Disclaimer: I am so tired of telling the same but I still have to say it. This is based on RR's words.

Author's Notes: 4/29/15 - Tomorrow is Children's Day in Mexico which we celebrate with parties in all preschools and elementary schools around the country. So, I technically I have no business tomorrow, except for eating and parting. Yeah! I haven't written much lately. So tired by work. 2,541+ views.

14. The Family (Claire)

Last night, I was walking to my room and I heard noise in my brother's room. I put my ear on his door to listen more clearly and it was my brother talking in his sleep. I couldn't figure out the words but his feelings were strong. It sounded like a nightmare. I thought of walking in and waking him up but then he stopped. I stayed there for a couple of more seconds waiting for him to talk again or maybe to come out by his own. Nothing and therefore I went to my room with concern.

I stayed in bed most of the night just thinking in my poor brother and what it will happen when his time runs out. I could almost see a sand clock over his head getting emptier each day.

Today was Halloween and Saturday. I woke up early, just a little before 8. I took a quick shower and I walked down the stairs and it was really quiet. I looked to the clock and I was actually waiting for Taylor and Em to come for breakfast like usual but now that I thought it, I haven't seen them since my birthday, 3 weeks ago. That was a new and really strange since my brother is here.

As I was pouring myself a cup of hot steamy coffee, my brother came in. I poured him some as soon as I saw him. I normally don't drink coffee but I woke up in the mood.

"Hey" I said.

"Good morning, sis" said my brother who wants to be called Theo and kissed my forehead taking his coffee mug.

We both leaned on the kitchen countertops sipping our coffee. I asked "Haven't you heard of Taylor and Em?"

Theo looked to me surprised like he wasn't expecting me to ask him. He asked almost stammering "Why are you asking?" He looked nervous and that was weird.

I looked to my cup and said "It's just weird that I haven't seen them lately. There are here almost every Saturday for breakfast or dinner, or our parents went with them in their training double dates. It's just weird not see them"

Theo nodded at my words and he looked edgy. He said lightly almost joking "They are probably too busy with school right now"

"Probably… Are you going out with Lana tonight?" I asked and Theo looked down to his cup. Now, I was concern. My brother was definitely hiding something and I wanted believe it was about his wound, but there was still something off.

"I guess though she hasn't said a thing about it" said Theo shrugging.

"Maybe she is waiting for you to call or pick her up" I said with an empathic shrug.

"Maybe" said Theo and drank his coffee in silence. I looked to him.

"So, it's Halloween. Do you have your costume?" I asked.

Theo took the final sip of his coffee and let the mug over the sink saying "Yes, Taylor borrowed me his from last year"

The image of the costume came immediately to my head. I laughed so hard when I saw Taylor. It was so silly even for Taylor's standards. I said holding a giggle "Oh, the M&M costume, seriously?"

"Yeah… at least, I won't melt in a hand" joked my brother and I couldn't help it.

Teasing Theo was so easy sometimes. I said with my best sarcastic smile "Not even Lana's?"

My brother turned red immediately to the point he was like a stop sign. He almost yelled "Shut up!"

My stomach hurt by all I laughed, maybe whole 5 minutes. My brother just looked at me insulted and not even smiled. I thought he was going to leave the kitchen insulted but he stayed until I was more calmed. I looked to my big brother and I was really happy to share these moments.

"Being serious, how is everything between you and Lana?" I asked and he smiled. I could see his love for her in his eyes. I wanted something like that.

"Great, I guess. I think we are good. It's just weird for me staying for so long in the same place. I wake up every day convincing myself of not packing and get moving like usual" said my brother.

I moved closer to him and I hugged him. I said against his shoulder "It's good that you are staying"

"I'm glad too" said my brother and hugged me tighter. I heard him hiss and I knew his shoulder was troubling him. That ticking wound was opening up again. I could almost hear the breaking of his skin. His weakness was starting to be noticeable and I wondered how long would take Lana, Taylor, Aida or Em to realize what was happening. I wondered if Lana suspected at least. I guess she didn't. She would have stormed out by now to Olympus, Poseidon's Palace and wherever it's necessary for my brother. Theo and I looked at each other. He must have seen my concern as he whispered "I'm fine, Claire, just tired"

"Can I ask you something?" I asked and Theo gave me this face that showed feared. He didn't want to talk about his time. I bit my lips and I felt my heart heavy.

