Hey, no replies to reviews today 'cause it's gonna be a busy one for me and I don't have much time- but hey I hope you enjoy this chapter and I will try to reply to them next one!

Leo woke with a jolt at Piper's voice, loud and frustrated yelling "MOTHER!" and he fell off his chair- it took him a moment to register that. He'd knew he'd blacked out when they'd been escaping from Aeolus, and as he looked around he found that they were sat outside- a side walk cafe.

He looked around with wide eyes from where he was on the ground. The air was brisk but not unpleasant for sitting outside. At the other tables, a mix of bicyclists, business people, and college kids sat chatting and drinking coffee.

He could smell eucalyptus trees. Lots of foot traffic passed in front of quaint little shops. The street was lined with bottle-brush trees and blooming azaleas as if winter was a foreign concept.

In other words they were in California.

His friends were sat in chairs around him.

Clearly he wasn't the only one who had startled awake. Jason was rubbing his knees- he'd probably bashed them against the table when he'd woke, Calypso was blinking rapidly, her eyes wide and Coach Hedge was looking around.

"What?" Hedge demanded. "Fight who? Where?"

"Uh-" Leo managed to straighten up, "What the Hades just happened? Are we in California?"

And Jason made a little choking noise, his eyes wide when he focused on Piper, and Leo folowed his gaze as he asked, "What are you wearing?"

And Leo fought the urge to laugh as Piper's face turned bright red.

She was wearing a turquoise dress with black leggings and black leather boots. She was wearing a silver charm bracelet, and an old snowboarding jacket which somehow went with the outfit pretty well. She'd even had her hair done- and she didn't look impressed when she pulled out her dagger and eyed her reflection in it.

"It's nothing," she said. "It's my—" she paused, "It's nothing. "

"Your mom strikes again?" Leo gave a grin, laughing, "You're gonna be the best dressed warrior in town Beauty Queen."

"Hey, Leo. " Jason nudged his arm. "You look at yourself recently?"

"What … oh. " Leo looked down at himself, blinking slowly. He was wearing pinstriped pants, black leather shoes, a white collarless shirt with suspenders, and his tool belt, Ray-Ban sunglasses, and a porkpie hat.

"God Leo." Piper was trying not to laugh- which was nice since Calypso had fallen out of her chair laughing at him. "I think my dad wore that to his last
premiere, minus the tool belt. "

"Hey, shut up!" Leo poked his tongue out.

"I think he looks good," said Coach Hedge. "'Course, I look better. "

The satyr was a pastel nightmare. Aphrodite had given him a baggy canary yellow zoot suit with two-tone shoes that fit over his hooves. He had a matching yellow broad-brimmed hat, a rose-colored shirt, a baby blue tie, and a blue carnation in his lapel, which Hedge sniffed and then ate.

"I like it." Calypso was looking down at herself- a wide smile on her lips- and okay. Leo may have felt his mouth going dry as his gaze focused on his girlfriend, he could not be blamed for that. She was stunning as always.

Aphrodite had given her a grecian style dress that came down to her knees, with black leggings and boots much like Piper's. The dress was a soft cream color and her smile at the new clothes made him want to kiss her.

"Well," Jason said, "at least your mom overlooked me."

"Oh yeah." Leo pulled a face, "She just gave you new versions of your normal clothes. That's so not fair. Because Jason was dressed simply in jeans and a
clean purple T-shirt, like he'd worn at the Grand Canyon. He had new track shoes on, and his hair was newly trimmed.

Why couldn't he have gotten a simple makeover instead of what she'd done? Ugh. He looked so stupid- but the smile Calypso gave him did make him feel better and he pulled himself up into his chair, as did Calypso, as Piper spoke up again.

"Anyway. How did we get here?"

"Oh, that would be Mellie," Hedge said, chewing happily on his carnation. "Those winds shot us halfway across the country, I'd guess. We would've been smashed flat on impact, but Mellie's last gift—a nice soft breeze—cushioned our fall."

"And she got fired for us," Leo said. "Man, we suck. "

"Ah, she'll be fine," Hedge said. "Besides, she couldn't help herself. I've got that effect on nymphs. I'll send her a message when we're through with this quest and help her figure something out. That is one aura I could settle down with and raise a herd of baby goats. "

"I'm going to be sick," Piper said. "Anyone else want coffee?"

"Coffee!" Hedge's grin was stained blue from the flower. "I love coffee!"

"Oh gods." Leo groaned, "I just got flashbacks of Grover-"

"Who's Grover?"

"That doesn't matter." Leo waved a had dismissively at Jason's question, "I'll explain later. We should focus on the present."

"Um," Jason said, "but—money? Our packs?"

Piper looked down and Leo followed her gaze.

Their packs were at their feet, and everything seemed to still be there. Then Piper reached into her coat pocket and brought out a wad of cash.

"Oh now that's nice." Leo whistled lowly, "I don't think I have my card so that's real useful. And a healthy allowance- gotta say your mom rocks Pipes."

"Waitress!" Hedge called. "Six double espressos, and whatever these guys want. Put it on the girl's tab."

It didn't take them long to figure out where they were. The menus said "Café Verve, Walnut Creek, CA. " And according to the waitress, it was 9 a. m. on December 21, the winter solstice, which gave them three hours until Enceladus's deadline. They didn't have to wonder where Mount Diablo was, either. They could see it on the horizon, right at the end of the street. After the Rockies, Mount Diablo didn't look very large, nor was it covered in snow. It seemed downright peaceful, its golden creases marbled with gray-green trees. But size was deceptive with mountains. Leo knew that much far too well. He was not the biggest fan of them if he was being honest.

