Don't Shoot the Messenger

by ichtp88

A story of the deep, warm fire that's burning from within. When Poseidon used Hestia's help in an attempt to change fate, his sister helped in ways unknown to even herself. His twins were born, sharing a bond meant to either preserve or raze Olympus, and many were effected, including three outcasts, an undervalued deity, a broken princess, a forgotten goddess and one Messenger God.

23. A Year Between, Part 3: The Hearth

Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson world or characters, or anything related to the Greek Mythology world etc., I'm just a fan :)

---

Penny

"Why are we here, again?" Percy asked as he looked around himself at the little house in Westport, after he and Penny descended from their giant Hellhound's back.

Nico shadow traveled there by himself and leaned on a tree, blinking tiredly. "I want to trace down all that Luke did, as he is the latest person to succeed in bathing the Styx. Besides, it's a… I need to check a theory I have."

"You guys, I don't…" Penny looked around herself at the little yard, a sad look in her eyes, "this feels wrong. We shouldn't bother her."

"Her?" Percy repeated, "you know his mom?"

Damn. She was acting suspicious.

Well, better to tell half the truth than nothing at all.

She shrugged to her confused brother. "You know how Luke hates me?"

"Yeah," Percy said, still quite puzzled, "you always get under his skin, know all sorts of things about him."

"Yes, well," and she looked around herself at the sidewalk that was lined with little stuffed beanbag animals, all wrinkled and dusty, "so the reason I know those things is because I used to dream about him and his life a lot. I know a lot of things about his childhood."

"Dream about him?" Percy froze in place and eyed Penny incredulously, "why?"

Penny narrowed his eyes at him, irritated. "I don't know why. Do you control your dreams?"

"Well, no, but it shows a special interest in him," and now Percy turned around to fully face her. "Is Luke the one you like?"

Nico turned around too, and watched her in amusement, clearly enjoying this very much, as she glared at her twin. "Percy -"

"Because if he is, well, that's just super unhealthy, Penny! Why would you like someone who hates your guts?"

"Can we -" she looked worriedly at the house in front of them, wondering how soundproof its walls were, "- can we not do this now?!"

And when Percy gave her an annoyed frown she put her hands on her hips.

"And I do not like him, for gods' sake! You were closer with the Apollo guess!"

"It is Apollo then?!" Percy seemed angry.

But if he was angry, she was furious. "I am NOT having this discussion with you right now! Let's just go in!"

"Let's just go in," Nico agreed, close to the door, and he wasn't smiling thank gods, as Percy would have hit him, and Penny probably would too. But his eyes glinted with humor.

They all stepped to the front porch, which was infested with wind chimes. Shiny bits of glass and metal clinked in the breeze. Brass ribbons tinkled like water.

The front door was painted turquoise. The name 'CASTELLAN' was written in English, and below in Greek: Διοικητής φρουρίου.

Penny felt all her anger wisp away, and she was again sad and very guilty.

What were they about to see?

Penny was truly scared to know.

Nico looked at Percy, and then his eyes moved to Penny with sympathy. "Ready?"

She nodded bravely, but felt everything but.

He'd barely tapped the door when it swung open.

"Luke!" The old lady cried happily.

She looked like someone who enjoyed sticking her fingers in electrical sockets. Her white hair stuck out in tufts all over her head, and she was as thin as a scarecrow. Her pink housedress was covered in scorch marks and smears of ash. When she smiled, her face looked unnaturally stretched, and her blue eyes were so bright it was unclear whether she was blind.

Penny couldn't for the life of her connect this lady to the beautiful May Castellan she saw in her dreams.

"Oh, my dear boy!" She hugged Nico, and the twins froze in place behind him.

Did May honestly think Nico was Luke? They looked nothing alike.

But then she smiled at Percy and said, "Luke!" and seemed to forget all about Nico as gave Percy a hug. "Come in!" She insisted. "I have your lunch ready!"

She ignored Penny as she stepped slowly behind the boys, but it seemed unintentional, as she seemed just so utterly ecstatic to have "Luke" back. Her eyes stayed on Percy's face and her hand snaked around his lower back.

Percy gave Penny a panicked look, and she shrugged helplessly as they walked in.

May ushered them inside, and the living room they walked through was even weirder than the front lawn. Mirrors and candles filled every available space, and anywhere Penny looked she saw her terrified face blinking back at her. Above the mantel, a little bronze Hermes flew around the second hand of a ticking clock. Penny averted her eyes, watching the floor instead.

She should never have come here. She should have let Percy and Nico go and stayed at home.

"This way, my dear!" Ms. Castellan steered Percy toward the back of the house. "Oh, I told them you would come back. I knew it!"

She sat them down at the kitchen table. Stacked on the counter were hundreds of Tupperware boxes with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches inside. The ones on the bottom were green and fuzzy, like they'd been there for a long time.

On top of the oven was a stack of cookie sheets. Each one had a dozen burned cookies on it. In the sink was a mountain of empty plastic Kool-Aid pitchers. A beanbag Medusa sat by the faucet like she was guarding the mess.

Ms. Castellan started humming as she got out peanut butter and jelly and started making a new sandwich. Something was burning in the oven.

Above the sink, taped all around the window, were dozens of little pictures cut from magazines and newspaper ads - pictures of Hermes from the FTD Flowers logo and Quickie Cleaners, pictures of the caduceus from medical ads.

Penny really tried to look away, really tried to focus on the fact that she was there for her twin and to block Hermes from her mind, but everywhere she looked in this house, there he was.

Next to her, Percy looked horrified and uncomfortable, becoming more so each time Ms. Castellan smiled at him as she made him a sandwich, and she looked as if she was making sure with each smile that he didn't bolt.

Then she suddenly noticed Penny, and the giant, friendly smile she had at the sight of her made Penny feel tenfold worse.

"You must be Luke's friend!" She grinned.

"Y-yes."

"Welcome, welcome! Luke's friends are always invited here!"

"Thanks," Penny breathed and looked down, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt.

Nico coughed. "Um, Ms. Castellan?"

"Mm?"

"We need to ask you about your son."

"Oh, yes! They told me he would never come back. But I knew better." She patted Percy's cheek affectionately. When she stepped away Percy looked at Penny miserably, but for once in their shared lives as twins Penny had no comfort to offer as she was just as miserable, if not more.

"When did you last see him?" Nico asked.

Her eyes lost focus.

"He was so young when he left," she said wistfully. "Third grade. That's too young to run away! He said he'd be back for lunch. And I waited. He likes peanut butter sandwiches and cookies and Kool-Aid. He'll be back for lunch very soon..." Then she looked at Percy and smiled. "Why, Luke, there you are! You look so handsome. You have your father's eyes."

Penny tried to block away a picture of those eyes, Hermes' eyes watching her, Penny, fondly, and a lump of guilt formed in her throat.

May turned toward the pictures of Hermes above the sink. "Now, there's a good man. Yes, indeed. He comes to visit me, you know."

Penny blinked away tears, but a small smile lightened the heaviness in her stomach too.

The fact that Hermes was caring enough to look after May was sweet.

The clock kept ticking in the other room. Percy looked at Nico pleadingly, clearly urging him to do what he wanted to do so they can go.

"Ma'am," Nico said. "What, uh... what happened to your eyes?"

Her gaze seemed fractured - like she was trying to focus on him through a kaleidoscope. "Why, Luke, you know the story. It was right before you were born, wasn't it? I'd always been special, able to see through the... whatever-they-call-it."

"The Mist?" Percy said.

"Yes, dear." She nodded encouragingly. "And they offered me an important job. That's how special I was!"

Percy glanced at Nico, but he looked as confused as Percy was.

But Penny knew. She has been dreaming about it for at least a year now. "They offered you to be the oracle."

Ms. Castellan frowned and nodded. Her knife hovered over the sandwich bread. "Dear me, it didn't work out, did it? Your father warned me not to try. He said it was too dangerous. But I had to. It was my destiny! And now... I still can't get the images out of my head. They make everything seem so fuzzy. Would you like some cookies?"

She pulled a tray out of the oven and dumped a dozen lumps of chocolate chip charcoal on the table.

"Luke was so kind," Ms. Castellan murmured. "He left to protect me, you know. He said if he went away, the monsters wouldn't threaten me. But I told him the monsters are no threat! They sit outside on the sidewalk all day, and they never come in." She picked up the little stuffed Medusa from the windowsill. "Do they, Mrs. Medusa? No, no threat at all." She beamed at Percy. "I'm so glad you came home. I knew you weren't ashamed of me!"

Percy shifted in his seat and Penny couldn't remember a time she saw him more nervous.

But the more time Penny spent there, the less uncomfortable she felt. Incredibly sad, yes. But not uncomfortable. The woman in front of them clearly longed for company, for affection. And if hallucinating that Percy was her long-lost son made her happy for at least ten minutes, then maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.

"Ms. Castellan," Percy said.

"Mom," she corrected, and both twins winced at that.

"Um, yeah. Have you seen Luke since he left home?"

"Well, of course!"

Nico sat forward expectantly. "When? When did Luke visit you last?"

