry from her usual attire, and she didn't want to look like Aphrodite. As Thalia had said, if Percy won't listen just because of what she's wearing, then it's him who's making the mistake. Placed on top of the outfit was a note, written in bold red lipstick, which read, "My fashion wisdom, at your surface. Wear this, and you'll have Percy falling at your feet. Trust me. (Or don't and you can roll the dice, but think about who has more experience in this sector.)"

With a determined sigh, she crumpled up the note and tossed it into the bin on the other side of the room (she's still the goddess of archery, and throwing crumpled papers into a bin does kinda come under that.) Artemis quickly dried herself off with her towel, before proceeding to change. The tight T-shirt proved to be more challenging than she anticipated, and she had to wiggle and squirm her way into it. Once it was finally on, she couldn't help but grumble about how uncomfortable it felt. How Aphrodite managed to put up with these clothes was beyond her understanding. Next came the denim shorts. These were much easier to slip on. However, as she buttoned them up, Artemis couldn't help but notice how short they were compared to her usual hunting attire. They made her feel more exposed than she was used to. Finally, she slipped on the pink, woolly cardigan, rolling the sleeves up a little.

Taking a step back, Artemis looked at herself in the mirror. The outfit was certainly different from her norm, but she had to admit that it wasn't as terrible as she'd thought. She looked… Well, she looked like someone who was attempting to fit into the modern dating world. Despite her earlier arguments with the love goddess, she had to admit, Aphrodite knew her style, and luckily, she was helping her prepare for the big moment. Of course, there was still the question on whether or not Percy would even consider her, but for now, she had to have faith. Besides, even if he said no, it wouldn't be too bad, would it? She'd just lose a close friend, a good man, and the one shot at sharing a future with somebody she'd ever found.

Once she reached downstairs, she couldn't help but notice Aphrodite's eyes on her. The love goddess gave her a grudging nod of approval, and for a moment, Artemis felt a glimmer of pride.

"I suppose you listened to my advice in the end," she smirked. "What can I say, except you're welcome." Artemis rolled her eyes, not wanting to admit that Aphroidte might have a point.

"Let's not make a big deal out of it," she muttered. Aphrodite gestured to the sofa, and Artemis sat down, still feeling uncomfortable in the shirt.

"You'll get used to it, dear," Aphrodite assured her with a sly grin. Artemis frowned.

"Get used to what?" The goddess rolled her eyes.

"Clothes. You're clothes. It doesn't take a genius to realise that you have no appreciation for tight clothes."
"I don't," she glared. "They're so itchy, irritating, and uncomfortable."

"Well what can I say?" Aphrodite shrugged. "You'll get used to it, trust me."

Artemis wanted to protest, but just then, Apollo breezed into the room, holding two cups of tea. He handed one to Artemis, who arched an eyebrow and asked, "Two sugars, I hope?" Apollo nodded with a smirk, pretending to be hurt.

"Would I ever forget, dear sister?" Artemis accepted the tea with a nod of gratitude. Apollo then sat down on the sofa next to Aphrodite, leaning back with a sigh.

"Hang on, where's my tea?" Aphrodite frowned. Apollo's smirk widened as he took a sip of his own tea.

"Oh, you didn't ask for one." The love goddess looked incredulous.
"Well, Artemis didn't ask for one either, but you made it for her!" Apollo shrugged nonchalantly, clearly relishing the moment.
"Oops?" he offered, shrugging his shoulders. Apollo took another sip of his tea, doing a poor job of hiding his amused grin.

Aphrodite shot him a dirty look, clearly unhappy, but decided not to discuss it any further. Instead, she leaned forwards, staring Artemis deeply in a way that set alarm bells off in her mind. She had a hunch that Aphrodite was about to ask something she definitely wouldn't want to answer.

"What made you realise your feelings for Percy?" Aphrodite asked curiously. Artemis sighed, looking away and feeling a rush of embarrassment. Of course her hunch had to be right.

"Do we have to talk about this now?" she mumbled Aphrodite chuckled, leaning abc on the sofa, clearly enjoying Artemis's unease.

"Why not?" she asked. "We have plenty of time to kill before Percy comes, and I'm genuinely curious. I mean, you're Artemis, the maiden goddess, the one who swore off love-"
"Okay, I never swore off love," she interjected. "I just vowed to stay a maiden for life." Aphrodite snorted.

"And you still think you can keep that if you date Percy." She shrugged, as if to say, 'duh.'

"Percy is a good person. He'll recognise my boundaries and respect them." Apollo, who had been peacefully sipping his tea, suddenly looked up in disbelief.

