To Riordanlover16- Getting the band back together, huh? We'll see XD Thank you! I swear I will get to it, in between writing and looking for a new job D:

Couple more fluffy/nice/whatever chapters. I'm working on a fun one now :3

"Mellie scares me."

"Everyone scares you."

"Yeah, but I didn't think Mellie would."

"Why not?" Louisa frowned. Leo hesitated, biting his thumb. Louisa smirked slyly. "Big chicken."

Mellie had proved true to her nature, breezing in with wonderful ideas only to execute them in a fearsome gale. Leo had given her permission to crack on, happy to leave things to her expert hands. All he needed to do was sign the cheque, providing funds for her plans for the reception and waiting area, for his office, her office and two others for some future employees.

It was a week in. She was currently directing the decorators, waving her arms as if the crew were air traffic. Chuck was clinging to her skirts, eating a banana Louisa had found, peel included. Coach was out front, inspecting the deliveries for any dangers. Leo wasn't sure what he expected to find amongst the new sofas and coffee tables and whatnot, electing to leave him to it instead. It was his job now, after all. Mellie had twisted Leo's arm and secured her husband the position at Valdez Industries— head of security.

Leo's security was high quality stuff; no monster would get past his armaments or Festus. Mellie had argued, however, that if he was to welcome customers, they needed to adjust the measures, starting with a figurehead.

By which she had meant Coach.

"No, not there!" The satyr blew his whistle. "To the left! No, my left!"

"That is left!"

"You arguing with me, cupcake? Think I don't know what my left looks like? That's it, ten laps of the grounds!" The delivery guy raised his eyebrows at his colleague across the sofa they were carrying in. Coach blew his whistle again, a sharp peep! "Ten laps, boyo! Don't make it twenty!"

"Oh gods, what have I done?" Leo groaned, hiding his face in his hands. Louisa patted his arm and hurried over.

"Coach! Coach! I'm so glad I found you! It's awful!"

"What is? What is it, kid, what do you need?"

"It's in the cafeteria!" Louisa flailed her hands. "Come quick! I saw somethin' eatin' the puddin'!" She grabbed him by the arm and hauled him into the building. Leo exhaled, watching between his fingers.

The cafeteria was another one of Mellie's ideas. It was a new room being built into the Bunker. It took up workspace, but Leo could see the benefit of it, alongside some bathrooms and a lounge area for the staff. Mellie was covering everything they would need with military precision and Leo's wallet.

The delivery guys relished in the absence of the manic security guard, working double time. Leo let them leave the furniture in one of the storerooms; nothing would be put into place until Mellie was satisfied with the decorating. He then gave them a sizeable tip— because he could and because they had survived the Hedges— and waved them off with a basket of assorted muffins.

By the end of the second week, Mellie had everything as she wanted it. Leo had installed a comms system to the main gate so people could be buzzed in. Mellie had control of the defences at the reception desk, keeping them out of sight of Chuck. She did question why Leo had built the controls into a kid's chunky educational laptop and why he had opted for the pink one with unicorn stickers and why it still sang the alphabet or helped her count to ten.

"No-one would suspect it," Leo said. "Also, Bradley liked the pink one, didn't you, mijo?" Bradley, in his sling, gurgled. He had realised he could tip his head forward to watch his feet, kicking out as if riding a small, invisible bike. It had kept him amused for almost fifteen minutes now.

"Hm," Mellie said. "I suppose that works." She looked around the room. "That picture is wonky." She floated over to straighten it, humming to herself. "Much better."

Customers would soon walk into the reception area, a long wide room furnished with comfy chairs and coffee tables, swimming in brilliant daylight from the stretch of windows. The walls were a painted sky blue, except for the wall behind the large wooden counter. Louisa had been allowed to paint that one, opting for a mural of Festus breathing brilliant red, orange and yellow flames. Leo had stared at it for ages, wondering what sorcery she had employed to get it to look so much like its real-life counterpart, tearfully besotted with her first big piece in over a year.

The wooden counter, behind which Mellie would sit, was curved and overlooked every aspect of the room. She had everything where she wanted it to be, swatting away anyone that tried to touch it. Behind her, in a small room guarded by a stable door, was a kitchenette she could use to provide customers with drinks and snacks. Louisa was in there now, visible through the open top half of the door, munching on stolen muffins. Chuck was sitting on the counter with his own score of muffins, eating the wrappers too.

