Alright, I know it's been a while but I haven't had many chances to write. So yeah, here's chapter 12. Reviews, constructive criticism and ideas are much appreciated. Flames will be laughed at, possible and probable OOC, possible spoilers, and once again: as much as I want to, I do not own PJO or HoO or any of its characters etc. they all belong to the genius that is Rick Riordan. Enjoy.

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"Are you alright Perce?" Annabeth asked cautiously.

"Yeah, I'm fine, I just discovered I have a 3 year old sister and my father didn't even bother to mention it to me. Yeah I'm just fine," Percy snarled. He pushed open the door to the Montauk cabin and marched inside. Annabeth sighed as she followed and softly closed the door. She knew that Percy had been through something worse than hell; but so had she. She had been through Tartarus as well; admittedly Percy had been there to help her but still. She made her way into the bedroom and lay on the bed sighing again, not bothering to undress or get under the covers.

She didn't remember falling asleep but she soon woke to a bright sky, the sun up and the sky a beautiful shade of blue. The first day of summer she remembered with a jolt. The next thing to occur to her was the fact that she was in bed, under the covers and she was wearing her pyjamas… weird. She was just thinking of getting up and finding Percy when said man stalked into the room. Dripping wet.

He must have been swimming, Annabeth thought lazily. Percy didn't seem to notice her as he peeled off his wet clothes and got in the shower. Annabeth's thoughts again strayed to her experience in Tartarus, particularly when she thought Percy had abandoned her and she had been blinded. Her thoughts were interrupted when Percy again walked into the room wearing only jeans. Annabeth was shocked when she saw him. Sure she had seen him shirtless before; but that was before he was banished and he had been tanned, muscular, toned and his skin had been smooth. Now though; his skin was paler than it had been and he had thinned remarkably, during their night together she hadn't really paid that much attention to his skin, but now she realised that he had scars all over his torso. Three stretched from his right shoulder down across his chest as though he had been clawed, another cut across his left side ribs, across his stomach and down to his right hip and there was a multitude of scars on his entire left arm and left shoulder, it almost looked like his veins and arteries were the scars. Annabeth's eyes were drawn to one scar in particular, a scar that looked like a blade had pierced the skin, it was on the top of his left shoulder, it was wide enough for Annabeth to tell that it had been deep, if it were a sword Annabeth would say it had been buried to the hilt in his shoulder. But wouldn't he be dead if that happened? Annabeth thought, deciding that she would ask Percy about it later. Percy shifted uncomfortably and she realised she had been staring at him,

"Sorry," Annabeth muttered, looking away.

"Na, it's alright." Percy grunted, "It's pretty bad isn't it?"

"It doesn't matter what it looks like, not to me." Annabeth said, looking back up to his face. Percy's lip twitched but he still didn't smile.

"Thanks, this is nothing compared to my back though," Percy said sadly, turning to show Annabeth what he meant. Annabeth gasped, she couldn't help it. Scars crossed each other all over his back, the three on his shoulder continued down to the small of his back, he had the words "The Heroes Fate" cut, no carved across his shoulder blades, and there were more scars than she cared to count all over his back. Annabeth stood and quickly closed the distance between them; she traced the scars across his back with her finger. Percy shuddered at the touch and Annabeth slowly traced at scar around the left side of his chest; she walked around until she stood in front of the son of Poseidon, her finger still resting on the scar. Percy gripped her hand gently and she looked up to at his face, a little miffed that he was now a good head taller than her.

"Thank you," he whispered quietly.

"For what?"

"For everything: not giving up on me; for coming for me; for sticking by me." Percy said.

"You would have done the same for me Seaweed Brain," Annabeth muttered as she leaned on his chest. Maybe it wasn't so bad being the shorter one, she thought contentedly.

"Yeah, I would, but it won't come to that. I'm not planning on being separated from you again anytime soon." Percy reassured her.

"But we both know how good your plans are," Annabeth teased. "Good thing I'm not planning on it either; quite the opposite in fact."

She smiled gently and rested her head on his shoulder. He placed his hand on her head and gently turned her face as he bent down to kiss her.

"I love you Annabeth."

