Ch.5

All rights belong to Riordan

When Artemis and Zoe reappeared, they found themselves standing in the middle of what appeared to be a living room. The rooms occupants jumped in surprise as they weren't expecting the two to appear in front of them

Jason and Piper were laying on a couch together, while Frank and Hazel were sitting in chairs across from them. Reyna sat on a bean bag chair next to the couch, and Leo was absent, most likely back with his dad. Nico was gone as well.

"Hi guys!" Zoe said brightly. "Welcome back Zoe," Reyna said warmly. The group started to get up to bow to Artemis but she waved them off. "I need to go check in with my hunters at camp, please take care of Zoe and bring her home tonight." she said looking at Jason and Reyna in particular.

"We will Lady Artemis," Jason said, nodding his head. She nodded in response before giving Zoe a hug and vanishing in a silver light. "So, where are we?" she asked. "This is our group home in Rome we made after the wars. Everyone has a room but Annabeth rarely comes here and Percy hasn't been to Rome since the war ended." Reyna explained.

"He hasn't been here but he has a room anyway? How does that work?" Zoe asked. "Well Leo and his dad designed the place, so each of us have a room designed specifically for us. Percy's is ocean themed as you would expect, but it's really more of an honorary thing since he doesn't come here," Jason explained.

"What are your rooms like? Zoe asked. The group looked at each other before smiling and standing up. "C'mon, we'll show you." Reyna led the way with Zoe following close behind, with the others behind her.

They went up a flight of stairs before Reyna stopped at the first door in a long hallway, and pushed the door open. "This is my room." She walked inside with the others following. It was cozy and felt more like a home office than a bedroom. There was a bed pushed to the side against the wall, with purple and gold bedding and pillows. There was a sitting area with a mini fireplace, which made no sense to Zoe but she didn't question it.

There were a couple book shelves against a wall, and a desk sat in front of them, covered in papers and desk utilities. Next to the desk there was a mannequin, wearing what Zoe assumed was Reyna's armor, and her purple cape signifying her praetor status.

"This is cozy, but I would also not be surprised if you were planning a war here." Reyna laughed as they walked out. "Yea that comes with being the daughter of the war goddess. But it's cozy so I like it." They approached the next door, before stopping as Reyna stepped aside and let Jason open the door. "This one is mine," he said as they went in.

The room was laid out much differently than Reyna's. He had his bed close to the door, leaving the room open for other things. He had an open balcony that overlooked part of the city. Zoe looked up and gasped as his ceiling was covered in what looked like constant lightning storms, but silent.

In the middle of the room there was a sitting area like Reyna's except instead of a fireplace there was a big TV mounted on the wall.

"Nice room Jason," Zoe said. Jason grinned at her. "Yea I like it. Not too much going on but the lightning was a nice touch. They filed out as they stopped at the room next to Jason's. Piper led the way this time. The room was a little smaller than Jason's but not by much. Piper had a large station with lights and a big mirror that Zoe assumed was for doing makeup and hair. Her bed was pink themed and she had a solid white dove hopping around a play cage. Interestingly she noticed her room had an extra door.

Piper noticed her looking at the door and turned to Zoe. "That door leads to Jason's room. Leo figured we wouldn't object to having connected rooms, which we didn't. His side of the door isn't noticeable due to the fact he likes to put an armor stand in front of it."

Jason smiled sheepishly at her. "What, it's a practical spot for it." Piper rolled her eyes but smiled. Zoe looked at her in confusion. "Why would you want connected rooms?" Jason stared at her blankly before walking over and pulling Piper close to his chest. "Oh, that's why." the group laughed at her response.

"Frank and Hazel also have connecting rooms. Reyna doesn't as she's not dating one of the housemates, or anyone for that matter. At least as far as we know." Reyna glared playfully at Jason, but said nothing.

They left Piper's room and walked down the hall until they reached Frank's room. His rooms layout was very similar to Reyna's by design and color theme, however his room had an archery dummy in the corner, with a weapons rack next to it.

Zoe turned to look at him. "Son of Mars I take it?" Frank nodded. "It looks a lot like Reyna's just with more weapons." Frank laughed. "Yea it comes with the territory of being Praetor as well."

