Don't forget to vote guys!

Crystal was ready and waiting when Alvie finally got home. She saw him first and ran at him, crushing his ribs in a hug. He stumbled at the sudden Crystal-impact and it took a few seconds for him to realise she wasn't killing him.

"Hi." He said quietly, awkwardly returning the hug. Crystal pulled back and held his face in her hands. He was dead on his feet, shadows under his eyes. Even his normally unruly hair seemed exhausted, lying flat and dangling over his forehead.

Crystal looked around and saw Max sitting in the back of the Jackson car, staring at the headrest of the driver's seat. Percy was leaning against the bonnet, biting his thumb with his other hand tucked into the crook of his elbow. He was staring into space, oblivious to the world and concerned for his sons. Annabeth had been side-tracked by Joy, who, despite the situations, was bursting to spread the good news.

"Percy, did you hear that? Oy, Seaweed Brain!" Percy looked up then, his expression blank and dazed. "Joy's pregnant." Percy's lips moved soundlessly and he looked at his cousin. Nico was sitting on the bonnet of his car, his arms folded and his feet crossed at the ankles. He just smiled and raised his hand, a single wave.

Percy just shook his head.

"Full of surprises, di Angelo."

"Best way to be." Nico grinned.

Crystal noticed that her mother was staring at Max, frowning in worry. Annabeth noticed too.

"Yeah, we're working on that." Annabeth's tone was monotonous, no congratulations or happiness on someone else's behalf. Joy didn't bring the subject up again, turning to Alvie.

"And you! Hiding stuff from us, are we?"

"Um…"

"Crystal told me."

"You made me!"

"I'm your mother!"

"Everyone's allowed their secrets."

"No they're not."

"Not with you around, no." Nico said casually from his seat on his car. Joy glared at him over her shoulder and he grinned cheekily.

"Shut up, di Angelo."

"Ooh, last name. You're in trouble."

"I thought you stayed at Camp." Percy looked at his eldest son quizzically.

"No, I was stowed away in the trunk."

"Of course you were…" Percy sighed, running a hand through his hair. He looked back at Alvie. "What secret?"

"Uh…" Alvie glanced at Crystal, biting his lip.

Tobias beat them to it.

"Ha! I knew it!" He bounced over and threw his arms around the pair of them. "You should listen to me more often!" He grinned, hugging them tighter.

"If we listened to you, we'd all end up in the mental asylum." Crystal muttered. Alvie smiled weakly at her while Tobias looked at her, offended.

"There is nothing wrong with the mental asylum. You can throw yourself at the rubber wall and not get hurt."

"This is my point." Tobias's smile returned and he freed Crystal, but kept hold of his brother.

"Now, we're going to run home and raid the kitchen for blue cookies, OK?" Alvie just nodded. "Don't tell Mom and Dad." Tobias pointed at Alvie warningly. Alvie looked past his brother to his parents, who were both smiling and rolling their eyes at Tobias's antics. "Race you." Tobias grinned. He took off.

"Alvie, get in the car." Nico called. "I want blue cookies too and there is no way that idiot is getting any."

"Well then," Percy said, straightening up. "Race you."

Annabeth was just left standing on the kerb. She threw out her hands- Why? Why did you put me with these idiots?

"So… looks like you're here for coffee." Joy smiled.

"When I see my husband, remind me to strangle him properly this time." Joy laughed and led Annabeth inside. Crystal stared after the cars until they vanished around the corner. Percy's car stopped and picked Tobias up, so at least someone was looking out for the eldest brother.

She found her mother and Annabeth in the kitchen. Joy was making coffees and a hot chocolate for Crystal while talking over her shoulder to Annabeth.

"No, I only found out- hi, sweetie," She smiled at Crystal, "I only found out a few weeks ago."

"Boy or girl?" Annabeth asked.

"Oh, um… I don't know…" Joy laughed. "I'll find out though. It's nagging at me to find out and- ooh, do you reckon Alvie could tell?" Joy turned to look eagerly at Annabeth.

