AN: I don't own PJO or HoO. Please leave a review or favorite/follow this story if you like it.

The next morning, the demigods met again underneath the Hephaestus cabin to watch more parts of Leo's life.

Although Leo's friends had been a little worried that they would see Leo's deepest darkest secrets, so far Leo's life seemed happy and calm. His mother was loving, and they were happy working as mechanics in Houston.

But if things stayed happy, how did Leo end up in a school for delinquents in Arizona? And how did his mom die? Although only Jason, Piper, and Frank knew that Leo's mother had been killed in a fire.

When everyone was settled, with Hazel and Harley volunteering to sit on the floor again, the screen turned back on.

Insert memory of Leo's mom dying

"Oh my gods," Hazel whispered.

"Poor Leo… I didn't know any of that." Percy said, looking extremely guilty.

"Why didn't he tell us this stuff?" Annabeth demanded. Jason, Piper, and Frank glanced at each other, feeling a little bad that they hadn't told the story to their friends sooner. But to be fair, it wasn't their story to tell.

"Actually, Leo told us." Piper said guiltily. "Jason, Frank, and I knew. I'm sorry, we probably should have told you-"

"No, it's fine," Annabeth said, holding up a hand to stop Piper's apology. "If Leo wanted the rest of us to know, Leo would have told us." She turned to the screen. "This whole thing feels like a huge invasion of privacy, to me."

"It's for the best." Percy assured her, but Annabeth didn't look sure.

The screen turned back on.

This time the screen read; Houston, Texas, Social services, Leo's age: eight.

"This must be right after his mom died." Annabeth speculated.

Leo sat in a waiting room in what looked like a hospital. A large man in a suit came in, talking to Leo's aunt Rosa. Leo looked totally dejected-he had bags under his eyes, he sat slumped staring at the floor, and his clothes were clearly second-hand and too big. And he wore the army jacket, so it must be after his mom died.

A name appeared over the large man's head: Tommy Smith.

Tommy was talking to Rosa angrily, but quiet enough that Leo couldn't hear what was going on. "Ma'am, he needs a home, and he's just lost his mother. You are his only family left, how can you just-"

"No!" Rosa said, and she didn't bother being quiet. Leo's head shot up to stare at his aunt Rosa with big hurt eyes. "I will not take him in! He is a diablo. If it weren't for him, my sister would still be alive. I don't care what happens to him!"

Everyone gritted their teeth. "If I ever find her, I'm sticking my knife up her-" Piper growled. Hazel went pink and fanned herself with one hand. "She's the reason Leo thought it was his fault!"

In the waiting room, Leo shrunk into his seat, eyes brimming with tears. "Do you hear me, diablo child?" Rosa shouted, and she stormed towards Leo. "This is all your fault! You killed my sister! You are worthless and will amount to nothing!"

Leo started crying, and Tommy angrily called for security. Two men in security guard uniforms came in and pulled Rosa out, with her still shouting at Leo in spanish.

Tommy glared after Rosa, then sat down next to Leo. "You shouldn't listen to your aunt. This wasn't your fault." Tommy offered a kind smile.

"Him I like." Hazel said, nodding approvingly. "Who is he, anyway?"
"Leo's social worker." Jason said. "Leo mentioned him once."

"She's right." Leo mumbled.

"No she isn't. Don't worry, you're not going to stay with Rosa. I'm going to find a new home for you, where you'll be safe."

"But I want to live with my mama!" Leo said, bursting into tears. "Quiero que mi mama de vuelta!"

Jason and Piper exchanged a glance. Leo was like their little brother, and they wished they could jump into the screen and comfort him. Nobody should have to go through this, but Leo had. And even when he was fifteen at camp half blood, he had carried his burden alone.

Tommy looked pained. "I'm sorry, Leo. She's not coming back. But we can find a new place where you can be just as happy, okay?"

"I don't think you can do that." Leo said, shaking his head. "I was happy with my mom."

