The Argo ll was fantastic, and it always seemed to find a way to amaze people. Percy thought that it would be perfect for his areas of talents. Hazel loved the way it was built, seeing as she was stuck in a broken down boat on her last quest. Frank thought that the structure made it big enough to carry everyone on board, without having to share space. Jason loved the way it could float in the air, even if Percy was freaking out the entire time they were in the air. Annabeth of course loved helping build it, which she seemed to distract her the whole time she was working. Piper loved how it looked; it made her feel at home. For Leo, it meant the people, who cared about him, his friends, were on board with him.

They'd spent a few weeks on board, when people began to bond more. Leo connected with Nico trough Mythomagic, which seemed to have surprised everyone somehow. Leo talked about random facts with Annabeth, mostly stuff he knew about boats from his time building the Argo. Hazel and Leo both like drive in movies, which was weird because most people thought Leo seemed more of a Blu-ray guy. Frank enjoyed talking about weapons, mostly bows and arrows, and how they were made. By the end of the second week, everyone found out something about each other, including Percy learning that Annabeth could juggle. This was odd that he didn't know, but whatever.

Leo loved it all. He felt at home with these people, not just some Hephaestus kid, he was Leo Valdez. People actually asked him how he was doing, instead of looking at him and shrugging. These people cared about him more than many people would, even though he didn't deserve it.

Most days would go through the same schedule, documented below by Annabeth Chase, Daughter of Athena.

1. Wake up at 7 am, and head up to the dining hall for breakfast. (Leo do not bring your bunny slippers with you, they freak out Jason)

2. Once done with breakfast, head to your room to get ready and dressed for the day. (Make sure to dress ready for fight, you never know these days)

3. 4 hours of free time. (Leo, that does not get to steer the boat for 4 hours. Use this time to train, or relax.)

4. At lunch time. (Be on time for meetings! Frank, remember to drop whatever creepy game you're playing. It does not matter more than the world.)

5. The rest of the day planning. (Remember, I am not the only person who should be planning. Percy and Leo, Planning does not mean turn note-book pages into paper air planes. Demeter might just strike you out of the sky for that, plus if you hit me again you're both dead.)

6. Some well deserved sleep, you're going to need it!

Leo had to admit that having friends was nice. He headed down to the dining room; it was 7:30 am, when he heard laughter. It made him remember his other friends. The ones he had left behind with the rest of his past, the parts he wasn't ready to share.

The laughing got louder; he could hear it like it was being thrown at his face. He then slipped into a flashback, one he didn't want to see.

His second foster home was a nightmare. The people stared at him at first, which made him feel uncomfortable, and then walked on past him. Then they became all smiles, which was even weirder than before. No person should smile that much, it didn't seem natural, or at least to him.

Once the social worker had left, their smiles turned upside down, allowing their true forms, known as frowns, to come alive. They shook their heads and shoved him into a room.

At first he thought he was alone in the dark, but that wasn't true. When he flipped on the light he saw a figure of a boy. He was about nine, thin and short. He looked like he had just come from the garbage bin outside an old dinner. He was pale, with red lifeless hair. He had the weirdest bright blue eyes Leo had ever seen. His hair was short, and messy. He had short thin hands, that made Leo think he would break them by accident if he gave him a high-five, looked as if they hadn't moved in ages.

The boy was silent, if his chest wasn't moving Leo would have thought he was dead. He didn't even seem to notice that Leo had walked in, or pushed in for that matter.

"Um, hi. My name is Leo, what's your name?" He asked.

"I'm Ryan, ad welcome to hell." The boy sighed. He said it like he said it to anyone who moved into this room. "You won't be leaving anytime soon."

Leo looked at him weirdly, wondering how he knew he was planning his escape, and slightly curious of his choice in words. "I don't know what you're talking about. This looks like a great place."

Ryan looked at him like he said he wanted him to do jump off a cliff. Then he laughed. "Oh, I see how it is! You're not ready to leave yet, or you're pretending no to be. I'm glad to have a roommate and everything, but you need to get out of here" Ryan whispered the last part in Leo's ear.

"Um, ok Ryan. Now you're the creepy one, why should I leave?" he asked.

"Do you even know what this place is?" Leo shook his head. All he knew was they couldn't place him in a home yet, so they placed him at a boy orphanage. "Oh I see, with you it's all candy and treats. But for me, it's a real life nightmare. What did you do that made you unadoptable?"

Leo held back his tears. "I don't know!" That's when Leo lost it. He burst into tears, only wanting to understand what was going on.

"Hey now, how old are you?" Ryan asked him in a soft voice.

"I'm eight." Leo responded.

"Well Leo, meet your new big brother. I'll make sure you get out of here safe, ok? I'll make sure of it." Ryan said hugging Leo. "It's all going to be good."

"What's wrong with him guys?" Leo heard a girl say.