At the other end of the waiting room, behind another stable door, was Coach's security office. A whole bank of monitors connected to the new CCTV system Leo had set up. He also had access to the defence systems, which did nothing for Leo's blood pressure. He could hear him in there now, pew-pewing the lasers. He had a panel of various weapons hidden behind the wall, for equal parts monsters and Karens.

"Karens?" Leo had echoed. "What's wrong with Karens? What do you mean by Karens?"

"Seriously?" Coach pulled YouTube up on his phone and handed it to Leo. "Watch these."

Leo found out what Karens were, bristling. If one of these Karens ever came in here, the Hedges had permission to remove them by any means necessary. Any means.

By the end of the third week, Mellie was done. She had set up social media accounts for Valdez Industries, had run adverts across every platform available, had built up a portfolio of Leo's work (minus all the demigodly stuff) and had invited friends and family and some of their existing customers in to celebrate their grand opening.

"A party?" Leo asked.

"A grand opening," Mellie corrected. "I've already ordered the balloon arch and caterers. Austin from Camp said he'd be happy to play and you know how many followers he has, don't you?" Leo shrugged. Mellie's smile tightened. Leo raised his hands in surrender.

"You know what you're doing, clearly," he said. "Teach me your ways, oh wise counsel." She handed him a leaflet, an invitation. Cream coloured paper, Valdez Industries stamped across the top with Festus's portrait beneath. The grand opening would be held in two weeks' time, promising entertainment and food and a wonderful introduction to a bright future.

Leo frowned. "Black tie?"

"Yes. It's a special occasion. I've invited many possible investors from across the country and you'll need to look your best."

"I always look my best."

"You'll look your bestest in black tie."

"I don't think I own a tie, black or otherwise."

"No matter," Mellie smiled. "I've already contacted Piper. She'll be here tomorrow to take your measurements. And yours, Louisa."

"Huh?" Louisa had come out of the kitchenette, Chuck on her shoulders, sleepy and content from his muffin extravaganza. "What did I do?" she asked suspiciously. Leo passed the leaflet over. "Grand openin'? What food are we gettin'? Uh, I mean…" she floundered as Mellie's eyes hardened warningly, "what a brilliant idea! See, Leo, I told ya Mellie would be good to have around. She's class." Mellie brightened at this, nodding smugly at Leo.

Leo agreed wholeheartedly. He had worked hard to establish his business so far, had done rather well. With Mellie's skills, he could only go further.

"Ow, hey! That's sharp!"

"It's not sharp if you held still."

"It's hard to hold still when I'm being stabbed." Leo hissed at her. Piper hissed back, not looking up from the cut of his sleeve. Leo glanced at himself in the mirror. "Ugh, I hate black tie."

"You're only saying that because Mellie confiscated your toolbelt."

"I feel naked without it," he whined. "I need my pockets, I need my stuff."

"Not if Mellie's got anything to say about it. Hand."

"Hook car door."

"What?"

"Get on Tumblr."

"I am on Tumblr."

"Get on the good Tumblr," Leo insisted. Piper shook her head. Some things about Leo would never change. "What's this I hear about armoured clothes? Like, clothes that turn into armour or clothes that hide armour or…?"

"Yes," Piper said. "I may need your help on the armour side of it, but I'm still drawing up designs. Thought I'd get a bunch first and then see what we could make work." She stepped back, eyeing the fall of his new blazer. "Lift your shoulders. Arms up. Mmm… arms down. OK, you're done."

"I am?"

"Yes." She pinched his sleeve lightly and turned him to face the mirror. "Look how smart you are."

"Excuse you. I'm always smart." He tapped the side of his head, grinning. Piper rolled her eyes.

"Look how smartly dressed you are then, Repair Boy. Stop it," she smacked his hand away from patting his waist. "You can have your toolbelt back later, but only if you behave. Behave," she stressed, "or I'll give it to Lou." Leo gasped.

"You wouldn't dare," he whispered.

"I would dare," she whispered back, eyes alight with mischief. At normal volume, she asked, "How do you like the suit?"

Leo reconsidered himself in the mirror. He had never really been one for dressing up, more than happy in jeans and a T-shirt, or something with lots of pockets he could fill with scraps and junk to fiddle with. Suits made him feel like a child playing pretend, made him feel smaller than he did already.

