"What do you think Ms. Jackson will be like?" She asked Thalia as they headed up the stairs to Percy's Mom's apartment. "Percy mainly talks about how great her cookies are."

"I don't know." Thalia grumbled. "But if she's anything like Percy when he gets an attitude, this is going to be one terrible car ride."

Annabeth pushed her to the side, laughing at her. "I think he gets that from his Dad."

Thalia snorted, "Probably." They both quieted down as they arrived in front of the apartment.

"Well," Annabeth said, grimacing. "No time like the present, right?" Thalia shrugged as she knocked. They both braced themselves as footsteps sounded from inside.

The door opened and a woman's head popped out in the gap. "Come on in dear's," she said, smiling gently. "Percy's told me so much about you."

Neither Annabeth or Thalia knew what to make of instant acceptance from an adult. Exchanging glances, Annabeth lead the two of them into the apartment. Percy's Mom called to Percy from behind them.

"Percy! You're friends from camp are here! Annabeth and Thalia!"

A muffled "I'm coming," floated through the apartment to them. She beamed, ushering the two of them into the living room. "I wasn't sure what you would need for this quest but I baked cookies for the ride regardless."

Annabeth smiled, "Ms. Jackson-"

She interrupted, "Please call me Sally, dear."

Annabeth nodded and continued, "Sally then, thank you for the cookie but I'm sure-"

This time, Percy interrupted, "Annabeth, I swear to the Gods, if you convince my mom that her cookies aren't needed, I'll die."

Thalia snorted, getting glare from Percy. "Are they really that good?"

Percy arched an eyebrow. "Try one and find out."

Behind them, Annabeth watched as Thalia shoved an entire cookie in her mouth. She turned to Sally. "We don't get out into society much."

Sally laughed, "That's okay! I'll gladly be a society marker for demigods." She turned to Thalia. "And the verdict is?"

Thalia stiffened slightly at being addressed, "They're good," she said through a full mouth. "Actually, Styx, they're incredible."

Sally nodded like that made sense, turning to address Percy. "And you are all packed, correct young man?"

Percy blushed. "C'mon Mom."

Sally narrowed her eyes, at Percy causing him to throw up his hands in exasperation and stomp back into his room. "He gets that from his father," she said, leaning in closer to the two girls. "Don't tell anyone I said that about a God though."

Both Annabeth and Thalia grinned at her. "Don't worry Sally." Thalia said, reaching for another cookie. "Your secret is safe with us."

"And when he was two, he refused to get wet if I put him in the tub so I had to continually surprise soak him!" Sally said, smiling at the two girls in the back seat.

"Mooommm!" Percy groaned, blushing and trying to ignore the laughter coming from Annabeth and Thalia. "Why do you tell that story every time?"

Sally smirked at him, "I just think it's a lovely story. And it helps that I rarely can tell anyone the full extent of it."

"I think it's a great story!" Thalia said, giggling. "Really shows off all your sides."

"Ha ha ha." Percy grumbled.

Annabeth reached up and patted him on the arm. "It's a funny story Seaweed Brain." Percy turned and arched an eyebrow in her direction. Annabeth defended herself. "It's a good story!"

Percy opened his mouth but before he could say anything, Sally interrupted. "Seaweed Brain?"

Annabeth blushed, her cheeks turning bright red. "It's not- I mean-" she stuttered through explanations. "Clarisse said it and-"

Sally laughed gently. "It's okay Annabeth. I called Poseidon that too."

The car went silent. Annabeth's mind was racing. Lord Poseidon, the arch-nemesis of her mother, the supposed force of misfortune for all of Athena's children, let a mortal woman call him Seaweed Brain? She couldn't even comprehend that. Beside her, Thalia's mouth had dropped open as she stared at Sally. Percy himself was aghast.

"Mom… How…?"

Sally laughed again. "It's not like he was going to smite me or something."

"But," Annabeth began. "That's exactly what he was going to do. That's what God's do."

"Oh sweetheart's, Poseidon would never hurt me or you."

"You don't call him Lord Poseidon?" Thalia's asked, looking as though she had never seen anyone quite like Sally Jackson.

"So formal!" Sally said brightly. "I always called him Poseidon. He would never have asked me to be so stiffy with him. I mean," She turned to Percy, who was still staring at her. "He doesn't make you call him Father or some such nonsense. You call him Dad." Percy nodded slowly.

In the backseat, neither Annabeth or Thalia could stifle the noise they made. "You call him Dad?" they said together.

"Well, yeah?" Percy said sheepishly. "I mean what else would I call him?"

Thalia thumped her head against the back seat. "Father, Kelp Head. You could call him Father."

Annabeth nodded earnestly beside her. "Mother is mother." She said simply. "There's no other name for her."

Percy scrunched up his face, "That's weird."

"Percy." Sally chided. "I'm sure you do things that they think are weird but they don't call you out on it."

"Ain't that the truth," Thalia said, smirking at Percy. "He's a troublemaker, Sally." The girls burst out laughing at the betrayed look Percy shot them, completely distracted from Sally's quiet response.

"I know." She sighed. "What is this quest going to bring?"

"Dance with me." Annabeth hissed at Percy, ignoring the pink that was spreading across her face.

Percy looked terrified. "What?"

"I said," Annabeth grit her teeth, fighting the wave of hurt that swept through her, "Dance with me."

Percy looked longingly at the basketball hoops. "Do I-" He cut himself off, watching the way Annabeth seemed to flinch at his protest. "Sure."

"What?" Annabeth said, surprised. She hadn't expected him to give in. In fact, she had been prepared to throw her hands up after a few more token protests. Percy blushed in response.

"Dance with me?" He asked, looking as though he was being tortured.

Annabeth huffed but grabbing his hand and dragged him to the dance floor. The two awkwardly spun in circles as they watched the crowd. Annabeth was drifting into a feeling of contentment, when she spotted a flash of black hair out of the corner of her eye. "There!" She said, triumphantly. "Bianca and Nico! And," she gasped, "Mr. Thorn!" She drew herself out of Percy's arms, "I'm going to get Thalia!" She turned and ran to look for her, missing the flash of resentment that came over Percy's face.

Annabeth shoved her way through the crowd, ignoring the grumbles of the middle schoolers around her. "Excuse me, excuse me!" She called.

"Annabeth?" A voice answered her.

"Grover?" She said, stumbling out of the crowd and into him. "Thank the Gods! We found Nico and Bianca and they're being taken by Mr. Thorn."

Grover paled. "Taken? Where's Percy?"

"Percy?" questioned Thalia as she came to a stop holding two drinks. "I saw him slipping outside a while back. I don't know why he's leaving while we do all the work." She laughed, faltering at the look on Annabeth and Grover's face. "What's the matter?"

"Percy's gone after them." Annabeth answered, looking more and more distraught. "And Mr. Thorn's the monster."

Annabeth couldn't believe she had been so stupid.

Piggybacking a monster? Who did she think she was, Percy? He was the impulsive one in the relationship, not her.

She shook her head in disbelief. Sometimes she felt like she was overtaken by another person. Like Stiles was inhabiting her body and making her decisions for her.

Mr. Thorn had dropped her at the top of some mountain. She still felt dazed and unsteady, leading her to be even more confused than she had ever been. Alright, she thought. I just have to hold out until someone comes and finds me.

Normally she would be the first to fight the damsel in distress stereotype but here, she didn't have any other option. She sighed, kicking rocks and wandering.

All she could do now, is wait.