A/N: Disclaimer I don't owe. You should know that by now.

Thanks to my reviewers for the last chapter. And all the favourites and followers (hopefully my followers decide to review).

This chapter didn't go as planned. It also wouldn't post the first time.

Chapter 12- LOVE

They all met back in the throne room an hour later after enjoying a relaxing lunch. Thalia and Percy were sitting on the sofa with Nico between them. They had been laughing and joking throughout lunch which Percy and Thalia were thankful for. The next part of the story was going to be difficult for all.

"We rode the giant steel brush over gravel till sunset," said Percy ignoring the confused looks he was receiving.

"Percy! you're right riding the boar was just as you described it," said Thalia.

"Ouch, saddle sore!" exclaimed Apollo.

"We had left the mountains behind and had travelled miles across flat dry land before the boar came to a stop in desert environment. We got off the boar as it ate a cactus and drank from a muddy creek," said Percy.

We had arrived in Gila Claw, Arizona. It consisted of a couple of boarded up buildings," said Thalia.

"Behind the town was a huge junk yard with mountains of old cars, washing machines and other scrap metal," said Percy.

"Oh that junk yard," mumbled Hephaestus, knowing exactly where the questing group were.

"Grover did his trick with the acorns and looked concerned," informed Thalia.

"It showed five nuts that represented us," said Percy.

"You are nuts," said a gleeful Nico until he was zapped by electricity and doused in water.

"I'm not nuts, Percy is though," said Thalia.

"Hey," said Percy glaring at his cousins.

"You wanted to know which nut you were. Zoë told him that he was the little deformed one," said Thalia informing the others who burst into laughter.

"The acorns also showed danger up ahead but Grover couldn't smell any monsters. All signs pointed to the junk yard which we decided to tackle in the morning. We camped in the ghost town, Thalia started the campfire by giving the wood we had collected with an electric shot," said Percy.

"Remind me to take her with me on a quest," said Will forgetting she was now with the Hunters.

"We discussed many things, the stars, Pan. How Bianca had destroyed the zombie," said Thalia.

"Bianca looked uncomfortable with all of us paying her attention," said Percy. "She also freaked out when visiting Las Vegas was brought up. We realised that she and Nico had stayed in the Lotus Hotel and Casino."

"Zoë asked Bianca who the current president was she answered correctly but when asked who was before she replied Franklin Roosevelt – the president seventy years before," explained Thalia.

"Wow, Nico you are so old…. older than my grandfather," said Rachel.

"Yeah, yet you show me no respect," said Nico.

"Why would we show you respect?" asked Connor.

"Because I am the eldest and you respect your elders," said Nico.

"That's hard when you look eleven," said Travis with a shrug and a laugh.

"I'M TWELVE," shouted Nico.

"How do you know? You don't even know your birth date," asked Travis.

"I was born in winter," exclaimed Nico.

"HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT?" asked Clarisse.

"Maths, Dad would visit Mom while Persephone was not "stuck" in the Underground," explained Nico.

"HADES," screamed Demeter.

"I got lonely," admitted Hades shrugging.

"Don't worry, birthdays are not that great," said Percy looking at his cousin. His birthday was forever ruined with the death of so many friends.

"Our interrogation of Bianca was interrupted by a car that appeared in a flash of light down the road," said Thalia stopping the fight that had lasted for thousands of years.

"Apollo… no its night time… who?" asked a confused Athena.

"It was a limo that pulled up in front of us. Out of the limo came…. Ares," said Percy.

"ARES," was the confused reply from a number of people including the god himself.

"Apparently Lady Aphrodite wanted a word with Percy," said Thalia as Percy blushed.

"Oh I'm going to give you advice on love," squealed the goddess of love.

"Is that what she really wanted?" asked Thalia. Percy nodded.

"Ares snapped his fingers and the closed taco place burst to light and Thalia and the other went reluctantly over to it," said Percy.

"Of course we were reluctant, we were leaving you with the god of war, who hated your guts," said Thalia.

"I entered the limo and met Lady Aphrodite," said Percy.

"Oh what was I wearing?" asked Aphrodite not noticing the many eye rolling that occurred around the room.

"You were wearing a red dress, with your hair in ringlets," said Percy.

"You remembered that?" asked Annabeth showing some jealousy.

"When she smiled at me for some reason she reminded me of you," admitted Percy. Aphrodite squealed as she realised what that meant.

"Lady Aphrodite made me hold a mirror the size of a dinner plate while she touched up her perfect makeup," said Percy.

"When is her makeup ever not perfect?" asked Katie.

"Oh it happens often- especially if Hermes plays a practical joke," said Apollo "want to see?" Apollo then jumped down from his throne pulling out some pictures.

"NO, ANYONE SHOWS THOSE PHOTOS AND THEIR LOVE LIFE IS DOOMED FOR A HUNDRED YEARS," shouted an irate goddess of love. Apollo halted so Artemis grabbed the photos off her brother and showed the demi-gods. She wasn't frightened by the threat, she hated men.

