Thalia's POV

The party lasted well into the night but things slowly began to settle down as people left. It was weird seeing the throne room practically empty when moments ago it had been bursting with people.

The kids were busy playing a game of charades. At least that's what I assumed, considering Grey was flopping on the floor like a fish while the others yelled out odd words. I was quite certain that at one point Emily yelled out Percy. Of course, Percy pretended to be offended, but the answer was just a fish out of water.

"My turn," Thia smiled, taking the stage so to speak. "Okay give me a category."

"Vegetables!" Sol laughed.

"Vegetable? What do you want me to do stand here and be a carrot?" Thia snickered.

"You could be a potato," Jaxon offered. "Just curl up like this."

He flopped over onto his side and curled up into a surprisingly small ball. By the amount of laughter that followed such a stupid joke it was clear they were beyond exhausted. To the point where pretty much everything was funny.

"What in the world are they doing?" Reyna asked, having slipped away from a conversation with a very drunk Dakota.

"Charades I think. Jaxon wants Thia to be a potato." Reyna rolled her eyes but a slight smile played at the corners of her mouth. "She's more of a French fry in my opinion."

"You're such a dork," Reyna laughed, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.

"I'm your dork and there's no escape." I did my best to laugh evilly but it didn't turn out so well.

"Put me down or I will kill you!" Apollo had Artemis slung over his shoulder and was stumbling about spewing poetic nonsense.

"Looks like he hit the drinks too hard," Reyna mused.

"Athena! Help!" Artemis shrieked, squirming I'm Apollo's hold.

"Not again. I swear every time there's a party everyone ends up drunk! Is it too hard to be responsible?" Athena frowned catching Apollo by the arm and prying Artemis free. What I didn't expect though was for Athena to punch him. Apollo was down and out.

"Uh...Dad?" Will asked hesitantly.

"Don't worry, he'll be fine." Athena promised. "I do this all the time."

"Right...." Will winced, shooting me a concerned look.

"Hey, don't look at me. I am zero help." Holding up my hands in surrender I watched Hermes collect his typical partner in crime and carry Apollo off. Most likely to his quarters where he couldn't bother anyone else.

Artemis shivered in disgust. "I am going to bathe for eight hours I swear on the fates."

"Awe you still believe in cooties," I teased.

"No, I believe in germs. And I am very certain my brother, despite being the god of medicine, has entirely too many." That was a very fair, and most likely true statement.

"Ego alert,",Hylla whispered, nearly causing me to punch her from surprise. "I hate this dude."

Hylla jutted a thumb over her shoulder where a very muscular and loud man was talking to Jason who appeared to be very uncomfortable and uninterested.

"That's Hercules," Reyna frowned. "Ugh, talk about an idiot."

"The Egotistical Asshole of the Year award goes to him every year," I smiled.

"That's not even a thing," Hylla frowned.

"It is. I invented it. I send him a special card every year. Sometimes Percy and Piper sign it." This earned me a very proud look from the Queen of the Amazons.

"I knew there was a reason I liked you." She smiled, before punching me in the shoulder. "Ow! What the hell?!"

"Metal one,"I laughed, pulling up the sleeve to my suit.

"You need warning labels chica," she hissed, before walking off shaking her hand.

"I always knew you were an occupational hazard," Reyna joked, nudging me in the ribs.

"Says you," I protested. Reyna just shrugged and gave me a playful smile. "Butthead."

"How cute," she laughed.

"Thalia, you're also my advisor,"Artemis noted, tapping me on the shoulder and pulling my attention away from Reyna.

"Yeah. That's the job." I nodded.

"Good. So Zoë said I couldn't bite people but...am I allowed to shoot someone?" I followed her gaze to where Hercules had roped in not only Jason, but Grover, Piper, and Zoë into his conversation.

"Him?" I asked pointing at Hercules.

"No...I was talking about our dearest brother Jason," Artemis replied sarcastically.

"Yeah, sure you can shoot him. Can I do it after you?" Reyna slapped me on the back of the head.

