Gods and Men

The New World Order

   The Halls of Olympus fell quiet as the Council met to discuss the affairs of humanity. "Now, who believes Camp Half-Blood should still remain open as a safe haven for all remaining demigods?" Jason asked. All hands raised and the decision passed. The new system worked. The new Gods weren't prideful as the old ones were, they were open to change and new ideas. Debates were common but they were clear and non-violent. Nico sat on his ebony throne, hand held onto by his beautiful consort Leo. He smiled as he felt small hands grabbing his chiton.
   "Papa, want up!" A small voice squealed. He looked down to see his own dark eyes looking up at him. Along with his straight dark hair and olive skin. His 7th youngest Bella. She giggled as he pulled her upwards, settling her on his lap. Nico wasn't one to pick favorites among his children. He loved them all. He loved Charles and Maria, Oliver, Sammy, Elizabeth and Katherine and Bella. But Bella certainly was a Daddy's Girl and Nico did love it. Especially since his eldest daughter Maria was so reserved, going through the trials of aging. Elizabeth and Katherine were both Leo's, hyperactive and more entertained by their loving mother than their dull father. Same went with Sammy, mischievous as the grandfather for who he was named. Bella was the most like him, aside from Charles and to a degree Oliver. And his precious gem never got tired of spending time with her "Papa". Bella smiled at him and curled up with her head on her mother's lap. Nico sighed and went back to the meeting, but not before realizing there were still 6 children of his who weren't accounted for. In the time it took for this thought to hit, one of the walls to the Great Hall had already been rammed into.
   Once the smoke cleared, Nico saw his eldest children on the back of Mrs. O'Leary. Charles had his arms around Sarah, Percy's daughter who was sitting in front of him. Maria meanwhile was getting comfortable with Arthur, Jason's son. Both twins looked at their father. "Hey." They spoke in unison, which showed their nervousness. Leo ran up to the hellhound, petting her so the teenagers could be lowered to the ground. Once his twins hit, Leo was quick to act. "Oh my Gods! Are you okay? Tell me you're okay! Will, can I get some ambrosia for my children?" "Mom." Maria began. "We're fine." Charles finished for her. Leo sighed, caressing both their cheeks. "Good." Then he caught their ears. "Then what were you two thinking? You could've injured yourselves or our family! I mean, I expect this from Maria, she's my wild child and it's all my genes. But Charles, I told you to watch your siblings." "I-I'm sorry Mom. I really am." Charles bowed his head, clearly ashamed. "Well that's good. Because you and Maria are in for the grounding of a century when we get home! And where are my other children?!" A collection of running steps was heard as a group came into the damaged room. "Mom! Mom! Mrs. O'Leary went super fast! Did you see?" Oliver asked. "Yes I saw. Your older brother and sister made sure of that. And are all your siblings with you?" "Mommy! Sammy tripped and fell! He's got a boo-boo! Kiss it and make it better!" Katie and Ellie came in, Sammy between them with a cut on his knee. Leo immediately turned his attention to his other children, kissing Sammy's knee and hoisting the twins up to his hips, Oliver and Sammy close behind.
   Leo walked up to Nico, placing Katie and Ellie on his lap. "Be good girls and play with Bella. Sammy and Oliver, stay by your sisters." All his remaining children nodded obediently. Why couldn't teens be that simple? Turning to his eldest, he found Annabeth and Piper were both at their own children's throats, leaving Maria and Charles for him. "Arthur Augustus Grace, you are in so much trouble when the others leave!" "Sarah Marie Jackson, when we get home that cell phone of yours is going directly in the Atlantian Safe! And no trips to the mall with Pallas and Melody this weekend either!" Leo gave the other Goddesses a respectful nod before returning to his throne. The rest of the Council Meeting went off without a hitch, the aurai and other Olympian servants rebuilding the wall rather quickly. Meanwhile the Throne room was now overrun by children but thankfully all the mothers kept their kids in line, especially Leo. He wasn't strict or harsh, but he did not put up with any nonsense. The Meeting ended and Leo apologized for the millionth time to Jason as they left. "It's okay. We were once kids too right?" Jason shrugged it off, Leo couldn't be more glad that he did. It might've been some 21 years since the New Golden Age began, but that didn't mean Leo feared them becoming their parents any less. Any conflict was quickly resolved though, leaving not much room to truly worry. Which left only one matter to deal with.
