This was my fifth time meeting my son outside Olympus. Here, I was temporarily hidden away from Zeus' prying eyes. I could finally talk and spend some non-monster infested, world threatening time with Percy. And without having to be constantly reminded that too much favoritism would cause trouble, I had better responsibilities, etc, etc, etc. It was the perfect scenario from my dreams, but……I was having a miserable time.

Not that I didn't like spending time with Percy. I mean, he's a great kid and all, and he'd saved all of Olympus last year when he turned sixteen and defeated Kronos. However, I did not like trudging in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by leafy greenery and clingy mud. Worst of all, the air so humid that I was immediately drenched with sweat. To top off my humiliation, I had to look my worse in front of other demi-gods. Me, Poseidon, Earth Shaker, Lord of the Sea, Father of Horses.....panting and dripping from the weather. Oh, and I was also lugging a bulky ice cooler on my back.

But, hey, I was committed to this father son trip, right?

Unfortunately.

"We," Annabeth finally said, after half an hour of anxious silence, "are lost." Her storm gray eyes shifted uncomfortably towards me as she said this, as if expecting me to incinerate her for stating what, truthfully, was not the biggest secret.

"Talk about stating the obvious" muttered Grover, reflecting my thoughts perfectly.

"Errr, Dad? You wouldn't, uh, happen to know the way out of this mountain, right?"

I grimaced. "If I did, we wouldn't still be here now, would we?"

"Just asking."

I saw Annabeth and Grover exchanging nervous looks.

"Um, would you like one of us to carry that for you, sir?" offered Grover, gesturing towards the accursed ice cooler. I hitched it up higher on my back and winced at the small din of clashing bottles and cans. Sadly, we didn't really find a place where we could sit down and have a small picnic (even now we were edging past a tiny trail that skirted past a huge chasm) so everything was full and sloshing with heavy, heavy liquid. Still though, I was a god trying to be nice today. Nice and patient.

"Oh, no, that's alright," I said pleasantly. The ice cooler was starting to feel as though it was crammed with boulders, so I added innocently, "I just wasn't expecting us to get lost." I pointedly stared at Grover. No one said anything.

This now dismal trip had actually started out pretty good. You know, with everyone in high spirits, laughing, me not feeling so awkward around everyone. I'd actually managed casual conversation with them.

By the way, for those who want to know, this was Percy's idea. A mountain hike with just the four of us: him, me, Annabeth, and Grover. Tyson would've come, but he needed to check up on some school for next year, and Sally had gone to help him register. Yep, when faced with the choice of spending another year in my forges, learning from the greatest, he had chosen to go to school in some New York street. Weird.

Anyway, I hadn't been so keen on this idea. I mean, why not a cruise, surrounded by the sea, if you had to have a little vacation somewhere? But I'd come because, well, I wanted to make up a bit for not being in Percy's life (although it was hardly my fault). And I knew he wanted me to get better acquainted with his friends. Especially Annabeth, who I was pretty sure he was unofficially dating. Which explains why I haven't ditched them yet and gone back to the sea the moment Grover got us lost. Yes, did I mention that? It was Grover's fault we were lost. Basically, he thought he'd lost his cap somewhere, took us from the trail about ten miles or so, before finding it resting in his backpack. Honestly. He is the most aggravating satyr I've ever met.

I decided that the best thing to do right now, other than finding our way out of this stupid mountain, was to create some small talk. You know, a little bit of conversation so that they would stop looking at me like I was going to fry them anytime. Might make things easier.

"So," I said casually, "what's that event that I keep seeing in your newspapers?"

"Oh, that?" Annabeth said, immediately ceasing her I'll kill you later looks she had been shooting Grover . "It's a debate, between a citizen and the law."

"Yeah, I keep seeing it too." Percy cut in. "It's the article that's been shortening the cartoon section, isn't it?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes.

"Honestly, Percy, you need to start reading the part of the newspaper that actually matters"

"Are you crazy? The cartoon section's the only part of the newspaper that doesn't put me to sleep!"

"Whatever." Annabeth sighed. "Anyways, the debate's about how these students in….uhh, it was-"

"Greenwood's Public School."

We all stared at Grover as if he'd developed two heads. Oblivious to our shock, he continued his flow of information, which made us look at him as if he'd voluntarily missed a lunch of enchiladas. So maybe I didn't know Grover all that well, but I understood enough that he was usually as clueless about mortal affairs as Percy was. Which meant pretty much zero information.

"It's a debate between some students in Greenwood, and the principle, about them wearing some campaign badges, and causing some disturbances in school. The students are complaining that taking away the right to wear those badges is taking away their freedom, and they've taken the case to court."

Finally, he noticed us all gawking at him (except for me), blushed, and murmured something about," Mr.D…unfair….agree…students…taking away rights….."

"I don't understand this constitution law" I commented; partly because I was curious, and partly because I was nice enough to save Grover from tripping over himself in embarrassment. "It seems to me that it causes more problems than it does solving it. You hear about all these arguments and so because of them."

"Well, we humans think that all these arguments are worth it if we're able to have a little bit of power, instead of having our butts completely whupped by the government." Percy said with a careless shrug. Annabeth's eyes widened noticeably at this as she gave Percy a warning nudge, while Grover tried to subtly stomp on his foot. Immediately, my block headed son seemed to realize what he had said.

"Oh, uh, Dad, I, um, didn't mean it that way. I mean, sure I think it's a bit unfair that you gods make all the rules but, it's not-"

I could see Annabeth's "nudges" turn to pinches. I was pretty tempted to pinch him myself by now. And yet....there was something Percy was saying that somehow reminded me of something.....

Unfair. Lack of power.

Something… was bugging me about those words.

"Ah, I just meant to say that it's all right, and, like, no one minds, and, yeah...." Percy finished lamely.

There was another moment of silence, where everyone was fitfully thinking of what to say. However, I was thinking about what was troubling me.....

And then I got it. As well as the craziest idea in the world.

"Thank you Percy!" I exclaimed triumphantly. Then I frowned. I couldn't do this by myself. No, I would need a certain trickster, brimming with mischief....

Right. Problem solved.

"Thank you, son" I repeated. Inwardly I smirked, seeing Percy, Annabeth's, and Grover's bewildered faces as they stared at each other. Judging from the hand motions Grover was making, he seemed concerned for my sanity.

"I'm very sorry, but I have to go now. It's.... um, urgent business." I straightened and dropped the ice cooler. "Oh," I added casually. "Would you mind carrying that in my place Grover?" His horrified expression at having to carry an extra 10 pounds along with his sagging backpack was all I needed. I cheerfully smiled at him I responded,

"I appreciate it"

And then left.

Hey, I'd wasted half an hour of my life, as well as a mile's worth of energy because of him.