This is the sequel to Reading Change Through Flame.

I will warn you: this will not be updated as fast. My goal is to update once a day or once a week (depending on how long the chapters are at that point in the story). This is because the chapters are much longer in Fire Triangle. I will also never post on a Sunday for religious reasons; that goes for all my stories.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Anything in bold belongs to NBrokenShacklesN.

WARNINGS: A VERY, VERY, VERY BAD NIGHTMARE AT THE END. ITALICIZED IF YOU WANT TO SKIP IT. DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU

Apollo took the book and dove right into the reading, eager to discover what would happen to his new favorite demigod (aside of his children, of course).

"Fire Triangle," he read. "Chapter one: In Which Leo's Screams Wake The Entire Cabin."

Leo groaned. "Not this."

Beckendorf placed an arm around him. He knew what the book was referring to, and while he didn't want Leo to have to relive it, he was also curious as to what Leo had been dreaming about.

'Leo was undeniably nervous. He was standing just beyond Thalia's tree on half blood hill, hesitant to enter camp. It would be completely different to his time, he knew. Still, the thing that made him the most hesitant was meeting his half brother Beckendorf. He had been routinely told about him, and how cool he was, but he still couldn't help being nervous. People always said good stuff about a dead person, so what if Beckendorf wasn't like that at all.'

"I don't usually love being wrong," Leo announced, "but I was when I met you."

Beckendorf laughed and messed up Leo's hair, resulting his little brother huffing and glaring, playfully.

'Leo glanced at Thalia's tree. It looked weird without the Golden Fleece hanging of a branch. It was even weirder to think that the scary lieutenant of Artemis, Jason's older sister was still imprisoned within it. Leo screwed up his courage, and walked over the boundary line, and down the hill.

He reached the bottom of the hill and stopped, unsure of where he should go. Big house? Or just wander around till someone noticed he didn't have a camp T-shirt on, or looked lost. He looked over to the cabins, and the lake. Everyone looked so happy! Leo figured that this was what camp looked like without the looming threat of a war. He couldn't help but grin, it was so loud, so hectic! It had never looked like this while he had been here in the future.'

Several of the campers were saddened by that statement. What had happened to their camp, their home?

'Leo felt a tear roll down the side of his face, and quickly scrubbed it away. It had been far too long since he had seen camp, since the Romans, tricked by Gaia and lead by Octavian, had stormed the place, and everything had been destroyed. The campers who escaped the slaughter, Clarisse, the Stolls, Nyssa, Michael, and a few others, had ransacked the camp funds and bought plane tickets to Greece.

"Hey! Travis!" Leo turned to see a girl of about fourteen running toward him, a bucket of crushed strawberries in her arms. She ran up to him, and then flushed pink. "Sorry, I thought you were one of the Stolls, it was the hair, I think... Ummm yeah."

Leo smiled, plastering a confused look on his face. Time to pretend he didn't know anyone. "No problemo, but ah, who are the Stolls?"

"Who..." The girl looked at him closely, "I've not seen you before..."

"Yeah, I'm new." Leo swept into a deep bow, grinning up at the girl, who he suspected was a daughter of Demeter. "Leo Valdez, at your service."

She looked slightly amused at the bow, "new? I haven't seen you around before; I must have missed the announcement of a new camper. Sorry."

"No, I mean, I just walked over the hill new." Leo grinned at the look on her face.'

Travis and Connor burst out laughing.

"I can so imagine that!" Connor chuckled.

"Hilarious!" Travis agreed.

'"But you don't have a protector..."

Leo made his confused face come back, "protector? I don't need one, I look after myself. I was just passing through New York, trying to not get eaten by any of the random weird monster things, and then there was this really bright light, and a voice told me to come here. I gotta admit though, it looks pretty awesome here, I wonder if I'll be allowed to stay."'

LT Percy frowned. "Does that happen often?"

Dozens of hands went up, and Will Solace, who was raising his hand, nodded.

"Happens a lot more than you think," he said, "but usually, a protector finds you when you're heading towards camp unless you happen to live in New York."

LT Percy nodded, still amazed by the sheer amount of hands.