"Well, it was... oh goodness..." A shadow passed across her face. "The last time, he looked so different. A scar. A terrible scar, and his voice so full of pain..."

"His eyes," Percy said. "Were they gold?"

"Gold?" She blinked. "No. How silly. Luke has blue eyes. Beautiful blue eyes!"

So Luke really had been here, and this had happened before last summer - before he'd turned into Kronos.

"Ms. Castellan?" Nico put his hand on the old woman's arm. "This is very important. Did he ask you for anything?"

She frowned as if trying to remember. "My - my blessing. Isn't that sweet?" She looked at the three uncertainly. "He was going to a river, and he said he needed my blessing. I gave it to him. Of course I did."

Nico looked at the twins triumphantly. "Thank you, ma'am. That's all the information we -"

Ms. Castellan gasped. She doubled over, and her cookie tray clattered to the floor. Nico and the twins jumped to their feet.

"Ms. Castellan?" Percy said.

"Are you okay?" Penny asked gently.

"AHHHH," She straightened. Percy scrambled away and almost fell over the kitchen table, and Penny took several steps back, because her eyes, and just like in the dreams Penny had - her eyes were glowing green.

"My child," she rasped in a much deeper voice. "Must protect him! Hermes, help! Not my child! Not his fate - no!"

She grabbed Nico by the shoulders and began to shake him as if to make him understand. "Not his fate!"

Nico made a strangled scream and pushed her away. He gripped the hilt of his sword. "You guys, we need to get out -"

Suddenly Ms. Castellan collapsed. Percy lurched forward and caught her before she could hit the edge of the table, and managed to get her into a chair.

"Ms. C?" He asked.

She muttered something incomprehensible and shook her head. "Goodness. I… I dropped the cookies. How silly of me."

She blinked, and her eyes were back to normal - or at least, what they had been before. The green glow was gone.

"Are you okay?" Penny asked again.

"Well, of course, dear. I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

The twins both glanced at Nico, who mouthed the word "Leave".

"Ms. C, you were telling us something," Percy said. "Something about your son."

"Was I?" She said dreamily. "Yes, his blue eyes. We were talking about his blue eyes. Such a handsome boy!"

"We have to go," Nico said urgently. "We'll tell Luke... uh, we'll tell him you said hello."

"But you can't leave!" Ms. Castellan got shakily to her feet, and Percy backed away, his eyes moving again to Penny with fear. "Hermes will be here soon," May promised. "He'll want to see his boy!"

Penny bit her bottom lip and then smiled tightly at the woman. "We'll - we'll see him, soon. Thank you for -" she looked down at the burned cookies scattered on the floor. "Thanks for everything."

May tried to stop them, to offer them Kool-Aid, and even though Penny finally located inside herself the power to stay, her twin seemed anxious to get out of that house. On the front porch, May grabbed Percy's wrist and he almost jumped out of his skin, his eyes widening. "Luke, at least be safe. Promise me you'll be safe."

His eyes glanced at Penny one last time before he looked back at the woman watching him with pain. "I will... Mom."

Penny's eyes filled with tears, but it made May smile. She released his wrist, and as she closed the front door they could hear her talking to the candles: "You hear that? He will be safe. I told you he would be!"

As the door shut, Nico and Percy ran. Penny followed slowly after them, feeling guilty about visiting May behind Hermes' back, feeling sad about May's obvious kindness and love towards her son and ex-lover, and feeling confused about what she was to do next.

---

Percy

When they found their dog again, it appeared she made a new friend.

A cozy campfire crackled in a ring of stones. A girl about eight years old was sitting cross-legged next to Mrs. O'Leary, scratching the hellhound's ears.

The girl had mousy brown hair and a simple brown dress. She wore a scarf over her head so she looked like a pioneer child. She poked the fire with a stick, and it seemed to glow more richly red than a normal fire.

"Hello," she said.

Percy and Penny watched each other in uncertainty, but Nico bowed to the little girl. "Hello again, Lady."

She studied the twins with eyes as red as the firelight. Then they both bowed.

"Sit, Jackson twins," she said. "Would you like some dinner?"

The girl waved her hand and a picnic appeared at the edge of the fire. There were plates of roast beef, baked potatoes, buttered carrots, fresh bread, and Percy's stomach started to rumble. It was the kind of home-cooked meal people are supposed to have but never do. The girl made a five-foot-long dog biscuit appear for Mrs. O'Leary, who happily began tearing it to shreds.

Percy sat next to the girl, and Penny sat next to Nico, across from the girl. They picked up their food, and were about to dig in when it seemed both thought better of it.

Percy looked at Penny, who nodded back, before they both scraped part of their meal into the flames, the way they do at camp. "For the gods," Percy said.

The little girl smiled. "Thank you. As tender of the flame, I get a share of every sacrifice, you know."

"Lady Hestia," Penny immediately said, recognition alighting her eyes now, and she bowed her head deeply. Percy followed suit immediately.

Hestia smiled at the deep admiration Penny had in her voice and at their show of respect.

"My lady," Nico added, "we are honored you decided to appear to us."

"It is my pleasure. Now eat."

Percy's plate was empty before he knew it. Nico scarfed his down just as fast.

Penny ate small bites and sooner than later started to play with her food, moving it around her plate with her fork.

"That was great," Percy said. "Thank you, Hestia."

She nodded, and then watched Penny for a minute or so before returning her eyes to Percy. "Did you have a good visit with May Castellan?"

"What's wrong with her, exactly?" Percy asked.

"She was born with a gift," Hestia said. "She could see through the Mist."

"Like our mother," Percy said, nudging Penny. She gave him a small, disheartened smile and returned her eyes to her food. "But the glowing eyes thing -"

"Some bear the curse of sight better than others," the goddess said sadly. "For a while, May Castellan had many talents. She attracted the attention of Hermes himself," Penny dropped her fork and it made a clinking sound when it hit a rock. She blushed and picked it up as Hestia continued. "They had a beautiful baby boy. For a brief time, she was happy. And then she went too far."

He remembered what Ms. Castellan had said: 'They offered me an important job…' And then Penny said they offered her to be an oracle and May said it didn't work out.

"You… you knew," Percy turned his head to watch Penny. "Do you know the full story?"

Penny avoided everyone's gazes as she shrugged. "I told you, Percy. I had a lot of dreams about Luke's life."

"But why? It's so bizarre and unneeded. Why would you be so obsessed with him -"

"Don't pass judgment, Percy Jackson," Hestia said slowly, "especially with your own twin. As for the dreams' necessity, if you are to understand your enemy Luke, you must understand his family."

Percy thought about the sad little pictures of Hermes taped above May Castellan's sink. He then remembered the time Penny told them about a nightmare she had regarding Luke as a young boy. In it, May had a green-eyed fit, one that could've seriously scared a nine-year-old kid. And if Hermes never visited, if he'd left Luke alone with his mom all those years...

"No wonder Luke ran away," Percy said. "I mean, it wasn't right to leave his mom like that, but still - he was just a kid. Hermes shouldn't have abandoned them."

"She just told you not to pass judgment," Penny's voice was still quiet, but it had an edge to it now.

"Are you seriously defending him?"

"No, I'm just seriously minding my own business! We can never know what went down there!"

"Still, you should never leave a child in such situations -"

"Maybe he didn't have a choice? Besides, didn't dad do the same thing with Gabe?"

They both stared at each other now, angry. Nico looked between them, clearly unsure of what to do.

Hestia scratched behind Mrs. O'Leary's ears. The hellhound wagged her tail and accidentally knocked over a tree.

"It's easy to judge others," Hestia warned. "But will you follow Luke's path? Seek the same powers?"

Nico set down his plate. "We have no choice, my lady. It's the only way the twins stand a chance."

"I am not going through with this," Penny stated, confident now, "it does not feel right to me."

"Nor should you," Percy straightened his back, "but as the demigod from the prophecy, I must do this."

"Mmm." Hestia opened her hand and the fire roared. Flames shot thirty feet into the air. Heat slapped them in the face. Then the fire died back down to normal. "Not all prophecies should be taken at face-value, and not all powers are spectacular." Hestia looked at Percy. "Sometimes the hardest power to master is the power of yielding. Do you believe me?"

"Uh-huh," he said. Anything to keep her from messing with her flame powers again.

The goddess smiled. "You are a good hero, Percy Jackson. Not too proud. I like that. But you have much to learn," then she turned her eyes to Penny, "you both have. And the real tragedy is, that while up until this point in your lives your journey was joint, and your life lessons were similar, it appears that now you've reached your first crossroads. And it seems almost inevitable for you two to -"

"Separate," Percy completed, his eyes hard as they landed on his sister.

Penny looked down and started to draw on the ground with a stick.

"We felt it too," Percy continued, "we knew it was coming. We've grown more and more apart, more different each day. And the more people we let into our hearts, the less room we have for -"

"Each other," Penny had tears in her eyes, "but I refuse. I don't want to let go, I don't want to prioritize others. You are still my everything - my protector, my best friend, my twin brother. No one else knows me better."

