Thanks, Aphrodite!

Hem, hem

Athena's PoV

I curled up on a large plush armchair, reading Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Not a very productive (or courageous) thing to do when there is a war raging on in the outside world and when your children is in Tartarus, but I needed to take my mind off... things.

Poseidon and I had agreed not to tell their mortal parents about what is going on. Not only was it going to further upset them, making us (and them) feel even more useless - if that's possible - being a bearer of bad news was something that I wouldn't look forward to. Furthermore, it was the children's choice to tell their parents; to choose whether they wanted to or not.

I found that I couldn't even formulate a plan for the final battle, that was how worried I was about Annabeth. Guilt weighed in my heart when I realized that her being in Tartarus was largely my fault. And Poseidon's son being dragged down was my fault as well.

I was on the part where Harry and Hermione (Gods, I wish they got together- they reminded me of Percy and Annabeth) were leading Umbridge to a trap when I heard a "Hem, hem." In front of me.

I must've jumped at least a mile high, thinking that Umbridge was in front of me. I got ready to smack her nasty, toady, b****chy face, when I realized it was just Aphrodite. And Poseidon.

Poseidon's eyes were still rimmed with red, but they were sparkling again. His face had regained color, and was golden in the cheeks. Gods, I missed seeing him looking so carefree and- I abruptly shut off that train of thought.

"Why are you here?" I asked. Aphrodite does love popping over once in a while to try to give me a makeover. (Keyword: try) "I don't want a makeover again."

"Look at this!" Aphrodite beamed, throwing me a pink crystal ball.

A scene was playing out: Percy and Annabeth were both ragged, pale and thin-looking, and they clutched at each other, tearing up, but at least they were alive and mostly intact. Those were some nasty gashes, though.

Their friends had spotted them, and gave them huge hugs, while dragging them aboard Argo II again.

I gripped the crystal ball tighter. "They made it. They're alive." I repeated the words like a mantra. Poseidon gingerly sat beside me, rubbing soothing circles on my back. The next thing I knew, I was crying on his shirt, tears of relief soaking through. We laughed and cried like the weight of the world had just been piled off our shoulders.

Looking at his thoroughly soaked shirt, I exclaimed, "Holy me, sorry about that. Now your shirt is wet." I could feel the tension in the air- it was thick and I could've cleaved it apart with an axe.

"I can take it off if you want." Poseidon offered, and I flushed.

"I- I didn't mean that." I said. Gods, Athena, that was so lame. But I racked my brain, and I still couldn't think of something intelligent to say. Maybe I had some Wrackspurts in my brain. Gah, I can't even think less like Luna Lovegood now.

I didn't know when Aphrodite had left, but suddenly I was hyper-aware of my surroundings. Poseidon was leaning in, and I was too. I breathed in the scent of the sea, fresh, and salty. I could almost taste the sea spray...

"Olympus is under attack." Hermes burst into the room. Poseidon and I jumped apart, blushing furiously. "What were you two doing? You know what, I don't need to know. At least your clothes are still on."

I turned the color of pure gold, and I could see that Poseidon was no better.

"Come on. We have an attack to deal with." Hermes yelled, already flying away.

I glanced at Poseidon, and for a moment we shared a thought.

Later.

Word Count: 639

A/N: Thanks @Clary3468 for giving me the idea. If you have any other suggestions, or something that you want to see in the story, you can leave a comment (or DM me).

- that dam potterhead