I owe you all a serious explanation.

I usually like to say 'Hey Guys!' because I prefer referring to you all casually. As friends. Not just as fans, but as friends.

Some of you have been with this story since way back when, in 2015 when my writing was pretty bad (at least to me) and I'm so grateful for all of you. I find it so... weird that I still get emails from FanFic telling me that people are still following this story. That they're reading it, and enjoying it, and that they want more. You guys genuinely like what I write, and that means so much to me. Thank you, really.

Okay, so where do I start? I was enrolled in college classes, as I mentioned last chapter. I was seriously, like, a day away from classes when I figured out that both of my classes had been cancelled due to low enrollment. It was community college, just for a few GE's and stuff, so I wasn't too heartbroken. I was just a bit upset. My parents were upset as well, and that made me feel like I should remain upset, at least for a while. Stupid, I know.

Also, let it be known I never went through any form of Drama during High School. I didn't date (my bio specifically states I do not know how to flirt) and things were pretty chill. Suddenly, since September, I was thrust into meaningless drama... I barely picked up my laptop to write.

Next, my best friends are starting to scatter. I barely talk to them anymore, and the few that I do seemed to drop me at the bottom of the metaphorical barrel... I get it. College, responsibility, etc. I was just suddenly super anti-social, so I didn't really do anything.

Okay, not true. I am now a full time employee at my work. Five days a week, 9 am to 6 pm. I love my job, but it kind of became priority for a bit too long. I threw myself into it, and in the process I neglected my writing, and my fans. Again, I'm sorry.

My best friend (male) was given a date to which he would be going on a two-year voluntary religious excursion. Beyond email, I doubt I'll talk to him until it's over. I'm worried that we might not talk at all, in fact.

My best friend (female) is in the same boat. instead of two years, its only 18 months. I didn't think it'd hit me that hard, because I know how much she wants to go, and I'm so proud she's chosen to as well. But now I'm getting mixed feelings about it all, and I'm suddenly developing the cliche 'crush-with-your-girl-best-friend', and it just kind of sucks because I'm going to suppress it for her and my own sake. I don't need a broken heart right now. I honestly think she's starting to feel the same about me, but again, I'm not even going to get my hopes up.

I actually plan on going on one of these religious excursions myself, and people all around me are asking when, where I want to go, why I haven't started the paperwork... Is it bad that I'm strictly holding off because of FanFic? I made a promise to you guys first. I'm finishing this story. And hey, maybe in two years I'll be back. I truly hope that's the case. Further plans regarding this are being debated. I'll keep you guys updated via my bio, hopefully.

Lastly, there was a death in the family. We've been expecting it for a long time, and to be honest I didn't cry. I know that this person wanted to go, their life was long lived. They'd told me as much the last time I spoke with them. I'm glad that I had the chance to be a part of this person's life, and they have touch mine so much.

Whew. I really needed to say that. Er, write it.

You guys that just joined the story, these author notes aren't normally like this, I swear. Pretty heavy for your first chapter update though, huh?

I can't believe how far spread my audience is... Like, really. I saw Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, Denmark, India, South Africa, Norway... I swear, I nearly fainted reading through the comments. I have a question though: Anyone from Jacksonville Florida? PM me, plz.

Someone mentioned my OC's were stupid... Is it bad I laughed? I totally agree! I hate stories with OC's, but then I made my own and even though they suck I'm committed and they'll probably be in later chapters.

Lizaloves, you're amazing. Don't let anyone tell you different. To be honest, I love my fan base. I'm proud that I have the most reviews on the PJO/Avengers page, but I'm more proud that I have so many awesome fans. I only ask for patience- and you guys totally delivered.

The buildup is finally at its end, btw. I made this chapter extra-long, just for you guys. Seriously, thank you all so much.

Disclaimer:I'm baaaackk! I'm just not Rick.


Reyna:

"That was worse than the Disney cruise." Thalia grumbled, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as they began stomping their way off of the Ferry with the rest of the people. Others had been smart, taking their own cars, trailers, whatever- with them on the Ferry. Reyna watched as a large portion of the occupants in the ship began to split off and get into cars- probably waiting for everyone to get off the exit ramp already.

Truthfully, Reyna had actually enjoyed the Disney cruise. Monster-free, all you can eat, and movies galore. She, of course, had made the most of the never-ending selection of Disney movies and acted like an actual human being on a Disney cruise. It was almost… enjoyable. Even with the screaming kids and overly romantic couples. At least nothing had exploded.

Probably why Thalia had hated the Disney cruise. It was no surprise to Reyna that Thalia had not had a happy childhood. Most Demigods could relate to that, and Reyna was no exception. But at least everyone in there little group of three could eat anywhere they wanted. The food on the Ferry to Prince of Wales was overpriced, and lacking in any real taste.

"I thought it was better." Nico said on Reyna's other side, and Reyna knew where he was coming from. Nico wasn't a Disney person, and she'd seen him looking for her on more than one occasion. Being surrounded by five-year-olds gave him a lot to comb through.

'She was reborn nearly six years ago, Reyna.' Nico had confided after she'd pointed out his strange behavior. 'I don't think I'll ever miss the chance to see her again.'

"It was fine. Stop whining about it already." Piper whispered under her breath. Jason put an arm around his wife and whispered something Reyna couldn't hear. She couldn't see Piper's face, but Thalia's flashed in annoyance.

They kept walking, past the terminal and the chain link fence until they were in a parking lot. That was it. Unlike the city of Ketchikan… there was no city. There wasn't a town. There wasn't so much as a building that they could see. It was a thirty foot circle around the parking lot and chain fence of just wild grass, and then there were trees. Pine trees so tall, Grover looked like he might start to cry. The smell was… intoxicating.

And then they reached the edge of the chain link fence, and they realized that they had no idea where they were going.

