(A/N Hello hello! I am absolutely loving your reviews! I've never really done the answer reviews in my Author's Notes, but for I feel like here I should for any clarifications needed.

StandeCox: No, Percy cannot do magic-only his inherited abilities. If he follows the Path of the Gods later maybe, but I doubt he'll do that. And I can see where you see unrequited love in chapter 5, but that was unintentional, sorry. I tried to clear up Annabeth's thoughts and portrayal in this chapter.

Firestorm337: Yes, I am going very quickly through RR's quests. I don't like being too repetitive when I can help it (though I can't always help it lol). I'm glad you're liking it so far!

WeylandCorp 4: I am so sorry, but it will be a while before we see our favorite Kanes with Percy. It will happen...just don't expect it too soon.

Azuazu: I have that scene in mind! I'm really looking forward to writing it! ... But they have a bit of headbutting to do in the mean time.

Enjoy!

Once again, I own nothing! Not even the base idea for the crossover-that goes to Ryann Aurelia. Check out "The Question of the Exploding Toilet.")

"You look taller," said Percy.

"Very funny," Annabeth scowled. "Be faster next time."

Annabeth was...angry? No, that wasn't the right word. She'd been terrified that she was going to die by stretching on a luxury waterbed. Then she was furious that Percy was just talking to her would-be-killer. And now… Well, she was surprised, for one. Percy had outsmarted the giant. He'd paid attention to the beds' commands, had immediately known Procrustes' history, and tricked him into his own trap. He saved her life. Again. She still hated him (mostly on principle), but it was becoming more difficult not to trust him. Even now he was checking the bulletin board for useful information and figuring out where to go next.

Maybe he wasn't as much of an idiot as she thought. She refused to call him smart, but he was good company to have on a quest. Reliable.

She huffed and scowled as she mentally allowed this concession to his character as they entered the DOA Recording Studio.

.

"Five seconds," Grover helpfully informed Percy and Annabeth. Five seconds until Cerberus decided he was hungry enough not to wait for an explanation. Percy was out of ideas and trying to figure out an escape plan, but Annabeth was digging through her bag.

"See the ball? You want the ball, Cerberus? Sit!" she shouted up to the three headed Rottweiler.

All three heads cocked to the side.

"Sit!" she called again.

Amazingly, he sat. Right on a dozen spirits, but Percy couldn't find it in him to care much at this point.

"Good boy!" Annabeth tossed the ball to him and he caught it in his middle mouth.

Percy was ready to try to sneak around him while the three heads fought for the one ball, but Annabeth had other ideas.

"Drop it!"

She played with the dog for a few more minutes, ordering Percy and Grover to go through the EZ DEATH line while she distracted him. Percy didn't feel right leaving her behind, but she told him she knew what she was doing.

The tears in her eyes when she explained where she learned her training skills from gave him pains, but Grover hurried them along and Percy knew she would not appreciate any sympathy from him.

But as he considered what happened he thought that even here in the Underworld, everybody-even monsters-needed a little attention once in a while.

He didn't have a lot of time to contemplate his realization though. They moved about the Underworld, seeing the different afterlifes, until they came to the cavern from his dreams. Annabeth kept him grounded by pointing out the fact their friend was being dragged into the chasm by his flying shoes. They narrowly saved him but the atmosphere had turned to a pressing and malevolent. And then it attacked.

If they had started to run a moment later all three would be stuck in Tartarus. Annabeth looked like she had an idea of what was going on, like she was adding more pieces to a puzzle she'd started working one since they met, but she was too scared to share it.

It seemed to take forever, but they finally made it to speak with Hades.

Once they got him talking, Hades was on a roll, and it was all enlightening stuff if Percy omitted the fact he was being accused of training secretly under the father he didn't know existed to steal a master bolt that he thought was only a myth in order to spur on a war that he was actively trying to prevent. It took a while to figure out that Hades had been robbed too.

"But…" Annabeth spoke, her mind going at a million miles an hour. "Lord Hades, your helm of darkness is missing, too?"

The accusations continued and when Hades' threat was finally proposed Percy didn't feel terrified like he knew he should. No. He was offended. He was sick and tired of being accused of things he didn't do and had no control over!

"You're as bad as Zeus! You think I stole from you? That's why you sent the Furies after me?"

"Of course."

"And the other monsters?"

Apparently Hades would rather tourture him than have had him die by the other monsters, but he was still insistent that Percy had his helm.

But somehow, in all this mess, Percy did have the master bolt. He didn't understand and looking at Annabeth and Grover they didn't either. Hades continued roaring over them.

"I know the real reason you brought the bolt. You came to bargain for her!"

Hades loosed a ball of gold fire from his palm. It exploded on the steps in front of Percy, and there was a woman, frozen in a shower of gold. She was...familiar.

He was transfixed on her and tried to reach out to touch her, but the light was hot as a bon fire.

"Yes. The souls of the dead are mine. And I knew you would come to bargain with me eventually, Percy Jackson. Return my helm, and perhaps I will let her go. She's been in Elysium, she's had peace. But if you displease me, that will change."

He looked to her again and realized who this woman was. He memorized every line of her face as Hades gloated about how he would need to leave one of his companions behind in order to save her. They acknowledged they'd been tricked and began arguing about who would stay behind.

You will fail to save what matters most in the end.

This woman, Sally Jackson, this brave, strong woman, had given her life for her three year old son. She'd told Amos where he would be safe and had lived through months of abuse to shield him. He knew. Amos never lied to him when he asked about his past and what Amos had discovered.

This woman, his mom, would not want him to sacrifice himself or his friends.

They each took a pearl.

"I'm sorry… I'll try to come back," he promised her.

"Godling…?" Hades was no longer so smug.

"I'll find your helm, Uncle. I'll return it. Remember Charon's pay raise."

"Do not defy me-"

"And it wouldn't hurt to play with Cerberus once in a while. He likes red rubber balls."

"Percy Jackson, you will not-"

"Now guys!"

.

Amos had spoken with Chiron three times since he'd seen Percy on the news. Chiron informed him that he'd spoken to Percy and his two companions after the arch's explosion. There were no words to express Amos's relief. His anger at being left out of the loop, sure; but Percy would hear that when he returned. And he would return. He had to. It was the solstice today. He'd seen Percy on the news again yesterday. All would be well. Chiron assured him his son was on his way home.