𝙰𝙽𝙳𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙴𝙳𝙰 𝚂𝚀𝚄𝙴𝙰𝙻𝙴𝙳 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝚁𝙰𝙽 as best she could to the swing.

"Luke," Andromeda wined, sitting on it. "Push me."

Luke sighed and walked over to the brunette before pushing her.

After the couple had been at the park for over an hour — most of it consisting of Andromeda begging Luke to push her — Andromeda sat down on a bench next to Luke.

"Luke?" Her voice was soft as she watched the little kids playing, their parents following them.

Luke turned his head to Andromeda. "Yeah?"

She continued to watch the children play. "I wonder who the oldest kid here is."

Luke didn't hesitate before she answered. "You."

Andromeda gasped dramatically. "What about you?"

Luke laughed. "I'm acting as your legal guardian."

Andromeda rolled her eyes and leaned her head against his shoulder. "You're my boyfriend, not my guardian."

Lule smiled softly before running his hand through her hair. "So I'm your boyfriend now?"

"Yeah," Andromeda said the 'duh' evident in her tone. She sighed and after a moment of silence spoke, "The letter was from Mom."

"What?"

"The note with the bracelet. It was from Mom," Andromeda said softly.

Luke smiled. "Why'd you bring it up?"

Andromeda shrugged. "It felt right to tell you."

Luke smiled. "Andromeda Dover, tell anyone anything? Oh, my gods. It's a miracle!" He teased.

Andromeda leaned away from Luke and pushed him playfully.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"𝙲𝙷𝙸𝚁𝙾𝙽," Andromeda wined. "Why do I have to be here?" Chiron sighed. "Andromeda please."

Andromeda sighed and sat down on the floor of the living room in the Big House. She looked out the window when she saw three figures in the woods.

She jumped up. "Chiron, who's that?"

"Nickolas Graves, protector. Emma Keller and Harper Pace, half-bloods," Chiron said. He quickly explained that he had been notified by Nickolas that they were coming, and wanted Andromeda to show the two girls around.

Andromeda ran outside when she saw that a pack of hellhounds was following them, with Luke following her in her.

"Get to the border!" Andromeda yelled. "Quickly!" She shoved the two girls in the direction of the Big House.

"Nick, get inside now!" She yelled.

Nickolas tried to run faster, but his shoe-clad hoof got caught in a tree branch on the ground, causing the satyr to fall. A hellhound grabbed the satyr's hoof with its teeth.

Andromeda ran forward and used the water in the hellhounds' bodies to make them combust. She ran forward and crouched next to the satyr.

"Luke!" she cried. Luke ran behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you," Nickolas said weakly. "For helping... Harper and Emma."

Andromeda's eyes began filling with tears. "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Nick, don't you dare die on me. You can't–" she choked on a sob. She watched with horror as the life faded from his eyes and Nickolas turned into a sapling of a lily.

"De, come here," Luke said softly, holding his arms open for her. Andromeda leaned into Luke and buried his head in her chest, sobbing as the Son of Hermes held her.

After a few minutes, Andromeda gathered herself, and gently picked up the small plant in front of her, her hands cupping the soil reverently.

She stood and walked to the Big House.

"Chiron," she called hoarsely. "I need a pot."

Chiron walked into the living room, a small plant holder in his hands. "He was a great protector."

"He brought my mother here," Andromeda said softly, placing Nickolas's lily in the holder. She grabbed the holder from Chiron, before turning to Harper and Emma.

"So, Emma Keller. Harper Pace. Do you know what you are?"

"People," Harper responded. "Duh."

Andromeda turned to Chiron. "She has attitude. I like her." She turned back to the two girls. "Hopefully she won't... die." Andromeda smirked and walked out.

"Seriously?" Luke asked, following her. She shrugged.

"Why?" He pushed.

"Because."

A girl Andromeda's age ran up to the two. Cuts were splattered across her face, he nose was bleeding and her left cheek was bruised.

"Help," she whispered before passing out, faceplanting into the grass.

Andromeda then saw the cyclops charing the girl and sighed. "Luke, take care of that. I'll get her inside."

Luke ran off and started fighting the Cyclops.

