Chapter 18

Artemis POV

"Piper would you mind coming with me?" I asked.

"Sure." Piper said. I put my hand on her shoulder and flashed us to my palace. "What are we doing here" she asked.

"I thought you would prefer if we talked about this in a more private setting." I said taking a seat on my couch.

"Talk about what? I still don't know what you're talking about." Piper said try and failing to hide her annoyance.

"I'm talking about your pregnancy." I said and her eyes widened

"H-how do y-you know? Did she tell you?"

I shook my head "No one told me I'm the goddess of childbirth and as such I can recognize it at it's earliest stages.".

Piper POV

My legs felt a little wobbly after Artemis told me I was pregnant "Maybe you should sit down." she offered pointing to a chair.

I did as she suggested while looking around, we were in what I guess was a living room but I had never seen one this huge not even at my dads mansion. 'dad' I thought sadly 'I miss you'.

Artemis seemed to notice my discomfort "Are you ok?" she asked.

"Yes just thinking about stuff, anyway why did you want to talk about my pregnancy." I said.

"Well jugging from how you took the news I'm guessing you didn't know yet."

I nodded "I was going to take the test today."

"What I need to know is who the father is." she said.

I blushed a bit before mumbling "Jason.". Artemis nodded

"I thought so." she said getting a sad look in her eye "If you want your baby to survive you're going to have to go into hiding."

"WHAT!" I half screamed. Artemis spent the next several minutes telling me about illegal borns and what my options were.

As I thought about what I should do I asked Artemis "Why would my child be an illegal born, I mean demigods get married to each other all the time wouldn't that mean we'd have hundreds of illegal born popping up."

"No, normal demigods wouldn't matter, but you're not. You we one of the seven from the prophecy which makes you exceptional for a demigod. If Jason was a common demigod then I wouldn't worry but he's not. He's a son of Zeus and one of the seven to boot. Now I'm going to send you back to camp but decided quickly the sooner you leave the better." she said.

"Wait I'm immortal now and so is Jason wouldn't that make the baby immortal to." I asked hopefully but Artemis her head crashing my hopes.

"I wish but no since the child was started when you were mortal it will be born mortal, if you were a goddess and then Jason became immortal then yes it would but that's not the case." she said "Also what would you like me to tell your father?"

"You don't need to tell him anything." I said fighting back the tears in my eyes"He died while we were in Greece fighting Gaea". When I calmed down enough Artemis touched my shoulder and I was back at camp in a moment I decided to find Jason this was his child to and he deserves a say in it's future.

Thalia POV

I decided to go back to the cabin after the gods little announcement because I thought Percy would like some time with his new mom. And I was so happy that no one noticed the little glow my ring gave off when Nico became a god, signifying that we were married, turns out the processes works both ways. The ring was a simple gold band with a small black diamond on the top.

On may way back I heard what sounded like someone crying, so I took a detour to find out who it was. Behind one of the cabin Hypnos I think, I found Melissa standing there with Zoe who was crying "What's going on?" I asked causing Melissa to look up.

"Zoe got some purple stuff on her wrist and says its burning." she said "I told daddy's friend Grover about it and he said he'd be right back".

That very moment the afore mentioned satyr came striding into view. "Do you know whats going on?" I asked.

"Well Melissa came up to me with Zoe who was crying and saying that her hand was burning. So I asked her to show me her hand." Grover said applying a white paste to her arm "This purple stuff is used by nature spirits because it helps to remove pollution from the environment. Mix a little in a can of water and it can neutralize quite a few nasty things, but it's a pain to get off and it starts to burn if its left on mortals skin for an extended amount time. The amount of time varies from person to person.".

We waited there till the paste turned purple then washed it off with some water. Zoe's wrist was bright red but Grover said that there was no real damage done. Something that did catch my interest was this black band on her wrist that was covered up before it had a wolf on it and seemed kinda familiar. I was trying to think of where I'd seen it before when I heard someone's voice.

"Zoe where are you?" they yelled.

"I'm wight here." Zoe called back and I again found her cute as she tried and failed to say her r's. Luna rounded the corner and started walking toward us.

"Zoe! what have I told you about running off without telling me where you're going." She scolded

"Sowwy sis." Zoe said pouting.

Luna calmed down and even laughed slightly at her sister's antics.

"I was just playing with Melissa." Zoe said.

"It's fine now come on it's almost lunch time." Luna said picking up her sister and turning to leave but Grover stopped her by grabbing her arm.

"I'm sorry but there's some stuff I need to ask you." Grover said Luna seemed a little annoyed but turned to face him while Zoe hid her face in Luna's shoulder. 'Guess she hasn't gotten over her shyness yet.' I thought.

"Zoe had some purple stuff on her arm." he said "I was wondering where she came in contact with it as well."

