She let Leo paint his smiley face and "WASSUP" message on the bottom of the boat. Something she kind of regretted now that she was on the ground staring up at the large boat hovering over New Rome.

"Annabeth!"

Annabeth's heart jumped. She glanced around wildly. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she registered Reyna's presence, but all her focus was on finding Percy.

And there he was, wearing a purple cloak of a praetor. Of course he was. She surged forward and wrapped her arms around him.

"I missed you, Seaweed Brain," she whispered.

Percy hugged her just as tight. "Missed you too, Wise Girl."

"Uh, hi," Jason greeted Reyna and Percy awkwardly. "So, yeah… it's good to be back." He gestured to his friends. "This is Piper, daughter of Aphrodite," he said pointing to Piper. "This is Leo, son of Hephestus," he said pointing to Leo. "He's the one that pretty much built the ship and sent you that message. Uh, that's Annabeth, daughter of Athena," he pointed to Annabeth. "Guys, this is Reyna," Jason said to Annabeth, Piper, and Leo. "She's praetor."

A dark shape on the corner of Annabeth's vision. She whipped her head around to look.

"Nico?"

Nico looked like a deer in headlights. "Hi, Annabeth. Look, uh, if you wanna yell at me for, you know, not telling you guys about Percy, then I'll tell you I couldn't. I wasn't allowed to tell the Camps about each other yet."

"It seems we have a lot to discuss," Reyna said. "Centurions!"

A few of the Roman campers hustled forward. Frank and Hazel appeared at Percy's side.

"Oh, this is Frank and Hazel," Percy said cheerfully. "They're part of the Seven too of course."

"Of course," Annabeth heard Piper mutter. The daughter of Aphrodite looked uneasy. She was constantly fingering the iron necklace Annabeth had instructed them all to wear.

"You're letting these intruders into the camp?" A tall guy with stringy blond hair elbowed his way forward. Octavian. "Reyna, the security risks—"

"We're not taking them to the camp, Octavian." Reyna flashed him a stern look. "We'll eat here, in the forum."

"Oh, much better," Octavian grumbled. "You want us to relax in the shadow of their warship."

"These are our guests." Reyna clipped off every word. "We will welcome them, and we will talk to them. As augur, you should burn an offering to thank the gods for bringing Jason back to us safely."

"Good idea," Percy put in. "Go burn your bears, Octavian."

Reyna looked like she was trying not to smile. "You have my orders. Go."

The officers dispersed. Octavian shot Percy a look of absolute loathing. Then he gave Annabeth a suspicious once-over and stalked away.

Nico gave off a noise of disgust. "He's the one downside to being back here," he grumbled. "I hope he blows up."

Hazel shot her brother a strange look. "Nico-"

"Don't tell me to take it back," Nico rolled his eyes. He glanced at Annabeth. "Any eidolons?"

Annabeth shook her head. "Nothing. I'm still worried something might go wrong, but the necklaces sure help."

"Eidolons?" Reyna pressed.

"Spirits," Nico answered. "Iron repels them. Annabeth was worried they might attempt something. It's nothing to worry about anymore."

.

"So anyway," Percy was saying as they ate. "You guys kinda have three praetors now."

Annabeth saw Jason glance down at his own purple cloak. He seemed to have forgotten about it.

"Yes, and the rules state we can only have two!" Octavian said irritably.

"On the plus side," Nico started, "both Percy and Jason outrank you. So they can both tell you to shut up."

Octavian gapped at the son of Hades while Percy and Jason shared a grin and a fist bump.

Percy waved a hand. "Doesn't matter. I'll step aside for Jason. No biggie."

Jason seemed to get along with Percy as good as he had before. In no time, the two were chatting like old friends which, Annabeth supposed, was true for Percy at least. She swallowed back the grief at that thought.

.

"We need to start on the food," Will Solace said with a glance at Jason. "If we're going to take on Gaea and the Giants, we need to have enough ambrosia and nectar to heal the injured after. Not to mention, we need our strength."

Apollo nodded along with his son. "Will's right. I can only do so much by way of healing. We can't dip into the medical stock. Or the emergency stock. Like for whatever reason I… I can't, you know, heal someone. We need ambrosia." He didn't say that one of those reasons might be his death.

