Alright the results for the poll: Who should get the next POV

Poseidon: 62%

Hades: 37%

Zeus: 0%

Poseidon wins, Next Chapter would be Hades

Chapter 21: Unusually Different

Poseidon

I stepped into the apartment with Hades leaning heavily at me. Not that I'm complaining he's not as heavy as it seems to be. But of course, it us still unusual for a god to carry another god with a broken leg into an apartment. We entered with Demeter sitting in the sofa.

"Goodness gracious, you two! How can you two be so irresponsible? Much more careless"

"Demi" I said struggling under the weight "Sis, I love you but I need to help Matt here to something or else we're both going to be seriously injured"
She was about to return with a smart resort that was until she noticed Alison

"Hi" she said "I'm Alison."

"Demeter" she said my eyes, as well as Hades', widened. "But I am often called Demi"

"Nice to meet you Demi" Alison said from Hades' other side. Then she looked ahead her expression changed

"Aww" she said sweetly I followed her line of sight. I saw a child no more than four years old. She looked at me in accusation "you never told me you had a little brother."

"Uh, I have his name is Mike" I said feigning confusion I had a feeling that I know who the little kid is. But I have to clarify that later today. Maybe even some teasing. Oh, the possibilities.

"Where is mike" I asked Demeter. Sure enough they had thought this through.

"Mike is with Tia. And of course while Tia takes care of some stuff with Mike, her son James here stays with us"

"Oh..."

"Aww" Alison said again them let go of Hades' other side. Unfortunately, it took me by surprise.

We both yelped as we fell to the sofa. Hades landing on top of me.

"Sorry bro" he said as he rolled off me and into sitting position.

"It's fine" I said

"Aren't you just adorable" Alison had the little boy in her arms. "How old are you James?"

"I'm four" he said practically grumbling as he was being coddled by Alison. She then stopped to look at us on the sofa.

"I think it is better if Matt gets to bed. I can make a last check on everything before I leave."

Hades stared at her. "Do you know what you're doing?"

"Well considering that my mom is your doctor, and the part that I have mended more bones than I could count, yeah I think I know what I'm doing" she said then looks at me

"Come on let's get him to bed"

We managed to get Hades in his bed. There were books scattered on the floor, sheets of paper here and there, used clothes on some of our trunks.

"Sorry for the mess" I said sheepishly

"It's fine" she said then started to gently elevate Hades' leg. She frowned

"What's wrong?"

"His ankle wasn't set."

"Isn't that the reason he's in the cast?" I asked

"What! What's going on?" Hades asked

She ignored him and walked towards me. She whispers into my ear.

"We need to set it back or it will be like that permanently." she said "hold him down"

I went beside Hades who has a suspicious look.

"Now mark" she exclaimed grabbing Hades' ankle.

"What's going on" Hades demanded with a stutter. I held him down while he struggled.

"Alright Matt, I'm going to realign your ankle. On the count of three"

"What! No Mark Unhand me!"

"One. Two..."

"Don't"

"Three" she twisted his ankle. Hades gasped in pain.

Alison smiled "alright! All done!"

"What no blood?" Hades said sarcastically between his teeth

"Yep" she said enthusiastically "I've mended broken bones and twisted ankles before never had I have one that drew blood. Or at least not when it was already bleeding"

"Honestly" Hades said "I don't know what to make of that"

I just chuckled

As soon as Alison left, I looked at Demeter.

"Alright, I want to know what's going on" I said

"Me too" Hades said with a sneer "what are you doing here? And what's with the child?"

Zeus growled at him

"None of that now" Demeter said to Zeus who was about to launch himself at our disabled brother.

"This was Hestia's idea. Saying that he keeps acting like a child. So he is stuck like that for the duration of his grounding and his suspension."

"Then why are you here?" Hades asked with a dark undertone in his voice

"I am here because as it seems the three if you don't know how to take care of yourselves." Demeter said "and I don't think it's wise to leave a four year old here alone."

