Queenie: Hello, everyone, this is just the rewrite of my first attempt at a PJO/TVD/TO crossover. There are a lot of changes from the first time I gave it a try compared to this rewrite, but I hope you like it.

Also, a reader asked me if I ever thought about doing just a Harry Potter story or just a PJO story, and well I've actually been planning on doing like two big prequels to my crossover stories. Like a story about PJO taking place during the events of the canon story with all the OCs I've created for my crossovers being a part of it. It'll be like a just showing their stories and their parts during the war that led to them being as they are in the crossovers. Also, I decided to add a new OC you haven't met or been introduced to yet. I couldn't decide which OC the story should follow as the main character, so I decided to add an OC named Melanie who is a daughter of Hermes. The story will be told in her POV as she takes you through the story you already know, but from her prospective. And she'll be like a narrator for the half-blood OCs you already know and love. So she won't be just telling you her story, but the story of your OC favorites like Corissa, Mena, Rhea, etc as well.

The story will be known as the Home is Where the Heart is. Since it is a story of our OC Half-Blood heroines and heroes at home where they are with family and friends, and where their hearts are. And if the story is a success, I plan to actually continue on into the Lost Hero where it will be solely focused on Melanie who unlike my other OCs left the camp after the Last Olympian to have their own lives. If I do plan to do this, Melanie will later be paired with Leo who I just love to bits, and become our lead girl in the story instead of being "overshadowed" by the great half-bloods she always looked up to when they were at camp.

I plan to do the same think with a Harry Potter story that will be a prequel to my future Harry Potter crossovers. I've already published a few chapters about Lyra Black, and she will be in this prequel as well. And unlike the PJO prequel, the Harry Potter one will be kept in third person, so I can focus on all my characters as a whole instead of one character telling her story and the stories of others. Though before I start working on this one, I still need to refine some of the HP crossovers I have in the works. Like, I'm still trying to pick a different fandom for Gillian Weasley to star in, and I'm still open to suggestions. I just don't want to repeat the Twilight fandom, which I hope to complete soon with my PJO/Twilight crossover. So it will be put off for a bit, but the PJO prequel should be up hopefully next week if not two weeks from now at the latest if possible

Well, I've rambled long enough-though I'm sure most of you skipped this anyway-so let's start the chapter. I hope you like it more compared to the last one.

Love is the strongest of emotions that everyone can feel. It is the most dangerous emotion. It can turn into something beautiful, or it could lead to something anguishing. I know this better than most. Being the daughter of Aphrodite makes it nearly impossible not to understand love. Being her daughter also means that the emotion is mine to manipulate. It's a great power that I believe needs to be respected. Not everyone shares my sentiment, however. Some of my siblings enjoy toying with the emotion. Enjoy toying with people.

I won't lie by saying that I've never broken the heart of some guy for the fun of it. After doing it, however, I felt so much pain and guilt. How could I do something so monstrous? I knew better than anybody how it felt to be unloved by someone you want to be loved from. My biological father apparently got rid of me after my mother had dropped me off on his doorstep. I had been put into the adoption system, but luckily my father's brother found out. He quickly took me into his life while taking care of me unlike my father. It hurt knowing I was unloved by my father, who was supposed to give me unconditional love, and yet I brought that pain onto someone else.

I swore I never would do that to anyone ever again. That I wouldn't use my gifts to give people a false sense of love. I wouldn't make people fall in love with me or other people. I would let love happen naturally, and if it was meant to be, it was mean to be. However, being a daughter of Aphrodite came with a curse. I always know if the man with me is truly in love with me. True love is hard to come by, and unfortunately I can tell whether it's true or not. Makes it nearly impossible to be in a true relationship.

My siblings though have no problem having false relationships. To them they do love the men or women they're with, but it's never true love. They've given up on that a long time ago...and I'm starting to as well. Maybe I'm just meant to be lonely. Not everybody is supposed to find the one. However, the thought of being alone hurt more deeply than you can imagine. Not finding the man who was meant to be my other half truly felt like some kind of horrible curse. And the last man in my life had really sent me spiraling when I had to end things. Maybe it was a sign that I should give up on relationships. Do I really need to stop hoping for a love that never seems within grasp?

