Chapter 4: Mother, Mother.

After a couple hours of driving, I decided to voice the thought that had been bugging me ever since we left Medusa's lair.

"Does anybody else think it would have been nice of Luke to warn us about Medusa? I mean, that would have been extremely helpful." I said, I looked around at them, they all had the same expression: Confusion.

"Maybe he didn't know." Beth suggested with a shrug.

"I'm just saying, information like that could be useful to us." I replied, they all just shrugged again.

"GPS from the Gods, where to next?" Grover asked. I looked over at Percy, he pulled out the map and unfolded it, the next Pearl location formed. I gaped.

"The Parthenon? Nashville, Tennessee." Percy said.

"Nashville! Great! The home of my least favorite type of music! Yeehaw!" Grover groaned, we all laughed. After a while, Beth fell asleep and landed on Grover's shoulder. I was slowly on my way to joining her. Within 20 more minutes of driving, I fell asleep, landing on Percy's shoulder. My dream, it was odd. I was in a room, a fancy one at that, like one a cruise ship or something. But I wasn't alone, people were around me, but I couldn't make out their faces. At the head of the room, stood an extremely familiar face, he stood next to a glowing coffin type thing, with an evil, triumphant smile on his face. All of a sudden, a loud honk woke me up and I opened my eyes to see a giant truck heading straight for us.

"AHHHH!" I screamed, Grover spun us out of the way at the last minute.

"LET'S STOP FOR THE NIGHT! LET'S STOP!" Percy yelled. Grover nodded shakily, and we all began searching for an inn. Eventually, we came across one and checked in a room.

"Ugh, I'm exhausted!" Beth exclaimed.

"Psh, says the one who didn't have to face Medusa." I scoffed. She ignored me and curled up on one of the beds.

"Guys, I'm gonna go to the pool. Anyone care to join me?" Percy announced, looking around at all of us. Grover was sleeping standing up, Annabeth was engrossed with the History channel, I had just finished performing First Aid on my arm.

"I think I might." I said, staying here seemed boring. He nodded and we both walked out. He was already in his swim trunks, and I was in cheer shorts and a tank top. I watched as he dove in and stayed underwater. I sat with my feet dangling in, humming a song. After a while, he resurfaced.

"Whatcha thinking about?" He asked, swimming over to me. He placed his arms on either sides of me, and waited.

"Oh, just about today. You did really well… Thanks for um.. Ya know… Saving my life." I said. He smirked.

"I did kinda save your life didn't I?" He asked, I leaned and splashed water on him, giggling as I did. He chuckled.

"You should come in… The water's great." He smiled. I shook my head.

"Nah, you're the child of Poseidon, not me." I laughed.

"Aww… Come on… I saved your life." He pouted, I shook my head. He smirked devilishly, then next thing I knew, I was underwater. I resurfaced, gasping for air. Percy was laughing his ass off.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up Seaweed Brain." I grumbled. This made him laugh harder, pulling me into a hug.

"Seaweed Brain?" He asked, I shrugged. He finally calmed down and smiled at me.

"You're welcome, by the way… For saving your life." He said, I rolled my eyes. He smiled at me, and I smiled back. Our faces were slowly inching together, but then:

"JOEY! PERCY! YOU GOTTA COME SEE THIS!" Grover's voice sent us flying apart.

"Okay. We're coming!" I yelled, I climbed out of the pool and grabbed a towel, chucking one at Percy as he came up beside me. We toweled off most of the water and then ran back to the hotel room. The news was on.

"Check it out, you're on TV." Annabeth said, we walked in and saw he was indeed on TV.

"Missing boy Percy Jackson, and his mother Sally Ugliano… But their relatives have some interesting theories." The news lady was saying, it switched over to reveal an ugly, bald man, that looked similar to a pig. Eww….

"So Mr. Ugliano, what do you think about your son Percy Jackson?" The interviewer asked,

"No, no, he's not my son. He's the stepson… He did not come from these loins. But ever since he started with the drugs and the alcohol. He's never been the same. 5 nights ago, he tried to kill me and he threw his mother on the ground!" Gabe said,

"Oh no…" Percy groaned, I looked at him, then I heard crunching next to me, and I looked to see Grover eating an old soda can. Still very weird…. No matter how many years I've known him.

"Then his crippled friend, attacked me from behind and knocked me out, when I woke up. Sally was gone. She was kidnapped by Percy! She would never…" Gabe was cut off by Percy.

"Shut up Gabe!" He spat, clicking off the TV. We all looked at him.

"That's your step-dad?" I asked,

"Unfortunately." He replied.

"His last name certainly fits his personality." I said. He nodded.

"But this sucks! Now I'm a fugitive!" Percy exclaimed,

"Ya know, Gabe's always running his mouth! He's just mad because I busted him up with my crutches!" Grover exclaimed, walking away towards the bathroom. I laughed and fell back onto the bed.

"UGH!" He groaned.

"Guys! I can't pee with her watching me!" He yelled, walking out with Medusa's head. We all shrugged, all of a sudden, his eyes grew wide. He stared out the window. I looked to see a maid. I shot up from the bed.

