Nicercy || PJatO || Biancabeth || When Reality Crumbles || Biancabeth || PJatO || Nicercy

Title: When Reality Crumbles – And Faith Prevails

Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus; post both/twist

Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Rick Riordan for he created the awesomeness that is Nico di Angelo. And everything else related to Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus. Aside from the Gods, they belong to the old Greeks. This fanfiction and its OCs on the other hand are entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.

Warnings: shounen-ai, shoujo-ai, fluff, h/c, past character deaths, parallel universes, deaging/aging, genderbend (Piper), mermen, merman sex, mpreg, explicit intercourse, anal, hetero, threesome

Main Pairing: Nico/Percy, Bianca/Annabeth

Side Pairings: Luke/Octavian, Ethan/Alabaster, Jake/Will, Tyson/Ella, Charles/Silena, Chris/Clarisse, Calypso/Piper, Jason/Reyna

Percy Jackson Characters:

Deaged: Perseus Jackson (8), Nico di Angelo (10), Hazel Levesque (4), Frank Zhang (6), Leo Valdez (5), Jason Grace (9), Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano (7) , Connor Stoll male; Peter), Cecil Rogers & Lou Ellen (Twin Gods; deaged), Hylla Ramírez-Arellano (shewolf)

Unaffected: Annabeth Chase, Octavian Simmons, Calypso, Thalia Grace, Clarisse la Rue, Chris Rodriguez, Will Solace, Jake Mason

Animals: Mrs. O'Leary, Blackjack, Arion, Tempest, Scipio

From a Parallel Universe: Bianca di Angelo (Savior of Olympus), Luke Castellan (Roman Hero), Ethan Nakamura (Roman Hero), Alabaster C. Torrington (Hero), Charles Beckendorf (Hero), Silena Beauregard (Hero), Tyson (Roman Demigod), Ella (Oracle)

Summary: When reality and time crumble around them, it effects people. For some, time turns back and Percy finds himself eight years old again, not remembering anything past that age. Annabeth, unaffected from the shift in time and reality, tries to gather her friends on the Argo II. Whether they're deaged like Percy, or affected by alternate realities bleeding in, like Rachel who was now a demigod. But they're not the only ones affected by the shift and crumble of reality and time.

When their universe collides with another universe, they crash into the ship of Bianca di Angelo, Savior of Olympus. Percy had lost his brother Tyson, but when the two crews are united, the Roman demigod hero Tyson is more than delighted to take care of his cute, little brother from another reality. And this Bianca, who had lost her Nico years ago, is more than grateful to be reunited with him. And maybe Bianca will find far more than just her lost brother, when she, as the captain, unites with Annabeth and her crew to guarantee better safety for both crews and all of them...

When Reality Crumbles

And Faith Prevails

Chapter 1: Rescue from Reality

"I'm s—scared, Neeks."

"It's alright, Percy. I'll protect you."

It was so surreal. Annabeth knitted her eyebrows up as she watched the two boys. Well, children was more like it. Eight-years-old Percy was curled together into a ball, hiding in the embrace of a ten-years-old Nico, who held onto him protectively. This whole thing was a mess, really.

Pantheons aren't meant to mingle and after Greeks and Romans were united, after Annabeth's second run-in with the Kane-siblings and after she aided her Norse cousin Magnus, reality couldn't take it anymore. Time and reality itself melt away. Literally melted away.

There were dinosaurs in New York, the Rocky Mountains were actually melting, there was a giant iceberg in the middle of Nevada. Both reality and time seemed meaningless and it affected people and places. Not everyone or everything, but enough as it was. Annabeth was lucky, she was unaffected by it all. At least for now, who knew how long that was going to last?

It had started a couple months ago – Annabeth had lost track of time, unsure how much time had truly past since this mess had gone down. First instincts had been panic. Second instinct was to go and get her friends and find some safe place to hide – as safe as possible.

/flashback\

Her first station had been Percy, quite obviously. But reaching his apartment in New York had been devastating. The eighteen-years-old was missing ten years. A little boy, cowering in front of a disgusting smelling man, who was beating the crap out of the little boy. Time had reversed in this house and Percy had been back to the time when Smelly Gabe had still been around.

Traveling with a child was complicated, so she called for help, called for Camp Half-Blood. Thankfully, there were still some around who were their proper age and their proper selves.

