I'm back! Its been a while, but here's the next chapter guys. I still don't own PJO.

Artemis (3 days later, December 2023)

Artemis lay beside Percy in the sick bay of Apollo's palace on Olympus. The hospital style bed was bigger than most, but still tight for two people. Artemis didn't care. For three days now her husband had been fighting for his life despite all her brother could do. A little discomfort was the least of her worries. In the bed beside them lay Ava. Uninjured, but sleeping. The poor girl had finally succumb to the exhaustion that was threatening to pull Artemis down any moment. She stubbornly kept her eyes open. I need to be here for Percy, she told herself.

Artemis got up and walked across the room the get a glass of water. She could have summoned one more easily, but she needed something to keep her mind occupied more than anything else. The steady beep of the heart rate monitor chased her across the room. It was slow. Very slow. Much slower than it should have been. Turning back to her husband Artemis had to bite back a sob. Outwardly he looked almost normal. A bit paler than normal, and his skin was slick with sweat, but she'd seen him looking the same after any number of their training sessions together. As she looked closer thought the damage became more apparent. His feet under the blanket that covered him up to his chest pointed at just slightly the wrong angle, his left shoulder sat higher than his right, and his right sword arm was twisted in a way that would prevent him from ever holding a sword again. All the result of broken bones that would not knit back together correctly. If what was on the outside was bad, the inside was worse. Artemis heard voices in the hall outside the sick bay, and though she tried to ignore them, what they were saying broke through.

"Have you tried putting him in the Sea?" Poseidon asked for what was probably the third time in the past hour that Artemis heard at least. He'd probably asked outside of her hearing more. The man was distraught, as worried for his son as she was, and was not thinking straight. A fault that could be forgiven under the circumstances.

"You know I have Uncle," Apollo said gently. Ohh yes, Artemis thought, he's definitely still intimidated by Poseidon. "But I can't leave him in. It's that damn curse. It blocks and twists whatever I try to do. Bones knit back crooked and organ don't heal correctly. I'm pushing myself to the limits just trying to keep him alive." The comment should have made Artemis feel something, but the constant barrage of bad news the past three days had left her feeling…numb.

Poseidon cursed and muttered something Artemis didn't hear. "I don't know," Apollo sighed. She could picture him running his fingers through his hair and grimacing. "But when has anyone with the Curse of Achilles ever had to heal from something? Percy took a blow with the full strength of a manticore behind it a few years ago and got nothing more than a few bruised ribs, but now that I know what to look for I can tell even that didn't heal correctly…"

Artemis stopped listening, she'd heard it all before, and returned to the bed. Sitting in a chair and placing her glass on a small table, she wrapped Percy's hand in both of her own, and closed her eyes resting her forehead against his arm. Please Percy, she pleaded silently, willing the thought toward him. Don't give up on us. Zoe, Ava, and I, we all need you. Keep fighting my love.

Footsteps entering the sick bay made her look up to see Athena entering. This was the first Artemis had seen of the other goddess since the battle, so she released Percy's hand and sat back in the chair giving Athena a nod in way of welcome. She owed the other goddess her life in more ways than one.

Athena returned it and asked, "What's the prognosis? I only just awoke from recovering myself and haven't heard anything."

Artemis grimaced. What she remembered of the battle three nights before was fuzzy and fragmented, a side effect of shock Apollo said though Artemis thought it was because she didn't care enough at the time to pay attention, but the one thing she was sure of was that she did not fight while Percy and the other Olympians did in her place. She had good reasons, and all of the others agreed, but the thought still rankled and made her feel like a coward. After Perses fell, Gaea sent reinforcements in the form of three more Titans; her maternal grandfather Koios, Pallas, and Prometheus led by one of the Gigantes who turned out to be Enceladus, Bane of Athena herself. The Earth Mother of course hadn't expected the entire Olympian Council to show up, outfitted for war and looking for someone to kill, at the same time her reinforcements had. Krios and Perses were dead, Pallas was captured and currently being put to the question by Ares, and Koios was severely wounded but escaped. Prometheus and Enceladus being the two more intelligent of the six had fled when they realized the odds were no longer in their favor. The world hadn't seen a battle like the one three nights ago since the first Gigantomachy. No, Artemis thought, the Titans didn't fight in that war. The world had never seen a battle like that as far as she knew.

Athena however had not participated in the fighting. Instead she'd shielded Ava from the combined might of the Olympian Council, four Titans, and a Gigas. A feat that had cost her dearly it seemed.

"Not good," Artemis said quietly. She felt her grimace deepen. "If it were any worse he'd be dead. The curse won't allow him to heal properly."

Athena nodded thoughtfully, studying Percy as he lay in the bed, feeding tube down his throat and lead wires attached everywhere. "Does Apollo know if he'll ever awaken?" she asked after a moment.

"He says he will," Artemis said, and had to force down the tears that tried to come. I guess I'm not as numb as I thought. "He'll never fight again, and will have trouble walking." Artemis took a deep breath before continuing. "Evidently he'll be in constant chronic pain. His spine was crushed and…" Artemis trailed off, and looked away, fighting for control of herself. When she finally felt in control enough to speak she whispered, "Yes, Athena. He'll awaken."

When Artemis looked back Athena was studying her with sympathetic eyes. Artemis studied her right back, and saw the fatigue hiding just below the surface. "Sit Sister," Artemis said after a moment's study. "Here of all places you need not put on a front of strength."