"Uh, guys?" Grover asked, without really having to ask it. How were they planning on proceeding? That old man with the western novel passed by them with his walking stick, a kind smile on his face and a wave to the seven of them. Reyna would've returned the smile, maybe even walked with the guy, but she had no idea where she was walking to…

"We weren't given any instructions after this." Jason said, his confidence wavering. He clutched a cellphone in his hand, the only means that they had to be contacted by Percy. "He never said to do anything when we got off the Ferry." He said.

Reyna could already see Jason's anxiety building. He had still been her partner, after all, and she knew why Praetorship was a two-person job. Piper was already whispering something in his ear, and Reyna just kind of found herself stepping in front of the rest of the group.

"So he's late to pick us up. He was always late." She deadpanned, taking a few steps back from the fence. Cars were starting to pass them now, unloaded and going wherever they were planning on going. Reyna wondered vaguely how they were going to get home, but pushed that thought aside. As long as Percy didn't force them back onto the Ferry. "If he's not here in twenty minutes, we start walking."

"Where's the closest town?" Rachel asked no one in particular. It was Grover who spoke, although he seemed busy looking around at all the green.

"Hollis. It shouldn't be more than twenty minutes walking." Grover said, and immediately turned red when everyone started looking at him. "What? I read all the pamphlets."

"I saw you eating them." Rachel said, raising an eyebrow. "But I don't think I ever saw you reading them." It didn't sound like an accusation, just curiosity. Grover just nodded along.

"I read while I eat sometimes. Everyone does that." He said, shifting from one foot to the next. His rasta cap swung haphazardly on his curls, threatening to fall off and reveal his horns.

Thalia rolled her eyes, but Reyna could see her underlining smirk peaking through, mischievous and elusive. "Yes, but we don't usually eat what we're reading, or vice versa."

Piper raised her hand, somewhat timidly. Jason looked like he was holding back laughter. "Actually, there was this one time about a week ago, and I was making tacos when I just kind of..."

Reyna started laughing, hearing the insinuation in her voice. "What book were you eating?"

Piper blushed, and Jason was now openly laughing, probably remembering the moment. "It was a cookbook, if I remember right."

Grover raised his hands in exasperation. "Whatever. Just- it's twenty minutes away."

Reyna nodded, though she was smiling. She hadn't really paid much mind to the satyr in their group. She knew he was Percy's best friend before everything, and that they had been real close, but beyond that she only really recognized him from when Rachel had requested an audience with her all those years ago.

"Okay then. Twenty minutes, then we start walking." Reyna said.

Everyone chorused their agreement, and they quickly made their way to the small rest area at the edge of the concrete. In all reality, the rest area was actually just two benches facing away from each other and a restroom, but they each squeezed as closely to one another as possible. Nothing important was said. Piper curled up into Jason, Thalia started snoring in Grover's ear, and Rachel rested her head on Nico's lap.

That lasted a total of three minutes.

Reyna heard the tremors before she felt them, and discreetly started to look around. It was no surprise when everyone began to shift around her. Rachel lifted her head as the noise steadily grew louder, squinting her eyes in the direction that the noise was coming from.

"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me." The redhead mumbled.

Reyna didn't even blink when the Hyperborean came out of the woods. If anything, she almost expected it. Or, rather, everything involving Percy currently was becoming blurred to the point where 'grey' was an understatement. If Percy could be an Avenger, she supposed errand boys could be blue.

He wore very, very large khakis, and a much larger green polo shirt. His hair was a disheveled mess, icicle blue and spiky. Reyna hoped this was not an enemy she had to face. Not unarmed, at least.

Rachel didn't waste any time, standing and strutting forward. "I'll handle this." She said, already making her way across the lot. Reyna could only watch, stupefied, as the Oracle walked up to the giant.

Said giant simply stomped his way to the edge of the lot, frost gathering on the ground he passed over. He sat with a monstrous 'Thud', causing the ground below the seven of them to nearly fall off the bench. It didn't really matter, seeing as they all edged closer to the giant.

"This is the guy that suggested the movie to us before." Piper whispered loud enough for all of them to hear her.

Thalia gave Piper a strange look. "And that's supposed to make me feel better?" She asked.

Grover nodded, and Reyna noticed his hands shaking at his side. "He's… trained."

"So were the ones in Kronos' army. That just makes it worse." Thalia hissed, and Reyna saw the huntress's fists clenching at her side.

"But this one is trained by Percy… We think." Jason said, stepping subconsciously in front of his wife. Reyna saw Piper roll her eyes, but also noticed she didn't try to stop him, either. "And he didn't hurt us before."

Rachel walked right up to the giant's feet, looking up at the towering creature. Even sitting, he was definitely a force to be reckoned with. Reyna hoped that one of her few mortal friends knew what she was doing.

"Excuse me, Little boy blue?" Rachel shouted. Reyna heard Nico sigh beside her.

The Giant, previously occupied by picking his nose, heard Rachel. He lazily gazed down at her, eyes squinting as if he couldn't quite see her. Rachel took this as a sign to continue. "Yes, you! Hi! How are you doing?"

Reyna didn't expect a response. The giant didn't offer one. He scratched at his shirt collar, the material riding up and making him look like an honest to goodness Dracula-age, Forest-green vampire.

"We are looking for our friend, Percy!" Rachel continued, and the giant perked up at the name. Rachel noticed. "Yes, Percy! Have you seen him recently? Did he send you to get us?"

Reyna was surprised to see the hyperborean nod. She hadn't known these creatures actually even understood English. Or Humans in general. Rachel put her arms up, and in any other situation Reyna would've found the position ridiculous.

Okay, so it still was. Reyna would make fun later.

"That's great! How are you taking us Percy?" Rachel asked.

Why was Reyna even surprised when the Giant picked Rachel up?

"Hey!" Thalia yelled, advancing on the creature with nothing but her bare hands. "Put down the Oracle and step off!" The huntress yelled, and surprisingly Reyna saw a bow and loaded arrow appear in her hand when she brought her arms up. The point of the silver arrow glittered brightly in the sunlight.

Probably why the giant picked her up with his free hand.

