Chapter 12: Nightshade

"What do you say?"

"Thank you!"

The vendor smiled warmly at the little girl as he gave her a whooping scoop of chocolate ice cream. Zoe happily took it in her right hand, as her left hand was securely attached to her Aunt Thalia. Her aunt always reminded her to have manners, but Zoe didn't think it was too necessary. Her mom and dad always made it a point for her to be polite, and if she wasn't, she was rightly reprimanded. She knew she was a good girl, but she never minded her auntie taking the role of being a parental figure as well.

It was a bit breezy in Central Park, but that never stopped the newly 7-year-old from eating ice cream during autumn. Thalia had the same spirit, and had also gotten chocolate ice cream, but almonds and marshmallows were mixed into the concoction.

When Thalia visited the Grace household earlier that day, Zoe had immediately dropped all her toys in favor of hanging out with her favorite aunt. Indeed, Thalia had actually stopped by with the sole purpose of doting on her niece, in which Zoe's parents happily agreed. Jason and Piper always welcomed the last-minute babysitting, especially considering Piper's predicament, where she could burst any time now for labor. It wasn't often that Thalia had time to spend with her family, but whenever the opportunity arose, she always took it.

Now, they were relaxing under the nice afternoon sun after a fun-filled day of going to the zoo, a museum, and eating at Thalia's favorite diner in the city.

"How's school? Are you getting good grades?"

Zoe nodded her head. "Yup. I'm getting better at school now since Mom's home more often to help me with my homework. And I play dolls with her more!"

"That's good. Take it easy on your mom though okay?"

"I know! Dad says that there's a baby in her stomach so I have to be extra careful."

"Right you are. You don't want anything to happen to your baby brother."

"Of course not! I'm going to love my baby brother forever! I'll dress him up, take care of him, put him in the stroller, sing lullabies when he gets sleepy, feed him when he's hungry—though Daddy could change his diaper and not me because poop is nasty, and—"

Thalia laughed and put her hands up in the air to slow her down. "Whoa, hold your horses! Well Zoe, it sounds like you'll be an awesome sister. But don't forget, when he's much older and a bit more durable, to give him wedgies or wet willies."

"What are those?"

"Er… I'll tell you when the time is right. Anyways! You're really excited to be an older sister huh?" Thalia said, skillfully diverting the topic to something more appropriate (she cringed, knowing Zoe's parents would have her head for teaching her to be a—in her humble opinion—"proper" older sister).

"Yeah. I can't wait to meet him. Dad says that he'll here in a month."

Not too long, Thalia thought. I hope Artemis won't mind if I come back again in a month… Eh, screw it. I am not going to miss my nephew's birth! "Did your parents think of a name yet?"

"Uh… I don't think so."

Oh well. Thalia knew these things took time. But speaking of names, "Zoe? Did I ever tell you about your namesake?"

"What's a namesake?"

"A namesake is someone that a person is named after. For you, I knew a girl named Zoe before you were born."

Her niece's eyes turned as round as saucers. "Really? What was she like?"

Thalia had a far-away look in her eyes as she fondly remembered the previous lieutenant of Artemis. It had been over a decade now since that quest took place, but Thalia still remembered that as if it happened yesterday. "She was really kind. Strong too. She could hit anything with her bow and arrow, and she was even faster than me. She was a Hunter like me and was one of my good friends."

Zoe took a few licks of her ice cream before continuing to satisfy her curiosity. "How come I haven't met her yet?

An innocent question, but it brought back a twinge of sadness. "She died a long time ago."

"Oh… Maybe you'll see her again. She might be in Elysium right?" Zoe hoped so. Her parents sometimes told her bed time stories about the gods and goddesses or adventures that her parents went on when they were teenagers. She remembered one of her parents talking about Elysium, where great heroes go after they passed away.

"Maybe," Thalia replied, thinking about Zoe's stars in the night sky, "but it's okay if I don't. I'm just glad I got to meet her."

"I would've liked her," Zoe said.

"I think so too. In fact, you remind me a lot of my friend Zoe."

"Really? Why?"

"Both of you are brave and smart, friendly and kind, and beautiful. And both of you mean a lot to me."

Zoe munched on the last of her ice cream cone, savoring the flavor and contemplating her aunt's words. Even for someone as young as her, she knew a compliment when she heard it, and she felt rather humbled by it. "I'm glad I share her name."

"Me too, Zoe. Me too," Thalia smiled warmly. She swooped her niece from the bench, eliciting an exciting cry from her, and planted her on her back where they made their journey home.