Chapter 14: The Big Three Have Family Time!

The conversation lasted long into the night, or early morning depending on how one looked at it. Either way, Percy was still exhausted, which wasn't a good thing considering what was coming next. He could tell Annabeth wasn't going to hold it all together much longer as well. People were still pestering her this morning about her capture the flag set up but she wouldn't give an answer.

She gave him a sympathetic look when he walked in, messy hair, a little drool, SpongeBob sweatpants and sweatshirt. It was subconsciously decided that morning, Annabeth knew. Subconscious but still strategic, showing Percy wasn't a scary all powerful person, but a normal mess of a demigod. He still drooled in his sleep.

"You know, we really should set up some type of capture the flag," Annabeth said as someone asked her again how she had done it. "It'd be fun with all the people here."

"Only if I get to crush you," Clarisse yelled from further down the table.

"And if I get to lead the team," Thalia pitched in.

"All of us against the boys?" suggested Piper. "It would be interesting."

"Too easy."

"Reyna has a point. We'll figure out a way to divide the teams when we actually decide to do this."

"And definitely not now," giggled Jaz looking at Percy as he drowned his pancakes again.

The other person looking at him right now was Nico. He remembered what was probably coming next all too well. And Percy had done some things that were insane, even for him. He'd also been seriously injured as it was happening. Then there was Iapetus. Percy and Annabeth had apologized and thanked him way too many times after the war. Seeing all of this would bring up bad memories for all of them.

Memories were also an issue. Too many of them had lost theirs, and seeing Iapetus and his? There were too many triggers. And the Fates still didn't give them a complete idea of why they were here.

Still, at the moment everyone was enjoying themselves. Most seemed to be tired and just waking up. The most energy was coming from where Blitz, Tyson and Leo were huddled together as Leo waved his arms wildly gesturing to a napkin with scribbles on the table. It was pretty obvious they were still stuck on Festus, and still might be trying to improve him, as Leo had never stopped tinkering with his dragon companion.

The other people, those who were awake, were milling around in their own quiet conversations, eating slowly and taking time to relax. Looking around again Nico saw more people had arrived while he was in his own thoughts. The only people missing now were Hazel and Jason.

"Frank?"

"Yeah?" Frank looked up from where he was talking about archery tactics in capture the flag with Will and Apollo.

"You seen Hazel and Jason?"

"Jason was still asleep, but I haven't seen Hazel. Do you think they're okay?" Frank asked in concern as he looked around wildly once more to check they weren't there. He started to get up, but Nico stopped him.

"I've got it."

Percy, who was barely even alert, seemed to have a way to sense when his friends were troubled. He looked up from his food as Nico was walking away to give him a questioning glance.

"No Hazel or Jason," Nico mouthed.

Percy frowned. "Need help?"

Nico shook his head and left leaving Percy to look at an equally concerned Thalia. The two Romans should be up. Their harsh training had them almost programmed. If Percy, who had been with the Romans for barely a week, was able to get up then so should the other two. So, something was seriously wrong.

When he got to Hazel's door he knocked twice and waited for an answer. After repeating that three times he opened the door himself. The bed in her part of the room was neatly made and Hazel's art supplies were put away. Nico frowned again before deciding to check Jason's room before trying to find Hazel again.

To his surprise Hazel and Jason were together in the room, leaving Nico puzzled. Neither of them had been close, though both were the only Roman Big Three demigods. Hazel had arrived at Camp Jupiter shortly before Jason had been taken by Hera. Before the quest he was only a figure to look up too. Even after their time on the Argo, neither were as close as one might expect. They'd learnt more about each other here than they ever knew before. After all, their only other time to get to know each other had been while fighting a giant turtle named Molly.

"Nico?" Hazel asked surprised.

"You guys didn't get to breakfast. And you weren't in your room."

"I came to see if Frank was here. I was thinking because you said today might be…."

Nico understood immediately. Hazel was still scared about being reclaimed by the dead and her memories in the Fields of Asphodel. He knew Jason and Thalia had been talking about their mother's Mania last night, which must have been the reason the son of Jupiter was still in his room. The usually positive demigod seemed to be in the opposite mood right now. He looked to be as much of a mess as Percy.

