So this chapter is a little short. Just something I wanted to throw in before the big battle that coming in the next chapter. Hope you like it!

Artemis POV (6 months into the year of rest)

Artemis strode with Percy and her brother down the street of the interim town at the base of the mountain. Olympus Percy called it, she thought. Over the past six months, she had regained much of her strength. Now her days were filled with training, and on rare occasion, like today, small adventures with Percy and her brother. "Hermes said he might meet us," Apollo said. "If Father doesn't have need of him that is."

"Hermes doesn't stand a chance," Percy laughed, never breaking his stride.

"Be careful Percy," Artemis warned, "If he hears you say that you might find yourself on the receiving end of some unpleasant pranks." She grimaced, remembering all the times she'd been in that position. Her brother and Hermes would never grow up.

Percy just laughed. "He's welcome to try." The trio stopped in front of the makeshift house where Percy was living with his mother. Aphrodite was sitting outside, reading. She looked up as the approached. "Mother," Percy said. "How are you this morning?"

Aphrodite smiled at her son, "I'm fine Percy, thank you for asking." She looked at Apollo's mischievous grin and sighed, "What are you three up to now?"

Percy smiled, "Apollo here has challenged Artemis and I to an archery competition. We need a judge, and I was wondering if you'd be interested."

Aphrodite shook her head in disbelief, "I don't see how you young people have the energy for games. The rest of us are still trying to recover and you're having archery competitions."

Apollo laughed, "I'm sure in a few millennia we'll be in the same boat, but right now I want to show these two who's boss!"

Behind them a feminine voice said, "I'll do it." Artemis turned to see Athena approaching. "I'm not foolish enough to challenge you three, but I'll gladly judge."

"Perfect," Percy said. He turned to his mother, "Stay here and rest then, I'll see you soon. You three," he said to Artemis, Apollo, and Athena, "follow me."

He disappeared in a swirl of black energy and Artemis flashed after him. They reappeared on the other side of Olympus in a clearing surrounded by the burnt husks of trees. Percy waved his hand and three identical targets appeared at the far end of the clearing. "So what are the rules?" he asked, materializing his black bow in his hand. A quiver of arrows appeared at his belt. Artemis, following Percy's lead materialized her silver bow and arrows, and noticed Apollo had too.

Athena thought for a moment before speaking. "Nine shots each," she said. "Three a piece at three different distances. The best group after all nine shots, as judged by me, wins." She quirked an eyebrow, "Sound fair?" she asked.

"Sounds good to me," Apollo said.

"Me too," Percy replied.

Artemis just nodded.

"First three shots at one hundred paces," Athena said. "Fire on my mark." Artemis raised her bow and drew, beside her she could see her brother and Percy doing the same. "Fire," Athena said. Artemis released and had another arrow nocked in an instant. Letting the second arrow fly, she drew a third time, and released. Lowering her bow, she examined her work. Her first two arrows were side by side in the bull's eye, so close they were touching. The third had split the first. Looking to the other two targets, she saw both Percy and Apollo had hit three bull's eyes as well, though she didn't have time to gauge how close their groups were.

"Second three shots at two hundred paces," Athena said. The targets disappeared for a moment, then reappeared father away. "Fire on my mark," she said. Once again Artemis drew. "Fire," Athena yelled. This time her second arrow split the first, and the third struck right beside them.

"Third three shots at three hundred paces," Athena said. The targets appeared at the far end of the clearing. "Fire on my mark," she said. The bows were drawn. "Fire!" Again, Artemis's arrows flew true. Three more bull's eyes. Now it was up to Athena's judgment.

She turned to Percy and he grimaced. "My last arrow was a little off," he muttered.

She smiled at him, "I guess we'll just have to wait and see," she said. She leaned against his side and he threw his free arm around her shoulders. Approaching footsteps made her look over her shoulder.

All three turned as Athena approached. "So sis," Apollo said, "How'd we do?"

Athena rolled her eyes but answered. "All twenty seven shots were in the bull's eye. Percy you split three of your arrows, and the twins split four each. I have to declare a tie between you and Artemis, Apollo."

"Well not bad against the god of archery and his twin sister," Percy said. He grinned sarcastically and gave a mock bow. "I bow out and concede defeat to the archer twins."

"A tie!?" Apollo cried, horrified. "I can't let my little sister tie me! Come on Artemis, we have to do this again."

She felt Percy laughing against her, "Go on," he said. "Athena and I will stay here and watch."

Grinning Artemis, "Ok then Apollo. Let's see once and for all who the better archer is."

Percy POV

Percy settled down at the edge of the clearing beside Athena, and watched as Apollo came up with challenges of ever increasing difficulty. "He's determined to find out which one of them is better," Percy said as his eyes followed Artemis's darting form. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Athena watching him.

"You love her don't you?" she asked after a moment. Though it sounded more like a statement of fact than a question.

Percy chuckled. "I thought that much was obvious," he said.

Athena nodded, "It is. Has been for a while." She paused for a while before adding, "She loves you too you know?"

He turned toward her then, and raised an eyebrow. "I'd thought as much, but that's the first time I've heard it confirmed."