   "What possessed you to ride Mrs. O'Leary on Mount Olympus of all places?" Nico asked, giving Leo a much needed break. "Sarah said she wanted a ride." Sammy offered, his 8 year old brain not fully comprehending why his brother would offer a ride to a girl of all people. Oliver, being 12, understood enough to joke with his brother. Leo sighed, "So that's why you did all this?" Charles nodded, blushing slightly. Bianca spoke up, "It's my fault! I told Sarah all about how I can ride Mrs. O'Leary and she was impressed and I played Charles up because he's a better driver than me. I didn't think she'd actually want to try." Leo was happy his twins still had enough of a sibling bond to not rat the other out. He hated when they fought, they'd been so close when they were younger. Remembering Jason's words, he turned to his husband. "Nico, you take Charles and talk to him. I'll take Maria." Nico nodded, steeping off the boat before looking like he remembered something. "Hey bambini, me and your mother are gonna talk to Maria and Charlie for a bit. Why don't you go to Elysium and visit your grandmothers?" The kids smiled, all running from the dock to the shining fields of their playground paradise. The 2 adults led their children towards the castle before separating.
   "Mom? Where are we going?" Maria asked. Leo sighed, knowing his daughter was good at heart, continued to lead her. "I'm taking you somewhere special. However, it's a secret you must keep. Promise not to tell?" "Yes Mom." "Good." Leo came upon a stone wall and pulled one out, turned it and pushed it in again. A few feet away, the wall opened and Leo took Maria inside. She gasped at the wonderful flowers, the beautiful trees and green grass. Were they in Elysium? "No." Leo smiled, "We're not in Elysium. Welcome to my sanctuary." "This is yours Mom?" "Yeah. Your father had it built for me when we first married. A wedding gift. I come here every now and again to just escape it all. Katie got me into gardening and what can I say?" Maria remembered why she was there. "Mom, I really am sorry. Things just got out of hand. Sarah was asking and Arthur was there and I couldn't just chicken out." "I know. Believe it or not, I once was young too. And I regret not living those years to their fullest." Maria knew a fragment of the history of the Gods before the war, names and such. "Did I ever tell you how your father and I met?" Leo asked. "No, it's always been pushed aside. You'd tell us about your wedding or the day we were born." Leo sighed, "I did that to protect you. Your father saved me, from a Cyclops. I'd been so alone in the world and seeing him, sword in hand. I just... I knew then and there how I felt." "And you and him dated and were married right?" Leo sighed, "I wish sweetie. I wish it was that simple. But life isn't always that way, fairy tales and happy endings take hard work. Your father was a brave man who a lot of people relied on. He was a general. I was just a lowly blacksmith who fixed the shields he broke. But the true obstacle we faced was the war." "The war?" "Yes Maria. War is War, and I don't think we could ever truly tell you the full story. Your father did things he had to do to ensure our victory and our survival. Things that weren't easy. Things that left him... broken. But I was there to help him recover. Only after the war ended and we became Gods did I get the chance to marry him." Maria saw her mother's tears and hugged him. Leo pulled away, taking his daughters hands in his. "Maria, you're my daughter and I'll never stop loving you. The reason I care so much about your and your siblings safety is that I've seen enough bloodshed and violence to last me a thousand lifetimes. And I know it would kill me if any one of you got hurt. I just love you all so much." "I know Mom. We all know. And I know what I did was stupid, I promise I'll be be more careful when dealing with these sort of things." Leo smiled, drying his eyes. "There's my girl. Now, why don't we go get some dinner and you can tell me all about this Arthur." "Mom, don't go protective over him. He's an honest gentleman." "I'm sure he is. And if anything it's your father you have to worry about." The two Gods laughed as they walked back towards the castle, arm in arm.
   "Dad, I know it was stupid to take Mrs. O'Leary for a joyride! I'm sorry!" Nico felt his heart drop slightly at his sons fear, but he knew it was of punishment and not of Nico himself. "Son, I know why you did what you did. I saw the way you looked at Sarah." The boy immediately blanched. "Dad, I know where babies come from so if you're about to..." "Son, I'm not going to give you 'The Talk' again. Gods know once was enough. My point is, I know what sort of stupid things a boy does when he likes someone. And I'm not holding it against you. But I do want to talk to you about this whole matter." "Shouldn't Mom be with you on this?" "Your mother is speaking to Maria and they're probably having a much different conversation than we are. Now, as I was saying, you did this to impress Sarah?" "Yeah, she's just so... beautiful and I feel like an idiot when I can't say anything to her. The only way she noticed me was when she found out I could drive a hellhound." "Well if it takes that sort of effort, she probably isn't right for you." He sat down next to his son. "Son, I was once much like you. I thought I was in love with someone but in reality, they weren't right for me." "Really? Who?" "All I'll say is the sea has a tempting beauty to it." The boy sat before connecting it all. "Uncle Percy?" "Yes, what can I say? My point is Charles that I tried to force my feelings. I thought I loved Percy even though everything was really against him returning those feelings. The age difference, his gender preference and so on." "You're telling me this because?" "Because I made the mistake of thinking love was something complex. I had a major grudge against Cupid and all that nonsense. But when I met your mother, things just... melded. It was seamless. It was as easy as breathing, loving him. And when the time came for it to be tested, I rose to the challenge because Love is worth any risk. I know you may think that you and Sarah are a good match and who's to say you're wrong. But listen to your head and heart before you make any big decisions." "Thanks Dad. Hey, when you said yours and Moms relationship was tested, what did you mean?"
