I've been getting reviews (thank you so much btw!) and many of them are asking for an update. And I know. This chapter is long overdue. Don't worry I didn't perish off the face of the universe, I just have some family issues I got to deal with it at the moment, so sorry for this late one and any other late ones. Also because of this issue, this chapter is shorter than the others and this time I actually have an excuse for the fast pace-ness. I'll try to make up for it.

Besides that, I hope you guys enjoy this chapter!


Percy's POV

Annabeth hit her head on the wall next to the phone. The phone cord wrapped around her pointer finger and she unwrapped it, then rewrapped it, repeating the action over and over again. Her bottom lip was caught between her teeth. She sneaked a look at me and gave me a sad smile, shrugging and hanging up the phone, "That's seven, Perce," she turned her body so her back rested against the wall, and slid down the wall so she was sitting on the floor, "Seven calls, four people in that house and zero answers," she wrapped her arms around her knees and rested her head on them.

She's been trying to call her dad back in San Francisco. Like she said, she called seven times and got no answer, which was weird since my mom said she and Frederick called each other on a daily basis. She actually called him yesterday before Annabeth and I arrived. So obviously, Annabeth was upset, feeling neglected by her dad, again.

I walked over and crouched down in front of her, "Maybe they're at work,"

"It's 6:30 p.m there right now, Percy, and it's the holidays, they have to be home,"

"Maybe your dad and Susan took the twins out for some holiday shopping, then," I offered. Annabeth smiled and stretched her arms out, I stood up and pulled her with me.

"Yeah, maybe," her voice got softer as she tugged my hands to both sides of her head, pinning herself to the wall. One hand traveled behind my neck and pulled me into a soft, short kiss.

We pulled apart when we heard my mom's voice , "Now you can take Percy's room, Percy, I guess will have to stay with Annabeth or sleep on the couch," she got to the top of the stairs and smiled at us. She and Nico were just "shopping" in the basement, looking for my old clothes for Nico to wear while he was here.

"Did you get to your dad?" my mom asked Annabeth.

Annabeth shook her head slowly, "Nope,"

My mom frowned, "I'll get Paul to email your dad, he's always checking it. Don't worry," Annabeth smiled, nodded and looked down, "Okay and Percy," she handed me a laundry basket, "Move your things out of your room, Nico's staying there. Put your things in Annabeth's room, but I think you should set up base in the living room," she gave me a stern look, "Okay?"

"Yeah," I sighed.

"If what happened last night happens again, then fine, you can stay with her, but that's just if, Perseus, you hear me?" she whispered.

"Yes ma'am,"

"Good! Okay so you and Nico, to your room you go, Annabeth you don't mind taking over for Paul, do you? I need help with dinner and I need to talk to him anyways,"

"No problem," Annabeth said.

"Awesome, awesome, awesome," my mom clapped.

We all headed into the hallway. I grinned at Nico, "Nice shirt, I think I wore that in the third grade,"

"Ha-ha. I don't like it. Blue's not my color," he mumbled.

Annabeth and I smirked, she laughed, "Yeah well you're gonna have to like it, the whole house is blue,"

Nico grumbled something about how the Underworld was all orange, red, black and dark. I ignored him and opened the door to my room while Annabeth took Clio from Paul in the other room.

"I can just keep my stuff in this basket, Percy, you don't have to 'move' out for me,"

"It's fine. I actually needed to go through my things some time soon,"

Nico nodded and awkwardly sat on my desk chair. I started to pull clothes out of my closet and threw them into the laundry basket. A pile of orange CHB shirts, cotton t-shirts, jeans, sweaters, pajama pants and sweats filled my closets. They were lopsided piles and if I pulled one from the middle, everything would've fallen. It was like a stand of apples at the grocery store, pick from the top.

I looked at Nico, who was looking at the pictures on my dresser. I cleared my throat, feeling bad that he wasn't in any of them, I decided to take his attention away.

"So where's Hazel staying?" When the camps were parting, Reyna mentioned that it wasn't a good idea to have her stay in New Rome during construction. They didn't want some poor kid picking up some unwanted treasure.

