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𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 . . .
    𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙾𝙼 𝚂𝙽𝙸𝙿𝙿𝙴𝚃. ▏ 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 & 𝒔𝒆𝒂 𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒕

𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨: mentions of war,
mentions of dark thought, vague
mentions of torture, character
deaths, vague mentions of puking
and unplanned pregnancies

𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨: mentions of past smut

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GEMMA RIVERSONG NOBLE doesn't think she'll ever get used to waking up in the arms of her fiancé as they lay in the bed of their other lover. The same lover that was missing from the comfort of the king-size bed that was in the master bedroom that is located deep within the bright sun palace on Olympus. Her beautiful, ever-loving, blonde god was busy out on his sun chariot.

  Gemma rolled over in the bed. Her pale naked body was merely wrapped in a paper-thin grey throw blanket; it just barely covered her physical form. Gemma smiled rather sleepily at the sleeping rave-haired boy in front of her. Percy was covered by a thick and fluffy dark blue blanket. He consistently complained about getting cold in the morning whenever Apollo left. Having the son of Poseidon sleep between the space heater that is the daughter of Hephaestus and a literal sun god Percy so used to begin a certain temperature whenever he slept. Apollo had to get him extra blankets to make up for it. The redhead had found it oddly enduring.

  She reached forward and brushed a few strains of raven-colored hair out of Percy's sleeping face as she admired the sleeping beauty before. She thought Percy's features were incredibly handsome, even with his hair messy from sleep and bruises forming from the previous night's activities. She could smell his distinct scent; a sort of mix of saltwater, ocean breeze, and the natural aroma of sand. Gemma loved it. The smell of saltwater and sea breeze brought her so much comfort. And with the way it mixed with Apollo; whom she swore smelt like the sweet aroma of fresh citrus, sunscreen, warmth, and the subtle fragrance of laurel leaves: just drove her mad with love.

( According to Percy, she has a distinctive and comforting scent. Something that combined the smoky aroma of burning wood with hints of pine and the lingering warmth of the flames. )

  "Stop thinking sappy thoughts and come mere," Percy calls to her in sleep sleep-ridden voice as the raven-haired boy makes a child-like grabby hand motion for her.

  "That's rich coming from the sappiest demigod I know to date." Gemma retorts with a playful laugh. The redhead smiles fondly as she rolls her soft teal-colored eyes at him. She scoots closer to the son of the Poseidon. She lets her grey blanket fall away from her nude body as she crawls closer to Percy. The redheaded girl is then quickly pulled under his heavy dark blue blanket and her body is pulled flat against his. She let out a content sigh as she felt skin-to-skin contact. Gemma hums happily as she feels Percy presses her back into his bare chest and wraps an arm comfortingly over her waist.

  Gemma lets her eyes close as she soaks in the warmth of the sun place and her partner's body heat. Gemma feels so free here. She feels safe and secure here. She feels so unbelievably loved here.

  Which was something that had taken so much time and healing to get to this very point and time.

  Everything used to be just too much for the daughter of Hephaestus to try to handle. It was something that had started with the Titan war because Gemma had been still coming down from the effects of momentarily being forced to be a vessel for Kronos and then Luke taking that over....and ultimately sacrificing himself due to it. She had to deal with the grief of losing her older half-brother, Charles Beckendorf, and then the grief of losing her best friend and Charlie's girlfriend, Silena Beauregard. Then she had to deal with the grief of losing Luke, whom even after all the torture and betrayal he put Gemma through somehow still held a place within her heart.

  It was overwhelming.

And then, Hera had gone and messed with Percy. She had snatched him up and cruelly taken away all of his memories for the sake of her plots. It had left Gemma all alone with unbelievable grief and the heavy responsibility of trying to help manage her whole cabin as they dealt with a power vacuum that was left due to the war. They had hastily made her brother, Jake Mason, head counselor of the Hephaestus cabin - her brother would go on to resign as cabin head by the end of that summer - as Jake; as well as the rest of her half-siblings who knew her all too well; had all naturally assumed that his older half-sister would finally go back home in England.

  The Hephaestus cabin had all thought that Gemma would go home and grieve. That she'd go and finally get some rest with her mortal family, but Gemma didn't. She didn't go home even though no one would have held it against her or even dared breathe a word about it. All of her cabin, and most of the cabin, knew that she had earned that right. She, more than others before her, had earned that right after everything; she had been all on the quests with Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. Moreover, Gemma Noble had been at the heart of the danger during all of the Battle of Manhattan. She had taken her hits and she had given her blows.