The scene ended. Hazel sniffed. "I wish we had appreciated Leo more. We always took him for granted…."

"I never laughed at his jokes." Nyssa said miserably.

"We can't think about what we did wrong." Percy said, calming everyone down. "Watching Leo's memories is our chance to learn more about him, so that we can remember him for who he was and everything he did. We can't play the blame game with ourselves-we can't go back, only forward." Nobody argued. Annabeth let a small smile play on her lips at her boyfriend's speech.

The screen turned back on.

Leo sat in the corner of a playground. He wore the army jacket and dirty clothes that were too big for him. He watched the other kids play soccer and run around nervously, like he was afraid of being attacked.

One boy spotted him and elbowed his friends. This boy didn't look nice-he had a face that looked like he spent his spare time running into walls, and beady big eyes. A name appeared over his head; Matt Hurl.

"That's a nasty name." Harley said, wrinkling up his nose.

On the bottom of the screen it read; San Antonio, Texas, Roosevelt Elementary School, and; Leo's age: nine.

Matt Hurl and his friends (whose names hadn't appeared) walked towards Leo, and they didn't look like they were friendly. They were at least three years older then Leo, and when Leo spotted them walking towards them he scrambled to his feet, like he was ready for a fight.

"That kid doesn't look like Leo," Piper commented, staring at her younger friend. "He's to…"

"We know what you mean. Just looks kind of defeated." Jason agreed. It was true. The Leo on the screen looked like life had beaten him down pretty hard, and he didn't expect it to get better.

"What do you want, Matt?" Leo demanded, but he didn't look as tough as he probably hoped.

Matt sneered. "When did you get a spine, Valdez? I thought you just hid in the corner sniveling over mommy. If you loved her so much, why'd you kill her? Stupid."

"I didn't kill my mom!" Leo shouted, and even though the army jacket fell over his hands they must be clenched into fists. "Just leave me alone, Matt."

"I don't think so. You didn't pay us our weekly protection fee, Valdez. Hand it over." Matt held out a hand. Leo glanced at the hand and started patting down his pockets, making a show of checking in his lunch bag and going through his pockets. "Hurry up, Leo." Matt snapped.

Leo nodded slowly, then let out a gasp of terror and pointed over Matt's left shoulder. "Ohmygod what's that?" He shouted. Matt was stupid enough to look, but his friends weren't. So when Leo bolted to the right, they grabbed his arms before he could get away. "Lemme go!" Some of the kids on the playground had noticed what was going on and started coming over to watch.

"Maybe one of the other kids will help him?" Percy said hopefully.

"I don't think they will, Seaweed brain." Annabeth said softly. She watched the screen sadly, like she knew what was going to happen.

"If you can't pay, we'll have to punish you so you learn your lesson!" Matt said, breaking into a grin. "Dogs need to be put down sometime, Valdez." His friends snickered. Leo's eyes widened and he tried to break free, but the older boys dragged him to the middle of the pavement where every kid on the playground could watch.

The other kids crowded around, some jeering and laughing, some looking like they wanted to help but were too afraid. The two older boy's let go of Leo's arms once he was totally surrounded by a tight ring of kids and couldn't escape.

Matt jeered and cracked his knuckles.

"C'mon, Leo, fight back…" Piper whispered, on the edge of her seat.

But they knew Leo wouldn't. He wasn't much of a fighter-this wouldn't end well.

"Aren't you gonna defend yourself, Valdez?" Matt sneered. Leo just took a step back, looking panicky. Matt punched Leo in the gut before the latino could even try and fight.

Everyone winced. Jason reached for his weapon, like he could slash Matt to bits through the movie projector screen.

Leo doubled over, coughing. Some of the kids in the crowd let out a ragged cheer. Leo managed to straighten up, and Matt hit him in the jaw. Leo actually fell over, and didn't get up. He rubbed his jaw and winced, and then his eyes widened. He turned to the side and spat out something white-a tooth.