"Where are we going?", asked the boy once his crying had subsided.

"Sh, Percy", cooed Annabeth softly, bouncing the little child on her arms a bit. "It's gonna be alright. I called some friends, they'll pick us up with a giant, flying ship. Isn't that cool?"

"...Wow", whispered Percy in awe, turning those giant, sea-green eyes on him.

"Yeah, wow", agreed Annabeth with the smallest smile.

Little Percy was probably the cutest thing in the world – at least when he wasn't crying. She was glad that he had finally stopped crying after two hours of being huddled up together on the roof, waiting for Clarisse and whoever was her crew to pick them up. For as long, Annabeth had been comforting Percy, realizing he didn't know her. He was physically and mentally back to eight. But saving him from Smelly Gabe apparently was proof enough to show that she was good. And she looked 'pretty like a Disney Princess' (she was glad Clarisse hadn't been there to hear that one).

"Who's your friends?", asked Percy concerned, hiding his face in the crook of her neck.

And even though he smeared her shirt with snot and tears, she didn't mind, because he had finally stopped crying and he was seeking comfort with her. She was glad for it, because this could have gone into the opposite direction easily. Mistrusting of strangers, frightened even. But this poor, little boy was so starved for love and affection that he just latched onto it.

"They're our friends", corrected Annabeth and smiled at the little Percy.

"You weren't lying when you said he was cute."

Annabeth's head snapped up to stare at the ship in the sky. Percy in her arms gasped and stared with even wider eyes. Clarisse was staring down at them with one arched eyebrow – and holding back the teenaged-versions of Connor and Travis who tried to jump the rail and look at them closer.

"So Percy isn't the only one?", asked Annabeth half-frightened.

"We have a whole freaking kindergarten up here", grunted Clarisse, looking nonplussed.

The Argo II lowered itself and Clarisse threw a latter down. Annabeth cautiously placed Percy on the ground and ushered him to climb up. He was more than eager, because his inner Poseidon was totally impressed by the giant ship. He half stumbled over the rail and into the arms of two more than eager sons of Hermes. Connor and Travis giggled delighted, looking him up and down.

"Hello", chimed Connor, poking Percy's cheek. "I'm Fred, he's George."

"We're wizards", added Travis, tilting his head. "Who are you?"

"Wizards?", gasped Percy – those eyes were going to pop out if he continued like that.

"They're Travis and Connor and a pain in the ass", corrected Clarisse irritated. "Chris! Keep your brothers in line before I throw them overboard, because I swear to the gods-"

Annabeth blinked dazed as Chris ran up to them, grabbing Travis and Connor by the ears to pull them along, causing Annabeth to laugh softly. "Training for when you two are getting married?"

The joke fell flat though when Clarisse looked down at the engagement ring on her finger. She was twenty-one by now, the Giant War had ended two years ago. Chris had proposed not long before the world had started to fall apart. Wedding postponed until it was saved again.

"So, who's here? And... in what conditions?", asked Annabeth to change topics.

"You're big and scary", said Percy as he stared up at Clarisse. "You're cool."

Clarisse chocked on a laugh at that and ruffled his hair. "Brat. Let's get moving below deck, you never know what's lurking out here. Thalia is on watch-duty up there."

Percy huddled close to Annabeth, making grabby motions until he got her hand. How in the world had the sassy loudmouth hero been such an adorable little angel? Was that what Gabe's abuse had done to Percy? Made him put up walls of jokes and cheekiness to cope with the world?

"Who's that? Is he a demigod too? Can he do something too? Wow, he has pretty eyes! What's his name?", was loudly called into her face as they entered the mess-hall.

Annabeth blinked and took a step back. Wow. The olive-skinned boy with the dark curls and the even darker eyes was all up in their faces, looking at Annabeth and Percy like they were the new wonders of the world. Annabeth had completely forgotten what Nico used to be like before... well, before he had hit his dark phase of isolation and anger. All full of energy and up in your face, asking a million questions and thinking everyone and everything was awesome. She remembered how Percy had complained about it, how exhausting the little Nico used to be. Glancing down, Annabeth noted with a smile that this opinion apparently changed now that Percy was younger. Percy was staring at Nico with his mouth open a little, head tilted sideways.

"What's a demigod?", asked Percy, mouth forming an O. "And you talk funny."

