Hiya people! I'm sorry for being so AWOL lately and delaying this story so much but, hey, at least I came back, right? So here's a beautifully written, but rather long story by moi! Hope you enjoy! And by the way for safety precautions, I don’t own PJO or any of these characters and whatnot, which I think we all know anyways, but whatever! Peace! ; )

D is for Demeter

Travis only met Demeter three times during his life.

The first time was after Travis had just proposed. After a few tears and plenty of heated kisses, they ended up back in their apartment.

~*~

The red numbers on the alarm clock read 4:13. I sighed as I stared at Katie in the dark. She lay on the bed with her hair sprawled out against the pillow, her mouth slightly open, and her arms tugging the covers to her bare torso tightly. I pushed some hair behind her ear and rubbed her cheek with my thumb. I saw her shiver slightly at my touch. She cuddled into my side, trying to gain some warmth. I smiled. I couldn't believe it. She's mine. All mine. And for once, I didn't have to share what's mine, and I'm quite glad about it.

I laid with Katie for a few more beats of silence, enjoying the serenity of-

Suddenly, a shiver went up my spine.

Schist, I had to pee.

Way to go Travis. Just ruin your moment with Katie like that.

I prayed to as many Gods as I could think of that Katie wouldn't wake up when I slid out from under the sheets. My bare feet touched the cold floor with a light thud. I quietly looked for my discarded boxers in the darkness. Even though the window showed a nice view of the dumpster across the street, I still felt wrong just walking around the room in the nude.

After what felt like hours looking for my boxers, I finally found them at the end of the bed, next to Katie's foot. I quietly slipped them on and tiptoed to the bathroom, not making a sound. I silently prayed to Hermes for giving me the awesome powers of sneaky exits.

I slipped into the bathroom and shut the door behind me. I walked over to the toilet, just about to pull down my pants, when a giant smoke bomb went off in the shower.

"What the?" I coughed. I looked behind the curtains and saw a blond woman with long, flowing green and gold robes.

The woman turned to look at me. "Why hello, Travis." she said, irritably. For some reason, she looked a little pissed.

I stumbled back, falling on my rump in the process, letting the fact that someone was in my shower sink in.

After I got my bearings and butt off of the floor, I said, "Uh . . . not to be rude or anything, but . . . who are you and what are you doing in my bathroom?"

She looked taken aback, "You don't know who I am?" she asked, anger flashing in her eyes.

I thought hard. Well by the dramatic, smoke-filled entrance she must obviously be a Goddess. I mean, only a Goddess could be so dramatic entering a bathroom. But the specific Goddess? No idea.

Wait a second . . . her eyes. They were an emerald green, they looked so much like the ones I know and love. She even had the same expression Katie has when she wants to strangle me.

"Oh, my apologies, Lady Demeter," I said, nervously bowing.

"That's okay, Travis." She seemed to lighten up a little bit.

"Besides, I knew it was you all along," I offered.

"Mmhm," she said, obviously not buying it.

I cleared my throat, "So . . . why are you here again?"

"I'm here because of what's going on with you and my daughter," she said darkly.

I almost peed my pants right there and then. "Umm . . . I-I can explain!"

"No need. I get the gist-"

"Did you just say gist?"

She gave a low growl.

"Sorry, I'll shut up."

"Thank you, now as I've said earlier, I know what is happening with you and Katie and I think you'll know that I'm very . . ."

Oh Gods, here it comes . . .

"Unpleased, to say the least." She then folded her arms over her chest and looked at me with a thoughtful expression.

I stared at her blankly.

Blink.

Blink.

" . . . What?"

"What do you mean, ‘what’? I said, I'm unhappy about you and Katie together! What's so hard to understand?!"

"I figured that! Why do you think I've been avoiding wheat fields for so long?"

She raised an eyebrow at me.

I nervously cleared my throat, "Uhm . . . The point is . . . I mean, uhm . . . isn't there more to your rage?"

She looked confused, "What?"