  Not to mention that Gemma had earned her peace and quiet after enduring torture and being forced to be a temporary vessel for an unspeakable ancient evil...But, she, like always, didn't accept it. Everyone really should have known her better, really, they should have. How was Gemma Noble ever gonna get peace when she knew Percy was out there all alone? She simply wouldn't.

  So, Gemma didn't remotely stop. She kept running and kept searching for Percy. The daughter of Hephaestus wore herself down till she was nothing, but mere exhaustion and sleeplessness...She didn't stop till she had nothing more than her pain, misery, and fear. And she couldn't begin to ask for help. Gemma had felt so disconnected from everyone. Due to all that she endured, she had started to feel like such an outsider; an outsider that was looking in on all that was going on. And that was such an intense feeling that Tartarus won't go on to remotely help with, either. She endured so much in the second war that followed the Titan War. Between Percy's kidnapping, many different fights, her fall into Tartarus, her thinking Leo was dead, and everything else that had happened it had just been too much. Just so much happening in so little time.

  She had thought, for the longest of times during the war, that she wouldn't make it. Gemma had thought that she wouldn't be remembered or missed. She had spiraled to a dark place for quite a while. And it took a lot of help to pull herself out of those trenches. But, she managed to pull herself out. She managed to survive the war.

  But, for a while after the wars, she didn't know why she was surviving. Gemma had lived and breathed so much war that living without one felt wrong and odd. It felt like it was the only thing that she truly knew and understood. That is why she never went back home. Gemma was hyper-aware that she was not the remotely same girl who had left England all those years ago for a stupid foreign exchange student program.

  Yet, now, as Gemma lays on soft white silk bedsheets and under white marble walls with a weight that feels like Elysium pressed into her delicate flesh, she understands fully why she survived everything. She understands that enduring all that she did was to get her here. It was to get her to a point in time where she knew she was loved and where she was able to give her love without abandonment or fear lingering.

"We should really shower before Polly back." Murmurs Percy begrudgingly into her soft skin as his lips ghost over her exposed shoulder before placing a delicate kiss on it. Percy Jackson, even now at the bright and shiny age of twenty-twenty, was not a morning person in the slightest of regards. Which the redheaded daughter of Hephaestus has always found rather amusing considering who they both are engaged to.

  "We really should," the redhead agrees as she becomes hyper-aware of the fact that her skin is covered in a sheen of dry sweat and other liquids. "Okay, yeah, I feel gross." She confirms with a small snort as she slowly rolls over so that she can face the son of Poseidon. "And that's entirely you're fault," she states matter of factly as she pokes him in the chest. Percy laughs a little at the redhead that he's currently tightly wrapped around and places a light feather-like kiss on her forehead.

  "Last time I checked, it was you who did not want to take a proper shower last night after everything." He retorts.

  "Hey, I would like to remind you that it's not my fault that I couldn't remotely feel my legs last night!" She huffs playfully, which causes the son of Poseidon to just smile and shake his head in amusement. "Which is all you're fault, by the way."

  "I feel like Polly played a big part in that too, so realistically, I'm only like I'm only half to blame for that." Percy retorts as he fights off an adoring grin.

  "You're both awful." She states fondly as she stares up into Percy's simmering sea-green eyes. Percy just grins in response and leans down to kiss her with fierce passion. Gemma practically melts under his fingertips as he deepens the kiss. Gemma loved the way Percy tasted. He always tasted so sweet. It was almost like that of caramel with sea salt. Gemma moved to rest her hand around his waist.

"Well, do you think you'll be able to survive the walk to the bathroom, or does my princess need to be carried there?" He questions as pulls away from her. He rubs gentle circles on her soft pale skin that is currently decorated with marks. Her collarbone, shoulders, thighs, chest, and even her wrists were covered with love marks; something that both her boyfriends were very fond of leaving, which she didn't mind. Well, except when they had to go to Camp. She did not like accidentally traumatizing some of her friends like that of Will Solace, who just happens to be the son of the god she engaged to and regularly slept with.

"Carried, obviously," Gemma stated rather playfully as she moved to wrap her arm around his neck.

"Obviously," he agrees with amusement as he scopes her up easily picks her up, and carries her off towards the bathroom that's connected to the master bedroom. He carefully put her down on the closed toilet seat before moving to reach behind a pale orange shower curtain to turn on the shower to let it warm up before they got into it.

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𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 . . .
    𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙳𝙾𝙼 𝚂𝙽𝙸𝙿𝙿𝙴𝚃. ▏ 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 & 𝒔𝒆𝒂 𝒔𝒂𝒍𝒕

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   "I think, I finally realized what the apartment's missing," GEMMA NOBLE hummed as she glanced over at Percy as the son of Poseidon moved to grab his blue hoodie. The male demigod in question was finishing getting dressed for the day. He cocked a silent, but curious, eyebrow at her as she lowered her black toothbrush from her mouth. The duo had been talking about their current redesign processes on their shared apartment in New Rome; an apartment they kept around for when they wanted to visit their various friends that now took up residence there due to various differing reasons like that of schooling or love. "I was thinking that it could use an altar. A proper altar, you know."

