Hi there :) This story was written because I have grown to LOVE the idea of Pothena. I hope you enjoy it and leave me a review. I know that Athena is supposed to be a virgin goddess, but it ind of doesn't work with this story, so I've chosen to ignore that little bitty piece of information.

I have set this a while after the competition for Athens. The two of them were angry with each other, but that was not the reason for their later despise of one another. Anyway, read and enjoy :)

Poseidon faced the entrance to Athena's temple bravely. The two of them had been courting for a while now. Well, he supposed 'courting' was the right word to explain what their relationship had evolved to. They hadn't been particularly fond of each other since she had won Athens over him, but once he had apologised for being so proud about it, they had become remarkably close. Closer than he had thought they would ever be. After becoming friends and partners who helped each other on a regular basis, they shared a kiss, and things had gone on very well from there.

Of course, these new feelings they were developing for one another they had kept secret from the other gods, as it was near impossible for your life to be private on Olympus. They would meet in their temples privately at night and just enjoy each other's company; wooing, kissing and even dancing if the mood was right. Eventually the relationship became even more physical, and the gorgeous goddess gladly gave him her virginity. Sometimes they even resorted to meeting on Earth to catch a few more precious moments together. It wasn't long before she was all he could think about, whether he was on Olympus or in his own palace under the Mediterranean Ocean. He had no idea to the extent of feelings she held for him but tonight he was planning to find out. A recent discovery of the heart told him these weren't just lustful feelings and great fondness. He had fallen in love with Athena. And he was planning on telling her now, even though it meant he would now have to be braver than he ever had.

Walking into the foyer lit by wall-mounted torches, he heard her musical voice call out to him from the main hall as she heard him enter.

"Poseidon…" he heard her coo. He took a deep breath and walked towards the archway leading to the room in which she sat waiting for him. The room was completely ablaze with candle light, coating everything within with a warm orange glow. The marble walls and floor looked quite magnificent in the lighting, and there were intricate vases holding flowers all over the room (most of them had been gifts from either Poseidon himself, Aphrodite who loved giving flowers to those she treasured, Demeter who was the goddess of agriculture and had flowers growing out of her ears, or Zeus, as Athena was his favourite). The grand mahogany bookcases lining the walls contained different coloured, leather bound novels and encyclopaedias full of more knowledge and wisdom than Poseidon could ever understand, but that was no doubt stored safely in Athena's almighty brain. The paintings hung on the walls by the muses complimented the marble with their different depictions, and Athena's reading desk sat in the corner between the two smallest bookcases. Poseidon only took that in within a moment's glance though, for the sight his eyes craved was in the centre of the room.

There she was: Athena. She was laid out extravagantly on the sofa which was made of gold and white suade. Her long dark curls hung freely, framing her beautiful face. Her silvery grey eyes shone in the candle light, her perfect red lips curved into a mischievous smile. She was wearing a long cream dress of the finest linen that faded into dark grey at the hem, making her eyes stand out even more. She was wearing her silver breastplate that only covered her to just above her waist. She looked all too alluring and enticing, which he guessed was the look she was going for. Disguising his immediate attraction to her, he returned her grin and strolled over to her, kneeling before her so they were eye to eye. He cradled her neck with one hand and pressed his lips to hers without saying a word. She smiled into his lips and enjoyed his salty, alluring taste. She brought her legs down from their perch and moved so she was sitting up and he was resting between her legs without breaking the kiss. She then snaked her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. When they broke away from each other, they smiled lovingly and he stroked her cheek.

"Hello." He said with a chuckle. She smiled and let her hands tug gently at the thick hairs on the nape of his neck.

"Hello." She replied, kissing his nose before letting him go so he could sit next to her. They sat facing one another.

"So why is it you asked to see me so urgently?" she asked him teasingly as she fondly stroked his chin. He smiled nervously and took a slow, deep, breath.

"Athena. Wonderful, wise, virtuous, sensational Athena." He mused, holding her head in both hands and stroking her face tenderly as she smiled sweetly at him. "How is it you feel about me, exactly? If it's not too much of me to ask of you."

She thought for a moment, removing his hands from her face and holding then in her own as they rested in her lap. She stared intently into his face, studying him with her sparkling grey eyes.

"I think you're strong, and brave too. And handsome, very handsome. I think you're also fragile and sensitive and understanding and I love spending my time with you." She answered, with a truthful smile. He frowned slightly, which confused her.

"That's not quite what I asked. I asked what you felt about me. Not what you think about me." He said. Athena's brow furrowed, indicating she didn't know what he meant, or where he was going with this.

