AN: Hullo, hullo. I'm back after a few days rest. I made this chap the longest one to make up for being missing for a few days. I'm basing this story off of the Avengers and PJO, possibly HoO as well, so if something is inconsistent, you can tell me, but just realize that I'm not including Thor 2 or Captain America 2 until I see them at least, and probably not at all. As a wonderful reviewer phrased it, "And the plot thickens!"

It soon became apparent to the other demigods that if a joke was cracked, or something funny happened, it was becoming harder and harder for Percy not to smile. For some of them, it became their goal to make the depressed son of the sea smile. They played a few rounds of volleyball, before they headed back to the cabin.

"Can I change the music?" Grover asked, watching Thalia replace the CD for the fifth time.

Percy shrugged, "Go ahead."

"Gods, no!" Thalia cried. "Do you remember the music from Westover Hall?" Nico and Annabeth chuckled, while Percy cracked a smile.

"It wasn't that bad!" Grover protested.

"Better idea," Percy said, motioning towards the door. The whole room groaned.

"But Percy, it's probably freezing!" the satyr complained.

"I don't feel like freezing my butt off, thank you very much," Thalia told him.

"I'm with Thals, you go ahead Percy," Rachel piped in.

"If you keep me dry, I might join you," Annabeth replied, glancing down at him. He was laying on one of the couches, his head in her lap. He grinned up at her, nodding enthusiastically.

"Great, lets go try and freeze to death," Nico muttered with a sarcastic roll of his eyes. Percy chuckled. The others smiled. Percy stood up, grabbing Annabeth by the hand and leading the way outside. The others followed, most with comments like, "Don't expect to see me in the water," or, "I don't feel like freezing just yet."

As they were heading outside, Rachel stopped Nico.

"I think it worked," she told him with a smile.

A small smile graced his features. "Yeah, it's good to have Percy back." Rachel nodded agreement before heading outside.

The smile vanished from Nico's face as he thought about his cousin's behavior before they came to the beach. Percy maybe back to smiling, but he wasn't healed yet. And he had no doubt that once they left the beach, the son of the sea god would return to being depressed and unpredictable. It wasn't a thought he liked.

Percy smiled as they walked down the beach. The morning rays were just beginning to show over the top of ocean. His arm was around Annabeth's shoulders, who was content to wrap her arms around his torso and hug him as they walked. Percy literally felt like if you'd set him on the top of the Empire State Building, he could have walked on air.

He had an afterglow, you know the one after you play outside with your friend or sibling and you just wish that moment would never end. The feeling that makes you forget everything else until it ends. You don't even usually realize how much fun you're having until you're done. Then you look back on it and you just feel amazing remembering all the fun that you had, and you think that if you ever had to choose just one moment to go back and relive, that would be the one you wanted. That was the feeling the son of Poseidon was experiencing.

The sand stretched out on the beach as far as the eye could see, shells coating it like sprinkles on a cupcake. The ocean was almost calm, small waves forever lapping at the shoreline. The feeling at yet to fade as Percy inhaled deeply, smelling the salt water. Seagulls and other birds, but mostly seagulls, flew around, cawing in the pearly light. He could see Nico standing just outside the cabin, a reluctant look on his face. The feeling vanished, leaving only its pleasant memories behind for his comfort. Percy wanted to grab onto something and refuse to leave, like he used to do when he was little. He wanted to stay in that moment for the rest of his life, to stay there and relive that night.

He doubted anyone in the cabin had slept. They had played volleyball, gone swimming, ate pizza and sweets, drank soda, listened to music, played truth-or-dare, wrestled, heck, they even watched movies and played video games. Percy wasn't sure that was such a good idea, but with the children of the big three all there anyway it was only a matter of time before a monster showed up again. Surprisingly, nothing had happened. Tyson stopped by at about three o'clock in the morning to say hi. He stayed for an hour or so before going back, promising to see Percy more often so they could "eat peanut butter and go swimming." It had been good to see his brother again.

Now, Percy was dreading returning to his foster home. Sure, the tower was cool and all, but it just seemed weird. It wasn't his kind of place. And the dreams had began after meeting Pepper and Tony, and they'd worsened at Stark Towers. The dreams of the tall, black haired man with green eyes and a sadistic grin. The dreams filled with promises of both, death and protection. Every time he so much as closed his eyes at that tower it brought back that sadistic grin and that silver tongue. That smooth voice purring in his ear, promising him he'd never have to see anyone he loved in pain ever again. That nothing bad would ever happen. No more death, no more injuries. No more wars. Everything he ever wanted for his friends, provided simply because he asked.

