I have another poll up- this one is for Tobias's story. PLEASE VOTE!

Right, I've been feeling jittery all day and I can't think straight, like my thoughts are smashing off each other and flying in all directions and half the time I have no idea what I'm saying. Is that the last screws falling loose or is that normal?

Oh and Madam is from a one-shot that I'm working on that will hopefully be up soon… ish…

"Cushion!"

"No!" Crystal laughed as the red cushion bounced off of Nico's shoulder.

"I did warn you." She smiled sweetly.

"Tobias, no. Paint the walls and not your brother." They heard Tobias's sarcastic laughs, Joy's mumbles of defeat and then Alvie walked out of the bathroom with blue paint streaked across his front and splatters of blue on his face.

Nico's apartment had a lot of work to be done, resulting in some of Alvie's siblings and cousins helping out. They had quickly learnt that hiring Tobias to help wasn't the best of ideas. Percy and Leo were helping while Louisa was at the Jackson residence with Charlie, Phoenix, Sage and the triplets. Max was only helping because it beat moping around all day. Ava was there as well, keeping an eye on her friend.

"You're turning Smurf, Alvie." Crystal smiled. She took his hand and led him to the recently redecorated kitchen. Nico and Joy had decorated it themselves. Black marble tops, white walls, silver appliances and black cupboard doors. The new lino floor was designed to look like it had tiles- black and white checkers. Before it had just been a simple, lifeless kitchen with pretty much no colour whatsoever.

Crystal turned the taps on and found a clean cloth under the sink. She drenched it with lukewarm water before turning to Alvie and attempting to clean the paint from his face. "I take it Tobias hasn't had his ADHD stuff?"

"No."

"There's a surprise." She rinsed the cloth off. "How much left of the bathroom?"

"A bit of the walls, clean the tiles and then paint the ceiling again." He paused. "And Joy wants to put up that shower curtain with the ducks on." Crystal smiled. Nico had been against that because it didn't suit him, but Joy and Crystal were moving in and they wanted 'duckies'. Nico had no choice now.

Crystal rinsed the cloth off again and studied Alvie's face, inspecting for any missed blue bits.

"Not so Smurf now." She smiled, chucking the cloth at him. "Clean your T-shirt."

"No." Crystal looked at him quizzically, but also in amusement. "It's an old one of Max's. Tobias also puts paint on us, so old T-shirts don't matter."

"Oh. So he does this often then?" Alvie nodded. Crystal looked down at the T-shirt she was wearing. She had borrowed it from Alvie a few weeks back, but hadn't given it back. It was hers now. Alvie didn't mind as she gave him a few books in return. "Meh, I suppose this is OK."

They had stopped in time for dinner. Well, Joy had given up. She had tried everything in her power, but Tobias would not stop painting on people. Now she was muttering to herself while sitting sulkily on the new sofa and sipping at a hot chocolate Nico had made her. Being the son of Hades- the god of wealth- he could do and buy pretty much whatever the hell he wanted. And he did. Crystal had asked him why he didn't buy a massive big house to trash, but apparently he didn't want one.

"Why? You could have an indoor swimming pool or your own bowling alley."

"With a surround sound cinema and a room for Madam."

"Madam?" Nico nodded. Crystal looked at him quizzically.

"You haven't met Madam…"

"You still have Madam?" Joy asked.

"Yes, I still have Madam."

"Who's Madam?" Tobias quizzed, looking panicked and confused. Too many 'Madam's in ten seconds.

Nico grinned and moved to the window, opening it and whistling sharply. It took a few seconds before a squawking cry returned to him, followed by a raven blur. He stood back proudly as a majestic crow hopped about the window ledge.

"I want one!" Crystal beamed. Nico's grin broadened.

"I'll get you a puppy or something."

"No!" Joy protested from the sofa. Nico's grin gained a sarcastic, triumphant smirking gleam, his eyes shining, but Joy didn't notice. "She has a cat. No more pets!"

"Oh yeah, Pebble. Forgot about her." (I know I've said Pebble was Pebbles and that the cat was a boy in another chapter, but I forgot about that until I reread the chapter where Alvie went to stay over Crystal's the first time and met Pebble).

"How can you forget about my cat?" Crystal folded her arms. "Speaking of, I should go and check on her." Nico smirked. "I didn't forget her. I've only just got a free moment."

"You should bring her back." Nico told her.

They were only five minutes away from Nico's place, Pebble trotting at Crystal's heels, when Alvie stumbled and collided with a wall.

"Are you OK?" Crystal asked, deviating from her path to join him. She put a hand on his shoulder and the other on his elbow to steady him. He put his back to the wall and slid down, shaking chronically. Pebble meowed and head butted his hand before padding about anxiously. Crystal saw that Alvie's eyes had turned that eerie snowy white she always feared.

She hooked his arm around his shoulders and heaved him to his feet. She had to get him home before he started crying blood or something as sinisterly creepy.

He resisted her though, panicking and not understanding what was going on. "Alvie, it's me. Calm down. I'm going to get you back and Mom or Tobias can help." He shook his head and pulled away again, losing his balance and falling over backwards. Crystal rushed to pull him to his feet, but somebody else had stepped in and grabbed Alvie by the arms. Crystal went to thank them, before realising who it was.

Pebble hissed angrily, arching her back while her claws made their appearance. "Get away from him." Crystal demanded through gritted teeth.

William towered over her, Alvie in his grip. Alvie was struggling, his eyes tightly shut while he blindly fought whatever was holding onto him.

"Oh, and what will you do?" William sneered. "This stupid idiot, blind and helpless, and you," He looked her up and down, his sneer deepening, "A pathetic little girl with ideas above her station."

"And us." Crystal risked a glance over her shoulder and saw that Nico, Tobias and Joy had joined the party.

