Hey! Some nice stuff in this chapter, we love our guys back at camp.
Undeath9087: It was needed, not nice but needed for them to actually start healing.
AkitoshTheBold: Now now, it's Chiron, I don't think he'd ever do a spit take.
Aktinovolia: WHAT THE FUCK?! You will understand my reaction shortly.
Guest: They do have phones, but Gaea is doing her best to interfere and make communication difficult- when they're outside of camp their phones generally struggle to get signal, when inside of the camps they're somewhat protected but obviously right now it's hard for the questers to make any calls. And I believe that demigods just usually prefer swords and such.

Once Percy had told the others that Leo, Frank and Hazel were at least safe, wherever they were, she and Luke headed into her room so that they could call Chiron, making a rainbow with a prism and a torch- it was always easy enough to do, and Percy perched on her bed, flopping back onto it as Luke spoke confidently and tossed a drachma into the rainbow- it was starting to get late but hopefully Chiron would be awake- and sure enough after a couple of moments the image in the rainbow formed-it was Chiron's office. The Centaur was at his desk, staring at something laid out on it, he didn't notice them right away, not until Luke spoke up.

"Chiron? Everything okay?" and Chiron lifted his head and turned it- he looked tired but he smiled warmly at the son of Hermes.

"Luke my dear boy it is good to hear from you. We've all been worrying about you-"

"I assume you haven't heard from mom then?"

"No, we got a brief message that she was home but contact from outside is unpredictable at best- we have to assume it's Gaea's interference. It seems we've gotten lucky this time- this message seems fairly clear- and is that Thalia I see-" Chiron trailed off when Percy pushed herself up so that she was on her elbows, a smile on her lips as she focused on the Centaur- and his face lost all of it's color, his eyes going wide in shock, his hand flew to cover his mouth.

"Persephone?" his voice was filled with disbelief, shock. "By all the gods it can't be can it-"

"Yep." Percy popped the P, sitting up properly, a smile playing across her lips. "Been a while huh?"

"But how?" Chiron breathed out, "I mean- I know the Doors of Death are open but it never even crossed my mind that you could-"

"Grandma Rhea got Bianca to come and get me." Percy stated easily, "After all, from the sounds of it there had to be seven right?"

"The twice lived- by all the gods the prophecy-"

"Yep." Percy nodded, "Though from what I've been told there's three of us who match that description."

"Where were you? How long have you been back child." and the Centaur looked so proud- that small smile he gave when he was happy but he didn't want to truly give himself away, but she could see that relief and joy in his eyes, the slight shine that told her he was forcing back tears.

"Came back on April 1st." Percy informed him. "Bianca and I were ambushed by a certain Queen of Olympus." Percy pulled a face, miming gagging, "Who yanked away my memories and sent me to Lupa."

"I see." Chiron nodded slowly, "Of course. It makes sense, she did to you exactly what she did to Jason. Gods above but I don't think I've ever been so pleased to see someone Percy."

"Yep, and I made a couple of new friends, Frank and Hazel, also members of the Seven."

"That certainly does bode well." the Centaur was smiling, a warm genuine smile, "I assume relations between the camps have gone well- I have no doubt that you won them over-" and that made Percy's smile disappear and Luke winced.

"No. Actually, which is part of the reason we had to contact you. You should be preparing for an attack."

Chiron's expression shifted, became more serious, "I see." his voice was heavy suddenly, "What went wrong?"

And Luke glanced at Percy, who swallowed hard- and Chiron clearly noticed because his voice went soft, "Persephone? What happened?"

"Alabaster followed me back." Percy's words were barely more than a whisper, "He followed me back- and he's working for Gaea- and stalking me still which is about as fun as you'd imagine."

"Oh child." Chiron shook his head, "I am so sorry. Shall I assume that he sabotaged things in some way?"

"Yes." Percy pulled a face, hunching in on herself slightly as she nodded, "You could say that- and now the Romans are probably going to be coming after you guys because they can't get to us."

"I see." Chiron nodded, "We'll prepare for attack- hopefully you can do what you set out to do before they reach us, if not- it will be war."

"There's at least one demigod there who might be trying to slow them down." Percy said quickly, "She let Annabeth and I go when she could have captured us. Her name is Reyna, she's a really good person. It's not that they all want to destroy us."

"Of course not." Chiron's voice was gentle, "I'm sure that there are plenty of good people there Percy, if we can avoid bloodshed we will."

"Thank you." Percy leaned against Luke, resting her head on his shoulder as he combed his fingers through her hair soothingly, "I'm pretty sick of seeing good people die because of stupid wars that shouldn't be happening."

"As am I." Chiron nodded, an understanding look on his face, "I have faith in you- in the morning I'll give the counsellors the news." he gave a wry smile, "At least it's not all bad news- I'm sure they'll need a morale boost when they here of the impending attack. Hearing that you're alive will be a good morale boost for all of them."

"I know." Percy smiled, "Tell everyone I miss them okay? Cause I really do."

"Of course." Chiron nodded. "And good luck with your quests." his voice was firm, "I have no doubt that you can do it- working together. Hopefully when we meet again this will all be over-" he gave a small smile, "We'll have a feast to celebrate your return."

"Now that does sound nice." Percy admitted. "It'll be amazing to be back at camp."

