The Valdez Legacy (A Heroes of Olympus Fanfic)

Chapter 5: Thanksgiving

Years had passed, and Nyssa had continued working at the shop, and Sofia was now seven. Sofia would help her father around the shop at times, doing little tasks such as grabbing his tool box or helping him clean his equipment. She had also gotten close to Nyssa. Like any other child of Athena, Sofia was smart. She often found ways to outsmart her father, and she would often take advantage of her intelligence.

Leo had learned most of her little tricks though, and was able to catch her. One day, Nyssa was playing chess against Sofia, who was winning, unknowingly because she was the spawn of the literal goddess of battle strategy. After Sofia had won, she begun cheering, like any other five year old would. Leo chuckled at his daughter.

Nyssa took a deep breath and finally told Leo what had been on her mind, "Um so I was thinking...with Thanksgiving coming up, maybe we could invite a few of our half siblings from cabin 9? Have a family thanksgiving?"

Leo thought about it. He didn't really like interacting with people, besides Nyssa and Sofia, but he felt they both deserved a family dinner. So Leo smiled widely, "Of course! I really want to see Harley again."

Harley was Leo's favorite brother, and Nyssa knew it. Nyssa was easily his favorite out of the females.

"Well! It's official!" Nyssa exclaimed. "I'll send the invitations to our siblings!"

***

Thanksgiving came around and Sofia was helping her father cook. They were making the turkey while everyone else was bringing stuff. Nyssa was inside the dining room, setting the table. Sofia, somehow inheriting his hyperactive tendencies, was bouncing around the kitchen.

"Calm down, Sofia." Leo lectured lightly.

Sofia didn't calm down however, and Leo sighing called Nyssa in to take her to the other room. Leo finished the turkey just in time for the guests to start arriving. First was Jake Mason...with Drew Tanaka. Leo, without thinking, and forgetting his daughter's presence in the room said, "You're the bitch of the Aphrodite cabin!"

Drew and Jake glared at Leo, Drew harder than Jake, and Sofia gasped. "Daddy, you called her a mean word."

Jake glared at Leo, "Don't call my girlfriend a bitch!"

Leo stared at Jake. Girlfriend? Dang, Leo thought he'd have better taste...

"Now the strange man said a bad word." Sofia muttered.

Jake smiled at Sofia, "You must be Leo's kid. I don't even know how he got a woman to love him that much-"

"Jake, shut up! She's seven!" Leo scolded.

Jake simply laughed, and held his hand out for Sofia, "Come on. Uncle Jake is going to show you how to build a remote control helicopter."

Sofia smiled ear to ear, and grabbed Jake's hand, dragging him to the coffee table. "Don't kill her, Jake!"

"It's fine. If you managed to keep her alive for seven years, I can keep her alive for an hour or so!"

Leo rolled his eyes at his half brother' teasing.

***

Leo's house was now full of Hephaestus kids, and he soon realized Nyssa invited more than a "few" guests. She invited the whole cabin! So when everyone arrived, Harley and Leo were talking. Harley explained how he was now head counselor of the Hephaestus cabin. After everyone grew past eighteen, they left. Some campers would occasionally visit, but he was primarily the main counselor.

Then Leo asked the question. The same question he'd been dreading to ask since his half siblings started arriving, "How are the rest of the seven?"

Harley stared at him with disbelief. "Umm....They're fine. I guess. Piper became a lawyer, and Jason a Latin teacher at a high school. They have a daughter, Ellen Jemima Grace. They haven't stopped looking for you. But Hazel and Frank actually named the middle name of their child after you; Oliver Leo. Hazel is an Equestrian farmer, even has her own little farm in New Rome, while Frank is still Praetor. Well Annabeth is a Architect, and Percy is a stay at home dad, to their daughter, Janet-"

"Wait, did they actually name their kid Janet Jackson?"

Harley nodded, "It was Percy's idea."

"Figured." Leo stated.

There was a pause, and then Harley continued with, "They visit the camp with their kids every so often. Around the summer and winter solstices, mainly."

The doorbell dinged. Leo gave Nyssa, who was setting the table a look, "Who else did you invite?"

Nyssa shrugged, confused, "Nobody, I swear."

But Leo was surprised when he opened the door...it was his father...Hephaestus. He had a rare smile on his face, and he exclaimed, "Hello, Leo!"

"Umm...hey dad?" Leo said, and looked back at siblings who all wore confused and shocked expressions, "Umm, I guess you can come in? I think everyone brought enough food."

***

A few moments later, everyone was sitting at the table, their plates covered in food, even Hephaestus's. Sofia sat in between Leo and Nyssa, while Leo sat next to Hephaestus.

Leo cleared his throat, "Well, normally, at Camp Half Blood, we'd give an offering to the gods, but since there's a god here right now," he looked at Hephaestus, "so there's no need for that. But anyways, thank you all for coming, and I'm glad I got to see your current lives you're living."

"That's so sappy Valdez!" Someone yelled.

"Ugh! Just eat!"

So they ate and ate. Leo watched as Sofia interacted with her aunts, uncles and some of her cousins. Hephaestus must've been watching too, because out of nowhere, his gruff voice said, "You know, her innocence won't last forever. It will end just like yours had to. She will have to go to Camp Half Blood too and train. She's a demigod too, after all."

Leo looked up, "Don't you think I know that? I'm always thinking about it."

"Just warning you." Hephaestus said, "You know she inherited your fire abilities?"

"Yeah totally. I totally set my child to see if she was immune." Leo sassed.

"Well go- Wait that was sarcasm,wasn't it?"

He nodded.

*** Soon Everyone left, and Leo was left thinking. His daughter had fire powers?