OK, is anyone else getting reviews/messages from random people looking for commissions from you? I've had at least a dozen in the last two or three weeks, what is going on?

Reviews:

To Riordanlover16- (Chapter 52) Storm just likes the attention and/or the drama XD (Chapter 53) Thank you!

To Chicken Stewww- (Chapter 17, which is way back, but hopefully you see this at some point!) I love you too, thank you XD I'm very proud of my writing and my characters, I've come a looooooong way since the Old Fic Days :P I've had some fantastic feedback on this, I'm so glad I came back! I've missed you guys T.T (Chapter 20) No, no, send the reviews in! I love reviews, makes me feel all warm and fuzzy! Chapter 20... ah, takes me back... the fluff, the angst, ooooh, I had fun with that one :3 And thank you! As for your sister and you talking about Leo being an elf... you would have seen that chapter by this point, but wait until he meets Estelle XD

Louisa examined her arms, first in the mirror and then up close. She turned her elbow one way, then her wrist, sighing through her nose.

Will had provided the cream she had asked for, for her scars. Lavender-scented, though he had told her he had also mixed in aloe vera, nectar and some other secret ingredient that came with a tap-tap-tap on his nose. Nico had delivered it in a large glass jar, enough, he had said, to last a few months.

She was to apply it, soft and creamy, after showers and before bed. Whether or not it was making a difference in the handful of weeks she had used it, she couldn't tell. It was like her artwork— she had stared at it for so long, it had become nonsense. Unlike her artwork, however, she had had no say in the creation.

It was a full-body application every day. She was fine with most of it, applying the cream with ease everywhere except her back. That required a series of contortions her shoulders and elbows were not quite capable of, not unless she dislocated them.

Jessica, having already seen the mass of scars upon Louisa's initial return, had helped the last few nights. She had insisted upon it, even offering to rub the cream in in the dark if she had to, anything to help her daughter. Louisa had tentatively agreed, provided the light did remain off.

Except Jessica was out this evening, leaving Louisa alone with… all this.

She couldn't explain it. Never before had she cared about the scars acquired during her… illustrious demigod career. The enemies she had made, the monsters she had fought, the gods that wanted to smite her purely for breathing. Maybe she had told a grand tale or two about her scars before, the stories too crazy not to tell. Most of them she left alone, memories too harsh to dreg up time and again.

But these ones… these ones were different. Looking at them rose copper on her tongue, squeezed her chest in an iron grip, filleted chills down her back. She hated them, hated them, her own desperation to be rid of them blocking her from whisking them away as she normally would. Will had been right on that count. She was her own worst enemy.

Hands clamping on the sink, she scowled at her reflection in the steamed mirror.

"Fucker," she muttered. "Bastard, bitch. Bitch, bastard. Dickhead. Fuck off."

A knock on the door.

"Uhhh, Lou?" Leo called through. "I was gonna say dinner's nearly ready, but now I have concerns. Who are you swearing at?"

"No-one."

"Oh, I see. Perfectly average bathroom noises then?"

"Suppose." She eyed the jar, biting her lower lip. Below the door, Leo's shadow shifting uncertainly. Louisa pinched the bridge of her nose, rubbed one-handed at her eyes.

She was being ridiculous. Leo was right there, she could ask him to help. She was sure he wouldn't mind.

I would though.

No, you wouldn't. Shut the fuck up.

Yes, I would!

No!

Yes!

Louisa grumbled a few more swears, eliciting a nervous chuckle from the other side of the door.

"Are you sure you're OK?" Leo asked, his voice slightly muffled. She envisioned him with his ear pressed to the wood, battling to determine what level of eccentricity lay beyond it. "Lou?" he prompted when she remained quiet, thinking. "Do I need to break the door down? I'm not sure if I can break doors down, but I'll try if I have to."

"No, no. Don't…" She held back a snicker; he for sure would fall flat on his ass should he attempt to kick the door in. She would have to teach him. "You don't need ta break the door down."

"Are you sure? I can always get Festus."

"Mom would kill you."

"It's for a noble cause!" he declared.