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"Is he really my brother?" Olivia asked as she sat down to eat her breakfast. Even at three years old she knew that blue pancakes were only used for special occasions and this made her wonder what was happening when Sally placed the best pancakes in the world in front of her.

"Yes, sweetie, he is." Sally replied happily.

"Where was he?" the young girl asked curiously.

"He was… in a very bad place." Sally said carefully.

"That's what he said last night! Why did he say he was in prison?" Olivia complained loudly.

"Because he was. Though he didn't do anything wrong Olive." Sally said quietly and sadly.

"But-"

"That's enough Olivia. Eat your breakfast and then we'll go the aquarium," the older women cut her off.

"Yay!" Olivia immediately stopped asking questions and wolfed down the pancakes in a manner that was so much like Percy that Sally couldn't help but smile. Her boy was back; he was safe.

Sally sat down across from Olivia as she devoured the pancakes. As she stared at the little girl that was so much like Percy had been at that age she smiled, but that faded when she remembered when she had found out about Percy's banishment.

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Sally hummed happily as she cleaned the house one last time; wearing simple jeans and a shirt she felt the happiest she had in a long time. She had just received an IM from Percy; the first contact she had with him since he disappeared, to tell her that they had won again. That Gaia was asleep once more and that they were on the way home. Finally, after all this time she was going to see him again.

Paul walked in looking tired and worried for his stepson. He sighed and ran a hand over his face, dropping his books onto the table and collapsing onto the couch with a groan. Just then Sally bounced into the room with a cheerful smile that lit up the room. Paul sat up instantly; she hadn't smiled like that since Percy's disappearance.

"He's coming home!" Sally said cheerfully.

"Percy?" Paul asked incredulously.

"Who else? He's coming home.My baby's coming home!" Paul laughed and stood to hug his wife, her happiness and relief obvious to anyone and everyone who might be watching.

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The day passed quickly for both Sally and Paul as they celebrated the victory and Percy's imminent return.They were both glowing with happiness as they turned in for the night.

"I can't believe it Paul, he's actually coming back." Sally sighed in content.

"I told you he would come back to us Sally."

"Yes, you did. Thank you," Sally said earnestly, looking him in the eye.

"For what?"

"For staying, for keeping me going."

"Love can make you do crazy things."

"It sure can."

The couple was silent until Sally sat up suddenly, jerking the nearly asleep Paul wide-awake.

"Sally? What's wrong?" Paul asked in a worried tone.

"I don't know, something feels off." Sally was clearly stressing.

"You just tired Sally, everything is fine." Paul reassured her.

"I'm afraid I must disagree." A new voice said.It was thick with grief.

"Who-?" Paul started but his wife cut him off.

"Poseidon! Why are you here?"

"Sally- I-" the sea God faltered and fell silent.

"Poseidon? What's wrong?" Sally got out of bed and guided Poseidon towards a chair. The sea God sat and buried his head in his hands as sobs racked his body.

"Poseidon, what is wrong?" Sally asked again.

"My son, my son." Poseidon muttered miserably.

"Percy?" Sally asked with fear in her eyes. Poseidon nodded mutely.

"What happened to Percy? Damn it, Poseidon.Tell me what happened!" she demanded.

"He's been banished to Tartarus."

At those words Sally's world collapsed, and she simply broke down and cried. Nothing that Paul tried could calm her down, and Poseidon just sat there numbly until he simply vanished out of the window. Paul stared after the God but was quickly brought back to the sobbing women in his arms.

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Sally was brought back to the present when Olivia leaped up from the table and ran to put her plate in the sink. Olivia soon ran back to Sally and not much later Sally was walking though the aquarium smiling as she watched Olivia running around everywhere and spouting out random facts about whatever creature she happened to be looking at. But the whole time she couldn't help but wish that Percy was here with her and that he was the one running around, smiling and laughing. She just wanted her son back.

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Short? yes, a filler? yes, My best work? not by a long shot. This story is to be a standalone story, so there will be no sequel. I have received a number of reviews and PMs and the standalone's have it by one vote. I'll probably make what I had in mind for the sequel as a separate story anyway. TTill next time, that's all folks!

BigSchwart out :D

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oh and I'll update as soon as possible but no promises, next chapter: Percy goes back to CHB, any ideas on what has changed will be much appreciated :)