17 Years Later

by The Princess of Stars

Annabeth and Percy broke up, but Annabeth knows he wasn't telling the truth when he dumped her. They meet again after 17 years and they both have 15 year-old kids, who play match-maker for them. Will Leon Chase and Annabelle Jackson bring them together?

1. Chapter 1

Set 19 years after TLO. All the same: characters movie version (except that I describe Percy like a mixture between movie and books), and LONG ONE-SHOT. Enjoy!

Annabeth's POV:

17 years have passed since I broke up with Percy. We haven't kept in touch ever since. We broke up two years after we began dating, and two years later I had a son with Apollo. I now am a 35 year-oldwoman with a son named Leon, who just turned15years-old. Leon is the exact copy of me. He is already taller than me; he has brown hair and sky blue eyes just like mine. Every summer I send him to Camp Half- Blood. He trains really hard and I'm very proud of him. Leon already had his first real quest. He did once again all Hercules' labors, but he did them with his best friend. Annabelle Jackson, daughter of Hecate. This is really weird. Her name is so close to mine and her last name is like Percy's. What was even stranger was that she had long jet-black hair and sea blue eyes, just like Percy's, only a little bit brighter. I don't think she is Percy's daughter, though, because I would have surely met Percy again, since Leon and Annabelle were best friends. Anyway, this is pretty much what happened to me, I also became head architect for a famous architecture company in Manhattan, with two masters on the subject, one with the maximum grade, the other, I missed the maximum grade because, since I studied at home, I never went to class, so my 'lovely' professor, decided to ruin me by not giving me 1 freaking point because he never saw me in class!

It was the last day of camp, and I was about to pick upLeon. As I arrived, many parents where at the gates. I entered and went to the Big House. As I arrived, I saw Leon and Annabelle practicing some salsa steps. Oh, I didn't mention that Leon and Annabelle knew each other since I sent my son to Camp, but since they began high school; they went to the same school and to the same dance school. What did you expect? Leon IS son of Apollo. Anyway, as I arrived, I saw them dancing on the field "How cute" I said as I looked at them, Leon and Annabelle looked at me and separated "Mom!" Leonprotested "I'm just saying!" I said raising my hands like in surrender. "Hey Annabelle! How are you?" I asked "Very well, Miss Chase" she answered

"Is your dad picking you up as usual?"

"Yeah, and as usual he's lat-" "He's right there!" Leon cut her off. Then they both grabbed me by the arms dragging me with them "Come on Miss Chase! I want you to meet my dad!" Annabelle said "Ok! Ok! You can let me go, I'm not running away" I protested, so both my son and his best friend let me go. I looked ahead of me, and saw a tall man, 1,90m probably, 10cm taller than Leon, he had jet-black hair and sea blue eyes. His eyes…how could I forget them? They were bluer than the Circassian sea. "Dad! Come here there's someone I want you to meet!" Annabelle said running to the man and dragging him by the arm "I'm coming! I'm coming! You can let go!"he said to his daughter. As we stood in front of each other, I was shocked. Percy Jackson was standing in front of me. "You don't remember me" I said smiling. Annabelle and Leon were smiling too "Of course I remember you" he said "You are Leon's mo-"

"No. Here at camp. We've fought together every scariest thing this world could throw at us for 5 adventures…and you don't remember"

"Of course I remember you! You're that annoying know-it-all of Annabeth Chase! My best friend! The heroine of Olympus! How could I forget you? " I laughed when he recognized me

"Busted!" I said laughing "And you're the annoying Seaweed Brain, Percy Jackson. The hero of Olympus"

"Yup. And it's good to finally see you again after 17 years" he stretched his hand, but as I grabbed it he pulled me into a hug.I hesitated at first, but then I hugged him back slightly smiling. I had missed him. I could stay like that forever, but when Leon and Annabelle cleared their throats, I realized it was enough hugging, so I pulled back. "I didn't remember you this tall!" I said surprised by his height. He smiled "I grew up a few centimeters after my seventeens" he said still smiling "Well, it was good to see you, again Percy" I said "Thanks to our kids, we'll meet again, and that's for sure. I'm not losing track of you again" he said. I blushed a bit as he said that "Leon, time to go home" I said "Annabelle, you too" Percy said, but as we turned around, I saw Leon grabbing Annabelle from behind and spinning her around, but then they fell on each other laughing. This time it was our turn to clear our throats. They saw us and Leon got off Annabelle offering her his hand to help her up. We said good bye once again, and I headed to the car and drove my son back home. "So, how was camp?" I asked Leon "The usual" he answered

"Which is?"

"The usual" I raised an eyebrow

"Leon, I grew up at Camp. Nothing's 'the usual'"

"Alright! It was good!"

"Did-"

"Yes! Ann and I had a lot of fun"

"Whe-"

"No, there weren't any quests"

"Do-"

"And yes, I can't wait to go back to school"

"That's new! Why can't you wait to go back?"

"Shoot me now" he muttered

"Excuse me?"

"No! I mean, I'm happy to go back because…"

"Because?"

"I can't wait to attend to another mythology lesson" Leon faked a smile

"I'll pretend to believe that"

"Thank you" he looked outside the window

"Hey, I'm your mom. I know when you don't want to talk about something. I'll stop asking if you promise to tell me the real reason why you want to go back to school, later. Deal?"

"Deal" I shook my hand with Leon and kept driving us back home. As we arrived, Leon went to his room, while I went in the living room and took out my laptop. While working on my laptop I heard Leon's phone ring "Leon! The phone!" I called. Leon came running downstairs and grabbed it. As he answered he became slightly red. I smiled at the view. Thalia once told me that Percy did the same thing when I called. That meant there was a girl on the phone. And I think I know who she was. "Our minds think alike!" I heard Leon say "Tonight?...8p.m? Sure!...Really?...Great!...Yes, she's here….I'll ask" Leon put a hand on the phone and turned to me "Mom" he called. I turned around "It's Annabelle. She wanted to know if we could come to her house tonight at 8p. have dinner with them"

"Them?"

"Yeah, Mr. Jackson is there too. I'd go"

"I'm sorry, I didn't hear that the correct way" I stretched my ear

"Can we go?"

"You forgot something" Leon put on the puppy dog eyes

"Please?"

"Oh, well if you ask me with those pup eyes…alright"

"Thank you" He turned back to the phone "Ann, are you still there?...We're coming…..yeah…..it'll be hard but I'll try…...yeah! I hope they do!...Haha! Yeah, you do that….don't worry, I'll take care of it…ok! Bye Ann!" and he hung up. "Why are you so excited?" I asked smirking "Oh, nothing!" he answered smirking back

"What are you hiding Mr.?

