A/N: It's been a while, how is everyone? Sorry this took so long, life has been..interesting, to say the least. I've had a few curve balls coming my way. I'll try to update faster next time, though!

"Piper?" My eyes snap open, Alma's hand on my shoulder. A glance at the clock tells me it's 7:30-sleeping in for a demigod at camp.

"What's wrong, Alma?" She bites her lip, looking anxious.

"It's Victor's birthday but I'm not sure how to get in touch...I went in town but they said demigods can't use mortal technology, so I'm clueless."

"Oh. Well, Leo-has anyone told you about Leo yet?" She shook her head, and I grinned. "Leo is a son of Hephaestus, Vulcan, that is, but he's Greek like me so he lives at Camp Half-Blood. Anyway, he's as close to a genius you can get without being a child of Athena, and he managed to hook up some demigod-usable cell phones, so we can place an request for a phone for you on the next order. The thing is, in the meantime...mine is broken, actually. So the only way to contact your brother today would be...well, how opposed are they to the unnatural?"

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

"Remind me what this is called, again?" Alma asks hesitantly.

"An Iris Message. The goddess Iris-that's be Arcus to you- she does rainbows and all, but she's also willing to help us out with communication; she's one of the nicest gods, really. Basically we toss a drachma or denarii into a rainbow and say her incantation, and whoever we want to see appears in front of us, like a hologram."

"Victor will think that's the coolest thing, he's really into sci fi," she gushes. Twelve years old, and she has such a sense of responsibility; her devotion to her little siblings is unending, I can already tell. But who is there to care for her? Her mom is absentee, and obviously Mars is a little busy.

I promise, I tell Alma in my mind. I'll be that for you. We might be cousins, but I'll be there like a sister would. You deserve that much.

"O Arcus, goddess of the rainbow, show me Victor in Sacramento," I invoke, and Alma's eyes widen at the shimmering before us.

"Woah," she whispers, and I grin. "Cool, right?"

The image solidifies, and I hear a sharp intake of breath next to me at the sight of a small boy, with the same Native American complexion as Alma and I. He plays with a pile of legos, smiling to himself and humming to a song I've never heard before.

"Victor," Alma calls timidly, her eyes filling with joy as he turns to face her.

"Alma? What are you doing here? Who's she?"

"This is Piper, she's our cousin, buddy. And...it's hard to explain, Victor. I'll come visit as soon as I can, I promise. I just want to keep you and Bea safe."

"We thought you were gone forever," he says, lower lip sticking out.

"Oh of course not, baby. This is just for a little while. And I couldn't miss your birthday-five is a big deal! But since you're five now, you've got to do me a favor, okay?"

"Okay." His eyes were big, but sure; whatever his sister asked him to do he would do.

"You have to look out for Bea, you're the big kid now. We both know Mom's not-she doesn't always help us like she should. Can you try to take care of her while I'm gone?"

"Yes, Alma. I promise."

"Thanks kiddo. I knew I could count on you. I have to go now," she swallows heavily, and I can see tears forming in her eyes. "I'll come back soon. You and Bea remember I love you."

"We love you too. Goodbye," he says quietly, and the image fades away.

"You okay, Alma?" I ask, and she nods, but I can see her shoulders begin to heave. "Hey, don't worry. You're doing the right thing, you're protecting them. That's what's important. You'll train, and become more powerful, so that when you return to them you'll be able to defend them from any monster that comes your way."

Wiping her eyes, she forces a smile. "You're right. I'm fine, really, I just let my emotions get the better of me."

I give her a look, enveloping her in my arms. "You don't have to pretend with me, Alma. You're twelve, and you're scared and lonely and worried, and you have far too much on your shoulders-that's what happens when you first find out you're a demigod, and you've got a lot going on. But listen: it's okay to not be okay. You have an even bigger family now, and we'll be here for you when things are rough."

A/N: I know, this chapter isn't my best, I'm sorry, it's short and filler-y, but I've had insane writer's block. Tell me what you want to see in the forthcoming chapters, or if there's anything you did or didn't like! I'll update sooner this time, I promise.

Kaitie~