"Is not funny!", protested Nico with a huff. "I'm from Italia! And demigods are awesome. Their parents are gods – real gods like from the myths! My papà is Hades, he's the king of the underworld and the most awesome god ever, because he controls ghosts and shadows!"

"But... ghosts and shadows are creepy", frowned Percy, half hiding behind Annabeth's leg. "I don't like the dark. It's scary. What's your name? I'm Percy. And that's Annabeth, she's my new big sister."

Annabeth's eyes widened as she stared down at Percy, who had just stated this with so much conviction as though they had known each other for years. Which they had, but Percy didn't remember. Nico only briefly glanced up at Annabeth before focusing on Percy again.

"Niccoló di Angelo", replied Nico with the largest grin possible. "But you can call me Nico!"

"So, you already met the third biggest nuisance on the ship", grunted Clarisse as she pulled Annabeth aside. "Right after the younger and even more mischievous Stolls."

Annabeth followed Clarisse over to the table where Rachel and Octavian were sitting together, reading various books at once – or at least trying to. Annabeth was only mildly surprised to see Octavian here. He had, at the end, pulled through and stayed loyal. He still had been shunned for what he had done. Apparently, this was now his time to repent himself. Which could be seen by the fact that he had a sleeping Reyna sitting on his lap, face against his chest. Next to him sat Jason, also deep asleep. They were somewhere between seven and nine, Annabeth guessed.

"Babysitting duty while Grace Senior is on watch-duty", grunted Octavian displeased.

He looked older – not by age, but by the fact that he had a shadow of a beard growing from being too busy to shave. He glared at her briefly before he returned his attention to the book in front of him. Annabeth offered a forced and pained smile as she sat down next to the sleeping Jason, noticing how Octavian had one arm wrapped around him, caressing him a bit.

"Are you... cuddling with two praetors?", asked Annabeth teasingly.

"Sh. It's the only way to make them sleep", hissed Octavian with the nastiest glare thrown at her. "It's not like I chose to babysit shrunken heroes! But someone has to."

A growl from behind startled Annabeth. She turned to see a large, white wolf laying on the ground, glaring at Octavian warningly. Raising one eyebrow, she turned back to Clarisse.

"That would be Hylla. Apparently some kind of reality where Romans are wolves, seeing as they're raised by Lupa", muttered Clarisse, running her hands over her face. "So... be extra sweet on Reyna, because wolf-Hylla is fiercely protective of her little sister..."

"Okay. New. What else is new?", asked Annabeth and leaned back concerned.

"She isn't the oracle anymore", grunted Octavian, jerking his head into Rachel's direction.

"I'm a demigod!", yelped Rachel with sparkling eyes. "Daughter of Apollo. Not the oracle any longer, sadly enough. Or at least I haven't quite figured out how to... do oracle-stuff with demigod-powers. Still a lot to learn. But I'm a good archer now and I can influence the weather... a bit..."

Annabeth could only shake her head at that. Rachel as a demigoddess, she wasn't sure if it was a good or a terrifying thing. She twisted her body enough to check for Percy again. He was still with Nico, Travis and Connor and who she assumed to be Frank, Leo and Hazel. Hazel was comfortably seated on Nico's lap, staring up at him adoringly, all her curls wildly pointing up.

"She's four", answered Rachel when she saw the look on Annabeth's face. "Took us a while to get her to trust us, but when we told Nico she's his little sister, he... exploded into rainbows and unicorns. All eager to be a big brother and guiding her. He was the first one she trusted and she hasn't left his side since then. And since she seems to think that Leo is her cuddle-toy – granted, with that giant mess of fluffy curls, the little Leo does look like a little lion – and Frank apparently took to Nico as a big brother too... Well, at least the kids are getting along, huh?"

"Frank is six and Leo is five and they're both a giant pain in the ass, because they can't control their powers yet. Leo randomly bursts into flames and Frank occasionally turns into small mammals", added Clarisse with the most sour face possible. "I want to give them up for adoption. Then there are the trickster teens – I completely forgot just how utterly annoying those two brats used to be before they became 'responsible' cabin-heads... I swear, the only bearable child is Reyna."

"Jason is cute", chimed Rachel in, large grin plastered on her face. "He follows Nico around like a lost puppy – it is so adorable. So, we think that even though they don't remember each other due to their bodies and minds being send back in time, there is still a certain sense of recognition."

