Streets of New York were as busy as usual. People walked quickly, some crossing the road, some walking on pavement. The sun was shining brightly in the sky showing it's summer attire, but despite the heat, none of the people was complanining about it.

Young boy, around the age of twelve, was walking on the pavement. He wore his school uniform and on his back was his school bag. He quietly avoided people around him, but even though he tried to stay as hidden as possible, he wasn't hiding delighted look on his face.

Perseus Jackson, Percy, as he preferred to be called, was looking toward the building in front of him. Today was the last day of school and it was first school year that he managed to remain in. despite his grades, despite numerous detentions and threats of probation period and expulsion, he managed to pass his year. For the moment, he promised himself to relax with his mother and with little luck, he may even visit his father.

Almost six months have passed since he last saw him, six months since everyone heard from him, Poseidon, one of the big three Olympian gods. Since winter solstice, strange things have happened. Percy was not sure what but he was sure about one thing, those were somehow connected. He heard his mother speak about his father few times but that didn't bring any new information.

He entered the building going straight on the third floor. Arriving at the doors, he pulled his keys. As he entered, he opened his mouth to greet his mother, but he stopped when he heard familiar voice.

"Sally, the time is running out"

Percy's eyes narrowed as he looked toward the kitchen. Even though he could not see the room, he could suspect who was in an apartment.

"Hello mom" said Percy.

Voices quieted down immediately. Cracking of a chair was heard as a woman entered the hallway. Her brown hair was pulled in messy bun. Few grey streaks were barely visible on the light. Her blue eyes twinkled as she looked toward the boy. Percy left his bag on the floor as he run towards her.

"Oh Percy" she said as his arms wrapped around her.

He smiled as he felt all kinds of scents overwhelm him. Smell of homemade cookies and chocholate overwhelmed him completely. He held her tightly for a few more minutes before he let her go. She ruffled his hair as she stepped aside. Another figure entered the hallway. She was not older than him, older than 12, but he would recognise her anywhere.

"Aunt Hestia" Percy yelld as he run toward the girl.

She hugged him stronger than the body of a 12 year old should. His senses were overwhelmed by smell of home, slight smell of a wood that is burning in the fireplace, homemade chocolate chips cookies and fresh flowers that were set on the table nearby. He felt as she planted kiss on his forehead, suddenly taller than him, appearing as a twenty year old. He knew that she always adjusted herself when things were serious. He chose not to comment. He smiled as Hestia took his arms checking him out.

"Look at you Percy, you've grown since last time that I saw you" she smiled.

"I did not" Percy laughed as he answered.

"Yes sure you did. Six months is still a long time"

Percy felt as pang of sorrow hit him one again. He hasn't seen anyone of his father's family in six months. He has never been apart from them for so long. His mother moved toward the kitchen taking a glass and filling it with juice.

"So, what brings you here aunt Hestia?" he asked trying to understand real reason behind the visit.

He could see flash of an emotion in her fiery eyes. Hesitation mixed with a regret and fear. It quickly vanished as she ruffled his hair.

"Why can't I visit my favourite nephew?" Percy ducked under her arm as he went toward kitchen table.

"Don't let Apollo hear you. He might get jelaous" Percy joked as he took a sip.

"You know that you're eveyone's favourite" Hestia stated as she sat down.

Percy opened his mouth to answer Hestia, but before he could speak, Sally referred him.

"Percy, why don't you go and change? I ordered pizza, it should be here anytime soon"

He could see that there was no room for a discussion. He simply nodded as he went toward his bedroom. Walls were painted in marine blue colour with white strips. His bed was neatly done waiting for him. he sighed as he placed his bag on the working table. He frowned as he took one look on the picture that sat on the table.

His father and he were on the beach. The sun was setting behind them, hiding their faces in the shadows. That vacation happened two years before. He felt hot anger surging up as he thought of neglect in the past six months. Before he could do anything, ne caught at the hushed conversation that his mother and aunt Hestia were having.

