Disclaimer: PJO and HoO are by Rick Riordan. Life is by me.

Author's Notes: A little 'more relaxed' chapter, well, shorter. I am almost down writing. Today is May 15, Teacher's Appreciation Day. Yesterday, my only daughter Alicia Valeria turned 2. I can't believe how fast time goes by. 3,663+ views

CH 21 "It was a Simple December Night" (Aida)

December started and the rushing last minutes to the end of semester too. We were just days away of finals, papers and grades. I hoped to get all just in time and with good grades also. I was reading in the bedroom and it was a little after 8 when my girlfriend came with her backpack on her shoulder.

Charlie leaned and kissed me. She said "I'm going out. I won't take long. I forgot a textbook at the lab and I need it to finish my paper"

"Sure, so I see you soon, hopefully still today?" I asked Charlie. I was half-joking.

"Unless Professor Tanaka finds me" chuckled Charlie and kissed me again. I really didn't want her to leave, so I grabbed her by the shoulders pulling her closer as I deepened the kiss.

We made up for just one minute before Charlie literary jumped out of my claws and winked at me. She said "Sorry, really sexy legacy of Athena. That was a really smart move but I have to get my textbook back" I putted with big sad doggy eyes "Don't do that. You know it won't work"

I pursed my lips and threw a pillow at her saying "I had to try. You better come back today".

"Love you" said Charlie and left the room quickly before I could catch her.

I kept reading in my bedroom for maybe a whole hour and it was nine when my phone ringed, an unknown number. For a moment, I thought it was Charlie but it was Manhattan number, maybe my brother.

"Hello" I said.

"Hi, Aida. It's me" said Em and I could hear the sounds of the city as background noise.

"What's up, Em? Why are you calling from a payphone?" I asked.

"I was on my way to the store and I missed your voice" said Em teasingly.

"Shhh… you sound like we are in a relationship. Dear Owl! Charlie is going to get jealous, although your husband will find it really hot" I joked back.

I heard Em giggling and said "Amusing. How is Charlie?"

"She forgot something in the lab, though she should be here any moment now if she doesn't get caught up with something or somebody" I said.

"That's nice. I'd better get going. I call you tomorrow" said Em and something was a little off. Before I could ask her, she hung up. I thought of calling Taylor but if Em called without him around and using payphone, it was something I couldn't ask him.

I watched the news and there was nothing really interesting: politics, celebrities and tomorrow will rain again. Then a movie started and I watched absentminded. It was almost midnight when I turned off the TV.

I looked outside the window and the sky was finally clearing out. It had rained the whole day and it was a pretty nice night. I thought of going to the lab and get my girlfriend back. It was nice and not so cold to walk. I went to the closet to grab a jacket when I heard Charlie saying "I'm home. Sorry, Greg was there and we ended up doing some circuits."

I walked outside the room and I found my girlfriend dirty like she fell on a puddle which it could be correct if she was walking fast and it was nighttime. I met her by the living room and I kissed her in a quick hug.

"Hi... ew, you smell like wet dog" I said wrinkling my nose.

Charlie looked at me confused and then she said with a smile "Oh, that. I found one hiding from the rain under the bus stop. I put it inside my jacket and left it at the coffee shop alley inside a dry box. I will feed it tomorrow if it's still there"

"Well, take a shower" I said taking two steps back of my dog-lover girlfriend.

Charlie took a step forward and teased me "Wanna join me?" I felt my cheeks red and though it was a great idea, I was tired.

"I will pass this time. It's late. I'm going to bed now" I said and my body threw out a big yawn.

"Sure" said Charlie and she pointed to the table "Your phone is blinking"

I looked to the table where indeed my phone was blinking a green light. I said "Probably voice mail, I never check them"

"So? It could be important" said Charlie.

"It could be also nothing or Taylor forgetting to hang up and me hearing 5 minutes of his pocket" I said shrugging.

"You should" said Charlie with a light scolding tone.

I put my hands on my waist and scolded "Look how is talking, Miss I-don't-need-a-cell-phone"

"You should still" said Charlie with her most sassy last word and went to the bathroom before I could hit her head.

I stared at the phone and signed annoyed as I hit the keys to hear the voice mail. There were like 20 and I had to listen all, some as old as my phone. Some were indeed of Taylor's pocket, others nothing and others from some of my grandma's preppy suitors asking me out. I was already annoyed after 18th, when I heard 'Message 19. October 12, 9:50 PM. Aida… I know how things were this weekend. We need to talk about Miss Burns. There is something you should know about her. Today would be lovely…' Wow! Those were Grandma's finals words to me.

Before I could hit the button to re-listen the message, the next one started 'Message 20. December 1, 9:12 PM. Hey, it's me again. I really hope you check your voice mail. Anyway, I bought a pregnancy test. I'm so nervous… I have a bad feeling… Sorry, I'm freaking out. I love Taylor and everything will work out. I'm calling you tomorrow with news... ahhh!' That was a scream of pain and then nothing.

What in the fields was that? I couldn't believe what I was hearing and suddenly I lost my phone crashing in the floor and the battery went flying.

"Aida, is everything alright?" said Charlie loudly from the bathroom.

My mouth was dry and my heart racing, too in shock but I answered "Yes. I just threw my phone by accident"

I retrieved the pieces of my phone and put it back together with shaky hands. It took really long time for the phone to turn on and I was just staring at the screen and thinking in Em. She called me and I didn't answer. She could be dead and it was my fault. Then my phone was ready and I quickly dialed to my mom.

