We were traveling in New York when we found him. Well when I found him. Thalia was with Annabeth at the safe house waiting for me to come back with food. I was walking the streets with some pancake mix and milk but when I passed an alley way I heard it. It was the sound of a child screaming in what sounded like pure torture. Dropping everything I pulled out a dagger that I kept in a strap around my ankle and ran into the darkness. A low growl was heard and then another scream. That was when I realized that it was a hell hound. This kid was a demi-god.

"Help! Somebody! Please!" Growl! Running I flipped over a dumpster and stabbed the hound in the back. With a howl it exploded into bronze dust.

"Hey kid don't worry it's okay. I got you." Picking him up with one arm I held him while he cried. "Hey it's alright you're safe now." I could tell he wasn't going to let go anytime soon so I put away my weapon and carried him out bending down to get the food. He would join the group, that way he wouldn't have to scream like that ever again.

"Luke!" Looking up I saw Annabeth waiting with Thalia by the entrance.

"Luke who is that?" Thalia asked while taking the milk from hands. I ignored them and walked inside placing the small boy who looked about the same age as Annabeth into my bed. After tucking him in I got up and walked over to the others. "Luke are you going to answer my question?"

"I don't know his name. I found him in an alley way screaming and crying." Annabeth imminently walked over to the mystery boy and started to pet his head. I smiled at them it was really cute after all.

"Why did you bring him here? I get that you felt bad for the kid but he is in even more danger with us!" It was more of a whisper yell then an actual one, meaning that she was kind enough to keep quiet for the kid.

"But he is one of us Thal. He was screaming cause he was being attacked by a hell hound. And I know sometimes they attack at random but I can tell…he is one of us." A look given to me from her said that everything could wait until the morning, taking the signal I threw off my dirty shirt and got ready for bed. I could hear the faint sound of Thalia telling Annabeth a bedtime story. When I was done I was greeted by the sight of the two girls curled up under the covers fast asleep. This meaning I could take Thalia's bed and not wake the kid. Closing my eyes I fell asleep.

"Excuse me." A small whisper brought me out of my dreams. Opening my eyes I saw a little boy with deep blue eyes and black hair standing above me in tears.

"Yes." I moaned pushing myself up looking him in the eyes.

"I'm sorry." He whispered again. I knew what was going on. It used to happen to me all the time when I was with my….mom. I picked him up by his armpits and had him sit on my lap pulling him into my chest.

"Don't apologize kid. There is nothing to be sorry for." He started to sniffle and berried his face further into me.

"But I w-woke you up and ma-made you save me. I-I'm just weak." This kid could be no older than eight or nine and he was sorry for having a nightmare and being attacked! Whoever had this kid before us was totally screwed up!

"You are not weak kid you're just well a kid. No one should expect anymore from you." Pulling the blankets over us I started to lie down. "By the way what is your name buddy?" I was trying to talk in a gentle tone but one that was not to babyish.

"Percy Jackson." He mumbled pulling the covers up to his chin.

"Well Percy you are safe now. Get some sleep okay; I won't let anyone hurt you." He seemed to believe me after some thought and closed his eyes to sleep. It was weird in a way because I have never felt so protective over a kid besides Annabeth.

"He's cute." I turned my head to see Thalia resting on her shoulder looking at me straight in the eyes. "I can see why you melted and brought him here, demi-god or not."

"I did not melt." She rolled her eyes.

"Oh you so did and you did it again just now." It was my turn to do the eye roll.

"And how did I melt just now?"

"Umm let's look at this picture shall we?" She could be such a smart ass sometimes.

"This is coming from you ya little hypocrite." She looked down and saw a sleeping Annabeth and let out a sigh.

"Okay so we both have a soft spot for little kids with a sad story." And that we did.

"Hey we just protect our own." She laughed and then her eyes changed into ones that were looking back on her past. My smile faded as I thought about my mom. I wonder if she still makes those sandwiches and burns those cookies. But I shake it off, now is not the time to think about her. "Hey get some sleep we are going to have to move out soon." She nodded but didn't lie down to sleep.

"What about his family? We never asked if he had one." She made a valid point but after what Percy had said I didn't really care about his family if he had any. I mean who would let their kid think that they were weak because they ask for help?

"We will ask him tomorrow but I have a feeling they aren't in the picture or they don't want him to be in it." Thalia looked sad again but quickly averted to her tough face and gave me a glare.

"He isn't a pet Luke. We can't just take him away from everything he knows. If push comes to shove and he has a family then we have to let him go." I hated when she was all rational! I mean I know she makes sense but still I would rather live in my dream world that involved taking Percy in being easy.

"And if it turns out we are better for him then we will get to keep him and yes I know that sounded like a four year old with a puppy so you don't have to say it." She smiled and gave a small laugh and that gave me some hope. Thalia could be a real hard ass but I know she really does have a heart down there.