Percy blinked as he came to reality. Nico was trying to talk to him.

"-don't want to," he was saying. "But it's time to head back. We can take them with us on the way to the tower, you know, say good bye there if you want, but then I need to take them back to their homes. After all, Tony'll get annoying, pestering us where we've been if Pepper gets worried." It was like he could see his friend's hesitation. Nico gave a wry smile, his form of encouragement. Percy took a deep breath and nodded.

"Yeah, we can split at the towers. We can go with Mrs. O'Leary, that way you can take whoever you have to back without too much trouble," he decided. Nico nodded.

"I can walk home. After all, we're still in New York," Rachel said. The others shrugged.

"And I can probably get the gray sisters to take me back, me and Grover-" Anabeth started to say.

"No!" Grover cut in. "Nico can take us home!" Everyone chuckled, though Percy's wasn't as warm as it would have been a few moments ago. Mrs. O'Leary, awakened at the mention of her name, came bounding over, determined to lick everyone just one more time. Nico was the only one that just stood there and ignored her. Percy could have marveled at that, but decided his time would be better spent paying attention to all his friends, not staring at his foster brother in admiration. It still sounded weird in his mind to call Nico his foster brother. He couldn't tell if he thought it was a good thing or not.

"Well, are we leaving or staying? I'm not standing around here all day doing nothing!" Thalia's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. The others shrugged as they walked towards the hellhound. Percy followed after them. 'I just hope neither Tony or Pepper are outside when we arrive,' he thought as he climbed onto his dog.

Tony sighed, spinning his bar chair around in circles as he waited to see what feed Jarvis could find that showed the whereabouts of his new foster kids.

"Their just outside the tower sir," the AI told him. Tony frowned, sitting upright and stopping the chair.

"Pull up the video feed Jarvis."

"Yes, sir." The screen nearby showed a picture of six kids, three girls and three boys. Two of the boys he recognized. Percy and Nico.

Percy was smiling, something Tony hadn't seen him do before. He marveled for a moment at how different he looked when he was smiling. His arm was around the shoulders of a curly blonde beside him. The girl was about his height with a deep tan. She had gray eyes, almost like storm clouds. She wore jeans, a bright orange t-shirt, and a leather necklace, similar to Percy's, only her's had more beads and a gold ring at the center.

Nico stood off to the side of the group, hands in his pockets. He noticed the occasional ducked head that wasn't fast enough to hide his smile, but, without his audio feed, he couldn't tell why. He wore his usual black pants, on black shirt, on black jacket with a silver skull ring.

The third boy had curl brown hair and brown eyes. He wore a bright green shirt that said something like "Saving the Wilderness, one nymph at a time." He had the same leather necklace as the blonde did, only no ring.

The second girl had electric blue eyes and black hair. She wore a silver t-shirt and silver jeans. A silver circlet ringed her forehead. She too had a leather necklace, thought only the leather strap was visible. She stood next to the final girl, a redhead.

The redhead had bright green eyes and freckles. She wore ratty jeans with old marker doodles that had been cut into shorts at about the knee and a ratty t-shirt that read "Save the Star-nosed Mole!" It seemed to be a theme going, because she too had a leather necklace, although there was only a bead or two on her necklace.

Something small and black ran around Percy, making him smile even wider. Looking closer, Tony could see it was a black poodle. The boy made 'down, girl' kind of motions with his hands.

"Hey Jarvis, why is there no audio feed?"

"Turning it on now sir."

"Mrs. O'Leary! That's gross!" a girl's voice said over the feed as the poodle licked the girl dressed in silver.

"What's wrong with getting licked Thalia?" Nico asked her.

"That I'm not used to, and don't like, getting covered in monster spit!" the girl, Thalia, snapped in return. A chuckled sounded around them. It was a nice, warm, friendly sound. The kind of sound that made you feel right at home around whoever made it. Tony studied the screen when he heard the sound, scanning for the owner. He blinked when he saw Percy's shoulders shaking. A warm grin was stretched across his face. It appeared to be infectious, as every other member of the small group got a smile too. The blonde reached up and pecked his lips.

"It's good to have you back, seaweed brain," she murmured quietly. Tony had to strain to hear it. Several members of the small group nodded or made affirming statements. Nico pat him on the back, Thalia lightly punching his arm on the other side. The blonde ducked out of the way.

"It's good to have you back cuz," Thalia said with a smile. The boy on his left nodded. Percy couldn't help but glance at the tower. His smile wavered for a moment, before it steadied out a bit. Nico set a hand on his shoulder hesitantly. The blonde frowned.

