Chapter Text
“I am Rhea, Titaness of motherhood and Queen of the Titans. Who are you?”
Well… shit.
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Percy should have known better. Playing Truth or Dare, with the gods, while drunk was the worst thing a demigod could do.
But that day had already been a bad one for her. Her professor at New Rome University insisted that saving a group of demigods from monsters was not a rational excuse for being late for an assignment. She returned to her apartment to find Hermes lounging on her couch, carrying a bottle of wine from the year 1800. Honestly, Perseas didn’t remember what happened, but she ended up playing truth or dare with Hermes, Apollo, and Artemis – I can’t leave you with these two idiots.
Somehow, from one dare Percy had given Apollo, they talked about the Trojan War. Moving on to Artemis telling her about Orion and again persuading Percy to join the hunt. And Hermes, of course, smirked as he asked what she would do if she were in Ancient Greece.
Percy didn't remember what the answer was, but it seemed to be the reason for where she was now.
In Ancient Greece.
Standing in front of someone Percy believed was her grandma. Her grandmother who was pregnant with her uncle who would try to kill her in the future.
She groaned loudly in her heart.
Why?? Just….why?
Why did it have to be at this time? Of all the events in ancient Greece, why did she have to wake up at this time? Why not during the Trojan War? Meeting the famous Achilles and Odysseus? Or when Heracles doing his twelve labors so Perseas could strangle that annoying bastard? Even if she appeared in Athens when Poseidon and Athena make a contest in there, she okay with that!
But why did she have to wake up when her father was still in her grandfather's stomach along with her unborn uncle?
And now she had to explain to her grandmother who she was.
How was she going to explain to her that Percy was her grandson when her father wasn't even married yet?! Still trapped in the belly of her paranoid husband?
"I'll ask again, who are you?" Her grandmother walked over, her hands covering her pregnant belly.
“I…” She stuttered, not knowing how to answer.
“Why do you look so much like me?”
Perseas froze as her grandmother’s hand caressed her cheek. She finally understood the gossip she had been hearing about how much she resembled the mother of the king of the gods. Seeing her in person felt like looking into a mirror. Rhea bore a striking similarity to him, except for her green eyes, which were reminiscent of Demeter’s. She appeared young as if she were in her early thirties. A shimmering aura surrounded her, and her gaze was warm and motherly, just like when she was with Hestia.
Being around her made Percy feel calm. The dizziness she had felt when woke up from last night’s hangover slowly faded. She blinked, trying to form words to say.
There was no way she was going to say something like
Hey Grandma! I'm your granddaughter from 3000 years in the future! I don't know why but I ended up here after getting drunk with your other grandchild. And by the way, your baby is going to try to kill me in the future.
Her grandmother would have a heart attack and Percy wasn’t evil enough to kill baby Zeus.
“I… I don’t know,” She said nervously, “I woke up here and I didn’t know where I was.” Hoping it didn’t sound like she was lying. It was easier to say it like that than to explain the future.
Rhea frowned. She paused as she stared at Percy for a few moments.
“This is my first time seeing you, but why do I feel like I know you?” Then she smiled, “Are you… my daughter?”
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I’m Sorry?
Rhea was sure she had no other children after Poseidon and the child she was carrying.
But she was stunned to see the girl in front of her.
Because the girl was an exact copy of herself. From her long, straight night-black hair to her waist to the curve of her nose. Everything was the same as her, except for her eyes. They were sea green, sparkling like her brother's sea, like Poseidon's eyes. She saw them for a moment when her child was still in her arms before Kronos ate him.
Rhea had only seen her for the first time, but she felt like she knew the girl. As the Titaness of motherhood and a mother, she had always had an invisible connection with her children. That was why she knew that her five children were still alive. She also felt that maternal connection with the girl in front of her.
And that confused her.
This child was her and Kronos's, she was sure of it. But she had never been pregnant with him. Was this child born in another way? Rhea knew about Aphrodite's birth, from her father's severed body parts. She remembered fighting with her husband moments after eating Poseidon. Was she hurt at that time? Was this child born the same way as Aphrodite?
