A/N: Hello there, my dear readers. It's me updating. I know it's been three weeks (once again) but I'm just so busy these days that it's hard to squeeze in my writing in my tight schedule. And I haven't bought my own table yet! (which is the reason why I'm not updating faster) But I promise I'd be getting one soon.

A few points before you read this story. At first I was unsure of this chapter, doubtful of how you're going to react about this but when i was writing it, I realized how powerful this chapter really is and how it's going to affect the interaction of our core characters. This contains probably one of my most favorite scenes I've ever written and I'm hoping you guys will see why. When i was writing Percy and Poseidon's conversation, I was unsure whether it is really necessary. When i reread what I just wrote, I came to a realization that it is, indeed, very important, because Percy and Poseidon's relationship mirrors Percy's relationship with the other characters.

Next, in case you haven't noticed, it's the other way around in this story. We are used to reading stories about Annabeth being the guarded one and Percy the careless one, but here I interchanged them, wanting to explore these two characters and put them in situations harder than they ever faced while at the same time introducing one of the most interesting characters of the series that wasn't really given much time to tell us about herself (Reyna) and writing backup stories for the others. I just hope I'm doing a good job.

Third, i really am sorry for making you guys wait for a long time. But I will try to update faster. (take note of TRY)

Lastly, for those who haven't read what I posted in the beginning of this chapter, Wise Girl's Seaweed Brain 2.0: Darkness Arising is in hiatus. I have no idea for how long, but it's going to take me some time before I manage to resume writing it. I apologize to those who are waiting for the next chapter, but it might not come out for the next few months. I, however, will still finish writing Lester's story.

CimFan: Yeah, I noticed that, too, but unfortunately i don't have the time to proofread the chapters I write; I just post them straight here. Please, just put up with those. :D

Emchmi999:That was awful. I didn't experience any of those, for which I am thankful for, but i hate people who hurts others just so they can feel good about themselves. The issue with your parent was resolved, I hope.

MeMyselfAndI:I do live in the Philippines and yes, English isn't my first language. thank you for appreciating what I managed to put through here. And honestly, I don't remember what comment you were saying. Anyway, thank you again. :d

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NEVER LET ME GO

Chapter 6: FAMILY TREE

PERCY

"Daddy, someone's looking for you!"

I was in the kitchen, busy trying to get Reyna reveal who her first crush was, when I heard my son calling. I felt myself frowning – Noah told me earlier that he would be in his room playing (I know this roughly translated to "I don't want to watch you kissing Reyna") – as I emerged from the room and saw Noah standing there holding out my phone for me.

"Who is it?" I asked, taking the phone from him. Noah shrugged. I held the thing next to my ear and said, "Hello?"

"Perseus," the voice said from the other line. I was surprised that I recognized the voice, considering that he had been missing most of my life. The person whom I tried to spend quality time with during my childhood – the same person whom I looked up to secretly and whom I grew to resent due to his absence.

"Dad," I answered in a low voice, hoping that Noah wouldn't hear me. No such luck. The kid had ears like radars. His eyes widened and mouthed the word Grandpa. I nodded and motioned for him to go back to his room. He must've sensed that this wasn't something for him for he relented without putting up a fight. When I was sure that Noah was out of earshot, I resumed talking to the person on the other line. "What do you want, father?"

I was answered by a nervous laugh. "Why all the formalities, Perseus?"

"Why all the hidings, Dad?" I threw back.

He was quiet for a moment. "You know I'm a very busy man, Perseus," he answered icily. "There are things that need my immediate attention and – "

"Oh, I get it, father," I cut him off. "There are things that are more important than your own son. You don't need to explain yourself; I get it."

"This is the exact reason why I'm calling you, Perseus," he said. "I want to make up for the times that I wasn't there."

"And for what reason?" I demanded. "I know you, Dad; you don't try to make it up to someone unless you need something in return."

He chuckled. "Why don't you come here and find out?"

