All rights belong to Rick Riordan

Chapter 93

It takes an Idiot

(Artemis)

I had to ask the question of why I ever got my hopes up that something would be easy. Because if time had proven something, it was that nothing was EVER easy with Percy Jackson. Our entire relationship was one cluster fuck situation after another with a small respite in between to lull us into a false sense of security. Those few little moments in between which made you think that just maybe it was all worth it.

And then something always had to come along and ruin it. Without Fail! If those three hags were ever left alone near me, I was going to slow strangle them with their own yarn before stabbing each of their black little hearts with a knitting needle. But I was getting ahead of myself, first I had to deal with the present. Namely the hysterical Titan Lord who was shouting his head off and giving me a headache because he would not listen.

So let's go back to the beginning before the Seaweed Brained idiot started going all Casper on me.

Unlike his counterpart, Percy was for the most part fairly easy to determine what he would say or do in any given situation. Not that his predictability is a negative trait, it makes him reliable and faithful which is more than can be said for most Males. So when he had asked me to stand up and turn around I fairly certainly predicted what was going to come next. Something cemented by the fact my mother-in-law had dragged him off to visit my father, and neither had killed the other. A feat for celebration under normal circumstances. So as I prepared to finally have something physical to express our relationship it presented the perfect opportunity for Murphy's Law.

'If something can go wrong. It will.'

So as I was busy putting a big smile on and deciding what I expected the ring to look like. He had gone from lovable idiot to gibbering idiot, causing me to lose the moment in annoyance at what the hell was wrong with him. Which knowing him I half expected him to have misplaced the stupid thing. Instead he actually managed to surprise me for a second as I noticed the spectral limb and was forced to blink a few times to make sure my eyes were not playing tricks on me. But no he had definitely started to turn see-through.

His right arm had lost physical cohesion from just above the elbow downwards. The strange thing was it still appeared to be fully articulate judging by the way he was flailing it around. It just passed through whatever it came in contact with. Much like a spirit or Lares did.

Except he was definitely not dead and still immortal, making that definitely impossible.

Eventually of course I had tried to reason with him to calm down and be rational about this. However him being an idiot, my hormonal mood swings and the fact I was still pissed off with him for escaping earlier, made me resort to the universal cure for being a whiny bitch. I pushed his head up and slapped him hard enough to make him land on his back as he raised his right hand to the affected area. Only for his fingers to phase through the flesh so his wrist was coming out of his jaw line. It did not take him long to remember that slight issue though as he removed it and looked up at me.

'I would complain but he honestly needed that.' Diana agreed and I got the mental image of her pinching the bridge of her nose and shaking her head slightly.

'What in Hades is going on?' He demanded deploringly from me.

'How the hell am I supposed to know. I may be the goddess of Maidens but that does not mean I know what to do when you are being a big girl...' I told him firmly only for him to open his mouth to say something before I raised a hand and cut him off.

'However we do know people who might actually have some sort of idea of what is going on and can possibly help. So calm down, I am not exactly happy about you deciding to start going all Ghost of Christmas dumbass on me either.'

'How can you joke about this, this is not funny!' He shouted at me taking me by surprise. He was actually genuinely terrified, I think the fact that unlike any other experience he had to deal with. He legitimately had no idea what was causing this, if it was permanent or worse yet if it was going to spread.

'It is in that, everything is going to be fine and then, bang, crisis kind of way. But regardless sit there why I make a call.' I told him firmly as he grumbled to himself. I decided to ignore whatever he was complaining about due to extenuating circumstances and instead focused on summoning a thin sheet of water. I had slowly acknowledged that my Tides domain was actually pretty useful. Still was not sure about the tail though.

'Iris show me Apollo.' I told the 'screen' only for a familiar rainbow goddess to appear.

'Unfortunately your credit account is still on referral awaiting payment. Please speak to accounts or insert a Drachma.'

'Several things you do not have an accounts department, second I am not paying you anything and thirdly if you do not show me Apollo I swear I will burn your shop to the ground, with you in it. Do I look like I am in a mood to be playing games? So what is it going to be?' I told her threateningly and I could see the goddess's throat swallow before fading.

After a few more seconds I found myself looking at the other idiot in my life. Though this one I did not get a choice in picking. Yet the strange thing was he did not look like normal. Rather than blond hair and blue eyes he had changed both to brown and to make matters worse he was wearing glasses. It actually made him look normal, I had to actually cut him some slack if it was for the fact I knew it was him. I would have probably not recognised him in passing.

