215Notes: Happy super belated new year FFN. It's been a while. Some credit is due to the Emerald Library Discord's Christmas event, where they encouraged everyone to complete a chapter for a WIP, which led to the completion of this story. I didn't even get close to making the deadline, but it's a Christmas miracle that this is coming out now, considering the length of time between the Interlude and chapter 10. So thanks for that. I'll leave my personal thoughts on this story as a whole at the very end. Enjoy.
oOo
Redamancy
Whenever he was at his parents' house, in the evenings, if it wasn't too cold outside, Percy had taken to sitting out on the balcony, dressed in a sweater with a mug of hot chocolate in his hands, staring up at the night sky. The light pollution from the city made it impossible to see the stars, but he could still make out the moon. And of course, after everything that happened, he really couldn't take his eyes off the brightly shining full moon tonight.
"You're going to catch a cold if you stay out here for too long Percy," his mom's soft voice broke through his reverie.
"I know, Mom. I'll be inside in a sec."
Normally, his mom would just leave him alone after that, so he was quite surprised to hear her close the sliding door to the balcony behind her and sit down next to him on the little swinging bench.
"Something on your mind?" she asked him quietly, joining him in staring up at the sky.
"...You could say that, I guess," he sighed.
Sally waited.
Percy took a deep breath, watching the spirals of his breath float up into the sky.
"Mom, can I ask you a bit of a personal question?"
"Of course."
"Do you still love Dad?"
Sally turned to look at him. "What brought this on?"
"..."
Percy opened and closed his mouth, but nothing came out. How could he ever explain the whole situation to his Mom?
Sally returned her gaze up to the sky.
"Your father and I… our relationship as lovers is more or less a relic of the past now. We're friends, or even partners, and most importantly, we're your parents."
"So you've fallen out of love, huh? Was there ever a chance for a happily ever after for you two?" Percy murmured.
Sally shrugged her shoulders.
"Who knows? Our concept of happily ever after is very different from an immortal's. For an immortal being, their love remains constant. Unchanging. Their love is derived from what they see in you at a particular moment in time, and they assume that you will always be that person they met. But we mortals aren't static. We grow and change; and when we do, the immortals tend to lose interest. It's why most mortal-immortal relationships don't last. What we mortals seek often changes as we grow up. They want us to be the same person, forever. That's why I love Paul now. And while I certainly can't tell you exactly what your Father is thinking, I suspect that he may still love the idea of me; the me of twenty or so years ago."
"So you're saying that it's impossible for a mortal and an immortal to have any sort of happy ending? I mean, it's as you said, mortals are bound to change, right? We'll grow old and develop new interests, whereas they'll stay the same. Isn't that just a recipe for disaster? If the gods or goddesses can only love the version of you from a singular moment in time, then why bother pursuing any sort of romantic relationship in the first place then? Isn't it doomed to fail in a few years at most?"
"I suppose that's one interpretation of an immortal-mortal relationship, but I think that's a very ignorant take. There's no guarantee that an immortal will necessarily fall out of love with you as you grow older. And even if they did, it doesn't mean that your love never existed."
"But-"
"You know that I still care about your Father very much. It might seem silly; a mortal caring about the wellbeing of someone infinitely older and more powerful, but I care all the same. I may not love him anymore in a romantic sense, but that does not take away from our relationship having existed in the first place. It doesn't make our love any less valid. I mean, we are your parents. The fact that you exist is proof that our love was not in vain."
He thought about what she said. Having a kid… the ultimate expression of love. Did that mean that Apollo was right? That happiness, no matter how fleeting, would always be worth it in the end?
"What brought this on, Percy?"
'"... I think that I might've fallen in love with a goddess. And I don't know what to do."
"You think?" Sally asked, tilting her head in confusion.
"I don't really remember; I still don't have all of my memories. But I think something inside me knows. And based on what everyone's been saying… yeah… I think I've fallen in love."
"Who was it?"
"...Lady Artemis."
To her credit, Sally didn't miss a beat, even at the reveal of whom it was that was bothering Percy.
"Well, have you spoken with her about it?"
"No. We only talked once, that first day I returned from exile. And she didn't mention it at all, so I didn't think we had any sort of past together. It was only through talking with others that I found out."
"So how do you feel? And how does it compare with Jasmine?"
Percy took a deep breath.
"I honestly don't know anymore. I thought Jasmine was my forever, but now I'm not so sure anymore. Something is telling me that I'm missing an opportunity; that I have a chance to discover what true happiness is. And I feel like if I don't figure it out I'll forever regret it. But at the same time, it all sounds so far-fetched. I mean, it's Artemis after all."
"Well, then it seems like you already know what you want to do. What are you still waiting for?"
"I just-" Percy clenched his fists. "I know that the feelings I have for Jasmine are genuine. When I see her, she brightens my day. She makes me laugh. She filled the void that Annabeth left behind. But what if my feelings for Artemis are equally as strong, or perhaps even stronger? Where would that leave me? Does that mean that I never actually loved Jasmine in the first place, if I discover that Artemis means more to me? I don't want to do anything that might hurt her, and I know that if I pursue this, whatever it is with Artemis, she's going to be hurt. I asked her to marry me, for Poseidon's sake. I can't just push her aside and pretend I never loved her. That's the worst thing I could do."
Sally wrapped an arm around him, "Oh Percy, you shouldn't think of it that way. You shouldn't think of it that way at all."
"Love isn't quite as simple as people try to make it out to be. From what you're saying, it's easy to tell that you care about Jasmine a lot. To say that those feelings are a lie would be disingenuous. But that doesn't mean you're not allowed to love someone else as well. People don't go through life only ever loving one person, you know?"
"But then… I'm the one being unfair here, aren't I? I love Jasmine, and yet I'm trying to seek out Lady Artemis as well."
"It would only be unfair of you if you didn't make a choice. If you tried to date both of them, then of course it would be unfair. But no one can fault you for following your heart Percy."
"Follow my heart…" Percy sunk deep into thought.
"You mentioned that your relationship with Artemis has been bothering you, right? Go. Go and talk to her. Go in with an open mind. Don't let any of your prejudices or prior ideas influence you. And I'm sure you'll know what to do. You've always known, after all."
"...Thanks Mom."
"Of course. Now we should really get inside. It's getting quite cold."
Percy followed her back into the warmth of the apartment.
oOo
Percy stared out of the window inside the little log cabin. The first streaks of gold were beginning to light up the sky as night gave way to the dawn.
It was almost time.
He'd contacted Apollo almost as soon as he'd finished speaking with his Mom. The former God had called in his own Mom, Leto, which made for yet another awkward conversation with an immortal being for Percy.
But that conversation had led him here, to this little dwelling on Delos, so he couldn't really complain.