They headed out before stopping at the door next to franks. Hazel opened the door and walked inside. Her room reminded Zoe of Nico a bit. It wasn't super brooding like his room was in the home he shared with Will. She had posters up and a balcony much like Jason's, except a lot bigger and fenced. "I like to take care of Blackjack, Percy's pegasus whenever he's in the area." she explained.

Zoe nodded, remembering the pure black pegasus that came around the house occasionally. He was an avid donut as Zoe had learned when she found out she possessed her fathers ability to take to horses.

The group headed out and stopped at another door. "This room is Annabeth's," Reyna said, grimacing. She opened the door and Zoe was surprised by the state of it. It looked like a mini library, but books had been thrown everywhere. There was a knife sticking out of the desk, pinning a pile of paper to it.

"What happened here?" Zoe asked. Piper looked disheartened. "After Percy left, she took it really hard. She would retreat here for days at a time. We don't know what she was trying to figure out but we don't think she succeeded. Eventually she stopped coming here except for last night after the meeting. She didn't seem fully okay but she didn't talk to us until she went back to camp and refused to talk about it."

With that they left the room, and stopped at the final door at the head of the hallway. "This is Percy's room, Jason said. Zoe eagerly pushed open the door and walked inside, before gasping.

The room had a beautiful sea green and blue theme. It was much larger than the rest, with a mini pool/ hot tub in the corner. His bed was blue and green themed, and across on the far wall was a big fish tank. He also had a fenced balcony like Hazel, with a sitting area in the middle of the room with a tv facing the bed and sitting area.

"Damn they really went all out for this one," Zoe commented. The group laughed before nodding. "Yea Hephaestus and Leo felt he deserved it after going through two wars where the rest of us only fought one, except for me and Reyna," Jason said.

"We fought in the first as well, but we didn't have nearly the impact Percy did. Annabeth probably would have had a room of this stature as well if things hadn't gone the way they did."

Zoe nodded before she looked up and looked surprised. "I know I'm Artemis's daughter and all, but why does Percy's room have a moon on the ceiling?" The group looked at her in confusion before looking up as well. Sure enough on the ceiling sat a glowing silver moon, like the lightning in Jason's room. The group watched as silver streaks ran down the edges of the walls.

"I have no idea. Maybe it's because you're related to him, so your presence is affecting the room," said Reyna. Zoe shrugged before turning back to the group. "So, what's the plan?"

The answer to her question turned out to be a snack shopping spree and a movie marathon In Percy's room. So after spending the afternoon and early evening running around the city and checking out the shops and collecting bundles of snacks, the group ended up in Percy's room. They were watching Disney movies, and were currently on Bambi.

"Zoe, you think your mom can talk to deer?" Piper asked. "I have no idea, I've never asked and I haven't seen a deer in person to check. Dad did tell me once when he first met Mom, she had a pet deer though so maybe she can." Piper nodded at her response before turning back to the movie.

Eventually the group all started falling asleep around the sitting area as it had gotten late. Jason and Piper were asleep snuggled on a couch. Frank and Hazel were asleep leaning into each other while leaning against another couch that Reyna was asleep on. Zoe was the last to sleep, but she had moved to the bed before she did.

(At Camp)

After Artemis returned to camp, she spent some time with the hunters at their archery range, a space Thalia proudly claimed to be more efficient than the camp's, as it was crafted by them. Eventually, Artemis noticed the absence of a certain sea-green-eyed demigod.

"Thalia, where is Percy?" she inquired of her lieutenant. "I haven't a clue, Milady. He departed shortly after you did," Thalia responded. Artemis nodded thoughtfully, contemplating his whereabouts. "Thinking about a certain Kelp Head, Milady?" Thalia teased, a smirk playing on her lips. Artemis groaned at the jest. "Perhaps a bit. I wanted to spend time with Zoe as a family, but it seems every opportunity he gets, he disappears," she lamented. Thalia nodded, attentively listening.