"Then make sure you come back to us. I have faith in all of you."

And with that they said their goodbyes and Luke stood up, glancing down at Percy, "I'm gonna go find Thalia and get to bed. We have no way of knowing when the others will come back but you said Triton told you they were safe so there's not much else to do." he shoved his hands into his pockets, "But- how did- I mean I saw you talking with Rachel and Annabeth." there was a slight hopefulness in his voice. And Percy gave him a look.

"We talked, and we are still broken up Luke. But- I think it did help clear the air a bit." she admitted with a slight shrug. "It's gonna be tough but it's better for everyone."

"I wish I believed that." Luke paused, "But uh- I don't think you want to talk to your big brother about your relationship so-" he pulled his hand out of his pocket, tossing her a golden drachma, "But I can think of a certain daughter of Aphrodite who you might talk to. And I'm pretty sure Drew would be happy to hear from you."

"I-" Percy hesitated before giving a small smile, "Thanks Luke."

"No need to thank me." Luke gave a two finger salute before he ducked out of the room, and Percy stared after him for a moment before she tossed the drachma into the manmade rainbow, murmuring softly under her breath.

And a few moments later the image formed in the rainbow- Drew was outside sat by the canoe lake, her legs dangling into the water- it was dark but the moon was clear in the sky, Percy could see just fine, and she grinned. "Hey, bitch, not gonna say hello-" and it was worth it to see the way her friend shrieked and jumped, falling into the lake.

A second later she was dragging herself out of the water her eyes wide, "W-what?" she gasped, "I don't- you-" she stared at Percy- and for the first time since Percy had met her she was speechless and then- "Son of a bitch I should have known you'd come back somehow." and gods but had Drew ever looked so- so truly happy before?

"Such faith in me." Percy grinned, pressing a hand to her chest, "It just warms my heart, you know that?"

"Of course, I'm known for believing in people." Drew was smiling, a wide genuine smile, "Gods Percy it's good to see you. Where are you?"

"Right now I'm in the ocean on the Argo II. Chiron's gonna tell everyone I'm alive in the morning."

"You're with the others then. You've met my baby sister?"

"Piper, yeah." Percy grinned, "What do you think of her?" because she knew Drew didn't always let people in- she was curious about how Drew and Piper were together- she could imagine them being enemies if they didn't hit it off right.

"Oh she's a trashbaby but she's my trashbaby." Drew declared casually, "It was a whole thing, I finally understand why you're so ridiculous over Nico and Leo."

"Oh wow, Drew Tanaka admitting she actually cares about someone other than herself or me, will wonders never cease-"

"If you were here I would be hitting you over the head with a pillow."

"You don't even have a pillow."

"I would find one just for you." Drew laughed, shaking her head, "Gods I've missed this Percy."

"I missed it too." Percy grinned, "Having someone who I can talk to like this."

"Oh? Is all not well in paradise? I thought you told your girlfriends everything." And Percy's wince made Drew straighten up. "What happened."

And that was all the prompting that Percy needed, the words spilled past her lips, and she told Drew everything- because Drew was the one person who had seen her at her complete weakest- who had seen her when she was Alabaster's captive, when she'd been a complete wreck-and it had never changed the way Drew saw her, and Drew listened, and when Percy was finished she pressed her lips together.

"That son of a bitch just can't help himself can he?"

"Nope." Percy popped the P, "I am in a living hell knowing he's still out there."

"'Course you are." Drew frowned, "I gotta say, I never expected you to leave Annabeth and Rachel. Don't get me wrong I'm not judging I just- I'm shocked. But it makes sense."

"It's one less thing that he can take from me." Percy stated softly, "They're in less danger without me."

"You do realise you're never going to be able to move on from the shit that bastard's put you through unless you prove to yourself that he's nothing to be afraid of-"

"Uh, that sounds kinda impossible since, you know, I definitely have reason to be afraid of him." Percy pointed out, shaking her head.

"Percy-" Drew shot her a look, "You are better than him in every way, you're stronger, faster, more powerful, you're smarter too- smarter than you give yourself credit for. You're just traumatized and scared shitless of him. Think about every time he got to you- it was always by being a petty underhanded son of a bitch. When has he ever gotten the advantage of you without either getting lucky or tricking you by using your family and friends?"

"I-" Percy shifted slightly, "Okay but he knows my weaknesses. He knows me too well he's always gonna be able to get the better of me. I turn into a terrified idiot around him Drew."

"Then don't." Drew's voice was blunt, her eyes glinting as she almost glared at Percy. "You are better than him. Just believe it Percy. Do not let him turn you into a frightened mess you are so much more than that. Or I'd never have been your friend. You need to be the girl who stood up to him, who got me to slice off her hair in defiance because he liked it. You were a terrified wreck but beneath it all you were still strong enough that he could never break you. And deep down you still are. No matter how you feel right now."

"I-" Percy breathed out slowly, "I really fucking missed you."

"Of course you did. I'm perfect-" Drew flicked her hair over her shoulder before there was a shriek in the background and she cursed, "Oh shit the harpies. I gotta go princess. I'll see you later!" Drew waved her hand, ending the call, and Percy stared at the spot where she had been for a long moment before she flopped back into the bed, closing her eyes.

Maybe Drew was right. She just needed to force herself to be brave.