Percy Jackson: The Guardian

Chapter Seven: Working it out

*Artemis POV*

How could I have been so stupid? How could I have done that to Percy?
He is probably blaming himself right now, he shouldn't be, I kissed him! It was my first real kiss too.

I don't know what came over me! I have never had those kind of desires before in my life! It was just something about Percy... why was I so infatuated with him?

'You like him!' My head said.

"I know!" I yelled aloud, tears rushed to my eyes, "I know..."

"Artemis?" A voice said beside me.

Red hair flowed in the wind, Pheobe.

"Out of all my years of serving you, I have only seen you cry twice. Now what happend?" She said sitting down beside me and hugged me. I was in a alley in New Rome.

"Percy..." I said wiping my eyes.

She gave a murderous look, "What did he do my Lady! I will slaughter him like the man he is!"

"No Phoebe! He... He didn't hurt me." I said.

"Well then what did he do?" She said calming down.

"I have fallen for him." I said pressing my face in my hands. How could the hunters accept this? I have done horrible things to former hunters for falling in love. And here I am doing as such.

"My lady..." Pheobe said comforting me, "Allthough I do not like men, If you were ever to fall for someone, I'm glad it was Percy."

I couldn't express how reliefed I was, one of the most die hard man haters acepted my feeling for Percy.

"Pheobe, you must not tell the hunters about Percy!" I said.

"Not even Thalia!" She pleaded.

"No, I need to tell them myself. But first, I need to clear things up with Percy." I said getting up from the pavement.

I then walked the road leading to the Garden. I tried to think of a plan of action, a way to make Percy feel better, before I was able to make a fool proof plan, I saw a dark figure ahead of me. His eyes were red and his hair was messy. He was wearing a white button up with a blue tie, in one hand was a jacket. Percy.

"Hello Percy." Were the only words I could manage to say.

He looked up, I met his sea green eyes. Out of nowhere he dropped to his knees, "Please Artemis... Forgive me." His voice was full of desperation.

I felt awful, he was so sad because of me. He now just started to smile agian as well, turns out I ruin that. How could I do that to him. He has already been through so much. I couldn't break him like that.

I crashed down onto him and hugged him tight, "Percy... I am so sorry."

"Why? It's my fault." He said

"What was your fault? Being a friend, showing my compassion. How is that a bad thing?" I said rubbing his neck.

"I pressured you, I made you break your vow!" He said.

"Nobody knows about it. Besides Percy, if I was to break my vow, I am glad it was with you." I said squeezing him tighter.

He lifted his head and rested his hand on my cheek, "You really mean that?"

"Yes I do, Fish head."

"Okay, Moon breath."

We both laughed, "Maybe we should let other people give nicknames." I said.

"Good Idea." He said.

Me and Percy. I had no idea how this would work, but I would be damned if I wouldn't try.

"Now come on, we should get back to the hunters." I said helping him off the ground.

---

"WHAT!!!" Yelled all the hunters, except Pheobe.

"Percy and I, we kissed." I said confidently.

Thalia ruffled up Percy's hair, "Way to go 'Tiger'" she said mocking what Jason once said.

"Shut it!" He said, he was obviously uncomfortable.

"Even though you may have stole mistress's first kiss, don't think that means you don't have to do laundry duty!" Pheobe yelled.

He laughed, "I figured as much."

"Don't forget about your running." I said tapping my finger to his nose.

"I thought I was past that stage!" He whined.

"Make it eleven miles then." I said.

"I love running!" He said enthusiasticly.

"That's a good slave." I said patting his head.

"Say what!" He yelled.

"Nothing." I said smiling.

Everything seemed to be going well. That was until blinding light of lightning struck down in between Percy and I.

"PERSEUS JACKSON!" Zeus rumbled. He was absolutely furious. His face was completely red with anger.

"Hello Father!" I said with puppy dog eyes. That normally made him listen to me.

"Perseus how dare you kiss my daughter!" He yelled jabbing his bolt to Percy's chest.

"Hey Uncle Zeus." Percy said trembling.

"Answer me boy!" exclaimed Father.

"I kissed him!" I said pushing down Zeus's Lightning bolt.

"Lies! Why would you kiss him, he is a boy!" He said.

"He is not just a boy. He is something else. He isn't like any other man I have met." I said stepping infront of Percy.

"Artemis, where is this coming from?" He said with so much confusion.

"I don't know! It's just when I am around him, everything feels... right."

"Do you know what he must do now?" He said.

Sadly, I did. This was something that was more of a joke at the table. Father said if I was ever to fall for a man, the only way he would lift my vow of the maiden, that man would have to complete the Labors of Heracles. I used to think it was nothing but a joke. But now, I had a bad feeling.

"You must complete a series of task to prove your worth for my daughter." He said glaring at Percy.

"So the twelve Labors?" Percy said.

"No, I have something else planned." Zeus said stroking his beard, "The events will start tomorrow, I would rest if I were you." He said with a sinister grin.

In another flash, he was gone.

"Crap." Was Percy's brilliant response.