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Apollo had been listening to Demeter's comforting words. She didn't take one side over another, but she wasn't going to let that stop her from comforting a weary heart.

But the sun god looked up, and just in time to see Endymion wandering off towards the hot spring. Apollo lets out a soft whimper, beginning to follow before Demeter grabs his arm, "Apollo.... Let him go...." The sun god stops and sighs, feeling the tears burn the back of his eyes. He bites his lip until it bleeds, not letting the tears fall.

Endymion was out of sight range at this time and Apollo sighs, basically only in the mood to sit by the fire and sulk, making sure that he wouldn't look up when they came back, probably both damp, flushed, and smelling of sex and wine. He cringes at that thought.

Persephone quickly intercepts him before he can make a move towards the fire, "Apollo... I have a big favor to ask... Um.... Hades isn't the most... romantic god.... Could you possibly.... Show me how to ballroom dance?? I want to teach him..."

Apollo smiles a bit and takes her dainty hand, leading her to the most flat, clear area of the clearing and directs where to put her hands. A natural at dancing, Persephone learns quickly and soon they are whirling around the campsite. Apollo found the memories of dancing coming back quickly as he twirls Persephone, softly counting out the rhythm until Eros was kind enough to begin playing a steady, luring song on the flute.

They were dancing when Dionysus and Endymion came back, and they didn't really notice it, both laughing lightly when either of them made a mistake and stepped on the other's feet.

Apolo had just dipped Persephone for the first time and she nearly fell. Laughing, the Sun God helps her regain balance, a process that wasn't very graceful before they begin dancing again, turning just the right amount that Endymion and Dionysus came into view; Dionysus was kissing Endymion's hand and asking him to dance.

Apollo immediately lost his train of thought and tripped up a step, stepping on Persephone's foot. She lets out s squeak and playfully slaps Apollo's shoulder, "Get ahold of yourself, you oaf!"

Apollo's eyes darken for a moment before he chuckles, "Yes, your majesty!" But despite it, he still keeps his eyes on Endymion and Dionysus, jealousy burning bitterly inside him.

Persephone giggles, watching Apollo watch Endymion. She finally speaks up in a soft, suggestive whisper, "Oh, just ask to cut in already. If you think the rest of us haven't noticed you openly pining for him and him opening pining for you, then you have seriously mistaken us all. This isn't like you... I know you are being nice for Dymion's sake, but it used to be that you would threaten and fight anyone who came near Orion."

At the mention of the name, Apollo wordlessly breaks from the dance and leaves, walking into the forest. Persephone blinks, putting her hand over her mouth with a small gasp.

The Sun God walks deep into the forest, fuming with exasperation and frustration at extreme levels. He walks to Endymion's clearing, where they had trained and Dymion had been tested. He lays down in the tall grass, staring up at the starry skies and lettng the angry bitter tears and sobs rip from his body.

Apollo couldn't have possibly known that the party had stopped when he left. In fact, he pictured in his mind that they were still celebrating and Dymion was in Dionysus' arm, whirling around their earthen dancefloor. He groansand useless pounds his fist into the dirt. he really hadn't wanted to leave the party. It hadn't been his intention to upset the celebration for his lover, but had he stayed there any longer, he surely would have hurt someone, emotionally as well as physically. And he figured that would be a worse way to end a celebration.

The mentioning of Orion brought up feelings he had buried away for a long time. The mortal that he had been so inlove with, but was only infatuated with him. He had taken advantage of Apollo's devotion, sleeping with other's behind the god's back and explaining it in terms of political and cultural necessity. And then Orion was killed. It was early, very early. Apollo never had the chance that he had with Endymion. He never got to earn the mortal's love. And now here he lay, floundering in love like a teenager, weeping over a god who cared enough to get jealous of him, but had an eye that wandered enough that a proposition of true love would seem empty from his lips.

Feeling like he couldn't face them again tonight, he walks back to the camp late that night, when all were abed, or so he thought. He grabs the nearest blanket and pillow right inside the tent door and lays down beside the fire, curling up to sleep and praying that the night would wash the depression away.

((*sighs with frustration* I can guess as much as I want, but I won't know until you tell me and.... *cries* I can't post 'til you tell me cuz I don't know if Apollo is in bed with someone...))

((lol, that was one of my guesses... and it's ok... I'm doing a research paper right now and I'd definitely feel bad if I had a hard-on while writing a ten page paper on the Holocaust))

Apollo was sleeping slightly fitfully when, in a dream, Endymion came and curled up beside him, resting in his warmth. He lets out a soft groan, barely stirring, but not enough to wake. He snuggles closer to the warm body beside his, draping his arm over the god beside him.

What many mortals didn't know is that often, the sun can rise by itself in the Spring and Summer months, relying on its instinctual path across the sky. And the Sun did so this morning, allowing Apollo to sleep in. Which probably only made things worse.

Demeter woke bright and early though, and was fixing herself some coffee when she ofound an abandoned blanket and pillow outside. She walks back into the tent and notices that Dionysus is gone as well as Apollo. She shrugs and goes about her business.

Later that morning, she goes to wake Endymion and pulls back the replaced curtains silently. She nearly screamed at what she saw. She covers her mouth and backs up quickly, suddenly sending a mental message, loud and shrill, to Apollo, Dionysus, and Endymion.

"Really! I expected more out of the three of you!! It's one thing to pursue voyeurism in privacy, but... Gods above, there's a twelve-year old boy in the same tent!! If any of you dare make a scene about this, then I'm taking him out of your custody!! All I can say is that you all had beeter crawl out of that bed fully clothed!!"

Apollo heard a voice in his mind, but ignored it as part of the dream he was in. And suddenly he felt cold, his arms dropping to emptiness. Brow furrowed, he moves back beneath the covers and up to a warm body. How was Apollo to know that he was spooning Dionysus now. He buries his face into the nape of Dion's neck, groaning, not wanting to wake up.

But he does wake up. Why was Endymion's hair lighter than he remmbered? Wait. Why would he be in bed with Endymion now? Violet eyes open wide, he pushes away from Dionysus and sits up, his eyes wide as he stares down at his ex-lover in slight horror. Dymion wouldn't forgive him if he... He glances around and gasps, seeing Endymion sitting a few feet away in the bed, blankets covering his nether regions. Apollo's eyes widen gain as he glances down and scrambles for more the the blanket to cover his own nakedness.

His voice was just above a whisper, "Wh-what the hell?"