Chapter 5, Antonio's visit

The next day Apollo woke them up early… 8 am to be exact. 

“Gee thanks dad guess that’s his way to say, ‘get up’” Christine groaned as she got up from her sleeping bag.

“Guess so…well it’s time that I meet my parents.” Antonio also groaned trying to wake up and get the sun out of his face

“Yup your turn oh hey dad.” Christine smiled as she saw her dad again.

“Well, morning sleepyheads what you need?” Apollo smiled too at her.

“Directions to Nemesis’ temple, that would be Antonio’s mom, from what research I know she’s the goddess of revenge sounds like someone you don’t wanna mess with,” asked Christine hoping he would know the way.

“So, you’re the son she keeps talking about…her temple isn’t far from here right over there near that battlefield is Nemesis’ temple try not to confuse it with Ares’ though they’re close.” 

“Thanks, dad talk to you later.” 

“Bye Christine love you.” 

“Love you too talk to you soon.” They left Apollo and started to head towards Nemesis’ temple…could tell it was hers by all the darkness and destruction that they were in the right place. When they did eventually get to her temple Antonio got a little emotional. 

“It’s going to be ok, go on talk to her…she won’t bite,” said Christine nudging Antonio to go closer.

“Thanks, Christine well here I go, steps towards her alter, uh-hi mom it’s your son Antonio,” said Antonio nervously. He never thought he'd get to this day.

“My, my Aphrodite wasn’t kidding your mortal parents raised you well…oh I see you brought Christine with you…well mom doesn’t lie you do have her beauty…I tell you, Antonio, she’s a keeper!” said Nemesis happily finally seeing her son again after all these years!

“MOM points to Christine.” Antonio was a little embarrassed...meets his mom for only a few minutes and mom is already embarrassing him.

“Oh sorry…didn’t mean to embarrass you.” Nemesis blushed but did mean to a little bit. Had to make up for all the lost years, you know. 

“No, it’s ok I’m kind of used to it.” Christine blushed and backed away slowly, letting the two of them talk.

“Anyway, I leave that business to Aphrodite I’m so happy to see you.” Nemesis was so happy to see him after all these years of just watching him from afar.

“I’m happy to mom feels like forever since I’ve seen you.” Antonio felt relieved to finally meet her.

“I know, but you know how it is new gods/goddesses have to find out on their own bout us and their powers…” said Nemesis annoyed by the rule.

“I don’t like that rule. I’ve missed you and dad. Speaking of dad what’s he up to?” 

“Oh he’s causing trouble in the middle East…someplace called Iraq…”

“That explains so much…that explains that war should have known…” Antonio shook his head as he heard this news like he shouldn't be surprised but was.

“Wait a minute, your dad is the god of war!?” Christine asked worriedly and shocked

“I know hard for me to believe as well…”

“No Antonio you don’t get it…one of my closest friends is in the US Army…he’s going to Iraq this summer it’s a cause of your dad I may never see him again…he’s supposed to be there for 15-18mths…but thanks to dear old dad he may DIE hope you're happy! He’s training in California now but then leaves for Nevada for more training…comes home for 2wks and then leaves again… so say thanks to dad for me…I’m leaving going back to my dad…say hi to yours for me since thanks to him I may lose one of the closest friends I have. Nice meeting you Nemesis, but I gotta go…have a nice chat, she leaves.” Christine walks away almost in tears 

“Something tells me she was upset…” Nemesis said half-jokingly, trying to lighten the mood.

“Ya think mom never would have figured that!?" said Antonio angry and upset

“Well, you could tell in her tone, the long speech-“  Nemesis started to say before getting cut off.

“Don’t they have sarcasm up there!?”

“Oh…sorry Antonio well I’m going to cause trouble somewhere else in the world so I’ll let you talk to your dad. His temple is over there on that battlefield down below here.” 

“Bye mom…talk to you later…” So he went to the bottom of the mountain alone…when he thought he’d be with Christine…she went to her dad for comfort mostly since he was closer than mom and she’s more of a daddy’s girl. She was with her adoptive parents as well and she is with her real ones…when she left the temple you could see the tears in her eyes about to fall onto her cheek…Antonio knew he should have gone after her but he wanted to straighten things out with his parents. He finally gets to dad’s temple and again gets emotional but he didn’t have Christine’s support this time.

“Thought bubble, you can do this…you don’t need Christine’s help…you can do this.” He walks up to his alter, takes a deep breath, and collects his thoughts on what to say. 

“Hey dad…it’s me your son, Antonio.” 

“My boy your mom didn’t lie you're just like me!” 

“It’s nice to see you too…hey why the war in Iraq?” 

“They have no control over their government, so the US helps them.”

 “Well, thanks to you I made a girl (who I might like) cry since one of her closest friend (who's in the US Army) leaves her and his family and deploy to Iraq this summer! She’s at Apollo’s temple (her dad!) crying thanks to you!” 

“Well, I didn’t know that! How was I supposed to know?” 

“Well, who was going to fix the problem dad?” 

“Oh I didn’t think of that-“

“Well, I could have told you that…now that I gotta talk to you and gave you something to think about I’m going back to Christine to comfort her…and it’s not just her friend dad…100s of men and woman are serving our country dad…and friends and family of those men and woman wait in agony not knowing if their loved one is going to come back ALIVE! Now it’s nice talking to you, but I’m going to Apollo’s to comfort Christine bye dad…and think about what you’ve done.”