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Hermes's POV

Why did I bother to ask for quiet? I knew I wouldn't get any quiet with all the hunters here, cooing at Charis. I trying to ignore it, and rolled over. But the giggling still reached me. Why didn't I listen to everyone when they said sound proof walls would be best? But how was I supposed to know that I would have Artemis here, with a new baby, and all the hunters? After a few more minutes, I just lost all hope of getting some decent sleep, and walked downstairs, were the girls were all gathered around the baby, and Artemis was in the kitchen.

"I thought I asked for quiet in the mornings." I grumbled.

"Hermes, its noon. Not morning anymore." Artemis said, coming out with a sandwich.

"Really? Feels earlier then that." I said as I walked past her. While she wasn't paying attention, I took the sandwich from her hands. And she didn't even notice.

I looked through the fridge, while eating her sandwich. Hm….I have to restock on the nectar.

"Hermes! Give me my sandwich!" Artemis yelled from the living room.

"But I don't have it!" I called back, then took a bite. It was really good. What did she put on this? Nectar-roasted ham, fresh cheese….maybe a little pepper? Either way, it was by far the best sandwich EVER.

And then it was yanked from my hand.

"Don't lie to me, because I know you well enough to know you stole my sandwich." She said from behind me, taking a bite of it.

"Yeah, what did you put on that anyway?"

"Nectar roasted ham, fresh cheese, a little pepper, and mayo."

"Hm. Tastes good." I closed the fridge, and glanced at the calendar. June 19th. June, June, what was important about June again? Travis! It was his birthday on June 5th! Ugh, Idiot! How could I forget my own son's birthday? Oh wait, I was still in waking-death at that time. so I have every right to be the last to tell him happy birthday.

"Hey, I gotta go take care of something at Camp Half-Blood. I'll be back in an hour, at most." I said, walking out of the kitchen. I heard someone whistle the way people do when they see someone 'hot'. What was that called again? Wolf whistle? Ah, who cares. I glances back to see the hunters laughing.

"Nice underwear!" Thalia laughed, pointing at my awesome Evil, Rabid, Purple, Vampire Bunnie underwear. And yes, that's how the brand spells bunny. My face turned red.

"They're comfortable!" I protested. That just made them laugh harder.

"They're pink!" one of them laughed.

"It's the only color they had! More colors will be out in November!"

They just kept laughing. I groaned, and left the room, going back to my bedroom and getting dressed, before grabbing something for Travis –he was really getting into barrel racing (a horse riding thing)- and needed something better to ride in then old jeans and sneakers. Then I tied on my shoes –I didn't forget them this time!- and I was off. I couldn't go as fast as before, because my burns still hurt. Or burned….whatever.

When I got to the camp, I found Chiron sitting on the front porch, with Dionysus, playing that weird card game they always play. I found it stupid, unless it was gambling, which I was always the best at. I stumbled a bit when I landed, forgetting that my ankles had been shattered when my cave fell.

"Hermes. I didn't expect to see you up and running again for some time. From what I heard, it was bad." Chiron stated, clearly surprised to see me standing there. I pulled a chair up to the table, and sat.

"Well, really I'm here on my own time, not because I was told to. Not that I would listen if I were told to anyway…"

"Hm. How have you been feeling? I was told you were a little feverish a few days ago, and after waking-death, fever can send someone back into it."

"Better. I think I just needed to get a little more sleep."

We talked for a little longer, before I decided to bring up why I was really here.

"Do you know where Travis is? I wouldn't expect him to be where he's supposed to be…"

"He's possibly raiding the Camp store, pulling a prank on the Demeter cabin, in the sword arena, or at the barn. Or the woods. He and Conner have both been feeling a little under the weather lately. It is flu season though, so it should be expected…"

"Those two get sick as easily as you do." Dionysus snorted.

"I only get sick easily because I'm constantly on the move, and everywhere has some different out break of something, and I can't keep up with it all!" I defended myself. But it's true. I do get sick a lot easier then I should.

"Okay. Keep making excuses, and see where it leads you. It lead me to HERE! With a bunch of brats!" Dionysus complained.