"Athena." He began again, "It is remarkably difficult to read you. To know and understand what you think and feel inside. It baffles me, yet it intrigues me. It makes me want you around even more."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I mean, you know how much I care about you, and I really do. More than I think anyone else could ever gage. You do know that, don't you?" he began.

"Yes." She sighed sweetly, stroking his brow.

"Yet somehow I feel I can't rest unless I know how you feel about me. It keeps me up at night, constantly thinking about you and all the reasons I want to be around you all the time." He continued. Athena looked worried. "And then, after spending so much time with you consuming my thoughts I realised something, and I think that telling it to you might let me know what I need to know."

"Okay." Athena nodded, indulging him so she would know what it was he was looking for from her. She wanted him to be happy, and it seemed to her that she could do something, whatever that was, to make that happen. She felt she owed it to him, seeing as how overwhelmingly happy she felt when she was with him.

"I love you, Athena." He stated plainly with a steady look and his ocean blue eyes fixed steadfastly with her silver ones. She gasped slightly, taken aback, and moved away from him, standing up and taking a few paces away. She had her back to him now.

"What's wrong?" he asked, concerned and nervous. He walked up to her and put a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to help her. She shied away from his touch as if his hand were made of fire, and looked at him coldly. His expression changed to that of anger and grave sorrow. He huffed out a bitter breath and grunted as he strode out in fury.

"I guess that just told me exactly how you feel about me."

Athena watched him go, dumbstruck. She wanted so much to call out to him and stop him, but for a moment it seemed her body wouldn't permit her. It wasn't until he spoke those poisonous words that she woke up, pursuing him. How could she have been so stupid as to have treated him that way when he had just bore her his soul?

"Poseidon, wait! Please!" She hadn't been ready to hear those words; that was all. That didn't mean she didn't feel it too. She crossed the room and followed him out into the foyer. Slowly, almost hesitantly, Athena reached out with one hand to place it on his shoulder.

"Poseidon... Poseidon, please... wait... Please! Don't go!" she begged him, just wanting him to turn around and face her again. When he did, she wished he hadn't. His eyes, which were usually bright and calm blue, were ablaze with anger. She cowered away slightly, removing her hand from his shoulder.

"Please what, Athena? What do you want me to do? Pretend I have no feelings for you, maybe?! Pretend that the dreams I have of being with you forever, of having a life on Olympus with you aren't real?! Pretend that somehow we don't mean anything? Pretend I don't love you more than anything else in the mortal and Olympic world? I'm not capable of that. I'm not that strong, Athena!" he bellowed, the anger coming out thick and strong in his voice.

Athena couldn't stop herself from flinching at the severity of his words. He'd never yelled at her like this before. He had been cold and bitter and he had shouted but usually because they were arguing about how best to advise Zeus. But not like this. Never like this. It was like her heart was stung in her chest. The pain just got worse with every beat of it. The pain made her angry, and she stared back at him coldly.

"You know you mean something – everything – to me, Poseidon! You're my one true friend on this Earth. I trust you enough to risk my life, titles, everything for you! You know that!" she shouted back at him. The angry then subsided. She didn't want to fight him anymore. It hurt too much.

"Then what is it, Athena? Why won't you tell me what's wrong if that's true?"

She could hear the desperation in his voice. He now looked a mixture of sombre and confused, as if stunned. This was all too serious for her. She wasn't used to this sort of conversation. She had never felt this way before. It was overwhelming her and she couldn't handle it.

"Poseidon, I..." his name came out quietly before she sniffed and sobs wracked through her body. She put a hand to her forehead and looked down in order to hide her new vulnerability from him. Now she really was confused. She never cried over anything, but right now it felt like the only thing she could do. Feeling like this, like he feels, physically hurts her, and she hates herself at the same time for making him feel this way. Poseidon watched her crumble and he couldn't believe his eyes. His heart of stone melted in an instant.

"Athena, I'm sorry. I – I'm so sorry." He stammered, letting a tear of his own fall before he took her in his arms and held her as she cried. At first she was stiff and rigid in his arms, just crying and not fully absorbing the situation, but then she wrapped her arms around his strong back and held on for dear life. She didn't know what to do or say, so she just buried her head in his chest.

"I just wanted to know how you felt. I didn't – I could never – I'm so sorry." He whispered into her hair, holding her closer. He had no idea what to say. He had never reduced her to tears before, and he couldn't bear it.

"I know. I know that's all you wanted. Anyway, it's not all about that." She murmured quietly as she calmed herself down. She looks up at him through those enchanting silver eyes.

"What is it?" He asked, the question escaping is lips in a whisper. Athena thinks to herself for a moment.

"I – I think that this is all just more than I can handle. Relationships are not my forte. I'm built to think, not to feel." she mutters up at him. His blue eyes returned to their normal calm, and his hard face relaxed into a soft smile.

