Everyone lost their minds.

Immediately, the Hephaestus campers began to ask questions, wondering who the other demigods were and how long it would take to build the boat. They wanted to know how it was being decided who got to go to Greece– Emilia wished shedidn't have to go, but the way things stood, it seemed she was one of the main ones about to sail for her doom.

"Heroes!" Chiron struck his hoof on the floor. "All the details are not clear yet, but Leo is correct. He will need your help to build the Argo II. It is perhaps the greatest project Cabin Nine has ever undertaken, even greater than the bronze dragon."

"It'll tak a year at least," guessed Nyssa. "Do we have that much time?"

"You have six months at most," said Chiron. "You should sail by summer solstice, when the gods' power is strongest. Besides, we evidently cannot trust the wind gods, and the summer ones are the least powerful and easiest to navigate. You dare not sail any later, or you may be too late to stop the giants. You must avoid ground travel, using only air and sea, so this vehicle is perfect. Jason being the son of the sky god..."

He trailed off, perhaps thinking of Percy. Jake Mason turned to Leo. "Well one thing's for sure. You are now senior counselor. This is the biggest honor the cabin has ever had. Anyone object?"

No one did. The Hephaestus kids smiled at Leo, no longer the hopeless group they'd been when Emilia first arrived at camp. "It's official then," said Jake. "You're the man."

Leo was speechless for a moment, then grinned ear to ear. "Well, if you guys elect me leader, you must be even crazier than I am. So let's build a spankin' hot war machine!"

As they waited for Annabeth and Rachel to arrive for the war council, Emilia got to thinking about what she would be doing for the next six months. She'd have to train harder than ever before, she'd have to test the limits of her powers, she'd have to figure out whether her mother had risen from out of Tartarus or not. Six months of peace, where she might get to meet her family, might get to learn to be a friend before she got shoved into another small space with four people that may or may not like her.

They were called into the same room that Emilia had first seen at Camp Half-Blood, where her fate had been decided. It was different now with so many new senior counselors. Clarisse from Ares, Will from Apollo, Travis Stoll from Hermes, Butch from Iris, Clovis from Hypnos, Lou Ellen from Hecate, Miranda Gardiner from Demeter.

And now she sat there with them. Leo was on her left, Piper on her right, and Jason had stood behind them until it came time to sit down. Rachel Dare, the oracle, sat next to Chiron at the head of the table. Thalia had not managed to make it, but Annabeth was there, wearing armor over her camp clothes. She didn't look relaxed, but she'd flashed Emilia a proud smile, which was just about the best thing Emilia had ever felt to date. It meant a lot to her to have proven to Annabeth that she had deserved the chance she fought to give her.

"Let's come to order," said Chiron. "Now, as you can see, Jason, Piper, Leo, and Emilia have returned successfully... more or less. Some of you have heard parts of their story, but I will let them fill you in.

They went through it again. Jason handled most of it, the others chiming in from time to time to fill up details. He happily praised all of them, even Emilia. He made sure to emphasize her contributions, as if to prove to anyone who still doubted her that she had been an extremely valuable member of their team. She'd never felt her face burn so much.

"So Hera was here," said Annabeth at last. "Talking to you."

Jason nodded. "Look, I'm not saying I trust her—"

"That's smart."

"—but she isn't making this up about another group of demigods. That's where I came from."

"It's been hidden from us for a long time," said Emilia. "To keep us from killing each other."

"I can respect that," said Clarisse. "Still, why haven't we ever run across each other on quests?"

"Oh, yes," Chiron said sadly. "You have, many times. It is always a tragedy, and always the gods do their best to wipe clean the memories of those involved. The rivalry goes all the way back to the Trojan War, Clarisse. The Greeks invaded Troy and burned it to the ground. The Trojan hero Aeneas escaped, and eventually made his way to Italy, where he founded the race that would someday become Rome. The Romans grew more and more powerful, worshiping the same gods but under different names, and with slightly different personalities."

"More warlike," said Jason. "More united. More about expansion, conquest, and discipline."

Annabeth twirled her knife on the table. "And the Romans hated the Greeks. They took revenge when they conquered the Greek isles, and made them part of the Roman Empire."

"Not exactly hated them," said Jason. "The Romans admired Greek culture, and were a little jealous. In return, the Greeks thought the Romans were barbarians, but they respected their military power. So during Roman times, demigods started to divide— either Greek or Roman."

"And it's been that way ever since," guessed Annabeth. "And you say the Romans destroyed the fortress on Mount Othrys."

"Yes," said Jason. "We destroyed the palace. I defeated the Titan Krios myself."

