"Good morning Nyssa," Mark from the Ares cabin says giving her a funny look.
"Hi Mark," she replies not being sure what to make of his expression.
"Nyssa," her brother Jake calls out, "Wait up." She stops and waits as Mark walks off. "You were so mad when you came in last night that I didn't want to ask you what was wrong. Are you okay?" he asks.
"Fine," she says not really wanting to get into details.
"Did something happen with Sherman?" he continues. "If he did something, we'll beat him up."
"Thanks, but nothing happened except I'm not seeing him anymore," she tells him.
"Something must have happened," her brother says.
"I don't want to talk about it," she insists.
"Okay, but if you need my help..." he starts to offer.
"I can handle it," she says then walks on to breakfast.
"So you're leaving today?" Nico asks as he and Percy both try to get their kids situated at tables three and table thirteen which are next to each other.
"Just after breakfast," Percy confirms.
"Well, be sure to tell Eurytion I said hello. He was really nice to me after Geryon died. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't had that time to think," Nico says.
"I will," Percy agrees. "It will be good to see him again. He turned out to be a pretty decent guy."
Chris and Clarisse now walk up with Silena in Daddy's arms. "Morning Punks," Clarisse says with a grin.
"You must be feeling good today," Nico says.
"Just got a little more energy today," she says. "He got his feet out of my ribcage."
"She just loves being pregnant," Chris chuckles.
"Where's Annabeth and Thalatta," Clarisse asks giving her husband a glare.
"Be here in a minute," Percy says. "Hey, we're going to visit your brother," he tells her.
"Which one? I got about a million," she asks.
"Eurytion," he tells her. "Annabeth and I are taking the kids on a little vacation to Triple G Ranch."
"I've never met him," she says.
"He's a pretty nice guy," Nico tells her.
"You sure he's my brother?"
"Positive," Percy says as Annabeth and Thalatta join them at the tables.
Breakfast is pretty much like any other. Chiron has a few announcements, general housekeeping mostly. Percy lets everyone know they will be gone for a few days. Iris tells everyone that she has a batch of fresh baked of gluten-free, no-sugar-added, vitamin-enriched, soy-free, goat-milk-and-seaweed-based cupcake simulations in the kitchen.
"She means nasty tasting Ding Dongs," Butch add.
"Don't eat them if you don't like them," she tells him.
"News flash, Mom, nobody eats them," he laughs.
"Hi Nyssa," Joan, a girl from the Ares cabin says with a giggle when Nyssa catches her and her sister staring.
"What's up with you and the Ares cabin today?" Leo asks noticing the attention they keep giving his sister all through breakfast.
"I have no idea. They must know Sherman and I broke up last night if we were even going together to begin with," she tells him.
"You alright?" her brother asks.
"Yeah, he just wasn't what I expected," she says leaving it at that.
Once Percy has the kids and their car seats strapped onto the chariot he turns to talk to Mrs. O'Leary who is standing there with her pup, who at close to a year is almost full grown though still not as big as Momma. "You remember how to get there?"
"Woof," Mrs. O'Leary answers.
"And you're sure you can get Anubis there safely?"
"Woof," she confirms again.
"Okay, they're expecting you so whenever you're ready, I guess you can go," he tells her.
"Woof," she says once more then grabs Anubis by the back of the neck and picks him up just like she did when he was little. She easily bounds off and disappears into the shadows.
"I guess I'm ready," Annabeth says closing the cabin door and placing one last bag onto the chariot then stepping on herself.
Whoa, Boss, Blackjack moans. One at a time.
That's not nice, Percy says. Can you handle it or do you need help?
You know I can handle it, Boss. It's just, lay off the cookies already.
She's pregnant. You know that.
I sure hope your buddy doesn't have too many barbeques while you're there. I might not get you back, Blackjack tells him.
"What are you doing?" Annabeth asks since Percy is just standing there looking at Blackjack.
"Um, just conferring on the final route," he lies.
Nice save, Boss.
Rachel enters the forges and spots Harley stoking the fire. "Is your sister around?" she asks.
"Nope," he answers keeping his eyes on what he's doing.
"Do you know where she is?" she continues.
"Nope."
About that time Nyssa and Christopher walk in together. "There you are," Rachel says going over to Hephaestus's daughter. "Can I talk to you?"
"Sure," Nyssa says motioning for Chris to go on and get to work.
"I heard something that I thought you should know," the oracle says softly so the boys can't hear. Nyssa just looks at her waiting to hear what it is. "The Ares kids have been telling everyone that you and Sherman had sex last night."
"What?" Nyssa shouts.
"I know the two of you have been dating but..." Rachel starts to say when Nyssa cuts her off.
"He tried, but I didn't want to. He was mad that I said no, and we broke up," she says, "but now I'm going to kill him."
"Not really?" Rachel says taking the girl's arms.
"Really," Nyssa says then pulls away and walks out of the forge just as Leo is walking in. His sister practically runs him over on her way out the door.