'The daughter of Demeter looked more shocked as his speech went on. "You mean you don't know?"

"Don't know what? And if the explanation can tell me why all the monsters in America have decided that roasted Valdez is their favourite food, then I would be delighted to hear it!"

The girl grabbed a hold of his arm, noticing the scars from the furies and the hellhound on the arch, "Holy Hades, what? You know what, never mind, you need to get to Chiron."

"Chiron? Hey, what's your name anyway?"

The girl blushed, "Sorry Leo, I'm Katie, Katie Gardener."

Leo fell silent at that. He had never met Katie Gardener, so as far as he knew she had either died in the Titan war, or joined the Titans.'

Several people gasped, and Travis wrapped an arm around Katie's shoulders, awkwardly. For once, she didn't push him away.

"She died," Connor murmured, and they all turned to him. "Katie wouldn't join the Titans. I know she wouldn't."

Katie nodded, but she was too shocked to speak. After all, hearing you could possibly die or betray your friends would throw anyone for a loop.

'Leo thought he remembered seeing her name in miniature on Percy's bead necklace, the fifth bead, those who died in the Titan war. It felt more real now. Realistically, Leo knew he wouldn't be able to save everyone, but he would try to save as many as he could, and Katie's life was, metaphorically, in his hands.'

But no pressure, Leo thought, sarcastically, staring at Katie, surrounded by her friends and Travis (who would become her future boyfriend, according to a story he heard from future Percy).

Beckendorf patted his little brother on the shoulder to show that he was here for him.

'By the time Leo had broken out of his somewhat depressing train of thought, they had reached the big house. Katie told him to wait out on the porch, so he stood awkwardly outside, as Katie went in to get Chiron.

Before too long, Chiron had come trotting out of the house, a relived smile on his face. "Leo, I am glad you are alright." Leo's anger and disappointment all came streaming back. The 'why didn't he believe me'; the 'I thought Chiron trusted me', and he couldn't help his mutter of "No thanks to you."'

Both Chirons stared at Leo in guilt.

"Leo, I am so sorry," Chiron stressed.

Leo smiled. "I know that, Chiron. It's okay. If I didn't forgive people every time they betrayed me, I wouldn't have any friends. It comes with the territory."

"Of being a demigod or of being Leo Valdez?" Percy asked.

Leo shrugged. "Both."

Several people exchanged glances, wondering what this kid had gone through in his life if he thought that every person would betray him at one point or another.

That just wasn't right.

'He felt guilty as soon as he had said it, Leo has seemed incredibly suspicious at Yancy, and he couldn't really blame Chiron for that. But a small part of him, the suspicious and not so pleasant part (a result of the war with Gaia) felt that Chiron deserved the guilt that now showed on his face.'

"War changes people," Ares stated, and he almost looked... not sad exactly, but pretty close to it. "Just because I like war doesn't mean I like the aftermath."

Everyone stared at the god of war in shock.

"What are you all staring at?" He grunted before returning to sharpening his knives.

That's about as human as Ares ever appeared.

They continued.

'Katie was looking between the two of them, a bewildered look on her face. "You two know each other?" She pouted slightly when she didn't get an answer from Chiron, and turned to Leo.

"Sure, if you call being accused of something you didn't do, and tattled on to Olympus by someone 'knowing each other'."

Chiron cringed, and Katie looked shocked, "Chiron, you actually..."

"Perhaps, Miss Gardener, you could leave Mr Valdez and myself to chat, and see if cabin 11 can find room for Leo."

Katie looked between the two once more, then nodded, and made her way down the hill to the cabins. The shocked look was still present on her face as she went. Halfway down, she was joined by too identical looking boys, with red strawberry juice on their hands. Leo couldn't help snorting when he saw Katie take some of the ruined strawberries in both her hands, and smear one hand into each of their faces.

After Katie had reached the cabins, two Stolls trailing behind her, Leo turned back to Chiron, his anger sufficiently cooled. "I'm sorry Chiron, that was uncalled for, I was acting kinda suspiciously I guess. I don't blame you for jumping to the conclusion you did."

