"Sorry I haven't been able to talk with you. Everything has been so hectic. I-" Grover bleated as someone called for him. He looked at me apologetically through the mist. "I have to go. Maybe we can-"

"Bye Grover." Percy swiped through the Iris Message without giving Grover a chance to reply.

Flopping down on his bed, Percy groaned. He knew cutting Grover off like that was rude, but he just wasn't in the mood to talk. Not now, especially since the war ended only a few days ago. Not when I just lost so many friends.

Percy's throat constricted thinking about how many people died. Shaking the thoughts from his head, Percy continued doing what he was doing, nothing.

Percy laid on the bed for a while before he sat up. Laying here and moping won't do anyone any good. Grabbing Riptide, he stood and stretched.

"Mom!" Percy yelled as he walked down the hallway and into the kitchen. "I'm going to go see if anybody needs help with the construction going on."

Sally looked up from what she was doing just as Percy walked in.

"Ok dear. Just make sure you're back before dinner. And don't get into any trouble."

Percy walked up to his mother and gave her a hug.

"Bye mom. Oh! Tell Paul for me please. We were going to watch the football game he has recorded."

"Will do." Sally said. "Now shoo. Off you go!"

Percy walked out the door and onto the street, hoping to come across people who needed help.

Now you might be wondering what construction was going on, well, it's not really construction, more of moving rubble out of the way. You see, even though the Battle of New York only ended a few days ago, about a week before there was an alien invasion led by a crazed god. A group of mortals called the Avengers fought and won, well with the secret help of demigods any way. Normally someone wouldn't say that a war is good, but it worked in the gods favor. Any of the destruction that was made was chalked up to the aliens, no one asked any questions.

Percy snapped out of his thoughts when he tripped over some rubble in the middle of the sidewalk.

Looking up he saw, what appeared to be a small mountain of debris and rubble. Glancing around he saw a man who appeared to be in charge.

Walking up to him, Percy tapped his shoulder.

"Yes?" The stranger asked when he turned around.

Percy held out his hand.

"Hi. My name is Percy. I was wondering if you needed another hand."

Smiling the man grasped Percy's hand in a firm handshake.

"Nice to meet you Percy. My name's Steve Rogers. And I would love it if you helped." Letting go of his hand the man-Steve-started giving Percy instructions on what needed to be done.

After a long, hard afternoon of what consisted of mostly grunt work, Percy was free to go.

Stretching, Percy turned to waive to bye to Steve and headed home.

Quickly finding his way home, Percy ran inside to find Paul sitting on the couch watching the news.

"Hey Paul. Do you know where mom is?" Percy questioned.

Nodding Paul pointed to the kitchen, "She's prepping dinner."

"Thanks."

Jogging to the kitchen Percy was about to step in when he heard a familiar voice.

"Sally, dear, I know this is hard for you but it'd time that he knows-"

Percy wasn't one to eavesdrop but the conversation peaked his interest. He hid behind the wall that was separating the kitchen from the hallway. Percy focused on the voice talking.

"-will find out eventually."

He frowned, Why was Poseidon here? Percy paused his thoughts when he heard his mother's voice.

"I-I just don't want him to hate me. I-We have been keeping this from him for so long….I'm scared of his reaction."

Who were they talking about? Paul maybe? Percy thought. Peeking around the corner he saw Poseidon through an Iris message.

"He will understand Sally. Percy will know that we didn't tell him for his own good."

Percy's eyes widened. They were talking about him!? Deciding that he's heard enough, Percy let himself be know.

"Hey Mom."

Sally jumped and was quick to swipe through the mist, the image fading slowly.

"Percy," Sally's voice was breathy. "How long have you been there?"

"I just got home." Percy walked across the kitchen and grabbed an apple.

Just as he was about to bite into it, it was snatched from his hands.

"Nuh-uh. Dinner will be ready soon." Sally pushed her son out of the kitchen. "Go take a shower. I don't want your smell ruining our appetites." She teased.

Percy emerged from the shower ten minutes later, the conversation between his mother and father weighing heavily in his mind. He was dying to know what they were talking about.

Pacing in his room, Percy remembered seeing what looked like an important piece of paper in a box his mother kept under her bed.

Biting his lip, Percy stuck his head out of his bedroom door looking in both directions, making sure nobody was coming, before sneaking into his Paul and Sally's room.

Quickly dropping to the floor, he reached under the bed and felt around for the box. After a couple minutes, which felt like hours, Percy finally pulled out the little box.

Sitting on his parents' bed, Percy looked at the frayed shoed box in his lap.

Holding his breath in anticipation Percy lifted the lid away from the box. He smiled when he saw what was inside.

What looked like hundreds of pictures of him, ranging from a baby to eleven or twelve. There were pictures of him by himself and with his mother.

Rifling his hands through the box, Percy came across a folded piece of paper. Curiosity peaked, Percy opened it and gasped at what he saw, the color draining from his face.

Anger and sadness took over him as he crumpled the paper in his hand.

Percy stood, the little box and its contents went flying out of his lap and scattered on the floor.

Walking into the living room Percy saw Paul and Sally sitting on the couch, side by side, laughing at something they were watching.

"Why?" Percy's voice cracked. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Sally looked over at Percy, the smile on her face disappearing at the sight of what was still in his hand.

"Where did you get that?" She demanded. "Were you in my room?"

"I heard your conversation with dad earlier and I was just trying to figure out what you weren't telling me."

Sally pursed her lips as Paul was looking between them in confusion.

Percy looked away from his mother's – no Sally's gaze.

"Why didn't you tell me I was adopted?"