It was getting ever brighter outside. He could feel his palms sweating. His heart was beating rather quickly; it had been a long time since he had last felt like this. Since the first time he realized that Annabeth was much more than just pretty.
A thousand thoughts raced through his head.
What was he going to say to Artemis?
How was he supposed to convey his feelings when he himself didn't fully remember or understand them?
What if her feelings towards him had changed?
The sound of the door opening dragged him from his thoughts.
At first glance, framed in the doorway, with the sun peeking out over the horizon behind her filling the sky with hues of red and gold, she certainly looked the part of a goddess. Her auburn hair cascaded down her shoulders all the way to her waist. There was a regality to her features, an almost untouchable aura to her.
But then the image broke. The moment broke. Her silver eyes went wide with shock, and even at a distance, he could see that she began to tremble.
He could do nothing but stare at her. Something welled up inside of him. This wasn't a memory, nor a desire borne from logic.
It was simply instinct. His instincts were screaming at him to-
"It looks good on you." She broke the silence tremulously.
"Hu-what?"
Her eyes flickered down towards his neck.
"The scarf. I always thought that silver looked good on you."
He looked down. Ah. The scarf he was wearing; she'd given it to him, hadn't she? During a whirlwind of chocolate and conversations that he hadn't fully understood at the time.
What had she called it back then?
A slightly better gift than a flower.
The gentle press of soft lips against his forehead.
The girl bent down and picked a sprig of a glowing, silver flower.
"Then come to the beach, my hero. And we will send you on your way."
"It's really warm. Thanks for giving it to me. But I don't- I don't want…" his voice broke.
He didn't want her to leave. If this was a parting gift, then he wouldn't accept it. He'd throw it back in her face, goddess be damned. He wanted, no he deserved answers. It was fine if she didn't feel anything for him. But he sure as Hades wasn't going to leave until he was absolutely sure.
Follow your heart, his mother had told him. His heart was screaming at him, but his brain wasn't cooperating.
He needed to say something. He needed to take advantage of this moment. He needed to tell her how he felt. But what was it that he felt? How did he feel? If he couldn't even put his feelings into words, then what on Earth was he supposed to say to her? Too many things raced through his head. Half-formed sentences came to his lips, only for him to discard them in disgust because they weren't right. They didn't properly convey what he wanted to say, or what he felt.
He took a deep breath, and cleared his mind.
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
The whirlwind of thoughts slowly faded away.
And then, suddenly, in the middle of the emptiness, an emotion emerged. And it became so clear to him that he almost could have laughed at how much he'd wrestled with his own feelings.
Ah.
I still don't really know why I feel like this. I don't really remember much at all.
But.
I want to spend my life with her. I want to see her smile. I want to make her laugh. I want to hold her in my arms and never let go.
I love her.
I love her.
And the words came spilling out easily.
"Do you remember… do you remember that question you asked me?"
Artemis's breath caught in her throat.
"W-which one?"
He stood up and, as if in a trance, slowly approached her. His eyes never left hers.
"Back in that coffee shop. When you asked me what I would do. When you told me that we were lovers."
Artemis gave a nervous laugh as she took a step back.
"I thought I told you that it was a joke."
"But I never got the chance to answer you. And I really wanted to."
He was getting ever closer now. She took another step away, drawing away from him.
But he didn't give up.
"Please just hear me out? I didn't understand anything, the last time we spoke. So I'm sorry if I said things that gave off the wrong impression. That's why I'm here. I'm trying to fix… this. Fix everything. Will you let me?"
"...Okay." Artemis breathed out slowly, her eyes flickering across his face, as if searching for any hint of mockery or deceit.
"Okay…then… I'll ask you again. What would you do, Perseus Jackson? What would you do… if I was in love with you?"
He reached out slowly, and to his delight, she didn't flinch or back away from him anymore.
It felt wonderful to take her hand in his and draw her closer to him. She closed her eyes, and he felt momentarily disappointed that he couldn't see those beautiful silver eyes anymore.
But that disappointment passed quickly, for he leaned down and gently pressed his lips to hers.
He was kissing her. Her lips were soft and warm, and trembled slightly against his own. At first she stood frozen in place, but when he slid his arms around her waist and pulled her towards him, it was as if a dam broke within her.
Her arms slowly snaked their way around his neck as she pulled him even closer, kissing him back hard.
He'd never felt anything like it before.
Kissing Jasmine had felt comfortable. It'd felt natural, almost like breathing.
But kissing Artemis, it was electrifying. It was as if every single nerve ending was on fire. He was hyper aware of every part of her, pressed tightly against his own torso.
He wanted the moment to last forever, but she pulled away sooner than he would have liked.
It was only then that he saw that she was crying. Tears were streaming down her face, but this time, she made no move to wipe them away.
"Am I that bad of a kisser?" He tried to joke weakly.
She punched his shoulder.
"You… you stupid idiot. You know that's not the case. I'm just- I just don't know what to say. I thought that I'd be fine with letting you walk away, seeing how happy you were with your life. I thought I could live with knowing that, despite its brevity, I'd found something special with you that nothing could take away. I'd come to terms with it all. And now you come here and you mess it all up again. You mess me up all over again."
"Artemis… you know that I love you, right?"
She took a deep, shuddering breath.
"You don't. You can't. It's impossible. You don't even remember me. How can you possibly love me?"
He spread his hands.
"I don't know. You're right, I don't remember anything. But that doesn't mean that I don't love you. It doesn't take away the feelings that I can feel bursting out of my chest. It doesn't change the fact that I want to kiss you, hold your hand, take you out on dates, and just be with you. I've never felt anything that could compare to how I feel when I'm with you."
She pressed her hands against his chest gently. He carefully wiped away the tears that continued to roll down her face.
"Do you really mean that?"
"Can I kiss you again to prove it?
Artemis opened her mouth, but he didn't let her answer. He simply stole another kiss away.
"Mmph!" She protested half-heartedly, although it was completely ruined by her arms slipping around his neck once more.
When they broke apart again, Percy couldn't stop the smile from spreading across his face.
"Does that answer your question?"
Artemis gently laid her head against his chest in answer. It was comfortable, holding her close as he watched the golden rays of the sun rise above the horizon.
"I've been unfair to you," She murmured, breaking the long silence.
"Huh?" Percy was confused. "If this is about how our initial talk went, then you have nothing to blame yourself for. After all, you thought I was happy without you, right?"
She shook her head against his chest.
"No, I… I messed up. It's not- I didn't think- just didn't want-."
She was floundering, and Percy gently lifted her head up. Her eyes briefly caught his before she looked away again.
"Artemis, what is it? You know that you can tell me anything, right?"
She closed her eyes, fresh tears slowly slipping down her face.
"Here. You'll understand in a moment."
She reached up, and gently placed her hand against his forehead.
It was as if he was opening his eyes for the first time. Images...memories flickered across his eyes.
