The Women Hope Didn't Meet and the One She Did

Outtake of Newborn Blood. Years have passed by and Hope Valdez is 14 years old. She has questions about her mother and her mom. Calypso's POV

I woke up at the lazy sound of the heater warming up the place. Today is Hope's birthday. Almost 14 years since Hazel died. I turned to see my beloved husband and father of my three girls. 35 years old and as handsome as I met him 18 years ago. He has some grey hairs in his curly head and gained some pounds but I don't care. I love him so much.

"Hello, gorgeous" said Leo as he laid his eyes on me.

"Hi, handsome" I kissed him in his rough cheek. He needs to shave.

"I love you" Leo cupped my face and pulled me into a softer and more intimate kiss.

"I love you too" I said and he kissed the tip of my nose. "The girls will be up in no time"

"Maybe. I think we have 20 minutes" said Leo with a really mischievous smile. He raised his eyebrow as his arms pulled me closer.

"I like where this is going" I said and I kissed him with fervor. I felt his smile pressing my lips and soon we were taking out our clothes. After making love, I took a shower after Leo. He kissed me once again at the bathroom door making me dizzy. He still knows how to swipe off my feet.

"I love you" said Leo before I heard him making breakfast as I was undressing in the bathroom.

I saw a grey hair in the mirror. I should be sad, but I am actually relieved. I was worry of not ageing. I couldn't bear the thought of my daughters and Leo dying and I was the same. The idea made me feel still trapped in the island, that everything in the past decade and a half was a cruel illusion.

After my shower, I checked on my kids' rooms. Sammy was sleeping with one arm hanging down the mattress. Emma was already on the floor curled under covers. I put her again in her bed and arranged her covers before kissing her forehead.

Hope was wide awake and looking to the photo album, her baby pictures. I leaned on the door frame staring at her. She was absorbed looking at the pictures. 14 years old and she looks exactly as her mother at her age.

"I know you are there, mom" said Hope taking me out of my thoughts.

"I wasn't hiding. Good morning" I kissed her forehead. "Happy birthday Hope" We hugged.

I sat with her staring at the pictures. The photo album was a gift by Annabeth and Percy when Hope turned one. They asked all Hazel's friends for pictures to make the album, so she could never forget her mother. The most precious picture in the album was from Nico: a picture of Hazel and her mother back in 1930's. In all the pictures, everybody smiled around Hazel. She was really loved by everybody.

"Mom" said Hope.

"Yes?"

"Tell me about my mother" Hope closed the album and stared at me waiting for my answer. I sighed.

"You already know all about her. I don't think there is nothing you don't know or we haven't told you" I said and kissed her forehead. Her eyes showed me that she wasn't happy with my answer.

"Tell me again. How was she?" said Hope and I sighed again thinking for a second for my words.

"Well, you look just like her, except for your dad's eyes. When she smiled, she made you feel happy inside. Everybody was happier when she was around. Your uncle Nico smiled more. Your uncle Percy was just funnier. Your dad was just the happiest. She was attentive and emphatic. She did everything to help you if you had a problem. She helped me once to hold the sword. I was a mess back then" Hoped nodded at my words.

"Did you like her?" said Hope. I frowned confused by her question but I smiled immediately thinking about her.

"Of course, Hazel was amazing. She was my friend and I am always thinking about her. She accepted me and loved me even when I thought I didn't deserve it"

"Do you hate her?" said Hope

"Why should I?" Now I was more confused by Hope's questions.

"Because dad loves her more. I know he thinks about her when you are not here. I saw him watching the pictures with a sad face. He cries when we put flowers at her cabin every year" Hope looked down and I sighed sadly. Leo's feelings for Hazel were something I didn't like to think about it, but I did know.

"Do you want to know the truth?" I said and Hope's face grew worry.

"Yes" she answered.

"Even if I wanted, I can't" I said shrugging.

"Why?" said Hope with a confused look on her face.

"Because you are here with us because of her. I love you so much" I said and kissed her forehead.

"Mom. I love you too, but…" Hope looked away.

"You wonder, right?" I said with a sight. Hope nodded looking at me.

"Yes, if she was here, if she married dad…" Hope was rambling just like her dad.

"What about me? Right? Maybe I would be still stuck in my island hoping for a hero to stay with me or take me out" I said and I felt sad and scared thinking of spending another day in that island.

"And?" said Hope as she leaned forward expecting more.

"I don't know. I don't want to think about it. I spent countless centuries trapped in that island" I said shaking my head.

"Mom" Hope looked worried and I sighed at my daughter looking straight at her eyes.

"Hope, look at me. Of course, I wish sometimes your mother was here so you could meet her. You deserve to be with her. However, she is not. It pains me because she was the kind of woman I want to be"

"What do you mean?" asked Hope confused. I looked away bracing myself for the truth. Something I have denied myself for years. Something I was afraid to say aloud.

"I know you dad loves Hazel more. I knew it when you were born, even before. I want to be loved like that. It's just my curse. To be less loved that I love" I said feeling a tear trying to escape, well a couple.

"Why did you stay with dad?" said Hope biting her lip worried and sad for me. I cupped her face kissing her forehead once again.

"Because I love your dad and I want to make him happy. He loves me too… I wanted to be happy too and your dad makes me happy. It's complicated" I said. Hope's eyes were almost in tears too.

"Do you hate her? Tell me the truth" said Hope softly almost afraid of asking or me answering.