"I'm not letting them accuse him!" his mother said, hysteria present in her voice "Hestia, you have to believe me, he did not do it"

I know Sally, I do" said Hestia calmly "But as I said, Zeus has to find someone to blame, and unfortunately, that someone is Percy. Hera, Demeter and I are trying everything, but he's not listening. And with Poseidon retiring in the ocean…"

Percy froze at her words. Something happened on Olympus and he was the main person to blame. He quickly approached his doors listening to a conversation.

"If I have to, I'll stand in his way. Hestia, please understand, Percy is just twelve years old. I know you trained him, the gods, I know he spent most of his childhood on Olympus but if Zeus tries to do something to him-"

He won't, we'll protect him. I swear to you on river Styx that Zeus will not bring any harm on Percy, not as long as I have a say in it"

The thunder rumbled in the distance. Percy's eyes widened as he realised what has happened. He has heard about an oath on the sacred river of an Underworld, but this was the first time in which he heard it. Shivers went down his spine as he continued to listen.

"You know it's not enough. You know what happens when one god sets his mind, what happens to the child"

Hestia remained silent on that statement. Percy didn't know what she meant, but he could imagine. He swallowed thickly as he listened more, hoping to gather more information. His hand went toward the knob, deciding to enter the conversation, to demand answers, but the bell stopped him. He jumped far away from the doors. His heart was beating against his breast bone as he revised conversation he just overheard.

He was in danger. Judging by his mother's tone, this time it was not just some anger over a simple prank, this time his life could be at stake. He heard his mom calling his name and he quickly changed his clothes. He looked towards picture of him and his father one more time before he went toward the kitchen.

His mother and aunt Hestia were seated at the table. Hestia still hasn't changed from her twenty year old form. She was nursing a cup of tea in her hands as Sally placed plates around the table. He sat at his usual seat that allowed him to see New York buildings. He quietly took pizza slice. He ate trying to ignore looks that he received from two adults. After a few minutes, Hestia broke silence.

"What's wrong Percy? You've been quiet"

He didn't answer her. Sally opened her mouth to ask him again, but he spoke to Hestia.

"Did you hear anything from dad?"

Silence fell on the kitchen again. Sally looked toward Hestia, hesitation clear on her face. Hestia bit her lip as she looked toward her plate. Percy kept his persistent look, his sea green eyes studying her fiery ones. She finally raised her look as she said calmly.

"No dear, I haven't. not since the winter solstice" her voice calmly went over the entire kitchen, but it was obvious that she knew more, especially as she was trying to calm his uncle along with Hera and Demeter. He knew that he couldn't surrender, not no when he knew that something big was happening.

"What is he doing? Is something happening in Atlantis? Can I help with anything?" Percy started questioning hoping, practically begging for an answer.

"I don't know, but hear me out honey, I'm sure he has good reason not to be around. Atlantis has a great king and he will not let anything go wrong there. He needs to be there to actually rule. You know how much you mean to your father, he is taking every opportunity to be with you, it's just that, sometimes, you'll just have to wait."

Her words, as much as he hate it, made sense. However, they still didn't explain everything that his mother and her spoke about. There was a bigger story behind the wail. He simply nodded before he returned to his pizza. He caught two women exchanging looks but he pretended not to see them. His mother took his hand as she smiled at him.

"Don't worry about it Percy. It's summer, school is over and I'm sure that your father will visit us soon. You know that he never misses visiting during summer holidays"

He only nodded. Even though his father never missed a visit during summer holidays, Percy had a feeling that this could be the first one.

"It's just not fair… ever since winter solstice it seems like everything closed. Aunt Hestia, you are first person from Olympus that visited me in six months. I-" before he could finish thunder rumbled all around them.

Hestia narrowed her eyes as she stood up without any explanation. She looked one more time toward Sally before she spoke.