"Some people are starting to catch up," Percy smiled sadly at Nico, who looked incredibly nervous as he stared forward at the forest, moving his dark curls from his eyes.

Hestia watched them with a long look. "You are both worthy heroes. And you both have an equal chance to save the Olympian world, each in your own way. I will not tell a lie, though -" and she turned her eyes to Percy, "- I disapprove of your way. When Dionysus was made a god, I gave up my throne for him. It was the only way to avoid a civil war among the gods."

"It unbalanced the Council," Percy remembered. "Suddenly there were seven guys and five girls."

Hestia shrugged. "It was the best solution, not a perfect one. Now I tend the fire. I fade slowly into the background. No one will ever write epic poems about the deeds of Hestia. Most demigods don't even stop to talk to me. But that is no matter. I keep the peace. I yield when necessary. Can you do this?" She asked them both.

"Yes," Penny said at the same time as Percy said, "I don't know what you mean."

She studied Percy. "Perhaps not yet. But soon. Will you continue your quest?"

"Is that why you're here - to warn me against going?"

Hestia shook her head. "I am here because I am the first choice you two have. While you, Percy, have clearly chosen a path, your sister Penelope has chosen another. And it is time you both faced the consequences of that."

"That sounds grim," Percy said without thinking and realized he was being tactless when Penny smacked his head.

"Not grim," the goddess gave him a small smile, "quite the contrary really. It has been a long time, a longer time than I care to admit, that I have chosen myself a champion."

"A champion?" The twins said together, staring at Hestia with confusion.

"Yes," and she moved her red, burning eyes to Penny. "You, my girl, have a fire burning inside you, brighter and warmer than any others'. I assume you've felt so?"

Penny blushed and kept quiet as Percy stared at the goddess in shock.

"You are the product of love, of the connection your parents shared, and you were born into the world already dearly adored by your older brother."

Percy looked down nervously, but he knew the goddess was right. He was simply born with the love he had for Penny, it was a part of his everyday, like eating, sleeping and breathing. He couldn't remember a time he didn't feel that love for Penny.

"And you loved them back. You loved them, and others back, with a fire both tender and ferocious at the same time. I've watched you from afar for a long time, Penelope, watched your struggles, your fears and your insecurities. And the person you are, the path you've chosen is one I wish to endorse."

"I am honored, Lady Hestia," Penny's eyes sparkled. "Truly, I am. Honored and incredibly happy. But is it required of me to follow your path? To, to -"

"Your path includes love of the romantic kind, Penelope," Hestia smiled kindly, "you don't have to remain a maiden to gain my support. You must go on as you are, choose what you wish to choose and know that I am standing behind you. The winds have shifted in the past century or two, my girl - the power of love and family is undermined, undervalued and pushed aside for sheer, fierce independence, and for angry, defiant heroism and force even for the price of destruction and loneliness. To love deeply and innocently in the times you live in is to declare weakness."

He hated having to watch his sister walking a road he wasn't a part of, but he had to agree with the goddess' words. Penny could have easily been as strong a fighter as him, as Annabeth, as Thalia, but she recoiled from all that and chose to fight her wars using her understanding of people and her love for her dear ones. It was dangerous, risky, and it was not a popular choice (he knew for a fact Thalia had quite a lot of criticism toward her) but it served her well - it helped her connect to Tyson and in turn use his assistance in the Sea of Monsters; it helped her get under Luke's skin, to understand him like no one else could; it helped her connect to Apollo, a god almost everyone but her viewed as vain and careless, but Percy knew she viewed as a wise, good friend; and it helped her connect to Nico, which in turn helped her survive the Labyrinth.

"And to declare weakness with defiance is an act braver than all other acts," Hestia continued, "and so, Penelope, I've decided to offer you my blessing."

Penny smiled tearfully at her and nodded eagerly. Percy and Nico both smiled, both probably happy that the girl they cared deeply for was finally valued.

"Lean closer, child," Hestia smiled her warm smile. Penny leaned forward, and Hestia touched her forehead before nodding her head once. Penny's body glowed in a shiny, deep maroon, and when it ceased Penny's smile was calmer and her eyes warmer.

"Thank you so much, my Lady," Penny grinned gratefully.

"Don't thank me yet, my girl, don't thank me yet," and Percy had a gut feeling Penny will meet Hestia again, soon. Then the goddess turned to him. "You too, Percy, will have choices to make, grave ones with incredible impact. I knew it from the moment my younger brother approached me and told me he was to have twins - Poseidon's children, especially ones created out of love, would almost always be powerful beings and impact all those around them. So you too, Percy, must remember - when all else fails, when all the other mighty gods have gone off to war, I am all that's left. Home. Hearth. I am the last Olympian. You must remember me when you face your final decision."

Percy nodded his head. "Thank you, my Lady." Then he pulled his sister into a hug, and the two hugged each other with the force and the desperation of separation, even though they both knew it was yet to come.

Then Percy looked at Nico, before he gazed back at Hestia's warm glowing eyes. "I have to continue, my lady. I have to stop Luke... I mean Kronos. And it is my way to do so."

Hestia nodded. "Very well. I cannot be of much assistance to you, beyond what I have already told you. But since you sacrificed to me, I can return you to your own hearth. I will see you three very soon."

The goddess waved her hand, and everything faded.

/

Suddenly they were home. Nico and the twins were sitting on the couch in their mom's apartment on the Upper East Side. Mrs. O'Leary was gone, presumably back at camp.

Sally and Paul got up from the dining table. Their mom ran to the scruffy, dirty three as Paul poured lemonade for everyone while the twins explained about their visit to Connecticut.

"So it's true." Paul stared at his step-children like he'd never seen them before. "All the talk about monsters, and being demigods... it's really true."

The twins nodded. They told Paul only recently who they were, and their mom had backed them up. But until this moment, Percy didn't think he really believed them.

"Thanks for not freaking out," Percy said.

"Oh, I'm freaking out," he promised, his eyes wide. "I just think it's awesome!"

The twins couldn't help but smile. Paul was a pretty cool guy, even if he was their English teacher as well as their stepdad.

"Yeah, well," Percy said, "you may not be so excited when you hear what's happening."

He told Paul and their mom about the battle that was sure to come. Then he told them Nico's plan and his intention to go for it.

Their mom laced her fingers around her lemonade glass. She was wearing her old blue flannel bathrobe, and her hair was tied back. Recently she'd started writing a novel, like she'd wanted to do for years, and Percy could tell she'd been working on it late into the night, because the circles under her eyes were darker than usual.

Behind her at the kitchen window, silvery moon lace glowed in the flower box. Percy brought the magical plant back from Calypso's island last summer, and it bloomed like crazy under their mother's care. The scent always calmed him down, but it also made him sad because it reminded him of lost friends.

Their mom took a deep breath, and then moved her eyes to Penny. "And you?"

Penny gave her a weak smile, clearly unhappy with Percy's choice as well. "Not this time. I have other news for you, though."

"Do you?"

"Yes. But finish this up with Percy first."

She watched her for a long moment before returning her eyes to her son. "Percy, it's dangerous," she then said. "Even for you."

"Mom, I know. I could die. Nico explained that. But if we don't try -"

"We'll all die," Nico said. He hadn't touched his lemonade. "Ms. Jackson -"

"- Sally," their mom corrected him as she always did when Nico addressed her formally.

Nico smiled. "Sally, we don't stand a chance against an invasion. And there will be an invasion."

"An invasion of New York?" Paul said. "Is that even possible? How could we not see the... the monsters?" He said the word like he still couldn't believe this was real.

"I don't know," Percy admitted. "I don't see how Kronos could just march into Manhattan, but the Mist is strong."

"Sally," Nico said, "Percy needs your blessing. The process has to start that way. I wasn't sure until we met Luke's mom, but now I'm positive. This has only been done successfully twice before. Both times, the mother had to give her blessing. She had to be willing to let her son take the risk."

"You want me to bless this?" She shook her head. "It's crazy. Percy, please -"

"Mom, I can't do it without you."

"And if you survive this... this process?"

"Then I go to war," Percy said. "Me against Kronos. And only one of us will survive."

"I'll be there too," Penny suddenly intervened, her eyes glinting angrily, "and if there's one thing I know - I won't let you die."

Their mom nodded at Penny's words, as if strongly agreeing. "You're my son," she said miserably. "I can't just..."

Percy could tell he'd have to push her harder if he wanted her to agree, but he didn't want to. He remembered poor Ms. Castellan in her kitchen, waiting for her son to come home, and he realized how lucky both Penny and he were. Their mom had always been there for them, always tried to make things normal for them, even with the gods and the monsters and everything. She put up with them going off on adventures, and now Percy was asking her blessing to do something that would probably get him killed.

"Penny, are you behind this?" Sally asked her daughter.

Penny looked at Percy with wide eyes before looking down and shaking her head.

"Penny!"

"What?! I am not behind this! It's wrong, it's dangerous, it's -"

"Different from your path," Nico told her gently, "but that doesn't make it wrong."

Penny looked down again and Percy locked eyes with Paul, and some kind of understanding passed between them.

