Chapter Sixteen

Family is Everything

NICO POV

Chaos's words were wrapped in mystery. I knew what he was saying, but it made no sense whatsoever. I didn't worry about that too much right now, though. Apparently, Chaos had hosted Percy's body in the past. When he destroyed the Titan at Camp Half-Blood, that had been Chaos. Chaos had taken interest in Percy after the Battle of New York against Kronos. Ever since then, he has chosen random moments to host Percy's body. He also told me that Percy had hosted a god's body before. Not a Greek god's though. That was a story for a different day. I was overwhelmed. I needed to find Thalia. I ambled through the bodies, seeing if I could spot my wife's. All around me, others seemed to be doing the same, searching for their loved ones. To be honest, the whole Chaos/Reyna thing surprised me. I guess I just expected him to come fight, then go back to being an oblivion. Oh well, Reyna had looked strangely pleased, and Aphrodite was definitely more than excited. I strolled past more demigods, when I was assaulted from behind. Strong arms wrapped around my waist, tugging me towards the earth. After Gaea's rising, that was kind of the last place I wanted to be. I twisted as I landed, getting a good view of the most beautiful face in the world.

"Thalia!" I cried out joyously. "Thank the gods!" I wrapped her tightly in my arms. She sighed contentedly on my chest.

"It's over, Nico, it's finally over."

"I know. If you need to let it out, it's fine." I told her.

She pulled away abruptly.

"What the Hades is that supposed to mean? You think that just because I'm a woman I have overwhelming emotion that I have to release?" She snapped.

I stared, unsure what to say. Then she smiled broadly. Her blue eyes sparked electrically.
"Ha! Got you!'

I protested. "Hey, that's not fair! You had me confused, I'm feeling like Percy over here."

She kissed me. "That's the way I like it. Then, you never know what I'm thinking."

I just shook my head in defeat.

"I just thought... Well, Annabeth was crying, so..."

That statement sobered Thalia up as she gazed in that direction.

"Well, she's semi-cursed by Aphrodite."

I pursed my lips. "That is very true."

I sighed. This clean up was going to take a long time. And I couldn't wait to see what story Mortals came up with to explain everything.

Six Months Later…

"Of course you don't look ugly! Why the Hades would you think you're ugly!" Lucas practically yelled. I had thought about intervening many conversations ago, but it was more humorous watching my son struggle with a pregnant woman. It was hilarious. We were about to have dinner to celebrate Andrea's six month of pregnancy, and Percy and Annabeth had wanted to go on a date. I don't know why they bothered, because I'm pretty sure they had never had a successful date. And by successful, I mean one without an attack, a godly appearance, or Annabeth thinking Percy was trying to dump her.

"Because I am ugly!" Andrea retorted. She crossed her arms, setting her rear end on the sofa. Lucas sat beside her.

"No, you're not," he insisted. "You are the most beautiful woman on the entire planet. I see that every time I look at you."

Andrea pursed her lips. "Really?"

"Watch what you're saying, Lucas, your mother's in this room!" I interjected. Andrea wailed again.

"See what I mean?"

Thalia crossed the kitchen and smacked me on the arm. It burned.

"Nico!" she chided, "You are just plain mean!"

I merely grinned. "I am a child of Hades, you know."

She grumbled as she set the table. She spoke again as she stirred the water in the pot.

"Exactly, I don't know why I married you. I'm Zeus's girl"

"Hmm, that is a good question." I mused, feigning deep thought.

"Oh…shut up. You know Andrea's delicate with these random moods."

"I know! That's why it's so funny!"

I guess females stuck together. Guys were much simpler. Me and Lucas would be laughing about this soon, Andrea and Thalia would never laugh about. Hades hath no fury like a woman. Trust me, I know. I'm his son.

"Whatever," Thalia griped some more. "Come on guys, dinner!"

Andrea perked up.

"Mm! I'm starving!" She said giddily, coming into the dining room before Lucas could assist her, grunting the entire way. I wanted to let her know that she sounded like a dying heifer, but I bit my tongue. Thalia would have castrated me on the spot.

"So, Andrea," I began, pulling a seat for Thalia. "Boy or girl?"

