Melanie felt Nico grab her hand and give it a squeeze. "You look a little pale," he leaned over and whispered.

"Just a little nervous," she said shakily.

"No need. They'll do fine," he said as he gave her hand another reassuring squeeze.

"If you say so," she replied.

They entered the throne room. There was a moment of silence before Zeus gave his verdict.

"The Olympians of Olympus find the defendants guilty. They have been punished to serve Olympus for the next twelve years, and after those twelve years they shall be tried again. Shall the defendants try to leave, they shall be struck dead on sight," and that was that.

As Evan, Clara, Brice, Dean, and Garrett left the room, and the gods started to leave, Aphrodite approached Melanie. "Hello Melanie," she said in a calming voice.

"Hey," Melanie replied in a depleted voice.

"I'm glad you came."

"I'm not sure if I am," she replied with a sigh.

"You did. If you hadn't come Zeus would have had them executed." Aphrodite must have recognized the shock and terror on Melanie's face because she rushed to add, "But you saved them." Then Melanie released a sigh of relief. "What do you, Nico, and Henry plan to do this afternoon?"

"Go back to camp I guess."

"Why don't you spend the day out?"

"Are we allowed to?"

"I am a goddess. One of the twelve Olympians. And I say you can."

"Okay. Well what are we supposed to do?"

"See a movie, visit a museum, go shopping. Just as long as you are having fun."

"Well. That sounds like a great idea, but we didn't bring any money."

"Consider this a birthday present for the last sixteen years."

"Um, thanks but-" Melanie began.

"Just go. I'll take care of everything else. Just make sure to meet me in front of the building at five for a ride back."

"Got it," Melanie said as she turned to Nico and Henry at the door, then she turned back and said, "Mother," Aphrodite gave her attention to Melanie again, "thanks."

"No problem. I figured it was time you and your boyfriend went on a proper date." Melanie gave her mom a smile and turned to her friends.

"So my mother said she wants us to just hang out in the city today. Despite anything I said. She's also paying," Melanie said as she joined Nico and Henry.

"What about Argus? We can't just leave him," Nico argued.

"She said she would take care of it, and we have to meet her at the building around five."

"Do we have to?" Nico whined.

"I am tired, and in a bad mood, and really not in the mood to go shopping, but we will go. Understood? I just want to get my mind off this stuff," Melanie said in a sower voice.

"Well I guess we should go then," Henry said as he pulled them out towards the elevator.

Once they had made it to the street and called a taxi, they decided they were all starving.

"What's the best diner in the city?" Nico leaned forward and asked the driver.

"Well there is this one place that serves a mean burger," the driver replied.

"Burgers?!" Melanie perked up from the back seat, her sour mood slowly dissipating.

"Take us there," Nico said with a chuckle as he leaned back to join Melanie and Henry.

Five minutes later they pulled up to a diner named "Do or Dine."

"Interesting name," Henry noted as he got out of the cab first. Melanie stayed back to pay, and then followed the boys into the 50s style diner. They seated themselves,Nico scooting next to Melanie and Henru across from her, in a booth, and looked at the menus that were placed at the end of the table.

"What are you going to have, Sugar?" Melanie asked.

"I'm not quite sure. What about you, Barbie?" Nico asked with a smirk.

"Bacon cheeseburger, all the veggies. No mustard or mayo. A side of fries with a large Coke," Melanie replied in a rapid fire speed.

"I'll take it that's your order," said a young waitress, Lola according to her name tag, as she stood at the end of the table, slightly amused.

Nico snickered and Melanie replied, "Oh, yes, sorry," as she elbowed Nico in the ribs.

"And what about you two boys?" Lola said gesturing to Nico and Henry.

The boys ordered, and then Lola went back behind the counter. "Do you ever eat healthy?" Nico asked her.

Before Melanie could reply, Henry bluntly said, "Nope."

Nico laughed as Melanie asked, "Is there a problem with that?"

"No. I like a girl who doesn't care what people think," he said as he leaned down and gave her a kiss.

"Good," she said as she reached up and gave him another kiss.

"Get a room," Henry moaned as he threw a sugar packet at their faces.

Melanie laughed as they broke apart, "Jealous Mable isn't here?" Melanie joked.

"Mable?" Nico asked surprised, "Good job. She's a pretty cool nymph."

"Uh, yeah," Henry said slightly nervous, "Melanie wasn't supposed to tell anyone though."

"Oops," she said slightly sorry. "You better keep a secret," she said giving Nico a playful glare.

"Cross my heart," he said as he mimed crossing his heart.

"Here are your drinks," Lola said as she came towards the table, drinks in hand.

"Thanks," Melanie said s she took a sip of her soda.

"Sure thing. You're food will be ready in a few," she said as she sauntered off to the counter.

They discussed Henry's love life until their food arrived. Melanie finished all the food on her plate at a neck breaking pace, Henry, after finishing his food, began t munch on pieces of the wax paper that the food had been served on.

"What do we do next?" Melanie asked as they exited the diner.

"We could go see a movie," Nico offered.

"Sounds good to me," Henry said as Melanie nodded. They found the nearest theater and bought tickets for the next movie showing. They bought some snacks at the counter and went to the auditorium.

"What kind of movie is this?" Melanie asked Nico.

"Some action movie," he replied with a shrug of his shoulders. They all took their seats in the theater just as the previews started.

After the movie it was only two in the afternoon, so they all sat down on a bench to decide what was next.

"Well, we could always go shopping," Melanie suggested.

"Shopping?" Nico asked with a laugh,

"Melanie is like the queen of online shopping, but we don't exactly have that luxury at camp," Henry said.

"Exactly, now I want a new pair of Converse, and I heard about some Converse store here," Melanie said as she dragged the two boys to help her hail a taxi.

After three hours of aimlessly walking around the city, Melanie had a new pair of shoes, and a few new t-shirts and jeans. Henry had found a new hat along with a new pair of pants. Nico only had a new shirt, but that was because Melanie forced him to buy it no matter what he had argued. They were approaching the empire State building to see a limo parked out front. "That would be our ride," Nico said as they got closer.

Melanie was about to ask if he was sure, but by the time they got closer, a window rolled down with Aphrodite telling them to get in.

They got in, and soon the driver was off. Aphrodite started asking questions, but pretty soon Melanie had drifted off to sleep on Nico's shoulder.

She was soon waken up by Nico gently shaking her awake. They all piled out of the limo. Aphrodite told the children goodbye, and then drove off. they all made it down to the Big House with about an hour and a half until dinner.

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a review! I love it when you guys thank you SO much to WyldClaw for adding me to your community. Sorry I forgot to mention it before.

Thanks for reading,

Dr. John H. Watson