"Oi! Put me down, you big oaf!" She shouted indignantly, her bow still in hand. She shot an arrow into the hand that held onto her, but all it did was make the giant wince. He quickly put Rachel into his front polo pocket, then shoved Thalia in as well.

"Alright, maybe he's not as friendly as we thought." Grover said, his voice small. The giant zeroed in on them, smiling a big toothy smile and started bounding towards them.

"Everyone, split up! Don't let him pick you up!" Jason said, immediately grabbing his wife's hand and running towards the road. Grover, like a bullet from a gun, shot towards the woods off to his left. The only two left were Nico and Reyna, who instinctively went back to back.

"Any ideas, Di Angelo?" Reyna asked, watching as the giant started in the direction of the fastest, Grover. The son of Hades grabbed onto Reyna's wrist, much to her surprise.

"When I do this, I'm gonna pass out. Don't lose me." He warned, raising his spare hand above his head. Reyna didn't have to ask what he meant when the pavement began to crack, like hairline fractures in glass. Shadow, inky black and as wispy as mist, began to spread out and around the clearing that the group was in. Reyna felt as if every one of her senses had gone dull. As if the sun itself had been extinguished.

It was a struggle to pick up the Nico. He was complete dead-weight (as if anything else was new), and sure enough his unconscious body brought back memories. She sincerely hoped nothing would get worse.

Reyna spoke too soon.

She was dragging Nico towards where she thought the road was, hearing the disgruntled grunts of the Hyperborean. She heard a very loud goat bleat, which she assumed meant Grover had just been picked up. She hoped this mist helped her escape, if only to get some sort of weapon and fight back. Reyna didn't really see any other way she'd even get out of this.

And just like that, Reyna felt herself and Nico trapped against one another, his head lolling against her neck as the gut-jerking feeling overcame her senses when she was forced off of the ground. She saw the dullest outline of blue in the swarm of black around her. The shadows seemed to pull her back, tugging at her.

'Nico's mist didn't do crap.' She thought, feeling herself go upside down and shoved into the pocket of a green polo shirt.

Reyna woke up feeling worse than her first night when she'd turned twenty-one.

It was funny, kind of, just how horribly hangovers seemed to affect her. And the few people who had witnessed said event, and commented on it, were beyond regretful when they stated their findings (Nico still had a scar, probably). She'd tried all the natural remedies, including unicorn horn shavings and basilisk spit shakes (Never again), but nothing could cure the pounding in her head.

This was twice as bad, and if Reyna couldn't remember, in vivid detail, exactly what it had felt like before, she would say that no cut or wound could ever be worse.

It was like her brain was bouncing, constantly moving up and down and smacking against the walls of her skull. Her hands shook, she thinks, faster than anything Leo had ever done. And her stomach wanted to empty itself, but her body was too stubborn. She swallowed the feeling of wanting to die in exchange for opening her eyes.

'Oh, oh… Bad idea. Bright. Sun. ugh.' She thought, instantly closing her eyes and replacing herself in darkness. What she wouldn't give for that stuff Nico had made just a little bit…

Reyna remembered what was happening. Where she was- or had been -until that giant had picked her up and stuffed her in his pocket.

Reyna thought that the cushing pressure on top of her was anxiety, but when she tried to stand up she was certain that it was a person. Either Jason, Nico, or Piper. Either way, it hurt to feel anyone on top of her, especially since she could feel that rock digging into her stomach suddenly. Wherever they were, it wasn't the softest ground she'd been left on.

"Ugh." She heard someone off to her side moan, turning onto their back and ultimately pressing themselves into her side. The rock beneath her dug further into her stomach. Reyna started to shift, trying to get up.

"Whoever I'm currently sitting on, stop moving so much. I can't feel my legs, and I don't want to fall off." Piper said, and Reyna presumed as much. She stopped moving, but turned her face so she could see a little more around her. The light was nearly blinding after what she assumed had been total darkness inside of a giant's pocket.

"Oh my gosh, are you okay?" Jason said, and Reyna felt the weight of a two-hundred and something pound pregnant woman lifted off of her back. She sighed in content, able to stretch and remove the rock from under her.

Reyna saw Jason leaning his wife against some sort of house. At least, that's what she assumed. All she could see in her limited line of sight were white boards running parallel to the ground. It made sense that it was a wall.

Oh, and Jason was hyperventilating.

"You're alright? You said you couldn't feel your legs? Where does it hurt? Oh gods, does your stomach hurt? What if all the jostling hurt the baby? What if-" Jason kept going, listing off symptoms to diseases or birth defects that Reyna hadn't ever heard of, and in retrospect probably didn't matter, either. Piper rolled her eyes, taking a firm grip with Jason's hand as he continued.

Reyna struggled to sit up, first digging her elbows into the ground, then propping herself up and onto her stomach. The weight of someone's head on her back and another body pressed into her side kept her down, though. The only things seeming to return to her were her sense of smell, sound, and sight.

She saw white, she smelled salt, and she could hear the sea.

"Does anyone know if that ride came with complementary aspirin?" Rachel asked weakly off to Reyna's left. The head that rested on her back jerked upwards, immediately screaming in overdue terror. Reyna winced, her ears ringing.

"Jeez, Thalia. Just shove an arrow into my ear canal and save me the trouble of an ear doctor's appointment." Reyna said, closing her eyes and trying to regain her hearing.

The body beside her shifted only a little, and Reyna heard a grumbling response spoken directly into the ground. She frowned. "What was that?" She asked.

"Otolaryngologist." Nico said, lifting his face out of the dirt. "Also called an ENT. They specialize in ears, noses, and throats." He supplied, as if Reyna needed to know. She raised an eyebrow, hearing his face thud back into the dirt. "Will considered becoming one." He said.

"Who do I call to help me get my legs to stop feeling so sore?" A weary Grover said, sitting up beside Rachel. Reyna could see him massaging his hooves.

"That would be a Veterinarian." Nico said.

"Oh, shut up." Grover said.

Reyna, now free of the weight of any bodies keeping her down, sat up fully, her own sore legs going in front of her. She got a better look around her as she did, though there wasn't much besides pine trees, dirt roads, a white wall and her aching friends.

