A/N: I had to go check one of my first chapters for some info and... oh my gods, they're so tiny! You sneeze and it's over. My last published chapter would be the equivalent of roughly THIRTEEN of the first ones. So sweet! (it also explains why I have so much more trouble updating regularly, each chapter takes a lot of time to be written, and writer's block doesn't help).

Reyna's Flashback

SATURDAY, 11th February

Reyna put down the box in the would-be kitchen, stretching her arms behind her back.

This is gonna take forever.

It could be worse. It could have been that apartment on the 12th floor with no elevator."

No, it couldn't. That one reeked of mold, there was no way.

"Regina? A little help?"

"Coming!"

Another way it could be worse, we could still be stuck in my tiny apartment with Hilda. And all the boxes of new stuff she bought, and decided to send to our address because she forgot it's not her apartment and there wasn't even space enough for both of us to begin with, let alone all these boxes.

I would agree with you. Except she was been thinking of changing the kitchen tile. And remake the bathrooms. And paint the living room. And make a new window in the back room. Not sure which is worse, living in a house going under a lot of modifications or your crumpled apartment.

Fair enough.

SUNDAY, 12th February

Reyna watched their sister slowly sniffing the mug she had filled with coffee, Hilda's face morphing into a satisfied smile. The more they spent time together, the more worried Reyna and Regina became on behalf of Hilda. While far from healthy, the habits they had witnessed during Christmas were only the tip of the iceberg.

Do you want me to ask?

I think so? It's harmless enough for now.

"Hilda, how long have you been awake?"

"Since eight, why?"

"You do realize this is your third cup of coffee? In two hours?"

Hilda scowled for a second before relaxing her facial muscles, moving her hand as she was waving off Reyna's concerns.

"Oh, but the others weren't an expresso, this is the first one."

How is that any better? Is she trying to die?

Before Reyna could say anything, Hilda tried to explain herself.

"Besides, I went to sleep a little after four am, so it's not like I don't have a reason to drink coffee."

Less than four hours of sleep should make it better?

"... That actually makes it worse. Are you actively trying to walk into an early grave?"

"I'm strong as a horse."

There was a bite at the end of Hilda's words, which brought a frown to Reyna.

"Even the strongest of horses die if poisoned."

Hilda glared at her, but Reyna didn't lower her gaze.

"I'm not going to die."

You are and you're gonna make me watch it.

"Then you should really slow down with the coffee."

Hilda scoffed and turned her head, probably trying to release some of the tension that was building up.

"You're overreacting."

Do you want me to keep-

I can't watch a second family member kill themselves. I don't want to wake up to her body on the floor.

Okay then.

"Fine. If you want to kill yourself with coffee, go back to your office and stay there. Don't drag me to live with you and then make me wake up one day to find your cold body on the floor."

Reyna had agreed to let Regina choose how and when to argue with her sister, so she was going to respect that. However, if it had been for her, she would have cut off this conversation sooner. The fire burning in Hilda's eyes when she turned to Reyna with disbelief pouring from all her body made her even more convinced things wouldn't end well.

"Really? You're going to nag me about coffee?"

Regina...

So she can nag and I can't?

Cursing the promise she had made Regina – and feeling this wouldn't be the last time she regrated it – she answered Hilda, already bracing herself to the consequences.

"You've been nagging about every little thing I do, so why not?"

Hilda's whole body froze. The seconds seemed to drag, and when she answered, her voice was emotionless on the surface, but Reyna knew it was only an illusion.

"That's how you feel it? That I've been nagging you?"

So? Do you want to do it now?

I guess this conversation was inevitable anyway.

"Wouldn't you think that if you were in my place?"

"And what exactly is your place, Regina? Explain it."

Oh, boy. Going straight for the throat, aren't we?

I know we already discussed it, but pay attention and help me keep on track.

You got it.

"Don't you see? The fact that you need me to explain it to you is part of the reason. We don't know each other anymore."

"What!?"

"Let me finish it!"

"As I was saying, we don't know each other. That is not to say we stopped being family or that I stopped loving you. You're my sister and always will be. But we've been living separately for years now. You don't know me. Yes, you know my academic achievements and activities, but you don't know ME."

