There's only one chapter left after this one so I hope you guys enjoy it. I love the fact that I'm ending on such a fluffy happy note-and believe me this chapter and the next chapter are definitely fluffy and sweet- though there's definitely still a bit of jealousy on Percy's part here. Anyway I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and I genuinely love the family scenes, Percy, Luke, Nico and Tyson are adorable siblings and Sally Jackson is the most awesome mom

Days turned into weeks and things with Annabeth, Thalia and Grover didn't change much-but Luke's little talk with her did make Percy feel less crappy about it.

She spent more time with other kids at the camp-mostly the Stolls, though she had hung out with Silena a few times-she'd even agreed to let the daughter of Aphrodite give her a birthday makeover-which was why, when her birthday came Percy headed straight to the Aphrodite Cabin.

She ended up in there for almost an hour before Nico showed up to drag her to the Big House for her birthday celebrations.

It had been kind of fun she had to admit-she'd let them do just a bit of make up, and Silena had spent ages picking out dress- a pretty sea blue dress that came to her knees.

Her hair had been curled and pinned back out of her face-she had to admit that it was a good distraction from her more mopey thoughts about Grover and Annabeth.

Nico, being the good little brother he was, had pulled a face and said she looked too girly-which had earned him a twisted ear.

"They headed into the rec room in the Big House together-and Percy laughed when they walked in and she saw a handmade banner pinned from the ceiling with the words 'Happy Birthday' painted on it in blue.

Her mom, Tyson and Luke were there, and Percy grinned brilliantly as she launched herself into her moms arms.

She could smell freshly baked cookies and cakes-and she noticed the pile of blue cookies on a plate on the table-and there was a big cake which was decorated to look like a beach, with fondant shells.

Percy felt a surge of warmth as she hugged her mom, "Thank you!"

"Happy birthday honey." Sally laughed warmly as she pulled back, looking Percy up and down, "You look lovely by the way. I might have to get Silena to give me a makeover one of these days-"

"You don't need a makeover mom." Luke piped up with a grin, "You're the most beautiful woman alive."

"Awe, that's so sweet." Sallly's eyes narrowed, "What did you do?"

"I didn't do anything!" Luke laughed, "Can't a son be nice to his mother without being suspected?"

"No." Nico snorted, "But he's right mom, you're beautiful-"

"The prettiest lady ever." Tyson piped up.

"Thank you you two." Sally beamed, and Percy snickered when Luke's eyes narrowed.

"Hey! Why are you not accusing them of sucking up-"

"Because Tyson and Nico are adorable kids and I know you far too well-" that made Tyson grin, and Percy and Nico both laughed at the look on Luke's face and Sally shook her head fondly, clapping her hands together.

"Now, back to our birthday girl." She declared brightly, "I think it's presents time don't you?"

"Oooh." Percy grinned, "Presents sound good to me."

"Who wants to go first?"

"Me!" Luke grinned, "I want to go first."

"Okay then Luke." Sally looked amused, and Luke pulled a package out of his pocket, tossing it at Percy, who caught it with a grin.

"Oooh." she unwrapped the silvery paper, smiling as she opened it to see a pair of tiny seashell earings, "Oh wow-" she breathed out, "Luke I love them-"

"They're handmade, I got Silena to help me find the little shells and make them myself-"

"I love you." Percy darted over to Luke, hugging him tightly.

"I know Sephie." Luke smiled widely, pressing his lips to the top of her head. "Glad you like them. I figured that getting you something sea themed is always
a win." Luke's voice was teasing. "Also, it's not ready yet but I asked Beckendorf to make you a new dagger-"

"You're the best!" Percy was almost bouncing as Sally laughed.

"At least I know you kids can handle weapons now-I remember nearly having a heart attack when Poseidon gave Luke that sword-"

"Episkopos is still the best sword I've ever used." Luke declared proudly, "Best ever I tell you."

"Hah, as cool as Episkopos might be I still say that my sword is better." Percy's voice was teasing.

"Not as cool as mine!" Nico piped up, "Stygian Iron is cooler than Celestial Bronze!"

