While Selena was being bid farewell by her grandmother and grandpa, Artemis was nervously exiting her tent. The Hunt was currently camped in Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee, and the sun was mostly blocked by the dense forestry around them.

Her hunters were spread out around the campsite. The most densely-packed common area was the campfire, which was nothing but ashes currently since it was roughly 10AM. Some were standing or walking around the campsite, conversing or doing their own chores and errands. A couple had even set up hammocks and were resting since their lady had declared they weren't shifting campsites today. She also had an important announcement to make.

In fact, the time for that announcement was now. Artemis raised her fingers to her mouth and blew a loud whistle that caught all the Hunt's attention, and like trained dogs they all flocked over to the campfire where she stood.

Once they were all seated or standing around looking at her the goddess folded her arms and cleared her throat. "Hunters, I have an important announcement." She paused for a second. "While I was on Delos, and again I have to express how truly sorry I am for abandoning you-"

Artemis was cut off by Atalanta, one of her most senior hunters. "We've already forgiven you, milady. We understand why you and lord Apollo had to go there." She assured her patron, who had felt nothing but immense guilt ever since returning from the island, having felt in real time when each of her hunters fell to Orion and other monsters, pained knowing that she couldn't help them.

"Anyway, while I was on Delos there were... changes in my life, ones that may affect you all. In fact, there were changes before then, just after the Titan War..." She trailed off, not having pre-planned her speech and bordering on rambling.

The Hunters all looked at her and each other in confusion, wondering what on earth their lady was talking about. She steeled herself and prepared for any shouting and storming off that would occur in the next thirty seconds. The auburn-haired goddess held out her arms slightly, doing nothing to dispel the confusion of the girls in front of her.

There was a blinding flash, prompting all of them to shut their eyes. A small form appeared in her hand as though it had always been there - quick as a flash. When the light died down the girls were able to open their eyes and most gasped.

A baby no older than a few months lay in Artemis' arms. She was dressed in a green onesie and her notable eyelashes gave away her gender as a girl, thankfully. The baby made a small noise as it lay eyes on its mother, happy to be in familiar arms once again as it got comfy being cradled.

"I'd like you all to meet Selena. She is my trueborn daughter, and I figured since I consider you girls all family then I couldn't leave you in the dark on this. I'm sorry, I have no words to repent for what I did." She looked down, holding the baby regretfully, which would be a great story for Selena to hear later in life. Her mom introduced her to the Hunt and promptly apologized for her existence.

Most of the Hunters were silent. Some whispered to each other, but none spoke to Artemis. However, none stood up, none glared, none made any moves. Atalanta, Artemis' own niece through Apollo, eventually held her hands up to be handed Selena, and once she had the babe in her arms the daughter of Apollo began to cradle and coo her.

Selena giggled, and eventually it turned into a big game of pass along as each Hunter got her own turn to hold the overly excited newborn. Selena had a grand old time as she got to personally meet every one of her new sisters face to face, her smile and cuteness being reciprocated with tickles and coddling.

Eventually it came Thalia's turn to hold her, and as she bounced the tiring baby she looked her over. She looked only somewhat like Artemis, meaning she must have looked more like her father, whomever that was. Gods didn't have DNA apparently - hence why sons of Ares didn't come out looking like Dionysus, they were only biologically related to their godly parent, their mortal parent, and their mortal parent's relations.

The daughter of Zeus looked into the eyes of the baby and a sinking feeling arose within her. Eyes like that were rare, in fact she had only ever seen three people with those eyes. The fact that Artemis highly regarded one of the males was ever concerning and built a mound of suspicion in her.

There was an air of stoicism as many of the hunters tried their best to come to terms with the fact that their lady had broken her millennia-old vows. In fact, had she not been accompanied by a cute baby, Artemis felt she would have had a few resignations to deal with. She was relieved that none had come her way already. No one looked happy about anything except holding Selena, but overall it was a better reaction than she had been hoping for.

Eventually her own silence was broken by one of her hunters, Mikayla, asking if Selena was gonna live with them in the Hunt. Artemis smiled and looked at the daughter of Hermes. "Well, um, we'll work it out. She can probably stay with her... father... while we hunt, but she'll definitely become a regular around camp. Who knows, as she grows she might join herself?" She suggested.

All of the Hunters were satisfied with this answer. Some silently stirred, inferring from her comment that the father was still alive and, therefore, had gotten away with boning their lady. They also tried to get the image of Artemis banging a guy out of their heads, it was a bad enough revelation without a mental film adaptation.

---

If Selena's introduction to the Hunt went better than expected, her father's didn't.

Thalia simmered with her suspicions, not sure whether to hope in favor of them being true or false. What would be the downsides of them being true? Maybe the fact that should his identity be revealed she would actually feel bad stumbling upon his arrow-ridden body. What would be the downsides of them being false? Probably the idea of someone worth less than the most worthy guy on the planet having knocked their maiden lady up and lived to tell the tale, hopefully not literally.

It seemed like Artemis was wise to actually bring Selena along when breaking the news, as most of the hunters were too focused on their lady's adorable new daughter. That was another boon, she came with a girl and not a boy. It probably lessened the pain they were all feeling.

