Sorry for the delay, between this and that I haven't seen much of my computer since last week. Bit of a filler chapter, this one, to be honest. Hope you enjoy anyway.

PJO belongs to Uncle Rick.

Percy was talking to Luke about their new pal and gal when he saw a mane of red hair crossing the threshold of their galley.

"Excuse me for a sec," he told his lieutenant and ran after the girl.

"Rachel!" he called.

"Yeah, Cap'?" he heard her voice near the back of the room.

"Where's the Duchess?"

"She's resting," the redhead replied swiftly.

"And you left her there alone? Is that smart?"

Rachel huffed.

"I understand her reluctance to accept our help after your very much warm welcome," she said. "But if you chose her to be one of us, you should start trusting her at some point."

"Yes, at some point being the key words," he nodded. "Not right now, for all we know she'll blow up the ship."

"I don't think she knows how to use gun powder, or any type of cannon for that matter," Rachel shrugged. "I'll just make her a sandwich and go," she promised.

"Don't worry," offered Luke. "The worst she can do is jump off this ship, and she seems to like herself too much for that."

Percy shrugged. He wasn't worried about the girl, but if she laid a hand -or gods forbid something sharp, like a sword- in one of his crew, it'd be indisputably his fault. He allowed such a person to join, and it was in his hands if that turned out for the worse.

He wondered for the thousandth time that night why he'd insisted on keeping the two lads. Jason deserved to know about them: his sister and cousins. He was oblivious to all that mattered. In Percy's mind, where the boy to wish to return, he'd allow it, but only after Jason knew everything.

And there was also his Uncle Zeus to consider. That blasted man had done naught but insult and harm Percy's close family. A part of his brain, that Percy tried to raze, actually wanted to confront the King. Let him know that he was no match for the feared Blackjack. Put the man in his place for once and for all. The other part felt guilty about wishing to endanger his whole crew for the sake of a selfish bite of revenge.

And to think that, at first, the fight had been between Percy's dad, Poseidon and his uncles Zeus, and Hades. Then, it had begun to escalate. Percy hated being a pawn of someone else's game, but without his dad around anymore, he'd had to step up to his place and fill shoes that where too big to fit him.

When his cousin Thalia had run away, tired of the unfair life as an unwanted child of a master and his servant, he'd insisted for his dad to take her in. The older he got, the more Percy fathomed that Poseidon's true wish was to mock his brother. He had achieved the respect of his little niece -something the girl's own father had failed to do-. Poseidon's gratification with this led Percy to realise how egotistical his own flesh could also be when it came to hurting his close relatives.

He had sworn he wouldn't make his father's mistakes, he wouldn't stoop as low, and there he still was, hoping his uncle would react aggressively to excuse his own desire to attack.

Speaking of which, he knew he had to find both his cousins. He had left Clarisse to look after Thalia so she wouldn't barrel into her little brother's path. But even Clarisse La Rue had limits.

"Percy!" Luke's voice called.

"Sorry, what?"

"Are you okay?" Luke asked with a worried glance. "I called you twice already... Jason's here."

Percy turned to face his cousin, who looked about as comfortable as a bee under the sea.

"How did the evening go?" he asked, trying to sound encouraging.

"Fine," Jason replied. After a small hesitation he added, "Leo and Piper were very nice and proper with me."

Percy smiled, "Yeah, they're nice lads. Well, kid, a promise made is a debt unpaid. Wait here."

Percy left the gallow to find Luke standing just outside door.

"Go find Thals, won't you?"

He nodded and left. After a while, he returned with an impatient looking Thalia.

Percy was about to open his mouth but she just kept walking, slammed the door open and ran to hug the lights out of her brother.

"You've gotten so tall!" she said in a thin voice. "I'm so sorry I left!"

Obviously priorities were organised wisely in Thalia's mind.

Jason shook his head and hid his face on his sister's shoulder. Percy could see him shaking slightly and sniffing.

He was an intruder but he couldn't help but stare. His uncle had done this. It was his fault Jason and Thalia had grown apart. Percy was done with Zeus playing God. He wanted his kid back? He'd better come and take him. Percy was not returning Jason unless it was proven that dear Uncle Zeus cared enough for him, and that he'd have a chance to see his sister whenever he wished, and... at least four or five conditions crossed his mind. He wouldn't return Jason to that awful, cold household unless strictly necessary. Screw his promise to try and stop the hate inside his family; Zeus had done too much to be forgiven. The man wanted war? Fine, he'd have it.

After a few minutes of utter awkwardness on Percy's and Luke's side, the two siblings separated. Jason's eyes looked reddish, while Thalia looked mostly relieved, like a humungous weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

"Thank you," Jason told Percy shyly.

Percy smiled reassuringly, "Anything you need, little cousin. We are your family."

Thalia took one of her brother's hands, "I'll go to bed now. I've an early shift tomorrow. Sleep well, yeah?"

The prince hugged his sister one more time before she left. Luke followed her with a glance.

"You can walk her to her room," Percy smirked. "In case she gets lost, or something."

Luke rolled his eyes and shoved Percy half-heartedly, but left after Thalia nonetheless.

"C'mon, kid," Percy ushered Jason out of the door. "Let's get you settled for the night."

Percy thought of something to talk about to the prince, but he was beaten when Jason asked, "Are they seeing each other?"

"Luke and Thalia?" he weighted the question for a second. "It's nothing too serious, as far as I'm concerned."

Jason shrugged.

"Will I ever see my father again?" Jason asked after a brief hesitance.

Percy nodded stiffly, "Your dad would never let this slide, he hates me and wishes for any excuse to have me hunted down. And I think he'll want his son back."

Jason grimaced, "Is there no chance of this going peacefully?"

Percy shook his head, "I'm sorry, there's too much history between this ship and your father's men."

Seeing Jason's face felt Percy put a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry too much about it, though," he added. "It's not as if I'd forbid you to visit him once in a while. Everyone here is allowed to see family were us to port in docks near their towns."

Jason gave him a tiny smile. Better than nothing, thought Percy.

"Off to bed you go, then," said the Captain, pointing towards the males' berth. "Tomorrow you'll see how this is really like."