Percy POV

"So, what do you think?" I asked, a hint of self-consciousness in my voice. Calypso looked up from her book and her eyes sparkled as she took in my appearance.

"You look amazing, Percy," she admitted truthfully. A warm smile spread across my face, her words easing my uncertainty.
"Thank you. You always know how to make me feel more confident."

I joined her on the bed, relaxing into the softness.

"Are you ready?" she asked. I gave her an honest shrug.

"I mean, I'd hope so," he replied, "but it's only been two weeks and dinner with the parents is a big thing, especially when they both aren't fans of her." Calypso smirked.

"Love is a beautiful and complicated thing, Percy," she said, her gaze distant. "It can bring both joy and pain, and it often defies logic. But it's worth pursuing, even if it's not always easy. I mean, look at what happened with us." I nodded in agreement, thinking about my feelings for Artemis.
"I know what you mean. Love can be challenging, but it's worth it when you find someone who means the world to you." Calypso's eyes met mine, understanding and compassion in her gaze.

"Tell me about her, Percy," Calypso asked curiously. "Tell me about Artemis. I mean, I've seen firsthand what she's done to you before, so convince me I'm wrong." I leaned back, my thoughts drifting to the fierce and caring goddess of the hunt.
"Artemis is incredible. She's strong, independent, and she's taught me so much about courage and loyalty. I admire her deeply, and I can't imagine my life without her, even though it's been like two weeks." Calypso listened intently, her interest genuine.
"It sounds like you love her very much." I smiled, thinking about Artemis's beauty, both inside and out.
"I do. I've never felt this way about anyone before. She's changed my life in ways I can't even begin to describe."

"Has she changed you more than I have?" Calypso asked, a wry smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Uhhhh…" I didn't know what to say, causing Calypso to laugh.
"Relax," she smirked. "I'm just messing with you."

We continued to talk, and our conversation drifted towards the war, a shared experience that had left its mark on both of us. Calypso spoke first, her voice carrying a hint of nostalgia.

"It's been quite a journey, hasn't it, Percy? The war against Gone, and I guess Night in a wau. Man, I don't know about you, but I still bear the scars, both physical and emotional." I nodded, understanding the depth of her words.

"Yes, it was a challenging time for all of us. We saw and endured things that most people can't even imagine, experienced things no one should ever have to experience in their lives." Calypso's eyes darkened momentarily as she traced a finger over an old, faded scar on her arm.
"I remember a deep cut I received during that time. It took a long time to heal, but I'm almost better now."

"Two weeks is nothing," I scoffed. "After Artemis hurt me, it took two months for me to fully recover, as you hopefully remember." I reached out to touch her hand gently. "On a serious note, I'm glad you're healing. Physical wounds can mend, but the emotional ones can take longer to fade." She gave me a soft smile, her fingers lacing with mine (in a friendly way of course._

"What about you, Percy? How have you been since the war?" I chuckled, thinking about the unconventional remedy I had received.
"Well, Eris has given me her own special medicine. Do I trust it? Not really. But do I use it? Yes." Calypso's laughter filled the room, a melodic sound that warmed my heart.

"Eris, the goddess of chaos and discord, offering you medicine? That's unexpected." I grinned in response.
"You have no idea. She's quite a character. But there's more to her than meets the eye. She's complicated, like most of the gods." Calypso leaned back, her eyes dancing with curiosity.
"Tell me more about Eris, Percy. What's she like?" I shrugged.

"Chaotic. Destructive. Wicked. But also fair, funny, sly and sarcastic. She thrives on discord, but she's also fiercely loyal to those she cares about. She's one of a kind, and you never really know what she's thinking. But when push comes to shove, you 100% want her on your side." Calypso listened intently, her interest piqued. "She sounds intriguing. Imma invited her for dinner one day." I chuckled.

"Just be prepared for the unexpected if you do."

As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Calypso and I fell into a comfortable silence, lost in our thoughts. The peaceful atmosphere and Calypso's presence offered solace and a sense of belonging. After a while, I spoke, breaking the silence.

"Calypso, I appreciate your advice and your company. It means a lot to me." Calypso smiled warmly, her hand gently resting on mine.
"Percy, you have a good heart, and you deserve all the happiness in the world. I'm grateful for the moments we've shared, and I hope you find the love and happiness you seek." I squeezed her hand, grateful for her friendship and the time we had spent together.
"Thank you, Calypso. I hope the same for you, and I'll never forget the kindness you've shown me."

