LET'S ANSWER SOME REVIEWS SHALL WE

Guest: here it is man. And no, I haven't tried, really don't know if I even should.

Turquoise Leaf: I do hope you stick to the end. This is certainly not the finale yet.

jdh: right here!

Imana: sorry

Mr. Milk: thank you!

Guest: thanks!

Dark Wraith: thank you as well!

Aphrodite was an immortal being. Her notion of time was fundamentally different from a mortal. A day was a mere blink in the scope of her existence. Even decades could be interpreted as mere minutes if compared to someone who will only be able to live to a hundred at best.

But the last week... it passed not unlike a mortal would go through. Even worse, perhaps, because it did feel like centuries. Centuries of remorse, guilt, and sadness. Why?

Why did she have to lie?

She knew he wouldn't even give her a look if she had told him the truth. But look where that had gotten her! Nowhere.

Alone.

Being alone was depressing. Aphrodite was never alone. But she couldn't get back to Ares, he was the cause of all of this. Neither did she want to be with another person, she couldn't do it now. And going back to her husband while she was suffering for another man... well, it was naive to even conceive of it.

And the worse part was that Ares just had to make sure to leak what he knew to everyone. It was a scandal. Aphrodite had barricaded herself in her palace for the last six days, but she was aware of the gravity of the situation. Poseidon was livid, Zeus was confused, Hermes was ecstatic, and Ares was gloating to have put an end to the affair.

But she didn't care. She didn't care that it was the biggest Olympian scandal since Thalia Grace's existence. The goddess was engulfed in her guilt. Unable to even bear the consequences of what she had done.

Her head felt like it was pounding, which was abnormal. Gods weren't supposed to have headaches, for Gaia's sake!

No.

Wait.

The poundings weren't in her head.

Someone was knocking on the door.

Aphrodite hadn't received visits. Hebe was probably too embarrassed to come now, and while she was angry at the goddess of youth, she couldn't blame her for being spied on.

So, who could it be? Ares would show up at her doorstep to further enhance her misery... if it could be enhanced. She was at the bottom of the pit already.

Nobody could enter her boundaries if she did not let the person do it. Much like how Camp Half-Blood was protected. So, it wouldn't hurt to open the door, right?

And that's what she did. Only to be greeted by...

"Athena?!" Aphrodite exclaimed, looking at the tall brunette goddess who gazed at her with cold grey eyes.

"Hello, Aphrodite." As much as Aphrodite expected Athena to be disgusted by her sight, the latter's voice and expression were quite neutral. "May I come in?"

Aphrodite blinked. She looked around her home, and, frankly, it was a mess. Snapping her fingers, order was brought back to her living room, and finally, her Jessica appearance vanished from her face, morphing back into her ever-changing form. It was curious to imagine what the stoic Athena would see when staring at her.

"Of course." Aphrodite let Athena through, and the goddess of wisdom sat on the couch, and so did her as well. "What's the matter?"

"In all honesty, I was sent here to inform you that both Father and Poseidon have summoned you to... talk." Her pause was ominous. "Hermes was, of course, meant to come here to tell you this, but they all agreed a more neutral party was more appropriate."

"Mhm." Aphrodite nodded. "I can tell that's not all."

"It is not," Athena admitted. "But it hardly has to do with my father and uncle."

"Okay?" She wasn't sure where her fellow Olympian wanted to get.

"Why did you do it?" Athena inquired. "I found myself puzzled by what I heard. And your animosity towards Ares was... so unexpected..."

Aphrodite glared. "I would not like to be a social experiment, Athena."

"You are already under siege. Just not by me. I was just... intrigued. Why Percy Jackson?"

"Ask your daughter. She will know the answer."

"I did," Athena said. "Not a topic she would like to linger on."

"Figures." The goddess of love chuckled humorlessly. "Why do I need to explain this to you?"

"You have no obligations, sure." Athena's voice had a mocking tone to it now, but not in a hostile way like Ares. "I was just so intrigued. I couldn't imagine seeing that boy being enough to draw your attention."

"Neither did I," Aphrodite admitted. "But I don't regret anything."

Athena arched an eyebrow. "Not even keeping the truth hidden from him, if the rumors are indeed correct."

Aphrodite furrowed her eyebrows. "Okay, maybe I do regret something. But you get it, you are everything but dumb."