"I mean, like, wouldn't you turn me into a cockroach and then step on me repeatedly for 'deliberately hooking up with your daughter' and such?"

She stared at me, uncomprehending my rushed crazy-talk.

"Look, I just thought there was usually more to this whole goddess' being mad at you. You get on their bad side and they turn you into an animal or just plain beat you up. At least that's what Percy said . . ."

"Oh, Travis. I'm not going to beat you up! Although, I would prefer so, but I made that stupid pact with Katie . . ." she grumbled to herself.

I took another step back, "Okay, then why exactly are you here again?"

She sighed, "Well since Katie made me swear on the Styx, I guess there is nothing better to do than warn you."

"Warn me?" I asked cautiously. I was really hoping she wasn't going to say something like Katie is actually a hellhound, but you know demigod luck. I guess from this point I can only hope she's a pretty hellhound . . .

"You know, about the pregnancy."

Pregnancy

Pregnancy

Pregnancy

I little part of my soul died right then and there.

" . . . What?"

My voice came out three octaves higher than normal.

"About the baby of course!"

"I'm sorry did you just say-"

"Baby, pregnancy, Katie is pregnant! Di immortalis, how could Katie have ever fallen for an idiot like you!"

I pushed her insult aside, "But how are you sure? I mean, I used protection! Isn't there like a 97% that it works and only 3% that it doesn't? I can't be that unlucky." I started nervously laughing as I looked at Demeter to respond. She just gave me a smug look that almost made me pee my pants, not even considering the fact that I've been holding in my pee for the past ten minutes we've been talking.

". . . Right?"

She didn't respond.

"Oh come on! Answer me! This is important!"

"No, I'd rather see you squirm." She smiled maliciously.

I gulped down a yelp.

"You see Travis, Gods are superhuman beings. Meaning they are made up of pure power, so their cells are stronger than most. And that also includes your sperm-"

"So you mean when you Gods, like, get it on-"

She rolled her eyes, "Fine, Travis. Why do you think there are so many demigods, hmm?"

"Well, I just thought you guys were horny."

She narrowed her eyes at me, "Now with that in account you can probably guess . . ."

"I'm going to have a baby?"

"Yup! This might break you and Katie up without my 'intentions' at all! Therefore my oath wouldn't be broken . . ."

She started mumbling to her self, while I stood in shock, rethinking my priorities.

I started thinking about how much things could change, how Katie and I would be raising a child. No more parties, no more clubs or anything. I'd have to buy baby food and buy tiny shoes and put together a crib. I might even have to *gulp* work.

Everything is going to change if she has a baby.

And I'm scared.

What if the kid turns out to be the next Kronos, or I end up accidentally stepping on it. I won't be able to pull this off. Katie would be better off without me.

But one scary thought kept coming to mind, and I just couldn't push it away. So I just had to ask-

"Boy or girl?"

"Excuse me?"

"Is the baby a boy or a girl?" I asked, so unsure of why I even asked the dumb question in the first place. I was still so in shock of the news I didn't know what was going on.

She surprisingly smiled a little to herself, "Are you sure you want to know?"

"Positive."

"It's a girl. Travis, you better take care of this child or I will be back."

And with that, plus a twirl of her robes and a puff of smoke, she was gone.

~*~

The second time Travis met Demeter was one late afternoon back at the old apartment.

~*~

As I was packing my bag, my eyes started welling up. I pushed them away like the man I am, but they just kept coming back. They kept building up, waiting for my signal to let loose. I felt like I was going to explode.

Finally, when I grabbed my socks and threw them in to join the party in my bag, I burst.

The tears were flowing like a river down my face. They were finally free and it sure seemed like they were having a grand old time dripping down my cheeks and making me less manly. As they slid down, my pride went with them.

Well, I guess there's no use of fighting now.

So, I sat down on a comfortable chair, shifted my position to make my stay cozier, and promptly proceeded to cry.