'Apollo where are you?'

'Sis? Why are your eyes like that?' He asked tone changing from confused to worry.

'Because I am pissed off is why, now where are you?'

'I didn't do anything, I swear!' He pleaded.

'Believe it or not, despite popular belief not everything revolves around you. I need your help. So where are you?' I told him trying to remain calm.

'New Rome, Cafe Cicero.' A female voice answered from 'off screen' and I could have sworn the god paled at the interjection, meanwhile I had to raise a eyebrow in curiosity.

'Don't you dare move.' I told him firmly before cutting off the call and turning towards Percy who was frowning as if deep in thought.

'Come on then let's go.' I told him holding a hand towards him to drag him to his feet. He instinctively raised his right hand before catching his mistake and used the other. Though the affected area did seem to have grown slightly causing me to worry.

'I know that voice.' He explained once he was back on his feet.

(Percy)

'You have got to be kidding me. Did you finally get it into that thick little skull of yours that my hunter's did not want to sleep with you? So failing that you went looking for the next maiden you could think of. You are pathetic.' Artemis berated at the incognito shirking god while I stood to the side with the other bystander to the tirade. Well not counting the twenty or so people who recognised the goddess and ducked for cover.

'So how is it going Percy?' The redhead asked looking at me.

'Been better.' I said holding my right hand up in all its translucent glory.

'That sucks. I hear you are going to be a father, I don't know whether to congratulate you or feel sorry for you.'

'Yeah. Not that any of this was planned. So Rachel... You and Apollo, going to admit didn't see that coming.' I told her smiling actually turning away from the one sided sibling argument to look at Oracle.

I hadn't seen Rachel since I was kidnapped by Hera, before the second Gigantomachy. But I had to say she was looking good (Not that I literally could with Artemis within earshot) Gone was the frizzy hair replaced by long straightened strands that fell to below her shoulders. Her freckles had faded significantly with time and she had developed a much fuller figure. Not necessarily athletically but certainly more curvaceous in all the right places.

'You had your opportunity, besides I don't think she would be too impressed to see you ogling other girls.' Rachel teased putting her hands on her hips and cocking her hip whilst I hurriedly shifted my point of focus elsewhere. Which was rather easy to do so when Artemis came over dragging the sun god by his ear.

'A pleasure to meet you too Lady Artemis. I have heard so much about you.' Rachel said politely bowing her head a little as she addressed the goddess, who still refused to release her flailing sibling.

'Really... Perhaps you can summarise what my delightful little brother has been telling you.'

'He called you a double-standard, hormonal, crazy bitch.' Rachel said simply and the look on mine and Apollo's face was the same as we prepared to watch the girl get smited with extreme prejudice.

So it was with some surprise when the goddess began to laugh.

'You try waking up one day being pregnant. See how long you remain happy and cheerful.'

'You were never happy and cheerful.'

'I was for the few hours you had not been born, just to remind you at that time me and Mother were being chased by a giant serpent.' Artemis told Apollo who finally managed to escape her grasp.

'Which I killed.'

'With my help. Just like when mother needed help pushing your thick head out. I knew I should have given her the coat hanger instead.'

'Err- Guys can we focus on the main issue here?' I asked butting in and raising my affected arm up. The affected area now just above my elbow worryingly.

'Jeez I always thought that having to put up with you sis would put any guy in an early grave, but this takes the cake.' Apollo joked while Artemis glared at the back of his head.

'Apollo shut up and be helpful.' The redhead next to me told him commandingly and for a brief second his smile faltered before he came over to me and began to appraise the affected limb whilst I held it up.

'You know what I am starting to like her already.' Artemis said shifting mood to amusement.

'He just needs someone to keep him under control. I guess we have that in common.' Rachel replied whilst us guys looked at them both respectively with raised eyebrows.

'You know it is true.' Artemis said flexing her fingers.

'Somehow I think I get the good deal in terms of potential to inflict harm.' Apollo said patting my shoulder.

'I nailed Kronos in the eye with a hairbrush. How many people can claim that?' Rachel said proudly.

'While he had the Curse of Achilles and was nigh indestructible, she hit him that hard she broke reality.' I added causing her to beam with pride. I owed it to her if she had not thrown that I would probably be dead now.

