Jesse

"You've done well, my Children." Hermes smiles down at us as I and my 50 other relatives kneel in front of my father. I keep my head down to hide my snarl.

4 weeks ago, my dad got captured by a lower level immortal who wanted to Usurp his throne and domain. Hermes only had enough power to summon all of his children in Camp Half Blood and all of his descendants in New Rome, be either legacy or first gen, to his house on Olympus where we found a letter telling us he had been captured, he didn't know by who or where he was being held, only that it would take him weeks to break through his bonds and in that time his captor was hoping since he wouldn't be doing his job, Zeus would be willing to give him a chance as the new Hermes. So to keep that from happening, the 50 of us had to take on his responsibilities so Zeus would never know.

For the last 4 weeks we've been running ourselves into the ground trying to keep up with the work. No one has slept more than 2 hours a night the whole time. We're surviving on Caffeine and Nectar, plus a lot of cereal, ramen, and easy Mac. And we're sworn on the River Styx to keep quiet, to not let anyone know what's going on. Which means my siblings have been giving me Lassa's letters every day, but I can't send any back.

I think about the last day I saw her. Beautiful didn't cut it, she looked stunning. A purple dress with the skirt shorter on one side than the other, showing off her perfect toned and tanned legs. A few inches of skin between her top and the skirt. Backless, no fabric stopping me from touching her soft skin. Her hair was braided off to one side in a super fancy way. She was wearing makeup, but only just enough to bring out her already perfect features.

Percy pulled me aside before our date. Told me to be careful and to only think with the head that's above my shoulders. I promised I would, and I meant it. I just wish I had been able to keep that promise.

When I woke up the next morning though, I wasn't in bed with Lassa like the night before. I was in Hermes house on Olympus, being given an impossible task.

Lassa wanted to be a virgin until her wedding night. I took that from her. It hasn't been easy waiting the last three years, but I was determined to do it. We both were. Then one night with a couple glasses of Champagne and a dress that made my head swim, all that goes down the drain. I've never been so angry with myself. And then, I wasn't even there when she woke up the next day.

I don't know what to expect from her when I go back to camp. I know I hurt her. How badly, I have to wait to find out. One night isn't worth losing her, even if it's the best night of my life to date.

No matter how many times I've imagined or fantasied about being with her, nothing compares to how amazing it was. Her mouth, her skin, her gasps and moans and screams. The way she smelled and tasted like strawberries. What if she never lets me taste her like that again?

Screw it. I've wanted to marry her for years, I was just trying to wait until she was 18, mostly because I don't think her dad will give me his blessing until then. But I'm done waiting. The second I get back, I'm asking her.

My brother Bryce elbows me in the ribs, snapping me back to the present.

"Huh, what?" I ask, looking at him, then back to Hermes. In my peripheral vision, I see everyone else has either left or been sent home.

"You can go now, Bryce." Hermes says,and Bryce disappears. Now I'm the only one left. "You can stand, Jesse." He tells me and I get to my feet. "I can't thank you enough for everything. From what your siblings tell me, You were quite the leader among them." He tells me. I press my lips together.

Don't be disrespectful. Don't snap. Don't be Disrespectful. Don't snap.

"Thank you, Father. But it was a joint effort. We did it together, even if not perfectly, we did our best."

"So modest and humble. I'm truly proud of you." He tells me gently, and despite how angry I am at him I feel myself flush at his words. "I've granted everyone here a small request, but you can have something more. Whatever you ask, short of immortality of course." He smiles. "If you need some time to think about it-"

"I want enough money to buy an engagement ring for Lassa, and build her a house on Tybee Island. And I need an audience with Poseidon." I say, cutting him off. "I-I'm sorry Father, I didn't mean to interrupt." He smiles at me.

"So you've decided to Marry the girl, huh?"

"Yes, Father. We were going to wait until she was older, but I can't wait any longer."

"Does this have anything to do with your night in Monte Carlo?" He asks, and I blush up to my roots.

