Surprise! I wanted to get this out as soon as possible. Next update - Saturday.

Pumki got a total of 90 reviews! I didn't expect that many! Hey, thanks to E J ect for reviewing 7 times for The Lost Second. You didn't have to, but I'm surprised and happy . You actually read all my stories? Wow!

The sequel to Pumki is here! 'Her Choices'! It's for you who've stuck with me from the beginning (which was only a month ago) and ofcourse, for everyone else. So watcha awaitin' fa?

Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the HP or PJO universes.

Percy sighed. He leaned onto his hands, his face being tickled by the long grass. He giggled a bit, swatting it away.

"Not too hard." Harry muttered, not taking his eyes of the book he was reading, 'Mind of a Mnemonist'. Harry kept staring at the words as if agreeing or viciously contradicting the author. Percy let out a breath. Harry always knew when people mistreated a plant, flower, weed or even trees. He'd wince at times if he really concentrated on them. It was like one of his super-powers.

Yes. One of his super-powers was connecting with nature. The others?

Leaving out the facts that he could remember every single detail that had taken place in his life, read books meant for adults, understand those books, talk to snakes, was smarter than most adults, was much more mature for being a boy of his age, never smiled or understood jokes and knew how to incapacitate a grown man, Harry was your average next door young boy.

Percy always felt a bit jealous when he thought about this. He couldn't read even a few sentences. Or rather the letters wouldn't let him read. They'd always float around the page and even blur out. Percy could not talk to snakes. He could talk to fishes and dolphins, though.

The last time they had gone to Cristy Beach, Percy had spotted a few dolphins and had a very interesting conversation with them until dinner time. Apparently, everything looked blue underwater!

Percy wasn't smarter than adults. In fact, he felt dumber than most kids his own age. They could understand stuff at school, while he couldn't even concentrate what they were supposed to be learning about.

Mom had told him that it was a 'condition' called ADHD. He had forgotten what it stood for. The words floating off the page was because he also had Diseesa.

Percy frowned, "Hey, Harry? You know how I can't read properly? What's that called?"

Harry didn't look away from the book, but he said in his bored voice, "Dyslexia."

Yeah, that's the word!

Percy could also 'incapacitate a grown man', like Harry, but while his older brother would, fearlessly and without regret, chop down a wooden dummy into pieces with his bare hands and legs (you do not want to see Harry Potter glare at you, believe me!), Percy would do it only if he got a good reason to.

Mom told him that there were people who weren't nice in this world. He had first-hand experience in that, facing Dudley, Smelly Gabe, Harry's Uncle at times and his classmates. In reality, he had only two human people who loved him. (Well, Mom loved him. Harry on the other hand, was something like a boring, mute, shadow who would come to life only if Percy or Sally Jackson would talk to him.

Anyway, apparently, there were people even worse than the ones he already knew. To defend (or according to the way, they train everyday) fight like tireless machines, they had to know weak points of a body, by using dummies (No, not Percy).

At the moment, Harry and Percy were sitting in the outskirts of Crescent Park in Magnolia Crescent. It was just past five. Mom would be returning home soon.

Percy had been staring at everyone playing in the huge park. Some parents were even having a picnic with their kids. He could get the smell of barbeque even from his spot and felt his stomach growling. Percy instead looked a man holding his son's hand as they flew a kite together. The duo would laugh whenever they messed up, and the boy would run and get the kite off the ground.

Percy sighed again. He imagined Smelly Gabe teaching him how to fly a kite or helping him ride a second-hand bicycle, or teach him how to kick a ball around or pick him off the ground whenever he fell.

He felt heavy in his chest. The way he'd always feel when he wanted something important. No, not wanted. Needed.

"Harry. Why do you think Mom made Smelly Gabe to be our Dad?" Percy asked, getting up. He had been lying on his stomach and now some mud was stuck his shirt. Harry closed his book (Halleluiah!) and brushed off the dirt. He didn't answer though.

"Come on, Harry! Didn't you ever wish that we could have a better father? Someone who'd actually like us, at least!"

"No."

"You prefer that walrus?"

"No."

"Then?"

"Let's go. It's past five. Mum will be waiting." Harry got up and walked towards the wall of the forest. There were a few trees before reaching the black rusted gate. They climbed over it and started running, zipping past through the trees. Percy loved this. They came across Crescent River and jumped over it cleanly. After a few minutes, they reached another black iron gate and climbed over it.

"It's strange, nuh? How where we want to go into the forest, a gate happens to be there. Did you know that no other house has a gate that leads directly into the forest?" Percy mused walking towards their kitchen door.

"Yes."

"Why do you think it's like that?"

"Because nobody else needs it."

"Oh. That makes sense. Anyway, I don't think Mom's home yet. I hope she didn't miss the bus. I'm starving!" Percy whined and leaned against the counter.

"Drink some water." Harry said putting his book on the table. Percy blinked.

"I said I'm starving. Not thirsty."

"To you, water helps with both cases. Don't tell me you forgot, again?" Harry said staring at his brother who blushed now.

"Yeah…I forgot. But I still feel hungry!"

"Mum won't let me cook anything. You know that. Wait for sixteen minutes." Harry sat down at the table. Percy joined him, reaching out for his water bottle.

"How do you know that?" Percy asked suspiciously. He clasped his hands together to impersonate a gun and pointed it at Harry's face. Smile, come on, you can do it…

Harry didn't even blink as he explained. " The 5:05 Bus takes twenty minutes approximately to reach Crescent Bus Stop. A nine minute walk will be shortened to six if she hurries up when she's late, which is what Mum will be doing now. The 5:15 bus is faster and reaches in fourteen minutes. By looking at the time now, Mum will take a total of fourteen plus six minutes. It was 5:11 when we left the park. Six minutes to reach here even with our speed. Two minutes for our illogical chatter on water and hunger. Half a minute for my explanation. Going back that half minute, the time was 5:19:29. Estimated time for Mum to reach was 5:35. 35 minus 19:29 is 15:31 minutes. Now, wait for 15 minutes."