Athena quirked a small smile, but moved toward a chair. "It's not fatigue of body that ails me Sister," she said as she sat across the bed from Artemis, beside the bed that Ava was still curled up sleeping in. "But fatigue of mind." Artemis's gaze flicked toward Ava for a moment, and the other goddess nodded.

"How did you do it?" Artemis asked genuinely impressed. "Holding back that much raw power, I'm impressed Athena."

Again Athena smiled. "Knowing how irregular that is coming from you I'll take it as a compliment." Artemis nodded. It was meant as one. "I didn't do anything special really," Athena continued. "I placed a barrier around the girl and poured the entirety of myself into it. For the barrier to fall I would have had to die. Thankfully even though there was great power being thrown around, none of it was directed at Ava or I, so I just had to deflect periphery and glancing blows." Athena grimaced slightly, but when she turned to look at Ava the grimace vanished. "Still," she continued, "exposing myself so fully…flayed my mind. It took a few days to recover."

Artemis followed Athena's gaze to look at Ava. Foster-daughter, sister-in-law, friend. Their relationship was complicated, but Artemis loved the girl as if she were her own. "She's something special," she murmured. "Isn't she?" Athena only nodded, but her lips turned up in another small smile. "I owe her my life," Artemis said after a moment. It had been Ava's frantic prayer to Athena that brought the other Olympians just in time. By some miracle of Fate Athena happened to be listening at the time. "We all do. Without her Gaea would have Zoe and I by now, and Percy would be dead." Again Athena nodded and smiled but Artemis felt herself frown. "She shouldn't have had to save us. The thought of calling for help never crossed my mind. Such a simply solution," Artemis said, "but it never occurred to me."

Athena shrugged and turned back to look at Artemis. "I wouldn't have expected it to," she said. "To you, or Percy, or me, or any of the others." Artemis raised an eyebrow, and opened her mouth for a question, but Athena went on. "It's a flaw all of we immortals and demigods share. Overconfidence and pride. It's led more than a few of us into tough situations before. Don't be too hard on yourself Sister," Athena said. "I wouldn't have thought to call for help either." Artemis felt her eyes widen slightly. Coming from Athena that comment actually meant something. Athena turned back to look at Ava. "To think a mortal child barely into adolescence could still teach we gods a thing or two. She really is a remarkable child."

Together, the two of them sat in silence for a long time. Artemis watching Percy and Athena watching Ava. Finally Athena stirred. "Sister," she said suddenly. "I've had a thought."

Percy

Percy awoke to pain. No, not pain, agony. Only the fact that taking a full breath was impossible kept him from bellowing out his torment. Every muscle in his body was on fire with stabbing needles of agony. His bones felt as if they'd been ground to dust, reformed, then ground to dust again. Every gasping breath felt like there was a mountain of molten magma sitting on his chest. He felt his fragile mind retreating in on itself. Protecting itself from the pain. Thoughts skittering away in all directions.

No! Percy raged at himself internally. No! The Titans. Have to stop the Titans. Save Artemis, Ava, and the baby. With a great effort of will, Percy forced his thoughts back into order. Gods but the pain was absolute, but he could ignore it. For those he loved he could ignore it for now. Rest later, he told himself. Fight now.

Percy forced his eye open to find himself underwater. Confusion engulfed him until a pair of familiar hands gently grasped his shoulders from behind a raised him to the surface. Percy's face broke the surface and he found himself staring into tear rimmed shining silver eyes of the woman he loved.

"Shh Percy," Artemis said softly. "Don't move. Let your body finish healing."

Percy met her eyes and tried to force his voice to work but the words wouldn't come. Ava. Where was Ava? Artemis must have seen the frantic desperation in his eyes. "Ava's fine," she added quickly. "She's here beside the pool." Percy's eyes flicked left then right until he found his sister's face. She was there smiling at him through the tear stains on his cheeks. Apollo, Athena and Poseidon were there too, all looking worried. "Zoe is fine too," Artemis added quickly when his frantic gaze found her eyes again. "We're all fine," she said voice catching slightly. "You were the only one who was injured."

Percy felt himself relax slightly, and the pained lessened somewhat. Percy shoved what remained of the it and the fear, it felt like trying to move a mountain with his bare hands, out of his mind, and forced himself to think. The salty tang of seawater finally registered on his lips. Gods if the pain is bad in the water I don't want to know what it would be like if I was out. He could feel his body knitting back together. To call the sensation uncomfortable would have been an understatement. Opening his mouth again he forced out the words in a croaking whisper, "What happened?"

"That can wait for later," Apollo cut in before Artemis could answer. "Right now you sleep." Percy tried to protest, but the god's waved in front of his face and darkness took him once more.

Artemis

"He's healing," Apollo muttered softly as he bent over the side of the small pool of water Poseidon had summoned in the infirmary, then cursed. "Not well," he added after a moment before shaking his head and rising with a grimace. "But he'll survive. He'll be in pain and have trouble walking, but he'll survive."

Artemis nodded to herself, and pulled Percy closer, cradling his head in the crook of her arm. Good enough, she told herself. Good enough for now. She wished she believed that herself. There were still too many unknowns for her to be sure of anything at the moment.

"We'll make it work," Poseidon breathed softly seeming to echo Artemis's thoughts. "We have to."

