Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Chapter 30

"Do you think Annabeth's dad will allow her back in the house or the family?" Thalia asked coolly, but a hint of worry was in her voice.

"She's Annabeth," Percy responded, his hair wildly flapping in the wind all over the place. "She knows what she's doing."

"That's true but you don't know her like I do," Thalia answered quickly, as she swerved the motorcycle to the left. "When she ran away, she had no idea what she was doing. Luke and I found her in an alleyway, and she looked confused. She had no idea what she was doing back then."

The noise of the engine of the motorcycle blasted through the air, the familiar rev roaring through the city. No talking happened for a long period of time. Then-

"She's grown up now though Thalia," Nico added from his helmet, his voice still audible. "I think she can handle herself. Big Annabeth is more grownup than little Annabeth."

"Still," Thalia retorted, worrying. "Even when Annabeth returned back to her family, she was still pretty messed up. She has real screwed up problems with her dad, claiming she has this 'facade' with him all the time."

Percy stayed silent, feeling shocked as he heard the news. "Claiming?"

"I think she was telling the truth- oh shit," Thalia swore loudly as she saw a car tail the two motorcycles like on one of those movies. "The hell does this guy want?"

"How do you know?" Nico asked, glancing behind for a second before his eyes turned to the road.

"Don't you remember?" Thalia said, snorting and talking bitterly. "Because I completely forgot. That's why I knew something was missing..."

"What?"

"The reunion for the family thing. Where me and Nico see Zeus and Hades in the house. I saw a new license plate. Oh joy. Looks like your dad's coming too..."

"What?!"

"Don't need to repeat yourself. You heard me. Now let's all stay quiet. I want to enjoy this ride while it still lasts."

Nico nearly snickered but kelp his mouth shut through his visor as he looked at the road- hoping that a truck wouldn't crash into him this time. He remained silent, as he looked at his rearview mirror, cursing and swearing as he saw that Thalia was right. His dad and his uncles were actually coming.

It wasn't that she hated him. No- Thalia actually might start to warm up to Zeus in a while, give it a couple of years or so. All the same- during all the 'silence,' she gave out a bitter laugh, expressing her feelings in that laugh like a mask. She pressed her foot deeper as the speed increased; way over the speed limit. She didn't want to deal with her problems anymore.

Curses flew in a fit of a rage like a whirlpool in Percy's mind. If his mother was alive, she would be scolding him. He wished she would- could. But she isn't alive anymore, he thought acidly. Just because you weren't there to save her. All the same, a grim smile appeared on his face like he was sadistic. It was like a clown. A grin on the mask or painted face- a forced one. You couldn't see if he was upset or cheerful. Angry or sad. Just happy. Just like a facade.

"You know I thought I was a bastard?" Percy spoke to Thalia, breaking the silence that lasted only for a few minutes,

"You're not- oh right. A guy without a dad. Why? You still want to be one?" Thalia asked, swerving left and right, in-between the cars that were jammed up in traffic.

"Knowing that your dad couldn't save your mother?" Percy questioned.

"You know that he couldn't have done anything-"

"If he didn't leave then he could have saved her!" The green-eyed teenager spat out like venom poisoning your system and killing you.

Thalia bit her lip. In a way, she knew how her cousin felt. After all, a brother was almost the same relation as a mother right? She kept silent, feeling the wind through her jacket blow. She closed her eyes for a second like a blink with more meaning.

"We're here," Thalia muttered, and instead of nearly crashing into the house like she usually did, she stopped right in the parking lot, and got off. "Di Angelo! Help me out here will you?"

"I can walk by myself Thals, thanks for the heads-up though," Percy said, halfheartedly smiling.

"You know what? Screw the stupid rules," Thalia spoke, as she, with Percy on the motorbike rammed in the door that was open, and drove in the mansion until she reached a sofa. "Now get off."

"Thanks for the heads-up," Percy repeated, but it sounded more full of humor. More human.

The youngest of all of them walked towards the two, looking like death himself as he padded silently on the marble tile floor. The three looked at each other, embracing each other one last time before their dads came.

The door opened with a creak, damaged due to the motorcycle making a dent in the metal steel entrance. Percy took a few deep breaths before he leaned in the all too familiar couch he had sat in lots of times. He relaxed slightly, closing his eyes and pretending to be asleep.

The other two cousins looked at Percy sympathetically. And before their dads could see them. They nudged him.

"Go to your chambers," Nico said, almost jokingly. Then his tone got serious. "Before they see you. We'll make up an excuse. Go!"

One last genuine smile, before Percy all but limped to his room, closing the door shut, with a lacking of noise. The quietness off it all was almost tranquil. Until-

"Where is my son?!" Poseidon- one of the richest person in New York, asked frantically, his footsteps pounding.

