Okay, I am ridiculously bad with updating this story, but I honestly have no time on my hands. I'm trying. I really truly am. This is a short filler chapter before the beginning of The Sea of Monsters.

Reviews:

NicoleR85: Thanks for sticking with the story through my ridiculous updating. It means a lot.

MoonPrincess623: I hope you continue enjoying the story. That is one of the kindest reviews someone has ever given me.

brantleyh936: Thanks for sticking with the story.

2kewl4u: Thank you so much.

ChipDaCookie: Sorry about the delay. I will try to be more regular and update at least once a month.

Captain Moroni: Haha nope. Edward is with Alice for this story. I figure the two with the psychic-like powers are good enough for each other.

BIG SHOUT OUT TO RENESMEE MELLARK CULLEN WHO IS TRANSLATING THIS FIC INTO SPANISH. CHeCK IT OUT IF YOU KNOW THE LANGUAGE!

Jasper squeezed Andy's hand tightly as she pulled away from him. The Empire State Building loomed menacingly over them. The Cullens were waiting for Jasper in the shadows with Grover.

"Are you sure you want to do this alone?" Jasper asked.

"I don't want you or Grover getting hurt," Andy replied. She pulled her hand away from Jasper's. "I'll see you at Camp Half-Blood. Promise."

"That best be a promise you can keep," Jasper said. He bent down and kissed Andy's forehead lightly. "I'll be waiting for you." With that, Jasper took off down the road to join his family and Grover.

Andy looked up at the tall building in front of her. It didn't appear quite so intimidating as before. Confidence filling her, Andy stepped into the main lobby of the building.

"Andy," Sally Jackson screeched as she flung the door open. Her arms flew out and around her daughter, squeezing the young girl tightly to her chest. "Baby girl! Are you alright? Are you hurt?" Sally's mothering instincts had taken over quickly. She pulled back and scanned her daughter up and down.

"I'm okay, Mom," Andy said, smiling widely. "Promise."

"Oh, sweetie," Sally sighed, dragging her daughter inside the room and shutting the door.

"Where's the meatloaf, Sally?"

Andy scowled at Gabe's foul voice. Couldn't she have one peaceful moment with her mother. Sally sent Andy a sympathetic look. She rested a hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"Don't make him mad," she pleaded. "He's already mad enough. Something about free appliances."

"Yeah, right," Andy mumbled, hiding a grin behind her hair as she looked down at her toes.

Sally smiled fondly at her daughter and went to the kitchen to take her meatloaf out of the oven. Andy sighed as she walked through the ankle-deep trash on the floor. How had Gabe survived without her mother around? The apartment was disgusting.

"You've got a lot of nerve coming back here, you little bitch."

And there was Gabe's ever-so-lovely voice. Andy lifted her head and glared at him, but said nothing. There was no point. The hits would come anyway.

Sure enough, Gabe was rising from his chair. Before Andy could even think about stepping back, a fat, beefy hand was wrapped around her throat, shoving her back against the wall. A fist was being raised, and Andy closed her eyes in resignation. This was her life. She was used to it. Only the hit never came.

"Don't you ever even think of touching her again."

Jasper's voice was the figurative music to Andy's ears. The blond vampire had pushed Gabe off of her and shoved him up against the wall. Jasper's hand was wound threateningly tight around Gabe's throat, and the mortal was gasping for breath. Gabe's pudgy fingers clawed at Jasper's diamond-tough skin. Gabe made a gurgling sound, and Jasper dropped him.

"No," Jasper whispered in horror. He backed away from Gabe as the mortal collapsed to the floor, choking for breath. "I didn't-"

"Jazz," Andy said, stepping towards the vampire.

Jasper shook his head wildly, backing away from Andy. His back his the wall, and he slid to the ground, shaking his head. His amber eyes met Andy's.

"I didn't mean to kill him. I swear. I-"

Andy hushed Jasper as she knelt down next to him. She wrapped her arms around his solid shoulders.

"It's okay, Jazz," she murmured into his ear. "He's not dead. It's okay."

"No," Jasper said, shaking his head again. "You don't understand. I wanted to. I wanted to kill him. I saw him hurting you, and something inside me snapped. All my instincts were screaming at me to protect you."

"And you did." Andy ran her hands soothingly up and down Jasper's arms. Just as Jasper was starting to relax, he stiffened up again. A low growl escaped his throat. Andy turned her head to see what was happening.

Sally Jackson had just walked into the room. She was staring at Gabe with terrified eyes as the man stomped up to her with his hand raised. Andy let out a soft squeak. For the first time, she realized Gabe had been beating not just her, but her mother as well.

Jasper was up in an instant, gently pushing Andy behind him. In a matter of a couple steps, he crossed the room and had Gabe by the neck again.

"Leave," the vampire hissed in the mortal's face. "Now, before I do something I regret."

Gabe stared at the vampire with wide eyes. As soon as Jasper loosened his grip, Gabe fled the room and the apartment. Jasper turned instantly to Andy with pitch black eyes.

"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice rumbling out from somewhere deep in his chest.

Andy recognized the look in Jasper's eyes from what felt like so long ago. She hadn't seen this side of the vampire since they had first met. "I'm better than ever, Major." Andy smiled widely up at Jasper. She jumped when she heard her mother's voice, having forgotten the older woman was in the room.

"Who in the name of Hades are you, and how do you know my daughter?"

This would take awhile to explain.