I turned my head to the couch. My vision was slightly blurred, but I could make out Katie's shape. She was lying on her side, stomach outward. Her right arm was on her face while the other swayed off of the couch every time she breathed. Her legs were sprawled all crooked like, and her neck looked almost broken.

But I guess you have to make do when your 7 months pregnant.

"Yes, it is extremely difficult. I'm glad I never had to go through that kind of pain and trouble."

I jumped out of my chair and put my hands to my face.

"I wasn't crying! It's-it's *sniff* allergy season, alright?" I said as I hurriedly wiped at my face.

After a swift wipe of my eyes, I saw whom I was facing.

"Oh, lady Demeter." I bowed awkwardly and then gave my eyes one last swipe.

"What are you doing?"

I glanced sideways at my overflowing duffel bag.

"Travis, don't you dare leave."

"Well, what am I supposed to do?"

"Anything but this, Travis. Think before you do anything drastic," she seemed like she was almost pleading with me, which was something I never thought I would've heard from a Goddess.

"Well no matter how insane this sounds, but I do think. And I have been recently."

There was a pause.

"And what is it you were thinking about, Travis?" she asked calmly, although I could tell she was holding back a whirlwind of vines and vegetables she wouldn't mind flinging at my face.

I slowly let out a sigh. "She's better off without me."

"What?"

"I said she's better off without me. I can't keep watching myself slowly ruin her life. I don't have a job, we're running out of money, and now of all times, she's pregnant!"

"I warned you didn't I?"

I grumbled and waved my hand at her, "Yeah, and you interrupted my bathroom break. I had to hold in my pee for ten minutes when you were yammering on and on."

 "Don't test me, Travis," she glared.

I cleared my throat, "But Katie deserves better than barely scraping by."

"And what? Do u think running away will solve anything?! It'll just create more problems!"

"I know, but I thought about it and I came up with a plan."

"Oh this'll be good. What is your oh-so-brilliant plan of leaving a newly wed 7 months pregnant all alone with no money and no job? Please, do tell."

"Well thanks for the support Mrs. Sarcasm but I think I can do without."

Her eyes flashed.

"Well anyway, my plan is that when I leave Katie, she'll hate me forever and I'll never get to see her again-"

"Don't see any upside to this..."

"I'm getting there! Now as I was saying, after a few years, Katie will live with it and find someone new whom she really loves and can actually support a family. That way, she'll be happy."

"Oh well how selfless are you?! Being noble won't get you anywhere Travis! Without thinking you'll land flat on your face with your mistake replaying in your head! It won't end well!"

"I'm not trying to be noble, I'm just trying to make Katie happy!"

"Then isn't that a sign telling u not to leave her? Travis, use that brain of yours that I'm almost sure you have."

I brushed off the insult, I was too busy repressing my tears, and “Don’t you think I’ve thought of that Do you really think it's not killing me knowing that I would have to live without Katie for the rest of my life? But I have to go, this is the only way."

"Katie loves you! You love her! You two are meant for each other and coming from me you have to believe it!"

"Well yeah, but I have a news flash for you, Lady Vegetable! That doesn't pay the bills!"

"But for Katie it does...Travis, you have to understand, you leaving Katie might seem like a good option because your scared-"

"Am not!"

"Are too!" she covered he mouth, "Oh Gods! I've been spending too much time around you, haven't I?"

"This is the second time I've ever seen you..."

"Exactly."

"Hey!"

"Anyways, Travis my point is that if you leave her, you will soon realize that you have made the biggest mistake of your life. And thinking this is better for Katie is the stupidest thing you've said yet. You'll break Katie's heart into tiny pieces and letting another man help pick them up for her, is something you'll regret the moment you see him on her arm, and trust me, I'll make that surely happen if you leave. It'll be as bad as if Percy and Annabeth broke up! Don't do this Travis!"

"Yeah, but me and Katie breaking up isn't the same thing. If Percy broke it off with Annabeth, I think the world would implode, so don't even use that one on me."