"What's wrong Percy?" she asked. The only unnamed boy was also frowning.

"Why are you so upset?" he asked.

"Don't know what ya mean," Percy responded, his smile still in place. Tony noticed it had gotten a great deal stiffer than it was a few moments ago.

"Percy's not overly fond of our new... residence," Nico said quietly. Stark frowned, leaning forward with interest and irateness.

"What's wrong with it?" the blonde wondered.

Nico hesitated. "Well, they-" he began.

"They want to make it home, and it's not! I have a home, two in fact, and this isn't either of them!" Percy snarled. "We all have homes, and you don't just waltz into someone's life and try to give them a new one! Plus, look at it! Do you really think I would be comfortable living in my Uncle Z's domain? I mean, it practically screams 'Hey, come kill me!' Like he really needed another excuse!" Tony frowned. 'Uncle Z? Kill?' he wondered interestedly. The black poodle nuzzled at Percy again. He waved at it impatiently.

"In a minute Mrs. O'Leary," he grumbled to the dog, then, to the others, he continued, "And then he shows up and starts-" His eyes widened and he clapped a hand over his mouth, like he hadn't meant to say that. Tony was literally on the edge of his seat.

"He who?" the third boy asked.

"No one!" Percy yelped. "No one okay?"

The third boy set a hand on his arm and leaned in so his mouth was right by his ear. "You know I know you're lying. When you're ready to tell me, I'll be at camp. You could always call me in to help, you know. Just call for me, I'm not completely useless," he whispered quietly. Tony had to crank up the volume and replay that to hear it. A small smile appear on Percy's lips.

"I just might, thanks Grover," he said, hugging the boy, Grover.

"Wait, hold up! Who's the he?" Thalia argued. The two boys looked at each other and shrugged.

"Doesn't matter," they both answered.

The blonde hugged Percy one last time. "You know we've always been able to tell each other everything. I'll do whatever you need me to when you're ready, you know." She leaned in and pressed her lips against his. Tony could see the disgust evident in Thalia's recoil and hear it in Nico's exclamation. But the two ignored them. He wrapped his arms around the girl, pulling her closer against him. Her hands entangled themselves in his wild, windblown hair. A peaceful moan escaped from their lip-lock. It was the kind of scene that Pepper would have cooed at.

Finally, the two broke apart. Their friends had already said good-bye to each other and gathered into their groups.

"Grover and I can Mrs. O'Leary back to camp, Nico can take Thalia back to the hunters, and Rachel's either walking or grabbing a ride," the blonde said, looking around at the groups. Everyone but Percy rolled their eyes.

"Ms. Brainiac figures it out again," Nico grumbled, beginning to tow Thalia off. Percy frowned.

"How'd you know?" he asked. "I was just about to ask what the extra group was for."

The girl chuckled. "Daughter of Athena, remember?" She pecked his lips. "Stay safe seaweed brain."

"I'll be here waiting Annabeth," he promised. Tony blinked as he watched Grover and the blonde, Annabeth, climb onto the back of the poodle, which, surprisingly, didn't collapse. Instead, it bounded deeper into the alley. Nico and Thalia followed after it. The redhead, Rachel, gave Percy a hug and turned to go. She paused, facing away from him.

"You should stop by some time," she suggested. "After all, we need to talk."

Percy took a deep breath and swallowed before answering, "Is is about... your job at camp?"

The girl nodded. "I've seen things... things we need to talk about." Tony noticed the color begin to drain from Percy's face. He nodded. He seemed to age ten years, simply standing there, taking in her words. On the screen, Tony saw the redhead walk off, before Percy turned towards the tower and sighed. Slowly, he began to walk towards the door.

Tony couldn't exactly understand a thing that had been said, but he knew one thing was for certain. Rachel and Percy were knee deep in something bad, and the 'camp' had something to do with it.

Okay, so I totally suck for always leaving you with cliffies and not finishing them in the next chapter. Just a warning, I may not be updating much after today for a few weeks. I have to help with my church's VBS, Swimteam, and keep up with my job next week. After that I spend the next week getting ready for my mission's trip, then I have to take care of the house with my mom when my bros go to camp. Then I go on my mission's trip. Thirty something hours after I get back, I go to residence camp with my AHG troop. I also have responsibilities to my family and such. I'm going to update as much as possible today and tomorrow and a week from now, but it may be few and far between until August. This is a lot harder to write than I thought it would be. Pretty time consuming really. I'll see you guys when I put up the next chapter!\

RADyo