I felt myself frowning. "Come where?"

"Why, to the place you've always wanted to visit since you were a kid," he answered. "Here at my resort. I've made the necessary arrangements for transportation. You will leave right after lunch today and arrive here at least two hours after – "

"Hold up, I never said yes in the first place."

Again, my father chuckled. "I know you will change your mind when the person I talked to walked in on your door," he answered cryptically.

"What do you mean?"

That was when the doorbell rang.

"That would be her," he said. "Remember, Perseus, things happen for reason. Life works that way; it may seem that a lot is being hidden form you but u just have to open our yes to see the underlying meaning in everything. I'll see you on Saturday," he said disconnecting the line.

I stared at my phone for a few seconds after the phone had been disconnected, wondering what on earth my father could've meant. He wasn't someone who talked in riddles; that was Nico's father – Uncle Hades. I was musing on my father's words when the highly unlikely person I thought to be involved in something Poseidon cooked up walked in the living room, being lead by Reyna.

My mother, Sally Blofis.

"Mom," I said, greeting her with a hug. "What are you doing here?"

She gave me a kiss on the cheek. "I missed you, of course!" She looked around. "Now where's my favorite grandson?"

I rolled my eyes at her. "Noah's your only grandson." I craned my neck backwards and yelled, "Noah, come down here!"

There were some fumbling and the sound of feet running down the stairs. Noah tackled his grandmother with a bear hug, yelling, "Grandma!" He was clinging to her neck as she kissed his cheek, forehead and hair.

"How's my little boy?" she asked fondly.

"Did you bring me cookies?" he asked eagerly, eyes wide.

Mom chuckled and handed Noah a big paper bag. Then, in a not very whisper-y voice, whispered, "Don't let your Daddy see it; it's filled with your cookies!"

My son beamed, clapping his hands loudly as he accepted the bag from my Mom. He then looked at me curiously. I pretended to turn my head away and not notice it. Mom nodded at Noah and my son ran to the living room, dragging the bag with him.

When Mom looked at me, I remembered what my father said: "I know you will change your mind when the person I talked to walked in on your door," he mentioned. Did he mean my Mom? If so, then he was losing his mind. Mom would be the last person on the planet to agree on something he said.

However, I still asked to confirm, "What brought you here, Mom?" I asked, leading her to the kitchen and offering a chair on the table. Reyna followed, giving me a wink.

Mom sat down. "Your father called," she said simply. I felt Reyna grabbing my hand. She knew how touchy I could be when Poseidon Jackson was involved. "He said he wants to see you and I already agreed to let you."

"Mom, you know – " I began to protest.

"Honey," she said softly. "I know how much you don't like this, but please trust me and go on this trip, okay? This will help you. I also know that I tried to keep you apart from him all these years but this time, listen to what I'm saying: you need this – not just for you, but for Noah, as well." She smiled and stood up. "Now, where's that grandson of mine? I think he needs help packing," she said, exiting the kitchen.

Two hours later found us entering my father's resort.

Noah was bouncing up and down on his seat like a possessed basketball, still managing to move despite the seatbelt holding him down. Reyna was sitting at the back with my Mom, talking in hushed voices. I knew they were aware that I was already on edge.

I drove my car to the entrance, and was greeted by a blonde guy who was about my age and whom I knew quiet well. Will Solace. He was the Reception Manager and was a friend of mine. He grinned when he saw me. "Hey, Percy, it's been quite some time. How have you been?"

I smiled politely. "Good. And you."

"Been fine. I had graduated from college; thanks to your Dad," he said proudly.

I wouldn't even deny it: I was jealous. Jealous that my father had had the time to help someone and give him the attention that was supposed to be mine. I shook my head to dismiss the emotion and just let myself be happy for Will. He was a good guy, after all.

"Congratulations, man," I said.

He grinned, peering into my window. "Well, your Dad's been waiting for you. Enjoy your day."