Rhea frowned. She paused as she stared at the girl in front of her “I just saw you for the first time, but why do I feel like I know you?” Then she smiled, “Are you… my child?”
She watched as the girl blinked in confusion, looking at her with sparkling sea-green eyes, “Child? Are you… Mother? My mother?”
Rhea’s heart warmed at the sight of her child. Was this little one here because of her anxiety from moments before? The worry of her youngest child fighting to free his siblings alone? This child was an unexpected gift from Ananke. Although she may not have conceived him, she would love him with all her heart.
Rhea stepped forward and hugged her. At first, the girl froze, her body stiff in her embrace. She reached out and stroked her black hair. Slowly she became weaker. Her head rested on Rhea’s shoulder. Her body then shook, her hands hugging Rhea tightly.
Oh, her child is crying. Or is she scared?
Rhea released her hug and took a step back, lifting the girl’s chin to meet her gaze. She noticed the curiosity in the girl’s sea-green eyes and realized that a few strands of her hair shimmered silver, reminiscent of Selene's moonlight. Rhea chuckled softly and kissed the girl’s forehead.
"Don't worry little sea, Mother is here." She said, "Do you have a name yet? How can I address you?"
The girl was silent for a few moments then she answered.
"Perseas, my name is Perseas. Mother."
Rhea's hug was warm, but it didn't stop the panic in her head.
Daughter? Really?! Her grandmother thought Percy was her daughter?!
It made sense. They resembled each other, like a mother and daughter, and that was what everyone had been saying. No one had ever mentioned it directly to her, but Percy had heard the gossip and whispers from the minor gods and nymphs, comparing her to the mother of the gods. Now that she had met her in person, she truly agreed with their assessments.
On second thought, wasn't that the best option? Percy didn't know how she ended up 3000 years in the past. Of course, she wanted to go back, but that seemed like a long time coming. The only one connected to time was her grandfather and Percy didn't want to see him in his prime.
Rather than wandering in a world ruled by titans, being by Rhea's side was the best option for her. Damn it, she missed Annabeth already, she would know what to do. Maybe Nico and Thalia too, wouldn't miss the chance to laugh at baby Zeus.
Zeus.
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Of course! How could she forget?!
Percy glanced at Rhea's round belly. Based on her experience with her mother's pregnancy, it seemed like her grandmother was due to give birth soon. Which meant baby Zeus would be here in a matter of days. Her stubborn and annoying uncle is in the form of a baby.
Wasn't this the perfect opportunity?
For a little revenge project on Zeus who had always made her life miserable. Even when she was slowly getting closer to her godly family, her uncle always made her day worse. And let's not forget Hera. Making her sleep for months ruining her attempts to get close to Triton and Amphitrite and making her mother panic.
Percy tried to hold back her laughter, her body shaking at the thought of annoying Zeus from a young age. The idea of teasing the other gods, who technically weren't even born yet, was tempting. Maybe being here wouldn’t be as bad as she had initially thought.
Rhea finally released her from her embrace and gently lifted Percy's chin with her hand. Their eyes met, and her gaze traveled to the strands of her hair that were turning white from holding up the sky. She chuckled softly and kissed her forehead, sending a wave of warmth through her body.
"Don't worry little sea, Mother is here." She said, "Do you have a name yet? How can I address you?"
Name. Percy was speechless. Should she give her real name or make a fake one? Her name was the only connection she had to her time. The name her mother gave her, she couldn't lose that. Percy didn't know how long she would be stuck here and something inside her told her it would take a long time to get back. Back to her friends, her family, and her mother.
If that was going to happen, Percy would hold on tight to everything related to her time. Including her name.
"Perseas. My name is Perseas, Mother."
Percy was sure she was going crazy.
She was going crazy because she was bored.
Yes, bored.
It turned out that living in the era of the Titans was very boring. Really.
There was no chaos that he had imagined would happen in the golden age of the Titans. Well, or maybe there was, but because Percy was trapped on this island, he couldn't see the outside world.