"You aren't shooting anyone," she frowned.

"Why does she get to?" I whined.

"Artemis is a god. She can do what she wants." That, in my opinion, was a stupid answer. Artemis just shrugged and drew her bow.

"Is that a taser arrow?" The tip was different than that of a normal arrow. It was easily recognizable, after all, I'd helped create them.

"Too harsh?" Artemis questioned with fake sympathy.

"No. Why use one when you can use two?" Reyna smacked me on the back of the head again.

"I knew there was a reason you were my favorite." Artemis smiled evilly and ever so casually shot two taser arrows. One slammed Hercules in the shoulder, the other nailed him in a place where the sun didn't shine.

It was comical watching him twitch from the electricity and fall over. Even better watching everyone's surprised reactions.

"Ten out of ten!" Piper yelled holding up her hands. "Nice penis shot!"

I am not ashamed to say that I was on the ground wheezing in laughter. Good old Piper. Man I loved that girl. I could vaguely hear Jason's mortified, 'Piper!' and her glee filled laughter.

"Oh Gods. I'm dead." It took me a solid three minutes to compose myself and regulate my breathing.

"And the damsel in distress was saved!" Hylla announced, an evil gleam in her eyes as she smirked at Zoë before glancing at Artemis. "Now kiss!"

"Hylla I will murder you," Zoë hissed.

"Um....no murdering please," Grover laughed nervously.

"I love my family," Reyna sighed trying to keep her composure but it was her turn to suffer from a laughing fit.

The sound of a throat clearing caused all of us to still. "Good shot Artemis, though is it necessary to mock him so?"

Artemis glanced up at Zeus with an unamused and bored expression. "Oh thanks Dad. If you're really here to scold me get on with it. Blah blah blah, behave, blah you're as bad as Apollo, whine, whine."

"Actually, I'm here to talk to Thalia." Never once in my life did I expect to hear those words and never once in my life did I want to. I was most likely about to get the lecture of the century. For what? Who freaking knew.

"Me?" It may have seemed stupid but I needed to be certain that if I suddenly had to come up with a will, Reyna knew what it was.

"Yes." He gave a curt nod, expression as unfriendly as ever.

"Oh. Okay. Um, what about?" Reyna gave me a worried glance and it pretty much summed up my internal panic.

"Perhaps you'd like to take a walk with me?" Was he really asking for a nice stroll in the gardens? I didn't peg him as a flower person. He was more of a bang-thunder- boom kind of guy.

"Sure...," I replied reluctantly. Reyna gave me a somewhat encouraging nod and I hesitantly followed my father outside into the gardens. "I don't know what I did wrong but whatever it was I'm sorry."

"Actually, I think I owe you the apology," he sighed. Shock settled over me and from my silence I think he realized I didn't quite have a response. "Perhaps, we've been on the wrong foot for too long now. I guess it was mostly my fault."

"Hold up." It was his turn to be surprised this time. "Why are you doing this? You've never even talked to me like this before."

The flicker of a grimace flashed across his face before he retained composure. "Though we remain uninvolved it does not mean we do not watch what goes on in your lives ."

"Yeah, I gathered that much. It's part of the reason I don't like you." Maybe I shouldn't have been so hostile, but it was hard not to be.

"When I saw what happened with Thia's death and how her pure caused the world to sigh in relief I felt a weight lift. It is hard to describe but...it felt as though some darkness that had clung to me was now gone. That in Chaos' defeat it had in fact ended whatever Chaos rested in us, all of us. Even Aphrodite." Zeus' gaze shifted to study the leaves of a tree.

"What are you trying say?" I asked.

"That perhaps we could restart?" The question should have been a relief but it made me recoil in complete anger.

"Did you forget the fact that you literally disowned me?" I hadn't once forgotten his words, the way he'd so easily written me off as a failure. "In front of dozens of people? And that you had no faith what so ever in my daughter's capabilities to succeed in her quest? Or the fact that you didn't even want to meet her when she was little?"