"The offer was never rescinded," Athena stated matter-of-factly. "It's Percy's choice now."

"I still wish I would have been able to heal him better before bringing him too," Apollo said grimacing again. "The pain was…bad. I had to put him under before it drove him mad." Artemis's breath caught slightly, and she saw Ava flinch at the words. Protect her before you protect herself, Artemis told herself. That's a mother's role.

"Will the pain remain when he wakes again, Brother," Artemis asked, cutting off Athena's reply. She glanced to Ava and gave the girl what she hoped was a reassuring smile. Ava returned it, then slipped out of her shoes and climbed into the pool with them. Gripping Artemis's free hand with one her own, she gave it a gentle squeeze before beginning to stroke her brother's hair softly.

Apollo smiled softly before replying. "Somewhat," he said after a moment. "Twisted bones and scar tissue will ache, but it won't be anything like what he was just experiencing." Apollo shook his head, smile falling away. "That damned curse is…inconvenient at times like this."

Poseidon shook himself. "We have things to be about," he said gruffly. "Athena, Apollo, come," he commanded.

Artemis watched with something close to mild amusement as Athena raised an eyebrow, one that Poseidon either did not see or ignored, at the commanding tone, and Apollo smirked. Poseidon strode from the room, and after a moment both the other gods followed him. Athena muttering under her breath too low for Artemis to hear.

Artemis turned her attention to the man lying in her arms and her amusement vanished. Percy's face had relaxed now that Apollo had put him to sleep. The fear, rage and pain she'd seen in his eyes when he'd first awakened had shaken her to her core, but now that he was unconscious he looked almost like his normal self. A bit worse for wear, but no longer on the brink of death like he had been for days now. She felt him relaxing the longer she held him as the water healed his body and the pain receded.

"Do you think this will really work," Ava asked after a time?

Artemis met the girl's eyes. "It will," she said. It has to.

Percy

Consciousness returned slowly. Pain returned faster. Much faster. Thankfully much less intense than the last time he woke. Where before where he felt like his body was torn apart muscle by muscle and bone by bone, now all it felt like was that he'd been run over by a truck. Percy felt more than heard himself groan as his muscles involuntarily flinched away from the aching. Naturally that just made the aching worse and Percy cursed himself mentally and forced his body to obey. Finally his trembling muscles stilled. Calm down and think, he told himself. Artemis said everyone was ok. I must be on Olympus. Taking a deep breath he forced his eyes open. Yep, he confirmed to himself noting the decor, definitely Apollo's palace. A weight lay curled around him protectively and moving only his eyes he could see auburn hair flowing down over his shoulder and onto his chest. Artemis was there, but she seemed to be sleeping. Tension seemed to drain out of him and with it went a large portion of the pain and dread he'd been ignoring. As long as she was there he could face anything. As long as she stood with him he was unbreakable. He'd been in sea water, and Apollo wouldn't have taken him out until the healing process was complete. Percy wasn't stupid. He knew what that meant. It was worth it, he thought. To save them it was more than worth it.

The thought gave Percy the courage to take stock of his own body. With Artemis there he need not fear anything. The first thing he noticed was not the pain, but the absence of anything but a dull tingle in his left leg. Already knowing the answer, Percy tried to wiggle the toes on his left foot. After a long moment they did move…barely. Percy sighed to himself. They'd already put him in sea water, if he was going to heal he'd be healed already. I'm going to have trouble walking again, he thought, much less fighting. Pushing down the sorrow and self-pity that rose from that line of thinking he told himself, It was worth it. To protect Artemis, Zoe, and Ava I'd do it all again. The rest of his injuries were what he'd expected. Aching bones and muscles told of breaks and tears that did not heal correctly. It would be a hard life living with these injuries, but if it meant the safety of those he loved it was a burden he'd gladly bear.

Unable to take it any longer Percy sifted slightly and cleared his throat. Artemis sat up sharply, and was standing at his bedside in an instant. Percy ignored whatever it was she was saying, and he looked through the worry and pain etched across her face into the emotion burning deep within those shining silver eyes. Percy felt himself smile and said, "I love you, Artemis."

Artemis

"I love you, Artemis," Percy said in a voice rough from disuse, and the words she'd been speaking died on her tongue. Artemis felt herself smile at the first words he'd spoken. Despite it all she felt herself smile at his simple declaration of love.

"I love you too, Percy," she responded after a moment, and he returned her grin. Simple words and a smile couldn't drown her worry forever though, and it was back in an instant. "How are you feeling," she asked the question again. She didn't think he'd heard her the first time. "Apollo said you'd be in pain," she continued, knowing she was rambling and not caring, "but he didn't know how much."

Percy grunted and looked away. He looked to be suppressing a grimace. "Like I got hit by a truck," he muttered under his breath. "But it's manageable. Better than I expected given the circumstances." He paused and Artemis let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Finally Percy met her eyes again. "What happened after I was hit?" he asked. "And why hasn't Apollo healed me all the way yet? I assume the Curse is interfering? I was in sea water, is this as good as I can expect?"

Again Artemis felt her breath catch, and again she berated herself for the coward she knew herself to be. She had good reasons for sitting out of the fight, but no benefit could be worth this cost. Not even Zoe? a part of her asked, and she cursed that part all the more for not knowing how to answer it. "Gaea sent reinforcements after you fell," Artemis forced out between clenched teeth. "If it weren't for Ava praying to Athena for help, we'd all be dead right now. The whole Council showed up to fight them off." Artemis stopped there, hoping he'd leave it at that; knowing that he wouldn't though.