"I must get going, there are a few more stops that I must reach before I go back. Sally, thank you for the company. And Percy?" he looked her straight into her fiery eyes. She smiled slightly at him before she spoke "I assure you, everything will be resolved soon, besides, you know that summer is boring without you up on Olympus"

Percy smiled at her words. She nodded her head before she went toward living room. Light flash shone from the living room before she was gone. Percy took another slice as eh continued to eat. Sally observed him for a few seconds. He met her eyes and he smiled at her.

"Do you want to tell me what happened or?"

Past few days came rushing back to Percy. He has been going to Manhattan Middle School for past two years. Ever since he was expelled from his last school, he promised to himself that he won't be expelled again. Until this year.

He was good student, ignoring his ADHD and dyslexia that often interrupted his studies. He sometimes had gotten into fights but it was nothing that couldn't be solved. It started as normal day, his exams were coming to a close, until his P.E. class. They were doing mixed excesses, revising everything they went thru in curriculum that year. He was practicing climbing a rope when schools main bully came to him. He has gotten into encounters with him over past two years, every time ended up with Percy taking all of the blame for situation. As he climbed down, Jake Moreno opened his obnoxious mouth and started talking.

"I got into a fight" he murmured to Sally "Besides, headmaster called you, you know everything that happened"

"But I wanted to hear it from you. I know that two stories are often different. You wouldn't punch that boy for nothing" Sally said as she looked at him. He kept his eyes down. Just as she wanted to ask again, Percy spoke.

"He said many things. And he called you names, commented on dad and everything. He has been doing it ever since I came to the school, but it was never this bad. I simply snapped. After I hit him, I went toward the restrooms and then…"

He clearly remembered what happened. Even though Olympian gods have trained him, he still couldn't control his powers well enough. During a time on a emotional distress, part of it was transferred on a nearby body of water, in this case on a school toilets. Everything that could explode in school toilets exploded. He couldn't explain what happened and neither school stuff could so they concluded it would be easier to place it all on Percy.

"And then you lost control" Sally ended "We need to tell your father that you'll be needing more training"

"I would be great, but good luck in trying contacting him" Percy replied sharply "He could have trained me this entire time, but no"

Sally bit her lip. Percy felt as courage formed up in him. He moved his plate away from him.

"What is happening on Olympus? Why are you worried?" Sally's eyes widened as shock was clear. Percy felt as his heart continued to beat against his ribcage waiting for any kind of reaction. She narrowed her eyes.

"I remember telling you that you're not allowed to eavesdrop on someone's conversation. I raised you differently-"

"But you're not denying it" He said over her "Something is happening mom, I know that-"

"That is enough Percy!" Sally said pointedly "It's nothing that you should worry about. Summer holidays have begun and I refuse to start on bad note. If anything changes, I will tell you all about it, but right now it's not your worry"

Percy bit his lip as he looked at her. He was sure that she could see conflict in his eyes, but decided not to address it. He slumped back in his seat looking at the table. Tracing one of many lines that were engraved in wood, he spoke.

"Look mom, I just… It was stressful week, past six months. I just want to know what's happening"

Sally immediately pulled Percy in her arms. He leaned into her hug relaxing. She started playing with his hair. Placing a kiss on his temple she spoke. "I don't know all that's happening. You should let adults take care of it. Your father's side of a family went thru many wars and fights but in some way or another it all came to its place. You just need to enjoy in your summer holidays"

Percy nodded. Even though he felt like he claimed defeat, he knew that he couldn't raise his hands from it. As they fell apart, Sally placed her hand on his face.

"Why don't you go and rest? Later, we'll go and get some ice cream. There's a lot to talk about. And if you want we can go over some school options" Percy could tell she tried to change flow of conversation, to move towards something more simple. He just nodded and stood up. Before he could enter his room, Sally called behind him.

"Percy?" he turned looking at her "It all will fall into it's place. School, your training, everything that's happening now, it's just something that decided to test us"

"I know mom" he said quietly "I just… you know that I hate not to know what's happening when I'm involved and-"

"I know" she interrupted "But you need to trust us on this one" Percy nodded before he closed his doors.


Hope you enjoyed! See you next time, E.P.o.A.