Percy and Annabeth are concerned with leaving Mrs. O'Leary alone with her puppies, as campers will be returning the following day. Since Tyson and Shelly have been sleeping in the underwater cave of her sisters, so both Shelly and Thusia sleep better, the Jackson's decide to take apart a couple of beds and set up a corner of cabin three for the new little family. The only real issue is how to get Mrs. O'Leary through the door. Nico suggests that they give Mrs. O'Leary a shadow to travel into and out of, which works like a charm. They spend the next couple of hours getting her and the puppies comfortable. Sophia is in heaven with the puppies now staying inside her home. She has taken a real liking to a Cerberus look-alike puppy and holds it most of the time when it's not eating.
Rachel stops by to see the new arrivals and has to be convinced to hold even a Mrs. O'Leary look-alike. It's not that she's afraid of dogs, but since these are hell hounds, she's a little nervous. Thalatta brings Attisain over to see the puppies although at only a week-old he's not too impressed. Thalatta on the other hand loves the puppies and tries to talk Nico into letting them keep one when they get big enough. Percy also puts an IM into Hades to tell him about the puppies. As the owner of the sire, he is after all entitled to pick of the litter. He assures Percy that if any or all of the puppies are a problem at camp, they will have a home in the Underworld with their papa, as soon as they stop nursing.
The first evening the dogs are inside, there is a knock at the door. Percy answers to find Persephone. "Lady Persephone, what a surprise," he says shocked.
"I wanted to see the puppies," she says sweetly.
"Um, sure, come in," he says showing her inside. "Annabeth," he calls out to his wife, "Lady Persephone is here to see the puppies."
Sophia is the first to come running from the bedroom where she was getting her diaper changed. "See puppies," she says excited to show them off to someone new.
"Do you like the puppies?" Persephone asks the baby.
"Play," Sophia says grabbing her favorite and walking over to Persephone to show her.
"So the puppies are of normal temperament?" the goddess asks.
"Not really, but Sophia has a way with them," Annabeth tells her.
"She must get that from her father," Persephone says absently.
"How's that," Percy says, "They didn't really like me."
"I shouldn't have said anything," Persephone says realizing now what she's done.
Persephone then sits down in the floor and picks up a puppy to play with as well. "They are adorable, both types," she says reaching over and petting a second puppy.
"So Lord Hades says you guys will take some of them to raise in the Underworld," Percy says making small talk.
"Yes, we would love that. Cerberus has never had puppies before. I think all the other hell hounds are afraid of him. You're Mrs. O'Leary is a special girl, aren't you sweetie," Persephone say petting the big dog.
"I would have never dreamed that the two of them would, you know," Annabeth says. "Mrs. O'Leary showed no signs of being in heat."
"Well she's a hell hound. They aren't like other dogs. She didn't have a normal length gestation either did she?" Persephone asks.
"No she didn't," Annabeth agrees.
Now that all of the puppies are finished eating, they start climbing all over Persephone and Sophia who are both now sitting in the floor. As Sophia starts to giggle, Lady Persephone starts to laugh as well.
"You seem like you'd be great with kids," Percy says to Persephone, "Why did you and Lord Hades only have the one?"
"Percy," Annabeth says thinking that's a very personal question.
"It's fine," Persephone says, "It's not like we made a decision. I just didn't conceive again. I had no problems with Melinoe's pregnancy. I guess it just wasn't meant to be."
"And you have no demigod children?" Percy continues.
"No, Hades is my only love. I didn't go looking for mortal men, and don't believe any of those stories you might have read. I never got pregnant by my father or any other man," she says with a smile.
"I think most people imagine that Uncle Hades is hard to live with, but he doesn't really seem like that with you," Percy says.
"No he's not hard to live with. Don't get me wrong, I love my time in the upper world. I miss the flowers too much when I'm with my husband, but Hades dotes on me. He gives me anything and everything I want. In fact, you might say I have him wrapped around my finger," Persephone says with a laugh.
"I hope we have that kind of love," Annabeth says looking at her husband. "I mean we won't live for thousands of years, but to love each other that much for as long as we have."
"Do you have any regrets in eating those seeds?" Percy asks out of curiosity.
"Only in my husband's dalliances with mortal women. Oh I realize they all do it, even my mother, but I would give anything if my husband could have been faithful to me like I to him. I know he loves me more than any of them, but that doesn't mean he doesn't love them as well. My husband isn't capable of being with a woman unless he loves her. I suppose that's what hurt so much about Maria di Angelo. He was with her for years. It is very difficult to share your husband for so long," the goddess tells them.
Annabeth notices tears in the goddess' eyes, as she sits looking at Sophia. "My Lady, please we did not mean to upset you."
"It's fine, I…I need to tell you that I know," Persephone tells them.
"You know what?" Percy asks.
"I know Sophia's father is my beloved Hades," she admits watching the little one still playing with the puppies. "I also want you to know I did not kill her mother."
"I believe you," Percy says softly.
"I am happy that Hades chose the two of you. I wouldn't want everyone else to know," Persephone tells them.
"We don't plan to tell anyone," Annabeth assures her.
"Lady Sephone," Sophia now says, "Puppies love you."
"We have something in common," Persephone says giving her a kiss.
After a couple of minutes, there is another knock on the Jackson's door. Percy again answers to find Artemis and Thalia. "We came to play with the puppies," Thalia says with a smile.
"Come on in, your sister is already here," Percy says motioning to Persephone in the floor.
"Seph," Artemis says excitedly then gives her sister a hug.
"Artie, it's good to see you. It's been since the second war," Persephone says hugging her back.
"Hi Persephone," Thalia says taking her turn to get a hug.
"My gods, I can't remember the last time three of dad's daughters were together in the same place," Persephone tells them, as she hands them each a puppy.
