𝐕𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲.

The moment we've all been waiting for

The four friends were on their way out when Percy spotted Hermes in the courtyard. He was staring at an iris message in the courtyard.

Percy glanced at his friends. "Meet you at the elevator?"

"You sure?" Lilia asked, she looked at his expression and nodded knowing he was sure. "We'll see you in a minute."

Lilia, Annabeth and Grover walked to the elevator doors. Annabeth rested against the wall and coughed. Lilia looked at her friends, they were tired and beaten up still.

"You guys head down, I'll wait for Percy." She smiled.

"Are you sure?" Annabeth asked.

"Get some rest." She nodded.

They smiled gratefully and made their way down the elevator.

                                           ➳

As Percy made his way to the elevator he was stopped by Aphrodite.

"Percy Jackson." She said sweetly, her voice was soft and Percy found himself struggling to speak.

"Urm hello." He stumbled.

"You may be the first to ever turn down Immortality." She said with a knowing look. "Do you remember when I spoke to you two years ago?"

Percy thought back to the conversation they'd had, during the quest for Artemis.

"Yeah." He said quietly.

"I told you, that love would play bigger part in your life than you thought it would. That love is something to ground you."

He'd been confused when she'd told him that the first time, he was still confused now.

"Have you figured it out yet?" She smiled.

He found himself thinking about Lilia. How she'd kept him grounded when the world around them was chaos.

He blushed as he looked at her mother, the resemblance striking.

"Maybe?" He murmured.

"What do you see when you look at me Percy, what do I look like?" She laughed knowingly.

"Umm, I guess you look like Lilia." He blushed again. "But I suppose that makes sense, you are her mother."

"What if I told you, my appearance changes depending on what you love?" She almost smirked.

"Oh." Percy said, he'd never thought about it before, but she was right Lilia didn't look much like any of her siblings, other than her eyes.

"I'm confused. You don't mind?" Percy asked cautiously.

"Oh please Percy, I've been watching you two for years and I couldn't be more happy. Though that little stunt you pulled with that Rachel girl was not it." She said sternly.

"Right, yeah..." Percy frowned.

"Just think about it. She's waiting for you." Aphrodite smiled and wandered back to the Throne room.

➳

Percy thought about his conversation with Aphrodite a blushed. When he got to the elevator he found Lilia stood alone.

She looked up when she heard his footsteps and smiled. Before he could even reach her she made her way over and pulled him into a tight hug.

He was slightly stunned but wrapped his arms round her.

"What's this for?" He laughed softly.

"I thought I was going to lose you." She blushed slightly.