All rights belong to Rick Riordan

Chapter 59

Mothers (Part 1)

(Diana)

'You know we don't need to tell her just yet, it is early days after all.' Percy complained as we stepped out of the elevator of the apartment complex.

'We are here now so man up.' I told him looking straight into his eyes.

'Yeah but we could just flash away now and she would be none the wiser.'

'Wow glad to see one of us is confident this will go down well. We agreed on this remember. So remember that you have supposedly have a pair and tell her.' I told him firmly. Why is it he will happily face down monsters and death but the thought of talking to his mother scares the crap out of him.

'Yeah but she is my mum.'

'Exactly and what is the worse she can do, scold you. You are an adult now so act like one. To think the fate of the world has rested on your shoulders.'

'So did the weight of the sky and I still feel that.'

'You held it for like a few minutes at most, I held it for days so your argument is invalid. Now which number is it?' I told him pushing him down the hallway half-heartedly.

'Last chance we could walk away.'

'And what turn up some time next year with a child instead?' I told him before noticing staring at a certain door. As soon as he did I knew where the objective was.

'Either you knock on that door or I will. If I have to, your chances of ever having sex again will drop astronomically.' Sure I did not actually mean what I said if anything I was looking forward to doing it. Especially because my counterpart had been the one to break our oath, freaking double standards and then she had forbidden us for the duration of the pregnancy.

Never the less the threat served the purpose of getting him to left his hand before gently knocking the door.

'No one's home, time to go.' He said after a fraction of a second and I noticed his hand shaking in genuine fear of what a simple mortal could say.

'It will be fine.' I whispered reassuringly grabbing his hand just in time for the door to open. Revealing the figure of a woman holding a young child in her arms.

'I thought I heard the door knock, Oh hi Percy.' She said recognizing her son. I knew she could see through the mist but apparently she also had super hearing to hear him knock.

'Err hi mum…can we talk for a while?' He asked nervously.

'You are my son aren't you so of course you can and who is this young lady?' She asked turning towards me and I suddenly felt my mouth go dry.

'My name is Diana, pleasure to meet you Mrs. Jackson.' I said quietly.

'Hi you can call me Sally but where are my manners come in both of you. Paul! Percy's back!' She said loudly before making her way into the apartment. Well great now we can tell his step-father as well at the same time. Suddenly I was feeling a lot less confident and I realized the threshold of the apartment was the point of no return before reluctantly following Percy inside.

(Percy)

As I followed my mum towards the lounge it took everything I had to not start panicking.

Sure I had dealt with a lot of scary and terrifying stuff in my life but at this current point time in time that paled in comparison to telling my mum I was gonna be a father. Not because of what she could do to me but just the simple matter that she could be disappointed with me which was so much worse in my opinion.

Nevertheless the fact that Diana at least was also here reminded me that we were in this together as she held my hand tightly just behind me due to the narrow hallway.

'Hi Percy long time no see.' I heard Paul yell from the kitchen as we passed and I guessed they had just finished dinner.

'Good to see you too Paul.' I said back before we arrived in the lounge and my mum took a seat with my toddler sister on her lap. Unfortunately there were only enough seats for three so I offered the spare seat to Diana while I remained standing to her side.

Andromeda was looking at the pair of us with curious eyes and I gave her a weak smile in return and I realized just how much she had grown up since I was last here. My mum meanwhile remained looking at the pair of us as if working out why we were here or rather who Diana was. Not that it was too difficult after all if she actually looked at her eyes the truth would be revealed instantly. Diana had wanted to hide the color with the mist but I had told her it was pointless as my mom would see through it regardless.

Thankfully the silence was broken when Paul walked in and looked at the pair of us then focused on me.

'Didn't you used to be taller Percy and where are you wings?' He asked confused, after all I was only wearing a sweatshirt so there was no way I could be hiding them..

