Forgotten Memories

The Beginning, Or How It All Started

He had been warned that Hera was after him again. Artemis had warned him and offered him a choice.

Artemis could protect him, but would have to remove his wife's memory of him, so as not to put her or their newborn in danger. Or, have Hera take him and erase his memory again- but this time of his beloved.

It was a hard choice. One of them would live in pain of remembering their loved one, but them not remembering them until Hera gave up on kidnapping him again for her own personal gain. But she had already been through that pain, and he didn't want her to have to go through that again. It had been hard on her. But he didn't know if he could stand to live in a world where she didn't even recognize him. She was his world, and he didn't want to live without her. But to keep her from going through the anguish of losing him again, he would have to.

So he made his choice.

Artemis agreed to protect him. He would get one last day with her, then her memory of him would be erased. He would be replaced by another person in her mind, because he was prominent throughout her life. Those memories completely disappearing would disorient her, leaving her with a long amount of time where she barely remembered anything. It was better for her for him to be replaced by another, no matter how much it hurt him.

His best friend would be watching over her for him, posing as her half brother. He promised to keep him updated on both her and their daughter whenever he could.

.

He could tell by looking at her that she knew something was off. He could see it in her eyes, her analyzing his face.

He smiled and waved it off every time she asked, not wanting to worry her or her trying to convince him that she could handle him not remembering her again. Because she was the only one who could change his mind.

She reluctantly let it go, quickly forgetting it as they left camp and headed to the nearest park.

It was a bittersweet day for him. It was a beautiful day and he was spending it with the love of his life and their baby girl. But he knew after today, if he was allowed to be in public and if she saw him, he'd be just another stranger on the street. She wouldn't remember him- all the time they spent together. It hurt him, knowing she would have no memory of their time together.

.

Nightfall came quick. He helped her put their daughter to sleep. They stayed up and watched a movie, her falling asleep in his arms. He sighed as he looked at the clock. Once the clock struck midnight, she would have no recollection of him until Hera stopped hunting him. It was 11:30.

He gently carried her up to their room. He laid her down on the bed, kissed her forehead, then went to the closet to grab his stuff.

At midnight, he looked at her once last time, before departing from their house with his stuff. As he shut the door, he whispered "I love you Reyna."

He stepped out to the street. And then, Jason Grace disappeared as Artemis flashed him away from his home.