Wow, this took me WAY too long to write! But it's up, at least!

This was really fun to write! I hope I manage to get some laughs out of you with this, or at least a smile. Heck, I really just want this to make your day a little brighter. Enjoy!

Darkness finally settled as daytime gave into night, though with all the light coming from the cheery kingdom, one could hardly tell. The lack of the sun in the sky had never been so welcoming to the residents of Olympus as it was now, for the moon shining in the sky indicated that the Coronation After-Party was in full swing.

Most would say it had been the best night of their lives.

A band played a cheery little tune as couples danced in complete sync to the catchy beat. Once the last few notes were played, the crowd applauded the talented band members, eager for another song. However, the party was to be temporarily interrupted by the arrival of the king and prince.

Grover stepped up onto the podium, grinning at how beautifully everything was going (and maybe also because of the beautiful girl from Camp Demigod he had met earlier. Juniper, was it?). He gestured to his left, where the newly-Coroneted king was making his way, giving off the air of a majestic lion.

"King Leo of Olympus!"

Leo faced the attenders, who were bowing respectfully. He gave them his best grin, feeling truly happy for the first time that day. Grover then turned his attention to his right.

"Prince Harley of Olympus!"

A figure came rushing up towards Grover, giggling slightly. He gave the crowd a small bow, before adding on a wave as if on second thought. He smiled as two boys in their late teens returned the goofy grin and waved back (They must be twins, Harley thought as he spotted the similarities between the two). However, he was brought back from the giddy moment as Grover took him by the shoulders and steered him towards his brother. Harley's grin vanished instantly.

"Oh, up here?" He asked, trying to struggle against Grover's strong grasp in a way that would look like he wasn't struggling, "Um, I don't think that I'm supposed to-"

Harley gave his brother a fearful look, though it went unnoticed by Leo, who was still smiling towards the bowing crowd. Harley bit his lip as he was practically carried to a spot right next to Leo.

"Really, I don't think I'm allowed to- Oh!" Harley was set next to Leo with a bit more force than was necessary, and Harley took a small step away from the king as the crowd rose and applauded. Harley gave the people one last fleeting smile before the music returned and the party continued.

Never had a silence been more awkward.

Harley shot his brother a small glance before quickly turning away, as if he was a fragile vase that would break if Harley so much as looked at him. Tucking a small curl behind his ear, Harley tried to distract himself by watching the dancers.

"Hey."

Harley's eyes widened, almost comically, as he slowly turned around. He almost expected Leo to be having a conversation to one of the guests, so he was genuinely surprised when Leo's attention was directed towards him.

"Are you talking to me?" Harley asked, looking behind him just to make sure. Leo let out a small laugh.

"No, I mean the other Harley that's standing beside me," Leo replied, smiling warmly.

"Oh," Harley said, looking away. He should have known. Leo still hated him, so why would he talk to him?

Harley was surprised when Leo's laughing intensified.

"What's so funny?" Harley said, half confused and half angry.

"It was a joke!" Leo said, almost doubling over with laughter, "Of course I was talking to you! Who did you think I was talking to?"

"Oh! Sorry..." Harley flushed, embarrassed.

"No need to be sorry," Leo smiled at him once again.

"Okay," Harley said.

Harley once again tried to focus on the party.

"Aren't you going to wish me a 'happy birthday'?"

Harley was once again startled by Leo's voice.

"Oh, of course!" Harley said, still not believing what was happening, "Well, Happy Birthday."

"Thank you."

Another silence followed, though this one was less icy. Harley decided it was his turn to contribute to the conversation.

"I never thought that so many people could be in one place at the same time," Harley said, gazing towards the crowd with a new sense of wonder.

"Yeah," Leo responded, "It's a bit frightening, in my opinion."

"What?" Harley hadn't anticipated that answer, "How is it scary?"

"Well, I'm not really sure myself," Leo responded with a small chuckle, "I guess I don't really like crowds. It makes me feel vulnerable, as if everyone is watching your every move, waiting for you to do something wrong and embarrass yourself."

"Is that why you never talked to me all those years?"

Leo didn't respond for a while, and Harley thought he had messed up when Leo's voice came out as a croak with his answer.

"Yes."

Harley couldn't help himself. He flung his arms around Leo and pulled him into a hug. Leo's eyes widened with the sudden gesture before returning it.

"Thank goodness! I was so worried it was something that I had done!" Harley said, still not letting Leo go, "I thought that you were mad at me, and I didn't know how to fix it!"