"And my injuries," Percy prompted after a moment. "I'm not going to get any better am I?"

"No," Artemis answered him after a brief pause. She had to force the word out, and then pain she'd been suppressing as best she could for the past few days flared anew. Ohh Percy, she thought, I'm so sorry. Out loud she said, "Apollo drove himself to exhaustion just keeping you alive. That we're even having this conversation is a miracle."

Percy nodded and seemed to take the information in stride. "I'd thought as much," he said then grinned weakly. "I guess now we know why this thing is called a curse huh? I'm assuming that's what interfered with Apollo's healing?"

Despite herself, Artemis grinned back at him. The man had been told he'd lead an immortal life of eternal pain and still he tried to cheer her up. What did I ever do to deserve you Percy? Aloud she said, "I guess we do, and yes it was."

Percy nodded again, and closed his eyes, settling back and shifting slightly. He grimaced from pain then murmured, "I thought so. It was worth it though to keep you and the girls safe."

Artemis winced and the sense of guilt inside her sharpened acutely. She had to look away before replying. "I'm finding that hard to accept Percy," she said after a long moment. "I know," she said hurriedly, cutting him off as he opened his mouth to respond. "I know, logically it makes sense. I'm just having trouble with the fact that I did nothing while you fought."

Percy smirked and Artemis saw genuine mirth dancing deep in his eyes. "What was it you told me in Evelyn's living room all those years ago?" he asked, then pitched his voice in imitation of her own. "Ohh yeah, 'You don't make my choices for me, Artemis. Do not presume that you do.'" He smiled at her and his voice returned to normal. "Take your own advice Artemis. Trust me, blaming yourself for other people's decisions can lead you down a dark path."

Again, despite everything that had happened, Artemis found herself smiling. "Fine," she said after a moment, then laid back down cradling his head to her middle. She began stroking his hair lightly. "But don't ask me to like it, because I never will."

Percy chuckled, then tensed. "Don't make me laugh," he groaned weakly, though Artemis could still hear the tinge of amusement in his voice. "It hurts."

Artemis felt her own smile die, and that bolt of shame, guilt and despair shot through her again, more acute than before. She sighed, praying to whoever was listening that he'd accept the offer. "Athena and I may have come up with a solution to that," she breathed softly. But I don't think you're going to like it, she added mentally.

Percy

Percy looked up as the two nearest Guardians swung the Celestial Bronze doors inward. The entire company stood here, led by Thalia herself, lining the approach to the Hall as if in witness to what was to come. As Artemis pushed his wheelchair forward, the Guardians snapped to attention and saluted. Artemis wheeled him between the lines stern faced, immortal, pre-teen girls, and Percy returned the salute as best he could with his mangled arms. Thalia stepped forward as they approached the entrance to the Hall of the Gods. Her eyes were red-rimmed, but dry, and she smiled warmly. "Good luck," she said quietly. Then snapped salute herself, and stepped aside. Percy really wasn't sure how to take that, but decided his questions, like those he'd put to Artemis earlier, would probably go ignored. She'd mentioned a possible solution, though she didn't mention to what or even what it was, and then gone silent, telling him only that he'd have to wait and see. I guess I'll find out soon enough, he thought. Together, Artemis and Percy entered the Hall of the Gods.

Percy looked around as they entered, counting the Olympians present. All the thrones were full save for the silvery one to the right. Must be serious to bring them all here, he thought. What are you planning Artemis? Though given the recent battle it made sense for the council to gather and discuss the implications. Percy caught motion out the corner of his eye and tensed reflexively, then cursed himself for doing so. I'm really going to have to retrain those reflexes, he thought. That hurt. Artemis, catching the motion too, froze.

Percy turned his head slowly to find Ares approaching. The God of War stopped before reaching him and Percy thought he could sense Artemis readying herself behind his back. With the constant pain it was difficult to be sure. The war god looked Percy up and down with a critical eye, and then nodded, a hard smirk forming on his scarred face. "Two Titans huh? And no retreat?" he asked. The smirk widened to a grin, and Percy definitely felt Artemis relaxing behind him. "Not bad for a demigod punk like you." Then, as the Guardians had done outside, Ares snapped a crisp salute.

Percy relaxed and felt his brows twitch upward in surprise. Out of reflex more than anything, he returned the salute as best he could sitting as he was. Ares wasn't one to complement other's fighting abilities, so coming from him the comment and salute meant something. Disrespectful as the comments were, Percy knew they were rooted in respect for a fellow warrior. He thought about it a moment then grinned. Let's see how far I can push this, he thought. "Better than you could've done," he muttered.

Ares threw back his head and roared with laughter. "I guess we'll see," he said, and then returned to his throne.

Artemis resumed their walk toward the Hearth, and Percy could see the tension in the Olympians surrounding them. Their stern faced countenances studying him as he approached had the look of judgement about it. As if weighing him for what was to come. I'm broken, he told them silently. I'm not up for the task the Fates set before me, but it was worth it to protect those I love. Looking around at those surrounding him he had to ask himself again, What is going on? He thought about asking Artemis again, but she'd just ignore the questions as before. Percy's eyes found his Father's, and the stern mask broke slightly. Poseidon gave him a small encouraging nod. Finally, they reached the Hearth and their slow walk was over.