"You went after an off limits nymph, Dionysus. And didn't use any reasonable excuses. Unlike me. I ALWAYS have reasonable excuses. Now, I have to go see my son." And then I left, tripping over the chair I had been sitting. Mr. D laughed at me. I threw a muffin at him. Where I got a muffin, I have no idea. But it was there, and so I put it to use.

I found Travis in the woods, alone.

"Well, this must be the first time I've ever seen you away from your brother." I stated, making him jump. I tried to hide the fact I wanted to laugh. But I'm pretty sure I was failing.

"He's sleeping." Travis explained, sounding moody. I raised an eye brow.

"No hello? Not even a simple wave of your hand?" I acted as if that upset me.

"Nope." he was dead serious.

"What's wrong then? You always wave."

"I don't feel like waving." He said, but I saw the glare in his eyes.

"You're mad because I missed a year." I said. It wasn't a question. I knew that was it. He didn't answer.

"I would've been there, but I couldn't."

"Why? You said you would be there for every birthday, no matter what."

"I was dead."

"You're immortal. You can't die."

I sighed, and grabbed his wrist, before concentrating. I didn't feel like explaining everything, so I just showed it to him. Everything from getting the quest with Artemis –skipping the parts that are rated R- all the way to waking up. Watching the Zeus strike me with lightning, and the cave fall on top of me made me relive the pain all over again. And when it was over, I was sweating, and had to sit down, and catch my breath. It felt as though I just redid the whole thing. Travis gasped when his eyes open, and he was sweating as well as he sat down across from me.

"You and Artemis?" he panted. I'm positive my face is red as I nod.

"Was the story with the wolf and bear real?" he asked, curious.

"I don't know. But that's what I saw in the walls." I only answered when I caught my breath. "But that's not what I'm here for. Follow me." I stood up, shaking. I felt like all my burns were fresh, and my bones were re-broken. So it was a slow walk. But I lead him to the stables, which currently had no demigods or nymphs in it.

We walked all the way to the end of the barn, where one empty stall was.

"This is empty." He said, confused.

"I know. Give me second, gees. I just relived the road to hell and back." I panted.

"But…you didn't go all the way Hades. You just walked from the woods to here." he was utterly confuses.

"I relived the quest with Artemis, and being crushed under burning hot rocks and struck with lightning. If that isn't like hell, I don't know what is."

"Oh…"

After a few minutes, I closed my eyes again, and whistled. Loudly. Travis winced. The horses spooked a little. Maybe I should've made it silent to all except who I was calling. But a few seconds later, a young horse –only 5 years old- came cantering around the hay, saddled and with saddle bags stuffed with horsy stuff. Travis's eyes were wide as the horse came strait up to him, and pushed him back with its nose. He looked at me in confusion. When is this kid NOT confused?

"He's all yours. Saddle and everything." I smiled. And then staggered back as I was attacked in a bear hug.

"Ow, ow, ow, Travis! Watch the burns." I pushed him off gently.

"Sorry. Forgot." He apologized, looking down. But then he looked back up, eyes bright and a huge grin on his face. "Thank you!"

"Happy Birthday." I ruffled his hair.

"Does he have a name?" Travis asked, rubbed the horse's nose.

"The guy I bought him from said his name is Mercury, after the Roman god. His parents were both prize-winning barrel horses. Look in the saddle bags." I was curious to know if he knew Mercury was my Roman form. But either way, he didn't say anything. Just opened the saddle bags, pulling out the boots –with shiny, new spurs that I fixed so they wouldn't harm the horse, no matter how hard Travis kicked- and a pair of good riding jeans. In the other one was a box (the saddle bags were custom made on Olympus to be like my mail bag. Endless) and when he opened the box, there was a cowboy hat inside –also custom made…it was a helmet in a hat) that had snakes carved along the brim.

That was all I put in there –if I had more time, there would've been a little more. I thought he would explode with excitement by now.

"I have to leave now, but tell everyone I said hello. And TRY not to get in trouble with him." I nodded to Mercury (wow, it felt weird to say my Roman name when I'm still Greek…).

"At least for a while. Happy birthday, Travis." I waved good bye, and as I faded back to Olympus, I saw him wave back. Good thing Conner's birthday was in February. And my other children where several months away. I wanted time on Olympus.

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