Hey, I'm sorry if this chapter isn't as good as usual, I'm not very well at the moment.
Nyx's Fist : Thank you for both of your reviews :)
Enhisbeautiful : I'm glad that you loved it.
QueenofLothlorien : The mystery of the sore ribs will be revealed to the others this chapter :) And if she thinks you're weird for reading it she must think that I'm insane for writing it. I might put the weak wrist in later.
RoseAmy13LunaGinny : Gotta love some Leo angst.
WhiteWinterStar : Sorry for making it too quick but I'm glad that you liked it.
Pacenya347 : Oh no! Please don't cry *frantically waves adorable Leo pictures*.
ObsessedwReading : I feel bad for Leo as well (and I'm the one writing this!)
AmaebLEO : Ooh that's a great idea thank you. I'll use that next chapter (really, that would make so much sense).
Guest : I'll do one soon.
Catsrawesome : I'm happy that it wasn't too depressing and that Leo was in character.
TeamLeo'sVeryOwnFlinxShipper : I laughed at that as well. And I wish Leo knew how much we love him.
Septimus : You'll find out this chapter.
Killua minamoto : Thank you, your reviews are always so kind :)
SilverStorm116 : It's always so hard not to fangirl in school. And I'm glad if my story can help anyone who has suffered any of the issues that Leo has faced.
Our Mismatched Socks : If you're horrible for reading about Leo suffering than what must I be for writing it?
Kittehx1 : You're not weird, he does it in the book and I feel the same way.
Kaylee : I'll be writing a lot more so don't worry.
Awesometacos : Ahh, no he just wanted Leo's fighting/creating skills.
AnnabethJackson09754 : Thank you, the're all so adorable.
Disclaimer : I own only the plot of this story, not the characters.
Percy's P.O.V
Percy still felt warm over the fact that Leo finally seemed to register that they saw him as a brother despite his self perceived flaws. But then he noticed something that made him frown. Leo was rubbing his ribs again. He remembered his earlier theory. Piper was also watching the motion anxiously and when their eyes met, Percy nodded. They were going to confront Leo over this, he wasn't going to be allowed to suffer in silence any more.
"Why do you keep rubbing your ribs, Leo?" Percy made sure to keep his question soft without leaving any room for Leo to wriggle out of answering. Leo looked at his hand with surprise and stopped it's movements.
"Oh, the memory from before just reminded me of when they were injured. I guess my mind just decided to do this subconsciously."
"Phantom pain." Leo shot Percy a dirty look for saying that as clarity dawned on the others.
"That disgusting witch broke your ribs!" Piper's voice reached a pitch that could probably kill dogs due to indignation.
"Guys, chill. It happened a long time ago and she'll never get to me again." Leo's comment did seem to calm the others.
"You're damn right she won't." Percy couldn't help this statement and Leo's mouth tilted up. Hera's voice nearly gave them all a heart attack.
"As you have been here for a few hours, you require sustenance." After the matter of fact statement, a table appeared in front of the couch with the demigods favourite foods. They retook their original places in front of their dishes and Percy could hardly believe that they had only been there for a couple of hours. It felt like they had been in that room for years.
As they settled themselves in front of their food, Percy noticed that Leo's plate was filled with tacos which reminded Percy of an earlier memory.
"So are we going to learn about the great taco snatcher yet?" Leo almost choked and the screen turned on obligingly.
James and Leo were sitting in the kitchen and both sets of eyes were on a big plate in the middle of the table that was filled with delicious looking tacos. Julie was facing them with her hands on her hips.
"Now you are going to wait for us to come home before we eat and therefore I don't want any of those tacos to be missing when your father and I return from Mrs Lilac's next door. Understood?"
The boys nodded their assent. Julie eyed them up for a minute or two before she joined her husband and walked outside. Leo sighed and went to leave the room but James tugged him back, a sly smile on his face. Leo stared at him questioningly.
"Bet you can't get one of those tacos without mom finding out." Leo, with all the affronted pride of an eleven year old boy instantly retorted with a "Bet I can!".
James gestured towards the table. "Go ahead then."
Leo debated internally for a few seconds, before he crept towards the table. He pulled himself up with the agility of a cat and wrapped his hand slowly around the closest taco. The door was flung open and Leo span, the taco leaving his fingers to fly across the room.
"Hey boys, I forgot my ke..." The taco landed directly in Allen's face, who had clearly returned to find his keys. Julie stood behind him, taking in the sight of Leo sitting on the table with taco sauce staining his hand and one of her tacos smeared over her husbands voice. Leo did what any insane ADHD eleven year old would do in this situation.
He jumped off the table, bowed, yelled "tada" and then tried to sprint out of the room. Julie's fingers hooked around his collar.
"Not so fast you little taco snatcher."
"You seriously shouted tada instead of saying sorry." Percy almost couldn't breathe through laughing. Leo flushed. The food had been finished as the demigods watched the memory and the table had disappeared. Leo had resumed scribbling, though he was keeping the pad well sheltered so Percy had no clue what he was doing on it.
"I panicked!" They all laughed more at Leo's protests.
