"Oh my boy" Mrs Jackson said weakly, sitting on the edge of Percy's bed and stroking his cheek where his mask didn't cover him. Annabeth stood nearby, beside Praetor, thinking rapidly. Luke was Kronos. Percy was Typhoon. Annabeth was screwed. And Thalia? Thalia was caught in the middle of it. It had been two days since the blast- two days for Luke and Thalia to come up with another crazy scheme to cause Chaos. Two days since Percy lost consciousness in her arms and didn't respond to her calling him.

"Mrs Jackson your son will be fine; I have my best healers on it" Praetor reported, looking as regal as ever, stood in her polished armour without a single plume out of place on her helmet. Stood next to her, Annabeth looked more than a little rough. Her feathers were charred even worse than before, her skin burned and bruised from punching the ice wall and she could feel how the smoke in her lungs made her feel all heavy and slow, still lingering even after extremely good medical attention. Just as suspected, Praetor had her own secret army; she owned a huge villa just outside of the city, which could house hundreds of people- more like a giant Roman palace really, and it was full of soldiers armed to the teeth with golden weapons that would make the museum rich if it had them.
"The twelfth legion of Rome is bound to secrecy; not even the first team knew it was here. Men and Women come to me from across the globe, and they train to fight. Some have powers, some don't; but you'll never find a more worthy group of soldiers"

"Why haven't they helped? They could bring Luke down easily" Annabeth asked. Praeor's expression didn't change.

"Because this isn't their problem. I told them to stay out of the way until I decided the problem was going to bother us- I won't send my soldiers into a war that will get them killed" She said, and Annabeth growled.
"You saw what they did to Leo and Typhoon and Oracle" She guessed, and Praetor nodded.
"Three people with extraordinary powers. If Luke Castellan can hurt them, what will he do to men and women with only swords and shields to their names?"
"They could do something else" Annabeth suggested.
"Oh? Like what? What can my soldiers do for a big shot like you?" Praetor replied icily. She always had that snappy tone when it came to Annabeth- mostly because as Night Owl she'd refused to have Praetor as her partner. It wasn't a personal thing, she wanted to work alone- but it didn't help that Typhoon came along and she'd gained one anyway. Praetor had been cold to her since.
"Every one of our parents had a seat of power; a place, an object- something that they used to anchor their powers. Gaea destroyed the First team's and they became sitting ducks"
"And you think Kronos has one?" Praetor asked, with a disbelieving tone. It was crazy, but Annabeth had read up on Greek Legends that the first team had based themselves off; that Gaea and even Kronos matched up to. They'd given themselves those names depending on what powers they possessed; they had no other names like Annabeth and their children had. Kronos was like the first team; he was sure to have some sort of anchor like them.
"I'm sure he does. All we have to do is find it" She confirmed.
"How do we do that?"
"We research. Before the first team, before Hypnos put Kronos to sleep he must have had somewhere as his base; that will be where it is. Think, Praetor. Where does no one dare to go, even now, because of Kronos? Your soldiers will take it down"

Praetor looked thoughtful under her golden helmet, a strand of dark hair falling loose across her forehead. Did Annabeth know her too? Did she know everyone that she worked with every night? She was beginning to find that pieces previously impossible to place were now falling together, and the result was worrying, because of how painfully obvious it was. How it wasn't a coincidence that she and Leo worked in the same place; but a pattern.
"When we find it, you have my word that we will destroy it. But you have to keep up your side and stop Luke and Thalia. No doubt they know where this place is and have it guarded"

Annabeth nodded, and turned back to Typhoon and Mrs Jackson. Sally was watching them quietly, keeping a soothing hand on her son's cheek, and Annabeth gave her a small smile of reassurance. No doubt she would be worrying about her child and about the danger that was getting ever more insistent every passing moment./p

"You better be careful, girls; I don't want any of you getting too hurt" She said, always so caring to them even if they weren't her children. Since her mother died Mrs Jackson was a God-send to Annabeth, and now she knew who she really was she was only more comforting to be around.
"Don't worry Sally, Praetor here is very good at what she does; and you know I'm a tough one to kill" She promised, and Sally smiled.
"I know Night Owl- but so is my son, and look at him now"

Annabeth did agree that Percy didn't look so good. Since Praetor didn't know who he was and she was stubborn about the whole 'secret Identity' rule, his mask had stayed on, but from what was visible of his face he had gone too far with the water powers. Annabeth had never seen such raw power before- Poseidon was always very graceful with the water, only using exact movements and never wavering with his control. Percy, however- it was chaotic, unconcentrated. He'd just tapped into his gifts and let them go. Annabeth had been terrified when the building collapsed around them and water pummelled everything to the ground, always knowing that Typhoon was strong but to this extent? She was surprised.

