Disclaimer: like I have always said for over a year as a fan fiction writer, Rick Riordan owns the words and worlds where I play with.

Author's Note: This is the countdown like for all really anticipated new part of a beloved saga.

Today, (3/14/15) I changed the name to call this saga 'Life'. I really thought of a bunch of titles and this was the one that made more sense, if that makes any sense. The official release of the first chapter will be on April 1st and it's no prank. This is just to tease you. Sorry if you expected more... I am still writing and I like to have a couple of chapters done and ahead. I have like 5 whole chapters and the idea for the first 20... and the rest who knows. When you start a journey, you never know where and how you will end. Like usual, all ideas are welcomed.

By the way, happy Pi day!

3/26/15 - Now, we are getting closer to THE CHAPTER. This story has become something really important to me and I think Percy and TJ has said a lot in this whole saga, so this part has different points of views as you have seen in the bonus chapters.

4/1/15 - It's here. Let's start this amazing new part of this really stretching saga. I'm thankful for all those you have such faith on me to favorite (6) and follow (11) before this starts. 7 reviews for nothing really, just a promise. WOW! Really, from the the bottom of my heart to the tip of my hair, THANK YOU!

CH 1 "The Jackson House" (Lana)

So, we are in the Jackson residence for Claire's 15th birthday dinner party. As Theo and I are in his room, I heard Annabeth downstairs asking for my Theo, her son. Theo looked to me and I sighed breathing out "They are back". I didn't want to be selfish but I wanted more alone time, just a couple of minutes with him. I didn't want to share him… yet.

"Yes, they are" Theo said weakly and kissed me again, a little peck "Come on. I can't wait to see them" He actually smiled excited. He hadn't seen his parents for more of 10 months.

He pulled me to the door but I set my foot down and he felt my resistance. He looked up to me and I didn't smile. He seemed confused by my reaction.

"Percy, we are coming" I said loudly "I am helping TJ with…"

"Changing the sheets" said Theo so lamely that I turned red by the obvious implications of his words.

"Just use protection!" yelled Claire and I heard Annabeth scolding Claire. I could picture Percy biting his lips from start laughing.

"Why did you say that?!" I said angry to my boyfriend "That's so embarrassing and to your parents. Idiot!"

"Sorry. It was the only thing I could think" said Theo with red blushed cheeks.

"Whatever" I said looking at the bed "If they are already thinking that we are doing it… maybe we should. We haven't yet and I am not a minor anymore"

Theo looked at with wide open eyes and stammered "Are you serious? Right now?"

"Well, yes… well, no… I don't know anymore" I said hesitating as I saw my boyfriend's petrified red face "Do you want to?"

"Yes, of course, I want to" said Theo 2 notes to high. He looked cute so nervous.

"Well, we have like 2 minutes before they start to wonder for us" I said "I don't want your mom barging in. That would be so embarrassing"

"2 minutes?" said Theo and looked up thinking "Is it possible in 2 minutes?"

"I don't know. We could try or just go down and get it over" I said with a loud sigh at the end. I wasn't ready for teasing, but we made the bed and now we have to lie on it.

"Sorry" breathed out Theo as he kissed my forehead. I raised my arms to his neck pulling him for a sweet kiss.

"It's okay. I knew you didn't mean to get us in trouble… or to perpetual teasing. Let's hope Claire keeps her mouth shut and won't tell Taylor or Aida. I don't know which is worst" I said pouting.

"Neither of them is good news" chuckled my boyfriend and I did the same "Let's go"

As Theo and I walked downstairs, I almost tripped over my boyfriend. I was nervous as his family was looking at us holding hands and red faces. I saw the grin on Claire's face and I turned even redder.

"Hi, mom" said Theo brightly as he hugged his mom who was the first by the stairs, Percy and Claire just a step behind.

"Theo" said Annabeth holding her tears "I said I wasn't going to cry"

"You always said that" said Theo and Annabeth chuckled.

