I let him walk me to the breakfast pavilion, where hungry campers were already starting to congregate. We walked right passed them and I tried to forget the looks those at Apollo's table were giving me.

Haidar had already came to terms and apologized for her outburst. The rest of the Apollo cabin had still written me off, but I can't really blame them.

"Hey kids," he smiled at them, not letting go of me.

None of them smiled, and Apollo seemed hurt. I wanted to reach out and comfort him, but I also didn't need to give his kids another reason to hate me.

We walked out of the pavilion onto the lawn. I could see the chariot from here, shining in the early morning with all its cherry red, 8 cylinder engine glory.

"So We're leaving camp" I asked.

"Ya, " he smiled at me and I wasn't sure if i wanted to run or kiss him...

Run you idiot, I thought, don't you dare think about kissing him!

He seemed to never want to let go of me. When I reached my seat he picked me up and set me into the car, "i can do it, " I tried to tell him but he didn't listen.

Once in the passenger seat he looked over at me, "Where to now sweety," his voice was smooth and I could tell he was trying to impress me.

I thought long and hard about where I wanted to go, then it hit me. I told him where and he asked me, "You sure?"

"Positive," I smiled.

When the car came to a stop we were in front of a library I knew well. For years it had been my only escape from the craziness of school and foster homes.

Still the library wasn't why I asked to come here. Behind the library were acres of forest. Public domain to hike on. If I were to leave camp, it would only make sense to come here.

Apollo on the other hand did not seem too amused. "I trusted you to drive the car, now trust me." I smiled.

"Of course," he returned my smile as I exited the car. The look in his eye was like every moment not touching me was a moment closer he came to death.

Now I am not one to lead a guy on. Nor am I one to do anything I don't want to, but still I found myself reaching for his hand. I could tell that he wanted to be closer to me, that holding hands was not going to be enough, but it was a stretch for me and he was going to have to deal. Everytime we touched before this moment had in some way been his doing. Now I called the shots and innocently holding hands was all that I could handle.

We walked through the forest rather silently. I listened to every creature around me, including the plants. I always believed that everything in the forest had its own song.

I was aware that Apollo gradually came closer to me, but never realised how close he was until his arm was around my shoulder rather than my hand. I tried to shrug him off but he kept his arm firm, "Live in the moment my love," he told me.

But I didn't want any moments with him. I was still trying to figure out exactly why I came here with him. Why hadn't I stayed at camp? Why did I let an unfair arm wrestle determine my day? My question was answered when I saw his eyes. Beaming with warmth and going straight to my soul. I knew what looking at his eyes did to me, so I turned away, "You know, no matter how long I know you, you never seem to want to look me in the eyes," he laughed.

"Maybe if they weren't weapons I would look at them," I scoffed.

"Weapons?" he laughed even louder, "and tell me how they are weapons."

"They trick me into desiring you, they hypnotize and force me to do your will."

"You have known me for years, have my eyes ever lured anyone else?" he asked.

I didn't have an answer for him.

"You don't want to look at my eyes because they make you realize what you already feel inside. They make you see that you love me."

"No." I shut my eyes

"Yes, my dear,"

I opened my eyes to find him staring at me. I had no choice but to meet his gaze.

Whether he was right or not I did not know. Maybe I was growing to love Simon before he left, but as time went on I noticed how different he acted when Simon rather than Apollo.

Simon was courtiers and gentlemen like. He was terrified of Butch and never made a move. Apollo was forward, losing most of his gentleness. I knew they were one in the same, but then how could they be so different?

I looked at him and said, "I liked you more as Simon."

That seemed to hit a cord with the god. He released me from his grasp and sat down besides a tree, "I'm sorry of I scared you." he said, "It's just hard to control myself around you." his head fell into his hand, "gods don't have alot of self-control."

"You haven't scared me today yet," I said it as though he had, "Wednesday on the other hand." I looked at the ground.

"I wasn't going to harm you."

"How was I supposed to know that?"

"Your right," he sighed as though he believed himself to be a monster. The conversation paused then he looked up. "How long?" he asked me.

"What?"

"How long will you make me wait?"

"Wait for what?"

"You...How long until I marry you?"

Eternity, I thought in my head, but that was only what I desired. Apollo had other plans and I knew the stories, only death or transformation could save me now. I was on a road to ruin, Apollo my guide. He wasn't going to give up on me. Even if I screamed and shouted that I hated him he would peruse me. "Your the one who knows the future."

"I know fate, and fate is that you will be mine... when however..."

"I don't know." I smiled at him wearily, "Okay, new question. Why pose as Simon, and why come out now?"

"The gods have a law you see, a rather new one actually. Created around Civil War Era, That's besides the point..." I giggled at him, he was speaking so fast that I knew he was nervous.

"We cannot peruse or begin a relationship with someone under 18."

"But Simon?"

"As far as the gods are concerned he never existed."

"Realy?! How did you manage that?"

"First the gods rarely notice anyone but their own children. So pretending to be my own child made me invisible."

"Except for everyone at camp who were worried when Simon disappeared." I felt like I was talking about a different person.

