There's only one more chapter after this!

I also have a slight confession to make- I am in a tiny bit of a funk at the moment. So I may not update as regularly for a little while- I'll still be doing the Lou's Past chapters every other day, but there might not be a great deal else as I need to catch up. On the plus side, I am now working on the first rewrite of Tower of Nero, I'm ten-ish chapters into Lou's Past Part Two AND I am typing up the rewrite of the Kane Chronicles and Percy Jackson crossover whose name currently escapes me, I am tired.

To 8Ball3- Thanks ^_^ I'm currently rather enjoying writing the beginning of their dynamic in Lou's Past Part Two :D

To An-Unnamed-Goose- I don't know how you managed to read them backwards, but fair enough XD Mikey is one of Lou's mortal best friends, he'll be introduced in Part Two of her past :3 And that's such a mood- don't think my brain ever functioned properly either :P Do you mean when does Percy figure out Lou's full name? Hahaha, that's for later O:)


Reyna detoured to the praetorium before the Senate House. She had split her time between praetor duties and helping with Louisa. Between her and Jessica, they had Louisa trapped. Everyone knew she was scared of Reyna, and Reyna knew there was only one person that scared her more than she did. Said person was sat on the stool by the bathtub, teasing her daughter about Reyisa, just as Reyna walked in.

"Ah, excellent timing!" Jessica beamed. She leapt up, grabbing Reyna's arm and forcing her to sit on the stool. "Do you mind watching her while I grab something to eat before this big meeting? Cool, thanks. Say goodbye to your sandwiches." And just like that, Jessica was gone. Reyna blinked.

"I understand so much more about you now."

"Ugh." Louisa groaned, blearily staring at the taps. "Need a wee."

"Hold it." Reyna advised. "You're not allowed out."

"Need. A. Wee." Her voice took on a familiar lilt of defiance, sea green eyes squinting at her, offended. Reyna sighed.

"Fine. But you'd better be back in before your mom comes back. I am not crossing her."

"Mom Look?"

"Mom Look." Reyna tucked her hands under Louisa's arms, hauling her up, helping her climb out. Instantly, Louisa swayed, leaning on Reyna more than she cared to admit. "You're an idiot."

"Mmph." Louisa wrinkled her nose, shaking her hand to will her pyjamas dry. "Love you too." Reyna's face warmed. She helped Louisa over to the toilet and then let her be. She busied herself draining the bath to refill it with clean water, chucking crumbs of sand dollars under the faucet's stream.

The toilet flushed. Reyna only turned when the sink taps started running. Louisa was washing her hands, resting her elbows on the edge of the basin, leaning to the left as if pulled that way. Once done, she gripped the basin and lowered herself to sit on the floor. "Ow ow ow ow ow ow." She groaned. Reyna moved over to her, crouching at her side. She made to speak, voice catching as she saw Louisa's face.

"Hey, it's OK." She soothed, taking Louisa's hand in her own. Louisa squeezed her eyes shut, tears falling. "Lou," Reyna sat, hugging her, "don't do that. You did everything you could and more."

"I missed the funerals." Anger creased her brow. "I couldn't save 'em 'n' I couldn't send 'em off."

"It is not your job to save everyone. How many times do I have to tell you?" Louisa coughed a half-sob half-laugh.

"People keep tellin' me that. You. Mom. Jay. How is Jay? Is he OK?"

"He's resting. Thalia grounded him."

"Good." Louisa nodded, pressing her forehead to the cold porcelain of the basin's stand. A sob shook her shoulders, she bit her lip to stifle it, brow furrowing.

"Lou?"

"Mm-mm." She squeaked, shaking her head. "I- I didn't… I didn't…"

"No, Lou."

"But-"

"You almost died. Again. That's like the fifth time this year, Lou." Reyna touched her cheek, brushing a tear away with her thumb. "You can come out with all your old arguments, it doesn't change anything. So what if you weren't supposed to be born? You were. You're alive. You do your best and… and I hate you for it, but… I know it's what you do." Reyna tucked Louisa's hair behind her ear, cupping her jawline. "I know it's what you'll always do." Reyna smiled sadly. Sea green eyes studied her face, a colour that had caught her attention the second she saw them. They never seemed to be the same shade of green, maybe a bit brighter or darker or mixed with flecks of hues, each variation something new, yet something familiar. These eyes gave her more mischief than anything else she had ever faced, but sometimes that looked at her in a way that warmed her chest. Like they were now.

"You hate me." Louisa echoed, no such feeling for Reyna. Quite the opposite.

"No. I hate your death wish. I hate that I keep losing you. I hate that you won't be selfish, just once."

"Shellfish."

