7

                                    

                                          
Percy PoV 
                          
Artemis walked toward Blackjack, stroking his mane. 
                          
"You have a Pegasus?" She asked. Blackjack neighed. 
                          
I tapped my fiancé's forehead. "Now you can hear him. And, I don't own Blackjack. He feels like he owes me." 
                          
"Is this your new lady friend?" The Pegasus asked. 
                          
"I'm Percy's fiancé," Artemis told Blackjack. 
                          
Blackjack bowed his head, nuzzling Artemis. 
                          
She laughed, petting the flying horse. 
                          
"We're going to ride him to my mom's," I explained. 
                          
Artemis mounted the black Pegasus, and I mounted behind her. 
                          
My goddess held onto Blackjack's mane, while I held her waist. 
                          
We landed on top of the new apartment building my mom and Paul had moved into. 
                          
I held out a hand to help Artemis down. 
                          
While insisting she didn't need the help, the goddess took my hand anyway, swinging down into my arms. 
                          
I held her hand as we walked down to the elevator. 
                          
We went down to my mom's floor and I knocked on the door. 
                          
It was opened a minute later, and I saw the heartwarming smile of my loving mother. 
                          
I was pulled into a bone-crushing hug, which I gladly returned. 
                          
My mom realized there was another person there and extended a hand. "Hi, I'm Sally Jackson, Percy's mother." 
                          
They shook hands and exchanged greetings. 
                          
I used the facilities, and when I returned, Artemis and my mom were laughing away. 
                          
I sat down next to Artemis and took a bite out of a blue cookie. Artemis pecked my cheek. 
                          
I swallowed. "I assume Artemis has filled you in on everything?" 
                          
"Don't go getting yourself blown up by Zeus for marrying his daughter," my mother warned. 
                          
"He makes me happy," Artemis said. "Father won't try to kill him." 
                          
I smiled, kissing her temple. 
                          
"That's good to hear. I'd love to have grandchildren someday," my mother mused. 
                          
We were summoned to the throne room. 
                          
Artemis and I were instructed to stand in the centre. 
                          
Neither of us minded, to be quite honest. 
                          
Of course, a meeting had been called to discuss our engagement. 
                          
"Why were we not informed of these events?" Zeus demanded. 
                          
Artemis shrugged. "We did not find it to be of importance." 
                          
"That an Olympian and one of the heroes of Olympus were getting married?" Aphrodite questioned. 
                          
Artemis fended off questions while I stood there with my arms around her. 
                          
I found myself the target of Zeus's master bolt before Artemis intervened. 
                          
"Father," she reasoned. "He makes me happy. Isn't that what should matter to you? Besides, since he will marry me, he is immortal, and will always be around to protect Olympus. I am an Olympian, so he will always be fighting for us."