Annabeth's eyes were as stormy as a ventus. "The Bay Area. We demigods were always told to stay away from it because Mount Othrys was there. But that wasn't the reason, was it? The Roman camp– it's got to be somewhere near San Francisco. I bet it was put there to keep watch on the Titans' territory. Where is it?"

Chiron shifted in his wheelchair. "I cannot say. Honestly, even I have never been trusted with that information. My counterpart, Lupa, is not exactly the sharing type. Jason's memory, too, has been burned away."

"The camp's heavily veiled with magic," said Jason. "And heavily guarded. We could search for years and never find it."

Rachel laced her fingers. "But you'll try, won't you? You'll build Leo's boat, the Argo II. And before you make for Greece, you'll sail for the Roman camp. You'll need their help to confront the giants."

"Bad plan," warned Clarisse. "If those Romans see a warship coming, they'll assume we're attacking."

"We can send a message," offered Emilia. "I can shadow-travel with Jason or we can find a way to Iris-message them."

"I agree," said Jason. "I was sent here to learn about Camp Half Blood— to try and convince you the two camps don't have to be enemies. A peace offering."

Rachel hummed. "Because Hera is convinced we need both camps to win the war with the giants. Eight heroes of Olympus– some Greek, some Roman."

Annabeth nodded. "Your Great Prophecy mentions foes bearing arms to the Doors of Death. Gaea has opened them. She's letting out the worst villains in the Underworld to fight us. Medea, Midas— there'll be more, I'm sure. Maybe the line means that the Roman and Greek demigods will unite, and find the doors, and close them."

"Or it could mean they fight each other at the doors of death," Clarisse pointed out. "It doesn't say we'll cooperate."

"No," agreed Emilia. "Not as a whole. But the Eight will be a starting point. The prophecy for our quest showed me as a deciding factor. From our understanding, I was made as a bridge to the two worlds. And Hera's little scheme, it was an exchange to make the camps aware of each other. Jason came here; it's no coincidence he arrived just as Percy disappeared. I think Percy was sent to the other camp."

She pondered on it for a while after the meeting. She, the bridge of the Eight, the anchor of their enemies. Given a chance by Percy, evaluated by Jason. The prophecy called for the world to fall to either storm or fire. Did it mean all of them, or just Gaea?

Would one of them fall, too? Emilia couldn't help but think that the only way for the world to be at peace after this last threat was for the anchor not to exist anymore. For her to stop being the thing that allowed monsters to get an easier grip on this realm. If she was no longer alive...

Then what are you waiting for, you foolish girl? End it all. You know it is the right thing to do. Don't pose a further threat to those you think are your 'friends.' If you won't do what's right and give the giants the advantage, then destroy their chance altogether and return yourself to Tartarus...

"I am so over you," said Emilia sharply, staring at the ground as if she was talking to Kronos himself. "I survived you, you know? You took me when I was nothing and you tried to mold me into what you needed to get what you wanted. You twisted me against the gods... I won't say they're the greatest but is anyone, really? I think the Titans and the Giants are worse. Gaea is worse. I'm not going to let her win. She used me, too. I'm going to destroy her. I overcame you, I got to see that demigods are not as bad as you made me think. I will make more friends, I will rip your mother apart, and I will make whatever I want of myself because you don't control me anymore. You're nothing. You can never hurt me again."

The voice was silent.

-

"Are you sure you're ready for this?"

She tightened her fists, staring across the street at her aunt's house. Her car wasn't there, which meant she wasn't home yet. Soon, though. Emilia estimated she'd be back any minute. She might even see her waiting there, with Piper, Jason, and Leo behind her.

It hadn't been easy to convince Chiron to allow this. He'd barely agreed to the shopping trip she took with Pollux and Piper (though it had been probably one of the finer experiences of life). To let them go back to San Francisco...

In the end, charmspeak or not, Piper came through. Will did a bit of poking, too, insisting it would be good for Emilia. In the end, Chiron had to agree.

Emilia's eyes almost welled up with tears. The last time she stood in this spot, she'd been arriving home from school and glaring up at a house that held no warmth, ready to enter a place where she felt she didn't belong. She'd been dressed in dark clothes, upset with the world, closed off even without the shadows curling over her form.

She dressed differently now, standing more confidently in a puffer jacket over a crop top and her cargo pants, the only one of them not bothered by the brittle cold beneath a sky of gray clouds as rain prepared to fall over a gloomy January morning in San Francisco. Piper had shown her how to do her makeup the way Aphrodite had– neatly brushed brows, curled eyelashes, a bit of shadow on the edges, pink glossy lips. Emilia had never felt beautiful or important when she'd lived here before, but she came now with a confidence she never felt she'd attain.

