As Fate Deems It

Summary: Poseidon never had an affair with Sally. But Percy Jackson is still the "demigod" son of Poseidon. "My Lord, I am with child, our child." Amphitrite, the immortal wife of Poseidon, said.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series.

A/N: I'm terribly sorry for not updating. Oh Goodness I never noticed!

I Didn't Get to Play Pinochle with the Horse

Fleeting images of sad blue eyes with blonde hair, grim faces and shouting with cries of agony, pain and misery plagued my dreams. Though… it interchanged with comical cartoonish barnyard animals holding their throats as if suffocating and dying with exaggeration and a bull man in big diapers holding toy axes was flailing his arms around screaming, "MAMA! MEAN PERSEA BULLIED ME!" And then goats and sheep started running around the bull man bleating for food.

Huh… I must've been dreaming.

Though I think I woke up a few times and passed out again. Though I distinctly remember lying on a soft bed and being spoon-fed with something that tasted like Chocolate and strawberry only it was pudding. A girl with curly blonde hair hovered over me, she looked on with curiosity then asked, "What will happen at the summer solstice?"

I managed to croak out… literally. "Ribbit."

The girl was startled and looked around before asking once more. "What's going on? What was stolen? We've only got a few weeks!"

"Moo!" I mumbled. "Quack!"

The girl looked confused her face scrunched up, looking as though she didn't know whether to laugh or be angry.

Somebody then knocked on the door and the girl filled my mouth with pudding again.

The next time I woke up the girl was not there.

A husky blonde dude, like a surfer, stood in a corner of the bedroom watching me. He had blue eyes, plural as in so many eyes that I wondered if he… Then I blacked out again.

When I finally came around for good, there was nothing weird about my surroundings, except I was not inside the room anymore. I was sitting on a deck chair on a huge porch, staring across a meadow at green hills in the distance. The breeze smelled like strawberries. A blanket was over my legs and a pillow on my neck. I wondered if I looked like those old people that sat on porches and stared at nothing, being served with tea. My mouth felt like cotton was stuffed in it, it felt nasty.

On the table next to me was a tall drink. I gave it the stink eye. Seriously? I looked to my hand and saw it was still smooth as ever. Good, I'm not some old lady. The drink looked like apple juice with a green straw and with a paper parasol stuck through a maraschino cherry. I took the glass and almost dropped it, my hands were week.

"Careful." a familiar voice sounded.

Grover was leaning against the porch railing, looking like he hadn't slept a week. He had more acne and his beard is unkempt. Under one arm, he cradled a shoe box. He was wearing an orange shirt with Camp Half Blood written on it. He wasn't wearing jeans or shoes. Why is he showing his true nature now? Weren't we just on a vacation, my mom, him and me?

"You saved my life," Grover started. "I… well, the least I could do… I went back to the hill. I thought you might want this."

Reverently, he placed the shoe box on my lap.

Inside there was a black and white bull horn, the base jagged from being broken off, the tip splattered with dried blood. The memory of what happened hit me with full force. I fought back a sob.

"Pasiphae's son." I whispered.

"Persea…"

"It wasn't a dream then… He attacked us and mom…." I trailed off. I couldn't say she died. Mortals don't die like monsters, they leave bodies behind. Mom disappeared in a golden light. I bit my lips and didn't say further.

Grover looked down, maybe he thought I was thinking that my mom was dead.

I stared across the meadow. There were groves of tress, a winding stream, acres of strawberries spread out under the blue, blue sky. The valley was surrounded by rolling hills, and the tallest one, directly in front of us, was the one with the huge pine tree on top, the Camp borders. Everything looked beautiful in sunlight. My mother was missing, I don't know if she's being treated well or being tortured. Everything should look dull and feel as cold as ice but it wasn't. I bit my lips and a tear escaped against my guard.

"I'm sorry." Grover sniffled. "I'm a failure. I'm – I'm the worst satyr in the world." He moaned, stomping his exposed hoof on the floor, accidentally hitting the table that my drink was on. Good thing I was holding it.

"Oh Styx!" he mumbled.

