To scenic97, I will reply to all reviews here. For the review on Charlie's story, I really try with all the fight scenes as I can't describe them to be as epic as they are in my head. The description of the gory was me probably wanting to describe things to a certain extent or me just not really focusing, as usual. I hadn't noticed that I skip the after-fight; I'll have to work on that. I also didn't notice me jumbling up Kara and Carly- I lost track of things at that point, but they were supposed to be the same character.
For your review on the Random One-shot fic, yes that is your longest review. You're a bit like me with the whole getting ready thing in the morning, except my long hair was annoying me so I cut it off and now have short messy hair which is fun and easy. If I'm honest, I totally forget that the storm spirit from the Grand Canyon was a Dylan as well. No, this Dylan is Lou's mortal friend that wants to keep all sharp things out of her reach. Um… oopsie about the spoilers for the Hunger Games… I didn't think of that… I don't know why Percy didn't melt the water bonds himself- planning that one-shot, I just saw Leo melting the ice for Percy and stuck with it. Sibling dynamics again, yeah- I like writing those; they're fun. Admittedly, I can't remember much from the beginning of Leo's settled down, but I will have to read the whole thing again in an attempt to rewrite and improve it. And I did update that last night, so less of the HINT thank you very much (smiley face). Leo and Lou take turns picking on Octavian otherwise Leo doesn't get any fun. I'm not against gays or anything, considering five or so of my friends are either gay or bi, but I had to add the gay joke in. SORRY IF I OFFENDED ANYONE. Yeah, again with the sibling dynamics- I did address some relations between demigods and gods in 'Family Relations'- have you read that?
And for your reply on the latest Tophia story- thank you for that lesson which made me slightly uncomfortable, if I'm honest. I didn't know that about the whole getting pregnant after having kids thing. But I've written it now and I am too lazy to change it/ haven't got any ideas for changing it. Plus, I'm working on a set timescale as well with ideas that have to happen around a certain point so I can follow said timescale easily. Again, didn't know about the drinking pills dissolved in water thing either, but I had that idea and was going to use it so Sophia could get a point over Tobias. Yes, Tobias gate-crashed his parents' wedding- that was 'Surprise', one of my first Percy Jackson fics- it's not the best, but I'm happy with it. Finn and Darcy do have middle names- somebody asked me this the other day. Finn is Finn Robin Jackson (remember how Leo and Charlie wanted him to be Finn Batman Jackson- the whole Batman and Robin thing) and Darcy is Darcy Blaise Jackson, I believe, due to popularity in voting. Vicky will probably aspire to be an event-planner, but not so sure what she's majoring in as I can't remember. I know about doctors keeping personal interests to themselves and remaining professional on the job, but I just had to put the whole gay doctor thing and upset Tobias because I was in a fairly mean mood and wanted to do that. They are ADHD so they often speak first and think later, don't they?
I think I've covered everything… let me know if I missed something!
And to everyone now- this is a chapter with good and bad news… thanks to lil Miss Mysterious… (I'm sorry, had to get the blame out there- hope you don't mind, lMM!)
The four days passed. Alvie didn't wake up, no matter how hard Crystal prayed.
But the day came when his ventilator had to be switched off. It was the only moment when Tobias and Max could stand in the same room without Tobias trying to kill Max, (Sophia was restraining him).
Sage and the triplets were in tears, Annabeth was doing her best to hold it together while her husband and his sister wore carefully stoic expressions. Leo was contrite, as was Charlie, who was nestled in his arms. Elsie was comforting Alokia while pointedly glaring at Max. Sally and Paul had turned up as well. Jessica arrived fifteen minutes after them with Poseidon and Athena. Like Max and Tobias, they were in the same room for once without attempts to kill each other.
The doctor seemed blasé to them amount of family members that turned up, but he skirted around the two gods present, their powerful auras screwing with his mortal mind.
"He may continue breathing for a short while. He could struggle or not, but I can assure you he won't be in any pain."
The ventilator was switched off. Annabeth couldn't hold in her tears anymore and a flicker of emotion passed over Percy's features. Crystal shied away, crying in her mother's arms yet again.
Alvie did carry on breathing as the doctor said. The doctor had backed into a corner of the room to give the large family space. Alvie's breathing was slow, soft and steady. Crystal was trying to psych herself up for when he stopped.
Annabeth glanced at her mother with tearful, pleading eyes. Percy also looked to his godly parent, silently pleading that Poseidon contributed.
The gods glanced at each other before looking at the doctor. A dreamy look crossed over the medic's features and he stumbled out. Tobias frowned, following the doctor's rambling movements. When the door closed, he looked at his godly grandparents.
"What are you doing?" He demanded.
"Ssh." Athena said softly. Tobias didn't like being shushed, but he recognised that look in his immortal grandmother's eyes and reluctantly stayed quiet.
Poseidon moved forward first. Leo moved back as the god passed.
"Stupid mortals…" Poseidon muttered. "Athena, as usual, you were right." Athena smirked.
"And you were wrong."
"No, I was less right."
"Been watchin' Megamind, Dad?" Louisa smiled. Poseidon returned it.
"There are some mortal films that amuse me. Now, quiet." Poseidon instructed. Louisa pulled a face at him while her brother looked at her quizzically. Poseidon rested a hand on Alvie's forehead. Athena stepped forward and took Alvie's hand.
Nothing happened for a few seconds, but finally the gods pulled away.
"How strange…" Athena mused.
"What?" Annabeth demanded. Athena didn't answer straight away.
"We need Apollo. This has to be his doing."
"Most likely…" Poseidon sighed in agreement. He called for Apollo. Instantly, a golden flash filled the room. Seventeen year old Apollo appeared, dancing away to music from his iPod.
The sun god looked round, mildly surprised to see so many people watching him curiously.