"I think it happened on our way here while we were traveling through a forest." Luna said. "I was carrying Zoe and I tripped when I got up it was on her arm and all over my cloths.".

Grover nodded like he expected this "Well if that's the case take this." he said handing her the tube of paste he had used on Zoe "This will remove it from your skin, just wait till it turns purple and wash it off. I would suggest you hurry because it will start burning you if it sits too long".

Luna nodded and left after saying a quick thank you. Once she was gone Grover turned to me and said "I've been meaning to ask you for a while but have you noticed something weird about Percy?"

"You mean besides him becoming a god." I said off handedly and Grover rolled his eyes in response.

"No I haven't." I said "Why do you ask?".

"Because my empathetic link with him has been going crazy for the last week or so." Grover explained "First I get the feeling he's scared, then panicked, then happy, and back to panicked, etc. It's like he's having a midlife crisis."

'Well not exactly more like getting married but I can see the connection.' I thought as I rubbed my engagement ring from Nico.

"Nah Percy's fine its just been a stressful week for all of us." I said.

"Yeah that's proba …" Grover started to say before seeing my hand, he gulped and asked said "Is that a wedding ring?" I looked down at my ring and said

"What? No, I got it as a spoil of war for killing some monster that had been collecting jewels." Grover gave me a look that made me think he knew I was lying but let it go and left saying he was going to talk to Percy. I thought about going to lunch but was instantly hit with a wave of nausea and ran for the nearest trash can.

Grover POV (New!)

I found Percy heading up to the mess hall "Hey Percy!" I called as I ran to catch up to him.

"Hey G-man" he said looking at me "What"s going on?"

"Oh nothing much." I said. We talked for a few minute and I asked if I could help him with guarding the hunt some time because he would be kinda busy as a god, he said sure but I had to clear it with Artemis first. I groaned and walked away saying it was hopeless, which it was.

I went up to the dining hall and sat down at the head table with Chiron which I didn't usually do but Juniper had informed me it was cheese enchilada day and there was no way I was missing that. The nymphs came out and started placing platters of food on the tables. I noticed one of the younger nymphs named Rose acting kinda weird, while she put food food on the Ares table she made sure to put a special plate of enchiladas in front of Mike who graciously thanked her.

Rose blushed and ran away towards the forest 'Hm mortals dont usually catch the eye of nymphs I wonder what happened.' I thought as another nymph did the same thing for Percy. The Two waited by the tree line to see Mike and Percy take a bite then left. The Ares cabin started complaining and asking why Mike got a special plate to which he answered "I don't know.".

After lunch I went to see Juniper and found her talking to Rose "So how did it go?" Juniper asked

"I think it went well to be honest I was to nervous to really think that much." Rose said somewhat panicked. "He seemed to like them."

"Well that's good." Juniper said rubbing her back soothingly.

"I have a question." I said announcing my presence.

"And what would that be Grover?" Juniper said.

"I was just wondering why Rose and her friend are giving Mike and Percy special attention?"

"Well" Rose said "Mike's really nice and so into nature I mean…" Rose continued to ramble off half a dozen other things then went into explaining why her friend was doing the same for Percy.

To be completely honest I didn't understand any of it so I just looked at Juniper for an translation, she face palmed. Juniper sighed and gave me the short version "A lot of nymphs like Percy because he's the 'hero of heroes'" she said using air quotations.

"So basically its the whole Heracles craze from back before we knew he was a jerk. And half the forest has a crush on Mike because he's the…how do I put this…Mike is like the boy version of Artemis to nymphs he just has that persona and his scent is the same to."

I nodded finally getting it 'Who is this guy?' I thought.

Percy POV

The next morning I woke up with Artemis's head resting on my chest. We were in her palace because the hunters couldn't stand staying at camp half blood another night so we moved here which I didn't mind because I was sick of people asking me about being a god. Later because I found out that Artemis had a really comfy bed and fell asleep right away. I felt Artemis stir and looked down to see her looking up at me "Good morning beautiful." I said.

"Good morning handsome." she said giving me a kiss.

"Eww" Melissa said which scared me half to death because I hadn't noticed she was curled up next to my other side. I had honestly thought she was just a warm pillow, thank goodness I didn't roll over.

Artemis laughed at my reaction before slipping into the bathroom. Once we were dressed I picked up Melissa intent on starting breakfast while Artemis went to check on the hunters who were sleeping in their big room they all shared. Thalia was the only one who didn't sleep in there. Since she was Artemis' lieutenant so she got her own room, it was small but still nice. 'Her and Nico are going to love that.' I thought but for the time being she shared it with Hazel.

I headed to the kitchen deciding to make breakfast for everyone and on my way heard someone hurling in Thalia room 'poor Hazel' I thought, lately she had been sick nearly every morning.