Thunder rolled across the clear sky.

I looked up and frowned. My whole life, I knew what I truly was but I didn't know the culture and the rules of my own world. Knowing what I was, was dangerous enough, Aunt June and Cousin Luna said, but to know about my culture and heritage in depth would surely expose me. I've stayed as naïve as I could be throughout my whole life while knowing the dangers that lurked in the shadows around me.

For now, I'm alone. I shivered in dread thinking of the other "guardian" I had. Smelly Gabe. I didn't want to think of what just happened would entail. If I was forced to acknowledge him as my true guardian, I shuddered at the thought of it. I didn't know if the Camp would let me stay even after the summer was over or if they'd let me stay period.

Grover was still sniffling. The poor satyr, he looked like he was expecting to be hit.

I sighed, "It's not your fault."

"Yes it was! I was supposed to protect you."

I shook my head. "And I already told you, you protected me just fine. You oversaw me the whole year and except for Mrs. Dodds, which I survived thanks to your warning to Mr. Brunner. I very much doubt you could defeat one of the Erinye or even Pasiphae's son. Even without formal Greek and Roman education, I know them as the most dangerous of the lot."

"I was a keeper; I was supposed to make sure that you stayed safe, no matter the type of danger." Grover looked broken and a little bit depressed. I sensed that this might not be the first time he had perceived that he had failed in a task.

"And you did! I…" I suddenly felt dizzy and my vision swam.

"Don't strain yourself," Grover said. "Here."

He helped me hold my glass and put the straw to my lips.

I didn't know what to expect with the taste, I was half expecting apple juice, but since I suspected it to be nectar I braced myself. And what I found was something that reminded me of mom and home. It was Chocolate – chip cookies, just like how mom made it, blue chocolate – chip cookies, buttery and hot, with the chips still melting. Drinking it made my body feel warm and so very good. I'm suddenly full of energy but my heart was heavy. No matter how good it tasted it reminded me of mom. How she would brush her hand across my cheek whenever she would give me a cookie and tell me everything would be alright.

But it's not. And if I don't do something it will never be.

Before I knew it, I'd had drained the glass. I stared into it and just as sure I was that I drank a warm drink, the ice cubes in the glass hadn't even melted.

"Was it good?" Grover asked.

I nodded, smiling a sad smile.

"What did it taste like?" He sounded wistful and I just looked at the glass.

"You're not allowed to drink it?"

He shook his head. "It's not a drink for satyrs."

I sighed, "Chocolate – chip cookies. My mom's homemade blue chocolate – chip cookies."

He too had a sad smile as he looked at me. He sighed. "How do you feel?"

I chuckled, "Like I could throw Nancy Bobofit a hundred yards."

"That's good." he said. "That's really good. I don't' think you can drink more of that stuff."

I just looked at the stuff curiously. Grover took the glass from me gingerly, as though if he dropped it the thing would explode. "Come on. Chiron and Mr. D are waiting."

The porch wrapped all around the farmhouse.

My legs felt wobbly, trying to walk all the way around it. Grover offered to carry Bull man's horn but I declined. I earned this the hard way and not letting go of it any time soon. As we came about the opposite end of the house, I caught my breath.

We must've been on the north shore of Long Island, because on this side of the house, the valley marched all the way up to the water, which glittered about a mile into the distance. For the first time since I woke up, just by seeing the sea, I felt calmed. Between here and there, I gazed at the scenery I was faced with. The landscape was dotted with buildings that were ancient Greek in architecture – an open air pavilion, an amphitheater, and a circular arena – their white marble columns sparkled in the sun. In a nearby sandpit about a dozen kids and satyrs were playing volleyball. Canoes glided across a small lake. Kids in bright orange T-shirts like Grover's were chasing each other around a cluster of cabins nestled in the woods. Some shot targets at an archery range, others rode on horses down a wooden trail and if I was seeing it right, some were Pegasi.

I breathed in deeply and closed my eyes, I sent up a thank you prayer to Aunt June because at that moment somehow I felt like I was home away from home. I opened my eyes and gazed at two men at the other end of the porch, sitting across each other on a card table. The blonde haired girl who spoon-fed me, what I realize now as probably ambrosia, was leaning on the porch next to them.

