It took Nico a moment to remember where he was after waking up from a nightmare about his time in that bronze jar. He was on the train to Florida with Will, Amanda and Candi. Across from him and Will, whose head was in his lap; he could just make out Candi as she lay across the seats with her own head in her mother's lap in the dim light. The child was curled up under a blanket they had brought along snuggled up with her bear under her arm. He smiled a little, glad he hadn't woken any of them up…or so he thought.

"Nightmare?" asked Will softly, looking up.

"Yeah…I was back in the jar…"

Will sat up and pulled him close, "I'm here, you can put your head in my lap if you want."

Nico nodded, laying down and dozing off. The next time he woke he heard soft giggling.

"Papa Nico looks so innocent asleep," he heard Candi say, before opening his eyes, startling her, making her jump off the table between them and back into her seat with a small squeal.

"And just how do I look normally?" he asked sitting up, not missing the grin on his husband's face.

"You were smiling in your sleep and most of the time you're either frowning or making a neutral face. Though he has been smiling more and more since we got married and even more recently. I think you're good for him," commented Will as his lover sat up.

After they arrived in Florida, they took a bus to their hotel in the park's area.

"Alright that's two rooms, one with a king bed for two adults and the other with two twin beds for one adult and one child…and one teddy bear for four nights, we have a stroller and electric scooter ready for you to use starting today," the woman behind the counter explained to Will with a smile as Candi made her bear peek over the counter, "We hope you enjoy your stay."

"Thank you, ma'am," said Will taking their room keys, "You wrote which room is which on the little folders right?"

"Yes sir," the lady said as Will picked the child up, "That's a very cute bear, little one."

"Thank you, her name's Snowy," Candi said hiding her face.

"Okay, we got the room keys, so now we can go change and head to the park."

"Yay! Papa Nico got me an autograph book with the princesses on it!" the little girl chirped.

"Spoiling her without me? How could you Nico!?" Will asked as they walked to their room, this time Candi got that he was being over dramatic and giggled with her mom.

"Last time I checked your dad's scared animal was a bull not a pig, you ham," teased Amanda.

"Ham!" agreed Candi giggling harder.

"Et tu, Candi?" he asked as they reached their rooms the child looking very confused.

"He said, "You too, Candi?" He was trying to paraphrase, or put his own twist on, what were believed to be the final words of Julius Cesar. We'll see you girls in a bit," Nico explained before they split up.

When they met up Candi was in her Tiana costume complete with a little beaded toy crown, her bear in a rainbow drawstring back pack the toy's supplier sold. Along with, Nico and Will guessed, other items considering it was in the basket of Amanda's scooter, Candi was pushing said stroller though it was clearly hard for her to see. Amanda had on a white sun hat over her wig and a white tee shirt with the words, "Our fate is within us" over a silhouette of Merida drawing her bow. The guys were both wearing the same shirt, they read in Disney Script "Princess Protection Squad" and had printed on badges that said "PPS". Will's was white with black script while Nico's was the other way around.

"Shall we, Princesses?" Nico asked helping buckle the child in and looped her bag's straps around the handles of the stroller.

"I'm ready! Are you ready, Mommy?" the excited child asked, smiling from her stroller.

Amanda nodded as they headed out. After a short bus ride to the park, they got on line to meet the princesses they had fast passes to make things faster when they chose to go on rides. For most Candi got autographs, posed for photos and got hugs but then she met Tiana, her favorite princess she hid behind Nico.

The actress, playing the princess smiled and knelt to Candi's level, "Hi there, what's your name?"

Candi peeked out with her bear, "Candi…"

"What a sweet name, I see you have a dress just like mine, aren't you just as pretty as a magnolia in May?" Tiana told her as the little girl came out fully.

"Thank you, my mommy got it and my crown for me for this trip," Candi said with a smile, spinning, "What's a magnolia?"

"A magnolia is a type of flower. I see you have your own squad of protectors too, how fancy."

"They're my daddy and papa cause they're adopting me cause my mommy's sick…" Candi explained.

Tiana gave her a hug, "Treasure the time you have left with her. How about your mommy joins us for the photo?"

"Yeah!" Candi agreed as her mother joined them before the photo was taken.

"Say Gumbo!" said Tiana making both laugh before the photo was taken.

"Thank you, Tiana!" Candi called to her waving goodbye as they headed to the next princess.

"What do we have here? Your hair is just like mine!" Merida said with a huge smile referring to Amanda's wig making Candi grin.

"I told you that wig looked like her hair, Mommy!"

Merida raised any eyebrow but didn't miss a beat and kept up her act, talking with the child a bit.

"So who are you?"

"I'm Candi and my mommy's name is Amanda and you're her favorite princess," Candi told her with a huge smile.

"Oh, I am? Your mum has good taste, so that's why I'm on her shirt," Merida told her with a smile of her own as she signed Candi's book.

The final princess they met was the child's other favorite; Rapunzel. This time Candi went right up to the woman.