"Thalia, I'm trying to offer you what you've always wanted. A way to start over. To make something of a relationship," he sighed, running a hand over his face.

"You're missing the complete fucking point," I scoffed. His attention returned to me as I raised my voice. "Pretending that the past didn't happen is like saying my anger and feelings aren't valid."

"That isn't what I am trying to do," he frowned. It was clear he wasn't used to these sorts of conversations.

"Maybe it doesn't seem like that to you but there's a lot that needs to be thrown into the open before I even consider your proposal." I expected him to get angry but there was a slight resignation in his face. Almost like he'd expected and prepared for this.

"Alright then. I suppose you have a right to...let me have it, so to speak." There was a hint of irritation but it was small, as though he was attempting to disguise it.

"Before I start you have to promise me, right now , that you'll give me answers when I ask for them. Because I need them. For some sort of closure." This entire situation made me nervous. I was anxiously waiting for the moment I crossed the line and suddenly I would be blasted into dust.

"You deserve that much," he nodded. Sighing, I tried to sort through the tornado of thoughts in my head. The beginning. Start at the beginning and work from there.

"What made you love Mom?" By the arch of his eyebrows it was clear he hadn't expected that question.

"She was brilliant in her own little way, I suppose. Refreshing." A smile tugged very faintly at the corners of his lips. "She was a star but she was down to earth at the time. Perhaps I saw power in her.  The way she could own a stage and screen was enticing. It takes confidence ans bravado. Besides, I've always fancied theater. After all, you are named after the muse of comedy."

"So I've learned." Percy had pointed it out more than once to annoy me.

"I met her at a gala. I made up a name, impressed her with my taste in the arts. She was looking for a way out of the business. I said I could provide." His expression softened slightly.

"Why did she want out?"

"The pressure of it. The constant scrutiny of one's actions wears over time. There were cracks already forming that would later lead to the canyons you were forced to traverse," he explained. It seemed he remembered we were supposed to be walking and began a slow pace through the terraces.

"So you got her pregnant with me?" I snorted.

"That was, in truth, a complete accident." Right, I was the accident. I'd forgotten for a moment. "However, I wasn't allowed to stay. Could anyone really? Could my brothers? Could my sisters?"

"You could have if you'd changed the laws." It was something I'd thought of for years.

"Laws are not easily changed. Hera would not have it." He shook his head. "Leaving was my first mistake. The press devoured the story. Beryl Grace, unmarried, pregnant, and no father in sight. She was unable to provide an accurate story for how such a thing happened. It drove her into the ground."

"Then I was born." I didn't quite need all of the intricate details. If I had those I would never be able to move past the intricacies of it all.

"Yes. I read the stories in the papers," He nodded, gesturing to a bench.

"You weren't there." Part of me had always known he was absent for it, but having it confirmed was hard to swallow.

"I wasn't. I watched from afar. You were an interesting child," he mused. "I avoided everything until I needed to provide an explanation as to why you were...different."

"So you came back. How old was I?" I knew of course, but I wanted to see if he did.

"You'd just turned about seven." That was the correct answer. He'd gotten it right despite struggling to retrieve the memory. "You were spunky."

I remembered the instance clear as day. It was hard to forget.

There was a knock on the door. We didn't get visitors much but maybe it was the mailman. I liked him. He was pretty cool. Bounding over to the door I jerked it open.

"Hello!" There was a very tall guy. He was big with big arms and scary eyes. "Who the heck are you?"

"I'm here to see your mother." His voice was deep like thunder and his beard was kind of like a cloud. I liked clouds. They made shapes sometimes.

"MOOOOOM! A tall weird guy wants to see you!" There wasn't really a response. His eyes glanced about the room. "She probably won't answer sir. She's funny sometimes but I can take a message after the beep. Beep!"

He didn't do anything. That was dumb. The mail man always left a message after my beep. There was the sound of bare feet on the floor. Mom was coming.

