Sorry this took so long. I have been saying that a lot recently :(. Things got so crazy so fast. I know that isn't a very good reason for leaving you guys hanging for so long, but don't worry. I'll make it up to you somehow. In other news, HOUSE OF HADES! Only eight more days guys! We can do it! I know that we can! I am so excited I can't even handle it! Are you guys as excited as I am? I don't know why, but I have a really bad feeling something terrible is going to happen. Okay enough rambling, enjoy the chapter.

Percy's POV:

"We're going to let her leave in the morning," Nora explained with a smile. It was late and everyone had left the hospital except from the kids. "I can't explain it Mr. Jackson-"

"Percy," I said. "Call me Percy."

She nodded"Percy. I can't explain it. You're daughter made such a remarkable recovery in such a short period of time. I can hardly believe it. But her lungs are strong and she is breathing normally. I want you too keep an eye on her though. On both of them really."

I shrugged and stretched my arms out, loosening some tight muscles in my back. "She'll be fine. Annabeth is the strongest person I know."

Nora nodded. "She's something else."

I smiled. "Well I better get back to them." I turned to walk away.

"Percy wait. theres something else," Nora called.

I turned to look at her. "Hmm?"

"It's about your sister."

"My sister?" I frowned. "May left with Ryan an hour ago. I thought she was staying with Reyna and Leo. Is she -"

Nora shook her head. "No Percy, not May. May is fine. I was talking about Madison."

I froze and ran my hand nervously through my hair. "What's wrong? She's okay right?"

Nora nodded. "There's noting wrong with her other then a few stitches that will dissolve on there own. There's nothing keeping her here anymore. I spoke to Reyna about it and she feels that Madison should be forced to leave the camp, but she said it is your decision to make." Nora looked at her feet. "She's been asking for you ever since Tessa was born. I think you should go talk to her."

I sighed. "I need to be with my family Nora. Maybe-"

"Percy I really think you should talk to her now," She put her hand on my shoulder. "Besides, she is your family." Well she had me there. Madison was my family and, regardless of what she did, she was still my family.

"What room?" I asked.

She smiled "One thirteen. Just down that hallway," She pointed down the hallway that Annabeth's room was. "And make a left. It'll be the last door all the way at the end of the hallway."

"Thank you Nora," I nodded and then turned to find my sisters room. I walked down the Hallway and peered into Annabeth's room as I passed it. She was sleeping soundly in the hospital bed. Nora had arranged for two rolling cots to be brought into the room. The were pushed end to end practically touching Annabeth's bed. They were both currently occupied. Claire was curled up on the first. She was on her stomach with one arm dangling off the side and the other draped across her pillow. Zach and James were sharing the second cot. Zach was cuddle up to his big brothers side and James had his arm wrapped securely around him. Baby Tessa, however, was not asleep. She was wrapped in a soft pale pink blanket, wriggling around slightly. I smiled and walked over to bassinet. I stroked her soft cheek gently.

"Hey baby girl," I whispered. "Why aren't you asleep?"

"Why aren't you asleep," Annabeth mumbled, opening her eyes. She blink and smiled at me wearily.

I smiled. "Hey Wise Girl."

She pushed a strand of hair out of her face. "Hey Seaweed Brain. Why aren't you asleep?"

I laughed softly. "Just making sure everything is okay for you to go home tomorrow."

"Home as in…..?"

I rolled my eyes. "As home home."

"We're going to drive the baby across the country?" She started to sit up.

I shook my head and walked over to her. "Annabeth don't worry about it. Go to sleep," I brushed her hair off her face. "We can talk about it in the morning."

She bit her lip and nodded. She moved over in the bed, wincing slightly, and she pat the space next to her. "Lie down with me?"

I sighed. "I will Annabeth. I just need to take care of something first."

"What?"

I kissed her forehead. "Nothing for you to worry about."

"But-"

"Shh," I interrupted her. "Go to sleep. I'll be back really soon. I promise."

She nodded and closed her eyes. I dimmed the light and left the room. I continued down the hallway, following the direction that Nora had given me to get to my sisters room. I stopped outside of the door at the end of the hallway. I didn't know what I was going to say to her. How to talk to someone who betrayed you? I took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

Madison's room was different from Annabeth's, even though it wasn't. It was smaller, a single room, and it seemed colder. There were no flowers or balloons. No get well cards. Madison was sitting up in her bed, her arms were connected to the side rails of her bed.

