Hey, guys. I'm terribly sorry for not updating sooner. This thing has been sitting on my hard drive for ages, and I needed to get it finished and edited. A million kudos to believeinthegods for beta-ing for me. Trust me, there were too many things wrong with this chapter and she graciously swept in and worked her magic. I don't know where I'd be without her. Thanks so much B :)

Well, anyways, I don't know how many of you ship Travis/Katie but here goes nothing. Enjoy! And please leave a review. Thanks!

D is for Drunk

Your 21st birthday tended to symbolize your right of passage to the 'beginning' of your life, which is why a gigantic blow out party was usually included. In a demigod's case? It just meant you were lucky enough to make it past your teenage years without being skewered alive by a monster or three.

Seeing as it was, indeed, a big deal, Annabeth refused to be deprived of said privilege. Hence the reason Annabeth had a group friends along with her, on a Friday night, in a karaoke bar, at one in the morning.

Katie Gardner had enrolled at NYU with her and decided to tag along with a couple of mortal friends. The Stoll brothers refused to miss a party, (especially if it meant a chance to see Annabeth get totally smashed.) Of course Rachel was there too - it was her idea in the first place -but she and Percy both knew Annabeth had a low alcohol tolerance, and she'd be dancing on tables in no time.

Among all the chaos, Nico had managed to sneak in, he had, somewhat ominously, appeared from nowhere but few had paid much attention to his age; and soon enough he was being offered drinks (which he politely refused under the watchful eyes of his older cousins)

"Why do I even choose to put up with this?" Percy groaned, setting down his glass of soda with a little too much force. The liquid whirled around in the glass, splashing onto the wooden bar table. Nico sat beside him, watching Rachel and Annabeth belt out tunes at the karaoke bar and giggling furiously in between verses.

"You're just pissed because you can't drink yet, either."

It was true - Annabeth's birthday was a few months before Percy's ('a fact she regularly reminded him of'), which meant he wasn't entirely legal yet. There was, however, another reason he was choosing to avoid the alcohol for the evening; having been cajouled into the role of 'designated driver', so much as a shot would result in a whole lot of godly shit. If he'd gotten drunk as well, then there was no telling what could have happened.

Percy sighed. "Why do the two most terrifying women in my life have to get along so well?"

Nico chuckled; and in a large gulp, he finished his soda. "I bet you they planned this whole thing out before hand. It's all part of their master plan to make your life miserable."

Connor Stoll stumbled by – a shot glass was clutched in his hand, and he looked decidedly worse for wear. "Hey Percy," he called. "I haven't seen you do anything all night. Go get up there with Annabeth and -"He dropped his glass, watching as it shattered noisily on the floor. He stared at it, amused. "Whoops."

"Any of you seen Katie?"

Travis appeared next to his brother. His eyebrows knotted nervously together.

"Why?"

"I need to walk her back to her dorm."

Nico nudged Percy in the side, "Guess you're not the only one on the chivalrous sober duty." He whispered.

There was a loud yell from the general direction of the karaoke machine. A mass of blonde hair tumbled from the stage.

Connor narrowed bloodshot eyes. "Hey man, I think that was your girlfriend."

Travis Stoll was never quite the concerned type. That is, until you added Katie Gardner into the equation.

Sure, they were good friends (give or take the occasional argument with Travis' tendency to annoy the hell out of her while she was at archery practice back at camp). Connor, never one to miss an opportunity, naturally saw it as his brotherly duty to ridicule Travis' a bit more-than-platonic feelings for the daughter of Demeter.

And Travis' behaviour at this party sure isn't going to help his big denial speech he's prepared in case of emergencies.

The inconvenient truth: Travis Stoll had a crush on Katie Gardner.

(He was just too ignorant to acknowledge it)

"Jesus Christ Katie-"

Katie laid on the floor, giggling madly with a red face as Annabeth and Rachel burst into a fit of laughter on stage. Travis helped her up; the laughing crowd slowly began to disperse.

She looked at him with tired eyes, "Hey,Travis. How are you this wonderful evening?"

He lifted her arm over his shoulder, supporting her dead weight. "I've been worse. We're heading off!" he called to Annabeth and Rachel, though he wasn't entirely sure they would hear him. "Have fun, you two!"

The songstresses seemed to notice the sudden departure of their karaoke buddy.

"Hey, where's he taking her?" Rachel complained. "I need her for the duet!"