"This is no time for puns." Reyna flicked her in the head. "You never save yourself first."

"I'm just one, Rey. I can save more."

"But it won't ever be enough for you, will it?" Louisa stayed quiet. Reyna squished her hand, lifting it to kiss her fingers. "I know you." She continued quietly. "I know you'll carry this."

"I ain't forgettin' 'em."

"And I'm not asking you to. I'm asking you stop harbouring them, stop using them to hurt yourself." Louisa said nothing, head bowed. "I don't hate you. I don't think I ever did. You drive me crazy, but… I needed it. Still need it." Reyna paused. Louisa sniffed. "Come on, let's get you back in the tub." Reyna stood, not waiting for a response. She pulled Louisa up, walked her back to the bath.

Louisa seemed to breathe easier once in the water, eyes sharpening a little. She looked up at Reyna as if piecing a puzzle together. Reyna sat on the stool, brushing her hand over Louisa's hair. It didn't matter how it was styled or how much it was brushed, whatever treatment her hair received, it was always messy, coming loose, random curls and stray hairs. Reyna loved it. It was just another element of chaos Louisa exuded.

"Jay always said I weren't expendable." Louisa mumbled.

"He's right."

"But I'd rather it was me. I keep… I keep watchin' my friends die 'n'… 'n' I can't do anythin' about it." Her brow furrowed. "I know I get angry 'n'… 'n' I know I do stuff I shouldn't, but… I dunno…"

"You do." Reyna prompted. "Tell me, Lou."

"You'll hate me."

"I won't. Ever. Never."

"I don't want demigods bein' expendable. I don't want the gods just bein' OK with us dyin'. They put us on this world 'n' then they left us. I want 'em ta take responsibility. I want demigods 'n' legacies to be safe. How can I live when we're all dyin' for people who don't care about us? How can I live, when I ain't supposed ta have ever lived? When good people- innocent kids, die for lost causes? Why should I let them die when I can take the brunt for them?"

"Why do you have to take the brunt?"

"'Cos I can." Louisa replied simply. "'Cos I don't know what else ta do. Or that I do know what ta do 'n' it… it won't…" She grimaced. Her gaze shifted, locking on Reyna's with a ferocity that kept her still. "Am I the god-killer?" She asked. There was no tone to her voice, not really. As if all the grief and rage and loss and trauma was too much to voice, too much to sound, leaving a desolate note in its place instead. "Am I, Rey? 'Cos… I won't lie ta ya, I'm considerin' it."

"Lou-"

"Yeah, I know. Bad Lou, bad Lou." Louisa sighed, slouching in the water and glaring at the taps. Reyna watched her for a minute.

"I don't think you're the god-killer." She eventually said. "I don't think you want to be. You just want things to change." Louisa scoffed. Reyna crossed her arms on the side of the tub, leaning forward. "You are capable of change, Lou. And you're capable of bringing change. You just need to not death wish for five seconds and you'll see. You can bring about change better than anyone I know. You're so stubborn and demanding. You know what you want. I've never seen you stop trying. I'd be disappointed if you did. I wouldn't recognise you if you stopped trying to do the right thing." Reyna examined Louisa's face, following the blonde line through her hair. "You cause so much trouble. You drive people crazy, sometimes literally. You won't stop swearing. You won't stop fighting and trying and learning and risking everything for everyone else." Reyna brushed her knuckles on Louisa's cheek, the lightest of feather touches. "That's why I want to strangle you all the time." She gave a half-smile. Louisa looked at her sidelong, sea green eyes tentative, worried. Reyna sat forward, kissing her temple. "You're an idiot. That's why I love you."

"You… don't hate me?"

"No." Reyna laughed softly. "I never have."


His first surprise- a front-row seat. He and Meg had been given places of honour next to the senior senators and the most important citizens of New Rome and those demigods with accessibility needs. Jason and Thalia waved at them; he looked a little peaky and weary, but seemed in good spirits.

When Meg saw him, she patted the bench next to her, as if there was any other place to sit. The chamber was absolutely packed. Somehow, it was reassuring to see everyone together, even if the populace was much reduced and the sea of white bandages could have caused snow blindness.

Reyna came into the chamber about ten minutes after he did. The entire assembly came to its feet, waiting in respectful silence as she made her way to her praetor's seat next to Frank, who nodded at his colleague.

Second surprise- her seat was occupied.

"I swear I just left you." She reprimanded. Louisa grinned at her. Jessica was in the front row, keeping an eye on her daughter.

"I'm dosed up on nectar." Louisa said. "'N' Mom stole my seat."

"So you stole mine?"

"Naturally."