"Did we really just get a ride from a giant? By being shoved into his pocket?" Rachel asked, shakily getting to her feet. She stumbled for a bit, but when Reyna tried to stand her knees felt like they'd just been turned to jell-o. She had to put a hand on the wall just to stop the trees from spinning.

Piper seemed tired of her husband's fussing this time. She took his face in her hands, pressing a kiss to his lips and only pulling away when he'd stopped trying to talk. "I'm fine. The baby is fine, you big mama eagle. Just- just give me a second so that I can stand up straight."

Reyna looked around, seeing Grover and Nico still trying to rise. Grover seemed to be having the most trouble, bleating in alarm every time he tried to stand and ended up face first on the ground instead. Thalia didn't even seem to be trying, her fists clenching the grass under her fingers.

"So, this must be where Percy is then. If the giant really took us… wherever Percy told him to." Rachel said.

Nico finally reached the wall, pulling himself up against it. His teeth were grinding together. "I swear, if this isn't where Percy is, I'm shadow travelling home. Even if I die trying." He said.

Thalia began standing, putting her feet under her body testingly. She stood on the balls of her feet, back bent and hands still steadying against the ground. She stayed in that position for a moment before standing fully. "You better not die, because if you're leaving, I'm hitching a ride."

Reyna pushed herself along the wall, following the wooden boards along the edge of what she guessed was a house. She estimated it, after careful inspection, to be two stories, along with three windows above and two just above her eyes. She didn't try to peek through.

When Reyna turned the corner, she couldn't help but blink a few times.

Alaska seemed greyish, in the same way Seattle or San Francisco might look after a storm. And they were still on an island, she was sure, just not which one. She could see land far, far away, over the ocean that seemed to stretch beyond her vision in either direction. They were in some kind of bay- though it wasn't very big or private.

And this house wasn't the only one. There were two more, right beside the one they leaned against. All of them were big, wooden structures, made for the harsh winters that the state probably faced. They all had access through a single driveway, along with one long, paved road that went down to some sort of dock.

Seagulls hung around in the surf, picking at seaweed and gunk. It must've been low tide, because the beaches were mostly wet sand intertwined with rocky shores closer to land.

Reyna thought it looked good. She could understand why Hazel had mentioned wanting to come back, at some point in her life.

She was about to call to the others to get their rears over to her when she heard a door open.

Reyna tensed, knowing that it must be Percy. He was probably standing on some sort of deck (the other two houses had ones, so it made sense that this one did too, right?). Maybe he'd heard them? Maybe he was expecting them?

Reyna expected black tousled hair and chiseled features.

All she saw was a round nose, brown doe eyes and curly brown hair instead.

Reyna didn't have the words to describe her confusion when the little girl, no more than four at the most, tiptoed closer to Reyna. Reyna saw the girl take the stairs (ha! There was a porch), her bare feet curling when they made contact with the grass. She was wearing deep blue leggings and a t-shirt. Her hair whipped in the sea breeze.

Reyna went to speak.

And was immediately cut off by the squeal the girl let out as she ran towards Reyna, arms spread.

Normally, when someone starts running at a demigod, Reyna immediately goes to worst case scenario: monsters in the shape of a human. The mist was tricky like that, and in her life that thought process had saved her and others on several occasions.

But the squeal- Reyna physically froze when she heard it, like a radio wave that was at just the right frequency to communicate an important message. In this case, Reyna didn't have to know what that message was.

The little girl, barely to her waist, hugged Reyna around her legs so hard, she almost fell over. "You're RA-RA!"

Reyna didn't even have time to rebuke the stupid nickname before the girl was already moving along, watching every last one of them with wide, wonder filled eyes. "And you're Grover, and you're Piper, and you're Jason, and you're Nico, and you're Thalia!" She said, her voice rising in pitch with each word being said.

Jason stepped in front of his wife, his eyes narrowing at the little girl. Reyna saw Piper roll her eyes again.

Nico finally stood up straight without the use of the wall. His shirt kept billowing around him when the breeze would pick up. He had to blink rapidly when she kept looking between them, biting her thumb and squealing every few seconds.

"Have we met?" Piper asked, her smile flickering.

The little girl shook her head, giggling. "I don't think so!"

Reyna was beginning to rethink the idea that this girl might be a monster. She didn't have any celestial bronze or imperial gold, but maybe-

"Hope! Are you going to invite our guests in for lunch, or just let them stand out in the cold?" Someone said from inside the house. Reyna saw everyone's eyes bulge at the same time. Except her. She rolled her eyes.

'Finally.' She thought, already following the four year old skipping towards the door.

Steve:

"Now, if you'd just sit still for a few moments longer, we could be done with this and move on with the rest of our day." The tailor said, putting the measuring tape against Steve's waist.

Steve involuntarily took a shaky breath as the tailor circled around him to get his waist measurement. She was pretty, blonde hair and brown eyes that reminded him of someone he used to know. Steve never knew if he could be looking at someone's grandkid that bore resemblance of another person.

He blushed, trying not to let his ponderings bother him. Besides the fact that he couldn't deal with any kind of relationship at the moment, he wasn't sure he wanted to ever be involved with anyone. Avenger-ing was full-time, whether he intended it to be or not. And then there was the Bucky situation on top of that.

"Sorry, sorry! I'm just a bit ticklish there." He said.

She let out a very loud huff. "And so is the rest of you, I suppose? You can't seem to sit still for longer than a minute!" She said, and Steve was painfully aware that that was true. His anxiety was really starting to get to him now. If he didn't move, he might explode.

He was honestly beginning to think Percy had somehow given him ADHD. With their combined lack of good luck, Steve wouldn't be surprised.

"We'll try this again, but I have other appointments to keep Mr. Rogers." She said, once again trying to measure his waist.

Steve knew that he could've easily had Friday scan him for suit measurements. In fact, the tower could've had one tailored and ready within a day of the scan as well. With just the press of a button, Steve could've even had an entirely new wardrobe in is closet by the end of the week (Percy had once replaced all of his jeans with parachute pants and his t-shirts with vests. No other tops).

