(A/N Hey again!

So I've said it a few times, and I'll say it again: the idea for this was not originally mine. You should check out Ryann Aurelia's "The Question of the Exploding Toilet." She has an entire AU set up over several short stories that are based on Percy being raised by Amos. It's a tone or two darker than this, but altogether excellent reads! Check them out!

'Nother note: I am experimenting with flashbacks. I don't usually write them, but I have 3 scenes that fit the story better when told later... That doesn't make sense, but I swear it's true. lol If I'm failing miserably in regard to them, please let me know and I'll try to adjust.

I hope you enjoy!)

Percy had no right having such a cool dad. Not only was he in on all the mythological stuff, but he was just cool in general. His trench coat and fedora gave him a bit of an ominous air, but the gold beads in his braids and circular glasses negated that a little. The pinstripe suit was just weird and Annabeth was only a little shocked when Thalia commented on it.

Of course he just laughed.

"My brother and I have a habit of dressing to impress."

"Too bad that didn't rub off on Percy." The two girls giggled in the backseat while Percy crossed his arms and grumbled up front.

Amos also made sure they were entertained for the entire eight-hour drive. He told little Percy stories, asked questions about their previous quests, made sure they were mentally prepared for answering Grover's SOS as well as well-stocked on weapons and anything they might need.

Seriously, he was cool.

He'd even brought cookies, dyed blue, that Khufu had made for them. Annabeth wasn't entirely sure she trusted a baboon's baking skills, but Amos had implied that they might have healing properties when he said, "If you run out of Ambrosia you could always use a cookie."

Thalia had to tease Annabeth about finding blue food outside of camp, and Percy jumped right on the bandwagon, ganging up on her.

"It's hardly fair to have two children of the Big Three against me."

"Your fault for being friends with us, Wise Girl."

"Kelp Head is right. That's on you."

"Pish," she stuck out her tongue and blew raspberries at them while Amos laughed at their antics.

They had maybe another hour left when Thalia asked a question Annabeth knew was best left alone.

"So, Mr. Kane, why did you choose to adopt an upstart like Percy?"

"Well, it's hard to pick a mischievous kid out of a line up when he's only three," Amos said kindly.

"Three?"

"Yes. I had a full name to work with and, believe it or not, there were not many Perseuses born within the timeframe we searched and of the two we found in New York only one had a last name Jackson."

"What do you mean?"

"Amos tried to save my mom from a monster attack. That's how he found me. She made him promise he'd take care of me." Percy's eyes stayed out the window as he explained and his voice was surprisingly even.

"Have you…?"

"Yeah." That time his voice broke. "It was… It was good."

"I'm glad."

"You?"

"I've got Thalia here."

"Yeah," he chuckled, "I guess you do."

.

~Flashback~

"Dad. I never got to talk to you about the fieldtrip last winter."

"Of course. That was a while ago, and I suppose with your friend dropping in we got distracted. What's bugging you?"

"Well, my uncle gave me a gift-to make up for trying to kill me."

"Always a good thing to apologize for."

"Heh." Percy chuckled a little, but this topic hurt too much to really lighten with their usual antics. "Do you...know who my uncle is?"

"You have two? Or at least two you'd refer to?"

"Yeah...he's the older one."

"From the underworld?"

"Yes. Him."

Amos waited and Percy steeled himself.

"He gave me a way to see someone in his domain."

"In his…?"

"A passed loved one."

"Your mother?"

"Yes. Or maybe Aunt Ruby… I want to meet my mother, but I can't explain what I'd give to see Aunt Ruby again. I can't… I don't know what to do."

"Oh, Percy. It'll be alright."

Percy didn't resist when Amos pulled him into a hug. His hugs felt nice. He tried to act too cool for them, too grown up, but sometimes you just needed to be held together by someone else because it was too hard to hold yourself together.

"Let me put your mind at ease and your guilt to rest."

"Don't know how you're going to do that."

"Then listen." He poked Percy in the ribs making him squirm out of his arms. "You can visit someone in your uncle's domain, correct?" Percy nodded. "That encompasses the Greek underworld. Not the Egyptian one."

"Aunt Ruby isn't there."

"No."

Percy felt like the air was kicked out of him. Yes, it was a relief having the choice taken from him, but it was also like losing her again. And it hurt.

"Well then, I get to meet my mom."

"You'll be okay?"

"Of course, Dad. We'll be okay."

They shared a smile and Percy pulled out the token, lifted his hand in a mock salute and made his way to his room. A look in the mirror and he smoothed his hair and jeans, suddenly self-conscious.

.

"Well," Thalia squirmed, uncomfortable at Percy and Annabeth's shift in conversation. "Uh, it's cool you two stuck together. A lot of kids aren't so lucky."

"I've gathered. I'm sure we could make room if you're looking for a big brother, Thalia."

She bristled at the jest. Percy had said nearly the same thing once. Setting her jaw she focused and snapped her fingers.

"I don't know what you're talking about, I'm nineteen." Which wasn't quite a lie. She watched him look at her in the rearview mirror.

"Nice trick," she squinted at his nonchalance, "but you should really be more careful." As soon as he said that Thalia felt a rush of vertigo. It was like the world split into layers and she couldn't figure out which one she was supposed to be a part of. She heard a light smack and was able to focus on the car again.

Percy was trying to scowl, but his laughter kept interrupting him, Annabeth was biting her lip with an amused and curious look on her face, while Amos shook with silent laughter.

Thalia blinked again and sat back in her seat.

"Why'd you keep Percy's last name when you adopted him?" Annabeth's voice shook with contained laughter and Thalia bristled further.

"His legal name is Perseus Jackson-Kane."

"Oh. Mostly he goes by Jackson...in our world."

"Understandable."

Thalia brooded another moment before something occurred to her.

"Wait. How did you do that?"

"I'm not sure I know what you mean, young lady."

"I get you can see through the Mist, some mortals can, but what did you just do?"

"I just brought you to Westover Hall," he put the car in park. "Would you like me to wait for you?"

"Nah. Thanks, Dad. We don't know how long we'll be."

"But you'll find a way home?"

"Yes. This is becoming a bit of a regular thing for me."

"I'm allowed to worry."

"Love you too."

Thalia watched them grin at each other as the car pulled away.

"Your dad is pretty cool, Percy," she said.

"Yeah, he's alright," he said with his grin still in place.