"Yeah, sure, Claire. What is in your mind, little sister?" said my brother with fake enthusiasm.

"How love feels?" I asked and he looked surprised. He seriously expected something else.

He started to blush and stammered "The, the, the, physical act? Well, well"

"No" I said touching his nose with my index finger. I wanted him to focus back to me "I don't want yours and Lana's juicy details. I mean to love and be loved, to be in a relationship"

"Oh, well" said Theo relieved. I also didn't want to hear his sex life, too yucky. "It's just intense, well, at least for Lana and me. When I was in the wild, I always felt something like a desperate grasp on me pulling me back home. Now that I am here, I feel this intense pull still but it's different, like I know I would fight the whole Tartarus if I had to, to keep her safe. The best part is that I know Lana would do the same in a heartbeat. I would never make her do it but it makes me stronger thinking she loves than intensely too"

"That's sweet. I wish I could have something like that" I said and I looked down. I wanted him to cheer me up a little, not depress me.

"You will, little sister, one day" said Theo and I didn't like how his voice sounded like a goodbye "I can only hope for you to find someone to make you happy: boy or girl. It doesn't matter."

"I like boys but it's good to know" I said still not believing my ears. Was he already doing that? Saying goodbye?

"If you change your mind, just tell me before I meet her, okay? I don't want to embarrass myself like I did with Charlie" said Theo teasingly with fake annoyance.

This was easy, teasing him to forget the truth of things. I faked my best sarcastic smile saying "Come on. That was funny" We both could play pretend that nothing was wrong.

"For you maybe" said my brother sticking his tongue out.

"And Lana, and Taylor and Em, Aida, our parents and of course Charlie also found it really amusing" I said and giggled "I'll go to see mom"

"Sure" said Theo "I will start with breakfast"

I walked upstairs to find my mom on her office with a mug of coffee, her glasses and sketch pad. For me, it was really early to start working, but mom loves what she does.

"Hey, mom. Taylor and Em?" I asked.

My mom turned her chair to look at me. She took out her glasses saying "They called a couple of minutes ago. They are going to buy their costumes"

"That's weird. Taylor always got them months before" I said a little confused thinking of Taylor forgetting to get his costume. That's so anti-Taylor.

"It's more likely it slip his mind this year. He is graduating soon and he asked me yesterday for opportunities to do grad school in San Francisco" said my mom.

"What? Are they moving out?" I said in shock with a pitchy voice.

"Could be and it makes sense. Em's parents and Piper are in San Francisco" said my mom like that made sense.

"But we are here and Theo. They can't just leave us like that" I said still pitchy.

"Maybe they missed then more than they will miss us" said my mom and she sounded right and logical. What was their blood family against us?

"When? Next week?" I asked fearing the consequence of their departure.

"Of course not. More likely in January when Taylor graduates" said mom and she looked glad.

I felt a lot better. I even breathed out relieved as I said "Oh, that's great, I think"

I left my mom to look for my dad. I found him in the backyard training like usual in the morning. He trained with or without Taylor each Saturday morning. The Great Percy Jackson was still really amazing fighter. Everybody looked up to him at Camp with awe and fear. We were a dangerous family, strong and what Mer did still ring in their ears.

"Hey, dad" I said waving.

"Hi, how did you sleep?" said my dad lowering Riptide and gave me a quick hug.

"Alright" I said.

"Do you want to train?" asked my dad not really thinking. I knew it because he gasped as soon as he said.

I stared to my dad and I wanted to snort, to say with the angriest words how I hated it. However, I just looked down and said bitter "Can I dad, honestly? Will I train or just watch you train?"

"I know you don't like this deal but it's for your own good" said my dad and I felt his hand on my shoulder. Of course, I hated this deal, a promise made to Chiron and him when I was 12.

"It must be really important to keep me out of Camp, quests and fighting in general" I said still looking down.

"Your very life depends on this" said my dad and we both sighed at the same time.

"Like Theo's?" I said and dad gasped with fear in his eyes "Dad, I know. I can feel and see how he is weaker everyday"

"Don't worry. We will find a cure" said my dad and looked sad and angry. He felt useless and that was breaking him.

"We won't" I said because I knew there was nothing we could do.