But where better to get a suit than in an actual suit store in New York City? What a better way to pretend he was normal for a little bit, going through the struggles of actually getting measured for a suit, waiting three-four weeks, and then picking it up? It wasn't like he was doing anything else today.

"Alright, I've gotten all your measurements, you've picked out the style and color, and you've paid in advance, is that correct?" She asked, sounding much less tired than the moment before. Steve might've felt insulted if he didn't sympathise with her. He could be a handful at times.

Steve smiled to himself while nodding to her. He wondered, all those years ago, if that same Steve Rogers getting pummeled in alleyways and kicked out of buildings for his stubbornness would think that he'd be able to afford a suit like this, or ever be at an event that needed a suit.

I mean, the old Steve would've been wishing to get into a different kind of suit. And, in the beginning, he certainly didn't see any stars and stripes anywhere other than the shoulder. But now, he was serving something other than just his country. He had to fight for something… Something more.

Sam was waiting outside of the store, tapping his foot and checking his watch. Steve knew his friend had been less than happy since he'd been 'grounded' forcefully by an unforgettable blonde. Tony was already making him more wings, but Steve knew Sam was still less than satisfied. Especially since she'd gotten away.

"You look impatient." Steve commented, walking up to his friend and embracing him. Sam gave him a little pat on the back as they began to move down the street.

"You would be too, if you knew what I've been listening to all afternoon." Sam grumbled, hugging his jacket against himself further. Steve didn't understand why, it was a bright sunny day. Brighter than it had been in a while. In fact, Steve started leading the two of them towards Central Park.

Steve took a wild guess. "Errands for Percy, right?"

Sam nodded, barely looking up from the sidewalk they were walking on. It took him a block to open his mouth. "It's like he's asking for the impossible sometimes, you know? He wants me to-"

Steve stopped Sam by putting a hand over his mouth. "Hey, hey! We aren't supposed to tell each other what you're doing, remember? It's still supposed to be a secret."

Sam frowned. "Not mine. I'm supposed to comb through my contacts and dig up any news on whatever I think might be useful. I'm supposed to report to you and Clint." He said, pulling a paper out from under his jacket. Steve raised an eyebrow, taking the paper and reading through it.

It wasn't anything good. "Hydra, Washington, and thunderstorms in Florida. What am I looking at here?"

"Everything I could figure out about what I thought might be useful. Hydra has been quiet since New York, but supposedly they've been developing some sort of super soldier- and that's just speculation. I can't even confirm it or not." He said, shrugging. "It might just all be bogus."

"What kind of contact knows what's going on inside of Hydra?" Steve asked.

Sam gave Steve a knowing look, as if telling Steve to think about it.

When he pieced it together, Steve's eyes grew as wide as saucers. "He's not really your contact, right? I mean, I disapprove of him big-time. I mean, his methods- Just… He's not a good influence, alright?"

Sam raised his hands up in innocence. "I never said he was. He just offered the information and I took it."

Steve shook his head, but accepted the information. Odds were, this intel was highly edited to remove monologue, doodles, and swear words. A lot of swear words. "What about Washington? Are they really trying to find Percy?" He asked, hoping that Washington would just put it to rest. Why prolong the inevitable?

"They've placed agents on standby. People saw a lot of water falling out of the Tower, remember? Gossip sites, newspapers- I bet someone in the Pentagon started scratching his head while reaching for a phone. If Percy doesn't keep his nose clean, they might take action." Sam said.

"Doubtful." Steve muttered. "Percy can't keep his nose clean- it's already plenty dirty."

"It makes you wonder what would happen if the world knew, don't you think?" Sam asked.

"About Percy, Percy's past, or Percy's 'other' side of the family?" Steve asked. "I trust Percy to make the right decision. The Government wouldn't push him towards any one path. Not when he still has public opinion on his side."

"That shouldn't be how it is." Sam said bluntly.

"But that's how it's gotta be." Steve said. "Okay, this last one- Thunderstorms in the South? Why should I be concerned?"

"Percy's uncle. Percy's mentioned the powers before, and it's not like they just stopped. Weather patterns are become more irregular since New York. I think it might be Mr. Thunderbolts."

Steve was about to comment when a loud clap of thunder snapped his attention skyward. The sky was nearly cloudless though. Sam looked just as alarmed, sharing a look with Steve.

Did that just-?

"So 'he' is getting angry. At Percy? Why Florida?" Steve asked, tearing the idea out of his thoughts. He didn't want to get caught up in… anything like that.

Sam shook his head. "No idea. But the storms are becoming more frequent, and much bigger. Seems too unnatural to mean nothing."

Steve looked around at the trees in front of him. They had made it to Central Park, and Steve couldn't feel any more at home. He took a deep sniff, trying to distinguish the pine from the city smoke. "Talk to Clint when you get back. Tell him everything that you told me. I'm going for a run." He gave Sam a sideways glance. "Wanna race?"

Sam put the paper back in his jacket. He gave the path ahead of them a stern look. "I've been waiting for a rematch, you know."

"And I'll always beat you."

"I would've had you like, what, six months ago?"

"I was in a cast."

"And I would've beaten you then."

Thalia:

If home had a smell, Thalia wouldn't have thought of thunderstorms, pine trees, or movie theater popcorn. Contrary to whatever anyone else told you about her, Thalia didn't fall into stereotypes like that because home was different for her.

Home wasn't the Zeus Cabin, where papa Zeus stared you down every night and tried to fry the intolerance out of you. Home wasn't the forests she camped in, even if she spent the most time there. It was… more comfortable than anywhere else she'd been for a long time. She'd give Artemis that.

It wasn't the road, with Luke and Annabeth. As much as she wished she could've gone back some days… It wasn't meant to be. Although, she'd felt more herself than anywhere else when she was traveling. Another thing that made the hunt so appeasing.

But Nico, that idiot, didn't understand.

