To Awesome as Annabeth- That's so unfair! I'm STARVING! Ahaha, sorry, I was in a crabby mood yesterday. Too many idiots O.O Reading Alvie in two days isn't bad though :P If I'm reading an old story of mine for inspiration it takes me, like, a week, 'cos I skim it and then have to go back and read it properly and I get distracted easily.

Oh! Reference in the first line! :D


"Beds empty! No note! Horses gone!" Poseidon seemed to tower over them, trembling with suppressed rage. "What on earth were you thinking?" He rounded on his daughter. "How did you get past your guard?"

"I didn't." Her father narrowed his eyes and Louisa sighed. "I climbed out the window." She sighed, drawing a big key from her pocket. "Shouldn't leave this lyin' around, should ya?" Poseidon snatched the key from her and shoved it inside his jacket. Louisa frowned, but said nothing.

"And you," Poseidon addressed his son with a smouldering look, "what were you doing out?" He gestured at his daughter. "Louisa taking a midnight stroll," (their cover story), "I can understand! But you? What kind of example are you setting for Tyson?!"

"I'm sorry, Dad, but-"

"But nothing. I expect better of you, Percy, and you, Louisa, should have more sense, having just been kidnapped." Poseidon turned a dismissive back on the pair of them and stormed off.

Louisa exhaled, blowing her fringe from her eyes.

"That went better than I thought it would."

"He's going to kill us in our sleep!" Percy hissed. "How did that go better than you thought it would?!" Louisa just smiled and unslung her bow.

"It'll be a lot worse if he knew why ya'd snuck out though, so count ya blessin's." Percy frowned, but she had already left before he got the chance to say anything.


"You keep yawning." Athena observed.

"I stayed up late reading, Mother."

"Even after I specifically told you not to?"

"It was a good book."

"Which book?"

"That one you lent me last week."

"I believe you told me you had finished it."

"I read it again." Athena pursed her lips and Annabeth suspected that her mother didn't believe her.

There was no reason not to though- Annabeth was a model daughter who took her studies seriously. Athena did not believe in less intelligent queens or that girls should not get a decent education. In the Athenian kingdom, every girl was taught to the greatest measure, as equally educated as boys. And they didn't have to pay a drachma. Athena's government covered the costs entirely.

A silence settled over mother and daughter as they continued with their studies. Annabeth did her best to focus, but her mind kept rambling to last night.

Percy was such a sweetheart. She preferred talking to him face-to-face rather than just through letters as she could understand his humorous intentions much better hearing his voice. He was annoying, but in an endearing sort of way, dropping compliments as casually as he did jokes.

She recalled his introduction speech at the suitors party and had been mildly intrigued, but it wasn't until she caught sight of those sea green eyes asking her for a dance did she realise that maybe he could be better than adequate.

Had he not been Poseidon's son and she not Athena's daughter, they could have arranged some sort of marriage, as was entitled by law. If that was to happen, they would be wed on her eighteenth.

Silently slapping herself, Annabeth tried to focus on the book of laws, but it was dreary work. Law was not her favourite. She would much rather study architecture or the history of Olympus.

Although she and Percy talked constantly through letters, she had only met him personally three times. Should she really be thinking of marriage?


"You look like you're sulking." Michael commented, smiling lopsidedly in amusement. "Connor and Dylan are here too if you need some cheering up." He peered past Louisa and marvelled at the dozen Atlantean guards tailing her.

"Dad's orders." She grumbled at his questioning look. Then she smirked. "I took Storm out last night 'n' Dad went nuts."

"It's no wonder!" Michael's mother fussed. She had been horribly upset upon hearing that Louisa had been abducted. She was as protective or more so than the guards that had been assigned to Louisa. "Honestly, Louisa, as kind as you are, you are very eccentric."

"Thank you." Louisa smiled. Angelica rolled her eyes and returned to chopping potatoes. Louisa turned to her protective circle and waved them away.

Or attempted to.

"Sorry, princess, but we've been told not to leave your side."

"See, this is what I mean! I'm perfectly capable of lookin' after myself!"

"Your father's just worried, Louisa." Angelica explained kindly. "Give him time to feel comfortable with your security and he may lighten up."

"That better be bloody soon." Louisa sighed. Angelica just hummed non-committedly.

Michael took Louisa through to the small living/dining room. Dylan and Connor were sat at the rough, wooden table with their heads bowed and talking in low tones.

Having noticed their royal best friend, they fell silent and plastered on welcoming smiles.

"It's good to see you again, Lou." Connor informed, getting up and hugging her tightly. Dylan, not really one for hugs, tugged playfully on her braid.

"How is the suitor business?" He asked, grinning slyly. Louisa glared at him and his hands shot up in surrender. "It's just we heard rumours that Hephaestus's son had asked you marry him."

"Lies." Louisa growled.

"I told you it would be." Connor chuckled. "That's not our Louisa." He looked back at her, his smile faltering a fraction. "You will have to pick someone though." She groaned in defeat and collapsed on the table. "We know you don't like it, but it's either you pick or your dad picks."

"I heard he keeps trying to arrange something with one of Aphrodite's sons." Louisa nodded, not lifting her head from the table. "What did you say to that?" She raised her head then, resting her chin on the wooden surface.