The Next Morning

"Hey messenger boy wake up." I felt a pillow hit me in the face and then I heard a small girlish giggle. Opening my eyes I saw Annabeth sitting at the table eating pancakes and across from her Percy was also eating but he was much quieter.

"Oh you think that is funny do you?" I asked.

"Yep!" She piped up and smiled showing me her pearly white teeth.

"Okay that is it I'm goanna get'cha!" She got out of her chair and then started running around the safe house with me right behind her. I finally was able to catch the little squirt and scooped her up and started to tickle her sides. Her laugh filled the place as she squirmed in my arms. I stopped and carried her back to the tab le. "That will teach you." Plopping her back down in her chair I looked over to see Percy looking at me with curious eyes. "What's up little man?" I asked ruffling his hair then taking some toast from the toaster.

"What was that?" He asked in a low almost scared voice.

"What was what?" Thalia asked walking in with her normal black t-shirt and dark navy jeans on. Her hair was wet meaning she took a quick shower. She walked over to the mirror and started to put her earrings in.

"Oh I chased Annabeth around and tickled her because she thought it was funny how you threw a pillow in my face which wasn't very nice by the way." She rolled her eyes and right as she put the last of the earrings in I came behind her and before she could react picked her up and gave her the same treatment as Annabeth only moments before.

"Hey! Put me down you idiot!" She couldn't hold it back anymore and began to laugh while kicking and hitting me. I finally let her down and she sucker punched me in the shoulder.

"Ow! Yet again not nice." I rubbed my shoulder with a face that resembled one of a kicked puppy.

"When have I ever claimed to be a nice person?" I raised my finger in a now it all fashion and then sighed when my mind went blank on times that she had made such a claim. "Exactly." She turned around and then looked at Percy. "What's a matter with you kid?"

"I thought he was mad at you two." Percy whispered. "I mean he said that he was going to get you but nothing bad happened."

"You thought Luke was going to…hit us?" Annabeth whispered the last part as if it was forbidden to even utter it. Percy only nodded.

"Why would you think that?" Thalia asked and I was afraid I already knew the answer.

"Because that is what Gabe did to mommy and me." By now Percy was looking down at his pancakes as if he were talking to only them.

"Percy who is Gabe?" I had a feeling it was his mom's boyfriend but I didn't want to draw conclusions.

"He is mommy's new husband. He's really mean. If mommy doesn't do everything he says then he hurts us." My head turned to Thalia and she nodded, we were so keeping Percy. "He hurt mommy so bad last week that…hiccup…she fell asleep and didn't wake up." Oh my god. By now Annabeth had gotten up and walked over to Percy and was currently giving him a hug. "He killed mommy." Tears were pouring down his face now and Annabeth looked like she was going to choke him she was holding on so hard.

"Hey hey hey kiddo it's okay you don't ever have to go back to him okay. You can stay with us." I looked over to Thalia shocked. I really wasn't expecting her to be the one to comfort the crying boy.

"You m-mean it? I don't have to go back to Gabe?" Thalia bent down and put a hand on the little boy's shoulder and gave him a smile.

"Yeah I mean it." Annabeth laughed and gave Thalia a hug as well. She was just happy she wouldn't be the only little kid in the group. "Now come on and eat up because we need to get out of here soon. We can't stay in one place for too long." Percy nodded and with a smile while drowning his pancakes in maple syrup. Thalia got up and walked over to me.

"Get that smirk off of your face mail boy." I just laughed and gave her a peck on her cheek when the two kids weren't looking. She gave me a face of disgusts.

"I knew you had a heart." She blushed a little but she still looked mad.

"Yeah well don't get used to it." I laughed again and walked over to the kids.

"You done Annabeth?" I asked she nodded and whipped her face with a napkin.

"Where are we going next Luke?" Annabeth always had this thing for going places. She loved looking at the different buildings. I wanted to take her Chicago sometime and show her all of the skyscrapers but it was hard to travel that far without getting into huge trouble.

"We are headed to camp. If Percy is a half-blood we need to find out who his parent is." Thalia said packing all of our clothes. I sighed. I really didn't like that place very much. My cabin was so crowded and then there is Mr.D. But I knew that Thal was right we did need to know. Especially with a new rumor going around that the god of the sea had a child that was about Percy's age.

"But I don't want to go to camp! All those kids in the Apollo cabin pull my hair and are mean to me! And they don't let any of us stay together!" And then there was that. Annabeth may be small but she was smart, then again she should be considering her mother was the goddess of wisdom.

"I'm sorry Annabeth but we have too. We need to know who Percy's dad is." I said trying to calm the little girl down.

"Fine." She pouted.

"Wait did you say Apollo?" We all turned and to see a freaked out Percy. "Like the Greek god of the sun Apollo." Annabeth nodded excited. "And by demi-god you mean?"

"Half god half mortal." Thalia answered. We were answered with a loud thump as Percy hit the floor.

A/N: I am hoping to make this into a multi-fic but I am going to wait and see how the first chapter goes. Please review and be kind!