I'm back! Haha, did you miss me? XD

To valdeznation- (Chapter 44) I LOVE CAPS LOCK REVIEWS, hi! :D No, I won't stop! I'm enjoying writing this one (and using it to procrastinate on my other one, sssssh) Don't kill the little angel babies, that's my job! I mean, what? Nooooo, no killing, no no no. 'Mi vida' is one of my favourite ones I've found, it's so cute :3 I've got a few more chapters planned, you'll love them :D (Chapter 45) I'm going to send you a puke bucket, but I worry for your stomach/throat lining XP You good?

To Riordanlover16- My brother says it all the time as well, 'sleep is for the weak'. Usually followed by 'I'll sleep when I'm dead', to which I reply 'That'll be soon if you don't let me read' :) I'm planning on doing up to the wedding and then I've got something else, you'll see :D

Leo made pancakes the following morning, up before everyone else. His mind had been whirling with a thousand different ideas, making it impossible to sleep. The other thing making it impossible to sleep was Louisa. She had told him to stay the night, scolding him when he made to unfold the sofa bed. He was sent to her bed and, while nothing untoward had happened, he was glad Jessica and Harvey weren't there when she pointed him demandingly to her room.

Louisa fidgeted about, getting up around midnight to let Storm back in. The mare landed soundlessly, shaking out her mane. She snorted at Leo, in surprise and maybe in disgust. She stomped her hoof, Louisa shushing her and pointing to a snoozing Bradley. Storm was undeterred.

"He is not an invader," she hissed. "Go ta bed." Storm huffed air in her face. Louisa frowned. "I'll go ta bed when you go ta bed, now get." She shooed the mare along. Storm trudged over to her nest of blankets and feathers, eyeing Leo warily as she did. She whickered softly, as if muttering. Leo smiled anxiously.

"Lou, is she threatening to kill me?"

"Only a little bit. Sssh, Storm. Don't wake Bradley."

Eventually, the pegasus settled. Leo didn't doubt for a second she was dreaming pleasant nonsense of stomping him into pulp, forcing it from his mind when Louisa climbed back under the covers. Her hand was ice on his arm, polar opposite to her smile. "Don't mind her," she whispered. "I won't let her hurt you."

"She shat in a fire against the gods, Lou."

"So?"

"So, she's not really one to do as she's told now, is she?"

"'N' where d'ya think she got that from, mm? I've had her since she was a foal." Leo blinked.

"How did you meet her?"

Louisa smiled sadly.

"I was… lost somewhere. Found her trapped in a bush, in some thorns. Runnin' away from a monster that… killed her mom."

"Oh," Leo said. Louisa nodded. She kissed his lips, a soft peck. "Night, Lou."

"Night, Valdez."

She had dozed off gradually, still holding his arm. Leo kept still, though failed to fall asleep. He could see where Bradley got his wriggles from as she fidgeted in her sleep; lying on her back, on her side, one leg over his, her arm looped over his chest. She drooled into the pillow, snored softly here and there.

Leo smiled, sweeping her hair back from her face with a featherlight touch.

And then all his thoughts, his ideas, his plan…

He was still awake when the sun come up, honeying the room. Golden rays gilded Storm's feathers with amber hues. She snorted as the first beam crossed her face, tucked her head under her wing.

Leo was content to lie there still, at least until he noticed Bradley kicking away his blanket. He carefully extricated himself from Louisa, who grumbled and rolled over, and padded across the room. Bradley smiled as he came into his line of vision, kicking more and throwing his arms around in mad circles.

"Morning, chiquito," Leo grinned. He was warm and puffy-faced from sleep, his shock of dark hair even tuftier than usual, stuck up at the back and above his right ear. He curled against Leo's chest, head bobbing in the curve of his neck.

Leo carried him quietly from the room to the kitchen. Bottles of milk were ready in the fridge, warming one up in his hand. Bradley latched on immediately, guzzling and scrabbling for the bottle.