"I know you want me to come home, Ric, but I don't feel like it's the place I need to be right now." I said to my uncle as I was walking down the streets of Chicago.

Normally, speaking a cellphone was a big no-no for half-bloods, but Rhea—a daughter of Hecate—had developed a spell that somewhat masks our vocal waves, so monsters aren't as attracted to them. Though it wasn't perfect, so I'd have to be careful how long a talk. I don't want to be chased out of Chicago so easily. I've been living in Chicago for not even a month now, and it was like becoming one of the longest months in my life.

Getting used to living outside of Camp Half-Blood was not an as easy as a task I thought it would be. Things seemed too quite in the small, cheap apartment I'm living in now. I mean, most of my life was spent in a cabin with fifteen plus siblings. There had been much chatter, laughter, arguing, and more. Now it was just me alone in an apartment, and the silence bothered me greatly. So much that I usually found myself Iris Messaging my siblings often to the point I'm sure I annoy them.

It wasn't just the silence though. It was also the worry of being away from my siblings. I kind of took on a mothering like position of my fourteen sisters and six brothers. Well, it was more like thirteen sisters since Silena had been the one taking care of us before she passed. After that I had done my best to look out for all of my siblings. Though some had made it difficult like Drew who wanted to be in charge, and Zayn since he had a knack for doing his own thing without seeming to realize he was stepping all over the rules I put in place to keep us safe. Just thinking of those two in our cabin without any supervision was terrifying since the two always butt heads.

The thought of them having a standoff right now made me want to head home back to camp right now, but I have to be strong. I left camp for a reason. I needed to go out and see the world a bit, and clear my head. Which is why I can't return to living with my uncle just yet.

"I'm just worried about you, Kalista." Alaric said through the phone with a sigh. "I mean, I don't hear from you for a while then not long ago I get a letter from your Activities Director that tells me you were hurt in a war between gods and titans and unconscious."

I sighed wishing Chiron hadn't wrote to Alaric about that, but I knew he had a responsibility as our caretaker to let our guardians know of our well-beings.

"I'm fine now." I assured Alaric. "Thanks to Corissa and her siblings all those who were injured are up and already moving."

Though I'm still sore here and there. I mean, I had gotten a spear through the side during that battle in Manhattan. Just thinking about it had me rubbing my side.

"That isn't the point." Alaric said. "You were in a coma there for a bit, and it had me worried sick. I just need to see you in person to feel at least a bit better."

"Then I'll come and visit as soon as I'm a bit more settled in." I said. "But I'm not moving in with you and Isobel just yet."

Alaric groaned from his end of the phone, and I did feel bad about causing him such worry. However, I was determined to try and find a normal life for myself in the world. I needed a break from the crazy life I've lived for so long at Camp Half-Blood. I needed to try and be a normal young woman. I needed to get a job, struggle to pay rent and get through life in general, and maybe find the one guy meant to be with me for the rest of my time on this earth.

"You know, you're technically supposed to be still in high school." Alaric said. "Did you think about that? You need to get an education, Kalista."

I sighed not wanting to have this conversation again. I wasn't a fan of anything academia. Not many half-bloods were, but like some of my other fellow half-bloods I've managed to have above average grades at the schools I've attended. Doesn't mean I like going.

"I know that." I said patiently. "I have signed up for an online course that Chiron helped me with. I can take lessons at night after my shifts at work, and this way I can finish school earlier."

"And after you finish high school, you're going to college, right?" Alaric pressed.

"Of course." I said. "I'm already looking at potential colleges I would like to attend."

Alaric made a noise that sounded as if he was a bit pacified though I knew it wouldn't last for long. I knew Alaric only cared about my future, which is why I couldn't get mad at him for being a bit pushy when it comes to my education. In fact, it makes me happy that he loves me so much to care about my future. I then noticed I made it to work, which had me pause walking.