He could see those same silver eyes that were currently looking up at him so guiltily, staring at him from across his coffee table.
He touched his lips where the ghost of that first kiss still lingered.
He could feel her in his arms, tightly clinging to each other as their time together ticked away.
And he remembered their promise; the one that they had made, to be together again, after everything was over.
"How? How do you have my memories? And why? Why would you hide them from me?" He breathed out.
"It was part of the deal." Artemis began in a flat, monotone voice. "It was all part of a deal to keep you safe. My Father, my brother; they were all opposed to our relationship. Your father pleaded for leniency from monsters during your exile, and so the deal was struck. Your safety, in exchange for our memories of each other. But after those memories were gone, I knew almost instantly that something was wrong. It's impossible to hide the removal of all those memories. And since I was a goddess, I set out to do something about them. So I went to my Father and after some… disagreements, I managed to convince him to return those precious recollections to me."
"So then-"
"I was so excited. I'd wanted to be the first person you saw after those years of exile were past. Ten years? That's nothing to us immortals. There wasn't that much time left. I'd made so many plans, tried to figure out what I wanted to say to you when I first met you. But then my brother told me you were engaged."
She clenched her fists.
"I had always known that mortals changed. They grew up and they become someone different than the person they were when they were younger. But we immortals, we always expect you to be the same. Because we're the same, millennia upon millennia, and we will never change. I was foolish, and expected you to be the same Percy that I said my goodbyes to, that I promised to wait for, even if logically speaking, it shouldn't have been possible."
"And then you found out… didn't you? You found out that I was engaged."
She nodded.
"Apollo told me. I was crushed. But I couldn't even blame you. You couldn't even remember me. And I couldn't even see you. There was nothing I could do to make you remember me. So I did what was best. Since you were getting married, then you must have found happiness without me. And I decided that your happiness was the most important thing to me. For once, I didn't want to be like the other Gods. I wanted to put you first. I could deal with the heartbreak of being left behind, if it meant that you could be happy."
"Artemis-"
She plowed straight through him.
"But then I messed it up again. When your exile ended, I couldn't stay away. I told myself that if I ever crossed paths with you, on Olympus or during my Hunts, I'd simply treat you as a hero of Olympus; that our relationship would be strictly professional, so as to not add any burden to your marriage. And yet, in the end, I couldn't even stay away for a day. I went to see you in person the morning your exile ended. I don't even know what I was expecting, or hoping for, but none of it came to pass. The only thing that visit did was reopen the old wounds."
"Then why didn't you say anything?" Percy spoke up roughly. He couldn't keep quiet any longer. "If you were only lying to yourself; if you weren't actually okay with being left behind, why didn't you give me my memories back? You know that I would have chosen-"
"Because I felt ashamed!" she burst out. "I've punished the unfaithful and the heartbreakers for millennia. How much of a hypocrite would I be if I tried to convince someone who was engaged to be unfaithful… for me?"
"That's just an excuse, Artemis! My engagement to Jasmine is different because it was based on a lie; based on a reality where I didn't even know who you were. Jasmine, me, you, we all know that the engagement would have never happened if I remembered you. It was a lie that you had the opportunity to correct. You couldn't even take a leap of faith and at least give me the chance to choose you?"
Artemis bowed her head in shame.
Percy was silent, and after a moment to gather herself, she continued on.
"On the day we met, I thought that I would say goodbye properly, and return your pen to you. I figured it'd be the end of it, and I could retreat back to my duties and the Hunt. Put everything behind me. But I should've known better. I should've known that it would've never been enough for you. And so, I can't even say that I was very surprised when I saw you here today, sitting by the bed of this little cabin as if you'd never left. You…-You came here to see me. I-" her voice cracked.
"I'm sorry for assuming. For giving up on you, on us. Can you forgive me?"
He couldn't answer her. It was as if she'd sucker-punched him right in the gut.
"I thought you wanted this…us as much as I did."
"I did. I still do. You don't know how much I'd dreamed of this moment. That despite all the odds you'd come back and sweep me off my feet again. That you'd do exactly what you did today."
"But you would've accepted it if I never came? You would've just moved on and left things the way they were? If I didn't come here today, looking for you, would you have been okay with never seeing me again?" His voice was rising. He wasn't even sure anymore if it was in anger or desperation.
"I wasn't okay with it!" She shot back. "But what could I do? You were engaged!"
"So what? What does that matter? Engagements are broken off all the time! It's not as if I actually married anyone. And even then, there's always a divorce, as much as Hera would hate me for it. And… and you're a maiden Goddess, for Poseidon's sake. This…-our relationship was always going to break the rules!"
He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"Look I- I know the odds of us getting together were never in our favor. I knew, going into this, that there was a one in a million chance that it would work out. But I just wish-" He swallowed heavily.
"I just wish that you would've taken those odds. That you would've given me that chance to fall in love with you again. I wish that I didn't have to find things out on my own, that I didn't have to come here without my memories to find you. Do you want to know why?"
"...Tell me," she said quietly.
"Because now… because now I'll always wonder. I'll always wonder if things will work out between you and I. My mom… she said something that I thought was really poignant. Our concept of happily ever after is very different from that of an immortal's. And you said it yourself; you expected me to be the same old Percy from ten years ago. But I'm not. I grew up and changed. And maybe you still love this version of me. But I'll always wonder. I'll always think to myself, does Artemis really love me? Or does she love the idea of me that she knew, years and years ago? I'll be honest, Artemis. I love you. And I think I always will. But can you say the same about me? I'm already so different from the person I was when I said farewell to you in my apartment, ten years ago. I have changed and I will continue to change. Can you really say that you'll love me for a lifetime?"
"Of course," she answered immediately. "I promised, didn't I? I loved you then, I love you now, and I'll continue to love you until the day you die."
Silence reigned. Artemis didn't dare look up. She didn't want to see… didn't want to know what he was thinking.
It was getting brighter by the minute outside. A fresh breeze blew into the cabin, bringing with it a faint scent of the ocean. On any other day, this sort of morning would have lifted his spirits. But Percy was oblivious. The world had narrowed; it was only him and her.
"With all my heart, I want to believe you," he broke the silence softly, and she froze.
"The world's against us, you know that right?" He continued. "Your Father won't approve of me. You've sworn an oath to remain a maiden forever. You're immortal and I'm not, so you'll outlive me by millennia. Even Aphrodite wouldn't be able to craft a love story as star-crossed as ours."
He paused.
"But you know what's interesting? I know that despite the odds, I would've tried everything to make this work. To make us work."
He slipped out of her grasp. She tried to hold onto his warmth, but he stepped away.
"I would've gone to Zeus to see if his immortality offer still stood," he whispered.
"And then… and then I would've stood before him and asked for his daughter's hand in marriage. I would've asked him to release you from your oath."
She gasped.