"Princess Rapunzel, I know your hair got cut at the end of the movie, but you have it now, so I want to ask…could you use it to help my mommy? She has a yucky thing in her head."

The trio of adults in the party looked at each other. They felt that her request was sweet but, there was no way it would have worked.

"I'm sorry little one," the actress told her, "This isn't the same magic hair I had when I was born. I found a stone marking the place the flower was after my hair was cut and when I touched it my hair grew long and blonde again but now it doesn't heal anymore, I'm sorry."

Candi shook her head, "No…I'm not mad. It's not your fault. I had to ask. I love my Papa and Daddy and I am excited to live with them, but I had to try to make my mommy better."

The actress hugged the child, "You're a good girl. If Eugene and I ever have kids I hope I have a little girl as sweet as you."

Candi hugged back before her book was signed and they headed out to ride a few rides and getting lunch. The little girl conked out after their meal allowing the adults to do some shopping for the other children in their lives.

"So who all are you shopping for?" asked Amanda.

"Let's see, we need souvenirs for Stella; she's Percy's younger half sister and was our flower girl, Nico would babysit her after Percy went to college in California. One for Luke, one for Tommy, one for Luke's little sister Silena and a birthday present for her too because her birthday party's the weekend after we get back. Annabeth said that if you and Candi wanted to come you were welcome to join in," Will explained as he looked through the stuffed animals, a chocolate covered Micky rice crispy treat in his hand.

"I wouldn't want to intrude," commented Amanda who was looking at clothes for her daughter.

Nico shook his head, "Annabeth and both of us think it'd be a good setting for her to meet the other kids. We spend a lot of time around them so wouldn't it be better for them to meet in a situation where they can play together and not have to stay still. Honestly they want to meet her since someone keeps going on and on about her."

"You're just as bad," Will said before his husband bit off the sweet's other ear, not noticing until he went to take another bite, "Nico, you said you didn't want one while we were on line, that means you can't eat mine."

The son of Hades shrugged chewing as Amanda smiled, "I wanted a taste."

Will pouted as he made sure Candi was still asleep, which she was, snuggling her bear, her tiara in the bag. After their shopping trip and Candi's nap they went on a few more rides, saw a show and headed for dinner. It was that night, while the child was sleeping, they decided to talk seriously with Amanda.

"We were wondering what were your plans for your body after death? I mean are things already planned?" Will asked as the two of them sat on the bed and Amanda sat in the desk chair.

Nico piped up, "We just want to be prepared to explain to Candi when the time comes if need be."

"I understand," Amanda said, "I'm donating my body. My usable organs will go to helping others and my brain will be studied. The rest will be cremated and placed in a small tomb in my home town. Everything has already been arranged so all you must do is comfort her when the time comes. I requested that if someone gets my organs that they write a letter of thanks to her, to let her know that in a way I'm living on."

"That's beautiful," a new voice commented, they all turned to see Hermes sitting in one of the arm chairs in the room in his jogging suit and salt-and-pepper hair.

Amanda smiled at her old lover sadly, "I see you came to visit again."

Both demigods watched as the messenger god crossed to Amanda and kissed her hand, "I couldn't help but over hear, I promise that any letter like that will make it to our daughter."

"Thank you for picking out such wonderful gentlemen to raise her after I'm gone," the woman told him smiling.

"Wait," said Nico pointing from one to the other, "You asked him to find Candi adoptive parents?"

"She did, Candi's a sweet little thing," cooed Martha from her point on Hermes' caduceus.

"You weren't the one she tried to gum as a baby!" snapped George.

"Oh? I and all this time I thought she was kissing you," the female snake replied sarcastically.

Nico grinned he had heard from Percy about George's demands for rats, so he found her actions entertaining. They looked up when they heard a knock coming from the connecting door.

"Can I have a drink of water?" came Candi's voice.

"I better go," said Hermes, "I'm not supposed to be here."

With that he exited the boys' hotel room and likely vanished as they tended to the little girl's request. The rest of the trip was nothing but smiled and laughs; Candi calling Baymax Marshmallow man since she couldn't remember his actual name as she gave him a hug. Will whispering to Amanda about Jack Skellington and Nico both being spooky kings as the dark-haired Demigod posed with the Pumpkin king and Candi since the child had been uneasy. Nico had sworn up and down that he would never go on "A small world" again after the one time they rode it with Candi. Though she had pointed out that she had ridden the Haunted Mansion ride with him and Will, so it was the least he could do.

…

Will knocked on the door the Friday after they had returned, the day of the party, to take Candi for the weekend and move some of her things into their home. They planned to do this every other weekend to ease Candi into her home and life without dragging her away from Church since she liked going. When said door opened, they found an excited Candi in a Disney princess shirt they had gotten while on their trip. It was pink with Rapunzel, Pocahontas and Jasmine and the famous Disney castle in the back ground. She had on blue jeans and sneakers. Amanda was with her, smiling.

"Daddy! Papa!" the little girl cheered hugging them.

"Ready to party?" Will asked with a smile.