"Only the rush, Father. Not my choice. I've wanted to marry her for years."

"Well, if that's the reward you want, that's what you'll get." He says and snaps his fingers. I feel a piece of paper appear in my pocket. "There. That letter is my personal assurance to settle up with whoever builds your house, wherever you want. Personally, I'd recommend you let that Athena girl design it and the children of Hephestus or Vulcan build it. Same goes for the Children of Thiea to build a ring. She's the Greek goddess of precious metals and gems. As for Poseidon, Come with me." He gestures and I walk with him.

"Where are we going? Isn't Poseidon in his underwater palace? I didn't think gods could enter each other's domain without permission."

"We can't. But I can enable you to do so. You'll have 24 hours to swim to his palace, speak to him, and get back. Assuming he doesn't kill you first. Have a good trip, my son." He says, and snaps his fingers again. A second later, I'm underwater.

…

"Stop!" Two mermen cross their tridents in front of the doorway to the palace. "Who goes there? You have a halfblood smell of you, but not one of Lord Poseidon's Halfbloods." I go from a prone swimming position to standing upright. It feels weird to not be treading water.

"My name is Jesse James." I tell them. "Son of Hermes. My father sent me here to see Lord Poseidon. It regards his daughter Thalassa Beth Jackson, daughter of Maya Seaver Jackson." I say. They look at each other for a moment.

"Very well, Jesse son of Hermes. We will bring you to a waiting room, and Lord Poseidon will decide if he should see you or not."

"Okay. Do you know how long it will take him? This whole being able to breathe underwater and withstand pressure only will last for another 21 mortal hours."

"Lord Poseidon will see you at his convenience, not yours. If you perish before he arrives, that is your problem, not his." He says as we swim, and he leads me to a room that's nice, with a bed, Greek fire lamps, and a window overlooking a coral reef.

I really hope Poseidon cares enough about Lassa to hear me out. Otherwise, The second this charm or whatever my dad did for me wears off, I'm going to either drown or get instantaneously killed by the pressure.

Since I don't have anything else to do while I wait, I sit on the bed and start to pray. For wisdom, for courage, and for Lassa.

…

I don't know how long I wait before the door swings open again. Several hours. I can tell, because my water charm is fading. I can still breathe, and the pressure isn't a problem yet. But I'm starting to feel just how cold the water down here is. Not too bad yet, but it's getting chilly.

"The Lord Poseidon will see you now." The merman tells me, and gestures for me to follow him. He doesn't talk, so neither do I.

Eventually, we get to the Throne Room of the palace. The mermen attending the doors open them, and inside I see a great hall built with Greek columns glowing in the light of the Greek Fire. At the end of it, I see Poseidon, human sized, sitting on a throne in a classic Greek tunic. The mermen stay back as I swim to the front and kneel.

"Lord Poseidon," I say in the most formal voice I can muster. "Thank you for seeing me so quickly. I'm afraid I won't be able to stay long before my father's magical protections wear off. I wanted to talk to you about your daughter."

"So my guards told me." He says. "Which is why I granted you an audience so quickly. I keep my distance as Zeus commands, but don't take that to mean I don't care for them. Lassa and Percy, they have a special place in my heart. What is it about my daughter you came all the way to my palace to discuss, Son of Hermes?"

"Lord Poseidon…I've come to ask for your blessing. I want to marry your daughter." I say and raise my head so I'm looking him in the eye. He raises his eyebrows and sits back in his chair.

"Really? You want to marry Thalassa?"

"Of course I do, Sir. She's amazing in every sense of the word. Kind, Gentle, Loyal and brave. She loves like no one else I've ever known. I want her to be my wife. And I'm ready to take care of her. I have money for a house, a ring, and I'm set to ship out for U.S. Navy Boot Camp next month. I'm asking you and her Stepfather. Please, Sir. Let me Marry your daughter." I ask him.