"Sally." He put his hand over their mother's hands. "I can't claim to know what you and the twins have been going through all these years. But it sounds to me... it sounds like Percy is doing something noble. I wish I had that much courage."

Percy got a lump in his throat. He didn't get compliments like that too much.

Their mom stared at her lemonade, and she looked like she was trying not to cry. Percy thought about what Hestia had said, about how hard it was to yield, and he figured maybe his mom was finding that out.

"Percy," she said, "I give you my blessing."

---

Penny

They decided to go the next day, and her mom pulled her almost demandingly into a conversation, staring into her eyes deeply.

"Now you, my girl. What did you choose?"

She told her about their trip to May's house, how difficult it was and how heartwrenching it was. Even though she didn't give her mom any context about her confusing connection to Hermes, her mother was empathic enough to feel how such a trip would be hard for anyone.

Then she told her about Hestia and about her blessing.

"My girl!" Sally gasped, her eyes bright, "what an honor!"

"I knew you'll approve," Penny smiled back lovingly, "anything kind, gentle or empathic in me is from you, mom. You have always been the best role model in the world."

"I love you and your brother more than I do anything or anyone in the world, Pen," Sally now had tears in her eyes, "please promise to come back to me. Promise to do anything you can to survive this and make sure your brother does too."

"I will, mom," Penny nodded, "there's nothing more important to me than his well-being. But you know the downside of our strong bond?"

"You two are a package deal," Sally now cried openly, pulling her daughter into a hug.

/

The night after their meeting with May was the worst night of nightmares yet.

As she told her brother, her dreams were always intrusive and focused, and for the past year or two, it revolved a lot around Hermes (for obvious reasons), but around Luke and May as well.

Luke she knew almost everything about, from his hunted childhood to his time on the streets with Annabeth and Thalia, to his years at the camp (she even saw the moment the dragon attacked him) and truly, hate her or not, she felt sympathy to him she really loathed, as his current actions made him unworthy of it. But she felt it nonetheless.

As for May…

May.

Yes, she dreamt about her too. In length.

/

Penny's found herself in a scene of a heated debate.

Hermes was sitting at a desk between a red-faced Artemis and an angry Dionysus. Across from him, Aphrodite was watching her red-polished nails, and Apollo was sitting on his chair comfortably with his ankles crossed.

"You have someplace you wanna be, right?" God of the Sun asked his half-brother with a smirk.

Hermes glanced at the screaming God of Wine and Goddess of the Moon before smirking back at Apollo.

"Don't you?"

"We all do," Aphrodite supplied, before a large smile appeared on her face, "but you, Hermes…" she grinned, "you have someplace more special than ours to go to."

Hermes looked down with a smile as Apollo leaned forward and interrupted the two quarreling gods, who didn't even notice the three's whispered conversation. "Why don't we all sleep on it, yeah? I don't see how we can reach any agreements now."

Artemis fumed. "Apollo! Stop being so irresponsible -"

"I actually agree," Hermes said then, "no agreements can come out of such a heated debate. Let's regather."

"Let's," Aphrodite cheered, and then winked at Hermes, "and you… MAY you enjoy your afternoon."

He grinned back at her and teleported away.

/

When the image changed to a scene in a coffee shop, and Penny saw a beautiful blond girl who she knew to be May sitting across from Hermes, grinning at him happily, and the god across from her smiling with warmth in his eyes, Penny wanted to cry.

It was so painful, so confusing, so... wrong.

Why was her mind doing this to her?

"Wonderful cake," May pointed at the empty plate, "you have a good taste."

"You have good taste," he smirked back, before leaning forward slowly to stroke her stomach, which Penny could now see was swollen, "besides, anything for the baby."

"You'll be the best dad in the world," she beamed at him, her voice soft.

His eyes slightly widened, and then he grinned, looking down at his lap before up again, into her eyes. "I love you," he confessed quietly, and it was May's turn to be surprised, "I don't… I honestly don't know if I ever said that to a woman. But I do."

"Hermes!" She grinned and then pulled his face to her and kissed him, and Penny looked away.

She bent down slowly to sit on the coffee-shop's wooden floor, unsure what to do and what to feel.

"I love you too," May then said, when the two broke apart as she stroked his cheeks.

"Marry me," he uttered, and Penny was shocked at the deep, true adoration that sparkled in the Olympian's eyes. "Marry me. Be my Ariadne."

"What?"

"Dionysus married a mortal. He made her immortal and married her. Let's do the same."

May grinned, and Penny's eyes focused again on her face, and the teen was again taken aback by how breathtaking that woman was, especially when she smiled. Her eyes bright, her pretty features alight. "I can't believe it, Hermes…"

He beamed back, happier than Penny has ever seen him, and the two kissed again.

"Fates!" Penny yelled now, miserable. "Fine! I was wishful thinking. Fine! Why must I see this?"

"But, but Hermes," May hesitated when the two broke away, "can I still be an oracle, even if I marry you?"

The smile wiped off the Olympian's face, his eyes turning off. He looked down and started to play with his fork. "Well…"

/

Penny found herself standing in a darkened bedroom next to Hermes.

The wings on his shoes thrashed against the air violently, and they both watched a tired, weak May, but nonetheless a beautiful and somewhat glowing May hugging a bundle of blankets and grinning warmly.

"Can I…" Hermes hesitated, rubbing his neck, his brows furrowed.

Penny knew then he wanted to hold his son, and her heart crushed at how deep and sincere the emotion on his face was.

May smiled an even warmer smile and he moved forward, taking his tiny son from her and gazing at him with a soft look.

Penny felt more intruding than ever at witnessing that beautiful, pure moment, especially when Luke's mother and Hermes' love, May, beamed at father and son from the bed, rising up despite her exhaustion to lean on her elbows.

His finger caressed softly the tiny cheek of the baby, and when his son opened his mouth to reveal toothless gums, he frowned and returned Luke to May, smiling tightly at her.

"As long as you won't accept my offer, this… this is too painful for me."

She seemed to turn off, her eyes losing their familiar light, her mouth not smiling anymore.

Penny realized May must have rejected Hermes' proposal of marriage.

"Hermes…" May sighed, her gentle features crestfallen, "you're charmed by me now. But will you be forever?"

Penny looked away now, May's words resonating with her as well. She should obey that logic too - whatever wishful thinking she had, it must stop. Not just because of Hermes' obvious love for his last flame, but because a connection between an Olympian and a mortal was doomed to fail.

"I can only promise that I love you… right now," Hermes mumbled. "But I do May!" He added when she averted her gaze and watched the wall near her, "I really do. It burns inside me and… and you're special. I told you that, countless times. You make me… happy," he smiled despite himself, searching her gaze, "I'm sorry if… if I don't make you as happy in return."

She finally looked at him, sorrow darkening her features. "It's quite hard… to love a god. You're so much stronger than me… you think in decades and not in years. The past you have behind you is enormously bigger than my short life. And you have all the time in the world ahead of you. You're so… superior to me, it's absurd."

"Not… not superior," he refuted quietly, shaking his head, "we're everything but that. Immortality also means an uncountable amount of sins. And if you ask me, each time I leave a child behind… I become less and less superior," his eyes focused on Luke, his jaw tight and his heart beating painfully strong. "May," he murmured and the woman's eyes focused on him, "you don't have to accept my offer, but please don't try to…" his voice broke, "it's too dangerous. It won't work. Please."

Penny saw how truly afraid for May Hermes was.

"I can do it, Hermes," and Penny almost felt herself convinced by her confidence. But knowing the outcomes, knowing this woman's true fate, she couldn't truly be convinced.

/

The dream changed again and Penny saw the Big House at camp, but it was a different era. The house was painted red instead of blue. The campers down at the volleyball pit had early '90s hairstyles. Chiron stood by the porch, talking to Hermes and May, who was holding Luke. Chiron's hair was shorter and darker, and Hermes wore his usual jogging suit with his winged high-tops. The baby in May's arms squirmed in his blue blanket like Camp Half-Blood was the last place he wanted to be.

"It's an honor to have you here," Chiron told May, though he sounded nervous. "It's been a long time since a mortal was allowed at camp."

"Don't encourage her," Hermes grumbled. "May, you can't do this."

"Oh, don't worry so much," May said, rocking the baby. "You need an oracle, don't you? The old one's been dead for, what, twenty years?"

"Longer," Chiron said gravely.

Hermes raised his arms in exasperation. "I didn't tell you that story so you could apply. It's dangerous. Chiron, tell her."

"It is," Chiron warned. "For many years, I have forbidden anyone from trying. We don't know exactly what's happened. Humanity seems to have lost the ability to host the oracle."

"We've been through that," May said. "And I know I can do it. Hermes, this is my chance to do something good. I've been given the gift of sight for a reason."

Penny was horrified, as she realized she was about to witness the exact moment it was all going to fall apart.

Hermes looked more hurt than worried. "You couldn't marry if you became the oracle," he complained. "You couldn't see me anymore."

And again, Penny fully realized how sincere his love for May was. He seemed truly hurt at the girl's final rejection to his offer, at May's decision to go through with this, and giving up on him in the process.