Oh, he was so sweet. Louisa wanted to allay his worries, open the door and hug him, but she was fresh out the shower and only wearing a towel. He might have something to say about that.

So? That tiny voice in her head demanded. You're gettin' married in a few weeks, what does it matter?

The tiny voice raised a fair point. Their relationship had evolved, to put it politely, since the day of the engagement. Granted, the lights were off then too, but what he hadn't seen of her, he had felt. If they really were going to get married— which they were— she needn't be so scared. It was Leo. She had no reason to be scared of Leo, she never would.

His shadow was still hovering by the door. Despite the nausea clawing her gut, Louisa muttered one final swear at herself— fuckin' do it! — and reached for the door.

Leo's eyes widened when she appeared, towel held in place with one hand over her chest. He hastily clapped a hand over his eyes, blushing.

"Stop it," Louisa said, to him and her own heated face. "I need your help."

"With what?" he asked squeakily, clearing his throat and repeating himself. Louisa reached for his free hand and dragged him in. "You're going to sacrifice me to the toilet gods," he mumbled. "I knew this day would come."

"Toilet gods?" she echoed. He shrugged a shoulder, both hands over his eyes now.

"Figured the bath gods were too upmarket for me. What do you need help with?"

"This," she said, purposefully vague. Leo sighed, dithering on the spot. Louisa waited, any trepidation she may have felt trickling away as amusement blundered in. "Very gentlemanly of you, Valdez, if a lil' out of character."

"Excuse you, I am always gentlemanly."

"Mom scares you," Louisa translated.

"Most of your family scares me."

"I'm askin' you ta help me."

"And I'd love to, but I'm scared of you too."

"Leo." She shoved the jar at him, catching him in the stomach. His hands dropped in surprise to grab it, puzzling at the creamy lilac contents. He focused on a point over her head, squinting. "Leo," she grabbed his chin, forcing his eyes to hers, "do as you're told."

"Yes, ma'am. Um… what am I doing?"

"My back. I can't do it myself." She turned away, hands shaking as she adjusted the towel, revealing down to her lower back.

Leo's hand was warm and, while not unexpected, still made her jump. His calloused fingers were featherlight on her skin, tracing a scar here, grazing over a scar there, old and new alike. She held still, heart thudding.

His hand suddenly vanished.

"Sorry," he whispered. Louisa shook her head, reaching up to sweep her hair forward and out the way. "Are you sure you want me to—?"

"Yes." No darkness to hide behind here, no towels, no bedding. The bathroom light was unapologetically bright, leaving no detail in shadow. She could feel his eyes on her as easily as his hand.

He fumbled with the jar, flipping the metal clasp and popping the lid. He sniffed.

"Oh," he said. "Is this why you've been smelling of lavender lately?"

"Yeah. Will made it for me."

"Has it… helped?"

"I don't know. I don't feel as… itchy?"

"Fleabag."

"Toilet gods," she warned, his laugh clued in to her playing. "You don't mind, do you?"

"What, seeing you half naked? No, I don't mind at all."

"So much for gentlemanly," she muttered, shoulders hunching. He moved behind her, breath tickling her neck and causing her own to swirl up in her chest.

"I love you," he murmured, curled fingers caressing down her spine. "Thank you for trusting me." Louisa could not speak, a thousand fiery tingles crashing through her system.

Leo moved half a step back. She heard him set the jar down, both hands returning a moment later, their typical warmth overlayed with the cream's coolness.

Jessica rubbed the cream in like she used to when Louisa was small and needed sunscreen. Flat hand, swooping circles, covering everything rapidly and efficiently. Louisa had hated sunscreen, preferring instead to run straight into the sea. Her mother had had to learn quickly how best to combat this earnestness.

Leo took his time. Massaging the cream in, starting at her neck and shoulders. She wasn't sure how to respond, unmoving sans her body naturally relaxing under his touch. His thumbs pressed away the tension, his fingers working the cream in, his palms gliding over her skin. Gradually, he worked his way down, careful not to touch the towel or anything beneath it.

"There," he said some time later, startling her from the sleepy lull that had overcome her. "All done."