"That I am." Athena agreed. "I do understand love, what it does to one with a mind less rational than mine."

"Always superior to us, aren't ya?"

"In this case, one may say not so." The grey-eyed goddess replied. "You are love, not me. And sometimes... I envy your ability to feel so much... even if I understand how painful it must be to you."

Thousands of years of knowing these people, and still new things to be discovered. "I'm surprised. Usually, an irrational person would ask for a cold heart like yours."

"It isn't always a benefit." A quick shade of pain glimpsed through Athena's eyes. "But know that you are lucky to be able to feel so much."

"I'll... keep that in mind." She was unsure of what to say or do now. Conversations with Athena would never be straightforward, as much as the daughter of Zeus praised logic.

"Remember that love is your domain. Not even Father can prevent you from exercising it. It's not as simple as Dionysus with wine. And..." Athena winked. "Keep us entertained. It is always a wonder to see Poseidon so distraught."

"I'm glad to help," Aphrodite answered weakly, just as Athena vanished from her palace, once more leaving her in solitude.

Weird. It was so weird seeing Athena like this. But she could understand why. To see someone, you disliked having a hard time.

Oh, how quickly her passion for Ares had turned into something different.

The goddess sighed. She wasn't sure she was ready for the slap on the wrist she was about to receive.

But what choice did she have?

...

Turns out, it could have been way worse. Unsurprising, she had been scolded to death, mostly by Poseidon. Zeus was unusually quiet, probably enjoying the situation. But it was like Athena said, love was too broad for the king to forbid her from doing what she was meant to do. So, after distorting the story just a tiny bit so Percy was the one who made a move on her, all Aphrodite had to do was apologize for the embarrassment, and she did so. Half-heartedly at best, of course.

After all, why was she apologizing to people who had nothing to do with the situation and not to Percy?

The reason she could think the most of was the fact she was embarrassed and ever fearful of going back to Montauk to confront him. What could she even say? Apologies would be one thing, but that wasn't the only thing the goddess wanted... no, she desired more than that.

To win his favor back. To make sure his heart was set on her and her alone. To have her lover returned to her side...

Inconveniences... she could be one if she showed up out of nowhere to an unwanted Percy Jackson. Was he even still at Montauk? There was only one way to discover. She brushed off the doubts from her mind. Even if they were valid questions to make... nothing would change the fact that if she wanted to do this, it would be an annoyance to him either way.

And so, she flashed to the beach. Where she noticed the weather, even after a week, remained cloudy, with rain and lightning hitting the oceans far into the horizon. So, he was here. Of course he was. There was no way he could have gotten back to Manhattan like this. Aphrodite, though, felt it would be inappropriate to say she was happy that he was still in Long Island. But she was. And she needed to see him.

But did he want the same?

Aphrodite didn't know how much time he needed. This was no ordinary mortal; this was the greatest demigod of the modern era. Tartarus was his lower point; a break-up wouldn't affect him too much.

No, not a break-up.

They were not breaking up.

Were they even together?

She chose not to appear directly in the cabin not because she didn't want to hurry up, but because she was afraid, he would do something stupid like attack her. It might happen regardless... but perhaps without barging in it would be better.

So, it took just under ten minutes for Aphrodite to see the small cabin in the distance. Her heart pumped ichor in her veins at a much faster rate than normal, and she felt her mouth dry. But it didn't matter. She knocked on the door.

For a moment, no answer.

Aphrodite thought of knocking again, but she heard movement. And there he was. His hair was disheveled, like he just got up from bed, bags under his eyes, but it didn't make him any less beautiful to her. It broke her heart to see him like this.

"What?" His voice was slightly hoarse. His nonchalance almost made her think he hadn't realized who he was talking to.

"Percy, it's me," Aphrodite said carefully. Had he lost his mind or what?

"I know it's you," Percy stated. "Did you expect me to be weeping?"

Aphrodite found her face warming up. "No. That's not..."

The demigod just sighed. "I had enough time to process it all, Jessica. Oh, I probably shouldn't call you that." There was just the right amount of venom in his voice that made her even more nervous.

The goddess wasn't even too sure of what to say now that she was faced with him. "I... can... Percy, we need to talk."