"Did you ever just run, no thoughts in your mind of where you were going? Just the need to get away? Alone, with only your thoughts?"

She'd wanted to say that that wasn't true. Family mattered to her… All of her sisters in the Hunt. All of the Demigods at Camp Halfblood. Annabeth, Percy, Jason- see? Family. They were her family.

Thalia didn't run from family, like Nico tried to make it out to look. He was just a little punk with issues about his own family. And if said family wasn't immediate, Thalia wouldn't be surprised to see Nico choose being alone. Every time.

Harsh? Sure, whatever.

She prefered to move. And, yeah, maybe home life wasn't meant for her. Maybe she liked waking up to see something new every sunrise. That didn't mean she was weak for it. She just- Nico struck a cord, okay?

Reyna got it. Thalia could see that Reyna got it, deep down. She was a leader. A teacher. Tailor-made for moving. Thalia would've bet, five or six years ago, Reyna would've been a hunter.

But why cry over spilled milk? Times change, people change- Reyna obviously wanted something more, something Thalia didn't get. Nico was a bigger pain in the butt than he used to be.

And Piper… don't even get her started on that Cherokee nightmare.

But, anyways, that's a completely different topic. Home. The point is, Thalia didn't really have one. That was okay.

But furniture polish- Thalia felt her toes curl when she first walked into the beach house. (And, seriously, he had a beach house?) She couldn't comprehend the feeling of seeing this little girl, no more than five, leading her into this house with the biggest grin on her face.

The walls were as blue as the sky, but seemed to grow darker as the wall reached downwards, towards the hardwood floors. It was probably intentional that way. Nautical themed items hung in the walls: and old ship's wheel. A diver's helmet and speargun. Pictures of sunny beaches and sailboats and even the cliche boat in a bottle.

And the coffee table, the couches, the bowl of fruit- Thalia swore, she could imagine Percy growing old here. He wouldn't bat an eye if Thalia told him he'd never be able to leave the island again.

At least, the Percy she remembered.

Jason might be convinced. Thalia would have to play the skeptic alone.

"Hope, why don't you invite them to sit down for a minute? I'll be down in, uh, just a minute." He said, and even though Thalia couldn't see him she knew it was him. No one else stuttered like that.

The girl, Hope, giggled. "Percy thinks you guys are going to beat him up." She said, sharing a smile with all of them. Without another word, she took a seat in a big green beanbag chair at the far end of what must've been the living room.

"We probably will." Grover muttered under his breath, taking a seat. They all sat down.

Thalia sat beside Jason on the biggest couch, Piper beside him, Nico beside her. Rachel and Grover shared the two-seater. All that was left was the beanbag chair that rested against a much bigger recliner. Blue, of course. Everything seemed to be.

And, after what felt more like three months than three days, he finally appeared.

Holding a baseball bat and wearing a helmet.

The emotions that flew through Thalia were mostly centered around anger- she was most definitely angry at him (five years, who wouldn't be?). And, yeah, she knew that taking into account immortality this was just a blip on the radar, but still- Percy Jackson was right there, right in front of her, holding a blunt weapon in a defensive position and wearing a helmet that could've come right out of Capture the Flag and-

He was looking at the six of them warily, holding his bat in two hands. The little girl, Hope, giggled. "You look like a dork." She said, smiling brightly at him. He didn't take his eyes off of any of them.

"I am a grown man, preparing to be attacked by people who may or may not wish to harm me." He said, and besides his voice being just a little less care-free and a bit deeper, Thalia could picture him the way he was before.

Before the nightmares. Before the wars. Before Tartarus.

Thalia thought no one was moving. She didn't expect anyone else to move, so it came as a shock when a brown blur absolutely plowed into Percy's gut, screaming at such a high pitch Thalia thought it must've been Rachel or Piper.

"PPPPERRRRRRCYYYYY!" Grover screeched, hugging Percy like his life depended on it. The satyr pushed Percy back into his own couch, causing it to tip over with a Crash! Hope hopped up from her seat, letting out a little eep! And getting away from her… Brother.

Okay, woah.

Thalia never met little Jackson, but she was sure her name had been Hope.

So… Hope was alive.

Was Sally?

"Okay, okay! This, although preferred to punching, is starting to hurt!" Percy said, his helmet having flown off when Grover tackled him. The satyr, ever oblivious to boundaries when he got too excited, snuggled deeper into his chest. Percy's face was red in embarrassment.

"Good, you jerk." He muttered.

That seemed to be the signal that everyone could greet him, or maybe just to get Grover off of him, because everyone stood to pry the two apart. Nico helped Grover up while Jason helped Percy tip the chair back up.

There was this kind of… stare down the two had. Eyes narrowed, assessing one another. It was a good ten seconds that started to get awkward until they pulled one another into a hug. "So, I hear that someone is expecting soon." Percy said as they broke away. Percy turned to Reyna, frowning. "But she doesn't look that far along."

Piper legitimately punched Percy in the gut causing him to double over while she scowled at him. "That isn't funny, Jackson." When he straightened up, she gave him a warm hug. "And if you ever disappear again, I'm breaking your neck." She said sweetly.

"Well, you already took care of my ribs." He whined, but returned her hug.

Rachel, who had been standing off to the side, crossed her arms. "You were never this witty before, you know." She said. Percy embraced her as well.

"I wasn't a lot of things before." He said, smiling sadly at her. Thalia didn't miss the tears forming at the corner of the Oracle's eyes. "It's a change I think you'll all have to get used to." He said. Thalia would be lying if she said that didn't send a wave of… happy emotion through her.

Reyna stepped up, and in silence they both embraced as well. She whispered something in his ear Thalia didn't catch, but Percy only laughed and nodded in agreement to whatever it was.

Percy turned to Nico, holding his arms out. "I know, I know, I'm not your type… but it's fine because we're cousins and that would be weird anyways." He said. Nico snorted, but when he didn't step forward Percy basically tackled him as well.

"You're the worst kind of human being, you know that?" Nico said, but eventually hugged back when Percy wouldn't back down.