"Oh." She realised she sounded disappointed, blinking hard to wake herself back up. She smiled, half-turning as she rearranged the towel over herself. "Thank you."

"Anytime. I'll go salvage what I can of dinner, while you… get dressed." He made a face, feigning reluctance. Louisa smacked his shoulder lightly and he grinned, catching her hand. "You smell lovely," he enthused, kissing her knuckles.

"Like I don't normally?" she challenged. His eyes sparkled mischievously, sliding from the room on springy feet. Louisa shut the door behind him, shaking her head.

He was sweet. Sweet and gentlemanly and clever… but he was also a cheeky bastard with some nerve. She would have to steal his dessert to make up for it.

The rest of February passed quickly. Leo redeemed the go-karting voucher, only to be absolutely annihilated on the track. Louisa cackled each time she zipped past him and both times she sent him fishtailing away. She had as much mercy on the real-life track as she did any track on Mario Kart— none.

To soothe his wounded pride, Leo redeemed another voucher once they got home— a However Long Hug. She had estimated his However Long to be at least an hour, knowing how clingy he got in his sleep. He proved her wrong by stretching to nearly three hours, taking advantage of Bradley's naptime and the apartment to themselves. She had to check her watch twice at the end of it, having been so caught up in his chattering, then realised that she was in dire need of a wee.

Before they knew it, March was upon them.

As was Lizzie.

"Less than three weeks!" she reminded them in lieu of her usual 'Pinch Punch First of the Month'. "Lou, you need to catch up with Piper and Hazel for a dress fitting. Leo, Mikey has been tasked with you, do as he says."

"Tasked with me?" Leo frowned.

"Yes," Lizzie nodded madly. Louisa cleared her throat and Lizzie smiled brightly. "Not that you're a task! No, of course you're not a task! There's just so much to be done for the wedding, I want to make sure everything's just perfect."

"I'll have you know that if you look up 'perfect' in the dictionary, you'll see a picture of me."

"On the contrary, my dear boy! My picture sits in place of that definition, while yours sits under 'delusional'." Louisa cleared her throat again, eyes widening in warning. "I mean, 'delightful'." Lizzie beamed radiantly. Leo stuck his tongue out. "Anyway, I must dash. Give my beautiful nephew a kiss for me." She blew one as an extra measure, then waved her hand through the IM.

The beautiful nephew, dressed today in his dungarees and fish-patterned T-shirt, was currently squirming on his playmat, squealing and batting at the array of toys overhead. With all his happy kicking, wriggling and attempted rolls, he had managed to shift himself upwards and nearly off the mat. Lil' Beastie had been watching his progress from the armchair, poised as if ready to pounce, eyes trained on him with laser focus.

Louisa slid from the sofa, kneeling to lean beneath the arches. She grabbed Bradley by the ankles, hauling him to her and making him splutter with glee. Her small dragon sat up at this motion, whirring.

"All good," Louisa assured. "Where do you think you're goin', mmm?" She heaved him up, accepting his splodgy kisses with a smile. In her peripheral, Leo checking his phone and frowning. "Everythin' OK?"

"Mm? Yeah, yeah. Just boring work stuff."

"You gotta go in?" Leo tapped out a response, already nodding. Louisa pouted and he smiled, pocketing the device.

"Don't worry, mi vida. You'll have all the time in the world with me soon enough." He caught her head in his hands and planted a lingering kiss on her forehead. He then leaned down to do the same to Bradley, catching him atop his head. "Look after Mama for me, mijo," he said, stroking Bradley's cheek. The tot gurgled, chewing merrily on his fist. Leo smiled. "With a bit of luck, I'll be back in time for dinner."

He whistled to Lil' Beastie, today being a check-up day. Seeing as he had made her brain chip all himself, he had decided to check it once a week, just in case there were any faults. Louisa didn't believe there to be so, but he wouldn't listen. Better safe than sorry!

The little dragon scampered after him, climbing up his leg while he stopped to put his shoes on. She came to a rest across his shoulders, hiccupping out some bubbles.

