One year had passed since Auron and Lily finally admitted what everyone in the Hunt already knew.
Time flowed strangely in Artemis's sacred glades, days drifting like petals on a moonlit stream, weeks folding into each other with quiet grace, but love did not care for immortal stillness. It grew anyway, steady and bright.
Lily laughed more now.Auron smiled more now.And Harry… Harry insisted on introducing Auron as:
"My dad-but-not-dad-but-actually-dad."
Which confused newcomers and delighted the Hunt.
The Hunters still treated Auron like their eternal little brother—teasing him, defending him, bullying him affectionately, and threatening anyone who even looked at him wrong. Which was exactly why what Auron needed to do next made him more nervous than facing a Titan.
Tonight, under the full moon's silver glow, Auron stood at the edge of Artemis's glade, heart pounding, fingers twisting with lingering sparks of Force energy.
Lily was putting Harry to bed in her tent, humming softly. Her voice floated across the camp like warm firelight, grounding him.
He inhaled deeply.
Tonight, he would ask Olympus to make Lily immortal.His partner.His equal.His heart.
He'd thought of a thousand ways to ask. Each had been a disaster.
Flowers. Too simple for a goddess's blessing. A poem. Apollo intercepted it and revised it into something deeply embarrassing. Asking Artemis first. She stared at him so long he nearly ascended out of sheer panic.
Now he was doing it the old-fashioned way: impulsively and probably foolishly.
"Okay," he muttered to himself, "I've fought Sith Lords and ancient monsters. This can't be harder."
"It's harder," Zoe said from a tree branch overhead without looking up from cleaning her arrows.
Phoebe hopped down beside her, grinning. "Good luck! If she says no, we can start planning your tragic heartbreak arc."
"Phoebe," Auron groaned, "you're not helping."
"Just being supportive," she said cheerfully.
Zoe nodded solemnly. "We shall avenge you if Olympus humiliates you."
"I don't need vengeance"
"You will," they said in unison.
Before he could respond, the air trembled—soft and bright—and Artemis stepped into the glade, bow in hand, silver eyes curious.
"Mother," he said, dipping his head.
"Auron." She studied him. "You're glowing."
"I'm… anxious."
"You never get anxious."
"First time for everything."
She folded her arms. "Tell me."
Auron inhaled once… twice… then let the words fall like truth:
"I want Lily to be my immortal wife. And I want Olympus to bless it."
Artemis blinked.Then blinked again.
For a horrifying second, she said nothing.
Then
"You thought I would be angry?" she asked softly.
"…yes?"
She stepped toward him, moonlight trailing off her shoulders like veils.
"You love her," Artemis said. "Truly."
"I do."
"You've never asked me for anything for yourself. Not once."
"I know."
"And you want to bind a mortal life to yours forever… because without her, eternity would feel empty."
Auron swallowed. "…yes."
The goddess's expression softened with something ancient, tender, and proud.
"My son," she murmured, touching his cheek, "I would never deny you happiness. And Lily… Lily is a woman worthy of immortal honor."
Zoe and Phoebe peeked around a tree, misty-eyed.
Artemis shot them a glare.They ducked behind the tree.Poorly.
Artemis sighed. "We'll bring this before Olympus. Together."
Auron exhaled shakily. "Thank you, Mother."
But Artemis wasn't done.
"I will warn you," she said gravely.
"…about Olympus?"
"No."She leaned in.Her voice lowered.
"Lily will absolutely cry."
Auron froze. "Is that a bad thing?"
"She will cry in joy. And you will cry. And Harry will cry but pretend he isn't crying."
"That sounds… accurate."
"And Apollo will cry because he cries at anything romantic."
From behind a bush:"I DO NOT, okay, maybe a little!"
Artemis glared toward the bush. "Leave."
Apollo tumbled out, brushing leaves off himself. "Sorry! Sorry! Just here to emotionally support my nephew during his proposal process!"
"I'm not proposing tonight."
"Oh, thank the gods," Apollo exhaled. "I didn't bring the lyre—"
"No singing," Artemis warned.
"But"
"NO."
Apollo pouted. "Rude."
Auron rubbed his face. "Can we… focus?"
Artemis placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him in the moon's peace.
"Tomorrow," she said gently, "we go to Olympus."
Auron nodded.
But then Lily's voice drifted across the glade:
"Auron? Where'd you go?"
His entire divine aura spiked like a startled deer.
Apollo choked on laughter.Phoebe actually fell out of the tree.Zoe whispered, "I love this family."
Auron turned, breath catching as Lily stepped into the clearing, hair loose, nightgown brushing like soft snow. Warm. Bright. Human. His heart.
Her eyes sparkled in the moonlight. "Everything okay?"
He walked to her, took her hands, and kissed them softly.
"Tomorrow," he murmured, "I need to ask you something important."
Her eyebrow arched. "Oh?"
He smiled softly, nervously, utterly in love.
"You'll like it. I hope."
Lily wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest. "If it's from you, I already do."
Behind them, Apollo sniffled loudly.Zoe threw a pinecone at him.Phoebe threw another.Artemis threw three.
Auron held Lily tighter.
Tomorrow would change everything.But tonight?
Tonight, he let himself bask in the warmth of her, the moonlight, and the wild, ridiculous, beautiful family the universe had given him.