Percy expected Artemis to make her way to her throne when they paused before the Hearth, but instead she stepped up beside him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. He looked up at her and grinned, she smiled back, and together they turned to face Zeus.

Zeus rose to address them. That alone shocked Percy, he had never even heard of the King of the Gods rising for anyone, let alone a broken demigod, but before he could think too long on the matter Zeus began to speak. "Perseus Jackson," he said. "Time and time again you've showed this council, and the entirety of the Greek world, that you have the heart and will of a true hero." Percy looked around. Poseidon's face beamed with pride, and Percy returned his warm smile, Hades gave him a brief respectful not, Apollo smiled broadly, and Athena looked determined. The hand on his shoulder squeezed lovingly for a moment then relaxed. The rest still wore the look of judgement, but not in condemnation. It was as if they were evaluating him, to see if he was worthy of Zeus's praise. A few nodded to themselves in apparent approval. A few did not, still considering.

Percy cleared his throat and bowed his head in respect to the King of the Gods. "Thank you, My Lord," he said. "But I've only done what was necessary to protect those I love."

Zeus nodded. "That is true, my boy," he agreed. "But no one in the history of Greek Heroes has done it as effectively and consistently as you." He paused then, not awaiting a response Percy thought, but letting the weight of his words settle. Again Percy silently asked, What is going on? Finally he continued more softly than before. "You've been broken in our service Percy," he said. "You've given your body, mind, and future to our cause. I personally, and all the members of this Olympian Council, want to thank you for that, and in our gratitude we wish to make you an offer once again."

Ohh…. The full regiment of Guardians. The entire Olympian Council. The gravity of the moment and the weighing looks all started to make sense. I should have seen this coming. Percy glanced up at Artemis and she smiled at him reassuringly, though a touch uncertainly. She nodded toward her father and Percy turned back to Zeus.

Zeus smiled a small smile. "I see you understand," he said. "Before you respond, let me make it clear what is being offered here. We all know you do not want to be a god, we all know you would rather things remain as they are, and had circumstances been different, we all would have been happy to honor your wishes. You've done enough for us, and you deserve that much." Zeus nodded toward Apollo. "My son has told me however that your current condition is the best you can ever hope for. You fell defending an Olympian and the entirety of our future, and as a result have been cursed to an eternity of constant pain. This simply will not do." He turned back to Percy. "Your father, your wife, Apollo and Athena have all argued for this, believing it to be the only way to overcome your curse and let your body heal. So here is this council's offer; godhood, a place on this Olympian council should you chose it, and powers and domains to be determined by the Fates. Do you accept?"

Percy did not answer immediately, instead he took stock of his thoughts, considering. Nearly fifteen years ago when this offer was first made he'd turned it down not wanting to spend an eternity without Annabeth, but now that it meant an eternity with Artemis the idea of godhood sounded more and more appealing. He would lose Ava eventually, who was mortal, and possibly Zoe as well who would be a mortal demigod, but both of those things were going to happen whether he took the offer or not. He did not want to think about that, already dreading the days in the hopefully distant future. I'm already immortal, he told himself. As a god I'd be able to reform if killed. The only downside to this is the added responsibility. He was no stranger to responsibility. He looked up at Artemis. "Do you want this?" he asked.

Artemis knelt down in front of him and took his hands in her own. Finally, she broke her long silence, and with a small smile said, "I want you. Forever."

Percy felt himself returning the smile. Well Zeus, he thought as Artemis leaned in to brush his lips with a kiss. There's your answer. Artemis pulled back and Percy looked up at Zeus. "So how do we do this?" he asked.

To the side, Dionysus laughed.

A few minutes later found Percy standing on the lip of the Hearth. Artemis supported him on one side, and he balanced precariously on a wooden cane on the other. "This is going to hurt," he asked, "isn't it?"

Again Dionysus laughed. "You bet your ass it is," he said jovially.

Percy scowled. "I never liked that man," he murmured to Artemis. Still, he thought silently, not wanting to worry Artemis more than she already was, it can't be worse than what I'm already feeling. With effort he could ignore the majority of the pain, he'd had plenty of practice in the past ignoring a different kind of pain in the past, but gods the mental effort was driving him to exhaustion. I wouldn't have been able to keep this up much longer, he thought. Thank the Fates this offer came when it did.

Artemis gave his arm a small squeeze, but her eyes never left the coals of the Hearth. "He's been through it before," she murmured back, "so he knows what he's talking about." She looked at him then and her silver eyes were alight with concern, worry, and above all love. "Once this is through though you won't have to pretend to like him anymore. You'll be at least his equal, and perhaps his superior depending on your domains."

Percy shrugged uncomfortably. "Price I have to pay I guess," he muttered, but cut off as Hestia approached.

"It's time," she said simply, but Percy felt his nervousness retreating at the goddess's words. "Artemis, please take your place." Artemis kissed him once more on the cheek, then released his arm. She stayed just long enough to make sure he was able to keep his balance, then retreated to the circle of standing Olympians surrounding the hearth. Percy forced himself to remain upright, perched precariously on his cane, and face Hestia. "You're in pain," she murmured too softly for the others to hear, "aren't you my dear?" Percy nodded slightly. "Great pain," she said, and though this time it wasn't a questions he nodded again. "That will be remedied soon," she said. "Let us begin."

