The Heroes Of Olympus

Chapter 28

'So, how is this gonna work?' Leo asked.

'Well,' Zeus said. 'Let us all wait in the hall, and one by one, we shall send one of the demigods with their parent.'

So, everyone waited in the hall...in awkward silence.

'Er- Zeus?' Poseidon asked. 'May we go? Me and Percy?'

'Yes, Sure.'

Percy followed Poseidon to his throne, where they could converse. Out of earshot of everyone.

'So...' Poseidon said. 'This is not the first time we are talking as father-son.'

'Yep.'

'We have met before, too.'

'Yep.'

'So, how's your mother? Poseidon was trying to make Percy talk more openly.

'Good, very good. Her blue pancakes are awesome.' Percy said, then realizing how stupid he must be sounding. He was pretty sure that his father didn't care about his mother's pancakes.

'Listen, son.' Poseidon took hold of Percy's shoulders and looked at him in the eye.

'I am really proud of you. You have defeated all the villains and saved the day. The Gods couldn't be more grateful. You have proven yourself more worthy than that Hercules.. Now, I can show off to Zeus like he has been doing to me for the last 5 decades.'

Percy smiled.

'Dad, you are welcome. And thank you to you, too. You helped a lot too. At least more than my friends' parents.'

'Hm'

'Dad, can I ask you something?'

'Sure, anything.'

'If you had taken an oath, not to have any more children, then why did you...er- have me? I mean, why did you go the mortal world, and fall in love?'

'Percy, that is something that Zeus and everyone else have asked me a lot... But I am never able to answer since I am ashamed. But, I can let you in the secret.' He took a long pause, and then went on...

'I had gone to the mortal world, for some work. Nah- kidding. Actually I had gone because I had no work at all. I got bored sitting in Olympus so I went down to have fun. But Zeus came to know and I heard that he was furious. So, I was afraid to go back again. I decided to kill time in the "mortal" world only. Then, I saw your mother...' Poseidon' eyes started shining. Different shades of blue swirled in his iris.

'She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, and that is saying something. I had gone to a place to eat, and she was the waitress there. Wearing a light blue dress and a white apron, she looked gorgeous. I ordered a blue pancake. And she gave it to me...with those dazzling eyes...' Poseidon looked lost now, like he was in a trance.

'Dad?'

'Yeah.' He woke up, back from his far-off memory.

'Yeah, sorry. The thing is Percy, I fell in love. It wasn't the first time, I thought. But, it was a different feeling than ever before. It was,' He stopped, 'magical. I went up to Sally and we talked. We were soon very good friends. And the Gods can be very charming when they want, mind that. I tried to restrain myself. But, it was too late. I was already in love with her.' He finished.

'It was a very big risk. Zeus was very cross with me for several months. Hades was glad that this time I was the one who messed up.'

'Oh. I guess I understand. Love is complicated.'

Poseidon laughed.

'You are a grown up kid now, Percy.'