"Aphrodite asked me why I was there, but told me I was in denial when I answered that Lady Artemis had been kidnapped," admitted Percy. "Aphrodite informed me that the others were on the quest for that reason, and got me to admit that I was on the quest because Annabeth was in trouble."

"Hands up who hadn't known that," said Thalia to the group of demi-gods. Everyone put up their hands except Rachel and Chris.

"Only because we weren't around then," said Chris.

"That was when Percabeth begun," said a disgusted Clarisse.

"What's Percabeth?" asked Aphrodite while Clarisse was asked

"How do you know when it started?"

"Friends with a daughter of Aphrodite, you think I wouldn't hear about the most famous demi-god couple in our century," answered Clarisse rolling her eyes but enjoying the embarrassment of Percy and Annabeth.

"What's Percabeth?" asked Aphrodite again.

"It is Percy and Annabeth couple name. You combined their names to get the couple name. It all started with the media giving two movie stars who were dating, Bennifer. You are not a couple in Hollywood if you don't have a couple name," explained Rachel.

"Um Rachel, that's not true," said Will.

"Oh I know it just feels like it."

"Aphrodite admitted that she had helped me attend the quest. She had sent Blackjack to find me and helped me to leave camp. Oh and she had organised the Stolls to give the poison T-shirt to Phoebe," dobbed Percy.

"APHRODITE," screamed Artemis, Poseidon and Zeus. The Stolls were also looking angry; they had been punished for the prank.

"What have I said about interfering in quests? The next two who assists the demi-gods on their quest are going to be punished, understand?" said Zeus not noticing Thalia and Percy exchange smirks.

"Aphrodite told me that Annabeth was about to throw her life away and join the Hunters, and I could save her on my quest for love," said Percy. Aphrodite was suddenly pinned to her throne by a number of silver arrows, and attacked by a number of owls.

"Throw her life away by choosing maidenhood?" asked Athena glaring at Aphrodite.

"She told me just to concentrate on finding and saving Annabeth," said Percy who was kissed by Annabeth. "Unfortunately she also said that it had been ages since there has been a good tragic love story."

"TRAGIC LOVE STORY," screamed Poseidon, Athena and Annabeth.

"Our love wasn't going to be easy or boring. It was going to have anguish, indecision and surprise," said Percy.

"Yep, that sounds right," said Thalia and Will; while the rest of the demi-gods nodded.

"My appointment with Lady Aphrodite ended with her warning me to be careful in her husband's territory. We were not to take anything," said Percy.

"He is fussy about his trinkets and trash," said Aphrodite.

"There is a reason I throw things out," said Hephaestus glaring at his wife.

"As I was leaving I asked Ares why he hadn't killed me yet?" said Percy.

"By the sound of it, you could start the biggest war in history, I'm not going to mess that up," said Ares saying something intelligent for once, well for him.

"Oh and your girlfriend thinks my love life is a soap opera or something and killing me would make you look bad," said Percy.

"She not the only one to look out for," said Poseidon glaring at his nephew who gulped.

"Ares left with a threat and click of his fingers," said Percy.

"The next moment we were all standing in the middle of the junk yard," said Thalia. Both Thalia and Percy subconsciously moved closer to Nico who shrunk down in his seat.

"I warned the others about not picking up anything. There was a heap of metal objects- broken heads of bronze horses, metal legs from human statues, smashed chariots and tons of weapons," said Percy.

"Grover found a crown that looked like it had been split by an axe. Bianca found a Hunter's bow that when she touched it turned into a hairclip shaped like a crescent moon," said Thalia.

"Just like Percy's sword," said Katie.

"Zoë pointed out that anything in the yard would be defective or cursed," said Thalia.

"We tried to hurry but the junk yard seemed to go on forever, we would have gotten lost if it hadn't been for Ursa Major as all the hills of junk looked the same," admitted Percy.

"Did you really not touch anything?" asked Travis.

"I put it right down again. But I did pick up an electric guitar shaped liked Apollo's lyre," replied Percy.

"Oh wow, I want," said Apollo.

"Great, now I have to organise another surprise present for him," grumbled Hermes.

"Grover found a broken tree that was made of metal. It had been chopped to pieces but the golden birds on it tried to flap their wings when he picked it up," said Thalia.

"We could see the highway about half a mile when we came to a hill that had toes- we decided to go around it. We finally made it to the abandon highway," said Percy. He hated this part of the story.

"Behind us, out of the scrap mountain rose a bronze metal giant in full battle armour," Thalia informed the group.

"We worked out it was either a prototype or defective model of Talos," said Percy. Percy and Thalia's eyes meet as they felt Nico shudder. They really didn't want to continue but knew they had to.

"Someone must have taken something," said Lord Hephaestus. Most of the gods looked at Percy, while most demi-gods looked at Thalia.

"We scattered as Talos junior came towards us, his one step closing half the distance," said Percy.

"I ran down the highway but soon stopped when the metal giant took out a row of powerlines which exploded into sparks in my path," Thalia informed the group.