Still, she was afraid of what her aunt would say.

"It's after school," Emilia had told Atlas. "I can be anywhere I want."

"Anywhere you want," he'd repeated. "But there are limits to that. You cannot go home, can you?"

Jason put a hand on her shoulder, shaking her as a car parked across the street. Evangelina Gonzalez was blissfully unaware of their presence, reaching into the backseat and carrying with her a bag of groceries. She sang softly to herself, Amor Eterno by Rocío Dúrcal. She climbed up the stairs, still singing, then finally went into the house, the light in the kitchen turning on. She was probably ready to make her dinner.

"Are you sure?" asked Leo. "You can change your mind, you know."

"We're already here," said Emilia weakly. "Let's go before I chicken out."

As she walked up the familiar steps, she imagined her aunt yelling at her. She might think she was a ghost, she might kick her out.

Emilia reached for the doorbell, ringing it hesitantly. "Ay voy," called Evangelina before going back to her song. (T: I'll be right there! / On my way!)

She wrung her hands together nervously as the footsteps drew nearer. The door swung open and Evangelina stopped singing immediately. Her face went white. Emilia figured she might scream and slam the door in her face.

It probably helped that she wasn't alone. Even if her aunt wanted to think it wasn't real, it would be hard to manage with three strangers behind her niece. "Mi niña hermosa," said Evangelina, eyes welling up with tears. "Estás viva." (T: My beautiful girl. You're alive.)

"Hola, Tía Evangelina," said Emilia, voice trembling. "Tengo mucho que decirte. Hay mucho que alomejor no vas a entender pero–" (T: Hi, Aunt Evangelina. I have a lot to tell you. There's a lot that maybe you won't understand but–)

She pulled her into a tight hug. Emilia's face was pressed into her aunt's chest as the woman held the back of her head, sobbing into her hair. "Ay, mija. Ya regresaste. Dios ha contestado mis oraciones." (T: Oh, my daughter. You've come back. God has answered my prayers.)

She wanted her to come back. She missed her. She prayed to have her returned safely.

Evangelina ushered all of them in. "Hello," she said, hugging Piper, then Leo, then Jason. "Thank you for bringing her. I'm Evangelina Gonzalez, but you can all call me 'Tía,' if you'd like."

"Something smells good," said Leo, inhaling. "That looks like... but it doesn't smell—? Are you making enchiladas?"

Evangelina smiled, wiping the tears from under her eyes. "I am. I forgot the tortillas at the store, so I had to run and get them. I left the mole on the stove. Enchiladas dulces estilo Colima." (T: Sweet enchiladas, Colima style.)

"I didn't even know there were sweet enchiladas," said Leo. "That sounds delicious."

The woman tapped his cheek, smiling. "Well, you're all going to try them today and I expect to hear everything. You're not leaving until I find out how it is that this miracle has occurred."

Emilia had never credited her aunt for how good of a listener she was. Most things didn't even surprise her. She believed in God but she didn't deny the existence of Aztec, Greek, Roman, Mayan, and Egyptian gods, among others. She thought they all existed under the same branch of faith in an entity greater than oneself.

She'd known Emilia was special since she first met her. She'd already lived in San Diego before Emilio and Ximena brought her over, and she had sworn she noticed the shadows from the first. She blamed herself for Ximena having seen her as a demon– she never should've mentioned the shadows. She thought it was fascinating but her sister-in-law thought it was a curse.

Her eyes had grown sad as Emilia told her the truth about how Atlas approached her. About how she'd felt, how it'd made her an easy target. Her aunt's fists clenched listening to how Kronos used her, how she'd been at camp feeling worthless and like she was a problem. Even though most of their quest wasn't pleasant, it thrilled her to hear of how Emilia had learned to use her abilities. To know that she'd felt secure enough to come back.

As soon as she had all the context, she started to fuss over them even more. She piled food onto Jason and Leo's plate's, insisting that Leo needed as much fuel for his brilliant mind as possible and that Jason needed to get stronger if he was going to be fighting giants. She'd made Piper and Emilia look through some old clothes she'd been meaning to donate, in case they wanted anything. Piper picked a few jackets and Emilia chose some shoes.

"So, you don't know my dad?" said Piper, bewildered that the McLean surname had turned absolutely no gears in Evangelina's head.

She shook her head. "No... if he hasn't been in any Spanish shows or movies, I have no idea who he is. Your father should be in a novela, or perhaps a movie about the Aztecs or Mayans. It's about time they were given a good film. Leo, mijo, eat more."

