What If?

6. Home is Where the Heart is

She was home. 

Annabeth laughed. She was finally home. 

"Come on." She dragged Bianca and Nico over the border. "Let's go see Chiron." 

"Slow down," Nico whined. "My legs aren't as long as yours." 

Annabeth ignored him. She needed to see Chiron immediately. 

And Luke. She definitely needed to see Luke. 

"Woah," Bianca said. She stopped dead in her tracks, admiring the Camp before her. 

Bianca opened her mouth. "Is that—"

"Yes, it's a flying horse." 

"Are those—" 

"Yes, those are cabins. Your cabin depends on your parent." Annabeth continued dragging them along. 

"Wow, it's—" 

"So pretty? Yep, that too. Now hurry up, we need to chat with Chiron." 

"Who's— Nico asked. 

"Chiron? You'll see." Annabeth continued her march to the Big House. 

"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what this place is!" Bianca stomped her foot and held her ground. 

Annabeth sighed in frustration. "Okay, so this is Camp Half-Blood, for demigods. People like you and me. It's sort of a safe haven for demigods, as monsters can't enter. Chiron is the same Chiron from the myths. You know, the centaur? He's our Activities Director. Our Camp director is Mr.D, who's a god. Each cabin—

"A god? In this Camp? Cool!" Nico bounced on the balls of his feet. He ran forward. "C'mon, I wanna meet a god." 

"He doesn't like kids. Or demigods. Or people, for that matter." Annabeth said. She ran to keep up with him. 

"So? He's a god." Nico said (as if it explained everything). "Which god is he? Does he live here?" he pointed towards the Big House. 

Annabeth blinked. She hadn't realized they were there already. 

"Yeah, he does. He's Dionysus, god of wine." 

"You called, Annabelle?" Mr. D drawled lazily. He eyed Nico and Bianca. "Who are these brats?" 

"OHMYGOD," Nico yelled. 

He ran up and grabbed Mr. D's hand and started shaking it vigorously. 

"Wow, I can't believe you're the Wine Dude!" 

"Excuse me?" 

"I'm your biggest fan! Some people say you suck but I don't think so. Is it true that you have five hundred attack points?" 

"What are you going on about?" 

"You know, Mr. Wine Dude I thought you'll be—" 

"Nico," Bianca chided, "Leave the poor man alone." 

"But he's a God," Nico whispered. "And I have so many questions." 

"You can ask them later." Bianca compromised. 

"But Bi—" 

"You can ask him later," Bianca repeated. 

"Fine," he grumbled. 

He sulkily walked back to where Bianca was standing. Annabeth was too in shock to do anything but watch. 

"I'm sorry, Mr. Dionysus. My brother doesn't know—" Bianca started.