"Thalia don't make me tell you to lower your voice again. I've had enough of your yelling," she grumbled, walking hurriedly to the door. Rolling my eyes I looked at the spooky dude. No one was talking.

"Okay so...." Mom was quick to move me aside and shush me, allowing the guy inside. "Is no one gonna tell me who he is?"

"Thalia be quiet," mom insisted, picking me up and making me sit on the couch.

"Why? I just wanna know! Am I in trouble? I promise I didn't mean to stick a knife in the outlet and make the apartment lose power. Okay...maybe it was on purpose, but it was sooooo cool!" Neither of them seemed to mind my spastic bouncing and giggles.

"Thalia, go outside and play." Mom frowned at me.

"There's nothing to do out there. It's cold too. Besides, the kids think I'm stupid and don't like to play with me." Groaning, I hung upside down on the couch.

"Watch tv then and keep quiet." Was the next answer.

"Only if I can watch power rangers! The pink one is pretty and the red one is cool!" The only sign of agreement was the remote being thrown at me.

"So you told her and then you came by sometimes after I had school and you got her pregnant with Jason." I summarized, shaking the images from my head.

"Yes."

"And you left again," I replied flatly. "You know it was pretty damn stupid of you. Did you think the second time would be any better than the first?"

He didn't answer for a long time. "I was foolish. You know what happened."

"Yeah. You guys took my brother. The only thing that was actually good in my life." Jason had been the only glimmer of hope when I was little. "I hated him at first you know."

Zeus gave a small noise of surprise. Glancing over I saw genuine surprise and perhaps fear in his eyes.

"What did you expect? Things were going horrible for me and she acted like I didn't exist because she was obsessed with him. He was the reason you came back every so often. I didn't want him to be born." It was the darker side of the truth. "Then he was born and I was the only one there. I held him and he was so small. So fragile. Everything I hated about him vanished.  I was gonna keep him safe and make sure Mom didn't hurt him like me. Someone had to."

"You hated him?" He was still hung up on that fact.

"I will never ever tell Jason that I did. He doesn't deserve that from me. He was innocent of any wrong doing but what would expect from me? He was going to be just like you or just like mom wasn't he? That's how it worked didn't it?" Those were the thoughts of a seven year old girl who had pretty much zero understanding of the world.

"Not at all. What made you think such things?" He laughed.

"Because I was told those things." His laughter quickly died. "I was told I was going to be exactly like mother. A wash up.  A loser. A slut. You name it. I learned to not even bother looking in mirrors because all I saw was her."

"And you ran away," he concluded.

"Best decision of my youth." It really was. It may have been scary but it was freeing. "I met Luke and he was the only male figure in my life who understood and valued me for who I was."

"He was a criminal." Zeus shook his head.

"He was lost and angry like me." There was an edge to my voice. As much as I hated what Luke had become later in in life, I still admired who he had been. "So was Annabeth. She was so much like Jason. I felt like I could help her in ways I couldn't with Jase."

"It would have been safer to leave her," he sighed.

"I would have died with or without her because of your choices and because of my own but you turned me into a tree." This was his queue to interrupt.

"I felt you deserved at least that much." I hadn't finished yet.

"Right. Only that's futile when I come back to life and you make me feel like I'd rather have died." It was a harsh thing to say but it had been the force behind my anger for too long. "It was so hard not to side with Luke. Every part of me wanted to."

"What stopped you?" He asked.

"Jason. Annabeth. I couldn't imagine how they'd feel if the person they knew turned against them. If they discovered that somehow I was willing to manipulate, kill, and destroy the world." Their faces of betrayal had haunted my dreams for a long time.

"I see," Zeus nodded.

"Never once did you try to understand me. It was why I feared you and Aphrodite. Why I loved the hunters so much and I wanted nothing to do with you." Sighing, I leaned back to look at the stars.

"I was always puzzled by your decision to join Artemis. Well, besides the..." His voice trailed off.

