Jason, Piper, Will and I were standing just beyond the border of Camp. Our bags were heavy; we were planning to stay in New Rome for about two weeks. Will wanted to tour the college that Annabeth and Percy were attending, try to find a summer course or two to sit in on. Piper was looking forward to seeing Annabeth and Hazel again, the three had planned to spend an entire day at a spa. Jason agreed to help Percy and Frank teach sparing to some of the younger children, and I, I was just hoping to get there in one piece.

"We ready," I asked.

"Hell yah," Jason said beaming. I exhaled before placing my fingers in my mouth and whistled. I heard the vehicle approaching before I saw it, the roar of the engine echoing through the forest. Then, just beyond the hill I saw the long onyx limousine. It stopped just as it looked like it would pass us. Jason, and Will's mouths were open. Piper nodded her head; she's seen and been in plenty a limousine. The driver's side door opened. From the back you wouldn't be able to tell that Jules-Albert was a zombie. His chuffer uniform and hat covered him; it wasn't until he turned around that you could tell he was no longer alive.

He had dry greyish-green skin that was missing in some places, reveling whitish-brown bone. He was missing a nose, and where his eyes should be were only empty black voids. He slowly dragged towards us, mumbling to himself. Will, Jason and Piper took a few steps away from him as he drew nearer. I smiled curtly and nodded.

"Morning Jules," I said. He grunted and nodded his head; another piece of skin broke away. He opened the door for the four of us to get in. Piper and Jason were the first to enter, both thanking Jules. Will and I got in next. Jules closed the door behind Will, and then proceeded to gather our luggage. The inside of the limo was nice, though to be fair I had not been in many limo's before. The seats were dark red leather, the carpet was black, as well as the walls, the windows so darkly tinted the sun was not able to pass through. Two mini fridges were placed on either side of the roundabout seats, most likely filled with chilled cokes and cookie-dough. I rolled down the window that divided the back of the limo from the front.

"Nouvelle Rome, Jules, aussi vite que l'éclairage," I said in my best French. Jules smiled and revved the engine. I fastened my seatbelt and looked over at my friends. "You guys may want buckle up, Jules likes to drive a little fast. This limo has been enchanted to travel faster than a jet. Will buckled himself in and looked like he was going to be sick. I smiled darkly as Jason and Piper mimicked him. I leaned back into my seat and closed my eye. I said a silent prayer to my father in my head that this trip would go smoothly, that all of us would get to New Rome without incident.

It was to my great and utter happiness that we did in fact make it to New Rome intact. When Jules stopped the limo right outside of New Rome's limit Will, Jason and Piper burst from the car and began kissing the ground. I rolled my eyes at all of them as I stepped over them. It wasn't that bad.

"Merci, Jules," I said as he handed me the luggage. He grunted and nodded his head curtly and dragged himself to the driver's seat. The limo was out of sight within moments, leaving a powerful gust of wind in its wake.

"I would have rather faced the Wendigo again," Will uttered after he had pulled himself from off the ground. I hit him across the back of his head.

"Don't ever say something so stupid like that again," I ordered him. Will mumbled under his breath too low for me to hear. Jason helped Piper off the ground. He and Will took the luggage from me and Piper and I started towards the city.

To mortals this appeared to look like a wealthy gated community, a place where celebrities went to, to escape prying eyes of the public, but it was much grander than most would ever know. Even from where I was standing, outside a large stone wall guarded by a dozen large and frightening looking boys I could see the city. The walls of the buildings glistening white marble, the tiled roofs a brilliant red, I was awestruck. We grew closer to the gates, the dozen guards standing erect, spears drawn.

"Halt," ordered the tallest of the dozen. We did as he instructed. He peered at us. "Jason Grace, is that you?" he asked almost shocked. Jason smiled widely.

"Buddy Arquette," Jason replied growing closer to the boy he was addressing, "Reyna made your sorry ass a guard," he said in a joking manner. Buddy smiled.

"Watch it, Sparky," he said with a smile. The two embraced in what Jason would refer to as a "Bro-Hug". The other guards relaxed, but didn't take their eyes off the rest of us. "Reyna told us to be expecting you," Buddy added. He turned to the tiniest of the guards,

"Matthew, go inform Reyna that our guest have arrived," he ordered. The smaller guard nodded before running off in the opposite direction.

Jason turned to us.

"Buddy this is my girlfriend, Piper," Jason said holding out his arm for Piper. She walked over and Jason wrapped his arm around her.

"Pleasure to meet you, Piper," Buddy said, and for the first time I noticed his deep southern accent. "Forgive me, but I'm a bit surprised someone as stunningly beautiful as you is with someone like my ol' friend Jason," he said with a smile. Piper laughed, Jason glared at his old friend.

"He makes me happy," she told Buddy, as she looked up at Jason with loving eyes. She placed a small kiss on his cheek, and his glare disappeared. Once Jason's face returned to a normal color he nodded his head and Will and I's direction.

"These two are Will and Nico. Nico's my little bro." Buddy's eyes widened as he looked over at me.

"Nah," he said looking back at Jason, and then back at me. "No way y'all are related."

