This will probably be my last update for a good few days, maybe a week or so. I don't know it depends on how I feel. Because our good boy had to be put down yesterday, apparently he was in more pain than the vets realised at first. I am- and my whole family are, wrecks right now so it's going to take time and I don't know if I'll have the mental headspace to update- and if I do I might not the next day. It's gonna be hard. Thank you to everyone for your caring and understanding.
Replies:
Undeath9087: We all love chaotic gremlin Percy.
avaatje: thank you.
Guest: I know. And yeah, the storms coming.
Guest: Just picture it. Hades: Osiris I know she's your daughter but I need that girl in our underworld okay? She can put Alecto to shame!
MKDemiGodzilla-Warrior: You shall get answers to your questions soon enough my friends.
Oujiswan: Well I do try and keep it interesting.

Percy loved group hugs with her two besties- they always made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. Like the world was perfect and nothing could go wrong. Besides, Annabeth definitely needed it, Percy could tell from the way the daughter of Athena's fingers gripped her shoulder tightly. The way she could see how tight Annabeth's grip on Piper's tee was.

"Ahem." Hades let out a small awkward little cough. "Despite what you may believe, I don't invite you here just for you to stand being ridiculous in my throne room. I actually asked you here today to discus something. Mostly with young Persephone but I know that where one goes the others follow usually."

"Awe, and I thought you just wanted to see me." Percy mock pouted, which made Hades roll his eyes.

"Unlikely niece. Now." he rose from his throne walking towards them, "You remember I told you of my children?"

"Of course." Percy hesitated, her brows furrowing, "Why?"

"I have been thinking about them for some time- about their current fate, stuck in that damned hotel. Until recently- I have always been very pragmatic about their situation, about their safety there. Sending them to the camp is not an option. I will not have them turned against me. But I want them to be able to live their lives. Now I have considered sending them to a boarding school- it is not ideal but until recently it was my only option- as much as I would love for my children to stay with me it is against the ancient rules-" he held up his hand when Percy opened her mouth to speak. "I already know your opinion on those laws niece, you need not refresh my memory."

"Are you sure because I'm more than willing to-" Percy gave a cheeky grin as Hades chuckled, and Annabeth let out a low groan, pressing her hands to her face.

"I am never letting you meet Lord Zeus." she grumbled the words, shaking her head, "Never. You hear me Percy. Never."

"Awe, you have so little faith in my my genius bestie." Percy's voice was playful-"

"No, no I have full faith that you would get yourself smote within five seconds-"

"Hey! Now that is having little faith in her." Piper's little grin was rather pointed, "Our Percy couldn't take five seconds. She'd walk in, call him Lord Thunderpants and he'd smite her on the spot-"

"It's a good name!" Percy defended, "Honestly you can't expect me to get into the habit of treating the gods with respect after so many years of, well, of being myself around them."

"You Egyptians certainly do have a different relationship with your gods." Hades shook his head, "But that's not the point. I cannot have Bianca and Nico with me- and I do not want to send them to the Camp- but a boarding school- it is not what I would choose if I was given the choice." he said the words slowly. "There are still many risks- risks of monsters finding them. I have no one I can trust to train them. As I said, I don't consider your camp to be an option."

"I love camp." Annabeth spoke up slowly, "But I won't pretend that people wouldn't be freaked out by the idea of your kids being there." she admitted. "I might have been once. Not any more-" she shot Percy a slight smile. "I know better now but- you're not wrong to want to shield them from that."

"I think I can see where this is going." Percy spoke up. "You didn't have a good option. But now-"

"I know that you and your family wouldn't try to turn my children against me- and I plan on reaching out to Osiris and Anubis. Perhaps they could help my children master their own gifts."

"They probably could." Percy nodded, "I can talk to mom about it when we go home. And Carter and Sadie obviously but I don't see why they wouldn't agree to it."

"They're pretty relaxed and welcoming." Piper nodded in agreement.

"And there's always space at Brooklyn House for those who need it."

"Thank you." Hades' shouldered lowered very slightly- and whilst he was good at hiding his thoughts and feelings Percy was pretty sure she could see a flash of relief in those dark eyes. And it had to be painful for him, all these years having to hide his children like they were dirty secrets when she knew that Hades loved them a lot.

"Don't thank us." Percy paused "But uh- there is something you could maybe help us with in return?"

"Oh?" Hades quirked an eyebrow, "What do you wish? I won't deny that I owe you a great favor-"

"It's nothing big." Percy said quickly, glancing at Annabeth, who swallowed hard and took a small step forward.

"She's asking on my behalf." Annabeth spoke up- and Percy noticed Piper grabbing her hand and squeezing it, clearly offering silent reassurance.

Annabeth might be a lot better with Hades than she had been but there was still a part of her that feared him, feared what he was capable of.

"And what do you want from me daughter of Athena?"

"I- reassurance I guess. Percy suggested you might be able to help. I've been having dreams- nightmares I think. But they feel really real. And I know- I've had Demigod dreams before. These dreams feel close to that. Of-" she shifted nervously, and Percy resisted the urge to just hug the other girl. "Of the death of Thalia Grace-" and Hades shifted slightly at that, and was it just Percy or had his eyes widened slightly. "Of her tree dying too." and yes, yes that was a wince but Annabeth hadn't noticed yet, "I know it's probably nothing but- Percy said you'd probably know for sure so I wanted to ask."