  "An altar?" He questions with amusement very clear in his voice. He wiggled his eyebrow in a rather suggestive manner at the redhead in question. "Why an altar? Do you want another altar for you and Polly to desecrate?" Percy questioned her teasingly causing her to blush a light red. Gemma huffed and rolled her eyes at the raven-haired boy.

"I did not desecrate that altar in Greece!" She retorts immediately, which causes Percy to snort in amusement as the daughter of Hephaestus knows what incident he was exactly talking about.

"Ah huh, and how would you exactly describe what you did on that altar then?" Percy questions her teasingly with a mischievous smirk.

  "I would call it me merely leaving myself as a sacrifice to our favorite sun god," She points out in a tone that would be too casual for anyone else. Gemma then pauses for a moment before turning fully towards Percy with her toothbrush in hand and pointing at him now. "I'd also like to offer you this food for thought, but is it considered desecrating a holy sight if the person that's fucking you in said holy sight is the literal deity that said holy sight is dedicated to?" Gemma questions. Percy lets his head fall back as pearls of laughter erupt from him. His laughter is warm and bright and unmistakably happy. It makes Gemma melt as she sees him so carefree and unburdened by the gods and by their shared heavy past.

"I think that's a matter of debate." he retorts as he smacked his lips together to keep his grin down.

"Sunshine didn't seem to mind, if anything he was the one encouraging it, so I'm saying it doesn't count as desecration."

"Some poor mortal Pagan philosopher is rolling in their grave because of that take." Percy laughs, while the redheaded girl just rolls her eyes in playful exasperation. Gemma then puts her toothbrush down in their toothbrush holder before grabbing her hairbrush and starts brushing her hair into a loose ponytail.

  "So, the altar, yeah or nah?" She questioned again as she noticed that the whole conversation had deviated away from its origins.

"I mean, sure, but is it weird for gods to have altars for other gods? I mean, I know that technically we're not gods quite yet...But, I mean, like, in a few months we will be literal Greek gods, you know?"

"My brain didn't even think about factoring that in," its as she finishes putting her red hair into a ponytail. "It's really crazy to think about. Like we both really tried to avoid immortality and godly hood for so damn long, yet look at us now. We've literally become gods just here in a few short months. That's such insanity." She states.

   "Yeah, I guess, it really is. I suppose we do stupid insane things for love," he agrees. She nods in silent agreement. Before the conversation could get a chance to continue, Gemma suddenly surges towards the toilet and haphazardly flings the lid open before emptying the contents of her stomach. Percy is quick to grab a clean towel from the towel rack before moving to sit at her side. He rubs calming circles on her back as she dry heaves a few times and her stomach twists into uncomfortable knots.

  Eventually, after a few minutes, she was able to pull away from the toilet and graciously take the towel from Percy so that she could clean her face.

"That was disgusting." She complained into the white towel.

"I'm sorry, princess. Any clues on why you'd be puking all of a sudden?"

"Maybe the rizogalo from last night isn't sitting right with my stomach or something?" She says with a small shrug.

"Yeah?"

"I'll have Sunshine look me over when he gets home, so you can quit you're over worrying, Perc. Or need I reminded you of the fact that we're literally marrying the god of medicine and all," she tells him reassuringly as she moves to actually wash her face and brush her teeth yet again. After a few more minutes, the couple then made their way out of the bathroom and back into the master bedroom where they found a certain blonde godly archer waiting for them.

"Speak of the devil, well, god," she says teasingly as she instantly moves towards the bed. Apollo raised an eyebrow in question at the girl. "We were just talking about you," she hums happily as she moves closer to the sun god. He was tall, muscular, and bronzed. Apollo moved to wrap a hand around her waist before pulling her close so that he could kiss her. She instantly moved to wrap her hand around his neck so that she could deepen the kiss. Gemma smiled into their kiss. Kissing Apollo was like coming home and tasting the radiant sun all in one go. It was truly ethereal.

"Well, hello to you too, Princess," Apollo says with a wide smirk as he slowly pulls away from the redhead. He then glances over at their other partner as he moves to sit on the bed next to them.

Gemma noticed that the god of the sun was wearing his long golden hair tied back in a man bun and wearing his Greek robe of gold. He looked truly earth-shattering and glowing like the bright sun.

