To JasonGraceIsDead- :D

To Guest- in a way, she is! But endearingly so? I've always imagined her as that 'in my defence, I was left unsupervised' quote personified.

To RandomFanAuthor- I mentioned it earlier in the story (or one of them) that Lou knew about and went to Camp Jupiter, but I've not overly expanded on it as of yet. There's a bit more in the Blood of Olympus rewrite, and I'm partially working on the full story for it, but I've only done a few chapters. Lou is also a bi disaster, she knows she likes Reyna, but doesn't realise she likes Leo, she and Piper talked about it (I think in my MoA rewrite?) Hope this helps! ^_^

Speaking of bi disaster, I love this chapter- DILEMMA.

Nico was getting ready with the statue. He had acquired a length of rope and was walking it around the pedestal of the Athena Parthenos. He saw movement in the corner of his eye and glanced round.

"Thank you." Percy said.

"For what?" Nico frowned.

"You promised to lead the others to the House of Hades." Percy replied, restlessly toying with his hands. "You did it." Nico tied the ends of the ropes together, making a halter.

"You got me out of that bronze jar in Rome. Saved my life yet again. Least I could do." He squinted up at the statue. "Besides, I couldn't leave it to Lou." He said it like a joke, but his voice was steely and guarded. Percy wished he could figure Nico out, what made him tick. But he was not the same geeky kid from Westover Hall with an abundance of Mythomagic cards. Nor was he was the angry loner who had followed the ghost of Minos through the Labyrinth. So who was he?

"Also," Percy continued uncertainly, "you visited Bob…" He told Nico about the trip through Tartarus. Nico didn't look at him as he spoke, shoulders tensed. "You convinced Bob that I could be trusted, even though I never visited him. I never gave him a second thought. You probably saved our lives by being nice to him."

"Yeah, well…" Nico looked off to his right, eyes glittering dangerously. "Not giving people a second thought… that can be dangerous."

"Dude, I'm trying to say thank you."

"I'm trying to say you don't need to. Now I need to finish this, if you could give me some space." Percy nodded, stepping back while Nico took up the slack on his ropes. He slipped them over his shoulders as if the statue were a giant backpack. Percy tried not to feel hurt, effectively being told to clear off. But he understood. Nico had faced Tartarus alone. Percy understood first-hand how much strength that had taken.

Someone slipped their hand into Percy's. He looked round and Annabeth smiled at him.

"Good luck." She told Nico.

"Yeah." Nico said, not meeting her eyes. "You too."

A minute later, Reyna, Louisa and Coach Hedge arrived. Reyna and Coach were in full armour with packs over their shoulder. Reyna looked grim and ready to fight. Coach grinned like he was expecting a surprise party. Louisa appeared to be sulking.

Reyna looked to Annabeth.

"We will succeed." She promised, giving the blonde a one-armed hug.

"I know you will." Annabeth smiled. Past them, Louisa had picked Nico up in one of her infamous bear-hugs. He squirmed and wheezed protests, gasping when she eventually set him down.

"Don't make me come 'n' find ya, cuz." She warned, messing his hair. Nico rubbed at his ribs, pretty sure a few had been crushed out of alignment. "You'll be OK." She assured. "Don't do anythin' I would do 'n' ya'll be fine."

"You're going to have to narrow it down a bit more, Lou." Nico retorted lightly.

"Nah." She looked to Coach. "Make sure this dick eats, OK?"

"Yes ma'am." Coach nodded once, shouldering his bat. "Don't worry about a thing! I'm going to get to camp and see my baby! Uh, I mean I'm going to get this baby to camp!" He patted the leg of the Athena Parthenos. Louisa rolled her eyes and turned, coming face to face with Reyna.

"Can I trust you to behave?"

"Fuck no."

"I thought as much." Reyna sighed, smiling. "Try not to get stabbed this time, OK?" Reyna pulled her into a hug. Despite the armour, she could feel Louisa trying to bear-hug her too. "I'll keep an eye on Nico," Reyna promised under her breath, "but he's right, you do have to narrow it down, like, a lot more." Louisa snorted.

"We'll figure it out later." She shrugged. "Be careful, Rey-Rey. 'N' don't kill Octavian without me."