"What's..." he starts to say, but she's gone before he gets another word out, "up?" he finishes looking at Rachel. Knowing Leo is the cabin councilor, she tells him what is going on. "I'll kill him," Leo says when she's done then takes off after his sister.
Nyssa finds the Ares cabin in the sword arena. Without saying a word, she walks up to Sherman and punches him in the face knocking him onto his butt in front of all of his siblings. Then she starts shouting, "How dare you lie about me!"
Sherman is struggling to get back on his feet while holding his eye. "Nyssa," he says wondering if he takes his hand away if his eyeball will fall out of the socket.
"Tell them the truth you no good, lying, son-of-a..."
"Nyssa!" Leo shouts from behind her, "He's not worth it."
"Tell them!" she screams again.
"Nothing happened, okay," he says finally getting back on his feet. "I lied about us having sex." His siblings are still too stunned by Sherman getting knocked on his butt to say anything.
"I feel sorry for you," Nyssa now says. "You're so pathetic that even when someone does care about you, you have to ruin it then lie about what happened. I should have known that being the son of Ares that you were incapable of loving anyone. I thought maybe that since Clarisse...it doesn't matter. You're a loser. Don't you ever look at me, speak to me, or talk about me ever again." She turns and storms off without anyone saying anything else.
Once she's gone, Leo walks over to Sherman. "What the Hades man?"
"Nothing happened," Sherman assures her brother. "I wanted to. She wouldn't. I got upset. She got mad and walked off. That's all."
"And then you decided to tell everyone that you did," Leo points out.
"What was I supposed to do. I'd already told them we were going to. I didn't want to look stupid."
"As opposed to how you look now?" Leo says.
"I messed up, okay," Sherman says gently touching his eye.
"Yeah, you did, 'cause my sister is a good person, and she really did like you. That's why I said something to you."
"You mean she liked me before I even asked her out?"
"Yes, you moron. I know it's genetic, but gods you're an idiot," Leo says.
"Oh man, I've got to get her back then," Sherman says knowing he might have really had a chance with a girl.
"I don't think that's going to happen now," Leo tells him. "A Hephaestus kid might give a human one chance, but if you blow it..."
"You could talk to her for me," Sherman says.
"Yeah, um, no," Leo says then turns and walks away leaving Sherman with his siblings.
As Blackjack touches down in a field at the Triple G Ranch, Mrs. O'Leary, Anubis and Orthus come running, and barking, up to meet them. "You made it," Percy calls out to the dogs.
Mrs. O'Leary responds with a woof.
"You too," he now tells Blackjack.
Told you I could do it, Boss, Blackjack says. Do you think your friend has any donuts?
"I don't know, but I bet he's got some sugar at the very least," Percy says taking Annabeth's hand and helping her step off the back of the chariot.
"Hello there," Eurytion calls taking his cowboy hat off his head and waiving it at Percy in greeting.
"Eurytion, it's good to see you," Percy says walking out to greet their host. They shake hands as Annabeth pats the dogs being sure to kiss Anubis on the top of each heads since she knows how much he like it.
"Miss Annabeth," the rancher says giving her a hug. "The Mrs. is looking forward to meeting you."
"The Mrs.?" Percy says surprised. "Since when is there a Mrs.?"
Eurytion smiles. "Well you see," he says, "It gets a little lonely out here with just the animals."
"Good for you," Annabeth says excitedly. "Is she a half-blood?"
"Goddess," he says with a smile.
"Mommy," Sophia calls wanting out of her car seat.
"I'll get them," Percy says stepping around his wife and back into the chariot. He gets Sophia from her seat and hands her to Mommy then gets Sani out as well.
"Beautiful children," Eurytion says tweaking the little girl's cheek.
"Can you say hello to Mr. Eurytion?" Annabeth asks her daughter who is now resting on her hip.
"Hi," Sophia says then buries her face into Mommy's neck.
"What are you doing? You're not shy," Annabeth says.
"Hi," Sani tells Eurytion as he actually reaches for him, showing up his big sister.
"Look at you little man," Eurytion smiles taking the young god in his arms.
Orthus comes up to Percy now to greet him, seeming to have forgotten the time he nearly ripped his throat open. "Hey buddy. Are you being a good boy?" Percy asks scratching behind an ear on each of the dog's heads as Orthus wags his tail. "How are the dogs doing together?" he asks looking toward Eurytion.
"I think old Orthus can tell your pup is his brother Cerberus's boy," Eurytion says still holding Sani.
"The three heads probably give it away," Annabeth chuckles.
"Well, let's get y'all settled," the rancher says grabbing a bag and herding the dogs back toward the house.
When they reach the house, a beautiful woman in a flowered dress is standing on the porch. "Oh, precious little ones," she says reaching out her arms to take Sani from her husband.
"Percy, Annabeth this is my wife Chloris, goddess of flowers," Eurytion says making the introduction.
"It is nice to me you Lady Chloris," Annabeth says bowing to her.
