Hey guys! I'm back! Quick note about this chapter: I wrote it at the request of one of my friends (author) named FutureNovelist887 for her story 'Life As Their Kids.' I highly recommend you go read that, but incase you don't want to right yet I'll give you a little synopsis thing.

So Percy married Annabeth and they now have three kids (Hayley "Moon" Moonlight Jackson [16], Audrick Percival Jackson [12], and Chelsea Athene Jackson[10]). This takes place on the Fourth of July, the day of the infamous Camp-Halfblood Fireworks. Chelsea (who has a hard time finding where she really belongs) has found a friend in the son of Clarisse and Chris, Tommy Rodriguez.

This chapter is all about Tomsea.

I should probably mention that Moon can read minds... little fun fact about her. :)

I hope you thoroughly enjoy it!

Note: I don't own Percy Jackson, Rick Riordan does. I don't own Tommy, Chelsea, or Moon. I do own Mark, Paulette, Lucy, and Clark. :P Anyway, enjoy this chapter from Life As Their Kids!

Tommy POV:

I watched from across the dining pavilion as Chelsea made her way to her father at the Cabin 3 table. I couldn't stop thinking about her. About her eyes, about her face. "Dude," Mark called my name, kicking me under the table.

"W-what?" I said, shaking my head, coming back to my table.

"Your head was in the … should I say sea-foam?" Mark said with this evil glint in his eye. I was about to kick him back when Paulette put him in a choke hold.

"I think it's cute!" she said. "Little Tommy's got himself a girlfriend!"

"Shut up, guys!" I said, my cheeks getting warm. "She's not my girlfriend." yet, I added in my head. Then one of the younger girls perked up.

"Oh, my gods! What will dad think?" Lucy said with a gasp. "What with your little friend being the sun of Percy Jackson, and all? I mean, from what I heard didn't Percy pick a huge fight with him? And w-" she was cut off by Mark as he threw his hand over her mouth.

"SH!" He said sharply, "We don't say that. We can't say that. He'll cream us!" Oh, crap. I'd completely forgotten about that incident. . . What will Ares say when he finds out - rather, what will he say if he finds out? When he finds out I'm in lo- no not quite love, but it's close. Very close. Paulette laughed again. I glared at her.

"You've got that goofy look again," she said smacking my arm. "Good luck, dude."

Chelsea wanted to fly with the Pegasi today, so she suggested I meet her over there. On my way to the stables, I saw this boar run deep into the forest. So what did I do? I followed it, that's what I did. I probably should've thought that through first, but I guess the Ares blood in me told me to go for it. I followed the boar through the woods until it disappeared into a burst of flames in this little clearing.

If you thought that was something, just wait, it get's better. At least, if by better you mean seeing your grandfather (who you know has a problem with your girlfriends father) leaning against a motorcycle with sunglasses that appear to be almost melting right on his face appear 5 feet from you, then yeah, it got better.

"Thomas!" He said gruffly, crossing his burly arms. "What are you doing?"

I stood my ground; children (or even grandchildren) of Ares weren't supposed to back away from bullies, or the like, but stand up for yourself.

"I'm on my way to the Pegasus stables. Surely you don't leave Olympus just to make sure your grandson doesn't get lost. I've been to camp before, Ares."

"Now, listen, you know what I'm talking about. I won't have anyone directly descended from me having anything to do with that Jackson punk and his family, I don't care if he is the Savior of Olympus or whatever. Jackson is a self-absorbed jerk, and his family's going to be the same. You understand?"

"No. No I don't," I said simply, starting to feel the anger bubbling up now. "Look, just because you lost a fight - what was it? 30 years ago? Why does that affect me? How even? It's not my fault you were pig-headed. Dad was right, you do need to cool off sometimes."

"How dare you!" Ares bellowed, his voice booming through the trees.

"Another thing, Chelsea's not her dad. She didn't beat you herself, though, believe me when I say this: she definitely could, and she wouldn't have to do it alone. Grandfather or not, I'll take you on any day, any time when you challenge someone close to me."

"Hah! As if you could take me," Ares chortled, the air around him getting hotter as if the fire in his eyes (he'd taken off his sunglasses when at some point during my argument) was getting too wild to control. "A little runt like you? Your only a quarter bit of Hermes, punk, and only a quarter of me. What are you going to do?"

"I'd love to show you sometime, but right now, there's a girl waiting for me," I said, starting to walk back toward the stables.

"Oh, so you think you can just walk away from an immortal, punk? From a god? You just don't get it do you?"

I looked at him, well, more like glared. "I don't know what your trying to do here," I said slowly. "But get out of here before we both do something stupid." This time I turned my back and walked away.

"You'll regret this, you little brat," Ares yelled after me. "You're going to wish you never said that."

