"Lou, I've been thinking…"

"Never good."

"Thanks for that." Percy sighed. He watched Louisa pour a ton of sugar (not literally) onto her porridge before continuing. "Did Dad seem kind of… shifty to you?"

"That's the sea for ya, bro."

"No, I mean he didn't seem comfortable." Louisa looked at him quizzically. "I dunno… when we asked who the mom was, he seemed annoyed slightly."

"I don't know, bro, I weren't really payin' attention."

"As always."

"So, what then? D'ya think Dad is hidin' somethin'?" Percy shrugged, biting into his bacon sandwich. Zach was sat in a high chair at the head of the table, splashing his spoon in his bowl of mushy cornflakes in milk. Louisa shifted down the bench and eased the spoon from the tot's hold. Zach made to protest, but was interrupted by a mouthful of cornflakes.

Leo dropped down next to Percy, on the opposite side of the table to Louisa.

"Hey." He grinned.

"You've had coffee, haven't you?"

"Only a cup."

"How big was the cup?"

"Uh… not answering that one. How're things with Zach?" Percy told Leo about Zach's trashing adventures the previous night. Leo, obviously, found it highly amusing.

"Oh, that's priceless!"

"If you say so…" Percy sighed, finishing the bacon sandwich.

Chiron trotted over.

"Who's this?"

"New squirt." Louisa replied. Zach threw his bowl on the floor and shook his head, refusing cornflakes. "It's name's Zach 'n' it's a pain in the ass."

"Lou!" Percy scolded lightly. "Honestly…"

"So, Poseidon has claimed him then?"

"Dad bought him straight ta the doorstep 'n' asked for us ta look after him."

"And Lou asked how much we were going to get paid." Leo snickered.

"Aw, Mr. Valdez. I did not know you were another child of Poseidon. Please return to your table."

"See you later, guys." Leo got up and left.

Chiron noticed Zach was staring at him in complete fascination.

"Hello, young Zachary."

"Pony." Zach said, reaching up to the centaur.

"Centaur, my dear boy."

"'Kay." Zach looked at Louisa. "Hung'y." Louisa sighed.

"I hope we're gettin' paid enough…" She grumbled.

Everyone knew about Zach and he was suddenly very popular. It seemed that the Poseidon twins had finally met their match and that was something they weren't happy about.

"Say 'Percy'." Percy started saying his name slowly. "Per-cy." They were sat at their table, Zach in his highchair while ignoring the mushy cornflakes he had for breakfast.

"Doggy."

"No, Per-cy."

"Doggy." Zach insisted.

"Per-cy."

"Lou!"

"Woo, five bucks ta me!"

"Shut up, Lou." Percy grumbled, taking five bucks from his pocket and reluctantly handing it over to his sister. "Now say 'Percy'." He told Zach. The tot just stared at him blankly.

"Lou." He said simply.

"See, I told ya I was the better twin."

"If you're the better twin, you can look after him." Percy got up and started to leave.

"Hell no! Jackson, get ya ass back here!"

"Hell no!" Percy grinned cheekily.

"I will kill you!" Louisa shouted after him. She was in half a mind to go after her brother that second, but Zach was watching her with those big green eyes. Grumbling curses, she sat down heavily. "Stupid brothers…"

Zach had been around for nearly two weeks. There were more fights than usual between the Poseidon twins over whose turn it was to look after Zach. The infant still wouldn't say 'Percy', but was quite happy chanting his sister's name repeatedly until she eventually got annoyed with him.

Nobody expected what happened next.

Louisa walked into the dining pavilion, looking tired and pale. She was holding Zach at arm's length, but he found it amusing, waving Doggy around.

The daughter of Poseidon marched straight up to the main table where Chiron and Mr. D sat. She sat Zach on the table in front of Chiron, clearly stated, "Have a baby." And then she turned and walked out.

"What have you done?" Chiron smiled down at Zach.

"I scared them." He replied as clear as day. This was an eight month old boy speaking as clearly as someone a year or so older than him. Everyone in the dining pavilion was watching curiously.

"Can I look after him?" Chiron glanced up and saw Leo waving at him.

"If you want." Chiron sighed, studying Zach curiously and cautiously. Zach remained oblivious, mumbling to Doggy. Leo bounced up and grabbed Zach, throwing the infant in the air and making him laugh.

"Zachary, my man." Leo grinned. "You wanna stay with Unki Leo?"

"Yeah!" Zach laughed.

"Excellent. Let's go and blow stuff up."

Leo took care of Zach from then on, with Percy intervening every afternoon, but nobody was sure why Louisa had freaked and dumped her little brother on the table. Percy didn't even know, which confused the lot of them.

"Lou, what happened?" Annabeth asked. Louisa didn't reply, staring out at the sea. She had that look- something was troubling her, but she also seemed uncertain. Annabeth sat properly on the dock next to her friend. "Hellooo, earth to Louisa."

"Huh?"

"Why did you freak?"

"There is somethin' wrong with that kid." Annabeth opened her mouth to retort. "I ain't bein' mean, but he ain't normal, not even for a demigod."

"What'd you mean?"

"Ya know what he said ta me?"

"What?"

"Like, as clear as anythin', the kid just started talkin' 'bout how nice the weather was 'n' said 'Can ya teach me ta play basketball? 'N' can we see Leo later? He's funny'." Annabeth stared at Louisa as if she'd gone crazy. Well, crazier. "I ain't lyin', Annabeth, that kid is whacked."

"Did you tell Chiron?"

"No."

"You should."

"Why's this kid talkin' like that though? It don't make sense." Louisa sighed, running her hands through her hair.

"Are there any crazy demigod ladies in here?"

"Leo, important conversation going on here!" Annabeth called over her shoulder. There was a slight pause.

"Is it a girl thing or can I sit with you?"

"Ugh, yes, you can sit with us." Annabeth shook her head, holding Louisa's gaze like 'can you believe that guy?' Louisa rolled her eyes in response.

Leo sat on the dock behind them, handing Zach to Annabeth.

"Hello you." Annabeth smiled.

"Hi." Zach replied easily. Annabeth felt Louisa's gaze on her, but said nothing.

"I guessed why you freaked, Lou." Leo said, nudging Louisa. "He was sitting there with one of Archimedes' plans in his hands and it looked like he understood."

"Oh no…" Annabeth dumped Zach in Leo's arms, got up and ran out.

"Wh-? Annabeth, don't leave me with this weird kid!" Louisa ran after her. Leo looked at Zach.

"You are seriously strange." Zach just smiled at him.

Ooh, what's going on?

Although, I'm kinda worried I made it a bit obvious… I don't know… try and guess.