I'm back! Though not with what you think. Sorry it's been so long. Between working on my first novel and prepping for the release of Blood of Olympus, I've been pretty busy. Oh, and I may have a job before too long. Woo, time for a life!

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Octavian's POV

…

"Toby…" I whispered, cupping my hand around my cell phone. I was sitting on Percy's other bed, quietly trying to talk to my brother. He'd finally picked up, but while I was at Percy's house. Like mom would even notice I was gone. If she was back to her old tricks like I thought she was, she'd be passed out on the couch, nursing a hangover. "It took you long enough to call," I accused in a harsh whisper. I didn't want to wake Percy. "Where were you when mom was recovering?"

"Octavian, I told you," Toby replied just as harshly. "I don't want anything to do with you or mom. Don't follow me. Don't call me." He hung up, just like that. No goodbye. No asking how I was or how mom was. No saying he made a mistake and was going to return and try and make things better. I snapped the phone shut and set it down on the bed. So far, nothing was going the way I thought it would.

"Gah, damn you Toby!" I screamed, momentarily forgetting my vow to be quiet. "Can't you see we need you? That I need you…" I trailed off, looking at Percy. He was sitting up in his bed, rubbing his eyes. "Oh, sorry Percy," I apologized. "Didn't mean to wake you."

"It's alright," Percy said, rising and coming over to sit beside me. "What's wrong Tavy? Who were you on the phone with?" I sighed. I didn't really want to explain tonight, but I doubted I'd be able to fall asleep any time soon.

"That was my older brother," I replied. "Toby. He doesn't want anything to do with us. God, can't he see that we need him back here? He'd help us keep mom sane, or pay bills. I could have electricity and water. I could work too. The only reason I don't is because mom needs me at home with her." Percy wrapped an arm around me and held me as I spoke. It felt nice, but right now, I was worried. Was mom alright? "Percy, I need to go back to my house. I need to see if my mom is alright." Percy nodded.

"I'll come with you," he said, rising once again. I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up a hand. "Don't even think about it," he said. "I'm with you, no matter what." I felt a lump in my throat, not allowing me to speak. Never before had I had someone to stick by my side. Percy rested a hand on my shoulder. "No matter what Tavy, you're not alone. I'll make sure of that." I smiled a bit.

"Thank you Percy," I said, rising. He smiled at me. "Now come on, we have quite a bit to walk."

…

"God," I whispered when we arrived at my house. It was in shambles. Mom found the good China, and it was shattered all over the kitchen floor. A Jack Daniel's bottle was tipped, upside down, in the sink. Mom was nestled in a pile of blankets and pillows in the middle of the living room. "Mom, what have you done now?" I asked wearily. I felt like I'd just aged fifty years. "This will take forever to clean, and we haven't seen the whole house yet," I said to Percy.

"I'll say," Percy replied, picking a pizza box off the table and setting it with a bunch of other boxes beside the fridge. "Normally I like pizza, but that is a little too much." He chuckled, taking the bottle out of the sink. He tried the water, but nothing came out. "Still no water." I went over to the light switch and tried again.

"No electricity either," I said with a sigh. Finally, I approached mom. I shivered. It wasn't that cold, but if felt freezing in here. Mom was just in a t-shirt, so I threw a blanket over her, wiping the hair out of her face. "Can't have her freezing to death," I said, turning to Percy, who was hovering near the doorway. "She's not much, but she's the only family I have."

"For now," he said. "We could be like a family, if you want to move in with us." Oh right, I'd forgotten Percy had offered to let me move in with them. The idea was starting to sound really appealing. Except…

"I would love to, really," I replied without taking my eyes off my sleeping parent. "But what about her?" I motioned to my mother, who mumbled something un-comprehendible in her sleep. "I can't just leave her to her own devices. You see what she does when she's left alone." Percy came over and rested a hand on my shoulder. "I don't really know what to do anymore."

