He'd been coming to New York since he was a kid and the city always felt the same. The noises were still odd and the sights distracted him, making his ADHD go wild. He walked between his two Dads just like he used to when he was little, although he was too old to need to hold their hands anymore. Percy looked happy to be back in his home city and Nico looked content, as if it didn't matter where they were as long as they were together. It was Percy's birthday and they were going to see his grandparents.

"Hey," Nico whispered, drawing his attention with a small smile. "It's okay. Stop brooding about it before your Dad notices," he whispered smiling.

Percy was too busy watching a street performance they were walking by to notice the exchange beside him, but of course Nico had noticed his mood first. His negative emotions had the same effect as Nico's, they clouded his aura. And just like his Dad, he was a brooder and the more he moped, the more negative vibes he put off. Nico was right too. If Percy noticed, he would spend the whole day trying to make Cesare feel better and that wasn't fair since it was his Dad's birthday. He tried to stand up straighter and smile, but he was still wearing long sleeves to hide his tattoo. All four of his stripes had faded, leaving only the SPQR and the two symbols of Neptune and Pluto.

He'd told his parents the second he got home because he knew he wouldn't be able to hide the tattoo fast enough. They'd reacted predictably, telling him it was nothing to worry about but warning him not to do anything that might demand he be executed. It was a joke but it didn't make him feel better. The fact that they weren't mad only made him angrier at himself. He knew kids who were disowned for not making Centurion, or not being placed in the right Cohort. Luckily, his parents were accepting and understanding even though he did nothing to make them proud.

He sighed to himself. He really didn't want to think about this right now. He wasn't at camp standing at attention for once and he wanted to make the most of it. So he drank in the sounds and sights of the city. He kind of wished he'd grown up in all this excitement but when he said it out loud Percy launched into a full account of all the schools he'd been kicked out of and how it was usually due to a monster attack. He just smiled and rolled his eyes as he listened because he knew Nico would jump in soon to try and trump Percy with the tales of his childhood.

Sure enough, Nico began telling his story the second that Percy's attention wavered. He was orphaned and basically homeless wandering around the Underworld with no one for company but an evil ghost. His favorite story was how they fell in love in Venice because he was the climax of that one. They went to Venice, they fell in love, it was all mushy and romantic and then Nico got kidnapped by a crazy stalker ex-boyfriend. Percy swooped in to save him and they ended up doing Cupid and Aphrodite a favor.

"And then she blessed you guys with the best thing to ever happen to either one of you," Cesare said with a smile, recalling the end of the story.

"Humble, isn't he?" Percy asked Nico sarcastically.

"Where did we go wrong?" Nico responded with an exaggerated sigh.

When they got to his grandparents they were seized by his grandmother, Sally, for hugs. Paul dragged Nico away to ask a million questions about the camps and the Underworld. Sally fussed over all three of them and then placed a pile of blue chocolate chip cookies on the table next to Percy's birthday cake.

"You're growing up so fast," she said to Cesare, brushing his black curls away from his face. "And I bet you're getting in as much trouble as your father did?"

"I'm fine, grandma," he said, reaching for his third cookie.

"That's what your Dad used to say," she said suspiciously.

"Mom, he's fine. He's more trained than I was at his age," Percy said. He tried to swipe his finger to get some frosting from the cake but Sally popped his hand without even looking away from her grandson.

"And I bet you have one of those awful tattoos?"

He just nodded and tried not to feel embarrassed or make eye contact with his Dad.

"I could just strangle Hera!" Sally said furiously, the fine lines around her eyes momentarily emphasized by her angry expression.

"Mom," Percy started but it was too late.

"Kidnaps my son and erases his memories! She put you in so much danger and worried me sick! And I'm sure the Roman camp is very nice, but I don't think they should be marking children!"

"Mom, it's alright," Percy said reaching over and patting her hand.

His own tattoo was still very visible because of his short sleeved shirt. His father only had one line on his tattoo but he'd made Praetor in his short time at Camp Jupiter by going on a quest, defeating giants and monster, retrieving the Eagle, and defeating another giant.

"I know he'll be fine," said Sally, going back to arranging his curls away from his face.

After that he was allowed to go back to forgetting that he was a disgraced legionnaire when they went out to see The Lion King on Broadway and then to dinner before going back to cut the cake.

"We should get ice cream," Percy said to Nico as they walked back to Sally and Paul's apartment.

Every street was bright with neon signs and lights. The shift to nighttime in New York didn't quiet the noise -if anything- it got louder against the silence of the rest of the world. Pedestrians still crowded the sidewalks and the smell of food from dozens of restaurants collided in the air. Percy and Nico were just one of the many couples holding hands. Cesare walked behind them, with Sally and Paul bringing up the rear.

"Aren't you ever done eating?" Nico asked as he laughed at his husband's usual antics.

"Hey, it's not as bad as Venice," said Percy.

Nico was about to respond but suddenly he and Percy were both frowning at a hot dog stand run by two little old ladies.

"Cesare, do you have your sword?" Percy asked. He and Nico were still staring at the hot dog stand. Sally and Paul stopped behind their grandson and looked at his parents.

"Percy?" Sally asked.

"Hey mom, can you and Paul go back to that store we passed and get some ice cream to go with the cake?"

"Okay, sweetie, but-"

"Come on, honey, they can handle whatever it is," Paul said pulling her back. Sally went reluctantly and threw glances at Cesare over her shoulder.

"Your sword?" Nico asked him again, drawing his attention back.

"No, I left it at-"

"Take mine," said Nico and walked over to the wall of the nearest building. He reached into a shadow and pulled his black sword out.

He tossed it to Cesare, who caught it without making a fool of himself. The little old women were staring back now. He still didn't see anything strange except…there was no wind but their hair was rustling.