As they drunk their coffees and talked Leo slipped his hand into his pocket, fingers curling around the drawing- soon. It's time was coming soon. He'd never been more sure of anything in his life.

"Everything okay Leo?" that came from Calypso- who was watching him, a worried frown on her lips- a slight crease in her brows- he let out a breath. He needed to focus.

"Yeah, yeah just thinking. But it's focus time right? So, what's our game plan?"

Coach Hedge belched. He'd already had three espressos and a plate of doughnuts, along with two napkins and another flower from the vase on the table. He would've eaten the silverware, except Piper had slapped his hand.

"Climb the mountain," Hedge said. "Kill everything except Piper's dad. Leave."

"Thank you, General Eisenhower," Jason grumbled, shaking his head slightly.

"Hey, I'm just saying! It's not a bad plan right?"

"That would be a good plan." Piper spoke up, "Except- I feel like climbing might end badly- if Gaea's the earth- there's a reason we flew as much of the way
as we could right?"

"You are not wrong." Leo pulled a face, "Climbing it is a no go, unless we want like, the earth to open and swallow us- and as much as I've wanted that more than once when I've been embarrassed I feel like it would sort of cramp our style now."

"Right, good point. I gotta say I didn't think of that.." Hedge nodded, "I doubt even I could beat that lady if she started coming after us. I'd give it a go but..."

"Ugh." Leo let out a groan, "See this is where we need Festus- gods I miss him."

"We're going to figure this out." Jason gave a reassuring smile, "We've done pretty well so far." he pointed out.

"Guys-" Piper was staring at them, an almost teary look in her eyes, "Gods guys I don't deserve you all- this is a trap you all know that-"

"I may not know you well." Calypso spoke up, "But you are Leonidas' friend and I know how loyal he is, you won't convince him not to do this-"

"Damn right." Leo gave her a grin, "I told you we'd save your dad so we'll save him- we have the hunters on our side now- Zoe promised she'd hold out at the
Wolf House, wherever that is. We'll figure it out and then go and find them and rescue Hera."

"But it's so dangerous-"

"You kidding?" Gleeson belched and showed them his blue carnation smile. "Who's ready to beat stuff up?"

And Leo watched Piper laugh and smile, shaking her head. "Well. I guess if you're sure. So what do we do?"

"Well-" Jason was looking around, a thoughtful look on his face, "As long as we're not actually touching the ground she can't feel us right?"

"Uh, I think so." Leo said slowly, "I mean, probably."

"Think a taxi would take us."

Leo blinked and stared at Jason, "Now that, my friend, is a very smart idea. Who needs Annabeth when we have you."

"Then what are we waiting for." Calypso smiled, "Let us go and find a taxi." she stood up, reaching down and grabbing Leo's hand, tugging him to his feet.

It didn't take them long, and soon enough they were in a taxi heading towards Mount Diablo.

The bulk of the journey was fairly quiet- they couldn't really discuss things properly- they'd just end up confusing the poor mortal driver.

Leo had hoped that the taxi would be able to take them all the way to the top of the mountain- but he knew when they reached the mountain that it wouldn't.

The cab made lurching, grinding sounds as it climbed the mountain road, and halfway up they found the ranger's station closed, a chain blocking the way.
"Far as I can go," the cabbie said. "You sure about this? Gonna be a long walk back, and my car's acting funny. I can't wait for you."

"We're sure. " Leo was the first one out, Calypso following close behind him. He had a bad feeling about what was wrong with the cab, and when he looked down he saw he was right. The wheels were sinking into the road like it was made of quicksand. Not fast—just enough to make the driver think he had a transmission problem or a bad axle—but Leo knew different.

The road was hard-packed dirt. No reason at all it should have been soft, but already Leo's shoes were starting to sink. Gaea was messing with them.
While his friends got out, Leo paid the cabbie. He was generous—heck, why not? It was Aphrodite's money. Besides, it wasn't like he couldn't pay Piper back if they got out of this alive.

"Keep the change," he said. "And get out of here. Quick. "

The driver didn't argue. Soon all they could see was his dust trail.

The view from the mountain was pretty amazing. The whole inland valley around Mount Diablo was a patchwork of towns—grids of tree-lined streets and nice middle-class suburbs, shops, and schools. All these normal people living normal lives—the kind Leo had never known. Even after the Jackson's had adopted him his life could hardly be considered to be normal after all.

"That's Concord," Jason said, pointing to the north. "Walnut Creek below us. To the south, Danville, past those hills. And that way …"

He pointed west, where a ridge of golden hills held back a layer of fog, like the rim of a bowl. "That's the Berkeley Hills. The East Bay. Past that, San Francisco. "

"Jason?" Piper touched his arm. "You remember something? You've been here?"

"Yes … no. " He gave her an anguished look. "It just seems important. "

"That's Titan land. " Coach Hedge nodded toward the west. "Bad place, Jason. Trust me, this is as close to 'Frisco as we want to get."

"Annabeth visits sometimes but she's the only one." Leo added softly. "Her dad lives there."

But Jason looked toward the foggy basin with such longing that Leo felt uneasy. Why did Jason seem so connected with that place—a place that made Leo feel sick.

Or maybe- maybe it was to do with the Romans. But they why didn't they do anything when the Titans started rebuilding Mount Orthys on Mount Tam if they were there? Well, clearly Jason didn't know either way. And Leo did trust Jason.

Hopefully he'd remember soon and be able to tell them, but for now they needed to deal with the present.