"Bianca and I ended up together, hiding behind a broken chariot. I knew Bianca had taken something, I thought it was the fore mention bow, but it wasn't. I told her to throw it back down," said Percy.

"Too late, that won't work," said Hephaestus.

"Talos junior had us in his sights and Bianca and I had to run, otherwise we would have been squashed. Grover played his pipes and the down power lines wrapped around him sending a jolt of electricity through him," explained Percy.

"Thalia why didn't you send a lightning bolt through it?" asked Will.

"I tried to get Bianca to move but she was frozen. From her pocket she brought out a small metal figurine," said Percy his voice cracking. Annabeth moved and sat on the armrest of Percy and Thalia's chair, putting an arm around his shoulder.

"A figurine what's so special about a figurine?" asked an astonished Ares.

"It was the only statue Nico didn't have for his Mythomagic collection," said Percy looking at his cousin.

"She caused all that trouble because of me," said Nico his voice broken. A tear slid down his cheek.

"I sent a lightning bolt at the stupid metal giant which caused his knee to buckle, unfortunately it didn't keep him down," said Thalia quietly. The room was silent; everyone knew what was coming by the reaction of the three cousins.

"Talos was ticked off and raised his foot to stomp. I saw on the sole, at the heel a maintenance manhole," said Percy. "I told Bianca how I was going to get up into the giant and hopefully control him."

"You would need to stand under the foot to get up into it, that's a crazy idea" gasped Athena.

"I told Bianca to distract the giant but she refused saying that it was her fault and her responsibility. She handed me the figurine telling me that if anything happens to give it to Nico and… to tell him she was sorry. She then ran for the giant's feet," said Percy wrapping his arms around Nico.

"By now we had worked out that running around his feet was the best, you were only at risk of being squashed. Bianca yelled out for us to get him to raise his foot. Zoë sent an arrow up his nose, Percy called him Junk Boy and stabbed him in the big toe," said Thalia.

"Junk Boy lifted his foot to squash me like a bug, but I ran, and I didn't notice what Bianca did. The foot came down right behind me and unfortunately I was knocked into a refrigerator," said Percy.

"Grover played his pipes and magically sent another power line at the giant distracting him from a dazed Percy. The effort of the magic must have been too much for Grover as he collapsed," said Thalia.

"The giant raised his sword as to smash Grover but then froze. He started moving his arms and legs in a weird way, like he was doing the Funky Chicken," smiles were seen around the room as they imagined the metal giant dancing. "He then punched himself in the face," said Percy.

"GO BIANCA," yelled Hermes and his kids.

"How is she going to get out?" asked a worried Demeter.

"The giant hit himself again and dropped his sword. He shuddered and staggered towards the power lines, "said Percy pulling Nico even closer to him.

"Electricity shot up the giant's body when his ankle snared on some of the down power lines. He careened back into the junk yard. He slowly started to fall apart from the top down," said Thalia a tear running down her cheek.

"We searched the wreckage for Bianca until the sun started to rise, but was not able to find her," said Percy whose eyes were rimmed in red.

"Why?" asked Nico his tears had dried up and he scrambled from his seat.

"Why did you take her?" asked Nico glaring at Hades, who himself had tears in his eyes.

"You are the god of the Underworld, why did you TAKE her?" asked an angry Nico. "She was my sister, your daughter and you let her die!"

"Nico I don't want to take any of my children," said Hades as he moved from his throne closer to his son. "Bianca chose to sacrifice herself for the quest. The prophecy said that one would be lost in the land without rain. The fates had decreed that someone had to die. Bianca was the one; I wouldn't be able to change it, no matter how much I want to. It wouldn't be fair if I let my children live while my family member children die," said Hades and pulled his now crying son into his arms if awkwardly. He was not use to showing affection to anyone but Persephone and definitely not in public. Looking around the room most of the female gods had tears in their eyes or falling down their cheeks. The male gods were looking concerned. The demi-gods were all silently reflecting on the first demi-god to die for the cause against Kronos. Travis was counting on his fingers.

"Same night," he said to Connor, who nodded.

"What are you two talking about?" asked Thalia drawing everyone's attention to the pair.

"The same night Bianca died was the same night as Nico's nightmare. He woke everyone up with a scream," said Connor. Everyone looked towards Nico whose head was buried in his father's chest.

"I dreamt that something bad had happen," Nico mumbled.

"We couldn't get him to tell us what was wrong, so I pulled him into bed with me," said Travis with a shrug.

"It was your turn," said Connor.

"Well a comfy bed is better than a hard piece of floor," said Travis "and there is no way I was giving up my bed."

"Actually while I was at camp, they ended up sharing a bed a number of times," dobbed Nico.

A/N: I had trouble writing this chapter- not good considering I have a book to guide me. I was going to call this chapter Love and Death but I think LOVE explains this chapter.

Please review. Tell me your favourite line or part. Reviews motivate me to update faster (if I don't get writers block- some nights I could only write 150 words.)