"How did you even-? You know what? Nevermind. Shift." Reyna shooed her. Louisa merely sat on the arm of the chair, sticking her feet- no sneakers, just mismatched socks- on Reyna's lap as soon as she sat down. "You could have at least changed out of your pyjamas." Reyna muttered.

"I put the thing on." Louisa plucked at the green material of her ambassador's toga. "But nah. I'm a walkin' advertisement for Comfy Camp Jupiter. Be grateful." Louisa stuck her tongue out.

"How's the leg?" Frank asked.

"All good now, thank you."

"Don't thank him, I healed it. Love you, Frank."

"Love you too, Lou."

"Damn straight." Louisa nodded, picking at Reyna's hair distractedly. Reyna raised a brow at Jessica, who simply shrugged, and then gestured at Frank to start.

"So," Frank addressed the audience, "I call to order this extraordinary meeting of the people of New Rome and the Twelfth Legion. First item on the agenda: a formal thank-you to all. We survived through team effort-"

"'N' earthquakes!"

"Sssh, Lou."

"Zap!" She pointed at Jason. He smiled gently, motioning for her to quiet. Instead, she blew a raspberry and stuck two middle fingers up at him.

"Please excuse her," Jessica called, "she's had a very high dosage of nectar in under thirty seconds and is a bit loopy."

"Storm likes loopies."

"Let Frank talk, Lou."

"I love Frank. He's my great-great-great… great? Nephew. Ah, that's weird, I feel old." Reyna smacked her on the leg, successfully distracting her and gaining an incredulous, offended stare from her girlfriend.

"We've dealt a huge blow to our enemies," Frank continued, keeping an eye on Louisa, "Tarquin is dead- really dead at last. Two out of three emperors of the Triumvirate have been destroyed, along with their fleet and their troops."

"Haha, whoosh!" Louisa declared victoriously, throwing her hands up and nearly toppling backwards off the arm. Reyna grabbed her wrists and kept her upright.

"Yes," Frank agreed with a smile, "you made lots of whooshes." He faced the audience again. "Our win comes at a great cost. But you all acted like true Romans. We live to see another day!" There was applause, some nods, a few cheers of 'Yes!' and 'Another day!' One guy in the back, who must have not been paying attention for the last week, said, 'Tarquin?' Louisa joined in too, breaking free of Reyna's hold and clapping erratically.

"Yaaaaay!" She cheered. Then to Reyna, in a feverish stage whisper; "Why are we clappin'? I zoned out." Reyna just took her hands again, squeezing her fingers reassuringly.

"Second," Frank said, "I want to reassure I'm alive and well." He patted his chest as if to prove it. Louisa whooped- "Yay, love Frank!"- and slumped forward, resting her head on Reyna's. "My fate is no longer tied to a piece of wood," Frank carried on, "which is nice. And, uh, if you could all please forget that you saw me in my underwear, I'd appreciate it." That got some laughs and a few calls of 'no promises!' and one wolf-whistle that made Frank blush. "Now," he said once people were settled, "it's our duty to inform you of some personnel changes. Reyna?"

Reyna had to pry Louisa off and then reposition her so she wouldn't fall or run off before she could stand.

"Thank you, Frank." Seeing her standing, those in the assembly who could stand did. "Guys, please." She gestured for them to be seated. "This is hard enough." When they had all sat, Reyna scanned their faces in the crowd: a lot of anxious, sad expressions. Her gaze lingered for a moment on the Graces. Both of them gave soft, encouraging smiles. "I've been praetor for a long time." Reyna began. "It's been an honour to serve the legion. We've been through some rough times together. Some… interesting years." A bit of nervous laughter- interesting was the perfect curse word. "But it's time for me to step down." She continued. "I am resigning my post as praetor." A moan of disbelief filled the chamber. "It's for personal reasons. Like my sanity, for instance. I need time to just be Reyna, to find out who I am outside the legion. So…" She removed her praetor's cloak and badge and handed them to Frank.

"Wait!" Louisa shouted. She had stood up on Reyna's chair, slurring and rubbing at her eyes as the room span. "Wait, wait, wait. Where's Sparkarina?"

"Don't call me that, Blobfish." Thalia countered, coming forward, elbowing Jason as he snickered. Louisa snapped her fingers and pointed at Thalia, beaming. She fell forward, catching herself by hugging Reyna from behind, feet still on the chair.

"Got you a pressie." She smiled crookedly. Then her expression became serious and she pinched Reyna's cheek. "Not like the last pressie, I promise. Sparkarina, tell her what she's won!"

