Madison's POV

It's Christmas Eve and I had to go to SPQR for the past week. I kept my distance from Jason and everyone else as well. They could all tell I was in a better mood, but they still kept their distances.

I would be leaving today and I would make it back in time for Christmas with Percy. I was excited. I had everything packed and ready to go. I was about to hop on Blossom, but I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Jason.

"Can we talk?"

I looked around and saw everyone looking at us. When I met their eyes, they looked away. I sighed.

"Fine, go on."

"In private."

I followed him to the Jupiter cabin.

"Well… I see that you're happier and in a better mood."

"Ya, you could say that."

"Who is that boy?"

"It's none of your concern Jason."

"You're leaving now and I bet you are going straight to see him, am I right?"

"Maybe…" I felt a sting in the pit of my stomach. Something was off. It wasn't bad, but I felt that it was another quest.

"Jason, I need to leave now if I want to make it back in time."

I turned to leave.

"Please, be safe. I still care about you, you know?"

I sighed. "I care about you too, but not the same as the way you care about me."

He sighed. I came out of the cabin and hopped on Blossom. I gave a final glance at the camp and took off soaring through the sky.

I came to the Jackson's apartment or soon-to-be Blofis, since Sally and Paul are engaged now. I smiled.

I found the spare key and opened the door. All school year, they let me stay with them and I have been grateful. I opened the door and Sally greeted me with a hug.

"Thank the gods that you're okay!"

"What do you mean?"

"Percy hasn't come back from school; I'm starting to get really worried."

I started to worry. "I'll go look for him."

I bolted out the door and headed to central park.

I knew that something was off, but how could it be a quest?

I used my senses and tracked down his essence.

I also picked up Thalia's and Nico's essence as well. They all ended in a little opening in the woods. I heard a bark and Ms. O'Leary came out of the woods. I realized they could only be in one place… the Underworld.

"Hey girl, I need you to shadow travel me to the entrance to the Underworld just past Charon."

I hopped on her and we emerged into the shadows. We appeared at the beginning of the River Styx. I told her to wait here. I tracked them down at the River Lethe. I watched as Percy battle Iapetus and jumped into the Lethe. I panicked for a second until Percy can back out dry.

Iapetus looked clueless. I saw Ethan get away out of the corner of my eye. Percy had an injury on his shoulder and Iapetus healed it with his touch. Percy named him 'Bob'.

Wow, such a Seaweed Brain. I rolled my eyes.

I followed, careful to stay in the shadows, Thalia, Nico, and Percy along with Iapetus (Bob) to Hades' Palace. Apparently, Persephone went behind Hades' back and created a new weapon of power for him. Percy made him swear on Styx that he wouldn't use it against the gods. Hades left and Persephone congratulated them on a successful quest. Percy threatened to throw her in the Lethe if she didn't get out of there.

She popped out. That reminded me of the incident with Dionysus when I made him pop out after I threatened him.

He refused to give me a gift unlike the other gods. Everyone gave me a gift to keep me loyal, but he refused. I didn't mind that though, but Athena insisted that they all give me something, including Hades. Zeus tried to force him and threatened him with more years at camp. He finally gave me a little gift of madness. I never use it though.

After the meeting, he blamed me for Zeus's anger and tried to fight me. It didn't end well for him.

Nico decided to stay with his dad in the Underworld and told Percy to think about his offer. Thalia and Percy decided to go get food. I went back to Ms. O'Leary and decided to wait for Percy back at the apartment and tell Sally that Percy is safe.

We waited for about an hour and Percy finally came home.

"Sorry mom… I was a little busy…" He walked in and saw me on the couch. He ran to me and gave me a hug.

"You're back!"

"I told you it was only for a week."

"I know it just felt like forever!"

"So… Did you have fun in the Underworld?"

He paled. "How did you…"

"Your mom was worried, so I went looking for you. I found Ms. O'Leary in a clearing and realized that you were in the Underworld. Ms. O'Leary shadow traveled me to the Underworld and I saw you defeat Iapetus and heard your conversation with Hades and Persephone. Apparently, he has a new symbol of power that is a secret."

"Oh… well uh… Ya."

"You did good." I smiled at him and he gladly returned it.

I walked up to him and whispered in his ear 'Merry Christmas Seaweed Brain' and he shivered. I then headed off to my room to sleep. I had a long day.

I was lying on the bed reading a magazine I found. For some reason, I couldn't fall asleep. I heard a light knock on the door.

"Percy?" I whisper- asked.

"Ya, it's me."

I opened the door and saw Percy with only pajama pants on and no shirt. I could feel my face heating up. He walked in and sat on my bed.

"What's up?" I asked while sitting next to him.

"Merry Christmas!" He said and pulled out a blue velvet box with Sea Green lining.

"Percy, it's the middle of the night…"

"I know I just couldn't wait. Open it."

I lifted the lid to reveal a beautiful silver ring that is a dolphin and wraps around your finger. The head of the dolphin is on one end and the body wraps around and forms the tail and meet next to the head.

"Percy, it's beautiful!" He took it out of the box and placed it on my right hand ring finger.

"You like it?"

"No… I love it!"

He smiled and I hugged him thanks.