"Nothing mom"

"Leon Chase, you're hiding something from me"

"Oh, look! I's already 6p.m.! Mom, you have to get prepared!" Leon grabbed my laptop and put it on the table

"Hey! I was working on that!"

"Come on, mom! Work can wait! Now you pick an outfit, go to the bathroom, and get prepared for tonight" Leon said dragging me to my bedroom.

"Leon! It's a normal dinner at a friend's house! Why are you so excited about it?"

"For me it's a normal dinner at a friend's house. For you, mom, it's a dinner with your lost love"

"Lost love? Aren't you a little too young to talk about this?"

"I'm 15, I know what dating means."

"Dating! We were 16! Last time I saw Percy was 17 years ago!" Leon pushed me into my room

"So?"

"Are you playing match-maker for me?"

"Me? Playing match-maker? No!"

"Then why do you want me to look pretty?"

"Mom, just do what I tell you, for once. Plus, you two have some catching up to do"

"Alright…but at 10p.m. we'll be home, you have school tomorrow!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know! Now, we both go get ready. Bye-bye!" and he shut the door behind me. Ok…something's up.

Annabelle's POV:

"Yeah. What did your mom say?" I asked Leon on the phone "We're coming" he answered

"Do you really think it may work?"

"Yeah"

"Tell your mom to put on something pretty"

"It'll be hard but I'll try"

"I just hope they'll break the wall separating them. After 17 years they probably built one"

"Yeah. I hope they do!"

"Ok, you know the mission. I'll tell my dad to at least try to be a mature man. You know how childish he can be"

"Haha! Yeah, you do that"

"Ha…anyway, you know what to do. Make sure your mom puts on something pretty."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it"

"Good. Now let the operation BTW (Break The Wall) begin!"

"Ok! Bye Ann!"

"Bye Le!" and we both hung up. I was in the living room when dad passed by. "Hey, Annie! So, Leon is coming?" dad asked "Don't call me Annie and yes. Leon is coming and so is Miss Chase" I answered. My dad looked at me suspiciously

"Are you by any chance playing match-maker for me?"

"Me? No!"

"You're hiding something from me Miss"

"No! Why should I?"

"You tell me"

"Whatever! Oh, dad look! How time flays! It's 6p.m. already. Time for us to get ready and for you prepare dinner" I went to him and grabbed him by an arm to drag him to his bedroom, but he stayed still. I tried to push him, but dad stayed still "Gods dad! What did you eat today?" I said pushing him

"Why do you want me to get ready now? It's early!"

"Because we have to talk, and I want to choose your outfit for tonight. Plus, it takes me a while to get prepared, so I want you to get ready first"

"Ok,fine" and he began walking to his room. I walked inside and looked in dad's drawer. I took out several shirts. Then I looked at my father. "Those jeans are good, but try on this shirt" I said handing him over a black button-up shirt. I turned around while he put on his shirt. Not because I was embarrassed to look at my dad when he was shirtless, I actually liked the fact of having a very athletic dad. I turned around because I wanted the surprise effect "Done" dad said. I turned around and looked at my fit dad giving him thumbs up, but then I had an idea "Wait a second dad" I said and using the magic powers I inherited from Hecate I made his shirt a bit skinny. "Why did you made my shirt skinny?" dad asked "Oh, I just like to show off my athletic dad" I said innocently "Yeah right, anyway, what did you want to talk about?" dad asked

"I just wanted to ask you if could you try to be a little more mature than usual? I know it's hard for you, but could you at least try?" he laughed

"Ok, I get it. Don't make silly comments or say anything stupid or do something embarrassing"

"Good" I said and went to my room to get ready. Leon and I were going to make them BTW!

Annabeth's POV:

We just arrived in front of Percy's house, after Leon gave me confused directions. "Mom! We're late!" Leon said as we got out of the car "And you know why we're late?" I said

"Because you didn't listen to my directions?"

"No, because you're absolutely terrible at giving directions" Leon just grunted. I smiled and we rang the door bell. Annabelle opened the door "Miss Chase! Leon!" she said excited and hugged my son "You guys are late! Did Leon give you directions?" she said "Yes, he did. You also know he's terrible at giving directions, do you?" I said. Annabelle nodded "Hey! I'm not that bad!" Leon protested "Well, you're the one who led us to a Cyclops den instead to the Nemean Lion!" Annabelle provoked "Whatever!" Leon said. Annabelle smirked "My dad's in the kitchen. He's preparing the dessert…blue chocolate pancakes!" Annabelle said excited, and before I could say anything, she dragged Leon to her room. I shook my head smiling and I headed to the kitchen "Hey there!" Percy greeted while cleaning his hands on a towel "Hey Percy!" I said going to him. He walked to me and gave me a hug. "I missed you" he said while hugging me tightly "I missed you too" I answered. We pulled out of the hug smiling. I really have missed him. "I think the kids are up to something" Percy said going back to the pancakes "Yeah, I think so too" I said

"Don't you think it's strange?"

"What?"

"I mean, we haven't seen each other in 17 years, and now I see you twice in a day!"

"Yeah, we have to thank or kids for that"

"Yeah, Leon and Annabelle…what a pair! They are exact opposites and they are best friends, just like us"

"Speaking of which…Annabelle? Seriously?"

"Yeah, what?"

"You almost named her Annabeth" his expression from smiling darkened with embarrassment

"Right…" something came in my mind

"You wanted to give her my name"

"Yeah…" he practically whispered that. I smiled a bit at the thought. He wanted to give his daughter my name "Anyway" he began snapping me out of my thoughts "The pancakes are done. Call the kids; we have pizza first then the pancakes"

"Oh, ok. Leon! Annabelle! Dinner's ready!"

"Coming! Ouch!" I heard Leon say then I heard some whispering and the kids came with goofy grins. Eavesdroppers! "Well that was fast" I said smirking "Oh, we were right-" Leon was cut off by Annabelle's elbow in his ribs "-across the hall, racing for the pizza" Annabelle finished "Oh, really? Then why didn't we hear any running?"Percy said while taking the pizzas out of the warm oven "I guess we're just very light" Leon said faking a smile "Sure!" I said sarcastically. We sat down at the dining table and began talking. The kids weren't really listening to our conversations, so Percy and I began some catching both had great lives after we broke up, but there was one thing that interested me a lot,both of us only had one further relationshipafter we broke up. That's odd. After dinner, Annabelle proposed to watch a movie. We all agreed and sat on the couches. Annabelle was lying on one couch with her legs draped on Leon's lap, while Percy and I sat next to each other on the other couch.

