A/N I'm back, thank you for all the reviews!

A few weeks later...

Percy POV

It's been a few weeks since I messaged Minerva's daughter. We hit it off really well and I've been messaging her almost everyday.

She was definitely suspicious of me when we first started talking, but I think I've gained her trust... for the most part. We've agreed to keep ourselves anonymous, so I technically don't even know her name, though I feel like I know her.

So far, I know she's a bookworm, loves chai spice tea and pumpkin spice lattes(and I do too, thank goodness for fall).

It's Saturday, which means it's a lazy day for Charlie and I. She's taking a nap and I am making some fruit tarts for... anyone really. Cooking has become my coping mechanism during that crazy period of my life, and it just stuck. Sure I cooked before, but now it's more of a passion than a hobby. Maybe I'll start a bakery or something.

At the moment, Charlie and I deliver the baked goods to our neighbors, and all of a sudden, we seem to have more 'floor parties' than before. We call them floor parties because technically we don't live on a block, but it's the same idea.

There's another floor party tonight, hence the tarts.

Charlie stumbles out of the bedroom with her hair sticking our every which way and a trace of drool down her chin. "Hi Dada," she mumbles, clearly not fully awake, "what are you making?"

I chuckle. "Oh, did you smell the tart crusts?"

"Mmmhmmm." Her eyes are only half open and her head bobs up and down as she fights off sleep.

"Charlie, why don't you head over to the couch and rest and I'll let you know when they're done. Okay?"

"But I wanna help," she slurs.

I bend down to scoop her up. "Yes my little cookie, but the crusts are still in the oven. I'll wake you up when they're done. How about that?"

She lazily nods in approval and I walk over to the couch to lay her down.

She's asleep again within seconds. I stroke her curly jet-black hair. She's the light of my life.

My phone dings and I perk up. It's her.

I grab my phone and read the message: hey! I just got a break from work. What's up?

Me: nothing much, you?

Her: Stop giving into societal norms! Tell me what's up

I chuckle. We had a long conversation(more like her ranting) about how the question, 'how are you?' is more of a standard greeting and not genuine. So, she decided to 'rebel'- her words, not mine. Essentially she just wants us to be honest, and I like that.

Me: ah, I see the rebellion still stands

Her: Of course!

Me: what if I don't want to join your rebellion?

Her: Excuse me? You don't have a choice.

Me: Oh, so instead of society dictating norms, you are now?

Her: Yes, I'm glad we got that cleared up. Now, what's up?

Me: nothing much, hehe. You?

Her: Oh not much other than the fact that MY FRIEND IS BEING AN ABSOLUTE SASSTARD!

Me: a what?

Her: A sasstard!

I laugh out loud and cradle the phone. Charlie stirs from the couch so I try to conceal my laughter.

The conversation continues for a good 20 minutes with a lot of stifled laughter and smiling, at least on my end.

Her: Okay, my break is over now. Sorry! I got to go

My laughter fades away and I sigh. It seems that she's doing all these great things with her life and I'm just here... existing.

Me: no problem! I'll catch ya later

I rest my head on the table and close my eyes.

Piercing ringing fills my ears and smoke fills the air. Charlie shoots up, eye wide with fear.

Shoot, the oven!

I rush to the oven and take out the crusts. Absolutely devastating.

"It's okay, Charlie. I just burned the tarts on accident," I yell over the smoke alarm.

Then I stand on a chair to turn it off and silence has been restored. I open the windows and turn on our fan to let the smoke out and sit on the couch next to Charlie.

She may not know exactly what's going on, but she understands enough. I rest my head in my hands, feeling like a failure that I messed things up. Sure, burning the tarts is no big deal, but that fact that I was so preoccupied and unaware... that never happens!

Charlie wiggles into my lap. "It's okay Dada. I can help you make new pies."

I smile and engulf her in a hug. "Oh, what would I do without you, my little cookie?"

"The building would burn away," she pointed out.

I throw my head back and laugh. "Who taught you to be so witty?"

She thinks for a moment then replies, "Myself."

"Oh really?"

"Uh huh. Really. Let's go, I want to eat the tarts."

I follow her to the kitchen. "One day, you're going to conquer the world," I mutter to myself.

"I know!" she yells back. I guess she heard me.

A/N Yeah ik I took like a month long break(even more), but I think I'm getting my life together(for the most part). Feel free to leave a review and share your theories, reactions, questions, or suggestions!