"Don't get me started" said Annabeth then she started to cry in Theo's neck.

They hugged and my boyfriend sighed. "Mom, I'm fine" he said "I'm back"

"But for how long?" said Annabeth weakly with her crying eyes hidden on her son's neck. She hugged him tighter.

Percy touched his wife's shoulder and said lightly "Come on, Annabeth, let him breathe a little. He is fine and alive. He is with us" Annabeth pulled away rubbing her tears off and letting Theo get closer to his dad.

"Hi, dad" said Theo and they hugged.

"Hi, TJ" said Percy hugging him as tighter as Annabeth "We missed you a lot"

"So did I" said Theo. They pulled away and Theo reached for my hand as he walked to stand to my side.

I saw Claire biting her nails as she held her tears. She didn't want to cry on her birthday. She rubbed her eyes to stop the tears and grinned largely saying "Well, I hoped you have used protection. I don't want nephews or nieces yet. I don't think dad is ready for grandkids yet"

"We weren't doing that" I said quickly and loudly almost hitting Claire's shoulder annoyed.

"Why not?" said Claire almost rolling his eyes "Do you have a problem in that department?" She made mocking sighed covering her mouth. This was awkward talking about sex in front of her parents. Theo was even more embarrassed that I was.

"Is not that?!" said Theo frustrated "I have no problem in that department. Claire Sage, just shut up"

"Does he, Lana? The truth?" asked Claire and I didn't know who was redder: us or his parents.

I tried to be calm and don't try to put my hands around Claire's neck. I tried to be poised, even glamorous as I waved my hand like a fan saying "A lady doesn't reveal her secrets"

"Then?" said Claire.

"Claire, leave your brother alone" said Percy meaning every single word. He was as annoyed and embarrassed as us "Wipe that smirk of your face, young lady"

"Yes, dad" said Claire looking down. She finally realized how she definitely crossed a line here. "Sorry, TJ, Lana"

"It's okay, Claire" I said shrugging.

"Don't worry" said Theo with a really forgiving smile.

Annabeth put her hands together like wanting to clap but she didn't. She said "Aida should be here in one hour or two. They called us from the train"

"Taylor and Em are coming before 7" said Claire. I looked to the wall clock by the right and it was almost 5.

"Should we wait for them?" asked my boyfriend who I could tell was a little hungry.

"Sure. Your dad and I have still to finish dinner" said Annabeth and then she gasped "Oh, the cake!"

"Mom, you just came from the store. How could you forget it?" said Claire not annoyed but intrigued.

"Sorry, it just slipped my mind. Lana, take Theo and get the cake. You know which bakery" said Annabeth quickly and already bossy. I immediately nodded. It was the perfect opportunity to have my boyfriend to myself.

"Oh, that bakery" I said after I thought it for a second "Is already paid?"

"Sure" said Percy winking at me. Yeah, right. They 'forgot' the cake. I smiled gratefully to Percy.

"Come on… we are getting the cake" I said taking my purse by the door and walking my boyfriend out.

"See you later" said Theo to his parents right by the door.

"No hurry" said Percy "Just be careful"

"Sure, dad" said Theo as I nodded and they closed the door behind us.

We walked holding hands and goofing around throwing yellow-orange leaves to each other as we were heading 5 blocks south to 'Daly's Daily Delights', quite a tongue twister if you ask me. Theo told me all about his last months from working at a farm to the monsters he thought along the way. I couldn't be happier at moments like this. The last 10 months were pale and grey in compare to this simple day of October.

The bakery was a simple façade place, just a retro vibe neon sign like an old 50's cafeteria. The windows displays were filled with cakes. I stopped before entering just admiring the wedding cakes. They were really ingenious and creative.

"That is really nice" said Theo pointing to the cake made as tiny version of the Parthenon. The detail was amazing and I knew exactly who did it.

"So this is the place" I said and looked to my boyfriend "Your mom loves this bakery when she can't get Hazel's"

"So this is the backup bakery" said Theo smiling at me.