"Percy…" she started, but he cut her off.
"I'd do anything to be with you. But honestly? I'm scared. I'm terrified that I'll wake up one day and find that you don't love me anymore. That you'll go back to being the untouchable Huntress I first met when I was only thirteen. Right now? I believe you. I believe that you love me. But will you love me next year? In five years? Ten? I don't know, and that scares me. Because the thing is… Artemis… the thing is, if you couldn't even give me back my memories of our time together… if you weren't even willing to try… then how can I know if you really truly love me? How can I know if your love was meant to last forever? Or if it was only meant to last for a day?"
The only sound that could be heard was the chirping of the birds, as the sun rose fully into the sky.
"I-I'm sorry Artemis. I- I need to be alone."
oOo
After he'd politely but firmly asked Leto to send him back to New York, the only thing Percy wanted to do was slip back into his apartment and sleep for another ten years. He called in some of the vacation time he'd saved up at work; there was no way he wanted to face anyone for the rest of the week. He just needed some time to himself.
Jasmine was away on yet another speaking tour, which meant that he had the place to himself. There were times in years past where her absence would be a source of loneliness. He'd call her a few times a week, just to hear her voice and talk about their days. But ever since leaving Delos, he hadn't spoken with her. Jasmine had called him a couple of times, but he couldn't bring himself to pick up. Not while he was feeling so confused and conflicted.
He tried to distract himself by keeping busy. He'd spend a day outside, walking through Central Park. Ever since he'd started working, the chances that he'd had to simply wander around the city had diminished significantly. There were always other commitments, and most of his free time he'd spent with Jasmine anyways. He even shelled out some money to go out and see a stage play on one of the days.
Despite his best attempts at distracting himself, he couldn't really escape from the thoughts of Artemis. There were just too many reminders. He'd been walking down a street on his way back from Central Park and suddenly there was the familiar sign of Pirelli's staring back at him, which only brought back more painful memories. He still remembered sitting across from the goddess at one of the window booths, sipping the wonderfully rich and creamy hot chocolate. He could still remember how she looked when she'd told him, in her own roundabout way, that they had once been lovers.
Or he'd be lying flat on his back in bed, staring out of the window, only to catch sight of the moon. He'd remember the first time he ever really spoke to Artemis, after everything that had happened with Annabeth. The way the moon had grown brighter and brighter, until he'd caught sight of the chariot pulled by deer landing by the shore. He'd look back on that interaction and wonder if, even back then, he'd already been hooked. If back then, even though he wasn't to know it, he'd already been entranced.
And all of these memories only made him more confused. Because he knew what it meant. It wasn't as if this was the first time he'd been so hung up on a girl, after all.
"Haaa…" he sighed, rolling over onto his side, staring at the bedside table, where Jasmine's latest book rested. He'd been halfway through the book before he'd left for Delos and hadn't had much of an appetite for finishing it since returning.
Jasmine was a complicated subject for him too. It wasn't that she'd never mentioned Artemis during their years together that bothered him. He could understand where she was coming from; it wasn't like he hadn't avoided pretty much every opportunity to talk about Luke Castellan with Annabeth. He simply never brought it up, because it was easier that way. Why would anyone dredge up the past when the present was infinitely more pleasant?
The problem he faced was that it had only taken one conversation with Artemis to understand himself and how he felt. He knew now that his feelings for Jasmine simply couldn't compare to how he felt about Artemis, and he wasn't sure how to face that fact. His mom had made it sound simple; that it was okay to fall in love with multiple people, so long as he figured out who he really wanted to be with in the end. And she was probably right about that, but what she hadn't mentioned was how difficult of a choice it was. Or how difficult it would be to face the fallout of his choice.
It wasn't like he could just kick Jasmine to the curb after everything. Even if his fatal flaw wasn't personal loyalty, he owed her too much to ever do that to her.
Hey, welcome back, babe. Oh, by the way, I kind of found out that I love someone else more than you, so can we call off this whole wedding thing?
He snorted. Yeah there was no chance that conversation was gonna happen.
"I shouldn't have gone to Delos after all huh…" he muttered to himself, staring up at the ceiling. He'd opened a can of worms that he really wished he'd kept closed. And his traitorous mind wasn't making things any easier for himself.
He could still remember how soft Artemis's lips felt against his. How beautiful her smile was, when he'd told her he loved her.
Percy rolled onto his other side, trying to think of anything but her. He'd have to go back to work next week, which would be fun. He hadn't realized how much he'd miss work. It was really the best way to be in close contact with the ocean in New York. It wasn't really a solution to the issue, but maybe the best path forward would be to simply give things time. He could dive into work and let time provide some perspective and answers. That sounded appealing to him, even if it wasn't a particularly satisfying solution.
Still, maybe it would be enough to finally let him fall asleep.
oOo
He woke up to the sound of someone ringing the doorbell to his apartment. Whoever his mysterious visitor was, they clearly weren't very patient, because he hadn't even gotten a chance to fully wake up before they were spamming the doorbell. Swearing under his breath, Percy rolled out of bed and struggled into some jeans, before heading towards the door. By the fact that the doorbell hadn't stopped ringing during the intervening seconds, he'd already gotten a pretty good idea of who it was.
"I'm coming, I'm coming, alright? Relax."
He swung the door open to be greeted by the familiar sight of spiky black hair and electric blue eyes.
"...Hey Thalia," he said with an air of resignation.
She glared at him, sparks flickering along her skin.
"Don't you hey Thalia me. You have a lot of explaining to do."
"What do you mean explaining? Explaining what?"
"Well, Lady Artemis has been holed up inside of her palace for the past week. She's refused all visitors, even me, and she never refuses me when I want to see her. There's only one explanation and everything leads back to you. So you're going to explain what happened between the two of you, and then I'm going to decide whether or not I want to shock you into the next century."
Percy snorted. "Please, Pinecone Face. You couldn't beat me in a fight if you tried. We've established this already."
"You're a boomer pushing thirty, and I'm still physically a teenager. I'd say that I can have you flat on your back in thirty seconds flat."
The Percy of a decade ago would've probably had Riptide out already. But he'd just rolled out of bed and, as much as it hurt his pride to admit, her words probably held some truth to them: he wasn't getting any younger. The thought of his mortality once again dredged up memories of Artemis. He forced them down and instead just invited Thalia in, before flopping down on the couch.
"I don't have anything to offer in the way of drinks or a anything-"
"I don't care," Thalia cut across him impatiently. "I didn't come for a social chat or anything like that. Just tell me what happened."
He leaned back on the couch and groaned, rubbing his eyes tiredly.
"Well, after that night at Dionysus's bar…"
oOo
Thalia was giving him a weird look when he finished explaining what had happened on Delos.
"What?"
"It's nothing. I was just surprised that you went all the way to Delos chasing only a feeling and then gave it all up at the end."