She heaved a deep sigh and sat down on Katie's rocking chair. I remember when we bought that chair together; she obviously did most of the shopping. With her women rights and hormones combined, every choice I picked she would dismiss and pick out her own. Why she insisted on bringing me along on those fun trips, I have no idea. But this was one of the only things we both loved from the start. I silently smiled to myself, thinking of the memory.

Demeter made herself comfortable on the chair and sighed in defeat. I thought she was finally going to give up, but a little part of myself wanted her to urge on.

"Travis..." she started, "I'm going to let you in on a little secret . . . ever since you and Katie started dating she started laughing and smiling, even giggling on occasion which I've never witnessed in my time knowing her. She was her happier self when she was around you, not killing everyone with sarcasm. You gave her something to do everyday with your constant bickering. You know how competitive she is. When you came around," she smiled, "Oh man she would plot ways to defeat you in your worded battles."

"I can believe that . . .," I mumbled.

"When she was on your arm her smile would intoxicate anyone around her. Even though you bickered all of the time, she secretly loved it, still does. Why else do you think she would've married your impossible self? Anyways, she was always smiling and enjoying the littler things. Like tending the flowers and taking care of her siblings wasn't a chore anymore."

I didn't know whether to believe Demeter or not with all of this. I mean, to anyone who has never met Katie this sounded like a sweet love story. But to me, who has known Katie long enough to marry her, I would say this sounded like a load of crap. I mean, can you imagine me and Katie skipping off into the sunset? Yeah, right. That is just not our style.

But thinking about it made me smile anyways. Even if not all of this was true, I could still maybe picture a soft side in her somewhere deep down.

And I mean, deep, deep, deep, down.

When she smiled or walked into a room-"

"It would instantly brighten," I finished. I smiled and turned to Demeter, but she was gone. I looked at the place she used to inhabit. I stared at it, in deep thought for about ten minutes.

And then I wiped away the last of my tears and slowly began unpacking.

~*~

The third time Travis met Demeter was in a hospital waiting room.

~*~

Click tap. Click click tap. Click ta-tap tap click.

"Shh!" said a nurse walking by with her finger on her lips.

I huffed and took another shot of espresso. This was going to be a long night.

My fingers were trembling as I removed my leather shoes one by one. I loosened my tie and leaned back on the chair with my eyes closed.

Maybe I could actually get some sleep while I'm waiting, might as well.

I started drifting off into my dreamland.

"Don't start sleeping now! It's almost time!" said a voice that I would never be prepared for no matter how many times I heard it.

I fell out of my chair and landed on my back.

"Ow!" I said getting off of the floor.

Another nurse walked by and looked pointedly at me.

I glared at Demeter as I sat back on my chair.

"What do you want this time?" I asked angrily, "Another break on your newsflash monitor? Another annoying talk I have to bear?"

"No, I just wanted to be here as I welcome your daughter into the world. Why do you think I have to be associated with bad news every time I visit?"

"Because every time you see a God or Goddess something bad always follows."

"Well that was rude, Travis learn some manners."

"Well I certainly didn't have the time when I was left alone, fighting monsters when I was seven."

Demeter looked taken aback. I sighed.

"Look, it's been a long night and I appreciate the visit, but I think you should go. I got this."

She raised an eyebrow at me, like she knew I couldn't handle it by myself.

And she was absolutely right.

Her snarky look was starting to bother me so I snapped, “Don’t you have anything better to do than annoy me?! Like making vegetables grow and yelling at other people?”

She rolled her eyes at me, “I like to check up on my sons and daughters every once in a while. I don’t have many, you know.”

I looked at her, feigning surprise, “So you annoy your other daughter’s boyfriends all the freaking time too?”

“Not really, it seems to only be you I’m worried about. Now why would that be, Travis?” she asked me, narrowing her eyes and raising her eyebrows.

I rolled my eyes as she smugly sat on the couch, next to me.

After a long silence, she looked me up and down.

Nice suit, " she said.

"Thanks," I replied, "Nice . . . drapes?"

She huffed and crossed her arms, "I was only trying to be nice! You could’ve just replied with a thank you!"