"You keep calling me that, I'm going to zap you." Thalia warned. Louisa blew a raspberry at her. Thalia sighed, having accepted as much from her delinquent cousin. "Reyna," she said, "Lou called in a few favours with us and Diana. If you want to, you can travel with the Hunters for as long as you like, without taking the Oath. Unless you want to take the Oath?" Reyna stared at her. "We have a mission," Thalia continued, "and if you would like to accompany us, as just Reyna, you are more than welcome to."

"Thalia even said she'd give you her tiara." Louisa stage-whispered again.

"No, I didn't."

"I got you a vacation!" Louisa grinned, jostling Reyna by the shoulders. "Monster-huntin' vacation! Ugh, feel sick." She groaned. Reyna tensed. Jessica was there immediately, lifting her daughter away and sitting her back down. Louisa sat in the praetor's chair, knees to her chest and looking a little green.

"What do you say, Reyna?" Thalia pressed gently. "You coming? I can't promise there won't be vomit," she said as Louisa wretched, "but I can promise a good deal of monster-hunting."

"That… sounds like fun." Reyna smiled. "I'll come. Thank you." She turned. "Lou?" Louisa looked up, eyes bleary, a fine sheen of perspiration over her face. Something squished in Reyna's chest and her smile softened. "Thank you, Lou." Louisa gave a shaky thumbs-up.

"Anytime, Rey-Rey."

Frank stood, leading the applause. The rest of the audience was quick to cotton on, rising to give Reyna a standing ovation. They cheered and stomped with such jubilation, Apollo worried the duct-taped dome would collapse on them.

Finally, when Reyna was seated in the front row squashed between the Grace siblings, everyone turned their attention back to Frank. At some point during the ovation, Jessica had helped Louisa out of the praetor's chair, carting her off to be sick somewhere more private.

"Well, guys," Frank spread his arms, "I could thank Reyna all day long. She has given so much to the legion. She's been the best mentor and friend. She can never be replaced. On the other hand, I'm up here all alone now and we have an empty praetor's chair-" He double-checked Louisa definitely wasn't still sat there. "-so I'd like to take nominations-"

"HA-ZEL, HA-ZEL!" Lavinia started the chant. The crowd quickly joined in. Hazel's eyes widened. She tried to resist when those sitting around her pulled her to her feet, but her Fifth Cohort fan club had evidently been preparing for this possibility. One of them produced a shield, which they hoisted Hazel onto like a saddle. They raised her overhead and marched her to the middle of the senate floor, chanting 'HA-ZEL, HA-ZEL, HA-ZEL!" Reyna clapped and yelled right along with them. Only Frank tried to remain neutral, though he had to hide his smile behind his fist.

"OK, settle down!" He called at last. "We have one nomination. Are there any other-?"

"HA-ZEL, HA-ZEL!"

"Any objections?"

"HA-ZEL, HA-ZEL!"

"Then I recognise the will of the Twelfth Legion. Hazel Levesque, you are hereby promoted to praetor!"

More wild cheering- that dome would come down any second, surely. Hazel looked dazed as she was dressed in Reyna's old cloak and badge of office, then led to her chair.

Seeing Frank and Hazel side-by-side, Apollo had to smile. They looked so right together. Wise and strong and brave and kind. The perfect praetors. Rome's future was in good hands.

"Thank you." Hazel managed at last. "I- I will do everything I can to be worthy of your trust. But… the Fifth Cohort doesn't have a centurion, so-"

"LAVINIA, LAVINIA!" The entire Fifth Cohort started chanting in unison.

"What?" Lavinia's face turned pinker than her hair. "Oh, no, I don't do leadership!" The Fifth continued to chant her name. "Is this a joke? Guys, I-"

"Lavinia Asimov!" Hazel beamed like a proud mama hen. "The Fifth Cohort read my mind! As my first act as praetor, for your unparalleled heroism in the Battle of San Francisco Bay, I hereby promote you to centurion- unless my fellow praetor has any objections?"

"None." Frank grinned.

"Then come forward, Lavinia!" To more applause and whistling, Lavinia approached the rostrum and got her new badge of office. She hugged Hazel and Frank, which was not the usual military protocol, but no-one cared. Nobody clapped louder or whistled more shrilly than Meg. Apollo knew as much as she left him deaf in one ear.

Hazel squeezed Lavinia's hands. "Thank you, Centurion. You may be seated." Lavinia looked like she still wanted to protest, caught in a very surreal moment.