May put her hand on his arm. "I can't have you forever, can I? You'll move on soon. You're immortal."

Penny sat down on the ground slowly, the heaviness in her stomach intensifying.

He started to protest, but she put her hand on his chest. "You know it's true! Don't try to spare my feelings. Besides, we have a wonderful child. I can still raise Luke if I'm the oracle, right?"

Chiron coughed. "Yes, but in all fairness, I don't know how that will affect the spirit of the oracle. A woman who has already borne a child - as far as I know, this has never been done before. If the spirit does not take -"

"It will," May insisted. She kissed her baby and handed the bundle to Hermes. "I'll be right back."

She gave them one last confident smile and climbed the steps.

Chiron and Hermes paced in silence. The baby squirmed.

A green glow lit the windows of the house. The campers stopped playing volleyball and stared up at the attic. A cold wind rushed through the strawberry fields.

Hermes must've felt it too. He cried, "No! NO!"

He shoved the baby into Chiron's arms and ran for the porch. Before he reached the door, the sunny afternoon was shattered by May Castellan's terrified scream.

/

And finally, Penny's last dream was a dream she had before - but the last time she had it she only saw a father horrified by his son's fate.

This time, she knew exactly what she was seeing when she spotted Hermes slumped in front of Luke's crib, his hair messy in front of his face, his curls appearing like a veil through which his blue eyes shone, alight with bright mania - she knew exactly what she saw - a deeply heartbroken man.

His fingers twisted and fidgeted and the end of his curls buzzed with electricity. He was in his business suit, his blue eyes blazing, his brows furrowed deeply, his lips clenched to two thin, white lines, his light-colored curls squashed under the weight of his winged helmet and a towel tied to his waist. He breathed deeply through his nose and stared stubbornly at the wall in front of him, not looking back at his son behind him or at the living-room, where Penny knew May was.

Then suddenly he looked back and watched the terrified baby in the crib, staring at his dad in utter confusion, and Hermes' blue eyes filled with tears. Penny felt her eyes widening at the sight of the strong, confident, fierce Olympian at his weakest moment.

Never before did she feel so intrusive, so invasive.

As if on cue, and along with his father, Luke started to cry too, in awfully loud screams, and Penny felt something inside of her crunch at Hermes' misery in the face of his son's pain.

The Olympian wiped at his eyes angrily and towered over the baby.

At the sight of him, Luke started to scream even harder, crying hysterically and shaking his tiny body with the outcries.

Hermes stared at the baby, frowning deeply, and Penny wanted to do nothing other than to hug him, to hug the grief-stricken deity she grew so fond of at his darkest hour, not to mention how she wanted to comfort the agonized baby that just lost his mother.

But there was no one there to comfort any of them in their time of need, and something snapped in Hermes as he looked away from his son, and yelled - "Fates!" And then started to curse loudly, throwing the towel away and crumbling next to his son's crib, stuffing his head in his hands.

She watched him remaining frozen in place, burying his head deeper and deeper, and she knew it was coming, but she still jumped with baby Luke when the deity roared, "APOLLO!"

Luke started to whimper as a pale-faced Apollo appeared in front of Hermes, his eyes wide and filled with guilt. He watched him crumbled on the floor, his eyes blood-shot and furious, dry tear trails on his face, and the air buzzing around him, charged by his anger.

"Hermes, I -"

Hermes closed his eyes and shook his head once, and Apollo stopped talking immediately.

Penny watched the two best friends, the two brothers, and felt Apollo's true guilt and true sadness. Having seen their close bond, their easy friendship before - this moment sealed it once and for all how deeply they care about each other.

A tense minute passed before Hermes finally opened his mouth to speak. "Did you…" his voice was hoarse, "did you know?"

"No," Apollo stressed and kneeled down next to the Messenger God, "no, I just had a bad hunch, but I didn't know this will happen. I just, I told you not to let her do it -"

"Well it's too late NOW!" Hermes balled his fist and slammed the floor, and it cracked, "it's too late. She's gone. My wonderful, sweet May is gone, and now my child is as good as orphaned!"

The pain in his voice, the way his features twisted and soured when he talked about May, it was just so sincere, so deeply emotional. Penny really did feel his love for her in that moment.

"She's not…" and Apollo's voice faded as he watched the living-room sadly, "she'll wake up."

"Wake up how?!" Hermes demanded, "wake up crazy! And not even Dionysus can heal it, right?!" He spat, balling his fist again and slamming a second hole in the floor. "I hate this, I hate this, I HATE this!"

Penny was scared at such strong emotions from Hermes, watching the god wearily. Apollo looked down and closed his mouth, slowly lowering to sit next to him.

"I… I'll raise him," Hermes decided, "yes, I might prove to be horrendous at it, I can't remember ever doing this, but I'll raise him."

Penny's heart filled with warmth, having forgotten that Hermes ever planned to do that - he never planned to abandon Luke, he never wanted him alone - what was keeping them apart then?

"The May I remember, the one I'll be able to pass on to him, will be much better than the empty shell your Delphi left us with!"

Apollo rubbed his face with great force and shook his head, not looking at him. "... You can't."

"Sure I can!"

"No, I mean…" and his voice lowered, "you're not… you're not allowed to."

"What! Why?!"

"You can't… I can't tell you why, but you can't. May will wake up, and she will raise him. She'll be more or less sane, and apart from a few manic attacks she'll be capable of raising him."

"What do you mean I can't?! Do you, do you know something?!"

"Yes," and Apollo finally looked at him, his gaze grim, "you're not allowed to."

"Not allowed to… wait," and Hermes' eyes narrowed, "the Fates?!"

"This boy would be important to Olympus. His life can't be altered. You cannot be involved. I'm sorry. I'm -" when Hermes' eyes started to fill with intense rage, alighting his entire face, the electricity in the air around him intensifying and his whole body starting to glow -

"Hermes!" Apollo's eyes widened with panic, "the boy!"

And just like that, it was like turning him off.

He deflated and they were both quiet for at least ten minutes, Hermes breathing in and out deeply, and Apollo watching him with a mournful expression, his lips pursed.

Penny sat on the floor slowly, feeling herself shocked and disconnected to the situation.

"What do you know?" Hermes' eyes snapped open, and Apollo shifted in place.

"Not… not a lot. Just that the boy… Luke, he matters. What he'll do, what he'll choose… it matters. Without you involved, just Luke going through his life, I see a choice, and I see Olympus' future on the line. But… but with you involved… it becomes unclear. It blurs. The Fates would not allow for you to mess with a destiny so vital to Olympus -"

"Screw all of that!" Hermes growled, "he's my son! And those… those choices, with Olympus on the line, they always end up with death! You're telling me to stand aside and watch my son die?"

"It results in his death in all scenarios, Hermes," Apollo let out sadly, "I'm so… I'm sorry. The only question is… would he take the entire world with him or not. And the Fates are adamant that our best chances are in the scenario in which you… stay out of his life. Hermes, my, my brother," and Apollo seemed truly sorry, truly sad as his voice lowered to a whisper, "you can't get involved. You must stay out of his life."

---

Percy

That morning, it seemed like everyone felt like crap.

Percy was possibly walking to his death, so he wasn't feeling amazing, obviously.

Their mother made them blue pancakes with tears in her eyes, and kept glancing at Percy as if he'd disappear if she looked away.

Nico seemed guilty and uncomfortable and kept looking between the twins, and if Percy was honest he had no idea what the kid thought exactly, but the general notion was clear.

Penny looked absolutely awful, frowning, upset and clearly walking a thin line between horribly angery and crying a stream of tears, and Percy assumed some of it had to do with what he was about to do today, but it couldn't be all of it.

"Are you okay?" He whispered to her as Nico led the way in Central Park and the two followed him.

"Let's end this day with you being okay and I'll be better," she answered, watching the tall trees they walked by.

"You'll be better, but not well?"

She shrugged.

"What is it, Pen?"

She smiled tightly. "Don't worry about it. Let's just focus on keeping you alive."

/

Nico took them to a tunnel to the Underworld.

"Ready?" He asked Percy. "It'll be fine. Don't worry." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

Percy glanced up at the bright blue sky, wondering if he would ever see it again. Then the three plunged into darkness.

The stairs went on forever - narrow, steep, and slippery. The twins stabilized each other twice as they both lost their balance at some point and were rescued by their twin. It was completely dark except for the light of Percy's sword.

It took nearly an hour, but soon Percy started to hear the roar of a river.

They emerged at the base of a cliff, on a plain of black volcanic sand. To their right, the River Styx gushed from the rocks and roared off in a cascade of rapids. To their left, far away in the gloom, fires burned on the ramparts of Erebos, the great black walls of Hades's kingdom.

The River Styx's current swirled with strange objects - broken toys, ripped-up college diplomas, wilted homecoming corsages - all the dreams people had thrown away as they'd passed from life into death. Looking at the black water, Percy could think of about three million places he'd rather swim.

Penny's teeth started to chatter.

"Are you cold?" Percy asked her.