"Do you think I was unreasonable, Thals? Do you think that I should've just brushed off the fact that she would have let me go my whole life without telling me how she felt, or giving back my memories, if I hadn't reached out to her first? I don't want to get into this relationship only to find that she doesn't love me as much as I love her."
Thalia sighed.
"No. I don't fault you for what you did. I think that, in an ideal world, she should have tried everything in her power to win you back. But this isn't an ideal world. I think that, if you really love Lady Artemis as much as you claim, you should try to see her point of view. I think you simply lack some perspective."
"Perspective?"
She nodded. "We never really talked about this, but do you know why I became a Huntress?"
Percy raised an eyebrow, "Wasn't it so that you wouldn't have to face the prophecy?"
Thalia gave a small laugh. "I suppose that played a part, yeah. But in reality it was more than just the prophecy. It was… an escape. See, the Huntress's Oath… it's not to be taken lightly. Eternal maidenhood is a very final sort of decision. No romantic love, forever. For me… I made my choice because of Luke."
"Luke? What do you mean?"
"I became a Huntress because I needed to give up on Luke."
"You liked… Luke?"
Thalia shook her head, an amused smile spreading across her face. "And I thought that everyone knew. But yes. The Luke Castellan that I remembered from my childhood… he was my first crush. How could I not? He protected us, led us in many ways. He was the main reason we even managed to make it to Half-Blood Hill, with all the monsters chasing after us. But after everything that happened, especially on Mount Othrys, I needed to give up on him. Because otherwise I would never be able to raise a weapon against him. So I chose to swear myself to Lady Artemis. I wanted eternal maidenhood, because then I couldn't get hurt again. I didn't want to feel betrayed again."
"I see," Percy said slowly. "So you're saying-"
"I'm saying that to swear an oath of eternal maidenhood is a life-altering decision. There's no going back on that sort of commitment. And it changes the way you think. It becomes a part of your identity, giving up love. You remember how worried you were, when you thought Annabeth would become a Huntress? Because you knew that would mean you'd lose her forever, because she would never look at you in a romantic light ever again."
"I remember."
"So you should understand what it means to be a Huntress. Falling in love… it's not that it hasn't happened before, but it's a slippery slope. The hurdles aren't exactly impossible to overcome, but the vow exists for a reason and it's difficult to just make the decision to go back on it. Now imagine what it was like for Lady Artemis, back when you had just returned from exile. She knew only that you were engaged, and that you didn't have your memories. So she had a choice. She could either risk everything that she has worked for her entire immortal life to give you your memories back on the off chance that you would break off your engagement to be with her, or she could stick with the status quo that she's kept up for millennia, and treasure the moments you'd spent together as something to remember you by."
Thalia took a deep breath.
"Lady Artemis is the founder of the Huntresses. She's been a maiden for thousands of years. And her persona is based around the image of her as the virgin goddess. Athena, Hestia, and Hecate are known as virgin goddesses as well, but it's not the same. It's not part of what makes up their godhood; their immortal domain. Virginity is not what they're worshipped for. You're asking her to give all of that up. For her, it's hundreds of times harder to go back on the oath that has defined her very existence since she was a little girl. Do you really think that it would have been so easy for her to just pursue you, a man engaged to be married, for a dream that she thought was long dead?"
Percy was silent.
"She told you she loved you, didn't she? On Delos?"
"...yeah."
"I can assure you, Percy, those aren't words to take lightly. For Lady Artemis to say that so openly to you… it's her way of admitting to her mistakes. She's telling you that she still wants to try. And she's willing to give up everything she's stood for, for a chance at happiness with you. Can you really say that she doesn't love you enough? Or that she's going to change her mind in the future? Do you really think that this is a spur of the moment decision?"
He remained stubbornly quiet, and Thalia sighed.
"If it helps at all, I think she feels terrible about the situation. She hasn't shown her face in a week, after all. I'm not saying that you should just pretend that nothing happened, but… talk it out with her. Don't ignore her. She didn't and still doesn't deserve that. If you don't want to be together with her, or if you're scared that she'll change her mind in the future and you don't want to commit to her, then tell her. Because this… fight or whatever this is isn't healthy for either of you."
oOo
He really was terrible with directions, Percy mused to himself as he examined the street signs for perhaps the third time. This would be his fifth time on Olympus, and he was no closer to figuring out the maze of roads and back alleys that made up the immortal community than he had been when he'd first wandered the city, after the Titan War.
Thalia had given him pretty explicit instructions on how to reach Artemis's palace too.
"It's a pretty modest building compared to what some of the other gods have, but the whole place is glowing silver, and there's a small glade out back. You can't miss it."
Well, he was pretty sure he'd followed her instructions, but he did not see any palace resembling what Thalia had described.
A quick glance around didn't help, there were a couple of palaces nearby that definitely weren't Artemis' and they, along with the rest of the more normal houses, pretty much obscured anything beyond the current intersection he was at.
He yawned. It was still very early in the morning; the world was still more or less dark, with only the traces of orange on the horizon. He'd been hoping to catch Artemis as she returned from her duties, but it was becoming more difficult by the minute as he struggled to find her palace.
Should he just try to retrace his steps back to the entrance to Olympus? Maybe he missed a turn somewhere.
He was so engrossed in trying to figure out where exactly he'd gone wrong that he didn't even notice the hooded figure approaching until a voice jolted him from his thoughts.
"Do you require directions, Perseus Jackson?" A soft, vaguely familiar female voice rang out in the otherwise silent street.
Percy whirled around in surprise, instantly on high alert. He'd intentionally kept a low profile, doing his best to hide his identity even from the security guard. Surprises like this, in his experience, were never a good thing.
The mysterious figure held up her hands.
"I mean no harm. I simply wish to assist you. You seemed somewhat lost."
"...How do you know who I am?"
"Has it really been so long that you have forgotten me?"
Percy squinted, trying to make out the features of the woman behind the hood.
She sighed, and lowered her hood to reveal the gorgeous features of a girl that he thought he'd left behind years ago.
"...Calypso. I didn't realize…"
The girl known as Calypso inclined her head, "Perseus Jackson. It has been quite a while."
He laughed nervously, "Yeah… it sure has."
There was a very long, and awkward pause; neither of them were sure of what to say.
He felt guilty; he'd always carried that guilt within him, ever since Tartarus. Sometimes, it was easy to push it aside; to forget and focus on the present. But it had always been in the back of his mind.
We did nothing, the demons said. Your beloved has unleashed a special curse—a bitter thought from someone you abandoned. You punished an innocent soul by leaving her in her solitude. Now her most hateful wish has come to pass: Annabeth feels her despair. She, too, will perish alone and abandoned. 1
"I'm sorry," he said, looking down at his feet, only to hear the exact same words uttered back to him from his companion in the same moment.
