(A/N moving right along in SoM and you don't get to see Clarisse. Sorry!

There are five letters, I just chose to address the fifth in a different fashion. Sorry about the confusion.

Have fun!)

Apparently Percy had a habit of waking up to Annabeth watching over him. They were in a lifeboat with a makeshift sail from the confederate uniforms. They took stock, discussed his latest dream about Grover and reconciled the discourse that had existed and grown between them since she'd met Tyson.

Percy grieved his brother.

Annabeth grieved too.

She regretted her attitude towards the cyclops and resented her own prejudice. Yes, he was a monster. But he had free will and a kind heart.

Percy appeared to be spiralling, so she decided to sate her curiosity.

"What were the letters?"

"Hmm? Oh. Uh, for my… my family…"

"Oh." What a backfire of a distraction.

"Something Hermes told me… I know he meant to apply it to Luke, to his son, but I just keep thinking about how messed up my adoptive family's been since Aunt Ruby died."

"You never talk about them. You mentioned them, but…"

"I have two cousins, Carter and Sadie. Growing up we were more like siblings. But they're… Well…"

"Egyptian?"

"Yeah. They don't know it yet, which bothers my dad."

"It's dangerous?"

"Yeah. My Aunt Ruby… she expended too much energy for a spell. It killed her. The Hou- Uh...the Egyptians didn't like my Aunt and Uncle having kids to start with because their from powerful families. When she died," he looked away and cleared his throat. "She died doing something illegal and it gave them a reason to separate my cousins… And my dad and uncle. Since then they've only spoken when I went missing last year."

She didn't know how to respond so they spent several minutes in silence until Percy broke it.

"Annabeth, what's Chiron's prophecy?"

.

"Percy requires my personal attention. He needs much more work than you," C.C. told Annabeth as Hylla led her away.

Normally if somebody had told me that, I would've gotten angry, but when C.C. said it, I felt sad. I'd disappointed her. It was like a heavy weight that made me want to see everything her way.

It was like when Amos talked him down from a tirade or stopped his argument with Annabeth.

That should be wrong… He should be upset that she was manipulating him… But this was C.C. and he needed to trust her.

At the offer of a full makeover he knew there had to be a catch.

"Why are there no guys at this spa?"

.

It was difficult to stay away, to pretend to be neutral. He'd spent 3 years trying to convince Sally to send him to camp, or perhaps the two could have taken up rooms in his palace. Then, he felt sorrow and anger for 9 years as he was forced to mourn Percy and Sally's death. Now, every move that was visible was closely watched.

There was too much that he could not watch.

He didn't trust the Amos character, but Percy seemed attached to the man and Chiron had given him reassurances.

Tyson was a good way to keep Percy close to the family, but he knew that couldn't last. Tyson would complete this quest and with his brother and then join the other cyclopes in the forges.

"Mizzenmast," he whispered to Percy. Poseidon smiled at Percy's enthusiasm for sailing and continued to will Tyson onward to Polyphemus's island.

A glance to the side and he laughed again at his two messages.

.

Inform your son that the next time he has mail he can ask Hermes.

-Iris

.

Hello Father,

Thank you for the help from the Hippocampi. I really appreciate it and Tyson absolutely loved the 'fish ponies.' I'm not good at the whole praying thing or whatever you might want from me, and I'm sorry about that. But you've always managed to come through despite the shortcomings on my side as well as the stupid restrictions you sidestep.

I don't know how to go forward with you. I know there is a lot I don't know, but I would like to know you.

If you want.

Or not if you don't.

It's OK!

I just- The first time we met you saved my life. I thought I'd dreamt it considering I passed out afterward. I think that means you'd like me to stay alive? Even though you wish I wasn't born?

Look, I'm confused about our relationship. And I'm tired and shouldn't be soul searching right now. But...maybe you could write back? Or talk to me some other way? Just let me know if I should be avoiding any interaction or if maybe you actually like me?

Like I said, confused.

Anyway, thanks again,

Perseus Jackson

.

He didn't sign it with love.

Poseidon shouldn't have expected him to, but it still stung.

Triton hardly used the word either, but the god of the sea longed for love to be more freely given. He did not do well with any form of constraints.

With a small nod to himself Poseidon decided that it would be a goal to earn his sons' love. He'd claimed Tyson, which already made the cyclops adore him, but Percy and Triton would be more difficult. Triton had an inheritance of the sea and an expansive domain already and was not forthcoming with affection. It was insulting that he had to compete with a mortal family for Percy's affection.

But he would prevail.

.

While sailing around Hephaestus' forge Percy decided it was his turn to get personal.

"Did you use your token?"

Annabeth looked at him with wide eyes and fingered her necklace for a moment before answering.

"No… I… Well, I'm hopin who I would talk to isn't there."

He thought about it for a little bit. "Thalia?"

"Her life force is-or was-tied to the tree. But what does that mean for her?"

"I don't know."

"Did you talk to your mom?"

"Not yet. I want to… I want to make a list of things. To ask her. To tell her. I don't know, maybe that's dumb, but I don't want to get there and then just stare."

Annabeth giggled at his mental picture and then he pushed his luck.

"The reason you hate Cyclopes so much … the story about how Thalia really died. What happened?"

"I guess you deserve to know."