"Sometimes when I see your dad and your uncle Nico sad. You dad tries his best hiding it, but I know him too well" I felt my own tears on my face. I wiped them fast.

"Did you wish her death? I know you curse aunt Annabeth" said Hope. She almost sounded upset but she was more worried about my feelings than hers. She was more like her mother than most people thought.

"No, never"

"Not for a second?" said Hope almost not believing my answer or conviction.

"Never. I wished for your dad not to love her that much, but she was too good, kind and loving to wish her death" I sighed.

"And Annabeth? You cursed her" said Hope almost upset. She loves Annabeth. It's her favorite aunt.

"I didn't know Annabeth when I cursed her. I just knew Percy left because of her just like other heroes who were washed away to my island. If I did know her before, maybe I wouldn't cast it. It took a long time for Annabeth to finally forgive me for that. We are good now and we are good friends" I said.

"Did my mother hate you?" said Hope in tears fearing for my answer.

"I don't think so. She wasn't capable to hate. She was too good. I haven't told you something. Actually, your dad doesn't know either, only Piper because she was there that day" I said and Hope nodded at my words.

"Please, tell me" Hope's hand wiped my tears making me smile for my loving and caring daughter. I didn't deserve a daughter as her. I sighed holding new tears.

"The day Hazel died, before we were attacked. I told your mother to stay with your dad. I would leave after everything was over. I told her to make your dad happy and love him well. I remember we were crying so hard. She asked me to forgive her because she was in love with your dad too. When she died, I thought your dad was going to leave me and he didn't. I was ready to let him go, but he didn't let me" Hope looked at me taking in the revelations and wiping her own tears.

"Mom, you are trapped with us just like in the island" said Hope feeling sad for me.

"I don't see it that way. I am here because I want too. I love all of you. I'm happy because your dad stayed with me, even if he doesn't love more than your mother"

"You could have found someone else. You didn't have to the second best for my dad" said Hope almost scolding me. I wasn't angry at her words just surprised.

"I told you. It's my curse" I said softly. Hope sighed almost upset.

"Mom, you are really screwed" We stared at each other. She smiled sadly for my sake. I matched her smile.

"I know but I wouldn't change a thing" I said with a smile.

"Why?" said Hope confused. I smiled sadly. She hasn't been in love. She is still too young to understand some things about love.

"Because I love you and your sisters. I love your dad. If I had left, I would have done what the other heroes did to me. I would have been like them, ever wondering for my what if"

"So you stayed because you wanted to prove the heroes wrong" scolded Hope.

"Don't twist my words" I said shrugging. Hope stared at me thinking about everything I had said.

"I want to understand"

"I stayed because I love your dad so much. He is the one and only in my heart even if I am not in his" I said

"Just like Echo?"

"No really, because your dad loves me too, just not as much as I love him" I said.

"Hi" I heard Leo right behind us at the door frame. We both stared at each other surprised. Hope gasped as I turned to see him.

"Dad" said Hope wiping the remains of tears in her face and smiled. Leo kissed me before hugging her daughter.

"Happy birthday, my sweet Hope" said Leo.

"Thank you, dad" said Hope smiling to her dad.

"Go to wake up your sisters. I need to talk to your mom" said Leo.

"Sure" Hope nodded and stood up.

Soon, we were alone in Hope's room. Leo sat in front of me in the bed. He took my hands and I cried silently. I could tell he heard us talking.

"Leo…" I said softly.

"Calypso, I love you so much. You are not the second best" I met his eyes. He was smiling at me. I wanted to pull him and kissed him. I wanted to believe it so much.

"And Hazel?" I said fearing for his answer. I knew it in my heart but he actually had never said it.

"She is just my biggest what if. I went to the island for you because I love you more" said Leo. I looked at him really hoping that this was the truth.

"I want to believe you" I said with a weak hopeful smile.

"Then I will spend more years proving myself to you if you still don't believe me" said Leo and kissed me.

"You wanted to leave me for her. I heard you under the tree that day" I said feeling awful. I didn't mean to eavesdrop but I did.

"Calypso, I am sorry if I hurt you. I was confused about my feelings, just about everything" said Leo

"And?" I said softly. My heart was beating hard fearing his next words.

"I love you more than Hazel" said Leo with a smile.

"I really want to believe you" He kissed me making me smile and loved.

"Then do it. Nico once said to me that I loved the idea of a family with Hazel, not her, and I hate to admit it but he was right. I wanted to make things right with her after Frank and Sammy. Probably, if I stayed with Hazel, we would end up divorced in two years and I would definitely lose the life I have with you. I love you more that Hazel. I'm sorry if I ever made feel otherwise" I pulled Leo and kissed him. I felt like crying of happiness. After years together, he erased all my fears with his words. His words were true and honest. He really loved me.

"I love you" said Leo kissing me once again. I leaned my forehead with his, smiling at his words.

"I love you more" I said and Leo giggled. "I don't think you have the slightest idea how much I love you"

"I think I have and I don't deserve you" said Leo.

"Maybe you don't. You are kind of noisy and not so funny sometimes…"

"Hey" said Leo softly slightly annoyed. "I wouldn't change our life" Leo nodded kissing me one last time before going downstairs for breakfast. I followed him after I made Hope's bed.

I heard the front door being opened downstairs and Hope yelling as she hugged Nico, Max and their adopted kids. They were early this year.