"Thank you Leo, but I should have learnt by now that not everything is as it seems. I apologise. The Olympians would likely punish you immediately had you been caught. I was rather apprehensive when the bolt had been returned, and your innocent proven, yet you still didn't arrive at camp. I am glad you arrived safely."

Leo grinned "Me too, I didn't want to come to camp till I was sure I wouldn't be killed as soon as I crossed the border. Percy was protected from Olympus because of his dad, but my dad's not quite as powerful, or willing to stand up to the lord of the skies. Plus, I'm pretty sure he has other kids, if I died, though I hope he would be upset, he wouldn't care as much as Poseidon would if Percy died. He's got other kids, better kids, so I don't matter much."'

Hephaestus sputtered. "Leo, you know that isn't true."

"Yeah. He cried for three weeks and then tracked down the man and made him wish he'd never been born after your fifth foster home," Apollo pointed out.

Leo blinked. "You know about Him?"

Hephaestus nodded. "I was always keeping an eye on you."

"As was I," Hestia added.

Leo blinked once again. "Thank you."

Hephaestus smiled. "Just because I'm a god doesn't mean I'm still not your father."

The demigods exchanged glances. Gods actually showing that they care... That's a first.

"Wait," Beckendorf suddenly said. "What happened at your fifth foster home?"

Leo paled. "Oh, look at the time, we should probably get reading."

Apollo did so without question, leaving the demigods to wonder what on earth had happened at that foster home.

'Hey, Leo knew that he was powerful, and with years to go before the Titan war came to a head, he would get more powerful, but his self worth hadn't grown at all. In fact, since he came back in time, it seemed to have shrunk again. He conveniently forgot all he had achieved in the war, it hadn't actually happened to anyone but him, how could he replicate it? How would he, Leo Valdez, repair boy, manage to save as many people as Chaos wanted him to?'

"Where is your self esteem?" Travis asked.

"Probably left it in a ditch somewhere years ago," Leo said, casually.

Beckendorf and Nyssa exchanged glances.

That was a problem that needed to be handled.

Chiron was looking at him sadly, "You believe your father does not care for you?"

"Oh, I hope he does, but I'm not too optimistic. I'm short, weak, compared to all the other Hephaestus kids, I'm a runt. I'm not worth dad's time."'

Hephaestus sighed.

'Chiron sighed, "I don't believe that I can persuade you any differently Mr. Valdez. As it is almost time to eat, let me escort you to the dinning pavilion, I'm afraid you will have to sit with the Hermes cabin till Lord Hephaestus claims you. But I'm sure he will do so soon."

"I'm not" Leo muttered, but he figured that Chiron had heard him, from the sigh that the centaur gave. On their way to the pavilion, Leo thought about how long it would take before he was claimed. He realised that he had been claimed almost as soon as he arrived before, but that was after Percy made the gods promise to claim their kids by thirteen. By then he was sixteen. Now there was no promise and he wasn't even thirteen anyway. There was no way Hephaestus would be claiming him any time soon. Best get used to the Hermes cabin'

"You'd be surprised," Nyssa said. "I was claimed within two weeks."

"I was claimed in three days!" Shane piped up.

"I was claimed in five hours," Beckendorf told him.

"Your father never waits long to claim his children," Hestia said. "The longest was two months, and that's only because he got distracted by some... things."

"Three of them," Hephaestus clarified. "One was Shane getting attacked by a Cyclops; one was the birth of one of my children; and the last was your mother's... death."

Maybe he does care about his children... Leo thought. Most gods don't.

'Leo didn't want to be claimed immediately anyway, it would make the people who had been in the Hermes cabin for ages feel resentful.'

The gods shifted, uneasily, in their chairs.

"I know you're being claimed the wrong way," Hermes called, "us having to be reminded, but I'm sure you'll be relieved."

The demigods were confused before most of the gods snapped their fingers and symbols appeared above the heads of the demigods.

Fourteen kids were claimed.

'He already had the enmity of Echidna; he didn't need half-blood enemies too.