"What?" they asked in unison once more.
"Hey, stop copying me!" Again, in perfect sync.
They stared at each other for a moment, before Percy's lips twitched. Calypso noticed and couldn't help the small giggle that escaped. Before long, they were laughing together and clutching their sides as they struggled to breathe. The tension between them melted away and he was instead reminded of some of the most idyllic moments of his life. Stargazing on top of a hill in Ogygia, side by side with Calypso. Planting moonlace under the light of the waning moon. Leisurely strolls along the beach, walking shoulder to shoulder with hands not quite touching, but close enough that he could feel her warmth.
When their laughter had finally died away, they were left simply smiling at each other.
Percy was the first to break the silence.
"Hey Calypso?"
"Yeah?"
"I really do mean it when I say that I'm sorry. It took me far too long to realize this, but…I haven't been a very good friend, especially to someone whom I owe my life to."
Calypso brushed some of her hair out of her face.
"What are you even apologizing for? I should be the one to apologize; my actions nearly led to your death!"
Percy shook his head. "I should have checked that the Gods kept their promise. I… I gave you hope, and then never followed through."
She smiled sadly, "You tried to help me; to save me when nobody before you had ever attempted to do so. And when things fell through all I could do was hurt you, when it was never your fault to begin with."
"Well… I guess we both have something to apologize for then. But you're here now. Leo finished what I'd started. So let's put it all behind us. I'm just happy that you've finally escaped your prison."
Calypso smiled at him once more, but this time it wasn't tinged with the melancholic undertones that he'd come to associate with her. She took a couple of steps forward and enveloped him in a warm hug.
She still smelled of cinnamon, even after all this time, Percy thought to himself idly even as he hugged her back.
"Careful there. Or else Leo's gonna get jealous again."
"He can… what is it that you young people say nowadays? He can… suck on it?"
Percy resisted the urge to laugh. "Something like that."
They pulled back after a few more moments, and Percy felt as though a weight he never knew even existed was removed from his shoulders.
"So what are you doing here on Olympus? The last I'd heard of you, you were teaching music at some music school out west with Leo."
Calypso sighed, "Leo and I are on a bit of a break right now. And Hestia invited me to stay with her for a little while, so I've decided to come here for winter break. It's easier than going to your Camp, or anywhere else that I might run into him."
Percy was surprised to hear that. He'd thought things were going well for them, as strange of a couple as they made.
"Is everything alright?"
Calypso sighed again, "I think things will eventually work out. I suspect that Leo is being a little insecure. It happened from time to time with some of the heroes that washed ashore on my island, across the millennia. It didn't help that Hermes decided to tease him a few times."
"Whaaat? Leo's got nothing to worry about. Didn't you move all the way out to the Midwest for him? Nobody would ever do that unless they were quite committed."
Calypso giggled.
"You should reach out to him and tell him that. Maybe it will make him feel better. But enough about me. What are you doing here, on Olympus? I had wanted to reach out to you as soon as I had left Ogygia, but I had heard that you were exiled. I'll have you know, it came as quite the shock to see you be exiled from the very place you sacrificed so much to save."
Her words reminded Percy of his true purpose here on Olympus, and that familiar feeling of nervousness and apprehension returned.
"I'm here to… I'm here to visit Lady Artemis."
Calypso raised her eyebrows.
"Do you mean to say that… are you telling me that the rumors about you were true?"
"Rumors? What are you talking about?"
"The rumors of a relationship between yourself and Lady Artemis. I must say, Percy, that of the two of us, I never expected you to become the star-crossed lover."
Percy groaned, "I really didn't want this to be on Hephaestus TV for the next couple hundred years. And Ariadne told me that it was all supposed to be a secret! "
Calypso chuckled, "Oh Percy, even now after all these years, you're still embarrassed by your feelings?"
Percy could only duck his head and splutter incoherently in embarrassment.
he didn't let him off easy at first, but after a few more playful jabs Calypso finally had mercy on him and let up on the teasing.
"Honestly though, Percy? I'm surprised that you're pursuing her."
"Lady Artemis?" He asked.
"Yes."
"Why? Is it because- you think it's impossible"
"It's not because of who she is." Calypso cut across him.
Percy waited for her to elaborate.
"It's because I always figured that you would never be able to abandon your friends and family."
"Abandon… my friends and family?"
"You'd be leaving them behind if you pursued a relationship with Artemis."
Percy was silent for a very long while. He'd always known that, if he ever succeeded in this ridiculous dream of a relationship, he'd be facing this dilemma. He'd have to make a choice to remain with his mortal friends and family, or leave them behind to follow Artemis to the heights of Mount Olympus.
"You're right," he finally said. "If I were to go through with this… things wouldn't be the same ever again."
He hesitated. Was this what he really wanted? Would he really be able to say goodbye to his friends and family; everyone that he'd grown up with, fought with, spent precious time with?
"But- but I'm selfish, Calypso. I made that choice when I broke my oath, all those years ago, to pursue Artemis despite everything. And now, despite everything that's happened, I still want to see where things stand. I'm engaged, for Poseidon's sake, and yet all I can think about is that I'm terrified I'll regret that decision for the rest of my life. Do you think that makes me a terrible person?"
Calypso considered him for a few seconds, before looping her arm with his and started leading him down the road.
"C-Calypso? Where are we going?"
"You're not a terrible person, Percy Jackson. I think that, more than anyone, I understand exactly how you feel. And I don't think that anyone could ever think of you as a terrible person for what can only be described as your honest feelings."
She tugged a little harder on his arm.
"Now come with me. I shall take you to the place you need to be."
Then as they continued walking towards the corner of the street, Calypso gave a little laugh.
"It seems that I'm always around when you have a life-changing decision to make."
He twitched nervously at her words, more memories flooding through him.
Daybreak is a good time for decisions.
Calypso clearly caught onto his discomfort, and pressed up closer to him.
"H-hey! Aren't you a bit close?"
She laughed again.
"Oh? Feeling embarrassed?" She hugged his arm to her chest.
"Are these lingering feelings for me? Oh my. If you'd admitted as much ten years earlier my heart would have skipped a beat, but I'm afraid it's a little too late so I'll have to turn you down, as I am already taken."
"...You weren't this much of a tease before."
"I'm supposed to be a temptress, Percy. I've always been this way." Calypso smirked at him.
"Where are we going?" He asked, desperate to change the subject.
"Lady Artemis's palace. That was your final destination, correct?"
"I…- you know the way?"
"Of course, silly. I come to Olympus quite often."
They lapsed into silence, each lost in their own thoughts. A couple of turns and a quick shortcut through an alleyway later, they had arrived. It was just as Thalia had described, a smaller building that didn't draw attention to itself unlike some of the other palaces that he'd seen. There was a faint silvery glow lighting up the entire exterior, although it wasn't shining nearly as brightly as he'd been expecting. He could faintly hear the gurgle of a fountain coming from around the back of the house. That must be a part of the glade that Thalia had also mentioned, he mused to himself.
