Percy POV:

"She..." I say after a moment. Estelle is looking at us like we just popped out of a bull's rump claiming to be Artemis and Apollo.

Not that that wasn't how it happened, I mean... calling Zeus a bull is an odd one, even for me, but it works. But that's besides the point.

Estelle doesn't recognize us. My daughter, who I was finally, after all this time, able to find and hold and love, doesn't recognize me. Annabeth must've realized this earlier, because she starts crying into Estelle's limp hand.

"What's happening, Mom?" she asks Sally, who looks at her, sad.

"You... you don't remember?" Sally asked. For being the best blue-cupcake maker in the world, she was a bit... mentally slow sometimes. Not that I wasn't! I just realized earlier than her this time.

Estelle shook her head quizzically. "Should I?"

"No, I'm your--" Annabeth starts, but then Will releases an ear-splitting whistle using his thumb and forefinger. "That's enough!" he yelled. His voice was deeper than it had been 8 years ago, when Annabeth and I left for New Rome.

Another thing I noted was that he was wearing a black wedding ring with a star carved into it.

Nico walked into the room, stubble growing at his cheeks, a similar band on his ring finger that he was fiddling with. It was golden, and had a sun engraved on it. He ran to me excitedly as soon as he saw me, but stopped short, seeing me on the verge of tears and Annabeth breaking down.

"What happened?" Nico asked. Will quickly murmured to his boyfriend, whose eyes widened, coming over to Annabeth and me. He pulled Annabeth into a tight hug, taking her away from Estelle. He looked back to me. It was almost like a warning. It was similar to the one I'd given the monsters all those years ago. The one that said, "However bad you think you are, I'm worse."

But Nico didn't mean it in that way. He simply wanted me to follow him. But I wouldn't, couldn't leave Estelle alone. Not again. I won't abandon her again. He thought, gripping Estelle's teeny 7-year-old hands tightly.

I couldn't stop the tears. "I'm so, so sorry." I sobbed. "I didn't know that the drakon would--" but I was cut off. A hand over my mouth. Will's hand. I bit him, not wanting to let my hold on Estelle go for even a moment, but he barely flinched.

"You need to leave. I'm going to check Estelle over and see if her concussion is major or not."

"I can stay." I insisted. Please, let me stay.

Will shook his head. "No. You're causing her stress." he said. I looked to Estelle, deathly pale despite her mother's and my own tan complexions. She looked about ready to die. I gasped, horrified with what I had caused, and got up, leaving to go sit with Annabeth, Nico, and my mother outside.

We waited for hours before Will, looking worried, re-opened the infirmary door.

"I was checking some tests I ran on her head, and the MRI* said that she not only has a fractured skull," I gasped, and held Annabeth closely in my arms, waiting for him to continue. "but when she sleeps, there will be a constant risk of coma or seizure, which could both lead to death. Another thing that may be bothersome is frequent tinnitus and balance loss." he said. I wanted to punch Will. He's only doing his job. I thought. Calm down.

Worst part is, I couldn't even be mad at him. It was my fault after all, not his.

*Yes, the infirmary DOES have an MRI now, the Hephaestus kids built it with the help of some Athena kids.

edit: Why the hell did I say bull's rump?