More Than the Sea

Family

Percy pov

I am so excited to go and meet what my new mommy said was her hunt and that there were only girls which means no scary men. I am so HAPPY!

Mommy grabbed my hand, and I cured my new fingers around her soft real hand. I like my new hands, uncle Hephaestus said he made them so I can protect myself from people like smelly Gabe. Just as we were about to leave the nice lady who held me earlier came up to us and asked my mommy if she could give me her blessing just like uncle Hephaestus did! Mommy looked at me and I shook my head up and down very hard and fast. I felt so good when uncle Hephaestus gave me his blessing, I wanted to feel that again.

"Ok little one, are you ready?" I nodded my head "I Hestia goddess of hearth, the right ordering of domesticity, family, and home, give Perseus Jackson my full blessing."

My body lit up with a warm glow, and I felt cozy like I was sitting by a campfire with my mommy. Tears started to spill down my face as I thought that I could never cuddle with her ever again. All because of stupid smelly Gabe. I hate him so much! Yet even with all this hatred I still feel a chill go down my spine at the mere thought of him.

I was drawn out of my thoughts when my Mommy turned into a kid! She spoke to Hestia "Well I best be off to my hunt so I can introduce them to Percy." she turned to me, "Well Percy, are you ready to meet your new Family?"

I giggled "But mommy I already know you and papa." 

She grinned "Yes; however, a family can be more than parents you know. I'm going to take you to meet you knew sisters."

My eyes grew wide "Sisters!"

Mommy seemed very happy at my excitement "Yes dear your family will be huge and it will continue to grow forever!"

"That's amazing."

Artemis POV

I decided to flash just outside of the camp and walk in with Percy half hidden behind me. As I enter the camp the girls immediately point their bows' towards Percy. 

Zoe spoke up, "Mi 'lady, what are you doing bringing that boy into camp."

"At ease." I commanded. "You will not hurt or kill this boy as Apollo and I have decided to adopt him and lord Hephaestus and lady Hestia have bestowed their blessing upon him. Killing or harming him severely, intentionally, will result in you exile of the hunt and those who have adopted or blessed him will hunt you down aside from me as you punishment from me was exile from the hunt." I say harshly, "Do you understand?!?"

They were loud and noisy in defiance.

I yelled, "DO YOU UNDERSAND!?!"

"Yes, mi 'lady" and "Yes lady Artemis" 's were heard from everyone in the hunt. I nodded curtly, and turned to Percy. When turned I found he wasn't behind me like I thought he was. I began to panic a little and called out to him. "Percy! Where are you?! Can you come over here please?!?!" My voice going higher with each word. Then it hit me, The encounter with the hunt must have scared him. So, I called out again with a softer, calmer, more motherly voice "Percy? You're safe. No one is going to hurt you." And there he was stepping out from under a bush. "Percy!" I said with delight, then I noticed he looked scared, "Percy, your safe no one here will hurt you, come give me a hug." He cautiously took a step closer and whispered so softly I almost couldn't here him,

"Mommy?"

"Yes dear, it's mommy." tears of relief slowly flooding my eyes.

He whispered again, "Are those my new sisters?"

I looked back at the hunt, who had seen both my panic episode and where now watching our encounter, and looked back to him, "Yes dear, those are you sisters."

His smile unexpectedly grew very wide, and started his way towards me. Only to pass me and walk right up to Zoe. I was scared as to what this six year old was going to do, and even more so as to how Zoe would react. Percy stood a few inches away from her, looked up with his big beautiful sea green eyes, and hugged her around the waist. Zoe looked down peering into his eyes trying so desperately to find something wrong with this action to accuse him of, and found nothing, she looked up at me almost pleading me to do something about this awkward situation. I called Percy over and crouched down so I was eye level with him, "Percy do you know how smelly Gabe hurt you?" he winced, but nodded, "Does that make you scared of boys? Or hate other boys?" he nodded again, "Well most of these girls were hurt by a boy and that makes them afraid or hateful to other boys. Do you understand" he nodded yet again, "And because they don't know you they feel uncomfortable around you and extra uncomfortable when you touch them. Are you getting this?" He nodded, "So could you slowly talk to them more and more, starting with only a little?"

He smiled, "Yes Mommy!!!" He turned to the hunt, "Guess What?!?!" they looked at him strangely till a brave soul spoke up, the same one who carried him when we found him, "What?" He looked them all directly in the eyes, "WE'RE FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"