"You think you'll be okay? Both of you?"

"You were," Hazel told him. "So, I guess we'll be too."

"I was because I had Percy and Thalia. And you have all of us too."

Jason sat up from where he was sitting on his elbows next to Hazel. He looked at Nico and smiled softly but sadly. "We'll be fine. I was just thinking again how different it would all be if we'd all been together before."

"We can't change the past."

"But you, Percy and Thalia seem to be super close, you have all these inside jokes and know so much about each other."

"You do to," Nico reminded him.

"Not like you guys. I mean I didn't know Hazel that well before this. And I'm still learning more about her."

"And I'm still learning about all of my cousins," agreed Nico. "Neither Percy nor Thalia knew I was gay. They had no clue about a lot of the things happening with me. I did know they were there to support me though, and they loved me too, even if didn't know everything about each other."

"It's what that word Leo uses…. FOMO," Hazel snapped.

"Yeah. That."

"We all have that. And you shouldn't, most the times we meet up we all almost die, and even then, we fought. Maybe that's one of the reasons we're here. So, the five of us can grow closer and figure that all out."

"I'm not sure that's a great reason to do all of this," Jason gestured as he stood up.

"Doesn't matter," Nico said with crossed arms. "Now are you two coming or not?"

"Just let me get dressed."

"No time. Percy's there in sweatpants anyway."

"But—"

"Nope," Nico said grabbing both their arms and shadow traveling. "Now go eat."

Everyone had to wait for the two Romans to finish eating, but neither were feeling particularly hungry. It wasn't long before they were heading into the other room. Though not a lot of the Greeks were feeling particularly cheerful Percy noticed a frown on Annabeth's face.

"What's wrong?"

"You're sure it's showing your quest to the underworld next?"

"I don't remember anything else really important happening. Or maybe they'll show everything. I was running missions all of that year."

"But do you think they'll show something that wasn't part of those missions or quests? Like when Nico was at your birthday last year?"

Percy paused. "You're thinking of the wedding, aren't you?"

"What wedding?" Piper asked overhearing.

"Oh gods," Thalia snickered. "I do hope they show that."

"In hindsight I guess it was kind of funny," Percy shrugged. "Now come on! I demand Big Three Cousin Cuddling."

He was immediately met with disgusted expressions, but his cousins shook their heads and sat next to him anyway. Annabeth squeezed between Percy and Thalia to watch as well. From what Percy had told her, what was coming next would feel better if they were all together.

The scene opened on an auditorium full of children hunched over desks. Rachel's bright red frizzy hair was eye catching at the front of the room. Percy could be seen frowning with concentration as he tried to write.

"Finals?" Sadie groaned. "Why are we watching you take Finals."

"I doubt we're watching Percy take a test. Especially, when he has an allowance for extra time. It would take forever," Grover told them.

"I'm not arguing with that. Plus, if we watched it, I'm sure Annabeth would be nagging at me for every little thing I did wrong." Percy looked smug for barely a second when Annabeth shoved him, so he toppled off balance, and onto the ground.

The door burst open and Mrs. O'Leary stood on the stage running in circles and stepping on the sets and props for the Christmas play. Percy stiffened and looked around. Everyone looked up, mostly laughing but a few people cooed and called the dog cute.

The room was filled with snickers as well there. Samira looked at Percy understandingly, as if commiserating about all the times demigod/mythological life had interrupted school and normal life.

"So, Mrs. O'Leary got you out of a test? Did you like summon her or something?" Alex asked not paying any attention to her sister. "It's a pretty good distraction."

"I did not, though I am always happy to see her," Percy replied. Having two pets who lived at Camp was hard. Luckily both of his pets could travel, and fast, making it easy to see them when he wanted to.

"I doubt we'd be watching this if it was just about Percy's dog appearing in an exam," Zia pointed out.

"True."

The teacher fidgeted with his glasses and asked whose poodle it was. Percy sighed with a slump. Percy got up and said it was his poodle, apologizing, because it must've followed them there. The tune of 'Mary had a Little Lamb' was being whistled by someone making more laughter.

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Not that funny, wise guy."

Percy nudged her. "Really Wise Girl?"

All he got in reply was a groan. Meanwhile, while some where still snickering Rachel was still in all out laughter. "I forgot about Dr. Boring."