"I'm sorry, Ric, but I have to go." I said. "My shift starts in fifteen minutes, so I need to get ready."

"Alright." Alaric said. "Just be safe, Kalista, and call me again soon."

"Of course," I said smiling. "I love you, Uncle Ric."

I really did love my uncle. He is the man who raised me in my father's place. He's practically my father, honestly.

"I love you too, Kal." Alaric replied.

We then hung up as I looked up at the place I had managed to snag a job. It was a bar. Yeah, I'm underage, but Tammy the owner managed to swing a few things for me to work here. She has a soft spot for young girls trying to make it on their own two feet. In fact, there's mostly just young women working here except for Tony the bar's bouncer who keeps an eye on Mikayla, Allison, and I. Though it'd just be me today since Mikayla, who would leave as soon as I clocked in, had finals to study for, and Allison had to pull a double shift over at her other job, which would help feed her 18th month old baby.

"Well, time to clock in." I said as I stepped inside the bar.

As I closed the door behind me, I threw a smile at Tony as he stood in his usual corner looking as burly and intimidating as usual. His serious expression cracked as he grinned at me in return.

"Kal, there you are." Mikayla said when she saw me as was serving some usual customers. "Thank god. I thought you might be late."

I chuckled a Mikayla as I walked around the bar where the timeclock was. I punched my card in before grabbing my apron.

"Miki, you worry too much." I said. "I promised I'd be here, didn't I? No, go on. I know you have finals to pass."

Mikayla thanked me as she practically threw off her apron to hurry to the time clock. We exchanged a brief hug before she was out the door. I finished tying my apron before picking up where Mikayla left off by cleaning up some glasses. I got into a quite rhythm that was soon interrupted by an unfamiliar voice.

"Bourbon on the rocks, love." A British accented voice ordered.

I glanced up seeing a handsome man with dirty blonde hair sit down in front of me. He had slight stubble on his face, and he had the bluest eyes I've ever seen. However, I could instantly tell he wasn't human.

"Coming right up." I said smiling.

I quickly put together his drink, and as I was about to take away the bottle, he took it from me.

"Leave the bottle." He said.

I nodded silently then watched as he downed his drink. He poured himself another glass, which he took care of quickly as well.

"Who did what to you?" I asked casually as I grabbed some glasses to clean.

"What makes you think someone did something to me?" He asked.

I eyed the bottle in his hand pointedly, and he chuckled with the smallest of grins appearing on his face.

"My brother and I had another...falling out." He said. "He wishes to be with our entire family again, but I rather like things as they are now."

He poured himself another drink, but he just calmly took a swig from the glass this time.

"Besides, it's not like I'm truly part of the family." He said almost to himself.

I looked at him curiously as I wondered what he meant. He sighed as he set his glass down.

"My older brother Elijah has a true place with our family." He said. "I, however, do not. I am not my siblings' full brother. I'm different from the rest of them."

I could hear the resentment in his tone, and I felt a bit of sympathy towards him.

"My father hated me since the moment I was born. My mother regretted giving birth to me." He continued. "Having a different father than the rest of my siblings changed things so much."

He finished off another glass, and he was quick to refill it. I tilted my head to the side feeling as if I needed to say something to make him feel better.

"This may sound like something that anyone would say to give you comfort, but I do understand...at least a bit." I said. "My mother dumped me on my father's doorstep just hours after I was born. My father got rid of me not long after. Apparently, he wanted nothing to do with me. But, hey, his loss, I guess."

The man paused in taking a drink to truly look right at me for the first time since he sat down.

"My uncle did adopt me after that, but I…I sometimes felt like I was an intruder in his life, so I felt out of place." I said. "He never openly said so, but I still felt that way. Then when he married, his wife obviously didn't like having me around. She wanted to have her own kids with him, and I know she didn't like how my uncle called me their child since I wasn't related to her in the slightest."