He seemed to be paying the price for his actions though. His cheeks were very pale, his breathing was uneven like he was in a restless sleep and he had a fever; the healers had only just kept it under control. Praetor left, sweeping out of the room with purpose, and Annabeth crept closer to Percy's bed.
"I didn't quite catch on until Luke-Kronos said his name" Annabeth said quietly "I underestimated him"
"He has that problem a lot; he got his father's inconspicuous looks- pretty, but innocent" Sally agreed, gently pulling Percy's mask away, revealing his dark, messy hair and naturally mischievous features. Now that Annabeth looked- really, really looked- she could see the sea in him; she could see Poseidon, though the first Hero always hid his face too. Annabeth had seen his face from the Pictures in Percy's bedroom, and they looked very alike. He smelled like the sea too, and only now did it occur to Annabeth that all these things should have fallen into place earlier.
"You know, sometimes I can see exactly what you're thinking" Sally said, and Annabeth looked to her, confused. She'd been told she was tough to figure out- now she was just confused.
"What do you mean?" She asked curiously. Sally smiled her warm smile.
"You're wondering how you didn't know sooner- but there's a lot you don't know until someone mentions it. You remind me of your mother most of the time, but there's a lot of your father in you too- you think you should figure it all out before you have all the answers. Maybe that's why you two don't get along; you spend more time trying to figure each other out then you do actually getting to know each other"
"You're very smart, Mrs Jackson" Annabeth muttered, and that surprised her; she was used to snapping when someone tried to talk about her parents. Like they were butting into her business, or trying to manipulate her with information. But Sally wasn't like that- Annabeth began to wonder if most of the people around her were just trying to help too.
"I know you, Night Owl. Even though you don't like people knowing about you. Not everyone is out to get you, you know. I know it seems like Percy is when he comes along trying to be the hero, but he'd never do anything to hurt you- he is incredibly loyal to his friends"

Annabeth sighed, looking down at Percy and realising he was in that bed because he wouldn't let Luke take her with him. He could've handed her over and he and his mother and Tyson could've left, but he didn't; and Annabeth couldn't figure out why.
"Why does he think of me as a friend, Mrs Jackson? I've been so horrible to him" She asked, and Sally chuckled.
"He's determined to help you Honey, he was in the same position as you when the first team fell. He cares about you a lot; as a hero, and as Annabeth" She said softly.
"I just- I just wanted to be as good as Mom. I wanted to save everyone, but to do that-
"No one was allowed to get close, because no one was allowed to save you. I understand, Annabeth; I loved a hero, and its hard when you try to lead two lives, sometimes they get mixed up. You are just so stubborn that you won't let anybody help you set them straight. You've been trying to juggle it for three years- I think its time to let go, don't you? We miss the old Annabeth as much as you miss your mother"

Annabeth felt like something had just shattered around her; like someone had come into her room one morning and opened the window, letting the bright light in and waking her like her father used to do when she was really little. She burst into tears, and Mrs Jackson had swept around the bed to her side in seconds; scooping her up like she was a child and rocking her gently. It reminded her of the coffee shop and Percy comforting her; that safe little bubble that she was in that day, away from her problems as long as she was with him and his stupid grin.
"There now- I bet you feel two tonnes lighter now, don't you?" Sally asked, and Annabeth nodded, hugging her tight and letting it out. She felt like all the walls were crumbling, all that armour she'd made for herself was getting a little too heavy now and she could take it off. She didn't realise she was talking until she'd finished- telling Mrs Jackson about being worried about Thalia-and Luke, because how had Kronos controlled him like that?- worried about the museum since half its employees were missing, worried about Percy because he was an idiot and decided to flood a building rather than just let her go- talking suddenly seemed so easy when before it was her worst nightmare. Mrs Jackson listened, straightening the feathers on Annabeth's head the way a mother would smooth her child's hair, gentle and soothing.
"You're very smart Annabeth, I know you'll figure out a way to solve this- and you have a team of heroes, hunters, a Cyclops and a secret Roman army to help you out" Sally laughed, and Annabeth smiled.
"Sounds a lot easier when you put it that way" She mumbled. Sally wiped her tears.
"That's because you were always thinking of it as 'I have to solve this problem on my own and all these people are in the way'. You're never on your own in this honey, even if it felt like it when Thalia and Luke were the ones against you"
"Thank you, Mrs Jackson"
"Its quite alright. Now; I'm going to go and demand to know what these healers are playing at since they haven't appeared since last time; look after my boy whilst I'm gone?"