"Well I was just trying to compliment you, it wouldn't be so hard if you were wearing clothes from this century. I thought you were trying to blend in anyways!"

“It’s not like anybody can see me unless they are a demigod so it doesn’t even matter!”

“Whoa, really?” I asked surprised, “You can do that?” I thought that since everyone could see me, being half god and all, they could probably see the gods too. It never crossed my mind that they might not be able to.

“Of course I can, Travis! I’m a goddess for Pete’s sake!” She huffed and folded her arms, “I’m still stunned that you’ve lasted this long!”

“Hey! You know sometimes your words can hurt?” I asked, my hand held over my heart and sarcasm dripping off of my words.

She just sneered and rolled her eyes.

An awkward silence fell between us again.

I, being ADHD decided to take that time to start tapping my shoes again to break that pin-drop silence. But of course, Senora Potted Plant didn’t approve. I mean, I can’t sit still for more than 30 seconds so what did she expect me to do?

“Travis! My Gods, could you quit that?! It sounds like you’re practicing for a tap dance competition you signed up for at the last minute!” she yelled, infuriated.

“Geez woman! Calm down, I’m just nervous, that’s all.”

“And very ADHD,” she grumbled, “I don’t know why we decided to put in that feature…

“Umm… maybe to keep us alive in dangerous situations? So that we could avoid death? Maybe even go on to live happy lives and have children,” I said slowly, “Ring any bells?”

She just waved her hand like her children’s safety was no big deal to her, which it probably wasn’t.

“Well, whatever. I’m going to sleep, so just do . . . whatever you Goddesses do,” I said getting into a comfortable position on the couch.

She glared at me, probably yet again insulted at my comment.

I sighed and lied back against the nice, soft fabric of the waiting room couch. I pulled one of the decorative throw pillows over my head in attempt to drown out the light. I almost fell asleep before I heard a loud, “Mr. Stoll?”

“What?! Can’t a guy get any sleep over here?” I yelled covering my head with the pillow.

The footsteps approached me and then tapped me on the shoulder.

I slowly lifted the pillow off of my head and looked up at a guy in a white coat with one of those thingies where they listen to your heartbeat around his neck. He must be Katie’s doctor.

“Katie’s all dressed and ready to go if you want to join her in the room?” he said with a little hint in his voice that meant I had no choice, I either had to go with him or be murdered by my wife later. This guy obviously knew what he was doing.

I got up off of the couch and followed him to a door down the hall. I made a quick glance back to the couch Demeter was sitting on, but she was gone.

“Good riddance,” I mumbled. Although, I couldn’t help but feel a little lonely without her there.

I quickly shook off the thought and made my way to Katie’s room. I looked through the glass window and saw her being helped into her bed. Her long dark hair was flowing past her shoulders and bright green eyes were looking anxiously around the room.

I pushed past the doctor and almost fell at Katie’s feet. I was completely exhausted from waking up at 3:00 a.m. and I knew I had a long way to go before I could get some well-needed sleep. I looked up to see a seething Katie.

“Travis get up and hold my hand or so help me Zeus, I will throw you off of Mt. Olympus myself!” she growled, baring her teeth and narrowing her eyes.

I stood up fast, slightly pulling something in my leg. “Yes, m’am!” I grabbed her hand with a great force and felt her squeeze it back.

The nurses came out of a door and approached the end of the bed along with the doctor who got down on his knees. It took them a while to get the tools ready but they finally got settled and started forging ahead. I felt really awkward just standing there, practically watching this guy grope my wife, so you can imagine my relief when one of the nurses escorted me to the back room to put on the blue cover clothes for germ protection or something like that.

As I came out of the room, I heard the doctor say, “You’re ten centimeters dilated so I think now is the time to start pushing.”

I ran towards Katie as fast as I could and squirmed to grab hold of her hand. She looked at me with an expression of complete fear, which was something I have never seen or thought I would ever see in my entire lifetime coming from her. It would be like Connor being taller than me, it just wasn’t right.