Tell her about Sierra.

If you want me to.

That had been the main source of disagreement between Reyna and Regina. While the former wanted to keep the other girl's name out of the discussion, the later was insistent in including it. However, since she had promised to follow Regina's idea, Reyna had no option but to do her best to convey her host's feelings.

"Sierra has been in my life for as long as you've been out of it and you've only met her now. SHE was the one caring for me when I was sick. SHE was the one invading my personal space and annoying me for no reason. SHE was the one trying to push me out of my comfort zone. SHE was the one taking an interest in my somewhat-of-a love life. SHE was the one always by my side, no matter if we fought or not. At this point, she's more my sister than you are. She bulldozed into my life and claimed to her the spot YOU left open."

Hilda stood up, slamming a fist on the kitchen counter.

"YOU were the one who asked to leave."

Reyna stood as well, not sure if this was a conscious decision on her part or just her instinct to mirror her adversaries in a fight. On Regina's part, she was doing her best to claw her way out and let out all of her frustration.

"I was fourteen! And you just said 'okay'!"

Hilda let out a humorless laugh, giving the younger sister a sarcastic smile.

"Oh, are you angry? Should I have said 'no'? We both know you don't change your mind once you've decided something. You would've likely ran away if I tried to prevent you from leaving."

She never even asked me why!

"You could've at least ASKED me why I wanted to leave."

"You said you wanted to try and make your own life and that presence was smothering you."

What? She missed my sarcasm?

"And you believed that!? What PRESENCE, Hilda? You were always working! I would wake up and you were gone. I would go to sleep and you were still out. It reached a point I was barely seeing on weekends!"

Hilda slammed the kitchen counter again, this time with both hands open, leaning forward with disbelief in her face.

"And you didn't think that was hard for me too!? What, you thought I worked every waking hour and some lost sleeping hours because I didn't want to spend time with you!? That I was avoiding you!? I was working to make sure you were fed and with a roof over your head! How can you hold that against me!?"

"That's not what I'm doing!"

"It sure sounds like it! You make it sound you chose to leave because I couldn't bother to spend time with you. Do you have any idea the things I did for you? Even when you left! Do you have any idea how hard it was to find a house in another city that would rent a room to you, that was safe, and would keep tabs on your wellbeing? How hard I had to search? How frequent I would check with them or my coworker because YOU would ignore my messages or send all my calls to voicemail?"

Maybe try to call at reasonable hours!

Reyna knew they were losing control of the conversation and fast, but she didn't see a way out that could salvage it. For better or worse, they needed to carry it to the end.

"I didn't purposely send your calls to voicemail, you would either call me while I was in school or sleeping. It's not like I ignored the calls that came at reasonable moments."

Hilda laughed again and, while still humorless, it was slightly bitter now.

"Oh, I know. You would answer. With answers so clipped and emotionless it's no surprise we never had really meaningful conversations on the phone."

You were the same!

"Like you were any better. You were probably warmer while calling your coworkers than you were calling your own sister."

"My own sister who was desperate to go to another city to leave me."

"Because if I was to feel I was living alone, I might as well do it for real."

"What?"

At this point, Reyna wasn't sure if the pain in her voice, the scratch behind her throat, and the sting in her eyes were from Regina's emotions or her own frustration in having lost contact with Hylla for so many years.

"It hurt, Hilda! It hurt every single day to wait for you and not see you. It hurt to make plans with you just so you'd cancel every single one. It hurt to try and talk to you and have to watch you ignore me to answer your phone. It hurt being alone. So. Much."

Hilda deflated a little.

"I was doing it-"

"For me! I KNOW! You already said that. But it didn't make it hurt any less."

A couple of seconds passed in silence. For a moment, Reyna thought it was over, at least this first part. But then, she saw Hilda's eyes flare in outrage.

"What did you want me to do!? I was barely making ends meet while working myself ragged. Once you left, I rented a room. Bedroom, kitchen and bathroom all squeezed together in a sketchy neighborhood just so I could save as much money as possible from my small salary. Or did you forget I didn't go to college? Or that most of the money I managed to carry with me once we left father was used for our documents?"

