To Riordanlover16- Yes! I wrote that chapter ages ago, so happy to finally post it XD Every five chapters works! I've still got a way to go, maybe halfway-ish, but I'm working the rest of the work so my time is limited D:

Eyes of Violet (my glorious book) is available for pre-order on Amazon! I drew the cover myself and everything :D Currently a Kindle edition for £1.99. I am planning a paperback as well, just waiting for the proof to show up. If I've read the Amazon thing right, it is available on the UK Amazon to start and then, within five working days, I believe it will be available on Amazons in other territories too. It is due out on the 26th May and, with a bit of luck, Book Two will also be out on the same day on Kindle! Go pre-order it! Put it in your wishlist! There's going to be seven of them! Go go go!

With the arena closed for Leo's top-secret renovations, the twins elected to move their training to the beach. Being December and colder than a Hyperborean's breath, no-one else was there; Percy and Louisa could train in peace. They also didn't have to worry about soaking and/or drowning anyone when they decided to flood the other off their feet.

"I do believe that's called cheating," Percy said after the fifth wave. He pulled seaweed from his hair. Louisa snorted, stretching her arms. Percy got to his feet, swiping wet sand from his clothes again. "Something tells me you're bored of sparring." Her answer came in the form of another ten-foot wave. Percy was ready for it this time, casting his hands out and apart. The wave split like curtains and fell harmlessly around him.

She was clearly enjoying herself, smiling impishly. Her sword had already shrunk back into her watch, though Percy was not worried. Now she was back in the routine of training, her swordplay was proving itself infamously deadly, just as before.

The next part of their training programme was weights, strength building. She had not brought it up since that day on the roof with Nico, but Percy knew her paralysis still haunted her. She had healed herself, eventually, though it had emaciated her and left her vulnerable and afraid.

Something was different today, however. She had returned from her afternoon with Leo, hopping into Cabin Three seconds before the curfew bell. Percy knew something had happened, his head buzzing. She was smiling, eyes sparkling. She hummed to Bradley to soothe him back to sleep, a picture of content.

Whatever had happened, her high spirits had carried through overnight. No bad dreams, no flashbacks and she had been positively chipper at breakfast, which was strangest of all— she was notoriously not a morning person, so to have her smiling and chatting and stealing his food was most disconcerting, even if the food stealing was normal and inevitable.

Percy kept an eye on her, big brother senses tingling. As usual, she had deposited Bradley with Leo after breakfast. Bradley brightened and kicked his chubby legs as he always did when he saw Leo. Leo grinned and scooped him up, blowing a raspberry on the tot's cheek in greeting.

Percy knew, via Annabeth, that Leo had dubbed himself 'Papi'. Papi missed you, chiquito and Come to Papi and Tell Tía Beth Papi needs a statue.

Annabeth had also heard him call Bradley 'mijo' as well as the usual 'chiquito', agreeing with Percy on its meaning.

Convinced Louisa would accuse him of snooping, Percy let Annabeth inquire. She was better at nonchalance than he was and was soon successful in her endeavours.

"Don't worry," she smiled. "Lou said he could."

"Hmmph."

"He signed the certificate, Seaweed Brain. Stop imagining his head on our wall."

"It makes me feel better."

"You won't feel better when Lou puts your head on her wall." Percy pouted. His wife, as always, was right.

"Fine. I'll be nicer." Annabeth raised an eyebrow at this. Percy ducked his head sulkily. "I'll be nice," he amended begrudgingly. She smiled, standing tiptoe to kiss his nose.

So… Louisa had given Leo permission to be 'Papi'. Something had happened in Bunker Nine last night, something amazing enough to cart her exceptionally good mood through the night all the way to now.

Percy pulled himself from his thoughts; Louisa was squinting at him.

"What?" she demanded.

"What what?" He realised she was only looking at him like that because he was looking at her like that. Suspiciously squinting, attempting to peer into her mind over their twin link even if it had never been successful in the past.

"You're bein' weird," she accused.

"That's because I am weird."

"Weirder then."

Percy was about to say he could say the same about her when her attention flitted past him. She grinned broadly, face lighting up and waving excitedly.