Maybe someday, but not today, I thought to myself. Just when I thought it couldn't get any worse, I caught a glimpse of Mr. Jackson, jogging behind me, trying to catch up. "Tom! Wait up. you got a sec?"

"Please, Mr. Jackson, not right now," I practically begged, turning around to look at him. "I've already been yelled at once, isn't that enough for one day?"

Percy chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "Not if you ask Annabeth," he said. "Look, I just wanted to let you know that I'm fine with you having … feelings … for my daughter. But trust me on this, you hurt her in anyway, shape or form, I'm going to have to hurt you."

"Trust me, Mr. Jackson," I said earnestly, "I would never do anything to hurt Chelsea. I just want her to be happy. And right now that means being with her at the stables so, please?" I gestured to the stables and he chuckled.

"Go on, Tommy," He said. "Just - take care of her, okay?"

I nodded and went on my way, thinking how on earth could this day get any worse?

I shouldn't have thought that. Next thing I knew, I was looking at Chelsea, smiling and laughing, but who was that with her? This…this, I bet he's a son of Apollo. The loser. He had brown hair, with gold eyes, and tan skin. He was on of the ones who leads the campfire sing-a-longs. I'd seen him around, a lot of the Aphrodite girls would fawn over him and how perfect he was. He was leaning against one of the stable doors patting a silvery-blue Pegasus.

I didn't know what to do. I'll admit it, I panicked. I had to steady myself before going inside. I thought she liked me, but maybe I was reading the signs wrong. Maybe she only wanted to be better at archery for this kid. Oh, dad, what do I do? I cried out in my head. I walked into the stable and gave Chelsea a smile.

"Oh, hey, Tommy!" She said, giving me a hug. "I take it you've met Clark, right? Clark, this is Tommy, Tommy this is Clark. He's really funny. Tell him about that one time with the Cabin 9 kids, Clark!" She said with a giggle. I forced a smile.

"As much as I'd love to hear a good joke, I was really hoping you could give me some pointers on the Pegasi, Chelsea," I said, reaching toward the reigns of this black and gray spotted one.

"Well, for starters, you might want to watch where you put your fingers," She said reaching out to stop my hand as I almost poked my steed in the eye. "Grab the reigns here, right along it's cheek, and lead it out into the open. Here, watch me take Windsong out."

Watch her I did. Everything she did was beautiful. The way she held the reigns as she lead her Pegasus out of the stable. The way she talked to her. The way her hair glinted in the sunlight. "Yo, Tommy, you might want to grip your reigns a little tighter. Here, like this," the annoying son of Apollo said, as he showed me how to 'properly' grip the reigns.

"Sheesh dude, I'm just walking it out of the stable, not to the beach and back." I said, starting in the direction that Chelsea went.

"Hey! Be careful!" He shouted, then I heard him mutter under his breath, "This is gonna be good." He followed me out into the sunlight.

Chelsea had Windsong standing by the stable waiting patiently, to me it seemed as though the Pegasi would obey this girls every word, and she was only ten. She saw me tramping out and her face looked a little worried. "Hey, Tommy, calm down a little, your making Max anxious. Anxious Pegasi are not good to anyone." I tried to loosen up, I really did. I don't think it made much difference though.

"Here, let's get flying," She said, patting Max's saddle. I climbed onto his back and waited patiently (or so I'd thought) for Chelsea. But as Chelsea was almost on, I saw Clark hop onto a Brown and white Pegasus, and gallop around the stable, then take off. The thing that made me notice was that Chelsea was watching him.

"What you've got to do is start him at a trot and work him to a gallop. He'll spread his wings when he's ready to fly," She said, finally looking back at me at the end. "When Max spreads his wings, he'll want confirmation that your ready, so when your ready to hit the skies squeeze with your legs, okay?" I nodded.

I watched as she did what she said and then I was off. Max started at a gallop and went faster from there, he spread his wings really early too. I squeezed and the next thing I knew was that Max was in the sky and I was dumped on the ground, a few feet from a pile of manure. I heard a couple laughs coming from over head as I pulled myself off the ground. Chelsea greeted me with Max in tow.

"Max says you need to not squeeze so hard at the start," She said with a shy smile. I looked at her.

"Wait," I said. "What do you mean when you say 'Max says?'"

She looked sheepish. "I mean, that Max want's you to be a little softer with your touch to start with. And he says you need to keep a tighter grip on the reigns. Other wise you will end up in the manure."

"So you what? You're talking to Pegasi now?" I asked, getting a little annoyed.

"I didn't think it was that weird. My dad talks to Pegasi, fish, and naiads all the time," she said looking a little worried now. "I didn't know it would bother you…"

Truthfully, it wasn't bothering me. It was just the fact that she could do something so spectacular and I couldn't. What could I do? Fight? Not as well as my cabin mates. I wasn't a good thief or a runner. I was just me. She doesn't deserve me.