"Are you going to come in?" She whispered, shocking me out of my thoughts.

"Um, yeah," I walked to the side of her bed and sat down in the chair, careful not to touch the bed.

Madison had her eyes fixed on her lap. I was sure that if her hands had been free she would be playing with her hair. "You hate me don't you?"

I sighed and shook my head. "Why Maddie?"

"I..it's just.. it's hard to explain Percy. I guess I just…I wanted to be a part of your world so badly that I would do anything. It was like being able to see something you wanted more then anything, but you could never touch it."

I ran my hand through my hair. "Madison do you even understand how ridiculous that is? You would betray me, May, and everyone who is a part of this 'world' you want to belong you, because you were jealous?"

She didn't respond. She leaned back against the pillows. After a few minutes she looked up again, tears were streaming silently down her cheeks. "The baby, is …I mean, no one would tell me anything."

I smiled and nodded. "Yeah. She's fine."

"It's a girl?"

I nodded again. "It's a baby girl. She's tiny, but she's a trooper."

"Nothing's wrong? I mean she's fine and everything?"

I sighed. "It was touch and go for a little while but she pulled through. She's her mother daughter."

"And her fathers," Madison said, smiling sadly. She turned her attention back to her lap. "So where do we go from here?"

"You have a lot of people you need to apologize too."

"I know," She tugged gently at restraints on her wrists. "Are you still angry with me? Do you hate me?"

I put my hand gently on her arm and she flinched slightly. "Of course I'm still angry Madison, but I could never hate you. Even if you had left with Kenna. You saved my life and you helped save James. You're my sister and I love you."

She blinked at me. "What's going to happen to me?"

I shook my head. "I'm not sure. I won't let them hurt you though. I'll talk to Reyna. We can figure something out. Think you'll be okay for another night or two?"

She frowned at me. "Percy you don't owe me anything."

"No I don't. But you're my sister."

She smiled. "Thanks."

"Don't mention it sis."

"Where'd you go?" Annabeth whispered when I returned to her room. She was sitting up, holding Tessa in her arms.

"Why are you up?" I asked as I walked over and sat on the bed, pulling on leg up and putting my arm around Annabeth's shoulder.

She smiled softly. "Tessa was hungry."

I laughed quietly and tickled to small girls stomach. "Is that so?"

Tessa made a soft noise of pleasure and closed her eyes. Annabeth chuckled and kissed Tessa's forehead. "She's perfect Percy."

I nodded. "Yeah she is." I took Tessa, who had fallen into a restful sleep, out of Annabeth's arms and placed her back in her bassinet. I dimmed the lights and got back into bed with Annabeth. The bed was positioned in a way where I pulled the blankets up around us and pulled her very close to me. She rested her head in the crook of my neck and kissed my throat.

"Where did you disappear to?" She whispered, her eyes already closing. The last few days had been exhausting for everyone, but especially Annabeth.

I shrugged. "No where terribly important."

She chuckled. "I highly doubt that Seaweed Brain."

"Don't doubt Wise Girl," I closed my eyes. "It's much easier to just trust me."

"I trust you Percy," She mumble, only semiconscious. "And I love you. I love you so much."

"I love you too."

And we fell asleep like that. In each others arms, surrounded by our four beautiful, healthy, children.

"Somebody get a camera This is adorable," A very familiar voice broke through my hazy unconscious state.

"Shut up Leo," Another voice followed by a soft thump.

"Gods Thalia, that hurt," Leo replied. I opened my eyes and turned my head towards the people who had intruded. Leo was leaning against the door frame, rubbing the back of his head. Thalia was standing next to him with her arms crossed and Nico had his arm around her shoulder. He was smirking and chuckling silently. Reyna was there too, glaring half heartily at her husband.

"You guys better have a good reason for waking me up," I mumbled as I untangled myself from Annabeth, careful not to wake her.

"Sorry Percy, but I needed to talk to you and these three," she gestured to Thalia, Nico, and Leo. "Insisted on coming with me."

