I couldn't believe it. It was already June. Sophia was 16, Rion and Lena were 13, and Luke and Taylor were 11. That just seemed way to old to be my kids.

But they were my kids. And they were all off to Camp.

It was odd, not having Taylor and Luke claimed yet... but I just had a feeling this time. I knew it would be this summer.

So there we were, the Jacksons, driving in the pouring rain toward Long Island, suitcases packed into the back of my car, and food remnants everywhere.

"How much longer?" Luke was practically bouncing in his seat. His ADHD had started to become his 'tag line' so to speak at school- he was always the kid who got in trouble for moving around too much.

As he'd grown older, he'd become so much like Luke before Luke became Kronos. He was strong on the inside and out. He was good looking if I say so myself. He was laid-back and calm and funny and... Sometimes I had to stop myself. I was thinking about my SON here. He wasn't Luke- if he was, I knew what he'd become. I'd never be able to bear that.

"Stop asking, Luke. Soon," Taylor frowned at him. On the inside she too was bubbling with excitement- I could just tell.

I'd been very hesitant about sending Taylor and Luke to Camp- I'm not sure why, but it probably had something to do with the prphecy-like dreams I'd had about them before they were even born. But they'd begged and begged and begged when they were 9, so this would be their second year. 

I glanced back at Sophia; she already had nine beads on her necklace; this would be her 10th year. I knew she was texting somebody from Camp (probably Logan) judging by her facial expression, and the way she was telling Percy to hurry up.

"Dad, how much longer?" She groaned, the phone buzzing in her hands. "Oh, lemme get this. Hello?"

"Only 30 minutes left," I smiled as Rion took off his head phones.

"Really?"

"Yup. According to Google Maps, that is..."

I watched Long Island fly by like a memory embedded in my mind. We pulled over to the side of the road and unpacked the huge ski bags the kids called "Camp Bags."

"Dad, can I have mine first?" Rion asked, his fingers in constant motion.

"No, Dad said I could have mine first," Sophia said, butting in line to grab her bag. She raced up the hill and was greeted by... Logan. I smiled at them, but urged them to move somewhere Percy couldn't see them to kiss. Rion and Luke stumbled up the hill next, laughing as they raced up. Lena and Taylor walked, Taylor complaining that she forgot her nice earbuds at home. 

"Mom'll mail them to you, Tay," 

Rion and Luke were at the top of the hill now, and were already best friends with some boys from what looked like the Hermes cabin. Better to friends with them rather than foes.

Lena clearly spotted someone she knew in the distance because she sprinted off leaving Taylor alone at the top of the hill.

"Mom," she looked up at me. "I don't have anyone to be with." I took her hand, pointing toward the Hermes cabin. 

"Sure you do. C'mon, let's go meet some friends."

When we got there, Luke was already making friends. The Hermes cabin was as empty as it had been with Rion, Selena, and Sophia- only about 12 campers in it including Taylor.

"Hello, Annabeth, Taylor," Chrion came up behind us, a smile on his face.

"Hi Chiron!" Luke screamed, dashing out of the cabin to give him a hug. Chiron looked from me to Luke, then back at me. 

"He really does look like him..." His voice trailed off, and I was glad when a girl walked up to me. 

"Hi, I'm Vanessa. Vanessa Buchannan. I'm the counselor for cabin 11. I just started this simmer. Oh, and I'm sort of your biggest fan. Or.. you're my idol. That's a better way to put it," Vanessa giggled nervously. 

"Thank you," I smiled. I let go of Taylor shoulder as she wandered into the center of the room.

"Why don't you take that bunk over there, Taylor? Next to Kaley's bed. That's the one that Riley gave you last year, right?" Kaley waved at Taylor, and Taylor rushed over, clearly excited to be back.

"Thank you so much," I smiled, shaking Vanessa's hand. 

"Don't worry, Mrs. Jackson. She's in good hands."

I met Percy on the beach. The sun was setting, and all the kids were eating dinner at the dining pavillion. 

"It's weird being back here like this," Percy said. I took his hand.

"In a good way, though."

"Definitely in a good way." He smiled ay me, kissing my forehead and pulling me close. It felt like years washing away, just thinking back to those times right after all of the war and chaos in our world when peace seemed like a distant hope. Now it was... now it was us. 