I doubt that, I wanted to answer. I bid him goodbye and maneuvered my car to the reserved parking area. As soon as the engine was turned off, Noah started bugging me about his seatbelt, urging me to let him out of the car. I sighed as I unbuckled him and opened the door for him. He beamed and ran out, spinning under the sun while jumping up and down. Mom let herself out and watched Noah with a smile on her lips.

I was about to get out when Reyna held my arm. I looked at her and saw that she was staring at me sympathetically. "It's going to be okay," she said, placing her chin on my shoulder. "I'm here; I'll support you."

I kissed her, grateful that she was here. "Thank you. That means a lot."

She smiled sweetly and opened her door. I followed her, and went to get the bags from the back. When I saw how happy my son was as he ran to where the beach was, I knew that even though this trip was going to be awful for me, at least Noah would enjoy.

A tall figure stepped in front of me. "Perseus," my father greeted. "Finally."

I stepped away as he tried to grab my shoulder. "Whatever reason it is that you want me here, get on with it; we're not staying for long."

He gave me a nod. "If that is the case, then will you come with me?" he asked, extending his arm to his side. He caught sight of Mom. "Sally – looking as beautiful as ever." I half-expected Mom to slap him or something, but I guess they were too old for those kinds of thing. "Where is Blowfish?"

Mom's eyes darkened a bit. "Paul Blofis will be here shortly. He just needs to run a few errands."

Poseidon chuckled and turned his head to me, raising his eyebrows. "Shall we, Perseus?"

I looked back and saw Reyna nodding encouragingly at me. Mom was looking at me the same way. Noah, however, was gazing at me curiously. "Fine," I conceded. "It's not like I have any choice." I looked at Reyna and my Mom. "Just look after Noah, okay? Don't let him get in the deep water. Watch out for him. And don't forget the sunblock," I told Reyna, handing her Noah's bag.

"Sure thing, boss," said Reyna, giving me a mocked salute. She then looked at my father sheepishly. "I don't think we've been introduced properly, sir," she said politely. Only then did I remember that Poseidon didn't have any idea who she was. I was rude. Only on Reyna's part; it's not like I cared what my father thought of me. "My name is Reyna Lopez, Percy's girlfriend." She extended her hand.

Poseidon took it. "I'm glad to meet you," he said, shaking her hand. "But if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to my son alone, for the moment."

Reyna nodded and walked to where Noah and Mom were when he let her go, but not before looking at me as if to ask permission if it's okay if she left. Poseidon looked at me and gestured for me to follow him again. I gave a sigh of defeat and walked right behind him.

"How have you been, Perseus?"

We were standing at the edge of my father's rooftop restaurant which gave us an excellent view of the rest of the property. From up here, I could clearly see the bluish-green water from the beach; the green field of the golf-course could also be seen, filled with players competing; I could also spot the island about half a mile away from the resort itself that my father claimed he bought sometime around two years ago. I didn't know whether he was telling the truth or what. I was too mad to find out.

Gazing across the property from where I stood, I knew that Poseidon Jackson had poured a lot of love and devotion into developing this resort, the exact opposite on how he faced his responsibilities as a father. But I found out that his absence from my life wasn't exactly the reason why I was mad at him; I resent him from the lack of effort to participate in being a part of my life. And this resort was a reminder of how much time we had lost – of how much time we could've spent together.

"I'm good," I answered, then quickly added, "Not that you care, of course."

Poseidon turned sideways and looked at me. For the very first time, I saw a different light in his eyes – one that I thought he wasn't capable of feeling: pain.

Throughout my life I had seen Poseidon Jackson as my biological father – my genetic contributor. I never saw him as my Dad simply because he never made the offer to be. I grew up believing, deep inside, that he was incapable of remorse and had no affinity for pain. The reason was I knew how hard it was to be away from the ones you love, your family, and yet it seemed like Poseidon didn't feel any of it as he distanced himself away from me.