Louisa listened to Festus taking off from the roof a few minutes later, looking out the window in her room to watch them until they were a speck in the sky. Storm had already headed off in that direction this morning. Harvey and Jessica were both at work, leaving her with the burbling, dribbly escape artist on her hip.

"Well then," Louisa said, Bradley smiling broadly as she looked him over, "we'll have ta occupy ourselves today, munchkin. What d'ya fancy?"

"Aaaahhh!"

"Excellent idea. We ain't wound Annabeth up for ages."

The Jacksons were in town, under orders from Lizzie to help get things organised for the wedding. Most details about the big day were on a 'Need to Know' basis and, being the bride and groom, Louisa and Leo knew hardly anything. Their friends and family were adamant to surprise them.

Fifteen minutes after tugging her sneakers on, Louisa was hammering on their door, her relentless barrage Bradley tried to imitate by waving his arms and yelling. Annabeth yanked the door open, slapping her hand away.

"Tobias is asleep!"

"Not anymore," Louisa grinned. "Nice jammies."

"I've been working," Annabeth retorted, turning her nose up. Her curly hair was still mussed from the night, spewing golden locks from what might have been a bun. Her jammies were a stolen T-shirt of Percy's— he had nothing but respect for Finding Nemo—and some baggy pyjama trousers, bright red and printed all over with tiny owls. The owls were Hedwig, from Harry Potter, but Louisa hadn't been aiming for that when she had brought them for Christmas just gone. She just wanted the owls.

Annabeth waved her in, lifting Bradley from her. "Don't be too much like your mama now, will you?" she told him, doing her best to smooth down his hair. "She's evil."

"It's all done with love," Louisa assured, dumping the baby bag by the door. There was a clatter from a room above them and a small figured appeared at the top of the stairs, held in place by the safety gate. "There's my favourite nephew!" Louisa grinned.

"Lou!" Tobias cheered, gripping the bars and jumping excitedly. He wore Buzz Lightyear pyjamas and his hair was the rat's nest his father's was in the morning. Despite the rude awakening, his grin was as enthusiastic as ever, especially now he had forgiven her for launching him into the duck pond. Louisa swung him up and over the gate and he koalaed his small limbs about her.

"Mornin' to you too, squirtface. How 'bout we get some breakfast goin'?"

"No!" Annabeth said quickly, blocking the bottom of the stairs. "Percy's already cooking, you don't need to go in there too!"

"Now, Blondie. That's no way ta talk ta ya favourite sister-in-law." Annabeth looked left, then right, frowning in mock puzzlement. Louisa huffed. "If you ask me where Estelle is, I'm gonna teach Tobias new swears."

"Don't you dare."

"Try me," Louisa smirked, mouthing the inevitable 'bitch' that tagged onto that particular sentence. Annabeth muttered, moving aside. Louisa smiled. "Thank you. Oy, Percy!"

"Morning, Lou. No eggs this morning, they make Annabeth feel sick."

"It's the smell," Annabeth confirmed, wafting a hand before her face. She sat at the head of the table, Bradley cooing and babbling on her lap. Louisa plonked Tobias into the highchair on the adjacent side, sensing her brother's sulk behind her as the toddler complied.

"It's 'cos he loves me more," she grinned. Percy huffed, cutting a buttered slice of toast into four triangles.

"Not in your hair," he told his son as he set the plate down. "It's for your tummy, remember?"

"Both?" Tobias ventured, Louisa stifling snickers beside him. Percy shook his head and Tobias sulked. "'Kay. For tummy."

"Good lad. What are you having, Lou?"

"Yes," she said simply. Percy raised an eyebrow at his wife.

"Remind me to send Leo an invoice." Annabeth nodded, pausing in the motion when her phone buzzed beside her.

"Ah, speak of the devil. Leo, your soon-to-be wife is here for breakfast. Do you not feed her at home?"

"Hey! We had waffles!"

"I'm still hungry," Louisa protested. Annabeth motioned to her, tipping her head closer to the phone to listen better. Whatever Leo was saying was much quieter, clearly for Annabeth's attention and Annabeth's alone.