Leo had been in the Hermes cabin a week. Sure it was crowded, but it was also kinda nice, in a weird way. Sure he had to sleep on the floor, but he had slept in much worse places that the floor of the Hermes cabin. He had made fast friends with Travis and Conner, who were two years older than him, but still didn't mind involving him in their pranks (while he had some good ideas himself). Travis was more excitable in this time period that the previous one. Leo suspected it was because of a certain gardener, but he wasn't saying anything. One night of sleeping in a shaving foam filled sleeping bag was enough.'

Travis nodded. "Classic!"

He had gotten Travis back for that one though, by rigging a bucket of ice to fall on him in the middle of the night. Classics were often best, in Leo's opinion.

He had talked to Percy at the campfire on the first night. He was glad that Percy didn't blame him for anything, and when he couldn't be found with the Stolls, he would often be with Percy (and Annabeth by extension). He hadn't talked to his siblings much, as they were mostly always in the camp forge, and you weren't allowed in there, unless you were a claimed child of Hephaestus. Well Leo might be slightly mad about that, but hey.'

"Maybe we should change that rule," Chiron mused. "It seems unfair for the unclaimed kids to be left out in the cold."

"I vote yes!" A child of Hephaestus that had been claimed not even two minutes ago called.

'The Stolls and Annabeth had figured who his dad was, and then Annabeth told Percy. At first the Stolls had figured that Leo might be their brother, until he made a really complex prank on Luke, totally not as revenge for anything he might do, that only a son of Hephaestus could pull off. Luke has been so impressed that he forgot to prank back.

Now it was time for campfire, again. Leo had heard the Stolls planning a prank, but they stopped when he went over. Which either meant that he was the target or one of his friends was. He hoped the prank had nothing to do with the campfire, Percy, Annabeth, Grover and himself were the only ones who knew of his fire power, and he would like to keep it that way.

Leo sat next to Percy at the camp fire, grinning as he sat down, and wiping away thoughts of the immanent prank. "How's my best buddy doing this fine evening?" Sure he wasn't technically allowed to be sitting next to Percy, having to sit in cabins and all, but no-one really cared where the unclaimed demi-gods sat, and he didn't want Percy to have to sit alone. Leo knew from experience that alone sucked.'

Several demigods nodded in agreement.

Percy grinned back, "I heard you pulled a prank on Luke, he told me about it during sword practice."

"It's not my fault if he forgot to check his bed for an ejector when he got in it. I don't think Chiron's very happy about the hole in the roof though. Even if I fixed it in under an hour." Leo looked back to the campfire as Chiron stamped his foot, taking time to whisper out of the corner of his mouth, "bet you're glad that I'm not in your cabin."

Percy snorted, "I feel sorry for Beckendorf when you're claimed."

Leo grinned again, but didn't say anything. He still hadn't spoken to Beckendorf, and the longer he left it, the more nervous he was. It was hard to talk sincerely to people he hadn't known before, but it was even harder to talk to people he knew were dead in his time. It felt like someone was standing behind them, whispering that this person would die in four years or less. That he could stop it, and if he didn't, their blood would be on his hands.'

People shifted in their chairs at the depressing thought.

'Chiron's voice echoed from the front. "Now that we are all here, I would like to ask the Apollo cabin if they would kindly lead a few campfire songs, before we get onto smores."

The Apollo cabin stood up, just as the bench underneath Percy and Leo collapsed. Leo heard the Stolls snort. So this had been the prank. Unfortunately, it seemed that the Stolls hadn't reckoned on the small amount of explosives also blowing up the bench behind Percy.

Leo could see what was going to happen. The angle that the bench was lifting, it would crash down on the Aphrodite cabin behind it. They were screaming, and trying to move away. Leo saw that if he re-angled the bench slightly left, it would land on the unoccupied bench over from the Aphrodite one. He cringed, this was going to hurt.

Leo jumped forward, and shoved all his weight onto the side of the bench, swinging it round so that it just missed Drew, sitting on the edge, and landed with a crash on the other bench, at the same time that Leo landed on the floor, clutching his shoulder. He just had time to see the Stolls horrified faces, and Percy's worried one, before the world went black.'

"Thank you," Aphrodite said, "for helping my children."

Leo laughed. "No problem. One of my best friends is a child of Aphrodite. I'd be an awful best friend if I didn't help her siblings when they were in danger."