Right then, however, I saw a broken look in his eyes, like he was showing a part of him he never dared show anyone before. It was further confirmed when he spoke and sounded like a broken glass. "I care, Perseus," he said softly, his deep voice mellow. "I care enough to know what's happening to you these days."

I raised my eyebrows at him. "Oh? Then what do you know? What did you find out?"

He exhaled. "For instance, I know that your girlfriend, Reyna Lopez, sent herself to college by working for her sister at her local spa in California, the same spa that you and your friends went to visit once and that you're unaware that you have met her before." He paused, giving me a chance to catch up. I was silent, surprised with what I was hearing. It's true that I didn't know that Reyna and I had already cross-paths once, but that wasn't the reason why I was unable to reply; it was because this man had the nerve to do all those background checks. "She and her sister were raised by their mother on her and – "

"You investigated on Reyna?" I asked, exasperated and extremely mad of the idea. "She's the kindest and most level-headed person I've ever met. Why would do something like that? Who gave you the authority to?!"

Poseidon gazed across the sea. There was this look in his eyes that screamed longing, like he had been forced to part with the one he loved the most. I had read somewhere that longing is older than love and that you long for someone first before you feel love. But I don't think so. I mean, how are you going to long for someone, unless you love that someone?

Looking at him, I felt those two emotions. They came at me strongly and I wasn't prepared when they hit me. It was overwhelming. What made handling them harder was that I wasn't sure if they were directed to me or he was just merely projecting them to make me feel guilty.

It almost worked. Almost.

I had enough reasons to believe otherwise.

He looked at me and held my gaze when he answered. "Because I don't want you to get hurt again," he said softly. Poseidon looked back at the sea when he went on. "Ager what Ananbeth did to you, the all thing I want is to see you broken again. It was hard to see you going through that."

I was caught off guard. Poseidon Jackson had never shown any emotion that was I could even remotely relate to caring, like, ever. He focused on the one thing that he loved: work. His absence in my life was a strong proof of that.

For the first time, I questioned what I was feeling toward him. Was I right to resent him for not being with me as I grew up? Did I have enough reasons to shut him out of my life because of the mistakes he made in the past? (The thing was, he never actually made any effort to make up for them, so I wasn't sure.) But then I reminded myself that this man I was talking to was an owner of a resort, which meant he knew how to deal with people. He was an expert in pushing people's buttons and made them agree with him. I shook my head and said, "If you knew better, you shouldn't have brought her up."

Poseidon smiled. "Why, she's the reason why I invited you here."

I should've known! I should've known that Poseidon Jackson would never invite me because of me but because he was up to something.

I turned around and started walking away. "I'm leaving," I simply said.

I was a few steps away from him when he said something that made me stop. "Now you're making the same mistakes that I did with you to Noah."

I faced him. "Don't do that. Do not compare me to you. I am not you, father. You may have some part of you inside me – a fact that I truly hate – but I am Sally's son through and through."

He nodded. "Be that as it may, but I'm standing by what I said." Poseidon covered the distance separating us and guided me to sit on one of the benches nearby. I didn't know why I didn't just bail right then. He then sat beside me. "Do you know why I never really tried to be a part of your life, Perseus?" he asked, his eyes faraway. "Because my father, your grandfather, Kronos, was a terrible father to me and my brothers. He was a drunkard and had no direction in his life. He only got rich when he was married to my mother, Gaea – and don't ask me why she did; I have no idea. When they had my brother, Hades, she probably thought that he was going to change. Only he didn't. He got worse. Drinking himself until he couldn't move an inch, gambling, being with different women, he went on for a long time this way until the moment that he started doing drugs. During this period, they had me and your uncle Zeus.

"He was terrifying whenever he went home – that was the only thing I could remember of him. Mother was mostly off to the office so we were alone at the house most of the time and whenever he arrived, he'd beat us. Hades would try and protect us and would receive the worst of the beatings."

