A.N. Sigh…Well I'm back and I'm sorry. Also, I read every single review so don't hesitate. Read bottom for important things I had to say and also the self-given slaps =).

CHAP. 10: THE JOURNEY

Percy was shocked at first and immediately reddened when Styx kissed him, but eased and returned the kiss at last with as much enthusiasm. Percy never felt like this before, filled with unusual pleasure and content that he had not felt in a long, long time. Percy finally felt complete and free of his despair and depression that he did not know he had until now.

They broke apart with sudden desire for air and with tomato red faces. They both were breathing heavily and smiling at each other when Percy asked, "Why?"

Styx leaned toward him and smiled. "Percy, ever since you came to my river, you gave me hope, a chance to believe in this world again instead of sulking around in the murky waters. My husband," she said. Percy's eyes widened. "—is Pallas."

Percy's eyes got bigger than ever. "Like the Titan of war craft? Styx, you could be in trouble! Hera would have your head for thi—" Styx silenced him leaning forwards and giving him another kiss.

Styx pulled back and smiled again. "Listen Percy, I wasn't done. Pallas abandoned me. After he saw the kind of monster I gave birth to, he saw nothing good in me anymore. He left me, Percy."

Tears were starting to roll down her face as she held onto Percy for comfort. Percy grabbed a hold of her and pulled her tight, trying to be reassuring. "Don't worry, Styx, no one will ever hurt you as long as you are with me, I won't let them. I promise. Now, who is it that you gave birth to that made Pallas want to leave you behind?" he gently asked. Styx looked up with big blue eyes, as if thinking he would leave her too if she told. Percy smiled. "Don't worry, Styx, I will never abandon you. You mean everything to me now."

Styx smiled and nodded. "I gave birth to Scylla, but I seeing her made Pallas full of anger and he tossed her away, so far and so high that she got stuck in the middle of the Sea of Monsters on top of a very large cliff, with demigods the only thing she can feed on. I would never have thought one of my children would be cast away by my own…ex," she said and smiled.

Percy grinned. "You have me now, and I will never let you go when you need me."

And with that, Styx cuddled up close to Percy and watched the sunset break the sky into beautiful colors of red, orange, pink and purple.

There was a knock on the door of Percy's room. His eyes flew open as he immediately realized Styx's head was resting upon his chest, peacefully asleep. Percy was careful not to wake her, but couldn't get up either. He had an idea. He focused on Grover's mind and sent a message to him.

What is it Grover? You're disturbing me form my very beautiful and precious sleep.

The knocking stopped. Umm, Percy? I don't know if I'm able to talk back to you, but I just wanted to let you know that I couldn't find Styx anywhere. She's disappeared.

Percy smirked. He decided to use another one of his godly powers to silently swing open the door using nothing but his mind and a flick of his wrist.

The door of his room slowly opened, revealing a shocked Grover. He almost fainted when he saw Percy smirking with Styx sleeping on his chest. Percy quickly brought up his finger to his lips, signaling Grover to be quiet.

Grover swallowed hard and nodded like his head was about to fall off. Percy had to keep his snicker under control when he saw this. The satyr slowly backed away and closed the door after Percy signaled that he'll be up in a few.

He let Styx sleep for a little longer, but once the curtains flew open from the ocean breeze, the bright sunlight shined over her eyes. She started to wake and twisted around towards the light. Her eyes slowly opened and found themselves turning to meet the bright sea blue eyes. Her smile quickly widened as she brought herself up and gave Percy a quick kiss.

Percy smiled back. "Morning, beautiful," he said. Styx frowned. "Who. Me?"

Percy rolled his eyes and said, "Come on, we'll be leaving Grover on his own for breakfast."

And with a giggle from Styx, they left the room together towards the dining hall of the ship.

Pieces of tinfoil tinkled and waxing paper crumpled up into tiny bite-sized balls. Grover prepared his meal as he asked Percy about their next move.

"Sho, Bershy, wash our nesht moov?" he mumbled with a food filled mouth. Percy snorted but understood. He got up and walked out to the ship's railing with his companions following him and looked to the horizon.