That's not my poin-

"I was barely twenty, Regina! I spent the last years of school worrying how I'd pay for groceries, fearing one day one of us would end up in the hospital and I wouldn't be able to pay for treatment! While my classmates would ask their parents for money for ice cream or whatever, I was calculating how I would steal money from our father before he spent it all in guns and cameras and P.I.s. And I also had to think how much I could risk stealing it without him noticing it. You KNOW all that! You were THERE!"

Reyna did her best to block her own memories from the last years of her father from coming to light, knowing it would only make things messier.

"I know! I remember!"

"Then tell me, what should I've done? Where did I go so wrong that you feel the need to throw in my face that someone else became a better sister than I ever was!?"

... Regina?

When no one said anything, Hilda moved. She grabbed her purse and left the house, not saying anything or giving them one last look.

Well... that happened.

***

For the first time in weeks, the inside of her head was quieter than the empty house, which was making Reyna's skin crawl with discomfort. Finally, she decided to break the ice.

You know, right now, I completely understand why some people turn to alcohol to forget their problems. I would like to forget that fiasco.

Really, Reyna?

You have been giving me the silent treatment for over twenty minutes, Regina. We need to talk. You know Hilda will come back home soon.

Do I? Didn't we establish that I don't know my own sister just like she doesn't know me?

I think the only thing we proved is how hard communicating is for all of us.

Oh, are you including yourself in this mess?

What, you think my relationship with Hylla is much better? Sure, we have some common ground that you two are missing, but I have seen demigods who didn't have the same mortal parent being closer as siblings than I am with my full sister who I grew up with.

Maybe that's their secret, they don't have too much shared history.

Regina...

Fine! What do you want? That I admit that it was my fault? That I pulled away? That I destroyed my relationship with the only blood relative that cares about me? The one who is sprinting towards an early grave in her effort to give me a financially stable life?

I don't think it was your fault. The situation is just... messed up.

And the award of 'underestimating of the year' goes to...

Fine! You don't want to work with me to salvage your relationship with Hilda, I guess I'll ask for help on how to do it myself.

What does it mean?

Calling the most frequently called number, she was surprised when it was answered after two rings. Usually, Sierra was still asleep at that hour on a Sunday.

"Reggie?"

"I spoke with Hilda. Tried a heart to heart like you insisted several times."

There was a deep sigh on the other end.

"... This isn't a call that will end up with us popping champagne in celebration, is it?"

"No."

"Oh, my. I'm too sober for this."

You don't drink.

"You're always sober."

"That you know of. Anyway, ready or not, here we come. Hit me with the truth, baby."

***

Once Reyna finished telling everything that happened, while excluding Regina's comments inside their head, Sierra groaned in frustration. It was slightly louder and longer than the other seventeen times she did during that call.

"Good gracious, Reggie. I thought you two wanted to improve your relationship, meet up on some common ground for a peace treaty, not purposely activate every single land mine while you were BOTH in no man's land."

"Any advice?"

"Sure. Therapy."

Reyna rolled her eyes, knowing Regina was mentally doing the same.

"I'm being serious."

"So am I! Darling, this is way above my paygrade, even if I WAS getting paid. You two need professional help figuring this out. You are both way too stubborn to properly see eye to eye just with a talk. You both need a mediator to prevent you for going to each other's throat."

"And your solution is therapy?"

"Yes. And before refusing, try to consider how another conversation like the one you had earlier could make you cohabitating unbearable."

This time, it was Reyna's time to groan, knowing Sierra was right.

"I will think about it."

"You do that, Reggie. And once she comes home, you two might want to make it clear that you're both done running away from your problems. And until she comes home, you might want to convince yourself of that."

Sierra ended the call and Reyna took a deep breath.

Yeah, because telling Hilda she should go to a shrink will go really well.

Time for a second opinion?

The call to Piper took a little longer to be answered, and the girl was slightly out of breath.

"Hello?"

"How do I say to Hilda I think she should look up some therapists?"

There was a pause before Piper sighed.

"... Hopefully, with a little more tact than that. Please tell me she's not in front of you right now?"