"Here…" I reached under my bed and pulled out a big scrapbook.

"What's this?"

"It's a scrapbook. Your mom made it and gave it to me."

"It's pictures of us. Here are the ones from when I kept trying to get my baby pictures back from you, but you wouldn't give them up!"

"Ha-ha, I also added a few of my own that were taken. Some pictures are just of us, but others are with others like Tyson, Annabeth, and others from camp."

We sat there and looked through the whole scrapbook for a couple of hours. When we were done, he looked at me and smiled.

"Some good memories."

"Ya, we had a lot of good times, haven't we Seaweed Brain?"

We both looked into each other's eyes, but this time I felt different. I felt like I was walking on air.

We both started to lean in and were inches away, but we quickly pulled away when Sally walked into the room. We were both blushing like crazy.

"There you are Percy! Good, you're both up! Breakfast is ready!"

Percy was rubbing his hand on the back of his neck. He always does this when he is nervous. I was rubbing my arm. Percy told me I always do this when I am nervous.

Breakfast was silent and I think Sally could feel the tension in the air.

"What's going on you two?" She asked.

"Nothing," We both replied quickly and then blushed.

She let it go. We went in the living room and Percy and I watched as Paul and Sally opened their presents. We all seemed to forget about the tension and we were all laughing and having a good time. I haven't had something this close to a family ever since my own. I had the best parents in the world and a great younger sister and older brother. I thought of this and it made me sad.

Percy seemed to notice my change in expression. "Madison, what's wrong?"

"Nothing… It's just… I haven't had anything this close to a family since…" My voice trailed off and everyone was silent in the room. "I'm sorry; I just started thinking about them and…" I didn't say a word after that. I got up off the couch and ran to my room they had for me.

Percy's POV

Madison got up and ran to her room.

"Go after her Percy." My mom said.

I got up and followed her. Her door was cracked and so I walked in. She was on the bed looking at something. I sat down next to her and noticed a picture in her hand.

"That's my mom and dad. The small blonde is my younger sister and the older looking man is my half-brother. He should be about 27 and my sister should be 12. My parents are in their 50s. I haven't seen them in 8 years."

"Your sister looks just like you."

"Ha-ha, I used to hate when people would tell me that. Everyone thought we were twins even though we are 3 years a part. Now, I miss everyone comparing us. I miss my sister's annoying self I missed my parents 50th birthday and my brother is probably already married."

Madison put the picture away and sighed. I put an arm around her and she placed her head on my shoulder.

"You have a new family now that loves you all the same."

She looked up at me and smiled. "Why does my life have to be so complicated?"

"It doesn't have to be."

Madison's POV

The rest of the school year went by quick. I went to SPQR once more and while I was gone, Percy had a little encounter with Phobos and Deimos and helped out Clarisse after they stole the chariot from her.

We also went back to camp a little during Christmas and had an encounter with the bronze dragon and Silena and Beckendorf finally got together.

Now, school was over and I had to go back to SPQR and make sure they were all set with taking down Mt. Tam. Percy had a mission with Beckendorf to blow up the Princess Andromeda.

Before I left, I gave him a peek on the cheek like before and told him to be safe. Before I could get on Blossom and leave, he grabbed me by the arm and spun me around. Our faces were an inch away. We both leaned in and we kissed. At first, it was just a normal kiss, but it grew more passionately.

My hands tangled into his hair and he pulled me closer to him. We pulled away to the sound of someone clearing their throat. We both looked and saw Beckendorf on Blackjack ready to go on their mission. We were both blushing hard.

"Be safe," I whispered in his ear before I hoped on Blossom and took off. We both flew off in opposite directions.

The whole ride I thought about Percy. I was smiling the whole time as well. We actually kissed!

It took me a few minutes to realize that I was already in camp and Reyna was trying to knock me back to reality.

"Madison… Earth to Madison!"

"What… Huh? Oh, hey Reyna!"

"What was with the weird look on your face?" She asked with a grin.

"What? Nothing…"

"That is such a lie! Come on… Tell me!" I got off Blossom.

"Uh…" I took off running and laughing. Reyna ran after me yelling 'Tell me'!

"NEVER!" I yelled back and was still running. Everyone was staring at us.

No one has ever seen me this happy here before. I looked up and saw Jason in front of me.

"Jason, stop her!" Reyna yelled.

I kept running and tried to avoid him, but he just got in reach and grabbed me. He held my arms so I couldn't get loose.

"Hey, not cool! Jason let me go!" I whined.

"Not until you tell me why you were so dazed and happy. I have never seen you like this before. Spill…" Reyna said standing in front of me.

"No…" I said and I bit Jason. He yelled in pain and let go of me.

I ran away laughing. This is the most fun I have had at this military camp EVER.

Ever since I came here, they started to lighten up a bit. This was way too much fun!

I had to enjoy myself now because later I had to be serious when I help them prepare for the battle with Krios. After that, I have to leave and help Percy defeat Kronos. I have a plan and I have to hurry and teach Percy a dangerous technique. This technique involves both of our powers of the sea and my powers over the hearth. It is a technique that Percy has been dying to learn and it can destroy Kronos and save Luke's life.