Then he turned to Thalia.

Thalia hadn't stood, like the others. She simply watched, unimpressed and passive while Percy looked at her. He scratched the back of his neck when he caught her gaze. "I know we didn't leave on the best of terms, but will it help that I didn't want to disappear for five years?" He asked.

Thalia didn't smile.

Percy didn't let it stop him. He took a step forward. "You know, you might be a Bad-A, but I bet if I told you I made cookies you'd lighten up." He said.

Thalia didn't even let her mouth twitch. "But they aren't like your mom's, are they?"

No one said anything. You could hear a pin drop in the room. Much to her dismay, Hope even stopped smiling, looking at her brother.

Percy's smile fell, leaving only a sad half-smirk on his face. He coughed a few times before turning away from her, taking a seat on his couch. "No. No, they aren't." He said. Hope chimed in.

"But they're still the best!" She said, moving up to the side of the couch where Percy sat. He gave her a smile, picking her up and putting her in his lap.

"Yeah, baby girl. They aren't half bad." He said, looking back over to Thalia. "It's still her recipe, though." He said. He looked around at everyone else, beckoning them to sit down. "I'm glad you were all able to make it."

"You threatened my husband." Piper deadpanned, although she was already starting to smile again. Percy smiled back.

"We are now totally even from when you told Annabeth about my plan for our one year anniversary." He said, making a little more room for Hope to sit beside him. She rested between him and the armrest, snuggling up. "And, yeah. I had to get you to the airport quickly and that was the fastest way to get you into the car." He said, looking between them all. "If that wasn't okay… you're all here now, so I can't say I'm sorry."

Reyna shrugged. "The cruise was nice and all, but I would've preferred an actual invitation."

Percy shrugged back, making Hope bounce. She giggled again. "I'm not exactly welcome right now in the States, as I'm safe to assume you all know about." He said, as if they should all know about this.

"What're you talking about?" Thalia asked.

Percy gave her a sideways look. "My new job? Theseus? The Avengers?" He looked over at Jason and Piper. "You told her, right? I know Chiron trusted you with his theories."

Jason looked at Thalia, pushing his shoulder into her side in what she guessed was a warning. "I think she was asleep before, when I was explaining it to everyone. Does that mean it's true. You being an Avenger, right?"

Percy shrugged. He shrugged. "I mean, it's not like I went straight into Avenging, but I guess-"

"Is it true that you went back into Tartarus? That you tried to overthrow Olympus?" Thalia asked.

Percy snapped his fingers. "That's why you're upset."

"Thalia-" Jason began, but now she stood.

"I'm upset because my cousin didn't open up to me five years ago about some stupid mental breakdown." She began, her anger building. "I'm upset because the only news I ever got about you seemed to say you were getting worse, then you suddenly disappeared for a few weeks." She said, stepping closer to Percy. "I'm upset because just when we had all started to give up on ever finding a body, the nature spirits start telling everyone you tried to overthrow Olympus!"

Hope started frowning, sitting up in her chair and pointing at Thalia. "That's not-"

Thalia ignored her, pressing on. Percy whispered something into Hope's ear, but kept his attention on Thalia. "I'm upset because you- one of the last sane people that I actually knew on this stupid planet -let me think you were dead and sent straight to Hell by my own Dad." She said, almost in his face now.

Percy swallowed, trying to place a hand on hers. She pulled away, afraid the touch might actually get her to forgive him. She returned to her seat beside Jason.

"I'll admit, I wanted to dance around the subject for a little bit." He said, his voice dry. "But… I guess I'll just get right into it." He said.

Percy made eye contact with all of them, even Thalia, before starting. "I was in a dark place, mentally. I know you all know what happened in Tartarus was to blame, but this… I was in third period, I think, when it started. I thought I saw everyone from camp, from home, all my friends… just staring. Staring at me." He clarified. "And I didn't want to tell anyone because it was about me-"

"What are you going on about?" Thalia asked, snorting.

Percy gave her the most serious expression she'd ever seen on him. "I saw all of you during school, up until sixth or seventh period, telling me I was a failure. And then, one by one, you all died, right in front of me." He said, looking at all of them again. "I tried going back to school after the doctors told me I could, but it wasn't the same. I needed to go back to camp- back home."

"So I did. Only this time, I saw all of you. And people started gossiping- just like camp always did -and I flipped out when someone said I was weak. Almost all of you were there." He said, looking at them. Grover ducked his head, Thalia noticed.

"I heard about it. Percy, I'm not asking for the whole reason-" Thalia started, but was cut off.

"You need to understand why I did what I did. What happened when I…" Percy took a deep breath. "And so, I secluded myself. I stopped talking to anyone because somewhere in the back of my mind I started thinking all of you actually thought that about me. I was wrong. Doing that, ignoring all of you- That was wrong." He said, looking over at Thalia.

Thalia had tried Iris message after Iris message. She'd wasted dozens of coins, just trying to contact him. She remembered it vividly.

"But I did, and by the time I realized what an idiot I was being, it was too late. Piper was back in California with Jason, Nico was doing… I don't want to know for his dad. Rachel was at Clarion, Frank, Hazel, Reyna, Thalia- you were all scattered, and I didn't want to apologize to anyone over an Iris message- I might as well have texted all of you." He said.

"So… I tried to find Annabeth. She was in Camp, somewhere. I went to find her one night… We'd been… growing apart for awhile, and I knew that I need to fix things with her." He said. "I saw her with Mark, and I saw then together, and I knew- okay, listen, I don't bear either of them any ill will anymore. I swear -but at the time I just kind of… fell apart. I blamed Annabeth for everything."

Percy smiled at all of them. It lacked any warmth. It was full of self-hatred. "I heard everyone- everyone telling me I was a failure in that moment. So I thought to myself 'what do I regret most? When did I prove to myself that I was a failure?' I made the biggest mistake of my life that night."

"You jumped into Tartarus." Nico said, eyes dark. Percy merely nodded.

