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Somewhere in between her trial and the height of her media campaign, Grace had found a moment to let her family know that, surprise, she was one of those new gods that everyone was talking about.
Her parents had taken it well, surprisingly so, in fact. It probably helped that she hadn't told them everything - not that she had been a suspect in a murder with a death sentence hanging over her, not the dangers she'd faced, not the Veil - but enough for them to know how thoroughly her life had changed.
(Her brothers found it hilarious, of course. Grace thought she'd seen every meme going and then some).
Her parents, however, had of course almost immediately picked up on every casual mention of Apollo (and there were a lot of casual mentions, more than she realised), and their questions were getting rather more pointed.
In a way, Grace had to laugh. Even after finding out that their daughter was a Muse, they were still more interested in her love life, and that interest had only intensified when she admitted that yes, she was seeing someone, yes, they were a god too, and also they were maybe moving in together, isn't that great?
It was a familiar, normal reaction, sweet in a way that just about counter-acted any annoyance she felt about it.
She hung up the phone after saying goodbye to her mom, shaking her head with a smile as she buried her toes in the sand outside of Apollo's much-improved beach house.
Apollo sat down on the step beside her, close enough that their shoulders were touching, and handed her a beer. "Something the matter?"
"No," Grace said, torn between wanting to laugh, and wanting to sigh very deeply for a very long time. "I told you. To them, I'm fourteen forever."
"So, the invitation still stands, then?" Apollo asked carefully.
"Dinner tomorrow," Grace confirmed. "I guess I can't blame my parents for being curious. I've never actually brought anyone home to meet them before now."
"Of course, that makes sense," Apollo said, his tone just slightly unsure, and Grace looked at him in surprise.
"Apollo, are you nervous ?" Grace asked with a little laugh, putting her beer down and taking his hands. "We've faced far more frightening things than my dad's "special" casserole."
"Not nervous, as such, it's just… I've never met anyone's parents, either, not in this sense, anyway" Apollo confessed, and Grace couldn't help but grin.
"Wait, really? Not ever?" she teased, batting her eyelashes at him playfully. "Does this mean it's your first time?"
"Why do you sound so surprised?" Apollo asked, glancing down and running a hand awkwardly through his hair. "I don't recall my first meetings with the other Idols, I have simply known them for as long as I can remember. And in the old days, with mortals, I was… very different." He sighed, his shoulders slumping a little. "I wouldn't have even thought about meeting any of their families."
Grace nudged his shoulder gently, not wanting him to get lost in memories he couldn't change.
"Well, you did ask me what mortal gatherings were like, remember? Now you get to find out for yourself!"
"I remember," Apollo said, smiling at her, really smiling, any shadows on his face caused by the memories melting away as he did. "And I'm looking forward to it, truly. It's something… new."
He said the word new like he was savouring it, and Grace couldn't help but smile.
"My parents are looking forward to it as well, and you don't need to worry. I already know they'll love you. It's my brothers you need to watch out for," Grace added, tugging on his shirt collar playfully, "they'll never let you hear the end of it if you turn up with your shirt open like this."
"I'll see what I can do, but no promises," Apollo replied lightly, hiding a chuckle in his beer.
Grace stretched out her feet, closing her eyes as she soaked in the sound of the waves and the gulls above, and the feeling of Apollo's steady presence next to her.
She let out a little sigh, mostly contented, a little thoughtful, and Apollo covered her hand with his.
"Grace? Is everything alright?"
"Hm," Grace hummed, opening her eyes and smiling at him. "I'm just thinking about something my mom said. I thought she'd be more, you know, worried about the god thing. But she said I seemed more settled. Happier. She thinks I've finally found the place I belong, here with the Idols."
"You have," Apollo agreed without hesitation. "We're lucky to have you. I'm lucky."
"Aw, you're sweet, Apollo," Grace replied, leaning forward for a kiss, her heart light.
They had come such a long way, the two of them, and it hadn't been easy.
But now, she no longer felt so lost at sea, but like she was heading steadily towards a safe harbour.
When she pulled back, she was grinning, joy bubbling up inside her, and Apollo smiled back at her, his expression very warm.
"I do have one question, though," he began. "When you say "special" casserole, what do you mean exactly?"
"You'll find out tomorrow!" Grace replied. "It's something else for you to look forward to!"
"I am," Apollo said, almost as if to himself. "I really am."