Leon's POV:

We were watching New Moon. Gods, I hate romantic movies! Especially New Moon since the trailer is cooler than the whole movie! No, seriously! This movie is completely useless to the story! It's good only to show how stupid the characters are! Especially Bella and Edward! No, really, I've seen all three movies (forced by Annabelle, of course) and I learned that Edward is a depressed vampire that has nothing to do except for crying on himself and put Bella in let's not talk about Bella! Seriously, the only thing I learned about her is that she has the personality of saltine crackers, and has to be anxious about everything! I never thought a vampire movie could be so boring!Anyway, back to the real world. Ann had her legs draped on my lap, while my mom was sitting next to Annabelle's dad. At half of the movie, I was about to fall asleep when Annabelle lightly pulled my finger. I looked at her and she silently motioned me to look at my mom. Mr. Jackson was about to do 'The Move'. He stretched his arms and was about to put his arm around my mom's shoulders. Come on! Come on! Do it! "Don't even go there!" mom said glaring at him "I was just stretching! This movie is boring!" Ann's dad said. Mom just rolled her eyes "It's not boring, dad! It's very romantic!" Ann said. I just let that comment go. We kept watching the movie, when it arrived to the part where something ACTUALLY HAPPENDS! Bella runs to Edward to push him back into the shadow and he tells her that she is 'his whole life now'. You're immortal you idiot! She can't be your whole life if she stays human! I heard Annabelle sigh romantically for the scene. That's when I exploded "OK! You're NOT allowed to think that that's romantic! Ok? THIS MOVIE SUCKS! And I'm gonna tell you, with complete confidence that the Twilight Saga is GARBAGE!" I shouted. Mr. Jackson and my mom chuckled at my comment, but Annabelle slowly got up throwing daggers at me. She was scary sometimes "Uhm…I-I think I'll go drink something!" I said, but as I got up, Ann tackled me to the floor and grabbed my arm putting it behind my back "What did you dare to say?" Ann said in a deadly voice "That New Moon is garbage!" I said. She tightened her grip

"Excuse me, I didn't hear that. What did you say?"

"New Moon and the Twilight Saga are GARBAGE!" she tightened her grip even more

"You wanna repeat that?"

"The Twilight Saga is G-A-R-B-A-G-E! GARBAGE!" "Annabelle, let poor Leon go" her dad said. Thank the Gods! Mom looked at her watch "Oh, Gods! Leon we have to go, it's midnight and you have your first day of school tomorrow!" mom said "Ok, I'm coming!"I said. We all headed to the door. I gave Annabelle a hug saying good bye and so did her father with my mother; only that this time mom didn't hesitate to hug him back. As we got out of the door, I was about to go downstairs when mom stopped and turned back to Mr. Jackson. "Percy!" she called "Yeah?" he said. Mom walked closer to him "Could you come to ground level?" mom asked. I knew what she meant. Mom's head was below his chin even though she was a tall woman. He bent down, and mom ran a hand in the back of his hair and hugged him only to punchthe back of his shoulder. Annabelle ad I chuckled "OUCH! Jeez! What was that for!" he said putting a hand on his back where mom hit him then something like realization came to him "Ok, I guess I deserved that" he said as mom walked back to me "Wow, your smarts are improving, even though you're the same annoying Seaweed Brain" mom said sarcastically

"And you're the same annoying Annie!"

"Don't call me Annie"

"Alright…Annie"

"Whatever!"

"Night!"

"Night!"

And with that we headed to the car. "Mom, why did you punch Mr. Jackson on the head?" I asked, curiously "Simple. He broke up with me when we were 17, without telling me the real reason" mom answered "Ohh!" I said nodding with my head "Then he deserved that" I stated, mom smiled and we arrived home back home.

Annabelle's POV:

As Leon and his mom went back home, my dad closed the door and had his thoughtful face on. "Dad?" I said snapping him out of his thoughts. He raised his head and looked at me "Why did Miss Chase give you a punch on the head?" I asked "Because I was the one who broke up with her when we were 17" dad said. I giggled and sat down on the couch motioning for my dad to sit next to me. He sat next to me "How did you two ever meet?" I asked curiously. Dad smiled "I was 12 and just found out I was a demigod. I ran into a minotaur and after I killed it I blacked out. When I woke up in the infirmary, three days later, Annabeth was standing next to my bed. I remember that the first things she told me were 'You don't look tough enough to kill a minotaur' and 'You drool when you sleep'" we both laughed at that, dad's eyes lit up "She's the best fighter I've ever seen. Anyway, after my team's victory at Capture the Flag, Hades payed us a visit and Annabeth, Uncle Grover and I had our first real quest. And, gods! What and adventure! It was like one of those James Bond movies. We were best friends from that quest forward. Then we had other 4 quests. On our second, I saved her from the sirens and Polyphemus, then on the third one, she saved me from a manticore falling off a cliff and getting kidnapped along with Artemis, then we held up the sky together, you can still see the small strand of grey hair we both have. It's the mark of who held the weight of the sky. During that quest, Artemis offered Annabeth immortality, by becoming a huntress. I thought I would have lost her, but she refused. On our forth quest, we went through the Labyrinth to stop Kronos' forces. We went on Mt. Saint Helen and there I sent her back to Camp before… blowing up the mountain. There she kissed me for the first time, because I was most likely to die, but when I came back, I swear that when she saw me, Annabeth was about to punch me in the face, but then she hugged me. Then on our last quest, I bathed in the Styx and I had to think hard about something that kept me mortal" "Oh Gee! I wonder who you were thinking of!" I interrupted. Dad shook his head smiling "During the Titan War, we were fighting Kronos' army side by side. While we were fighting, a demigod that went on Kronos' side attacked me from behind, right on my Achilles spot…that poisoned dagger never stabbed my back…it stabbed Annabeth's shoulder. She actually used herself as a shield for me, even if she knew that I was invulnerable and didn't know where my Achilles spot was… I thought I had lost her for good this time…I owe her my life. Luckily, she is strong and survived. That's when I revealed her my Achilles spot. We won the war together. Later that night, I was sitting on a bench at the pavilion thinking about the war. Annabeth came to me with a pancake with a candle. I was my 16th birthday, which I had totally forgotten. There we talked a bit. I wanted to tell her my feelings, but I chickened out" I loudly laughed in his face at that one. No really, my dad fought EVERYTHING, and wasn't afraid of ANYTHING and he chickened out to express his feelings for a girl, which was Miss Chase? The nicest person on earth?"What?" dad said confused "Oh, nothing" I answered "Anyway" dad continued "I chickened out, and there, she kissed me. I was feeling the happiest guy on Earth."

