So sorry for not updating this one in ages- I've only recently got ideas.

It was all going nicely until Max went on that stupid quest. Admittedly, they had only been dating a handful of months, but she had seen him at his lowest and felt like she knew him so well.

She had every right to be worried about him as, less than a week into the quest; news reached her that Max had… that he had sacrificed himself to save his brother and cousins…

Ava had only felt this crushing, despairing helplessness once before- when her mother died. It ate away at her from the inside; hysterical tears and screams thundering about her being.

Phoenix and Charlie offered a comforting distraction, but they were too young to fully grasp the situation. All Phoenix understood was that her sister was very upset and wouldn't talk or smile or anything.

Then it all took a major, horrifying twist, (courtesy of me). Max was alive. He was still dead, but he moved around, following Luke's orders via the influence of some advanced technological headpiece. Ava was constantly pleading with the gods and burning offerings, hoping that Max would return, alive and himself again, with no technology controlling him.

All the adults left, Tobias with them, one day. Ava, Jessica and Sally were left in charge of the kids. Ava didn't really help, pacing about worriedly and praying to the gods- Athena and Poseidon in particular- that everything went back to how it was.

"Ava, what's wrong?" Ava had only met Sally twice before, but she was so kind and doted on her grandchildren as much as her own son. Ava respected Sally- even after all these years, she was still trying to be a mother to Louisa, despite Louisa's limitless stubborn streak and insistence Jessica was her mother.

Sally looked concerned, her eyebrows knitting together. "Are you worried about Max?" Ava nodded hesitatingly and Sally's expression softened. She wrapped Ava in a motherly hug. "I know my Percy. He fights for his family even if everyone else had given up. He won't rest until he's helped Max." Ava just nodded, chewing her lip and battling tears.

It was hours before she heard anything else that was even remotely reassuring. Max was home, but she wasn't allowed to see him just yet. She had to help Louisa and Leo look after the younger Jackson children. Percy and Annabeth dropped them off here as they didn't want Sage and the triplets seeing Max's current state.

After the show finished, Max gradually returned to his stoic version and stared at the TV, even after they had turned it off.

Percy knelt next to Max, frowning at the headpiece. Max didn't seem to notice him, not even when Percy felt for a heartbeat.

He didn't feel anything. There was no heartbeat and no rise and fall of Max's chest from breathing.

Sighing, Percy sat on the floor, leaning against the sofa. Max still didn't glance his way.

It was like that for the rest of the week. Max didn't eat or sleep, but it seemed he didn't need to. He barely moved, most likely sat on the floor or the sofa and watching that zombie show. That was the only time he seemed animated. In times like this, Percy could almost kid himself that it was a normal day with normal Max watching his bloody and violent TV show. He could almost ignore the headpiece and the fact that Max wasn't breathing and appearing as a very life-like statue. It helped Percy for him to think that it was Max sat there and not some blank, empty shell.

They did their best to help him, placing familiar or favoured things in front of Max- CDs; childhood toys, photos and drawings; favourite foods; favourite films and, in sheer desperation, a bottle of alcohol. None of it had any affect. If the TV was on, he wouldn't even stare at them. He was fascinated with the TV, as if he had never seen a magic box with moving pictures before.

It was an accident when they found out what got Max's attention.

Annabeth was thoroughly annoyed at herself for being unable to help her son. She was physically shaking with anger as she took the plate of uneaten apple pie away from Max. In anger, she somehow dropped the plate and it shattered.

Percy jumped up to help, resting his hand on her shoulder in silent reassurance. Annabeth gave a weary, yet grateful smile and they picked up the pieces of the broken plate together.

"We'll think of s- oh gods, are you OK?" Percy took Annabeth's hand in both of his, looking horrified at the scarlet line beading across her palm.

"It's a scratch, Seaweed Brain. My hand won't fall off." Percy smiled weakly, but he still looked worried. He picked up the pieces carefully. Annabeth glanced at Max, a passing glance, and was mildly surprised to see he was staring at her intently.

Percy stood up, food and plate shards in his hands.

"Come on, I'll heal your hand." Annabeth put her uninjured hand on his arm without taking her eyes from Max. She sensed Percy's confusion and he started to ask a question, but saw Max's new expression and fell silent. "Max?" Max was trembling now and he dropped his gaze to stare hungrily at the blood seeping from Annabeth's injury.

"Oh gods…" Annabeth breathed, placing her unscathed hand over her heart. "Percy…" She looked at her husband. He held her gaze for a second before spinning on his heel and disappearing into the kitchen. Annabeth cast a last look at Max and then went after her husband. "Percy?"

"Talk to your mom." His tone was monotonous and she recognised the tension in his shoulders.

"Seaweed Brain…" Annabeth stood next to him, watching his face carefully.

"Talk to your mom." He repeated, his voice quieter, yet more insistent. Annabeth covered his hand with hers and silently called her mother. Percy took her other hand and directed it to under the running tap. She had seen Percy heal with water many times before, but it never failed to fascinate her.

There was a flash of silvery light. When their sight returned to them, they saw Athena picking an apple from the fruit bowl on the side.

Picking a green apple, she turned to look at them. She blanked Percy, as she always did (still not fully approving of the relationship) and looked at her daughter expectantly.

Annabeth sighed.

I'll leave that there so I can make my ideas last a bit longer, over several chapters. What am I up to this time?