"Mine neither." He smiled, causing the corners of her mouth to twitch up slightly and one of her hands to drift up his chest. He stroked her back and one of his hands slipped into her hair to tilt her head up so he could look into her eyes.

"So what do we do now?" Athena asked after a while. She hoped he'd know what to say. Poseidon stiffened up slightly at her words. She used all the courage she had ever had to lift herself out of his grip, allowing herself to stand on her own without his support. Not trusting herself, she remained grasping his arms so she would stay strong enough to stand. He didn't say anything, only looked at her helplessly. She sighed.

"I don't know how to do this. I don't know what a real relationship should feel like. And I'm scared... I'm... I'm petrified that I might hurt you or ruin it. That in itself terrifies me. I'm the Goddess of Wisdom and I'm baffled by something that doesn't faze mortals." she admitted as she bit her bottom lip. Poseidon smiled softly at her admission and stepped forward towards her.

"Here this now: I'm always here for you. You will never fall. Not when I'm here to catch you." He vowed, stroking her cheek, causing her to beam radiantly and one last tear to fall from her left eye, which he wiped away. Before she could say anything, Poseidon kissed her slowly. Athena kissed him back with equal emotion, their actions telling the other their feelings more than words ever could.

When they pulled away from one another, there was a pause in which Athena took both of Poseidon's hands and slipped her own into them. They smiled at one another and Athena tugged on his hands, pulling him in the direction of her temple.

"Come on." She whispered, "Come back inside."

He did as she instructed and they walked back in together. This time, however, they did not go into the main room, but up the stairs. At first Poseidon slowed, seeming hesitant as Athena led him up.

"Hey, what's the matter?" she asked him, concern in her voice.

"Are you sure you want to…?" he began. She let slip a smirk.

"I was certainly sure the first time. And the time after that, and the time after that. How can I not be now?" she grinned. Poseidon grinned back and swept her up into his arms bridal style, carrying her the rest of the way to her bedchambers.

When they reached Athena's bedchambers, he lay her down gently on the silk sheets of her grand four poster bed, and then proceeded to lie on top of her. He leaned down and kissed her sweetly. The kiss soon became more heated as she snaked her arms around his neck, pulling him closer and opened her mouth to allow his tongue access. His strong arms found her waist and he held her close. Eventually, as even gods need to breathe, they pulled away, keeping their lips millimetres away from each other.

"Poseidon... make love to me." She whimpered against his lips. He could feel her longing smile on them.

"As you wish." he whispered back. He kissed her again, and then moved down and sucked and nibbled on her neck, leaving a few love bites as he did so. She moaned in pleasure. He made his way down her throat to her chest that wasn't covered by her dress. He pulled her breastplate away and then pulled the top of her dress down over her chest, loving her even more as she became exposed to his view. He felt a tug on his hair as she pulled him up to her face and once he reached it, she crashed their lips together, kissing him passionately as she unfastened his jerkin and slid it off of him. She then cast it aside, not caring where it landed.

Poseidon kissed his way down Athena's throat again making his way rather eagerly to her uncovered breasts, sucking lightly on each of them while his hand kneaded the one he was not currently teasing. He moved further down her body and looked up to her for her permission as he reached to remove her dress down her legs. She nodded and he had it off within seconds. Being subconsciously considerate, he didn't rip it as he removed it, and discarded it behind him somewhere. She reached down and tugged his tunic, along with his undergarments, down as far as she could in their position. When she reached as far she could, she hooked her toes into the sides, and stretched out her legs to pull it down the rest of the way.

"Let me do the work, Athena." Poseidon whispered when Athena reached down and tried to caress him, grabbing her arms and pinning them down at her sides. Athena only nodded, not trusting herself to make a sound and the risk of moaning. She'd never let a man dominate her like this, not even Poseidon, but she trusted him. Poseidon took his left index finger and slid it down to her womanhood, pushing it into her ever so slowly. The moan that she released as she felt his digit enter her, made Poseidon want her so much it physically hurt his to wait. He moved downwards from her face and allowed his mouth join his finger, sucking gently while adding another finger into her.

"Ohhh… Poseidon!" she groaned in pleasure as he continued to work her. She then bit her bottom lip when he sucked harder on her bundle of nerves.

"Let go, Athena." he murmured against her, as he felt her walls clench and she moaned loudly in pure ecstasy. Poseidon watched as she rode out her climax. He wondered if there was ever anything in the world more beautiful. Athena lay there, eyes closed with her arms spread out and clutching the sheets. She bit down on her bottom lip and her her chest rose and fell as she gasped for air. Her legs were spread for him and her curly rippling dark hair splayed out beneath her in a messy frame. It was the most beautiful thing her had ever seen.