'You know what I am starting to approve of this already; mother is going to love her.' Artemis said smiling before seemingly remembering why we were here.

'So Apollo, why is Seaweed Brain disappearing?'

'Errrr- Pass?' He said hesitantly.

'What in Hades do you mean pass?' Artemis and I both demanded in chorus.

'I don't know. As far as I can tell he is in perfect health. Besides when is there ever a precedent for the trouble he gets involved in? All I can say is that whatever trouble he is in is not medical in nature.' He explained hurriedly raising his hands defensively.

'Wonderful.' I said sarcastically running my left hand through my hair.

'Can I make a suggestion?' Rachel asked and I merely shrugged as if to say, why not? She was after all the Oracle of Delphi.

'Don't you both have a sister who is goddess of Wisdom? Why not see if she knows anything about this kind of thing?' Rachel asked as if the answer was obvious.

'She actually raises a good point, Why not try and ask the nerd?' Apollo added smugly.

I bet you won't call her that to her face.' Artemis told him raising an eyebrow.

'True I am not a fan of having a spear stuck where the sun doesn't shine.'

'Didn't stop you in the past. After all you REALLY like Paris and I am not talking about France.' Artemis ridiculed with a smile and the incognito god turned crimson at the implication.

'As hilarious as this is to watch Apollo squirm, you might want to hurry up before Percy vanishes completely.'

'Uh yeah.' I uttered simply noticing I was almost up to the shoulder now.

'So glad that at the least the girls around here have brain in their heads. Come on Seaweed Brain.' Artemis said grabbing my good arm.

'Hey Cuz, when you meet Athena try not to sleep with her. We like the whole maiden goddess thing we have going on. Besides our Dad would seriously murder you this time.' Apollo called as I was dragged away.

However that was not what I was even considering. This would be the first time I had met the goddess privately since her daughter had died, and now I was marrying her sister. This could get a little awkward.

'He wouldn't get the chance because I would kill both of them, then you for good measure.' Artemis said cheerfully as we disappeared from the city and made our way to Olympus. However for once I was no longer feeling as optimistic as we headed to the home of the gods.

(Artemis)

'You don't look so good.' I said matter of factly taking a chance to look over Percy as we hurriedly made our way through Olympus. Athena in one of her annoyed fits at being disturbed by idiotic suitors a few millennia ago had erected a no travel zone within a half mile of her temple, which meant we had to walk to it. That was not to say it did not cause problems for all her neighbours but no one had the courage to stand up to her and besides she was father's favourite. Even so with every passing minute he was beginning to look more worse for wear. His breathing was now noticeably laboured and his skin tone was beginning to match that of a genetic son of Hades. That was not even taking into account the fact he was now completely lacking an arm, the corporeal limb hidden underneath the coat draped over his shoulders so as not to attract to much attention. More so than the curious glances we were already attracting and the whispered conversations, I guess that secret was out already.

'I have… been better.' He said slowly.

'And you will be.' I told him trying to be reassuringly though it was directed as much at myself as to him.

'Hey… Haven't I always?' He said moving his mouth into a grin.

'Yeah but this is clearly not something you can keep stabbing until it goes away. Not that you are in a fit state to be fighting anything.'

'I guess I would just have to go easy on them… and fight left handed.' He declared weakly trying to laugh it off.

'At this rate any idiot with a stick could probably kick your ass. Luckily you have me around to deter such problems.' I told him grabbing his left hand reassuring whilst simultaneously turning around and glaring at the not so subtle idiot demigod turned god behind us. Fortunately Heracles used that brief opportunity to look straight up and into my eyes, before visibly gulping upon seeing their current golden tint.

He was after all a god I had once killed in one of my rages shortly after obtaining the curse upon my former bow, before I regained semi-control of it or rather sealed it. Either way he knew the consequence of getting in my way in my current state as he hurriedly turned tail and decided he had somewhere else to be.

'I thought that was my job to make... all your problems disappear.'

'And you are see.' I said smiling and pointing to his affected arm.

'Ouch, that's mean.'

'You love me for it, Now come on before I have to drag you.' I told him my grin slowly fading as I noticed the slight tremor in his legs.

'About that...I don't suppose they have any of those mobility scooters to hire around here?'

