All characters are Rick Riordan's I own nothing but I wish I did.

Author's Note: I realized that I didn't mention why Annabeth was in a wheelchair, so I'm going to this chapter. Also, thank you to anyone who is possibly following this story, your support means a lot. Without further ado, I give you... Chapter 12.

Chapter 12

Two weeks later (after the end of Chapter 11)

"Percy!" Annabeth shrieked. "I just got great news from the hospital!"

Percy ran in, a surprised look on his face. "What's up, Wise Girl?"

"I'm gonna get this stupid giant cast off my leg and out of this wheelchair! I mean, sure, I'll have to use crutches, but that better than this." Annabeth sounded so happy, Percy's heart was going to melt. That would be a problem.

He hugged her. "Gods, Wise Girl, that's amazing!"

"I know, Seaweed Brain, that's why I'm happy. Obviously."

"When are they going to take it off?"

"Two days!"

Percy couldn't stop grinning.

. . .

Their apartment was fully furnished, complete with a TV, and Annabeth's nook. That was her official name for it. She decorated the doorframe (yes it had a door, it was just that awesome), and Annabeth spent almost all her free time there, or with Percy. She liked to curl up on the cushioned ledge, or draw out buildings on special blueprint paper she got from God knows where. Annabeth was an aspiring architect, and this whole building always gave her inspiration.

She never let anyone in there, except Percy on a few occasions. It was her escape from everything, like Percy's was the beach.

They'd discovered that Nico and Will lived only a block from here, when they were out getting coffee at Starbucks one time. So the two couples saw each other a lot more. Annabeth felt they were all bonding as friends.

Annabeth's other favorite place was the back of the building, with the garden and river. It was beautiful, and no one ever talked too loud, like at a library, as if they didn't want to disturb nature. It was peaceful there, and you could relax in the sun for ages. Percy and Annabeth found out that everyone came together once every two months and held a potluck. They were a tightly-knit community, but they accepted others with ease and grace. Everyone was friendly, and they started making friends.

One was Leo Valdez. He was a funny, open guy. He had messy hair, his hands never stopped moving, and he had this light in his eyes that made him lively. His girlfriend, Calypso, named after a Greek nymph who was banished to an island called Ogygia. She was beautiful, and she like sewing and making exquisite clothes. She and Annabeth were fast friends, as they shared a love for weaving and crafts.

Another couple they had discovered was Jason Grace and Piper McLean. Jason was a cool guy, and he looked kind of like a blond Superman. Percy was a little jealous of his good looks and charm until Annabeth convinced him get over it. After that, Jason and Percy seemed to have a bromance brewing between them. Piper was sweet and kind. She was Native American (Cherokee to be specific) and her dad was the famous movie star Tristan McLean. Annabeth didn't really like Piper at first, but she grew on Annabeth and they became good friends.

It seemed like moving away from her dad was doing a lot of good for Annabeth.

. . .

Percy was waiting in the hospital for Annabeth to get her full leg cast taken off. She came out of the room ages later with a huge grin on her face, a boot on her lower leg, and crutches. Percy stood, lighting up when he saw her.

Percy hugged her, but she couldn't hug him back with the crutches.

The first thing she said to him was "I'm so glad I can stand! It's amazing! And Percy, if you ever complain to me that your feet hurt, I swear I will put you in that wheelchair for two weeks, you see how it is."

Percy only laughed at her threat, because she was getting better and becoming her old self.

Then a surprise walked down the hall.

Percy frowned, then smiled. "Hey what're you doing here?" Annabeth grinned at them.

Jason smiled. "Hey it looks like you're getting better!" He said, gesturing at her legs.

Annabeth looked down, then back at him and Piper, who was standing next to him. "Yeah, I've been wanting to stand for ages now."

Piper spoke up. "Hey, we've got a surprise for you guys, to celebrate the departure of Annabeth's wheelchair. Come on!"

Piper and Jason walked down the hall at a fast pace, then slowed when they remembered Annabeth had crutches that she was getting used to.

Percy helped Annabeth into his car, then went to Jason. "Hey, where are we going? Do I get directions?"