Andromeda tried to pick the girl up but fell on top of her instead.

"Why. Are. You. So. Fucking. Heavy?" Andromeda grunted out as she dragged the girl to the house.

Chiron walked out just as Andromeda was about to attempt to drag the girl up the stairs.

"Who is this?" Chiron asked.

"Don't know," Andromeda said breathlessly. Chiron nodded. "I'll take it from here."

Andromeda nodded. She walked over to where she had stopped and picked up her plant.

"Luke," Andromeda called. She saw him a few moments later, with a bleeding lip.

"Come here," she murmured. She examined his lip and shook her head. "Come on."

She dragged him and the plant to the infirmary.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝙴 𝚆𝙰𝚂 𝙰 𝙺𝙽𝙾𝙲𝙺 𝙾𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙳𝙾𝙾𝚁 of the Hermes cabin.

"Come in," Andromeda called, her attention focused on the crocheted turtle stuffed animal in front of her that her mother had given her.

Annabeth opened the door and hugged Andromeda from behind.

Andromeda jumped. "Who the fuck–"

"Surprise!" Annabeth sat down on Andromeda's bed.

"Hey, Anna." Andromeda smiled.

Annabeth looked over at Nickolas's lily. "When'd you get that?"

"Oh." Andromeda looked down at the turtle. "Um, Nick passed."

"Nick?" Annabeth asked softly.

"He's Mom's protector."

"Seems like I've missed a lot."

Andromeda nodded. "Why don't we go to the arena?"

Annabeth nodded and the two girls walked to the arena, catching up as they walked.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"𝚂𝙾 𝚈𝙾𝚄 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙻𝚄𝙺𝙴 𝙰𝚁𝙴 𝙾𝙵𝙵𝙸𝙲𝙸𝙰𝙻𝙻𝚈 𝚃𝙾𝙶𝙴𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁?" Annabeth asked. Andromeda nodded, causing Annabeth to smile softly. "About time."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Andromeda asked. Annabeth laughed. "You two were unbearable."

Andromeda shook her head. "We weren't that bad."

Annabeth gave Andromeda a pointed look, causing Andromeda to laugh. "Alright, maybe we were."

After a minute of silence, Andromeda spoke up, "I have a very serious question."

Annabeth looked over at Andromeda. "What's up?"

"So, Percy clearly likes you, so... are you a virgin?" Andromeda leaned forward. Annabeth blushed a furious shade of red. "No! Wait! Yes!"

Andromeda smiled. "Yes or no?"

"N– yes! I'm a virgin."

"Mm-hm," Andromeda hummed disbelievingly.

Luke walked into the arena a moment later. "Hey, De?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I talk to you?" Luke asked. "Alone." Andromeda nodded and followed him out of the arena.

"What's up?" Andromeda asked as they walked around the camp, her hand sliding into his.

"What would you do..." he trailed off, his expression one of worry.

"What would I do, what?"

"What would you do if I was the... the bad guy?" Luke asked.

"What?"

"What would you do–"

"No, I heard you, but... why would you ask that?"

"Just curious."

"Well, um... I don't know. Depends on the situation and time, I guess." She looked at him. "Are you the bad guy?" She seemed worried.

"No," Luke assured her.

Andromeda smiled softly. "Alright." She leaned into his side, not noticing his guilty expression.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

𝙰𝙽𝙳𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙴𝙳𝙰 𝚃𝙷𝚁𝙴𝚆 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝚄𝙻𝙻 𝚂𝙰𝙻𝙰𝙳 𝙱𝙾𝚆𝙻 on the floor, causing it to shatter. "I'm done cooking."

"De, it's for Annaeth," Luke said softly, placing his hands gently on her shoulders from behind her, massaging them softly.

Andromeda stomped her foot and crossed her arms. "I'm not a nymph. I don't enjoy cooking."

Luke kissed her cheek. "Please?"

Andromeda shook her head. "I don't have to listen to you."

"Pretty please?"

"Fine. I hate you though," she said, stepping away from him and walking toward the kitchen.

"That's not what you said last night—" Andromeda put her hand over his mouth quickly, her face resembling the color of a tomato.