She shook her head slowly, her eyes wide.

She wasn't cold, Percy realized, she was terrified.

He tried to block that thought and turned his head to look at Nico. "So. I just jump in?"

"You have to prepare yourself first," Nico said, "or the river will destroy you. It will burn away your body and soul."

"Sounds fun," Percy muttered.

"This is no joke," Nico warned. "There is only one way to stay anchored to your mortal life. You have to..."

He glanced behind Percy and his eyes widened. Percy turned and found himself face-to-face with a Greek warrior.

For a second he thought he was Ares, because this guy looked exactly like the god of war - tall and buff, with a cruel scarred face and closely shaved black hair. He wore a white tunic and bronze armor. He held a plumed war helm under his arm. But his eyes were human - pale green like a shallow sea - and a bloody arrow stuck out of his left calf, just above the ankle.

Percy stunk at Greek names, but even he knew the greatest warrior of all time, who had died from a wounded heel.

"Achilles," Percy said.

The ghost nodded. "I warned the other one not to follow my path. Now I will warn you."

"Luke? You spoke with Luke?"

"Do not do this," he said. "It will make you powerful. But it will also make you weak. Your prowess in combat will be beyond any mortal's, but your weaknesses, your failings will increase as well."

"You mean I'll have a bad heel?" Percy said. "Couldn't I just, like, wear something besides sandals? No offense."

He stared down at his bloody foot. "The heel is only my physical weakness, demigod. My mother, Thetis, held me there when she dipped me in the Styx. What really killed me was my own arrogance. Beware! Turn back!"

He meant it. Percy could hear the regret and bitterness in his voice. He was honestly trying to save him from a terrible fate.

Then again, Luke had been here, and he hadn't turned back.

That's why Luke had been able to host the spirit of Kronos without his body disintegrating. This is how he'd prepared himself, and why he seemed impossible to kill. He had bathed in the River Styx and taken on the powers of the greatest mortal hero, Achilles. He was invincible.

"I have to," Percy said. "Otherwise I don't stand a chance."

Achilles lowered his head. "Let the gods witness I tried. Hero, if you must do this, concentrate on your mortal point. Imagine one spot of your body that will remain vulnerable. This is the point where your soul will anchor your body to the world. It will be your greatest weakness, but also your only hope. No man may be completely invulnerable. Lose sight of what keeps you mortal, and the River Styx will burn you to ashes. You will cease to exist."

"I don't suppose you could tell me Luke's mortal point?"

He scowled. "Prepare yourself, foolish boy. Whether you survive this or not, you have sealed your doom!"

With that happy thought, he vanished.

"Percy," Nico said, "maybe he's right."

"Nico!" Penny glared at him, "you're unsure as well?!"

"This was your idea," Percy frowned at him.

"I know, but now that we're here -"

"Just wait on the shore. If anything happens to me... well, then goodluck with the prophecy, Pen."

"Percy, you're insufferable!" She glared at him, angry tears in her eyes, "shut up or I'll burn you to ashes myself!"

"I love you," he grinned and jumped on her, hugging her close before pulling away, "wish me luck then?"

She rolled her eyes, but finally smiled sincerely as she wiped her eyes. "Goodluck, my idiot brother. I love you more than life itself."

Percy smiled back and turned to the river, and before he could change his mind, he concentrated on the small of his back - a tiny point just opposite his navel. It was well defended when he wore his armor. It would be hard to hit by accident, and few enemies would aim for it on purpose. No place was perfect, but this seemed right to him, and a lot more dignified than, like, his armpit or something.

He pictured a string, a bungee cord connecting him to the world from the small of his back. And he stepped into the river.

It was like multiplying fifty times the pain of jumping into a pit of boiling acid. He planned to walk in slow and courageous like a real hero, but as soon as the water touched his legs, his muscles turned to jelly and he fell face-first into the current.

"Percy!" He could still hear Penny's voice shrieking before it was muffled by the water.

He submerged completely. For the first time in his life, he couldn't breathe underwater and finally understood the panic of drowning. Every nerve in his body burned. He was dissolving in the water. He saw faces - Rachel, Grover, Tyson, his mother, Penny - but they faded as soon as they appeared.

"I love you more than life itself!" Penny yelled.

"Percy," his mom said. "I give you my blessing."

"Be safe, brother!" Tyson pleaded.

"Enchiladas!" Grover said. He wasn't sure where that came from, but it didn't seem to help much.

He was losing the fight. The pain was too much. His hands and feet were melting into the water, his soul was being ripped from his body. He couldn't remember who he was. The pain of Kronos's scythe had been nothing compared to this.

'The cord,' a familiar voice said. 'Remember your lifeline, dummy!'

Suddenly there was a tug in his lower back. The current pulled at him, but it wasn't carrying him away anymore. He imagined the string in his back keeping him tied to the shore.

"Hold on, Seaweed Brain." It was Annabeth's voice, much clearer now. "You're not getting away from me that easily."

The cord strengthened.

He could see Annabeth now - standing barefoot above him on the canoe lake pier. He'd fallen out of his canoe. That was it. She was reaching out her hand to haul him up, and she was trying not to laugh. She wore her orange camp T-shirt and jeans. Her hair was tucked up in her Yankees cap, which was strange because that should have made her invisible.

"You are such an idiot sometimes." She smiled. "Come on. Take my hand."

Memories came flooding back to him - sharper and more colorful. He stopped dissolving. His name was Percy Jackson. He reached up and took Annabeth's hand.

Suddenly he burst out of the river. He collapsed on the sand, and Nico and Penny scrambled back in surprise.

"Are you okay?" Nico stammered. "Your skin. Oh, gods. You're hurt!"

Percy's arms were bright red. He felt like every inch of his body had been broiled over a slow flame.

He looked around for Annabeth, though he knew she wasn't here - but it had seemed so real.

"I'm fine… I think." The color of his skin turned back to normal. The pain subsided.

Penny and Nico watched him warily before his twin ran forward and gave him a tight hug. He hugged her back, comforted by the gesture, by her familiar warmth and affection, but the guilt surged in him in waves now.

In the moment of truth, in the face of death, his lifeline wasn't his twin.

It used to be, but it wasn't anymore.

His lifeline was Annabeth.

---

Nico

He waited until the twins separated and congratulated Percy, deep down ecstatic his secret crush was alive and well, before he came clean to the twins.

"There is something else you must know," he said uncomfortably. "Since we're all here, it is a chance for me to grant my father's wish and have you three meet."

/

When his father said he wanted to meet the twins and told him to bring them to the Underworld, Nico was more than just cautious.

"You wouldn't harm them?"

His father's eyes regarded him coolly. "And then, where will you live?"

"Please dad, please," Nico pleaded. He didn't want to refuse his dad's direct order, but he really really didn't want anything to happen to the twins. "Penny is my best friend, she saved my life so many times, and Percy is my… please, don't harm them."

"I won't, you ridiculous child! Just bring them here!"

/

They walked forward on the road so deeply familiar to Nico - the road to his father's palace.

It is weird to call the World of The Dead a home, but in the last few months, it started to become that to Nico.

They reached Persephone's garden, and as always, it was beautiful in a creepy way. Skeletal white trees grew from marble basins. Flower beds overflowed with golden plants and gemstones. A pair of thrones, one bone and one silver, sat on the balcony with a view of the Fields of Asphodel. It would've been a nice place to spend a Saturday morning except for the sulfurous smell and the cries of tortured souls in the distance.

Skeletal warriors guarded the only exit. They wore tattered U.S. Army desert combat fatigues and carried M16s.

The three stared at the empty thrones, waiting for something to happen. Then the air shimmered and his father appeared, smoothing his black robes, which were covered with the terrified faces of the damned. He had pale skin and the intense eyes of a madman, or a genius, a look Nico once saw in his eyes and feared its return to this day.

"The Jackson twins," Hades said with satisfaction. "At last."

The three all knelt, watching the god quietly, and Nico spotted alarm and nervousness in Penny and Percy's eyes as they stood up again quietly.

Hades cleared his throat. "Look, you two, contrary to what you might have been fearing, I do not plan to kill you," then his dad's eyes settled on Percy, "that is, yet. Don't utter out nonsensical words and we'll be fine."

Percy smirked and looked down, probably self-aware to his tendency toward bluntness.

"Anyway," his dad continued, "I actually like my son from time to time, and I do not wish to drive him away."

Warmth spread in Nico's chest. Over at where the twins were standing in front of his father's throne, Percy's smirk widened and Penny gave Nico a small smile.

"So, I've called you here because it does truly seem like one of you two will be the demigod from the prophecy. And to be frank, I am quite happy it is not Nico."

The warmth intensified, and now Nico smiled too.

So his father didn't want him dead. That was nice.

That is, him and his dad did grow closer and closer over the months - his father trained him, provided him great education and taught him how to do very cool things. But his dad never really spoke so clearly about it all meaning something to him too.

Hades' eyes moved from the twins to Nico, and he gave him a small, almost imperceptible nod, but to Nico it meant the world, and he gave his father a warm smile that made his father almost smile himself.