Percy sifted slightly on his cane, and in doing so nearly fell face first into the coals. Just like the Styx, he mused to himself, but at the last minute regained his balance with a wince and a gasp of pain. When he'd caught his breath again he asked, "So I just step in? That's it?"

Hestia nodded as Zeus began chanting in Ancient Greek. In moments the other Olympians had joined in and the Hall began the thrum with power. "That's it," she said. "The rest is up to us."

Percy signed and shuffled as best he could closer to the coals of the Hearth. His eye's lifted to find Artemis's who had positioned herself directly across from him. On her one side was Poseidon, and on the other was Apollo. All three, and all the other Olympians were glowing brightly, slowly taking on their divine forms as the chanting continued. Percy could feel the very fiber of his being begin to be picked apart, remade into something new, something grand, something greater. No use waiting, he told himself. He grinned weakly to reassure them all. The light in the hall was growing to unbearable levels, but it was Artemis's eyes he held as he took a single confident step, well stumble really, forward directly into the Flame of the West. Blinding white, holy fire obliterated the world.

Artemis

Percy fell forward into the Hearth and the chanting reached a crescendo. Artemis felt her heart lurch at his stumble but forced herself to ignore it. Her body was alive with power, her mind thrummed with the words of the ancient spell. It's been forever since I took on my divine form like this, she thought. Gods I forgot how this feels. Pushing the thought from her mind she continued chanting the words that had only been spoken a handful of time since the world's inception. The words to make a mortal into a god. The blinding light in the hall seemed to coalesce into a column of white fire around the Hearth, sucking in all the light in the hall and shooting into the heavens. The spell came to an end, and the column collapsed in on itself, pulling inward to a single point.

Artemis let her power flow away from her, back into her domains. She kept more back than she normally would, but this was an hour of power and of powerful beings. She noticed the others doing the same, and all were glowing just a touch more than they normally would have been.

"It is done," Zeus said as the power in the Hearth coalesced to form the shape of a man. The shape a familiar man.

The shape stepped forward, formed of light and featureless. It worked, Artemis thought. Ohh thank the Fates it worked! When his feet left the coals the light dimmed somewhat, and the gathered Olympians found themselves looking at the divine form of a fellow immortal.

It was Percy. Finally, she thought with relief. Finally, he's safe for all eternity. Hidden fear she'd been carrying for years drained away. Fear she suspected all gods felt when loving a mortal, even one like Percy. Their lives were so fleeting, so fragile. He's safe now.

Artemis stepped forward to meet him. He stumbled again, and she caught him in her arms. Together they sank to their knees. His body was absolutely vibrating with unreleased power. "Such power," he gasped. "I can't contain it. How do you stand this?"

"Concentrate Percy," Artemis told him. "Concentrate. You have to release it, but not all at once. Relax, breathe, and let it flow from you, into your domains." His breathing began to even out after a few moments, and the vibrating stopped. "That's it," she told him encouragingly. "Keep going." The other's stood on silently watching, but Artemis ignored them. Finally, after long minutes, the glow coming from Percy faded to match her own. He still held enough to kill mortals on sight, but until he was more practiced this was probably as good as it was going to get. Artemis pulled him to his feet. "The ceremony isn't over yet," she told him. "We still need to learn your domains." Percy nodded, he still seemed to thrum with power, and his motions were jerky, be he was no longer on the brink of melting the mountain around them. Together they rose to their feet.

Zeus approached and they both turned to him. "Look inside yourself Percy," Zeus said. "Find your domains. Name them, and claim them as your own."

Percy nodded and closed his eyes. Artemis waited with bated breath for her husband to speak. Finally he did. "I am Perseus," he said. "God of Heroes, Tides, Loyalty, and…" he paused for a moment before continuing, "Destruction."

Zeus raised both arms above is head and bellowed. "All hail Perseus! God of Heroes, Tides, Loyalty, and Destruction!" The other Olympians echoed the call, and Zeus continued. "We welcome you, Brother to your new life."

With that the ceremony was over. Artemis knew there would be feasting and celebrations to come that would dwarf that of their wedding celebrations, it was not every day that Olympus added a new major god to the fold, but for now the council would sit and discuss the implications of what had been done. And to work out the new pecking order, she thought wryly with a glance toward Dionysus.

Artemis waved a hand and materialized a new throne, plain until his preferences were know, beside her own for Percy as the others took their own. Percy shook his head and muttered loudly enough to be heard across the hall, "I can't sit right now. I can't stand still. How do you stand this?" as he began pacing back and forth before the thrones.

Artemis chuckled softly, and took her own throne. It would take time for him to adjust to the new energy coursing through him. Hell, she thought, even I still feel a little jittery after taking on my divine form so completely. I can't imagine how he feels after doing it for the first time.

Across the Hall Apollo laughed, and other's around the Hall began chuckling as Percy made another lap around the Hearth. "Don't worry, Penelope," Dionysus put in with a vicious grin. "It'll wear off in a century or two."

"Enough Dionysus," Poseidon said, though even he was grinning at his newly immortal son. Artemis found herself grinning too. "Perseus," he said. Percy froze and turned to his father. "Concentrate. You're a god now. You have complete control over you own mind. You can do this."