"Lesbian thing?" He nodded at my words. "For the first time I realized that they were a family. A real one. Where you could be who you wanted without judgment. I wanted that. It was also the first time I really felt like I could rely on someone. Artemis, if I'm being honest, was the first parental figure I've ever really had."

"You love her?" Zeus asked.

"Yeah. A lot. She is both literally and figuratively my big sister. In truth, we've learned a lot from each other. She's learned to loosen up and actually has a sense of humor now. In turn, I've matured a bit and adapted to having responsibilities," I explained. Zeus nodded and stood dusting his hands on his pants.

Sighing I stood as well. I guess we were heading back. A long awkward silence settled over us. I didn't really know what I was expecting. Maybe some miraculous confession on his part or a bright light.

"I never knew how difficult your life was. I am well aware there are many more specific details you haven't shared but I have seen the-"

"Did you poke around in my head?" Instantly my guard went up. He swallowed hard. "Did you make me vulnerable just so you could pry me open?"

"I knew you wouldn't divulge all of the detail-"

"This is exactly what your problem is!" Any wounds that I'd closed were re open. For a brief moment I thought that maybe he was finally coming  around to things and making an effort. "If you'd just asked!"

"Thalia..." He sighed, taking a step forward. I was quick to recoil.

"Don't do that. Don't make me feel guilty." My throat was tight with emotion and I could feel tears prickling in my eyes.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do," he admitted, his eyes reflecting slight worry.

"I appreciate your attempt. I do. I appreciate you wanting to fix things but for that to happen you have to change." My voice cracked but I was too upset to care. "You have to be vulnerable too. You have to open up! Tell me how you feel. Tell me the truth! Don't cover it up with this-this facade- that you don't feel! It's bullshit!"

"You want me to open up?" His eyes narrowed and his tone rose. "For this to be some sort of therapy session? What answers do you want from me? Tell me and I'll say everything you want to hear!"

"I don't want to hear what will make me happy. I want to know the truth!" New emotions and thoughts bubbled up inside of me and I was vaguely aware of the tears on my cheeks.

"What? Tell me-what- it is you so desperately need to know?" His eyebrows furrowed together and his eyes seemed to be pleading.

"Why did you pick Jason over me? Why did you try so hard with him? What did I do to you?" Taking a shaky breath, I wiped furiously at my eyes.

"You were the first step behind your mother's death. The first reason that would eventually kill her." The answer blurted from his mouth and for once he didn't have any control over his face. "I blamed you. I blamed you for taking her away and I loved him for giving her back. When you ran away your mother fell apart!"

A deep seeded sickness and sadness flooded my chest. "So I killed her. You think I killed her?"

"No. No, I was wrong and it's taken me so long to realize it." I didn't have it in me to pull away from his hug.

"You don't love me," I cried, aware of the how pathetic my dogs were.

"No, I've always loved you," he whispered.

"How can you expect me to believe that?" My tears began to stain his suit.

"Because a part of me always has. When I came back even for brief visits you fascinated me. But I became mis guided and disillusioned in my own sorrow, pity, and anger. I twisted it so no blame fell upon my shoulders and I was proud of that." I felt small again. Little, like I was looking up at the big man in my doorway all over again. "You were a lot like me in my youth. Tireless, independent, strong, stubborn, impulsive, and brave. You were everything I was and everything I wasn't. When I looked at you so young and hopeful I hated it because I couldn't be like that. I couldn't be as hopeful and happy as you."

"You can." The words forced their way from my mouth.

"I have made too many mistakes." He chuckled, and for once it was not a cold laugh, but a warm one. "They all despise me. Hera most of all."

Taking a few shaky breaths I pulled back and wiped at my eyes. "You wanna know something?"

"Yes,"he nodded.

"She doesn't hate you. She misses you." The idea shocked him. "Hera isn't capable of pure corrupt hate. She's too sensible to stoop that low."

"Have you no idea of her schemes?" Dad asked.

