2004 (before tlt)- the gods
2008 (during botl)- the biggest group
2010 (during hoh)- the seven (underlined)
Grover unexpectedly loses his pants
"I- You did what?" Leo sniggers
Grover blushes, "It's not as bad as you think it sounds, I promise."
"Still hilarious."
Confession time: I ditched Grover as soon as we got to the bus terminal.
"Percy!" Silena yells, causing Clarisse to snort.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. He was really freaking me out!"
I know, I know. . . be sixth grade?"
"Okay, to be fair, I probably would've ditched him too," Chris confesses. That was the general consensus of the room.
Whenever he got upset, Grover's bladder acted up,
The demigods, and the more immature Gods, snickered as Travis and Connor exchanged looks - this would be good blackmail for the future.
So I wasn't. . .told the driver.
"You're not at all worried about everybody knowing your address?" Piper asks
"Nope." Percy shrugs, "We moved. Plus, everybody knows where we live already."
"Really?" Persephone asks
"Yup. They're like a demigod-safe house. There's a little sign on his front door in Greek." Annabeth nods
"I'll have to make sure to add one in Latin, too." Percy muses.
A word about my mother, before you meet her.
"Amazing."
"Incredible."
"Awesome."
"Nice."
"Brave."
The Gods looked around at everyone shouting out compliments in surprise. It wasn't often there was a mortal like this who was also involved with demigods.
"Sometimes I feel the need to reiterate that she's my mom." Percy laughs to Annabeth. She shoots him a grin in return and bumps his shoulder.
Her name is. . . the rottenest luck.
"Guess that applies to you, too, huh?" Annabeth grins.
Percy shrugs, gesturing around the room to his friends, "I think it applies to all of us."
Her own parents. . . and no diploma.
"That's awful." Athena frowns.
"She started night classes a couple of months ago. . . I'm not sure how it's going right now, but last time I checked it was going good," Percy says.
The only good break she ever got was meeting my dad.
"Awww." Aphrodite coos, causing Poseidon to blush.
I don't have. . . of his smile.
"Brother." Zeus says, warningly, "You visited him?"
"Oh, hush." Demeter says, rolling her eyes, "We all visit our children."
"You. . .do?" Chris asks, uncertainty.
"Of course! As often as we can." Aphrodite says.
Hephaestus grunts, "And we would more if the brain bolt here would let us."
"Stupid laws," Apollo grumbles.
Hestia smiles as Katie raises a tentative hand, "If you all hate the laws so much, why don't you just change them?"
There's a pause before the Gods turn to Zeus.
"Yeah, why don't we?" Athena asks.
Zeus shifts uncomfortably, "It is -"
"Forbidden, yadda, yadda." Hermes rolls his eyes, "But why? Because you said so?"
"Now, wait a minute," Zeus says, turning red, "I -"
"Wait," Hestia interrupts, softly, glancing at the demigods, "We should continue this later. After this chapter."
The Gods reluctantly agree, and Reyna continues reading.
My mom doesn't. . . Lost at sea.
"She's smart." Athena notices, "Makes me wonder what she saw in you."
Poseidon rolls his eyes, "I'm not even gonna justify that with a response."
She worked odd. . . Not even once.
"Wow." Artemis nods.
But I knew I wasn't an easy kid.
"None of us were." Silena murmurs
Finally, she married. . . in gym shorts.
"That's disgusting." Aphrodite gags.
Between the two. . .a good example.
"What happened?" Jason asks.
Percy rubs his eyes before gesturing to the book, "Keep reading."
I walked into. . . over the carpet.
"Gross."
Hardly looking. . . got any cash?"
"That's it?" Jason asks, incredulously, "You got any cash?"
That was it. . . handsome or something.
"Absolutely not," Aphrodite says in disgust.
He managed the. . .Always beer.
Thalia growls, remembering her own mom and her love for alcohol.
Whenever I was. . . my lights out.
"What?!" Percy's friends explode
"That's just an expression, right? I mean, he - he didn't ever hit you, did he?" Annabeth asks, whipping around to look at Percy.
He bites his lip and looks away.
"Percy?" Poseidon prompts.
"A few times." He sighs, finally.
"What?!"