"I'm afraid I can't tell you what you'd like to hear." Hades voice was grave, and there was guilt in those dark eyes. "I'm afraid I don't believe those are usual dreams, not from what I've been hearing- Zeus has been furious for the last few days. From what I've heard someone has poisoned his daughters tree-" and Percy sucked in a sharp breath at that, her eyes flicking towards Annabeth, who looked like someone had sucker punched her in the stomach as she staggered backwards and Piper's arms caught her before she could collapse as a sob tore from her throat- and Piper was pulling her into her chest, lowering them both to the ground as Annabeth clutched at the daughter of Aphrodites shoulders- her mouth open in horror as tears started pouring down her cheeks.

Percy met Piper's gaze and Piper gave a sharp little nod as Annabeth sobbed, turning her focus all onto Annabeth.

It was understandable that she wasn't handling the news well. Yes she was doing worlds better than when she'd first come to Brooklyn House but Percy knew that the wound of Luke's betrayal wouldn't heal easily. And Luke's betrayal was intimately tied in with Thalia- and- fuck but given what they knew it was probably Luke who'd poisoned the tree.

And there was no way that Annabeth wasn't smart enough to come to that conclusion herself. Gods it was probably tearing her apart inside. Yes Annabeth had Percy, Piper, Felix, Carter, Sadie and everyone at Brooklyn House now but that didn't mean that the idea of losing the only thing left of the girl who had essentially been her big sister was an easy idea to handle.

And Percy felt her shoulders stiffen and her spine straighten as she met Hades pitying gaze.

"Do we know what poison?" she asked swiftly. Start with the easy stuff- that would be the best way.

"I believe it was Elder Python Venom, though I can't be sure of the fact. Chiron has said that it is in any case, though it's working faster than I'd have expected. In any case it's very rare- I have no doubt that this is father's doing but even if I tried to tell Zeus that I doubt he'd listen." he scowled slightly, "I have tried to warn my brother but he's digging his heels in like a petulant child as always." there was a not so hidden undercurrent of anger in the gods voice.

"Are there any cures?"

"No." Hades shook his head before pausing, "Well," he hesitated, "There's on possibility- but children, finding it would be incredibly dangerous-"

"Finding what?"

"The Golden Fleece." Hades said after a moment.

"The Golden Fleece?" that came from Annabeth who was wiping her face quickly, "The Fleece could heal the poison? It could save her tree?" her voice wavered.

"Possibly." Hades expression was pensive, worried and he moved towards Percy, gripping her shoulder tightly. "I suppose if anyone was capable of retrieving it I imagine it would be you." and that was directed towards Percy more than Piper and Annabeth- understandable, she was the one he actually cared about.

"Percy... Piper..." there was desperation in Annabeth's expression and Piper was nodding quickly, squeezing Annabeth's shoulder comfortingly.

"I'm in." the girl spoke firmly, a determined gleam in her eyes. "And if I know Percy at all, which I think I do after being friends for so long I'd say she is too. Right Percy."

"Of course." Percy gave Annabeth a gentle smile, "We're going to save Thalia's tree. somehow. Uncle Hades-"

"You want to know what I know about the Fleece." Hades predicted, letting go of Percy's shoulder and stepping back slightly, clasping his hands behind his back, "I want to state that I don't like the idea of this- but if you have your minds set on it- I cannot give you an exact location. But I believe the Fleece is somewhere in the Sea of Monsters."

"And where would that be?" Piper asked, "I know everything moves around but-"

"The Bermuda triangle." Annabeth's voice was almost eager, "I know that much. I remember Chiron explaining that to Travis and Connor when they were discussing ridiculous conspiracy theories-"

"So what you're saying is that all of the conspiracy theories that say that the Bermuda triangle is filled with monsters are true." Percy gave her best innocent look when Annabeth shot her a look.

"I-"

"You can't even deny it." Piper let out a laugh, "Well, at least we have a starting point. And- well, the Bermuda triangle- that's the sea."

"That's good for us." Percy rubber her hands together. "A sea voyage. We can definitely work with that." She gave a slightly crazy grin, "I think we have the perfect excuse for me to get mom to buy me my own boat, now don't you guys?"

"Thank you." Annabeth pulled free from Piper and rushed forward, hugging Percy tightly. "Thank you. Both of you-"

"Don't thank us yet." Piper laughed, "Save the thank yous for after we've found this thing. Yeah?"

"Thank you uncle." Percy gave Hades a small nod, "As much as I wish we could stay and fuss Cerby-"

"His name is-"

"We should probably be going though-" Percy ploughed on, ignoring Hades attempt to correct her. "If we want to get a boat and all. We're going to need to go home."

"Before you do-" Hades paused, "Consider the fact that Kronos is likely to know that the only way to save the tree is the fleece too."

"A trap." Piper said slowly, "Or- but he and the asshole should think-" she paused, hesitating and Annabeth sighed softly.
"Should think that I'm dead. It's okay Piper. You can say the words."

"Not a trap then-" Percy paused, "But- they might want the Fleece for something. There's a chance we could be playing into his hands."

"Percy-" Annabeth's voice faltered, "I- I know-"

"I'm not saying we're not doing it." Percy reassured her quickly. "Just-" she took a deep breath, "Just that we'll need to be on our guard. They may attempt to ambush us when we get it- or they may be feeding hints to Camp so that they'll send others who we might run into."

"Well." Piper's voice was firm, "Whatever happens we'll handle it. We always have so far. And nothing's going to stop us now."