A/N: No matter how many times I wish, I cannot be Rick Riordan. Therefore all the characters belong to him and so does the entire series. Just a short drabble to entertain. Constructive criticism is appreciate. Please don't be rude.

Esperanza was tired. Anybody would be if hey had to work half the day in a hot and humid workshop. But of course, Leo was so hyperactive that he wasn't. He was hoisted on one of the working desks, fiddling with some old tools and machines She didn't want to bring him out on such a sultry day but Leo had pulled up those big puppy eyes that had melted her heart right through her rib-cage that she had no other option but to take him along.. His deep black hair fell over his shoulders and his orange overalls covered the tattered clothes within. Esperanza always wished she could give his son better, maybe those bright red boots Leo had asked for the previous week or maybe that power-ranger figurine that he had seen being advertised. But she was poor, and she could not afford that without having to work overtime. Leo was all she had. She didn't want to give up the few hour of the day that she could spend with him.

Another hour passed. Esperanza wiped the sweat off her forehead and brushed away the dirt from her old and greasy dress.

"Mama?" A five year old Leo called.

"Yes mijo."She replied, still engrossed in her work.

"Mama, you look pretty today."

Esperanza turned away from her work for possibly the first time that day. Her hair was sticking up at all ends and she was so exhausted, she looked older than she really was- and she couldn't really find anything 'pretty' about that. But if Leo found that beautiful, it was enough for her.

She lifted her baby boy up and kissed him on his forehead as he laughed in delight. "Thank you, Leo" She smiled. "Do you want something to play with?"

"Yep" He nodded eagerly.

She pulled out some crepe papers from her equipment shelves and gave them to Leo.

"That's probably not enough, but that was all I could find. Make something wonderful for mama, won't you, mijo?"

Leo happily sat down on her desk and began to fold the papers carefully. Esperanza couldn't help but be awed by the precision and delicacy with which he was working. Five year old he might be, but he worked like a professional. A few minutes passed in silence.

Then, "Look mama!" Leo jumped "I made a pinwheel!"

She looked at the paper pinwheel which he had made. Aww, it was so cute and tiny, yet made to perfection-something which only her Leo could do.

"Maravilloso!" She remarked"That's beautiful, mijo!"

Leo gave a pleased child like laughter which made every part of her shine with joy.

"You're going to be an amazing mechanic, Leo." She said "Just you wait and see. You'll be a hero!"

"A…a hero?"

"Yes, a hero. And the best one at that."

"Like you?" Leo asked innocently.

"Well… I'm not a hero, mijo. But you will be one. My hero."

She ruffled up her son's hair and he laughed happily. She knew, the instant he was born-that he was going to be wonderful, and the best of them all. That naughty kink in his eye had told her that he was already ready for pranking. Leo was the reason she looked forward to seeing the rising sun every morning even though she had to slog in the workshop the rest of the was the reason she was happy and contented in spite of her poor financial condition and tiring work, and Leo never failed to show her everyday what she was living for..

He looked up at her.

"Mama?"

"Yes, mijo."

"I love you mama."

"I love you too, mijo."