The earth felt different now; everything seemed more alive. The trees were greener, lush, and towering over the entire island. The ocean was wilder, with ten-meter waves crashing against the shore and cliffs. She had swum around the island several times, and while the ocean didn't feel like her home, it felt foreign yet welcoming. It provided him with a sense of security
Despite the ancient feel of the place and the refreshing air, he was going crazy because everything was too quiet. There were no bird chirps, no rustling leaves in the wind, and no sounds of small insects.
Perseas was not accustomed to silence. The Half-Blood camp was always noisy, even at night. Her home was usually filled with the chatter between her mother and Paul, along with Estella's cries. Her days were also filled with visits from the gods, who came uninvited after the giant war and talked about various topics.
This silence….too suffocating.
And another thing that made her consider going and strangling her grandfather. Or whoever was responsible for her transfer to the past.
Ripitide was gone.
Her sword, her beloved weapon, was a part of her that accompanied her on every mission, even when Hera had stolen her memories. But now it was gone—missing from her pants pocket for the first time in her life, and at the worst possible moment. Percy felt vulnerable without it; her hands felt empty.
Whoever you are, who dares to bring me here. I will beat you ass! At least let me have Ripitide you fucking bastard! Hera! If this happens because of you again, I will drag you and –
“Perseas!”
Someone’s shout made her divert her attention. She turned and looked at Neda – one of the eight nymphs introduced by Rhea, running towards her. Her face had a worried expression.
“Neda, what happened – “
“Perseas! The Queen is giving birth!”
“Isn’t he handsome?”
Percy looked at the baby Zeus in Rhea's arms and said, "No, he’s... ugly." She wasn’t trying to be rude; she was just being honest. Baby Zeus was ugly, just like all newborns. When Percy thought about Zeus's birth, she imagined a baby who radiated power. Instead, she got a small, red, wrinkled infant whose cries echoed through the cave.
And one thing, he didn’t look like a rock.
Percy couldn't understand how Kronos could mistake a rock for his child and eat it.
"Kronos must be quite foolish if he was deceived by that rock."
Rhea chuckled, still holding Zeus and leaning against the cave wall. Her face was pale, not as radiant as usual. It turned out that giving birth to a god was the same as giving birth to a human, tiring. Information that Percy didn’t want to know, “This rock is a gift from my mother, it will work.”
Percy tried to hold back the sour feeling that arose in her stomach. It turned out that in the eyes of the Titans, Gaia was a good mother. The plan to deceive the baby with a rock also came from her. Isn't it ironic, that Gaia herself gave Kronos the scythe to defeat Ouranus, but now she is helping her beloved son fall.
"Will you hold him?"
Percy raised her head in disbelief, "What?"
"Your little brother."
It still felt strange to hear Zeus referred to as her little brother, but Percy couldn't ignore Rhea's intense gaze. Finally, she reached out and, drawing on her experience with Estella, carefully picked up Zeus. For a brief moment, her eyes opened, revealing a bright blue color, reminiscent of lightning amid a storm, as he stared at Percy with curiosity.
Percy chuckled, "You're going to cause a lot of trouble in the future, little brother."
Zeus squirmed in her arms and then closed her eyes again.
"Perseas, you probably know that after I hand over the stone, I won't be able to visit often," Rhea suddenly said.
Percy frowned, yes, she had expected that. If her memory was correct from the Greek history class at camp, Zeus would be raised by nymphs. Hidden away without his mother's presence. "Yeah, I had expected that to happen."
Rhea then continued, “And maybe, after your siblings are free, I won’t be able to visit you. No matter how much I want to.” Her words sounded sad, full of regret.
What was Rhea saying? Not being able to visit her children? Why was she suddenly bringing up something like this? “What do you want to say, mother?” she asked suspiciously. Unable to ignore the uneasiness in her heart.
Rhea stared at her in silence, and for a moment, she glimpsed another side of her grandmother mother. Rhea Ourania, daughter of Uranus and Gaia, was a Titan, just like her husband and siblings. She had witnessed the atrocities they could commit— a mother who had seen her children devoured by a paranoid, cannibalistic husband, powerless to intervene. Her forest green eyes fixed on Percy; for a brief moment, they glinted with doubt before she smiled.
“Perseas, can you take care of your siblings for me?”
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Wait, mom. What the –