"Alright," she eventually said. "Yeah, yeah, it's fine. Give me, like, an hour or so. I'm still in my pyjamas. No, I'm not slobbing, I'm pregnant. I can do what I want. Yes, yes, I can. Look, I'll have my breakfast, get dressed and come straight out, OK? Try not to burn the place down until I get there. Leo. Leo, I'm serious. Lou will get upset if I have to bury you in the foundations."

"Foundations of what?" Louisa asked. Annabeth smiled vaguely, as if she hadn't understood what had been said. She assured Leo she would be there, wherever 'there' was, soon and hung up. "Is he OK?" Louisa pressed. "What foundations? Burn down where?"

"It's just work stuff," Annabeth replied dismissively. "He wants my help for… architectural support and whatnot."

"I can help."

"Nope," Percy interjected. "I'm taking Tobias over to see Mom today. You can bring Bradley."

"But—" Percy deposited plates before them, first Annabeth and then her, a fry-up missing the eggs. Louisa stared at it, chewing her lip in thought. He sat down opposite her with his own plate, blatantly wolfing down a large portion to avoid any further questions.

Louisa glanced at Annabeth, seeing the same careful blankness there.

They were hiding something from her.

"Is it weddin' stuff?" she asked nervously.

"Yes," Annabeth said, touching Percy's arm. "You'll find out on the day, but we're not telling you any more than that."

"But Leo is OK, right?"

"He's fine, I promise. Lou, you can relax. There's nothing to worry about. Except… maybe this one's diaper. You had to wait for breakfast to be served, didn't you?" She bounced Bradley lightly on her knee, though only once, stopping with a grimace. "Oh, that is not a good diaper. Have fun, Lou."

Bradley's diaper was indeed not a good one, Louisa's breakfast stone cold by the time she returned. Annabeth had finished hers and was now heading upstairs for a shower. Tobias was happily munching on sausages, cut into chunks for his small hands. Percy was clearing the table, meeting her eye briefly.

"Tell me," Louisa ordered, feeling his secret like a pinprick at the back of her head.

"Do you still have the necklace Leo gave you?"

"For Valentine's?" Percy nodded and she withdrew it from beneath her T-shirt, fidgeting it on its chain. "Why? Do you know what it is?"

"Tobias, don't put sausages in your ears. It's not good for your brain."

"Percy."

"Yes, I know, and no, I'm not going to tell you."

"Asshole," she grumbled, stiffening when his eyes widened.

"Asshole!" Tobias repeated gleefully, throwing up his arms and tossing sausage pieces in various directions. He laughed and pointed at his father. "Asshole, Daddy!"

"I am so sorry," Louisa breathed. Percy pursed his lips, simply holding out the dirty dishes. Louisa exchanged them for Bradley. Dirty diapers and dirty dishes were her lot for the day, Tobias's new word ricocheting around the kitchen and, later, the Blofis residence.

"I am not an asshole," Sally chided. "I am Nana. Say Nana."

"Nana Asshole!"

"Louisa," Sally despaired, "what have you done?"

"It was an accident."

"If Tobias gets to say it," Estelle said hopefully, "can I say it too?"

"That'll take you off the Nice List," Louisa reminded her. Estelle scrunched her face in thought.

"Does that take Tobias off the Nice List?"

"Tobias ain't on the Nice List. Not yet," she added hastily. "He's, uh… well, he's only little, ain't he? He's too young for the Nice List."

"What about the Naughty List?"

"Nah, too young. Maybe next year."

"Are you on the Naughty List?" Estelle prompted. Behind her, Percy was nodding slowly and pointedly. Louisa sighed, chastised, and nodded. "It's because you taught Tobias to swear, isn't it? That's very naughty, Lou! You should write Santa an apology letter!"

"Yeah, I'll… get right on that."

"Asshole!"

"And maybe teach him some good words instead."

"I'll do my best."

"Say Nana!"

"Asshole!"

"Nan-na!"

"Ass-hole!"

"No!"

Psst! Why are you reading this? You should be reading Eyes of Violet! The person that wrote it is, like, super mega cool ;)