"Sometimes in our lives

We all have pain

We all have sorrow

But if we are wise

We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me

When you're not strong..."

~ Lean on Me by Bill Withers from the album 'Still Bill'

...

...

"I'm wondering what's going on in there," Thalia said in curiosity as she looked at the wooden Big House in front of her. She was sitting on the grass with Nico and Grover. "I wouldn't know," Nico said but quickly looked at Grover who was biting his lip in nervousness. "You apparently do." Thalia bent over and looked at Grover, seeing the same nervousness as Nico. "Well well Grover, do tell," Thalia said. "It's not that easy, Thalia. It's more complicated than you think," Grover said, a bit of anger in his voice. "If you want to know what and stuff, ask Percy. He should be the one telling you his past." "Yeah but..." Thalia shut her mouth midsentence as she looked away from Grover, back to the Big House. 

After half an hour of silence, Annabeth exited the Big House without Percy, who was still inside talking to Chiron. She had tears rolling over her cheeks and her eyes and cheeks were red. "Annabeth!" Thalia shouted as she shot up and ran over to her friend. "What happened?" "He... He... I didn't know..." "What is it?" Thalia asked, her voice filled with worry. "He..." Annabeth fell down on her knees, her hands in front of her face. "I... I didn't know," Annabeth said with a trembling voice. Thalia didn't get it, what was going on? What happened in there? Thalia sat down next to her best friend, laying her right arm around her. "He... He never told me, Thalia." The words entered the sky and seemed to make the air more tense. "He never... I could have never..." Grover and Nico stood next to their friend, looking sadly at them, only one of them knowing the whole story.

...

Percy looked at the door, wanting to go after her, wanting to hug her, help her. She needed it and he knew it. "Percy, I'm sorry that I have to do this..." Chiron said softly. "No no, I understand." "The Gods need to be informed of your... past, do you understand that?" The centaur asked, worry present in his voice. "Yes, Chiron, and I do not care. I just want to go to the person I love to comfort her instead of listening to things I already know," Percy growled. Chiron nodded and motioned towards the door. The demigod shot up from his chair, storming out of the door, seeing Thalia with Annabeth in her arms. "Annabeth..." Percy said, making his four friends look up, Annabeth with tears in her eyes. Thalia let go fastly as Percy sat down and hugged his girlfriend. "Guys, I think we need to leave," Grover said looking at the other two demigods. "Yeah yeah..." Thalia sighed and pushed Nico in a direction while walking towards the cabins, Grover following them, making sure they didn't turn around. 

"Annabeth, I'm so sorry..." "No... No... Percy," Annabeth stuttered out as she let go of him and looked right into his eyes. "I'm just..." "I know what you feel Annabeth, but I am still the same person, no matter my past," Percy said, almost begging her in his heart to still see him as the kind and funny Percy Jackson. "I know, Percy, I know..."

...

"Gods of Olympus," Chiron started, taking a deep breath, readying himself to tell the story of the Hero of Olympus. He was looking in front of him, not towards any of the gods. "Today, a past has unfolded itself in front of my eyes. Not mine or yours, not one of the important enemies, but that of Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon and your hero and Champion." "What is it we don't know, Chiron?" Zeus asked, a frown on his face. Chiron looking up to see Zeus looking at him. "Perseus was abused from the age five to twelve by step father Gabe Ugliano." Poseidon jumped up in anger. "Why was this not known until now!" He shouted furiously. "Because I already knew," Zeus said, not caring abou his brother's emotions. "You what!" "Poseidon, we needed a hero, we all knew somewhere it would be him. I knew that once everyone knew we would not push him the way we did to make Olympus and the Olympians survive." "You could have told me, Zeus!" Rage was on Poseidon's face, his eyes spitting fire. "And then, Poseidon?  What good would it have done? Drown him in pity he did not want?" "He could have gotten help for his mental struggles, Zeus!" "We are not this boy's therapist, Poseidon! We are the Gods!" "He's my son!" "That does not mean anything on Olympus, Poseidon!" "It should!" 

"Chiron, I think you should leave," Hera said in a soft and motherly tone. "I think so to, Lady Hera," Chiron said as he bowed and turned around. Even when he stood in the elevator, he heard the shouting between brothers. 'And these are the ones that rule the earth...' Chiron thought to himself with a sigh.

...

"Why, Zeus! Why don't you have a heart!" "We both know, brother, I do have a heart," Zeus said, looking down on Poseidon. "No! Apparently you don't! You don't even care for your own bloody children! For my children! Anyone's children who have fought for Olympus! Died for Olympus! Are mentally instable because they did all this for you! For us! For everyone on the darn planet!" "You never had any problems with this, Poseidon." The words did not seem to bother Zeus in any way as he spoke to his brother. "You just let him go to the battlefield, you let him fight, you would have let him die, why are you suddenly so bothered?" "Because I do not want to be the reason hundreds of teenagers die or break! That's why, Zeus! And you should want that to!"