"Your teacher? Was he really that boring?" Hazel asked curiously.

Both former Goode students laughed before explaining that was his real name. Rachel turned silent for a moment. "Wow. You looked so nervous. Don't worry, I think we were the only ones who saw her."

"Agreed. I don't know how though. Mrs. O'Leary is harder to hide than most of the disasters I cause. She's the only reason I was able to completely convince Paul about the truth."

Dr. Boring scolded the students and Percy for having a poodle. Mrs. O'Leary interrupted him with a bark, turning in a circle as she wagged her tail.

"Do I need more proof?" Percy said with a gesture making everyone laugh.

Percy told the teacher he'd get the dog out, he was done anyway. Percy closed his test and ran forward trying to catch Mrs. O'Leary as she ran for the exit, teasing calls following them out as well. Percy chased Mrs. O'Leary out of the school and through the city.

"Where's she leading you?"

"Really, Jaz? You know I can'ttell you that."

Percy yelled for her to slow down and asked where she was going. People looked at him and Mrs. O'Leary weirdly as she stopped, turning to bark, urging Percy on. She disappeared over a fence and into snow covered bushes. Percy, shivering in just a t-shirt and pants, made a noise of complaint as he followed. On the other side Mrs. O'Leary was in a clearing, sniffing the ground. Percy looked around warily, taking out Riptide.

"Good idea," Jason noted.

"The whole thing is kind of creepy," Apollo agreed from next to his half-brother. "Even if the hellhound is yours."

"Very creepy." Juniper cuddled into Grover's side. She didn't like Mrs. O'Leary usually, and especially any of this.

Mrs. O'Leary looked up, making Percy ask her what was wrong. Nearby the bushes rustled.

"Creepy." Several people said in a sing-song voice at once.

Piper rolled her eyes. "Like that makes it any better."

A deer colored solid gold, that shined with brihtness, jumped out of the bushes. Mrs. O'Leary looked at it hungrily.

Everyone stared at it in awe. Apollo, on the other hand, bit his lip. That deer was one of his sister's sacred animals. Did she need Percy's help for some reason?

"What is that? It's beautiful."

Once someone had interpreted Hearth's signs, they all turned to Percy for answers. He frowned. "I'm actually not the best person to answer that question." Then he brightened looking at Hearth. "Hey! Think you could teach me some sign language? I want to be able to understand your comments."

Hearth brightened as well, as much as an already bright elf can, and nodded. Then signed again, "What about my question?"

"It's—" Apollo tried then frowned when he couldn't answer.

"It'll explain in a minute."

The bushes rustled again, and out jumped a girl in a silver parka, with an arrow notched on her bow. Percy raised his sword and the girl turned her aim on him, then frowned saying his name surprised.

"I thought you guys were done attacking each other," Chris said half-jokingly.

Percy shrugged. "We're demigods. If we aren't on the defense, we'll end up dead. I wasn't sure what was coming out of the bushes. I had to be ready, didn't I?"

"Still took you way too long to recognize each other," Clarisse snorted. "You need to work on your reaction time."

"Like we're the slow ones here."

Percy yelped her name in surprise too and asked what she was doing there. She rolled her eyes as she told him she was following the deer. One of Artemis's sacred animals. She thought it was some type of sign. She looked at Mrs. O'leary, hand still on her bow, and asked what a hellhound was doing there.

"Wow. You guys really don't see each other much at all, do you?" Walt asked.

"Not until after this. Now we talk like once a month."

"If Kelp Head over there isn't up to something else so he can save the world."

"It's not like I want to. In the great words of Star-Lord, it's only because

'I'm one of the idiots that live here.'"

"You really like that movie," Apollo noted.

"It's funny," he shrugged.

Thalia was turning to Hearth to answer his previous question. "That's the Ceryneinan Hind, there's a story with Hercules, but the main thing is her brothers and sisters pull Artemis's chariot. This one stays in the wild and will not be harmed. She shows up as a sign from the goddess sometimes."

Percy explained she was his pet, then yelled at Mrs. O'Leary to stop her from sniffing the deer. The deer didn't seem to mind, butting her in return. They started to chase each other around.

"Aww."