Percy stared at his father for a moment, before nodding jerkily and closing his eyes. Artemis's grin widened. He's so cute like this, she thought. Finally, the jerkiness of his motions slowed, then ceased. Percy took a deep breath, held it for a long moment, and then released it. When he opened his eyes, though they still glowed with power, Artemis saw the calm confidence that was so familiar in them. "Thank you, Father," he said. Poseidon nodded and leaned back in his fishing chair throne.

Percy turned and walked toward Artemis. He met her eyes and smiled. She found herself smiling too, and despite the witnesses, rose and kissed him as thoroughly as she ever had. Aphrodite squealed with glee, and she thought she heard Apollo whistle loudly. There were others laughing, but Artemis ignored them all. She broke the kiss and pulled him into a hug. Both of their breathing was a tad ragged as she rested her head against her chest. She pulled back and looked him in the eye. His eyes were still the familiar sea-green, but now they glowed with barely restrained power. It sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine that she forced herself to ignore. "Welcome, Husband," she said, before kissing him again and leading him to his throne.

When they were seated, Hades spoke. "Tell us, Nephew," he asked, "do you accept the second part of this offer? Will you join this council?"

That, Artemis thought, was a good question. Percy deserved the position more than some of those already on the council, but she honestly didn't know if he wanted it or not. Turning to him she waited. He considered for a long moment before looking up to meet her eyes. "What do you think?" he asked.

Artemis smiled again. She seemed to be doing that a lot recently. The relief she felt was almost palpable. "I believe you are worthy of the position," she said slowly. "But I understand if you do not want it. The decision is yours."

Percy nodded, then released her hand and rose. A number of the Olympians smirked as he began pacing again, though this time without the frantic energy from before. This will definitely take some getting used to for him, Artemis thought, still smiling.

Finally Percy stopped, and lifted his head, meeting the eyes of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades in turn. "I do not think I can accept," he said. A few eyebrows rose at that, but the three elder gods he addressed nodded as if the refusal was expected. Artemis found that she herself was not surprised. Percy never really wanted godhood, it wasn't shocking that he didn't want Olympian status either. "However," he continued. "I would ask the council to grant me a different position in place of the offer."

"Where would you be placed, Son?" Poseidon asked. Artemis leaned forward curiously, watching he husband closely. What are you doing Percy, she asked silently?

"I am the God of Heroes," Percy said firmly. Ahh…so that's it. As she considered, Artemis thought it was a good plan, and it would allow him to have an active hand in training their daughter. She saw the understanding in the faces of some of the gods and goddesses around her, Athena chief among them. "As such," he continued, "the demigods are mine. I claim them as my own. I would be given charge of Camp Half-Blood, if it is the will of the council. Replacing Dionysus."

"I accept!" the wine god cried, surging to his feet. "Let the new kid have a turn with those little brats, Father."

Other than a few rolled eyes and a scoff or two, Artemis thought it came from Hermes of all people, the other Olympians ignored Dionysus. Zeus was quite for a moment then asked, "You're sure of this Perseus?"

Percy nodded confidently. "I am," he said. "I am not opposed to joining the council sometime in the future," he added quickly. "However, I lack both the experience and the wisdom for so great a responsibility right now."

"You have more wisdom than some others on the council it seems," Athena muttered with a meaningful glance at Dionysus in a whisper that could be heard across the hall. The wine god scowled. Apollo, Hermes, and Ares roared with laughter.

Artemis found herself chuckling, but her eyes remained on Percy. He grinned before continuing. "Even so," he said. "I believe I can do the most good with the demigods at Camp Half-Blood."

"I don't think anyone can argue with that," Zeus said, then looked around the chamber. "Are there any objections?"

Ares snorted. "He may be a punk, but I'd rather him training my children than this purple blow-hard," he said with a nod toward Dionysus.

"Distastefully put," Athena said, "but I agree. Given his new domain, Percy is the obvious choice to train and lead our children."

"I like it," Apollo said with a grin for Percy.

One by one the gods and goddesses of the council voiced their support. "That's settled then," Zeus said afterward. "Dionysus, you are relieved of duty effective immediately. The moratorium on wine, however, still stands." The wine god scowled, but wisely chose to remain silent. "Is there anything else," Zeus asked? "Or can we get to the celebration?"

"One more thing, Father," Athena said rising and waving Artemis to follow. Artemis, curious, obeyed. "I would ask some questions about Percy's final domain."

Percy's brows drew down slightly, and Artemis could tell the statement made him uncomfortable, though the rest of those present save maybe Apollo and Poseidon didn't know him well enough to notice it. Destruction. Percy's final domain. Apollo's foretelling all those years ago at Evelyn's came back to her. Death and destruction shall follow in his wake. The Fates knew even then. Artemis nearly rolled her eyes at herself. Of course they knew, she chided. They were the Fates.

"What does the domain of destruction mean, Percy," Athena asked when she reached him. "Specifically I mean."

Percy shrugged uncomfortably. "I don't know," he said. "I just know it's mine."

Athena pursed her lips and Artemis watched them both carefully. "What is this about, Athena?" Hades asked.

"I'm not sure yet," she murmured, and then waved her hand absently. A plain marble bench appeared. It wasn't anything special, there where hundreds, maybe thousands of them spread across the city of Olympus, but it did look oddly out of place so plain here in the very Hall of the Gods itself. Athena nodded at the bench. "Destroy this," she ordered.

Percy cocked an eyebrow at her, and then frowned at the bench. "I don't know how," he said. "I've never done anything like that before."