Leo burped him, changed him and attempted to brush his hair with a soft bristle brush, though he had clearly inherited Neptune-unruly locks. Bradley didn't seem to mind what his hair looked like, kicking and bouncing in his bouncy chair. It didn't help that he kept tilting his head back to see what thing was accosting his head.

"Aaah!" he flailed.

"It's a hairbrush," Leo said, showing it to him.

"Pfft," Bradley said. Leo grazed the bristles on his nose, Bradley's eyes widening in surprise. He grabbed the hairbrush with both hands and proceeded to chew on the plastic rim with his gums.

Leo left him to it, deciding on breakfast.

Jessica was drawn first by the smell, coming out in her pyjamas to see who was messing up her kitchen. She blinked in surprise at Leo, smiling gratefully when he offered her a stack of fresh pancakes.

"Oh, you can definitely stay," she said around her first mouthful. Leo grinned and made up another plate in time for Harvey to waltz in, encouraged by his grumbling stomach.

Louisa was next, Storm half a step behind. Leo wrapped sugar cubes in a warm pancake for the pegasus, smiling warmly. Storm sniffed at the offering, ear flicking.

"Be nice," Louisa said, hunting in the fridge for the can of squirty cream. Storm bobbed her head and Leo put the rolled pancake on the floor. Her tail swished happily as she munched; Leo was temporarily off her hitlist.

He joined the others at the island. Louisa was shaking the acquired can, staring resolutely at her pile. Leo considered it, then his.

"Excuse me," he said. "I believe I made our plates the same."

"No," she said, giving a vague shake of her head.

"Yes."

"Are you implyin' I stole your food?"

"Yes."

"Well, you ain't wrong. You also ain't gettin' it back." She upended the can and pressed, whippy cream building a substantial cloud on her pancakes with a ffsssshhhhhh.

Bradley squealed, pulling everyone's attention to him as he laughed. Louisa eyed him cautiously, squeezing out another dollop. Ffssshh. Bradley laughed again, the joyous innocent giggling of a baby.

Louisa grabbed Leo's arm, shaking him. "See! I told you! I told you he laughed!"

"Do it again," Leo said, scrambling for his phone. Louisa waited for him to be recording, ffsssssshhhhhhh-ing cream onto Leo's plate. Bradley burst into peals of laughter, chubby face split into a wide, bright grin. Louisa shook the can again and reached forward, squeezing a small helping onto Bradley's hand. He was too busy laughing to notice he had food, expectantly watching his mother for the funny noise.

Louisa emptied the can to make her baby laugh. He stuck his fist in his mouth, enjoying the cool cream, giggling around his knuckles at the last, feeble ffsssshhh as Louisa decorated Harvey's pancakes.

She shook the can desperately, swearing. Leo stopped recording.

"Fucker!" Louisa grumbled, tossing the empty can across the room and into the trash. Bradley giggled again and she relaxed, smiling. She pinched his foot.

Jessica laced her fingers under her chin.

"I guess I'll have to go shopping then," she mused. "Send me that video, Leo."

"It's loading," Leo nodded. He looked up at Bradley and grinned, thrumming with glee. What a wonderful start to the day, what a treasure! His precious boy, his bright merry boy with whipped cream-infused dribble and the biggest, most incessant smile he had ever known.

The day only got better. January boldened with a rare sunny day; still cold, but beautifully illumed. Leo suggested a walk in the park, some fresh air. Louisa, once Jessica had secured the red woollen hat on her head, agreed. Bradley was wrangled into his padded winter jumpsuit, gnawing at the mittens smothering his hands.

They took some frozen peas and the last of the bread loaf, which Leo crumbled as they walked. Louisa was pushing the pram, Bradley gaping at the swirl of blue and white sky passing over him. He seemed especially lively this morning, burbling and cooing, maxing out his wriggles and then some.

"Why peas?" Leo asked.

"Mm? Bread's bad for ducks."

"Is it?"

"Yeah. Feed them peas."

"So, what's the bread for?"