"She isn't home."

"Oh, good. Wait, is it good?"

Reyna wasn't looking forward to reliving the fight for the second time, but knew honesty was her best chance.

"We... had a talk."

"A talk? Or a screaming match?"

"Being completely honest? Both."

"Ok, let me get some paper and pen because I think I will need to take some notes. This isn't really my specialty, but between Claire and Bea's conversations I overheard, I might have something to help you. Ok, I'm all set. You may begin."

***

The groan Piper let out was hauntingly similar to the one from Sierra.

"To be as blunt as I can be, Sierra is 120% right in this matter. I don't know Hilda, but I did hear Hazel's and Percy's impressions on Hylla. I should've predicted what a heart to heart between Regina, Hilda and you in the middle would end up like. But to be fair, I didn't think you would tackle your worst unresolved issues within one day of moving to the new house. I'm guessing most things are still in boxes?"

"They are."

"So, with the stress of moving in together, you decided to make it so that neither want to stay in the house at the same time as the other, good!"

"I had discussed with Regina what she wanted me to say, but we didn't predict Hilda taking over the conversation."

"You couldn't predict your own sister not nodding along and taking all the blame? Reyna, Regina, even I could've predicted that. And I'm guessing, so could've Sierra. But in my case, I had imagined that with two minds would tend to plan measures and countermeasures if things don't go according to plan, you would be able to nail that conversation. Or at least, not blow it up. But I guess we all get blind sighted when things are a little too close to us. Okay!"

Before Reyna could figure out how to answer that, Piper kept talking.

"Now, let's come up with your speech. We need an apology, some empathy, and a lot of tactfulness. Let's get it started."

***

It was almost past lunch time when Hilda finally came back. When she saw Reyna waiting in the living room, her tired expression carefully morphed into a blank one.

"Regina. Did you need something?"

For you to not pretend to be tough as nails.

Here goes nothing.

Reyna looked Hilda in the eyes, making her best to convey her feelings through it.

"Yes. I wanted to apologize."

"What for?"

"I haven't been fair to you. Years ago, or earlier today."

Reyna waited, not breaking eye contact, and was rewarded by Hilda slowly dropping her act and her shoulders.

"... I apologize as well. I shouldn't have left you alone. Years ago, and earlier today."

While being surprised how easily it was to get an apology back, something they weren't expecting, Reyna stuck to the script they had created with Piper and Trish.

"What I was trying to say earlier was that, after living by myself for so many years, it feels weird having you ask me so many questions. I haven't justified what I do or go to anyone for so long. That's why it feels like you're nagging me. You're taking too much interest in me, all at once. I felt a little suffocated by it, even though I consciously know it was not your intention."

Hilda sighed, letting herself fall on the couch in front of Reyna.

"It wasn't, I just lost my hand a bit. I've been getting constantly smacked in the face with the fact that I don't know you. Not anymore, and it's my fault. You became someone that, as hard as I try, I can't say I'm familiar with. I could say I know your personality and your morals, but we have been apart for so long those could've changed and I wouldn't be able to tell. I wasn't trying to suffocate or nag you; I was just desperately trying to get to know my sister again. I'm sorry I made you uncomfortable."

This is going well. Maybe all too well?

Let's hope it stays that way.

We still need to mention therapy.

Time for the big question.

Why.

"And I'm sorry I didn't try to see from your side. And I don't doubt your intentions, but I have to ask. Why now? Why, out of nowhere, you decided to be present in my life? I'll be leaving for college in a year and half anyway."

Hilda looked at Reyna with a soft smile, just a tinge of sadness in it.

"That's exactly the reason."

"Because of college? You know you don't have to worry about paying, right? I'll get a scholarship and find some part-time to help with expenses."

Hilda scoffed, leaning back against the couch.

"Oh, please. You think I almost ended up in the hospital for working too much and fought tooth and nail to get all the promotions I could just to leave you without a college fund? It may not cover all the years, but it should give you some breathing room."

"Uh... thanks. I appreciate it."

That still doesn't answer our question of 'why'.

Let's wait, give her some credit.

After almost a minute of silence, Hilda sighed, crossing her arms and looking to the side.

