warning: a really brief/interrupted mention of sex by an innocent seven year old (i don't think it should even be classified as a warning but whatever)

"May I help you?" She asks bringing me out of my daze.

"Oh, uh, yeah, is Athy here...?" I say my voice fading slightly.

"No she just-"

"She just got fired," said a boy coming out of the same door, cookie in hand.

"Nico!" Annabeth scolds.

"Are you her boyfriend?" He asks completely ignoring the glare Annabeth was shooting towards him. He couldn't be more than seven years old.

"Um no." I say, my reply coming out more like a question.

"Well were you her shag-" My eyes went wide as Annabeth quickly covered his mouth.

"No, shuddup. Go look for a comic or something." She sighs. Nico gives me a grin and skips off. "Sorry about that."

"No, it's fine, he's adorable," I say.

She gives me a smile, "Yeah. You were looking for Athy?"

"Oh yes, I'm here to pick up a book. I was told to ask for Athy; since she would know where it is."

"Do you know what it's called?" She aks.

My eyes widen and I realize that I've forgotten the name of the book. "Uh, not exactly. It was something about a cat and a battle. I believe it's like a story book..?"

"Would it be: 'The Cat and Battledore, and Other Tales'?"

I grin. "That's the one!" Annabeth looked at me curiously, an eyebrow quirked. "What?"

"You're reading this?"

"No, it's for a friend. I'm not much of a reader," I reply sheepishly.

"I see, well I'll go get it." Giving me a small smile, she leaves back through the door she'd come from.

I turn around and find Nico sitting on the big red couch, that somehow I had managed to ignore. Just like pretty much everything in here, there were books stacked upon it. Nico's brows were furrowed in concentration.

I cross the short distance from the counter to the couch and sit down. "Hey kiddo, whatcha reading?"

He looks at me. "The Philosopher's Stone."

"You're a Potterhead?" I smile.

"I'm just starting," he shrugs.

A few moments of silence pass when he slams the book shut. "What's wrong?" I ask.

"Can I tell you a secret?"

"Sure."

"But you promise not to tell Annie?" He motions over to the door. "Or make fun of me?"

"Cross my heart and hope to die." I quickly make an 'X' over my heart with my finger.

Nico leans in and whispers, "I can't read."

I frown slightly, "How old are you?"

"Seven. I'll be eight in two months. How old are you?"

"I turned twenty-three last week," I answer.

"Do you know how to read?" He inquires with a hopeful smile.

I nod, "I have my difficulties, but yeah."

Nico's smile turns into a full grin, "That's great! Will you teach me?"

My eyes widen. "Sure?" Nico jumps up with a cheer, and wraps his skinny arms around my neck. I laugh and hug him back. How could I say no to this kid?

"I - uh - I got your book," Annabeth says, coming in book in hand. She looks from me to Nico.

Nico quickly lets go of me and runs up to Annabeth, an excited grin still plastered on his childish face.

"Annie!" He exclaims. "Uh - wait, what's your name?"

I chuckle and stand up. "Percy."

"Percy's gonna teach me how to read!"

Annabeth's eyebrows rise in surprise, but doesn't make a comment on the boy's newly spilled secret. "Really?" She turns to look at me. I smile and shrug. "That's awesome."

"I know right! I'm gonna go pick a book ok?" He says looking at me.

"Actually, you've gotta go get ready. Bianca's almost here to pick you up." Annabeth informs him.

His face crumples, "But-"

Feeling bad for my new friend I crouch down to his eye-level "How about you pick out the book you want to read and have it ready, and I'll come back tomorrow yeah?"

"You promise?" He asks skeptically.

Repeating my actions from before I say: "Cross my heart and hope to die."

He nods and with a quick hug to me he heads towards the door. "Bye Percy!"

"Bye Nico," I reply with a small wave.

I notice Annabeth looking at me and a smile, "What?"

"You're good with kids," she says. "Do you have siblings?"

I shake my head, "No, but my friend Clarisse has two kids, and I'm usually babysitting them."

We stand there for a bit, the silence a bit uncomfortable. Finally she holds up the book, "Let me ring you up."

+x+

I drum my fingers to the beat of The Fray on the steering wheel as I pull up into the driveway. Jason's and Thalia's cars are parked outside. I head up the pathway towards the door and hear shouting and laughing.

"Honey, I'm home!" I yell out, walking in and taking my shoes off.

"Did you bring me anything Pumpkin?" Jason quotes from an old movie, walking into the hallway.

"'Course I did Antoinette," I reply, faking a posh British accent. "What kind of man would I be if I didn't bring my lovely wife at least a flower? Though that could never compare to your beauty."

Jason grins, batting his eyelashes, and fanning at his face with his hand. "Oh Jacob, you really do know how to make a girl swoon." He throws himself at me, lips puckered.

"Aah! Rape! Somebody get him offa me!" I yell, pushing him away from me after he managed to plant a sloppy kiss to my cheek.

Rachel walks into the hallway laughing slightly, "Jason get off of him you'll ruin my book."

Jason smiles and pats my cheek, "Call me." He says sending me a wink and struts back into the living room, making sure his hips swing.

I roll my eyes and rub at my cheek with my sleeve, "Nice to know I matter to you." I hand Rachel the book. "By the way you owe my $90."

She smirks and walks away, ignoring me.

"What to you so long man?" Leo asks as I enter the living room after Rachel.

"I made a new friend," I grin.

Jason gaps theatrically and stands up from the recliner. "I thought we had something special!" He smacks me and huffs over to Piper who's sitting on the loveseat with Thalia. "Hey, Pipes wanna be my rebound?"

Ignoring her brother Thalia leans forward, "Cute?"

"He's adorable," I answer taking a seat in the empty Lay-Z Boy.

"He?" Rachel asks. I nod.

"Man I didn't know you swung that way," Leo laughs taking a swig at his beer. I shrug.

"How old?" Piper questions, trying to push Jason off of her lap.

"Seven, almost eight."

Leo spits out his beer and everybody turns to look at me, eyes wide.

I double over in laughter, "Oh god, you guys should've seen your faces!" A couple of pillows are thrown at me.

"Dammit Perce!" Jason groans. "I thought you really found your one true love."

My laughter fades into a chuckle, "Nah, but I did make a new friend. S'name's Nico, he's really hyper-active. I'm gonna teach him how to read." I state proudly.

"You?" Rachel laughs. "Percy, you're dyslexic."

"So? Doesn't mean I can't help the kid. Anyways, I already promised I'd be there tomorrow."

"Well I'm proud of you," Piper says.

I give her a thankful smile, "Thanks Pipes."

After that our conversation strayed, and we spent the night drinking and hanging out. Around eleven I sent my good-night to everybody and headed to my room. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was asleep.

I don't know if you've noticed, but I suck at writing in first person. Oh well, I've gotta learn somehow.

You know how on the last AN I said that this was inspired by Catch Me I'm Falling? Well since that's inspired by The Fault in Our Stars this is technically inspired by that.

Is headed even a word?

Ok so um review..? If you want i dunno. It'd be nice though.

meow. (the meow thing is becoming addictive I'm just gonna add it to every AN)