   Nico sighed, taking in the question. He knew it was coming and it needed an answer. Leo would kill him if he told the whole dark, scary truth. So a little clean-up wouldn't hurt. "The war with the Gods was a hard one. I was a General and people looked up to me. People needed me to help them, guide them, keep up moral. Your mother was a blacksmith. I met him a few years before when I saved him from a Cyclops. I was knocked out for my efforts and woke up in the infirmary with him hovering over me, begging forgiveness. I was hooked the moment I looked in his deep brown eyes. And when I had to go through... What I had to go through, it was the thought of your mother that kept me going. When I returned, he even helped me recover in spite of my problems. I can't tell you what I went through but I will say there's a reason going near the Eternal Abyss is forbidden. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if you or any of your siblings were hurt." Charles saw his father's eyes clouding up, a dark haze forming in them, darker than the familiar gaze he recognized. "Dad, I just want you to know I appreciate all you went through. Thanks to you, Me, Maria, Oliver, Sammy, Katie, Ellie and Bella can have a better life than the one you grew up with." "You're welcome son. Can you find your mother please? I-I need him." Charles nodded, running off to find Leo.
   Leo rushed through the halls of the palace, red chiton skirting along the cold stone floor. He came to the huge wooden doors of his husbands study, preparing himself for what was inside. Nico sat in his chair, gripping the dark wood so hard his knuckles were white. "Nico." Leo quickly ran up to his husband. "Nico, come back to me!" Nico turned to him, eyes darkened by the memories. Leo gently took the stiff hand nearest to him. "Nico. It's me, Leo. You're safe. You're with me, we're in your study. We're happily married for 20 years now and we have 7 wonderful amazing children who all adore you. Charles, he respects you so much. Maria still is that Daddy's Girl deep down, she's just figuring out who she is. Oliver looks up to you, he wants to be exactly like you! Sammy acts like he's mature but he's a total baby boy who adores you! Katie and Ellie are both your biggest fans! And Bella, she loves you more than the world! She looks up to you and praises the ground you walk on! Leo, so many people love you and care for you. You're safe here in your home with your family and you're not in Tartarus!" Then he heard the door creak. "Mommy, is Daddy okay?"
   Gods help him. Leo turned and found all 7 of his children looking at him and Nico. "Mom, what's going on?" Oliver asked. "What's wrong with Dad?" Sam joined in. "Mommy, is Daddy sick?" Bella finished. "Daddy's just remembering his past and it makes him upset." Leo explained. Bella climbed into her father's lap. "Tu sei il mio sole. Il mio unico sole." Nico's hands unlatched from the chair. "Papa, if the past is sad, don't worry. The past is the past, you're here with us, not in Tarturas. Come back Papa, we can sing 'You Are My Sunshine' when you and Mommy tuck me in. And tomorrow we can go see Auntie Bia and Uncle Connor."
   Nico felt the darkness enshroud him, pulling him down. He heard Leo's pleas but they warped and changed into screams of pain. Leo, his Leo, damaged and broken. Nico tried to reach him but it was impossible. Then he heard his children, their own responses changed to shrill cries of pain. All the people he loved were in pain and he was helpless to save them. But one sweet little voice broke through. "Papa, come back to me." He ran to that small voice, ran out of the dark abyss he'd escaped years before. He was met by more voices, his children, his husband. Safe. They was safe. He was safe. He hugged his daughter, gently whispering a million "thank you's". Bella was joined by his other children, Leo, taking his place on Nico's lap and setting Bella on his own. They all just sat for a while, no words were said. They weren't needed. Nico was content in knowing his family was safe. And if they were safe, he hadn't lost anything.