"This happened before, on our quest. He was like this when we were sleeping in a sewer." Jason said. "It's most likely the same thing."

Leo had been friends with Ryan for two months before they had come up with a plan to escape. Ryan had been like the older brother he never had. He always made sure that he was ok, not caring about himself. He always made sure he had eaten enough. He even told Leo a story before they went to bed. Ryan really cared about Leo, and Leo could tell.

They planned to run away next week; it seemed like the perfect time. New fosters would be coming in, and no one would notice they were gone for a while. All their attention would be on the new kid. Wow, sounds like High school!

They were packing light, a change of clothes, food, water, another pair of shoes, and a keep sake. The rest would be left behind, that way they wouldn't notice for a while, and it wouldn't slow them down. If they were going to run away, they needed to do it the smart way, and the smart way was always planned.

A week later, both boys were climbing out the window, both wanting freedom. They were so close to it too. All they had to do was run, which wasn't hard for them. They would be out of here in no time, and they could have normal lives.

They were soon down the street; it seems no one had noticed yet. It was odd how so much happens at night, yet it was so silent. People can't see you, but they can hear you coming. That's how he felt as he ran out of the neighborhood, silence, and then footsteps. Caution, yet no danger.

"Where do we go?" Leo asked Ryan.

Ryan gave him a look. "Not sure yet."

Then the place changed, he was in a sewer. Ryan was sitting with him and a girl. She seemed to be shaken up, she looked ten. She was older than the two boys, yet they were comforting her for some reason. She was trying to stop crying.

"It's not fair!" The girl sobbed. Her brown hair was cut to reach her shoulders. Her blue eyes shinned with tears, she continued to cry. "What was I to do, they didn't want me, and I was a waste of space to them."

"Don't worry Kara, we'll be your new family." Ryan said patting her back.

She stopped crying. "You will?"

"We will." Leo smiled.

The girl turned to us. "Why are you guys here? What did your parents do?" She asked.

"Mine died in a car accident; I only had my mom anyway. My dad went missing before I was born." Ryan laughed. "Funny, I was the only one to survive that. My older sister and my mom died."

"And you?"

"My mom and I went to her workshop late one night. A fire started, and her door locked. I was saved, while she burned." Leo sighed feeling the tears coming.

"My dad doesn't love me. He always seems to remember my mom when she looks at me. It doesn't matter now."

They all looked at each other, not knowing what to do. They all had tragic stories from a young age. None of them wanted it this way, it just happened. Then a smile crossed Leo's face.

"We'll be friends!" Leo said smiling.

The other two looked at him for a minute, and then broke out laughing. "Yea, we'll stay together."

A year later they were caught, but it was the best year of their lives. When they were caught, Leo was only nine. He was sitting next to them in the back seat of the car. He was beginning to cry.

"Don't worry Leo, we'll see each other again." Kara said hugging him.

"Yea, we'll see you again. Even if we are separated, we'll find each other." Ryan muttered.

That was the last thing they told Leo before they were separated. He still remembers those words as he was sent to a new foster home. He ran away each time, and each time he prayed to meet up with them again.

Leo blinked as he saw his worried friends. It was pretty awkward, mainly because everyone was staring at him. He moved his legs, finding out they had fallen asleep. He turned to them.

"So...What did I miss?" Leo asked.

"Two demigods are running underneath us. We were going to pick them up." Percy said.

Leo ran to the helm of the ship, and entered the control room. He grabbed the Wii remote, and pushed it down so it would land. Once they had landed, Leo jumped out, and saw something he never though he would see again.

"Ryan! Kara! Over here!" Leo yelled at them.

"Leo? Is that you?" Ryan said to him. He had become very tall over the years. He was about Jason's height, and Kara wasn't so far behind. It was scary to see how tall they were compared to him.

"Leo!" Kara ran up and hugged him. "Wait you're a demigod too?"

Leo stepped back. "How did you know?"

"We ran into a bunch of Romans. They told Ryan here that he was the only red-headed son of Apollo. I was told I'm a daughter of Demeter. So, what does that make you?" Kara asked putting her hands on her hips.

"Hephaestus." Leo mumbled.

"I should have known, he always had a way with tools. So, did you make that baby?" Ryan asked pointing to the ship.

Leo nodded, and frowned. "Why are you taking forever guys?"

Jason ran up behind him. "You know them?"

"We ran away together a long time ago." Leo sighed. Leo went up in flames; he didn't mean to, it just happened.

"Leo, calm down!" Jason ordered.

"Wait, this whole time you were a human torch, and you made us make a fire?" Ryan asked laughing. "So not cool dude!"

"I don't like my gift." Leo shifted.

"Wait, the fire? You started it? Is that why you hate your gift?" Kara asked putting the pieces together.

"I was a sacred seven-year old, I had no idea what would happen." Leo said, tears forming.

"Leo we missed you!"