The newborn was particularly attached to the older hunters like Phoebe and Atalanta, probably seeing a bit of her mom and uncle in them since the former looked a lot like the goddess and the latter was the god's daughter. As they held her up to play with her Selena would grab onto their shirts to hold herself close, looking side to side at the other hunters trying to get her attention or a better look at her.

Thalia and Artemis sat together on a log at the fire pit across from the hunters currently holding her. Artemis had her arms wrapped around her knees tapping her fur-booted foot on the dirt impatiently watching her daughter playing with her new sisters. She was thoroughly relieved they had taken to her, the only scenario worse than the Hunt disbanding was the Hunt hating Selena.

Thalia picked at the grass to the right of the log. She questioned whether to prod her lady with her suspicions. How would she react if she was right? Would she even tell her?

Artemis hoped Selena's features weren't too obvious. They would definitely become more prominent as she grew but at least she and Percy would have time to figure out a plan in terms of the public nature of Selena's parentage. They couldn't both coincidentally have mysteriously had a kid during the Giant War and then act like it wasn't each other's.

Thalia scraped some crunchy leaves with her boot. "Milady-"

"Artemis?"

Several hunters sprang into action as they heard the voice, especially one directed at their lady. Many who had their bows on hand drew arrows in the bowstring and pointed it at the voice. Artemis and Thalia's heads both snapped in the direction with wide eyes, recognizing the voice and ready to cry out for the Hunters to hold their fire. As Phoebe drew her arrow she stood protectively in front of Atalanta, who turned her body to shield the baby she held in her arms.

"Percy." Artemis whispered under her breath as she stood quickly. Thalia heard and noticed, but didn't say anything about it as she beckoned her subordinates to hold their fire.

Artemis held out a hand and quickly walked over to Percy, knowing that if she was standing right in front of him her hunters wouldn't dare let their fingers slip. She was speechless, not having predicted him showing up to her camp like this, and not having prepared for the occasion of the Hunt finding out exactly who Selena's father was. No one even had to say anything out loud, Percy's mere presence at the camp the day Artemis returned with a baby saying a man she refused to identify had knocked her up explained everything.

"What are you doing? You'll get killed-" She hissed, trying not to let the Hunt see her genuine concern for the demigod. The time for pretending was over anyway, and Percy proceeded to cut her off.

"I need to do this, and I know it's risky and I can't bear the thought of not being there for her. But I can't bear the thought of not being with you either." He told the goddess, on the verge of crying. He was in a position hundreds of mortal men and women had been placed in for millennia, and he choked at the memory of their fate.

Artemis shook her head, shocked at Percy's suicidal daring. He couldn't risk semi-orphaning Selena to just appear at the Hunt's camp. "What are you t-" She tried to speak, but Olympus' steadfast maiden goddess was silenced by a pair of lips returning to the embrace of hers.

The Hunters all gasped, suspecting the truth but not at all expecting Percy's daring. Many looked homicidal, many more looked shocked into a stupor, only Thalia cringed at his likely fatal action.

While the crowd of teenage girls felt nothing but outrage at the boy's audacity, the auburn haired goddess felt a whirlwind of emotions. The maiden of the silver arrow didn't draw a weapon, she didn't throw her thumbs into his eyes, she didn't even pull away. To the shock and horror of everyone else there, she closed her eyes and leaned on her right foot, bringing up her fingerless-leather-gloved left hand to hold his cheek. The feeling of his temple and heating skin brought goosebumps to her skin, and reality escaped her as Artemis kissed back with all the desire and love locked away in her under denial and pride.

In between their kisses Percy struggled to regain his breath. "I love you Artemis. You don't have to say it back. I don't care. I can wait. I can be content with holding you." He whispered in between every kiss.

Artemis smiled, her perfect godlike teeth showing. Her eyelids remained low as he saw nothing but his enchanting sea-green eyes. Those same eyes had been what had lured her in. For some reason his eyes, though she never took notice of Poseidon's, just captivated her in an entirely unexplainable way. "Don't wait. I love you too, Percy." She whispered back.

None of the hunters heard, they were all still in shock at the sight of their lady making out with the Hero of Olympus. None even had their weapons raised anymore. Their lady's lack of a struggle had made the message clear. Regardless of them, she was doing this. The virgin Goddess of the Hunt had found a mate, and she had a cub.

Well, if the mate stayed in line, the Hunt could be happy with the new cub.

Sorry that ending was rushed. Thought I'd have finished this weeks ago so began posting chapter by chapter... then went AWOL for a couple weeks as I had no motivation to write the ending. Working on an exciting story though and I'm planning to release it in thirds (write the first third and upload it a chapter a day, then write the second third, etc). It's an idea where Percy was the Roman demigod and Jason was the Greek. Jason did the quests like SoM and Labyrinth while Percy ended up becoming Imperator due to all his achievements. When the two camps meet in the Giant War there's sorta an alpha dog confrontation over who's better. Anyway, I hope you guys are all doing well. I hope you enjoyed this here little story, and I'll be back soon with more stuff hopefully.

I also need to work on some of my other shit like Blue Sky Country and Change of Scenery. Whoops.

Word Count: 13531