-There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you-

Maya Angelou

Thalia trudged along behind Luke. When you got too tired to walk, but had to keep going, you trudged. Thalia hated trudging. She also hated following Luke, it wasn't her nature to be the follower, but she was too tired to run ahead of him, like she had done before.

"You know, we could stop and rest," Luke called over his shoulder, grinning down at her, "we need to make camp anyway, it's getting dark."

Thalia scowled, but she was glad he had suggested it; she needed to rest, she just didn't want to be the one to say anything.

"Fine," she replied decisively, "we'll reach the top of this hill, and set up camp."

"If by 'camp' you mean the two blankets we brought, then sure." He smirked back at her.

She flashed him a wry smile and then promptly ran ahead of him.

Thalia watched as Luke tried to set fire to the small pile of leaves they had made. Repeatedly he struck a match with quick steady fingers, and lowered gently into the brush, but only smoke would come out of it. Finally he threw down the matches in frustration, his lips pursed and his hands running through his hair in frustration. Thalia smirked as she saw a scowl appear on Luke's face.

"What are you laughing at?" He grumbled, but she knew he wasn't too put out by it, "No fire means we freeze tonight, unless you want to snuggle to keep warm."

"Tempting," Thalia laughed, and his mouth twitched up into a smile, "if we have to resort to that, I call being big spoon."

"I'm twice as big as you!"

"But you have a fragile disposition," She teased, "I think we both know that I'm more qualified for big spoon."

"Qualified? Qualified?" Luke spluttered, "I freaking ooze qualification! Unqualified my ass..."

"See?" She shrugged, "your getting all worked up, and will probably break down soon and need me to comfort you, which is my duty as big spoon."

"You know what?" Luke said, mocking a hurt tone, "I'm taking your snuggling privileges, you can just freeze then."

"Alright, alright, stand back," she warned, cracking her knuckles and winking at him, "or if you want to get burned, you could ignore me."

"What are you- augh!" he yelped as a bolt of lightning leapt from her hand, it wasn't hard for her now, she knew how to look for the static in the air, and funnel it through her body and out her hand. The brush immediately caught fire, washing them both with warmth. Thalia leaned back against a gnarled tree stump she was using as a pillow, and grinned at Luke, who looked at her wildly, trying to figure out what had just happened.

"Okay, so being Zeus's kid has some advantages," he said, unthinkingly, as he gave her a lopsided smile, which dropped as he saw her reproachful expression.

He looked down sheepishly, and threw her a granola bar from his pack. She repented, and smiled tentatively, unwrapping the snack, and taking a bite. An awkward silence fell over the camp.

"So what's your story?" Luke crossed his arms and leaned forward as he rested them on his knees. Looking over at her from the fire he elaborated, "You don't have to tell me, but I'm betting there's a good one, since you're a demigod, and big three material."

Thalia pursed her lips; did she want to tell this guy she'd known for barely a week her 'story'? She sighed, and glanced up at him.

"I ran away because... "She shrugged, pushing thoughts of Jason out of her mind, "well, what's usually the reason kids run away?"

Luke looked like he was contemplating this, before he shifted closer to her reaching for a stick that he started to play with.

"My dad, Hermes, somehow wound up making my mom go crazy. I don't know the details," he started, staring into the fire. "Anyway, she would have these fits, and her eyes would go green, and she'd start talking about the future. Used to scare the crap outta me when I was little, but I got used to it."

Thalia shuddered, she edged closer and bumped shoulders with him, trying to give him a reassuring smile, uncertain how exactly to deal with his confession. She wasn't very good at comforting people.

"What did she say about the future?" Thalia asked hesitantly, looking over at him as he blew the hair out of his eyes, she liked how it always seemed to always fall right in his way.

"Oh, all the standard horror stuff" he said casually, waving it off. She punched him in the arm. "ow, i dunno, she was never, completely… coherent, during her attacks. Mostly she just shook me a lot and groaned nonsense."

"That's not right for your father to leave you with her," Thalia told him, putting her hand on his knee, "he should have come back."

"But he didn't."

"Then its his loss I guess," She grinned at him, "who needs the gods anyways?"

He returned her smile gratefully. A glint appeared in Thalia's eye, as an idea struck her,and ignoring the confused face of Luke, she reached into her belt and pulled out one of her hunting knives. Alarm crossed Luke's face as he looked from the knife to her. She turned to face him, handing him the knife.

"You can have it, your sword won't always be enough, and I have two more, and my spear, a shield, and my hidden daggers."

"Paranoid much?"

"I call it, 'Prepared'"

Thalia grinned and rolled her eyes, and turned back the fire, Luke didn't know it, but this was first gift Thalia had ever given to anyone besides Jason.

"I have an idea," Luke began, his hands drumming on his legs, "Hold out your hand."

Thalia was hesitant for a moment, and then she reached out her hand, holding it palm up for Luke. He took it and pressed the knife into it, drawing the smallest amount of blood. It stung, and Thalia had to stifle a gasp of surprise and pain, her eyes widening as she looked up at Luke, "What the hell are you doing?"

He grinned at her, and pressed the knife into his own hand, drawing blood, and pressed their two hands together. A spark of electricity connected the two palms, surprising them both.

"I'm pretty sure this is how diseases are spread." Thalia stated, looking pointedly at their joined bleeding hands.

"Oh shut up, now you have to promise something," Luke said, grinning, before his grin dropped into an earnest expression, "I promise… that I'll never hurt you."

Thalia knew he couldn't keep that promise, but something inside her was beginning to open again, something she hadn't known was closed. Luke made her feel, happy again, lighter. She thought of something to promise.

"I promise I'll never leave you."

AWWWW!

touching moment...

i hope :$

okay, so i figured i needed a few happy thuke filled chapters before i got into the

big scary plot of doom so i hope you all enjoy the few that i do pop out,

cause i doubt there will be many...

REVIEW :3

^i really, really want to hear what you have to say, even if you were just reading for fun, it makes my day a little better with every comment :)

LOVE 3

miss. alaneous :)