Alvie seemed really edgy that day, despite his new found friendship with Francis. Crystal tried to get him to talk, but he remained jittery and fidgety and practically ran from the classroom when the bell rang.

"Is he OK?" Francis frowned.

"Knowing my luck, he's gone loco." They ran after him. Crystal saw him just as he disappeared around the corner. She made to go after him when somebody cleared their throat.

Whirling round she saw a woman in her late twenties, early thirties with curly dark hair and the stormiest grey eyes Crystal had ever seen. They were so powerful and so… wise, Crystal felt like she should shout from the rooftops of her immense stupidity and grovel at this woman's feet.

"Athena." She guessed. The goddess smiled, looking over her shoulder in the direction Alvie had escaped. "What's up with Alvie?"

"He has an errand to run for me." Crystal tensed. "It is safe, do not worry. He merely has to figure out some clues to get what he wants."

"No… bad things?" Athena shook her head and Crystal sighed in relief. "OK. That's good. Um…"

"He should be finished within the hour, I believe, considering his self-confidence does not waver."

"What are the clues for? What does he want?" Athena stared at her, those stormy eyes menacing and scrutinising. It was like Annabeth's gaze but a thousand times stronger and practised.

"I think you know." Crystal bowed her head.

"OK. Thank you." Athena just nodded, turned on her heel and walked smartly after Alvie.

"Vat vas that about?" Francis asked, bewildered.

"Um… it's complicated. Don't worry." Her new friend looked ready to interrogate her, but he knew she was stubborn and he had only known her for two months.

Tobias was arguing with his father. Percy was adamant that Tobias wasn't allowed to donate blood to Max whatsoever. Tobias was trying to reason with his dad, pointing out that Percy was going to make himself ill and that he was always tired and missing out on time with his family through sleeping.

The argument was interrupted by Alvie bursting in, holding a big leather bound book in his hands.

"I got it!" He beamed, practically jumping with excitement.

"Got what?" Percy and Tobias were equally bewildered at Alvie's triumphant, broad smile.

"The book! I got it!"

"The one to help Max?" Alvie nodded eagerly and Percy grinned. "That's brilliant!" Percy laughed, surging forward and hugging Alvie tightly. "How'd you get it?"

"Athena gave me clues and I worked them and I found it!"

"See, you're not a dumbass." Tobias smiled. "You figured out clues from the goddess of frigging wisdom. That makes you smarter than me. And Dad, but don't tell him I said that." Alvie snickered while Percy glowered half-heartedly at his eldest. "Ooh, you should tell Mom. I bet she wants saving from work anyway." Percy just nodded and Tobias figured Percy was going to ignore him for five minutes or until Tobias apologized for insulting him.

Tobias looked at his little brother, who was studying the book in awe, seemingly amazed that he had got it and proud of himself too. His smile was infectious and spurred Tobias into giving him a hug as well.

Annabeth was home in ten minutes, sharing Alvie's enthusiasm the second she saw his smile when walking in the door.

"That's my boy!" She beamed, hugging him and smiling proudly. "I knew you could do it. And I told you," She held him at arm's length, "So, I told you so." She said childishly. Alvie made a face at her and she laughed. "Right, what do we have to do?" Alvie looked down at the book in his hands and then smiled up at her sheepishly. "You didn't read it?"

"I tried. It's confusing." He held it out to her. "Page three hundred and ninety four." Annabeth smiled and flicked to the mentioned page.

It was complex and it took her a while, but she managed to pick through it.

In basic terms, Leo would have to weaken the headpiece as much as he could without endangering Max while Alvie scribed a pentagram of sorts on the floor, circles around the edges. There would be enough circles for all of those related to Max by blood and over the age of ten. They would make cuts on both hands and hold hands, Max in the centre in his own circle. Runes and Ancient Greek inscriptions would fill the void between family members and Max, all drawn by Alvie.

She related this to her present two sons and her husband. Alvie was instantly terrified and she understood instantly- Max's life depended on this and if he screwed up, things could get worse.

"Alvie, listen to me." She said firmly, tucking the book under her arm and placing a hand on his shoulder. "You'll do fine, OK?"

"But-"

"Who found this book?"

"I… I did…"

"Who figured out the clues to get the book?"

"Me…"

"Who's going to be able to do this?" He hesitated and she squeezed his shoulder, shooting him an obvious look.

"I… I'll try…"

"You can do it, Alvie." Percy assured, putting his arm around Alvie's shoulders. "If anyone can, you definitely can." Alvie looked from one parent to the other and then at his older brother.

"Hey, I'm rooting for you." Tobias grinned, waving his hands by his head.

Alvie slowly relaxed and smiled awkwardly.

"OK." They beamed at him and Annabeth returned the book. Alvie went off to study the pages, hoping to understand what he had to do better as to not screw it up.

By Friday, they had the whole family assembled- Sally, Percy, Annabeth, Tobias, Alvie, Fredrick Chase, Bobby and Matthew Chase, Louisa, Elsie and Alokia. Athena and Poseidon didn't step in as their godly blood would unbalance the godly-mortal blood in the group.

