ALL RIGHTS TO THE CHARACTERS (except Celeste, she's mine) BELONG TO RICK RIORDAN.

Chapter 1 - Celeste

"Percy, no." Celeste said, crossing her arms over her chest.

The cool, New York air blew her hair back through her face, causing her to have to constantly push it back. She was staring at Percy, giving him a look that hopefully looked intimidating.

Based on his mischievous grin, however, she knew there was no convincing him.

"Come on Celeste, how bad could it be?" He asked, lightly shoving her.

She stared into him harder, hoping to send her new goddess energy into him so she could scare him out of the idea.

It still wasn't working.

What was the point of being a goddess if you couldn't even convince your brother to do something?

"She could throw me out! Again!" Celeste protested.

Percy gave her a sympathetic look and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, it'll be alright. I'll be right behind you," He said. "Besides, I haven't seen her in awhile either."

Celeste stared into her brother's deep, sea green eyes. He was pleading with her now.

Sighing, she nodded, giving in to the pressure he was putting on her.

His smiled widened and he grabbed her arm and yanked her forward towards the building.

They got inside and used the elevator to get to the correct floor.

When they reached the door of the apartment however, Celeste hesitated when Percy reached over to knock.

She grabbed his wrist, causing him to jump and look back at her over his shoulder.

"What's wrong?" He asked. Concern began to show in his expression, and Celeste averted her eyes. She hated seeing him worrying about her.

"Nothing, I just..." She fumbled for words. "I don't know if I can."

Shaking off Celeste's grip on his wrist, Percy turned to face his sister.

He placed both of his hands on her shoulders and stared her directly in the eye.

"Celeste. You have done too much in your life to be scared of this little trip. You can do this." He said.

Celeste nodded, closing her eyes and taking in a deep breath.

Percy then walked to the door and knocked.

Almost as soon as his fist hit the door, it swung open, revealing a woman with brown disheveled hair. She was wearing a white T-shirt and a pair of jeans.

In the background, Celeste could make out a figure of a man. He was standing, watching from the other room, looking to see who was at the door.

When the woman appeared, her eyes widened in a mix of emotions.

Shock. Happiness. Relief. Anxiety.

She rushed forward and gathered Percy into a lung-crushing hug. However, Percy didn't seem to mind.

He hugged the woman back, even tighter. And then Celeste realized.

"Oh gods. It's her." She thought.

When Percy and Sally finally released, Sally finally spoke. "Oh Percy. Where have you been!?"

She sounded furious, but she couldn't hide the giant smile plastered over her face.

She leaned into the apartment and called out. "Paul! Come out here! It's Percy!"

Then, a man came rushing out, gathering Percy in a hug as well.

Celeste recognized him as Paul Blofis, Percy's stepdad. Well, her stepdad too.

It took a good five minutes for Sally and Paul to even realize Celeste was there. They were both too obsessed with finding out what Percy had been doing all these months.

When they finally saw Celeste though, she got puzzled looks.

Percy gave Celeste a thumbs up sign, ushering her to speak.

"Um...hi." Celeste managed.

Sally was staring at Celeste with wide eyes. She recognized her.

"Celeste?" She asked, backing up a step.

Paul turned to his wife with concern. "What's wrong? Who's Celeste?"

Sally pointed a trembling finger at Celeste and then burst into tears.

Celeste was dumbfounded.

Percy looked just as confused as Celeste did.

Paul began to comfort Sally, and Percy awkwardly patted his mother on the back.

Then, Celeste shrieked slightly when she found herself engulfed in her mother's arms.

Her mom's tears were staining her Camp Half-Blood T-shirt, and her hug was deathly tight.

Celeste strained under the hug, still trying to put her thoughts together.

When her mother let go, she sniffled and gave Celeste a weak smile.

"I thought you were dead." Sally said through her constant sniffles.

This caught Celeste by surprise.

"You did!?" Celeste asked.

Sally nodded, looking Celeste up and down as if to check if she were real.

"Here, both of you come inside." She said, gesturing them both into the apartment.

Celeste followed Sally with Percy right on her heels.

They walked in and immediately sat at the kitchen table.

"So...tell me the story. I want to know everything." Sally said, staring down her two children.

Celeste let Percy tell the story and Celeste constantly cut in with parts from her point of view.

After a good 15 minutes, they had finished talking, and Sally and Paul had blank looks of complete and utter horror on their faces.

"That's terrible." Paul said in sync with Sally.

Percy and Celeste nodded grimly.

"Wait, so you're a goddess now?" Sally asked Celeste.

Celeste nodded, causing Sally to whiten. She looked as if she was on the brink of fainting onto the tiled floor.

Percy quickly grabbed his mom's hand, trying to calm her.

"What are you a goddess of?" Paul asked out of curiosity.

"Basically anything that has to do with water." Celeste briefly explained.

Paul nodded, a childlike interest blooming in his eyes.

"Anyways," Percy interrupted, still holding Sally's hand. "Celeste and I just stopped by to say hello, see how you guys were doing. Maybe we should-"

"No!" Sally yelled suddenly, causing both Percy and Celeste to jump. "No, stay here. Percy, I haven't seen you in months. You can't just leave."

"But-" Percy began, uncertainty in his eyes.

"Percy, it'll be fine. You stay here, I'll go back to camp." Celeste said.

Percy looked back to his sister with worry. "Are you sure Celeste?"

Celeste crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "Percy, you act like I'm incapable of taking care of myself. I'll be fine."

Percy nodded and said nothing.

Celeste then turned to leave, walking across the apartment and towards the front door.

She didn't look back at the solemn faces of her mother, brother, and stepdad.