P R E V I O U S L Y
Ariadne couldn't remember anything after that, as everything seemed like a blur.

➶︎ THE STORM, THE CALM !

( third person perspective. )

     EVERYONE WAS EXHAUSTED. They have been continuously attacked. The lizard they thankfully managed to suppress didn't even end in a victory cheer. It was like a final line for the campers, and no one can deny it now. How? Maybe it's okay now because they managed to defeat the monster, but what about tomorrow? What about the next time? Zeus knows that a camp full of demigods bound to bring a bigger monster the longer they wait. Everyone was sensitive, and most have already harbored negative thoughts. The only thread of hope left was for Clarisse and the castaways to come back soon.

    Putting the small bunch of hair into a pigtail, Ariadne finally finished doing Amaris' hair. She looked down at the small babe, watching as the once sunken cheeks now turned into a very healthy plump of fat. Amaris had this natural flush on her cheeks that highlighted her blue eyes. She looked opposite of Ariadne, whose brown hair looked like the shade of chocolate, chestnut eyes complimenting her warm, doe look. You know who Amaris looked like, though? Lee Fletcher. She looked exactly like an Apollo kid; blonde hair which glistened in the sunlight and beautiful blue eyes complimenting those features.

Putting on a hat for the child, Ariadne carried her in her arms. Speaking of Lee—

"Why don't we go visit brother Lee, hm?" Ariadne asks softly, inciting a happy yes! from Amaris, the child putting her arms around Ariadne's shoulders.

    The walk to the Apollo cabin was peaceful, for once in her life. She'd never thought that camp would be quiet, but she suppose everyone's too busy resting after the tiring events this morning. Reaching the 'Cabin 7' sign, she knocked on the laurel door softly. There were shuffling sounds in the cabin, before it opened to reveal a boy named Jay who was around 12 years of age.

"Good morning, Jay," spoke Ariadne softly, careful not to speak loud in any case that any of the members were sleeping.

All for naught, however, because Jay immediately screamed, "Brother Lee! Ariadne's here."

She got pulled in the Cabin after he said that, looking flustered as one hand carried Amaris and another held onto Jay's very surprisingly tight hold. Around 17 tired eyes looked at her, before sending a bunch of different greetings like hi, hey, hello, morning, and—

"Sister Ariadne!" shouted Gracie, barreling her into a hug.

"Gracie! What's the matter?" She spoke, laughing slightly at the small girl who hid herself behind Ariadne.

"Save me! Brother Lee's making me drink mortal medicine!" She whined.

"Mortal medicine which you need to heal, Gracie," said a tired voice.

Ah yes, there in all his glory was her beloved man, Lee Fletcher, whose usually kept golden hair was now a mess, his eye bags heavy and prominent. Yet, it seems the man was still sporting a smile, despite all the tiredness of the rough past few days. He held the medicine in one hand, the other hand holding a dirty shirt who seemed to belong to one of his half-siblings.

    "But I've already taken ambrosia!" Gracie complained.

    Lee sighed, putting the dirty shirt into the laundry basket before stepping towards his sibling. Gracie shook her head, burrowing it into Ariadne's skirt. Finally, the man himself turned his eyes towards her, a pleading look on his face as he gave her a smile that came out more a grimace than a grin. She gave him a smile of sympathy in return, taking the medicine from him and handing him Amaris, who put her arms around the sixteen year old boy instantly.

    "Gracie," She started, her hand coming on top of the girl's head, "you need to take this medicine because you already took as many ambrosia as you could and it isn't enough to heal you."

    Gracie shook her head intently, "But—"

    "C'mon, I know it tasted bad, but it'll only be for a little while. If you don't eat this, the poison damage could be permanent."

    The word permanent seemed to instill something to her, because she let go of Ariadne's skirt.

    "Fine," She relented with a grimace, taking the medicine and gulping it down on one go, immediately letting out an eurgh!

    Lee ruffled her hair, "Atta girl, now go to your bed and rest, I'll wake you up in a few hours."

    The small girl let out a huff before going to her bed.

    There was a small silence between the two of them for a while, the mindless chatter of the rest of his siblings filling their ears. Finally, a voice broke down the silence.

    "I wanna play with brother Austin," Declared Amaris.

    Lee put on a smile once again before paying attention to the child in his arms, "Alright, let me take you to him."

    Ariadne watched as he brought Amaris to Austin who was playing cards on the floor with Michael, the both of them smothering Amaris with attention immediately. She chuckled at their interaction, the child seemed to relish in attention. By the time Lee went back to Ariadne who was still by the door, a little away from his siblings, his smile seemed to drop. He held her arm, intertwining their fingers gently, as if he was holding something fragile. Lee sighed, and in that moment the sixteen year old boy just seemed a lot older than he should have been.

    Amaris rubbed her thumb on his hand, whispering so that no one but them could hear, "Tired?"

    "Very," he whispered back, his eyes closing as if to rest, "If I knew that being Cabin leader would be this exhausting, I would have never accepted it when Nathan offered back then. It's like I suddenly became a father of 17 children—and I'm only sixteen."

    "You haven't showered," She noted, seeing the small patches of blood, dust, and grime on his hair and neck.

    "Yeah, but after all of this, I barely have the energy to shower."

    She frowned, before tugging his hand to the bathroom, "Come, I'll wash you."

    His eyes snapped opened, "Woah?"

    "Not like that, idiot." She rolled her eyes, before pulling him into the bathroom.

    She sat him on the floor, and made him lean his head on the tub. Not a single word was exchanged as she turned on the shower head, nor did anyone say anything when she scrubbed her hands through his hair to clean off the mess; but by the way his muscles loosened up and his eyes closed, she could tell he was feeling a lot better now.

    After she finished washing his hair, she took a small towel to dry it off. It was only when she was rubbing the towel on his hair that she felt his hand touch hers, making her pause her actions. Lee brought her hand to his mouth to give it a soft kiss, opening his eyes with a tender look on his face.

    "Thank you," he whispered, "I don't know how I got so lucky with you."

    Truly, he meant his words. Never in his life had he felt so lucky as he looked at his partner in front of him. Her eyes, full of affection and her heart, filled with agape. When Lee was younger and attending history classes in Athena's Cabin, he studied about the hero Odysseus. Odysseus was gone from home—from his family for twenty years. Back then, Lee never understood how Odysseus still had a fight to return home even though his life was at stake and the journey was way too traumatic for a man to do. There are more cons than pros, said Lee back then. Now, as he looked at Ariadne's eyes, Lee could understand a bit of what Odysseus understood. There was nothing that comes in between—be it the worst of monsters or even the mightiest gods— that could stop Lee from ever returning by Ariadne's side. If something were to ever happen, Lee swore he would fight as long as was needed just so he could be under Ariadne's warmth once more, be it two decades or more.

    Ariadne smiled at him, and he swore his heart stopped as red coated his cheeks. He sat himself up, putting his hand on her cheek before bringing her down for a kiss. His lips crashed into hers, so desperate for it that she had to hold his arm to stabilize herself.  It was as if he had been waiting for this for a long time—desperate, like an impatient tiger having to wait for the right time to finally strike its prey. And, just like a tiger who never lets go of its prey, he doesn't seem to have any intention in letting her escape.

Unbeknownst to them, a certain goddess of love watches them under her magnifying glass, smiling. Is that so? the goddess giggles, her excitement rising. She has heard his thoughts, and intends to see and test it out.

Let the love story of the century begin.

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i'm backkkkkkk
missed me?

plot's finally starting too
omgee i'm so excited