'Nice try but according to the doctor you are fine, so no. Now I am going to have to show everyone around here who really wears the trousers in this relationship.' I told him changing my form until I dwarfed him and picked him up so he was against my chest before suddenly sprinting towards the isolated palace.

(Percy)

'Please...Don't...Ever...do that again.' I stammered slowly as the goddess set me down and hurriedly changed back to normal size before propping herself under my left shoulder helping to support my weight.

'I guess I always figured it was supposed to be the guy who carried the girl bridal style.'

'My damaged ego aside... I really don't want to find myself sandwiched... between a giant pair of boobs. Not to say it was bad, but definitely awkward.' I slowly told her noticing her face turning crimson as she understood what she had just essentially done. I could feel a slight bit of warmth in my own cheeks.

'Errrrr.' She uttered incomprehensibly suddenly deciding to get moving as I found myself being dragged forward towards the marble columned temple in front of us. With each staggered step I became more conscientious of the multitude of eyes that were upon us and for the second time today I found myself being gazed at by birds though in this case they were owls.

'Ignore them.' Artemis said pre-emptively. I was in no fit state to do anything but plod towards the structure in front of us and I needed help to do that. Even so it was a little unnerving to see them out of my peripheral vision slowly turning their head well past any normal point of articulation on a mammal.

Unfortunately the owls were not the only winged thing that was in the grounds as something dived down from above and landed in front of us before slowly unfurling her golden wings behind her.

'Lady Artemis, Lord Percy.' The goddess said respectfully looking between the pair of us respectively. I was about to automatically correct her when I realised she had actually used Percy instead of Perseus, finally someone got it.

'Victoria.' Artemis replied thankfully alerting me to the identity of Roman goddess of Victory.

'I was not aware you wished to see Lady Athena today.' The goddess told us procuring a clip board out of thin air and looking down before discarding it back into hammer space. While she did so I actually took time to look over the goddess this being my first meeting with her. With my attention of course being immediately taken by the two golden wings behind her which seemed to be completely different from my own and not just in quantity. In comparison whereas mine were metallic and quite literally gold, Victoria's were more organic and closer to that of an actual birds albeit with a gold colour scheme. I guess both had advantages, I had emergency change she did not get to weigh a metric tonne.

As for the rest of the goddess she looked like a slightly older version of Phoebe but if anything she looked more athletic like she was ready to run every marathon around the world consecutively, and win them all. She was after all the personification of victory, I expected she would want nothing else but to try if given the chance.

'We need her help trying to work something out.' Artemis told her firmly.

'Doesn't everyone? No one just comes here and seeks a friendly chat; there is always some ulterior motive. Though it is strange to see someone new.' Victoria told her sarcastically before focusing on me.

'So Mr. Jackson what can we help you with?'

'I seem to be dying.' I said stupidly not thinking it through.

'Then see a doctor, I am sure Apollo can fix whatever ails you, other than your stupidity it seems.' Great and now someone else had gotten on the Percy's a dumbass bandwagon. One sentence to her and I was already judged.

'Tried that already and he has no idea what is happening to me.' I told her wearily raising the affected arm straight through the coat that was obscuring it causing the minor goddess to blink.

'Well that's new.' She said as I let my arm fall back by my side. Before long an owl fluttered down and landed on her shoulder before seemingly whispering in her ear and flying off back into the tree's with its brethren.

'Lady Anna Minerva will see you know. Try not to fall apart on the floor.' She said with a smile and stood to the side providing a clear path again.

'Haha.' I laughed weakly as I stepped forward and only Artemis's support stopped me falling flat on my face at the goddesses' feet.

'By the way how is Phoebe doing? I trust my daughter is doing well as always.' She asked rhetorically answering her own question haughtily.

'I turned her into a Hyena, and she loves it.' Artemis said simply as she passed and the minor goddesses' eyes snapped open wide before we left her behind.

'That was mean.'

'She dislocated my shoulder once during a 'playful' arm wrestle when I was younger. I have been waiting to get back at her for ages.'

'You have been waiting almost three millennia to get back at her, wow and I thought Hades had it bad for grudges.'

'Hmph.' Artemis snorted indignantly though I could see the smile on her face as we slowly made our way up the stairs and through the columns where the scene in front of me was not as I expected.