I never told Alaric about this since he had been oblivious, and I left it that way. I didn't want to meddle in his love life.

"However, there was then some drama in the family mostly caused by me, and I had to leave since I was causing problems for my family." I said. "I was on my own for a bit, and being alone is the worst feeling in the world. It's like this emptiness that constantly claws at your chest to remind you of the pain of being by yourself."

The man was completely listening to me by now, but I wasn't sure if what I was saying was really helping him.

"Then all of a sudden I had been approached by a friend of my mother's." I said.

More like approached by a satyr known as Gleeson Hedge. The rough old satyr, who had been younger at the time, had collected me off the streets around the time he had found Clarisse la Rue. He brought me to camp with her, and made sure we were settled in well enough.

"He told me I had some half-siblings in Long Island." I continued. "Nearly twenty, in fact."

The man's eyes widened partially, and I knew it could be something shocking to hear.

"I know it's a lot of brothers and sisters." I said. "But even with all those brothers and sisters…there were still times where I felt more alone than before. I mean, I finally found out I had a big family, but I felt almost like a stranger. Especially at first. They had all settled in together. They all knew each other so well, and came from lives much different than my own. I felt like a runt in a litter of well-bred pedigrees."

I then sighed feeling my mood drop a bit. Great, I'm depressing myself, so I'm sure I'm not helping this guy at all.

"But I do love my siblings." I insisted. "I love them all deeply with my entire heart. I don't know what I'd do without them, but that feeling of being different sticks with me. I feel as if there will always be some kind of thin membrane between them and I no matter how close we become."

I never told my siblings this since I knew it might hurt some of their feelings, or Zayn would go out of his way to try and make me feel better. I didn't want him bothering himself over something so silly. The man was silent for a moment as he just stared at me. I almost blushed thinking I might have just made myself look stupid and I babbled for nothing.

"What is your name, love?" He asked suddenly.

I was a bit surprised he asked, but I then chuckled as I gave him a kind smile.

"Sorry, sweetheart, but I don't give my name out to strangers." I said.

He chuckled with the grin on his face actually reaching his eyes. It still wasn't that big, but it seemed to transform his entire appearance. He might be inhuman, but he is one handsome devil.

"You'll give me part of your life story, but not your name?" He asked with a quirked brow.

"I suppose you do have a point." I said though didn't give my name.

He continued to grin before holding out his hand towards me, which had me blinking.

"I'm Nik." He said.

I looked at it a moment before cautiously reaching forward to take his awaiting hand.

"Kalista." I said. "Pleasure to meet you, Nik."

"The pleasure is all mine, love." He said kissing my knuckles.

"Hey, Kal!"

I jumped snapping out of my dream to turn and look to Alaric who was behind the wheel of his SUV. He gave me an apologetic look while most likely seeing my startled expression.

"Sorry." He apologized. "Just trying to wake you up to let you know we're here."

I blinked then turned to look out the window to see the vehicle was indeed brought to a complete stop. I ran my fingers through my blonde locks while certain they didn't look the best at the moment. I'm sure half of my sisters would have a fit if they saw it right now.

"Oh." I murmured. "Alright."

Alaric looked at me in concern as he reached out to place his hand on my arm. I turned to give him a smile to try and put him at ease. I know I had to be worrying him. I mean, I did suddenly call him last week to ask to come home, and I had been crying at the time of that call as well. Let's just say things didn't end well in Chicago, but I had managed to make it a whole year and a half before needing to return home to be in the comforting company of my uncle.

"Are you going to be okay, Kal?" Alaric asked.

I sighed not really sure how to answer that. Things had ended pretty badly in Chicago, and I was still shaken up by it.

"In time." I finally said.

Alaric nodded taking that answer before the both of us climbed out of the SUV together. I went towards the back where my things were, but Alaric beat me to it.

"I'll get your bags." Alaric said as he held out a key to me. "Go on up. We're on the top floor. We have the entire loft space in the building, so you won't be able to miss it."

