"Can I take this thing off to sleep?" Will asks as Nico gets him into his bed.
"Shouldn't be a problem as long as you don't forget and try to get up without it, or your brother may have to set it again," his father says as he fiddles with his own bedding.
"I won't forget," Will says remembering how bad it hurt when Asclepius set it the first time. Nico undoes the straps and slips the brace off then puts it at the end of the bed.
"You should be able to reach it here," he says softly then scoots up closer to Will on the edge of the bed. "I wish I could stay with you tonight, take care of you."
"Me too, but my siblings are here if I need anything. Will you come back in the morning?" the son of Apollo asks trying to look like his life might depend on it.
Nico would be wherever Will wanted him to be regardless of how desperate he looked, but he doesn't tell him that. "I thought I would sleep in," he finally says with a grin.
Will looks hurt for just a second then smiles. "You'll be here," he says then pulls Nico into a hug.
"You'd better get to your cabin before the Harpies come out," Apollo now tells the son of Hades.
"Yes sir," Nico says then leans in and kisses Will goodnight. "I'll see you in the morning." Nico then heads toward the cabin door with a couple of Will's brothers and sisters wishing him a goodnight.
Before he gets the door open, Will calls out to him. "Hey, Nico, thanks for helping me."
"Always," Nico smiles then steps out into the night.
"That bed is available," Mitchell tells Caesar when they get into the Aphrodite cabin.
Caesar walks over and takes a seat on the bed Mitchell points out then looks up and says, "This will be adequate, thank you." Mitchell grins then grabs the curtain that separates the boy's side of the room from the girl's.
"We keep this pulled whenever people are changing clothes, otherwise it's open," Mitchell explains. "So are you going to challenge Piper to become cabin counselor?"
"I was not planning on it. Piper seems quite capable unless you have something to say about that," the god asks with a raised eyebrow.
"No. I mean, I was just wanting to make sure you didn't plan on that. Piper is great, way better than Drew," Mitchell explains.
"Drew?" Caesar asks not familiar with the name.
"She was our cabin counselor until Piper arrived. She was terrible, mean to everybody, bossy. Piper went on a quest right after she showed up and when she got back, she challenged Drew and forced her to step down without a fight, but between you and me, Piper could have taken her easy," Piper's brother explains. "Drew used to live here year-round when she was in charge, but since then, she lives with her dad during the school year. She does come here on weekends every once in a while and of course in the summer."
"She sounds like a pain," Caesar says.
"Mitchell," Piper now calls through the curtain. "Are you showing Caesar where everything is?"
Caesar is the one who answers, "He's doing a fine job, counselor."
"If you need anything, just let me know," Piper tells him. "Tomorrow we'll get you a change of clothes and whatever you need."
"Thank you Piper," he says. "I know I have a reputation, but I do appreciate kindness, loyalty, and honor. I made a mistake agreeing to help Setne. I realize that now, but I was lost and alone. I wish I could be with my family right now, but..."
"Julius," she says interrupting him. "It won't be long before you can be with Cleopatra and Caesarion again, but you are with family."
Caesar lets out a sigh that almost sounds like relief. "Goodnight daughter of Aphrodite."
Chiron was surprised to receive a new camper at such a late hour. He suggests that Percy and Annabeth introduce him to cabin eleven for the night, and he will meet with the boy after breakfast. The counselors agree and take Felix to meet Travis and Connor. After knocking on the door, Percy suggests that Annabeth go ahead and get to her cabin. She kisses him goodnight then gives Felix a hug and heads toward cabin six.
"Percy, what's up," Travis asks answering the door.
"New camper," Percy tells him showing the magician inside. "This is Felix. He's a friend of Carter and Sadie, a magician like they are."
"I thought you said he was a camper," Chris asks walking over.
"He came to pick them up, but he was able to come into camp on his own. Next thing we know, Khione claimed him," Percy explains.
"Khione, huh," Travis says. "Didn't know the ice queen had any half-blood kids, but oh well. Welcome to cabin eleven Felix. I'm Travis, cabin counselor. This is Chris, Connor, Tate," he continues making introductions. "Over there is Angel."