"She's never told me," Athena said, "and I doubt she ever would, but I know my sister." Athena's storm grey eyes drifted to the competition in the clearing. Percy followed her gaze. The twins were now shooting flying targets from the air at staggering speed, each golden and silver arrow finding its mark. "If you love her why don't you tell her," Athena asked after a moment.

Percy grimaced and looked away. "You know the answer to that as well as I do Athena," she said softly.

"Yes," she said, just as softly. "I do. At most this war will last another year, and then you leave. Maybe never to return."

"Most likely six months," Percy muttered.

Athena ignored him, "But why do you have to leave after? Couldn't you just stay?"

Percy was silent for a long time, finally he answered. "I could I suppose," he said, "but if I did I'd be abandoning my responsibilities. I'm Curator of all Creation Athena, and though Earth and this Universe are my father's favorite works, they not his only ones."

"Wait, so there are other worlds, other Universes out there?" Athena asked, eyes bright with curiosity.

Percy laughed, "Always so eager to learn aren't you Athena?" He waved off he annoyed look, "Ok, ok, I'll answer. Yes there are, though this is the only one with gods. This Universe was the first and greatest. My father made it for his original experiment and placed my brothers and sisters here. Since then he's made others, though none nearly so great. Only mortals live in those." He glanced to Artemis and sighed. "Still, they are my responsibility, and I cannot look out for them if I am here."

"It a heavy burden your father has charged you with," Athena murmured after a moment.

"One I accepted willingly," he replied. "I thought I'd only be leaving my mother behind, and that would have been hard enough. Now I'm leaving friends as well." He was leaving more than just friends behind and he knew it. These gods had become his family.

"Well," Athena said before stopping to clear her throat. "I might be to blame for that," she said blushing. "I'm the one who told Artemis to befriend you. I just didn't want you to see us as pieces on a board. I had to make sure you saw us as people."

Percy laughed. "I figured someone had. Artemis really isn't someone to seek out new friends. I would have guessed it was my mother though."

"She might have had something to do with it as well," Athena said, still blushing.

Shaking his head and smiling fondly, Percy conjured a boulder for the two of them to lean against. The conversation turned to more mundane topics as the archer twins continued their competition. The prank Hermes and Apollo had pulled on Ares last week. Demeter's frantic obsession with the world's nonexistent agriculture. Dionysus's drinking habits. Hades' and Poseidon's new found power. I'm going to miss this, Percy thought sadly as the afternoon drew on.

I know you will son, he heard Chaos say in his mind. But it is the burden you and I must bear. As their Curator you can only interfere when they cannot protect themselves.

It is, Father, Percy agreed. To protect them I'd do anything. Even if it means heartache.

I'm proud of you Percy, Chaos said warmly, and Percy felt his father's presence leave.

The conversation trailed off when the twins approached. Apollo was waving his hands around trying to convince Artemis that he'd won the last challenge, and she was completely and thoroughly ignoring him. Percy spoke up, "I'm not sure Apollo, it looked like a tie to me." Beside him Athena nodded her assent.

"You two weren't even watching!" he screamed. "How would you know!?"

Percy quirked an eyebrow at him. "I'm Heir to the Void, do you really think I have to be paying attention to know things?"

Cursing Apollo threw up his hands, "You're just taking your girlfriends side. Ooh calm down sis," he said as she bristled. "I'm only joking. Fine we'll call it a tie, but I still think I'm better." With that he spun in place, walked back to the clearing, and resumed shooting his bow.

Athena laughed, "Well as much fun as this has been, Ares, father and I have battle plans to discuss. See you two later," she said, then flashed out.

Artemis sat down in Athena's vacated spot, and leaned against the boulder. "What do you want to do now?" she asked.

Percy smiled at her, Ooh she's going to love this, he thought. Aloud he said, "Take my hand, I have a surprise for you." Artemis, smiling and eyes alight with curiosity, grabbed his hand.

They reappeared on a mountain side far away from Olympus. Percy watched as Artemis eagerly looked around, before her brows crinkled in confusion. "Wow Percy," she said a bit dryly. "Another burnt out forest." She looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "Why did you bring me here?"

Silently, Percy bent down and placed a palm against the ground. Closing his eyes he concentrated. Above him, Artemis gasped. Percy smiled and rose. Around them the mountain side was teaming with life. Living evergreens towered overhead and the forest floor was teaming with wildlife. "I was never able to do this for you in Greece, Kronos and his forces would have sensed it, but we're far from there now and you've been without your domain for too long." He pulled her into a hug. "Welcome back to the wilderness, Artemis."

Artemis looked up at him, unshed tears glistening in her eyes. "How?" was all she asked.

Percy laughed, "I'm a son of the Creator. This was easy."

Artemis continued staring up at him for the span of a few heartbeats. Then she raised herself onto her toes, and brushed his lips with a soft kiss. Backing away she threw him a dazzling smile, and said "Follow me!" before disappearing into the underbrush. Percy stood still as stone for a moment, shocked, before another smile split his face. In an instant he was racing after the running goddess.

So not much of consequence happened this chapter, but I wanted to have at least one chapter in the year of rest before jumping into the battle at Othrys. Rest assured all of the action missing in this chapter will be in the next one and then some. Plus I got to throw in a little Pertemis moment at the end there. Let me know what you think!