"My daughter is sixteen years old. In the ancient times, that would have been normal, maybe even a little old for marrying. But in today's age, she's, well, underage. You've been with her for three years now, why do you suddenly want to marry her now?" He asks and I try to keep my face from taking on color. I don't exactly want to explain to Poseidon that I screwed his daughter and probably broke her heart by doing so. I don't want to lie to him either.

"I've wanted to marry her for years, Sir, but I didn't have a way to take care of her or provide as a husband until I turned 18 a few weeks ago, and Just yesterday I completed a quest for my father that he rewarded me for with a home for us, and the chance to talk with you."

"I see." He says. "I love my daughter, and I can tell you care for her. But I don't know you, Son of Hermes, and I sense you're not telling me anything. So I will tell you this: My blessing is conditional to Percy's. Percy know's Lassa and you both quite well. And I'm sure he can tell better than I if you're not being truthful or holding something back. So, If Percy is willing, then so am I. If he's not, then I'm sorry."

"Thank you, Sir. I'll speak with Percy directly. May I be dismissed? I'm afraid if I stay too much longer, my protections will wear off." I say. The corner of his mouth twitches.

"You're dismissed, Jesse. For what it's worth, I hope Percy judges you worthy of his blessing. Her stepfather, too."

"Thank you, Sir." I say and bow, then I'm about to swim out of the Palace and to the surface when Poseidon snaps his fingers and I'm back on dry land. Looking around, I recognize the living room I'm in. Percy's apartment.

….

"So let me get this straight." Percy says, sitting on the couch in front of me. "Last month, the reason you and all the Hermes and Mercury kids in both camps disappeared because of something you can't talk about because you were forced into a Styx oath, but whatever happened in this secret quest Hermes deemed you deserved a reward, so he gave you a way to get a ring and a house for my sister. You talked to my father for his blessing to marry Lassa, but said he'd only give you his blessing if I give you mine."

"Sums it up." I say.

"Why did you ask Dad? Shouldn't you be asking Cass?"

"I'm going to ask her stepdad, too. I wanted both her fathers to be in agreement."

"Why now? I thought you were going to wait until Lassa turned 18." He says, and once again I feel myself blushing.

"I was, but I'm 18 now. I'm enlisted in the Navy, I can take care of her. Why wait?"

"Jesse, you did not inherit your father's gift for lying. Look me in the eye." He says, and I lift my gaze. "Why do you want to marry Lassa now?" The look on Percy's face is warning me not to lie again. A steep anxiety raises in me. What's Percy going to do when I tell him I fucked up and screwed his little sister? "Jesse! Give me an answer or I'm going to have to tell you no." Percy tells me. I take a deep breath.

"We slept together the night before I was taken for the Hermes quest." I admit. Percy widens his eyes and cocks his head.

"You What?"

"It's not something I planned on, Percy!" I say, getting frustrated and get up to pace.

"That was the night I told you to be careful! What happened?!"
"What happened was three years of pent up lust, Lassa looking more stunning than I've ever seen her before, and a couple glasses of champagne! I'm sorry, Percy! She wanted to wait until we were married, and so did I, but it didn't work out. Then my dad teleported away from her before we even woke up the next morning, and I have no idea what's going to happen the next time I see her, if she'll be angry or betrayed or what. I just know that I still love her, and I want to make it right if I can. I wanted to marry her anyways, the only thing that has changed is I'm trying to do it now instead of two years from now. Please, don't stand in my way." Percy gets up and links his fingers behind his head, breathing heavily. Then he goes over and punches a hole in the drywall.

"You Fucked my Sister!" He shouts.

"Yeah, It happened! I'm Sorry! I Can't say that enough, but unless you want to resurrect Kronos and get him to rewind time, you can't change that! So please, let me make it right and Marry her!"

"Just, Just give me a minute, Jess." He tells me, then climbs out his window onto the Fire Escape. I fall backwards on the couch, dragging my hands over my face.

"God, help me out here. I really fucked up this time."