Sorry about the shortness of the chapter. There was more I wanted to include but I though I would give you this now rather than make you wait another week for another 2 and a half thousand words.

Chapter 4

Finally we were there. I looked at the simply door in front of me, body full of both dread and anticipation. I hadn't seen her for years and had no idea how she would react to me. My own reflection started back at me from the warped glass on the wooden door. I felt a reassuring hand squeeze me on my left but I was barely aware of my wife's presence. I glanced to my right and my daughter gave me an encouraging smile and nodded at me to knock on the door. My neck slowly wheeled back to the door, almost in a trance. I raised my free hand, leaving my left hand in Annabeth's for support. I knocked on the door three times, the sound appearing a lot loader than it was in the silence that had enveloped us.

"Don't worry" Annabeth whispered in my ear. "You will be fine." I nodded.

"I hope so…I-". The sound of movement cut me short. My heart skipped a beat as I heard a lock turning and the door opening slightly. A familiar head materialised in the gap. She smiled at the three of us then fully opened the door. I almost gasped when she came into full view. She was exactly as I remembered her in life; jet black hair, sea green eyes and a smile that could lift the room. I never figured out why in the underworld all four or our immediate family had black hair. It was strange but that's life I suppose. She was wearing a plain white dress and although simply dressed, she looked beautiful. Her eyes were full of joy and it was plain to see she was happy by looking at her face.

"Hello Dad". She nodded at my mom "Mom…and Skye it's been too long sis"

"Only a lifetime" she breathed. Arianna smiled and gave a laugh that I hadn't heard in a long time. She raised an eyebrow at me and spoke in a light hearted tone.

"Relax father I forgave you long ago"

"Not that I deserve it…" I muttered under my breath. She just carried on smiling and held out her arms.

"Father…". She crashed into my and together we embraced. I let my emotions go. I cried on her shoulder and she patted me on the back telling me its ok, ironically temporarily taking over the role as parent. I could feel myself shaking but I didn't care. This was a happy moment for me. Finally being reunited with all my family. Well my mortal family at least. When she finally broke away from our embrace I was a wreck, but in a good way. I was with the people that mattered most to me. She hugged both my wife and other daughter to almost equal reactions. It was a very emotional reunion.

Arianna finally came away from embracing her sister and walked back to her front door.

"Come in everyone. You must have had a tiring journey." she gestured for us to walk in after her and we all followed suit. The inside was decorated simply like you would see in any mortal household. The walls were painted white and the hallway was lined with a long shelf which held a number of silver and gold ornaments with two small marble statues sitting in the middle. Athena and Poseidon. I felt a sharp tug in my stomach every time I saw pictures of them. I hadnt seen my father since the first day I entered the land of the dead. No fault of his own I suppose. There are always issues in the world that need godly attention. Even so I still felt a little neglected by my father and from the occasional looks I see in Annabeths face, she feels it too. As I walked further down the hall I noticed there were also photos from our living days on there. The day she graduated from college, one of our favourite family holidays. It was great to remember those days. Before things went down a path would leave me feeling guilty for eternity. I also saw numerous pictures of her and her husband. I didnt warm to him at first being a son of Aries but after a while I knew he was the one for her. He cares for her in ways that surprised even me. I went to the wedding a proud man. Seeing our past on view sitting on a shelf brought tears to my eyes. I wiped them away and forced myself to walk further. At the end of the 20 metre hall I turned left, following Annabeth in front of me.

I could smell the scent of freshly cooked chicken coming from behind an open door. As I entered the room I saw another familiar face standing arm in next to Arianna.

"Hello Mike." I smiled. Mike was tall, about 6'2 with heavily bulked arms, about the same size as mine. He had short spiky light brown hair and brown eyes that were both conforting and frightening. To anyone that didn't know him he looked like he would gladly kill you for looking at him wrong. Luckily I knew him differently. He grinned strongly and walked towards me to give a friendly embrace.

"Its been too long" he said as he stood back straight.

"It really has my friend" I replied. I let my eyes wander around the room. It was laid out in a kind of L shape; the room starting at the lower shorter part of the L. The kitchen tops looked be made of a kind of ivory and everything was neat. And tidy. To my right a mahogany table was readily laid out for five below a crystal chandelier. On the ceiling I noticed small outlines of rams horns and another outline of...doves? It never occurred to me that Arriana had any relation to Aphrodite. She must was have reborn once as an Aphrodite child but turned down the third rebirth. Miraculous that these two individuals have found each other twice. I laid that thought to rest and scanned the room some more.

Smoothed limestone tiles covered the kitchen floor, turning to blue carpet as it neared the open dining area. A lot like the hallway, the walls were lined with white shelves decorated with family pictures and memories. For the first time, I noticed there were a lot of pictures that I had no memory of and others that were of a girl that was Arianna but not quite. A life I was never part of. She looked happy in every single photo. I also noticed a small fountain in the corner. Two carved fish which I assumed were statues of Pisces breathing water out their mouths into a marble basin. A slights spray radiated from the area. I guessed it was for Iris messaging. I should have known demigod dead would have a more familiar method of communication than phones or letters.

Mike gestured for us to sit down at the dining table and I walked to my seat as my family walked to theirs. From the kitchen Arianna was dishing up our meals onto plates, humming while she worked.

