While everybody else had been doing boring stuff like getting ready and making a plan, I talked to Masia and Nixon about how peanut butter Captain Crunch was the best kind. I wasn't sure exactly what we had to prepare for. My sword was ready, what else did I need?

"Percy, go find another sword. And make sure to get one of the mortal ones. I'm not sure there are even going to be any monsters and demigods where we're going," Hazel said, strapped a dagger to her thigh.

"So, where are we going, exactly?" I asked sheepishly. I saw Annabeth roll her eyes from the other side of the room.

"Have you been listening to nothing I've been saying for the past hour?!" She didn't phrase it like a question. Probably because she already knew the answer. Masia patted my shoulder for good luck, then her and Nixon ran off to talk about who knows what.

"Percy." Annabeth approached me with one of those serious looks on her face. I tried to sober up, but all I could think about was Captain Crunch. "We could get killed. Pay attention."

Notice how she said, "we could get killed," not, "You could get killed," I paid attention after that. I didn't like having my family in danger. Even though Annabeth wasn't going, it was still a punch in the gut that the others could get hurt too.

"Ok, what are we doing?"

Annabeth nodded in approval and dragged me to the dining room table. The coffee mugs and newspaper had been replaced with weapons and blueprints. What would the police think if they walked in on this? Oh, just some random people and a pregnant woman with blueprints for infiltrating top secret facilities and weapons? Totally cool. And they've got kids with them? Even better?

Yeah, I'm not sure how much of this the mist would actually cover up, especially since we're using mortal weapons.

"What if somebody sees us?" I asked. "We aren't using demigod weapons. Plus, we aren't exactly a low-profile group."

Hazel raised her hand and pointed at herself. "I've got that. Nobody will see anything unless they're really looking, and powerful," she said. Oh yeah, I forgot Hazel could control the mist.

"Now, the plan," Frank urged. Annabeth nodded and pointed at some seemingly random place on the blueprint.

"Right. Ok so their main entrance is right here, but they have two other entrances and two maintenance tunnels of some sort." She pointed some more, then looked back to us as if we'd understand what her plan was.

"So, we're taking the tunnels?" I guessed. Annabeth, for the millionth time, rolled her beautiful gray eyes.

"No. Obviously, you're taking the main entrance."

Oh. Obviously. I didn't see what about that was obvious but Frank and Jason nodded in understanding.

"Come on Seaweed brain! The tunnels will most likely be guarded with non-human security like cameras and motion detectors,"

Still don't get it. Why did Annabeth assume that would make me understand? I needed things spelled out for me, plain and clear.

Jason seemed to get this and said, "It's easier to take out human guards. Plus, battling the technology in the tunnels might lead to monsters tracking us. We've got enough to deal with as it is."

Ohhhhhh. "Thank you, Jason," I emphasized. Annabeth didn't even roll her eyes this time.

"So," I prodded, "what are we waiting for?"

Piper smacked me. "YOU! Moron,"

Oh. Like usual. "Well I don't know about you guys but I've been ready this whole time!"

Piper was about to smack me again, but my bro Jason stopped her. I was about to say thanks, but then he smacked me! I should file a lawsuit against these people; they abuse me! A lot!

"Ok, then we're leaving in five. Be right here when it's time to go," Piper ordered. I don't know if she was charmspeaking or not, but I wanted to follow her instructions. Piper is a lot scarier than she gets credit for. I sighed dramatically and went to Nixon's room to say goodbye to the kids and spend at least a couple more minutes catching up with Masia, I didn't know if I'd see her again but I'm not letting them come on a quest like this. If I had it my way, they'd never go on quests. But they're demigods, and powerful ones at that. I didn't want the mortal world after them as well as the Greek and Roman ones. They were born with enemies more powerful than most gods just because they were Annabeth's and my kids.

Masia and Nixon were standing shoulder to shoulder in the doorway.

"What?" I asked, already knowing they had a speech prepared.

"We want to go with you," Nixon started.

Masia nudged him. "We are going on with you," she corrected.

"Yeah, not gunna happen kiddos." I crossed my arms and stuck my foot out so they'd no I'm serious. Nixon gave me a look that said it wasn't working.

"What? Why?!" Masia asked, her eyebrows furrowing. She was a persistent kid, I knew it was going to take all five minutes before I had to go to convince her. And Nixon? Well, Nix was a sneaky kid. He'll probably pretend to agree then find his way to come with us without us knowing.

"Because I said so," I said, pulling my parent-logic card. I used to hate when my mom used "Because I said so," as an excuse. But now that I was a parent? It was kind of funny to see the fury on my kids' faces when I said that because they never had a proper answer for it. Mwahaha evil parent lawyer.

"But that's not even a real reason!" Nixon protested.

"So?" I crossed my arms. Masia was slowly turning red, making this oh so much more interesting. If you're wondering if this is what all parents are like, yes. Yes, it is. Every parent has evil inner monolog whether they'll admit it or not. "Masia, Nixon. You are not going on this quest mission thing. I forbid it. Your mother forbids it as well. She's staying behind and going to keep a strict eye on you two, so behave." I kissed the tops of both their heads and pulled them in for a hug. I never left them without saying I love you because I never knew if it would be my last time seeing them. "I love you two very much,"

(Hey guys! Thanks so much for reading and I really hope you enjoyed it! As usual, please comment what you'd like to see next and I will try to include it in later chapters. Also, to the person who was asking about the age of Percabeth: They had Masia when they were 19, and Nixon when they were 24. Currently, they're 39. Masia is 19 now, and Nixon is 15.)