"Hi," a girl of about twelve says shyly. Felix just raises his hand to say hi back.
"That's Bud. He's been here about a month. Were all Hermes' kids," Conner now tells him. "Then we have Axel, his mom is Eirene."
"Don't mess with me and we'll be straight," Axel grumbles.
"Wasn't planning on it," Felix says taking a step back.
"Axel, that's not how we do things in the Hermes cabin," Travis tells the demigod then looks back at Felix. "Don't mind him. He just found out his mother is the goddess of peace. He's still adjusting."
"There's a lot more kids in the summer," Chris tells him. "If you plan on living here, you might want to consider your own cabin, but you're always welcome here."
"I plan on living at Brooklyn House with the Kanes. I'm just here to see what this is all about," Felix tells the son of Hermes. "I didn't know my mom was a goddess."
"You can take that bunk up there," Travis says pointing to the top bed of the set closest to the door.
Felix grins and says, "Sure." He then turns back to Percy and says, "Thanks for everything, Percy. I'll see you in the morning."
"You bet," Percy says then heads out the door toward his own cabin.
Felix climbs the ladder to his bed and takes a seat placing his wand and his staff on the pillow.
"What are those?" Tate asks eyeing Felix's items.
"My tools," the son of Khione says not bothering to explain further.
"Are they magic?" Angel asks curiously not moving from her bed.
"In the right hands," Felix says picking up his wand then, remembering what Jason warned about Hermes' kids, grins and says, "Probably deadly in the wrong hands."
"Whoa, dude, are they safe to have in the cabin?" Connor asks concerned.
"No problem as long as you all keep your hands off," Felix says then lays back and closes his eyes.
Julian controls the helm as Freak flies the group of magicians toward Brooklyn. Sadie, sitting with her head resting against Walt's shoulder, finally breaks the silence.
"What a day," she says with a yawn.
"Do you think Dad will let Ramesses take Setne into the Field of Reeds?" Carter now asks the others.
"Wasn't that the whole point of meeting with Zeus," Zia says putting her boyfriend's arm around her to keep her warm.
"If Zeus really shared," Walt adds.
Sadie looks up at him and says, "You don't think he would? Why would he go if he wasn't going to share the answer?"
"He probably did. They seemed happy to see each other, like long lost...well maybe not friends but colleagues. I wouldn't be surprised if they weren't still sitting in the Hall of Judgment swapping stories," Walt replies.
"If Dad does let Setne go, I sure hope whatever Zeus tells him works. I sure don't want to have to deal with him again," Carter tells the others.
After several minutes of silence Zia says, "I hope Felix is doing alright."
"Are you kidding? I hope the Greeks are doing alright," Sadie laughs. "You know how Felix is. I wonder if he's turned the Hermes cabin into an ice rink yet."
Carter snickers. "It's only been a few minutes, Sadie."
"But it's Felix," she reminds him.
"I wasn't sure if you were going to be able to sneak out tonight," Jason says as Piper closes the door to cabin one behind her.
She goes to him and takes him in her arms. "I don't think Caesar would say anything even if he does find out," she says. "He understands about love." Jason takes her hand and leads her up to their roof top hideaway.
Since their first night on the roof, Jason has stowed a couple of sleeping bags, pillows and a blanket that they usually share up there. He helps her spread them out then lays down taking her in his arms again. He kisses her forehead and says, "How did it go with your dad? I didn't get a chance to talk to you about your last visit."
"It went well. He was asking me some questions about what we've been through. I didn't tell him about rescuing him last winter or some of the really bad details of our trip to Greece. I don't know if he'll ever be able to handle that," she tells him.
Jason is quiet for a few minutes then says, "I've been thinking."
"About?" she asks looking into his eyes.
"Now that your dad knows, do you think he'll allow us to get married."
Piper rises up onto her elbow and looks at him. "I can't imagine that dad would want anyone but you for my husband. When the time comes, he'll approve."
"When the time comes," he repeats softly looking into the stars that have returned to the sky.
"Are you alright?" she asks concerned because he clearly seems to be lost in thought.
