magocrat: thank you!
Takamura Rules: haven't read that one, but yeah, sometimes heroes and even ordinary characters can have an ending that isn't really tragic. Death is a part of life after all.
PenofthePeople: typos are so annoying. I usually spend minutes revising stuff with Grammarly to help just in case I miss something, but alas. I'll try to fix some stuff, I believe chapter 11 is fine now, but thank you regardless, I would have sent you the prompt but I wrote this the past three hours, though I promise I didn't rush it. Tomorrow I'll check again, since it's 2 AM here, although I'm also not sleepy. And thank you both for the extra compliments and the favs/follows. It means a lot, to be praised like this. Perodite wasn't my favorite Percy Jackson pairing but I found it to be more entertaining to write than Pertemis, especially since most Perodite is just smut, and while this story is rated M, I didn't want to write smut whatsoever, mostly because I'd cringe like hell doing it. Regardless, thank you, and I hope you enjoy this somewhat brief conclusion to their love story, and that goes for every other reader out there!
The funeral had been brief, it had not been flashy. Aphrodite had forbidden all but the closest family members and friends from attending it. That included Chiron, Grover, Estelle, Rachel, Thalia, Reyna, Margaret, Calypso and Melanie. Mortals, importantly, apart from the centaur. While some gods wanted to go, Aphrodite had thought it would be best if they didn't. She said no even if the ones that wanted to weren't the worst, like Artemis and Apollo.
Only her.
Only her to the end.
And now it truly was only her, funnily enough. Alone, without his touch, without his voice, without his smell, without his charm, without his humor. Aphrodite found the initial weeks to be torturous. Some immortals heard the news, of course, and tried to court her. Even Ares tried to reapproach her, but she was disgusted by all those attempts. Aphrodite was never married to Percy; she was married to another man in fact, but she felt like a widow.
No longer she appeared as old as he had been. Looking at the mirror was too much for her. Seeing the fake wrinkles and imperfections made her shed tears. She returned to a more youthful appearance, away from Jessica, more akin to appearing as one's desire. But not because she wanted attention from these people. From no one. Aphrodite wasn't the goddess of lust only. She was the goddess of love. And... even if it took her thousands of years, she was reminded of what love felt like from a first-person perspective.
Maybe she had felt love in the past. Maybe she even tried to blossom love for Hephaestus. And then for Ares. Then for so many others. Until she gave up. Ares and she remained in something akin to an open-relationship, Hephaestus simply didn't care and cheated as much as she would – if it was even cheating, since the two were only married for convenience at this stage – and as such she was left with her play-pretend. Impersonating professions, lifestyles, appearances. Living fantasies. Roleplaying as things she wasn't.
Even with Percy, it had started as such. Pretending to be a clueless mortal, one he had met by accident and started an affair. It just so happened that Ares had been petulant enough to go after her and reveal her secrets. In the end, it was the best thing that could have occurred.
They didn't see each other regularly. There were periods when they spent months without seeing each other. Exchanging Iris messages, phone calls, even mail... Teasing each other for the next time they would meet. Many times, she had wondered while her love had been faithful to her. Aphrodite found herself not caring, even if she was – as much as she could – certain he didn't actually cheat. She hadn't... to her surprise. It had been easier to stay loyal as she anticipated. Even in their long periods away from each other, she didn't seek the company of another man or woman, simply because she didn't crave them.
While Aphrodite was with Percy, no one else was needed. For the first time her cabin in Camp Half-Blood had threatened to empty, but the periodhad coincided with legacies being allowed in cabins like in Camp Jupiter. So, it helped, if marginally. She wanted to kill her grandchildren multiple times for targeting Percy, but her moral compass – him – wouldn't allow her to do it. Probably for the best, even if she was reluctant to admit that. Amanda had brought her so much happiness too... her fierce Amanda, the daughter of the most formidable demigod in centuries... only to completely walk out of his shadow.
It had been ironic for Percy to not die a hero's death, words she had briefly shared with the Oracle at his funeral. His raised-to-be-ordinary daughter had died after slaughtering an army of monsters, succumbing to her wounds with defiance. While the hero who believed to be fated to die at sixteen lived until he was an old man, surrounded by the love of his life and daughter.