"It took days to find them again. I was nearly dead already, starving myself half to death and not sleeping for a few days- not my brightest moment." He said. "But I did it. Bob and Damasen were freed. I stole those pearls from my dad- the ones that always take you back to the sea? We barely got out alive, and I was legally dead for a full minute, until Damasen brought me back." He admitted.

Thalia felt her nails digging into the couch leather. Percy continued. "And I was so… pumped." Percy said, laughing to himself. "I told Damasen and Bob to live a good life, and that maybe one day I'd see them again. They tried to warn me, you know. I didn't listen."

"I was on the boundary- stepping into camp -when the gods teleported me to Olympus. Zeus went off on me about how I had betrayed them- never mind my side of the story -and I got so mad… I physically attacked Zeus." He laughed now, full bellied. "And Athena didn't even let me get close. She had me on the ground before I even knew I was off of it."

Thalia crossed her arms, trying not to look at Percy. But by not looking at him, she was inviting her own imagination to piece the scene together… and it was something Zeus would undoubtedly do. It's what Percy would undoubtedly do.

Percy covered Hope's ears for a second. "I flipped him the bird." He whispered, and Thalia couldn't ignore that. Her eyes darted to his, daring him to lie to her face. Hope squirmed free of her brother, freeing up his hands. He showed her his fist.

He showed her where his middle finger should've been.

"He told me that the only reason I wasn't going to be killed on the spot was because of dad, and that I was banished instead, and they stole my powers from me." Percy explained. "Mom and Paul were being forced out of the apartment as well. Hope too." He said sadly, and this time he didn't even bother with a smile.

He hesitated for a moment, looking down at his sister. "Hey, baby girl? Why don't you go see if the cookies are ready yet? I think I smell them burning." He said, rubbing the top of her head. She smiled, licking her lips and hopping up from her seat on the couch beside him. As she left, Percy watched her go.

Once he was sure she was out of earshot, he continued. "Hope doesn't know. Not yet, at least, but Zeus broke his promise. The car was struck by lightning- we ended up in the East river. A final insult to me, I guess. Mom and Paul… they were killed instantly. Hope and I only escaped because Bob and Damasen stuck around to keep an eye on me."

"Me and Hope ran. We nearly died a few times on the way, but eventually we found a home. Settled down with some nice people." He said.

Thalia nearly called bull, for several reasons, but Hope stuck her head around the corner. She looked shyly at her brother. "Can I come back in now?" She asked. Percy nodded, putting her back in place.

"And, of course, somehow you ended up becoming an Avenger." Rachel said, disbelievingly.

Everyone looked a bit disbelieving, actually. Thalia didn't blame them. This story was insane. Insane on a level that even the gods wouldn't cross. Not with Percy. Not after what he'd done for them.

Percy nodded his head, face red. "I mean, it didn't happen all at once… The house we ended up in was one of theirs… like, their actual home. With their family and everything… And when I figured that out, and he figured out what had happened to Mom and Paul, he couldn't let us leave so…"

Hope giggled. "Percy played maid."

"Butler." Percy immediately corrected, pressing into his sister's sides. She started laughing, getting a smile out of Percy. Thalia's own lips twitched. "But, yeah. I cleaned, cooked, and basically just tried to make the most of the situation."

"Why not run?" Piper asked. "Why stay?" Why not contact us?

Percy heard the question no one dared ask. "Hope was so little at the time… and I was powerless still… It was safe. If a demigod lives a secluded, protected life, Avengers might as well be off the radar completely. Monsters rarely attacked, and I still somehow had Riptide, so we were safe."

We were safe.

"You didn't tell anyone where you were because you wanted to stay safe?" Thalia spat in disbelief. Percy looked alarmed, eyes wide when she spoke. "We could've kept you safe. We would've given you shelter. What did the Avenger you'd just met have to offer that we, your friends for years, couldn't?" She asked, tone full of scorn.

There were a lot of pent up aggression that Thalia hadn't been able to channel showing itself, but she didn't care. These were legitimate reasons that were starting to tick her off. Percy didn't… run when things got hard. Percy fought back. Thalia respected him for it. Envied him for it, even.

This wasn't Percy. Her worst thoughts had been realized.

"I didn't have just myself to think about. Hope was-"

"Totally family to all of us! We all could've taken care of her! Annabeth practically treated her like her own sister. So did Piper and Hazel. Even Nico worshiped the ground the princess walked on! Why leave us, when Hope was family?" Thalia said, her voice raising.

"Thalia, calm down." Percy said.

Thalia felt her blood boiling. "Did you not think we were going to help you? Did you think we were going to just drop you in the trash, all the quests and memories, and move on? We cared, Percy-"

Jason interjected. "Thalia, seriously, chill out."

She rounded on him. "Are you not feeling just the slightest bit betrayed by the fact Percy chose complete strangers over his friends?"

"It was five years ago." Percy said dumbly.

Thalia let out a loud, mocking laugh. "Oh, right! Back when you weren't so smart, right? Because you felt like we weren't friends anymore? Because of a vision-"

"Shut it, right now." Piper said, her voice taking on a tone Thalia had never heard from the daughter of Aphrodite before. Thalia tried to yell at her that she was right and that Percy was in the wrong, but no words left her throat. In fact, her jaw hinged itself shut, not allowing itself to open.

Thalia was about to go for the lamp beside her, determined to smash it just to emphasize how angry she was, when she realized her mistake.

Percy was trying to reach after Hope, who had hopped out of his lap and was already moving towards the kitchen. Thalia saw tears in her eyes, and instantly Percy was up and looking between the direction his sister left and her.

His eyes were the darkest shade of green she'd ever seen. They glinted like a forest being hit by a flashlight. "She isn't a demigod, Thalia. And she isn't made of bricks, either." He paused for a second, then went in the direction that Hope had gone in.

"It's not about me, Huntress. It's about keeping my sister safe."


If you guys skipped the above stuff, some of it is important. Just thought I'd let you know.

No need to Review, or Favorite, or Follow this time. You've all seriously done so much.

LHG :)