"You two were very much related, weren't you?"

"Yes, we were"

"Why did you dump her? What happened with you?" dad's face darkened. I could see he didn't want to answer. "Dad, what is it?" he stood up and began to walk to his room

"We…took different paths" he answered and left to his room. I knew he didn't want to talk about it. At least, mission BTW was successfully completed!

Annabeth's POV:

The next day, our year routine began: while Leon went to school, I went to work. A week after the dinner at Percy's, I was about to have another daily routine: I woke up, got dressed, ate breakfast prepared either from me or Leon, said good-bye to my son before he went to school, feed Pegasus, the cat, and head to work. As I arrived, I went to my office and worked on my blueprints. After a while, I heard a knock on the door. I didn't even bother to look up that I said to whoever was there, to come in. "Hey mom" I heard Leon's voice. I lifted my head up and saw my son standing there with Annabelle "Hey kids! Shouldn't you be at school?" I asked surprised to see them here "Mom, it's 5p.m." Leon pointed out. I looked at my watch. He was right! I was so concentrated that time flew really fast. In fact I noticed I had just finished my last blueprint. "What are you kids doing here?" I asked "Dad was giving us a lift" Annabelle explained, in that moment Percy appeared at the door "Hey!" he said smiling "Hey Perseus" I said leaning on my chair "Oh, come on! You know I hate been called Perseus!" Percy said almost shouting "Ooh! Annabelle, looks like your dad has a problem with his own name" I provoked. Percy was about to say something when Leon interrupted "Anyway! We came here to go somewhere all together, just to hang out" Leon said "Sure" I answered "That means" Percy began "If you don-"

"No I don't have other things to do"

"Should-"

"Yes, let the kids decide where to go"

"But-"

"I don't know. Ask them if they have homework"

"Bu-"

"And yes, I'm done with work for today. Besides, we still have lots of catching up to do" Annabelle looked at Leon "Now I see from whom Leon got this way to shut people up" she said. We just chuckled. "Who wants to go to the pier?" Leon asked. We all raised our hands "Ok, who knows how to get there" Annabelle asked

"I lead you there!"

"NO!" we all answered in chorus "Why?" Leon asked surprised of our reaction "BECAUSE, Owl Brain" Annabelle began "You SUCK at giving directions!"

"Look who's talking, Sea Girl!" "Kids cut it out, I know where the pier is" I said grabbing my car keys and leaving the office "Then it's off to the pier!" Percy said walking away "Uhm…Percy?" I called

"Yeah?"

"The exit would be that way" I pointed the opposite direction where he was going

"Oh right, sorry. To the pier and beyond!" I shook my head

"And I think that we were dating"

"I'm not always THIS childish!" "Sure!" Annabelle said teasingly for me.

"I'm 36! I'm still a kid!" "Yeah, an old kid!" I added. Percy just rolled his eyes and we exit the building.

We went to the pier where Leon and Annabelle were just running around going on some roller coasters while Percy and I had some catching up. I wanted to ask him why he really left me. I remember that he said that things weren't working because we kept arguing on everything. To me it was normal bickering, that was what we always did, but he said that it couldn't work and he broke up with me. He gave me a kiss on my forehead and walked away. That was the last time I saw him in 17 years. I wanted to ask him why, but something kept me back. We stayed at the pier for some hours, Leon and Annabelle having fun, Percy and I catching up. I have to admit that he changed a lot. He had matured a lot, even if he had his childish moments. He also did smart comments. He was working and studying at the same time. He was working as a marine biologist, he also managed to get two masters in the subject and now he was studying for the third. I never thought Seaweed Brain would get two masters with the maximum grades, and still studying for the third! I mean, I can understandone master, he wanted to be specialized in sharks, but he was studying for the third! "Fatherhood changes you" Percy kept saying "You changed a lot too" he said "Motherhood changes you" I answered(Here it will get a bit cheesy.)

"But you haven't lost your way to shut me up" we both laughed at the comment

"Percy?" he looked at me "Why did you want to give your daughter my name?" he took a deep breath (WARNING! SENTENCE ALREADY HEARD IN A THOUSAND MOVIES)

"Because you taught me a lot. You taught me what true friendship and love are"

"Why did you break up with me then?"

"Because it wasn't work-"

"Percy it's not gonna work again. I know you were hiding something from me. You have never been a good at hiding anything"

"You know me too well. I just want you to know that if it was for me" he paused "I never would have broke up with you…never" I was about to say something when Leon and Annabelle came to us "Dad, Miss Chase, we would like to go home it's 8p.m. and…" Annabelle stopped "…we still have homework to do" Leon finished and they put on goofy grins "Ok, we'll go home" Percy began "By the way, you're grounded for a week Miss"

"Oh, come on! Dad!"

"Yes you're grounded. Now give me half of the pocket money I gave you this month"

"But-"

"No buts"

"Fine" and Annabelle gave him half of the pocket money. Leon chuckled earning a glare from Annabelle "You're grounded for a week too, Mr." I said to my son

"Oh, come on, Mom!"

"iPod"

"Not the iPod!"

"Yes, the iPod!"

"Fine" and he gave me his iPod. After that we said good bye, and headed back home.

Annabelle's POV:

Another boring day of school was ahead of me. I was a straight A student (could be A+ if I didn't have dyslexia and ADHD) but Goode was so boring! It was, like my dad when he went there, every day the same thing. It's like High School without the 'Musical'. My alarm went on, I almost killed it, literally, and went back to sleep, that was when my dad jumped on me "Wake up, Sleeping Beauty! Rise and shine!" he said loudly "Dad! 10 more minutes" I said and went back to sleep

"10 minutes and you'll be late"

"Whatever"

"Annabelle I'll give you 3 seconds to get up"

"Yeah, yeah. 5 minutes"

"Annabelle 1"

"I'm tired"

"Annabelle 2" I didn't answer "Annabelle 3" In that moment I felt freezing cold water on my head and I shot up sitting

"OK! OK! DAD, I'M UP! Enough water!"

"Good. The waffles are waiting"

"Blue waffles?"

