(A/N A very slow start to SoM. I feel this story will likely have a bit more kick to it once we get to TRP which is [by my reckoning and verified by a few timelines I've looked up] set between BotL and TLO. So of the 8 books in the series 4 of them will be full out crossover instead of dancing around one another.

I am planning to find ways to get at least Percy and Carter together during some of Percy's adventures [probably TTC] but I haven't decided how clueless Carter needs to be once the Rosetta Stone blows up.

Anyway... I hope you enjoy!)

The gym was in flames, his only friend from the school year was dazed, burnt, and possibly wounded, and he had no idea what the mortals believed had happened, but frankly, he was so happy to see Annabeth. The fact she decked Matt Sloan and told him to 'lay off my friend' was just icing on the incredibly great cake.

He wanted to laugh. It looked like Amos owed him ten dollars: he could not make it through the last day of school without getting expelled.

"Annabeth… How did you… how long have you…"

"Pretty much all morning." She sheathed her bronze knife. "I've been trying to find a good time to talk to you, but you were never alone."

"The shadow I saw this morning-that was- Oh my gods, you were looking in my bedroom window?"

To her credit, she flamed much redder than he had ever seen her before dictating where he could meet her after ditching the gaggle of teachers. She didn't seem to like Tyson, but had directed Percy to bring him to.

With Riptide and his large friend he vacated the gym through a new jagged doorway that led outside.

.

"Dad, are we going to see Uncle Amos again this summer?"

"No."

Carter waited. There was no further response.

"Is Percy okay?"

"Yes." Carter leaned a bit to catch his dad's eye. "Percy is fine, Carter. I promise."
"Well, what happened to him last summer?"

"I don't know. I just know Amos needed someone and whatever our past, he is still my kid brother." Carter snorted. Amos was no 'kid.' "He let me know that Percy was alright, and I haven't heard from him since."

"Okay, what about that?"

"About what?"

"I'm tired of the 'do not ask' list. I am almost twelve. I might still be a kid, but I do need some answers."

"...Your uncle and I parted on...unfriendly terms when your mom died. We've never seen eye to eye, but...outside forces pushed the issue and we have stayed apart since. When he was worried about Percy and called me he was...risking a lot."

"What outside forces?"

"Work."
"Work? What does work have to do with our family."

"More than I hope you ever need to know."

"Dad."

"No, that's enough for now."

Carter huffed, but didn't press any further.

.

Percy had decided to table the fact Annabeth didn't like his friend, really he had. Surviving the moment was more important than dealing with death glares, but when she immediately turns on him and snaps "Where'd you find him?" Percy couldn't help the anger that swelled on his friend's behalf. Sure, he and Annabeth had made peace with their parents' animosity last summer, and had had an impromptu trust session over the winter solstice, but that didn't mean she could be so rude to his friend.

It wasn't his fault he was homeless! Technically, Annabeth had been homeless for a while. And why wouldn't he be able to talk?! Her surprise was just horrible, and her reaction to him giving her a compliment was worse.

Deciding to ignore she-who-dwells-on-pride, Percy checked out Tyson's hands for burns...and didn't find any.

"Of course not. I'm surprised the Laistrygonians had the guts to attack you with him around." Annabeth, what are you talking about? Laistry-what?"

They discussed the Laistry-somethings (aka Canadians) for a moment before they moved on to more pressing matters. Like being wanted by the police (again), dreams of Grover in a bridal boutique and trouble at camp, and explaining the life of a demigod to Tyson. He took everything surprisingly well. In fact, Percy would guess he'd known it all already. The only part that confused him was Percy's parentage...which confused Percy sometimes too, so he couldn't judge.

A taxi ride later and Percy wasn't sure his trust was in the right place with Annabeth.

.

Sadie decided she no longer cared what her gran thought of her hair and this time the streak that framed her face would be dark and noticeable. No more pastels from highlighters and markers that blended with her blonde! This time it would be...green! A dark forest green dye! Her mates helped her with it; at ten she couldn't just walk into a salon and get it done. Liz bought the dye for her and they locked themselves in Emma's bathroom until the work was done. It was a bit messy, but that felt right.

She struck a pose with both girls and snapped a picture in the mirror.

With a soft smile she sent it to her brother.

S: I needed a better way to push the gp's buttons. Like it? :P

C: Whoa! Why...THAT?

S: Be nice! :(

C: I mean, itll prob look better when u don't have the green smeared down the side of ur face. Why lash out?

S: Idk. Theyve just been...weird. Mom stuff. U kno

C: Not really.

S: Yeah…

C: U ok otherwise?

S: dork

C: noted

.

Percy was getting tired of learning curves.

First, he learns that the Egyptian gods exist, are trapped on an alternate plain, his family is part of an organization of magicians, and that organization is why his family was split up. All in the course of one conversation.

Then, he learns he is the son of a greek god, his birth was against an oath, he is pretty powerful because of his parentage, and there is a high probability that he is some major factor in an upcoming prophecy that he wasn't supposed to know about. All in the course of a few days.

Now, he learns that his best (only) friend for the past school year was actually a cyclops, the one place he's felt safe outside of Brooklyn House has been under siege with the protective barrier poisoned, his mentor was fired, his best friend from last summer (the one that doesn't shift to wanting to kill him every third conversation) is about to die, and his cyclops friend is actually his brother. All in the course of one afternoon.

He decided, once again, that the fates enjoyed being especially cruel to him.