"No it's not." Percy and Luke spoke in unison, and Nico poked his tongue out at them.

"Just 'cause you guys can't use it-"

"Children no bickering!" Sally laughed, "No bickering on birthdays you know the rules. Now because you guys bickered I think Tyson gets to go next-"

"Yay!" Tyson beamed, "I made you this Percy!" he held out a shabbily wrapped package and Percy took it with a softer grin.

"I bet it's awesome whatever it is Ty."

"Open it!" Tyson's eye was shining with excitement as he bounced on the balls of his feet and clapped his hands together, and Percy unwrapped the package, tilting her head slightly as she did, "Lemme see..." she unwrapped it and peered curiously at the contents of the package.

It was a wristwatch, plain enough, a white and silver clock face and a black leather strap. In fact she was sure she'd seen him working on it with Beckendorf in the forges. "Did you make this for me?" her voice was soft, "Really?"

"Yeah." Tyson nodded, "Put it on and press the button."

"Sure thing big dude." Percy fastened the watch quickly and she pressed the stopwatch button instantly, the watch changed. It expanded, the metal rim spiraling outward like an old-fashioned camera shutter, a leather strap wrapping around my forearm until Percy was holding a round war shield four feet wide, the inside soft leather, the outside polished bronze with intricate designs engraved into it.

Everyone gasped and Percy twisted it so that she could look at the designs and she gasped softly.

There were a series of images-herself and Tyson fighting Polyphemus, her stood with her hands on Nico's shoulders-undoubtedly the moment she'd sent Nico
away from the Princess Andromeda, Luke pummelling Alabaster-and Percy secretly thought that one might be her favorite- there was also the five of them riding the Hippocampi to camp, the battle when they arrived- Tyson and a bunch of campers fighting the Colchis bull, Annabeth and Grover fighting the Lastrongian Giants, and Percy and Luke taking on the Hellhounds, and the last engravings were of Nico's arrival, her and Clarisse fighting, her riding Blackjack and Luke flying back alongside her.

Percy felt her eyes filling with tears. "Big guy... I love it-" she hugged Tyson tightly, pressing her face into his shoulder, and she let out a bright laugh when Tyson hugged her back, squeezing and lifting her off the ground he was so happy.

"Good! I spent lots of time on it. Charles helped me. Now I can protect you even when I'm with daddy-"

"You're the best, you're my new favorite Big Guy." Percy declared, "You'll be protecting me every time I use it." she pressed the little catch inside and the
shield swirled inwards, transforming back into a watch, "I'll never go anywhere without it I promise."

"Good!" Tyson nodded happily, letting her go from the hug.

"Me next!" Nico surged forward, "I want to give you my present next Percy!"

"Okay okay." Percy twisted as Nico skidded to a halt in front of her, holding up a neatly wrapped box, which she took with a grin as she ruffled his hair, "By the way, I like your new tshirt-a skeletal Pegasus, looks cool. Brings out the Death Kid vibes."

"Will got Lacey to make it for me." Nico grinned, "It is pretty cool. Now open your present."

"Ah, of course." Percy grinned teasingly as she unwrapped the paper and opened the small cardboard box-her eyes widened when she looked inside, "Nico is that-"

"My figure and card of Poseidon." Nico sounded so proud, "I was struggling to figure out what to get you and Will said it wasn't about spending loads of money but about getting something thoughtful and I thought-I mean my Mythomagic stuff is super important to me but it's not as important to me as you ar-"
Percy cut him off by hugging him tightly.

"I love you Neeks." she let out a slow breath, "Seriously Nico... thank you. I'll look after them I promise you. They'll go up on my shelf at home."

"I know you will." Nico grinned as he hugged her back. "Do you remember when we first met-"

"Duh." Percy laughed, "Of course I do." she shook her head, "The stupid Casino-do you remember Grandma?"

"Yeah, she looked after me until Bianca came back." his smile didn't falter when he said Bianca's name-that was definitely a good sign, up until this point he'd been struggling talking about her-there was a lot of resentment there, not that Percy blamed him for the pain or anger towards the sister who had, in his eyes, abandoned him.