"No, violet. Of course blue waffles!"

"I'm up just for the waffles" Dad chuckled

"Ok, I'll be in the kitchen" and he left the room.

After that boring school day, which was not that boring because I had Leon with me. I headed with him to our dance school. While we were practicing for our upcoming dance contest, our teacher went out of the room for a moment and an idea came to me "They have to be best friends again" I said while dancing with Leon. "Who?" Leon asked twirling me

"Snow White and Prince Charming. My dad and your mom, genius! And I thought you were Athena's grandchild"

"I had a rough day without my iPod! Don't push it!"

"Or what?" In that moment…I don't know how…I found myself with Leon holding me by the arms, but my face was facing the floor and if I moved my feet another centimeter I would have fallen off the stage "Leon?"

"Yeah?"

"PULL ME BACK UP!"

"Or what?" "LEON CHASE AND ANNABELLE JACKSON! WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING?" our teacher roared from the other side of the room. "Threatening Ann" Leon simply said, considering that our teacher, Marianne Santiago, was his stepsister. She was at Camp Half-Bloodwith our parents when they fought the war together "Pull me back up, Chase!" I shouted "Leon, pull her up" Marianne said, and luckily Leon obeyed. We started all over our choreography "Anyway" I began "We need to bring them as close as they were when they were our age" Leon twirled me again "Ok, do you know how close they were? Mom only told me that they were old friends from the past and that they began dating when your dad turned 16, but she never told me about how close they were" Leon asked

"Did you ever ask?"

"Uhm…no"

"Oh, for Elysium's sake! Why didn't you ask? You know the mission!"

"I never thought about it!"

"Ugh! Great! I have a grandchild of Athena, as a friend, that doesn't think of anything!"

"Look who's talking, Sea Girl! I believe you didn't ask either"

"I don't like to show off, but I did, Owl Brain"

"Then…how close were they?"

"Pretty much"

"How much, in percentage?"

"Let me just say that in all their five adventures, my dad, at 13, saved her from the sirens andPolyphemus. At 14, he held the sky with her and rescued her and Artemis and at 16 gave up immortality for her and revealed her his Achilles spot. Then your mom, at 12 took care of him when they first met. At 14, she fell off a cliff with a manticore and got kidnapped by it to save dad and she gave up immortality as well for him, at 15 she kissed him because she thought he was about to die on Mt. Saint Helen and at 16 she used her body to shield my dad and got stabbed in the shoulder by a poisoned dagger, that's when dad revealed her his Achilles spot, and after the war, they became a couple"

"So we have to bring the friendship quotation at 100%?"

"Yup"

"And after that, we'll help your dad bring the romance quotation to 1000%"

"Exactly"

"The problem is, your dad has to win mom back"

"I know, your mom is still very distant"

"Yeah, she's still mad at your dad for not telling her the real reason why he broke up with her"

"Yeah…but I have the perfect plan to bring them back together"

"And what would it be?"

"Have you seen 'The Heartbreaker'?"

"Yeah…wait. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"Yup!"

"But they were best friends! They know everything about each other"

"They haven't seen each other for 17 years…many things can change"

"Right…they also didn't have any more relationships after Apollo and Hecate"

"Right…and we don't want our parents to live alone forever"

"Right…" In that moment the music stopped "Guys! Could you please stop flirting and concentrate on the choreography?" Marianne asked us "We're NOT flirting!" we shouted in unison "Whatever! May I know what were you talking about?" she asked crossing her arms below her chest. Leon and I exchanged looks "About a mission we must complete" Leon answered "Which is?" Marianne insisted "Doing match-maker for our parents" I answered. She raised an eyebrow before answering "And if you don't you'll die" "We won't but we're afraid our parents will" Leon said. Marianne smiled "You're off the hook for play match-maker and make Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase a happy couple like they were supposed to be" she said. We smiled, grabbed our stuff and left for my house. We needed to talk to my father. He had to do the first move.

As I arrived home, dad was sitting on the couch working on his laptop. He looked up and saw us "Hey kids! You're early!" he said shutting down his laptop "Marianne let us off the hook" Leon explained "Really? That's odd! She never lets anyone off the hook" dad said. Leon and I smirked and exchanged looks, then we looked back at my dad "Oh-oh…why do I have a feeling something's up?" he said. Leon and I sat at his sides "Mr. Jackson-" "Please Leon, call me Percy. Mr. Jackson sounds old, I'm 35!"

"Ok…so…Percy, do you still like my mom?"

"What?" "You heard him dad, do you still like Miss Chase?" I pushed

"No!" Leon raised an eyebrow "A little?" dad forced a smile and looked first at Leon then to me. I raised both my eyebrows "Ok, fine! I still like your mom, Leon!" dad finally admitted "Here! Was it so hard?" Leon said with a happy face "No, but your mom is still angry at me, for not telling the real reason why we broke up, WHICH I'm not telling you because it's none of your business" dad said looking serious "That's why we're here, dad" I said. He looked at us "Leon, explain the plan" I said Leon stood up and sat next to me "You have probably seen 'The Heartbreaker' with Ann, right?"Leon asked. Dad nodded "Well, that's exactly what you're gonna do" he finished. "You two are joking, right?" dad said surprised. I put on my thinking face "Uhm…no" I answered. Dad motioned Leon to go on "Anyway, you have to learn everything mom likes, and act like you like the same things. Just like in 'Heartbreaker'. You know everything about my mom, but in 17 years, you have…'changed'…and you will like the same things. When you want to try anything Percy style, ask Annabelle, she will give you an opinion from a girl's point of view, and…" Leon took out a piece of paper from his pocket and gave it to my dad "…this is mom's phone number" he said. Dad looked at it and immediately put it in his phone's memory. "You kids really want to help me?" dad asked suspiciously "YES!" we said in chorus "Then let's get started" he stated.