"Sleeping," Thalia responded in a bored way, as if it were absolutely normal to be sleeping while a dad, who he hadn't seen in his life, was there.

Nico nodded his head in agreement, his face lacking any amusement or emotion as he stared at the three men, who were standing there awkwardly. Well, two actually. That is, of you don't count the man with the green eyes who was shouting 'where is he,' like Percy was lost.

Poseidon was feeling desperate as every door was banged open as he searched for his son. Every time he heard the familiar BANG! of the door, he expected to see Percy standing- no sleeping there. He knew it wasn't right to leave Sally, but he had no choice. He could still apologize to her right?

The door opened just as Poseidon reached for the knob. There he was- Percy standing there, his hair as messy as ever as his eyes narrowed into what seemed to be a glare.

"I was sleeping," Percy stated.

"You were sleeping," Poseidon deadpanned, looking at the duplicated sea green eyes.

"No shit," the teenager responded, trying to rile his dad as much as possible.

The fisherman businessman stared at his son like he couldn't believe it. Was this really his son? A stereotypical teenager that swore and didn't have a care about the world? Was this the same son that he had once glanced at when he was younger- without Gabe- carefree and happily smiling and running around...?

"Ah shit," Thalia swore as she saw the scene in front of her, "And I thought sleeping was a good excuse," she muttered under her breath. She straightened up, standing tall, with her cold sky blue eyes staring down at Zeus. "Reunion time. Right Percy; let's reunite this screwed up family. I suppose everyone's here? Never mind, I already see the wives coming up at the door."

The way Thalia said 'the wives' was almost like they weren't the only ones. And in a way they weren't. If they were the only wives, then she, Nico, and Percy wouldn't be alive.

Zeus glowered at his daughter, but it was covered up with a grim, forced smile. "I have news. The rest of the family are coming today, you can get to see your cousins, all of the Olympians basically."

The Olympians was basically the name for their family, and it was a business chain, each of the people having their own expertise and business. Zeus was the leader.

"Wow dad," Thalia said sarcastically. "Your first joke since a few years ago. Nice one."

"I assure you Thalia," Zeus responded through gritted teeth. "It is not a joke and-"

"Who's the little punk?!" Ares yelled, as he stormed inside, dragging someone across the floor. The carpet got red, which signaled that blood was dripping. The 'wrestling dude' threw the 'punk' on the floor like he was filth.

It was only then when the two cousins realized who the 'punk' was. It was Percy. It always had to be him. Thalia proceeded to turn her icy glare towards Ares, who might have cowered if his pride wasn't that, high.

"Turns out escaping weren't quite the best option," Percy said from the floor, refusing to get up and face the people. "It was only two meters from the ground but I ended up landing on my shoulder that got shot."

"Now look who's making the jokes," Zeus snapped to his daughter, slightly shocked at the image of his nephew.

"Who's th- APOLLO!" Thalia shouted, helping her friend to one of the sofas.

"So quick? Not even one minute's rest and some girl are calling you," Artemis stated grumpily, not seeing the boy or the person that was yelling. "How many girls did you invite this time?"

"Hang in there man," Nico said to Percy, trying to be encouraging. It could be told as one, until he started to speak again. "Did you know lots of people are staring at you?"

"They can listen to me snore," Percy retorted, tiredly. "I'm going to sleep on the couch and hope they get away from me."

"Who's that?" Hermes asked, looking at the 'sleeping' figure curiously.

"The son of your uncle that owns the fishy business," Thalia said quickly, hoping that Hermes would leave it at that.

"APOLLO!" Poseidon roared, so loud, that the people on the room covered their ears in fear of getting deaf. "GET OVER HERE!"

The healer of them all stepped forward; his easygoing expression turning worried as he saw Percy. For a few seconds, he stared at the teenager, wondering what he was doing on the couch. Unfortunately, no one gave him any details.

Sighing, Apollo walked forwards, and with everyone watching him, he checked Percy's pulse in the neck. Bated breath and almost no sound could be heard, as the healer's expression got worse and worse by the second.

"You're sure he's sleeping right?" Apollo asked with his expression serious and concerned.

"Well it's not like he's dead or anything," Thalia responded sarcastically.

One look was all it took. Just one morbid look from Apollo.

"What are you waiting for then Apollo?" Hestia asked, gently, but with a sharp edge to her voice. "Aren't you going to heal the boy?"

"I need some time and the supplies," Apollo mumbled silently, already taking out his medical supplies. He looked at Hermes, and a silent understanding passed between the two.

Hera was looking back and forth at her family, sighing, and closing her eyes. Clearly, this wasn't the family reunion she had hoped for.

A/N: Really sorry for the late update, I was busy with other things, and other chapters. Hope you all enjoyed the chapter!

Shur'tugal Daughter of Artemis: Thanks, but I'm sure that there are many more AU's out there that might be better.