"That f***er knocked Leo's tooth out!" Nyssa growled, ignoring Hazel's indignant gasp. "I swear, if I ever run into him…."

Matt strolled closer, looking like a lion closing in for the kill after a long hunt. When he reached Leo, he drew back his foot and kicked the boy viciously in the side. Leo barely managed to crawl a few more feet away. Matt followed, but before he could attack a girl darted out of the crowd to stand between Leo and his attacker.

"Yes! Whoever that is, I love her!" Piper cheered. Hazel grinned, and Frank actually clapped. "C'mon, hit Matt for Leo!"

"Leave him alone, Matt! Haven't you done enough?" The girl shouted.

She was small and nimble-looking, and had a heart-shaped face. Her bright green eyes flashed angrily underneath sleek black glasses, and she had dark curly hair tied in a ponytail with red ribbon. She wore a white jeans and a light green parka, and her hands were fists.

A name appeared over her head; Lilian Moss.

"Go Lilian!" Frank cheered. Nyssa wolf-whistled, and Harley clapped. It was nice for the moment of happiness after the darker memories-someone had stood up for Leo. Piper wanted to go find Lilian Moss and hug her.

"Butt out, Moss." Matt growled. "This has nothing to do with you."

"Actually this is my playground, and that's my friend. So it's got a whole effing lot to do with me, Matt." Lilian pointed at Leo on the ground behind her. "Now back down before I have to hurt you."

Matt laughed, and his friends were almost in hysterics. The kids in the crowd chuckled and elbowed each other, rolling their eyes. Nobody seemed to be taking Lilian seriously. She set her jaw, and said calmly, "Last chance, Matt."

"Do your worst, Moss!" Matt scoffed.

Before Matt could react, Lilian cracked his jaw with a hard uppercut. She quickly followed to the right, kneed him in the crotch, and brought her elbow down on the back of his head when he doubled over so that he fell on his face on the pavement. Ignoring the shock of the other kids, she turned and hurried to Leo, who was struggling to stand.

"Are you okay?" She asked, crouching next to him and grabbing his arms to help him up.

"I'll be okay. I guess it's just good that my best friend is badass, huh?" Leo grinned, showing off the space where his tooth used to be.

"Oh my god, Leo, your tooth!" Lilian said, staring.

"Do I look like a pirate?" Leo asked hopefully.

Lilian laughed and wrapped one arm around Leo, helping him limp away from Matt and his friends. "Sorry, Valdez. Better luck next time. But I'm sorry I had class during lunch today, I almost didn't make it in time…" Her bright green eyes filled with guilt.

Leo pulled away from her grasp to lean against the chain link fence that surrounded the playground. "Hey, it's okay. You saved me again-you've nothing to apologize for, bonita."

"What does bonita mean in English?" Frank asked.

Annabeth giggled, and it was the first time she had really giggled. "I only took a few semesters of Spanish, but I think bonita means beautiful. Leo's got a crush."

"Really? He's not usually this subtle with his crushes." Jason grinned.

"Didn't he call her his best friend?" Piper asked.

"Leo and Lilian, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love-" Harley sang until Nyssa clamped a hand over his mouth so they could hear what was happening on screen.

Leo smiled bravely at Lilian, who smiled back. Then frowned. "One of these days, you'll tell me what that nickname means in english."

"Sorry, bonita, that's my little secret." Leo tapped the side of his nose with a grin. That was more like the Leo they knew. Lilian grinned but rolled her eyes and started helping Leo toward the school as the bell rang, signaling the end of recess.

That day from Leo's life ended again. "I wonder what happened to Lilian…?" Piper wondered. "I think someone should tell her… k'now, about him."

That soured the mood. Everyone knew what she was talking about-Lilian probably didn't know that Leo was dead. There was a heavy silence, thankfully broken by the next clip starting.