1week later

Annabeth's POV:

I was in my office and I had just finished my last blueprint. I grabbed the blueprints and headed toward one of my colleagues, who was talking with another "Harry, could you please send these blueprints to this address?" I asked "Yeah sure, Miss Chase" he answered. I smiled, Harry was only twenty-one, he was working here to pay his college "Harry, just because I'm your boss and I'm older than you doesn't mean that you have to treat me like Mrs. Viper! Call me Annabeth" I told him for the five billion time in two years "Ok, Annabeth. But I don't treat you like the Big Boss" he said smiling. Let me get this straight, Mrs. Viper is The Boss. She's an evil witch that makes our lives, in the office, miserable. She is in her fifties, she has black eyes, black hair (obviously dyed to cover her gray hair) and she's short and stout. Even with her funny appearance, I have to admit that she was scary when she was angry and yelling at people, which was...let me think…always. Mrs. Viper is also known as The Vixen, or Mrs. Venom, or The Witch or evenSatan's Mistress, we got thousands. You can imagine how impossible and miserable she makes our lives. Luckily, I always get to outsmart her when she tries her tricks with me and that's why she hasn't fired me yet in 13 years I work there. But even though she didn't fire me yet, every day, my son tells me to quit, but I can't since I've got a big upoming promotion. "Yeah, you're right. I'm not that pain in the neck like The Vixen" I said and we all laughed at that "Yeah, but that's a compliment for her" Thalia said (oh, I forgot! Thalia, Silena and Clarisse work with me…and yes, I'm their boss. My only boss is The Witch)"Yeah! I wonder who the poor guy that married heris!" I said. We all laughed, but then Thalia's and Harry's smiles disappeared, looking passed me with nervous looks "She's right behind me isn't she?" I asked. They nodded. I turned around and saw The Monster with a big pile of dusty papers in her hands "Well well, Miss Chase! I see that you're done with your last blueprints!" The Monster began and placed in my hands the pile of dusty papers "I want you to check all these blueprints and then organize the next team for this new projects, all this by Wednesday" she said with her usual venomous tone. I coughed as she gave me the pile "Mrs. Viper, I need a team of historians to read these. How old are these blueprints III Century a.C. ?" I said with my…graceful bitter tone "I don't care what you need to get this thing done! I want all the blueprints by Wednesday or you can say 'good-bye' to your upcoming promotion!" she said and stormed offbefore I could humiliate her in front of everyone "Heard that before" I muttered and went to my office. As I put down the papers, I looked at the clock. I had to pick up Leon and take him to the dentist today! I would have called Percy, but I didn't have his number anymore. In that moment my phone rang, I picked it up and answered "Hello?" "Hey Wise Girl!" Percy said on the other side of the phone

"Percy? How did you get my phone number?"

"I have my methods"

"How did you call me before?"

"Wise Girl, why? You don't want me to call you like that anymore?"

"No! I mean…no one called me that in 17 years"

"Who else should call you that other than Seaweed Brain, over here?" I smiled

"No one"

"Exactly! So I was wondering…would you like to go grab something to eat?"

"I'd love to, but I can't"

"Why?"

"I'm stuck here in the office to work. Speaking of which…may I ask you a favor?"

"Anything"

"When you go to pick up Annabelle, could you also pick up Leon, take him the dentist, and take him back home?"

"Of course! Where's the dentist?"

"At the bottom of the 8th, on the road to school. The dentist is…" I laughed a bit

"Who?"

"Dr. Bianca Di Angelo"

"You're kidding right?"

"No, I'm not!"

"I have kept in touch with Nico, but not with Bianca! I haven't seen her in years!"

"Well, now's your chance. Anyway, thanks for Leon"

"You're welcome"

"Oh, and feed Pegasus"

"The mythological horse?"

"No, the cat! Genius"

"Ok, bye!"

"Bye and thank you again"

"No problem" as we both hung up, I put Percy's number in my phone and got back to work.

Percy's POV:

As I hung up with Annabeth, I headed to school to pick up the kids. As I arrived to the school fields, I saw my daughter reading a book with Leon sitting next to her with an arm around her shoulders. They looked cute. Ann rested her head on his shoulder while reading. They haven't seen me, so I sneaked on them and when I was close enough "Hey lovebirds!" I shouted. Annabelle and Leon immediately turned around, and Annabelle moved Leon's arm and they both put on goofy grins. I put on my jealous tone "Leon, stop flirting with my daughter. Annabelle stop flirting with him" I commanded "We're NOT flirting!" they shouted "Whatever! Leon, your mom is stuck at work, I'm taking you to the dentist" I said "Ok" Leon said and they both got up. We entered the car, and I drove Leon to the dentist along with Annabelle "So, did you call mom?" Leon asked me "Yes" I answered "Did you ask her out?" my daughter asked eagerly "Yup" I answered…silence… "AND?" they asked in chorus "She said she was stuck at work" I simply answered. They both grunted with disappointment.

As we arrived, we entered the dentist's studio, Leon sat on the chair and Bianca came out. She said hello to Leon, then she looked at me "Is Perseus Jackson standing in front of me?" Bianca said smiling "Is Bianca Di Angelo standing in front of me?" I replied smirking, then she came to me and hugged me "Where have you been, Di Angelo? I haven't seen you in ages!" I said as we pulled out of the hug "Where have I been? Where have YOU been?" Bianca said "I haven't seen you since you left camp after breaking up with Annabeth!" she said. Then Bianca looked at Leon, then at Annabelle, then at me "Did you two got back together and start a family?" Bianca asked suspiciously. My face turned deep red "What! NO!" I said embarrassed. Bianca looked puzzled "Leon is Annabeth's and Apollo's son. Annabelle is Hecate's daughter and mine" I explained "Oh! And let me think…your kids made you meet again?" Bianca asked with a smirk "Yup!" said Annabelle popping the 'p' "And we're playing match-maker for them" Leon added "Aww…how romantic" Bianca said mocking me. Then she went back to Leon andproceeded with the visit.

Annabeth's POV:

As I got back home, I was dead. I hate that witch of my boss! Luckily, I had done all the blueprints, so tomorrow I will organize the teams for the buildings. As I got into my house, I saw Percy sitting on the couch with Annabelle and Leon and Pegasus on his lap. "Looks like Pegasus likes you" I said as I put my jacket on the cloths hanger "Looks like he does" Percy answered petting the purring cat on his lap "Hey kids!" I said to Ann and Leon, the greeted me back and I looked at them…Why do they have smirks on their faces? "Something tells me that something's up" I said sitting down on the couch "We just had an idea…" Leon began "And what would that be?" Percy asked suspiciously "Today is Friday, so tomorrow we don't have school, and you don't have work. So we were thinking, why don't you two go out to dinner, and Ann and I stay and have dinner here, or play with my PS3 or hanging in?" Leon said and laughed for his last line. We stayed silent "Get it? Hanging 'in'!" we still exchanged looks "Hanging 'in'! Because we're staying inside. Get it?"he said stopping his laughing "Another lame joke that no one understands" Annabelle said "Oh, come on! It was a good one!" Leon protested "It's best if you shut up!" Ann said putting a hand on his mouth "So, what do you say?" Ann said looking at me and at her dad "But what will you guys eat?" I asked

"Dad already cooked pasta for us" I thought for a moment

"Alright"

"Great, so, now you both… get out of here!" I smiled

"It's my house, you can't kick me out like that!"