Calypso hugged him one more time, before she detached herself from his side. The sun was slowly peeking out above the horizon, bathing her in its reddish glow.
"Well, it was lovely to see you again, Percy Jackson. But this is where I must leave you. I can only wish you the very best of luck, no matter what you choose to do."
"Calypso, wait!" he called out after her retreating form.
She paused, looking back at him curiously.
"W-what do you think I should do?"
This time, her smile held only kindness.
"I think you already know the answer to your own question, Percy. You've always known what you've wanted."
oOo
There was no doorbell.
That was quite an issue, he mused to himself as he stood on the doorstep of her palace.
How was he supposed to announce himself? He was pretty sure that he wasn't supposed to just waltz into someone else's place without permission. That wouldn't fly even in the mortal world; he doubted Artemis would be okay with it either.
"Errrrrr," he muttered to himself as he paced back and forth by the oaken doors. "Do I just… knock?"
After a few minutes of pacing, he finally screwed up his courage and smartly rapped his knuckles against the door.
After a few moments of waiting, there was some noise within and the click of a lock, before the doors swung open to reveal a bleary-eyed nymph looking at him in confusion.
"You want something?" she asked drowsily.
"Err- is Ar-Lady Artemis available?"
She regarded him with some suspicion. "You drunk or something? Got mixed up with the Dionysus crowd last night?"
Percy frowned. "No, I'm perfectly sober. Is this not Lady Artemis's palace? I could've sworn Thalia-"
"No, no it is," The nymph interrupted him. "But what are you doing here? Last I checked, no mortal males ever visited Lady Artemis."
"Err- well, I'm the exception, I guess?"
She snorted. "Your sorry looking ass ain't really convincing me that you're exceptional there. Who are you anyways?"
"I-I'm Percy Jackson."
The nymph stared at him for a moment, before breaking out into hysterical laughter, clutching at her sides.
"Hahahaha- you're good, you know that? Y-you're Percy Jackson? The Hero of Olympus? Oh man, you've sure balls, I'll give you that. So good that I'll even ask another question instead of kicking you out. Tell me, Percy Jackson, what's someone of your stature doing here at six in the morning?"
"I-uh- I need to speak with Lady Artemis."
The nymph wiped away some of her tears of mirth. "Well, I must apologize, Mr. Percy Jackson. I'm afraid that Lady Artemis is indisposed to take visitors at the moment. Would you like to leave her a message?"
"No that's…- Actually, if you could just let her know that Percy Jackson wanted to speak with her, I think that should be enough."
She was still chuckling as she waved him off.
"I'll let her know."
Percy muttered his thanks and quickly left.
"What a weird nymph," he sighed as he leaned against a lamppost outside, watching as the sun slowly rose into the sky.
"I wonder who's taken over Apollo's duties now," he mused to himself. He remembered that Apollo had essentially replaced Helios, much like Artemis had replaced Selene. Downsizing, or whatever Apollo had called it. Maybe Helios had gotten his job back now that Apollo was a mortal?
"Haaa, that's so strange to think about. Didn't even know that Olympians could be punished by being turned into mortals."
He yawned again. He hadn't managed to get a whole lot of sleep the night before. It'd happened the last time he'd went to see Artemis on Delos as well; it wasn't until he'd left the nymph behind that the adrenaline had slowly started to drain from his body.
"Well, guess it's time to head back," he sighed.
Stuffing his hands into his pocket, he'd just taken a few steps in the direction that he hoped would lead him to the elevator when she called out to him.
"Perseus!"
He whirled around, and there she was, standing just at the entrance to her palace. She looked as though she'd just returned from her duties; dressed in a traditional tunic with a cloak of bear fur across her shoulders to shield her from the elements.
Even if it was traditional; even if there was absolutely nothing special about what she was wearing, he couldn't help himself. He couldn't help but stare.
"You… wanted to see me?" she asked, her voice softer.
Gods damn it all.
oOo
The inside of the palace was surprisingly modern. Most of the furnishings and the decor seemed up to date; it didn't feel any different from what the inside of a normal house might look like. Artemis led him wordlessly to the dining room, gesturing for him to sit while she quickly disappeared into the kitchen.
A few minutes later, she was back holding two mugs with steam swirling up out of them, a wonderfully rich and sweet aroma filling the room. She placed one carefully down in front of him, before sliding into the seat across from him at the table.
There was something intimately familiar about this scene; sitting down across the table from Artemis, regarding each other carefully over some hot .
"Did you want marshmallows with that?" Artemis asked suddenly, hopping up from her seat.
"Oh! I'm alright, thanks," He said, fidgeting with his fingers; his body a ball of nervous energy.
"Ah well… is there anything- is there anything else that I can do for you?"
Percy shook his head and took a deep breath.
"We both know why I'm here, Artemis."
Artemis paused in her tracks.
"Do we?" she asked in a small voice, without looking him in the eye. "Because I won't lie to you, Percy. I'm very unsure of why you are here."
Percy folded his hands together in front of him.
"I wanted to see you again," he said frankly. It was a bald statement; there was no hint of embarrassment in it. "
"I couldn't get you out of my head, Artemis. I've spent the past week, every single moment of it, thinking about you. I wondered, for the longest time, if I'd be okay with leaving things. If I could really just go back to my life with Jasmine and pretend like nothing happened, just like you could."
She flinched and Percy felt like kicking himself. He hadn't meant that to come out so harshly or bitterly.
"Sorry," he muttered. "I didn't mean that."
Artemis shook her head. "No I- I probably deserved that. But I was still hoping… I still wanted to believe that you'd change your mind. That you'd give me another chance."
They were both quiet, until Artemis looked up at him. Her eyes were downcast, but there was a light. A spark of hope.
"...Have you?"
Percy stared at his hands, the tug of war between his heart and his mind still raging onwards, neverending. He didn't say a word. He couldn't. Nothing would come out.
"I understand," Artemis finally said, standing up slowly. "I can't fault you for feeling that way. You were right, when you questioned my love for you. After our last conversation, I thought about what you said for a long time. How could I prove to you that I loved you?"
Percy looked up to find her staring at him, the most serious expression he'd ever seen on her face.
"I thought about it for a long time," she continued. "The first thing that came to mind were gifts. It's how we Olympians and other gods have always operated. Material wealth, social elevation, even immortality. Those are the gifts that the Olympians have always bestowed upon those we favored."
Artemis carefully raised the mug of hot chocolate to her lips, blowing on it gently before taking a sip.
"But then I realized that those gifts would mean nothing to you. They wouldn't be personal; they wouldn't prove anything. What you said, right before you left? When you said that you'd take up immortality for me? That you'd stand up to my father and ask him for his permission to marry me?"