And she was the love of his life, wasn't he? Not his first love, and even that was by her own engineering. Love had to be natural, of course, even Eros's arrows didn't create love in its purest form. And she couldn't make people fall for each other like Percy and Annabeth had. Going through Tartarus together was both the peak of her love while also its downfall. It had been too much for the young couple.
Aphrodite didn't shed a tear for that. As selfish as it was.
Drinking helped. She was immortal, so getting hammered wasn't a possibility if she drank like a mortal would. Even so, Aphrodite chose to do it to clear her mind. But even if she got ready, wore the clothes he loved to see her using, groomed her hair and put on make-up, no one would be allowed to touch her, to hold her waist like he did, to kiss her neck like he did, to drive her crazy like he did.
No, she couldn't. Even thinking about the idea seemed hysterical. No way... not now... for her, it was so close... now it truly felt like she was as old as she was. It seemed only like yesterday that she was feeling his hand coursing through her body... his mouth connecting to hers...
And now she was alone. Alone, with a glass of Martini in her hand and listening to music at the party after the Summer Solstice. It was just so boring... but what else could she be doing instead of being in bed, watching something or just trying to sleep? Some gods had obligations; Poseidon ruled as a king under the sea, as did Zeus in the skies and Hades in the Underworld. But Aphrodite didn't have to deal with their types of problems.
"Hello." A voice said from his side. A blonde demigod, no older than twenty, approached her. Perceptive as she was, she observed his hands trembled slightly. "Could I buy you something?"
Aphrodite took a deep breath. She tried to remain calm. She appeared young, of course, at worst twenty-five, and the kid was probably outside during the meeting. To him, she was probably just another minor goddess, nymph or half-blood he didn't know. She smiled, tried to sound as friendly as she could.
"I'm sorry... I'm taken." She hated to be so blunt, but the last thing she wanted was to flirt with a half-blood today. Especially one without even a trace of a stubble in his chin. She was comfortable with lying for those reasons. The half-blood's smile faltered, and he blushed.
"Oh... I'm sorry. I didn't see a ring or anything, so I assumed..."
"I understand." Really, couldn't he just piss off?
"Hey!" Another person approached from her other side, this time it was a female voice, albeit much younger. "I was wondering if I'd find you!"
Aphrodite looked to the source of the voice, and found herself staring at his eyes. The other half-blood left awkwardly, leaving mother and daughter alone.
"Thank you." The goddess sighed. "I suppose it's what I get for appearing young. How did you know it was me?"
"I still see you as my Mom, even though it's weird that I see you barely older than me." Melanie had a glass of Coke in her hands. "Why not show up older?"
Aphrodite grimaced. "I... it reminds me too much of... well, do I need to say it?"
"No, Mom." Melanie's tone was so understanding. If Amanda had been Percy's hero side, Melanie felt more compassionate, more gentle... Aphrodite wouldn't say she felt more human, because Amanda's antics also made her as human as one could be. And Aphrodite had fallen in love with him for all his traits. "Why are you here?"
"I could ask you that same question." Aphrodite drank from her Martini. "Was the entire Camp invited?"
"Pretty much." Her daughter confirmed. "But really, a party is just gonna draw attention. I know you're barely trying, but..." Melanie trailed off as she stared at Aphrodite's attire. It wasn't anything too revealing, a simple black and white sleeveless dress. But the goddess was aware of the effect her mere presence caused anywhere she went. "
"I just... I need to clear my mind... it's been months already... you're already eleven..." Aphrodite remembered sending Melanie a new set of clothing for her 11th birthday.
"Yes... I gained this as a gift from Chiron. Dad's last wish or something." From her pocket, she removed a familiar pen. "I don't use it that much compared to my dagger. But maybe when I'm older." Melanie looked at her strangely. "You know I don't hate you, right?"
"Hm?" Aphrodite stared at Melanie with confusion. "Thank you? Why are you saying this?"
"Dad told me about a conversation you guys had about Amanda." Aphrodite had wished for Melanie to know Amanda. Her older sister, so alive, so attractive, so adventurous. But all she got were stories. "About how you didn't love her just because of who she was."
