Hello! I got a lot of positive feedback after posting chapter one, so I hope that you enjoy this chapter just as much!

Tony left while it was still dark out. The sun hadn't even breached the horizon before he had slipped out of the tower lobby and into one of his more nondescript cars. He left the tower early in part to escape the early morning traffic, but mostly to escape the questions that would come from his early rising companions. He rarely left the tower, so he could only hope the other Avengers didn't freak out and try to send S.H.E.I.L.D on a mass man hunt. He'd had enough of that when he was 12.

He pushed his keys into the ignition, turning them to start up the engine. He could feel the thrum of the engine beneath his seat, but he didn't move yet. His eyes were bothering him, watering and itching uncomfortably. He pulled down the sun visor and flipped open the flap that covered the small mirror inside it. He leaned closer, peering into his eyes to see what the problem was. He noted right away that his contacts where off. In his hurry that morning he'd probably put them in wrong. Letting out a short hiss of irritation between his teeth, he carefully reached up to his eyes to fix the brown tinted plastic. For a moment, he was able to glimpse the sea green beneath, but quickly adjusted the contacts so that the color was once again hidden.

Sighing, he leaned back in his seat and reached out to grip the steering wheel. Checking to make sure he had space,the man pulled into the street and towards Long Island, eyes now glued to the road.

(**)

Tony was feeling hot and irritated by the time he reached the lone road to camp. The august sun was beaming through the clear glass, and even though he had the air conditioner blasting cold air, it was still doing little to make a dent in the suffocating heat. He sagged against the seat in obvious relief as he sighted the familiar golden hide of the Golden Fleece.

Turning one corner he got a full glimpse of Half-Blood Hill, the scaly hide of Peleus glinting obviously on top, even from so far away. He parked at the end of the green hill, idling there for a moment as he stared at the trees. This would be his first time back at camp in several years. A strange feeling -a pain- settled over his chest, like someone was squeezing his heart. But it felt like a good pain. It felt like he was returning home.

"Well, to Hades with all this." He muttered. He pulled out the keys out, yanked off his seat belt, and exited the car. He looked around for a moment -instincts urging him to check for monsters that he knew weren't there- while pulling out his sunglasses from his pocket and twisting his expression into his signature look of superior disinterest.

He made his way up the hill with his hands in his suit pocket, continuing to look around at his surroundings. As he reached the crest of the hill he glanced over to Peleus. The dragon had been a lot smaller last he'd seen him, body wrapped around the trunk of the old pine tree. He had once been able to see the entirety of the golden fleece over his scaled back, but now he could only a sliver of the shinning, curled, pelt.

Tony, feeling no fear, reached over to pat the dragons hide. Smoke curling from his nostrils, the dragon swept his head around to look at the demigod. Sleepy liquid eyes blinked at him languidly. The mythical beast made no move to attack Tony, and instead rested his head on the ground that had long since become baren dirt from years hidden away from the sun. His side rose and fell in a deep sigh. "Tired, huh bud?" Tony said with a chuckle. He let his hand fall to his side. "Me too."

He left the dragon to his slumber and turned his sights out over the camp. It was larger than he last remembered. The original Omega formation of cabins was now bordered on either side by new buildings. The dinning pavilion and Amphitheater had also been enlarged to make room for the larger number of demigods. Looking to the left, Tony's gaze rested on the Big House, and he was pleased to see it looked the same as ever.

Swallowing thickly, and blinking behind his shades Tony pulled back the feeling of regret that was threatening to overwhelm him. It had been his decision to leave this place behind all those years ago, and he would not let regret at the decision -so long buried- return now.

"Well, call me a Telkhines uncle!" Tony looked down in surprise at the sudden exclamation that had broken him from his reverie, and was surprised to see no other than Leo Valdez looking up at him, flashing him an impish smile. "I didn't think I'd see you here until Dionysus' retirement!"

Tony smiled brightly at his friend and half slid, half walked down the hill to bury him in a bone crushing hug. He hadn't realized until he had his arms wrapped around the Latino demigod, just how much he'd missed his friends. The letters he received from them almost daily wasn't at all like having them there in person.

"Whoa!" Leo said with a surprised laugh, though he returned the hug with equal amounts of enthusiasm. "It's nice to see you too." He and Tony stepped back, Tony's hand resting on his friends shoulder for a second more. "You're looking good," The shorter man said with what seemed to be approval. "I'd hate to be the last of the seven to be unbearably attractive."

"Oh, yes," Tony agreed with a serious expression. "That would be such an terrible burden for you to shoulder." His hands slipped into his pocket. "What are you still doing here Leo?" He asked, changing the subject. "I thought you'd be at Camp Jupiter with Cecil and Calyspo."

Leo shrugged and a ran a hand through his curly black hair. "I was going to, but things popped up here at camp. Calypso actually had to go and fix something over in Japan, so Cecil's staying with Uncle Jason and Aunt Piper in New Rome until things get sorted."

"Sorry to hear that. How are Piper and Jason doing?" Tony inquired. He began walking down the hill, and Leo followed after him.