I looked at one of the men and had to blink my eyes. He was small-ish but kinda porky. Red nose, big watery eyes and curly hair so black it was almost purple. It reminded me of two things. First, he looked like an overgrown cherub that turned middle aged in a trailer park. I had to bite back a giggle. The second was probably my clue on who he was. I liked Disney and though I think that their portrayal of the gods in "Hercules" is child friendly, it lacked the real personalities of the gods. But for this instance, if I'm right, then Disney got Dionysus right. I think I'll call him… the wine dude. Can't actually call him by his godly name, I know better than that. I sighed and shook the awkward thoughts out of my head, stupid ADHD. Wine dude wore a tiger-patterned Hawaiian shirt, and he would've fit right in at one of Gabe's poker parties, except I got the feeling that he can out-gamble my step-father.

"That's Mr. D." Grover murmured to me. "He's the camp director. Be polite."

Oh… so that's what they call him… Wine dude or Mr. D…. Well Grover did say be polite so Mr. D it is.

"The girl is Annabeth Chase. She's a camper that's been here longer than just about anybody. And you already know Chiron."

He pointed at the guy whose back was to me.

I blinked and sighed. "I can finally call you Chiron, huh? Better than Mr. Brunner I suppose." I smirked. "Horsing around sir? I would think that you don't gamble."

Everyone gave a jerk and stared at me, I just grinned at their reaction. Chiron had a weird expression on his face, the one he has every time I pull his leg after answering one of his multiple choice pop quizzes which all the answers are B.

"Ah, good, Percy." he said. "Now we have four for pinochle."

He offered me a seat next to Mr. D who looked at me with blood shot eyes and heaved a great sigh.

"I suppose I must say it. Welcome to Camp Half – Blood. There. Now, don't expect me to be happy to see you."

I nodded and stared at Mr. D, though he looked like he's been hitting the happy juice, I knew withdrawal symptoms when I see it. I decided not to ask about it since no one seems to want to point out to me the obvious at the moment.

"Annabeth?" Chiron called to the girl. She stepped forward and Chiron introduced us. "This young lady nursed you back to health, Persea. Annabeth, my dear, why don't you go check Percy's bunk? We'll be putting him in cabin eleven for now." The girl nodded and stared at me with curiosity.

She was probably my age, a few inches taller maybe and as athletic as someone that had a lot of time to be outdoors. With her deep tan and curly blond hair, she was almost the stereotypical California girl except her eyes ruined the stereotype. They were startling gray, like storm clouds, pretty but intimidating. She looked as though she was analyzing me. She glanced at the Minotaur horn I had with me and I was almost half expecting her to say something about it. But since this is Camp, it might not be as impressive as any other mortal would think.

"You say the weirdest things when half asleep." She says with a weird overtone in her voice. I smirk, "Moo."

Her eyelids flutter in surprise. "You were…" but I cut her off. "So Chiron, what's so special about me that you made a house call?"

The girl frowned and just sprinted off. Hmm…

"Yes Chiron what is so special about this brat that you had to make a house call indeed." Mr. D asked.

"I think it is obvious Mr. D, the way she acts right now. As if she knew all this time. But other than the Kindly One and Pasiphae's son, no other monster went after her. I had gone through the proper procedures and contacted his mother that we were observing Persea. I had thought that maybe Mrs. Jackson had informed Persea as she had sounded too knowledgeable at times." Chiron answered as he stared at me at the corner of his gaze.

I sighed and picked at the table, I knew he was asking me indirectly but I couldn't answer… just yet. At my silence, Chiron sighed and looked back to the cards being shuffled by Mr. D.

"Persea, m'dear, do you have anything to inform us of?" Chiron asked, probably hoping to pry something out of me yet again. I just smiled without looking up.

"So Mr. D huh? You look like you need to hit the bar. Need a drink or two?" I smirked, half mocking, half sympathetic, finally looking up from the table.

