Prince of the Universe, Love of Artemis (On Hiatus)

Chapter 7: Camp Half-Hell

(Camille POV)

After Lady Artemis flashed us back to camp, she left to tell the rest of the hunters about her new rule. I left to my tent and wept silently on my, soft as a cloud, twin sized bed. I was hoping that Percy would come and find me so that I could thank him for welcoming me into his family, but I didn't think he was that receptive. Fortunately, I was wrong. About 15 minutes after the girls got back, Percy came and knocked on my door. Well, it was more like he knocked on the frame of my tent, but you get the idea.

"Hey," he said gently, coming in to sit by my side. "I never meant to make you cry." And that made me cry more. He was so fiercely protective of me, and of everyone else in the hunt. "Oh, Hades!" he cried out. "What did I do! I don't want you to cry! Come here," he swept me up in a hug that only older brothers could perfect. I wish Richard had hugged me like this. There were so many times that I needed him to give me a reassuring older brother hug just like this, where I could just sob into his shoulder and let every worry disappear. And that's what happened. I just sobbed into Percy's shoulder, not even bothering to say anything, just holding him. And when I finally calmed down, I hiccuped out a thank you. 

"Percy, you don't-you don't know what that meant to me. To-to just have, even for two hours, the taste of a real family. I loved it so much, thank you. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to have a mother. To have a brother that cares about me. I just wish I communicate with Dad more often.  Stupid Zeus," I muttered the last part under my breath. There was still thunder in the distance, though.

He grinned at me. "Actually, I know of a way that could happen. You see, our father doesn't necessarily like to play by the rules of the game. So every now and then, pretty much when neither of us are busy and I'm near a water source, we'll just spend time together. We just talk about anything, and when I met you and Dick, I punched him in the nose for cheating on his wife. Then I hugged him and said thank you for giving me siblings. I bet he would want to have a relationship like that with you, too."

I sat there in shock for a moment, then started bouncing on the bed like I was three. "I would love that! Please, please, please, can we go now? Pleeeeaaaaassseeee?"

He laughed, and said, "Of course we can go now, the only trick is getting past Artemis. Not to worry though, I have that down to a T."

So, we quietly crept outside my tent and listened for a moment. Artemis was still answering questions about her sudden revelation  about not needing respect, so we thought it would be safe. Percy led me to a lake that I didn't even know existed, and stepped in. "Dad, there's someone who wants to speak with you."

I suddenly smelt saltwater, even though the lake was fresh. I blinked a few times, and there was my father. Standing in the lake, wearing Bermuda shorts and a fisherman's shirt, smiling like an idiot. I tackled him. I ran into the water and jumped into his arms. I squeezed him so tight that if he weren't immortal, he'd be dead.  

Then I slowly untangled myself and dropped to the ground. I couldn't meet his eyes. "I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I shouldn't have jumped on you. I'm sorry." I stood there on the verge of tears, and got a sudden urge to look up. Poseidon was staring at me confused.

"Why are you sorry, Camille? I'm your dad. You're supposed to tackle me. And I'm supposed to hug you and ask you how your first day with life living with your cousin was. By the way, how is Artemis? Too bossy? If anything goes wrong with her, I'll talk to her personally and fix everything." He looked at me with two emotions mixing that I had never seen in a persons eyes when they were looking at me. Concern and love. Love. I've only recently experienced that, and I was loving every moment.

I tackled him again, laughing. He fell backwards into the water and started laughing too. Percy joined in, and soon all three of us were laying down in the water, laughing and hugging and being a family. It was the happiest moment in all of the moments of my life. I thought nothing could top Sally, but this did.