"Jason has a pretty good stock," Nico said quietly. He had become much more drawn back in the month following the retreat to Olympus. "I'm better now. I can go with Jason and get a bunch more today."

Will looked like he wanted to argue.

Athena nodded. "We'll send you two out then."

"You should take others with you," Percy crossed his arms. "Just in case. Jason, you know they almost got you yesterday. And we've pretty much cleaned out all the CVS's and 7/11's near us."

Jason gave Percy a grin. "Exciting, right?" he sighed. "Come on, Percy! Nico and I will be fine." He got up and kissed Piper. "See you when I get back. Any requests?"

Piper smiled. "Tacos?"

Jason's face faltered. Leo's death was a touchy subject, and tacos reminded the two of their dragon riding friend. He nodded. "Yeah. Sure. Tacos. Do my best."

Nico and Will were speaking lowly in the corner. Annabeth frowned, but said nothing. Nico finally got up and made his way over to where Jason was waiting.

"Back in a minute," Jason said before he lifted into the air with Nico who wrapped himself and Jason in shadows and disappeared.

Annabeth started bouncing her foot after the first five minute passed. Percy was pacing the length of the temple. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades exchanged looks.

"It shouldn't take this long," Hephestus muttered. "With two of them this should be much quicker."

A horn sounded in the distance. Reyna jolted. Her eyes were wide.

"My hunters," Artemis gasped. She looked at Thalia. "Some are on guard today, correct?"

Thalia nodded. She leapt to her feet and gripped her bow tightly. "We're under attack."

.

The entrance to Olympus was under siege. The first, second, and fourth cohorts had been closest and they were locked in a fierce battle. The hunters of Artemis had been on guard duty when the attack began.

"Hunters with me!" Thalia shouted. She fired arrows at the giants and monsters invading Olympus. When she reached the hunters, she drew a sword and her shield sprung from her bracelet.

"Romans, hold your formation," Reyna commanded. She charged into the battle.

Percy glanced at Annabeth worriedly. She gripped the hilt of the bone sword Damasen had given her.

"As long as we're together," Annabeth said, kissing him. Together they jumped into the battle.

They fought hard. Demigods and gods alike. War cries echoed across the crumbling Olympus that Annabeth had once worked so hard to design.

A rumbling caused both sides to pause. At the front, between the two warring sides, the shadows darkened. With a roar, Nico sprung out of the shadows. His Stygian Ice sword struck the ground, and an army of undead began attacking the giants and monsters with vigor.

The monsters disintegrated quickly. When they recovered from the shock of the sight, gods and goddesses quickly charged at the giants and delivered fatal blows alongside their children.

At last, a break. Annabeth paused to breath and take in their losses. Minimal casualties on their side. She saw Apollo, Will, and the rest of the Apollo cabin moving the few dead back deeper into Olympus.

Nico still radiated power and darkness. The shadows whipped around him.

"Son," Hades tried to get Nico's attention.

Nico turned to face them. His face seemed to age as Annabeth looked at him. He looked exhausted as he let the shadows go. Someone tumbled out of the shadows. Annabeth peered closer, but she couldn't make out who it was.

Piper's horrified scream and the thunder that rocked Olympus was all the confirmation Annabeth needed.

The next two weeks, Annabeth fought with the images of Leo Valdez and Jason Grace burned into her mind. Gaea would not take another friend from her.

.

"No ships!" The squawky voice cut through Annabeth's thoughts. Ella the harpy must have arrived then.

Annabeth's blood chilled as she recalled what was said next.

"Bad luck. There she is," Ella said, looking at Annabeth. " Wisdom's daughter walks alone -"

"Ella!" Frank said sharply. "Maybe it's not the best time-"

"The Mark of Athena burns through Rome," Ella continued. "Twins snuff out the angel's light / Who holds the key to saviors plight / Giant's bane stands gold and pale / Won through pain from a woven jail."

Annabeth looked at a very pale Nico. They couldn't be sure the prophecy would still actually mean something, but at least until it was said, they could pretend it didn't exist. Yet… the prophecy had changed. What it meant was a mystery to Annabeth.