Leo was making his way down the beach, sliding on the sandy slopes. He had one arm out for balance, the other tucked around the lump in his coat. Bradley's head peeked out of the collar, awake and drooling from his gummy smile. He was enjoying the descent much more than Leo was.

"Hey," Leo beamed, sinking to level ground. He tilted his head at Percy. "Did you have a fight with a sand monster?"

"Nope. Just my sister."

"Ah. A different kind of monster," Leo nodded sagely. Louisa frowned and he laughed. "Don't mind us," he said, sitting cross-legged on the sand. "We came out for some air, didn't we, chiquito?" Bradley rocked his head, bumping Leo's chin. Leo smiled and puffed on the silky hair, making Bradley wriggle some more in his sling.

Leo sat quietly as the twins resumed training. He pulled scraps from his belt, twisting together a range of senseless things, nothing compound. Bradley continued to squirm, his feet drumming on Leo's stomach, his small hands pushing at the coat. He wanted what Leo had, engrossed in whatever came together and then came apart.

Leo had no real idea for a construction in mind, happy to simply let his hands work out some energy. A win-win to keep Bradley amused as well. "I will teach you everything I know," he promised the wobbling dark-haired head beneath his chin. "Si. My little apprentice. I'll make a mechanic of you yet."

Bradley eventually dozed off. Exhausted himself, no doubt. Wiggled to sleep. Leo adjusted the collar of his coat to keep the infant's head supported, listening to the soft snores rising from the warm bundle, to the shushing lull of the surf. He inhaled deeply, the cold stinging his chest with sea salt and the promise of snow.

His attention fell on the twins. This far into rebuilding his sister, Percy wasn't cutting Louisa any slack, nor himself. If he could do it, so could she. They lifted the same weights, did the same reps, manoeuvred through the same stretches.

Leo tried not to stare. He mumbled to himself, fought to spur his fingers into making something substantial. He looked around at the beach, the forest behind and the ocean beyond.

His will was only so strong.

He had always thought Louisa was beautiful, but never moreso than when she had the sea around her. Her hair lifted from her shoulders on a salty breeze, a bewitching undulation of impossibly dark tresses. The water was a diamond encrusted expanse almost holding its breath in wait for her command, reaching for the horizon and further to be hers at a whim.

How much there was of it, how much the planet itself yielded to the tides.

How much better she looked.

Almost aglow with health, a fine sheen of perspiration on her face. She was not the frail gaunt thing Leo had seen nearly three months ago now. What baby weight had been leftover coupled with her determination to claw back and she was nearly at her previous weight and nearly, to Leo's growing delight, her previous build.

He was not staring.

Shapely arms lifted the weighted bar up and down, breathing in time with each rise and fall. Strong shoulders flexed under the sweat-dampened T-shirt.

He was not staring.

A different weight, a different rep.

He was not staring, no. Definitely not staring. And if he was staring, he was not staring at her ass. No, that would be disrespectful, he was not staring, not not not.

Leo forced his head down, nose tickled by Bradley's hair. He still had that baby smell, underlaying the scent of baby shampoo. Babies could have some good smells. They would have some really awful smells, but they could have good ones too.

Stop it, he scolded himself. Three months was a long time, was no time at all. It was not a recovery period, it was the beginning of. She seemed better, much better, but there was still a way to go.

Leo risked a glance up, temptation getting the better of him. He immediately looked away.

He had forgotten about Percy.

Oh, yeah, Percy was cool and everything. Good friend. Good, very dangerous friend. Leo knew the guy would have zero problem losing him at sea to protect his sister. Especially after… everything.

Leo swallowed dryly. He didn't raise his head again, feeling the burn of Percy's glare.

No, his brain chided. He'd have to get past Lou.

The thought settled Leo's stomach somewhat. He exhaled softly. Percy would defend his twin to the ends of the earth, Leo knew that. He also knew, though, that Louisa would defend him to the same extremes.

That was probably why Leo had fallen for her in the first place. She ticked his first two boxes instantly— beautiful and capable of easily killing him— and then started ticking boxes he didn't even know he had.

She laughed at his jokes. She listened to what he had to say. She took in what he said with equal parts consideration and ribbing. She had been the first to defend him when he had fired on New Rome, even ready to fight her long-lost brother for him if the need arose.

