She ran straight into Percy and Annabeth, who were looking concerned over Chiron. Andy looked to see him injured and Andy almost blacked out then, in Percy's arms, feeling so tired, and so guilty and so hurt. Grover and Juniper made sure Andy wasn't wounded, and just as they finished, Tyson appeared saying, "Percy! Come quick! It is Nico!"

Andy's insides turned to lead. She felt heavier than before. She still hadn't seen him since she'd moved to Cabin Three last winter. Despite the fatigue, she sprinted ahead, in the direction Tyson had come from, all her focus and energy on Nico. He couldn't die. Anyone but Nico. She got to him and barely took in the smoke curling around him and how all the grass had died around him. She dropped to the ground beside him without even slowing down and felt for Nico's pulse, which was barely there. Her heart, on the other hand, pounded in her ears. She couldn't lose anyone else tonight. Percy went on the other side of Nico and turned him onto his back. "Get some nectar!" Percy yelled. A camper hobbled over with a canteen and Percy snatched it quickly and trickled the liquid into Nico's mouth. Andy grabbed Nico's hand in hers to her chest, afraid her own heart would stop beating from how panicked she was. She wouldn't lose anyone else. Especially not Nico.

Nico opened his eyes then, coughing, but he was alive.

"Can you talk?" Percy asked and Nico nodded, explaining what had happened. Everyone helped Nico sit up and more nectar was given. He blinked and looked around at the small crowd surrounding him, as if trying to recall who they were, and realized for the first time that there was someone clutching his hand like it was their lifeline.

"Andy?" he asked roughly and her eyes overflowed with tears. So much to say, but how? She pulled him to her in a hug and in his ear, cried, "I'm so, so sorry. I've missed you so much."

Nico wrapped his arms around her and whispered back, "Ditto." Too much had happened in six months. So much catching up to do, especially now that they felt like completely different people. But it would have to wait. They pulled apart and Nico focused on Quintus, who was apparently Daedalus, creator of the Labyrinth. As Nico released him, the earth rumbled beneath them, destroying the giant maze. Everyone was weary, but there was still work to be done.

There were too many losses. Pollux tried to speak for Castor, but the words got stuck, and he silently lit the shroud instead. Andy watched it burn, in searing agony herself. Pollux wasn't talking to her, not to anyone. How could he when he'd lost his other half? More and more shrouds were burned, the injured were cared for, and Andy wondered if it'd ever end.

A few days later however, things were slowly returning back to normal. Nico sat outside on the pavilion, outcasting himself. And instead of sitting with her brothers at dinner, she joined Nico outside. She split her dinner in half and handed him bread as she spoke. "It's a nice night. Too nice to be alone, don't you think?" Nico looked at the offering, then to Andy, and took it, replying, "So…Andromeda Prince-Jackson now, huh?" They had caught each other up on their lives over the past few months over the last few days. She was worried Nico may hate her, or look at her and think of Bianca or Percy, but that didn't seem to be the case. Andy put her head down on his shoulder after watching him for a minute. As much as he had changed, she still saw the same boy who loved Mythomagic religiously in him.

"I'm sorry Nico. You must have hated me. Being claimed like that." They looked out towards the stars together as they ate.

"I know who I am now. And you know it too. I don't belong here, Andy. There's a reason Hades doesn't have a cabin here. I have to go."

"But Nico-" Andy snapped her head up. "I just got you back." She thought selfishly.

"There are so many questions I have to find the answers to. I have to say goodbye to Bianca and let her go. I train with the dead. You, however, Andy, belong here."

"I can go with you." She pleaded, wanting him to stay.

"You're not dead Andromeda, and I'd like to keep it that way. Besides, you have a real Perseus waiting here for you. We belong in different worlds Andy." He smiled at her and Andy crushed him to her in a giant hug.

"Swear you'll keep in touch, or so help me, you'll stay in the Underworld."

He laughed in her ear, "I swear."

"Good." Andy said back, but she didn't have the strength to pull away. After a minute more, he did, and he stood to leave, just as dinner was ending inside.

"Bye Andy." He told her.

"See you later Nico." She smiled at him, her throat closing up, and then he walked into the shadows.

The rest of the summer passed by at what everyone deemed normal. On the night of receiving the year's camp beads, Andy's first one, the Labyrinth bead, Dionysus came up to her and asked her to come on a walk with him. Andy obeyed and went with the god, fingering her new necklace, putting her mom's ring beside the bead on the cord.