Aphrodite smiled at him.

When Leo opened his eyes, he was alone in the infirmary, it was dark, and his shoulder was bandaged. He felt like he had just been slammed by Frank in elephant form. Being at camp seemed to bring back memories of his friends. Like the sound Piper made when Jason was killed...'

Aphrodite and Zeus flinched.

'Bad thoughts Leo, bad thoughts.

Leo tried to sit upright, and gave a little gasp at the pain, Holy Hades,-'

"Hey!"

"Sorry!"

'that hurt. He spotted a glass of nectar by the bedside table, and reached out with his good arm to grab it. Absentmindedly, he noticed that the shoulder he had slammed the bench with, was the same arm that had the hellhound and fury scars.

Leo drank the ambrosia, and felt the pain in his shoulder disappear; he gave a relived sigh as he sank back onto the bed. He was so going to yell at the Stolls for this tomorrow, though he suspected Katie might have already done so. He hoped that Chiron put them on stable cleaning duties for a month.'

"Two months," Travis corrected, "not that we didn't deserve it."

The next time he awoke, the Stolls were sitting next to each other on the bed over from him, and Percy was sitting in the chair next to him. He sat up, frowning at the Stolls. "If my shoulder is permanently damaged, I am so blaming you two."

The Stolls had the grace to look ashamed at least, though Leo had a feeling that they didn't quite mean it.'

"We so did!" Connor snapped.

"They really did," Katie agreed. "They barely talked during your time in the Infirmary, and they didn't pull any pranks for weeks."

Leo pursed his lips. "Sorry about that, guys. In the future, I didn't know you as well as I wanted to. Or at least I didn't know you before," Leo added with a glance at future Connor.

Travis grinned. "Don't sweat it, Leo."

'They had looked really guilty when he first looked at them though. They'd probably been through Chiron's lecture of 'it could have been worse, you could have seriously hurt someone.' Leo knew that lecture well. He was a prankster himself, after all.

Percy had frowned at the Stolls as well, and then turned back to Leo. "Are you sure you're alright Leo?"

"Percy, I'm Leo freaking Valdez, I'm not about to be seriously injured by a bench. Where are the heroics in that?"'

"Well, there was that one time..." Will said.

Leo frowned. "What?"

"Andrew Burks. He died on a quest a few years ago, but before that, he pushed his little brother off of a bench that some of his enemies had rigged to blow up. They were both all right; the brother got a burn, and Andrew got a broken arm and singed eyebrows, but other than that, they were good."

'Percy grinned, "Well, you did save half the Aphrodite cabin; I'm betting they think you're a right hero. They'll be colour coordinating all your clothes for you."

Leo gave a mock gasp, "not colour coordination! Aphrodite, have mercy!"'

Aphrodite looked insulted.

"Color coordination is what holds the universe together!" She yelled.

"No, it isn't," Artemis snapped. "Independent women that care more about their looks, on the other hand..."

'Percy gave a snort at that, and Leo heard the Stolls snickering as well. He was glad that the knock on his shoulder hadn't upset his humour any. Leo heard Travis clear his throat, and address him. "Leo, um, not that it's any of our business..." Conner took over.

"But we were kinda wondering..."

"How you got those scars on your arm."

Leo sighed. He knew that question was coming up, he was thinking of a way to answer it, when Chiron came rolling into the room, in his wheelchair. "I too would be interested in the answer to Mr Stolls' question."

Leo groaned, of course he would. "Well, these ones," Leo pointed to the three slashes that stood out plainly, pink with scar tissue, even against his tanned arm. He had to admit they looked pretty bad, running from his elbow to his wrists, and leaving gouges in his muscle. They didn't hurt nearly as much as some of the injuries he had sustained during the war, though they did look worse that he thought.'

Hephaestus stared at his son in horror.

'"They were from a fury that attacked me the day I ran away from the school trip. Apparently the poison on the furies claws was meant to kill me, but I don't kill easily, so it just made the scars deep and unable to ever go away."

Leo looked up to see the cringe that Conner gave, "don't they really hurt?"