"Pigeons."

At this hour, the park was only occupied by the odd dog-walker and some elderly scattering their own breadcrumbs for the pigeons and…

"Pooisa!"

"Esmelle!" Louisa grinned. Leo took hold of the pram and she spread her arms, catching her incoming rocket of a sister. She scooped her clear off the floor, crushing the younger girl to her and blowing a raspberry on her cheek. Estelle koala'd her, laughing.

"Why are you here?" she demanded, beaming.

"Feed the ducks. Why are you here?"

"To feed the ducks and ride my bike." She tapped her knuckles on the purple helmet she wore. Louisa looked down and around, held Estelle at arm's length to look her over. "What?" Estelle asked, nonplussed to be dangling, suspended like a cat in mischief.

"Where's ya bike then?"

"Percy's got it." Estelle flapped an arm, vaguely pointing up the path. Leo shielded his eyes against the sun, seeing a Percy-shaped shadowy blob descending, carrying the bike at his side. Estelle waved a hand in his face. "I've been looking after it! My bike, I've been looking after it! You can tell Santa!" Leo smiled.

"Of course I will. Morning, Percy."

"Yes, it is," Percy acknowledged, nursing a takeaway coffee. He squinted at Leo blearily, then at Louisa. "When's the wedding?"

"Can I come?" Estelle pleaded, clasping her hands imploringly. "Can I come? Oooh, please let me come, pretty please!" Her eyes sparkled excitedly, waving her joined hands back and forth in earnest. "Please please please please please pllleeeeeeeeeeeaaaasseeeeee!"

"No," Louisa said flatly. Estelle's smile vanished as her jaw dropped.

"Lou!" Percy hissed, admonishing. "Don't be an ass." Louisa shrugged.

"Wah!" Estelle declared, a challenge, a karate chop aimed at Louisa's arm, her neck, her face. Louisa didn't react, staring at her unimpressed. "Butthead!" Estelle chided. "Wah! Hi-yah! Ha! Take that!" Percy set the bike down, looping his arm around her middle and easily lifting her away. "Peeerrrrrccccyyyy, tell her! I want to go to the wedding!"

"Don't worry," Percy soothed. "I'll sneak you in." Estelle grinned devilishly, whispering behind her hand.

"Can we steal the cake?"

"Of course." Percy put a finger to his lips, shushing. Estelle mimicked and giggled. Then she noticed, from her vantage point, that Bradley was awake.

"Hi!" She beamed, leaning as far forward as Percy's hold would allow. Bradley stared at her, smiling around the mitten he was still chewing on. She looked up at Leo. "Can I push him please? I promise I won't steer him into any trees."

"Like you did with Tobias?" Percy mused.

"That was one time. I didn't see it."

"Have at it," Leo said. Estelle whooped delightedly and swung down from Percy's arm. She grabbed the handles and started off at a brisk pace, just in case Louisa declined her from that too.

"Here," Percy shoved the bike at Leo, "your turn, Mr. Elf."

"You're just jealous you don't get to work with Santa." Aside from the expected dirt on the tires, the bike was as spotless as it had been on Christmas day. Washed, polished, the chain oiled, the tires pumped up, training wheels secure.

"She loves that thing," Percy said. "I was washing the car yesterday and she insisted on washing her bike too. Stole my sponge." He chugged from his coffee cup, grumbling when he drained the last of it. "This way." He stomped up the path.

They found Annabeth at the top, sitting cross-legged beneath a tree on a blanket. Tobias was sitting next to her, munching happily on apple slices. Estelle had parked the pram on the other side of the blanket, standing on tiptoe to chatter to Bradley.

Tobias looked up as Louisa sat beside him, grinning. Louisa ruffled his hair.

"What's up, squirtface?" He pointed out to the lake.

"Fuck!" he said.

"Duck," Annabeth corrected with a small note of exasperation. She glared at a snickering Louisa. "It's a duck."

"That's a goose," Leo remarked. Annabeth raised her hand.