"OH MY GOD!" She screamed frantically. Oh shit! This is not good! I lunged for the curtains and closed them, looking back at everyone.

"I'm sorry guys… I screwed up." Grover muttered.

"Let's just go." Annabeth said.

"Yeah, before Homeland Security shows up and recognizes Percy as the fugitive he's becoming!" I chuckled.

"JOEY!" Percy exclaimed.

"Love you!" I yelled, I grabbed my bag and ran from the room. I found the truck and dove into it. Percy climbed in after me, followed by Beth and Grover. We began driving and I recognized my old elementary school.

"Hey guys, I have a place we can go." I said,

"Where?" Percy asked.

"Elidi Estates. It's like 15 minutes from where we need to go. And since it's 11 at night, we can at least rest and save some energy." I replied.

"Elidi? As in… You?" Percy asked.

"Technically, it's Jeremiah and I, but yes…" I replied,

"You're rich!" He exclaimed, I shook my head.

"No. My mother is rich." I corrected.

"But you have your own estate!" Percy said, I shook my head.

"No. I have Camp Half-Blood, and the Apollo cabin." I pointed out. He gave me a confused look.

"I'll explain later, let's just get there." I said, he nodded and within 20 minutes, we were there. We parked outside and I lead them up the front porch steps. I reached out and hesitantly pressed the doorbell. After 5 minutes, my Mother opened the door, looking slightly annoyed. But then she saw me and her jaw dropped.

"Hi Mom." I waved.

"J-j-j-j-Joanna?" She stuttered.

"The one and only." I replied.

"But… but, you're… you're supposed to be…. To be… Adam said… but… Oh my…" She seemed to have a panic attack.

"Mom, mom…. What are you talking about?" I asked, after she calmed down a bit.

"You're not supposed to be here." She snapped. Well then… Not the greeting I was expecting.

"Listen… I know you hate me. And Jeremiah, and Dad… But we really need a place to stay. It's just for one night, we'll be gone by morning and you can forget I ever existed." I replied.

"Fine. You can stay in the Guest Suites." She said briskly, she moved out of the way and allowed us inside. I nodded at her and I lead them up the stairs. All our guest rooms were on the third floor, so I lead them up. We barely got to the first room before Grover barreled past and went inside.

"Goodnight all!" He called, I laughed. Beth took the next one, and Percy took the one conjoined to mine, I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep without checking out the rest of the house, so I changed into my red and black flannel PJ pants and a black thermal, then slipped on my slipper boots, then snuck out of the room. I tiptoed past Percy's room

"Where ya going?" Someone asked, I spun to see Percy leaning near the bathroom door in his pajamas.

"Oh… You know… A midnight snack.." I replied.

"Great. I'll come with." He smiled. I slumped.

"This is payback for me doing this to you, huh?" I asked.

"Yes it is." He smiled, he slung his arm over my shoulders and lead me down the stairs, we found the kitchen and got our snacks and drinks and walked out into the back.

"So, if you don't mind my asking…. What happened to your Mom back there?" Percy asked as we began eating. I laughed slightly.

"You caught that huh?" I asked, he nodded.

"Hmm… Well let's see…. Like all Gods, Dad met Mom and they fell in love…. Obviously, otherwise Jeremiah and I wouldn't be here… But when we were 6 months… Dad left… And Mom was heartbroken… According to my Grandparents. They said she hasn't been the same since… But when we were 6, Jeremiah and I were attacked by a Hellhound… That was enough for my Mom I suppose, because she sent us to New York with our Uncle. We haven't seen or heard from her since… Shortly after we were sent to our Uncle, we were attacked yet again, so we ran. Eventually we made it to Camp Half-Blood." I replied, there was way more to my story, but Percy didn't need to know just yet.

"I'm sorry…" Percy muttered.

"It's fine. Jeremiah and I have the Apollo cabin, and my Dad obviously, he's spoken to me… I think… Like in times of trouble, he guides me." I said,

"That happens to me too!" He exclaimed. I laughed, I wasn't alone. I had never brought it up to anyone, they might think I was crazy.

"But, why can't any of us see our Godly parents?" Percy asked.

"Because, shortly after you, and all the other Demi-Gods around your age were born, Zeus decreed that no God could have physical contact with their Mortal offspring." I replied. Percy shook his head.

"That's not fair!" He exclaimed. I nodded in agreement.

"Just be lucky you're not Unclaimed like almost all of the Hermes cabin…." I said,

"What do you mean?" He asked.

"Well, there are just the 12 main Gods, there's many more… And they have children too…. They end up in Hermes cabin, that's why there's so many kids there." I explained.

"Wow.." He muttered. I nodded. We continued eating in silence. After we both finished, we walked inside.

"Goodnight Joey." Percy yawned.

"Night Seaweed Brain." I grinned, he shot me a glare and I just walked into my room. I curled up on my bed and fell into a deep sleep.


Tell me what ya think!(: I think it was bad, but that's me. It will get better, I promise. R&R.

Much Love,

Rhey.