"It's not big -"
"Oh, shut up." Thalia scoffs, before pointing at Percy, "You. I'm talking to you after this."
"Oh, fun." He mutters, sarcastically.
"I don't have. . .up everything else.
"Oh," Athena says softly, "She's smart."
"You took a. . .bucks in change.
"Surprised he can do the math," Grover says.
Somebody expects to live under this roof, he ought to carry his own weight.
"His own- He's twelve!" Thalia protests.
Am I right. . .just got here."
"Least somebody is decent," grumbles Silena
"Am I right?". . .gas in harmony.
"So gross."
"Fine," I said. . . act so snooty!"
"Asshole," Thalia growls.
I slammed the. . .and stale beer.
"That's where you lived?" Hazel asks, quietly.
Percy shrugs, "It got better after a few days."
"Still terrible." She says, and Percy sends her a small smile.
I dropped my suitcase on the bed. Home sweet home.
"Gotta love the sarcasm," Travis chuckles.
Gabe's smell was. . .snipping the yarn.
"That's bad," Katie says, making a face.
But as soon. . .long, horrible talons.
"That's actually the worst feeling in the world," Piper says
"Yeah. Except for feeling like your falling when you're asleep," Leo nods
Then I heard. . .my fears melted
"Awwww!" Aphrodite squeals.
My mother can . . . me or Gabe.
"She sounds amazing." Artemis smiles.
Percy blinks at her before nodding, "She is."
"Oh, Percy." She . . . I came home.
"Hey, I want candy!" Connor frowns.
"Yeah, me too!" Apollo says.
"You're literally a God. You can have whatever you want." Artemis says.
"Oh yeah! Thanks, sis."
"Don't call me sis." She hisses as Apollo brings candy, giving some to the demigods.
We sat together on . . . to see her.
"Gods, I miss her." Percy whispers
"You'll see her soon," Annabeth says, leaving out the hopefully.
From the other. . . gritted my teeth.
As did everyone in the room.
My mom is. . .jerk like Gabe.
"Or a really nice English teacher," Percy says, quietly, causing Annabeth to grin.
For her sake. . .you?" "No, Mom."
"Tsk, you shouldn't lie to your mother," Hera frowns, "It's immoral."
"Yeah. Immoral like taking somebody's memory." Jason whispers to Percy, who snorts.
I felt bad. . . would sound stupid.
The demigods nodded - they had all found themselves in that situation, or one similar to it, before. Especially if the person they were talking to was mortal, or didn't understand.
She pursed her. . . eyes widened. "Montauk?"
Poseidon's eyes widen and he grins, recognizing the beach where he met Sally.
"Three nights - same. . .wasn't enough money.
"Yeah, 'cause he gambled it all away." Annabeth scoffs.
Gabe appeared in. . .to punch him.
"Do it, please." Clarisse grunts.
But I met. . . let us go.
"He had better," Poseidon mutters
"Of course he. . .cream. The works."
"Ah, bribery, the solution to everything." Hermes nods, solemnly.
"She shouldn't have to bribe him." Hera snaps.
Gabe softened a . . . clothes budget, right?"
"What?! He gave her a clothes budget?" Aphrodite asks. Percy nods. He hadn't realized all those years ago how intent Gabe had been on controlling everything. "That is unacceptable. I'm taking her as soon as we're done reading."
Percy stifles his laughter at the mental image of his mom and Aphrodite rifling through hundreds of clothing stores.
"Yes, honey," my. . .be very careful.
Percy, Grover, and Annabeth snickered. "That didn't last very long."
Gabe scratched his. . .my poker game.
"Inter - he funded it!" Thalia seethes.
Maybe if I. . .for a week.
"Gods, please," Clarisse mutters.
But my mom's. . .what he thought?
Percy sighs, shifting in his seat. He wonders how much would've changed if he had known beforehand that his mom had married Gabe for him.
Grover, reading his emotions, narrows his eyes, "What happened wasn't your fault," he whispers, "You know that, right?"
Percy nods, "Yeah, I know." But it doesn't sound convincing at all.
"I'm sorry," I. . .it right now."
"Damn, I forgot how much I've missed that sarcasm." Travis chuckles
Gabe's eyes narrowed. . .to his game.
"Wow. He's actually really dumb." Rachel says, shaking her head.