"She needs help Tavy," Percy said softly. "Professional help. Rehab maybe? She's been in rehab though?" Wordlessly, I nodded. "Maybe she needs to take it a step further. Whatever we do, she's beyond our help. She's beyond your help alone. You can't do it all by yourself. You're too young to handle so much responsibility." My lower lip began to tremble. "Aww Tavy…" Percy knelt beside me and wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight. I buried my face in his shirt, feeling the tears leak out. For two years, I'd prayed someone would tell me that. "It'll be okay Tavy," Percy whispered soothingly. "It'll be okay."

"Of course it will," I replied with a voice thick with emotion. Our date from earlier felt like a lifetime ago. "After all, I have you now. What more could I ask for?" Percy looked like he wanted to say something, but he stopped himself. He simply smiled at me and kissed my forehead. I glanced over at my mother, who was still sleeping peacefully. This was the best I'd seen her sleep in practically two years. I couldn't help myself; I smiled. "Hey, do you think we could stay here tonight? It's not much, but…"

"Tavy," Percy interrupted with a smile. "It could be a cardboard box for all I care. As long as I'm with you, I'm happy." I giggled. Percy Jackson, the hopeless romantic. He grinned at me some more, finally releasing me. "How about we go up to your room," he suggested.

"My room…" I glanced at the stairs. Right, my room. Or rather, Toby's room. I moved into it when he left, because I couldn't stand having a room next to hers anymore. "Right," I said, standing on shaky legs. "Okay, come on." I led the way upstairs, pausing outside the door. I hadn't been expecting any company, so I hadn't cleaned in a bit. Finally, I swung the door open. Percy gazed around.

"Rather…small," he commented. That was all he had to say about my room? Nothing about the obvious mess, the pile of dirty clothes in the corner, or the dishes stacked on top of the desk? Just that it was small? I had to give props when they were due. Percy did I really good job at hiding his surprise. "But cozy-looking nonetheless," he added. I rolled my eyes, shoving a few things around as I went to the bed.

"It's not much," I replied. "But it's my own space away from everyone, so it works." Percy nodding, threading his way over and sitting beside me. "Sorry about…everything." I waved my hand around for emphasis. "But I don't have many friends over…or any friends over…" Percy wrapped an arm around my shoulders and leaned his head against mine. I turned to look at him, and he smiled.

"I've seen worse," he replied. "Don't worry about it Tavy. You have enough on your plate to worry about without impressing someone."

"Even if that someone is the person I care about most?" I asked. It was kind of a joke, but kind of not. I really did want to impress Percy, even just a little bit.

"Even if," he replied seriously. "But if you want my honest opinion, cleaning would probably make you feel better. At least clearing out the dishes and arranging things in a different way. If you want, you can do laundry at our house. I doubt mom would mind."

"I have a few quarters I use for the laundry mat," I said. At his pained look, I smiled a little. "But not having to pay would be nice too." Actually, the more I thought about it, the more living with Percy sounded beneficial. Not just for the whole us possibly dating thing either. "Say Percy, if I could find a way for mom to get the help she needs, do you think I could stay with you and your mother? I definitely won't be able to pay any bills while she's away."

"Of course you can," Percy responded automatically. "I speak on behalf of my mother as well. She would be delighted to have you with us. She was actually really worried about you." At that, I looked at him. "It's true," he insisted. "She was worried you weren't getting the proper care someone our age needs."

"I'm not exactly helpless," I retorted, and Percy's eyebrows made another trip up to his hair. "I am capable of taking care of myself."

"Without electricity and water?" Percy asked, and any argument I had ready died on my lips. Oh yeah. There was the minor detail of the fact I had no running water or power. "I'm sure you are Tavy," he added in a gentler tone. "In fact, I'm sure you're one of the most capable boys I know. But you're too young to have to take care of yourself just yet. Maybe in a couple years, when you don't have anything to worry about. But for now, let someone else take care of you, please." I glanced away, feeling tears in my eyes again.

