"I'm sorry what," Sally Jackson asked Athena, confused in a way that the goddess didn't quite understand.
"You are widely regarded as the best mother amongst Demi-gods," Athena said plainly, "and I would like you to teach me to be a better mother." She could see Sally was confused and she was trying to piece Athena's request together. Athena couldn't understand why but she knew mortals could need time to come to conclusions even brilliant ones like Sally Jackson or Fredrick Chase.
Everyone needed a moment sometimes, Athena pondered as she let her mind wander to give Sally time to understand. Everyone but her, Athena couldn't afford to have weaknesses. Athena the person could have moments of weakness as long as she handled matters internally. Pallas Athena, the daughter of Zeus and the goddess of wisdom and war, couldn't afford to be weak. As she gave Sally a moment to compose herself, Athena took the opportunity to look around the kitchen of the Jackson-Blofis residence.
It was a decent sized kitchen for a family of four, even if Estelle was just a baby and Percy was off to university soon. If Hera didn't screw the boy over again and send him as an amnesiatic envoy to the Brooklyn house. Her plan had worked, by some miracle beyond even the gods of Olympus, but that didn't mean it was a good plan.
The kitchen was a tad too colorful for Athena's tastes but to each their own, it looked lived in, familial, something Athena was a stranger to. There were pictures on the fridge and the walls, cluttering them in Athena's opinion, but she liked to keep things neat and organized. Most of them were of Percy, though there were many of Estelle despite being a young child, some of Sally with Paul Blofis, her husband. But what drew Athena's eye was the young woman who appeared in more than a few of the Jackson's pictures, Athena's own daughter Annabeth.
There she was from the age of 14 to 18, most of them she shared with Percy, but a few she was alone, like any other member of the family. There were more pictures of Athena's daughter here in the Jackson's apartment than there were in Athena's whole palace and the goddess' insides twisted. She didn't believe in photographs, they were a perfectly fine invention, but Athena had never seen the point. Her memory was perfect, beyond the simple aid her divinity allowed her to find knowledge easily, she didn't forget. She didn't need pictures of her children to remember them. Sure, she wove a tapestry each time one of her children passed to honor them, but that was hardly the same thing as hanging photos up in your kitchen.
Seeing the images of her daughter frozen in time, smiling, laughing, just being happy, it made her realize that perhaps photos of your children wouldn't be the worst thing to have in one's home. Perhaps she should invest in some pictures of her children, they were each a wonder upon themselves, it wouldn't be terrible to enshrine some of their youth. How do you take pictures of people though, photography is an art, Athena should know how to do it after all. It would be like killing two birds with one stone, efficiency was very important after all. Or, would that not be a good thing, Athena might not know children that well as a concept, for some reason people that were not her did not enjoy her time being used as efficiently as she did.
Beside her Budo hooted at her, "my lady," the hoots translated into her mind automatically. "Sally Jackson is asking for clarification."
"I apologize Mrs. Jackson," Athena said, "my mind wandered and I did not hear."
"I asked, if you don't mind, why come to me, of all people," Sally asked, and Athena had to admit she had a point, it was a strange request for anyone, much less a goddess.
"I have chosen you because, as I said, you are the best mother amongst the current parents of living demi-gods," Athena said.
"I wouldn't say that I'm the best mother-," Sally started to say but Athena cut her off.
"No, you are," Athena stated clearly as if she was to say the sky was blue. "I can assure you that I have researched the subject thoroughly," Athena was nothing if not thorough. "I have spoken to many demi-gods incognito in Camp Half-Blood. While there are many that have not met you, the ones that have claimed that you are the best mother a demi-god could hope for." Athena had extensive graphs charting her research, but she was not sure if Sally would appreciate being shown such a thing. "Mortal or otherwise," it stung Athena to admit, but that was why she had come to the Jackson-Blofis abode, to learn to be a better mother.
"Besides," Athena admitted with great reluctance, "you are Percy's mother and he is dating my daughter. While I have my own issues with his father, your son is a good boy and a good hero, he is good for Annabeth." Athena could admit that to his mother at least, not that she had any intent on letting him know she said these things.
Which of course led to the real reason Athena had come to Sally for instruction, Annabeth had been one of the campers Athena had interviewed. Without any hesitation Annabeth had said Sally Jackson was her favorite mother, Athena had not even crossed her mind. Athena did not blame her daughter, she was not the best mother, she was not warm or open, and she could be very demanding to all her children. But what Annabeth had been put through because of Athena, it broke the goddess' heart and was the push she needed to become better.
"Isn't there someone, anyone else that you could ask to teach you to be a better mother," Sally asked desperately. "A member of your family perhaps."