"Are you sure of that?" said my dad with heartbroken eyes.

"Yes, dad. Theo's days are counted. I don't think he will pass Christmas, maybe New Year if we are lucky. I want to be wrong" I said.

"Have you told your mom?" said my dad.

"Of course not, only you…. It will kill mom. Do you think she will stand it?" I said.

"I hope she does. Your mother never ceases to amaze me" said my dad and we both slumped in the flower beds. I felt so depressed right now. I guess dad too.

"She didn't exactly take really good the Dark Sword news" I said as we were both in the ground, next to each other. He took my hand.

"That was hard" said my dad with a big sigh.

"Tell me about it. I still remember how she trashed Athena's palace in Olympus" I said and sat up as I was hugging my knees. The place was a mess after mom happened.

My dad combed his hair nervously and said "I still don't know how your mom got away with it"

"Athena owned us for the elixir" I said and dad's arm touched my shoulder as he sat up too "What is one tantrum in compare for the months we went through?"

"She really pissed off the Olympians that day, more I have ever done before" said my dad with a light chuckle.

"She definitely got that from you" I joked lightly.

"Very funny" said my dad.

"I know" I said weakly and we stayed in silence until Theo called us for breakfast.

Breakfast was great. I was happy to have my brother eating with us. I didn't feel as lonely and only child with him in the house. We were only missing my sisters. I sometimes wondered how our lives would be if Rhode never got in our way: a whole life with my 3 siblings, Theo never leaving to protect us… and Mer. My brother would have his twin. I would be a fighter like the rest. Maybe a praetor if we still lived in New Rome. Grandpa Paul would be still with us enjoying his life with Calypso, Kate and Will.

After breakfast, I stayed most of the day in my room doing homework and listening to music. Dad yelled once or twice to lower the volume making me feel like a typical teenager, not a legacy with a dying brother. Lunch was pretty much like breakfast, we ate and we talked.

It was around 5 when my dad came to my room. I had seen him train or at the garden with Theo most of the day through the window. He asked as he knocked on my open door "Ready?"

"I guess. Just promise me that you will like my costume" I said and ran to the closet.

"Now I'm worried" said my dad rolling his eyes.

"It's not that kind of outfit. It's tasteful, still" I said looking inside.

"Still? I don't like how that sounds" said my dad and now he sounded worried.

I took out my Dorothy costume and I showed to dad asking "Sooooo?"

My dad stared at it with his hand on his chin thinking. After a couple of seconds, he said "I like it"

"Don't you think it's too short?" I asked looking down where the skirt reached my mid-tights.

"Nah" said my dad "You will look cute"

"Seriously, I will" I said and my dad left me.

Around 6, Kate came with Calypso and Will. The whole family went trick-or-treating wearing our costumes. Mom and dad dressed as Aquarium's janitors with old jumpsuits. Theo struggled to walk with the M&M costume. He was bigger than usual and couldn't fit in a lot of places. Kate was the scarecrow, I was Dorothy, Will the coward lion and Calypso the tin woman. It was really amazing to spend the holiday with my family going from house to house getting the biggest amount of candies possible.

After we got a lot of candies and around 8, Theo, Kate and I left the grownups for our parties. Kate and I were invited to Alyssa's house just a couple of blocks close to Lana's dorm, so Theo left us at the party.

We were at the party and Kate was strange. Something bothered her but she refused to tell me. We danced with cute boys and had overall fun until I saw what was bothering her. An empousa was in the building. As it was Halloween, she was dressed as herself, no Mist covering. Guys were around her complementing her costume and flirting at her. She didn't notice us yet and it was a perfect ambush. I started to walk in the crowd trying to get closer when Kate grabbed my arm.

"We have to go" she said pulling in the other direction.

"But, the mortals? We can't leave them with her" I said outraged and quiet.

"I promised your dad to keep you out of trouble. I'll call Taylor. He and Em can take care of this" said Kate still pulling as far as possible of the empousa.

"We can too" I said and pulled Kate to the opposite direction. It was only one. We could take her down easily.

"Claire, come on" said Kate urgently. I hated how things were, but I had to trust my parents. I had to. If I couldn't trust them, then who?

"Alright, alright" I said nodding. I was annoyed really angry but we still left the party earlier.