Is she... embarrassed?

Looks like it?

Wow, never thought I would live to see this day.

"It was Kim. Some months ago, we were working overtime and she later dragged me to get something to eat."

Reyna smirked.

"Because she knew you would go to bed with an empty stomach if you had gone home?"

Hilda nodded, still not looking Reyna in the eyes.

"Yeah, she even used almost these exact words. And while there, she asked me if I was working on Christmas again or if I would come visit you. At first, I didn't understand. She already knew I had confirmed I was available for work on Christmas, but it was because she needed a conversation starter. She got me slightly drunk, just enough to loosen my tongue, but not enough that I'd get too distracted or forgot everything in the morning."

Reyna waited, knowing Hilda needed time to figure out what words she wanted to use. After a couple of false starts, she was able to keep going.

"And she made me realize how much time had passed. That first year, when you chose not to come back for Christmas, I'm ashamed to say I was relieved, because that meant I could work without worrying about you. And I kept making this excuse for any and every holiday or school vacations that you chose not to go visit me. Years flew by and I didn't notice. You weren't even in high school when you left my side, and now you're almost finishing it. And I wasn't around for any of that. Kim made me realize how much I'd missed of your life and how embarrassingly distant we'd become, mostly by my fault."

Oh.

So that's why.

I'm not... sure how I am supposed to feel about this.

"You asked me why now? Because Kim made me realize that, if I didn't step up now, it would be so much harder later. That if I didn't change things now, I would risk not being able to fix our relationship. It's now because I finally got the wake-up call I needed. Of course, now I see I was so focused in getting to know you by force, that I didn't helped you get to know me."

Reyna figured out it was the opening they were waiting for.

"Hilda... how would you feel about family therapy?"

When their older sister didn't answer, Reyna gently pushed.

"Hilda?"

"Are we that messed up? Have I destroyed us so bad that we need to see a shrink?"

No, Hilda, it's not just you!

"It's more like, I want to make sure we do this right and not accidentally knock down the few things that are keeping us still salvageable."

When Hilda didn't say anything, Reyna tried to explain it better.

"Think of some of the apartments and houses we visited. Yes, we could clearly see the problems and maybe it was something we could fix it ourselves, but with the amount of work to be done, it would've been safer to entrust it to a professional."

Hilda looked Reyna in her eyes, as if searching for something. She must have found it, because she nodded with confidence.

"I came all the way here to find a way to reconnect with you. If a shrink is what you think may help, I'm willing to try."

Oh, good. We took the first step.

Now we just need to keep going.

"Thank you."

"And I will do my best to not leave if we have a fight. I should have stayed."

No, you shouldn't have. We would have killed each other.

Reyna tried to give her best smile to help ease Hilda's guilt.

"Actually, I think you did the right thing. We both needed to cool down and evaluate things. We're both used to live alone and have our own space, so staying in the same space after a fight like that could have made things worse. I certainly appreciated the unintentional privacy you gave me to think things through."

Hilda nodded in agreement, but then made a face.

"Me too. I said somethings in anger while ranting to Kim on the phone that I wouldn't have liked you to hear."

Deciding to repay Hilda's small show of vulnerability, Reyna decided confessing what they had done was a good way to build some common ground.

"I also called a couple of friends. One suggested therapy, the other helped me figure out how to breach the subject with you."

"If we can only have a decent conversation after getting third opinions, maybe the idea of a shrink has more merit than I thought."

Now what?

No idea, I'm still a little bit in shock this didn't turn into a screaming match again.

Hilda was the one to break the silence.

"So, you hungry? I could go for some fried chicken."

We really need to look up her habits.

But not today.

No, one screaming match at a time.

"I'll let it go for tonight because, now that you mentioned it, so could I. But I meant it before, I don't want to wake up one day and find your body on the floor. We need to work on some healthier habits for you. While looking up a shrink, maybe add a nutritionist to the list? And a full check-up."

"Are you going to mommy me now?"

"Someone has to; clearly, you're not cut off for the job."

The only answer she got was a face full of pillow.

The audacity!

"Oh, so that's how you want to play?"