Jason looks at her then kisses her. "I love you Piper. I've been thinking about the ancient Greeks and how they used to marry young. I think it was because their lives were so dangerous that they had to live and start families before they got killed."
"You're not saying you want to get married now are you, because I'm pretty sure that my dad won't go for that, Mom either for that matter. I'm not even sure Jupiter would approve let alone Juno," she laughs thinking he can't be serious.
His expression grows serious now. "I don't care about Juno. No matter what she thinks, she's not my mother, and Jupiter doesn't care what I do." No sooner has he said it than a streak of lightning flashes across a clear sky.
"He doesn't does he?" she says with a smile.
"I love you Pipes. I just want to be with you," he tells her.
Piper snuggles closer to him then says, "Living in this cabin is changing you. The son of Jupiter I first met would never be this reckless with his feelings or defying his father. You are clearly becoming the son of Zeus."
"Does that bother you?" he asks with a smile.
"Well," she says toying with him. "The only other son of Zeus I've ever met wasn't such a nice guy. If he's any indication..."
"I'll never be like Hercules," he promises her.
"How can you be so sure?" she asks.
"Because I've got you," he says then starts kissing her.
Reyna and Kratos were sitting in the living room of the big house when Percy and Annabeth showed up with the magician kids that turned out to also be a half-blood. When the centaur returns to them, he says, "Now where were we, oh yes. Reyna you may of course stay here for the night. As for your Kratos, I am not sure Lady Bellona would approve of you staying under the same roof."
Reyna blushes and Kratos smiles both knowing that they spent the previous night together at Camp Jupiter, but neither one of them is going to say that.
"I'm quite certain that your sister's children would welcome their uncle for the night," Chiron then says.
"Bia has a cabin?" Kratos says hopefully.
Chiron smiles and says, "I was referring to your other sister, Nike."
"You don't have to stay at camp," Reyna tells him knowing that staying with a bunch of hyped up victory brats is the last thing he would want to do.
"It will be fine," he assures her with a kiss. "I'm a god. I can withstand anything for one night to be close to you."
"Cabin Seventeen," Chiron tells him. "You can't miss it with the huge laurel wreath over the door."
"Goodnight," she says kissing him.
Kratos holds her tightly and says, "I'll be back first thing in the morning."
Once the god is gone, Reyna turns to Chiron. "Master Chiron, am I doing the right thing, falling in love with Kratos?"
"Take a seat my child," the old centaur says warmly. Once Reyna sits down, Chiron takes her hands in his. "There are many gods who would not be appropriate to be anywhere near a young female demigod. Kratos, however, has always been upstanding. I suppose it is his mother's influence over him or maybe it comes from being raised by Lord Zeus."
"Seriously," Reyna says about that last bit since Zeus probably tops the list of the other category; gods young girls should stay away from.
"I don't mean because he set a good example," Chiron tells her with a smile. "Sometimes we learn what not to do from watching parents. I know I did."
"I'm sorry," she says, "I am not familiar."
"Kronos is my father," he explains earning a nod of understanding from the young praetor. "I was determined never to be like him. I believe Kratos grew up the same way. Oh, I've heard stories about a nymph here and there, but you might be his first true love. I know he does not have any half-blood children running around out there," he says waving his hand as if meaning the world.
"My mother sent him to me to restore my strength, but our connection was instantaneous. Do you think my mom would approve of him?"
"Trust me child, you would have heard from your mother already if she did not approve. Bellona does not suffer fools. I recommend you take your time. There is no need to rush into anything. You are still young and he, well he is immortal."
"I am eighteen," she tells him.
Chiron smiles at her then says, "And if he is the right one, he will still be here when you are nineteen or twenty. Get some rest. You have had a busy day. Argus will take you and Frank to the airport at 2:00 tomorrow. Spend time with your friends while you are together."
Reyna stands then leans in and kisses Chiron on the cheek. "Thank you for everything," she tells him then heads upstairs to bed.
"Is she gone," a female voice now whispers from the kitchen.
Chiron turns his wheelchair around and smiles at the speaker. "Yes, Iris, my dear, the coast is clear."