"Be glad he is," Piper mutters, darkly.
"Thank you, Percy,". . . in the air.
"Should've known better - Mom always knows when I'm hiding something," Percy says, shaking his head, fondly.
But then her. . .the whole weekend.
"Oh, how awful." Hera says, sarcastically, rolling her eyes, "Don't even think about your wife."
"Not a scratch. . .one little scratch."
"He's twelve."
Like I'd be. . .to blame me.
Poseidon narrows his eyes as Reyna continues reading. He'd have to pay this Gabe a little visit.
Watching him lumber. ..movement toward Gabe.
"That won't do anything," Athena says.
The screen door slammed. . .to find out.
The God's jaws drop - except for Poseidon's - and the demigod's eyes widen.
"How did you -" Annabeth starts, "That doesn't make any sense."
"The only way that would work is if he was a true threat - something purely evil or with powerful, terrible intentions." Athena frowns.
There's a shocking moment of silence before Percy turns Poseidon, "Do you know?"
The God shifts before shrugging, slightly, "Possibly the water molecules in the air. . .?"
The others seem to take this as answer enough, and Reyna picks up the book, again, but Athena narrows her eyes as Poseidon looks away and continues looking uncomfortable. She'll have to ask him about it later.
I got in the. . .sand in the sheets
"Oh, I hate that," Piper says
and spiders in the cabinets,
Annabeth, Athena, and Annabeth shiver, slightly.
and most of the time the sea was too cold to swim in.
Poseidon scoffs, "Too cold. Whatever."
I loved the place.
"Of course you do." Annabeth grins.
We'd been going. . .met my dad.
Poseidon smiled softly as Aphrodite gasped, "Oooh! That is so cute!"
As we got. . .of the sea.
Hermes cocks his head to the left, leaning forward, slightly. Normal mortals didn't do that, so unless Sally wasn't. . .
We got there. . .brought from work.
"Is...it all blue on purpose?" Jason asks
"Yes."
I guess I should explain the blue food.
"Please do."
See, Gabe had. . .from the shop.
"OoooOoOoh."
This - along with. . .streak, like me.
"Percy, you do not have a rebellious streak." Grover snorts.
"Yeah, you don't listen to anybody." Annabeth agrees
"You have an obedience streak," Thalia adds.
Percy (and Percy) grins, shrugging unapologetically as Poseidon sighs, resigned to the fact that he wasn't, in any way, safe.
When it got. . .the candy shop.
"I'm glad she's able to do that now." Percy sighs.
Eventually, I got. . .of hearing them.
"None of us do." Katie sighs, wistfully. The others nod and the Gods look at them surprised.
After a moment, Aphrodite stands up and walks over to Silena and Piper, and sits next to them. They stare at her wide-eyed before she sighs, "Well, this book isn't going to read itself, is it?"
As Reyna begins reading, some of the other Gods - Hermes, Apollo, Athena, Hephaestus, and Demeter - all go to sit next to their children, too.
"He was kind. . .his green eyes."
"You do look remarkably like him." Athena comments.
"Always wondered how that worked." Annabeth muses, "'Cause there's no DNA."
"Gods can choose how much of themselves their children can want." Aphrodite nods toward Percy, "Some choose to do so more than others."
Mom fished a. . .be so proud."
"I am." Poseidon says, immediately, "More than you know."
I wondered how. . .in six years.
"That's not who you are, Percy." Poseidon insists, "Besides, the sea doesn't like to be restrained, so, I suppose, some of that is my fault."
"Some of it?" Athena mutters.
"How old was I?"...this beach. This cabin."
Annabeth frowns, "Wait...what?"
"What?"
"Nothing it just...that doesn't make any sense,"
Poseidon shifts as Percy's eyebrows knit together, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, if your birthday is in August then...then that means she would've had to conceive you in November."
Percy blushes at the casual mention of how he was born before realizing what she said, "Wait but then why- I mean, why would mom lie about that?" He glances at Poseidon, who looks away, uncomfortable.
Zeus narrows his eyes at him, "Brother," he warns, "Is there something you're hiding?"
"I'm not hiding anything." He snaps, "I don't know why your mother would lie about that."
Athena narrows her eyes. Yes, she would definitely have to talk to him.
