Octavia grabbed her father's hand, looking at it in curiosity. "What happened?"

Percy looked down at his wrapped hand, chuckling softly at the whole incident. "I accidentally hurt myself while making dinner."

Octavia put her hands on her hips. "Did you get blood in the food?"

Percy laughed. "No, no I didn't. I'm glad that's all you care about."

She grabbed her cup and pulled it towards her, almost tilting it over the edge. "Where's Nico?"

"Probably in his room." Percy shrugged. "Why?"

"Why doesn't he eat?" Octavia asked. "Doesn't he get hungry?"

Percy frowned. "No, he doesn't get hungry. He's special that way."

"He never eats?"

"Not that I know of." Percy glanced towards the kitchen where Annabeth finished making dinner. "Annie! Octavia has lots of questions about Nico!"

"Then answer them, Seaweed Brain!" Annabeth called back, making Octavia erupt into a fit of giggles.

Percy smiled at Octavia. "Okay, okay. Any more questions?"

Octavia nodded. "Why is Nico hurt? What happened to his neck?"

Percy looked around him for help before slowly looking back to his daughter. "He just...is. He got hurt. But he's better now. He feels better."

"Oh." Octavia looked up at her mother as she entered the room. "Food time?!"

"Food time," Annabeth confirmed. "Go get your sister for me."

Octavia ran from the room, her chair rocking from the force. As Annabeth started to make plates, Percy watched in admiration. "You're an amazing mother, Annie."

Annabeth glanced at him. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing, nothing. I'm just saying." Percy rubbed his bad hand. "Did you hear what Octavia was asking?"

"Yeah." Annabeth put her hair in a ponytail. "She's too curious for her own good."

"Does she not know that Nico's dead?" Percy asked. "How isn't it obvious?"

"She's a kid, Percy," Annabeth replied. "She's innocent. That's a good thing."

"So...she thinks we're just living with a stranger?" Percy asked.

Annabeth shrugged. "Probably."

Octavia ran back into the room, followed by her younger sister. Braids, chubby cheeks, blond hair. Opal waddled into the room, her hand in her mouth.

"There you are." Annabeth set Opal in her seat before sitting by her. "Okay, let's eat."

"Can Nico eat with us?" Octavia asked. "Please? Daddy said that he hasn't eaten in awhile."

"Because he doesn't need to." Percy corrected.

"Octavia..." Annabeth gave her a small smile. "If he wants to eat with us then he'll come. But I think he just wants to be alone today. Okay?"

"Okay..."

"Okay, eat up," Annabeth commanded. "You need your food to grow up big and strong."

Annabeth would never have dreamed that her daughters didn't get to grow up.


The days passed. They lived, they kept going. Everything seemed to be at peace.

The days passed. Days...their final days. They didn't know it when they woke up that day, but the day came that would be the last of their lives. Their very last day alive...spent full of fighting.