The Son of Time

Chapter 36

Percy's point of view

I noticed Hermes talking to Luke, I couldn't help but be a bit curious about what they were talking about.  I didn't know if they would be talking about Luke castellan Luke's namesake, since he was still kind of a sore subject to Hermes even though it had been eighteen years since the second titan war.  I glanced around the room and I glimpsed a head of all too familiar curly blond hair, I suspected the she would come looking for me before long and probably try to apologize, but even though I knew she was loyal to us again I wasn't particularly interested in talking to her, especially since she had seen Luke and had probably guessed that he is my son. I was hoping to avoid that awkward conversation for as long as possible.

Instead I ended up talking to Piper.  She said "So Jason helped you finish off your giant." I nodded and said "Yeah without his help I probably wouldn't have slipped past his guard and defeated him, or it would have been a lot harder."  She nodded and asked me "What could he do?" I summed up what had happened during our fight, since at the meeting I hadn't gone into great detail about it.  I saw worry cross her face, I guessed that she was probably worried about facing her giant. I honestly couldn't blame her for it, I had done the same until I was facing him. 

To try and cheer her up I said "If I could defeat Anastasius I'm sure you can defeat your giant, besides Jason will help you." She nodded cheering up a bit, she glanced to where Luke and Hermes were still talking, and said "So you have a son." I smiled sheepishly and said "Yeah I suppose you figured it out when he rescued you." She nodded and said "Yeah it's pretty obvious he looks just like you."  I smirked and said "Well he does look a bit like his mom if you know what to look for."  "Which I don't." she reminded me. 

We were silent for a minute before Piper said "You still love her don't you?" I sighed and nodded in response.  Then glancing at them again she said "You should probably go see what they're doing and make sure Hermes doesn't teach him any bad habits." I laughed and then said "Yeah I suppose I probably should."  Piper walked away and I looked to where Luke and Hermes had been. I spotted Hermes walking away and headed toward him. When I reached him he noticed me. I said, "I hope you weren't teaching my son anything bad Hermes,"
he got an amused look on his face and he said "Like it really matters to you Perce, I'm pretty sure Connor and Travis took care of you a while ago."

  I got an amused look on my face and said "Perhaps, but that doesn't mean Luke has to be." 
"Does it really matter to you?" Hermes asked.
I said, "I would prefer he doesn't get into too much trouble, but I didn't say it would be me he would have to worry about if he does."

Hermes caught on to my meaning and raised an eyebrow. I just smirked in response. Hermes said "From what I've seen he's a lot like you, it's a wonder he hasn't pissed off any gods yet." I managed a laugh and said "He pushed me near my limits once, and I'm surprised he hasn't managed to piss off Dionysus." 

Hermes chuckled and said "How did he manage to get you angry? Out of all of us you're one of the calmer ones." I simply said "He didn't listen to me and ran into a battle I told him to stay out of, as a result he nearly got himself killed."  Hermes nodded.

We were silent for a moment before Hermes said "We were talking about Luke." I was a bit surprised, and said "I thought it was still hard for you to talk about him."  "It is" Hermes admitted, "but he deserves to know about the hero he's named after." In response I said "I know I have been trying to find the time to tell him but obviously I couldn't tell him before he got to camp, and afterward this war started. I've just been rather busy."   Hermes said "get used to it cuz, I've been dealing with it for millennia."

I said "I know Hermes I know, and I wasn't complaining I was just saying that's why I haven't got a chance to tell him yet."  Hermes nodded and said "Well he will probably have a few questions for you the next time you talk." I nodded unsurprised, but then Hermes spoke again and he said "I also gave him my blessing."

I blinked in surprise, I couldn't help but be curious about why he had chosen to do it. as if he knew what I was thinking, he said "He seems like a good kid, and you did name him after one of my sons, besides I think he will be nearly as great a hero, as you are, He is already off to a pretty good start."  I nodded accepting his explanation. But I don't really want him to be a great hero I just want him to be as safe as possible, although I'm pretty sure the fates have other ideas.

After this Hermes wandered off and Jason walked over to me, huh I'm popular tonight. Anyway we spoke for a minute before he said "It wasn't me who defeated that titan, I was going to, but I got distracted by a group of monsters, so by the time I had dealt with them someone else had already defeated him." once again I was surprised, I guess I had just assumed that it had been Jason who defeated him since he had taken on a titan before, so he would be the most likely person to be able to defeat him.

Jason also said that he didn't know who had defeated the titan. I was kind of curious about it now since not many people can defeat a titan.  The demigods were crashing at a hotel although since we were helping this time I think they were trying to avoid wrecking the place. Most of the other gods had returned to Olympus, and most of the demigods had crashed on various pieces of furniture, it was understandable since they had just finished fighting a battle.  I would have talked to Luke but he had fallen asleep and he would need the rest so I didn't disturb him,  In fact when I saw Luke asleep on one of the beds I couldn't help but chuckle slightly since he had fallen asleep still in his clothes without pulling the bedsheets over himself. Smiling down at him I pulled them over him before I left and returned to my palace. I couldn't help but be reminded of that one night when I had visited Luke when he was still a baby. I smiled at the memory, but my mind wandered to what might happen after this is all over. Considering how powerful I am, I'm guessing that Luke's demigod scent probably would have been strong enough without my father's and Hermes' blessings. Now with them I'm guessing that if Luke spends too much time outside of camp Monsters will probably come swarming to him like moths to a flame. 

Once we figure out how to restore Camp Half Blood's barriers Luke would be safer staying there year round, but it isn't my decision, it's his. Sure I can tell him what I think about it, but I'm not going to force him to stay there if he wants to return to the city and continue going to school. Now that I think about it I shouldn't force him to stay at camp by me marrying Amber either. Don't get me wrong I want to be with her, but I shouldn't take Luke's mother away from him either.

I'm not getting cold feet that left twelve years ago shortly after I met Amber. I just don't want to force Luke into anything he doesn't want.  I will have to talk with Amber she will probably agree I know that she has been a good mother to him all the time that I couldn't be there, I know it wasn't easy for her having to raise him on her own. I wanted to help, I really did but the ancient laws prevented it and I had already bent them once when I visited Luke after he was born.

Amber is one of the most amazing women I have ever know, possibly the most amazing  she is kind caring smart beautiful, I could go on but I don't think I need to, personality wise she has some things in common with my mom. Despite that,  she is also different.  So far though it seems that Luke might be more like me than her, but there is plenty of time to find out otherwise. I know that the next time that I talk to Luke he will probably have many questions about my past and Luke Castellan and Beckendorf, and I have been meaning to tell him, I just haven't been able to find the time. But then again I suppose I could make time. I decided that I would make the time to talk with him tomorrow, either before or after the next battle. I went to bed that night still thinking about Luke, and Amber and what was to come.