"Really, Octavian?" Annabeth heard Nico say with a slight waver in his voice. "Maybe harpies are different here, on the Roman side. Greek ones have just enough intelligence to clean cabins and cook lunches. Do yours usually foretell the future? Do you consult them for your auguries?"

Hazel cleared her throat. "Percy's right. Tyson should take Ella and… Mrs. O'Leary and shadow travel somewhere for a while."

"Great!" Percy said with a big fake smile on his face. "We'll IM you when we're done and catch up with you later."

The Romans looked at Reyna, waiting for her ruling. Annabeth held her breath. Reyna had an excellent poker face. She studied Ella, but Annabeth couldn't guess what she was thinking.

"Fine," the praetor said at last. "Go."

"Yay!" Tyson went around the couches and gave everyone a big hug—even Octavian, who didn't look happy about it. Then he climbed on Mrs. O'Leary's back with Ella, and the hellhound bounded out of the forum. They dove straight into a shadow on the Senate House wall and disappeared.

"Well." Reyna set down her uneaten apple. "Octavian is right about one thing. We must gain the senate's approval before we let any of our legionnaires go on a quest—especially one as dangerous as you're suggesting."

"This whole thing smells of treachery," Octavian grumbled. "That trireme is not a ship of peace!"

"Come aboard, man," Leo offered. "I'll give you a tour. You can steer the boat, and if you're really good I'll give you a little paper captain's hat to wear."

Octavian's nostrils flared. "How dare you—"

"It's a good idea," Reyna said. "Octavian, go with him. See the ship. We'll convene a senate meeting in one hour."

"But…" Octavian stopped. "Fine."

Leo got up. "Back soon," he promised. "This is gonna be epic."

Something glinted on the ground. Annabeth turned her head to look.

"No!" Nico shouted.

Leo sighed and looked at Nico. "What? I can handle Octavian."

Nico leant down and picked something up from the ground. He held it out to Leo. "You dropped this," Nico said in a chillingly calm voice.

Annabeth reached for her dagger. Nico was holding Leo's iron necklace. Her hand closed around nothing. Because all their weapons were on the Argo II, and none of the Roman's had a weapon either.

"We've got a dam problem," Percy muttered. He watched Leo warily.

Annabeth swallowed. "Oh gods. The eidolons are here."

Leo let out a hollow laugh. "Daughter of Athena. You thought you could outsmart us with iron?"

"Get out of my friend," Annabeth hissed. "NOW!"

Leo's hand caught fire.

"Holy Hercules!" someone shouted.

"LEAVE!"

Annabeth probably wouldn't have believed such a loud and forceful command could ever be uttered by the son of Hades if she hadn't seen him in action during the Giants War.

Nico stalked up to Leo, glaring. "Leave now, and never, ever come back to inhabit any body of a demigod, Roman or Greek."

"You do not command us," Leo said. The rest of his body started catching fire.

"I do command you," Nico said with a smirk. "I am the son of Hades, ruler of the Underworld, the dead, and riches. I am the Ghost King. And I order you to leave and pass on the message to the rest of your friends that the son of Hades, Nico di Angelo, will find them and destroy them if I so much as hear a whisper of you possessing anyone." Nico waited for the eidolon's response.

Leo's fire suddenly went out and he pitched forward. Jason and Percy rushed to catch him. At the same time, Nico collapsed to the ground.

Annabeth found herself admiring the enigma that was Nico di Angelo.

A/N: So I decided to let Leo paint WASSUP on the bottom of the Argo II. I thought that would have been a funny sight if Annabeth had let him do it in the books.

Anyway, gotta love The Titan's Curse and all the dam things that go with it. Like snack bars, french fries, restrooms, water fountain, and t-shirts.
Also, if you're wondering why the gods don't just snap their fingers and poof some food up, well, I'll tell you that they can't do that because that breaks Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration which says that food cannot be created out of nothing. Not to mention that the gods are significantly weaker since pretty much everyone who believes in them is stuck on Olympus with them while the rest of the world is swallowed by Gaea.