"Boy! I'm so excited!" She waved her hand, twirling her hair as she took a bite of Mac & Cheese. "I mean, I'm not having it checked, I want it to be a surprise, but Mother's Prerogative, you know."

I bit into my biscuit.

"Mmhm. How accurate is this Motherly Prerogative?" I questioned.

Andrea set down her food and placed her hands in her lap.

"So, you don't believe me?" She sniffled.

Oh gods, now I'd done it. It was okay when the anger was pointed at Lucas, but now I was involved. That was a joke! Gods, does nobody have a sense of humor anymore?

"Gods, no one cares about me!" Andrea cried out, stamping away from the table and towards the guest room.

"Dad!" Lucas complained. "Now you-I-you...ugh!"

He, too, left the table to comfort his wailing wife. Thalia and I sat in silence for a few moments.

"So," I said, "how 'bout them Yankees last night?"

Thalia promptly left me to eat by myself.

PERCY POV

I was nervous, to be honest. We were both hoping this would be the night. The one night where nothing screwed up.

"Ready, Annabeth?" I called from the foyer.

"Yes, Percy, one minute," She returned answer. Kate strolled to the front door.

"Dad, Matilda just called from NYU, but I told her you and mom were going out."

"Okay, thanks, Kate."

Kate nodded, twirling her brown locks.

"She also said she was planning on coming back soon, hang out with C.J. Some more, and of course us."

"I'll call her when we get back. Thanks Kate."

At this moment, Annabeth descended the stairs, dressed eloquently in a short, dark blue dress.

"Annabeth, I know you don't like wearing dresses, but you certainly know how to wear one."

She smiled confidently.

"Thank you, Percy. Now let's go eat, I'm starving. Bye, Kate, Love you."

"Love you too, Mom."

I took Annabeth's hand. Together, we walked to the car.

Dinner never came, however. Annabeth and I stood outside for over two hours.

"What the Hades are so many people doing at this restaurant on Halloween?" I complained. "We'll never get to eat!"

"Percy, we don't have to eat here, you know." Annabeth gently tugged on my arm.

"But this is where I proposed to you. I'm trying to be romantic!"

She chortled. "I gave up on you being romantic years ago!"

My face fell slightly. Now that I thought about it, Annabeth had thought I was breaking up with her that night, too

"Oh, I'm sorry, Percy. I didn't mean it like that" she apologized after she saw my disappointment. She seemed to understand my thoughts. Her grey eyes analyzed me. "We can wait, I don't mind."

I shook my head.

"un-uh, you make a pretty good point. This is just taking too long. Let's just get some pizza. There's plenty of that in New York."

She sucked he lips in, momentarily, like a fish, trying to determine if I was angry or not.

"Alright," she decided, "pizza's fine with me."

We walked one more to our car, relieved mostly that we were having normal date problems instead of monster or demon dust bunny outbreaks.

So, which is really the best? I'm not sure. Honestly, I've never had a chance to eat at every pizza parlor. But, if you ever go to New York and pass a pizza joint that doesn't advertise "Best Pizza Ever" or something like it, I wouldn't stop there. Anyway, Annabeth and I (notice my correct grammar this time) stopped at the first one we came to: Tony's. The manager was ecstatic to see us. He greeted us as soon as we came through the door.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you for coming!"

He clasped my hand and shook it. He was short and a bit stubby with little hair. He reminded me of the bad guy Al from Toy Story 2, but with a kinder look about him. Also, he was definitely up to date on his personal hygiene, unlike Al.

"Please," he continued, "take a seat! We've been short on business. Not a single customer for 5 hours! Very unusual!"

He led us to a couple's bench.

"I am the owner, Tim, and I will happily answer any questions you have."

"I thought we came into Tony's." I said ignorantly

"Percy," Annabeth was trying not to laugh. "Tony's is just the store name!"

It clicked. "Ooh yes..."

Tim was chuckling himself, no doubt thinking what an Idiot I was.

"Okay, a waiter will be out in a few moments. Please feel free to browse our menu, and everything will be cooked fresh, so it may be a few extra minutes before your food will be out"

Annabeth thanked him and busted out laughing when he left.

"Gods, Percy! That was one of the most ignorant things you've ever said!"

I felt my face heat up.

"I-I wasn't thinking about it!"

"Do you ever think, Seaweed Brain?"