"I think four plates is enough," said Leo, denying another helping. "It's really good though, thank you Ms. Gonzalez."

"Tía," she insisted. "That makes me sound so old. So this demigod business, this war... I might not see you for a while?"

"I'm not sure," admitted Emilia. "Chiron gave us a pretty strict deadline even just for this. We have to fly back by tomorrow night. It's not safe here. We're most protected at Camp Half-Blood. And demigods and technology... it's not the best idea. I'll be okay. I'll find ways to contact you, I'll visit when I can. And when all of this is over, I'll come and show you that I'm okay."

Evangelina smiled. "Come with me, mija. We need to talk, just us."

As she led her away, Emilia imagined what the conversation would be about. The thing that Gaea had shown her– her siblings knowing about her.

They entered her own room, preserved just as Emilia had it. She almost smiled thinking about how different it was from her room at Camp Half-Blood.

"Daniel knows," said Evangelina. "He came to find me, he asked about you. I told him everything I knew. Emilio called me after Daniel went home for break. Your brother started quite the argument. All your siblings know now. Ximena, well, I never much liked her abrasiveness... she still thinks her children are being ridiculous. Daniel would very much like to know you're here. Maybe one day, whenever you're ready, we can go to San Diego. You can meet them. They want to know you."

She caressed Emilia's face, "I'm sure that from their perspective, it would bring some closure for them to know the truth. Perhaps your papi would feel some peace knowing why it all happened. Ximena might finally try to be more open-minded. But that is only if you're willing. I would never pressure you to share such things, mija, it's your story and your suffering. The things you went through because of all our choices..."

"You protected me," said Emilia, looking down at her feet, ashamed. "I never appreciated it before. You took me in when you didn't have to. You loved me and I didn't acknowledge it. I left you behind, I–"

"Ay, mi amor," said Evangelina, shaking her head. "Prométeme que nunca más te echarás la culpa por eso. Tú eras una niña. Yo debería haber hecho mucho más para enseñarte el valor que tenías. Ahora que entiendo todo mejor... voy a hacer un mayor esfuerzo para entenderte. Yo te quiero mucho. Yo nunca pude tener hijos y tú fuiste mi niña. Mi bebé. Siempre te voy a apoyar con cualquier cosa que quieras hacer. Ya pareces ser tan inteligente, tan fuerte... me da miedo considerar el conflicto en el que estarás... no es justo que una persona tenga que lidiar con eso. Pero yo te admiro mucho. Siempre trabajaste muy duro, siempre fuiste tan buena persona... A lo mejor tú no lo pensabas pero yo sí. Vas a salir adelante. Te lo debería haber dicho más seguido. Acuérdate que nunca estás sola. Tienes amigos muy buenos y te tienes a ti misma. Eres hermosa, por dentro y por fuera. Nunca lo vuelvas a dudar. Yo sé que tú harás todas las mejores decisiones. Tu vas a salvar el mundo. Cuando te de miedo, piensa en tus poderes, piensa en las personas que te han apoyado, piensa en todo lo que has sobrevivido. Y recuerda... aquí siempre tendrás tu casa."

(T: Oh, my love. Promise me that you'll never again blame yourself for that. You were a girl. I should've done much more to show you the value you had. Now I understand it all better... I'm going to make a better effort to understand you. I love you. I never could have children and you were my girl. My baby. I'll always support you which whatver you want to do. You already seem to be so smart, so strong... I'm afraid to consider the conflict you'll be in... it isn't fair for a person to have to deal with that. But I admire you a lot. You always worked so hard, you were always such a good person... maybe you didn't think that, but I did. You'll come out ahead. I should've told you that more often. Remember you're never alone. You have very good friends and you have yourself. You're beautiful, on the inside and the outside. Never doubt that again. I know you will make all the best decisions. You are going to save the world. When you're afraid, think of your powers, think of the people who have supported you, think of what you have survived. And remember... you'll always have a home here.)

Emilia's lip quivered, shutting her eyes tight as she began to cry. Her aunt wrapped her arms around her, holding her as she sobbed, releasing all her doubts, her fears, her frustrations. This was home, this was safety, and she had never seen that before.

"Let it out, mija," said Evangelina, rocking her gently. "You're safe here. No matter what you choose, no matter where you go, I will pray for you. I will do my best to be your guardian angel, the champion who cheers from afar. You will survive all of this."

Kronos's voice did not return. In the weeks that followed, Emilia noticed he didn't speak, didn't interfere. Whenever her conscience spoke, her aunt's voice rang through.

Her amends were made.

-

A/N: Happy 200 pages! Comment for more :)