"Yeah, we do." Percy gazed at her with suspicion. "In the sense that I do the questions, you answer them."

Aphrodite frowned. "That is not-"

"I thought you wanted something between us." His voice became colder. "If you do, then you will comply. That is my condition."

She hesitated. This man was cruel when he wanted to.

This was almost a dishonor to her name. To do so much for a mere mortal... but above her pride, above her own need to have him... she just felt sorry. And she wanted to make up for the situation she put him in, by lying about who she really was.

"Okay." Slowly, she nodded. "I will... be sincere. And truthful."

Once more, he stood there, analyzing her. "Come in."

While he invited Aphrodite with a wave of his hand for her to sit on the couch, he grabbed a wooden chair and sat, eyes more analytical than ever. It's like the man was a son of Athena.

"Why did you come after me?" That was surely not what she was expecting for a first question.

"I did not. We truly met purely by chance."

"And why did you come to talk to me then? It would have been easier for you to move along."

"Would it?" Aphrodite asked. "You drew my attention. I couldn't keep my eyes away from you."

"Why did you lie, then?" His voice wasn't so firm this time, threatening to crack. It made Aphrodite feel terrible.

"I knew an immortal would drive you away. Thus, why I tried to maintain the façade. Because I didn't want to scare you."

There was silence, briefly. "I... I can't say I would have been enthusiastic."

"You would not," Aphrodite stated.

"So, you happen to know me?" Percy inquired.

"I know you now. Truly and wholeheartedly. Before, I only had an idea of who you were. I can safely say you would not have accepted me. You're just too paranoid."

"Can you really blame me?"

"No." Aphrodite conceded. "I cannot. But it was easy to maintain what we have... because I truly felt like I could be myself, even if I wasn't. Nothing I said to you about how I feel was a lie. Nothing."

"It's difficult for me to trust the word of a god."

"Why do you think I am a goddess?"

"Please." Percy rolled his eyes. "Phobos and Deimos aren't strong, but no nymph or sorceress is stopping them. That much is obvious."

Aphrodite pursed her lips. "Okay."

Percy leaned forward. "Who are you? Please, do not lie. I can see you're keeping your word for now. So please, please, keep this streak."

The goddess opened her mouth, but no sound came, so she closed it again. Instead, she raised her head, looking directly into Percy's eyes. Then, she let her own irises shift colors, much like a kaleidoscope. Because she knew Percy would get it.

His eyebrows being raised all the way were indicative of that.

"No... You..." He began, and she could only nod. "I don't know what to say."

"I'm sorry." Aphrodite brought her hands to her face. "I messed up. Greatly."

Percy moved closer, taking her hands into his, though he seemed shaken. Hesitant. "I didn't expect..."

"Neither did I think this would get so far. Trust me. I feel humiliated."

"I... I badmouthed you... on your face... oh, fuck..."

"Forget it, I don't care," Aphrodite said, feeling how cold Percy was right now. "It doesn't matter. This is so far from divine standards..."

"I like you this way. More human."

All she could do was laugh. "Oh, Percy. You amuse me so much. Once upon a time, I would be trying to make your life hell for entertainment. Now look at us."

"I still can't wrap my head around the fact you're..."

"I know."

"I feel weird."

"I can imagine."

"You're married."

"I am."

Percy rubbed his eyes with his right hand. "And Ares sent those two clowns after me to get at you?"

"Sort of." Aphrodite was impressed with his ingenuity. "But in the end, I just dumped him."

"Did you?" Percy questioned.

"I did." Aphrodite grabbed his hands. "I am not with anyone else, I promise. Just with you."

"You're still married."

"My husband," She made sure not to say Hephaestus's name out loud. "Is way over everything to try and punish you. Plus, it would risk war with your father, and he knows Olympus doesn't favor him enough for Zeus to defend him. It's fine."

"I'm more concerned about the morality of the situation," Percy said, which only made her more amused, bringing a smile to her face.

"Percy... I know we had... history. I made your life difficult. Too difficult."

"Yes." The way he simply agreed made her a little annoyed, though she was unable to blame him.

"But I do want for it to be happier now... I haven't felt something like this... in a very long time..."

"Truly?" While there was skepticism in his voice still, Aphrodite felt another emotion overflowing in his words. Hope. Hope that she was being truthful.

It now made her heart melt.