"Ill be with you in a sec" she called to us. "I hope you like roast beef..

I smiled as did Annabeth sitting opposite me.

"I do...I thought you couldn't cook?" I asked confused. She cant cook. The last time I remember her cooking she nearly burnt down the house. Thank the gods I could put it out. More specifically, thank Poseidon.

"She cant" I heard Mikes voice chuckling behind me beforen taking a seat at the head of the table. Annabeth stifled a laugh before Arianna chuckled as well.

"Yes this is all Mike's work" she grinned while coming over to the table with steaming plates of food in her hands. She laid the first two in front of her mother and sister and went back to get the other plates. Once all the plates were laid out in front of us, she sat down in her seat next to Annabeth.

"Well what are you waiting for...eat ha-ha" Mike laughed.

We sat and ate for the first time in centuries as a family. We laughed and joked around like we always used to. Arianna recounted some of her happy memories with Mike. Their holidays together. The times they spent with their son. Mike told me all his immediate family lived close by so he and his wife could always visit their sons and grandsons whenever they wanted. We talked about our high days as a family. The time we all went to see Take That in concert and Skye got so excited she accidentally used her water powers and nearly knocked half the crowd out. When I jumped off the top of a Lighthouse and on looking mortals thought I was crazy and their hilarious bemusement when the water seemed to shape itself around her creating a cushion from the cliff-side rocks. We did a lot of those stunts back then. I know it was immature but it was something our family did and it was us at our best. We ate drank and laughed together. It couldn't really get any better for us.

Arianna and Mike went on to tell us about life in Elysium. Being in the Isle of the Blest while an eternal heaven, did cut us off from the rest of the world both dead and alive. Comparing the Island of the Blest to Elysium is much like comparing the countryside to Rome; both have their beauty shown in different ways. Elysium is busy and full of culture and the island is a country paradise, away from everything; beautiful but remote. Listening to Arianna and Mike speak I noticed how at peace they were here which was nice. They told us about the city and how everyone pretty much knew everyone. They told us about the numerous festivals each year. Apparently recently Michael Jackson did a gig at Elysium's Coliseum, an arena built specially for music. They had everything thought of down here. News of the outside world sometimes seeped down to the underworld when new dead arrived. Apparently there was another war going on. That didn't sound good. Arianna told us how she was now an important architect in Elysium, constantly building new houses for the newly deceased. We all smiled at that. She took her mothers brains.

After the meal we were all led into another room just off the hall; a lounge area. This room was a little smaller than the kitchen/lounge area but a little larger than each part on their own. There were two couches, one on the back wall, one on the side. The one on the back wall was light silver with blue lines running through it. Respect for Athena without forgetting Poseidon. The other was a plain warm brown colour, obviously in reference to Mike's father. We all sat down and carried on talking. Reminiscing was something we hadn't been able to do for a long time together and we did a lot of it. At some point Arianna left the room to get us desert; a chocolate sponge and custard.

"So how are you three getting on. I bet the Island of The Blest must be a complete paradise." Arianna asked, running her hand through her hair. She had relaxed herself on the silver sofa, resting her head on Mikes shoulder.

"It's an amazing place." I agreed.

"Maybe one day we can break you of here and show your round?" Annabeth smiled at her daughter." Arianna raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

"Getting out of here is a lot harder than getting in…as your going to find out in a few hours."

"Yeah lets not think about that now" I said happily. "We can take care of ourselves anyway during the Titan War-"

"Here we go…" Skye rolled her eyes and everyone in the room laughed. Our laughing stopped when we heard the door knock. The rooms mood changed from exuberance to nervous silence. I didn't know what the punishment for escaping your resting pace was but I didn't really want to find out

"Shit" Mike muttered. "Ok guys go out into the garden Ill go and see who it is."

I took in a deep breath and immediately regretted it. The pain in my chest was excruciated. I slumped my head onto the wooden door. I hoped I got the right address. Blood was dripping from my lip onto the floor and I could barely stand. Nothing a bit of ambrosia and nectar wouldn't cure but for now I just had to hold on.

I heard movement behind the door. As I lifted my head the door opened slightly but only ajar. I heard a male voice I was unfamiliar with call out.. he sounded nervous and wary. I thought that was unusual considering where he was. What's there to worry about here in Elysium. I shoved that thought away. If what I thought was correct (and it usually is) then his tone of voice was probably normal.

"Who is it?" the voice called.

I could hear my ragged breath and took a second to collect myself before speaking. I tried to speak but all that came out was a scratchy sound where my throat had given out over the journey.

"Are you ok?" I heard his voice again but I could barely hear it. My vision was blurring and it was becoming increasingly difficult to think clearly.

It was harder to break into this place than I thought. It nearly cost me my life. I would question whether it was worth it but this is Percy and Annabeth Jackson. They are worth a hundred of me. A second time I tried to speak and surprisingly managed to get a sentence out.

"Calypso...I need to speak to Percy and Annabeth Jackson..." I shook my head. I lost my footing and fell to the floor and a man in his mid twenties came out but I barely noticed him. A shop of pain rifled up my side. I could feel some ones arms around my shoulders.

"Arianna help me here I think she's going to-" I didnt hear the rest. The word went black as I lost consciousness.

3 hours earlier...