"My dog is the cutest. I know."

"She's actually kind of terrifying," Frank told him.

"Mrs. O'Leary is cute," Tyson pouted. "Mrs. O'Leary is the best at fetch, and cuddling…"

"And we'll talk about Mrs. O'Leary more later," Leo promised patting Tyson's arm comfortingly. "You know I've never met her."

"You should," Tyson nodded sagely. "Mrs. O'Leary is fun."

"We'll put it on the list."

Thalia told Percy that none of this was a coincidence, him being at the same place as her right now.

"Kronos? Another ploy for one of the kids of the Big Three?" Magnus asked.

"That's we were thinking. Makes sense we were on guard like that now, huh?"

Percy groaned that some god was messing with them, Thalia agreed that was likely. Percy commented it was still good to see her. She smiled, still wary, and said if they got out alive they'd get cheeseburgers. Then she asked how Annabeth was.

"Don't you talk to her?"

"Not as much as I'd like too," Thalia admitted. "Plus, I was trying to get him to say something, like they'd be dating in secret, or find out what might finally get them together."

"So, you don't care about Annabeth?" Percy asked. "Rude."

"Wow," Annabeth said sarcastically. "I'm heartbroken."

"The cheeseburger thing was real though."

"Official food of the kids of the Big Three," Percy grinned.

"Wait, Big Three. Shouldn't Nico be there?" Carter asked.

"Wait for it…."

The clearing grew dark. The deer disappeared; Mrs. O'Leary barked frantically. Both demigods stood ready, back to back, as it grew darker. A boy fell on the floor muttering an ow and stood up to brush off his aviator jacket.

"See? There he is."

Percy asked his name in surprise. Thalia looked at him, and as if to make sure asked if he was Bianca's little brother making Nico scowl.

"Is that all you knew him as?" Hazel demanded.

"I was much closer to Bianca at the time. We'd been on a quest together. Now that's very different," Thalia shrugged. "I'm not gonna apologize, even though I was kind of rude. All I knew is that he was a child of Hades and wasn't on Kronos' side."

"Word about my father spread fast," Nico noted grumpily. "Should have realized with the increase in monsters and other mythical interest."

Nico asked grumpily why they brought him there. He'd been in a New Orleans graveyard, and the next minute… he looked around confused before asking if this was New York and what the hell he was doing there.

"I love New Orleans."

Everyone turned to the three people who had spoken, Hazel, Nico and Walt. "It's a place that celebrates death. Makes sense." The latter shrugged. "Which graveyard were you in?"

Nico started to answer but Leo reached over and put a hand over his mouth. "Uh uh uh. Talk creepy death stuff later, not in front of all of us."

Nico narrowed his eyes and a second later Leo squealed shaking his hand. "Ew! He licked my hand."

"You guys aren't doing another dare? Because that seems like a personality swap," Blitz muttered to Leo.

Leo pointed his finger and shook it at Nico, "That was all him. Pure evil. I would never do that." He raised his hands in the air in a sign of surrender.

"Yes, you would." All of the seven answered at once.

"Anyway, why'd you think they brought you there?" Jason asked Nico.

"I was just learning to shadow travel and tended to anchor near places with meaning, or people who needed my help. Or even were just thinking of me."

Percy assured him they didn't bring him there. He looked nervous as he said they were brought there. All three of them.

"Not good."

"Not good at all."

Nico ordered Percy to explain what he was talking about. Percy pointed out they were children of the big three. Thalia gasped, saying it was the prophecy, and Kronos, before trailing off, leaving all three of them staring at each other nervously.

"You didn't already figure that out?"

"Hey! I was just taking a test," Percy said defensively, "My brain was fried."

"I was in a different state, and shadow traveling."

"Chasing a deer. For several hours."

"Okay, your excuses work for once," Annabeth rescinded her scolding.

Mrs. O'Leary barked and jumped away as the ground rumbled. Nico pulled out his sword, but he, Percy and Thalia were already disappearing into darkness.

Percy and Nico exchanged glances. Percy was actually feeling it, the falling, in the dark and cold. So much like Tartarus. He gripped Annabeth's hand, but kept his eyes on Nico who got darker and paler all at once. As much attention as was on them now, it was about to be quadrupled.