Sorry I've been absent the last couple of days, Dragons came back on Netflix ^_^

To Guest- thank you! More on the way! :D

Side note- In the Parenthood AU, Solangelo as canon.

"Happy birthday dear Kia, happy birthday to you!" They all cheered as the birthday girl blew out her four candles, clapping and smiling. Alokia beamed at them and clapped as well. Leo picked the candles from her Avengers cake and started taking in orders. Nico got the biggest slice- even though he was eating better, old habits died hard and Leo couldn't help but give him more- Piper caught Nico off guard and stuck one of those pointy party hats on his head, twanging the elastic.

"Ah, you can't take it off!" She teased. Nico glowered and retreated to a corner to eat his cake. Alokia raced after him, a birthday banner flapping behind her. She wiggled under his arm and pulled herself up on his lap; she loved her Unki Nico for reasons unknown to everyone else. Piper was adamant that she should be the favourite, considering she had been at the birth, but Alokia was having none of it.

Leo took the last slice for himself and looked round. Hazel was stuffing napkins into Frank's hand, laughing at the jam and cake crumbs smeared all over his face; Elsie was chasing her older cousins around Percy and Annabeth while Alvie watched tentatively from his mother's arms; Jason was letting Piper feed him, not even mildly surprised when she sploshed the cake slice on his nose and glasses; Sally and Jessica were sat on the sofa, nattering, Paul sat beside them, half-asleep; Tyson was in the kitchen helping himself to peanut butter- Leo made a mental note to restock- and Alokia was, of course, tormenting her favourite uncle.

"He keeps looking at the door." Leo started, frantically looking round. He relaxed when he saw Reyna, a little miffed that she was smirking at him.

"What?" He stammered.

"I said he keeps looking at the door." Reyna nodded at Nico. "He's either going to make a run for it or... he's waiting for someone."

"He had a plus-one." Leo suddenly remembered. "Whenever I asked who it was though, he... went all red- ooh, Nico's got a crush!" Leo whispered eagerly, grabbing Reyna's arm and shaking her, making sure she noticed. Reyna carefully freed her arm, wiggling her fingers to get the blood going again. "I bet I know who it is."

"Do tell."

"No, I want to see if I'm right first. Ah, I'm so excited!"

"I can see that." Reyna shook her head, half-laughing as he bounced on the spot and did a little victory dance. "I guess you can stop trying to set him up then."

"I never tried to set him up, who told you that?"

"He did."

"Pfft, lies." Leo waved it off. Reyna could clearly see who the liar was, giving a sarcastic little smile so Leo knew she knew. He watched her for a second, expression revealing nothing, and then a wicked grin split across his features. "Yeah, OK, I tried. It's half the fun of being with him though! Hey, don't pull that face, you don't get 'plagued' by him every Tuesday."

"True. But we do meet up for coffee sometimes."

"You do?" Reyna nodded. "Hmmph." Leo crossed his arms sulkily. "No-one ever told me."

"We don't have to tell you everything. It's just for a catch-up, nothing fancy. Truth be told though, we do talk about you a lot."

"Of course you do." Leo smoothed his hair back and smiled knowingly.

"Mm, no." Reyna decided, pursing her lips as she examined the ceiling thoughtfully. Leo's smile slowly dwindled into a judgemental look. "No offense, but you're quite easily the butt of our jokes."

"Now why doesn't that surprise me?" Leo muttered. "Oh, come on, there's got to be something nice you can say about me."

"We like your cooking."

"Who doesn't?"

"You're good with the kids."

"Duh."

"Um..."

"Why are you even thinking about this, there is no need to think about this!" Leo wrinkled his nose at her and started listing things off on his fingers. "I'm devilishly good-looking and charming and talented, I'm hilarious-"

"Laughing at your own jokes doesn't make you hilarious."

"Oh, like you would know."

"My jokes are hilarious."

"I've never heard you tell a joke."

"Alright then, what does a nosey pepper do?" Leo shrugged. "Get jalapeño business." Reyna smiled triumphantly as he snorted.

"That's terrible."

"You still laughed." He started to protest, but she had another joke for him, "Late one night a robber wearing a mask stopped a well-dressed man and held a gun to him. 'Give me your money', he said. Horrified, the man replied, 'You can't do this – I'm a U.S Congressman!' The robber smiled and said 'In that case, give me my money!'"

