Chapter 27: Bonding Sort Of

Percy's POV

I watched as Madison went wide-eyed and stood there frozen. She did the last thing I expected, she turned and ran. I grabbed her by the shoulders and spun her around. She had tears in her eyes and I wiped them away.

"Shhh, Madison, it's okay. You can do this you have to face them."

"Percy, why? I don't want them to worry about me being in a life or death situation every day. It was easier for them for me to just leave and let them not worry about me every waking minute."

I wiped more tears away. "Everyone thinks this is a good idea. You need them and they need you. My mom has to worry about me every day. I'm put in a life or death situation all the time, but my mom pulls through. They will too."

"I-I… I can't…" More tears flooded out and she hid her face in my chest.

"Yes, you can. I'll be there helping you." She sniffled a little and looked up at me.

"Promise?"

"Of course. I'm always there for you no matter what."

She smiled a little and we walked up the hill together.

"Mad-" Her mom started to say, but Madison's sister ran right up and hugged her.

"I've missed you soooo much!"

Madison hugged her back. "I've missed you too."

For once, I felt like I really did a great thing. Nothing compares to this, not even when I defeated Kronos. I made the one I love whole again and it felt amazing.

She hugged each and every one of her family members here and a lot of tears were shed. I probably had never seen Madison cry so much. She walked back over to me and crushed me in a hug.

"Thank you…" She muffled in my neck.

"Anything for you…" I felt content. Her family made their way over to us.

"Thank you for bringing our daughter back to us." Her dad said to me.

I smiled at him as Madison twirled and stayed at my side.

"Madison, please come home. Everyone misses you." My face fell a little. I kind of expected them to want her back, but I really didn't want to believe it.

"Mom, dad, I can't just leave."

"But, we're your family…"

"I know, but everyone here in this world is my family too. I mean something to everyone here. They all look up to me. I can't just leave them all especially Percy." She hugged me again. "I also can't miss my senior year. Percy's family took me in and I have been going to school with him and his step-dad is the principal.

"You can go to school at home."

"But I don't want to miss the swim team because coach really wants us as team captains and I especially don't want to miss prom…" She glanced at me and I blushed. "I also come here during the summer to help train new demigods and such, I'm sorry, but I'm not leaving. I'll come visit on breaks during the school year, or something. I do love you all, but I love everyone here as well. Just because we are back in each other's lives doesn't mean that I can change the way I have lived and change who I am to go back home. I'll never be normal; I'm powerful and important in this world. I'll put you all in danger as well if I try to lead a normal life."

There was a long pause before one of them spoke.

"We want to meet his parents if they are letting you live with them."

"Of course, but we have to go speak with Chiron to get permission to leave camp even though I don't really need it."

"What and I need it? I'm his favorite student!"

Madison just laughed. "Yeah, yeah, don't get a big ego just because you're the greatest hero ever."

"You know it Hothead!"

"Shut it, Seaweed Brain!"

Her parents just watched us bicker back and forth. We both blushed realizing the awkward moment.

"We'll be right back…" We turned around and ran into camp back through the borders. Chiron reluctantly gave us permission to leave and we met her family near the road. We called a cab and the driver asked what we could possibly be doing way out here. I showed him a bid wad of cash. I told him that if he will take us to my home address and not ask any more questions, then the money was his. He shut up and Madison's family looked at me funny. Madison was just laughing.

"What?" I seemed confused.

"Nothing, left over from a quest?"

"Yeah, so…"

"You're supposed to give it back to Chiron if there is left over after a quest. Not wave it in front of a cab driver!"

"Well I forgot and thought I might need it again, plus, the questions were annoying."

"Your amount of patience amuses me." I scowled at her. "Chill Seaweed Brain!"

We made it to my mom's house in no time. I found the hidden key and opened the door.

"Mom! Paul! I'm here!" I called.

"Percy! Madison!" My mom jumped me and gave me a big hug and then engulfed Madison in one.

"Who are these people?" My mom looked confused.

"Mom, Paul, these are Madison's Parents, sister, brother, and sister-in-law." They looked back and forth between Madison and the others and a warm smile appeared on my mom's face.

"Come in, come in. It's so nice to meet you all."

They all sat down on the couches in the living room, but Madison and I had no seat so we sat on the floor leaning against the wall. Madison was mostly leaning on me and I had my arm around her. It felt a little uncomfortable with her family here, but I wasn't about to change habits now.

"I was just finishing up dinner." My mom stated. "You all should stay!"