"Maybe he stays away to prepare you, Milady," Thalia suggested. Artemis turned to her, perplexed. "How so?" she inquired. "Well, he's only a demigod, and if Athena's predictions about Zoe's mortality are correct, perhaps he's trying to give you as much time with Zoe as possible. Especially since you will be all she has after he passes. Maybe he's attempting to transition Zoe from his care to yours," Thalia proposed thoughtfully.

Artemis's eyes widened as she realized what Thalia was saying. She immediately felt sick to her stomach, realizing she will inevitably lose her daughter's father to mortality.

Thalia noticed her expression and pulled Artemis into a hug, who was trying to hold back tears. Even though they weren't in a relationship, she still didn't want Zoe to lose her father. Especially if she'd never get to see him again.

Thalia comforted Artemis until she was okay, and then let go of her so she could walk and sit down on a blanket, before pulling her knees to her chest. Thalia sighed as she saw Artemis's mood and decided to call the one person who could fix it.

Walking away from the group, Thalia activated an Iris-message to Percy. He appeared to be on the beach, engaged in conversation with his father. "Percy!" Thalia called out, drawing both their attention to the message. Poseidon gave his son a reassuring pat on the shoulder before dissipating into mist. Percy watched him vanish before turning his attention to the message.

"Thalia? What's happening?" he inquired. "Artemis is having a moment," she replied. Percy looked puzzled until Thalia moved closer and showed him Artemis's location. "What's wrong?" he asked. "Well, she was upset about you constantly disappearing, so we talked about it, and the conversation led to the realization that as a demigod, you won't always be there for Zoe. That's where we're at," Thalia explained.

Percy cursed in Greek before looking back at his cousin. "I'll be right there." Thalia nodded and ended the message. She didn't have to wait long, as Percy appeared next to her a few moments later. "Where is she?" Thalia pointed to where Artemis was. Percy nodded before walking over to the goddess.

(Percy's Perspective)

"I step away for half an hour to chat with my dad, and all of a sudden, Artemis is deeply attached," Percy mused to himself. "Not that I mind, but it does make me wonder just how deep that attachment runs. I mean, sure, we have Zoe now, which definitely complicates things, but for my potential demise to upset her this much, there's got to be more to it. Well, I guess I'll find out eventually."

Arriving at the clearing, Percy didn't spot Artemis right away, so he turned to Thalia for assistance. When Thalia pointed her out, Percy couldn't help but be taken aback. "She doesn't usually show much emotion in front of her hunters, from what I've heard from Thalia," he thought to himself, "but clearly, that's been changing lately."

I approached Artemis, finding her bundled up with her knees drawn to her chest and her head bowed. As I crouched down beside her, my gaze softened. "Artemis?" I called gently. She lifted her head, and I could sense the waves of pain emanating from her. Tears streamed down her face, and despair clouded her eyes.

It was clear that the thought of my inevitable demise was hitting her much harder than I had anticipated, even with Zoe in the picture. I began to wonder if it was because of my death specifically, or if it was the prospect of leaving Zoe without a father that weighed heavily on her heart. I leaned toward the latter option, as I couldn't fathom why she would be so affected by my death otherwise.

"Artemis, what's troubling you?" I asked softly, my concern evident in my tone. She gazed at me for a moment before suddenly lunging forward, tackling me, and whisking us away flash of silver.

(Thalia's Perspective)

As I observed Percy approaching Lady Artemis, I found myself grappling with the mystery of her unusual behavior. I knew she held a fierce protectiveness over Zoe as her first child, and it made sense that the prospect of her daughter losing her father would deeply affect her. But there was something more to it, something different that I couldn't quite pinpoint.

Then it struck me like a bolt of lightning - perhaps Lady Artemis harbored feelings for Kelp Head. His obliviousness would likely render him oblivious to any romantic inclinations from her, but it was the only explanation I could conjure for why the thought of his demise would affect her so profoundly.

I watched intently as Percy crouched beside her, only for Artemis to look at him before swiftly lunging and flashing away with him. When I glanced back, both figures had vanished.

"Well, this should be interesting," I mused to myself, noting the perplexed expressions of the other hunters as they surveyed the spot where Artemis and Percy had disappeared. It seemed I wasn't the only one pondering the cause of their sudden departure.