"You know I'd never dream of it."

"Good." Louisa drew back, absent-mindedly checking the straps of Reyna's armour. Perfect, as always. "I'll hold ya ta that." She warned playfully. Reyna smiled, holding up her hand, little finger out. Louisa grinned, and they pinkie-promised, pressing their thumbs together to lock it.

"Alright," Nico said, "grab the ropes please." Reyna studied Louisa's face carefully. Coach moved to Nico's side, twisting a loop of rope around his wrist.

"Don't give Frank too much grief." She said, touching Louisa's cheek.

"What 'bout Jason?"

"All the grief you want." Reyna smiled. Louisa grinned wickedly. Reyna gently held her chin, conscious of everyone watching, but she might not get this chance again. She kissed Louisa and then hugged her once more. "I'm going to miss you, Lou." Louisa's hands came up, resting on Reyna's back for a brief moment and then she was gone. Reyna looped her hand in the rope and smiled. Louisa was staring at her, bright-red and lost for words. A thousand questions clamoured in her eyes, but Reyna knew her well enough; she could see they were wishing for the same thing- a bit more time.

"Uh, OK." Nico said, mind reeling. "Let's go." The air darkened. The Athena Parthenos collapsed into its own shadow and disappeared, along with its three escorts.

Annabeth watched the space they had disappeared for a moment, sending up a silent prayer. Percy nudged her and she looked to Louisa.

"I think she's broken." He said, holding back laughter. Annabeth felt a smile tug at her cheeks. Louisa pressed her fingers to her mouth, realisation dawning on her. "There it is." Percy snickered. "Lou?" He called softly, his tone almost as if he were talking to a three year old. "You OK?"

"No." Louisa croaked. Annabeth pushed Percy in the back, but he was moving anyway. He wrapped his arms around his sister, resting his chin on her head. He rubbed soothing circles into her back, but could feel her overwhelment.

"I think her brain's melting." He hissed back to Annabeth.

"I'll get Piper." Annabeth laughed. "But she's so your sister."

The Argo II set sail after nightfall. Piper had managed to coax some words out of Louisa, solidifying her brain a little, but was now stationed at her side. She thought it was most amusing.

"Is Lou OK?" Leo asked. "She's not sworn at me for, like, an hour now."

"She's having an existential crisis," Piper said, "try again later."

"Uh, OK?"

The ship veered southwest until they reached the coast, then splashed down in the Ionian Sea. Percy seemed to come alive with the waves beneath him again, Louisa was gradually coming out of her stupor. The trip to Athens would have been considerably shorter over land, but with the crew's experience with mountain gods in Italy, they decided they would avoid land as much as they could. The plan was to sail around the Greek mainland and follow the routes Greek heroes had taken in ancient times.

Percy stood at the starboard rail, closing his eyes as the fresh sea air filled his lungs and revelled in the salty spray on his arms. He could sense the currents beneath them, renewed vigour humming through him. But all he could see was Tartarus. The River Phelgethon, the blistered ground where monsters regenerated. The dark forest where the arai screeched overhead in blood-mist clouds.

But most of all, he thought of a hut in the swamp with a warm fire and racks of drying herbs and drakon jerky. Was that hut empty now?

Warmth pressed into his side, a hand curling into the crook of his arm. He opened his eyes, pressed a kiss to Annabeth's temple.

"I know." She said quietly. "We have to make their sacrifice worth it. We have to beat Gaia." Percy looked up the night sky. He wished they were looking at it from the beach on Long Island. Not half the world away, sailing towards almost certain death.

Leo whistled happily behind them, over in the bow. He was tinkering with Festus's mechanical brain, occasionally muttering something about an astrolabe and a crystal. Amidships, Piper had bribed Louisa into swordplay with her and Hazel, the ringing of their blades echoing through the night. Jason and Frank stood at the helm, talking in low tones. Frank wrung his hands and Jason patted his arm, smiling reassuringly.

As they sailed further from the coast, the sky darkened. More stars came out. Percy wiped at his face, studied the constellations Annabeth had taught him about years ago.

"Bob says hello."

And done! Blood of Olympus rewrite as of tomorrow!