With that, I stood up, ready to have arguably the most stressful, complicated dinner I will ever have.

Artemis POV

I arrived at Hestia's peaceful palace with a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Ever since the war, I hadn't been to such a gathering before, and the prospect of meeting Poseidon, Percy's father, officially for the first time made her heart race. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door, trying to calm her racing thoughts.

Hestia opened the door with a warm smile.

"Artemis, it's so lovely to see you!" Smiling a bit too much probably, I stepped inside, my nerves still evident in the way I held myself.
"Thank you for inviting me, Hestia," I replied. As I entered the cosy living room, my eyes fell upon Poseidon, who was seated by the hearth, sipping a cup of tea. I took a seat, and the room seemed to buzz with a faint tension as small talk ensued.

"Hello Artemis," Poseidon said, his voice surprisingly neutral.
"Hello," I replied, my voice composed. "A pleasure to meet you, Poseidon." I was already feeling so stressed out. AND WHERE WAS PERCY!?

Poseidon offered a polite smile.

"Likewise, Artemis. Percy has told me much about you." As the conversation drifted into somewhat awkward small talk, I tried to find my footing, keeping my gaze mostly on my lap. I couldn't help but wonder how Percy would react to me, sitting next to his father.

After ten, long, painfully awkward minutes, the door swung open, and Percy hurried in, a sheepish grin on his face.
"Sorry I'm late, everyone." Poseidon chuckled and leaned back in his chair, shaking his head.
"Why am I not surprised?" Percy approached Poseidon and wrapped his arms around him in a tight hug, a wide smile on his face.
"Hey, Dad. Missed you." Poseidon returned the embrace, ruffling Percy's hair affectionately, causing him to scowl.
"Missed you too, son." After their heartfelt reunion, Percy made his way over to where I sat, his eyes filled with warmth. He leaned down and placed a quick kiss on my cheek."
Hey, babe," he grinned, causing my stomach to flutter like butterflies do in late June. I couldn't help but smile, my nervousness gradually giving way to affection.
"Hello, Percy," I replied happily. Hestia, who had been observing the interactions, decided it was time to serve the meal. She laid out a spread that was as warm and inviting as her home. The table was adorned with a variety of dishes, each smelling more delicious than the last.

There were platters of honey-glazed lamb, roasted vegetables, and a delicate herb salad. The aroma of the food filled the room, making everyone's stomachs growl with anticipation. Hestia had prepared Percy's notoriously favourite blue chocolate chip cookies for dessert, and they glistened with tempting sweetness. Hestia offered a warm smile as she gestured to the feast before them.
"Please, help yourselves. Let's enjoy this meal together."

The feast laid before us was nothing short of a divine banquet. The platters of honey-glazed lamb, roasted vegetables, and herb salad were a testament to Hestia's culinary skills. The room was filled with the mouth-watering aroma of the food, and it wasn't long before our stomachs voiced their anticipation. The pièce de résistance was Percy's favourite blue chocolate chip cookies, and they sparkled with a tempting sweetness.

Hestia, with her gracious demeanour, gestured to the feast before us and spoke, "Please, help yourselves. Let's enjoy this meal together."

Without hesitation, Percy dug into his plate with enthusiasm, savouring each bite of the succulent lamb and the perfectly roasted vegetables. It wasn't long before Poseidon, seated beside Percy, burst into laughter.

"You really haven't changed, Percy. You're still the fastest eater in the family," Poseidon commented between hearty chuckles. Percy, his mouth still full of food, grinned sheepishly.
"I can't help it, Dad. This food is too good. Seriously, Mom, you should become a professional chef." Hestia blushed, waving it away with one hand.

I, on the other hand, took only a small portion and ate it with exquisite slowness, taking the time to appreciate every flavour and texture. She engaged in the occasional nibble of Percy's favourite cookies, appreciating the sweetness but not indulging too much. As we continued to enjoy our meal, the atmosphere in the room shifted from initial awkwardness to one of warmth and familiarity. Laughter and conversation filled the air, and everyone was content.

Poseidon, after a few moments of comfortable silence, cleared his throat.
"Artemis, I've been meaning to ask... Why don't you share a little more with us about your feelings for Percy?" Artemis glanced up, her expression a mixture of surprise and contemplation. She took a deep breath, her silver eyes unwavering as she addressed Poseidon.