"It doesn't bother me," I finally said as I mounted Max again. "Let's try again." I nudge Max a little easier this time and lucky me he went slower. As he got up to speed he spread his wings and I squeezed with my legs. And just like last time, I was flung to the ground as he shot into the sky. I heard Clark's laugh coming from the air, and soon it was right behind me.

"Maybe Clark could show you a few tricks," Chelsea said quietly, as I stood up and brushed the dirt off me.

"No," I said, probably a little too quickly. "I can do this."

After five more attempts (which resulted in five more failures) I decided I'd just wait for Chelsea. I gladly watched from the ground as she swooped through the clouds and still came out dry. I guess it's just a Poseidon thing.

By the time she landed I knew what I had to do.

Chelsea POV:

I felt really bad for Tommy, but he wasn't accepting my advice from Max, and really, Max wasn't the right Pegasus for him. Clark took Wafer, and Wafer is the easiest Pegasus to ride. Well, they're all really easy to ride for me, but you know what I mean.

Don't worry bout it, Princess, Windsong said. I don't think he was thinking straight. I shrugged.

"Come on, Wind, let's get you taken care of, then I'll go see what's bothering him."

As I was finishing up the duties that every demigod must do who uses the stables, Tommy came walking up. "Hey, Chelse," he said with a shy smile. "Sorry I wasn't a good flier, I guess there's a reason I'm not over here that often…Can we go for a walk?" He asked quickly.

"Um, sure, I guess," I said a little worried by his tone, but he'll probably shake it off once we're away from the stables. I gestured for him to lead and he took my hand.

We walked in silence for a few minutes. We walked to the river (yes, that means through the woods) and turned to walk toward the beach. We talked about Camp Half-Blood. I wanted to learn more, dad said that I didn't need to come here to train, but I still wished I could, so every chance I get to learn more about this place I grab at it.

He told me about the times he'd failed the rockwall and the times he'd completed it. The times when he's seen the Oracle come out and give a prophecy for a quest. He'd never been on one, but has seen what can happen on one.

But then he stopped. He turned to look at me with this pleading look in his eyes. "I don't think I can do this, Chelsea," he said quietly.

I looked at him, confused. What was he talking about? "I don't understand, what are you talking about?"

"This!" He said, swinging our hands out as if it were obvious. "I can't do this! I'm not good enough for you…plus, we're only kids. You're only 10 and I'm 13. We can't do this right now, Chelsea. I've got to focus on training."

I stood there, completely brainless, and dumbstruck. I didn't know what to say. I, well I really liked him. Still do! What am I saying?

"If your having trouble, go ask Clark to help you out," he said stiffly and then he stalked away without another word.

I just stared after him, feeling as if I'd lost someone, someone so dearly special. I felt tears spring up in my eyes and I decided to make a run for the water, one of the places where I truly felt at home. I ran to the beach, tore off my over-shirt (yes, I have on a swimsuit. So what?) and dove into the surf. This couldn't be happening to me. Not here. Not now.

I stayed down there, crying my eyes out for I don't know how long. It seemed like eternity was too short when I was greeted by none other than Moon.

"What do you think your doing down here?" She asked softly. I looked up at her from where I was hugging my knees on the ocean floor. "Oh, is that why?" She asked as I sniffed.

"He-he left me," I said quickly. "He was my only friend." I said, breaking down again. Just when I thought the waterworks were over.

Hayley quickly enveloped me in a hug. Something I didn't see coming. But she sat there holding me while I cried even more. Then when I finally was able to turn off the faucet she turned me to look her in the eye. "I'm sure there's something at work here. Tell me everything he said."

So I told her everything that happened, and as I got to the end she shook her head. "Of course he would say those things! He's jealous." She said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. We swam to the shore and I plopped down by a sand dune.

"What do you mean, he's jealous?" I asked incredulously.

"He's probably feeling inadequate and jealous. Think about it," she continued when I stared at her, uncomprehending. "When he walked into the stables, who was with you?"

"Clark, but-"

"And who laughed at him when he fell off?"

"Well, Clark and I, but-"

"Then what happened when you suggested him watch Clark?"

"He got upset…but-"

"But nothing! Don't you see? How blind are you? As for feeling inadequate, look at what you can do: Talk to Pegasi, breathe underwater, talk to fish, fly like crazy. The poor kid's probably feeling completely worthless next to that. I mean, he's a kind descendent of ARES."

"But - he's not inadequate at all," I said. "I'm the one that doesn't deserve him, he's so sweet, and kind, and gentle…" I trailed off, feeling tears spring to my eyes again.