"So, so what I plan to do instead is to help win this war, but from your front. I do not owe the Olympians anything - they've never done much for me. That is, some of them are nice enough, but no one has ever truly stepped up for me, truly did something in my favor. The same cannot be said about the two of you," and now Hades did smile, and Nico was as stunned as he always was when his dad smiled - stunned to see how much it changed his dad's face, when he smiled a genuinely kind smile - his black eyes were warm like melted volcanic rocks, and his white teeth glimmered.

He could see why women flocked to him over the course of history - when his dad showed his nice side, it was a very pleasant thing to see.

"Helping Nico out, giving him a place to live in, reuniting me with him," he nodded at them both before his eyes settled on Penny, who smiled shyly at the ground, "that was a great service to me. I do not have many children, and in this century I have no other mortal children but Nico. Getting to know him, allowing myself to form a connection with him - that was a meaningful experience. And truly, more than most of the Olympians ever did for me, and more than my father ever did for me for sure."

Both twins smiled in amusement.

"So," Hades concluded, "the Underworld will join the fight, and will fight alongside you two. Now, this can look like a lost cause, until you consider the facts. It will not be a surprise attack - we have quite a good guess on when it's all going to come down -"

"On our birthday," Percy said.

"Yes," The Lord of the Underworld nodded, "on your birthday, in the summer, am I correct?"

"Yes."

"Now, the Underworld will get the credit it deserves this time," his father's eyes burned with righteous fire, "think about it for a moment - no one will look down on the world of the dead, if it was needed in order to save the world of the living!"

"Much more than that, Lord Hades!" Penny told his dad passionately, "not just needed. Crucial. You're one of the two only deities to declare their help to us. And we need all the help we can get. And for that, it is so very appreciated. Thank you so much, Lord Hades."

And the sincerity in which she spoke worked wonders on his dad, Nico could tell. Hades nodded to her too, the fire in his eyes now much, much tamer. "It is my war now, too, it shall seem. It truly wasn't before, but my son has… made me see things differently. The titan certainly will not benefit me. I must fight for recognition in my own pantheon. So anyway, Nico will be my representative and the leader of my armies until I myself join the fighting, as an element of surprise."

The twins nodded.

Then Percy raised his hand in question. "Who is in your armies?"

Hades' eyes gleamed. "Let's just say, Perseus Jackson, that you'll be happy they fight alongside you and not against you."

The twins looked at each other in alarm.

"Let's continue. As a wise, and experienced deity, I am allowing myself the liberty to appoint myself as lead strategist."

Silence followed that.

Penny raised her hand now. "We'll be so very honored, Lord Hades, we honestly have no clue what we're doing," Hades gave her a nod. "But may I offer another suggestion in addition?"

"Proceed."

"Perhaps a combination between you and our dad will potentially be what might win us the war. I'm sorry if I'm being brazen -" she hurriedly added, "- but you both are so wise, and the combination between the sea and the Underworld will create such a strong, deadly wave, it might just wash the titan back to the pit."

Hades' eyes glimmered with amusement, but he didn't speak.

Percy continued where his sister stopped. "Yes, Lord Hades, she is right. You will be our lead strategist, our commander if you'd like, but our dad can offer great insights. He did so in the past."

"To involve Poseidon…" Hades tapped his long finger against his chin, "well, he never quite irritated me as my youngest brother always did. And he is quite involved as it is, with the two of you being the twins from the prophecy."

"Why don't we ask him if he can be involved?" Penny offered, "we can just ask for his advice. I'm confident that between the two of you, you'll devise an incredible plan."

"That's a great idea, dad," Nico finally spoke up, "and a great way to announce to the Olympians that you are done being uninvolved and casted to the side."

"Not to mention, our dad is incredibly nice," Penny smiled now, "a bit prideful, but you all are, no offence."

Hades waved his hand dismissively, and it was clear the demigoddess won his trust enough at this point to get away with this mostly truthful observation, even if it was a bit, again, brazen.

"Alright. I can admit that my brother is wise. Almost as wise as me," and he smirked at the thunder that followed.

Hades waved his hand, and a paper and a pen appeared. He scribbled down something and then snapped his fingers, and a pitch-black blackberry appeared in his hand. "Call Hermes," he told the phone, and as the gadget dialled, Nico turned his gaze to watch Penny with a big smirk - but she stared down at her feet, not meeting anyone's gaze (probably due to Percy's close proximity to her).

A knock was heard on the door, and it truly took a very short moment from Hades' call to Hermes' arrival. Nico asked himself if it was because of the Olympian's respect for Nico's father, or because of the fact that Penny was in the room.

Nico guessed it was the latter, but his father clearly thought it to be the former as he smirked at the little time it took Hermes to answer his call. "Come in, Hermes," Hades' voice called, and the door opened.

Hermes walked in slowly, the wings on his shoes thrashing against the air as he walked forward. Once he was close enough he paused in place and scanned Hades and Nico, before he moved his head to watch the twins, his eyes settling on Penny.

Unmistakable worry was in his blue eyes then, and Nico hoped his father wouldn't take this the wrong way - it wasn't that Hermes assumed that The Lord of the Underworld would harm any demigod that crossed paths with him, as it was that Hermes clearly always worried for Penny because of his fondness of her, regardless of the situation she was in.

Or more to say that it was clear to Nico, but it made sense for it not to be clear to anyone else, as no one else but Nico was privy to this information, including even Percy, who watched the situation with unawareness and indifference.

Luckily for everyone, though, his father was so content Hermes didn't keep him waiting that he didn't notice said emotion in the Messenger's eyes (which was, on Nico's second glance, quite nuanced, and Nico only noticed it because he looked for it there).

Hermes bowed his head, and the next time he looked up all concern was gone, and his sharp features were the perfect image of stoicism. "Lord Hades."

"Ah, Hermes, how do you do," his father answered carelessly as he looked at the envelope in his hands.

"Nico," Hermes nodded to him, and then moved his head to the Jacksons, "twins," and his eyes lingered on Penny a second too long, but again, Nico was looking for these details. Percy, next to her, clearly didn't notice them, as he gave Hermes a friendly smile.

"Hey, Lord Hermes."

Penny looked up too, and perhaps it was the darkened, blackened hall that hid the very obvious blush both Nico and probably Hermes knew was there, as she too addressed the deity, "hello... Lord Hermes."

His eyes glinted with humor, and Nico thought he saw the Messenger God repeating the word 'lord' to himself mutely, but then he turned his head back to the master of the house. "Yes, Lord Hades? You're in need of my services?"

"Yes. I wouldn't have bothered you to deliver it personally, but this is quite the important letter."

"Oh? To whom, may I ask?"

"You may. To Poseidon. It is most urgent and of great importance."

Hermes' eyes flickered to the twins again (to Penny again) and he straightened his back and bowed his head.

"I really never do so, but may I inquire as to what is the subject of the letter?"

Hades' eyes widened with rage. "Excuse me?!"

Hermes gazed at him worriedly. "I'll explain myself. I have no interest in reading your private correspondence, and I don't have much context on the situation taking place here, but I cannot help but draw my own conclusion that the Jackson twins have wronged you in some way," everyone looked at him in surprise as he continued, "and if true, well, then let me correct myself. I do not wish to know what's written in the letter, but I do wish to vouch for the two that whatever they have done, they are worthy heroes."

Nico was very surprised, and his eyes immediately jumped to Penny, who was now bright red, and staring deeply into the floor, but fortunately everyone else was too busy being shocked to notice.

"I'm sorry again, Lord Hades," a small smile was on Hermes' face, although his eyes were not in on the smile, "please, I do not mean disrespect. I do hope that by now I've proved to you I hold you to the highest esteem. I guess…" his smile widened, but again, Nico saw more worry than glee in his eyes, "I guess I'm just fond of heroes, and do not wish to see them die prematurely. These two, for sure. They're very nice once you get to know them."

Percy, Nico noticed, was gaping at Hermes with absolute confusion, and the expression on the face of Nico's father wasn't too far from it.

But to Nico it started to make more sense. Hermes was slowly and surely falling for Penny, and if the deity thought her in danger, he'll do stupid things such as this to help her.

"I suppose…" his father's eyes were still narrowed, "I suppose I can understand the sentiment, even if I do not share it, having disliked heroes profoundly over the centuries. But your impression of the situation is mistaken. I do not wish to harm these heroes, but to help them."

"Help them?" Hermes seemed relieved now, his smile widening, and surely everyone noticed that, "great. That is - great, since they're quite vital to Olympus! Prophecy twins and whatnot. Then in this case, I'm profoundly sorry for my rudeness, Lord Hades, and for implying I wish to know what's written in your personal letters. I assure you, I never wished and never will wish to know that."

"I know so, you never gave anyone reason to doubt that," Hades answered distractedly as his eyes watched the Olympian who was smiling genuinely now, his eyes glinting, and was twirling his power symbol between his fingers, his caduceus, in full form.

"Lord Hades, truly, forgive me," he added, "I suppose I did worry for these twins. Otherwise I wouldn't have spoken such foolishness. But truly, well," and his eyes gleamed again, "we need them alive, right? The Great Prophecy and all."

