They were now sat in an underwater living room, Alex noticed a woman standing by the door next to a boy holding a trident. They both had tails showing them to effectively be a mermaid and a merman. The woman moved into the room closer to where Alex was sat with his father. He could tell the woman had tears in her eyes which was pretty strange as they were under water. It wasn't until his said

"Alex meet your mother Amphitrite and you brother Triton." That he snapped out his stupor. His mother, that was his mum?

Triton didn't say anything as he watched his mother envelope his little brother in hug. He was so little, wasn't he supposed to be eight? He looked like a good breeze would topple him and probably carry him off into the sky.

Alex was crying as he was held by his mother. "Mum?"

Amphitrite pulled back a little and said "yes baby?"

"You are really here. Please don't go away again ever."

The pain filled childish plea in his voice had her holding him tightly and whispering "No matter happens I will always be here for you sweetheart."

For several hours the family talked and got to know each other. Alex felt complete with his family around him and he had never been happier. The only thing missing for him was his grandparents whom he had come to love with every fibre of his being. He knew he had to go back if only to protect them from the manipulations of the wizards. He had not forgotten the issue with his grandfather's philosopher's stone. His grandmother had explained to him that the stone was a gift to her daughter from Hades for saving the lives of two of his demi god children before they could be killed by Zeus at a time he was unable to protect them. The children were in a time distorted hotel somewhere in LA called the home of the lotus eaters. The action had angered Zeus and he tried to kill his mother too by leaving her vulnerable to the wizards. It was how they managed to kidnap her and then take him.

His parents were now explaining the story from their point of view. When Poseidon found his wife near death's door he suspended her in animation before taking her to someone who could help him save her. He made a deal with Chaos a divine primordial to use his powers and send Ariel back in time and off Zeus' radar. She changed her name to Amphitrite and regained her nereid status losing the human disguise she was under. It was during her time in the past that she sent the stone to her adoptive parents when she realised that it was the reason why they were still young and alive.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To Alex time seemed to move very fast. He spent a lot of time between the camp and his father's palace training for his upcoming battle. Eventually the demi gods were no longer able to keep up with him especially when he used his powers and the only person he could get really good workout with was his brother Triton who teased him about the fact that he was born first and yet he was the younger brother.

Alex was not sure how to feel about his half-brother Percy. Triton had spoken about him and showed his dislike. To him Percy was a reminder of their father's transgressions. Alex tried to get him to see things from Percy's point of view. It wasn't like he asked to be born as their father's love child. He made sure to point out that he would not take out his frustrations about the issue on Percy it was not his fault. Triton only agreed to be civil and Alex had a feeling that the civility would only be shown if he was around. He figured it was as good as he was going to get. His mum told him that it was okay if he wanted to get to know his brother. She knew he had grown up without his family and she wasn't about to force him to give one up. As for his dad he was ecstatic that at least his two younger sons would get along.

Alex had just left camp half blood to go to his father's palace under the sea. He was not allowed to visit as often as he had been as there was a war going on down there but he refused to sit on the side lines while his family was in danger. It was almost the time for him to return to the wizarding world if he wanted to implement his plans, something his dad encouraged him to do as it was by far the safer option. However Alex didn't consider it important. He didn't want to leave knowing his family was in danger, his joining in the fight was impended by how overprotective Triton was, he refused to allow Alex anywhere near the fighting. In fact numerous times Alex woke up at camp half blood in his bed after Triton had brought him there. This was one of those times.

As he swam through the water an explosion rocked the sea bed. Looking above him he saw something fall into the water and the water seemed to cushion whatever it was. He swan towards the object only to find it was a body. There were burns all over it but he could tell whoever it was, was alive as seen by the moving of the chest…he stopped short there as he realised that if whoever this was could breathe underwater then they were somehow connected. He just hoped it wasn't an enemy. He could see the burns were already healing and he reached out with his own powers to help speed the healing along.

New skin grafted over the burns and the hair regrew, a teenage version of his father could be seen as the burns healed and Alex knew who it was. It was his half-brother Percy Jackson. As he completed the healing Alex wrapped his arms as far around the bigger boy and water travelled to his father's palace with his burden. He appeared in his room and lay Percy down on his bed before he went out to find his mother or Triton. He didn't know enough about healing other people to know if what he had done was enough.

Finding his mother he told her what happened on his way home and she went with him to check on the boy. As much as she hated the child she could not deny her son's pleading look for her help.

Alex seeing the indecision on her face realised what he was asking his mother and said "Oh mum, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. I…"

Amphitrite wrapped her arms around him and said "It's alright sweetheart. It's not your fault and I can see how this is tearing you apart, he's your brother and I can't expect you to turn him away. I will check him over for you."

Tears gathered in his eyes as he said in a voice choked up with emotion "Thanks mum. I love you."

Alex did not realise that that was the first time he said that to his mother, she however did and to her this emotional upheaval was worth it to know that her baby loved her didn't hate her for not being there for him.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Alex sat beside Percy's bedside waiting for him to wake up. It was obvious now that the war had taken a turn for the worse. His dad was now being adamant about him going somewhere safe. He knew he would be leaving with Percy as soon as he was able to. A sound from Percy signified the other boy waking up.