"I can't…but Leon can!" Annabelle took her hand off my son's mouth. Leon stood up dragging me to the door while Percy took the cat off his lap and headed to the door too "Ann is right! She can't, but I can kick you out! So, now go out, have fun, come back late and good-bye!" Leon said pushing me out of the door and Annabelle pushing Percy out of the door "Ok, we'll go, but you kids just don't do anything stupid" Percy said "DAD!" Annabelle protested "He's right. Leon, don't do anything stupid" I said to my son "MOM!" Leon exclaimed "What? We're your parents! What do you expect us to tell you?" I said smirking "Whatever! Bye-bye!" Annabelle said, and closed the door. As we were out I looked at Percy, who was holding a smirk. Then realization came to me "You planned this" I said smirking "Oh, I hoped for it!" Percy said and offered me his arm, but I just walked past him

"Where are we going?"

"To eat sushi"

"Sushi?" I was puzzled

"Yes, sushi"

"That's my favorite dish, but you hate sushi"

"Not anymore, I actually love it"he smiled. I just shrugged smiling. And we walked to a Japanese restaurant. As we arrived, we sat at our table and we began eating our sushi. Percy wasn't really convinced about eating his though. Maybe he wasn't really hungry. We talked a little, about our lives, our kids, and our jobs, where I told him about my boss, and all the names we had for her, and he couldn't stop laughing. Percy asked me why but then I went back to the same old question "Percy, why did you break up with me?" I asked crossing my arms below my chest "I told you why when we broke up" he said. I wiped my mouth with my napkin and stood up, but as I was about to walk away Percy grabbed my wrist "No, wait. Don't leave" he said with pleading eyes

"Are you going to answer me?"

"Yes, but sit down" I sat back down crossing my arms again

"You said that if it was for you, you would have never broken up with me. Why did you then?"

"I broke up with you but for your safety"

"What do you mean? Where's the beef Perseus?"

"My father forced me to break up with you!"

"Really? You broke up with me because of Poseidon?"

"Yes" My jaw dropped for a second

"I can't believe it!" I was about to stand up again when Percy stopped me for the second time

"I'm not finished"

"I don't wanna hear it! Athena did the same with me but then she let me stay with you because I fought to stay with you!"

"You don't know Poseidon! He is just like Athena says!"

"More reason for you to fight to stay with me! After all we've been through!"

"I know you're angry at me, and you have all the rights to be. But you don't know Poseidon. Do you want to know what happened, or not?"

"Tell me what happened, already!" he looked at his empty glass of water

"It happened the day before I broke up with you. I was in my cabin when Poseidon summoned me. When I arrived he said that I had to break up with you. He is very endevious…everyone has a weak spot…and he found mine"

"Sorry for the interruption, but what was it precisely?" Percy lifted his head and looked at me straight into the eyes "Oh" was all I managed to say when realization hit me. I was his weak spot.

"He said that if I didn't break up with you, hewould have killed you, without even caring about Athena's reaction. I remember that I told him 'Father, please! Forget me and Annabeth and get a life!' and he answered 'But if you don't break up, I will get a life…hers!' and he disappeared. That's why I broke up with you" there was a short moment of silence that gave me time to put the pieces together

"You left Camp and disappeared for 17 years to protect me?" Percy nodded silently "I wish you'd told me. After all we've been through; we could have found a solution together, like we always did. Why didn't you?"

"For the same reason why I left and disappeared. I know that now it's late for me to come back, but could we at least go back to be best friends again?" I smiled as he said that "Friends?" Percy said sticking his hand out "Friends" I said and shook his hand. We both smiled and finished eating.

After dinner, Percy offered me his arm again and I looped my arm through his and we headed back home. As we entered my apartment, we saw Leon sleeping on the couch with his arm around Annabelle who was sleeping on his shoulder and Pegasus purring on Leon's stomach. Percy and I smiled at the view. Leon and Annabelle looked cute together. As Percy closed the door, Pegasus woke up and jumped off Leon's stomach waking up both of them "What?" asked Leon in a sleepy voice "You two comfortable?" I asked sarcastically. Leon and Annabelle looke at each other, both as red as tomatoes and both of them shot sitting up "Why were you resting on me?" Leonshouted embarrassed "ME? You told me to lay down next to you!"Annabelle answered. Leon became as red as his shirt and stayed quiet. Percy and I bit our lips not to laugh "Anyway, time to go home Ann" Percy said offering his hand to his daughter. Ann stood up with Leon and they grabbed Percy by the arms and dragged him to the kitchen. After a couple of minutes they came back, Percy looked confused and Leon and Annabelle had mischievous grins on their faces. We all said good-bye,and Percy and Annabelle left, but before I could ask anything, Leon had already sealed himself in his room. Ok…what are the kids up to?

Leon's POV:

As Annabelle stood up, we grabbed her dad by the arms and dragged him to the kitchen. "You can let go, you know?" Percy said, so we let go of him. "So how did it go?" Ann asked "Excluding the sushi, good" Percy answered "How good?" I asked "Let's just say that we're friends again, but your mom still hates me" he said. Ok, he talked too much. "Why does mom hate you? What did you do to her?" I said a bit angry "I broke up with her!" Percy answered "Dad, we can't help you if you won't tell us the truth!"Annabelle said. Percy thought for a moment. "I broke up with her because of Poseidon, when she fought against Athena to stay with me; that' why she is still angry at me. But my case was different, it was either breaking up or a dead Annabeth. What choice did I have?" he explained with a sad face. Ann and I exchanged looks. He broke up with mom and disappeared to protect her. "I should have fought like she did, but I submitted to my father. Annabeth has all the rights to hate me" he continued "You're friends again. That means mom is still angry at you, but she doesn't hate you anymore" I said putting hand on his shoulder "You really want us together?" Percy asked with a smirk "YEAH!" Ann and I said in unison "Alright. What do I have to do next?" he asked. Annabelle looked at me "Let's go with Plan Delta next time you come to my house" Ann said, I nodded "What's 'Plan Delta'?" Percy asked "Dad, you just have to be yourself, we'll think of everything" Annabelle said "And remember, mom's favorite movie is 'Bride Wars" I added, and with that, we dragged him out of the kitchen. We said good-bye, and as mom closed the door, I sealed myself in my room.