Leo fell in love at first sight and then he fell in love again at second sight. At third sight, at fourth sight, all the sights. He had some great friends, friends that were his family, but he had never had a friend like Louisa. No-one knew him better than she did, no-one stood up for him like she did, no-one cared for him like she did. All those lonely months building the Argo had been far less lonely when she was there, snatching tools from his hand and replacing it with food or pinching his ear to remind him to shower or piling him over her shoulder to march him out into daylight.

That year she had been missing… Leo struggled. He threw himself into his work, forgot to talk to his friends and listened to his stomach generate a whole new language of hunger. He built Valdez Industries from scrap, utilising his newfound contacts and fortune for any possible whisper of her whereabouts.

She was back. She was back, she was back, she was back. He had to keep reminding himself, those dark months clinging to him like cobwebs. He would wake from a lonely nightmare trapped in Bunker Nine, unable to find its door, unable to leave, and would remind himself he was being stupid.

He would see Louisa at breakfast. He carried a part of her all morning while she trained, this tiny human born of inexcusable means but no less precious. And then, and then, she would join them for the afternoon. The three of them burrowing quite nicely into their routine at camp.

Leo wished it would never end, wished he could play these days out for however many he had left.

Percy was still watching him. The weights had been put down and they were stretching again, arms and legs, their cooldown. Leo held his gaze for the space of a single curling wave and looked down, comforting himself with Bradley's familiar scent.

Did Percy know? Did he know about yesterday? At the thought of it, Leo could feel the kiss again. He had to keep reminding himself of that too— he had kissed Louisa! Finally, he had kissed Louisa and she had kissed him.

Sure, his brain had melted into goop and he was sure she had permanently altered the rhythm of his heart, but finally finally finally he had kissed her.

Percy probably didn't know. He was regarding Leo warily, puzzling. If he did know, Leo was sure he would get the typical Big Brother chat. If Percy saw fit, Leo would no longer be a friend, not if it meant safeguarding his sister.

Leo bit his lip. Bradley snuffled, head tipping forward. Leo caught him gently, readjusting the collar again. Such a fidgety baby. Definitely ADHD.

Like me, Leo thought. He frowned, heart sinking. Then he reprimanded himself, swearing quietly. Bradley may not have been his genetically, but that didn't mean anything. Legally Bradly was his. And, more importantly, decidedly Bradley was his. This was his baby and there was no force on or off this planet that would change that.

A shadow over him. Louisa smiled, wiping her face on a towel. Percy was tidying up behind her, throwing a look over every so often. Still suspicious, still wary.

"Hey," she said. Leo smiled brightly, but his heart must not have been in it because she frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Truth be told," he shook his head, "I've got a cold ass sitting here." She snorted and offered her hand. She hauled him up like he weighed nothing, grasping his fingers tightly. He made a show of dusting himself down, to which she rolled her eyes.

"I'm goin' ta shower," she said. "I'll meet you in the Bunker?"

The scene of the crime, Leo thought.

"OK," he said aloud.

"Then ya can tell me what's really botherin' you."

"Cold ass. Not pleasant." She made to poke him in the chest, stopping short on seeing Bradley there. Instead, she opted to poke him in the forehead, twice. Leo's smile turned guilty. "I'm tired is all. You know how it is." Her eyes narrowed.

"Are you sure?"

"Very." She glanced at Bradley, worry pinching her eyes. Leo waved the thought away before she aired it. "Not Bradley. I'll turn into an insomniac for him if I have to." He tipped his chin up defiantly, a flicker of bemusement on her mouth. He managed another smile. "I think I've just given myself too much to do, that's all."

"Well then, I'll help."

"Shower first." He wrinkled his nose, pinched it. She socked him in the shoulder and he laughed, lowering his hand to deflect hers belatedly. "I'll meet you in the Bunker," he agreed. "Bring snacks."

"I know the drill," she nodded stiffly, "but you aint' gettin' any."

"What, why?"

"You said I smell!"

"I would never. I simply implied—" She flicked the towel, a whip on his arm. Leo held his hands up in surrender. She scoffed and marched off though not before he saw her smile.

He watched her walk up the sandy hills, watched until she disappeared over the crest and vanished, heading towards her cabin.

