I love how excited people are to see who's saving the day. I think everyone will be fairly pleased, and it'll certainly cause some changes- this is the main reason I needed to do some Percy chapters within the minific, because of the change I'm making here. Also, Percy is a little shit with Sally and we must all love her for it.

Percy's mouth dropped open, but she didn't have much time to even think because another stone- and they were stones, was being hurled through the air and it smashed into Alabaster's face- since he'd turned to look and see who'd interrupted them.

It would have been comical if Percy wasn't completely terrified, and he staggered backwards again, and then the girl was sprinting into the alley and grabbing Percy's hand,
"Come on! Jeeze you didn't freeze up like this when you were trying to slice me up!"

"You're that girl fro-"

"Talk later, run now!"

"I can't-"

"I will drag you out of here-"

"Oh no you don't-" Alabaster was lunging forward, grabbing Percy's arm, "Don't you dare run away from me princess-"

"Get your hands off her you creep!" and Rachel was kicking out, foot catching Alabaster's knee, "Now come on Percy!"

"But he has my brother-"

"If you mean the short kid with the cool jacket I literally spoke to him like ten minutes ago!"

"What?" Percy's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open in surprise- then she glanced at Alabaster, who was starting to straighten again.

"He knocked me over, he was looking for you I think."

"I- fine." then they were running, Rachel half dragging Percy- and she was pretty fast for a mortal Percy had to admit, and they didn't stop running until Rachel was dragging her into a fairly busy little cafe, finding a small table as far from the windows as possible.

"Hopefully he won't spot us like this."

"W-what just happened?" Percy felt stupid, stammering like an idiot but she couldn't help it. She felt like she'd just been bashed over the head.

"I just saved your ass. Again." Rachel gave a sly grin, "Which means you owe me an explanation Percy."

"I- you said my brother-"

"Yeah, yeah I assume he was brother, he was running through the streets yelling your name- didn't think too much of it, I asked him what was wrong and he said he'd lost his sister so I told him you were probably lost in the crowds and you'd probably head home if he couldn't find you. Didn't realize it was you until I walked past that alley and I saw you with that creep- who I assume is the stalker guy you mentioned before right?" Rachel raised an eyebrow and Percy flushed slightly, letting her shoulders slump as she dropped into the chair.

The rush of relief at the realization that Alabaster hadn't had Nico grabbed was both amazing and humiliating- Alabaster hadn't even had Nico and she'd nearly gotten captured. If Rachel hadn't shown up she'd have been in major trouble.

"Yeah." Percy closed her eyes, "His name is Alabaster- it's a real long story-"

"Yeah, I get that-" Rachel leaned forward, "But I feel the need to point out that I just saved your life. Again. I think you owe me some answers."

Percy blinked slowly, giving Rachel a disbelieving look before she let out a laugh, "Okay, okay well played Rachel Elizabeth Dare. But first I want to go home and make sure
my brother's okay."

"That's fair." Rachel conceded, "Do you want me to give you my number-"

"I don't have a phone-"

"You don't have a phone?" and Percy flushed at the incredulous look Rachel shot her.

"It's a thing, I'll explain it along with everything else."

"You better." Rachel huffed the words, "So what's the plan?"

"You can come over if you want- you did just save my life mom would probably want to give you cookies as a thank you, though she's getting ready for a date so maybe not."

"I-" Rachel hesitated before shrugging, "Why not. I don't have any other important plans today and it's not like my parents will notice if I'm gone for a few hours-"

"That's kinda sad." Percy let out a slow breath, "Let's just go then." she held out a hand as she stood up and Rachel took it quickly, letting Percy pull her up out of her chair.
Thankfully it wasn't too long of a walk to get home, and Percy opened the gate and led the way up to the house quickly, Percy glancing at her watch- and yeah her mom would still be home, she was supposed to leave in an hour or so. That meant Percy would have plenty of time to introduce Rachel to her before she had to leave.
As she opened the door to step inside Percy could instantly hear voices- raised voices.

"Nico- Nico breath I'm sure she's fine-"

"One second she was there and the next she was gone mom-"

"It's Percy." that was Leo's voice, "She'll be fine-"

"Something is wrong." Nico was insistent, "I shouldn't have come home I shouldn't have listened to that girl-"

And Percy was sprinting through the hallway and she burst into the kitchen, knocking Nico off his chair as she threw herself at him, forcing back the sudden sting in her eyes as she hugged him tightly. "Nico!"

"Percy!"

"Told you~" Leo's voice was almost singsong and Sally gave him a pointed look that made his mouth snap shut.

"Percy, honey what happened?" Sally's voice was soft, and Percy didn't answer right away, since her face was pressed into the top of Nico's head and she was trying not to burst into tears as she clung to him too tight- though Nico was hugging her back.

"I should get a freaking leash for you." she choked out, "Don't you ever ever do that again don't you- never again I can't- not again-"

"Oh honey-" Sally whispered the words, "Honey-"

"You're the one who disappeared on me." Nico's voice was muffled from where his face was being pressed into Percy's shoulder. "You scared me Percy. I couldn't find you anywhere-"

"Uh-" there was a nervous cough, and Percy felt almost guilty as she forced herself to lift her head and turn it so that she could see Rachel stood nervously in the door of the kitchen. "As much as I want an explanation I feel like I should go-"

"And who are you?" Leo gave a very goofy grin, pushing his curly hair out of his face in a way that made Rachel raise an eyebrow slightly.

"Uh, I'm Rachel-"

"I met her at the Hoover Dam." Percy didn't release Nico, "It's kinda a long story-"

"She tried to kill me-"

"What?"

"Percy!" and it was almost comical how stunned Nico and Sally both sounded at that.

"I didn't try to kill you." Percy's lips twitched very slightly. "Not really. I just thought you were a skeleton warrior-"

"I have had nightmares about that by the way-"

"I can imagine." Percy let out a breath, "Mom, Leo, Nico, this is Rachel Elizabeth Dare. She's a clear sighted mortal who kinda saved my butt at the Hoover Dam."

"Oh!" Sally's eyes widened, "Oh, no wonder you said you wanted an explanation. I imagine you've been incredibly confused-"

"Just about my entire life. Percy said she'd explain-"

"You're the girl I bumped into." Nico managed to squirm enough so that he could look towards Rachel, "Who told me I should go home because my sister would probably head there-"

"I mean, I didn't know your sister was the crazy girl with the sword." Rachel gave a small grin, "But it was the logical thing to do."

"Well thank you." Sally let out a breath, "Now Percy, honey let go of Nico-"

"No." Percy's voice was tight and petulant, "No."

"Honey you're suffocating-"

"It's okay mom." Nico's expression was torn between exasperation and very faint relief- after all for a few minutes there he'd been pretty freaked out too- and after the Junkyard disaster he should have realized that Percy would freak out at him disappearing like that- even if it wasn't his fault.

"What happened?" Leo tilted his head, "It sounds like you two just completely lost sight of each other-"

Percy gave a tight smile, "Yeah, I just frea-"

"Why's your throat bruised?" Nico's eyes were suddenly narrowed and he was moving back, "Percy your throat is all bruised-" and Percy winced.

"Uh, minor run in with some trouble. Rachel actually helped take care of it-"

"It was fun." Rachel said brightly, "Dude seemed like a creep."

"Dude?" Sally's eyes narrowed, "Percy, honey-"

"It-"

"Alabaster." Nico growled the name, "It was him again wasn't it?"

"When is it ever not?" Percy asked after a moment, shoulders slumping, "Yes it was Alabaster, he used the mist to separate us and get me alone- tried to convince me he had you-"

"Why that-" Sally cut herself off, expression furious, "What did he want this time?"

"He asked me to run away with him- whatever they have planned has him scared." Percy gave a weak shrug, "I honestly don't care. Whatever happens to him he brought it on himself."

"How did a mortal chase him away?" Leo was looking at Rachel with wide eyes. "Teach me your ways oh brave-"

"Stones." Rachel's face was slightly red. "Some big stones. I threw them at him and I grabbed Percy and we ran."

"Well it seems like we owe you more than an explanation." Sally's voice was firm, "We owe you a thank you too."

"I don't-"

"Don't be silly." Sally glanced at the clock, biting her lip, "It's a bit late for me to bake a fresh batch of cookies-"

"Awe." Leo pouted, "But Sally-"

"Leo you can't have cookies every single day-"

"I mean-" Nico grinned slightly, "We definitely could-"

"It does sound great." Percy piped up.

"Persephone Jackson behave-"

"Why aren't you telling Nico and Leo to behave-"

"Because you're the oldest-"

"And suddenly I wish Luke was home from his trip with Thalia so he could be the responsible one." she caught Rachel's eye- and the girl was smiling as she glanced between them all. "Anyways. Everything is fine, I am fine, yes I am a little bit bruised but that'll heal. Mom you don't have time to bake cookies you have your date-"

"It's not a date, it's a meeting to discuss me visiting some of the other classes at Paul's school to talk-"

"Mom."

"Yes Percy?" Sally sighed.

"You're going out."

"Yes."

"You're meeting this man in a restaurant."

"Yes-"

"And it's just the two of you-"

"Well yes but-"

"And it's that real fancy Italian place-"

"Yes."

"And you're dressing up super nice." Nico and Leo were both snickering at that.

"And if Annabeth and I did that and told you we were just discussing a quest before we got together would you believe it was just a casual thing?"

"I-" Sally faltered, "It's not-"

"We'd be okay with it." Nico piped up, "Just for the record you know. As long as he knows that if he ever hurts you he'd be dealing with Flameboy, Aquagirl and-"

"Zombie kid." Leo added with a grin.

"Also he'd be dealing with Luke too, though he doesn't have any cool nicknames."

"Okay okay. I get your point." Sally looked relieved, "You're all okay with it? Really? Because you know that you three come first no matter what. And Luke too of course but he's that bit older-"

"Mom." Percy's voice turned serious, "If this Paul guy makes you happy then that is what matters. We'll give him a chance."

"Of course we will insist on meeting him." Nico gave an evil grin, "To make sure that he's worthy-"

"You know you look super creepy like that." Leo remarked, giving Nico a wide eyed look.

"Why thank you." Nico's evil grin got worse- and he really did look like his dad when he tried to, it made Percy laugh.

"You guys are kinda crazy." Rachel blurted the words out- but her expression was incredibly amused rather than judgemental.

"I'm not crazy." Leo then put on his best crazy face and leaned forward, "The voices in my head tell me I'm no- Ouch!" Nico had fully escaped Percy's grip and he was
smacking Leo over the head.

"Stop being a dumbass dumbass-"

"You wound me! I am Flameo the great-"

"Flameo, do me a favor and shut up before I douse you."

"Betrayed-" Leo jerked dramatically, pressing a hand to his heart as if he'd been stabbed and throwing himself to the floor, "Betrayed by my own family-"

"We disown you-"

"Nico!" Sally gave him a pointed look, "Be nice." she let out a breath, "Now I should be going and finishing getting ready kids- Percy you explain everything to Rachel, Leo, don't blow anything up and Nico, no skeleton mice-"

"But mom-"

"You scare the neighbours." she turned back to Percy, "I'm leaving you in charge-"

"Terrible idea really mom-"

"Persephone-"

"Fine-"

"Rachel." Sally focused on the red haired girl, "You can stay as long as you want, and feel free to ask Percy if you're hungry or thirsty and she'll get you anything."

"I- Okay." Rachel nodded, "I can do that." and then Sally was whirling around and heading upstairs, and Percy looked around.

"Right, you two- just don't do what mom told you not to." she grabbed Rachel's hand, "Rachel you can come upstairs with me. We can talk."