Hazel's P.O.V
Hazel was so happy that Leo seemed to be a lot more cheerful. She almost couldn't take the thought of Leo hurting himself in anyway. She was also glad that Leo had seemingly accepted that he was a member of their dysfunctional family. And that memory had been so cute and funny. She hoped that the next memory would be just as cute.
The image of a stable, standing in the heat of the a Texan day flickered on screen.A thirteen year old Leo stood in front of a glorious chestnut stallion. He was wearing full horse riding gear and an honest to God cowboy hat. A group of people sat on horses around him, Leo obviously being the last to get onto his horse.
"Mount up Valdez, we don't have all day."This order came from a ginger haired girl who sat on top of a small black mare. A boy next to her who was practically her reflection if you ignored his considerably shorter hair laughed gently.
"Yeah Leo, some of us have a curfew." Leo stuck out his tongue at the boy before turning to the girl with a teasing smile.
"Sorry, ma'am, a gentleman like me would hate to keep such a polite young lady like yourself waiting." His voice had a gentle, southern lilt that was usually hidden away. Leo mounted with ease, and sat on top of the horse with complete confidence. He took the reins and guided his horse to stand in front of the others. The group cantered away, and Leo's laughter echoed behind him. They continued to banter as they rode into a nearby forest.
Hazel's heart clenched painfully. From the teasing grin to his posture on the horse and even the way his laughter rang out, Leo had been the exact duplicate of Sammy. The memory of riding with her old friend hurt, and though she knew it wasn't Leo's fault, she couldn't help but resent him a little in that moment for reminding her of what she could have had. Then, with a wave of guilt, she realised that if she had started dating Sammy than she would never have met Frank, Leo or the rest.
She looked up to see Leo's giving her a concerned look. So like Sammy's ... no. Leo was her friend in his own right and she had to stop comparing him to Sammy. She flashed Leo a grin and snuggled into Frank's side. Leo appeared appeased and continued his doodling.
The next memory revealed a relatively crowded sitting room, filled with children of all ages. Twelve year old Leo sat in the middle of a cluster of children, laughing and joking. Occasionally one of the older boys would throw in a cruel remark which Leo would casually deflect in that jokey way of his.
Leo's eyes drifted towards the window and saw a small girl of about five sitting, curled up, on the driveway. Leo excused himself from the group and made his way outside. Faint sniffles were coming from the child's mouth and Leo sat beside her. Watery eyed glanced at Leo briefly before flicking away hastily.
"Hey there, Sparkle. What's up?" Leo said this with some affection (evidently the name Sparkle was a nickname). The young girl shook her head and buried her face deeper into her knees. Leo frowned.
"Come on Sparkle, you know that if you cry, I'll start crying." The girl remained unresponsive and Leo's frown deepened. He gently slung his arm over the girl's shoulders and drew her onto his lap. His hand smoothed her hair tenderly and he sang a Spanish lullaby softly.
Eventually the girl blurted out her problems.
"No one wants me!" She wailed.
"Of course they do Sparkle." Before Leo could continue re-assuring her, Sparkle shook her head obstinately.
"I've been here for ages and ages and no one wants me."
"I've been here longer." The little girl looked up curiously at this.
"Now if you don't smile, people won't see your adorable little grin and that is a crime, okay?" She giggled at this and Leo pretended to be blinded by her smile. After a while, Leo stood up, shifting Sparkle to his hip in a practised way that suggested that Leo was used to carting around small children. His singing resumed as he walked towards the Home.
"How long have you been here Leo?" The words were drowsy and somewhat slurred but Leo still replied.
"Three months."
"That was so cute." Hazel couldn't help giggling about how cute Leo had been.
"It was nice of you to help that girl out." Percy was giving Leo a brotherly smile. Leo shrugged slightly.
"I'm used to being surrounded by little kids. Sparkle was one of my favourites though."
"Why did you call her Sparkle." This was Frank who was looking mystified at the randomness of the nickname.
"On her second day she accidentally spilled glitter all over me. She started crying and it was the first thing I could think of to make her stop crying." As Leo said this, an image of him encrusted in glitter showed up on the screen. The group grinned at the sight of their friend coated in glitter.
Jason's P.O.V
Jason shot a look at Leo's picture and smiled as he watched Sparkle being added in. Then he noticed that one of the most friendly faces from the previous videos had not been drawn on.
"Where's Layla?" Leo froze at Jason's quiet question, an action that Jason didn't understand.
"You'll probably find out why I'm not drawing Layla on later." Leo's voice was the tiniest bit sad and Jason almost kicked himself for upsetting his friend. Apparently Leo noticed his expression as he punched him lightly in the arm.
"I'm fine Sparky." Jason glared at the nickname, but inwardly he was relieved that he hadn't shattered the tentative air of relaxation that the demigods were currently enjoying. Jason was happy to be getting closer to the younger boy, but at the same time he despised the amount of pain that Leo had suffered. He swore silently to himself that he would always support Leo no matter what. It was time for the next memory.
Yay, some happier memories and the secret of the great taco snatcher is revealed. And if anyone is upset at the lack of Nico in this story, I have started a fic that focuses on the friendship between Nico and Leo so feel free to check it out. Goodbye and see you next time :).