When she recovered, she reached down to him and pulled him up on top of her once more, kissing him hard while she grasped his member. He grunted when her fingers closed around it, parting his lips from hers. She gave a throaty chuckle.

"Poseidon, I need you inside me. Right now," she demanded against his lips, smirking as he continued to moan at her hold on his manhood. Gently she began to stroke it.

"I want you inside me Poseidon. I want to feel you there." she continued to tease him as she caressed his check. Poseidon, who could not take any more of her teasing words, kissed Athena to quiet her and entered her. They moaned together with every inch he pushed into her. At first he was slow and careful, letting her adjust to him and allowing them to find a steady rhythm. He then picked up the pace and pumped faster.

"Oh good Gods!" Athena moaned before gasping as she felt that familiar warm sensation pooling in her stomach. The anticipation was killing her, but it only fuelled her pleasure. She wrapped her legs around Poseidon's waist to pull him in deeper and dug her nails into his back, leaving deep marks. Her enthusiasm seemed to urge Poseidon on even further and he sped up. When he felt her nails embedding themselves in his back, he grunted with the pain, but he only felt more pleasure. It didn't take long before they were both on the edge. With a few more thrusts, Athena moaned loudly and Poseidon grunted, collapsing on top of her as he continued to thrust through his orgasm, hitting all of the sweet spots inside of her.

When they were done, Poseidon collapsed on top of Athena, kissing and sucking on her neck as she came down from her high. Once he gained enough energy, he rolled off her and caught his breath. Athena snuggled herself into his side, her head resting in the space between his shoulder and neck and their hands together, fingers interlacing. She draped a leg over his lazily.

"Mmm... this is comfortable." she murmured into his neck.

"Glad to be of service." Poseidon chuckled into her hair. "My Athena."

As she heard his possessive statement, she smiled into his neck and gripped his hand tighter. She hummed contently and cuddled closer to him. Cocking her head slightly to look up at him, she moved her leg slightly and felt his member, still very much at attention.

"Well someone must have enjoyed himself." She giggled.

"It's difficult not to when you have a certain beautiful wise and wonderful temptress of a goddess completely naked wanting nothing but to be with you. Under those circumstances, who wouldn't?" he laughed. Athena grinned and climbed on top of him, pushing his length back into her.

"Well... I think we should put him to good use." She leant forward to suck on his ear lobe and whisper in his ear.

"Sounds good to me." Poseidon moaned, as Athena started to move slowly up and down on him. He thrusted up into her centre enthusiastically as she came down on him, making her cry out in pleasure. He then sat up so he was holding her as she moved herself on him in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close, kissing her lips, then down her jawline and towards her neck and chest. She was moaning and cried out his name when his hand ghosted over her bosom. It was as if they were the only two lovers in creation.

After a few minutes he put both her hands on his chest and pushed him so he lay with his back pressed fully on the bed again. She had decided that this time it was going to be all about him. He watched as she used the leverage of his impact of the bed to bring herself down harder on him. As she came down he whimpered and called out her name, causing her to smirk in satisfaction. She moved one hand to his chest to pin him down and keep him there so he couldn't try and interfere with her pleasuring him. Poseidon was surprised to watch as she used one hand on his chest to keep him pinned to the bed, but was clever enough not to argue or fight it. His hips bucked at the sight of her, hitting her G-spot every time their thrusts met. Within minutes both gods came together, crying out their lovers' name in ecstasy and absolute bliss.

When Athena was done, she remained sitting on him. As she caught her breath, she put both of her hands on his chest and lowered herself so her lips were an inch from his. She gave him a small, sweet peck. His eyes then opened as he himself recovered from his orgasm and he smiled at her.

"Oh Athena... you are a paragon to perfection... and so unbelievably beautiful." Poseidon said after he gained enough energy even with Athena still clenching around his manhood.

"Poseidon… you're too good to me." she sighed against his lips, unable to find the energy to pull him out of her and get off of him. Poseidon seemed to understand her exhaustion. He rolled them over so she was lying next to her and pulled out of her. He then reached down and stretched the blanket they'd managed to push to the end of the bed in their passion, over then both. She tucked herself into his arms, not wanting to be apart from him.

"Athena... I love you." he whispered into her hair. He was completely spent and exhausted from their passion all night.

"I love you too Poseidon." she whispered back, kissing him before he closed his eyes and fell asleep. She followed him, unable to fight her heavy eyelids any longer.

The two of them slept together peacefully and undisturbed all night. Athena snuggled into Poseidon's warm chest and sighed contently as she felt it move slowly up and down with each breath he drew. His arms wrapped around her instinctively and made her feel safer than she ever had as long as he was with her.