Percy looked away embarrassed. He'd forgotten what he'd said in the heat of the moment.
"I didn't even know how much it meant at the time. But when I considered what you've always valued; what you've always wanted out of your life… I realized just how much you were willing to sacrifice for me, when you told me you'd follow me up here, to Olympus. You were willing to give up the 'normal' life that you'd always wanted, because you believed in us."
Artemis paused to take another sip of hot chocolate.
"And so I asked myself, what would I be willing to give up for you?"
She took a deep breath, her fingers fiddling with the handle to her mug.
"I…- there aren't many things that I could sacrifice. Don't get me wrong, Percy. If you were in danger, I would drop everything to help you. But that's different. That isn't a sacrifice on my part; we immortals don't really have the same perception of preciousness as mortals do. Most of the things that make up our daily lives; they are simply facts now. There isn't anything particularly special about them."
Artemis hesitated then, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. But when she opened them again, a smile bloomed on her face.
"So I realized that the only thing I could do; the only way I could try to make you see just how much I love you, is to give you something that quite literally has become a part of myself. Something that I have held onto dearly for millennia, since I was born."
"You mean…?"
"Of all my domains and titles, I really only cared for my Hunt. It was where the vast majority of myself is concentrated; I feel the most alive there. Or rather, I felt the most alive there."
"Artemis…"
She shushed him with a single finger. The small smile on her face wavered; it was fragile, a little shaky and a little bit broken. But it still remained.
"But you're different, Percy. I don't know how you managed it. I don't even remember why I gave you the time of day, all those years ago. You were right, our relationship was never meant to exist. It broke so many rules; there were a thousand obstacles in our way."
Her eyes were shining brightly now, the same beautiful silver that had appeared in his dreams during his exile. She slipped over to his side of the table slowly, giving him plenty of time to pull away. When he didn't she reached out slowly and tenderly laced their fingers together.
Her fingers were warm and calloused, slipping easily between his own. It felt so intimately familiar and comfortable, as if this was something that the universe had dictated to be right.
"But they don't matter anymore. Because I'm here, and you're with me. And so, Percy Jackson, I have no more doubts and regrets. I'm not going to let this chance slip by again. You asked me how I could prove to you that I love you."
She squeezed his hand gently, syaring up at him.
"I renounce my oath as a Huntress. I give up my Hunt."
And then she leaned closer to him, close enough to whisper into his ear.
"And perhaps most importantly, Percy Jackson, I'm willing to give you my maidenhood. Because you are my first love. My only love."
Her words crashed over him, almost burying him under their intensity. He wanted to cover his face in embarrassment. But he couldn't. Artemis had screwed up her courage and laid everything bare. He had to respond. He had to let her know where he stood.
And there really wasn't much consideration needed, in the end.
"...Gods damn it," he whispered, before he pulled her close to his chest, wrapping both arms around her waist. She encircled his arms with her own, slipping onto his lap and leaning her head onto his shoulder.
Her eyes were lidded, staring at him with an unmatched intensity. Her lips were slightly parted, pink and so very kissable.
"Artemis can I… can I kiss you?"
She chuckled quietly.
"Oh Percy, you never have to ask."
And so he kissed her, molding his lips to hers. She moaned softly and kissed him back passionately, parting her lips.
They lost themselves in each other for what felt like hours, in their kiss.
"P-Percy…" Artemis finally gasped out, her voice shaky.
"Y-yeah?"
"I know that I said I'd give you my maidenhood, but I really don't want that to occur on my couch."
His face turned bright red with embarrassment.
"R-right. Sorry. I got a bit carried away there."
Artemis laughed.
"Maybe sometime in the future, my love. But for now… would you carry me to my room?"
Percy smiled, and scooped her up into his arms.
"Your wish is my command, my lady."
He would never let go.
oOo
Taken directly from the House of Hades.
The End
What follows are some of my own personal thoughts on this fic, the fandom as a whole, and what I plan to work on in the future. It's mostly just me rambling away, and is entirely optional for you to read. If you've made it this far, thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did.
Some thoughts:
So this is where I get to soapbox about how long of a journey it's been to finish this fic, and everything that's happened since I first started working on this story, back in 2016. It honestly feels like a lifetime ago that I started, and it definitely shows in this work. Fundamentally, Ephemerality is a flawed product. The characters, the story's message, even some of the fundamentals within this story are nowhere near perfect. I think that, as time went on and I started to gain a better understanding of how to tell a story, a lot of those flaws became glaringly obvious to me, and it became a true challenge to complete this work. I still don't know if it's completely finished; Jasmine deserved much more resolution here, but I couldn't really figure out a solution that worked within the narrative. I figure if I ever return to the Ephemerality universe, I'll give her an epilogue of some sort. In fact, I even have some of it planned out. But considering how long it took to write this chapter, I'm leery of committing to publishing any more or this universe, haha. Ultimately, this is a fic about Percy and Artemis. And in that regard, I think their story is finished, so for now, I'll be calling this the end.
Still, despite all the flaws with this story, I'm glad that in the past year or so I've taken the time to go back and finish what I started, because if nothing else, this story is a testament to progress.
It's been a very long time since I last read the Percy Jackson series. It probably comes across in the later chapters of this work; I'm nowhere near as familiar with the world as I was a few years ago. Still, I find the characters fascinating and I've always felt that thematically, it was a world more suited to my tastes than something more popular, like Harry Potter. So I think that I'll definitely want to write more for the PJO fandom. Indeed, if you've got the time and would like to check out more of my works, please do take a look at Contemplating Clouds. I've always loved Calypso as a character, which you could probably tell from the fact that I just had to sneak in a scene with her in this story as well.
As for Artemis, well… I don't think this is the last you'll see of her in my works. But there's so many projects that I've started, or am interested in starting, and I don't know when I'll come up with something I find interesting enough that will feature her in the future. I still think that her character leaves a lot unexplored and as someone who hasn't read a whole lot of the recent Percy/Artemis fics, I'm hopeful that I'll be able to create something that isn't a knock-off of some other popular idea, whether intentionally or not.
Finally, a few thanks. This story's earlier phases were beta-read by paradoxed, who has his own excellent work Gambit's Refrain. Since I know that his work is more popular, I suspect that most of you have probably already read it, but in case you haven't, go check it out! Thanks for talking through all the shitty earlier drafts, you've been a big help.
Towards the end of the story, a fair few people helped convince me to complete this story after years of hiatus. So thanks to everyone for the encouragement and support in helping get this completed. There were quite a few times that I felt like abandoning this work, so it's really thanks to them that this ending is even possible.
And that's pretty much it. I had a blast writing this throughout my college years. It may not have been my best story, but it's certainly the most memorable one to date. Thank you for all for reading, until the very end.