With Katie slung over his shoulder, he still managed to tug a hysterical Connor with him on his way out. He shouted a goodbye to Percy and Nico at the bar and exited into the cool New York air.

He hailed a passing taxi and opened the door. "Connor, get in."

Katie lifted her head. "Is the party over? Where are you taking me?" Her breath smelled of alcohol, hair as untidy as ever.

"I'm getting Connor a cab home and then taking you back to the dorm." He bent down and repeated the address to the driver.

He waited for Connor to get in – Connor, however, had other ideas. He slung one arm around the door of the cab and stared at Travis and then Katie through heavy eyes.

"He likes you, you knoooow," he slurred.

Travis tensed. "Connor, what are you talking about?"

Katie stiffened. Travis became suddenly very aware of his arm still wrapped tightly around her waist.

Connor shuffled around the door, a stupid grin on his face. He pointed at Katie with a wonky arm. "Come on man, just tell her."

Katie's eyes narrowed at Connor. It suddenly occurred to Travis she may not have been quite as drunk as he'd first thought. "Tell me what?"

He let quickly go of her, stepping forward to shove Connor into the cab. As he landed on the seat, Travis hastily slammed the door. "Okay, goodnight Connor!" He was still yelling out something as the cab drove away, but the sound was lost to the screeching tires.

He turned back to face Katie, aware that he was now very much red-faced, except not from the alcohol. "Sorry," he muttered. "He's always like that, happens every time we come here. I don't know, something about that guy and karaoke bars."

Katie stared up at him, amused. "Is that true?"

"Yeah, he drinks and he sings and just loses his shit."

"No, I.." She frowned. "I meant the other thing."

He feigned a sudden interest in the pavement. Inside the bar he could hear Nico shouting and then Rachel screaming back.

Probably best we don't go back inside. Percy was best at dealing with that type of crap anyway.

"What thing?"

By now, they had started down the street and were only about three blocks from Katie's college dorm. The street lights flickered as they walked on. Katie still clung onto Travis' shirt for support. "Travis."

"Mm?"

"Do you like me?"

Travis smiled awkwardly, carrying on down the street with Katie by his side. "Yeah, of course I like you."

"In what way?"

Before he even had time to consider his answer, Katie stopped in her tracks and dropped to the sidewalk – she held her head, groaning loudly. Travis knelt down beside her.

"Hey, are you okay? You seemed pretty smashed out of your mind back there."

She looked up at him through her tangled hair, her eyes steadily closing. "Just needed some air," she murmured. "I feel much better out here than I did in there." She tried to stand up, but ended up back on Travis' shoulder. "Oh my gods, I suck at holding liquor."

"Not as bad as Connor, though."

Her head slumped back onto his shoulder and her legs buckled.

"Katie?"

"Hmmwha?"

She was in no shape to walk now – that much was obvious. And he wasn't about to drag her back to her dorm by her feet, either. Gods, why didn't I just call a cab?

Travis stared up the block. It was practically empty, except for two or three people leant against the boarded-up windows of stores, and the occasional car driving by. Guess we're doing this the hard way.

He took her arms, making sure they were secured enough around his neck, and bent down to shift all her weight onto his back. He stood up - holding her legs, he checked her body was supported. "Hold tight, Katie."

She mumbled in reply as he started up the street. The cold night air stung at his cheeks – they blistered in the chill - but he was far too focused on getting Katie back to her dorm in one piece to even notice.

He was sure she was out cold when he reached the flight of stairs up to her dorm room, but as he began the ascent she started to stir. He struggled up the empty staircase.

"Ugh, my head is killing me."

"We're almost there," he managed through gritted teeth. Reaching the door of her dorm he put his Son of Hermes skills to use and agilely slipped the key out of Katie's jacket pocket. After a whole routine of whimpers and groans, he finally managed to set her down on her bed.

He pulled the blanket over her and turned to leave, before she called out, "You still haven't answered my question."

He stopped abruptly.

Turning slowly to face her, he watched as she yawned, eyes fluttering sleepily. Before he could answer, she curled up into a ball, and suddenly the only sound in the room was the steady pace of her breathing.

He took a step forward and shoved his hands in his pockets. "In ways I'll never understand."

He'd expected it to be harder. Much harder. He'd expected some sort of intense emotional struggle – denial, maybe, or internal conflict. He could crack safes in seconds, no problem. He could pick-pocket a wallet without the blink of an eye. But admitting his feeling for Katie Gardner?

That was the easiest of all.