"Ooh, so true." Leo nodded seriously. Reyna rolled her eyes and swatted his arm. "What?"

"It was a joke."

"But it was true."

"You're so weird."

"And?" Leo shot her a pointed look. The doorbell rang and he rushed to answer it. "Will!"

"Hi, Leo." Will Solace smiled at him. "Sorry I'm late, I got a bit lost. And I had to, um... for Alokia." Will held out a green gift bag. "Nico said nothing pink, so green's OK, right?"

"She loves green. Kia!" Leo called. Alokia hurried over, collided with his legs and fell back on her bottom. Leo pulled her giggling to her feet and handed the gift bag over. "This is from Will."

"You Will?" She asked, looking up at the medic.

"Yes, I'm Will. Hello. Happy birthday."

"Ta." Alokia smiled. Leo ushered her to one side and let Will in, closing the door quietly behind him. Alokia squealed at the present, dropping the bag and tissue paper and dancing excitedly. "Nerf gun, Nerf gun!"

"Noooo!" Leo pulled on his hair. Alokia cackled madly and dashed off. "Will!" Leo flicked his friend's arm.

"It wasn't my idea!" Will despaired.

"Who-? Oohhh, Nico. Excuse me a minute. Nico!" Leo spotted the son of Hades disappear into the kitchen. Alokia shot Tobias in the leg and sprinted away, whooping victoriously. Reyna and Percy were trying to catch her, Piper joined in when a foam dart bounced off Jason's forehead. Leo made a beeline for Nico, who was hiding behind Tyson, doubled over with laughter. "Nico di Angelo, I can't believe you! Well, I can, but why?"

"Why not?" Nico wheezed.

"What's going on?" Tyson asked.

"This prat got Kia a Nerf gun and now she's shooting everyone."

"Oh." Tyson wiped his face on a thick wad of napkins. "I will help get her." Nico stopped laughing and grabbed the Cyclops' arm. "Mm?" Tyson looked at his cousin quizzically.

"No, Leo's going to kill me. Stay."

"But they need my help." Tyson pointed out. They could hear startled shouts and yelps of pain and surprise, the click-click of a gun and Alokia's crazy laugh. Leo put his head in his hands.

"Why do they always turn out like their mothers?" He shook his head and sighed. Nico snickered. Tyson wiggled his arm free and left; Nico's humour died and Leo grabbed him just as he shadow-travelled away. "Nico!" He scolded, head spinning. He swayed and staggered, trying to get his balance, keeping a firm hold on Nico's arm. "Dammit, Nico, why?" Leo blinked the spots from his eyes and squinted round. "Where are we?"

"Only a few blocks away."

"We're going back. Walking, we are walking back. Come on."

"Leo, you're such a sour-puss."

"You gave Alokia a Nerf gun."

"And?"

"You're grounded."

"You can't ground me."

"I feel like this arguement happens a lot." Leo sighed. The world slowly stopped see-sawing and he recognised where he was. "This way." He started off, dragging Nico along behind him. Nico tried to work his arm out of Leo's grip, but Leo wasn't going to relent any time soon. He said as much, "besides," he continued, "Will's waiting for you." Nico turned a delicate shade of pink. "You like him."

"N-no."

"Liar."

"I'm not!"

"He's your type, isn't he?"

"No!"

"You look like a tomato." Nico glowered and threw his free hand over his face. "Will and Nico sitting in a tree-"

"Stop it." Leo saw a flash of dark eyes between pale fingers and smirked. "You're insufferable."

"Thank you."

"Where did you go?" Hazel demanded the second they walked in.

"Nico bailed." Leo explained. He transferred Nico's arm to Hazel and joined the small crowd of people in the middle of the living room. Alokia lay on her front on the floor, protesting and trying to reach her Nerf gun- just out of her reach- and Elsie was sitting on her, arms folded stubbornly.

"Let me go!" Alokia squirmed. Elsie adjusted her weight and her little sister complained wordlessly.

"This seems familiar." Leo remarked.

"Daddy!" The girls said at the same time, Elsie happy to see him, Alokia wanting him to side with her. Leo could feel the others watching him- if there was ever a moment his daughters resemebled their mothers, it was now more than ever before. He could sense the question bouncing between them- was he OK?