"Don't," she said. "It's been a long morning."

"Someone didn't want to put his shoes on," Percy translated. "Or his hat. Or his coat. Or his pants. Aaahh, hello." He grinned, lifting Bradley from the pram. "You look nice and cosy, don't you?" He joined them on the blanket, holding his nephew against his chest. Estelle sat on his knee, awaiting her turn with the cute baby.

"Fuck!" Tobias said around his mouthful. "Quack!" Annabeth reached past him to smack Louisa on the leg.

"Stop laughing. This is your fault."

"I'm not sorry," Louisa whispered. She pulled her phone from her pocket and showed Annabeth the video of Bradley. "Squirty cream," she said. "Of all the things, squirty cream." Even the echoes of the ffsssshhh playing off the device were enough to set Bradley giggling again. Estelle squealed and Percy smiled, Bradley bouncing and waving an arm.

Tobias had brought his ship, digging it out from beneath his stroller once he had finished his apple slices. He tottered back to Louisa, tugging on the shoulder of her coat for her attention.

"You play?" he asked, gesturing with the ship and then at the lake. "Play pirates?" Annabeth cleared her throat. Tobias frowned, thinking. "Play pirates… please?"

"Good boy," Annabeth smiled. Louisa got to her feet, Tobias brightening and taking her hand when it was offered. Louisa followed the pace set by his tiny legs, listening to him babble about his ship as they slowly, gradually, went down the slope to the lake glistening brown-gold in the sunshine.

Leo scooted over, filling Louisa's vacated seat. Annabeth raised an eyebrow at him. "Congratulations. I still don't know how you've done it, but congratulations."

"Thanks," Leo grinned. "How are you feeling?"

"Well, morning sickness has kicked in now. Yay," she waved a tired, reluctant fist in mock triumph. Leo patted her shoulder in comfort. She looked away, checking on her son. Louisa had waded into the lake, up to her waist. Tobias was sitting on her shoulders, watching as she put the mini Argo II into the water. A curious fuck— sorry, duck— meandered over, stopping a few feet away. It quacked at them, mollified when Louisa drew the bag of peas from her pocket and threw it a handful.

Annabeth faced Leo again. "How are you feeling?" she asked. "I heard from Piper who heard from Mikey that Lou asked you."

"She ruined my plan."

"Mmph," Percy said from behind them. Annabeth rolled her eyes.

"Seaweed Brain. He asked Jessica for permission. What more do you want?"

"Ask me!" he protested sulkily. Leo raised a finger, features scrunched with a question.

"Do I still have to if she proposed to me?" Percy sighed, irritation draining away.

"No," he muttered. He regarded Estelle, who was tickling Bradley under the chin in an attempt to hear those adorable giggles again. "You're not allowed to get married," he told her. "Not without my say so."

"Lou's getting married without your say so."

"Lou doesn't listen to me."

"But I have to listen to you?"

"Yes. Please. I need one nice sister."

"I'm always nice," Estelle countered. "I'm on the Nice List. Right at the top."

"I know. You've told me a thousand times."

"And I'll tell you a thousand more! Can I hold Bradley now?" Percy handed the tot over, showing her how to hold him. Estelle giggled, Bradley's hair tickling her nose. "He's heavier than I thought! And so warm! Hello!" she cooed. Bradley gaped at her, patting a drool-dampened mitten on her face. She kissed his little nose and rambled into telling him about the park. "That's a tree. And that's the duck pond, see there. That's a duck. A duck. With a 'd', not an 'f'. There's another tree. This is grass, look at this. That's the sky and that's a cloud and— oh, there's a duck up there as well, look! See it flying!" She rambled on and on like this, happily detailing everything around them. Bradley smiled at her, oblivious to the content of her words but enjoying her pleasant company.