"My family is not the best at expressing maternal or paternal feelings," Athena stated sadly, "I have never had a good relationship with them. I can only think of three in my entire family that I would consider a friend. But Persephone is in the underworld at this time and her relationships with her children are…, cold at best," Athena explained, trying to be diplomatic. "Artemis is the goddess of childbirth and a protector of young girls but has never had a child much less raised one. As far as I know," there was always a chance that Artemis had hordes of children that the rest of the family had no knowledge of. But if she did that was her business.
"As for Hermes, there are far too many reasons that I could not turn to him for this, the least being he is a male god." Hermes had given birth to more than a few demi-gods in his time when a handsome man caught his eye, but he was always a father to them afterwards which left him ill equipped for what Athena was looking for. Besides, it would be incredibly unkind for her to ask him advice on parenting after what happened to Luke only a few years ago. Athena was not sure if she could still call Hermes a friend, once they had been close, as close as Athena had been with a member of her family. But the war with the titans and losing his favorite son to Kronos had done things to the Messenger God, leaving him to isolate himself and shattered the bonds of friendship he once held dear. Things turned worse when he started to direct his anger towards Annabeth and had done more to widen the gap between them. One day perhaps they could grow close, but Athena was not sure.
"What about Hera, she's your step mother," Sally suggested the desperation clearly on her face. "Surely she could give a goddess better advice than me." But even that much was hard to get out. Sally Jackson was no fool, she knew the legends of all the gods and Hera, despite her realm, was far from mother of the year, much less step mother of the year.
This time Athena could not help but bark out a humorless laugh, "Hera," she asked bitterly. "The Queen of Olympus hates me, perhaps more than any of Zeus' children." That was enough for now, Athena did not need to reveal that part to Sally. "We can work together at the best of times," though those were few and far between, "she would not help me and would be insufficient in my needs even if she would. I apologize if I have made you upset, I understand that this is an unusual request and to be clear, no harm will come to you or your family if you turn me down. I just need some help and you are the best option that I could find. If you would like to say no, I will take my leave of you and will never darken your doorway in the future."
Athena stood up, it was clear that Sally was not going to help her. That was difficult, but Athena was not a child, she could take rejection.
"Wait," Sally said, stopping Athena from leaving, her eyes darted around the kitchen at all the pictures of her kids, Annabeth was included in that. She didn't know everything about her relationship with her mother, just that it was rough and had gotten rougher the last few years. But Athena seemed to want to change, that she seemed to want to have a better relationship with her daughter and all of her kids, Sally thought she owed it to the girl she wanted to be her daughter-in-law to try.
"I'm not sure that I'm the best option for teaching you to be a better mother, but if it's to help Annabeth have a happier home life, I'll try," Sally conceded.
"You do not have to force yourself," Athena said, attempting to not sound happy she had gotten her way. "I can find another teacher if you wish." Part of her warmed that this woman cared so much about her daughter, another part was ashamed that their relationship had become like this in the first place.
"I am willing with some stipulations," Sally said, she didn't know what she was getting herself into, but if she was going to do this she was not going to be helpless. "I need you to promise that you won't harm anyone in my family, you won't kill anyone in my family, and that includes transforming them into something else."
"I cannot do that," Athena stated simply. "If I make such a promise, you have two children, one the strongest demi-god of the age, the other is a mortal girl, one day they might threaten Olympus. Or they might have children and their children's children might rise up against us. Mortal lives are short, but bloodlines run deep. Perhaps not today, perhaps not in a hundred years or even a thousand, but if one day a member of your family turns against us, I will not let myself be bound by an oath made today."
Sally looked like she was going to say something, but Athena raised a hand to stop her. The goddess of wisdom was not stupid, it was part of her title and job not to be. She was aware of her reputation, there was no way Sally would agree if she did not relent at least a little. "But, I could promise to not harm your family in any way that you described, as long as I am not attacked first. I must be able to defend myself, but I will not antagonize you or any member of your immediate family." That was the best she could do.
"I suppose that will have to do," Sally relented. It would be the best she could do and it meant that Athena would not be able to attack Percy in the future unless something terrible happened. She did not think Poseidon would ever turn on their son, so two out of thirteen Olympians would have to do so for now.
"And your next stipulation," Athena asked. Sally said stipulations, that meant more than one.
"If I'm going to help you, you can't insult my son," Sally began. Athena was about to agree, while she might have some reservations about the son of Posiedon, Percy was a decent partner for her daughter. Annabeth could do better, but Athena knew she would probably feel the same regardless for anyone her children chose. "Or his father."