"Aida?" said my mom in the other side of the line.

"Mom? Is Em okay?" I asked.

"How do you know? Did Taylor call you?" asked my mom surprised.

"No, mom. I received a voice mail of Em when she was attacked. How is she?" I asked.

"Taylor said she will make it. We are going to the hospital right now. I was about to wake up your sister" said my mom.

"I'm on my way" I said hanging up. I didn't care it was late. I rushed to my bedroom shoving clothes in my backpack and struggling to find my keys and wallet. I was almost at the door when I realized that I hadn't told Charlie and I was still in slippers and pjs.

"Charlie!" I yelled.

The bathroom door opened and she was out saying "Yeah, babe?"

"I have to go to New York right now, to the hospital. Em was attacked" I said fast and ran to the bedroom to change my clothes. I threw my clothes to the floor and grabbed the first pair of jeans and sweater I could find.

From behind me, Charlie said "Is she fine? What happened?"

"Honestly, I don't know. Mom said they were going to the hospital too" I said as I was putting my shoes back on.

"Let me get dress" said Charlie throwing the towel to the floor.

"Are you coming with me?" I asked and I didn't realize that I didn't even ask her. I was so worried of get moving that I totally forgot about her. What kind of girlfriend made me?

"If you want me, you can't go alone" said Charlie putting a t-shirt on.

"You have a test tomorrow, it's your final" I said.

"I can talk to the professor. You are more important" said Charlie and kissed me before putting her jeans on.

"No, it's okay. Mom said that Em was okay. I can go alone" I said and I kissed her. How she was willing to leave everything for me so easily.

"Are you sure of that? Did your mom actually say Em was going to make it?" asked Charlie, maybe to reassure that it was fine.

"Yes" I said and she still put a sweater on.

Charlie put her shoes on saying "I will walk you to the train station at least"

"No, I will take a plane. It's faster. I hope there is one" I said.

"Maybe the red eye" said Charlie and we walked out of the apartment.

I was lucky enough to find a ticket to New York minutes before the plane left the airport. The whole quick ride, I was so nervous. I was worried that Em would collapse, a compromising situation, organ failure, sepsis, and so on.

I arrived to the hospital minutes before 3 in the morning. The whole place was incredible quiet with dimmed lights on some halls. A nurse helped me to get to my family. They were sitting in a bench dozing off.

"Hey!" I said clearing my throat "How is Em?"

My parents jumped out of their seats and hugged me. Claire just opened one eye before sleeping again. Theo was pacing around the whole place and he didn't even notice I was here.

"She is fine and Taylor is with her" said my mom.

"Can I see her?" I asked.

"I don't think so. Taylor is hovering her, won't leave her side and only one visitor at the time" said my dad.

"Oh" I said and I sat next to Claire. My parents were quiet leaning on each other and whispering. I snuggled next to Claire in a hospital chair and I barely slept. I was so worried for Em. My mom told me what happened from Theo fighting the Dark Sword and finding Em bleeding out. She was attacked first as I figured it from the voice message.

Around 4, a nurse came with an update. Em was fine but I was still in shambles. That voice mail message ringed in my ears, if I had only checked my voice mail earlier. A little later, Theo finally sat down and he looked so tired, so worried and edgy. I could swear he was just a step of smoking a whole pack of cigarettes. I couldn't imagine the mess he would be if Lana was here.

I stood up stretching my soreness. Those chairs were definitely not comfortable. I said "I'm going home for a shower. Wanna come?"

"No, I will stay" said Claire.

"Theo?" I asked looking to my brother.

"I don't think I can leave until I see Em" said my brother honestly. I knew we were both equally concern, but he looked over the edge.

"You are almost as worst as Taylor. You sound like her husband" I scolded him and he gave this 'shut up' look. "Have you even called Lana?"

Theo cursed under his breath and said "It slipped my mind. What time is it?"

"It's 5:20" said my mom as she was stretching up next to dad.

"I will call her later. It's still too early to wake her up" said my brother standing up "I will take a walk" He walked away from us drawing as many distance as possible.

I took a cab home and after a good shower, a light breakfast and a quick nap, I was back to the hospital. The place was more alive than hours ago and the waiting area was almost impossible to walk around. The only one there was Claire leaned against a wall. She was crossing her arms and just looking at the people.

"Where is everybody?" I asked and stood by her side.

Claire turned her head to the side to talk to me "Theo and Taylor went to grab some lunch with Hazel and Frank. Our parents went to work. I don't know how. They didn't sleep all night"

"Em?" I asked.

"Sleeping. The doctors moved her to a private room one hour after you left" said Claire "She will be released tomorrow at the earliest"

"That's good news. Why are you alone?" I asked.

"I was waiting for you, actually" said Claire weakly. She sighed "I dreamed of your grandma's dead. I saw it happen"

I quickly grabbed her by the shoulders. I gulped before asking "Did you see the killer?"

"No, covered in the shadows. I heard them talk tough" said Claire.

"What did they say?" I asked.

Claire bit her lips and said worried "They… this monster… Aida, please be careful and never go out alone"

"Don't worry. I will" I said and I hugged my sister. I heard her sigh of sheer relief.

Once Claire pulled away from me, she stretched and two steps away from me. I asked "Where are you going?"

"To get some air. Wanna come?" said Claire.

"No, just stay close. It's not safe" I said.

"Sure" said Claire and she left me alone. I called Taylor and I went to meet them in the cafeteria.