"Something like that" I said shrugging, just lightly.

Theo took my hand and we entered to the bakery which was almost filled with customers. It was crowded at this hour, when people were returning home and wanted something sweet for dessert. Thankfully, we had contacts and a ginger head boy waved at us as soon as he recognized me.

"Lana, come closer" said the boy and I squeezed myself between the annoyed customers who weren't pleased by my VIP treatment. Theo was just behind me apologizing to everybody. I had to roll my eyes to the gentleman that I call 'boyfriend'. I leaned over the counter to kiss the owner's cheek.

"Blake, it's been a while" I said.

"TJ Underwood. What's up, man?" said Blake shaking my boyfriend's hand.

At first, it was really clear that Theo didn't recognize Blake because he was like 5 inches taller and no longer as skinnier as before. Then he did and gasped saying "Blake Daly? You are a baker now"

The son of Hephaestus, just a couple years older than me smiled and said "Well, this place isn't as hot as the old forge, but it's really great"

"I'm here for the cake. Annabeth ordered it" I said quickly.

"Of course, Claire's birthday cake" said Blake already looking inside the counter. He grabbed a box tied with a yellow ribbon. He gave me box. "How is she? She is your sister, right?"

"Yes, she is my sister. She is great, excited, you bet" said Theo and Blake's eyes were intrigued but showed agitation.

"So you are back in town… that's nice" said Blake and I heard the inflexion on his tone. He was studying my boyfriend as any warrior would do. Of course, he also thought what everybody did at Camp Half-Blood, that my boyfriend was responsible of the killings as Mer was a couple of years ago. I felt angry and it showed on my blushing cheeks.

"Are you okay, Lana?" said Theo at me. I glared at Blake and he knew I wasn't happy.

I turned to smile to my boyfriend and pecked his lips saying "Nothing. Don't worry. I'm just a little hot. It's crowded"

"Thank you for your preference. Come back soon" said Blake nervously with a wide smile on his face.

"Certainly, Blake. Have a nice evening" I said to Blake with the same wide smile and pushed Theo out of the store.

"Bye" said Theo as he had the cake over our heads protecting it from the swamp of bodies around us.

I felt so much better once we were out to the now chilling evening air. I hated how everybody distrusted Theo and the Jacksons in general. They were phonies smiling at us and probably thinking how to stab them in the first good opportunity. I hoped Theo didn't notice what just happened. I was thankful that sometimes he was as clueless as his dad. He didn't say a thing so I guess it was all good.

We walked back to his home holding hands and getting really closer as the evening was turning into night and I didn't bring my jacket. I wasn't shaking of cold but I wasn't definitely sweating. Theo told me about how he fought Medusa in New Jersey as we were getting closer to the house.

The door was unlocked and I opened it quickly. I felt so much better once we were in a warmer environment. I got chills by the change of temperature.

"We are back" said Theo loudly as he touched my cool cheeks. He smiled at me and kissed me. That kiss felt great as it definitely warmed me up.

"Bring the cake to the table" said Annabeth from the kitchen.

Theo took my hand and said loudly "Sure, mom"

We left the cake at the dinner table and walked to the kitchen were Percy and Annabeth were cooking. Annabeth was wearing an apron and stirring something over the stove as Percy was cutting potatoes.

"Dinner will be ready in one hour" said Annabeth as soon as they noticed we were there with them.

"What should we do?" said Theo looking to the pots over the stove and there was something in the oven which smelled really but really good, probably Percy's roast beef.

"We could…" I said not really thinking just imagining the taste of the beef. Percy's is plainly amazing.

"Keep your hands at each other" said Annabeth with a light scolding tone and I gasped surprised.

"Mom?!" said Theo annoyed, trying to hide his surprise.

Percy chuckled and Annabeth just said with a grin "Joking. Theo, you are so easy to tease"

"We will be up in my room" said Theo not angry, but clearly annoyed of his own parents' teasing. We went to his room just to be at his bed talking… yes, we were talking.