A throat clearing behind him. Leo tensed, head ducking.

He had done it again.

He had forgotten about Percy.

He summoned his best, most angelic smile. Percy only frowned more so Leo played his next card. "Sup, my dude?" He bobbed his head in greeting, holding his hand out for a fist bump. Percy ignored it.

"No."

"My fine fellow?"

"Stop it."

"Is 'Aquaman' still off the table?"

"It was never on the table." Percy sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Leo, look. Listen."

"Which one? Look or listen?" Percy's eyes flashed with irritation. Leo nodded, lips pressed together. "Both. Both is good."

"Look," Percy repeated. "I appreciate you helping Lou with Bradley and all. I know she said you could be 'Papi'—"

"Ah, I knew you set Annabeth up to that."

"The point is," Percy growled, "I don't want this being some sort of… fad for you. Some five-minute wonder. She's my sister, that's my nephew," he inclined his head to Bradley. "They're not toys, Leo. They're not machines that need fixing."

"I know," Leo assured. He wanted to smack Percy with a wrench, some wise part of his mind steering him away from the annoyance bristling in his chest and towards self-preservation. "I know they're not toys. There's no… fad? Is that what you said?"

"Leo—"

"I get it. I do, honest, I get it. You're worried about her and I'm… I dunno, Leo-ing or whatever you want to call it. I'm worried about her too. I want to help."

"I know you do, but—"

"I'm not going anywhere. Drag me to the bottom of the sea, feed me to the fishes, make me walk the plank, whatever you want. I'll come back."

Percy's jaw clenched. Leo met his gaze stubbornly. "I know what I'm doing. A little faith would be nice."

Percy studied his face, sea green eyes blazing. Leo fought not to look away, battling to keep his expression neutral, to numb his ears to every impulse in his body screeching at him to run for cover.

"I've got my eye on you," Percy warned. "One misstep—"

"Fish food. Got it." Leo teetered his head. All these years they had known each other and Percy didn't trust him.

He huffed, glaring out to sea. "I wouldn't misstep," he said, "but on the very slim chance I did, Lou would beat you to it anyway." Percy's mouth twitched, a shadow of a grim smile. Leo's chest tightened, a pressure behind his eyes.

"True," Percy agreed. Leo glowered at him sidelong. What did he have to do to get this guy to take him seriously? Even just once would be nice, especially about something this important.

Yeah, OK, Percy was terrifying. Of course he was, he was Big Three. Even now, he still made Leo's legs feel like collapsing. Everything Leo admired about Louisa also found root in her brother. They were two sides of the same coin, two volatile powers playing at opposite ends to each other but also in tandem.

The only difference was Leo had Louisa fully on side. He was terrified of her too, but he knew he would not be victim to that terror.

It was not the same kettle of fish with Percy.

Leo smiled inwardly at the unintentional pun. Percy scowled, mistaking it for a smirk. "What's so funny?" he demanded tetchily.

"Nothing," Leo replied flatly. "You can calm down. I know not to mess."

"Mess?" Percy latched onto the word. "Is something going on then?"

Yeah, one side of Leo's internal voice said, kissed her last night.

RUN! The other side screamed. RUN! DUCK! HIDE! GO GO GO!

"No," Leo lied. "Just… sharing Bradley, I guess."

"Right. Do you want there to be something?"

Leo couldn't lie around that one too. It had been blatantly obvious for years to all, except Louisa herself, of course. He also didn't know how to answer in a way that would keep his head on his shoulders and off Percy's wall.

So, he said nothing. Probably not his best move, but his safest.

Percy was examining him again, searching depths outside of his realm.

Eventually, he stepped back, drew a hand over his chin. "She's my sister," he said again. "She's big enough to make her own choices and if you're one of them, fine. But if you do anything to hurt her, I swear on the Styx no-one will ever find what's left of you." Thunder boomed. Leo backed up, cradling Bradley protectively.

Percy eyed him. "Clear?" Leo nodded, words failing as terror palpitated through his frame.

Percy nodded. He squeezed Leo's shoulder as he passed, maybe meant as a reassurance they were still friends, probably as some final warning. Leo flinched, unable to move or blink or even draw breath until Percy was out of sight.

Gimme dem reviews, I need my fix O.o