"Truly. I could swear it on the Styx itself. I... You changed my view of the world in the past few weeks, I cannot lie. You made me happy in a special way. A way I... hadn't really experienced, if I'm being sincere?"

"You made me happy too," Percy said. "I've been very alone since I came back. Annabeth is..." His ears reddened, and Aphrodite's gaze cooled up. "The less said the better. And... Grover, he's been busy, I think you know him-"

"Of course, I know who the Lord of the Wild is. Am I that oblivious to you?"

"I forgot you were there when he was given that title."

"I was. Could you have imagined then?"

Percy only smiled sheepishly. "Maybe? But it would have been a pipe dream when looking into that form of you where you're constantly shifting. But yeah, I've been mostly on my own. Even my family has, well, obligations. The other campers just... well, they grew up too. Everyone has their own things to do. And I barely needed to work because I just kept receiving donations..."

"That's funny."

"I know." He paused, taking a deep breath. "I just felt good by your side. You were a breath of fresh air when I was so bored... I know boredom is preferable to the usual chaos, but you know..."

"I get it." Aphrodite fidgeted the back of his hand. "I was too very much without that much purpose. I liked to... live fantasies. But you made me feel something real, Percy. How do you do that?"

"By being me, I guess?" The demigod guessed. "I just tried being me, and you were yourself. Or at least I think you were."

"I was. Perhaps not in a way I thought I could even act... but I was myself. I was never insincere to you. Never."

"But what now?" Percy asked. "I... how can I even call you?"

"To others... I am the all-mighty Aphrodite. To you... I'm your Jessica..." She gazed into his eyes. "Perhaps I am still Aphrodite to you... but..."

"I think Jessica works." He spoke. "I won't forget who you are, though... but... we can't really... stay together, right?"

"It's... complicated..."

"I know... I just... I don't want you to go away."

"I won't," Aphrodite assured. "I am here to stay... I am aware of how unorthodox this is. Never before had I questioned that yes, I am still married."

"It seems like a big deal to me."

"I know it does, okay?" She sighed. "But I never felt like I could be with someone like this. I will admit, Percy, I'm used to being devoured by others' lustful gazes. But I am certainly not used to my heart beating like this when I am struck by your gaze. It's kinda ironic, isn't it?"

"Because you're the goddess of love?"

"Yes!" Aphrodite exclaimed. "I, the goddess of love, who can sense others' emotions like I'm reading a book, never properly experienced love in its purest form in ages. Perhaps not ever. It's... just so..."

"I know," Percy said. "I know we really can't call ourselves... I guess, girlfriend and boyfriend... but I would like to be with you. I have nothing against... the god of forges..." Percy spoke awkwardly, wise enough to avoid Hephaestus's name as well. "But I also get you're very much stuck in that marriage."

"That I am, mon cœur. And indeed, we could never be normal, even ignoring the realms of your mortality, and my lack of it. Yet... I desire nothing more than to be with you. May you forgive me for what I did? For the lies, for hurting you, for leaving you alone?"

For a moment, Percy was silent, pondering about the questions she had asked. A flick of doubt sprang in Aphrodite's head, thinking if he would not forgive her.

But...

"I do... But I still need a bit of time. To... you know, try to process everything. I am still overwhelmed that you..."

"I get it, dear." Aphrodite was at the same time ecstatic and disappointed. But she understood his need to be on his own for a few more days. "You will be in my thoughts until you deem you're ready to see me again. Just pray to me... I'll answer."

"More practical than a cellphone, huh?" Percy asked. "And was that earlier French?"

The goddess smiled sultrily. "It is the language of love, Percy. And I am well versed in it."

"I can attest to that, I think." He said to her amusement.

"Wouldn't expect less from you. I suppose this is a farewell?"

"I won't keep you waiting for long... just..."

"Don't explain yourself." Aphrodite interrupted him with a brief kiss on his lips. It was quick, but it made her crave more. "I love you." Aphrodite wasn't surprised to see the shock on Percy's face. "You don't need to answer it. Just know I do."

All he did after her words was nod. Which was good enough.

Because without using her godly powers, she knew the truth. And the truth warmed her heart like nothing else could.

Only after that, did Aphrodite return to her palace, leaving her lover alone for the time being.

She would be waiting for his prayers.