"Oh. She's staying on the Argo II with Jason, Piper and Leo. Frank's in New Rome being Praetor and everything,"

"Why doesn't she stay here?" Paul's voice asked as he entered my room, Gale was squeezing an invisible object in his arms and Clio was making noises while Annabeth bounced her in her arms. Paul adjusted the baby in his arms and asked, "She's a friend I'm guessing, right?"

"My sister," Nico answered.

"Then she can stay here," Paul smiled.

"I don't think that's a good idea," I said, "Four demigods under one mortal roof, I don't know, Paul, it doesn't seem smart,"

"Five demigods, Percy," she nodded towards Gale, "And you're not the best person to listen to about smart choices," she smirked at me annoyingly.

"Well what do you think 'oh grateful daughter of Athena'?" I teased.

"Well," she said with the same teasing tone, "The Oh-So-Grateful daughter of Athena was actually just checking the stuff in the nursery and she found out that Hephaestus must really like your dad or owes him big time," her smile got wider, "The whole room, all the toys, the cribs, even the mobiles, they're enchanted. There's enough magic in their to mask any demigod anywhere in a 3 mile radius. It should last until their six maybe. Leo's dad basically just saved them from six years of monsters. As long as we're with these two, we're safe,"

Nico and I blinked at her stupidly and she rolled her eyes, "Five is safe. Maybe even seven. Hazel can totally stay here,"

"Then that's that!" Paul clapped, "Iris message her and get Blackjack to fly her over here. I'll go tell your mom," he handed me Gale and walked out.


After I cleaned out my room, moved everything into Annabeth's, I Iris-messaged Hazel, who was really reluctant about the idea, and had her fly over with her things on Blackjack and the chariot. Right now, we were setting up for dinner, waiting for Hazel. Gale and Clio were in their high chairs, waving their arms around, excited for dinner. Annabeth and I were placing plates, forks, knives and spoons on the table while Nico looked out the window for Hazel. Tonight we were having a 'special dinner' since last night, we came a bit late to eat and since we had Hazel and Nico over. My mom went all out with salads, soups, pita for an appetizer and sheppard pie for our main course. I was pretty sure she had a blue dessert here somewhere, and that was the only thing keeping me from mocking her on her little escapade.

Paul came into the dining room, a plate of caesar salad in one hand and the pita in the other. I reached for a pita when Annabeth slapped my hand, "Wait for Hazel! We can't eat until she's here,"

I pouted and she shooed me away, telling me to get the soup from my mom.

"Careful, Percy, it's hot," she said.

"Yup, yup, yup, yup, yup," I answered.

"Do you have any more friends that need refuge?" my mom joked.

"Ha-ha, but no, I don't think so,"

"But I get to meet them, right? The Seven of the Prophecy?" she smiled at me as we walked to the dining room together, bowls in her hand.

"And Reyna," I added, "Soon I hope,"

Mom smiled and placed the bowls around the table.

"Hazel's here!" Annabeth said from the living room. Nico already opened the door and headed out to greet her.

"I'll be right back," I said to mom. She nodded and waved me off.

Annabeth and I made our way into the cold outdoors where Hazel and Nico were laughing. Hazel had her hand on Blackjack's nose, petting it softly.

She smiled at me, "Hey, Percy,"

"Hey, Boss!" Blackjack cheered, "Donuts?"

"Hi Hazel," I walked over to her hugging her tightly, "Nice to know you made it alright," I turned to Blackjack, "Sorry, Buddy,"

He neighed disapprovingly, complaining about how cold it was.

Just then my mom walked out in her coat, holding a box of donuts that I knew nothing of, "I heard you were coming by," she said to Blackjack. She picked out a boston cream donut and he walked over to her, pulling the chariot behind him. She fed it to him, "Never forget the donuts," she smiled.

"Your mom's an angel, Boss," Blackjack beamed.

Handing me the box she turned to Hazel, "And you must be our guest of honour! I'm Sally! Percy's mother," she hugged Hazel, who was expecting a handshake instead. My mom let go of her and smiled, "It's cold, I think we should head on in. Is Blackjack staying in the backyard tonight, Percy?" she asked, "He can stay in the garage maybe,"

Blackjack neighed.

"Um no," I said awkwardly, "It's cold out and the lawn mowers scare him," I translated.

Mom laughed and nodded, patting Blackjack's mane, "Percy, Nico, grab Hazel's things and bring them in! Dinner's ready!"