A/N I think I need to accept I can no longer write 1000 word chapters lol. I had another scene in mind for this chapter, but it won't write... so were stuck around 700 again.

Thank you for all of your reviews!

Just like last time we'll have a few brief scenes between books, but I can't wait to write The Titan's Curse!

Enjoy!)

A letter…

Poseidon sat upon his throne with the undercurrent swirling his hair as he considered how best to gain Percy's favor. A part of him felt ridiculous, he was a god for Olympus' sake! But his son had been through much and needed assurance of Poseidon's own affection.

He willed a pen into his hand and bent the waves to form a paper and envelope. Thinking of Percy and all that had transpired in the past two weeks he decided exactly what needed to be said. A warning. He couldn't be specific, both because he wasn't certain of the future and because he mustn't intervene directly.

Writing carefully, he smiled at the completed project in his hands. A letter for a letter, things should progress smoothly as he built upon their relationship.

He felt almost giddy as the letter was placed into Hermes' care.

.

Hermes was at camp again. Percy should probably feel special for the attention the god was giving him, but he just felt awkward telling the god that he'd tried to kill Luke, the same son he'd asked him to save. He took it well, even gave some more insight into how immortal families worked.

But Percy didn't just want to tell him, "Yeah, your son is evil." He wanted to make sure he understood why Luke was making the choices he was. It still wasn't right, but having a reason could make it a little better.

"He said he feels like you abandoned him."

"Do you ever feel like your father abandoned you, Percy?"

Now, wasn't that a question.

They hadn't spoken since last summer. Percy'd never seen his domain or underwater palace or anything. Poseidon had just dropped Tyson in his lap with no warning. It would have been nice to have him acknowledge that Percy had almost died completing a quest. Not to mention the time Poseidon had told him he never should have been born.

But…

He had sent the hippocampi. And supplied his powers over the sea. And Tyson had saved his life countless times this summer.

And he could never have asked for a better dad than Amos. Even a godly one.

Hermes continued giving bits of insight until he realized it was so late. He made his delivery and reintroduced George and Martha.

It was a sea-blue envelope that left his fingers trembling. It felt as though the envelope itself was made from an ocean wave. It had to be from his father.

Heart racing he tried desperately to remember what was in the letter he'd sent at the beginning of the quest. Could this be a reply?

"Good luck tomorrow," Hermes said. Percy had nearly forgotten he was even there. "Fine team of horses you have there, though you'll have to excuse me if I root for the Hermes cabin."

And don't be discouraged when you read it, dear, Martha told him. He does have your best interests at heart.

"What do you mean?"

Hermes ended his questioning and left Percy with the letter.

There were so many possibilities he wanted to be in the letter. Would he say good job getting the Fleece? Would he offer an explanation about Tyson? Could he apologize for not talking to Percy sooner? There were so many things he wanted the letter to say.

He opened the envelope and unfolded the paper.

Two simple words were printed in the middle of the page:

Brace Yourself

.

"Hey, Uncle Amos!"

"Carter? It's good to hear from you."

"Yeah, you too. I know you and Dad are weird, but I wanna get a birthday present for Percy. I haven't seen him for a while, so I wanted to get some ideas."

"That's very nice of you. And about your father-"

"Nope. Not going there."

"That...is probably wise."

"And we're meeting up in the fall. It's official, you have no say. But if you invited us over, for say… Thanksgiving? It'd be a lot easier for everyone."

"Carter, you don't know what you're asking."

"So, no? Okay. We'll do fall break."

"Very persistent, aren't you."

"I guess. He sent me a letter. And I felt a bit called out. He's right, family matters more than how we've been acting. And I... didn't have a great time with Sadie this time around, so I need this."

"I understand. I miss my brother every day."

"Right." Carter sounded skeptical, but Amos could hardly blame him.