  "Peruses," He greets the boy as he reaches forward to rest his hand on his cheek before pressing the sweetest of kisses to his lips. "I miss you both like crazy this morning."

"Sunshine, you were barely gone for a few hours." Notes Gemma amusedly as she rolled her eyes at him. She loved him, and yeah, he could be a bit over dramatic at times and had a way of getting on her nerves other times, but he always had an unwavering loyalty and affection. His love was unwavering and was true utter devotion. His passion for them, for kids, and for all that he held as his domain was something that Gemma found remarkable. His unwavering love and loyalty were traits that Gemma was so very attracted to.

  "Cold-hearted this one is." Apollo teases lightheartedly.

  "You'll have to cut Gem some slack. She got randomly sick a few minutes ago and I think it's clearly clouding her from relating to our truly sappy selves," Percy notes.

"You're sick, princess?"

"Like I told Percy, I probably just ate something bad, or my stomach just randomly hating me, or hell it could just be my period or something." She rambles out with a casual shrug.

"You mind?" He questioned as he raised an eyebrow at her and his hand ghosting over her stomach that was covered by her white sweater.

"Knock yourself out. I already told pretty over here that'd have you look at, even though it's probably nothing." Hums Gemma. Apollo nodded and pressed his hand to her abdomen. She felt warmth spread across her stomach as his hand glowed faintly. Apollo blinked in utter surprise.

"Everything okay?" Percy questioned their partner. Apollo shifted sheepishly and was acting strangely jumpy. Gemma narrowed her eyes concernedly.

"Apollo, what's wrong?"

"So, you're not dying," Apollo started as he nervously clapped his hands together. Percy raised his eyebrows at Apollo. The last time the son of Poseidon saw this twitchy was back when the sun god had temporarily been mortal. 

"Terrible way to start, but go on." Gemma ushers.

"Well, I don't exactly know how to tell you this....but you're pregnant." He finally says after trying to avoid the question. "We should probably have my sister verify and all that, but I'm certain I felt another life force."

"Isn't that good news? You're acting like that not good news?" Gemma says as she reaches forward to hold Apollo's face in her hands and tilts her head in curiosity. Apollo's face wears a look that's caught between confusion and nervousness. She glanced at Percy, who was wearing the same look of confusion.

It was no secret that Percy wanted a family. He always wanted kids and always wanted to be a dad. He wanted to be the kind of parent that his own mother, Sally Jackson, had been to him. As for Gemma, well, she for the longest time thought that she would not be suited to be a mom. But, with how she took charge of her cabin and how she pretty much started unintentionally becoming a mother figure to the whole Apollo cabin, her thoughts on the matter quickly changed. As for Apollo, well, he obviously already had his own kids. In fact, for the longest time, the number of kids in the Apollo cabin had been the very thing keeping them from getting together in the first place. Percy and Gemma had been worried that he couldn't give up having mortal lovers...they both knew how the gods could be and the flings they would inevitably have.

  But, ultimately, it had been surprising been Artemis of all gods got them together. The goddess of the hunt did not want her brother to be happy and had urged them to merely talk to her brother about the thing that was preventing them all from being happy. And well, the rest is history.

"I thought you didn't want... with me or...." he didn't get a chance to finish his incoherent sentence as Gemma smashed her lips against his. He looked temporarily dazed but melted into her kiss.

  "You're a fool, Apollo," she chided lightheartedly. "But you're my fool." she starts as she moves to hold his face in her hands.

  "Our fool. A beautiful one at that." Percy adds. Gemma shots Percy a look, and he just grins in a silent response. She turns her attention back to the blonde in her hands. She places another kiss on him, although this one lighter than the last. But, the sentiment and affection all the same as the last kiss.

"Of course, I want your kids." She reassures before turning and reaching out to Percy to pull him close. "I want both of your kids. When you jokingly said something about kids years ago, I was not in the right mind space, but now, well... I think I'm as ready as I could be. I want the baby if you do."

"I do want it. But, the choice isn't mine to make. It's yours." He retorts.

"Than will have it. We're gonna have a baby!" She grins brightly as tears fill her eyes.

  "We have so much to plan." Percy laments as he slowly smiles uncontrollably. Apollo snorts in amusement as he moves to place a kiss on his cheek.

"You sound just like Annabeth when you say that." Apollo hums amusedly.

"Well, it's true! Babies are a very serious thing, Polly."

"Oh my gods!" Grasped Gemma suddenly as she looked mortified as she had a terrified realization. "How am I gonna tell my mum? I haven't seen her in what is now like seven or eight or so years now? I can't just show up and be like surprise mum, I'm pregnant! That's absolute madness!"

"Will figure it out, my love," Apollo reassures as he pulls her into her chest and hugs her tightly.