San Antonio, Texas, Roosevelt Elementary School, and Leo's age: nine. A version of Leo who could only be a few months older stood waiting in the hallway of the school, watching other kids leave through the double doors, laughing and shouting.

He stood waiting until there were no other kids in the hallway, and the demigods began to wonder what he was waiting for. Finally, a door opposite him burst open. The door, marked Principal's Office banged shut behind Lilian, who was the one to come out.

"About time!" Leo rolled his eyes. "What did you do this time?"
"How could you possibly suspect me, Valdez?" Lilian grinned, looping her arm through his. "I would never… call my math teacher an old sot and storm out of the class."

"I like Lilian." Nyssa said confidently. "Tough as nails."

Lilian led Leo to a locker, and she spun a combination in, yanking it open. Leo laughed. "That's crazier then something I would do, bonita. But there's something I need to talk to you about."

"That doesn't sound good." Hazel mumbled.

"What?" Lilian asked, stuffing books from her locker into a backpack.

"I'm leaving. I'm running away from my foster home and it's not that I don't care about you but I just have to go and I'm really sorry and-" Lilian pressed a hand over Leo's mouth.

"Oh Leo, how can you leave? Lilian is perfect for you!" Piper groaned, and everyone except Jason stared at her. She went red. "Nevermind."

"You're running away. Seriously." Leo nodded, Lilian's hand still over his mouth. "Okay." Lilian slowly took her hand away. She turned to her locker and silently tucked a few more books into her backpack.

"You aren't mad?" Leo asked nervously. Lilian took a deep breath, zipped up her backpack, then turned and punched Leo squarely in the nose.

Everyone winced. Percy actually touched his own nose in sympathy.

Leo fell on his butt, clutching his nose. "Hey! Overreaction alert!"

"How can you just leave! I'll never see you again and you're my best friend and how can you do this!" Lilian practically screamed.

"Of course you'll see me again, bonita!" Leo laughed and shook his head like Lilian was being ridiculous. "I'll come back and visit. Not so often, but I-I don't want to be without you." He went red and sat there on the floor, both hands on his nose.

Lilian stared at him like he was talking in a foreign language. "Really?" Leo nodded. Lilian stepped forward and grabbed Leo's hand, pulling him up. Thankfully, Leo's nose wasn't bleeding, just bruised.

Lilian hugged Leo, wrapping her arms around him and pressing the side of her face into his shirt. "You're the best friend ever, you know? And sorry about the nose."

"I do know," Leo said jokingly, but he looked like he was about to pass out. He awkwardly hugged Lilian back. "And apology accepted. Friends?"
"Friends."

"That one had a happy ending." Hazel commented, smiling.

"I'm glad Leo had Lilian in his life." Percy said, nodding with a note of finality. He knew that if they started talking about Lilian, it would go on for a while. Thankfully, the next memory came on almost right away.

On the screen, an older Leo was sitting on a fire escape, his legs dangling off the side. The bottom of the screen read; San Antonio, Texas, North Street Apartments, and Leo's age: twelve. Sitting next to Leo was a girl they didn't immediately recognize.

She had bright green eyes underneath sleek black glasses. Her dark curls fell over her shoulders, and she was short and slightly curvy though still strong-looking. She wore a light dusting of makeup-just a little eyeshadow and lip gloss. She was strikingly pretty, but still wore sturdy sneakers, skinny jeans, and a gray t-shirt.

"Who is that?" Percy asked, waiting for a name to identify the girl.

"It's Lilian, seaweed brain!" Annabeth laughed, swatting her boyfriend on the arm.

"Why are you back again, Leo?" She asked, leaning against the railing of the fire escape next to the Valdez. Leo looked battered and wore dirty clothes, his hair was tangled, and there were bags under his eyes. "It's been three months since your last visit. I was beginning to think…" She shook her head.

"Leo still visits her after he ran away?" Piper asked, grinning.

"They need a ship name." Jason mumbled.