"It's Gangnam Style- you can't beat that."
"Apollo, what did you do?"
"What'd you mean?" Apollo frowned in confusion. Poseidon waved his hand at Alvie and Apollo brightened. Literally, brightened- he seemed to glow. "Oh, that!" Apollo waved it off. "That's just a little pressie from me to brighten his day."
"What did you do to my son?!" Annabeth cried.
"Whoa, sugar, lighten up. He's fine." Apollo snapped his fingers. "See, look. He's fine." Everyone looked at Alvie. His breathing had evened out and sounded completely normal.
"Other than his injuries, Apollo, what did you do?"
"Well…" Apollo started, casually wrapping his headphones around his iPod. "When he wakes up, you'll understand. You're a smart girl."
"If you've hurt him, I will kill you." Annabeth growled. Percy grabbed her hand and pulled her back.
"I'm immortal, sugar." Apollo smiled. "I just called you smart and everything and you want to kill an immortal." He shrugged. "It'll be amusing to watch you try."
"So… he's going to wake up?" Sage asked carefully.
"At some point in the next few hours he will." Apollo replied kindly, smiling.
"He'll be OK?" Sage looked worried for her older brother.
"Eventually, yeah, he'll be fine. Just don't freak him out or stress him or anything."
"I'm confused- who are you people?" Joy quizzed, looking at the three gods.
"Ooh, I love telling mortals I'm the smoking hot sun god!" Apollo beamed. He bounced forward and linked his arm with Joy's. She looked bewildered.
"Crystal, are these people OK? Like, mentally?"
"It's hard to tell, Mom." Crystal replied truthfully. "No offense or anything." She added, looking at the three gods. Apollo laughed, Poseidon smiled while Athena watched her carefully.
Alvie didn't wake up for hours, as Apollo had said he would. Joy was sitting in the corner with a strong coffee. She was still trying to get her head around the whole god thing. Crystal had tried to comfort her, but Joy was unusually quiet.
"Mom will be OK, won't she?" Crystal asked, looking at Annabeth.
"Possibly- just give her time to calm down." Crystal nodded. Annabeth went back to watching her son expectantly, Percy at her side. Whether or not they registered the tension between their two oldest sons, they didn't let on. Tobias was leaning against the wall, the window open next to him. Sophia stood next to him, holding his hand to hold him back, but he continued to glare at Max.
Max was sat on the floor on the other side of the room, looking up at Alvie's sleeping expression with worried eyes.
Sage and Charlie were keeping the triplets entertained while Elsie and Alokia supervised. Leo and Louisa had gone off to get the children something to eat.
The gods had long gone, but Poseidon turned up once an hour to check on the situation. He stayed for about ten minutes before leaving again. It turned out his immortal wife didn't want him around his mortal children or their mother. Sally and Paul were keeping an eye on Tobias and Max while Jessica had gone out to find her adoptive daughter and Leo.
It was reaching eight o'clock. Thanks to some help from Louisa and her Mist-manipulating powers, Annabeth and Percy had been allowed to stay. Leo and Louisa took the kids home, Louisa prodding Tobias out with a sharp arrow, keeping him away from Max. The triplets had fallen asleep in Elsie and Alokia's arms while Sage and Charlie plodded along sleepily after them. Leo ended up giving Sage a piggy back while Louisa carried Charlie and kept her eldest nephews under control. Sally, Paul and Jessica were giving the lot rides back to the Percy and Annabeth's place, considering it was bigger and had a few spare bedrooms.
Crystal had wanted to stay as well, but her mother had finally started to reappear.
"What if he wakes up and I'm not here?"
"He'll be happy to see you anyway, Crystal. You need your sleep though."
"I want to stay here." Crystal pleaded. Joy revealed a stubborn streak and threatened to drag Crystal home and not bring her back should Crystal not do as she was told.
Sulking, Crystal reluctantly left with her mother.
Annabeth glanced at Percy, who was still smiling at the mother-daughter battle he had just witnessed.
"I think she's good for Alvie."
"You've been hanging out with Piper way a bit too much, Wise-girl." He joked feebly.
"Alvie likes her."
"He does?"
"You didn't notice?" Percy looked sheepish.
"I thought he did, but I wasn't sure."
"Seaweed Brain…" She smiled.
Alvie sighed. Both parents looked at him, all smiles gone. Alvie was grimacing and shaking his head. Annabeth stood up, taking her son's hand and running a hand through his hair. "It's OK, Alvie." She assured, speaking in soft and soothing tones. Percy was careful not to say anything on that factor, smiling to himself.
Annabeth kept talking to Alvie softly and his grimace slowly relaxed. Alvie stirred before groggily opening his eyes a fraction.
Percy bit back a curse as Annabeth stifled a scream.
Alvie's eyes were glowing pure white.
His lips moved soundlessly, but Annabeth realised he was trying to call for her. "I-I'm here, Alvie." She squeezed his hand reassuringly. Alvie started to panic, turning his head frantically.
"Can't… see…" He managed, his voice hoarse and barely above a whisper.
"OK, sweetheart, we'll think of something. Just stay calm and breathe slowly, alright?" Alvie gave a stiff nod and did his best to follow her advice. "Percy, what do we do?"
"I- um… call Apollo?" Percy suggested nervously. Annabeth nodded and Percy fell silent.
A sunny, golden flash filled the room.
"You called?" Apollo smiled.
"Why's he like this?" Annabeth demanded.
"Oh, that… well, I was going to tell you about that, but then I was like 'uh oh, shouldn't do that' but you called and I'm here."
"That's not answering my question." Annabeth growled. Percy took her free hand and she exhaled slowly, willing herself to calm down for Alvie's sake. Apollo hummed indecisively before replying.
"To put it simply, he's psychic."