"People were worried?" he seemed pleased with himself.

"They nearly sent out a sayder to find him." I looked down. "I petitioned for it. They said because he turned 18 this April, he was free to be on his own." a tear streaked my face.

"You were worried when Simon went missing?"

"Yes," i choked, my brain didn't register that Simon was in front of me. Even more i completely forgot in the moment that Simon and Apollo were the same. In my head he was a dead friend i haven't grieved yet.

"You loved him." Apollo wasn't asking. He knew I did. I loved Simon. If he hadn't gone missing I would have probably never considered Artemis hunt.

"I did love him," tears fell from my eyes, "He left me, no letter, no warning, he just left me, why would he do that?" I looked up at Apollo

He pulled me down next to him and let me cry. My head placed on his chest he stroked my hair. "You do love me." His voice was sincere and sweet.

I looked up at him, "I loved Simon..."

"I am Simon,"

"No! You can't be! Simon wouldn't lie to me! He wouldn't pretend to be someone else to win me over!" I didn't know where the words came from but i believed every word. I didn't look at him, my eyes were glued shut, I didn't want comfort.

"Look at me," his voice was different but recognizable. My eyes opened and Simon was holding me. His eyes did not glow as much as they did in Apollo's form and Simon's hair was much darker, nearly medium brown. One of the most distinct differences was his nose. Simon's was sharp enough to cut rock, Apollo was much softer. "I never left you," he told me.

"So you are him," i touched his face.

"It always has been," a tear fell onto my hand from his eyes.

Here he was before me but I still felt myself holding back. Almost as though some supernatural force were stopping me from falling in love. "I can never fully love you."

"The shard," his warm eyes met mine and he put a hand over my heart. "Lead blocks you from loving any man."

I still wasn't sure if I was Daphne but he was right. I couldn't truly love anyone romantically, not just him.

"Come to Olympus, I may be able to heal you there," his forehead touched my own.

I suddenly realized that I was fully cradled in his arms but I didn't completely care. Every moment with my friend, god or not a god, meant something. Even if that something was platonic.

"I can't," I looked at him, "If I went to Olympus with you, you would make me your wife. Healed or not, that's not something I want to be rash about."

Suddenly he was Apollo again and his voice was stern and powerful. "You still want to join my sisters hunt," he looked at me. "As long as I claim you she cannot let you pledge to her."

"So i need permission!" I leapt from his arms tears gone. This was the type of god I knew. Rash, harsh, selfish. All that stuff about loving me was a ploy. And I could never love him back.

"In mortal terms yes!"

"So I have no choice. I choose you or well my only option is you!"

"Indeed it is."

"Then you are no better than a slave master and me no more than a slave."

"I do this because I love you!"

"If you loved me you would set me free."

"If you didn't have that lead in your heart you wouldn't want me to set you free."

"I'm not Daphne!" I couldn't help it, "I wasn't born thousands of years ago. I wasn't revived. I am not your long lost love!"

"Yes you are, I know it,"

I forcefully pushed him away from me, "You know nothing!" the moment I said it i knew it was going to bite me in the butt.

I saw no gentleness in his eyes, no warmth either. As he aproached me his form changed back to Apollo. He grabbed my arm and shook me violently, "You mortal dare disrespect a god."

As he released me I fell backwards onto my not fully healed ankle, "You!" the pain made tears form in my eyes. "You said you wouldn't harm me."

I don't think dropping the empire state building on him could have made him hurt more. It was like he had come out of daze. Within seconds he was by my side trying to console me and heal my ankle.

"Get away!" I screamed.

"I'm so sorry!" he seemed more distraught than me.

"Just take me home." I was done with him. I never wanted to look at him again.

"I understand."

With a snap of his fingers we were back in the Iris cabin sitting on my bed. "You can teleport?"

"I'm a god."

"Oh yeah," I rolled my eyes.

"How about a movie?" suddenly a large tv appeared on top of Butch's bed.

"I want to be alone."

"Nope," he looked at me and smiled sincerely, "I'm going to make up for what I did."

"I said get out!" all I wanted was to be alone. To sleep, to forget that he existed.

His arm wrapped around me. "Your eyes glow when your mad."

"I know," I met his gaze.

The look in his eyes showed true regret. "I'm sorry, I couldn't bare the thought of losing you. I went mad."

"So will you give blessing for me to join the hunters?" He pulled me close to him and I knew the answer.

"No, but it's to protect you more than for my gain." he promised.

"You mind going?" I wasn't sure if i was angry at him anymore but I still wanted to be alone.

"Why do you insist I leave?"

"Honestly I just want sleep." there was no hiding or denying it. I was falling over.

"How about this, we take a nap till 10-11ish. Then you let me take you to breakfast."

I wanted to argue but it seemed like the most reasonable thing he would ever agree too. "We?..."

"I'll sleep on the ground okay?"

"I asked you to leave." I was done with all his antics and just the sight of him was making me angry.

"Allright." he rolled his eyes as he exited the cabin, "I'll see you soon."