Festus clicked to notify Leo that the camp would be in sight in five minutes.

The pit in his stomach got bigger as he scanned the fog; waiting for it to come into view.

"Nervous?" Calypso asked.

"What me? Nah! What makes you think I am nervous?"

"You are starting to tense up more and a few minutes ago you blew fire out of your nostrils."

"I did?" Leo asked surprised that he had missed that.

"So why are you nervous? Shouldn't you be happy to see your friends again?"

"I am…it's not that…"

"Then what is it?"

"Well…the last time I visited Camp Jupiter I kind of…launched an attack on it…"

"You attacked it?"

"Not intentionally of course, but…I don't know how they are going to react."

"I am still wondering how you unintentionally attacked the Camp. Did your face cause an uproar?"

"Watch it."

"Or the smell."

"I don't smell!"

"You are just used to it so you can't smell it."

"You know I could throw you off this dragon."

"Pft please. Festus would throw you off before he would allow you to toss me."

Festus clicked in agreement.

"I don't need you taking her side!" Leo shouted over Calypso's laughter.

Suddenly the fog thinned and Leo saw it.

The camp was a little different than he remembered it. Of course the last time he was there it was only for a couple of hours so it wasn't bad that he couldn't remember it very well.

To his left was the city of New Rome. The place that he had bombed while being possessed by that eidolon.

Apparently the Romans had waited a while to get started on repairs of the buildings that had been damaged. In the distance Leo noticed wooden frames around holes in buildings that were under construction.

He turned his gaze to the right and saw the barracks where the Campers stayed and trained. What really drew his attention was in the center of the area out in the fields.

It was a war zone. Leo saw a fort set up with Roman Soldiers attempting to attack it.

Leo remembered Jason explaining that the campers at Camp Jupiter did this every once in a while. Essentially their version of Capture the Flag that those at Camp Half-Blood played.

"Why are we coming here again?" Calypso asked. "I thought that all your friends were at Camp Half-Blood."

"They were when I left, but some of them are from here. After three months I figure that they have come back here. Worth a look since we were close to it."

By now Festus was starting to descend near the fort. The commotion around the fort came to a halt and Leo saw some of the people pointing at them. It was hard to miss a giant metal dragon flying through the air.

The pit swelled into a watermelon once Festus landed. Within a few seconds the Romans had surrounded them with weapons drawn.

"Uhh…hi," Leo said and tried to force a smile. "Remember me?"

A painful silence fell as no one made any moves to get any closer or to respond.

"Stand down!" A familiar voice yelled. Leo quickly scanned the crowd in search of its owner when something pulled him from his seat.

If hugs could kill Frank Zhang would have been the best assassin out there. Leo felt like he was going to snap in half before he was released.

Frank still clung to Leo and pulled him up so Leo was at eye level with him; his feet dangling off the ground.

"You survived!" Frank shouted almost like a question. "You're really here right now."

"Told you I had a plan Zhang," he responded. Smiling was coming easier to him now. "Did you ever doubt me?"

Frank answered by pulling him into another crushing hug and cutting off his ability to breath.

"Zhang!" Leo gasped and Frank came to his senses.

"Oh…sorry," he replied and released Leo. He collapsed on the ground gasping for breath for a few seconds before he regained his composure.

"I already died once, buddy. I would rather not do it again anytime soon."

"I can agree with that," Frank was grinning from ear to ear and his eyes were starting to get a little watery.

"Hey! Don't start crying on me big guy," Leo said raising his hands up. He was starting to remember that everyone was still there and were fixated on what was happening. "I don't want-"

"Leo?" Another familiar voice said from behind him.

Leo turned and was face to face with Hazel. She was in full battle armor. Arion stood behind her with Hazel's sword attached to his waist.

"Hey Hazel," Leo said a little choked up. The moment didn't last. Before Leo could say anything else Hazel punched him in the jaw.

"You have been alive this whole time!" She screamed as she continued to hit him. "You have been alive and you didn't tell us! Where have you been? It's been three months!"

"Hazel I-"

"No!" She yelled as she slapped him across the face. "Do you have any idea how worried we were about you? We thought you were dead!" She shoved him and he stumbled back into Frank.

"We went along with your stupid plan and deceived everyone! Only to have you die while executing it! Now three months later we find out that you survived and you didn't have the decency to let us know!"

She stepped back and drew her sword. She swung around and aimed it right at his heart.

"Uh…Frank," Leo said. "A little help here…"

"Sorry buddy," Frank responded. "I'm staying out of this one."

"Hazel I-"

"No Valdez! Your time for explanation is up! I want to know what you were doing that was so important that you didn't have the decency to tell us that-"

"Hazel!" Leo yelled and nodded towards Festus. Hazel turned around and spotted Calypso. She looked from her to Leo back to Calypso and back to him.

"Well…that's still no excuse…"

"I can explain why it took so long," Leo responded raising his hands in surrender. "I didn't plan on it happening this way."

"You better have a good reason," She responded and dropped her sword. She lunged forward and pulled him into a fierce hug. When she finally pulled away Leo noticed that her eyes were watery.

"I'm glad you're alive," she said.

"Me too," Leo replied with a grin. Before he knew what was happening Frank had him in another bear hug.

"Ribs, Zhang! Ribs!"

Frank released him while laughing and Leo couldn't help, but smile.

"Well this is cause for a celebration!" Frank yelled. "Everyone I would like you to welcome back Leo Valdez! The crazy Half-Blood that helped defeat Gaea!"

Everyone started to cheer and Frank wrapped his arm around Leo's shoulders.

"C'mon," he said. "You have a lot of explaining to do!"