★ kee speaks daughter of selene reader >:) azul helped me with this so part of the concept goes to her (hi again) this is set somewhere in the early books of the heroes of olympus before any battles

Being a daughter of Selene, the moon goddess, has its pros (and cons, I have my cons, too). I can control moonlight, and so can all of my half-siblings, and I can do it much more frequently than the Apollo kids. The Hunters of Artemis either get along really well with me or see me as their rival, but I prefer the first one. I can communicate with people well, too. Somehow that makes up for the fact that my older half-sister joined Kronos in the Second Titan war and destroyed two small towns in about a week of doing so.

Tonight, I felt a little uneasy, and I missed my mom, so I quietly changed my clothes and put on my shoes. Cabin 23 wasn't hard to notice, so I snuck out of the back window. I wanted to go to the beach tonight and take some time to look at the moon like I always did. I always got away with it too.

The sky was almost completely cloudless, and I was glad that it was. I couldn't see the moon from where I was, so I began my walk to the beach. I nearly tripped on a tree root on my way out of the ring of cabins for other minor gods and goddesses. Raising my hand up as if to grasp something invisible, I muttered a small prayer to my mother.

A moment later I held a swirling ball of moonlight to light my way. As I got closer, the fresh, dewy smell of the forest went away and the smell of saltwater reached me. It was always colder near the beach. The sharp scent of stinging, salty water and fine sand told me the waves were a little stronger tonight. I let go of my light source and ran towards the shore. The sand silenced my footsteps.

There was a rather large rock nearby, and I decided I would take my place there. I glanced one more time at the moon, which had been covered by a cloud. Approaching the rock, a silhouette moved, startling me.

"Y/N! What...are you doing here?"

"Hey. Sorry about that," I murmured. Sitting beside Connor, I realized my vision was lined with a soft glow. "Sorry about that, too."

Connor relaxed beside me. "It's okay. I guess I'm starting to get used to the glowing thing of children of Selene."

I chuckled. "I arrived here at camp three years ago, and you're still not used to it?"

"Mm. Just like you're not used to my pranks."

I frowned, remembering the time he filled all the pillowcases in my cabin with rocks.

"Y/N."

"What?"

"Y/N!"

"Yes, Connor?"

"Why aren't you asleep?"

I almost thought he was joking, but then I remembered this is the first time we'd actually met at this time, at one of the places I would go to when everyone else was asleep.

"I do this a lot," I explained. "My mom's the moon goddess, obviously, and, um, I like going out to open places to see her."

"You like to stay up, too?"

I nodded.

"Cool. Wanna know why I'm awake?"

"Why?" As soon as I said that I knew he was about to make a joke.

"To stay on guard for your mom. I have to keep an eye out for Selener."

I made a tsk sound and lightly hit this shoulder. "That's not funny. It's weird. Mortal humor is really something else."

"You sound like you're much older, like a Hunter." He sounded as if he was trying to hold back from laughing too hard. "And it is funny! I'm really awake for that. I'm telling the truth, princess."

I glanced at him. "You're awake just for that?"

"Yeah." He looked away and avoided my eyes. I heard his voice shake a little.

"Are you okay? If you don't want to talk, though, I can just, stay and...play with the sand or something."

He didn't answer and I stayed in my seat. Nearby, something small moved. More and more came out and something much bigger followed, twice the size of my hand.

I gathered moonlight and saw that it was just some crabs. I dispersed the light and looked up at the moon. I wasn't tired at all, and that fact always baffled me. Connor yawned beside me.

"It seems like you need sleep."

He shook his head. "I can't. Not now. The harpies aren't gonna come for us, either. Gave them a little something to go to bed early."

I ignored the last statement. "Maybe you can sleep. You're getting sleepy," I answered. Though I knew he meant to say something else, behind the now.

I didn't want to pry for answers, so I waited.

"...Y/N, I'm scared."

I tried a smile. "You? Scared?"

I couldn't see his eyes in the weak light but I knew he was frowning. "I'm sorry. It's about Percy, isn't it?"