"I better go finish it up Sally. You stay and talk." Paul got up and headed into the kitchen.

"How about we go help? Percy…" Madison got up and grabbed me by the arm. As soon as I was up, she dragged me into the kitchen.

"Why did you want to leave?"

"We should just give Sally and my family some bonding time. I also really don't know what to do. I haven't seen them in years you know?"

"Alright, alright."

We helped Paul set the table and got the fish out of the oven. My mom wasn't expecting guests so she didn't make much, but, thanks to my dad, we have plenty more that appeared.

Madison and I went back into the other room and saw them looking through the scrapbook that my mom made and that we went through.

"Oh, there you are. I took them to see your room Madison if that's alright? I was going to show them Percy's, but you can't even see it."

"I told him to clean it." Madison glared at me.

"What? Let me know when I have time from school, fighting monsters, camp, and you."

"I told you I would help Seaweed Brain or were you zoned out then? Hmm…"

I glared at her and she smirked. "I always win Perseus, remember that." I winced at my full name. Madison poked me in the stomach. My mom was laughing.

"Why was there a need to use my full name?"

"Oh, I don't know, seemed like the right time."

"Ugh, sometimes you annoy me."

"Feelings mutual…" I had no come back for that one. I huffed with frustration and Madison smirked with victory.

"I see you two banter back and forth a lot." Her dad was eyeing me. You know a guy for a day and he already is watching you closely.

"Dad! I'm almost 17! Stop glaring at Percy! I'm back in your life one day and you are already overprotective when it comes to guys."

"I'm just saying…"

"Percy's a good guy and you know that. You know what he has all done and he even got us back together. I never would have done that if he didn't step in. So stop glaring at him."

Paul came in just then and told us that dinner is ready. We haven't been at the table for more than two minutes until an Iris message appeared.

"Can't a girl get a break…?" Madison said to no one in particular.

"Madison…" It was Luke who called.

"What's wrong Luke?" Madison asked. Everyone at the table stopped eating and was watching the message.

"It's Annabeth! She's collapsed!"

Madison and I bolted out of our seats. My mom did the same. "Is she alright?" My mom asked.

"I don't know… Please Madison, I need your help."

"I'm on my way, I told the girl that she needs to take a break from constructing Olympus and focus on food and sleep!"

"I told her the same thing. Just, please hurry!" Luke cut the message.

"I'm sorry that we have to leave, but a friend needs our help." Madison told her family. "I'll see you all soon. I know what hotel you are staying at and we can all get together later, but for now, I guess this is goodbye. Thank you for dinner Sally, it was great. It's late and I may be with Annabeth for a while until she is better."

Her family understood and was going to leave as well, but Sally insisted that they stay. We came outside and called Blackjack and Blossom. Everyone came outside to see us off. The Pegasi showed up moments later and her family marveled at the sight. We hopped on and made our way to camp.

Madison's POV

We landed at camp and rushed to the infirmary. I yelled move to anyone that blocked my path. There were a few Apollo kids tending to Annabeth and I saw Luke pacing back and forth worriedly.

"Mark, Dave, I can handle it from here. Give me a status report first."

Mark spoke. "She collapsed only ten minutes ago. She's a bit cold and she would react to any treatment we give her."

"That's because she collapsed from exhaustion and Hunger. Give me some ambrosia." I felt her and she was a bit cold. I used my powers of the hearth and sent warmth through her body. I also used it to make her feel more at home with family and friends instead of working 24/7. Mark came back with the ambrosia and I quickly fed it to her. That should take care of her hunger for now and she should be warming up.

"Well…" Luke looked at me with hope.

"She's fine. My powers of the hearth helped her, that's why the Apollo campers couldn't do anything. She just needed warmth and comfort and a little reminder that home with family and friends is more important. She just needs rest and should wake up in a couple of hours or so. Don't let her work and feed her ambrosia so that it takes care of her hunger until the next meal. She should be fine and better than ever when she wakes."

Luke sighed with relief and told me that he would do what I asked. Percy was waiting outside.

"Well, how is she?"

"She'll be fine. Nothing that a little warmth and comfort can't fix… and food and rest too."

We made our way back to our cabin and I quickly got changed for bed.

"So what are you going to do now with your family and all?" He asked.

"Probably spend a few days with them to catch up on the years we missed. Spend some quality time you know?"

"Yeah, sounds great. Maybe during spring break, my family and your family can all go to Montauk beach."

I smiled at him as I got into bed. He came in next to me and I snuggled into his side. "Sounds like a plan."