What I had been expecting was something similar to the Parthenon or even Artemis's own temple at Ephesus and in some ways it was, at a quick glance sure enough the whole structure was made of marble and was dotted here and there with statues. Between each of these statues were a multitude of labelled workshops and store rooms saying such things as Design lounge, IT Suite, Weaving, Biochemical Warfare Labs, Library... it was as if someone had crossbred the Smithsonian with an office building.

The centrepiece was an all too familiar giant marble representation of the goddess herself, though it was for the most part still surrounded by scaffolding and support braces. With evidence still present of Gaia's attempt at stopping it with its left leg still sheared off at the ankle. The disembodied foot lying nearby awaiting reconnection. Other than that the statue was back as we had first found it, in its natural state to which I was thankful. I did not want to see a forty foot tall representation of my late girlfriend/her mum.

'Why can you two not just have a simple relationship?' A voice called and after looking around I finally spotted the diminutive figure standing beside her own much larger representation. I had missed her because she was wearing white overalls and mask and had simply blended in with the marble and ivory statue behind her which she had obviously been working on. However when she had begun to speak she had lifted the mask allowing her blond hair to fall free.

'Did you just make a joke? You never joke about anything.' Artemis asked blinking in amazement.

'Like you sister I have also been forced to change in the last few years, though I wish the cost had not been so great to simply gain a sense of humour. Perseus I am sorry for what my failure and irrationality cost you in the last Gigantomachy.' Anna Minerva apologised sincerely it was not going to fix anything but I still felt the truth behind her words.

'...Thanks...' I croaked out hoarsely. My mind rushing back to that day and holding the girl I loved as she died.

'Ok what gives where's Athena? Because you are being far too nice?' Artemis demanded.

'At a seminar in Harvard on International Military jurisdictional policies if you would like to know, I may have gained warfare as a domain but I still prefer crafts so here I am. I am sure you and Diana do not agree on everything after all?'

'You have no idea.' I chuckled before I was forced to stop as it turned into wheezing.

'So you have no idea what is wrong with Perseus's current condition and nor does Apollo. Has he not been wounded recently?'

'Not counting hit with lightning, blown through a marble wall, punch through a plasterboard wall, shot in the back and head by a revolver amongst other general wear and tear injuries in the last week...No.' Artemis listed of and when put like that I was a serious pain magnet. Most of said injuries were because of Artemis to boot perhaps I was a masochist to hang around her so much. As she spoke the older goddess leapt down from the scaffold she was on and made her way closer without breaking stride.

'So nothing too major, poison is out because you are an immortal and it would not last more than a few minutes. Disease likewise once you gained immortality any illness would have been purged by the ichor replacing your blood. By chance how long has this been happening?' Minerva said breaking out of her own internal musing and looking at me with those piercing grey ones of her. Though for once she actually seemed to be more relaxed and not analysing whether she should kill me or if I was good enough for her daughter. The way she was now she really did look like a slightly older version of Annabeth and even acted similarly.

'An hour max. It has been getting worse. The only reason I am still standing is because Artemis is holding me up.' I told her causing Artemis to inadvertently snap her attention to me resulting in a minor shift in position causing me to balance precariously before she corrected herself.

'How is Perseus taking this? I find it strange he is not complaining about this turn of events. From my understanding he is generally quite...Vocal.' Minerva asked curiously whilst I felt Artemis stiffen beside me.

'He isn't here.' She said with trepidation.

'They diverged? What is the death count at already?' Minerva said eyes opening widely in worry.

'Technically one and a statue, though he was not responsible merely a catalyst. The statue was probably shits and giggles though. Why what has that got to do with this?' I asked.

'Iris show me the Titan Lord Perseus.' She said pinching the bridge of her nose and shaking her head.

Despite the absence of a screen so to speak an image on the floor in front of us… showing the floor around us with me in the centre looking around trying to find the source of the image until I spotted a small concealed projector.

'The other one Iris.' Minerva berated before the image changed to dark arid wasteland. Tartarus, where a large unfamiliar figure was snoring soundly.

'Iris! Show me Perseus Jackson aspect of Percy Jackson. It is not hard.' Minerva shouted into the air at the Rainbow goddess.

'Sure when I do that I get my account suspended. Double standards.' Artemis muttered in complaint.

'Person not found or is unavailable.' A voice said from nowhere in particular.

'Good news or bad news.' Minerva said clicking her fingers as the image disappeared.

'Good.'

'You are not dying.' She answered flatly. And for most part this was where they breathed in with relief.