"I do and they've always been an attempt to guide you back to her. Hercules for example. It was an attempt to show you the pain you bring from misdeeds. His tasks, they weren't just for the hell of it. It was an outlet, a representation of her disappointment and pain because she couldn't make you suffer only Hercules." I wasn't quite sure where this understanding was coming from but a part of me seemed to have always known.

As much as I hated Hera with every fiber of my being I was the only one who could so closely understand her. So easily comprehend the pain the king of the gods could bring.

"She hates Annabeth and Percy and all of us because we're happy, and we have people we love. Percy and Annabeth make her sick because it's a constant reminder of what you and her could have." His expression softened and his shoulders went slack. He was finally understanding.

His eyes studied my face for a moment before he rested his hands on either side of my face and pressed a kiss to my forehead. It was unexpected but it had been a long time since I'd felt such warmth. "Thank you. I wish we had more time but I must-I must make amends before I forget."

"Yeah, I get it," I sniffled. "Gotta keep the wife happy. I know how it goes."

He laughed quietly. "I suppose you do understand."

I stepped aside letting him walk past when he turned on his heel suddenly. "Thalia, that daughter of yours...she's amazing. I may be horrible but you-you did good with her. You and Reyna both."

"Thanks...Dad. That means a lot." With that he was gone and I was left alone. I remained in the gardens for a long time trying to process all that had happened. I felt lighter. Like a weight I'd been carrying for far too long was finally gone. It was a nice feeling and a sense of comfort I didn't quite understand settled over me.

I'd told myself I didn't need him or his approval. In honesty I didn't. I'd functioned perfectly without him, but it was wonderful to have. To know that I could do things on my own but I could also adapt.

Feeling like I'd finally put myself together I walked back towards the throne room. I was immediately reminded why I loved my family so much.

All of the kids, who were very nearly adults, seemed like they were six again. They'd found a ball and were throwing it back and forth while Artemis, now a big fluffy dog, bounded in pursuit. It was comical seeing the goddess of the moon barking happily and wagging her tail.

"Grey! I'm open!" Jaxon laughed. Grey narrowly avoided getting tackled by Artemis and chucked the ball to Jaxon. Jaxon giggled like crazy and ran away yelling until he threw it to Thia. Artemis had expected the pass and Thia was on the ground in an instant.

Her laughter was bright and crisp as she tried to keep the  ball away despite Artemis licking her face. "Haha! Arty stoooop! Heheh! The ball's mine!"

"What happened?" Reyna asked softly, interrupting my train of thought. Her eyes scanned my face and I was certain she had identified my red eyes by now.

"In all honesty I don't know," I admitted. "I think it was something good."

She titled her head and carefully took my hand in her own. "Can I see?"

"Yeah." The ring from her mother brought us back, at least subconsciously, to the discussion I'd had with my father. When it was over we snapped back to reality. "Thals, that's wonderful."

"I don't know how to feel. I'm confused," I sighed. Reyna laughed softly and wrapped her arms around my neck.

"That's okay. Baby steps right?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, I think so," I laughed. Closing my eyes I rested my forehead against hers. "I love you."

"I know," she smiled. "I love you too. Now, why don't we get Thia home. She's going to be exhausted."

"I agree." The two of us laughed for a moment.

"And after that we can do whatever you want. Just us." Reyna pressed a light kiss to my lips. "Cuddle, dance, and look at the stars. I could read to you, or we could sing stupid songs, maybe make ridiculous drawings of each other, make up stories, climb trees, race to the top of our favorite hill even though I'll beat you-"

"Right. Even though I have super speed." Eyes still closed I pulled her closer and swayed slightly with her in my arms.

"I have surprises too," she joked. "We could also listen to music, play board games, make a fort, walk the dogs, you could teach me to skate board, or I could teach you how to play chess-"

"How about hot chocolate? You love that." Reyna sighed in agreement hiding her face in my shoulder. "And maybe I can have extra marsh mellows in mine. Then we can sit on the roof and look at the stars."

"What about the heights?"

"I've learned over the years that heights don't scare me as long as I have you. Actually, a lot doesn't scare me as long as I have you."