I rolled my eyes and stood up. I gently brushed Annabeth's hair behind her ear, made sure Claire, James, and Zach were still sleeping, kissed Tessa's forehead, and then headed for the small group of people at the door. I shoved them lightly out the door and closed it behind of me. "What's up guys?"

"Did you talk to Madison?" Reyna asked.

I sighed and ran a hand through my hair. "Yeah I did."

"So what do you plan on doing with her?" Thalia asked.

I shrugged. "She feels awful about everything."

"So you think we should just forget about everything?" Reyna frowned.

"I'm not saying that at all Reyna, but she is my family you know."

"I think I know the best way to deal with this," Thalia said smiling slightly. She looked at Nico, who smirked and shrugged.

"It's up to Perce, but I think that's the way to go," He said.

"Well spit it out," Leo said impatiently. Reyna elbowed him.

"Just tell your mom what happened Percy," Thalia said. "She'll straighten Madison out."

I rolled my eyes. "Is my mom really that scary?"

Nico shrugged. "She's awesome."

"I'm all for it, but I don't know how the other campers are going to feel," Reyna said.

"If anyone can convince them that it's the right move it's you Reyna," Leo said, putting his arm around her.

She sighed. "Yeah. We better go, I have a lot of explaining to do." She turned to leave, Leo following her. She glanced over her shoulder. "Find me and say goodbye before you leave Percy."

I nodded and watched them as they left. I turned back to Nico and Thalia. "Now if you guys don't mind, I'm going to go back to my family."

"About that, um, I was wondering…" Thalia bit her lip and smiled.

I chuckled and shook my head. "Okay fine, come on."

I opened the door and was greeted by the sight of Annabeth sitting up, holding Tessa. Claire and James were still sound asleep, but Zach was sitting with his legs crossed, tickling his younger sisters cheek. Tessa smiled at him.

"She loves you Zach," Annabeth smiled at our youngest son.

Zach giggled. "I love her too mama. I'm not the baby anymore."

"You'll always be my baby Zach," Annabeth whispered, but Zach had not interest in what she was saying anymore. He was too busy playing with his new little sister.

"Knock, Knock," Thalia said, pushing her way passed me into the room. Nico chuckled and rolled his eyes, following his wife into the room.

Zach smiled and waved to them. "Uncle Nico, Auntie Thalia, look! I'm not the youngest one anymore!'

"No I guess your not," Thalia laughed. We walked over to them. Annabeth smiled and me and I leaned down to give her a peck on the lips.

"Where'd you go?"

I shrugged. "I was just talking to Reyna and Leo."

"About what?"

"Nothing important," I sat down next to her, one leg dangling off the side of the bed, and put my arm around her shoulder. "Morning Tessa." Annabeth gave me a look that said 'I know your lying, we will talk about this later'. She handed Tessa to me. Tessa squirmed slightly, but settle down soon enough. She blinked at me and gave me a toothless smile.

"Morning baby girl," I whispered, giving her a kiss on her forehead.

"Aunty Thalia, where's Bianca?" Zach asked.

"She's at aunt Piper and uncle Jason's house."

"Daddy, can I please go! I know where it is!"

"Percy he's not walking around New Rome on his own," Annabeth said sternly.

"I'll take him," Nico said. "I wanted to see Hazel anyway. I'll drop him off and go talk to her."

Annabeth smiled. "Thanks Nico."

"Come on kid," Nico said as he headed to the door. Zach smiled and hoped off the bed, running after him.

"Okay Kelp Head, let me hold my niece," Thalia said, holding her arms out.

I rolled my eyes, but handed Tessa to Thalia. Thalia smiled and took her carefully into her arms.

I put my arm around Annabeth's shoulder and gave her a quick, but passionate kiss on the lips. She smiled and broke away, snuggling into my side. "So," she said, shifting slightly so she could look up at me. "Are we heading home today?"

I shrugged. "We probably should. Thalia, I was wondering if maybe Nico-"

"All ready taken care of Kelp Head. Nico said he would Shadow travel Annabeth, Tessa, and I back tonight after dinner and then come back tomorrow to take the ride with you and the kids."

I smiled but Annabeth frowned. "I can make the trip Seaweed Brian."

Thalia raised an eyebrow at her. "Yeah I'm sure you can," She readjusted Tessa in her arms. "But why would you bring Tessa in a car for nearly a week if you don't have to?"