Harry leaned in to take the bottle and have a sip. Percy stared at him and then shook his head as if physically trying to come back to reality.

"I have a doubt, teacher." He said raising his hand. Harry raised an eyebrow.

"What does 'aprotimati' mean? I spent half a minute on that."

Harry didn't show any reaction, but Percy could see in his dull green eyes that he wasn't expecting that.

Mom always said the both of them to stick to each other at all times. Probably so that they won't go mad by being alone.

Best to go mad together, huh.

" 'Approximately' means 'more or less'. 'Roughly'. " Harry said.

Percy seized this chance of teasing Harry, "Which meant you didn't actually know, did ya?"

"I knew. But it was unnecessary. What would you have done with the extra information?"

"Danced the tango." Percy said keeping his face emotionless like Harry.

Five seconds passed before Percy conceded defeat and burst out laughing. Harry's posture and expression never changed.

"You sh…should have seen…seen your face!" Percy choked. Harry frowned. "I didn't do anything." The latter commented.

"Exactly. I always use you as my punch line! If jokes sold for good money, we'd be the richest kids in the world!"

"Probability of that happening is lesser than money growing on trees." Harry said tilting his head, trying to decipher his brother's actions. One of the few things he was not good at.

"Yeah, but in this case, its jokes that grows on trees! Get it?" Percy had another fit of laughter when he saw the confusion in Harry's eyes.

"Come on! I said you were the joke and you and trees and then jokes and… oh forget it!" Percy shook his head and took deep breaths in calming himself down.

He looked up to see Harry staring at him. His eyes boring into Percy's, seeing much more innocence in them and feeling strange. Harry looked down to feel his bracelet on his left hand. He could feel the heat from it. It was his fear that the bronze charm would suddenly burst into flames and roast them alive.

"You also kill my jokes, you know?" Percy's albeit sad voice snapped him out of his thoughts. Before he could respond, the key clicked in the lock and the sound of the door opening, reached their ears. Listening to the clicks of the short heels, Percy's face brightened and he called, "Hey, Mom! We're in the kitchen."

Sally came around the corner to see her children sitting obediently at the table. Her face automatically broke into a wide smile. She kissed their heads by turn and said, "So, how was your first day of school ?"

"I didn't like it." Percy said straight away. Partly, because the kids there were treating him like dirt and also because he and Harry were in separate grades. Percy being in second and Harry in fourth. The latter skipped first grade after the kindergarten teachers had advised him to and then he skipped the third grade when his second grade class teacher had said that it was a complete waste of time teaching him what he already knew so well.

"The pace of teaching is a bit faster than second grade, but it's alright." Harry shrugged.

"This is only school. There a lot more important that going to happen. I'm sure of it." Sally comforted them. She knew that Percy would absolutely suffer because he was a son of Poseidon and his Dyslexia would hinder him more than the usual demi-gods. Harry didn't have Dyslexia nor ADHD. Though she had established him as a non-monster and a non-demigod, now after seeing proof, she was bit more worried.

Calm down, Sally! You're doing everything that you can. Their lives are more important than education, but learning can save them too. You're doing it right. You're doing it right.

"Did you eat what Aunt Petunia made?" Sally asked hoping to divert her thoughts. The boys shook their heads. That diverted Sally's thoughts.

"They had to go out somewhere. We ate some fruits that I got, but Percy went in a frenzy, so we went to the park after finishing our homework. Don't worry, I made sure that Percy did his own." Harry explained.

"It took years!" Percy complained.

"No, it didn't." Harry said looking a little surprised.

"Felt like years." The younger boy mumbled.

Sally thought and said, "Alright, I don't have anything now, so let's get take-out for the evening. We'll go right now."

"Mom? Can't we get another Dad? Harry, you and I hate Smelly Gabe. And he hates us. So everyone wins…"

Sally sighed. The three of them had just crossed the main road and Percy, who had been in deep thought, voiced out his doubt.

"Gabe is important. We need him. At least, for a few more years. After that, everything will be close to perfect." Sally hoped this would be enough. She was wrong.

Harry frowned as he looked up at her, "Close to perfect? Are you expecting something bad? Yes, you are. What's going to happen? Can we stop?"

Sally tried to give a satisfactory explanation to her son, "I told you before. You're different. The both of you. When you're old enough, you'll understand."

Harry nodded, "I understand that whatever we're going to find out will not be good for our state of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. But I sense you're doing you best to prepare us. I think you're doing a splendid job, Mum."

If he hadn't said the word, 'Mum' at the end, Sally would have felt an adult was praising her for her work. She giggled and smiled at them.

"So next time, before you ask me this, again, remember what I said right now." Sally finished.

Percy nodded, "If I forget, Harry'll remind me. With that idiotic memory of his…"

"It's 'eidetic', Percy! I have eidetic memory! Don't say it wrong on purpose!" Harry explained finally bursting today.

Percy sniggered and tightened his grip on Sally's left hand, "Oops! I forgot! But this just proves my point. Harry'll remind me, but I shall do my best to remember it myself. What is it that I have to remember?"

Sally laughed, "What will I ever do without you?"

Harry felt warmth and a little lightheadedness when his mother laughed. He leaned against her holding her right hand as Percy grinned, "All sorts of silly stuff."

Yello! This is just to show you where they are now. The chapter's longer than I had originally hoped for. But who feels sad when they realize that the chapter in a book is longer than they thought.

For example : Every PJO fan was crushed when the last chapter in SoN ended so abruptly…

Stay tuned for more!

Cabba.