"We're not," I said with a roll of my eyes, "I mean technically speaking we're cousins, very distant cousins. But Jason had taken to referring to me as his 'little bro' and treating me as such." I added the last part with a small smile. Jason returned it as well. I saw two people coming towards us, the one in the front walking at a faster pace than the other. The person speed-walking was wearing purple robes and a cape. Her dark hair was in a braid, and though there was some distance between us I could see the large smile spread across her face. I let go of Will's hand and started to run towards the girl.

"Nico," Reyna screamed as she spread her arms.

"Reyna," I shouted back. We embraced each other in a tight hug. We stayed that way for a while, neither one of us wanted to let go. When we did we looked into each other's eyes. Both of us had known pain, and now neither one of us could see it in the other's eyes, where it was once so predominate.

"Reyna, I want to introduce you to Will," I said pointing my hand towards my blond boyfriend. He walked over to us and held out his hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Reyna. Nico has told me a lot about you," he said giving her a firm handshake. Reyna smiled at Will.

"The pleasure is all mine, Will. It is nice to finally meet the person responsible for bringing Nico out of the shadows." Will and her both chuckled.

Reyna and Jason made eye contact and smiled at one another. Piper waved at Reyna.

"Well I'm sure you're all tired," Reyna stated. "And Percy and Annabeth are anxious to see each of you." She turned to Buddy. "Make sure our guest's luggage get to the hotel." Buddy nodded and again ordered the smallest guard to do the work. Reyna motioned for us to follow her. Will grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers together.

We all followed Reyna as she navigated us through the city. She pointed out several building and informed us of their purpose.

"There is where the oldest and most honored citizens of New Rome live," she had said pointing to what appeared to be a castle. "That's my favorite restaurant," she said pointing to a building where a wonderful aroma was coming from. Finally we made our way to what appeared to be several small, but beautiful, apartment buildings. I knew which one was Percy and Annabeth's; the one with the rose bushes and fish pond. "Well I've got to finish up some work,
Reyna said somberly. "Frank and I will be around about seven-thirty, along with Hazel. She's teaching some of the younger campers sparing," she informed. I hugged her one last time before she walked out of sight. Jason and Piper nearly ran towards the red door. Just as Jason was about to knock the door swung open. Percy's hair was the same messy mop of black, his sea green eyes bright with happiness.

"Bro," he shouted at Jason while giving him a big hug.

"Bro," Jason shouted back. Both of them were putting all their strength into the hug, I could hear their spines cracking.

"Alright, don't break him," a voice from inside called out. Annabeth appeared in the doorway. Her wavy blonde hair was longer, even in its golden waves it reached down to her waist. Her grey eyes seemed brighter than I remembered. She and Piper smiled widely at each other, giving the other a large hug.

"Annabeth, what are you wearing," Piper asked as she gave the her a head to toe glance. Annabeth was wearing a large mahogany sweater, the leaves covered her hands. She saw me staring and smiled.

"Hey Annabeth," I said walking over to her. She gave me hug. When we pulled away I turned to Will, he was eyeing Annabeth suspiciously, it was odd. Annabeth smiled and walked over to him, wrapping him in a hug.

"It's nice to see you awake," she said.

"Yah, you've got your color back, Sunny," Percy added.

"Thanks, Flipper," Will responded as he and Annabeth pulled away. Percy turned towards me. He opened up his arms and looked down at me expectantly.

"Come on, Neeks," he said with puppy eyes. I backed away slowly.

"Don't you even think about it," I warned him. His smile widened and he walked towards me. "I'm warning you, Jackson." And before I knew it I was being lifted up in the air, wrapped in Percy's arms.

"How's my little bro," he asked as he rocked me.

"I'm. Going. To. Kill. You," I said as I tried to break free of his hung. Finally he put me down. I looked up at him with squinted eyes. His wide, goofy smile made it impossible to stay upset.

"Why don't we step inside," Annabeth suggested, "I've got lunch waiting," she added stepping inside of the apartment. We all followed her and Percy inside.

The inside of their home was beautiful, of course I expected nothing less from Annabeth. The room was warm and immediately you felt like you were home. Annabeth had be spaghetti and meatballs. The marinara sauce was obviously store bought and not homemade like mine, but it was still good. We all sat around the table and laughed and joked, mainly at Percy's expense. I noticed that he never really took his eyes off of her. He usually stared at her a lot, but there was something different in his eyes, something I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"So, other than finishing college, what's new?" Jason asked. Percy and Annabeth shared a glance.

"Should we tell them," Percy asked. Annabeth smiled.

"I don't see why not," she said as she took his hand. Percy and Annabeth looked at all of us, big smiles on their faces. Annabeth pulled up the left sleeve of her sweater, revealing a beautiful diamond ring on her. We all sat in silence, and then Piper shrieked.

"Oh my gods," she said running over to Annabeth to stare at the ring. Her eyes were wide with excitement. "It's beautiful," she said studying every facet of the diamond.

"Whoa, congrats Bud," Jason said giving Percy a slap on the back. Percy smiled.

"Thanks, man."

"Congratulations," Will and I said simultaneously.

"There's something else," Annabeth said, her smile growing even wider. Percy's did the same. The both took each other's hands and took a deep breathe. "I'm pregnant," she nearly yelled. All our mouths dropped, our eyes wide with shock, except Will. He started glowing.

"I KNEW IT!" he yelled.