I fell silent. I never knew that my father went on to something like this, nor his brothers. They seemed so strong, so brave . . . so together. They were the last people you would assume went through something so unforgiveable. Uncle Hades, maybe, as he was the most detached of the three brothers and was the dark one. Him I could assume as someone who had gone through a tough childhood.

Poseidon always had this twinkle in his eyes whenever he smiled. I may not have been with him a lot of times during my childhood, but during those moments that we did spend time together, I could remember seeing him looking all happy and calm and contented whenever he would give me a tour of his resort and made me inspect the newest renovations he had made. Who would've thought that that person was hurt by his own father and was robbed of his childhood?

"I watched as my older brother receded farther and farther back into his own mind until he was almost unreachable. I watched as my father hurt my younger brother and I could remember feeling so helpless, so powerless because I couldn't do something. I was impotent against him. I grew up hating him. I aged having this huge knot of anger in my chest. And for the longest time possible, I held on to it. It was a fire I used when I got out of the house to give me the drive to forge ahead.

"Hades, Zeus and I went our separate ways but we stayed in contact, constantly checking on mother, who, never once, suspected that something was going on. We called her on a regular basis, checking for any signs that he was doing the same thing to her. But luckily, she didn't suffer through what we went through."

Poseidon closed his eyes and took a shaky breath before he continued. "For the longest time possible, I hated him, despised him, even. I was resolved not to make any amends with him. That was before I met your mother.

"Sally is a very unique woman. She's a queen among queens; she could see people better than people could see themselves. And most of the time, she could make people do what she wanted them to. The amazing thing about your mother, though, she never uses this power of hers over others, unless it is for their own good. And she used that power over me. She made me see things that I had been too stupid to appreciate. She made me live like I have never lived before.

"And then one night, she visited me here, at my resort. Right here," he said, gesturing to where we were currently sitting, "was the exact place where she told me that I was going to be a father. I was overjoyed, I was in bliss. It was the most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me." He looked at me and I saw fire burning into those sea green eyes that I inherited. A gentle, yet very warm fire. "You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, Perseus, but I never showed you that. I took off, even before you were born. Do you know why?" he asked, like he really meant the question. "I ran away because I was terrified. I knew I said that I was more than excited just by thinking of you, but whenever I actually thought of raising you, of being with you when you took your first step, or speak your first word, I found myself facing a blank wall. A blank wall which paints was peeling off. And I was reminded of my childhood, of how much anger I held in my chest against my father – "

"Then you must understand why I'm so mad at you," I said, cutting him off. It was rude, but I didn't think Poseidon took it that way. Maybe because I didn't sound so angry.

"I do understand, Perseus," he conceded. "However, what I'm trying o make you understand is the reason why I had no choice but leave." Poseidon stretched his legs in front of him, crossing his ankles. If look at us, you would never guess how deep our conversation was. "August 18th – that was the day that you were born, Perseus. I was there when Sally gave birth and I was the very first person who held you – I didn't let any nurse catch you. I was the very first who felt your heart beat and I was the very first one to hear you cry. And that moment, I knew. I knew that I will never be the person you would need. I looked into those big, beautiful green eyes and saw how innocent they looked and I knew that I could never expose you to the life that I was forced to live."

"But you had a choice," I interrupted. "You had the chance to change – a chance that not everyone is given. You could've stayed with us and started a new life, be someone new – someone who isn't bound by the ghosts of his past and yet, what did you do? You wasted it! You had a choice, Dad."

A small and yet genuine smile tugged at the corner of his lips. For a time I wondered why, then I realized that for the very first time for a long time, I had called him Dad. I didn't know whether I should've taken it back or what. "I did have a choice, Perseus," he acknowledged. "But I chose the other one. Why, you may ask, and I'll tell you my reason: I couldn't make you carry on the legacy, son."

"The legacy?"