"Quack quack!" They heard Tobias shout. "Away! My boat! Away! Quack quack!" He flapped his arms in protest, still sat on his aunt's shoulders. Three ducks were inspecting the toy ship, circling it. "My boat!" Tobias cried, clamping his arms around Louisa's head. "My boat, my boat!" Louisa patted his leg reassuringly, waving her other hand almost dismissively. The water bucked and the ducks were caught up in a swell, rising and falling in a sudden surge they could not steer through. They swam away, quacking in fear. No amount of peas was worth that hassle.

Tobias cheered, his beloved toy safe.

Leo sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees. Annabeth raised an eyebrow at him.

"You OK?"

"Can you help me with something?"

"Is this what you asked Piper to help you with?"

"She told you?" Leo asked, though the surprise of it quickly faded.

"She tells me most things." Annabeth shrugged. "I can help if you want me to. You helped me with New Athens."

"How's that going, by the way?"

"End of February and I'll have everything as I want it."

"She's very particular," Percy added. Annabeth turned at the waist to look at him. Percy smiled, unfazed. "You should see it, Leo. It's going to make all the difference for the Greeks, going to change a lot of lives." He grinned, proud as punch, and Annabeth turned back, clearly flattered and pleased.

Leo nodded.

"I'll have to book in a visit then. Would you be alright helping me?" he asked. "I don't want to get in the way of New Athens or…" he motioned vaguely at her, "morning sickness." Annabeth scoffed almost defiantly.

"Of course I'll help. I take it Lou doesn't know?"

"No. It's a surprise."

"Ah, what?" Percy pouted. "I can't tell her?"

"No, Seaweed Brain. That's why it's a surprise."

"Pfft, lame."

"How do you know?" Leo asked incredulously.

"Well, whatever Piper tells Annabeth, Annabeth tells me," Percy said simply. Leo narrowed his eyes.

"And who do you tell?"

"Mom. Grover. Jason." He shrugged a shoulder. Leo sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. It was not so much a grapevine within his friend group, but a series of dominoes, branching off in an untold number of directions.

"I don't know," Estelle announced. "Can you tell me?" Percy shook his head.

"No, 'cos you'll tell Lou."

"I won't! I promise I won't!"

"See, you say that…" Percy tweaked her nose playfully, "but remember when I said don't tell Lou we ate her Pringles, what did you do?"

"No, that wasn't my fault! She tickled me!"

"Well, there you go. If Lou knows you've got a secret, she'll tickle it out of you."

"I can… I can run away! I'll run away on my bike, she won't catch me!" Leo opened his mouth, but Estelle's line of thought fell in with his before he could say anything. "No, she caught me on Christmas. Why is she so fast, Percy? It's not fair." Percy rubbed her back in comfort, smiling.

"Maybe you'll outrun her one day," he said.

"Yes," Estelle pondered, "if one day we've chopped her legs off."

"We're not chopping her legs off."

"And you're not telling me the secret?"

"Not this time. Sorry, Tell."

"No, it's OK," Estelle muttered. "She would tickle it out of me." She glanced over at Leo, brightening hopefully. "It's your wedding too," she said. "Can I come, can I please come to the wedding? I can be the… the…" She floundered, eyes widening.

"Flower girl," Percy provided.

"Flower girl!" Estelle agreed. "Yes, I can do that! I'm very good at it! I was flower girl at their wedding." She wobbled her head to indicate her brother and Annabeth. "I was the best flower girl, wasn't I?"

"You were," Annabeth nodded with a smile. "Wonderful petal throwing." Estelle beamed at her, radiant. She looked to Leo expectantly, hopefully, and Leo could see no humanly possible way to say no to her.

"Of course you can be the flower girl," he said. "We wouldn't want anyone else."

"Yes! Did you hear that, Bradley? Did you? I'm going to be the flower girl! Do you know what that is?" She fell into telling him all about weddings, addressing each role as eagerly as she had the surrounding trees and ducks. Bradley still had no idea what she was on about, though his smile remained in place and encouraged her to say more.

Annabeth squeezed Leo's arm.

"You're marrying into a mad family," she warned him, eyes glittering playfully. "Are you ready for it?"