Now suddenly understanding, Leo let himself smile, slowly unclenching Harley's arms from around him. The two were aroused from their moment by someone clearing their throat. The two broke apart as they turned towards the crowd, who were all staring at the two. Leo blushed and turned away, while Harley gave the crowd a small wave.

"Carry on!" Harley announced. The crowd was quick to resume their previous activities.

"I've never been so embarrassed," Leo said, though he was laughing.

"It wasn't that bad!" Harley said, "At least it wasn't you with your girlfriend!"

Leo blinked.

"But I don't have a girlfriend," Leo replied, confused.

"Not yet," Harley said, giggling slightly, "But with the fine ladies I have seen arrive so far, I wouldn't be too surprised that you will be single much longer!"

Once again, Leo blushed. The very prospect of having a girlfriend or even a wife scared him even more than crowds. It would be someone around him all the time, checking up on him. And that was far from what Leo needed, with the stress of being king and keeping his secret a secret.

Leo tried to steer the topic in a safer direction. He suddenly remembered Harley's not-so-casual glances towards the girl in the white dress, and his grin took on a more evil form. Harley's smile was whipped from his face.

"What about you?" Leo asked casually, "That girl at the Coronation wasn't too bad, was she?"

Harley's eyes widened, and Leo struggled to hold in his snickering. He had missed teasing his brother.

"Um, w-what girl?" Harley stammered, knowing he had walked into one of his brother's traps.

"Oh, you know, the girl in the white dress?" Leo continued, his tone faking innocence and his expression giving him away, "You must remember her, as you practically couldn't take your eyes off of her for more than two seconds."

It was Harley's turn to blush as Leo let out another laugh, and Harley looked ready to counter with some witty comeback until they were interrupted by Grover.

"My lords?"

Leo managed to gain enough self control to stop laughing, and he turned towards Grover and the person next to him, who had yellow-straw like hair and (both Leo and Harley's eyes widened at the same time at this spectacle) a belt of teddy bears over his suit.

"The Yogurt of Camp Demigod."

"AUGUR!"

The other three jumped, as well as a few in close range of the sudden screech from the young man. Teddy Bear Man seemed surprised at his own volume, and sent the king and prince an apologetic look.

"The Augur of Camp Demigod, Your Majesty," the man replied, walking up towards the two, "Forgive me for intruding on your conversation, I was just a bit confused. Isn't it customary that the newly Coroneted king of any kingdom should lead the dance?"

"Is it?" Leo asked, turning to Grover.

"That it is, your Majesty," Grover said. Teddy Bear Man flashed a grin, seeming pleased that he knew something the king didn't.

"Though it isn't a tradition in Olympus," Grover added, and the augur seemed shocked. Harley couldn't help but feel a rush of satisfaction. He didn't know why, but he felt a strong dislike for the augur.

"That's a relief," Leo said, exhaling air he didn't know he had been holding, "I couldn't dance one step if my life depended on it."

Teddy Bear Man seemed furious (though whether it was directed towards Leo or himself couldn't be told), and even Grover seemed a bit upset. However, Harley was unlucky enough to be dragged into the situation with Leo's next few words.

"Good thing my brother does!"

Harley shot Leo a look of outmost horror, as Grover and Octavian both broke into grins.

"I know just the girl!" Grover said, grabbing one of Harley's arms.

"Fantastic!" Leo said, clapping his hands together like a six year old on his birthday, "Take him away!"

Octavian, pleased with his hard work, went to linger at the buffet table while Grover yanked Harley towards his doom.

"Sorry," Leo said, though he knew that Harley couldn't hear him. He knew that his brother would thank him later.

"Hey! Stop your shoving, Grover!" Harley said, glaring at him. Harley's attitude seemed to only please Grover more.

"How do you even have this much upper-body strength?" Harley wondered out loud. Grover still didn't answer.

Grover finally let go of Harley, who rubbed his sore arm in relief. However, his relief was shot-lived as Grover grabbed both of his shoulders and steered him in another direction.

"Oh, come on!" Grover laughed a bit at this, shoving Harley with renewed vigor. Just when Harley was about to shout for the guards, Grover gave him one last push, sending him flying into one of the guests. Luckily, he managed to catch the girl before she hit the ground, though he nearly dropped her when he saw those familiar blue eyes.

It was Cassidy.

I am dying to know what you all are thinking right now, so why not tell me with a nice review? That would brighten up MY day! YOU ARE AWESOME!

Catsrawesome