You'll Learn to Love Me (Leo Valdez x OC)

Chapter 20: Christmas

Laylana arrived home with her friends in tow on Christmas Eve. As much as Annabeth wanted to continue searching for any clue that would lead them to the other camp, and Leo wanting to think out more things with the flying ship, they had to take a break. Laylana herself needed time to recuperate, and tell her mom about her findings on her quest. Most of camp had taken a break anyway for the holidays, and agreed they would reconvene the day after Christmas to begin construction.

"You ready to meet my mom?" Laylana stood at the front door of her apartment, Leo and Annabeth behind her. 

"As ready as I'll ever be, I guess." Leo grinned at her. 

Laylana opened the door, motioning her friends inside. She heard footsteps coming from the kitchen to the main room, and watched her mom and stepdad, Paul, enter. Her mom's face instantly morphed into one of relief as she swept her daughter up in her arms. Paul followed shortly behind, the three of them just standing there. After they let go, Sally moved over to give Annabeth a hug as well.

"I'm so glad you're both okay," she said, cupping her daughter's face. 

"It's good to see you, Sally." Annabeth had a small smile on her face. 

"Glad to be home, mom." Laylana looked at both her and Paul, then glancing at Leo.

"You must be Leo?" Paul asked, also looking at Leo who was standing at the front door, very awkwardly. Laylana grabbed his hand and pulled him in the door, shutting it behind him.

"Yes, sir." Leo stuck out his hand, both Sally and Paul shaking it one-by-one.

"He was one of the people I went on my quest with." Laylana explained shortly. "I thought would be nice to introduce him to you."

"Nice to meet you, ma'am. Sir." Leo smiled awkwardly. Sally just grinned herself and shook his hand, Paul following shortly behind. 

"It's nice to meet you too." Sally looked back at her daughter. "Now, come on. You have to explain what happened, and why you have that bandage on your shoulder young lady." 

Laylana groaned as they walked into the dining room, all of them taking a seat. Over the next hour, Leo and Laylana recounted their journey across the country, from when they met to their fight with Porphyrion. Laylana did include how she had 'died' and met her father, who told her about her past. Sally's eyes grew solemn at the mention of Lilyanna, Laylana's biological mother. She knew one day her daughter would find out the truth, about her being hunted, and how she tried to protect both her and Percy for so long. 

"Your mother was a wonderful woman," Sally smiled at her daughter. 

"She seemed to be. But, why didn't you tell me? Did you know that my dad was Erebus the whole time?" 

"I knew that your father was a God, but she never disclosed who. Lily thought it was too dangerous for me to know." Sally reached across the table, grabbing her daughter's hand. "But know that she loved you, very much. And she would be proud of you." 

"Thanks, mom." Laylana gripped her hand. "I'm just glad that I know now. In any case, this is my family. You know this. You'll always be my mom." 

"And you'll always be my daughter." Sally looked over at Leo. "Thank you, for helping her. And keeping her safe." 

"Hey, without Lana I would probably be dead." 

Eventually, they moved onto other topics while they ate dinner. Annabeth and Laylana went through the plans they had, and how they were gonna find Percy. Leo went on a rant about the warship he was building, which Sally didn't quite understand in the slightest but Paul was intrigued and was nerding out with him. They assured Sally that they would find him, and he would be safe. They didn't let her know of any of their doubts or worries, and how the Roman camp might not be as forgiving as Camp Half-Blood.