Hello, first fanfic, how'd you do? So, pretend House of Hades hasn't come out, unread that book. But to be honest, even though it hurt, I wouldn't want to. T_T Sorry. So, enjoy!

*I'm editing these first few chapters because why not? Also, I've had a wave of remembering the original lost files of DoH, so here I am, making it betterer =^.^=

**I just pressed backspace when it wasn't on the typy bit and lost ALL OF THE UPDATE SO EXCUSE ME WHILST I CUSS AND CRY BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS TOO MANY DAM TIMES WITH THIS STORY (FOR HADES SAKE WHY CAN'T THIS DAM SON OF A MOTHER WORK PROPERLY WHY IS STUPID HOT MILK SO DISTRACTING UGH I HATE EVERYTHING)

Leo Valdez, Son of Hephaestus

Leo moved his head out of the way in time to avoid Styx water in the eye.

The magical liquids powering the Argo II had managed to leak from their pipes, causing patches of exploding Gorgon blood and Lemnos fire on the engine room floor, which woke Leo up in the middle of the night. It caused a minefield of charred black spots fizzling and bubbling omniously on the engine room floor. A particularly nasty glob of deadly gloop landed on Leo's red blanket, which had already sustained several grease stain casualties from nights amongst the odd screwdriver and dirty drop cloths. Leo didn't sleep in his assigned room - he preferred the gentle hum of machinery in the engine room, it made him feel safe and calmed him down a little. He was sleep deprived and depressed, but down with the engine was the only place aboard the Argo II where he truly felt comfortable. It was also the guilt of losing Percy and Annabeth that made him crave manual labour to keep his mind off the sore subject.

Leo pushed his goggles onto his forehead and examined the leaky pipe, whipping a wrench from his back pocket. He grunted as he fiddled with a bolt in the pipes. Oil spurted out, and he started, banging his head on the underside of the pipework. Cursing, he quickly secured the joint, wiping a majority of the oil off his fave with a used hanky provided by his ever-useful toolbelt. He had been so pre-occupied with his work; he'd almost missed Festus' report a stranger aboard. Leo cocked his head and listened to the whirrs and creaks of Festus' report.

Alert. Unknown female living organism landed on deck. Only just showed up on radar.

At least it's not a dead female organism. Man, we've got to be careful. Couldn't be Gaia, she-

Festus chose not to answer.

Headed below decks. Doors opening. En route to the Engine Room. Alert.

Great.

Leo nearly jumped out of his skin when a small clink of metal announced the arrival of the surprise visitor. Whether that surprise was hostile or friendly… Well, he would have to find out sooner or later. He pushed against the metalwork and the old skateboard he'd been lying on slid out from underneath the various pipes. Instinctively, he exchanged his wrench for his hammer, and ignited his free hand. His attempt at intimidation was ruined somewhat by him skidding in a diluted puddle of Venti essence.

There was a nervous laugh from the engine room doorway.

'Hey, don't shoot the messenger.'

Leo extinguished his flaming hand and clicked his fingers. The doorway lamp blazed brighter, and the figure standing there was illuminated.

She was a young girl, about thirteen, clothed in a modernized white Greek chiton and mid-calf sandals. The garment was secured at the shoulders with gold brooches. It was sleeveless and stopped just above her knees. A plain brown postman's bag hung from her shoulder, a bright logo stamped across the flap: HERMES EXPRESS. Her silvery salt-and-pepper hair hung loose and framed her sparkling blue eyes. A slight movement caught Leo's attention; a gold head band glinted in the half-light, partly obscured by her hair, but a pair tiny pale wings clearly flapped animatedly. Leo glanced at her sandals again. Sure enough, two sets of creamy wings sprouted from the heels, tucked against the shoe material, just the way a bird tucks up its wings in the rain. She even had a caduceus.

She was… wow.

Leo shook his head to clear his mind. Possible hostile aboard my ship, he thought. Genuine or trap? Percy had told him a lot a certain Son of Hermes.

Oh guys.

Sadness welled up inside him, but he pushed it down. Leave the guilt trip for later, he reminded himself.

She pulled a scroll from thin air and began consulting it, then eyed his weapon skeptically.

And how exactly are you going to sign for your letter whilst holding a hammer? A female voice said in his head. Leo's first instinct was Gaia! Red alert!, but the voice was less sleepy and downright dodgy, more receptionist-like and slightly… Serpentine.

If this is a ship, there's got to be rats. The voice spoke, albeit masculine and raspier this time.

'Where are your manners?' The girl said suddenly, to no one in particular.

'Excuse me?' Leo was taken aback by her direct demeanor, still not completely lowering his hammer. Suddenly realising during the confused silence the snakes on the caduceus he initially thought were carved were real. Before he could back-pedal, he girl laughed and said, 'I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself and my, err… '

Colleagues, The voice said.

Babysitters, more like, The second male voice interrupted.

'Guys!' The girl said pleadingly. 'Not now. Or I'll set you on cell phone mode and put you vibrate!'