"Venga, gordita!"

In a fraction of a second, both sisters were standing, each one armed with a pillow.

"I'm fitter than you!"

"Not as baby!"

That was years ago!

"That doesn't count!"

WEDNESDAY, 15th February

Entering the class she shared with Annabeth, it wasn't hard for Reyna to find her. Either by the blond head or the 'keep away' aura she was emanating, the other demigod stood out like a beacon.

°The way you look now would compel me to take away any objects that could be used as a weapon, but since in your case that would mean everything, it's kind of a moot point."

Annabeth gave her a side glance when she saw Reyna approaching her.

"And good morning to you too."

"But seriously, is everything okay?"

The blonde made an odd sound, half sigh and half groan, letting her head fall on the table.

"Just... regular off days. Apparently, yesterday wasn't enough, so we get part two today."

"If your problem is people, keep that face up and they will steer clear from you."

"That sounds like a good start."

Turning her head to the side, Annabeth gave Reyna a quick appraisal look.

"Now you look exceptionally chipper. What happened?"

"Hilda left this morning and it's nice to get a break."

"Right, I think Frank mentioned to Percy you went to visit your sister for Christmas. How did that one go?"

I'm sorry, who said what to who?

"Ignoring Frank and Percy being all gossipy, it was... not as bad as it could've been?"

"The fact that she came to visit now is good or bad?"

"She didn't come to visit, she's moving here. We spent the last four days unboxing things."

Annabeth frowned, then raised a hand to rub her forehead.

"... Did I know that already? If you told me, I forgot, sorry."

"I don't think I told you. The only ones who I talked to about it was Sierra and Piper. And Frank let me borrow his ear to rant."

"Piper? Really? I don't know if I should be more or less surprised with that one."

You and me both.

"It was for something stupid at first, but now she's being really helpful."

"Then I wish you a nice break from Hilda and an... easy transition in living with her?"

"The second one was a useless with from the start, but I appreciate the sentiment."

"Trust me, I understand more than you think."

"Which one from your family?"

"The whole gang? But my step-mother a little bit more."

***

While it was odd that Sierra hadn't pried in the last three days except the tactless check-up ("I have already scouted a cleaning company that specializes in removing large blood stains from carpet. Do you think I will need to call them this week?"), Reyna was grateful. While no other fights broke out, the air around the sisters wasn't completely clean. They both knew there were tons of things they would like to say to each other, a lot of hurt waiting to be unleashed, but the agreement that they should look for a therapist put a brake on it.

Piper had been a little more... demigod-ish in her check-ups ("From separating two legionaries squabbling over a practice dummy and having to mom and protect Nico and Hedge across Europe, what is your current level of stress?"), but she also offered small tips for bonding ("I heard this store has an excellent powder for hot chocolate. How about you go there and later prepare it together?").

Muay Thai on Monday did help her blowing off some steam. Adam looked worried, but for some reason, he didn't ask. Only now, on her way to the gym, she wondered if Sierra hadn't been the one to give him a heads up on not asking. Speaking of the devil, her phone vibrated with a text from Regina's best friend.

S: There is something I wonder.

R: What is it?

S: Do you think there's something between your sister and Kim?

S: Romantic wise, in case that wasn't clear.

R: I have no idea, why would I know?

S: You should have girl talk with your sister and ask.

R: I already have enough traumatic memories with her.

R: I don't need or want to add another.

S: Coward.

Hopefully, Adam won't hover around us like he did on Monday.

I can't blame him; he had to adapt our lessons more than once with all the stress Hilda put us through.

I'm not saying he was wrong in worrying. I just... I feel uncomfortable being the reason people worry. And not the she-could-break-my-nose kind of worry, but the she-looks-sad-should-I-give-her-some-chocolate type.

Well, if it gets me free chocolate, I'm pretty okay with both.

You know what I meant.

I do, I do. And I know how you feel. But if I could learn how good it feels to know you have people that really care about you, so can you.

A/N: Honestly, Hilda and Regina/Reyna's fight was pure improvisation on my part. I had no idea where it was going, I would write without even knowing what the next sentence would be. Hopefully, it turned out natural because of that.