Annabeth bit her lip, but nodded. "I suppose I can't argue with that." Her voice was barely above a murmur. Annabeth hated being wrong. I laughed and squeezed her shoulder gently and kissed her temple. She sighed and leaned into my embrace. Thalia chuckled and turned her attention back to the small child in her arms. The peaceful moment was interrupted by a small groan from one of the rolling cots. Claire was stirring and rubbing her eyes as she began to wake up. Her black hair was disheveled and sticking up in different directions. She blinked and her grey eyes slowly opened. She sat up and turned to look at us. A very large T-shirt that must have belonged to Annabeth (but was probably mine at some point) drooped off one of her shoulders and fell to about her knees.

"Morning Claire Bear," I said smiling and waving at her.

She smiled and crawled up onto Annabeth's bed. "Morning daddy." She plopped herself down on my lap and curled up against my chest. "Morning mommy." She leaned forward so she could see Tessa in Thalia's arms. "Morning Tessy." She looked back up at me. "Daddy when are we going home?"

I smiled at her. "Uncle Nico is going to take mommy and Tess home later today and we are going to drive home tomorrow."

She nodded. "Okay." She glanced over to the cot where James lay sleeping. "Mommy? Daddy?"

"Yeah baby girl?" Annabeth said, running her hand through Claire's hair in futile attempt to tame it.

"Can I wake Jamesy up? Pretty please?" She said batting her eyelashes innocently.

I couldn't help but laugh.

Thalia's POV:

"How did you manage to get the little cutie away from mama bear?" Piper asked as she made her way over to where I sat in a rocking chair with Tessa.

I shrugged, rocking a little slower. "Percy had to start preparing and packing the car and Annabeth really wanted to take shower and I suggested a nice long Roman bath. Clarisse took James and Claire to play with Silena and, as you know, Nico is at your place with Zach and Bianca. I volunteered to keep an eye on Tessa. Since there aren't any other new babies here at the moment, I figured here was the best place to be, especially considering they discharged Annabeth." Here was the room were the nurses looked over newborn babies.

Piper laughed and pulled one of the rolling chairs over next to me from one of the desks. She brushed Tessa's cheek gently.

"Who do you think she looks like?" Piper asked me.

I shrugged. "Kind of hard to tell, but her eyes are gorgeous. A perfect combination of her mom and dads," I brushed her other cheek. "Wanna open them for us baby girl?"

As if on cue Tessa blinked her eyes open, revealing the sea foam green behind the lids. I smiled. "There they are." I offered Tessa my finger. She grasped it tightly in her small hands.

Piper laughed. "Hard to believe she was barley hanging on a few days ago."

I nodded. "It's a miracle that's for sure," I smiled at Piper. "How are you feeling?"

She shrugged. "The usual. Morning sickness, weird cravings. Nothing out of the ordinary."

"What do you hope your having?"

Piper frowned and rubbed her still flat stomach. "As long as he or she is happy and healthy."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "Really?"

She laughed. "Okay, honestly, I sort of hope it's a girl. But a boy would be nice too. Either way, Jason is excited and so is Ethan. He's going to be a wonderful big brother. I'm pretty sure Ethan wants a baby brother."

"Think he'll be mad if it's a girl?" I asked.

"Of course not." Piper and I both looked up as a new voice joined the conversation. Annabeth stood at the door. She was wearing grey sweatpants and (surprise surprise) one of Percy's shirts. Her hair was wet and hung around her face. She looked tired, but it was a good tired. Not the depressed nearly comatose state she had been in while Tessa have been in the NICU. She pulled another chair over to us and sat down. "When I had Zach, Claire was just as thrilled as James was, and so far James seems is ecstatic about his new baby sister." She held her arms out and I place Tessa carefully into them. She smiled. "Hi baby girl."

"How are you feeling Annie?" I asked, leaning back in the chair.

She smiled, not taking her eyes off of her daughter. "Better. You were right, a Roman bath did the trick"

Piper smiled. "You bet it did."

"So Piper," Annabeth said, glancing at her before returning her attention to her daughter. "You want a girl?"

Piper chuckled. "Yeah. I mean didn't you want a girl when you were pregnant with James and Claire?"