"There's only three others, maybe we should get them down here and have a girl's night," Artemis says with a laugh.
"You don't really think they'd come do you?" Persephone asks seriously.
"Annabeth could get her mom to come, and Hebe would come," Artemis says.
"Yeah, but what about Enyo," Persephone asks, "It wouldn't be as much fun without the warrior goddess," she continues with a laugh.
"I bet if you reminded her she has a new niece to come see, she would come. She's got to be looking for a break from the freaking Middle East right now," Thalia suggests.
"Are you guys serious?" Percy asks.
"Why not, we've got Dad's whole cabin to ourselves," Artemis says, "Annabeth will you ask your mom?"
"Thalia, come with me," Annabeth says pulling her best friend to her bedroom to make the IM.
"You contact Hebe and I'll contact Enyo," Artemis suggests sending the goddesses outside to catch some sun.
Annabeth and Thalia are the first to come back into the main room. "Well is she coming?" Percy asks his wife.
"She'll be here in about an hour," Annabeth tells him.
"Great," he says sarcastically and starts picking up toys.
Artemis returns with an update that Enyo can't wait to see them all and will be there in bit, while Persephone comes back inside with Hebe by her side.
"Told you she'd come," Artemis says hugging her sister.
"This is awesome," Hebe says, "I'm glad to get away from mother for a night. Gods she's a needy woman."
Percy laughs at that last bit thinking needy isn't exactly the adjective he's use to describe the Queen of the Gods.
"So I've never met Enyo, what's she like?" Percy asks, as he tosses toys into the toy box.
"More likely than not, you won't get along," Thalia says with a laugh.
"Why's that?" he asks.
"She's just like her twin brother, Ares," Artemis says with a smile.
"Oh gods, is she as ugly as he is?" he asks.
"Just about," Persephone say with a laugh.
"I'm glad you guys aren't my sisters," Annabeth says honestly.
"We can rag on our nieces just as bad," Artemis says with a laugh.
"Aunt Artemis, you wouldn't," Annabeth says hoping.
"Yeah we would," Thalia says with a laugh.
"But you're my best friend," Annabeth says looking at Thalia. "You're supposed to support me and say nice things about me."
"We can make fun of your taste in men," her friend continues.
"What?" Percy asks.
"You heard me Kelp Head," Thalia answers.
"Look Pinecone Face, two can play that game," Percy insists, as there comes another knock on the door.
"That might be Enyo, I told her to come here," Artemis says going to answer the door herself.
"Gods know Athena would just walk in," Percy says of his mother-in-law.
"Girl look at you," Artemis says to the visitor, as she pulls her through the door. Enyo steps inside still wearing her dessert fatigues.
"I couldn't believe it when you called," Enyo says talking while she goes to each sister to get a hug. "I was just thinking, damn that stupid Muhammad video now I'm never going to get a vacation."
"You mean all that rioting is your fault?" Percy asks.
"No it's not my fault. It's whoever created that filth, and whoever put it on the Internet, and those morons that are looking for any excuse to be violent and kill people, but since they all want a fight…You must be Percy Jackson. My brother told me about you."
"All good, I'm sure," he says with a laugh.
Enyo looks at him a second then starts to laugh with him. "Anyone who can keep humiliating my twin brother is alright in my book," she tells him.
"I thought you two were close. Don't you always go into battle together?" Annabeth asks.
"Just because he's my brother and I love him, and I fight by his side, doesn't mean I have to like the jackass," Enyo says with a wink. "You must be Annabeth. You look just like your mom. Where is my brilliant sister Athena anyway?"
"I'm right here," Athena says coming from the back of the cabin.
"Told you she wouldn't knock," Percy mumbles.
"I heard that son," Athena says lifting her granddaughter off the floor to get hugs and kisses. "Look at your puppies," grandma says.
"Gram A play?" Sophia begs pulling Athena down to the floor with her.
A couple of puppies start to climb on Athena, though she doesn't seem too thrilled. "Do they bite?" she asks picking up a Cerberus looking pup and holding it up to her face.
"They're puppies, of course they bite a little bit they're teething," Artemis says thinking, if you're so smart why didn't you know that.
"So Annabeth are you joining us this evening?" her mother asks.
"Hades no, I'd rather stay home and have sex with my husband than spend the night with a house full of maidens," Annabeth says with a grin.
"Yes!" Percy says pumping his fist in the air.
"I'm not a maiden," Persephone says with a grin.
"Neither am I," Hebe adds, "I was married to Heracles."
"Aren't you still?" Thalia asks her sister.
"I wouldn't call it that. I never see him. He says he's busy protecting Olympus but who knows and who cares, and I sure as Hades won't sleep with him anymore, that arrogant prick," the goddess says.
"What happened, afraid you might catch something?" Persephone asks with a chuckle.
"Let's just say that after that many years and that many women, not to mention the men, it is possible to wear it out," Hebe says with a laugh of her own.
"Well no one said I was a maiden either," Enyo says with a smile.
"Yeah, I uh know a couple of your daughters," Percy says with a grin. "Well Bellona's daughter's anyway."
"I claim them," Enyo says with a proud smile. "I'm quite proud of both Hylla and Reyna."
"You should be," Percy says, "They're both smart, brave, and honest. I consider it an honor to serve as Praetor with Reyna, and I consider it a blessing Hylla didn't kill me," Percy tells her with a grin.
"There's still time," Enyo says with a smile.
"Hey," Annabeth says in protest.
"Just kidding," the goddess says then laughs.
The ladies sit around talking, bragging, and laughing at each other for some time when Percy finally says, "I thought the plan was for a sleepover in Zeus' cabin not Poseidon's cabin."
"You just want that sex your wife promised," Thalia tells her cousin.
"Yes I do, now get out," he says showing the ladies to the door.