He grinned. "Nope. But you can follow us, I guess."

Percy shrugged, knowing he wasn't going to share where they were going. He drove right behind them until they reached a restaurant called The Diner.

Percy frowned. "Why is this diner called The Diner?"

Jason laughed. "I have no clue. But it's actually a buffet and a diner and a separate bar. It's really cool."

Percy looked around and recognized Leo's and Will's cars. He smiled and went to get Annabeth.

. . .

As soon as they walked in, Nico knew he liked the place. It was pretty cool, with a bar off to the side, TV screens playing various things with subtitles, and a buffet across from the bar on the opposite side of the building. Tables were set up in between, people sitting and talking, at the perfect volume. Loud, but quiet. Will pointed to a large table that could actually seat ten, but they saved the space for six other seats.

Leo walked in, Calypso holding his arm and laughing. They spotted Will and Nico, who were kind of hard to miss, since Will was waving like crazy. They sat down across from each other, still smiling.

Leo finally broke the silence between them. "Hey, where's everyone else?"

As if on cue, Jason walked in with Piper, Percy following, holding the door for Annabeth so she could get in with her crutches.

They sat down, making it so that each couple was sitting across from each other. There were still two empty seats at the far end of the table, next to Leo and Calypso, but no one seemed to care. They went and got food from the buffet first, and when the girls announced they were full, the boys went ahead and ordered food from the diner menu. The girls all rolled their eyes as one at their boyfriends.

Jason's chicken wings came first, and that was when Nico noticed the girl. She was sitting at a window side table, crying. Nico excused himself, and walked over to the girl. Will watched where he was going, and smiled when he realized what Nico was going to do.

The girl was dark skinned, had curly golden hair, and wore a purple shirt. She looked to be around 15, and she reminded Nico of someone.

Nico didn't realize there was a really tall, bulky Asian dude about to do the same thing as him.

"Hey," Nico murmured to the girl. "You okay?"

She lifted her head, eyes red from crying. Her eyes were golden, matching her hair, her face streaked with tears. Nico gasped. "Hazel?" He said incredulously.

Hazel's eyes widened. "Nico?"

All of a sudden, the Asian dude who was approaching before shoved Nico out of the way. "Hazel, is this guy bothering you?"

She shook her head vigorously. "Gods, Frank, no. This is my half-brother, Nico. Nico, meet Frank, my best friend."

Nico greeted him, then turned back to Hazel. "Hazel, what happened? And what're you doing out here? Last time I saw you, you were upstate and nine years old. And that was a while ago." He didn't want to share that both of them were from the 1940s in front of Frank unless Hazel wanted to.

Frank started to speak, but then Hazel cut him off. "Well, I was, and Dad actually divorced my mom. Neither of them wanted me, because they thought I was bad luck. So I lived on the streets for a while, and you know they were tough. But then I came up to this hotel." Nico's eyes widened. Hazel nodded, as she realized that that's how Nico was still young, too. "I stayed there for a long time, and then I came out. Frank found me."

Nico knew the story well, as it was what happened between him and Will. Frank watched Nico closely, then announced that he wanted food from the buffet. As soon as he was out of earshot, Nico leaned in and whispered, "Does he know what time you're from?" She shook her head. "Ok, but you know you're gonna have to tell him sometime, right? He obviously has a crush on you."

Hazel blushed. "No he doesn't!"

Nico smirked. "Then you have a crush on him. Got it. But enough about that. Tell me why you were crying."

Hazel went on to tell him that she'd found out her mom was killed a year ago, but she'd only gotten out of the hotel six months ago.

Once Frank got back with his food already devoured, Nico invited them over to their table. He gestured at the large table with his friends. Hazel shrugged and went, Frank following cautiously.

Nico introduced Hazel as his half-sister, and Frank as her best friend. Annabeth seemed to understand immediately that Hazel had also gone into the Lotus Hotel, while it took Percy a while longer. The rest of them didn't know that it existed.

Soon enough, they were all laughing together, and it seemed Hazel and Frank would get along with them just fine.