Leo stepped forward, taking them both by the arm. He helped Elsie to her feet and tucked Alokia under his arm. Percy picked up the Nerf gun and almost offered it to Leo. Alokia made a grab for it and Percy hid it behind his back, taking a step back. "No fair!" Alokia protested. "My birthday! Want to play!"

"And I get that, Kia, but you're the only one with a gun, so it's not very fair, is it?" Leo said patiently. Alokia stopped kicking and considered this for a moment. Leo reached down and ruffled Elsie's hair. "Attagirl." He smiled. Elsie beamed at him, relishing the approval. "Nico, come here."

"No!"

"You'll all be happy to know this little incident was Nico's idea." Leo told the others.

"Was not!" Hazel dragged Nico forward. "I didn't buy it, I-" He stopped short upon seeing Will, slowly turning red and sulky. "I told Will to buy it." He grumbled. Leo cleared his throat and Nico repeated the confession for them all to hear clearly. Percy raised the gun as Jason and Frank latched onto Nico, holding him in place.

Fair to say, Nico had the most bruises.

Also fair to say, he had a pretty good doctor to look after him. Leo was about ninety-eight percent sure Solagenlo was a thing, but just to make sure he shoved Nico into Will. Will automatically caught him in a hug. Nico glared at Leo, red-faced and Leo had his answer.

"Totally a thing. Hey, no swearing! I don't care if it's Italian, it's uncalled for."

"Your face is uncalled for."

"My face is amazing, yours is very red." Leo looked down as Elsie tugged on his hand.

"Daddy?" She asked, watching Nico and Will curiously. "They married? Like Aunty Beth and Uncle Percy?"

"They will be." Elsie looked from one couple to another. Percabeth was rather amused. Solangelo hurriedly let go of each other, both the reddest of reds. Leo smirked at them and then smiled at Elsie as she pulled on his hand again.

"Boys can marry boys?"

"Yes."

"Can girls marry girls?"

"Yes."

"So... can marry anyone?"

"Pretty much."

"Cool. Not want to get married though, asking for Kia."

"Not want to get married either!" Alokia declared from under her father's arm. "I'm four!"

"And I'm six!" Elsie reminded her. "Won't get married, no wanna."

"Give it fifteen years." Piper insisted. Leo scowled at her. "What?" She demanded.

"No."

"But-"

"No."

"Are you really not going to let them get married?" Reyna asked later. The others had all gone home now. Elsie and Alokia had been bathed, pyjamaed and put to bed. Reyna had stayed behind to help Leo clear up. "Like Piper said, they're years off getting married, even if they did want to."

"Yeah, but that's weird. They're only kids now, them getting married or, or just growing up, I don't like it." He shook his head and grimaced.

"But it's still years away." Reyna reminded him. "Just enjoy this time now, Leo, don't fret about the future until it gets here, OK?"

"OK."

"You're still fretting."

"I know." Leo bundled streamers and used paper plates into the trash bag. He was very tempted to put the Nerf gun in there as well, but Alokia would never forgive him. He decided to simply hide it and hope for the best. Reyna was clearing up on the other side of the room, gathering wrapping paper, plates and plastic beakers. "I do want them to be happy though."

"Me too."

"And if they didn't want to get married, that's alright, isn't it?"

"Of course. It'll be their choice, Leo."

"Right." Leo stayed quiet for a moment and then announced that if anyone was actually brave enough to marry either girl, they would need the Leo stamp of approval.

"And the Reyna one." Reyna added. Leo nodded distractedly. "How'd you get a one-armed augur out of a tree?"

"What?"

"You wave." Reyna waved at him. It took a second for him to register it was a joke and then he started to laugh. "On an unrelated note, do you think Octavian would look better with one arm? Maybe it would shut him up."

"There is no shutting him up." Leo straightened and stretched. "Unless you ripped out his vocal chords or something. Maybe his brain, if you can find it. I should stop talking, I'm giving you ideas, aren't I?"

"No..." Reyna smiled sweetly. Leo bopped himself on the head. Reyna checked her side of the room, nodded once to approve that the rubbish had been taken care of and deftly flipped a knot into her bag. "Well done, by the way. I forgot to say that earlier, but well done." Leo looked at her quizzically. "For the party; I'm sorry I didn't help organise, I know I should have, but it looks like you didn't really need my help anyway. Apart from the Nerf gun incident, I think everyone had a great time."

"Thank you."

"For her next birthday, I'm getting her a sword."