'And the bad?'

'You have been captured, well not you in particular but Perseus has been. Which brings up the concerning issue of who is actually capable of capturing someone of that level of power. Even as only an aspect he still surpasses most in existence.' She explained and there was my brief glimmer of salvation gone.

'Wait…What?' I spluttered getting my head around the whole concept, I was disappearing because Perseus had got himself into trouble?

'How is that possible? Even if what you say is true, when I was captured by Atlas Diana was captured immediately.' Artemis demanded.

'True. But the difference is Percy is significantly more powerful than you even with Tides you are nowhere near his level. As a goddess you are quite focused on only a few particular powers. He has dominion over quite literally Time and space. It would take some time for whatever has ensnared Perseus to collapse the separation of the two aspects. Hence the slow degradation of your physical body as your essence is drawn towards his captured one.'

'I swear I am going to murder that idiot. I am going to find him then I am going to kill him.' Artemis cursed.

'You do realise that you would be unintentionally killing Percy as well?' Minerva pointed out.

'Saves me the effort of killing him myself.' I said smiling as Minerva face palmed.

'What do some girls see in idiocy?' She moaned behind her hands.

'It can be amusing to watch, besides the guys you choose are boring. Who cares about how much IQ and doctorates they have.'

'I don't sleep with them.'

'What's that supposed to mean?' Artemis demanded angrily as the sibling argument boiled over around me. Normally I would have just walked away and watched from a safe distance, but that was a little hard at the moment.

'errr… nothing… I was just making a point; circumstances were beyond your control. Forgive me.' Minerva apologised turning embarrassed as the blond goddess was forced to break away from looking at the golden eyed goddess next to me.

'Err… Artemis…' I said noticing that I was slowly tilting to one side causing me to look down and notice the problem.

'What!...Oh.' She demanded only to soften as she noticed what was happening. Notably that my right leg was frankly gone and unlike the slow process that had been happening with my arm this was noticeable in real time. It was almost with twisted fascination as I watched the limb slowly disappearing, which was further reinforced by the complete lack of pain or any sensory input at all, it was just gone.

'Well I know I said I wanted to kick his ass for being an idiot, I didn't mean for my foot to go off on its own and do it alone.' I said chuckling to myself morbidly as Artemis hurriedly helped me to the floor. Well as easy as helping someone missing half their body can be. Soon enough I found myself laying down my head resting in her lap.

'Do you know where Perseus was at all?' Minerva asked causing me to slowly turn towards her.

'Not a clue.'

'Even so you are taking this remarkably calmly.'

'What is the point in getting angry, I have someone who enjoys doing that for me, don't you babe. I suggest you leave the door open or it will be treated the same as your dads.' I got the feeling the goddess of Warfare would not appreciate having her door kicked off the hinges on the way out. Besides it would probably crush Victoria when it landed.

'Minerva can you give us a minute.' Artemis requested simply.

'Very well and Percy, we will find you.' The Roman goddess promised before turning around and walking out of my field of view.

'She is wrong by the way. I will find you.' Artemis promised holding my remaining hand between her own.

'I never doubted you wouldn't, why else would I be so calm. After all you would be a pretty crap goddess of hunters if you couldn't. OWWW.' I complained as the goddess saw fit to squeeze my hand a little too hard.

'There is only one crap hunting deity and he is currently falling apart in my lap.' She pointed out causing me to smile at her remaining upbeat all things considering.

'I won't deny it. I leave a lot to be desired at it but I like to think I give it a go. Besides feeding Nemea would be a pain without it.'

'Which is exactly why you cannot leave me, how am I supposed to feed her? We have run out of Praetors I don't care about.'

'The last one should tie her over for a bit, though her cholesterol must be through the roof. Artemis... Go in my coat pocket and get what is inside.' I said breaking my smile off as I noticed the sensation from my remaining hand slowly fading despite her own grasping it with the strength of a vice grip.

'That's not fair; you cannot do it like this.' She protested a single golden tear running down her face.

With a great deal of effort I managed to lift my left hand up so it was against her face, though the complete lack of substance on my part prevented me from brushing the tear away. My fingers were little more than corporeal stubs and even they were breaking down.

'I know but what choice do I have? I just want to give you a reminder of me whilst I am gone.'