"Jeez Artemis!" he exclaimed. "Are you trying to torture him or something!?" Artemis shot him a sharp glance.

"Of course not. Why would you even say that?"

"What Apollo is trying to say," Aphrodite cut in carefully, "is that respecting boundaries and liking those very boundaries can be two different things, Artemis." The moon goddess furrowed her brow.

"Wait, I'm confused. What do you mean?" Apollo opened his mouth, but Aphrodite placed a finger over his lips, silencing him. Instead, she offered Artemis a half-assuring smile.

"You'll understand when the time comes," she said gently. "But you need to understand it on your own. For now, back to the topic at hand. What made you realise your feelings for Percy?"

Artemis sighed and leaned back into the sofa, running a hand through her hair. She felt like she was under a microscope, and the attention from Aphrodite and Apollo was making her increasingly uneasy.

"Well," she began, her voice slightly timid, "it's not like I woke up one day and realised it. It was more like... a series of moments." Aphrodite leaned forward, her interest piqued.

"Moments? Oooh, do tell us more." Artemis glanced at Apollo, who seemed genuinely curious, and then back to Aphrodite.
"Do I have to-"
"Yes!"

"Fine," she snapped, taking a deep breath. "See, Percy is different from anyone else I've ever met. He's kind, genuinely kind, not just out of obligation or duty. He's funny, too. He has this way of making me laugh, even when I don't want to. And his loyalty... it's unwavering. He's proven that time and again. You guys should know what I mean."

Apollo nodded, but Aphrodite only frowned, studying her carefully.

"You had the same thing with Orion, and Hippopotamus-"
"Hippolytus," she muttered through gritted teeth."

"-So what's different with young Perseus?" Artemis hesitated, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Well, yes," she admitted reluctantly. "There's a connection between us that I haven't felt with any of the others." Aphrodite smiled knowingly.

"Ah, I see. That's what we were getting at. For whatever reason, he's special to you, yet still your boundaries and oaths are more important?" Artemis nodded slowly, her mind whirling with thoughts and emotions.

"I do want to be more than friends with him," she finally confessed.

"I know that," Aphrodite snorted. "You wouldn't be here otherwise." Artemis sighed.

"I'm so conflicted. My oath, my responsibilities as a goddess... they're all bound to me. I don't want to betray my sacred vow." Apollo raised an eyebrow.

"And what does Percy think about all of this?" he asked cautiously.

"How am I meant to know?" Artemis asked. "He doesn't even know I'm waiting for him."

"Artemis, he was talking to me," Aphrodite smirked, before turning to her brother. "And Apollo, how am I meant to know as well? You think Percy talks to me about this stuff?"

"Yeah?" he tried.

"No!" Aphrodite exclaimed. "Apparently I've 'meddled enough in his relationships,' which is Percy for, 'I'm too embarrassed to talk with you about this stuff.'" Apollo smirked.

"Does he blush?" he asked. Aphrodite's lips curled into a mischievous smile.

"Like a traffic light stuck on red," she said, laughing softly.

Artemis leaned back into the plush sofa, downing the rest of her tea. Apollo and Aphrodite had also quietened down.

"Okay, so I've told you the truth. What now?" she asked. Aphrodite looked forwards, her eyes focused on the door.

"We wait," she said simply, sitting sideways on the couch, her legs tucked underneath her.


Percy walked alongside Hermes, their breaths coming in ragged gasp. Calling their sparring session intense would be putting it lightly. Both were drenched in sweat as they made their way back to Aphrodite's. The fight had been a tough one. They'd agreed to limit the use of their powers, and still it had gone on for a while. Eventually, mainly due to exhaustion, they decided to call it a draw, although Percy knew he had a small edge.

As they walked, Hermes finally caught his breath and offered Percy a nod of respect.

"You're a decent competition, Percy." Percy couldn't help but snort at the understatement.

"Decent?" he asked with a wry smile. "I wouldn't call beating you up 'decent.'" Hermes chuckled.

"Don't sell yourself short," the messenger god said after a while, "but don't go too high either."

"What are you trying to say?" he asked. Hermes smirked.

"Let's just call it unfinished business for now," he sighed humorously. "We'll get back to our sparring when the time is right."

They walked in companionable silence for a while before Percy spoke up.
"Thanks, Hermes," he said quietly. The god raised an eyebrow.

"Thanks for what?" Percy rolled his eyes.

"You know what for. Thanks for taking me out and keeping me occupied, especially after what happened. It's been a while since I've had this much fun." Hermes chuckled and clapped Percy on the back.