"I love you," I whispered.

"You know what I love?" Percy stood up, taking my hand. 

"What?"

"Memories. C'mon." We waded into the ocean, Percy forming a bubble around us. He looked at me, that look he'd given me on his 16th birthday. Now our own daughter was 16. 

He touched my face, soft and sweet, and the leaned in for a kiss. I was perfect. Almost like fireworks. Like the best underwater kiss of all time. 

                                                                                            ~

We had decided to spend the night at Camp. We said it was for a billion different reasons, but we both just wanted to know one thing: who would Taylor and Luke be claimed by?

It couldn't take that long, could it? I just hoped we'd get to stay long enough to see. 

"You can stay for one week, and one week only." Chrion said. "The children need to gain their independence."

Percy nodded. "You won't even know we're here,"  Chiron laughed. 

"I will know you're here, actually. I have you two helping out around Camp if you truly want to stay."

"Helping out?" I gulped, hoping it wasn't kitchen duty.

"Teaching classes. Ancient Greek, Mythology, Sword Fighting... the works. You have to work your way in this world, children." 

So there we were, me showing a 6-year-old how to stab someone, and Percy trying (and suceeding) at beating every kid in a sword fight. 

"C'mon, Percy! Go easy on me!" One teenage boy said.

"No chance- I'm impressed with my 40-year-old self!!" 

The days went on like that, and no luck with Luke and Taylor being claimed. But now it was Sunday. And we had to leave by midnight. 

The campers were gathered around the campfire singing songs with the Apollo cabin. Taylor's voice could be heard from near and far; Luke's couldn't be heard if you were sitting next to him. 

Campfire went much longer than usual. There was chanting for Percy and I to make a speech (the whole time Sophia was covering her eyes and Logan was cracking up at her face), and Rion accidentally shot a flaming arrow next between our heads. What nice kids we have. 

But as the campfire began to break up, Taylor started screaming. When Taylor screams, covering your ears won't even partially block it out. It is the loudest thing I've ever heard. 

At first I thought it was a spider on the ground. I ran to her side, and so did Chrion. But then the owl began to glow over her head. 

"Oh my gods!" I hugged her, making a face at Percy over her shoulder. He mouthed something about still having Luke, but that didn't last long either. All of my kids were Athena kids but Sophia.

It was odd- I never would've pinned Rion, Lena, Luke, or Taylor as Athena. I was almost positive that Rion would be Poseidon. But apparently Percy's godly side had only been transferred into Sophia. Whispered circulated, things about Sophia being the Ultimate Demigod. But right now, I wanted to give Luke and Taylor the spotlight. They were of my godly blood.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey guys! I'm so sorry if this chapter seems a little rushed- we have family friends coming over in 13 minutes and I have to clean my room :D 

But anyway- how are you guys? I hope you enjoyed the chapter :) and for those of you dissappointed that Sophia is the only Poseidon kid: I had to make it beliveable for her own story, Hero's Daughter (which I will be updating soon as well!!) Sorry if I disappointed you guys!

I'm really excited for the next chapter of this story though... do you want a hint? I'll give you one: vroom. Haha, see if you can guess :D

I'm going to try to get another chapter of DDIHS up today but it might not happen (sorry!!) just because the World Series is on, and the Giants are in it. I'm pretty happy #thirdfavoriteteam 

Sorry about not updating as much as I wanted to... I had a yearbook meeting on Monday, and CCD, and then Friday (When I normally update) I was at a friends house. Sorry guys!

I'm kind of sad... I feel like I'm losing touch with some of my best friends in California. It's really hard being so far away; the time difference makes it nearly impossible to talk to them. You know? I'm free at 3 my time, but they're still in school. Ugh. But if you guys have friends who live far away, don't give up on them. It's the worst thing you can do. It's not their fault if you can't talk to them if they're in school.... just be patient. There's always one day where you two can coordinate. That's one thing I've definitely learned from moving from coast to coast. 

Well, have a great Sunday, and I'll see you guys later!

QUESTION OF THE CHAPTER: 

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CHAPTER OF THIS STORY SO FAR?

XOXO

~PercyAnnabeth20owl