"Yes?" It wasn't her proudest moment. Especially not now when another one of her daughters with Percy Jackson was talking about it. "What about it?"
"Well..." Melanie took the opportunity to drink from her Coke. "It's not something exclusive to you gods. I have friends that deal with that even from mortal fathers and mothers. Not just half-bloods either." She gave her a pointed look. "And maybe you don't love me just because I'm who I am but because I am Dad's offspring like Amanda. I don't really care. I know you love me in some way or another. But..." Melanie rolled her eyes. "Ancient laws or whatever. I'm old enough to realize I'm not having a normal Mom." She shrugged. "That's alright. I think you would do well if you could."
Aphrodite was thoroughly surprised with this declaration. It shocked her simply because it was the admission that... her daughter also loved her. Aphrodite didn't need to use her divine powers to realize that.
It was difficult for Melanie to say that, she knew. But deep inside... maybe it was the alcohol, maybe it was the grief she was still feeling... but Aphrodite got emotional.
"Oh, Melanie..." The goddess let out a sobbing chuckle, a single tear sliding down her cheek. "You... you're truly your father's daughter. But you're so much more. Perhaps because I isolated myself from almost all but your father... my existence feels so lonely now... and those who'd rather stay close to me-"
"I know." Aphrodite shot her a surprised look. "What? I'm your daughter too. You think I don't notice the looks? I'm horrified by it too."
"Can't say I'm surprised." The goddess responded, cleaning her face from the tear that had coursed through her. The tear that had fallen to the ground. "But as I was saying... I didn't hear much from people who could say words like these... I have immortal friends, of course-"
"But they probably don't understand death very well, do they?"
Aphrodite shook her head. "Indeed, they do not. Nor they understand love like a mortal would."
"It's funny," Melanie said, her eyes darting towards the dancing couples, the loners, the friends, and the gods still in their thrones. "You guys are all powerful, all knowing... but you can't feel things like we puny mortals do."
"Correct." Aphrodite once more laughed bitterly. "Your father gave me a taste of what true love means. I had forgotten it, I will admit. Especially because it's not something one feels every day."
"Mhm." Melanie looked at her mother. "How much can I count on you?"
"As much as your father could count on Lord Poseidon. I'll... be watching, my dear. And I'll try to provide guidance at the very least."
"Okay. I'll... be here for you two. Even if it's just to remind you of him."
"Thank you..." Aphrodite cleared her throat. It didn't feel natural to think of her daughter this way... and the same applied for Amanda. For her eldest, it was too late to say anything, but for her youngest... "But it's not just because of your father. I love you... I truly do, dear."
"Thanks, Mom." Aphrodite was shocked when Melanie embraced her, both arms surrounding her body, her head buried in her dress. The goddess caressed her raven hair, trying to hold back the sobs. This time, she was successful. It was the closest she felt to the love she felt for Percy since he died. It only made sense that it would be because of their daughter. "I need to meet up with a friend, is that okay?"
"Of course, dear. If you need anything... well, I'll be here until the night ends."
"Thank you!" And Melanie ran off to meet with the friend she talked about. Aphrodite lost her in the middle of the crowd, but it didn't matter. Like with Percy, raising Melanie would never be normal. She wouldn't even be really raising her. But she was her mother at the end of the day, and the girl could do better knowing someone was looking over her, even if from afar.
Aphrodite loved her. And comparing love didn't make sense. She had loved Percy. She had loved Amanda. And now she loved Melanie. Love wasn't about quantity; it was about the feeling itself. Perhaps you would spare more time for a romantic partner, but a son or daughter was also something so special... something she was proud to have.
"I take it you don't want to be alone anymore?" A familiar blonde with grey eyes joined her at the counter.
After feeling so much emotion, the goddess of love couldn't help but laugh. "Yes, Athena. I could use a companion."
The other deity ordered a drink from the barman, and they shared a silent toast. "Finally."
Finally, indeed...
The end, exactly 1 year after the start. Can't say I really planned this, but I'm glad it panned out this way. 12 chapters too. Thanks to all who read this, I'll go back to the older chapters to clear typos soon, but I just hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing!