I waved goodbye for the last time as Rion and Selena walked in to the Hermes cabin. At least Sophia was there to help them through their first summer. 

"I'll take care of them, Mom. I promise." I remembered her saying. Sophia was already in the Arena with her dagger. Now it was just the four of us. 

"Who will they be claimed by, Mommy?" Taylor asked. She and Luke were both five. I couldn't believe how fast they grew up. Wow, time flies...

"I don't know, honey," I replied, bringing myself back to reality.  Taylor reached for my hand as we walked down the hill together to the car. Luke passed us halfway, rolling down, laughing his head off. 

"That looks fun, Mommy." Taylor commented. But she didn't even move. 

Percy flashed me a smile from the bottom of the hill. 

"Hello pretty ladies," He said picking up Taylor and kissing my nose. Luke's face shrunk in disgust. 

"Eww!!" Taylor joined in, burying her face in Percy's shoulder. I laughed and got in the shotgun seat, rolling my window down.

____________________________________________

"I miss Rion," Luke groaned. We had been in the car for about .3 seconds when he said it. 

"Mommy," Taylor shook her head sadly. "I miss Lena and Soph." I sighed.

"I miss them too, little buddies. But they'll be home very soon." Apparently that was a bad way to phrase it. 

For the next two weeks after I said the words, all Taylor would say is, "Are they home yet?" And it was getting old fast. We had to wait all summer. It was going to a long summer.

One morning, around July 1st, Taylor and Luke went outside to check the mail. Of course, they didn't tell me that, so I was freaking out looking for them. When I finally found them, they were huddled together in a corner, reading a little blue letter. Or, trying to read it.

"I am very exited? Why are they leaving?" Taylor questioned. Luke shook his head.

"No, it doesn't say exited. It says I am very exact." Taylor huffed, beliving him. 

"So Lena is very exact? What does that even mean?" They kept reading, believing that excited was exact, hilarious was very hilly, climbing was climming. I eventually called Percy out to watch, because it was pretty darn funny. 

By the time they finished the letter, it was almost 5:00 pm. They started at 3:45. 

"Let's go read it to Mommy and Daddy!" The twins got up, and Percy and I bolted to the back door, cracking up the whole way. We barely made it in time. 

"Mommy!" Luke called from the front door, his blonde hair shiny with sweat. 

"In here!" I called back, giggling so hard that Percy had to clap his hand over my mouth to get me to stop. 

"We have a letter to read to you," Taylor announced.

"Bring me a chair to stand on, Lukey," She whispered loudly. She stood on the chair and cleared her throat. 

"Ahem.  Dear Mommy and Daddy and Taylor and Luke: It is Lena. I am very exact to be at Camp. I have not been clammed yet, but I will be soon. My cabinmates in Hermes cabin are very hilly. They always logh. I really like the climming wall, and so does Rion. Bye bye, Lena." Taylor beamed with joy that she had just read a whole letter, even though she cluelessly mispronounced half of the words.

"Great job, Tay!" Percy picked her up and put her on his shoulders.

"Hey!!! I want a turn!!!!!!" Luke screamed, pulling on Percy's arm.

"Okay, okay," he laughed heartily, "one at a time. I'm not a human ferris wheel." Somehow, that cracked everyone up. And of course, I was doubled over next to Tay and Luke.

_____________________________________________________________

A couple days later (maybe even two weeks), another envelope arrived.This time, however, I found it, so no reading from the book of Taylor (and Luke). I opened it eagerly, wondering what might be inside. Taylor and Luke were both at playdates, and Percy was at work. So I was alone in the kitchen with the little blue note, practically shaking with curiousity.

As soon as I got the envelope opened, I tore out the letter and read.

"Dear Mom, Dad, Taylor, and Luke: It's Sophia. Last night was kind of a big night, but i'm gonna make you wait to find out why. Lena is doing really well on the Ancient Greek classes, Arts and Crafts, and Pegasus Riding. Selena and Beckendorf stopped by the other day, and Selena thinks our Selena will be exactly like her! Rion is good at every fighting oppurtunity there is. Everything. Chiron was so impressed, he said that Rion might even surpass DAD one day. I mean, he's wicked good. I haven't been doing much... I'm doing really well in both fields of play, I guess. I've been hanging out a lot with Julia, Karrie, and Lia, but I'm still all alone in my cabin at night :( Oh, speaking of cabins, Lena and Rion got claimed by.............................. Athena! I was actually really surprised for Rion, but Lena was pretty predicatable. Anyway, I love you and miss you! I'll see you in two weeks :) XO, -Sophia"

I smiled with delight, already dialing Percy's number.

"Y'ello," he answered.

"Guess what," I teased, because I was so extremely happy.

"What?" Percy was totally clueless.

"Rion and Lena got claimed by-"

"Poseidon?!?!?!" Percy squealed excitedly.

"No, you Seaweed Brain. Athena!!! A-t-h-e-n-a. I win." Percy laughed, and I could hear him smiling.

"That's right. What do I owe you?" I giggled.

"A glass of wine over dinner tomorrow night."

"Deal."

_____________________________________________________---

"Mmmmm!! This steak is so good!!" Percy was already done with his dinner. I had barely started mine.

"Do you want some of mine?" I asked, handing him a forkful of lasagna. He took it eagerly.

"Mm! Yours is good too!"

"So, looks like I'm winning."I smiled, placing my hand on his.

"Looks like it. But wait til Taylor and Luke get claimed by Poseidon. It's bound to happen." I nodded.

"Sure. Watch it be Athena. If it is, you totally owe me another date-night." He smiled, squeezing my hand lightly.

"You know, this is really nice. We should totally do this more often." I nodded in agreement.

"We should." I watched the candlelight flicker across Percy's face,and I fell in love all over again.

____________________________________________________________

"Rion! Lena! Sophia!" Taylor and Luke bolted down the hill, screaming their heads off, their arms already opened wide for hugs.

"Hey guys!" Sophia picked up Taylor and spun her around. She was getting so big...

Percy and I followed, and I spotted many other parents I knew getting their kids. I ran to hug my own kids, pulling them close, remembering their smell, texture, feel.

"It's good to have you back," Percy clapped Rion on the back. And it was.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey guys! So sorry I haven't posted this chapter sooner! I had the whole thing, literally about to his save and publish, and then my computer died (because I was stupid) and I lost all of it. Anyway, I hope you like it!

I'm actually on Spring Break now, so I'll try to post a bunch in my spare time; thanks for all the sweet comments! I promise I'll get at least one more Sophia chapter up this week for HD :) Maybe even a EWGO chapter! We'll see!! THanks guys :)

Question of the Chapter: What should the next chapter be about?

Thanks guys--

~PercyAnnabeth20owl