"Nah, they don't really hurt at all, they look worse than they are." Leo traced the thicker scar that cut diagonally across the other three. "This scar was from a hellhound, not as friendly as they look..'

"Friendly?" A Hecate kid asked.

"I cannot wait until you meet Mrs. O'Leary," Leo laughed. "Few more years."

Several demigods looked confused at that but didn't push it.

'Not that they look friendly, but, yeah. I didn't really feel that one at the time, and it wasn't until a bit later that I realised that the blood had soaked through my hoodie."

The Stolls looked appropriately horrified at that, and as they left, Leo wondered how long it would be before they spread the rumour that his arm was horrifically mangled, a memoir of him bravery, or stupidity (if you were asking Annabeth).'

"You know it," Annabeth said.

'Leo looked to see how Chiron was taking it, and was surprised to see guilt on his face; he gave Chiron an inquiring look, matching the one Percy was already sending him.

Chiron looked at Leo intently, "When I chased you away, you were injured?"

"Yep."

"And slashed with a furies poisoned claws no less. I'm sorry Leo, I'm a healer, I should've helped you, not chased you off as I did."

"Hey no problem, plus you didn't exactly chase me, I ran. An instinct left over from all the different foster homes I've run from."'

"How many have you run from?" Malcom questioned.

"Been to eleven, ran away from six," Leo responded.

"What about the other five?" Nyssa asked.

"I got taken out of them for one reason or another," Leo replied.

Beckendorf looked a little worried about that, but Apollo picked up the reading before he could ask.

'Leo ignored Percy's inquiring look, and focused on Chiron. "I am curious though, as to how you survived the poison. That is a feat that I have never heard of before, and though I admire your determination to not be killed, I doubt that was what saved you."

Leo sighed, to tell or not to tell, well, Chiron hadn't judged him in the future for it, so he figured that he wouldn't judge him now. Plus, he needed to tell someone. "That poison was meant to burn someone up from the inside out," Leo noticed Percy's wince, "but, since I have a particular ability that some children of Hephaestus get, it didn't work on me."

Leo almost thought he could see the cogs in Chiron's brain working, "you mean..."

"I'm willing to bet that it also wouldn't have worked on a certain Tomas Farriner."

"I see, does anyone else know of your gift?"

Leo almost snorted, right yeah, defiantly a gift, cus gifts always get people killed. "Percy knows about my curse sir, as does Grover, and I'm fairly sure that Annabeth does too. Other than them, and now you, no. Mom did, but she's not around anymore."'

Hephaestus (and several others) frowned at the word curse.

'Leo ignored Chiron's sigh at his use of the word curse, but he let it drop. "Very well Leo, but you might want to mention it to Charles, after your father claims you."

"Charles?"

"Beckendorf."

"Ohhh, his first name is Charles?"

Leo was still puzzling over his half brothers first name'

"What's wrong with it?" Beckendorf asked.

"I've only ever heard of you as Beckendorf," Leo explained. "Hearing you referred to as your first name was a little weird."

'as he and Percy left the infirmary, and made their way onto the porch. He was snapped out of his thoughts pretty quickly by the loud noise of applause he heard when they got outside. He looked down to see at least half the campers gathered outside and clapping for him. Ignoring the strange feeling spiralling inside of him, he gave a massive grin, and bowed to the gathered demi-gods, gaining a bout of laughter for his troubles.'

"You made a lot of friends," Percy said. "Especially in your first week."

Leo shrugged. "I'm a likable guy."

'Leo looked up to see the Stolls in the first row, and somehow wasn't at all surprised. It seemed that pretty much all of the Aphrodite cabin was there as well, as well as Beckendorf standing by Silena. He could tell the two were friends, even if they weren't together yet.'

"What?" The two demigods asked.

"You'll see," Leo told them, nodding slowly.

'Leo grinned manically, and then heard gasps from the audience. He had a feeling he knew what that was all about, he glanced up, and sure enough, there was a fiery hammer floating above his head. Just as Chiron walked out, in his centaur form. "Hail Leo Valdez, Son of Hephaestus, lord of Blacksmiths, forging, and Fire."

