Apollo's sun chariot waited for us just past Thalia's Tree. The red "car" was not in it's usual sports mode, but was in the shape of a nice old pickup truck. It was the type of car my mom had when I was younger. He climbed into the driver's seat as we approached and I gave him a look.

"You don't know where we're going," he laughed. I crossed my arms and slid into the spot next to him. Apollo leaded over and kissed my cheek.

"Come on, babe," he said. "You're gonna love what we're doing."

"Can I know what we're doing?" Apollo shook his head.

"All I know is that Lynn and Will asked me to being you some place in ten minutes. Apparently they have a surprise for you."

"They're gonna try to throw me in a ditch or something, aren't they?" Apollo snorted as The car began to rise. I half expected it to sputter out like the one I had grown up with, but it rose smoothly without even so much as a noise.

"Listen, if they try to kill you I'll stop them, but they're your friends and I highly doubt they want you dead."

"Fine," I smiled. I had missed Apollo, his notes were nice, but there was something sbout his presence that just made me feel happy."Wait, why did they ask you to drive me, why didn't they just do it?"

"Well, they wanted to get there early and because this is only the first part of the day, after this they're taking you shopping for some stuff and then I'm gonna meet you back here at seven."

"What are we doing at seven." Apollo turned slightly towards me and grinned.

"That's the real surprise." For the rest of the short ride I tried, unsuccessfully, to get him to spill. As the car began to descend Apollo handed me a tie. It was orange and green and looked like someone had used it as a napkin. I wrinkled my nose at it.

"What is that thing?"

"Just put it on, I really don't want Lynn coming after me," I laughed. An angry Lynn is something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I quickly tied the colorful monstrosity around my eyes. I could feel the car descending but couldn't see anything. I heard the door open and then silence. To my right the door popped open. Warm hands grabbed my arm and helped me to my feet.

"Whatever you do, don't act like we're going out, your father is here," Apollo whispered as we started forward. I nodded. The ground beneath my feet was uneven and squishy. The air smelled tangy, almost like grapes that have been left out in the sun. The smell was comforting.

"Oh, good, you're here," I heard my father say. "They were starting to worry." Next to me Apollo laughed.

"She wouldn't wake up." I tried to slap at him but in my blind state I only succeeded in falling over myself. I heard muffled laughter and shushing.

"Can someone please tell me why I'm here?" I asked trying to stand back up without completely embarrassing myself. It didn't work, as I wound up falling again.

"Hold on," Hermes said. "Just a few more seconds." I heard shuffling feet and a few muttered instructions. Then the tie was yanked free.

One my vision cleared up, I gasped. Before me was a beautiful house. It looked to be about two stories tall with a light blue paint job and white shutters. It had a long gravel driveway and a beautiful porch that wrapped around the house. The little white mail box said 409 Heather Court. We were in the Hamptons. Behind the house there was a big yard that stretched acres. At the very edge of the property I could see a patch of calm blue water.

Lynn, Travis, Conner, and Will were sitting on the front porch smiling. They were holding up a cardboard sign that read "Happy Birthday Laura!" I ran over to them and enveloped Lynn amd Conner in a tight hug. They were laughing.

"Don't get too excited, you still have to share it with all of us," Conner laughed, trying to wiggle out of my grasp. I took a step back and smiled. It was every little girls dream house.

"How, in the name of Hades, did you manage to afford this place?" Will snorted and pointed behind me. I turned around to see the two gods smiling at us and shaking their heads.

"They thought we would want some place to go that's safe, you know, since we're getting a little old for Camp," Travis explained. "We didn't tell you 'cause we weren't sure if you wanted to leave yet, plus Lynn wanted to surprise you."

"So, we're gonna live here?" Lynn nodded. I smiled and hugged her again.

"I'm taking you shopping in ten minutes, then you're telling me what the hell is going on with my dad," she muttered, so low I could not even be sure she actually said anything. I pulled back and she gave me a serious look before her smile returned and she started dancing around the deck.

I walked off the deck and over to where my father and Apollo were standing. Will and Travis followed me. The two of them had become over protective of Lynn and I over the last few months, ever since the nonsense on the fourth of July. I quickly shook hands with Apollo and nodded my thanks, I would thank him properly later. Then I turned to my dad and threw my arms around his neck.

Hermes stiffed for a moment before relaxing and wrapping his arms loosely around me.

"Thank you, father," I said quietly. He chuckled and patted my head as I pulled back. It was an old fashioned gesture but a fatherly one as well.

"You better go, your friend wants to celebrate your special day," he said after a moment. I nodded and started over toward her.

A/N I'm still here and I'm really really sorry about the unexpected hiatus. I wound up having a wedding to go to, a summer job, and a sweet sixteen to plan so things have been hectic? I'm going to try to start writing again soon, but this is a chapter that I felt was necessary to the story.

Please forgive me

Love and kisses