"We are, Candi's bags are in her room," Amanda said getting her purse.

"Are you sure you want to drive to the party?" Nico asked as Will grabbed the child's bags from her bed room.

"Yes, you will be with me, and I can drive just fine, Candi's going to ride with Will, so you don't have to worry about her safety," Amanda explained.

"No! Daddy has bad taste in music!" Candi whined making Nico laugh because he did agree with her to a point.

Will pouted, "My mom's an Alternative Country singer, there's nothing wrong with me trying to expose Candi to it."

"Yes there is!" protested the child as the two walked out, "I wanna listen to my princess music."

"You forgot something in that," Amanda called after them.

"Please!"

Nico shook his head smiling as Amanda locked up and headed for her car. After a half hour drive, they arrived at the children's play place/restaurant the party was at, outside there was already a small crowd of people who started waving when they saw Will and Nico's car park. Amanda parked, and they got out smiling, watching Will unbuckled an excited Candi.

"Uncle Nico and Uncle Will are here!" cheered a trio of children who were close to Candi's age.

One of the adults, a man with black hair and sea green eyes grabbed the backs of two of the children's shirts, "No running into the parking lot, there are cars."

"Over protective much, Percy?" Nico asked as they joined the group.

"Reyna's holding Tommy back too," protested the other dark-haired man.

Reyna looked at him, "I'm holding my son's hand, not his shirt."

"Hi! I'm Candi! I'm three and I like my mommy and my papa and my daddy and Disney movies and my little pony and my teddy bear, Snowy!"

"Wow, she's excited. It's nice to meet you Candi, my name is Annabeth. We've heard a lot about you from Nico and Will."

"I remember you from the pictures Papa and Daddy showed me!"

Amazingly she was able to name nearly every adult, minus Percy's mother and step father, from the photo album.

"Where did she learn this?" asked an amazed Sally as they went in, the kids getting to know Candi better.

Will turned pink, "She thought our wedding album was a fancy story book, so we showed her the pictures inside. She somehow memorized everyone's names and faces. We're not sure if she has ADHD like us though for her it might be very mild since she is really attached to her teddy bear. But that may be because of her mother's condition. We're keeping an eye out for other signs and we're considering getting her tested once she is in our custody."

"We're more focused on spending time together doing a kind of mother daughter bucket list," Amanda explained, "Candi, do you want to show Nico and Will what we did the other day?"

"Okay!" the little girl chirped as she hurried over, tucking her hair behind her ears to show they were now pierced with a pair of stud earrings that had blue rhinestones cut into the shape of stars.

"Pretty!" squealed the birthday girl, "When I get my ears pierced, I want earrings like that, Mama!"

Annabeth looked down at her, "I thought you wanted pearls or ladybugs."

"We'll see what they have when the time comes, ok?" Percy promised, kissing her head.

"Okay!"

"Nico, did you remember the kids' souvenirs?" Will asked.

Nico looked over, "They're in the back seat of the car with Silena's birthday present."

"She gets two? No fair!" protested her older brother.

Nico shook his head, "No, you each have three, but you're each getting one now, one for Christmas, and the last on your next birthday. Though if you don't lose the attitude the you'll get nothing."

Luke looked at his little sister and apologized as Will went to get the gifts. For Silena they got a soft Moana doll, Stella's was an Ariel Barbie doll. Luke was presented with a Captain America action figure and for Tommy they had bought a Black Panther one.

"Thank you!" the children cheered hugging them.

"Candi and I brought a little something for the birthday girl too," Amanda said handing a colorful envelope to Annabeth, "It's a gift card since we weren't sure what she liked."

The daughter of Athena took the card with a grateful nod as the children ran around the play area, "Well Silena seems to like Candi if the way the two of them are playing together is any indication."

"You're right," Amanda said with a sad smile, "The more things Candi and I do with Will and Nico the more I see she'll be in good hands when I'm gone."

"They'll make sure she never forgets her mother. I think now's a good time for cake and presents," Percy said before going to collect the kids.

After the party a sleepy Candi was loaded into Nico and Will's car, the boys promising to drop Candi back off with her mother Sunday night.

TBC

I realized that I forgot to describe what the kids actually look like so I will do that here.

Name: Thomas Jason McLean-Ramirez-Arellano

Age: Currently four

Eyes: Kaleidoscope

Hair: Black

Parents: Piper McLean-Ramirez-Arellano (Mama) and Reyna Ramirez-Arellano (Mom/Mommy)

...

Name: Luke James Jackson

Age: Currently five

Eyes: Sea green

Hair: Straight and blonde

Parents: Annabeth Chase Jackson and Percy Jackson

...

Name: Silena Rose Jackson

Age: Currently three

Eyes: Grey

Hair: Black and curly

Parents: Annabeth Chase Jackson and Percy Jackson

...

Name: Estelle Blofis

Age: Currently ten

Eyes: Blue

Hair: Brown

Parents; Sally Jackson Blofis and Paul Blofis