Alvie had the book in one hand and a thick piece of white chalk in the other, kneeling and hopping about while drawing the 'pentagram'. He found himself constantly counting the amount of circles around the edge. He needed twelve, evenly spaced out.

The runes were the tricky bit, along with the Ancient Greek writing he had to put down. He had no idea what the runes meant, but the Ancient Greek letterings were to resemble Max and his life- things he liked, his family members, things about him and so on and so forth. Alvie had Athena check his writing on scraps of paper before copying them onto the floor. He really couldn't screw this up.

"Hey, it's my little protégée!"

"Apollo, what are you doing here?"

"I want to help." Apollo insisted. "And I want to see how Alvie does with his first major bit of psychic-ness."

"That's not a word." Athena told him. Apollo waved it off. "Stop distracting him, he needs to focus."

"Right, focus." Apollo put his finger to his lips and fell quiet like a scolded kindergartener.

It took Alvie well over an hour to finish the 'pentagram'. Athena examined it for him and he was relieved when she approved.

Percy directed Max to the centre, careful not to step on Alvie's work. He made Max sit down and edged back to the border, taking his place in a circle to the east of the 'pentagram'. The others assembled in their spots and a knife was passed around. They all made incisions across both palms.

Alvie went last. He passed the knife to Poseidon after cutting his hands. Percy was on his right and Matthew on his left. His father gave him an encouraging smile, holding his bloody hand out to him. Alvie took it, reaching out to his uncle.

They all joined hands. Tobias started singing 'Ring-o-roses' quietly to himself. Annabeth pinched his wrist sharply, effectively shutting him up. His idiocy had lightened the mood though.

"Now what?" He asked. Alvie studied his drawings, frowning. Had he missed something? Oh gods, please say he hadn't missed something…

That's when the Ancient Greek words floated from the floor and glowed with a sharp, crystal white brightness. The runes followed and then the rest of the 'pentagram'. Alvie's hands started stinging, but the rest of him was bathed in a soothing, warm caress of light.

Max was staring around at them, most likely sensing the blood on their palms. Nothing happened to him for a minute at the most. Glowing white cracks appeared in the headpiece and Max's features twisted in pain, his palms pressed to his forehead. Alvie felt all eyes on him. Yes, he had no intentions of causing his brother pain, but strangely it didn't bother him- what was happening felt… right, in a way.

All eyes returned to Max as his eyes rolled back in his head and he gave a strangled cry. A cylindrical translucent wall of white energy encased him and he slumped against it. Alvie felt his father tense and bit his lip.

A powerful burst of light erupted from the cylinder, blinding and disorientating them all. It took nearly five minutes for the light to die down, their sight to return and the ringing in their ears to stop.

The 'pentagram' was just a chalky drawing. Max was lying on his back, his eyes closed and free of the headpiece. Percy glanced at Alvie, as if seeking permission to run forward. Alvie nodded, rooted to the spot in terror. Had it gone right? Was Max OK? Oh gods…

Annabeth and Tobias reached Max's side at the same time Percy did. Alvie wanted to join them, but couldn't bring himself to move forward.

When Max coughed and arched his back in pain, Alvie couldn't have been more relieved. He went weak at the knees with relief, sinking to the floor and smiling disbelievingly. Cheers went up as Percy and Tobias sat Max up and Max took a ragged breath.

He opened his eyes, trembling and looking around at them all, wary and confused. He saw the chalk markings and frowned.

"Wh-?"

"We'll explain later." Percy promised, pulling his son into a hug. Max looked absolutely bewildered, but he was in no state to fight his father off, coughing and spluttering. "How are you feeling?"

"Like somebody's stabbed something in my brain." Tobias gave a burst of laughter and then he couldn't stop. Max was suddenly worried and looked to his mother for answers. She gave a reassuring smile, moving forward and joining the hug.

Tobias eventually regained control and sat up, grinning from ear to ear. He waved Alvie over. Matthew pulled Alvie to his feet and Alvie stumbled over. Max watched him approach and then looked back at the drawings around him.

He looked back at Alvie. "Did you do this?"

"I had some help."

"Oh, come on, Alvie." Annabeth pulled him into the hug. "You found that book, you solved those clues, you drew this… this circle and you bought Max back!" Annabeth's arms tightened around him and she kissed his cheek. "I'm so proud of you, Alvie."

"Hold on, hold on- Tobster," Tobias pointed at himself, "Maximus and…" He bit his lip thoughtfully. "Alvie needs a nickname." He told Max. "Make it official and all that."

"Make what official?"

"You're in the Awesome Group! I mean, you always were, but you never had a nickname. Alvster. Alvimus. Alvie von Awesomestein."

"The Almiester." Max suggested.

"Yes!" Tobias beamed. "That's perfect!" He turned to Alvie. "You're the Almiester!"

"Do you have nicknames for everybody?" Percy asked curiously.

"I'm working on it." Tobias grinned cheekily.

"Oh gods…" Percy ran a hand through his hair, but he was smiling.

Max pulled himself free of his parents' embrace and wrapped his arms shakily around Alvie.

"Thank you." He said quietly. Alvie returned the hug, awkwardly patting his brother on the back.

Are we good now?