"The legacy of broken families," he answered. "Even though I knew I would never, in a million years, make you go through something that I did, I knew I had no control over fate. Nobody does. We are merely small particles of dust in a dessert. The wind and the sun and other elements will decide what's going to happen to us. I knew by that point that being with you would only expose you the messed up family tree we have, then I realized that you were already exposed with all those dysfunctions. And I hated myself for bringing all those dark clouds into your life. That's the reason why I left. I couldn't hand you down what was given to me. All I could do was do damage control and leave. On top of it all, I was terrified. I was scared that I would just hurt you the way my father did to me and I would never authorized that to happen."

"You said you only wanted to protect me, but why didn't you protect me by staying with me?" I challenged. "Do you know why I was kicked out of so many schools before? Do you know why I got myself into all those troubles in school? I did them for you! I put myself in there so you would come and see me. You think you have done a good job of doing what you wanted?"

Poseidon bowed his head. I could almost feel shame coming off of him and I almost backed off. "I recognized the mistake I made, Perseus. I saw what I did. All my efforts blew back into my face and that you were into a much deeper predicament than I ever was. And there's nothing I regret more than leaving you, I hope you know that. But there was no way for me to undo everything that I did. If there was, I would've done it in a second. What I chose to do was break all the chains that held you, all the memories that I unwillingly handed you. I took them all back, hoping that I was not too late. But I was." He looked at me like I was some sort of fish species ready to be dissected. "You are so wrapped up in anger that it blinds you; it clouds your judgment and you're not able to see the truth even when it's standing right in front of you – "

I gave a dark chuckle. "What a poetic way of saying that I should forgive you, father."

"Not me, son," he quickly said. "I'm referring to the girl whom you once loved, or should I say love? She's back, isn't she? And she wants you to let her back in and give her a chance to be a part of Noah's life. I – "

"What exactly are you saying, father?"

"I'm saying that you should learn to forgive, Perseus," he said. "It's not going to be easy. I know it was really hard for me to forgive father for everything that he did in the past, but when he did, it was the most glorious thing I felt, apart from when I saw you for the first time. It was like a black blindfold was removed from my eyes." He tapped my shoulder and leaned closer. "I just don't want you to go through what I will always go through, son. I don't want you to look back at Noah's childhood and see how many mistakes you made on his part. Your son needs his mother, and deep inside, you know that."

I was about to answer when two figures stumbled to where we were. I immediately recognized them: my stepfather, Paul Blofis and Annabeth Chase. Annabeth was leaning against Paul heavily and he seemed to be supporting her entire weight.

I stood up. "What happened?"

Paul was breathless and took a moment to answer. "I passed by your apartment, hoping to catch you. The convention finished earlier and I thought that maybe I could still come here with you guys, but it wasn't you I found." He nodded his head to Annabeth whose head was lolling to the side. "I saw her banging at your door, demanding to be let in. She was yelling your name for some time before she passed out."

Annabeth stirred and lifted her head. When the hair fell off of her face, I saw something that sparked anger in my chest. There was a sudden surge of protectiveness that washed through me. I was surprised that I actually felt that way, because I was supposed to be over this girl. On the left side of her mouth was a bruise that could've been caused only by a guy's hand. There was some swelling on her left cheek and her eye was blackened. It shocked me how mad I was by that point, how much I wanted to rip off the arms of whoever's responsible for this.

Annabeth looked at me and a small smile appeared on her cracked lips. "Percy," she said, stepping away from Paul, only to stumble. I caught her and held her against me. I wrinkled my nose at the strong smell of alcohol that was clinging to her.

"Who did this to you?" I demanded her, but she was already out.

I felt a hand gripping my right shoulder. I looked up and saw Poseidon looking at us with a sad expression. "Think about what I said, Perseus. It's never too late." Then he gestured Paul and they both walked away, leaving me with the girl I once loved.

[Next - Chapter 7: WHITE HORSE]