(Percy's Perspective)

As we reappeared, I found myself lying on Artemis's bed, with her still atop me. Tears continued to stream down her face, and it was evident that she was in turmoil.

"Artemis, will you tell me what's troubling you now?" I asked softly, my concern deepening. She gazed at me for a moment before getting off me and sitting on the bed, assuming the same position she had in the clearing. I sat up and moved to sit beside her, giving her space but remaining close, ready to offer comfort and support.

"Thalia told me that you were leaving a lot because you were possibly trying to get Zoe used to being around me for when you die." The words hung heavily in the air, causing a surge of agitation within me. I couldn't help but feel frustrated with my cousin for failing to mention that she was the one who made that assumption during our conversation.

"Artemis, I assure you, I wasn't trying to do that," I explained earnestly, feeling a mix of frustration and concern. "Yes, Zoe will eventually have to get used to the idea, but I wasn't avoiding you specifically for that reason. I went to talk to my dad because he wanted to meet Zoe."

She nodded in acknowledgment, but I could sense that the weight of the conversation still burdened her. "Artemis, we have plenty of time to think about that. Let's concentrate on looking after Zoe for the present, and we can address those concerns later, alright?" I suggested, hoping to alleviate some of her distress. Again, she nodded, but remained in her position.

Letting out a resigned sigh, I drew her close, wrapping my arms around her and holding her until her spirits lifted. Once she felt better and freshened up, we made our way back to the hunters. Along the journey, I informed her that my dad wanted her to bring Zoe for a visit to his palace on Olympus soon so he could meet his granddaughter.

Artemis agreed that it would be beneficial for Zoe to understand that not all members of our family posed a threat to her. While Zeus appeared to be amicable during the meeting, neither of us felt comfortable with the way Apollo looked at Zoe. I made a mental note to discuss it with my father later.

Upon reuniting with the hunters, who were delighted to see their mistress restored to her usual self, we proceeded to the archery range. Despite their attempts to persuade me to join in, I firmly declined, cautioning them that my participation would likely end in disaster. Artemis insisted that I stay, but she allowed me to sit off to the side, within her line of sight.

Lost in my own thoughts, I failed to notice Thalia's approach until she settled down next to me. "So, Kelp Head, it looks like Lady Artemis is feeling better. Was there a rematch from last night?" she teased, prompting me to groan as I recalled the thrashing I endured.

"Thankfully, no. And I still stand by my statement that I didn't deserve that. I had no intention of stepping foot into your cabin. That's practically a death sentence for any male," I retorted, feeling a twinge of indignation at the memory. Thalia smirked in response. "Yeah, you're probably right. I've never seen her so attached to someone before. Are you absolutely certain there's nothing more going on there?" she pressed, her tone laced with curiosity.

"I have no clue, Thalia. We've never even come close to anything like that," I admitted, feeling perplexed. "But she does seem overly attached at times. Like, I stepped away for half an hour to chat with my dad, and she had a complete emotional breakdown, thinking I was trying to prepare her to care for Zoe alone. Thanks for that, by the way," I added, with a hint of sarcasm directed at my cousin.

Thalia rubbed her head sheepishly. "Yeah, my bad on that one. To be fair, I didn't expect her to react so strongly," she confessed. I nodded in understanding, my gaze drifting over to where Artemis was laughing and playing with the younger hunters.

"Yeah, that makes two of us. I know that's something we'll have to deal with eventually, but hopefully not anytime soon."

"Yeah. And I think that's why she's freaking out so much. Time means nothing to immortals, so she's probably worried that time with you and Zoe is gonna zoom by and pretty soon you'll be gone."

That shocked me, as I had never thought about it like that, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. She had lived for millennia, so time probably didn't mean much to her. But once you throw someone in with mortality, time becomes a constant worry.

"I've never thought about it like that. I'll talk with her about tonight, as I'm sure she's probably not gonna let me go home anyway." Thalia laughed in agreement. "Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if she drags you to bed again. Just no funny business Kelp Head." I rolled my eyes while she rolled around laughing.