"Honestly, it's the least I could do. Besides, Apollo and I found it rather fun too. We should all do it again sometime." Percy nodded eagerly.

"Definitely. I'd love to beat you in another fight." Hermes snorted.

"Yeah, as if!" They shared a laugh as they continued their walk, sweat still dripping down their backs. Seriously, who knew immortals could sweat so much?

Finally, after not much more walking, they reached the grand entrance of Aphrodite's palace. Realising this was it, Percy turned to Hermes, offering his hand.
"Thanks again for today, Hermes. It was a blast." Hermes shook Percy's hand firmly.

"No problem, Percy. It was great having you around. And, hey, good luck in there." Percy frowned, puzzled by Hermes' cryptic words.

"Good luck? Why do I need luck?" Hermes just gave him a sly smile.

"You'll see when you get in." Smirking to himself, the god of mischief gave him a wink, before walking back down Palace Road, his hands in his pockets.

Shaking his head in amusement, Percy strode into the luxurious palace, casually kicking off his shoes at the entrance. Normally he'd tuck them away neatly (or else have Aphrodite screaming at him for the rest of the day), but today, he just wasn't feeling it. What he was feeling, however, was hungry. Very hungry. His stomach let out a low, rumbling protest, demanding more food, and Percy couldn't blame it. After all, Hermes was an intense person to spar with. Following the faint scent of something delicious wafting from the kitchen, Percy navigated the hallways. He was guided more by his growling stomach than his knowledge of Aphrodite's palace layout. Even after months, he'd still get confused on which way to go. This palace was like a labyrinth, only pink, and cheerful and… full of Aphrodite.

Speaking of the goddess, as Percy approached the kitchen, he was surprised to see her waiting for him.

"Why, you took your time coming back?" she teased, leaning against the door. Percy shrugged, a sheepish grin playing on his lips.
"We got a bit carried away, you know how it is." Aphrodite chuckled, her laughter sounding like a melodic chime.

"Indeed, I do." Percy nodded his head.

"Well what are you doing here, Aphrodite?" he asked.

"Waiting for you," she replied, although if I knew you'd take this long, I wouldn't have bothered." He was still slightly confused.

"How did you know I'd even be here?" With a confident smirk, the love goddess replied, "I'm Aphrodite, darling. I know these things."

Percy couldn't argue with that logic, so he simply sighed and asked, "Alright, what do you need me for?" Aphrodite's expression grew serious, and she fixed her enchanting gaze on Percy.

"There's something important I need to discuss with you. Come with me." Percy groaned, his stomach still craving an American burger.

"Can't I get something to eat first?" he whined, but the goddess's stern look made it clear that wasn't an option.

Reluctantly, Percy followed Aphrodite through the palace halls, before eventually stopping at a closed door. Her house may be confusing, but Percy knew that this was the door to the main room. The only question was why was it closed? He glanced at the goddess, puzzled. She met his gaze with a solemn expression.

"Listen, Percy," Aphrodite began, her voice low and serious. "In a second, you're gonna go into the living room. Now, I need you to stay calm and not overreact to what you're about to see and hear." Confused, he nodded. He had no idea what was going on, but Aphrodite's behaviour made it clear that it was something important. With a sense of apprehension, Percy entered the brightly lit living room. His eyes quickly adjusted to the surroundings, and he spotted Apollo, lounging on a sofa, looking surprisingly relaxed. But what really caught his attention was the sight of Artemis, who sat on the sofa opposite to where Percy stood, her eyes darting around the room before settling on him.

Percy turned to Aphrodite.

"Wh-what's going on?" His voice was tinged with confusion and concern. As calmly as she could, Aphrodite, replied, "Artemis wants to talk to you, Percy, and you're going to sit down and listen."

"Aphrodite," he protested. "I thought you-"

"Sit," she ordered, her tone commanding. Percy could feel the subtle influence of her charmspeak. He fought against it for a moment, determined to resist, but ultimately, he complied, taking a seat. He made a mental note to have a serious discussion with Aphrodite later. They had an agreement for her not to use charmspeak on him, and she had just broken that.

"Hello Perseus," Artemis said carefully, looking down at the floor.

"What's up?" he asked as nonchalantly as he could, although it probably came off as awkward if anything. The atmosphere in the room remained tense. Percy couldn't help but turn his gaze back to Aphrodite.

"Aphrodite," he muttered, "What exactly are the twins doing in here?"