"I know you were with my son when he died." Mr. D said suddenly, surprising Andy. She had nothing to say back, so he continued. "Annie, I like that you're not as rebellious as your brother Peter by talking back." He mused. "But anyway, thank you for being his friend I guess. No hero should die alone." He spoke wisely.

"But Mr. Dionysus, sir, I…I killed someone didn't I?" She thought of the blood pooling around that boy's head, once he'd collapsed.

Mr. D blinked and looked at the eleven year old. "Yes. But don't feel too bad about it. You snapped. All heroes do, take Hercules for-"

"Hercules murdered his wife and children in Hera's rage." She said back bitterly. Her favorite Disney film was a lie.

"True, but you had reason behind your rage. Revenge, justice, love…" Andy blushed at that, thinking about the kiss on her cheek. "Just make sure Pollux doesn't meet the same fate. He needs a friend like you." They had circled back around to the campfire and Mr. D was gone, leaving Andy to think about what he'd said, and what would happen if something did happen to Pollux.

Percy made arrangements the next day to go home, so by ten that morning, he was on the hill, waiting for Argus, and Annabeth waited with him. Andy ran up the hill a few minutes later, after checking to see the cabin was in order.

"Oh please, the Son of Hades said it himself. No one wants him around. He does not belong." Hera brushed the topic aside.

"Well I want him around, so double check your facts before you say them." She balled her hands into fists, knowing which goddess it was immediately. Hera scoffed at her, and Andy felt a source of dread. Something Hera would do would put her through a lot of grief one day. Annabeth and Percy took Andy's side, and angered, Hera left. Annabeth hugged Andy goodbye, wishing her good luck for dealing with that Seaweed Brain for the next year, and then Argus honked his horn. Annabeth quickly said bye to Percy, and ran back down the hill to camp, leaving the Poseidon kids to head down by Argus.

Two days later it was Percy's birthday. Percy told Andy when she'd asked about it that he didn't like to tell people at camp because it was right after it ended anyway, so they wouldn't have been able to go. Mr. Paul came over, and Percy would be allowed to attend his school next month, all because Chiron manipulated the Mist. Tyson came to the party too. And all was blue, just as Percy liked it. Andy liked it a lot too. Blue was her favorite color.

Percy was about to blow out the candles on his cake, all fifteen of them, when the doorbell rang. Their mom opened the door and there was Poseidon, in his usual, casual attire.

Mr. Paul and Poseidon were introduced to one another and Sally said, "Paul, this is Percy and Andy's father."

"Ah, I see. Nice to meet you."

"Daddy!" Tyson bounded up to hug the sea god, astounding Mr. Paul. Sally promised Tyson wasn't hers, and Poseidon asked to borrow his other two children for a minute. The three of them headed into the kitchen, and Poseidon turned to Andy first. "First, you need a hug." He opened his arms to her and she went to him, breathing in his salty sea scent. So he knew about the events of the recent battle. Once she pulled away, he looked at her necklace and said, "So you activated the ring."

Andy felt the ring on the necklace. "I don't know how-"

"That gun I had made and formed by the same people who made Anaklusmos. But instead of a pen, it's a ring. And it's a gun, not a sword. I took the liberty of guessing what sort of fighter you'd be. Now, the ring could not just be pressed and turned into the weapon, the gun was concealed in a thick layer of magic that could only be broken through if you, when the time was right, activated it. And water, from you, the proper owner, tears in your worst moment, brought the gun to life. Now, like Riptide, whenever you need it, it will become a weapon for you. And it will always reappear on that necklace or your finger."

"Thanks." Andy said, astounded. "Well, um, thanks for coming to Percy's party too Dad…I'll let you two talk now. Bye." She gave her dad one more quick hug and darted out of the room to rejoin the party.

Percy came back soon after, and Mr. Paul had needed convincing that Poseidon had left via the fire escape. There was cake, and cheesy party games, and Andy thought it was pretty much the best birthday party of all time, even if it wasn't her own. She'd never had this growing up. Her own little birthday party a few months ago was something completely new for her. She worried though. That prophecy Percy told her about…he was fifteen already. There was one more year until the prophecy came true. Percy had retreated into his room minutes ago to put a plant away, and returned with Nico at his side. She immediately jumped up and left the Monopoly game to hug him.

"Nico!" she exclaimed, clutching him tightly in her embrace. She pulled back. "Want some cake? Mom made it, and she's pretty amazing at cooking. I bet you're hungry."

The two eleven year olds grinned at each other while Nico took a slice and Andy knew she wouldn't have traded that day for anything in the world.

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