"None of that, and call me Flora," she says. "I do prefer the Roman name."
"The place looks great," Percy says extending his hand to the goddess.
"It needed a female touch," she says then takes Sophia as well since she is reaching to her to be taken. "You're children are beautiful."
"Thank you," Annabeth says smiling at the kids.
"We're pretty proud of them," Percy adds.
"You boys take the bags on inside while we ladies have a seat and get some lemonade," the goddess tells her husband then walks over to the wooden rocking chairs on the porch and takes a seat. "The dogs have been romping around since your two arrived," she continues as Annabeth takes the seat next to her.
"Anubis is a good boy and, of course, Mrs. O'Leary is the best dog ever," Annabeth says. "So Flora, do you have any children?"
"I have a son, Karpos, with Zephyrus," she says putting the kids down on their feet so they can play on the porch.
"I didn't know Zephyr had a child with anyone besides Lady Iris," Annabeth says taking a sip from her glass of lemonade.
"You know Zephyr never could find a goddess that wasn't his sister that was willing to be with him, although in my case it wasn't consensual," Flora starts.
"You mean he raped you?" Annabeth asks.
"Yes, but that's ancient history. We get along alright now. Iris's boy works for Aphrodite, my son is the god of fruit, and little Podarge has two sons Balius and Xanthus."
"The horses of Achilles," Annabeth remembers.
"Yes," Flora says. "Those two haven't been the same since that boy died."
"Where are they now?" Annabeth asks curiously then helps Sophia take a sip of her drink.
"I see them from time to time. Every once in a while I will see them with their father," the goddess answers.
"So how did you meet Eurytion?" Annabeth asks after giving Sani a drink as well.
"About four years ago I was just out and about spreading my flowers around when I came across the ranch. I hadn't been anywhere near the place in many years because it smelled so hideous."
"Yes, I remember how bad it used to be," Annabeth agrees thinking back to how it had been before Percy cleaned the stables.
"I decided to come close and plant some flowers and that's when I saw Eurytion. He was so big and strong," the goddess says actually blushing. "I was immediately taken by him."
"So it was love at first sight?" Annabeth asks with a smile.
"For me, but I dare say he didn't seem to feel the same way," Flora laughs.
"Are you talking about me again?" her husband says as he and Percy come from the house.
"You know it's true," his wife says offering both men a glass of lemonade.
"I was attracted," Eurytion insists. "I just wasn't going to get my hopes up. I mean there was no way a goddess was gonna want me."
"Hey Annabeth, you'll be happy. All the trophy heads are gone," Percy says taking a seat on the other side of his wife.
"Oh, yes. Those awful things were the first thing to go," Flora says shaking her head at even the thought of those beast on the living room walls.
"Oh, before I forget," Percy says, "Nico said to say hi."
"The boy turned out alright," Eurytion says with a smile thinking back to the little kid who was so lost and confused when he first met him.
"He's completely different now," Annabeth agrees. "He and Thalatta are happy, and he's a great daddy."
"It's hard to imagine that little kid who walked around here for a week in Geryon's big oversized robe being a father," Eurytion says.
"So back to the two of you," Annabeth says wanting to hear the rest of the story.
"I should explain that my flowers tend to come out based on my emotions, and when I saw this big handsome man," she says putting her hand over his, "I filled the flower beds with red roses."
"I'm not real big on roses, they are my mother's favorite and..." he trails off seeming to not want to say anything more.
"I think I met your mom," Percy says remembering Chiron telling him once that she was one of the Hesperides.
"If you met the Hesperides, then I'm sure you did. She is the red one," Eurytion says. "It was a real short meeting, but I knew your Aunt Zoë pretty well."
"Zoë Nightshade," he says which surprises Percy a little because his mother acted like she had forgotten her sister after what happened with Hercules. "I actually have more in common with her than my own mother. We both had our lives ruined by Hercules," he says.
"Sweetheart, if it hadn't been for what he did to you, your father would have never given you immortality," Flora says.
"Exactly," he says.
"But then you wouldn't be here now, and we would have never met," she reminds him.
"Okay, so maybe it wasn't completely ruined," he says leaning over and giving her a kiss.
"Speaking of your life ruined," Percy says, "Still no sign of Geryon?"
"No thank the gods," Eurytion says.
"Apollo stopped by one morning and said he might not ever be back," Flora adds. "He said that when he found out he was grinding his cattle up for meat, he had a little talk with Hades."
"That would be awesome," Percy says. "Cousin or not, that dude was horrible."
"We know where he gets it too," Annabeth says, "Having met both his father and grandmother now."
"You ran into Chrysaor?" Flora says surprised, "And survived?"
"Barely," Percy says.
"Percy defeated him by using his head, for a change," Annabeth says with a smile. "I was so proud of him."
"Thanks...Hey wait, was that an insult," he asks looking confused which causes Lady Flora to laugh.
"I am so glad you have come. Our visit is going to be so much fun," the goddess says.