'Are the children in my womb not enough of a reminder? I don't need a silly bit of metal to show we are together. What I want is you to stay with me!' She declared weakly her voice slowly breaking down as the amount of gold on her face slowly grew.

'I will be back, even if I have to fight my way out of Tartarus.'

'But you shouldn't have to. Why can things not just be easy for us, who keeps designing all these stupid scenarios for us to suffer through. Whatever happened to happily ever after?' She said bitterly.

'There never is, that is the fun of it.'

'All those ups and down for the last six months, I wouldn't change them for a thing. Because all they did was cement in my mind that I loved you. Even when you are acting irrationally and being a bitch I still love you. Am I a masochist... probably but you remind me that no one is perfect. I need you to be like that to keep me sane, because I could just as easily abuse my power and become like those we beat. The difference is I have you to kick me into line whenever I am too big of an idiot. Besides it is about time you paid me back for saving you... numerous times. I never get to play the damsel in distress.'

(Artemis)

Here he was on his proverbial deathbed and yet he was maintaining his composure and yet I was crying like a little girl. And then he had the cheek to say I could be an irrational bitch but he liked that about me. Ok I was not arguing that I was a little difficult to talk to at times and was used to doing as I pleased. But he was no different; he was selfless to a fault. He was the one crumbling to pieces before my eyes and yet he was more worried about me than him.

'You're an idiot... But you are my idiot.' I told him firmly locking eyes with him. In response he did little more than raise the corner of his mouth in a smirk.

For the next few minutes I sat there in silence, slowly cradling the crumbling body of Percy Jackson as his limbs and lower abdomen lost all remaining cohesive strength and broke down and vanished. Yet the whole time he lay their looking up at me as I ran my fingers through his messy black hair and smiling the whole time. No longer able to say anything, yet I knew there was no need. He had meant what he had said. He trusted in me to save him from whatever horrors that awaited.

Eventually though his remaining body went into total collapse as the last of his essence and energy was leached.

And yet even then he retained enough energy to mouth three silent words. Though we had said them many times to one another by this point. This was the first time I finally understood the significance of those words. He did not love me because I tried to act like someone else, I was not some saintly individual, and I did not like to take crap from anyone. Despite all my own self conscious faults he did not care. This was not about who he liked better me or Diana and should I try and act more like her. Because that was not the truth.

No the truth was he loved me... for being me. The good and the bad. Both in harmony.

'I have been such an idiot.' I told myself aloud, laughing at the revelation of my own stupidity.

For the next minute I sat their laughing at myself until I slowly became aware of the sound of wood lightly tapping on the marble floor behind me.

Slowly turning around I looked toward the source of the noise and my eyes went wide.

The Athena Parthenos was gone and in its place resting on a crutch was a much smaller blond figure. One whom I never expected to see again. After all the last time I had seen her she had most certainly died.

But despite the skin seemingly made of ivory judging by its texture and pale pallor and the missing lower left leg and foot. The girl in front of me was most certainly Annabeth Chase.

'We are all idiots Milady, sometimes it just takes a bigger one to make us realise it.'

AN. Sorry about the delay again. this just proved really hard to put the emotion into for a long time. I would write a paragraph or two and then find myself hitting a brick wall and give up.

So Percy is captured by a primordial hotel owner, will he be ok? who knows? will he be able to extract his foot from Perseus ass?

I have been writing this for 93 chapters and yet Rachel Elizabeth Dare has never made an appearance. I always planned Rachel/Apollo but I could never find an opportunity to actually introduce them as a couple. after all if Artemis can get in a 'stable' relationship it kind of makes him look bad to his mum. before anyone says she cant be sleeping with him. she isn't. Apollo is slowly realising there is more to girls than just sex. besides until the next Oracle is chosen she will remain a maiden.

of course on the subject of absent characters there is the one who vanished for 90% of it. not that it was not hinted at. Her existence is similar to that of Daedalus except her soul is not possessing the Athena Parthenos, she literally is the Athena Parthenos. I will explain in more detail next chapter but like the rest of the seven she is technically a goddess, with a few side effects. as for why she did not appear while Percy was there. she physically cannot manifest in the proximity of Percy Jackson due to her own cursed existence forbidding them from seeing one another.

All in all I hope you enjoyed the chapter and I apologise for the delay.

As for Annabeths domain(s) I have some ideas but if anyone has a suggestion feel free to tell me. she is after all a dead daughter of Athena. so something taking that into account.