"Yes," Hades nodded, "and may I add, you seem quite invested in the whole ordeal."

"But of course," Hermes bowed his head, "it is the fate of all of us after all. We all want these twins to preserve Olympus."

"Yes," Hades hummed again, "well, in which case, I do believe you can bring us some benefit then. Perhaps you'll get to know what's written in the letter after all."

Hermes' eyebrows arched as he looked up at Nico's dad in surprise. "I'm sorry?"

"Hermes, are you quite satisfied with your involvement in the war effort?"

---

Hermes

Was he satisfied with his involvement in the war effort?

Were the night skies blue?

No.

But who could do anything about it? Zeus forbade them from helping heroes directly, and when that awful beast Typhon would rise, they'd all be off, fighting him.

Now, fighting Typhon was quite the war effort, but up until then what did Hermes do? Delivered wheat for Demeter while Penny prepared herself for her death?

Her death.

Damn. He was not ready to accept that whatsoever.

Why, why the demigoddess from the prophecy of all the girls in the world?

This entire debate took place in his head while he watched the Lord of the Underworld as Hades smirked at him, probably knowing the answer.

Outsiders had no idea how lucky they were, Hermes thought bitterly, they weren't tied with Zeus' short leash.

Everyone wanted to be an Olympian! Sure!

But it had its big disadvantages.

Risking another look in Penny's direction, the sweet girl was still as red as a tomato.

He had to stop himself from snickering.

It was a good thing Hermes himself was good at masking emotions, because if it was just up to her, she'd sell them out immediately.

Returning his eyes to Hades, he shrugged. "Those of us who weren't given direct orders with specific missions regarding the war were told to continue as we were."

"But that's not what I asked," Hades' smirk widened, "I asked how satisfied are you with how much you're doing for the war effort?"

The wings on his shoes fluttered restlessly as he answered. "Not very much. If it was up to me -" his eyes glanced at her for a second before returning to Hades, "- I'd do more."

"I'm sure glad to hear that."

He eyed Hades' black orbs. "What are you four up to?"

"Well, Hermes, it seemed quite weird to me that we expect these two heroes to save us in the summer without properly preparing them and helping them however we can - it is our war too. I, for one, do not wish to spend any time in Tartarus, or any other place my father decides to send us to if he wins."

"I have no desire for that either," Hermes smiled.

They looked at each other again. Then Hermes' smile widened.

"I'd love to help. But it must be according to my father's rules, at least seemingly."

"Rules have loopholes, God of Thieves," Hades answered smoothly, "you're one to know."

Hermes chuckled. "You bet."

"And anyway, the only one to actively and openly help them is me. From Poseidon, and from you for that matter, we'll need advice, and possibly to recruit some of your allies to help."

"That can be done. I'm in."

"Excellent."

"May I offer another thing, though?"

"Go ahead."

"I think we should involve Apollo as well."

Hades sneered. "... Apollo?"

And Hades probably had the goofy, careless, full-of-himself God of the Sun in mind.

Hermes laughed. "... Yes. When serious, he can offer wonderful insights. He is not nearly as careless as some assume him to be."

"Well, he is the god of prophecy…"

"Yes," Hermes nodded to Hades, "look Lord Hades, I'm really happy you offered me to join, as many of us wanted to help out more, but didn't know how or couldn't find a way without irritating the, er, the king. So yeah. I'd like to help, and I'm sure Apollo would too."

"Alright," Hades nodded. "Can you…"

"Bring them here?" Hermes smiled, "sure."

"Tell them to come in two days time," Hades told him, "and come too. At 4 pm."

"Will do," Hermes turned around and sent a wink the twins' way before exiting.

He had his own, selfish reasons to want Apollo there.

These days he couldn't be in the same room with Poseidon without the Sea Lord glaring daggers at him, and he knew said elder god just waited to be alone with him to let him have it over… unofficially courting his daughter.

And Hermes had no intention to be alone in a room with the Sea God until he thought himself ready to outright ask the god to court his daughter.

Which he will do.

If they outlive the war.

---

Penny

Nico dragged her to their usual spot in Central Park, and watched her with an amused, smug smile.

But she wasn't at all amused.

She still didn't process all that's happened, couldn't, wouldn't process Hermes' sudden appearance and his involvement in all that happened.

Her dreams from the night before…

She could just cry.

Oh, wait, she was crying.

"What happened?" Nico watched her, horrified, when as soon as they settled on the grass, she burst into tears.

"I… I…" She was being a ridiculous creature. She was falling hard, fast, for someone who was so clearly not over his former flame. For someone who she just dreamt of confessing to said beautiful woman that he never loved anyone as much as he did her.

He wanted to make her his immortal wife!

And the worst part about it - she couldn't bring herself to even dislike May.

She was so clearly a positive, kind woman, a wonderful soul, and Penny could understand so deeply why Hermes fell for her.

"I'm pathetic," she finally let out.

Nico narrowed his eyes. "You are a bit… ridiculous. Especially right now, when you make no sense. Where did all that come from? I was sure you'll be ecstatic! He likes you so much he made a fool of himself!"

She pulled her knees to her chest and leaned her chin on them. "I should be realistic. When he just recently lost the only woman he ever loved in his immortal life… his feelings for me cannot be too deep."

---

A/N

Hestia, Hades, Poseidon, Hermes, Apollo... things now seem less grim for our beloved twins ;)

This is by far the longest chapter I've ever posted. Let me know if you prefer long or short, I never know what you all like best. But I couldn't cut this one in the middle - I felt like it was a whole-thing deal with this one, everything is connected.

Fun Fact - this story is now officially the longest one on Hermes on FFnet and we're barely half done. Yayyy :D

As you may have noticed, the story's description changed again (hopefully for the last time XD ) to honor Hestia's larger involvement in the story and to give hints to other major players that are to join the story or that already joined it.

Good news for all the Apollo fans. Given how I've finally found the one thing this story missed - a complete outline, I now know how I want this story to go on and I've decided it will include a romantic subplot for Apollo. That's not to come until we reach the HoO part of the story at least, and as I mentioned before, it won't be with Penny (though it won't be with another OC either, so don't worry, I'm not gonna introduce another one of those so late into the story) and I just thought I'd share with you this development.

That's it from me! Life has been hectically busy, I'm truly exhausted, and the next update truly does involve you readers, as the next chapter is partly written and I'll need motivation to complete it. So as always, let me know what you thought in anyway you want :)

---

guest - I'm always happy to answer questions!

Penny didn't have to take a dip, and she didn't (evidently). This will be explored in the next chapter. And don't worry! I absolutely agree that she must make her own name, and follow her own path, and I think it became quite clear she's going to do that in this chapter when she chose Hestia's path while Percy chose the Styx'. She will be Penelope Jackson, not just Percy's twin, don't worry :) But it's worth mentioning that they both adore being each other's twin, and consider that one of their main attributes. Thank you for reviewing!

the8horcrux - You're welcome, and thank you for reviewing again!
I completely agree - Harry went through terrible abuse and that did not get enough place in the books. As for the effect of abuse on Penny... that will be explored heavily in future chapters, so your angsty side might enjoy that ;)
The prophecy kid will be slowly revealed, and I'm glad it intrigues you! As for it continuing beyond PJO, yes! It will cover HoO as well :)
Ahhh, procrastinating. Yes, I'm quite familiar with it as well. And please, be safe as well!
And as for the Hades/Nico interactions - well, this one had a lot of those too, and it'll only get better :D

opheliac73 - then I am so honored you decided to review, thank you so much! I'm so glad to hear you like my story :) As for it continuing to HoO, yes! And yes, you could say she'd meet Mercury. You'll see ;)
I hope you liked this chapter too, let me know!

Arkytior's Song - And I absolutely will tell you so when I publish it!
I'm so glad you liked the picnic! I swear, writing these two interact with each other is so very easy. It just flows out of me :D
Well, there was a lot of Hades and Nico in this one, so let me know what you thought!

GreenEyedSam - Thank you so so much, what a wonderful compliment! I'm so glad you like and enjoy my story, and thank you for reviewing about it!
And dully noted, I'll fix it whenever I find the time. Thank you for letting me know :)

Vera - you've asked some wonderful, great questions and I unfortantly can't answer any of them! XD But I love the fact you asked them! I had to ask those questions myself and think about it a lot before deciding on it. And don't worry, keep reading the story and they will all be answered :)

Emily - ahhh thank you! Yes, I laughed quite a lot too (am I allowed to laugh at my own writing? Well, either way, I did XD ). I love the Hermes/Dionysus dynamic - they're both impatient and easily bored, with Hermes being nicer and friendlier than the God of Wine, and when the two meet they're both so dry and uninterested it's hilarious! As for Nico the matchmaker and Hermes defensive over Penny... yes, there'll be more of that ;)

Savannah - thank you for being my 100 reviewer! It's really crazy to me :D And yes, drama is a wonderful thing, and I'm afraid this story is filled with it. I hope this chapter proved to you just how much ;)