Annabeth shrugged and looked up at us. "That pregnancy king of snuck up on me. I didn't have time to really think about what gender I wanted the baby to be. It was all around the same time that Percy discovered May existed and Poseidon 'disappeared'. But I suppose would have wanted a girl if I really thought about. Lucky for me, I got both."

I rolled my eyes. "Your glad and you know it."

She smiled and turned her gaze back down to the now sleeping baby in her arms. "Honestly, despite everything that's happened, I wouldn't change anything. I'm pretty sure Percy feels the same."

"I'm sure he does," Piper said, leaning back in her chair and arching her back a little bit.

"He was beating himself up you know," I said quietly.

Annabeth nodded. "Yeah I know. I also know he was hurt during the fight. He said it wasn't too bad, but I really don't believe him."

Piper bit her lip. "I saw it. It was a pretty nasty burn. I wouldn't be surprised if it's still bothering him a bit. Not that he would say anything."

I nodded. "Yeah i got a quick look at it too."

"Thanks for looking out for him guys. I love the man, but he can be really-"

"Stupid?" I suggested.

Annabeth shook her head and bounced Tessa. "No not stupid. Despite what people think Percy's not an idiot. He's just obnoxiously loyal." She kissed Tessa's forehead. "Daddy just loves us so much doesn't he." She cooed softly.

Piper and I laughed. Annabeth was one of the smartest people I knew, but she, like her husband, was putty in the hands of anyone of her children. And Tessa had some pretty tiny hands.

I stood up, drawing the attention of the two other women. "I'm going to go try to find Bianca and Nico," I said. I squeezed Annabeth's shoulder gently. "See you later Annie, you too Pipes."

"Bye Thalia," Piper smiled and wave slightly.

"See you Thals,"Annabeth said, holding Tessa out too Piper, who smiled widely and nodded while accepting the baby.

Nico, as it turned out, was not at Piper and Jason's place. When I arrived there, and knocked on the door, Ethan answered and smiled at me. "Hi auntie Thalia!"

I ruffled his hair. "Hey cutie. Is uncle Nico here?"

He shook his head. "Uh-uh. Uncle Nico left, but Bee and Zach and I are playing with Legos!"

I laughed. "Where's your daddy?"

"He's talking with Uncle Leo in the Kitchen," Ethan pointed as if it helped.

"Thanks sweetie." He nodded and ran into the other room.

Jason was sitting at the Kitchen table across from Leo, who was holding Danny on his lap. Danny was playing with some sort of teething toy. He saw me and squealed, holding out his toy. This caused both Jason and Leo to look at me as well.

Leo smiled. "Hey Thalia, what's up?" He bounced Danny gently.

"Nothing much. Just looking for Nico."

"He said he would be back, you're welcome to wait for him," Jason gestured toward an empty seat next to him.

"Where did he go?" I asked, taking the seat he had offered me.

Leo shrugged. "He said something about going to see Hazel before he left."

"Ah," I nodded. It made sense. With all the planning, stressing, and fighting, Nico had barely spent any quality time alone with his half-sister. Come to think of it, I really hadn't spent all that much quality time with my brother. In fact, despite the fact that we were all together, no one had really gotten around to doing anything 'fun' this trip. "You know," I sighed. "You guys should come to camp half-blood at some point this summer. We need to spend some time together that doesn't involve fighting monsters, or, you know, demi-titans."

Leo cringed. "Still can't get over that. I mean, the idea that more then one man or woman would want to get with a goddess or god, sure, I mean I guess. But the fact that more then one person would want to reproduce with a Titan. Seriously?"

I kicked him under the table (not as hard as I typically would have considering her was holding his son). "Let's not think about it repair boy. Where's your wife at?"

Leo shrugged. "She's meeting with someone about something. I don't remember. She told me I should leave. Said I was being 'disruptive and distracting'. Whatever."

Jason snorted, but didn't comment. Instead he turned to me. "So you were with Piper?"

"Yep, and Annabeth. I actually got the hold Tessa for more then five minutes! Annabeth cleaned up and came right back. She doesn't want to leave that poor babes side."

Jason rolled his eyes. "Well would you if you were in her shoe?"

Leo shrugged. "I hope to the god I'm never in the position Perce was."