"Well, G-man, we should be near the Sohm Plain by now or at least near there and will probably reach the Azores by sundown," he explained seriously.

Grover had a goofy, puzzled look upon his face and was confused. Styx however, understood and nodded. Percy sighed and gave Grover a brief and approximate location of their boat and where they'll get by sundown.

With his understanding, he went to fetch more food from the pantry for lunch and dinner, and left Percy discussing the plan for the day.

"We'll have to skirt around the Mid-Atlantic Ridge if we want to avoid the merpeople of Atlantis. They can be pretty vicious," said Percy.

Styx frowned. "Wait, doesn't your father live in Atlantis with Amphitrite? And aren't the merpeople of Atlantis supposed to be helpful and nice? Don't they help heroes get back to good health?" she asked.

Percy just shook his head. "Tell me Styx, have those heroes been seen since?"

Styx's face contorted with deep thought. Percy grinned. "Styx, they trap anyone that crosses their waters and kill them. First of all, yes, my father does live in Atlantis, but that isn't the real Atlantis, just an underwater palace he named it after," he started, but was suddenly interrupted by a booming and familiar voice.

Just an underwater palace? Just? Don't forget that it took me 600 years to create the perfect game room itself, let alone the whole palace! Poseidon boomed.

Percy looked to the fresh, see-through water and grinned. "I know dad, I know. I'm just explaining that the palace isn't the real Atlantis. Okay?" he laughed.

Uh, yeah. Yeah, I guess. Well, Perce, that's goodbye for now. Don't forget, Olympus is with you!

Percy turned back to Styx and started to speak. "So, I guess that's dealt with—"

Oh, and one more thing! Don't forget to bring dear Styx to your mother and I after the quest, we'll want to see our new—"

Percy did not let him go any further. "Dad! Please! You're embarrassing me! Just—go and count your fish or something!" He waited until he was sure the Sea God was gone. He turned to Styx once again and was intensely ashamed to see a bright red river goddess that seemed to be interested in the ship's floorboards. Percy turned beet red himself and ignored this while continuing.

"So... uh…since you know about the actual Atlantis now, I'll give you an idea of where it is so that we'll know to avoid it." With that, Percy brought his hand up and over the ship's railing and conjured a map made pure black water and only water. Styx didn't understand, but as the water thickened at some areas and others, she was finally looking at a detailed map of the Atlantic Ocean. Near the Atlantic ridge, a glowing Greek 'alpha' was shining through the water. Percy pointed at it. "This is Atlantis. That is where we shouldn't go. Understand?"

Styx nodded. Before he could say more, Grover burst through the doors leading to the inside of the ship. He had a very worried look on his face and was bursting to spill the news. Percy ran up to him and shook him. "What is it, G-man? Tell me! Is it monsters you saw throughout the telescope?"

Grover shook his head furiously. "Perce—the pantry's empty! There is no more food, I searched the entire ship!"

Percy and Styx just stared. Then Styx started to speak.

"Well, Percy and I can go on for a while without food, but we need to find some food for you or you won't last a—"

Percy interrupted her with a laugh followed by a bit more laughter. Styx and Grover stared at him quizzically. They didn't believe he was taking this so lightly, when his best friend's life was in danger of starvation and eventually death. Percy quieted down and controlled himself, while Styx asked the question Grover was thinking.

"Uh, Percy? Why the heck are you laughing?" she asked. Percy kept his face straight and told them.

"Uh, well, I didn't tell you before—I didn't tell anyone yet, actually, but uh…I can summon any food you want. It has to be like a home meal though."

Grover's jaw dropped. "Oh my gods, what the heck Percy? Why the hell did you never tell us?!"

Percy shifted uncomfortably. "Uh, well before now, I kinda forgot about it. I got it from Hestia's blessing, which she gave me the day of Lu—of Kronos's death," he stuttered.

Grover was already fully recovered from his shock and demanded Percy a full meal. "Okay, so get me some nice high quality wax paper with some tin cans for the side."