"Thank the gods for that!", grunted Clarisse and threw her hands in the air. "Containing those brats if they wouldn't trust us at all would probably end in the apocalypse... Well, faster than the apocalypse is currently approaching anyway. Giant pain in the... everything, actually."

"Who was our navigator?", threw Annabeth in before Clarisse could fall into another rant about how annoying little demigods were (like they didn't already know that from camp-experience, really). "I didn't recognize him. Who else did you manage to gather here?"

"The navigator was Peter, as she prefers to be called now that she's a he. You may remember him as Piper though", replied Chris with a mischievous grin. "And when Connor and Travis turn back to their real age, they both owe me money. They were so sure that Piper's... sense of dressing and playing her being-a-girl-down-thing rooted from being a lesbian. I always knew it was something... ah, something else. Not that I'm judging, as long as she's happy in her new body. Well, his."

"Oh and Calypso has the biggest crush on Piper's new self", giggled Rachel. "Then again, Piper seems to be quite happy being Peter, more... settled. Not... not feeling like there's something he needs to hide, something he needs to change. Calypso is in the kitchen at the moment, by the way."

"So... let me sum this up...", drawled Annabeth dumbfounded. "Rachel is a demigod, Piper is a guy, Hylla is a wolf and Nico, Leo, Hazel, Frank, Connor and Travis got turned into kids...?"

"Leo, Frank, Hazel and Nico were together when the ripple of disrupted time hit them", explained Octavian with a short nod. "We assume that the same can be said about the Stolls, though most likely a different... ripple. And we're all grateful for that, because I think toddler-versions of them would be even more... of a hand full, to say it nicely."

"Ah, you trained him well, Rach", snickered Annabeth amused as she saw his glare.

"And then there are Cecil and Lou", added Rachel, grinning a bit. "Watch out for them."

"Why? Are they flying monkeys?", asked Annabeth surprised.

"Something like that... They got hit by a wave of other-reality too. One where they're not demigods, but full gods. Twin children of Hermes and Hecate. Mischievous magic", muttered Clarisse, looking short of an aneurism. "Granted, their magic is strong and it is probably the only thing protecting this ship and we have to thank daddy Jake and mommy Will for that, because apparently this sense of recognition made Cecil and Lou believe that Will and Jake are their parents. Good for us."

"That's good", sighed Annabeth relieved and stood.

"Why's that good? I mean, I know because it means they don't tear the ship apart, but...", asked Chris a bit confused, watching the blonde girl walk away from the table.

"Because Will being here means you have a child of Apollo... who has been a child of Apollo for more than two weeks, sorry Rachel", answered Annabeth and knelt down in front of the little ones. "Percy, honey, will you come with me? I want you to meet a friend, he's a doctor."

"Why? Is Percy sick?", asked Frank with large, innocent eyes.

The little Canadian was on the chubby side – not hard to guess considering how he had been when Annabeth had first met him – but he looked so adorable with his chubby cheeks and wide eyes. She offered him a smile and ruffled his hair, because it was too hard to resist.

"No, he's not sick, but...", started Annabeth, unsure how to continue.

"He's hurt", supplied Nico with an upset frown, staring intensely at Percy as though he could see right through every single injury hidden beneath his clothes. "Why's he hurt?"

Annabeth blinked slowly. Nico was an enigmatic child, really. This carefree, loud, excited and happy ten-years-old was the same one who, only months later had become the fierce Ghost King. Just because he was bubbly and loud didn't mean she should underestimate him. He had always been far older than he looked, far more mature than most teenagers Annabeth knew. More mature than any child had a right to, really. But in the end, it had been Bianca's death that had completely flipped the switch and fast-forwarded through his childhood. She needed to be cautious with him.

"There's a bad man at home", replied Percy, lower lip quivering and eyes shimmering with tears.

"Don't worry, there's no bad man here", whispered Nico and pulled Percy into a hug. "You're safe."

Some things truly were instincts, guessed Annabeth. Whatever age, form or circumstances, Nico would always be drawn to Percy and would always try to protect him. How many months had she spend watching them dance around each other now? Before this mess, after the Giant War? But Nico didn't think he deserved nice things and Percy was too broken from the wars to believe something good would ever happen to him again. They were both broken in their own ways. Not now though, now they were just two innocent, little children, clinging onto each other.