"You need to go talk to him," Moon said, standing up and brushing the sand off her shorts. "Go talk to him, then invite him to the fireworks."

"But-"

"Enough with the 'buts'!" She said. "GO! Come on, I'll walk you to the cabin so you can wash up."

PercyPOV: (Oooh goody!)

It'd been a pretty quiet day after seeing Ares and Tommy in the woods. I'd told Annabeth all about it and later requested for Moon to be on the lookout for her sister once I'd seen Tommy walking to his cabin looking sulky.

"Whoa, Tommy, you okay?" I called out. Annabeth had warned me that kids'll do crazy things if their confronted and told that they have to do the opposite if their in love. Her being a daughter of Athena whose mother told her to stay away from me, I trusted her completely.

"Hey, Mr. Jackson," he said quietly, "Yeah, sure, I'm okay…I think," he said.

"Do you want to talk about it?" I asked. "I may be known as a seaweed brain, but I'll do my best to help you." That got a little smile out of him.

"I guess it couldn't, well, then again, you're not going to hurt me, right?" He asked, cringing.

I shrugged, "I'm not going to make any promises, but let's have it out." So he told me all about his day, and his run in with Clark and what happened on his walk with Chelsea. I knew he would hurt her, she doesn't deserve him, I couldn't help but think. What I said though was, "So what's your next step? You know she's just a friendly person, she just wants friends right now, can you simply be that for her right now? Can you be okay with her trying to be friends with others?"

He looked thoughtful for a minute. "I…I'm not sure what to do now Mr. Jackson. I think I do just need to be friends, but haven't I completely ruined that chance?"

"The worst thing you can do is give up," I told him. "Annabeth had a hard time choosing between me and this other guy, but in the end she chose me. I think one of the reasons why was because I never gave up on her."

He looked a little better after that. "But what now?"

"You're in luck, Tommy. Do you know what tonight is?"

His eyes lit up. "Of course! The Fireworks! Why didn't I think of that?" Then his face fell. "Will she go with me after what I did?"

I smirked. My paternal instincts were hoping she would say 'no.' She is my baby girl after all. But deep down, I knew the truth. "If she wants to keep you as a friend then she will. But my daughter's no fool, hurt her again, and you won't come out unscathed." His face brightened and he nodded sincerely.

"Yes, sir!" He said. We parted ways and he went to the showers. That's when I saw Moon.

She had that look in her eye like she'd just accomplished something spectacular.

"Why, yes I have indeed, father," She said running up to me and giving me a hug.

"I take it things went okay with Chels?" I asked.

"It didn't at first, but, after a bit," she shrugged, still smug. "What can I say? Aphrodite should thank me though, I'm helping her out. I wasn't sure about Chelark, but Tomsea? Definitely will work out, Aprhodite willing. "

I shivered when I thought of what Aphrodite was capable of. Never underestimate the power of love.

Moon smiled and shrugged. "You would know, right dad?" She said, leaving me to hang out with Ellie and the Stolls.

Chelsea POV: (Is it just me or are there a lot of POV switches? *shrug* Hope you guys don't mind ~Jezi)

I wiped my nose off for the millionth time today and looked at my face in the mirror. I couldn't believe I was about to do this. It was about half-an-hour before line up for dinner and I was going to swallow my nerve and go talk to Tommy.

As I left the Poseidon Cabin I saw Tommy waiting for me with a bouquet of blue and yellow flowers. "I'm sorry," we both said at the same time. Then I gestured for him to go first.

"I'm sorry," he said again, "I was put under a lot of pressure this morning from Ares, something about an old grudge between him and your dad, and I tried not to let that get to me, but then you were hanging out and having a lot of fun with Clark, and I thought, well, I thought that maybe you liked him more than me. So I got upset, and -" I silenced him by wrapping my arms around him.

"Tommy! It's okay," I said. "He really did have this great joke, and I don't really have many friends at home. It's just nice to hang out with demigods, I can be myself. I'm really sorry if I made you feel inadequate, you are perfect just the way you are." This time he just looked at me with a beaming smile on his face. We stepped back for a second and he held out his hand.

"Friends?" He asked, and I took his hand immediately.

"Always," I said.

"So, do you want to - um. . . What I'm trying to say is. . . Chelsea, will you go to the Fireworks with me?"

I grinned. "Definitely!" We hung out together until we had to separate for dinner.

I caught Moon's eye as she walked out of the Athena Cabin. Thank's sis, I thought. She grinned and gave me a thumbs up.

AN: Holy cow!

Wow, that was so long. But I couldn't make it any shorter if I tried. *sigh* Anyway, I hope you liked this! The Fireworks will be coming later (probably by Future, rather than me). I would've added them in this chapter but it's already got 3,816 words. 0.0 That's really long in my book.

Thank's for reading though!

~Jezebel Raewin