I pulled in the garage, and Sam got out of the car. We walked in, and he put his coat in the closet.

I couldn't have asked for a better kid. I was such a pain when I was a kid. I was grateful that he was young and also a grandson of a god, so his scent was incredibly weak. Unfortunately he got my ADHD genes and dyslexia genes. But they were weak, so he wasn't constantly bouncing off the wall and he could read if he really tried. Not like when I tried to read and the words would dance for me.

"When does soccer start again?" he asked, kicking his shoes into the closet.

"When it's not cold anymore," I replied.

"When's that?"

"A few months, buddy. But it's supposed to snow in a week, so then you, Lucy, and Josh can go sledding at the park,"

"I love sledding! Will you go with us?" he asked.

"Sure, Buddy," I said. I'm going to miss these days. Soon he is going to be older, and dating girls and maybe fighting monsters, if his scent is strong enough for him to go to camp.

Sam went to the counter, and stood on his tip toes trying to reach the cups in one of the cabinets. I really had to move the cups.

But those days were a while away, I guess.

I walked over, and got Sam his favorite cup: a white one with a soccer ball on it. I walked over to the fridge and pulled out the juice, pouring him some. Sam climbed up on a stool that was next to the island in my kitchen, and I went to stand on the side opposite the one he was sitting on. I handed him his juice.

"When am I gonna be tall like you?" he pouted.

"I wasn't tall until I was 16," I said.

"I have..." Sam started counting on his fingers. After a few more seconds, "10 more years?"

"Try again," I said, kindly. Math was Sam's hardest subject. His best was science. But science in kindergarten isn't real science, if you know what I mean. But I'm sure he would love it when he was older.

"5, 6, 7, 8..." He counted again, "11 years!" he said, "That's even longer!"

"Nice math, though," I said, giving him a high five.

"Thanks, Dad," he said, "What's for dinner?"

"What say you to some enchiladas?" I asked, smirking.

"Okay," Sam said, smiling. With that I started pulling out ingredients.

XXXXX~~~~~XXXXX~~~~~XXXXX

About an hour later, at 6, the doorbell rang. Sam was watching some TV show on Nickelodeon so I went to get it. Here we go...I wonder how they grew in 8 years...

"Daddy, why are you nervous?" asked Sam.

"Sam why are you so smart?" I asked.

"I don't know," he said, shrugging.

"Yeah, of course you don't know," I said, sticking my tongue out at my son, who laughed.

The doorbell rang again. "Coming!" I called.

I walked over to the door, and opened it to be greeted by 3 familiar faces.

"Hey there, Kelp Head," Thalia said, giving me a hug. I hugged back. Thalia had quit the hunt when I turned 19, and she and Nico became a thing. She grew out her hair, now it fell to her shoulders. She wore less black, and her eyes were still electric blue. She was sporting a simple ring on her left hand and a small baby bump. Next to her was Nico, who, like his wife, wore less black than our youth. His hair was shorter, and he wasn't as thin and sickly pale. His eyes were still so brown they were almost black.

"Hey Thals. Nico. Haven't seen you in years. Come on in," I said stepping to the side so they could come in.

"Did you forget me?" asked the third figure. He wore a hat over his head, and baggy jeans. He had a scraggily beard, and wore a green shirt with a brown hoodie. He looked about 20 years old. Satyrs age differently than humans, ya know.

"I could never forget you, G-man," I said, giving him a hug.

"Break up the bromance, guys," Thalia joked. I closed the door, and we all stood in my foyer, talking.

"I thought Jason and Piper were coming? I made like 20 enchiladas. Extras for Grover," Grover's eyes lit up.

"They should be here in like 10 minutes," Grover said.

"How's Juni?" I asked.

"Wishing she wasn't a tree nymph so she could be here," he replied.

"Where have you been these last 8 years?" Nico asked.

"I should ask you the same thing. Married?" I retorted.

"4 years ago. We eloped," Thalia said.

"Classy," I said, "And the due date?"

"May 5th," she said.

"Damn, I can't imagine you as a parent,"

"Same with you. Why do you have such a house like this? My guess is engaged,"

"You would be wrong,"

"So wanna tell me why? You can be pregnant," she said. I laughed.

"No, I'm pretty sure I'm not knocked up," I started walking toward the family room, where Sam was laying on the couch. He sat up as we walked in.

"Hi!" he called, jumping off of the couch. He ran over to me, and I picked him up, holding him in my left hand. His hands were around my neck.

"Guys...This is Sam. My son,"

XXXXX~~~~~XXXXX~~~~~XXXXX

To say they were shocked was an understatement. Their faces were total Kodak moments. I put Sam down and he looked up at the unfamiliar faces. Nico was the first to recover.

"Hey Sam. I'm Nico,"

"Hi Mr. Nico," Sam said.

"You can call me Uncle Nico," he said, glancing at me. I nodded, smiling. I'm glad that Sam will be able to know more family than me.