I winced. "Yeah he didn't handle it too well. Neither did Annabeth. But Tessa's fine and Annabeth's fine and Percy's fine. The whole Jackson clan is fine and they have a new little member." I sighed. Jason leaned back in his chair and Leo continued to play with his son. Yeah we were all fine.

For now at least.

May's POV:

"It's not your fault you know," Ryan said as he ran his fingers soothingly through my hair. "No matter what you think, no matter what anyone says, I want you to know it's not your fault."

He had been saying the same thing for over and hour. After we met Tessa, Ryan and I had escaped to antiseptic smell and the too white walls. We had walked and walked and at this point neither one of us knew where we had ended up. We weren't lost because we could see the Aqueducts in the distance and all we would have to do was follow them back to New Rome. We were currently on a small hill. Ryan was lying on his back and I had my head on his stomach, my feet away from his body.

"How can you be so sure?" I whispered.

"May," His voice was low now. "Madison snapped. Everyone has the right to snap. Hades, even your brother snapped and Percy is just about the most dependable person I know. It was a tough situation. One that was pretty much non-avoidable and uncontrollable."

I sighed and turned to look at him. "It's not over."

He shook his head. "Never said it was."

"They'll come back."

"Never said they wouldn't."

"Tell me something I don't know about you?" I asked, craving some sense or normality in what was otherwise my twisted messed up life.

"I'm exhausted."

I chuckled. "I figured."

"I'm not ticklish," He tried again.

I shook my head. "Come on Rye, gotta do better then that."

He laughed. "Alright, alright I got one," He took a deep breath. "I'm going to school next year."

I sat up quickly, eyes wide, mouth open. "W-what?"

He sighed again and sat up. "It's something I've been wanting to do for a while, I just.. well I never had the opportunity. Thalia and Nico said I could stay with them, as long as I don't cause trouble. And you're going into seventh grade and, ordinarily I would be going into ninth, but I could go into eighth and be one of the oldest in the class, which considering the situation is-" I put a finger on his lips. He was rambling.

"School?"

He nodded.

"My school?"

He smiled behind my finger and nodded.

"It's a little far isn't it? That is assuming Sally still allows me in her home."

He shook his head and removed my finger. "It's fartherthen the school that Bianca will most likely go to, but I can deal with the traveling on my own. Busses and subways. I could walk too if I really had to. I plan on getting a job too. A paper route, something. Anything to help pay for any expenses I may cause to Thalia and Nico." He casually forgot to comment on the whole 'allowed back at the Blofis's' thing.

"Does Percy know?"

He nodded.

"And why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because all Hades broke loose and there wasn't really a good time."

I shrugged. "Point taken."

He plopped back down and pulled me with him. I rolled and turned so out heads were side by side, but our bodies were facing in opposite positions. I threw my arms above my head and rolled my shoulders.

"Have you seen your new niece yet?" Ryan asked.

I nodded. "Yep. Right after she was released from the NICU. She's beautiful."

"What did they name her?"

I laughed. "Tessa Grace. After Thalia."

"Who does she look like?"

I rolled my eyes. "What's with all the questions about the new little Jackson?"

"What can I say? I'm a sucker for a baby."

I shook my head. "Your so much like my brother it's not even funny?"

"What does that mean?"

I lifted myself up on my arm and turned to face him. My hair fell around my face and touched his nose. "You're both strong, confident, and brave. But when you put wither one of you near a baby, you turn to putty."

A smile smile played at his lips, but his eyes seemed sad. "You're brother is a much better man then I will ever be."

I frowned. "Why would you say that?"

He sighed. "He gave me, a kid with an evil Titan for a father, a chance. There aren't very many demigods who would do that. Heck I don't even know if I would have done that. But he did and I will always be thankful for that."

I smirked. "Are you saying you wish you were my brother?"

His eyes widened. "No, no not at all! I mean Perce is awesome and everything, but I mean being him it, I mean, I could never-"

"Ryan," I interrupted.

"Yeah?" He whispered

"I'm really glad you're not my brother."

He laughed. "Is that right?"

I nodded. "Yeah," I leaned closer to him. "If you were my brother that would make this extremely awkward." I then proceeded to press my lips to his.

This story is almost completed. I know, sad right. But no need to worry there will be at least one more long story in this series and at least one shorter one (see my poll on my profile). I hope to update soon. (And definitely quicker then it took me this time)