"I…I don't know," I said at last. "I don't know if I can." Just like when I fell in love with someone, anyone who I thought could and would take care of my left. First my dad, then Toby. And while mom wasn't physically gone, she was mentally gone. She wasn't going to take care of me either. "I have to trust people, but…"

"Do you trust me?" Percy asked quickly, cutting off whatever I'd been about to say (and at that point I wasn't sure what it would've been). "Do you trust me?" he asked again. He waited for my answer patiently, which surprised me. Whatever I said, he'd accept it as a fact. Whether it be yes or no, he would accept the answer without question. That within itself was enough for me.

"Yes," I answered in a whisper. "I do trust you. I…I trust you won't leave." Percy breathed a little sigh of relief and smiled. "You're mother?" I asked.

"Will never turn her back on you as long as you need her," he supplied, picking up the subtle hint. "Whenever you need her, she'll be there, same as me. As long as you need me Tavy, I will be here."

"You know how long I need you for?" I asked him, and he looked at me curiously. I smiled. What I was about to say was so cheesy, but I bet he'd find it endearing. "Forever and ever." He threw back his head and laughed, a laugh filled with so much humor and love I practically glowed with pleasure.

"Forever and ever," he echoed. "Then I'll be here for you forever and ever. I promise you."

…

Percy's POV

…

I was warmed when Tavy said he would need me forever and ever. Needless to say, it pretty much made my year. It was quite the ending to our Friday night/early Saturday morning. Tavy passed out shortly after we finished talking, but I lay away. I felt like I'd had a big back of blue expresso jellybeans. That is, wired and ready to go.

Sure, I'd had people say cheesy shit like that to me before, but I'd never really believed them. I'd fallen for so many wrong guys, they were writing it in history books. The only other one I came close to believing was Jason, and in a way, he hadn't really broken his promise. He was still a big part of my life. Just not the role I thought he would be in. But Tavy… When Tavy said it, I believed it with everything I was. Every single part of me. He didn't trust easily, so placing so much faith in me was a big honor.

I knew heartache, but nothing like he'd ever experienced. I wouldn't want anyone destroying the walls I'd carefully built around myself unless I firmly believed that they wouldn't just take advantage of the fact. I had walls too. I'd told myself I would never fall in love with the wrong guy again. I wouldn't be able to take it I had my heart broken again. But once again, Tavy felt different. He knew what it was like to be alone, what it was like to have your heart broken by people you really cared about. He wasn't going to say he loved me, only to disappear the next day.

"Octavian?" I held my breath as I heard Octavian's mother moving around outside his door. My grip on him tightened and I screwed my eyes shut, trying to look like I was sleeping. I willed myself to remain relaxed looking and for my breath to stay steady and even. The door creaked open, and I risked a quick peek. Octavian's mother was just as lanky as he was, but a little shorter. She squinted into the room. "Ah, Octavian, you have a friend over," she said, sounding a little surprised. "That's good. I haven't seen you have friends over in a long time." She grew quiet and sad. "I'm sorry nothing's been going the way you hoped son," she said softly. "You had such a bright future ahead of you, and we all destroyed it, one at a time. I pray you don't make the same mistakes we all made. Never run away from the people that love you Octavian. Because, no matter where you go, they'll love you anyway." She paused for a moment. "I hope Toby comes home soon. I want to apologize to him too."

I held my breath, waiting for her to leave. But she didn't. She stood in the doorway, watching us sleep. Motherly love filled her eyes as she watched her little boy sleep, and I felt rather sorry for her right then. She hadn't meant to make Octavian's life difficult. She just didn't know another way. Finally, she sighed and closed the door softly behind her. I waited for a little bit, listening to her footsteps recede down the hall. Only then did I open my eyes. I was shocked to find traces of tears in them.

"I promise you, miss," I whispered. "I'll do your son well. He'll still have a bright future ahead of him. And I won't let him go away that easily. My mother always told me to fight for what I love, and I'm prepared to fight tooth and nail to keep him here."

..

Fluffy and sad. Them feels! Have a nice day everyone. See you soon.