"Are you sure?" I asked as I took the keys. "I have a lot of stuff, and some of it is heavy."

I might not be exactly like my siblings, but when it comes to shopping and getting more clothes than really needed, I am exactly like them. One can never have too many pairs of shoes after all, or accessories.

"I've got it." Alaric assured me with a grin. "Just go make yourself at home."

I nodded my head while really needing a feeling of being at home. I left Alaric to get my things though I'm sure I'd have to come and help him once he realizes just what he's gotten himself into. I went inside the apartment complex before heading for the stairs since there was no elevator in this building. At least I could work on my cardio every day. I started up the stairs while hoping this was the right choice. I had ran from Chicago—from him—without really thinking of where to go. Alaric had been the first person to come to my mind when I fled, but now I wasn't sure if that was the best decision.

I didn't want Alaric hurt because I had needed to be near family right now. Nik could be very dangerous, and would hurt anyone he thought was in his way to what he wants. I don't wat that anyone to be Alaric because if anything ever happened to him, I'd lose it. Especially if it was my fault he got hurt or something worse. The smarter choice probably would have been to return to Camp Half-Blood because even if Nik managed to track me down there, he wouldn't be able to enter.

However, he could be very patient if he wanted, and if he had to wait until myself or someone I was close to stepped outside of camp, he would. Then they'd become one of his victims until he gets to me. So going to either home was a bad idea, but I came back to Alaric anyway. And he finally managed to move on from Isobel's disappearance and make himself a life here in this town he had moved to. When he had been telling me about it on the car ride here, I heard how much he liked it hear. He said it had its complications, but he enjoyed his jobs and his students. And there was this woman he mentioned a few times, and just by the tone of his voice I could tell she meant something to him.

I didn't want to ruin any of that. Though at the same time I didn't want to be left alone while my heart feels as if someone ripped it out of my chest to break in too before shoving it back in while crudely stitching up the wound. I sighed as my head started to hurt from all these swirling thoughts in my head. I needed to get some popular sleep and time for some R&R, or I might just go crazy.

"If I haven't already." I grumbled as I finally reached the top where there was only one door.

I put the key inside the lock before unlocking the door. I pushed the door open while stepping inside the loft. I looked around thinking it had a quaint charm. It wasn't very big with the living room, kitchenette, and what I assumed was Alaric's bedroom in open view. Then there were two other doors in the loft with one door I'm assuming to the bathroom, and the other to the room I would claim as my own. I walked towards the doors while opening the first to see it was indeed the bathroom. I lightly frowned at the small sink that had no counter space whatsoever, and there was just a simple medicine cabinet over it.

"That won't hold even a tube of lipstick." I said.

I suppose I'd be doing my makeup in my room. I then shook my head knowing I needed to stop being judgmental. This place still had charm, and it was definitely better than that first apartment I had managed to get. I shut the door to the bathroom before going over to the second door. I opened it to look inside a small bedroom, but it had a warm, welcoming feeling to it. There was a twin sized bed in one corner with a vanity/dresser resting against the opposite wall. There was a closet beside the dresser, and I tilted my head knowing I'd have to think of some way to fit all my things in here.

Beside that there wasn't much else to the room, but I've lived in worse conditions, so it definitely wasn't one of the worst places I've ever lived in. I stepped out of the bedroom while shutting the door. Well, there really wasn't much more to explore. Since I had already checked out my new home I went over to the couch to plop down on it. I gave a sigh as I brought my knees to my chest while resting my chin on them.

"Home sweet home, I guess." I said though I felt very out of place.

I didn't know what Mystic Falls would bring into my life, but hopefully it'd be a nice distraction from him. I honestly just wanted some peace and quiet. Some time to piece my heart back together. Though I wasn't sure if that was possible. Nik Mikaelson shook up my entire world, and I wasn't sure if there was any chance of me returning it to normal ever again.

Queenie: Well, I hope you liked the first chapter. Hope to have another up soon, but for now it's time this queen gets some beauty sleep. Good-night, my lovelies! Until next time.