Artemis stepped forward, taking his hand. He didn't need comfort, but it felt nice to hold it. "The same way you controlled water as a demigod," she told him. "The same way you summoned hurricanes and earthquakes. Trust your instincts and will the bench to be destroyed."

Percy nodded, took a deep breath, and then focused on the bench, brows pulling down in concentration. Immediately, the marble disintegrated into fine colorless powder.

"Incredible," Athena breathed. Idly she waved a hand, the fine grey dust stirred slightly, but nothing more. "Destroyed beyond my ability to repair." Her eyes lifted to meet Percy's, alight with wonder. "You are a living, breathing manifest of entropy, an avatar of time's inevitable slow decay, an embodiment of the final death that awaits us all."

"Athena," Zeus asked slowly. "What are you speaking of? What final death?"

Athena ignored the question. Artemis didn't even thing she even heard it in her excitement. "Try it," she ordered. "All of you try to repair the bench." The others, Artemis included, sat staring. "Do it!" Athena ordered again.

Slowly, one by one, each of the gods and goddesses tried to repair what Percy had destroyed. Each failed, and with each failure the sense of uneasiness in the room grew. Artemis was last to try and last to fail.

Again Zeus asked, "What does this mean?"

Again Athena ignored him, this time intent on Percy. "So soon after holding your power so completely for the first time you'll have more insight into this than you will later," she said. "The instincts will remain, but the details will fade. So tell me this, and know that the very fate of the universe can depend on the answer you give me. Can entropy be reversed?"

What in the world are these two talking about, Artemis asked. Turning to watch her husband she saw him smirk for all the world like he and Athena were sharing some vast inside joke that went over the heads of all others. "There is as yet," he said slowly, "insufficient data for a meaningful answer."

The stern intensity in Athena's faded, and she chuckled softly, shaking her head. "My, my," she murmured, eyes twinkling with mirth. "You have changed."

Percy squeezed Artemis's hand, and then responded just as softly. "I've had to."

"Daughter," Zeus said loudly, sounding exasperated. He never did like being ignored, Artemis thought as Athena turned toward him. Though to be honest she was kind of annoyed with the pair herself. "Would you be so kind as to explain to the rest of us what exactly you two are talking about?"

"Forgive me, Father," Athena said. "Percy's domain of Destruction could probably be more accurately described as Entropy," she continued. Ohh Fates preserve us, Artemis thought rolling her eyes. That's her lecturing tone. "In the past, Perses was the Titan of Destruction, and his domain focused primarily on physical destruction. Perses could destroy anything, but the pieces that were left over were still the same as the original piece. For example he would blow up a boulder, but he did not affect the boulder's make up directly. The pieces that remained were just smaller pieces of the same rock." Athena paused and looked at Percy, considering. "Percy's domain is different. Entropy, at is most basic level, is a measure of the disorder…the Chaos…in the universe. It always, always, flows in one direction. A tree burns. It turns into smoke and ash, but the smoke and ash cannot be turned back into a tree. One of the fundamental laws of this universe mandates that the entropy of the universe must always increase. The eventual death of this universe, and everything in it, will occur when the entropy of the universe reaches its maximum." She gestured at the grey, dusty remains of the bench. "The final death. Percy has the ability to bypass the billions, perhaps trillions, of years necessary to bring objects to that final death. His powers manifest almost like one of the Protogenoi."

That whipped Artemis's head around in an instant. "The Protogenoi?" she asked sharply, cutting off her father and a number of others before they could ask the same question. Percy shifted uncomfortably beside her. Gaea was one of the Protogenoi, and she didn't blame him for not wanting to be associated with that company.

Athena waved away their concern absent mindedly. "In form," she said, "not in magnitude. He's not more powerful than most of us."

"Then what do you mean," Percy asked.

"You have control over one of the most fundamental forces of the universe," she said. Her eyes cut quickly to the side, before returning to Percy. The glance was so quick Artemis almost missed it. She followed the direction Athena's eyes had taken. Aphrodite? Artemis thought. Why would she look at Aphrodite? The love goddess was sitting back in her throne, almost trying to sink into it like she did not want to be noticed. What in the world? "Almost none of those hear have those types of powers," Athena said. "Our domains are rooted in Western Civilization, and so are most of yours, but this one takes the form of a primordial force. I am not calling you a Protogenoi, but one of your domains resembles theirs." She's a daughter of Ouranos, Artemis thought. Of course. If any of us could be said to share anything with the Protogenoi it would be her. Still, it was strange seeing Aphrodite trying to not be the center of attention for once.

Apollo piped up. "So what was all that about insufficient data?" he asked.

Percy smirked. "Nerd joke," he said. "You wouldn't understand."

Sighing Zeus rose before anyone could respond to that. "Is your curiosity satisfied daughter?" he asked. At Athena's nod he said, "Good. Then let us celebrate. Apollo. Dionysus. I expect a party the likes of which have not been seen on Olympus for a thousand years. Be ready within the hour. The rest of you with me. The demigods have been given a new patron. It's time they were reintroduced. To Camp Half-Blood." With that he flashed out in a bolt of lightning. The others of the council followed.

Artemis wrapped her arms around Percy's neck, and pulled him down for another kiss. Together, they flashed away.

Well, it's been a long time coming, but there it is. There was a lot going on in this chapter, so I hope you guys liked it. As always, leave a review to let me know what you think. Thanks for reading! Until next time.