"I told him where ta stick it." They all smiled, Dylan giving a snort of laughter.

"That's our Louisa."


"What's the matter, mijo?" Esperanza sat beside Leo with a grace that barely ruffled her expensive and elegant gown. She tugged on one of his curls, like she used to when he was younger and she wanted to get his undivided attention.

"I can't make bows."

"Bows?" She repeated, doing a double-take. "Oh, you mean the archery kind of bows." Leo smiled and nodded once. "Less sarcasm, you. And why the sudden interest in bows?" He looked at her sidelong and she gained that knowing smile all mothers got from time-to-time. "Louisa." She clarified. "I take it you're still trying to work your charms?"

"They've never failed before."

"And how many girlfriends did you get out of it?"

"None, but a lot of my friends are girls." She laughed softly.

"Oh, mijo, you are a strange one." He nodded again. Yes, he was indeed strange. It wasn't proper of a prince to have so many female friends. Not that he cared- he preferred the girls as they were less likely to hit him out of annoyance. With other princes, he was expected to sword-fight with them and that was not his specialty.

Esperanza passed a hand through his unruly hair. "Invite her to dinner. I would quite like to meet this Louisa you're so fond of."

His mother left him shortly after that, remembering that she had a few errands to run with some of the handmaidens. That left Leo to think what this Louisa he was so fond of was doing right at that moment.

Maybe archery, horse-riding or eating. She did like her food, almost as much as Leo did.

Louisa was doing none of these things.

She was in yet another row with her father.

"Irresponsible!" Poseidon scolded.

"Hey, it was your idea to put a bunch of idiotic guards to protect me!"

"You ran from them! Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you could get into?!" Louisa threw her hands up in defeat. They had come full circle for the eighth time. It was always danger and trouble. Yes, she understood her father's worries, but this over-protectiveness was getting on her last nerve. "From now on, you're not to leave the castle grounds unless accompanied by myself or Percy."

"What? You can't do that!" His eyes glinted defiantly.

"Watch me."

"That's so unfair! Why aren't you stoppin' Percy?"

"Why would I need to stop him?" Poseidon frowned. Louisa silently cursed herself and her lack of an answer had Poseidon sitting up straighter, suddenly attentive. "You know where he sneaks off to, don't you?"

"No." She lied. His frown deepened and his eyes burned with anger. She tilted her chin up in sheer stubbornness and held her father's gaze with more defiance than he could ever muster. "I don't know 'n' I wouldn't tell you even if I did."

"And why not?" His hands clenched in irritation.

"Because it's Percy's business 'n' not mine."

"He is your brother."

"My brother, yes, not my body guard or my charge." The doors to the throne room swished open and Tyson's delighted giggles filled the room.

"Daddy! Sister!" He tackled Louisa's legs so forcefully, they both toppled to the floor. "Hello!" He beamed.

"Hello, Tyson." Louisa smiled, ruffling her baby brother's hair.

"I've never known you to be taken down so easily." Jessica laughed, easily lifting Tyson from her stepdaughter. "Go and see your father." She urged Tyson kindly and then helped Louisa up. "Are you alright?"

"Oh, I'm pretty much immune to the Tyson impact now." Jessica laughed.

"Right, away with you. I need to talk to your father."

"What about Tyson?"

"Take him with you. Tyson!" Jessica called. Her son looked around eagerly, already settled on his father's knee. "Louisa offered to take you out to the see the horses!" His round face lit up excitedly and he jumped down.

"Bye Daddy!" He waved, tripping over his own feet as he hurried to join Louisa. He took her hand and bounced on the balls of his feet eagerly. Jessica gave a seraphic smile and Louisa was left with no choice, but to take her brother out to his beloved horses.

The door closed and Jessica waited half a minute to make sure they were gone.

"I take it you haven't told her?"

"Of course I haven't." Poseidon sighed, slouching in defeat in his throne. Jessica smoothed her dress, pursing her lips. "Where is Sally?"

"Asleep."

"And Amphitrite?"

"In the library with Triton." She looked up at him through her lashes. "Do not detour from the topic, Poseidon. You should tell her sooner rather than later."

"It's a bad enough struggle keeping her safe. Imagine her reaction if she did find out."

"Imagine her reaction if she found out on her birthday!" Jessica shot back. "What will she think when she comes down to breakfast and finds him here, ready to take her away? You would have given her no precaution and she'll be ever so upset with you."

"What about how she'll react to Leo? She's only just started to trust him and if she were to learn that he had these plans with us behind her back, she'll turn away from him."

"I personally think she likes him."

"As a friend, Jessica. She's far too stubborn to feel or admit otherwise."

"Tell her."

"No. Not yet." Jessica opened her mouth to protest, but he held up his hand. "I am more concerned for Percy right at this moment."

"Why?"

"He's being unusually secretive."

"I wonder where he gets that from." She huffed. Poseidon bit the inside of his cheek. "They're growing up, Poseidon. You can't control their lives all the time."

"I know. I just don't want them to leave."


This is all made up on the spot, so apologies if it's crap. I've no inspiration whatsoever tonight :/