/flashback|end\

Annabeth was awesome, but Nico was kinda more awesome. Not that Percy was going to tell that to his big sister – he knew they weren't related, but she was watching out for him and fussing over him like his mom used to and she was like really, really clever. They had been on the flying ship for nearly a month now and Percy really liked it. Not just because it was a ship and it could fly. He had made all those amazing and cool friends, like Nico. Nico was older than him and stronger. He had those awesome powers where he could control darkness and ghosts, which meant that Nico could make sure that no monsters were hiding in the shadows and no ghosts would get into their room. He had powers too, or so Annabeth said, but he didn't really know how to control them.

"Pew-cy!"

Yawning a little, Percy blinked one eye open. All the little ones were sharing one room, because the ship only had eight bedrooms anyway. Nico was older and should be in the big kids' room with Travis, Connor, Jason, Cecil and Lou, but because Percy had bad nightmares about Smelly Gabe, Nico always sneaked into their room and to Percy's sleeping space. And when that happened, the others soon followed. First was Hazel, who was always happy and giggly when she saw her big brother, so she would waddle over on unsure feet to snuggle up to Nico. Next was mostly Leo, just like right now. The little lion apparently decided that Percy was his big brother. But Percy was fine with that, somehow being a big brother felt like it was part of him. Then Frank would follow and cuddle up next to Leo on Percy's side and last was Reyna, who squeezed in on Nico's side of the cuddle-pile, together with Hazel. They always were a puppy-pile, that was what Annabeth called it. Percy didn't understand, because they weren't puppies. Well, Frank was, sometimes.

"What's it, Leo?", asked Percy with a yawn.

"Cuddles!", demanded the five-years old Latino, throwing himself at Percy.

Percy giggled and hugged Leo close. The energetic little one was totally awesome. He was as hyper as Percy and as prone for getting into trouble. They were totally meant to be brothers, Percy was sure of that. Ruffling Leo's wild curls, Percy turned around to see that Nico was still awake too.

"Nico?", asked Percy softly. "I have a question. Can I ask you a question and you won't laugh?"

"Uh... sure?", nodded the older boy confused. "What is it, Percy?"

"Are we always gonna be friends?", asked Percy, frowning.

"That's a silly question", said Nico, now even more confused. "Why do you ask?"

"Oh...", mumbled Percy and averted his eyes. "It's just... I never had a friend before. Everyone always thinks I'm weird and a freak and stupid, just because I'm eight and still can't really read and am a little slow and because I talk to horses and fishes. I don't... I wanna be friends with you forever because I never had a friend before a—and... what if you decide I'm too stupid too?"

"That's a silly Percy", frowned Nico and crawled closer to pull Percy (and consequently also Leo) into a hug. "You're not stupid. You're totally awesome and we'll be best friends forever and ever and longer. I'm the son of Hades, we can even be friend when we're both ghosts."

"...I don't wanna be a ghost", whispered Percy frightened.

Nico laughed and grinned broadly at Percy. "But we could haunt houses together?"

"Like Casper?", asked Percy curiously. "Friendly ghosts, right?"

"Of course", agreed Nico with a smile. "As long as we're together, right?"

"Right", nodded Percy relieved and snuggled up to Nico. "I'm glad I met you."

Nico just grinned proudly and hugged Percy some closer. If he was being honest, he never had a friend like Percy either. Back in Italy, he mostly just ran after Bianca, because he adored her so much. Auntie Rachel had said that Bianca was with his mom and that they had send Nico here because she was sick and they didn't want him to get the same. He didn't like that, but he liked the people he had met on this ship. Especially his totally cute baby sister Hazel and his totally awesome Percy, who he was never ever going to give up, especially if Percy was afraid of it.

Author's note: I'M DONE! SOOO DONE! Handed in my Bachelor Thesis this morning. Dooone! Wooow! And yes, I know I should get back into the stories I have, but... it's so much work getting back into the plots so to celebrate I started something new. Not to worry, all will be updated soon enough too. ;)

This... is gonna be crazy! It'll start off with kid!Percy and kid!Nico, but they won't stay kids, don't worry. Reality still bleeds and even I don't know how and when it will affect who. For now, fluff and adorable little kids! Merman!Percy will follow later *grins*