"How is he alone?" Hades asked "I'm going to be here"

"That's another thing; seeing as you were stupid enough to injure yourself" Demeter said "it seems that you need me more that you think"

"I'm not stupid" Hades protested

"It was an accident"

"Well that accident left you stuck here for two weeks"

"It wasn't on purpose" Hades grumbled under his breath

"Well one thing's for sure" I said

"What?" Zeus asked. I picked him up. He squirmed violently in my arms

"I'm not the little brother for a while" I said smiling

We all laughed except for Zeus who was desperately trying to pry his way down.

The next day just so happened to be a Friday, so I still had to go to school, after all those issues the day before. It felt strange walking to school alone. I mean sure, its near. But I am used to having Zeus and Hades nearby. Or at least suffering school with me.

I walked into school and walked to my locker. I got locker 820 and my friend Allison was four lockers down. So I usually see her before the classes start today was no different. As soon as I closed the door of my locker, I found her staring right into my eyes. I jumped in surprise.

She smiled "Hey Mark! How is Matt? Is his foot any better?"

"Yeah. His foot is actually feeling better he said" I told her "but he still was ranting that we didn't warn him before setting it."

"Would he allow me to set it, if he knew?" Allison asked crossing her arms.

"No not really"

"Well there's your answer."

The bell rung loudly, signaling the ten minute mark before class.

"Come on, we don't want to be late" Allison said dragging me through the corridor.

"This feels so strange" I said. It was lunch time; Percy was not in school due to a swimming competition. Which I have to say was a really obvious yet unfair move. Annabeth was also missing, probably nagging on Nico, like Demeter had on Hades. Thalia was hunting for more hunter candidates.

I sat with Allison outside by the trees in the small park inside the school. She was playing a gold harmonica then stopped and looks at me. "What is?"

"I don't know not being with my brothers. I mean usually I like being alone and away from them, but now…"

"You miss them." She said "That's what happens when you have siblings."

"But why?"

"Cuz you love them" she said "Even if they would piss the heck out of you, without them you will always feel this empty void. That's what it feels like being an only child. You would always find someone to be with, someone to keep you company,"

"How do you know these stuff?" I asked her as she was about to place the harmonica back in her lips.

She just shrugged "I always wanted a brother. I wanted an older brother. Well seeing as I am already here that's not going to happen. Being an only child sucks. You always feel alone, you don't have anyone to tell secrets to, make mischief at home. You don't have anyone to keep you company. You don't have anyone to bug you every now and then. I only have my mom. Seeing as she is also an only child, I don't have any cousins. My father left when I was very young." She looked at me in the eye. "That's how I manage to do so much yet have so much emotion. My solace was music and animals. Back in Texas, I had a horse I usually ride around the fields. And when I came here, I only have my guitar and this."

She held up the harmonica. It was as lustrous as Imperial Gold; Victorian style designs covered the small instrument. White letters adorned one side of the instrument.

"This was given to me by my mom, it was my dad's. I've had it since I was eight. This is the only thing I have of my father." she said "I have always kept it with me. It was the only thing that had kept me from feeling so alone."

"May I have a closer look?" I asked

She looked at me warily "Just be careful with it" she gently placed the harmonica in my hand. I turned it over to the letters.

The letters were familiar, I just can't remember where I had seen it. I returned the small instrument back in her waiting hand. And we had returned to our peaceful afternoon, until the bell rang, of course.

I walked home later in the day, it was strange being alone. I was just standing by the gate of the school just waiting. I had forgotten that I was alone today. I walked into the building and up to our apartment.

"How was school?" Demeter asked when she opened the door

"Unusually Different"

Yey! New Chapter :D sorry its been a while since I had updated. I am writing another story with my friend, DM… well it was another rewrite of what we had been writing… rewrite number2 :D it actually came to a point that I nearly typed Alyce instead of Allison. Hehe and my best friends had just graduated. I just can't believe that I got too sick to go. Im the worse friend ever. Anyway this is for them. The void will always be there now that my 'sisters' have left for the next chapter of their lives.

Anyway, Please Read and Review!