"Oh, you know me, Percy," Apollo grinned. "I'm just here to watch the drama unfold. It's like a divine soap opera." As for Artemis, she took a deep breath, her eyes locking onto Percy's as she began to speak. Her gaze was intense, almost as if it held a gravitational pull, drawing him in. Her voice, soft but determined, filled the room.

"I… I made a mistake," she admitted sincerely. Percy felt himself getting lost in her eyes, like staring into the night sky, filled with countless stars. It was a mesmerising experience. "When you came yesterday," she continued, "I was confused, and I didn't know what you meant by 'wanting more.'"

"It's fine," he mumbled. "We can still be friends, if that's what you're here to talk about." Artemis almost smiled.

"But that's the thing," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Getting up, she made her way towards him, before slowly kneeling and holding his hand in her's. Percy could feel her touch, delicate and warm, sending a shiver down his spine. Aphrodite gave Artemis a nod of approval, as if she was doing the right thing.

Artemis continued, her eyes locked onto his, searching for an answer.

"I've thought about it, Percy, and I want more. What happened yesterday was a misunderstanding, and I regret it… But my heart, it wants you. The question I have is, what does your heart want? If your heart says no, I will walk out and let you be, but right now, for the first time, I'm showing you a vulnerable side of mine, something I've never done before." She let her words hang in the air, waiting for his response, her heart pounding in her chest.

Percy's mind whirled with a whirlwind of thoughts. He thought deeply about their shared moments, the laughter, the friendship, and the undeniable connection he felt with Artemis. For the second time in the last two days, he considered the possibility of taking their relationship beyond friendship, and into something more. Finally, he took a deep breath, his decision clear.

"I... accept."

Artemis's eyes lit up with a radiant joy, relieved as she asked, almost in disbelief, "Are you serious?" Percy nodded, his own smile breaking through.

"Of course. You're kind, and you're beautiful, and you've given me the wildest of butterflies. What's not to love?" Apollo couldn't contain his excitement either, whooping and clapping, while Aphrodite beamed with approval.

"Congratulations, lovebirds," she said, "but now, you need to seal the deal." Artemis frowned, uncertainty flickering in her eyes.

"How?" she asked. It was Apollo's turn to interject.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" he chanted, causing both Artemis and Percy to blush furiously. Aphrodite, however, only smirked knowingly.

"Well, you heard the man," she said, teasingly. Artemis shot her a glare.

"A kiss wasn't part of our deal!" she argued. The love goddess clucked her tongue in mock disappointment.

"Ah, but it's so much more than just a kiss, dear. It's a promise… A promise that you'll come back for more. Unless, of course, you think Percy isn't worth it…?" Artemis's blush deepened, and she stammered, "No, he is."

"Then what's the issue?" Aphrodite asked. Percy interjected, coming to Artemis's rescue.

"The issue is I'm not kissing anyone with you watching us like a hawk," he declared firmly. Aphrodite pouted playfully.

"Aww, come on Perseus, pretty please?" He shook his head, not budging. The love goddess sighed, giving in. She grabbed Apollo by the arm and pulled him out of the room. However, just before closing the door behind them, she looked at the two with a sly smile.

"If you two want to do something more than kiss, you're welcome to, but please keep the left sofas clean." Artemis and Percy blushed even harder at the insinuation. As Aphrodite closed the door, she winked at them and chimed, "Sweet kisses."

The room fell into an awkward silence as the door closed. Percy and Artemis stood there, facing each other, both blushing and uncertain. The setting sun cast a warm, golden glow through the window, framing Artemis's face in a soft, ethereal light. Percy couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked.

"You know," he began, his voice nervous, "we don't have to do anything you're not comfortable with. I know you care for me; otherwise, you wouldn't be here in the first place." Artemis shook her head slowly, a determined look in her eyes.

"Percy," she said softly, "we're in this situation because I didn't realise you were asking me out. I know you care for me. Aphrodite is right… Now it's time for me to prove it."

Slowly, Artemis reached out and gently cupped Percy's face, her fingers delicately intertwining with his hair. Their faces drew closer, and then, in the quiet of that sunlit room, Artemis pressed her lips against Percy's.

The kiss was euphoric, her sweet lips feeling like soft silk. In the sunlight room, Percy's heart sang with happiness, a feeling of pure bliss surging in him.

Artemis pulled away with a heavy blush, but this time Percy pulled her again, their lips melting like hot fudge.

And there we go! Finally, they did it! I hope this chapter was good, cuz it sure was fun to write! Also huge thanks to winterking who helped me brainstorm for this chapter and helped with some other stuff! Lmk if you enjoyed it, and please do review :)