Chiron and Mr. D looked at me with surprise, so surprised that Mr. D forgot to be angry.

"Y-you've guessed who Mr. D is?" Grover asked from behind me. I looked at him and nodded.

"It's not that hard to decipher." Mr. D looked at me closely to which I smiled widely at him. He sighs and turns to Grover. "Well are you playing or not?"

Grover trembled, "Yes sir!" and sat on the fourth chair. I just shook my head, once again I picked at the table. Mr. D then eyed me suspiciously asking, "You do know how to play Pinochle young lady?"

I rolled my eyes skyward and nodded. Sometimes Aunt June was so bored whenever babysitting me that she taught me the game. "Yes sir." This answer drew suspicious glances my way. But nonetheless Mr. D nodded smiling slightly. "Good. If you must know, it is, along gladiator fighting and Pac-Man, one of the greatest games ever invented by humans. I would expect all civilized young people to know about it."

I nodded and turned to Chiron, "Chiron, I'm sorry for not being truthful the past few months but… I have known about what I am for most of my life… kind of." I observed his expression so that I could judge any reactions. Chiron had a curious expression on; he was confused at what I meant. "What do you mean kind of?" Mr. D asked instead for Chiron heavily emphasizing his words. I bit my lips and my hands twisted the hem of my shirt, my brain getting ahead of me and worried too much. Thoughts flew around my mind whispering dark thoughts and inciting fear and anxiety. I bit my bottom lip and squirmed on my chair, and started scratching loudly on the table. My mind jumped on its focus from the table to the shoebox containing the Minotaur horn. Moo. Moo. Moo.

"Eek!" I squeak as I felt an adult's hand land on my shoulder. Chiron, Mr. D and Grover all set down their cards to listen, feeling that what I was about to say was important. I sighed deeply wondering if I could get away with a bit of lying. I mean sure Grover could detect my emotions but I'm pretty sure I can fool them. I looked up at them from under my bangs and took a deep breath to steady myself.

"I've always known I was a half-blood, that and my father is one of the 12 Olympians." My audience gasped in surprise. I nodded to Grover, "Grover should suspect who my Olympian father is, after having talked to my mother and her descriptions." Chiron and Mr. D both looked at Grover for confirmation and he reluctantly nodded, still unsure of his conclusions. "I have a pretty good guess sir." He said hesitantly.

"And?" Chiron prodded.

"I don't want to say it out loud sir. It's… dangerous for me to just announce whose child she is without her father claiming her. I could say positively that her arrival changes things, I guess." Grover was already eating the discarded aluminum tin can Diet Coke that Mr. D conjured up. The trainer of heroes and god of wine stared at me in askance but I just shook my head. "I've always known but, I know nothing about our culture. What is a Modern Greek exactly? I didn't learn our culture but I knew what I was just not anything more than that. If I did my scent would have been more pungent than before. I just need to have, like, an orientation film or brochure to introduce me to into this life and I'll probably stumble around."

Chiron had a curious look on his face but nodded nonetheless. Mr. D sighed and looked forlornly at his cards and stood up. "I guess it would be better than that you show the girl the film Chiron. Mr. Underwood come with me, we have to talk about your performance." Grover bleated sadly and stood to follow Mr. D back into the house looking back at me with what was supposed to be a supportive smile but almost epically failed.

I watched them go in and turned to Chiron and muttered, "Chiron, I'll tell you all I can but please swear on your greatest oath that you will not reveal it until I do." Chiron had a knowing look in his eyes and nodded. He looked back to the door to the house and looked like he was listening intently before looked back to me. "I swear on the river Styx that I will not reveal your secret until you deem it right."

Thunder sounded in the distance, I hoped that it was only the effect of the oath and not Uncle listening in. I turned to Chiron and started my tale.

"This is not my first life." Technically this is true as I was first born as a godling even if it was only for a few hours. "Originally I was born as a pure godling by my parents, whom I cannot reveal at the moment." Understanding dawned in Chiron's eyes and looked at me in a new light. Of course he knows of reincarnated heroes but godlings? He'd never heard of it in his long, long life.