"Good!" He replied cheerfully. His hands reached into the tool-belt around his waist, pulling out a few bits of wires. Even now, Leo couldn't keep his ADHD under control. "They Iris Messaged me a few nights ago. Gonna be pissed that they couldn't see the great Jackson return. Oh! They had an ultrasound and found out the baby's going to be a girl,"

"Really?"Tony asked, delighted in the news. "I'll have to send them a letter then." Leo glanced over at Percy as they reached the base of the hill, eyes flashing. Eve though he didn't say anything, Tony knew that his friend wanted him to go to New Rome in person. " I'm guessing you're not here to catch up and talk about that kind of stuff." The son of Hephaestus said instead.

Tony sighed. "No, unfortunately not." He reached up and took of his sunglasses, rubbing his eye with the palm of his free hand. "Pepper wanted me to come here for some...group therapy I think she called it. Said she didn't want me locked up in my room today again." Tony's voice was light and teasing as he said that, but his eyes were dark.

Leo sighed sadly, eyes downcast. "I'm sorry." He said softly, turning to Tony with downcast eyes. "We miss her, all of us. We wish things could be different. But she's not forgotten. The camp still remembers her; we've made sure that everyone knows her name. She wont be forgotten."

Tony looked away, unable to reply. His gaze darted to the lake. There, he could make out the forms of campers, laughing and screaming as they jumped and swam in the crystalline waters. The bright sun made it shine and glint with brightly. The reflective light was so harsh, that even with his shades he had to look away eventually. It was a happy sight, and he couldn't bear it anyways.

"Yeah," Tony finally said in reply, looking down at his shoes instead of meeting his friends sympathetic gaze. He inhaled deeply and looked back up, flashing the son of Hephaestus a thin lipped smile that wouldn't fool anyone. "Could you uh," He coughed. "Perhaps tell me where said group therapy is taking place, exactly?" Once again changing the subject to something he could bear. Or, at least slightly tolerate.

Sensing Tony's discomfort, Leo obliged. "Up at the Big House. Mellie's in charge of it."

Tony's eyes lit up at the mention of the sweet cloud nymph. "Oh, really? How's she and Coach doing?" The two started their walk to the Big House, continuing to chat pleasantly.

"They're doing good. Chuck is growing up nice. Says he and his brother are gonna be the greatest keepers ever," He once again resumed fiddling around with the pieces of machinery in his hands. "Hazel and Frank are doing good too. Frank's still Preater of New Rome and Hazel is helping with taking care of the equines at the camp. I'm still trying to convince Frank to turn into a horse and run around new Rome for their anniversary," Leo pouted. "But he said that wouldn't be appropriate for a Praetor."

Tony nodded. "Unfortunately, I've got to agree. But I'm happy for them," He said with a small smile. And in all honesty it was true. They were living their lives without the burden of a prophecy over their head, something he had longed for since he was thirteen years old. But the other part of him was jealous of his friends. Of how easy it was for them to move on with their lives after he had lost such a huge part of his. To continue on with a family, a home, and a job in the world of mythology while he had cast himself away into the mortal one.

It wasn't fair to think that of his friends. He had been the one to keep himself out of Camp, not anyone else. He could have come back if he wanted to.

But it wouldn't have felt right to come back, knowing that she would never be there to see him again. To laugh, and smile, and tease. Because there was no way for Camp to truly be home without her.

"So hows life as an Avenger?" Leo inquired. Tony bit back a sigh of frustration. That was a question he had been hoping to avoid during his visit, but he had known that it had been inevitable.

"Pretty good," He answered. His dark brown eyes were trained ahead, watching as the blue building grew larger as they got closer. "We had a tendency to but heads a lot, when we were first starting out, but I guess we're getting along better now." Tony shrugged, hands in his suit pockets. The fingers of his right hand brushed against the cold form of Riptide and he gripped it in his hands.

"No troubles keeping them in the dark?" Leo ventured.

"I'm not keeping them in the dark about anything." Tony said with pursed lips. "They never ask, so I've never told."

"You don't feel bad about any of it?"

Tony shook his head. "There's nothing to feel bad about."

They had finally reached the steps of the Big House. The wrap around porch was abandoned, and the chairs around the pinochle board sat empty too. Tony looked over the house, eyes drifting to look at the Attic window. He could see it in his minds eye; all those dusty relics of ancient heroes past. Maybe, once he'd passed, something of his would be left up there to collect dust and be forgotten.

"You should stop by the arena." Leo spoke, unaware of interrupting Tony's somewhat morbid thoughts. "Say hi to Mrs, O'Leary. Maybe show a few moves to The Percy Jackson fanclub."

Tony pulled a face. "I have a fanclub?" He asked, running a hand through his jet black hair.

"Oh yes," Leo confirmed. His lips twitched into a mischievous smile. "They idolize you. I might just give them tip them off that the great Percy Jackson is in Camp, right at this very moment."

Tony reached up and took off his sunglasses, eyes narrowed as he stared down at his friend in mock anger. "Don't you dare."