It felt great to hear my nickname after so long. I smiled-not am embarrassed smile, one of pure adoration for my wife. She smiled right back along with giving me a short, sweet kiss. When the waiter came, we ordered a three-meat pizza to share. I would have gotten a couples plate, since it was cheaper and designed for 2, but I felt sorry for them since they hadn't had much business. The food arrived in a decent time and we devoured it. Annabeth had a conservative two slices, while I had the other six. I guess I was really hungry. We finished and say and chatted for a while before we began the four block trek to our Yukon.

"Looks like we finally had an accident free date!" Annabeth announced halfway back to the car.

"It's not over yet!" I joked. I really wish we hasn't said anything, because that's when we got into trouble. Without warning, Annabeth was snatched from me, pulled into an alleyway.

"Hey!" I shouted. I started after her, when I was smacked on the back of the head. I caught myself before I smashed face first on the pavement. I looked up to see Annabeth pinned up to a dumpster by three familiar men. Her left cheek was bright red a if she'd been slapped. She spat curses at them. A hand clenched my hair and tugged up.

"Remember me?!" a man gruffly spoke. "Johnny Rockets?"

My mind triggered the memory. The biker gang had ruined our anniversary a few years back, and now they were ruining another outing. How was he not in jail right now?

"We never properly introduced," he went on as some hands held me down. I struggled.

"I'm Jeff. Simple enough. You and your girl?" He picked a knife from his belt and picked his teeth. He reminded me all too much of a particular War god I didn't like all that much. His pointed chin didn't help his evil appearance much, either.

"Go to Hell," I said angry, reminding myself that he probably didn't have the brain cells to know that Hades is the same thing. For that, I got slugged in the jaw. The left corner of my lip busted open, blood trickling into my mouth. Next, he squeezed my cheeks in hard.

"That's exactly where I'm headed, but I'm going to drag you with me!" He growled viciously

"Now, I didn't get what I wanted at Johnny Rockets, so I'm gonna get that tonight."

He crossed the alley toward Annabeth.

"If you touch her..." I warned.

Jeff laughed. Then, with one fluid motion, he ripped off the front of her dress, exposing her. Roughly, he placed his lips on hers and groped at her body. What happened next was not pretty. Anger boiled inside of me and I blew a gasket.

"GET YOUR DAMN HANDS OFF HER, YOU SON OF A BITCH!" I screamed. My eyesight flickered, I could see the myself do everything from a different perspective. I knew Chaos was being channeled.

The men holding me down flinched at my outburst. Their grip weakened and I tossed them off. I marched at Jeff. His buddies released Annabeth to him and confronted me. I kicked the first guy in the stomach and smashed him into the others. They crashed into a pile of dog...you know. Finally, I pulled Jeff forcefully away from my wife by his shoulder. His body wheeled around to face me. My fist connected with his face. He tripped over a friend's leg and landed on his butt. I bent over, picked him up by his collar and slammed his back into the wall multiple times. His head rolled with every collision. I tossed him again and he stumbled against the dumpster. He struck it and slumped to the ground. He would pay for hurting my family. Family matters to me. I jumped on his stomach, pressing my knees in hard. I held his collar, delivering punch after punch with my right hand.

"What kind of fucking sick, twisted man tries to rape a guy's wife in front of him?!" I growled. Other profanities slipped out too. I was beyond pissed.

His gang tried to help him out, but I tossed them aside like ragdolls. Out of the corner of my eyes, I noticed that Annabeth was no longer there. I didn't care, though. I had been through too much to let this man ruin my life. I continued my assault until I ran out of energy. Slowly, I struggled to my feet as Annabeth rounded the corner with a few police. She had a change of clothes. She stopped short, her eyes bugging, when she saw Jeff. He was no longer recognizable. Just a mesh of skin, blood, and bones. A cop came up behind me, placing me in handcuffs. I could vaguely hear him quoting something. the buzz in my ears subsided. Annabeth stood flabbergasted, tears forming. I blinked, and my eyesight returned to completely normal. Chaos was done with me. And somehow, I knew it would be the last time.

"Gods, Percy...you...you just killed a man."

I took a quick second glance as I was led away. I had killed monsters before, but this was different. I had just killed a mortal man. And, I felt no regret. I only wished I had done it the first time.