That last part was a lot, "I can say yes on Percy," Athena said stubbornly, it would be wrong to insult the child of the mother you are getting parental advice from. "Poseidon is a different story." Percy had proven himself to be a true hero, a champion among demi-gods, his father on the other hand…
It is not like their rivalry was one-sided. No, Athena did not do anything to lessen the animosity between them in the millennia that had passed since Athens, and even earlier with her. But Poseidon had not made any attempts either. Dozens of monuments dedicated to Athena smashed to powder when the earth cracked around them or swept into the sea after a particularly wrathful storm. It was not just her that made things difficult between the two of them.
"Could you at least promise to not insult him in front of me," Sally asked exasperated. "Whatever romantic love I had for the man -, god, he still gave me Percy, I'll never be able to hate him for that. I can't have you insulting him in front of me."
"I can agree to that I suppose," Athena agreed, however reluctantly. It was uncouth to insult someone in front of their former romantic partner, at least if the former romantic partner did not start it. It would be beneath her to bad mouth Poseidon in front of Sally and his son. "Anything else," Athena asked feeling much more trepid about this endeavor, but her children deserved a better mother than she had. She would do anything to be better for them.
"That's it," Sally said with a sigh, still not quite sure why she was agreeing to this, but she was. At least her loved ones will be safe from Athena's wrath.
"Very well," Athena nodded, "Budo, draw up the contract," she said and her owl flew down and went to work on a blank piece of paper. The feathery creature went to work noting down everything they had discussed legally so it would be official.
For Sally, this was hardly the strangest thing she had ever seen, but it was still pretty dam strange to see an owl drawing up a contract on her kitchen table. "So…, your owl's name is Budo?" she asked in an attempt to make small talk while the owl scratched away.
"Yes," Athena said with a sigh, rubbing her temples with her hands, "I watched the original, "Clash of the Titans," when it came out with my owls. They were obsessed with it, to the point where almost all of them wanted to change their names to Budo because of it. Everytime I watch a movie an owl plays a big role, so many of them want to change their names. I have a few dozen Budos, Sorens, Wan Shi Tongs, and more under my employ." It was not easy having a bunch of owls who constantly wanted to change their names instead of doing their work, but movie nights kept morale up so they stayed.
"So do they actually work for you, like as a job," Sally asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
"Oh yes, I employ a hundred or so owls that do my bidding, I have a reputation of being the best owl employer in the world. It is not that competitive of a title since most people who employ owls pay them in bird seed," Athena explained.
"And you don't," Sally asked, confused.
"Of course not," Athena said, not quite insulted, but a little affronted. "I am a demanding boss, so I must ensure the compensation is worth it. I pay my owls in money, I give them vacation days, room and board, health insurance that includes dental and vision. It is only right to make sure the people who work for you are taken care of."
"Of course," Sally said, more than a little jealous. She had a good life now, but she had been poor for a long time raising Percy and being married to Gabe. It was more than a little humbling to know that Athena's owls had a better life than she did working in the candy store for years.
Once Budo was done she turned to Athena, "tis done milady," they hooted happily. Athena took the contract away to look it over, Budo did good work, but it would be irresponsible to put the pressure on an owl, even one of her owls, and not look it over.
It was all there in ink, "well done Budo," Athena said, her voice did not change, but she gave the owl an affectionate scratch on the head for their service. "Please look this over Sally with someone you trust to make sure you agree to the terms," she said handing over a copy to Sally. Unfortunately, her phone buzzed, being one of the more competent gods on Olympus meant her time was frequently in demand. "Please fill this out with what you feel is fair compensation for the motherhood lessons, send it over to me at this email address," she said, handing over a card to Sally with her contact information. "As long as it is within reason I will sign it and we can get started."
As in her mind, they were done, Athena got up to leave. And like a flash of lightning she was gone without a trace, other than the contract Budo had drawn up. She needed to talk to Annabeth and brush up on every Athena myth she could get her hands on.
so yeah, things are moving along, next chapter will probably be about Sally talking about things with Annabeth and Percy, maybe Paul. He's going to be in the fic, but mostly in the background.
Also yes, The owl Athena will bring with her for this story renamed herself Budo, don't ask what her name was before because I don't know. I just wanted to do this for a funny gag. Budo uses she/they pronouns and will be a minor character throughout
I hope you enjoyed it, leave a kudos and a comment if you did, they really help me get the drive to write more. I also wouldn't mind suggestions on topics of motherhood that a chapter can be about because I only have 2 ideas, making cookies which will be chapter 4 and a family picnic which will be later on and heavier than it sounds.