As I passed the hall bathroom Hazel walked out looking a little green still. I took a few more steps before heading back to Thalia's room thinking 'if Hazel was in the bathroom then who's in here,' I knocked on the door.

"Who is it?" Thalia called.

"It's Percy" I said "Can I come in?"

I heard her hurl again "Sure but do so at your own risk." she answered weakly.

I opened the door to see Thalia sitting on her bed holding a bucket "You ok?" I asked.

She hurled and looked at me "Do I look ok?" she snapped.

"You've looked better." I said sitting next to her "So what's your symptoms?" I asked.

"So far just this and a pounding headache."She replied.

"Did it just start up today?" I asked.

Thalia shook her head "No I threw up a few times yesterday before lunch."

"You sound like Hazel." I laughed. Thalia went rigid and didn't answer"Wait did you and Nico.." I stopped as Thalia got as red as a strawberry.

"Thalia and Nico did what?" Melissa said not understanding but I ignored her.

"Seriously" I said.

"Seriously what?" Melissa said.

"Maybe" Thalia said quietly.

"What are you two talking about?" Melissa said holding my head so I had to look at her I couldn't help but laugh at her frustrated expression.

"Well I'm going to need to get your mom first to double check but you might be getting a little cousin soon from auntie Thalia." I said, she still didn't get it.

"What about cousin's" Artemis said poking her head in the room

"Ah just in time." I said standing up "You see Thalia's been getting sick in the mornings and we were thinking one of your domains might be able to tell us the cause." I said.

"Oh." Artemis said catching my meaning. She closed her eyes for a bit then opened them "Thalia is there something you would like to tell me?"

Thalia hurled yet again "Not really." she said defiantly.

Not wanting to put up with Thalia's antics I just asked Artemis "So is it a yes or no." Artemis looked at Thalia who was staring at us evidently wanting to know her self.

Artemis looked back to me "I'm not telling till Thalia chooses to own up to what she's done." she said in a singsong voice before quietly whispering"But she should hurry up because there's a few surprises that comes with having it as an immortal.".

I knew Thalia could hear us and that it must just be killing her now, Melissa, Artemis and I started heading for the door but Thalia snapped first "Wait!" she said "You win, it happened the night me and Nico got engaged right after Artemis gave me her permission and I went to tell him.".

"Knew that would work." Artemis said turning around.

"Whatever." Thalia said kinda annoyed "Just tell me, am I having a baby?"

Artemis smiled and said "Yes Thalia you are."

"Yes!" Thalia screamed before going green and returning to her bucket.

Artemis POV

"This is becoming quite the eventful week." I said holding Melissa's hand as she half dragged me into the kitchen.

"Yeah" Percy said "first we get married, then Nico and Thalia, after that me and him become gods, and now Thalia's having a baby..." Percy trailed off as his face went slack.

"What is it Percy?" I asked

"Umm nothing, just curious what time is it?"

I checked the stove clock "About 6:30 why?"

"Well I just realized that I haven't told my mom we're married yet and if I don't tell her soon she's gonna kill me god or no. Actually I haven't told her that I'm a god yet either.".

He had a point his mother had a right to know but part of me was kinda worried about how Sally would react to us being married. As we made breakfast my thoughts wandered to some other events that had happened and I decided to talk to Aphrodite about it.

"Artemis." I heard Percy say "You're burning the eggs." I looked down at the now black eggs and realized I had zoned out.

I dumped them in the trash and started a fresh batch, finishing up just as the first few hunters walked in. I ate quickly so I could send Aphrodite an IM after a little talking she said "I'll ask but I don't know if everyone will agree."

"I think they will so please ask." I replied, she nodded and ended the message.

I went back to the dining room and gave Percy a kiss "That is going to take some getting used to."

Phoebe said causing Percy to grin mischievously"Then I guess you'll need some practice." Percy said kissing me again.

"Get a room!" one of them yelled.

"My palace," I responded. "Also Percy you have a meeting with Annabeth in a little bit to plan out your palace."

Percy groaned not wanting to spend time with Annabeth "Don't worry." I said "Nico is going to be there too so he can get his done." Percy brightened a bit and left to the throne room where he was supposed to meet them 'I wonder if I should tell him its not till noon…nah." I thought.

After the hunters finished eating I pulled Hazel aside and said "I know it's been stressful not knowing who you can trust in knowing about your pregnancy, so I was thinking of forming a group of people we knew we could trust with the information. And don't worry they'll all be in the same situation as you."

"I'd like that it's been killing me not being able to talk to anybody about it except Frank, I know he means well but he can be such a worry wort sometimes. Especially since we have to be apart so much to keep up appearances." Hazel said leaving. I asked Thalia the same thing and she also agreed.