This chapter is a little better. It was longer but I dropped my laptop and it shut down. Without saving. But it's mostly introducing Jason a little bit better. I also decided there are no gods.

Jason

Everyday I have hated Percy Jackson for hurting Ruby. And everyday I thank him for doing it.

I would never admit it to Ruby, but I'm grateful he left. How else would I have her and Rose in my life? But I wish he hadn't been so cruel about it. Ruby still has scars. Both external and internal.

How do I make her feel worthy again? How do I show her that she is worthy? How do I tell her that?

I'm thinking about this as I take Rose to the park. Ruby had to take an unexpected extra shift and I volunteered to watch Rose.

The day seems perfect. Perfect temperature, the grass is green, kids shouting and laughing. I watch a couple with a little girl Rose's age. For a minute I imagine that that's Ruby and I with Rose. Happy, carefree, a family. Married.

I make a sound of frustration, causing the lady next to me to glance up. She tucks her purse closer to her and scoots away slightly.

If only Percy had at least filed the divorce papers before running away. At the very least.

For the millionth time I wonder why he did it. Percy has always been a seaweed brain. Always put Annabeth above all else. But to leave his wife and unborn child without warning? From what I hear they were perfectly happy. Had a nice house, no particular troubles, baby on the way, loved each other.

Annabeth randomly shows up and he deserts them without a thought.

That was what always confused me. In all my years knowing my cousin, he never seemed like a deserter. Never seemed like the kind to let go that quickly.

For his fatal flaw being loyalty he sure isn't very loyal. Unless Annabeth is involved.

"Jason?"

Not expecting anyone to be looking for me it takes a moment to realize the person is talking to me. Shielding my eyes from the sun I turn, squinting to make out the figure.

"Thalia?" I gasp in disbelief. Last time I checked she was in L.A. with her band, The Huntresses.

"Hey Grace. Miss me?" She laughs. Her hair has grown. It's past her shoulders and striped with silver and blue highlights. She's wearing her normal dark clothing, the only color a bright lightning bolt necklace.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, jumping up to greet her.

"I missed my little bro. I was actually going to surprise you at your apartment. But this works." She says, squeezing me in a tight hug. One of her spiky wrist bands stabs me in the back but I keep silent.

"And I was thinking you could introduce me to that girlfriend you wrote me about." She continues.

"About that-." I begin, but Rose chooses that exact moment to run up to me.

"Jase-on. I want to go home." She says in her loud little girl voice, rubbing her eyes with her frilly pink dress. She has dirt smeared on her face and one of her shoes are missing.

"Baby-sitting job?" Thalia asks, eying Rose warily. She isn't very good with kids. And I'm sure Rose's disheveled appearance isn't helping.

"Um, no, this is Rose. My girlfriends daughter." I try to explain, but Thalia cuts me off before I can say more.

"She looks like Percy." She says, surprising me. I was expecting her to drill me on why my girlfriend had a daughter.

"She is Percy's." I wished I could tell her some other less public place. But with Thalia you have to tell her immediately or you'll be in trouble. Big trouble.

For a moment Thalia simply stares at me. "We need to discuss this somewhere else. In private." She says finally.

I'm both relieved and scared. But I don't let her know that. Instead I set off in search of Rose's missing shoe. It takes me at least ten minutes to find it underneath the slide, half buried beneath some wood chips.

And the whole time Thalia is staring at me, tapping her foot impatiently. Trying to put off telling her for as long as possible I wipe Rose's face clean with a baby wipe and take her to the bathroom. I then check to make sure I have everything in her diaper bag and even buy her a corn dog on the way to the car.

Unluckily for me Thalia took a taxi so I'm responsible for giving her a ride. Which means I'll have to tell her everything on the way to the apartment.

Thalia waits until I've buckled up Rose and I'm in the middle of traffic to began questioning me.

"So you're dating Ruby. Our cousins ex-wife."

"Technically they're still married." I automatically tell her, and then wish I hadn't. Her eyes go wide and I just know she has ten thousand more questions now.

"How are they still married?" She looks so confused I feel a tiny bit better. At least she isn't yelling.

"Well Percy never filed for a divorce when he took off. And with him not there to sign the papers when Ruby filed it, they never got fully divorced. Legally Ruby is still his wife." I try not to sound frustrated. I've explained this so many times I pretty much have what I'm going to say memorized.

"How come, for three years I haven't known this?" She demands.

I shrug. I honestly thought she knew. How could she not when it caused such a family uproar? And there's the fact that she never made the connection that my girlfriend had the same name and lived in the same city as Ruby. For being so smart she could be extremely stupid.

"Wow Thals. Suddenly I don't feel so stupid." I tease, flinching away when she goes to punch me.

"How is she?" She's suddenly quiet, staring down at her hands.

"What?"

"How is Ruby? Is she still…" Thalia trails off awkwardly.

"Suicidal?"

"Yeah."

I take a moment to ponder her unexpected inquiry. Is she still suicidal? I glance in the mirror at Rose, sleeping with half a corn dog in her hand. Would Ruby leave her? Would she leave me?

I reach my hand back, taking her half-eaten meal from her. She moves suddenly, momentarily trapping my finger in her small hand. No. I don't think Ruby could do that. She would never leave Rose. Or me.

"I don't think she is. But she does have a trouble believing she's worth anything. Percy leaving really damaged her. She changed. She thought if she was like Annabeth he would come back. And she's been really depressed lately."

Thalia is silent for a long time. She doesn't talk again until we're nearly to the apartment.

"I can't believe he just left her like that. I thought he was different. '

"Me to Thals. We all did.

Thank you to everyone who gave me another chance after that hideous first chapter. I'm still deciding who to include in this fic. If you liked this and have any suggestions please tell me. I don't particularly enjoy constructive criticism but it helps me improve. :)