"Yeah, I can totally give you guys a ride if Chiron says you can go." I told Annabeth.

"Really, Seaweed Brain? That's great, thank you so much!" She kissed me on the cheek. "This means a lot to Luke, he needs to know if his mom is out there still."

"I understand. It's great that you're helping him get back in the swing of things." I told her.

"I'm just worried about him, you know? There's so many new things going on now that weren't happening back when he was here."

"I know, Wise Girl. You're one of his best friends, it's normal for you to be concerned."

She nodded. "Right. Will you come with me to ask Chiron if he'll allow us to do any of this?"

"Of course, Wise Girl."

Annabeth grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the Big House.

Chiron was on the deck, leaning back in his wheelchair. He looked like he was asleep, but as we moved closer, he began to stir and sat up straighter.

"Annabeth, Percy. How are you two today?" He asked jovially. Come to think of it, I couldn't think of a time when Chiron was truly angry.

"We were wondering if we could have permission to take Luke to his house? He wants to see if his mother is still there and he was also hoping that if she is alive and well, you would allow her to live in camp, since he's worried about her." Annabeth said in a rush. She seemed worried that Chiron would say no, but I knew he would never decline the girl he had come to see as a daughter.

"It's risky, Annabeth. Three demigods, and one of them a son of the Big Three? You'd be asking for trouble." Chiron said slowly. I squeezed my girlfriend's hand reassuringly.

"Percy and I can handle it." Annabeth insisted. "We'll make sure no one gets hurt."

"I trust that you will." The old centaur said finally. "You may go, but I need to know Mrs. Castellan's condition and where she is before I say she can come into the camp."

"Thank you Chiron!" Annabeth leapt forward and gave him a tight hug, then started off towards the cabins. "Percy, can you get the car?"

"I'll have to find Leo, but yeah." I turned and headed for the forges.

Once I reached my destination, where I assumed Leo would be, I slowed down and peeked through the door carefully. The last time I had walked in before checking what was going on inside, I'd nearly been hit over the head with a large mallet. Nyssa and one of her siblings had gotten into a fight.

It looked safe, so I stepped inside. Almost immediately a seven year old boy bounced up to me.

"Hi Percy!"

"Hey, Buck." I kneeled down in front of him. "Do you know where Leo is?"

The dark haired boy frowned, crinkling his nose as he tried to remember where his half brother was.

"Oh! He's in the back! Want me to go get him?"

"That would be really helpful, Buck, thank you."

I stood up as the boy scampered off, ducking under hammers and weaving between work tables.

"Y'know, Buck really looks up to you." Someone said from beside me. "He always says he wants to be just like Percy Jackson."

I turned to Nyssa. "Is that so?"

She nodded, resting the crowbar in her hand on her shoulder. "He idolizes you."

I chuckled. "Not much to idolize. I've done more harm than good."

"That's a bunch of bs, Jackson." Nyssa rolled her eyes at me.

"Whatever you say." I replied. 

"Percy!" Leo jogged over, Buck hot on his heels. "Need the car?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Well you've got the keys. I parked it in a little garage I built near the street, just inside the forest.

"Thanks Leo." I leaned down and ruffled Buck's hair. "See you buddy." 

Quite a few children of Hephaestus called goodbyes as I left, and I waved to them.

I could see Annabeth and Luke making their way towards the border. I jogged over to them.

"Hey, I'm going to get the car now, meet me by Thalia's Tree?"

"Of course." Annabeth kissed my cheek.

I found the car easily enough. Leo hadn't disguised the garage at all. Throwing open the door, I backed the car out and closed it manually, then carefully backed out of the forest and down onto the street.

Annabeth and Luke were waiting for me at the street. I pulled up and got out.

"Luke needs to sit in the front." Annabeth told me. "That way he can give you directions."

I nodded. "Why don't you get him situated then? Or do you need my help?"

"No, I can do it." Annabeth promised. I leaned against the front of the car as she helped Luke wheel up to the passenger door and get into the car. She folded the wheelchair up deftly and put it in the backseat, then climbed in after it. I got in the driver's seat and fired up the engine.

"If I just tell you when to turn will that work?" Luke asked.

I nodded. "Just call me 'Cabbie.'"

[A/N I'm just going to put this out there, I really hate the Persassy thing.... He's not like that in the books at all and I don't like that he's portrayed that way, it makes me sad. And then RIORDAN RAN WITH IT for Heroes of Olympus and Percy's character development just spiraled backwards and uuuuugh]