"Sorry, what?" Annabeth asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What! My little bro needs a girlfriend. I got Nico and Will together, didn't I?"

"True…."

"I had to see my best friend, didn't I?" Leo asked, grinning at his friend.

"You said you were going to New York City. The truant officers would never find you there, you know that."
"But it's so far away! I wouldn't be able to visit anymore."

"He's visited for three years! That's a surefire sign they were meant to be." Hazel nodded.

"But what else has he been doing during all that time?" Annabeth asked, frowning. Nobody knew.

"You can't stay for my sake. I'll get over it if you go… I know you're only here for me. I mean, it's not like you miss me when you're gone." Lilian looked down at her hands. Leo looked shocked.

"I'm sure that's not true." Hazel said, looking worried. "Lilian can't think that!"

"Bonita, that's not true! I miss you all the time. Why else would I be here? Besides, this time the visit… it's different." Lilian raised an eyebrow at him, telling him to go on. "I want…." Leo took a deep breath. "I want you to come with me."

"Run away with Leo? Not sure that's a good idea…" Percy looked worried.

"What?" Lilian looked shocked. She stared at Leo like he'd grown a second head. "I can't run away, Leo, I'm not like you. I'm not strong enough to be on my own."

"Are you crazy, bonita? You're the strongest person I know. And we would be together. Please, you don't even like it here."

Lilian hesitated. As if the final straw, there was a bang from inside the apartment window behind them, and loud shouting. Lilian and Leo both winced. "Things have been getting worse… I mean, if you really think…" Her green eyes flashed, and she looked up at Leo with her jaw set. "Okay, I'm in."

Jason and Piper grinned. "Lilieo, yes!" Jason crowed.

"I date a madman."

Leo grinned. "Yes! Things will be great with just the two of us!" Lilian nodded, clearly totally catching on to the idea.

"I have to pack my stuff, then we can go. I'll get my boxing gloves, too, if that's okay?" She looked at Leo questioningly. Leo nodded.

"You might need them, yeah."

"Lilian boxes? That must be how she took down Matt so easily in the other one." Annabeth said, putting the pieces together.

Lilian scrambled through the window, and Leo waited on the fire escape. Only a few minutes later, Lilian came back out. She wore a parka-it was a darker green then the one she had worn in the earlier memory. She also had on a black backpack with bumper stickers on it, and was mostly full of stuff. Her red boxing gloves hung from the bag, and as Leo watched she shoved a pocket knife in her front pocket.

"Ready to go, bonita?" Leo asked, looking excited. Lilian, grinning, nodded.

"Let's blow this popsicle stand." They climbed down the fire escape with one last glance at the apartment window and the shouting argument. When they reached the mouth of the alley, Leo glanced down the sidewalk. "Something wrong?"

"I've made a few enemies… just people I don't want to run into. It's cool."

Lilian looked worried. "Are we sure this is a good idea, me going with you?"
"Don't worry, bonita. You and me together, right?" Leo held out his hand. Lilian's face went a little pink, and she took it. They ran out of the alley and down the street.

"Whatever Leo's been doing for three years, Lilian's in it too now." Annabeth said, but she was the only one who was uneasy.

"Yes! Total Lilieo!" Piper cheered. Percy grinned, Nyssa folded her arms with a satisfied smirk, Harley bounced with excitement, and Hazel and Frank murmured to each other.

Annabeth reflected, for what felt like the millionth time, that Leo never should've died. She had a mental list of all the people that missed him, and she silently added Lilian Moss to that list. Annabeth herself had never been close the impish latino, but she missed him just as much as anyone.

A message appeared on the screen; But this means that Leo had been travelling for three years, stopping in with Lilian every now and then. I feel you should also know where he was during that time. Another clip of Leo's life started….

AN: Okay, don't hate me! I'M A TOTAL CALEO SHIPPER, DON'T WORRY. Eventually Leo will get together with Calypso, so no flames, people! Thanks for reading, and please leave a review or favorite/follow.