Now though he seemed to have come to terms with it more, he knew she was safe at least, and it wasn't as if he was alone, he had a family, he had friends.

He was genuinely happy.

It was wonderful to see Percy had to admit-sure he didn't have a Cabin to himself like he should do really, but he was probably happier in Cabin Thirteen-the Cabin for the Minor Gods and Goddesses than he would have been on his own in a Hades Cabin anyway.

"We never did get to go on that slide."

"Actually I did." Nico grinned at the betrayed look Percy gave him, "I got Grandma to do it with me-"

"Holy Styx-"

"Percy!" Sally laughed, "Watch your tone-"

"But mom! Mom Nico actually got Lady Rhea, aka our grandmother, to go on a waterslide with him-"

"I guess I'm just her favorite-"

"Favorite! I'll give you favorite-" Percy laughed, tossing Nico over her shoulder, making Nico yelp loudly.

"PERCY! PUT ME DOWN!"

"Never!" Percy started to run around the room, laughing manically as Sally let out a loud sigh and shook her head, looking up at the sky.

"Why Gods? Why are all of my children insane-Luke, Tyson, split them up please." and so Luke and Tyson intercepted Percy and Nico, Luke swiping Nico off Percy's shoulder as Tyson grabbed Percy and physically lifted her up and carried her over to the couches, dropping the giggling fourteen year old onto them as Nico snickered and was dropped the other side.

"Are you done now?" Sally raised an eyebrow as she looked at the laughing Demigods, "Or do I have to get one of your brothers to sit between you?"

"We'll be good." Percy and Nico chorused the words, grinning as they exchanged looks.

"Good then. Now Percy, your presents from me are still at home so I'll give them to you when we get home is that okay with you honey?"

"Of course mom." Percy shrugged, "You know I don't mind waiting."

"Good, now-" Sally was interrupted by a knock on the door, and Nico gave a sly grin, "I'll go get it-"

"What-" Nico was darting to the door before Sally could finish her words, and he opened it and Will, Kayla, Clarisse, Travis, Connor, Mikey, Silena, Beckendorf, Chris and several other Campers came filing in, the Stolls grinning as they carried a tub filled with cans of soda, chip packs and a bunch of other goodies.

"We heard there was a party-"

"So we decided to crash it." And Clarisse was carrying a boombox which she set up quickly, and Percy, Luke and Nico laughed as music filled the room and Sally shook her head fondly.

"Okay okay kids!" Sally held up her hands, "I'll cut up the cake for you kids and then I'll leave you in peace."

"Thanks mom." Percy laughed as Luke grabbed her hand and yanked her up off the couch, spinning her, her dress twirling out around her as several of the young Demigods danced around the rec room, Clarisse and Beckendorf pushing the table to the side to clear a space in the centre of the room.

Percy found herself passed around, stolen from Luke by the Stoll twins, then span away by Beckendorf before she danced like an idiot with Tyson and Nico-everyone laughing as Percy span her little brothers-at which point Will grabbed Nico's hand and started doing a silly dance with him as the son of Apollo sang along to the music.

Then Percy was whirled around and her face lit up, "Grover! You came!"

"Sorry I'm late!" Grover grinned as he tried to speak over the music, "Lost track of ti-" he was cut off by Percy hugging him tightly.

"It's okay G-man." Percy felt her heart lightening slightly-at least she had Grover even if Annabeth hadn't shown up.

"I got you a present." Grover held up a little box, which Percy opened with a laugh, grinning widely at the sight of what was inside, "Is that-"

"The tin can I gave you for luck when you fought Ares." Grover's laugh was a bleating thing. "You gave it back to me after but I want you to keep it-"

"That's so sweet G-man." Percy hugged him again, "Today's the best birthday ever." she closed the box again and grabbed Grover's hand, dragging him over to the table that was now at the side of the room, placing it down before turning on Grover, "C'mon! Let's dance!"