I weakly smiled at Katie, trying to make her feel better, but we both knew I sucked at that, so she just took a deep breath and started to push. And I never let go of her hand.

~*~

After what seemed like days of yelling and pushing and screaming and squeezing, the sweet sound of heart wrenching, eardrum bursting crying was sounded from a little tiny thing that doctor called our baby girl. The doctor handed it to a very emotional Katie who almost instantly fell asleep. After almost dropping the baby twice, the doctor handed me the baby so that it wouldn’t fall out of Katie’s slack arms and onto the floor. And obviously that would be bad, as I was informed.

With much protest I finally took her into my arms. A lot of people say that their babies are beautiful and that they have their dad’s nose but their mom’s smile and all that jazz, but to tell you the truth my baby looked like a weirdly colored lump with moving parts. I couldn’t tell if it looked like me or Katie, frankly it kind of looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger for a moment, but I assured myself that she would hopefully not look like that when she was older.

I sat down on a chair next to Katie’s bed and held the little girl in my arms. Katie and I already had a discussion about her name, Amaryllis. At first I hated it, but the more I heard it the more it stuck.

“Amaryllis,” I said softly as I looked at the baby. My baby. The realization finally hit me.

My baby. I had a baby. A little baby that I would take care of and love with all my heart. I could watch her get on the school bus and sit with her friends, teach her to ride a bike, and show her how to shop lift and pick locks. I could already see it happening right now.

I smiled and started to feel some tears trailing down my cheeks. I quickly wiped them away just incase You-Know-Who showed up again. And no, I don’t mean Voldemort; I’m talking about something much worse.

“Thinking of me again, are we Travis?” said that sarcastic and wicked voice that I was almost expecting. I was still a little startled and I almost dropped the baby.

Good thing Katie’s asleep or else I’d be burning in Hades right about now.

“Oh, hello,” I said begrudgingly. She sauntered over to me and made a green chair with flowers growing on it appear and she sat down, her robes getting all crinkled in the process.

“She’s beautiful isn’t she?” she asked, looking down at my baby.

I rolled my eyes. Here we go again. “Not really,” I shrugged.

She looked pointedly at me, then she sighed as if she gave up, “You’re right. She is quite hideous.”

I looked up at her in utter confusion. Did she just admit that she was wrong, and agree with me in the same sentence? That was the first time anyone has ever admitted that I was right, and it coming from a Goddess was just plain unbelievable. I almost reached into my ear as if to clear the wax in it.

“Oh, Travis stop. I’m as appalled as you are, but I’m exhausted from all of this arguing. I think it’s time we stopped this nonsense,” she reached out her hand and looked at me, eyebrows raised.

I nodded my head, shifting the baby’s weight to my left arm and grabbing Demeter’s hand with my right, “Sure, truce.” I said shaking her hand.

She nodded at me. “Well, now that that’s settled. I have one favor to ask you.”

Oh Gods, please don’t say eat more cereal, please don’t say eat more cereal.

 “Don’t screw up.”

I looked at her with confusion written all over my face. Then, out of nowhere I started laughing. It became hysterical and I was gasping for breath. She just summed up a long and philosophical speech into three words, just for me and my stupidity.

She chuckled a little bit too and then walked over to Katie’s bed.

“By the way, her name is Amaryllis. Mary for short. Incase you were wondering.” I said, looking down at the ground.

Demeter turned around and smiled at me, probably for the first time in her life. “I know.”

She started to walk away which made me a get a little pang in my chest. I was kind of sad that she had to go.

She turned around abruptly and said, “Good luck, Travis. I doubt I’ll be meeting you again.”

I nodded and smiled respectfully as I saw a cloud of smoke envelop her. After, it cleared I was left staring at an empty space.

She was gone.

~*~

Travis also met Demeter a fourth time in his life. That was a very private moment that shouldn’t be shared at this time in the story, but will be told later on down the road.

And you thought you had a complicated relationship with your mother-in-law!