She takes after her father, the male – and Leo now knew it was the snakes talking – grumbled in defeat.

Oh, be quiet! The female scolded him.

'Seriously, what she said!' The girl looked irritated. 'Sorry,' she said to Leo. 'This is George and Martha, say hello – ' The girl cut herself off and looked smug, for some reason[1].

Nice to meet you, dear, Martha greeted.

Do you have any rats? George asked cautiously.

'George!' Both Martha and messenger girl said in exasperation. 'I swear, if you don't stop going on about rats!'

Don't swear, he muttered sulkily.

Leo politely cleared his throat. 'And I have the pleasure of talking to Miss…?' It might have been the lighting, but Leo could've sworn she blushed.

'Morgan Owens, Hermes Express,' She held out her hand. 'Also the one and only daughter of Hermes. Leo Valdez, I presume?'

'Uh, yeah,' Leo put his hammer away and stepped forward - promptly slipping over in the same puddle of leaked Venti essence. The ectoplasmic puddle hissed with demonic laughter and ran - Slithered? Floated? - away, under a particularly heavy and immobile contraption. Ignoring her smirk, he wobbled to his feet. He tugged his fingerless gloves off and stuffed them in his toolbelt. Running his fingers through his slightly oil leaked on hair, then awkwardly wiping them on his jeans, he gave her a lopsided grin and shook her hand. 'Do you think I could have that letter you mentioned now?'

Morgan nodded quickly and rummaged through her shoulder bag. She pulled out a grey envelope in one hand and an old fashioned wax tablet, complete with connected stylus like in banks, in the other, 'Sign on the dotted line, please.' handing them to Leo. He took them before he realised she hadn't taken them from her bag, the caduceus had become the tablet and stylus. Martha was at the top of the tablet and George was the stylus.

It was unnerving to have George squirming beneath his fingers, so Leo signed as quickly as possible, returning the items to Morgan.

She checked his signature before passing him the letter, and the tablet and stylus changed into the full sized staff.

Leo hesitated and looked up at Morgan. He gestured to the caduceus.

'Is that the original caduceus?' He asked incredulously.

Morgan smirked and leaned against it.

'Dad's a bit schizophrenic these days. And my half-sister Angelia… well, let's just say the goddess of messages hasn't been around for a while. And Iris is working overtime. I'm stepping in, lending a hand.'

'You really are the only female demigod child of Hermes?'

'Yup,'

'Neat,' Leo smiled. Morgan returned it.

He looked at the envelope again. It made him feel slightly unjustified. As if somehow someone had just accused him of something he didn't do. The grey paper shimmered like mist as he read the red writing, which was a little unhelpful with his dyslexia.

Leo Valdez, Son of Hephaestus

The Argo II

Engine Room

Above the Mediterranean

Leo opened the letter with a little uncertainty. How did the sender know his location so well? If they could, maybe others could too… He gulped and unfolded the letter.

Well, demigod.

Was it worth it? Trading friends for friends? As I said… You will always be the seventh wheel.

I suppose that's now fifth.

Enjoy the justice

[Red Wax Seal of Scales]

P.S. Tip her for me

P.P.S. This letter shall self destruct in 5… 4… 3… 2…

The letter dissipated in a poof of mist. But the words were already branded in his head.

Nemesis.

Why did she bother sending him a letter? To gloat? To make Leo even more guilt ridden?

Tip her for me. The words rung in his ears; Leo started to feel dizzy and his vision swam. Morgan, her eyes already wide from the disappearing letter, now bore a look of concern. Hermes' Staff melted into an entwining armlet of the snakes. She stepped forward anxiously. Leo staggered forward, his head spinning.

She put her hands on my chest to steady him. Leo swayed on his feet.

Suddenly, Leo wasn't in control of his actions. A cold sweat refused to break out. It couldn't be the eildons, Piper banished them! However, this feeling was warm and of… elation.

His arm lifted itself and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, catching sight of her emerald Caduceus hairpin. Morgan flushed.

'Are you alright?' She asked. Leo's dreamy expression made way for focus for a second as he locked gazes with Morgan.

Still trying –not very hard- to regain control, Leo put his hand on the back of her neck. The other gently circled her waist, pulling her closer.

'Leo…?' Morgan whispered tentatively. Her hands still lay against his chest. 'Are you feeling okay?' She looked up into his eyes, blushing fiercely.

'Shhh….' Leo pulled closer. His thoughts were a puddle of melted chocolate. Something he said to Hazel what seemed like a bajillion years ago, presented itself in that moment. I try not to think. It gets in the way of being nuts.

'Umm, Leo-' Morgan's speech was cut off abruptly as Leo's lips pressed softly against hers. He slowly shifted his hands, and Morgan relaxed as Leo deepened the kiss, crushing her body to his. It was his first full contact kiss, and his brain short circuited.

Leo would never have been so at ease. He should read mysterious gloating letters more.

[1] In Sea of Monsters, Hermes tells G&M to "Say hello, George and Martha," And George replies, "Hello, George and Martha"

What do you think? I'll publish some more later!

-OceanaPearl