Percy face-palmed himself. "Grover, we just ate breakfast!" Grover grinned uncomfortably and said, "Well, that doesn't take away my hunger, plus you should always stay hungry for tin cans."

Percy sighed and summoned Grover's favorite meal. At once, a few enchiladas appeared in front of Grover, instantly making his mouth water. Grover frowned.

"But where's the other stuff? My waxing paper and tin cans?" he asked. Percy thought about it. "I could probably get some full Coke cans for you and then one of us can drink it but waxing paper is not a home meal, remember?"

"Psh," Grover said waving his hand. "Nonsense. Waxing paper is actually very nutritious with Vitamins—"

Percy waved him off, not wanting to get tortured by his health lecture and shooed him over to a table Percy had just conjured up, using his godly powers. Styx looked at him, proud.

"You're starting to get the hang of it Perce!" she said. "Maybe you won't be a terrible god after all." Percy gave her a look that said playfully, Watch it. Styx giggled.

Percy started making preparations for the sail across the Mid-Atlantic with Styx by his side. Grover had said he'd take a nap and crashed on one of the beds in the lower deck. Styx took the ropes for the sail and started working on the sails. Percy later went to the tip of the ship and sat down, looking out to the ocean, his home turf.

So why did he feel a bad premonition coming on?

A soft, gentle hand made its way across Percy's chest s Styx sat down. She seemed to know what Percy was thinking. "We'll be fine, I feel it, too. But it's probably minor sea monsters down there causing your senses to go wrong."

Percy smiled and nodded, but he didn't look quite convinced. Styx smiled and kissed him softly. "You're cute when you're worried. Your eyebrows get all scrunched up."

Percy felt as though a shock burst through him. Those were the words Annabeth had said. He remembered now. Back in Manhattan, during the second Titan War, she'd gotten hurt and said the same thing on her bed while Percy was by her side. And now…

"Hey! What's wrong? Did I offend you? I mean, you're eyebrows are a good addition, of course," she said with her hands up. Percy shook the thought out of his head and grinned. Styx stood up and stretched.

What do you say we have a little fun. I haven't done anything on this ship since we set sail and that did a lot to my joints. Hmm. How 'bout some water? I heard you like water…" she said with a mischievous smile.

A great burst of fresh, very cold, salt water splashed against Percy's face. Styx laughed…until she got hit by a jet stream of Percy's water. Drenched, she glared at Percy, making him laugh. "I heard you like water, too. Let's see how much…" With that, he leapt over the edge of the ship and plunged into the ocean. Styx grinned, shook her head ad dived after him.

In the sea, Percy felt so much at home. Home. Oh, gods. He hasn't talked to his mother in forever! How was he supposed to explain? Before he could think much on that matter, Styx poked him, letting him know she was there. She smiled.

Percy brought himself to look at her. Oh, man. Her hair swirling in the current, her bright blue eyes dazzling in the clear sun penetrated water, her watery black dress which seemed to flow with the water of the ocean itself. Percy couldn't get enough.

Styx giggled. "You're staring, silly!"

Percy smiled. "I don't care. If I could, I would stay here in the ocean waters for the rest of my life."

Styx gave a slight sigh of adoration. Then their lips crashed. Percy felt his world turn upside down (wouldn't be the first time), her face upon his, her hands embraced in his.

And of course, that's when a blissful moment had to interrupted.

"I would hate to break up your little, ah…chat. But I must welcome you into our realm, of course! A realm from which you'll never escape from, brother.

A.N Well! There you have it! A filler chapter! With a cliffhanger! Aren't those just to die for? Anyways, I have excused myself from writing the past couple months because of exams, but as you know, I had no excuse in February. I was just adjusting into the new school year, if you'll understand. So! They are on their way to the Ancient Lands, where the quest are said to be 100 times harder, with 100 times more monsters! Wonderful, isn't it? Anyway, I hope you aren't too mad about this filler chapter, but I had to come back somewhere. Thanks for the support! Keep reviewing! P.S. I'm trying to improve my line break skills so that the story can look better. =)