"Well… maybe. I don't know. He keeps quiet about his psychic powers and all that, but I have seen him making books and stuff fly around his room. He just stops when he notices me standing in the doorway." Annabeth suddenly smiled to herself. "You should have seen Percy when Alvie gave him some numbers."

"Oh, I can imagine." Joy agreed, laughing. "When Alvie's here, Crystal insists he practises making things move and he's really good at guessing numbers or whatever we're thinking of."

"Yeah, he does that to Tobias. He finds it funny when Tobias freaks out and calls him a 'mind reader'." Annabeth looked at Crystal. "So… when were you going to tell us?"

"I-"

"Probably on the honeymoon…" Joy smiled teasingly. Crystal folded her arms and sulked, refusing to answer their questions.

"Oh, it's OK. I'll ask Alvie when I get home." Annabeth dug her cell phone from her pocket and rang her husband. "Hello, Seaweed Brain. Yes, you left me standing on the kerb for darn blue cookies. No, I don't want your apology, I want you off your ass now and I'm expecting a present of some sorts to make up for it." Crystal faintly heard Percy's 'yes ma'am' on the other end and smiled to herself. "Good. And leave the boys at home; I need to talk to you without eavesdroppers. I love you when you don't leave me stranded." She hung up and chucked her phone onto the island counter. Joy burst out laughing and Crystal grinned.

"And that is how to keep a guy in his place." Joy beamed. Annabeth smiled proudly.

"Right, I've got to go and get your Mom before she kills me." Tobias laughed maniacally. "Alvie, you're in charge." Tobias's smile vanished.

"But… I'm the eldest!"

"You're also the most immature. Alvie's in charge." Percy looked at Alvie. "Kick him out if he gets annoying." He said, giving a wicked grin. Alvie nodded, returning the smile timidly.

He had no idea why he and Tobias were left with Max. Alvie was curled in the armchair, under a green blanket with his Kindle. Tobias was walking about. He was supposed to stay here to keep an eye on Nico's car while Nico shadow-travelled to Camp, got the other Jackson kids and shadow-travelled back.

Tobias glanced at Max, who was sat on the sofa adjacent to the armchair and opposite from the TV. Tobias switched it on, but Max didn't even blink.

Alvie held something out to Tobias- the TV remote.

"You're a star." Tobias grinned. He could never find the remote, ever. The others took great pleasure on hiding it from him. He turned to the TV and threw his hand out with a flourish. "Zap!" He exclaimed happily, changing the channel. Each time he flicked to a new channel, he yelled 'Zap'. Alvie ended up throwing a pillow at him.

"Dad said I could kick you out."

"You wouldn't though. You love me too much." Tobias stopped on one channel- it was some zombie TV-series and was one of Max's favourite shows. Tobias frowned, finding the irony annoying.

He made to switch the channel again when movement at the corner of his eye stopped him. Max had sat up straighter and he was frowning at the TV. He wore that confused look of recognition and slight misunderstanding.

Tobias and Alvie shared a look. Alvie looked worried, contradictory to Tobias's curiosity.

"Do we ring Mom and Dad?" Alvie asked quietly.

"No, they'll be home soon. Besides, Mom'll be busy with killing Dad." Alvie nodded in agreement, biting his thumb. "He's not going anywhere anyway, look." Alvie glanced at Max and saw that he was fascinated with that curious look with the zombie show. "It might do him so good."

Percy and Annabeth got home half an hour later. Max was still watching the zombie show and they were mildly stunned at the sudden emotions on his face. Percy was a bit surprised to see that Tobias was still here.

"Alvie, you didn't kick him out."

"I know."

"Why?"

"He was helping."

"I put the TV on." Tobias said proudly. Percy sighed, smiling at the pair of them.

"I'll let you off this time then."

Sorry it's short, but I have another idea- nothing to do with the quest- that I want to put in. The issue with Max… I'm working on that. Not easy at all. Have you lot got any ideas? And don't forget to vote! I'll take the poll down on Friday, considering I remember.