"Did you think we'd forgotten you, son of the sea god?" asked one of the women.

"Oh no, we'd never forget you!" said the other happily. "And you look like you need a little something. Ketchup or mustard?" She reached into the cart and held out a hotdog.

"We are not feeding him, Stheno!" the first one snapped. "It's his fault we've been trapped in Tartarus this all these years!"

The mortals continued to walk by without so much as a look. Nico stepped back but not too far away and Percy came to stand beside Cesare. He'd drawn Riptide and now he looked fairly bored.

"Oh, yes that's right! But if he buys a hotdog it'll be our one hundredth today!" Stheno gestured toward Percy excitedly, hotdog still in hand.

"Who cares about that? He killed our sister and killed us in the Roman river!"

"Ladies, can we move this along?" asked Percy.

"Oh fine then," said Stheno sadly, letting the food drop.

As Cesare watched their hair turned to snakes, they sprouted boar tusks from their mouths, and their eyes glowed red. They moved from behind the stand and he saw their rooster feet.

"You ready?" his Dad asked.

"Yeah," he said, dropping into the sword stance his father's taught him.

He could fight in both Greek and Roman styles. He learned both from the legion and from his Dads whenever he came home. Since they didn't have an army and only two opponents, Greek style would probably work better. The Stygian Iron sword felt better in his hand than his Imperial gold Gladius and he gripped it tight as the smiling gorgon came toward him.

"Aren't you a cute little thing?" she said and sniffed at him a little. "You're not pure blood demi-god, but you stink like the sea and…" she paused and sniffed again.

"The Underworld maybe?" he supplied helpfully.

"Yes! But there's something else," said Stheno with a puzzled tone.

"He's carrying the scent of love magic," said Euryale. "I can smell it from here."

"You'd better keep him close, Jackson," Euryale continued slyly. "That will attract all kinds of things."

"Thanks for the parenting tip," Percy said. Euryale reached for him but before anyone could blink he ducked under her outstretched arm and came up behind her. Without any hesitation he swung Riptide and decapitated her from behind. Her head didn't even hit the ground before it and her body dissolved into dust.

Both Cesare and Stheno were frozen, staring at him. Cesare recovered first and stabbed the second gorgon while she was distracted. He felt the sword in his hand suck in her essence before she burst into gold dust. The mortals didn't react at all thanks to the mist. Nico was leaning against the wall smirking at his husband but he walked over as Percy capped Riptide and kissed him.

"Umm hi?" Cesare said drawing their attention.

"Good job, Eroe," Nico said taking his sword back.

"Yeah, it was real hard to stab her while she wasn't even looking," he said rolling his eyes. "How did you guys even know they were monsters? They hadn't shed their disguise yet." His Dads looked at each other and shrugged.

"It's hard to explain," said Percy. "Basically, something about us being together has increased our abilities. At least that's what we can make of it."

"Okay…what?" Cesare asked confused.

"Yeah we don't really get it either, but Zeus wanted to kill us over it," Nico said.

"What is it the power of love or something?" he asked them. "And what was that about me smelling like love?"

"We're not monsters, son," said Percy. "We can't smell what they can but I'm sure it's just because you were kind made from love magic."

"Is everything alright?"

He turned around and his grandparents were back looking worried but Cesare saw they had a bag with ice cream in it.

"Yeah, we're fine," said Percy.

They went back to the apartment but the whole way there he couldn't stop thinking about what the gorgon said. He even sniffed himself once but all he smelled was fabric softener and deodorant. In front of him his parents looked like they'd blocked out the world. Nico smiled at Percy who was actually blushing. Part of him wanted to gag but another part of him thought it was cute that they could still impress each other and be embarrassed and flattered by it. He was impressed too actually. He'd never seen anyone take down…anything that fast. He comforted himself knowing it was because of whatever magical bond they had and not just because his Dads were superheroes.

That night they sang Happy Birthday to his Dad and ate blue cake and ice cream. Sally and Paul went to the kitchen to make coffee and he was about to escape to the couch and find the TV remote when they stopped him.

"I haven't been able to watch TV in weeks," he whined. It was true. There were no televisions permitted in the barracks.

"It can wait," said Nico. He looked at Percy with a devious smile and Cesare just looked back and forth between them.

"What?" he asked impatiently, thinking about all the Doctor Who he could be watching.

"We know you've been having a hard time at camp," Percy started.

"Dad, it's your birthday. We don't have to have this talk," he said sulkily.

"No, we do," he said looking at Nico. "We were thinking that maybe you need a break from it."

"We were thinking of taking a vacation," said Nico.

"Where?" Cesare asked. His stomach had tightened when he thought he was about to get a lecture of disappointment but now he was excited.

"Well, we always said we'd go back to Venice one day," answered Nico.

"Really?" he asked with a big grin.

"You think it's a good idea?" Percy asked with a smile.

"Yes! Oh wait," he said deflating. "It's forbidden for members of the Legion to travel across the Mare Nostrum."

"Oh, that stupid law again," Percy said annoyed.

"I'm sure we can clear it with the camp," Nico said. "I'll call Frank."

"Better call Reyna and Jason too. We might need weight on this one," said Percy. When he saw how let down Cesare was he reached over and ruffled his hair.

"Don't worry, if they kick you out for this you can always go stay at Camp Half-Blood. We can even move back here if you decide you don't want to stay year-round."

"If I decide not to go year-round, do I get to go to public school here in the city?" he asked.

"If any of them will take you once they find out Percy is your Dad," Nico laughed.

They laughed with him but inside Cesare was hoping the camp would just let him go on the trip. Public school might be fun but uprooting his parents wasn't.

Note: I've started working on something original so the next chapter might take a little while.