To scenic97, sometimes I really wish you had PM, because I've got a lot of explaining to do but if I accidently do spoilers everyone will see. I thought you were on vacation? (Not saying 'bog off and go away', it's like 'hi!' *big grin*) everybody hated/hates me for killing Lou- I even hate myself and that's saying something. I am planning to play on the nature VS nurture thing in this at some point. In response to your other review, I don't know that book and Reyna's not meant to barging in on Leo's love life, she's just comforting him (well, supposed to be), but I'm not saying anymore on that bit in case of spoilers. They are about 22-ish, I think, I can't remember/work it out. I was thinking of a time-skip, but the time-skip I want to do is about a year and a half, maybe two years. I thought that was too much for a time-skip. Those chapters had me a bit teary, but I've written/ planned worse… Don't-say-any-more-Art! First, no spoilers, second nice idea (agreeably, it is a bit predictable, I'll think about it, thanks *smiley*) and for the PS- Leyna never occurred to me before Fanfiction either and I think I like that pairing. And in response to your review on Tobias's fic (I'm putting it on here so I don't forget to do it later) - What were you doing to get a blister? The memories are from Tobias's point of view. Like I said, I do my best to reply to all reviews. I'm not taking offense to the 'weird person that lives thousands of miles away' bit as I have long been admitting that, yes, I am a weird person and if somebody doesn't like that, then tough. I don't care and I doubt I ever will. I talk to loads of people on here- the majority of which I don't even know their real names. I have found ONE person who lives relatively close to me, so that's worrying if I write a particularly mean chapter. Everyone else is in mainly America or a few other countries. I'm sure I've got a plan somewhere in the dark, insane recesses of my mind, but I'll uncover it later. What's wrong with red? I don't understand- three people (me not included) voted red. Is it just because Percy has been around longer and he's the original character that we've all developed some undying love for the colour blue?
And to everyone- I found this on Facebook… get tissues ready:
I take one last good look at my friends before shutting the enormous, heavy Doors of Death: Percy and Annabeth, safe at last from Tartarus; Jason and Piper, great friends to the end; and Hazel and Frank, who even though at times didn't really get along with me, still stayed strong in building the group up.
I force a smile. "Look, guys... Everyone knew this time was gonna come... I mean look! We made it! Now I'm not going to go on dragging in some boring farewell speech. Just... No one go freaking die after this, cuz I've had enough." I see Annabeth smirk and wipe away a tear. Even Frank is crying like a baby.
"I had an epic time with you guys... But the prophecy has to be fulfilled. I'm closing the Doors, and I don't think I'll be seeing you again."
Percy locks eyes with me, and for a split second I read his expression: DON'T give up. I could tell, he wanted me to try and find a way out.
There's a spark of hope that gives me the last burst of energy to push the Doors, a huge smile on my face, a sound like grinding stone against stone.
With a thud, I'm sealed behind the Doors of Death.
This is Leo Valdez, sacrificing himself so that Percy and Annabeth can go on to live their lives while Leo traps himself in Tartarus to close the Doors of Death on that side. I'm normally the one that screws with peoples' feels, but now I know how you guys feel…
I found this too:
'I don't think it's a matter of letting but a matter of it not being possible, considering what side Leo is currently on. The more I think about it, the more I realize someone on the Tartarus side is the only option. Anyone on the outside is physically incapable of entering Tartarus from the outside; that's the whole reason they were worrying about the Doors of Death before Percy and Annabeth fell in. There had to be a team on the inside who would fight their way to the Doors because that's the only way you can close them from already being inside Tartarus. My god, how could I have been so stupid?! Leo, Frank, Hazel, anyone on the outside CAN'T close the doors from the inside. It's going to have to be either Percy or Annabeth and knowing Percy, there's no way he's going to let Annabeth stay with him, and when he pushes her out she won't be able to get back in because the Doors are one way, you can only go one direction and once you're out you can't get back in.
And what if that's the sacrifice he fails to make; he's too important to lose but the only other option is Annabeth and He can't give Annabeth up So He gives Himself up.'~ Found on Tumblr.
OH MY GOD. The lines all make sense now. Athena said in the Titan's Curse 'To Save a Friend you would sacrifice the World.' RICK
Sorry for the long author's note, peeps.
This is about three months on. Sorry for the time skip, but I need it!