After the flaming hammer had faded away, Leo found himself walking with Beckendorf down to the camp forge, to meet his other siblings. He had to admit, though there was only about four of them, compared to the loads there had been last time he joined the cabin, he was still apprehensive.

Leo had been a bit nervous when Beckendorf came over to him on the porch, but the smile that he offered Leo and the "Hello little brother," made his fears dissipate, Beckendorf was a great guy, and Leo was kinda looking forward to having him as an older brother.'

"Well, I was looking forward to having you as a little brother," Beckendorf grinned.

"You'd be the first in a long time. My last foster brother tied me to a chair because I wouldn't sit still, and nobody knew until I was marked absent at school," Leo said.

"What a jerk," Grover stated.

"Tell me about it," Leo sighed.

'Leo and Beckendorf reached the forge, and Beckendorf went inside. Leo hung back, suddenly the forge that he had wanted to be in all week looked less inviting. In fact Leo was all set to take a stroll through the forest and find Festus.'

"Festus?" Beckendorf asked.

"You'll find out who he is," Leo replied.

'And maybe bunker 9 while he was at it. Beckendorf re-emerged, and gave him an encouraging smile, beckoning him to follow.

Leo took a deep breath and walked by Beckendorf, and into the forge. There were four in the forge, and with Beckendorf as well, that meant Leo had five new siblings, though he knew Jake, Nyssa and Shane, there was still Beckendorf and this other guy. They were all much stronger than he was, even Shane, who was four years younger.

"Guys, this is Leo, our new half-brother."

Leo lifted a hand and waved it, looking kind of stupid, why was it now that his witty banter failed him? He could stand in front of a wakened Gaia, and still manage to throw some funny jibes. But in front of his siblings he just closed up. Why did his nerves act up now? They didn't last time he had met his family. Leo thought that the insecurities he had when he was twelve were coming back, maybe being twelve again was affecting him mentally as well as physically.'

Athena nodded. "A plausible theory. You've seen more than any adults have, but physically, you're twelve and your brain chemistry would be that of your twelve year old self."

'Leo paid attention again when his siblings began to introduce themselves."

Jake stepped forward, and lifted his hand, "Jake Mason"

"Nyssa Steel"

"Shane Forjar" Leo tried not to smile at that, forjar was Spanish for forge, subtle much dad, he thought.'

Hephaestus chuckled. "I'm not the only one that does that. Hermes's children, Travis and Connor Stoll, and Apollo's boy, Will Solace, to name a few."

'"Chris West, I fortunately don't have a surname that immediately gives away my heritage."

Leo snickered, "I don't either, my surname's Valdez, nothing special." He was glad that Chris had a sense of humour; he got along better with people who could take a joke. "So tell me, are the bulging muscles required to be a Hephaestus kid? I'm sure I can find some inflatable ones somewhere."

The others snickered, and Beckendorf joined them, "don't worry, we'll have you lugging celestial bronze about in no time."

Leo smiled, "I'm glad to have family with a sense of humour!"

Jake looked at him inquiringly, "Your mom doesn't?"

"Oh mom did," Leo noticed how all five froze at the 'did', he was grateful for it, but he was getting used to no-one caring.'

Percy gave Leo a side hug.

"Dude, I know that was a depressing thought, but if you keep hugging me, I'm going to have to punch you."

Percy quickly put his arm down.

"Thanks!" Leo said, enthusiastically.

'Seeing people who did was refreshing. "I'm talking about my aunt."

"Oh, you live with her?" Jake said, ignoring Chris's frantic cut it out action.

"Nah, she didn't want me. So, is there anything I can help with? It has been way too long since I've been in a workshop of any sort."'

"Why?" Travis asked.

Leo smiled, sadly, but he didn't reply.

'Nyssa stood forward. "You can help me with the shield I'm making; I need two sets of hands for this next phase."

"Ok."

By the time the conch shell had sounded for dinner, Leo had helped Nyssa finish the moulding of her shield, and started a miniature of Festus, that actually blew fire. His siblings were impressed with his talent and attention to detail. The fact that it actually blew fire made Beckendorf grin, and he could've sworn he heard Chris giggle.'

"I do not giggle!" Chris squawked.

"You did, " Nyssa corrected, and his other siblings nodded.

Chris huffed and crossed his arms over his chest.

'After campfire, the six of them had gone back to the Hephaestus cabin, where Leo had dropped his stuff off earlier. He was sleeping in the bed that had been Harley's in his time. As Harley wasn't at camp yet though, Leo had it. It didn't take very long for him to drop off to sleep, but then the nightmares that had been threatening finally appeared...'

"Oh, no," Let muttered before leaning over and clamping his hands over the ears of a very puzzled Shane.

'Jason was flying over the Argo two, dropping Greek fire over Gaia's army, when a cannon ball from a machine piloted by two Cyclops hit him in the side, he lost control, and plummeted, the sound when he hit the ground played over and over, the splat of the son of Jupiter falling was heard over 200 metres away on the Argo two, accompanied by the mournful wail that Piper gave when her heart split in two.'

Zeus and Aphrodite both squeaked, and everyone stared at them.

Annabeth's eyes widened in realization (or half realization since we all know she doesn't know the full truth about Jason yet).

'Hazel and Frank had been missing for twelve hours when the other four arrived in Greece, only to find their decapitated corpses, riddled with whip marks, and torture scars, drained of blood, and their heads stuck on spears, with grotesque smiles fixed on them.'

Some demigods left the room to vomit, and even some gods turned green.

'The full brunt of Gaia's army was upon them, every demi-god fighting for their lives, Clarisse and Piper back to back, Kapatrios and Maimer twirling so fast they looked like a blur. Until the anti-Ares giant swung his club, and shattered both weapons, leaving Clarisse and Piper to be stuck like pin cushions, Piper's last scream echoing through the field, and turning all the monsters to dust.'

Aphrodite sobbed, and Ares's knives clattered to the floor. Clarrise flinched.

'Percy and Annabeth died together, Probably the only merciful thing Gaia did, but she had learnt from Piper that killing couples separately made them stronger, and while they had both drowned in mud at Gaia's feet, they did it together, as they had done everything together. Even Gaia could not separate them after death.'

Annabeth's hand latched onto Percy's, and he didn't pull away. Athena and Poseidon were too shocked to even notice. Poseidon actually sobbed.

'Then it was no longer memories, Leo's mother joined the corpses that Leo saw lining up in front of him, her flesh burnt and horribly blackened, some hanging of her flame marked bones brown with heat, showing in place where the fire had burnt the flesh right off, and some was hanging down, half cooked meat.

Hephaestus ran from the room, and they heard the sound of retching.

Leo looked like he wanted to cover his ears, but he was already protecting Shane for the horrible description.

Beckendorf cupped his hands over Leo's ears, and Leo gave him a grateful glance.

'"Mom, no!"

The corpses opened blank eyes, Hazel and Frank's heads swivelling round the pole to glare at him, the mouths opened, or what was left of them, "Your fault, all your fault,"

"No, please, No, I didn't, I..."

"Your fault Leo" Leo turned to where the mess that used to be Jason was, "you killed me, you could have stopped the cannon, had you been paying attention. It's your fault I'm dead."

And the chorus began again, "your fault, all you fault Leo,"

"Stop, please..."

"Your fault Leo, your fault Leo, your fault Leo."

"No, please, I, I'm, I'm sorry, please, I'm sorry."

"Sorry won't bring us back, won't save us!"

And Leo felt the tears rush down his face, his voice broke as he curled in on himself, amid the chorus that they all had taken up, as broken words rushed from his lips, as he shook, "I'm I'm sorry, so, so, sorry, please, please, I'm sorry."

"Your fault Leo"

"Your fault Leo"

"Your Fault!"

"Leo!"

"Leo, wake up! Wake up!"'

Leo removed his hands from Shane's ears, and Beckendorf swept Leo into a huge hug. He was soon joined by Percy, Annabeth, Grover, the Stolls, the Futures, the rest of the Hephaestus kids, Chiron, and countless others.

"It's not your fault," Beckendorf murmured into Leo's ear.

It felt good to have a family. Leo hadn't had one of those in quite some time.

How was it?