"But. . . he knew. . .glow. A smile.
"It's because he visited," Zeus says, bitterly.
Hera glows at him, "You have no room to talk, Mr. Had-not-one-but-two-babies-with-the-same-woman."
Poseidon snickers at Zeus' expression, even as he glares at him.
I had always. . .at my father.
Poseidon sighs.
Maybe it was stupid,
"It's not." Chris says, immediately
"Yeah, we've all felt that way." Connor agrees.
"Just some more than others," Thalia says, quietly.
but I resented. . .with Smelly Gabe.
"I had no idea she had married him. If I did, I would've - well, I would've at least tried to do more. It's hard, though, with -"
"The rules." Percy says, frustrated, "Yeah, I know."
"Are you going. . .want me around?"
"Why would you think that?" Grover asks. Percy shrugs but doesn't answer.
I regretted the. . .normal," I said
"Thank Gods," Frank mutters
"You say that. . . important you are.
"No idea." Hazel says, shaking her head, "Even now."
I thought Yancy. . .safe from what?"
"Everything." The demigods say, again.
She met my. . .of his head.
"Nobody ever does," Rachel says, shaking her head.
Before that - a . .meaty toddler hands.
"Like Hercules." Travis breathes.
Percy wrinkles his nose, and Percy shakes his head, "Gods, I hope not."
"Hmm," Athena frowns, "If monsters sought you out, even at such a young age. . ." She trailed off, thinking, "It's a wonder you weren't killed earlier."
"Gee, thanks," Percy says, sarcastically.
In every single. . .forced to move.
"Life of a demigod." Will sighs, before frowning, "Except, not usually so. . .extreme."
I knew I. . .with a sword.
"Yes, please." Grover moans, knowing that this was the past, and it didn't happen, anyway.
But I couldn't. . .didn't want that.
"You didn't tell her because you didn't want to leave?" Athena asks.
Percy blushes, "I didn't know it was such a big deal at the time."
"You didn't know - you literally killed your math teacher, Percy, what do you mean?" Annabeth sniggers. Percy blushes harder, causing the others to laugh.
"I've tried to. . .A summer camp."
"Camp Half-Blood!" The Greeks cheer, and Percy sighs. He really did miss his home.
My head was. . .start to cry.
"It's an evil tactic mothers use," Connor says, shaking his head.
That night I had a vivid dream.
"Oh boy, here we go."
It was storming. . .of the surf.
The Gods frown, leaning slightly in their thrones.
The eagle swooped. . .to fight harder.
The Gods inhaled sharply.
I ran toward. . .in slow motion.
"Father -" Demeter murmurs
"No," Zeus says, cutting her off with a second thought. The first titan war veterans exchange glances.
I knew I. . .I screamed, No!
"Damn."
I woke with. . .dunes like artillery.
"Why are you two so angry?" Athena asks
"It's Hades, too, remember?" Persephone says, causing the Gods to frown deeper.
With the next. . .and said, "Hurricane."
"That doesn't sound good."
I knew that. . .to have forgotten.
"Yes." Hades says, drily, "Forgotten."
Over the roar. . .stand on end.
"Uh - oh."
Then a much. . . wasn't exactly Grover.
"Bet he was a dinosaur," Leo says, stoically.
"Searching all night," He gasped, "What were you thinking?"
"I wasn't." Percy shrugs
"Not usually." Annabeth teases
My mother looked. . .you tell me?"
"Everything."
I was frozen. . . theoi!" he yelled.
"Language!" Both Hermes and Dionysus say.
"It's right behind me!
"What is?" Jason asks
Didn't you tell her?"
"No," Grover says, rolling his eyes.
"Sorry." Percy shrugs.
I was too. . .legs should be. . .
"Well, spit it out." Connor jokes
My mom looked. . .Tell me now!"
"That's how I knew it was serious," Percy says to Grover.
"No, really?"
I stammered something. . .of you. Go!"
"Yes, please," Poseidon mutters, anxiously, "Before the situation gets worse."
Grover ran for. . . were cloven hooves.
"OoOOoHhh." Leo says, "Dun, dun, duuuuun."
"May I request a break, before we begin the next chapter?" Thalia asks, sending a look Percy's way.
"I think that's reasonable," Athena says, glancing at Poseidon.