"I know that I made mistakes in the past, that I've hurt Percy. But I want you to know that I love him deeply now, and I would never do anything to harm him. He's become an essential part of my life, and I'm grateful for his presence." Percy blushed, his eyes shining with happiness.
"Artemis…" Hestia chimed in, her voice carrying a touch of disapproval.
"Poseidon, there's no need to interrogate Artemis. They're a wonderful couple, and they've found happiness in each other." Poseidon wasn't entirely convinced but chose to drop the matter. He gave Percy an affectionate pat on the back and resumed digging into his meal.

After Poseidon's curiosity regarding Artemis and Percy's relationship, he couldn't resist a teasing grin. His eyes twinkled with mischief as he leaned in, his voice dropping to a mischievous tone.

"So, how's the bedroom life?" Immediately, Percy's face turned the deepest shade of red, matching my blush. I stammered and fumbled over my words, my embarrassment evident.

"It's, uh... well, you know, it's good." Percy's cheeks were as red as mine as he struggled to find the right words.

"Yes, it's... good." Hestia, the embodiment of warmth and hospitality, was taken aback by Poseidon's question but couldn't help but join in with a good-natured chuckle.

"Poseidon, you can't just ask that!"

"Of course I can!" he grinned. "Just making sure my boy is being treated right. How's that bad?"

Poseidon laughed heartily, clearly enjoying the playful embarrassment he had caused. He ruffled Percy's hair, his grin growing even wider at Percy's continued blushing.

"It's good to see my son so happy," Poseidon said, still grinning. I finally managed to regain my composure and gave Percy an affectionate nudge, my lips curving into a playful smile which he happily returned.

The doorbell rang, interrupting the moment of intimacy that had begun to blossom between Percy and me. Hestia let out a resigned sigh and pushed herself up from the table, Poseidon rising to accompany her.

"I'll get it with you," Poseidon offered, following Hestia as they headed towards the door. Their exit left Percy and me alone at the table, gazes locked.

Percy leaned in, his voice filled with anticipation.
"So, what now?" I shrugged nonchalantly.
"I don't know... we hug?" Percy's lips curled into a sly smile, and he nodded in agreement.
"Yeah, we hug." But the moment our lips met, all playful intentions quickly gave way to passion. The kiss started slow and tender, but the intense attraction between us ignited a fire that couldn't be contained. Our kiss deepened, quickly turning fierce and all-consuming.

The connection was electric, and for a few blissful moments, the world outside ceased to exist. But just as things began to heat up, Hestia's voice rang through the house, calling Percy's name.

Percy and I, lips still hovering close, broke away from the kiss, our smirks reflecting the playful defiance of being caught in the act. Percy leaned in and whispered, "We'll continue this later." Artemis nodded, her gaze locking onto Percy's. "Absolutely."

As Percy and I made our way to the door, our shared moment of passion still lingering between us, we were met by a warm greeting from Hephaestus. His kind smile was a stark contrast to his rugged appearance.

"Hey, Percy, Artemis," Hephaestus greeted, his mechanical leg clanking softly as he moved. Percy's face lit up with genuine happiness.

"Hey, Hephaestus! It's been a while. How have you been?" Hephaestus nodded at me, acknowledging my presence.
"I've been well, Percy. Artemis, nice to see you again." I offered a polite nod in return, feeling a sense of guilt and unease still lingering from the passionate moment we had shared moments ago. Hephaestus then addressed Percy with a thoughtful expression.

"Percy, I might have an idea of where Riptide is." Poseidon, who had overheard the conversation, snorted with amusement.
"Still looking for that, are you?" Hephaestus chuckled, his demeanour light-hearted.

"Of course. The spell on it broke when Percy left, but I've been working on locating it. I think I might be close." Percy's eyes lit up with hope and curiosity.
"Really? That's great, Hephaestus! Where do you think it is?" He grinned.

"Come with me, we have a lot to talk about." Percy suddenly turned to me, a tender smile on his face.

"I know," I said softly, understanding what he had to do. "Good luck with the search." Percy leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on my cheek, his lips brushing against my skin with affection.
"Goodbye, Artemis."

As he left, I couldn't help but feel guilty, knowing where his sword really was, and still keeping it from him.

To tell or not to tell, that was the question, was it not?

So, this is the final "stage" of the book, and it's very, very short. Hope you enjoyed, please do review, and hope to update next week!