"I'm your Aunt Thalia,"

"Hi!" Sam smiled up at Thalia.

"Your kid isn't shy," Thalia noted.

"Nope," I said, ruffling up his hair.

"Daddddddyyyy," he whined, fixing his hair.

"Yeah, Dad, quit it," Grover said, "I'm your Uncle Grover,"

"Did you get all that?" I asked Sam, sitting down on the couch. Everyone followed my example.

"Uncle Nico, Aunt Thalia, and Uncle Grover," Sam said, pointing to everyone.

"Nice job, buddy. Do you guys want a drink?"

"Ugh!" Thalia moaned, falling over on the couch.

"Is she okay?" Sam whispered to Nico.

"She's fine," Nico whispered back to Sam, "She is just being a drama queen,"

"Nico I swear-," Thalia started. I cut in.

"So water, Thalia? Or Juice? I have gallons of Juice. Thanks that that one," I said, nodding towards Sam. I was sending a message, 'No swearing in front of my 5 year old,'

"Water is just fine," Thals said, smiling a fake smile up at me. I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, and for you guys? I got Heineken and Corona,"

"I'll take a Heineken," said Nico.

"I'll just have water," Grover said.

"Okay, I'll be right back with 2 waters and 2 Heineken's,"

"Daddy can I have some juice?" Sam asked.

"Buddy, you have some juice already," I said.

"But I ran out," Sam said, wiggling his cup at me.

"Of course you did," I said, and Sam giggled.

I went to the kitchen, which was adjacent to the family room.

"So, Sam, do you swim?" asked Nico. Uh oh...I didn't tell Sam he was the grandson to Poseidon. I looked into the room, and caught Thalia's eye. I made a slashing motion over my neck, signaling I hadn't said anything yet. Thalia elbowed Nico, looking him right in the eye. Then looked at Grover. The message was sent.

"Um...not really... I swim in the summers in my friend's pool, I guess. I play soccer!" Sam said. Thank gods he was too young to be suspicious. I grabbed two water bottles and two beer bottles. I went back into the family room, giving each person their respective drink. I went back to pour Sam some more juice.

"Soccer! That's fun! What position?" Noted Thals.

"Midfield,"

"Your dad was never good at soccer, ya know," Grover whispered.

"What are you talking about?" I yelled back, pouring juice.

"I mean, you were not good at soccer at camp. I don't know if you got better, but you couldn't have gotten worse," Grover said. Sam laughed.

"I got better! I'm a good goalie," I said, walking back, bringing juice with me. I handed the cup to Sam.

"Yeah! Daddy takes me, Josh, and Lucy to the park and we shoot at him! He is a good goalie," Sam nodded.

"Thanks for sticking up for me, Buddy," I said, giving Sam a knuckle touch. The doorbell rang, and I got off the couch, "I'll be right back," I went to the door, and I could hear the mumbling of Sam and everyone else. This was actually turning out fine.

I opened the door, and saw 3 faces; 2 of which were familiar.

"Hey strangers," I said, welcoming everyone in.

"Percy! I haven't seen you in forever!" Piper said, throwing her arms around me.

"I miss you too, but you're crushing me Pipes,"

"Please! I couldn't crush you!" she said. Piper's hair was no longer choppy, but long, silky, and strait, reaching her shoulders. Her eyes still couldn't pick a color to stay on, and she was tall and thin.

"Lookin good, Perce," Jason said. He still had some muscle on him, and had his cropped, blonde Roman hair. He had the same blue eyes as his sister.

"Same to you," I said, giving him a handshake.

"And I heard that you are Miss Marcy Grace?" I asked, looking down at the girl who stood behind Piper.

"Don't be shy, honey. This is your Uncle Percy,"

"How old are you, Marcy?" I asked.

"I'm 7," she said, stepping from behind her mother. She obviously had the genes of Aphrodite in her. She had her mother's Cherokee cheekbones, and a flawless face. She had her father's blue eyes, and mother's strait brown hair.

"Your practically going off to college," I said, causing her to laugh.

"So how has life been treating you?" Jason asked. I hung up their coats for them.

"Been good. Can't complain," I lead them to the family room where everyone else has been.

"I can't believe you have only been an hour away all these years," Piper said.

"Sorry I didn't reach out. I didn't think anyone was really looking," I said. I really hadn't thought everyone was so dumbfounded by me not staying in touch. I thought I would, but my life got a little crazy and I got a little embarrassed 6 years ago.

"We beat you!" Thalia said, sticking her tongue out at the Grace's.

"But you drive like a crazy person," Jason defended, sitting next to his sister.

"Jason, Piper. Marcy," I said, "Um, this is my son. Sam," Sam sat up, and waved.

Another Kodak moment.

After a round of introductions, I jumped up, "Who wants enchiladas?" I asked.

"Do you even have to ask?!" Grover said.

I hadn't realized how much I missed my friends, until they were here in my family room talking like nothing had happened.