Annabeth nodded and Sally got up, giving her a warm, motherly smile before disappearing out of the door. Annabeth turned to Percy; once more, he was drooling in his sleep, and she picked up the small tub of ambrosia that Sally managed to salvage from the infirmary before Tyson brought her here. She had been feeding Percy a little at a time, so Annabeth continued, hoping that maybe it would bring his fever down even if it was a little damaged in the heat of the fire. She relaxed in the quiet of the room; it was warm, far away from the chaos of Olympus despite Annabeth being able to see the town from the window. Percy mumbled a little after swallowing three spoonfulls of ambrosia, so hopefully it wasn't useless after being in a fire and then a flood. Annabeth thought that Percy had gained some colour in his cheeks, which was reassuring; he looked like he was only sleeping then. Just like when Annabeth was sleeping next to him, with his hair sticking up everywhere, limbs loose and relaxed, though they were laying on the bed now instead of wrapped around her.

It took two healers coming and going and a man covered in eyeballs to bring in food before Percy stirred. Annabeth was still a little shaken from the man smiling at her, only for his tongue and teeth to have eyeballs on them too, to notice that Percy was conscious at first.
"Hey, where am I? Night Owl?" Percy asked suddenly, and Annabeth turned, relief flooding her; she didn't realise how anxious she had been these past few days until he was awake.
"You drool in your sleep" She blurted, and he frowned, wiping his mouth subconsciously.
"Thanks" He muttered, looking like a kicked puppy.
"Crap, sorry, that just- came out. Are you alright?" She asked, and He shrugged.
"Do I still have all my arms and legs?" He asked.
"Yes"
"Am I bald?"
"No"
"Has my skin changed colour?"
"I think you're a little more tanned" Annabeth joked. He grinned.
"Then I think I'm okay, don't you?" He asked. She rolled her eyes.
"Of course. Though you're a little gross from having a fever and being in a fire and stuff" She told him, and he pushed himself up onto his elbows, moving his legs experimentally under the white sheet that he'd been tucked under.
"Wait, where's my…?" He wondered, feeling his head for the mask that he usually wore. Annabeth pulled at it, where it was attached to the back of his suit. He looked at her with wide green eyes.
"So you- you can see me"
"Well duh, seaweed brain, unless you're invisible, which I don't think you are"
"Why do you call me that? Annabeth calls me that" Percy said. Annabeth smiled.
"I am Annabeth, idiot" She told him. He frowned in confusion, a cute little crease appearing on his forehead.
"You- but-
Annabeth just waited for it to sink in for him, watching him in amusement as he thought it through.
"Prove it" He said, and she saw that one coming, mentally preparing herself for showing him her face. It was something she'd promised never to do for anyone- the point of having the feathers was so that no one knew who she was. But, it was time to let that go. She let the feathers disappear, her curly blonde hair falling down over her shoulders, her eyes fading to grey, the feathers vanishing from her face until she was just Annabeth again; and just Percy faced her, watching her in awe.
"That was awesome- I assumed it was a wig or something" He said, and she chuckled.
"A wig made of feathers?" She asked, and he shrugged, smiling.
"You never know with heroes, they do anything to keep their identities a secret"
"And yet here we are"

Percy was quiet for a moment, smiling to himself, before he raised an eyebrow.
"You seem different, Wise girl- you're not biting my head off" He said. Annabeth shrugged.
"Me and your Mom had a talk. She made me realise that pushing everyone away wasn't gonna help"
"My Mom is amazing" Percy said, and Annabeth laughed.
"That she is. So, did you know about the big Roman army that Praetor was running under our noses?" She asked. Percy shook his head.
"This is the first I'm hearing of it, though I had a suspicion that she had some sort of secret weapon to use if she needed it. Always so paranoid- but the Praetor is smart"
Annabeth agreed with that. Having a personal army could solve a lot of problems down the line; maybe Annabeth should invest in that.
"But for now she just had herself, a team of heroes, a Cyclops and half a group of hunters on her side; and in her personal opinion, Annabeth thought it was more than enough to bring the bad guys down.

Hey! Im so sorry for not updating, I was away all summer without any internet so I couldn't add anything, and I hate slow updates so I know how annoying this must be! Enjoy the chapter, tell me what you think!