"Oh gods, don't."

"Don't worry, I'll train her."

"At Camp Jupiter."

"Ah." Reyna hissed. "About that..." Leo stopped what he was doing and shot her a questioning look. "Because a suitable replacement hasn't been found as of yet, I've got three months to find one. Jason too. And then we're retiring."

"What are you going to do?"

"I don't know. Part of me wants to stay at Camp Jupiter, but I'm worried I might have to find a smaller apartment somewhere else, somewhere a little cheaper. At the moment, I haven't got a job lined up at all. And don't say there might be something in New Rome for me, I won't make a good teacher or baker or florist or retail-sales-person thingy. What?" She added, frowning at him and his sudden smile.

"Thingy."

"What?"

"I never realised that was a word you'd use."

"Oh, ha ha."

"You'll find something." Leo assured. "You've got three months to find something, just hit Google." Reyna nodded absent-mindedly. "Now who's fretting?" He teased.

"Shut up."

"Make me."

"I will smack you with this." She joustled the trash bag. When Leo dropped his and spread his arms, an open invite, she tossed it over her shoulder and then flung it forward. Leo got a faceful of plastic and then it plopped to the floor, half-covering his feet.

"Ow." He said helpfully.

"I don't have anything else to throw at you." Reyna looked about frantically. "Aha!" She lunged for something. Leo rushed forward and then back-tracked quickly towards the kitchen. Reyna hit him with three Nerf bullets, the fourth thudding dully against the door. "Cheater!"

"Says you!" Leo called back, flinching when she smacked the butt of the toy gun on the door. She tried the handle. Leo instinctively grabbed it, willing a little heat into it. She yelped as it suddenly flared red-hot and the handle stilled in his palm.

"Leo!"

"Who's there?"

"That was cheating!"

"Lies." He insisted. Quiet. Leo pressed his ear to the door. "You are still there, aren't you?" Nothing. He waited a couple of minutes. A breeze across the back of his neck and a tell-tale snick. "Ooh, that's cheating!" He protested as she climbed through his kitchen window and perched herself on his counter, grinning triumphantly. She swung one leg over the other and readied the gun. He threw open the door and raced out, Reyna hot on his heels. Leo grabbed the silly string can from the table and started shaking it, scrambling over furniture and ducking under the foam darts where he could. Most of them hit him, stinging bursts of pain across his legs, arms and back. She had to stop every minute or so to recover the missiles. Leo used this quick break to coat her in silly string and then the few seconds before she started firing to make a run for it.

"No, wait! I'm out, I'm out." Leo shook the can desperately, a last pathetic pfish as it spat out a tiny gobbet. "Oops. I wonder where it all went."

"Look me in the eye and say that again."

"Oh, damn." Leo snorted, tried to stop himself from laughing and then cracked up. He couldn't really see Reyna, she was covered in sheets of tangled, bright yellow silly string. It hung from her arms, shoulders, neck, hair, it stuck to her clothes, she looked like a swamp monster's more enthusiastic cousin.

Reyna fired her last bullet, Leo threw the plastic lid of the can, panicked when she ran at him and tried to escape. She tackled him around the middle and they tumbled over the sofa and crashed onto the floor in a knotted, bruised and silly string coated heap. Leo groaned and tried to get his arm free, pretty sure he had sprained his wrist. Reyna was trying to free her leg, trapped under his. It took a few attempts to figure out whose limb was whose, her hand smacked him in the face as she scrambled for leverage- he was pretty sure he now had concussion as well- he almost consumed several miles of silly string and then she slipped on the yellow mess, accidentally headbutting each other.

"Ugh, I give up." Reyna tugged vats of silly string off her head and started; Leo was alot closer than she realised. This seemed to come to his attention to and he turned pink, a brief look of confusion quickly hidden behind his hand. Reyna hurriedly started pulling silly string off her arms and bundling it on his head, feeling her heart slam repeatedly against her ribs. Leo coughed and struggled, scraping it away as quickly as she was piling it on.

He resurfaced, spitting out a mouthful of silly string and grimacing as he sat up and as something hit her in the back of the head. Reyna fell forward, her mouth falling on his. Leo stiffened in shock, but neither of them could move, both feeling a pressure on the backs of their heads, neither could explain it, but they both seemed to accept that, yes, they were kissing and, being unable to move, they were alright with that.

I have been working on this all day :D