She glanced around the living room, then at Mr. D,- who was smirking- before looking to Chiron. He shook his head softly, trying to hide his amusement.

Andromeda grabbed Luke's hand and dragged him out of the house.

"Seriously?" she asked.

"What?"

"In front of my father figure?" Andromeda asked.

Luke shrugged causing Andromeda to groan.

"Now I'm gonna be stuck in the Big House. Do you know how often he listens to dead people sing?" She started pacing.

"De, calm–"

"Do not finish that sentence."

"Or what?" Luke challenged.

"You're grounded."

"From what?"

"I will ask to be placed in the house so you won't get laid."

"Seriously?" His expression turned to one of horror.

Later that night, Percy and Annabeth burned the shrouds that were prepared for them. Afterward, the camp had a sing-along led by the Apollo cabin. Andromeda tried to steal some of Mr. D's liquor, but got caught – like every other time she'd tried – and she tried saying she was going to dispose of it – also like every other time she'd tried. And she got it taken away – just like every other time.

When Andromeda had sat back down, – without her liquor – Dionysus stood and got everyone's attention. "Yes, yes, so the little brat didn't get himself killed and now he'll have an even bigger head–"

Andromeda snorted and shouted. "True!" Mr. D smirked and continued, "Well, huzzah for that. In other announcements, there will be no canoe races this Saturday.." Andromeda ignored the rest and instead, turned to Luke. "C'mon."

So they left the arena and went to the beach to have their own celebration.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

𝙸𝚃 𝚆𝙰𝚂 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝚄𝚁𝚃𝙷 𝙾𝙵 𝙹𝚄𝙻𝚈. Andromeda sat on the beach in her regular white chiton, with Luke sitting beside her. Annabeth sat down on her left side, Percy on the Daughter of Athena's other side.

Annabeth had just explained that Grover had just got his searchers license, so he was going to be leaving to search for Pan, when the satyr walked over. "I'm off. I just came to say... well you know."

Annabeth stood up and gave him a hug. "Make sure to keep your fake feet on."

"Where are you going to search first?" Percy asked.

"Kind of a secret," Grover said, his cheeks tinted pink. "I wish you could come with me, guys, but humans and Pan..."

"We understand," Annabeth said. "You got enough cans for the trip?"

"Yeah."

"And you remembered your reed pipes?"

"Jeez, Annabeth," Grover grumbled. "You're like an old mama goat."

Andromeda stood up and hugged him, fighting tears. "Don't you dare die. I can't lose you too," she whispered, her voice cracking.

Luke said a short goodbye after Andromeda had sat back down before wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

Grover grabbed his walking stick and slung his backpack over his shoulder. "Well, wish me luck."

He gave Annabeth another hug, clapped Percy on the shoulder, and walked off.

Andromeda cuddled into Luke, her eyes watering.

The fireworks started, effectively distracting the Legacy.

When it got to George Washington, son of Athena, crossing the Deleward, Andromeda smacked Annabeth's shoulder hard enough the blonde was certain it would bruise.

"What?"

"I helped make that one!"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"𝚂𝙷𝚄𝚃 𝚄𝙿 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙻𝙸𝚂𝚃𝙴𝙽!" Andromeda yelled. Everyone quieted but a few remained talking, one of them being Harper Pace. Andromeda walked over to her and slapped her on the back of the head, earning some snickers from the Ares cabin. She walked back to where she was previously standing and spoke, "Alright. You all know who I am, there's no need for introductions. Now, most of you know what we're doing, but for those of you who don't," she looked directly at Percy, "we're gonna be adding the beads to the necklaces and blah, blah, blah. Chiron, can you do it?"

After they had handed out the necklaces to the new campers, Luke walked to the front of everyone.

"The choice was unanimous," he announced. "This year's bead commemorates the first Son of the Sea God at this camp, and the quest he undertook into the darkest part of the Underworld to stop a war!"

Everyone – except Andromeda – stood and cheered. Luke walked over to Andromeda and placed both his hands on her waist before kissing her softly.

"Get a room!" Clarisse shouted playfully, causing everyone to laugh.

PUBLISHED: june 14, 2025
EDITED: -