"On to our next order of business!" Frank said as Lavinia skipped dazedly back to her seat. "We realise the legion will need time to heal. There's lots to be done. This summer, we will rebuild. We'll speak to Lupa about getting more recruits as quickly as possible, so we can come back from this battle stronger than ever. And our pontifex has returned!" He gestured to Jason, who waved and got a round of applause and calls of 'missed you, Grace!' "He has redesigned Temple Hill to accommodate all the gods and goddesses and we will see it through!" More cheering, Jason got a few claps on the back from those closest to him. Frank smiled and called for quiet again. "But, for now, our fight is won and we have to honour two people who made that possible: Apollo and his comrade, Meg McCaffrey!"

The crowd applauded so much, Apollo doubted anyone heard Meg say, 'Master, not comrade', which was fine by him.

As they stood to accept the legion's thanks, Apollo felt strangely uncomfortable. Now that he finally had a friendly crowd cheering for him, he just wanted to sit down and hide in his toga. He had done so little compared to Hazel or Reyna or Jason or Louisa or Frank, not to mention all those who had died: Dakota, Don, Jacob, the Sibyl, Harpocrates… and dozens, dozens more.

Frank raised his hand for quiet. "Now, I know you two have another long, hard quest ahead of you. There's still one emperor who needs his podex kicked." As the crowd chuckled, Apollo wished their next task was as easy as Frank made it sound. Nero's podex, yes… but there was also the small matter of Python squatting in Apollo's old holy place of Delphi.

Frank was talking again. "And I understand that you two have decided to leave in the morning."

"We have?" Apollo's voice cracked. He had been imagining a week or two relaxing in New Rome, enjoying the thermal baths or seeing a chariot race.

"Ssh." Meg elbowed him. "Yes, we have." That did not make Apollo feel better.

"Also," Hazel spoke up, "I know you two are planning to visit Ella and Tyson at dawn to receive prophetic help for the next stage of the quest." Apollo stared at her- who was making these plans and when? Where was his input?

"But tonight," Frank smiled, "we want to honour what you two have done for this camp. Without your help, we might not still be here. So, we got you pressies too."

From the back of the room, Senator Larry came down the aisle carrying a big bag of equipment. He reached the rostrum and set the duffel bag down, grinning at Apollo and Meg. He rummaged in the bag and retrieved Apollo's gift.

"It's a new bow!" He declared. If pirating never worked for Larry, he could always try hosting gameshows.

Oh, cool, Apollo thought, I need a new bow. Then he looked more carefully at the weapon, recognition hitting his chest. He squealed in disbelief.

"This is mine!"

"Uh, duh." Meg rolled her eyes. "That's what a pressie is, dummy."

"No, it's mine mine! Originally mine, from when I was a god!" He held up the bow for all to marvel and gawk at: a masterpiece of golden oak, carved with gilded vines that flashed in the light as if on fire. Its taut curve hummed with power and the bowstring was woven from Celestial bronze and threads from the looms of the Fates. The bow weighed almost nothing.

"It's been in the principia treasure room for centuries." Frank informed. "No-one can use it, it's too heavy to draw. Believe me, I would have if I could have. As would Lou, she tried stealing it a few times. Wanted it on her wall." Apollo smiled feebly- that did sound like Louisa. Frank nodded once, as if to reassure him Louisa was not still after it. "Since it was originally a gift from you to the legion, it seemed right that we give it back. With your godly strength returning, we figured you could put it to good use." Apollo was speechless, overwhelmed with gratitude. He couldn't remember when or why he had given the bow to the legion, but he was certainly glad to have it back. He drew the string with no problem. Either his strength was godlier than he realised or the bow recognised him as its rightful owner. Oooh, he could do some damage with this beauty.

"Thank you." He said. Frank smiled.

"I'm just sorry we didn't have any replacement combat ukuleles in storage."

"After I went and fixed it for him too." Lavinia grumbled.

"But," Hazel said, carefully ignoring her new centurion, "we do have a gift for Meg too." Larry rummaged through his Santa bag again. He pulled out a black silk pouch about the size of a deck of playing cards. Apollo had to resist the urge to shout, Ha! My gift is bigger!

Meg peeked into the pouch.

"Seeds!" She gasped. That would not have been Apollo's reaction, but she seemed genuinely delighted.

Leila, daughter of Ceres, called out from the stands.

"Meg, those are very ancient. We all got together, the camp's gardeners, and collected them for you from our greenhouse storage bins. Honestly, I'm not even sure what they all are, but you should have fun finding out! I hope you can use them against the last emperor." Meg was at a loss for words, lip quivering. She nodded and blinked her thanks.

"OK!" Frank grinned, agenda taken care of. "I know we ate at the funeral, but we need to celebrate Hazel's and Lavinia's promotions, wish Reyna the best on her monster-hunting vacation, and wish Apollo and Meg goodbye. And, of course, we've got a belated birthday cake for Lester. Party in the mess hall!"