"I've known of a recently pregnant goddess with her immortal husband but what I had heard was she faded before she could birth. Are you?" He asked, hesitating and fearful. He knew the dangers of me presenting as a child of HIM but it was the only way. I nodded, "She was my original mother. But the fates or the moirai had a hand in what happened. I wasn't supposed to be conceived but it happened and the mortal that was supposed to my mother was cursed never to bear children. So a concession was made. I would have to be reborn as a mortal, to Sally Jackson and my immortal mother faded because it took all her energy to birth me. She was already a fading goddess, nobody knew who she was. It was always father that was acknowledged never her and so, she was losing power over the eons, and I was the final straw." I stopped to catch my breath also to stop my tears. My mother wasn't meant to fade. Never.

I need to continue to persevere, Chiron will be one of the few who would ever understand my predicament until the time came. He will protect me and my secret. For that I need to finish the story. "But their plan had one fatal flaw. Their powers specialized in fertility but it was not of childbirth so, they contacted all three childbirth goddesses, Ladies Hera, Artemis and Illytheia so I was degenerated into an eggcell once more and was planted into Sally Jackson with help of Lord Apollo. They all knew my secret and helped me throughout my years. I have Hera's and Artemis's blessing, to always have a safe haven when with family and that the beasts of the wild would stay off my back. It wasn't enough so my mom, Sally, had to sacrifice a lot more to make my aura more human." I stopped my story because it ends right there. There was nothing else to add, nothing important anyways.

Chiron nodded and patted my head. "I fear for you child, what happened to you makes me fear for the future as well. If you truly understand majority of who you are, then your heritage is the only thing left then. I thought the orientation film wouldn't be enough but it seems it would suffice." Chiron then moved from his wheel chair and stood up. From his waist below he was a white stallion. "Ah my fetlocks were starting to ache. Come Persea much to see." He led me inside the house to watch a film.

I looked one last glance at the ocean, the camp lay sprawled out in front of me. I thought, 'Later.'

Persea Character Pairing Poll is still up. I've not decided any concrete pairings as of yet. Let me set up some ground rules. I'm not pairing Persea with any of the boys who have a canon pairing. This is a canon-compliant story... mostly. I'm a solid Solangelo fan so... Nico di Angelo and Will Solace are definitely out. I don't do Original Characters well, so I won't attempt it. The following are out as well: Charles Beckendorf, Chris Rodriguez, Travis and Connor Stoll, Jason Grace, Leo Valdez and Frank Zhang. I don't like Octavian, so no way.

All Gods are still on the table, and I mean ALL Gods (or at the very least those that showed up in the PJATO and HOO series, though not Janus or Terminus... no thanks.) other immortals are good to go as well. Ethan Nakamura is still one of the mortals on the table. I'm still half and half with Luke Castellan. I actually do love and respect the guy. Annabeth will definitely NOT be paired with Persea, thus opening an opportunity to finish Luke Castellan's romance story that almost never started in the series. I'm also partial to Thalia/Luke pairing, so when it reaches that point of the story, I'll be asking for suggestions as well. For now, please reserve your suggestions. It can go either way for all three girls.

I tend to like happy endings for everyone... including enemies. So at this point... a lot of things will be left up into the air until I get to that point of the story that I need to make decisions for the characters.

Another important question for my dear readers is what to do with Sally Jackson. Does she still meet Paul Blofis and marry him? Does she stay mortal? Or will she be Poseidon's new immortal wife? Will Poseidon even want to stay with her still? Will Sally want to be immortal? Because I'm already thinking of one of two possibilities of who will be Poseidon's new immortal wife. One of them... I'm thinking a lot of people will disagree because... it's direct incest... Yes, I am also a solid PoseidonxPercy fan. So few of those really... The other option is... to have a replacement Percabeth in the form of... POTHENA... I very much love Percabeth so in a way, I can incorporate that using their godly parents.

Reviews are like Ambrosia and Nectar.

I won't die from too much Ambrosia and Nectar overload.

And it is reviews that fuel my want to update.

So please more reviews please!