Percy opened his eyes to see a kid who looked like he might have done a few years back when he was younger. They had the same eyes and black hair except the kid had a streak of white in his. He wondered if that was deliberate.

The kid smiled and said "Hi Percy, welcome home."

Blinking owlishly Percy sat up and said "Hi, who are you? Are we related?"

The kid smiled and nodded before saying "Yup, I'm your brother Alex. I've been looking forward to meeting you."

Percy's eyes widened as he took in the small form seeing the similarities between them.

Alex chuckled as he said "I know, shocker huh? Although technically I'm older you despite my size."

"How..?"

Alex explained that his parents were both Posiedon and Amphitrite, Percy was a little nervous upon hearing that Alex's mum was around and had actually checked him over while he was out to make sure he was okay.

"Don't worry if Triton doesn't immediately warm up to you. Anyway there's some clothes on the bedside to change into seeing as yours were beyond repair and you're wearing a bed sheet."

Percy's face coloured in embarrassment as he hadn't even noticed his semi nude state. Alex left him to get dressed before they both made their way upstairs to find their father.

As soon as Poseidon was in sight Alex swam up to him and hugged him before saying "You look awful dad, why won't you let me help?"

Amusement danced in Poseidon's eyes. He was now used to his son's brutal honesty, he didn't dance around the bush he said what it was that was on his mind.

"Because I don't want you getting hurt. I'm not about to put in the line of fire after I only just got you back."

Alex pouted and said "but you let Triton help.."

Poseidon seeing a tantrum building up cut him off and said "Your brother has centuries of fighting experience Alex, you have only just begun to learn how to fight."

Triton materialised beside Alex hugging him as he spoke "Hey kiddo, what are you doing here? You are supposed to be at camp preparing to go to grandmas and school."

Scowling Alex replied "If you think I'm going to leave while you guys are fighting a war you've got another thing coming. I'll just keep coming back until you let me."

Poseidon sighed and said "Alex, It is not just for your protection that I'm sending you to safety it is for all of us. Can you not see that we would be continuously worried about something happening to you and in that make mistakes? Please son, just this once do as I say and help us keep you safe."

Seeing the worry I his father's eyes Alex finally relented.

"Fine, but the next time I'm not sitting on the sidelines like a kid."

Percy stood a little bit far away from them although he could hear what was being said. He agreed with his dad that Alex was too young to be fighting so he kept his distance waiting to see if his dad would be able to get his little brother to agree to stay out of things. Triton noticed him before his dad did and sneered at him before saying

"So you decided to grace us with your presence then Percy Jackson. Where have you been while the rest of us have been …"

Poseidon cut him off as he knew what was about to be said could possibly undo the work he had done to persuade Alex to stay in one place away from the fighting.

"Not now Triton. Leave him be."

Triton hugged Alex and said goodbye before swimming away ignoring his little brother's disapproval for the way he spoke to Percy. Poseidon noticing Percy for the first time spoke to him

"Hello son."

Percy replied "Hi dad." Then he blurted out without meaning to "What happened to you? You look awful."

Poseidon laughed as the words were reminiscent of Alex. Percy and Alex both had the same habit of speaking what they were thinking before thinking it through. The only difference was that Percy did attempt to soften his words when he could and Alex did not.

"I reflect the state of my realm son and as you can see with my home under attack it does not reflect favourably."

Percy had originally wanted to ask if he could stay and help in helping to defend his father's home but he could see he would be refused. He heard his dad's voice in his head "I know you want to stay and fight Percy, but I need you up on the surface to take care of your little brother and when he is gone to school you will find there is a fight brewing of which you are at the centre. Ask Chiron about the prophesy, it is time you hear it."

A commotion on the surface had their father hastily send them both off towards camp half blood. Just as they were leaving something that looked like a tentacle reached out and wrapped itself around Alex's ankle and yanked him towards it. Percy seeing his little brother ripped from his arms was about to go after him when Poseidon told him to stay where he was and went after Alex himself. What he saw caused him to feel fear for the first time in a long time that he could remember. There was his child wrapped in the tentacle of Oceanus the titan of the sea and before he could even raise his trident Alex was past the creature's mouth and Poseidon realised he was too late to save his son.

His raged boiled and this was reflected in the water which was churning so dangerously even Oceanus could not control where he was thrown. The water's shapes turned into deadly sharp objects that sliced and diced the titan. Golden ichor flowed all over the ocean, however something that was a bit unorthodox was happening to the titan. Smoke was coming out of its mouth before it roared opening its mouth to spit out a ball of fire from inside. The ball of fire however was not finished with titan. It grew bigger until it consumed the titan giving it severe burns before it shrunk down and disappeared leaving Alex in its wake.

Despite the burns the titan tried to grab Alex again but this time Poseidon was ready for him. He struck the sea creature with lightning from his trident making the burns worse as well as retreat.

Once the danger was clear Poseidon wrapped his arms around Alex and said "I thought I lost you for a moment there."

The adrenaline Alex had been feeling was wearing off and he was shaking as he replied "So did I for a minute there."

Leaving Triton in charge Poseidon escorted both boys to camp he gave Alex a trident similar to his but smaller. It turned into a bracelet when it was not in use and like Percy's sword he could not lose it. It would always return to him.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx