Hey guys, I hope you enjoy this chapter- I like Hephaestus, but he really is just so awkward he just doesn't know how to deal with people at all. Also, sorry, not sorry for what's coming up in the next few chaps.

It took them some time to find the spider again- but they followed Gover and Tyson's hearing and they managed to track it down to big metal door- one of those old-fashioned submarine hatches—oval, with metal rivets around the edges and a wheel for a doorknob. Where the portal should've been was a big brass plaque, green with age, with a Greek Ȇta inscribed in the middle.

Percy reached out, laying a hand on Leo's shoulder, the boy was slightly pale, hands clenching an unclenching nervously- he didn't even seem to be aware of what he was doing as he stared at the door, "Is- is my dad behind there."

"Yeah." Percy nodded, sliding her arm over his shoulders and tugging him closer, "Yeah he is."

"I'm gonna meet my dad."

"Yeah, you are."

"You're lucky." Kayla gave a wry smile, "I've never actually met my dad. The closest I came was that time he dropped Percy and everyone off-"

"Ah yes." Percy gave a small grin at the way Annabeth's eyes narrowed at the memory. "That was an interesting trip-"

"He was far too flirty." Annabeth grumbled the words- making Grover laugh- since he was the only one who'd been there to see just how flirty the god had
been.

"I was more referring to Thalia's driving-"

"Oh gods." Grover shuddered, "I have never been so terrified in my entire life-"

"Let's hope my dad doesn't flirt." Leo's face scrunched up into a disgusted look at the mere thought of that.

"At least I know my dad didn't flirt." Nico's voice was almost relieved when he muttered that, "Seriously- I'd be scarred for life if he did-"

"Nah, uncle Hades is pretty cool." Percy shrugged, "He's one of the few gods that seem to like me so I'm not gonna complain."

"I mean- Apollo likes you-"

"Why would any gods flirt with Percy?" Tyson's voice was confused, "Percy loves Annabeth." and his genuine confusion made Annabeth smile widely.

"Gods might be really old- but sometimes they're real stupid. Now," she took a deep breath, "Are we ready?"

"I think so." Leo swallowed hard, he'd stopped clenching and unclenching his fists but he was patting his leg with his left hand, the frantic moments a dead giveaway that he was forcing himself not to freak out too much.

"It will be great." Tyson beamed at Leo, "Your daddy makes cool things-"

"I- I guess." Leo looked slightly hopeful as his gaze wandered to the little spider bot, "Can I-"

"Of course." Annabeth smiled as Leo ducked out from under Percy's arm and scooped it up, clutching it to his chest as Tyson turned the wheel.

As soon as the door opened Tyson was ducking through it, and after a moment Leo followed behind him, Percy sticking close to him with the others on their heels.

The room that they entered was enormous. It looked like a mechanic's garage, with several hydraulic lifts. Some had cars on them, but others had stranger things: a bronze hippalektryon with its horse head off and a bunch of wires hanging out its rooster tail, a metal lion that seemed to be hooked up to a battery charger, and a Greek war chariot made entirely of flames.

Smaller projects cluttered a dozen worktables. Tools hung along the walls. Each had its own outline on a Peg-Board, but nothing seemed to be in the right place. The hammer was over the screwdriver place. The staple gun was where the hacksaw was supposed to go.

Under the nearest hydraulic lift, which was holding a '98 Toyota Corolla, a pair of legs stuck out—the lower half of a huge man in grubby gray pants and shoes even bigger than Tyson's. one leg was in a metal brace.

Leo's breath caught at the sight- and he took a small step forward, his voice wavering slightly. "F-Father?"

There was a pause and then the mechanic pushed out on a back trolly and sat up- and Percy had to force herself not to lean back. She must have not gotten a real look at him on Olympus- that or he'd used magic to help him look slightly better because- well he didn't look like you'd expect a god to look at all.

In his own workshop he looked different. He wore a jumpsuit smeared with oil and grime. Hephaestus, was embroidered over the chest pocket. His leg creaked and clicked in its metal brace as he stood, and his left shoulder was lower than his right, so he seemed to be leaning even when he was standing up straight. His head was misshapen and bulging. He wore a permanent scowl. His black beard smoked and hissed. Every once in a while a small wildfire would erupt in his whiskers then die out. His hands were the size of catcher's mitts, and his gaze automatically moved to Leo. Who was stood frozen, an uncertain look on his face.

And Percy was grateful for the fact that the others bar her and Tyson were lingering back slightly to give Leo and his father some space.

"Leo." Hephaestus' voice was almost uncertain, though he quickly spotted the spider- "Ah, where did you get that?"

"Eurytion gave it to us to help us find you." Leo admitted nervously, "You-"

"Let me see-"

"I-" Leo reluctantly let go of the little spider, placing it on the ground and letting it scuttle up to Hephaestus, who scooped it up quickly.

"Ah, yes this. Why did he give it to you?"

"Percy helped him get rid of Geryon."

"Percy-" Hephaestus seemed to look at the others in the room for the first time. "Oh- oh right. They're not automatons are they?"

"No, we're demigods from camp. Like Leo." Annabeth gave a nervous smile.

"Yep. We met." Percy gave a very slight shrug, "At the Winter solstice."

"Did we. Well I suppose if I didn't smash you to a pulp the first time we met, I won't have to do it now." He looked at Grover and frowned. "Satyr." Then he
looked at Tyson, and his eyes twinkled. "Well, a Cyclops. Good, good. What are you doing travelling with this lot?"

"Uh…" said Tyson, staring in wonder at the god.

"Yes, well said," Hephaestus agreed. "So, there'd better be a good reason you're disturbing me. The suspension on this Corolla is no small matter, you know."

And Percy felt Leo slump slightly with disappointment against Percy's side and her heart ached for him.

"Sir," Annabeth said hesitantly, "we're looking for Daedalus. We thought—"

"Daedalus?" the god roared. "You want that old scoundrel? You dare to seek him out!"

His beard burst into flames and his black eyes glowed.

"Uh, yes, sir, please," Annabeth said.

"Humph. You're wasting your time." He frowned at something on his worktable and limped over to it. He picked up a lump of springs and metal plates and tinkered with them. In a few seconds he was holding a bronze and silver falcon. It spread its metal wings, blinked its obsidian eyes, and flew around the room.

Tyson laughed and clapped his hands. The bird landed on Tyson's shoulder and nipped his ear affectionately.

Hephaestus regarded him. The god's scowl didn't change, but there was a kinder twinkle in his eyes. "I sense you have something to tell me, Cyclops."

Tyson's smile faded. "Y-yes, lord. We met a Hundred-Handed One."

Hephaestus nodded, looking unsurprised. "Briares?"

"Yes. He—he was scared. He would not help us."

"And that bothered you."

"Yes!" Tyson's voice wavered. "Briares should be strong! He is older and greater than Cyclopes. But he ran away."

Hephaestus grunted. "There was a time I admired the Hundred-Handed Ones. Back in the days of the first war. But people, monsters, even gods change, young Cyclops. You can't trust 'em. Look at my loving mother, Hera. You met her, didn't you? She'll smile to your face and talk about how important family is, eh? Didn't stop her from pitching me off Mount Olympus when she saw my ugly face." his eyes flicked to Leo. "I know she got herself involved with your life, despite my efforts to keep her away." and Leo straightened slightly again and Percy realized that maybe it wasn't that the god didn't care but that he didn't understand people and he didn't know how to treat his son.

"Percy stood up for me. Told her off-"

"Did she?" Hephaestus eyed Percy before he looked away. "My mother can't be trusted. The truth is, my mother likes families, but she likes a certain kind of family. Perfect families. She took one look at me and…well, I don't fit the image, do I? But she thought she had a right to meddle with you."

He pulled a feather from the falcon's back, and the whole automaton fell apart.

"Believe me, young Cyclops, and you my son," Hephaestus said, "you can't trust others. All you can trust is the work of your own hands."

And Percy resisted the urge to snort- thinking of mechanical spiders that had scared Annabeth stiff- of the Talos that had nearly cost Nico his life- her eyes flicking to Nico who gave her a reassuring smile as if he could read her mind and he knew what she was thinking.

"I think you're wrong." Leo spoke up quietly, "I mean- I know you're my father and I should probably agree with you but.. I trust Percy and Mikey back at camp- and the Stolls, and Annabeth and Nico. I trust my friends and family."

"Hm." the god eyed his son for a long moment before shaking his head. "What do you want from me? Demigods all want something."

"We told you." Percy let out a breath, "We need to find Daedalus. Alabaster Torrington- if you remember from the solstice- he's working for Kronos and he's trying to find a way to navigate the Labyrinth so he can invade our camp. If we don't get to Daedalus first—"

"And I told you, demigods. Looking for Daedalus is a waste of time. He won't help you."

"Why not?"

Hephaestus shrugged. "Some of us get thrown off mountainsides. Some of us…the way we learn not to trust people is more painful. Ask me for gold. Or a flaming sword. Or a magical steed. These I can grant you easily. But a way to Daedalus? That's an expensive favor."

"You know where he is, then," Annabeth pressed.

"It isn't wise to go looking, girl."

"My mother says looking is the nature of wisdom."

Hephaestus narrowed his eyes. "Who's your mother, then?"

"Athena."

"Figures." He sighed. "Fine goddess, Athena. A shame she pledged never to marry. All right, half-blood. I can tell you what you want to know. But there is a price. I need a favor done.

"Name it," Annabeth said.

Hephaestus actually laughed—a booming sound like a huge bellows stoking a fire. "You heroes," he said, "always making rash promises. How refreshing!"

He pressed a button on his workbench, and metal shutters opened along the wall. It was either a huge window or a big-screen TV, Percy couldn't tell which. They were looking at a gray mountain ringed in forests. It must've been a volcano, because smoke rose from its crest. "One of my forges," Hephaestus said. "I have many, but that used to be my favorite."

"That's Mount St. Helens," Grover said. "Great forests around there."

"Oh wow." Leo gaped, "That- your forge is in a volcano that's so cool!"

"Wait," Annabeth said, looking at Hephaestus. "You said it used to be your favorite. What happened?"

Hephaestus scratched his smoldering beard. "Well, that's where the monster Typhon is trapped, you know. Used to be under Mount Etna, but when we moved to America, his force got pinned under Mount St. Helens instead. Great source of fire, but a bit dangerous. There's always a chance he will escape. Lots of eruptions these days, smoldering all the time. He's restless with the Titan rebellion."

"What do you want us to do?" Percy's brows furrowed, "Fight him?"

Hephaestus snorted. "That would be suicide. The gods themselves ran from Typhon when he was free. No, pray you never have to see him, much less fight him. But lately I have sensed intruders in my mountain. Someone or something is using my forges. When I go there, it is empty, but I can tell it is being used. They sense me coming, and they disappear. I send my automatons to investigate, but they do not return. Something…ancient is there. Evil. I want to know who dates invade my territory, and if they mean to loose Typhon."

"You want us to find out who it is," Percy breathed out.

"Aye," Hephaestus said. "Go there. They may not sense you coming. You are not gods. You will get to look around my forges son- few of my children get such a chance."

"I- I get to- oh this is going to be awesome." Leo looked incredibly excited at the thought of that

"Go and find out what you can," Hephaestus said. "Report back to me, and I will tell you what you need to know about Daedalus. I have faith in you, son."

"All right," Annabeth said. "How do we get there?"

Hephaestus clapped his hands. The spider came swinging down from the rafters. Annabeth flinched when it landed at her feet.

"My creation will show you the way," Hephaestus said. "It is not far through the Labyrinth. And try to stay alive, will you? Humans are much more fragile than automatons."

And as they turned to leave Hephaestus paused and called out- "And son. When you are done, you may keep my creation."