'I get that a lot, I will explain if you take a seat Paul.' I told him as he sat next to my mum and she passed Andromeda to him where he rested her on his knee.

'So Percy, who is this lovely young lady?' He asked looking from me to the seated goddess.

'My name is Diana, Mr. Blofis.' She replied stiffly.

'Such a lovely name wasn't there a goddess named that.' He said aloud more to himself than to anyone else though it was enough to cause Diana to stiffen momentarily.

'The Roman counterpart to Artemis isn't it?' My mother replied analyzing the girl seated in front of her while Paul simply nodded in agreement and didn't put two and two together.

'So Percy I guess this is more than just a social visit, judging by the fact you have the same look you always had when your report card came in. So what can we help you with?' My mum asked turning towards me and I resisted the urge to panic and just explain everything. How was it she managed to play the jury and yet still sound caring.

'Well I guess I have a lot to explain so you might want to get comfortable. First of all Diana here is my girlfriend and has been for a few weeks now.' I told them simply not wanting to elaborate further while they came to their conclusions.

'Well then you certainly picked a winner. Perce. So how did you two meet, I thought you were with the Titans is she one of them?'

'Only half.' Diana grumbled about as unwilling to divulge information as I was.

'So are you a Demi-Titan then?'

'No she is a goddess aren't you Milady?' My mum answered for us causing Paul to double take from her to the goddess and back again.

'Yes Mrs. Jackson.' Diana said dryly.

'Call me Sally.'

'If you stop calling me Milady.'

'Wait you really are the Diana? But aren't you forbidden from relationships with Men?' Paul asked incredulously.

'Not forbidden more of a personal choice.'

'Ok but I could have sworn you swore an oath, much like that which your hunters do.'

'She did but I am guessing you two have not told anyone about your relationship have you. Judging by the fact your fathers have not tried to rip apart the country in bickering.'

'Dad knows but if you listen we can explain everything from the beginning.' I told them, this was gonna be a long night.

Over the next few hours I explained the basics of what had happened since I was last here with small additions courtesy of Diana. Meanwhile my mom and Paul listened generally silently with a short break while they put Andromeda to bed after I explained about recruiting Reyna and how she was the only hunter aware of my true nature. Next of course was the fateful training session of me vs. Diana and the result thereof which drew a surprised expression from Paul and a blush on Diana's part.

'So your first kiss ever was a means of distracting and confusing Percy so you could win?' Paul asked.

'You should have just asked him a maths question that would have confused him for longer.' My mom added jokingly and I looked at her with a sense of betrayal sure I was never the sharpest knife in the armory but I wasn't that bad. Though I now owned the sharpest blade as a side note.

'That would have been mean though I will keep that in mind.' She said turning towards me with a smile.

Next we explained the period of the pair of us trying to avoid each other as we fought against our feelings, though I took revenge by telling them about her covert kiss stealing causing me to get playfully punched in the side.

And of course the capture of Camp Half-blood and the battle against the renegade Titans as well as what followed afterwards.

'Percy why did you not tell me you had nearly died and had been in a coma.' My mom said scornfully and I tried not to cringe as she stared at me.

'It wasn't that big a deal…' I answered regretfully.

'Sure it wasn't, you weren't the one coated in blood and forced to deal with the most annoying sibling ever while trying to save you.' Paul however seemed more interested in the reference to Apollo than anything until I shook my head frantically indicating that was not a road he did not want to go down.

'Just like getting blown out of a volcano wasn't a big deal, or disappearing for 9 months?' My mum added and I realized that I now treated injuries and near death as more of an inconvenience than as a life threatening situation. Which I supposed was true now I was immortal at least.

Next I got to listen as Diana recounted how she went about saving my life with a little help until they were certain I would live before trying to gloss over her own moral quandary of trying to kill me herself rather than admit her feelings. My mum looked just about ready to blow a fuse in outrage before I assured her it was not a problem and that she should listen to the rest of what we had to say.

