I'm so sorry for not updating! I'm SOOOO sorry. I know you probably hate me. So, to apologize, I'm going to update as many chapters as I can.
After going through airport security, buckling up both Percy and Nico into the car, and giving Sally all the news from camp about what has been happening, Thalia sat next to Percy's mom in the front and silently watched the busy scenery go by.
Sally chattered on and on, and kept looking back at Percy.
"I thought he'd never be this young again." She sighed, and then slumped into a comfortable silence.
They reached Sally's apartment soon, despite the waves of crowds out on the street.
Paul was waiting for them.
"Percy!" He cried out in delight. "He looks just like all of the pictures from when he was young."
"Of course he does." Thalia tried not to laugh. "He was turned back into a little kid, so he's exactly the way he was before."
"He's exactly the way he was when he was a baby?" Sally asked suddenly, as though it was news to her.
"Yes." Thalia confirmed.
"Oh, honey, I am so sorry about that. I didn't know that he would be the same as he was when he was young."
Thalia held back a small smile. "It's okay. He hasn't been that bad, really."
"Who?" Percy suddenly asked from the couch, where he had taken up fort.
"Who?" Nico echoed from the middle of the kitchen, where he was feeding Evangeline.
"Oh, Nico!" Thalia cried out. "What a mess!"
With a sigh, she walked over and lifted him out of the big puddle of orange juice and cheerios.
"Where did you get this food, anyway?" She snapped.
"Oh, honey, don't worry." Sally gently stepped in to wash Nico for her.
"No, no." Thalia shook her head. "I need to do this on my own. Otherwise, the gods will think I'm shedding my chores."
Sally beamed at her, obviously proud at the amount of responsibility Thalia was shouldering, and the amount of determination she had to keep the responsibility.
"I've got to go to work, honey. Bye, Thalia. Bye, Percy. Bye, Nico." Paul kissed his wife, and headed out the door.
For a moment, Thalia felt a pang of sadness, knowing that she would never get to feel a kiss good-bye from a husband. But it was only a pang, and she replaced it quickly with a scowl.
Boys are stupid, anyway. She decided.
"I'll clean up the kitchen while you take care of Nico." Sally caught her less-than-happy expression.
"No, you shouldn't. You deserve a break." Thalia immediately protested. "I'll clean it up when I'm finished. But, I would really appreciate it if you could give Percy a snack."
Sally's face lit up at the thought of being useful, and Thalia escaped to the bathroom.
"What am I going to do with you?" She directed her question to the Evangeline Barbie doll.
"Hug Evangeline." Nico proposed.
"No, Nico, I am not going to hug your stupid doll." Thalia snapped.
"Shtupid?" Nico asked suddenly, thrilled at a new vocabulary word.
Thalia groaned. Boys were such a waste of time.