"Let my brother go." Tobias threatened. Crystal hadn't seen him angry before, having only heard how scary he could be. What she had heard didn't even begin to describe that terrifying look.

But Nico… damn, Nico's look could tear strips from you in slow, agonizing torture; it could rip you limb from limb; it could add you to the dead armies he has been said to raise.

Son of Hades indeed.

A strong hand closed around Crystal's upper arm and she was dragged away sharply. William had a hold of her and Alvie.

Pebble hissed and spat, leaping up and burying her claws in William's shoulder. Instinctively, William let her go to smack the cat away. Crystal caught the falling cat, but could do nothing for Alvie.

William made to drag Alvie away, but Nico reacted faster, raising his hands. Inky black shadows twisted around William's ankles, rooting him to the ground. Crystal frowned slightly. Those shadows reminded her of the ones that had busted Alvie's window in the dead of the night. But for some reason, she wasn't scared of them as she had been during the incident in Alvie's room. Maybe it was because she knew Nico was controlling them and that it wasn't attacking her.

The shadows carved deep lines in William's legs, drawing blood. Alvie was dropped as William cried out in pain and terror, swatting at the shadows as if that would help. Tobias instantly darted around William and retrieved his brother, cradling the smaller boy in his arms.

"Alvie?"

"Ugh…" Alvie tried to pull away again, but Tobias held onto him.

"Oy, it's me. Tobias." Alvie gradually stopped fighting. Tobias glanced over his shoulder as William gasped as the icy chill and pain coursing through his body as the shadows buried themselves in his flesh. Joy was rooted to the spot in terror, but everyone else- mortals- were casually walking past as if nothing was happening.

The shadows were tightening around William's throat. Joy drew breath and placed her hand on Nico's shoulder.

"Don't kill him." She breathed, her voice trembling. The shadows dissipated as quickly as they had appeared and Nico relaxed. He folded his arms smugly and glowered at William as the older man staggered and slumped against the wall. Tobias instinctively moved his baby brother away, holding onto him protectively.

William was bleeding all over. He seemed pale already, but he managed to glare at Nico, although there was a noticeable layer of fear under the anger in his eyes.

"You… you're…" He blanched and suddenly looked like he was going to pass out or vomit or both. "Freaks…" He spat. Nico snapped his fingers. William's eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed sideways.

"We're getting him home." Nico pointed at Alvie. Tobias nodded and picked Alvie up in his arms. Crystal saw blood on Tobias's T-shirt and padded forward hurriedly. Alvie's eyes were now scarlet, blood running down his cheeks.

Nico put his arm around Joy and pulled her away from William's unconscious form.

"We can't… we can't leave him there!" She protested, looking sickly herself.

"Joy, that guy… remember what he did."

"I know, but what if… what if you killed him or he dies from blood loss or… or…"

"You're too kind for your own good, you are." He glanced over his shoulder. Nobody had noticed William yet. "We'll get to my place and somebody will see him."

"What?" Joy frowned.

"Mist."

"Oh, that stuff… he won't die will he? I mean, I… I hate him for what he's done, but to leave him for dead…"

"Mom, you're a worry guts." Crystal said over her shoulder. "Who cares about William? He's an arse."

"Nice place, Nico. Oh, hey Alvie."

"Percy!" Nico bit his lip to stop himself laughing. Annabeth smacked her husband's arm warningly before moving over to her two sons. Alvie had nestled in Tobias's arms, but he was still visibly shaking and crying blood. "Alvie?" Annabeth took Alvie's hand, frowning at how cold it was. "Alvie, sweetie. It's Mom."

"Mom…" Alvie's fingers tightened around hers.

"You'll be OK, sweetie. Percy, get some water."

"I'm going."

"Seaweed Brain, this is serious!"

"I know. But he's awake, so we shouldn't panic just yet." Annabeth glared at her husband and he hurried off. Percy glanced at Nico as he passed, shooting him a 'help me' look. Annabeth had been a bit snappy lately, but Percy wasn't sure why.

"Um, Annabeth?" Joy stepped forward, wringing her hands. "We tried the water thing, but he… he didn't want it."

"What'd you mean?" Annabeth asked, frowning as her husband returned with a bowl of water and a clean cloth- the 'Alvie treatment', as he had dubbed it.

Percy dampened the cloth and folded it neatly into a long rectangle. He went to place it over Alvie's eyes, but Alvie cringed away, smearing more blood on Tobias's T-shirt.

"Alvie?" Percy asked, worry settling in. Alvie just held his hands out in response. Percy attempted to put the cloth in his hands, but Alvie dropped it.

Crystal studied him carefully for a few seconds. Pebble meowed at her and something clicked in her brain.

"Hold on a sec…" She darted off and disappeared into her new room. It hadn't been decorated yet and there were boxes everywhere with her stuff in and the furniture they had acquired from William's house. She had plans to design it similar to her old room as she really liked that room.

She scoured through a few boxes before finding an old school book and a pen. She returned to the others, Pebble waiting obediently outside for her. "Here, Alvie." It took a few seconds for Alvie to hold the pen steady, giving Crystal time to find a blank page. She folded it over and pressed it into his hand.

Alvie shakily started writing. Tobias was frowning slightly; trying to decipher his brother's messy writing that wasn't sticking to the lines. Tobias hated reading at the best of times, but when it was all over the place, he couldn't handle it.

After a minute or two, Alvie dropped the pen and held the book out to no-one in particular. Annabeth took it and worked her way through his writing.

"Well… Rachel's got competition."

I'm gonna leave it there 'cos I've run out of ideas again. Dammit me! THINK!

And yeah, William came back, he will probably come back again at some point or whenever I get ideas.

Um, don't forget to vote PLEASE!