Piper's work, however, was exceptional. The suit fit him perfectly, the glistening of pins holding the material in place. She had picked out a beautiful deep blue in colour, with black lapels. Over a crisp white shirt, a matching blue tie had been stationed; Piper had tied it for him, vowing to teach him once she had finished. Smart black trousers finished off the look. On the day, he would have some shiny black shoes, Piper had already showed him. For now, they would have to settle with his Paddington Bear socks.

"Hmm," he said, turning this way and that. "Piper, you've done the impossible. I didn't think I could get more handsome." He winked at his reflection, seeing hers pinch the bridge of her nose.

"Alright, take it off. Carefully take it off," she amended. Leo raised an eyebrow at her. "What?"

"I don't do strip teases on demand, Beauty Queen."

"Oh my gods, you're the worst." She shooed him behind the screen. "Don't mess up the pins, I need them where they are."

"I know, I know!" Leo passed the blazer around to her. He stuck his head round, grinning impishly. "The pants are coming off," he teased in a sing-song voice. Piper flicked him in the head and he disappeared with protests.

"Right," she said when he was done and dressed in his own clothes, "go and get Lou. It's her turn."

"Don't stab her," Leo advised solemnly. "She stabs back."

"I wouldn't stab Lou," Piper smiled sweetly. "We're on a wavelength."

"Did Percy tell you to say that? Percy told you to say that, didn't he?"

"Go and get Lou."

"I'm going to teach Tobias more swear words," Leo muttered, stomping from the room.

Louisa came in a few minutes later, carting Bradley in his car seat. He clutched his beloved octopus toy, one of the legs jingling under his gummy bites.

"Awww, hello, sweetheart," Piper cooed, kneeling in front of him. Bradley kicked and smiled around his mouthful. With a nod from Louisa, Piper unstrapped the tot and hoisted him up, kissing his warm cheek. "You are so cute, yes you are. Yes. You. Are," she smiled, rubbing their noses together with each word.

Bradley giggled, bouncing his clenched fists and his captured toy.

"Holy fuck," Louisa rasped. She rushed out the door, returning with Leo caught by the collar seconds later. "Piper, do that again. Leo, watch, watch." Louisa waved a hand at Piper, clutching Leo's arm.

"OK," Piper said uncertainly. "Um…" Louisa waved again. Piper shook her head and faced Bradley, smiling at his adorable face. "Little munchkin you, little cutie pie." She did the nose thing again and Bradley squealed, bucking in her hold.

"No!" Louisa wailed. "Leo, I swear he laughed, he did!"

"And I missed it!" Leo pouted. "Piper, do it again."

"Maybe he doesn't think it's funny the second time."

"Piiiipeeeerrrr," Louisa pleaded. Piper shrugged a shoulder. She tried twice more, commenting on Bradley's cuteness and adorableness and so on, cooing and fussing over him. He continued to smile and dribble as he had always done, flailing his arms and consequently jostling the octopus by one of its legs.

Bradley was returned to his mother without another laugh. Louisa sulked at him. "Little shit," she said, stroking his hair. Bradley rested his head on her shoulder, sticking his hand in his mouth. Leo caught the octopus before it hit the floor.

"Oh, it's all wet and drooly," he sighed. "It's alright, Lou, I'll hear it next time."

"He did laugh. Didn't he, Piper? He did laugh!"

"He did," Piper nodded, holding her thumb and forefinger close together. "Just a small one." Leo huffed, poking his son's leg. Bradley smiled at him, reaching with a slobbery hand. Leo was getting used to such grips now, squeezing the tiny fingers lightly.

Piper clapped once. "Leo, take him away. I need to work on Lou."

"Work on me?" Louisa puzzled.

"You're getting a suit," Leo told her.

"Oh, black tie. Yay," she deadpanned. She knelt to put Bradley back in his car seat, accepting the octopus from Leo. "Go to sleep," she ordered, aiming a warning finger at the baby. "It's naptime, go to sleep."

"Brrrrbbbb," Bradley said, biting the octopus's head.

"You should get him some more of those," Piper suggested. "That one might not last very long."

"It's already been through the wash twice," Leo said. He took the seat from Louisa, peering down into it. "What's your opinion on knock knock jokes, mm?" Louisa coughed once. "Oh, right. Naptime. I'm on it," Leo assured with a smile. He kissed Louisa's cheek, fist-bumped Piper, and then left. They could hear him trying out some of his best— read, worst— knock knock jokes.

Louisa sighed, squishing her hands together.

"A suit?"

"Nope," Piper grinned. "I'm putting you in a dress."

"The fuck you are."

"Try me, bitch."