Leo very carefully let go of Elsie's hands. She sat up unaided for a few minutes before leaning to the right and toppling over, giggling. "Are you being trouble again, hija?" With some difficulty, she rolled onto her front, raising her head and smiling at him, gurgling. "You're so clever!" Leo beamed. He held his hands out to her, but she simply rolled over onto his back, cooing and smiling innocently at him. Leo followed her, scooping her up. She squirmed in his arms, laughing. "Say 'Daddy'."
"Bee be bah."
"No, say 'Daddy'." She leant her head against his chest and yawned. "Are you sleepy, hija?" She nodded and curled up in his arms, already falling asleep. Leo rubbed her back reassuringly, picking up her soft, fleecy red blanket as he passed the sofa. He wrapped it around her gently, carrying her into the nursery. She settled down in her cot, Leo tucking her Tigger toy under her arm.
He switched on the nightlight and left quietly.
Then he went to do some research.
Obviously, being a Greek demigod, the English parenting books did his head in. But his laptop was wired to have words in Ancient Greek so it was easier for him to read. He could get these parenting books online, making his whole job easier.
The next day, he was trying to get her to say 'Daddy' for hours. She was insistent on babbling and gurgling, shaking Tigger around so that he danced. Leo resulted in taking more advice from the website he had been reading from last night. He took various simple objects from around the room- phone, blanket, bottle and a dummy. She looked at everything curiously. "Ah?" She asked, pointing at them.
Leo picked up the objects one at a time and named them. He repeated this, but she just looked at him blankly. "Just say 'Daddy'." She started babbling again.
Leo remembered it helped them to babble back in return. She found it very amusing, laughing happily and throwing Tigger at him. "Aw, for me?" Leo hugged Tigger. Elsie stared at him, before protesting and holding her hands out for her toy. "No, he's mine now."
She picked the phone up and smacked his leg with it. "Ow!" She snickered, her expression lightening. "Oh, you're spiteful." The phone started ringing. She dropped it in surprise and shuffled away from it. Leo returned the Tigger toy and answered the phone. "Hullo?"
"Hey, bud. How you doing?"
"I'm currently getting beaten up by a six month old."
"Ri- wait, what?" Leo explained. "Well, we know who she takes after."
"Mmm…" Leo hummed, his good mood dampening slightly. "So, what'd you want, Sparky?"
"Don't call me that."
"I'll call you whatever I want." Jason sighed, but Leo was sure he detected a smile in that sigh.
"I'm just ringing to check on you."
"I'm fine."
"Are you?"
"Yeah."
"Why am I not convinced?" Leo stayed quiet, watching Elsie wrap Tigger in her blanket. "Leo, we're here if you need to talk."
"Th- ew… Elsie…"
"What's the matter?"
"She's just upchucked everywhere. I'll call you back later."
"Right." Leo hung up, dropping the phone. Elsie started to whimper.
"It's OK, hija. Daddy's here." She held her hands out to him. Leo carefully undressed her, making sure to wrap the clothes up so he didn't get sick everywhere. Thankfully, her blanket had been spared, so he wrapped that around her. "Bath time, smelly."
Reyna pulled over, picking the flowers up from the shotgun seat. Even though she wouldn't admit this out loud (considering they used to play fight all the time, which everyone else saw as a major cat fight), she missed Louisa.
Louisa had been a sister, of sorts, to Reyna, helping to run Camp Jupiter (keep Octavian under control) while offering advice ('New Rome really needs a hotdog place'). Louisa had always helped with a few of the demigods at Camp Jupiter, offering free and private training sessions (well, almost free- she charged hotdogs by the hour).
Reyna got to the row of graves before noticing somebody was already at Louisa's. She stopped dead in her tracks.
The person's sobs carried on the warm breeze and Reyna found herself moving forward to… comfort? Could Reyna comfort others?
The person looked up as Reyna approached. Reyna recognised her as Jessica, Louisa's adoptive mother. Jessica didn't recognise her at first and through the tears, but there was a glimmer of gratefulness in her tearful, blue eyes when she saw the flowers in Reyna's hand. She nodded her thanks, freeing another tissue from the pocket packet she had.
Reyna knelt next to Jessica, resting a hand on her shoulder. Jessica watched as Reyna carefully placed the flowers down, amongst the many others that were there.
"It seems so surreal…" Jessica mumbled sadly, her voice hoarse as if she hadn't spoken in a while. "If… if she had to g-go… why like that? Why not… why not in battle? She wouldn't have minded that as much." Reyna sighed.
"She has my and Camp Jupiter's respects for a brave, loyal warrior and we shall always remember her for that."
"Thank you."