So from there on we explained how we admitted our feelings for each other and how we planned on hiding it from everyone which lasted until we got to Atlantis and the events that transpired there in as I mercy killed Pontus and became an immortal outright which was why my appearance had changed once again and I looked relatively normal again well short of dunking me in a pool of water so I grew a tail which Paul found hilarious until I pointed Artemis/Diana had the same trait now in which he became slightly more nervous about the matter as Diana glared daggers at me for bringing it up and Paul realized that was a tender subject with the goddess.

My mum was glad to see there was no longer any animosity between my step-mother and half-brother anymore at least as they had finally admitted to being friendly with me. Sure I was pretty certain Amphitrite would not harbor the same feelings towards my mum but it was at least progress in the right direction.

Finally after recounting what had happened in the period after we had started dating, including the temple restoration and the capture the flag game though I chose to not tell her about the Thalia falling incident and me almost dying, again. We had reached the week before and my rather eventful birthday.

'I still need to explain the real reason we are here tonight, this is more than just a social visit I am afraid. Something big has happened and we don't know what to do about it.' I told them grabbing Diana's hand for support as they listened silently.

'How could a goddess not know what to do?' Paul asked flabbergasted after a while.

'Because it is something I have no idea how to handle, something I expected to never happen.'

'Like what exactly?'

'I broke my oath.' Diana admitted and the room was silent as they processed those words and the implication.

(Diana)

Well I had dropped that bombshell so I may as well tell them the rest.

'And to make matters more serious I am pregnant, or at least my other half is.' I added and I thought Percy's step-father was just about ready to faint from the revelation thankfully he was sitting down.

'Are you sure? When did this happen?' His mother finally asked slowly getting over shock.

'The night of my birthday mom.' Percy answered nervously.

'How could you both be so irresponsible about this, I would have expected better from you Percy.' She said angrily and I turned towards Percy and saw he had turned pale and seemed frozen in place as if terrified of the diminutive women in front of us.

'This was not our intention Mrs. Jackson, it is not even fault before you go blaming either of us for our 'recklessness'. Neither of us had planned for this to happen or at least certainly anytime soon. Unfortunately there was some outside interference that night and neither of us was in control of our actions or the repercussions. I think you have a pretty good idea to whom I am referring to Mrs. Jackson.' I told her stoically not adding any emotion to the words.

'Well I don't and if this was only last week how could you already know?' Paul asked looking from his wife to me.

'Aphrodite.' She answered simply which I acknowledged with a simple nod.

'As for the second I am the goddess of childbirth there is no one better at recognizing it.'

'You were also goddess of Virginity and that didn't last forever.' She added slightly less serious.

'I still am for the moment as I am pretty sure the fates are waiting to reveal it when it would be most dramatic.'

'I am finding it hard to believe that you are taking this so likely Milady.'

'That's what I thought.' Percy stammered out.

'True initially I wanted nothing more than to rip her head but I realized what would it accomplish? If anything it would attract even more attention than we wanted at the moment, this way we at least have some time to prepare. Though I would not say she got away with this without incident after Percy nearly killed her and gave me panic attack at the same time.'

'I said sorry.' Percy mumbled.

'So who knows about this?' Sally asked.

'The pregnancy. The pair of you and my uncle Lelantos who found out on his own, we are going to tell my mother next.'

'I am sorry if I was a little abrupt but thank you for telling us as soon as possible I cannot imagine this was a stress free decision on your part. That includes you Percy so calm down, this is not your fault so stop fretting about my opinion already.'

'Yes mom.' He replied weakly.

'Good to see you can fight the worst monsters out of myth without fluttering an eyebrow but my opinion is enough to terrify you.'

'I don't know you being mad is terrifying Sally.' Paul joked.

'So when are you going to tell your fathers?'

'We don't know, not for a while at least. My father for obvious reasons and Poseidon because he can't keep a secret over his brother. He knows about us being together but nothing beyond that for the moment.' I explained to which she nodded in agreement.

'Regardless there is something I should have said a while back but my surprise got the better of me. Congratulations.' She said before rising from her chair and grabbing Percy in an embrace.

(Percy)

As I replied to the hug my mom was giving me I couldn't help but smile at the fact that no matter how much she tried to remain angry or disappointed it never lasted long. Though that time where she was always the worst times of my life thou every time she smiled afterwards it was like the world returned to normality.

'Thank you Mom.' I whispered into her ear.

'I can't forgive you for making me a grandmother before I am 40 though. Andromeda is going to be a Aunt at 1 year old.' She laughed jokingly.

'I never expected to live long enough to have kids so how do you think I feel.' I told her before breaking the hug.

'As for you Diana I cannot imagine this is easy for you to be dealing with either, but regardless thank you for sticking by my son. He needs someone in his life to point him on the right track and who is more than willing to knock some sense into him.'

'Not through lack of trying but he remains remarkably dense though, maybe I will have to get my sister to bless the child so there remains some hope it will be slightly sharper than its fathe—.' Diana said jokingly before the shorter women grabbed her in a embrace as well which she didn't seem to know how to react before my mom eventually let go.

'Speaking of the child do you know what it will be more than the simple boy or girl.' Paul asked having risen to my mom's side and grabbed a hold of her hand.

'Well it will likely be a immortal of some sort though we do not know anything beyond that. It could be a god or a Titan for all we know. That is up to the fates to decide not us though I would probably say Titan as I am a half-blood of sorts and Percy is a full-blooded Titan now as well as arguably the more powerful of the two of us.' Diana explained.

'Well as long as it gets some of your intelligence we should be fine.' Sally joked causing Percy to cross his arms and pout.

'She has a point Percy you were not exactly the brains of the class while you attended Goode.' Paul added and before long we were all laughing at him.

'Hey I had excuses wasn't my fault I had ADHD and Dyslexia, besides I can read properly now.' He defended.

'Only took 17 years and divination to do it but you finally managed to learn what a 5 year can do. Give it a few years and we will sign you up for the spelling B alongside Andromeda.' Sally added causing Percy to sigh in acknowledgement this was a fight he stood no chance of winning.

'Why does everyone make jokes about me, even those I love do it too?'

'Well what can we say Seaweed Brain, your special…needs.' I told him sweetly before pecking him on the cheek.

'Says the one who cannot swim eh Ariel.' Yep he went there.

'I don't get it.' Paul remarked confused.

'Imagine the Little Mermaid film but every few feet she fell on her face that is Diana learning to swim.' Percy answered with a grin.

'Watch it Seaweed Brain remember what happened last time, if only I had done it harder we would not be in this mess right now would we?'

'I am guessing that it involved some sensitive organs receiving massive blunt force trauma.' Paul guessed making a tail to the balls sound eloquent.

'Anyway before Percy manages to embarrass himself further I think we should call it a night as some of us do not get the benefits of not having to sleep and have to work in the morning.'

'We could just talk to Tyche and make you win the lottery or something along those lines.' Percy proposed.

'You are starting to sound like your father Percy and you should know I would never accept it. Besides you were always the greatest gift I could ever have received.'

'Percy your mother is right we should let them sleep, remember when you actually used to do your job, you know the one you got involved in my affairs in the first place to do. This week is the first time in ages you actually qualify as guarding something.'

'Wasn't my fault we were at camp and I got to spend time with you in the moon chariot.'

'Wait so does that mean you have been to the moon?' Paul asked.

'I know any old idiot can qualify to go there now. Though technically Percy is the first man to ever step foot on it in actuality, rather than the conceived object imagined by man in space.'

'Huh.' Paul asked genuinely confused.

'The orb you seen in the sky is my chariot, however because mortals imagined it as an object in space eventually it became an actual physical manifestation as well which they can visit, much like the sun which you see as a flaming ball of gas and energy rather than a golden Maserati driven by idiot.'

'Don't worry about Paul even I get confused by it still and I supposedly control stars.' Percy remarked it was the one domain which I had never actually seen him do anything with. Short of the ceiling in his bedroom and his shield there was no other sign he ever did anything with it.

'And to think I used to think of you as an odd kid who managed to set fire to part of the school.'

'That wasn't me, if it had been me there would have been no school left.'

'I am still never going to get used to all the strange things that follow you around, apparently nothing is considered certain once you get involved. Not even goddesses.' He said giving me a smile.

'There is one thing that is a certainty with him though. His accuracy with a bow or rather his lack of it. Not through lack of trying on my part mind you.'

'Does this mean you give up?' Percy asked hopefully.

'No.'

'Anyway before we get into a debate on Percy's shortcomings again. We really do need to call it a night, though feel free to visit again and tell us any developments.' Sally added with a yawn.

'Yes mom.'

'It was a pleasure to meet you both; hopefully we can do so again soon.' I said to the pair as we all headed towards the front door before we stepped out of the threshold into the hallway while they remained behind.

'Oh and Percy try not to get thrown into Tartarus again, I don't think the population could take another culling anytime soon.'

'I hope he doesn't so I don't have to drag his ass out of there. Hopefully my father will be slightly more reasonable than we think.'

'That is a big Hopefully Diana.' Percy added.

'Nevertheless good luck and good night the pair of you.' Sally finished before embracing us both and heading inside the apartment and closing the door.

'See that wasn't so bad was it?' I said to him before walking away leaving him to follow me.

'Easy for you to say you were not the target for her initial shock or the repeated embarrassment of everyone else present.'

'Well if you didn't do stupid things we couldn't do it could we?'

'I don't mean to but I think the fates have it out for me.'

'And you have only realized this now?' Seriously though Percy was more of a Divine plaything than was thought possible. And now he had dragged me into the chaos as well.

'Thanks for the reassurance that everything would be fine from here on out.'

'When we have dealt with everyone's reaction and a certain illusive armored friend of yours, then maybe, just maybe we can actually get some calm time, just the pair of us.' The thing was though we suspected Styx and by extension Pallas plotting something against Percy neither had acted or even done anything in the weeks since. By all record Pallas had not even left Tartarus and we would surely hear if he had done so for the moment we had brushed it away in light of more significant circumstances.

'I think we could do with a vacation when this is through and not one in Tartarus, it is a bit depressing this time of year and well always.' He cracked out with a chuckle.

'Baby steps yet Seaweed Brain now come on one down and one to go.' I said grabbing his hand before he shadow travelled us into the Titan Palace.

AN. first things first I want to apologise for the looong delay which was a result of laziness, things happening whenever I could be bothered to write and me trying another hobby. also the first time I tried to write this chapter I decided it sucked and deleted it.

I was gonna have the Leto half in this as well but I thought this was a good place to split it off into a second part and this way you are not all waiting for me to bother to write that as well.

All of you asking for Pallas to appear ASAP unfortunately I have it planned when he will appear and it will not be for a while. he is more a background threat at this point the current main issue is very much the pregnancy and peoples thoughts on it. so have a little patience this is no a story where they are permanently fighting against threat after threat of increasing magnitude. if Anything Gaia will remain the most powerful foe they will ever face and you know how that turned out for her.

there will of course still be small fights here and there but not any civilisation threatening forces or at least not so much as I have planned for the foreseeable future.

As for Artemis's child's gender that is a surprise until the birth because I am mean like that and only two people know what I have planned though you are very welcome to all send your opinions or suggestions. I can always use suggestions for domains as long as they are relevant to what percy/artemis currently have as I don't like just giving there children random domains that bear no relation to what the parents have. ie: something hunt related or sea related as long as it is not already used by someone else.

So hopefully I will be quicker with the next update but as always please read and review.