"Yeah, and the whole Gaea thing. What if Leo and Piper and Jason don't return?"

I put a hand on his shoulder. "I can't tell you not to think of that because it never just works like that, but I can tell you to believe or at least hope they'll succeed. We'll be okay."

He didn't answer. It was strange seeing him like this; he was always smiling and laughing and running around. I don't think I've ever seen Connor scared, not even when he and Travis got caught setting up the worst pranks. He would just smirk and run a hand through his hair as Chiron or whoever caught them spiraled into a lecture. Not in any quests or dangerous games we've been in either. It was really new to me.

"Hey." I hesitantly stretched my arm out further so I was half-hugging him now. "We'll be okay. It might seem hard but we can do this."

He sighed and held his arms out for a hug. "Please don't die," He whispered into my hair.

"You too. And I won't. I'm sure we'll be fine, Con."

I was very aware of the fact that we were full on hugging already, and even more aware that the moon was right above us. Oh no. Oh no. Please, please, I hope I was blushing and not glowing.

Connor chuckled and pulled away. "You're glowing, Y/N. Literally."

I dug my shoe into the sand, covering my face. "Don't look at me."

"How can I not?"

"Stop!" I whined, face feeling hot.

"Travis, Connor—" I panted, running up to them. I could barely hear myself over the clamor of the battle raging on. The Athena Parthenos stood in the distance.

"What's up, Y/N?" Travis asked, way too casually. I shot down a Telkhine with two arrows so we could actually talk.

Connor looked like he was having the time of his life. He brushed his hair away from his eyes. "Hey there, princess."

No one probably saw it in the day but my body flickered with light. "The land mines aren't working!"

"WHAT?" They asked simultaneously.

"Not at all, where did you put them?"

We all looked away, trying to recall. When I remembered, I cursed. "It's on the wrong hill!"

"The wrong hill?!"

"Y/N, move!"

Something flew toward us and I was pushed to the ground. I didn't see either of the Stolls long after the ringing in my ears had faded.

"We had one home, now we have two." Reyna gave Nico a hug and the crowd erupted in cheers. I joined them, of course. I survived, something not all demigods could do.

I caught Annabeth's smile from beside Percy, and I nearly cried at how thankful I was for them making it out of Tartarus. If Connor hadn't found that note, I don't know what could have happened.

Speaking of Connor...I still haven't seen him or Travis ever since I went to them after reporting about the land mines. I recalled our promise to each other that night at the beach. I frowned lightly, trying to remember if I saw anyone with a mop of curly brown hair.

I felt something be taken out of my pocket and I spun around. I smiled in relief, seeing the familiar elfish smile and baggy shorts. Connor turned and ran.

"Connor!" I called, running after him. "Con, wait!"

He laughed. "Catch me if you can!"

We were running away from the campfire now, wind rippling through our clothes. When he stopped running I didn't even hesitate to throw my arms around him.

He hugged back as we steadied ourselves. "You're alive. Oh my gods, you're alive."

"Yeah. You too." I looked up at his grinning face. "Now give me back whatever you took, Stoll."

"Just like old times, huh?"

My stomach did somersaults. "Old times? The last time I asked for something back was two days ago."

"We would have never done it again if we didn't win. I'm so glad you're alright."

"Yes. We're okay now, aren't we?"

"Yeah." He smiled playfully.

"What's that look?" I asked suspiciously.

He smirked. "Nothing, you're just really cute."

I may have melted. "No, you are."

"No, you."

"No, you're cuter, Connor."

"Just ask her already!" Someone yelled from the campfire. I could tell from the silhouette that it was Travis.

"Please don't mind him." Connor laughed nervously.

"Uh, ask me what?"

"...Will you be my girlfriend? And if you'd let me, I'd very much like to kiss you."

My face broke into a grin and it took me a moment to process what he said. "Oh. Oh, gods. Yes, of course!"

"Really?!"

"Yeah?"

"Really really?"

"Yes, now come here, you dork."

He held my chin, pressing our lips together and I giggled, lovestruck.