Annabeth's POV:

The next day, I began my normal routine, and I was at work. I was almost done when The Vixen came and told me organize other twenty worker teams for five new projects, "I want this done in two hours! So, get started or you can kiss that promotion 'good-bye'! Am I clear, Miss Chase?" she roared in my office. I was about to punch her in the face when I did my mental therapy. Cute and cuddly. Smile and nod. I gave her my best smile and nodded "Yes, Mrs. Viper. I understand" I said, and she stormed out of my office and I dropped my head on the desk in exasperation "Was that your boss?" a familiar voice said. I lifted my head and hugged tightly that person "Percy! I never thought I'd be so glad to see you!" I said hugging him. Ok, I must have been very stressed to do that. He akwardly hugged me back "Missed me already? I saw you yesterday" he said smiling

"No. My boss is killing me and even a Seaweed Brain like you would make me feel better"

"Oh… so you don't hate me anymore?" I pulled out of the hug, but still kept my arms around his neck. What the Hades is wrong with me?

"I don't hate you, Percy. I'm just disappointed and confused"

"Why? I thought you were still angry at me"

"I'm confused, because, we could have solved the Poseidon problem together, and you didn't tell me anything. I'm disappointed because you submitted to your father and didn't fought like I did with my mother" I looked towards the ground

"So you're not angry and don't hate me anymore?" I looked up to him and smiled

"No"he smiled and tightened his grip around my waist pulling me a bit closer "Uhm…Percy, what are you doing?"

"When we stayed like this, we used to kiss"

"So?"

"Can I have a kiss?" I sneaked my hand on his stomach

"In your dreams" and I gave him a light punch in his stomach and he let go of me. I went back to my desk and was about to pick up the phone when it rang "Excuse me" I said to Percy . He nodded and I picked up the phone "Viper Enterprises. How can I help you?" I sad as I picked up the phone "Mom, cut it out with the formal stuff" I heard Leon say on the other side "Hey, Le! How was school?" I asked whispering

"Good. How is work?"

"The same. In this moment, The Monster gave me two hours to organize twenty worker teams for five projects"

"Again? Mom, really, she's making your dream job a nightmare! Quit!"

"I know but I need this promotion"

"Heard that before. At what time will you be home?"

"Hopefully, in two hours. I have to finish this task"

"Like Marianne would say: 'And if you don't you'll die'"

"Very funny. And yes, I could. You know The Witch is always watching you…" I that moment Mrs. Venom entered my office again "…but our buildings are the best quality around. Thank you for calling" I said loudly and hung up "Was it your son?" The Monster asked "Yup" I answered

"Did he tell you to quit?" I looked at her

"Like every single day"

"Then why don't you?" I saw I still had some warm coffee on my desk

"Coffee, Mrs. Viper?"

"Is it poisoned?"

"There's enough poison in you already"

"May know who this young man is?" I turned to Percy

"This is my best friend Percy Jackson. Mrs. Viper, this is Percy. Percy this is…uhm…" I turned to my boss "How do you want to be introduced? As Mrs. Viper or Satan's Mistress or The Witch? He heard thousands"

"Mrs. Viper is fine" and she shook Percy's hand and stormed out of my office again "Witch" I muttered "So, that was the famous Monster" Percy said "You got that right. So…why did you come here?" I asked

"I was passing by and I waned to ask you if you if you wanted to come with Leon at my house tomorrow? Just to hang out with the kids"

"Yeah, sure! What time?"

"At 11a.m.?"

"That early?"

"I thought about a full-day to hang out. Tomorrow is Annabelle's birthday, and I wanted to make her a surprise since I haven't told her you two were coming. I said someone will be there, but I never said who"

"We'll be there"

"Then I'll see you tomorrow"

"Definitely"

"By the way, Annabelle loves architecture"

"What?" I couldn't believe what I just heard

"Ann loves architecture" I smiled

"Leon and I have the perfect presents for her"

"I'm sure you do" Percy smiled and walked out of my office while I began organizing those teams. After a thousands calls,I managed to finish and was about to go home when Thalia shut the exit door in my face "Jeez,Thalia! What's your problem?" I said as she looked at me straight in the eyes "Was that my cousin?" she said with wide electric blue eyes "No, that was Harry" I answered

"Not him! That very tall, muscular and athletic guy with jet-black hair and sea blue eyes that got out of your office two hours ago, stupid!"

"First; don't call me 'stupid'! And second; yes, it was Percy"

"Did you two get back together?"

"NO! I started to frequent him again after 17 years! Only because our kids made us meet again"

"Really? How romantic! Just like in those sappy romantic movies"

"Are you drunk or something? What happened to Thalia?"

"Ha-ha. What was he doing here?"

"We're going to celebrate his daughter's birthday! Annabelle is turning 15!"

"Annabelle? Seriously? Girl, that sounds like-"

"-Annabeth! I know, I know. He wanted to give her my name" Thalia's eyes widen again

"Ooh!"

"Ooh' what?"

"He still loves you after 17 years!" I rolled my eyes and got out of the building

"Yeah, right!" Thalia followed me

"You know I'm right!"

"Oh please, Thalia! He dumped me!"

"To protect you!" I stopped

"You knew?"

"Everyone knew, Annabeth!" I wanted to die on the spot

"You knew about this for the whole time and didn't tell me?"

"You know I would have"

"Why didn't you! I had the right to know!"

"Percy made us swear on the Styx not to tell you anything and to interrupt all the communications we had with him!"

"Why?"

"To keep you safe from Poseidon, you idiot!" We remained silent for a moment

"He made an awesome job to push me out of his life… and him out of mine"

"It wasn't easy for him"

"How do you know?"

"Grover, Nico and I were the only ones who remained in contact with him. I swear on the river Styx that Percy was like a zombie, just as much as you were, maybe even more"

"I wasn't zombie-like!" Thalia raised an eyebrow "Ok, maybe I was"

"Anyway, he hasn't been able to get over you. Not even with Hecate. He had a daughter, but…"

"But?" Thalia looked at me telling me, with her eyes, to figure it out myself "But he never loved Hecate" Thalia nodded. I was speechless. "Do you really think Percy hasn't given up on me, yet?" I asked, "I know so"Thalia answered. I was sort of…happy. I never loved Apollo either. We were on the same boat…again. I hugged Thalia "Thank you, Thals" I said, she hugged me back and I went back home. As I arrived, I told Leon about our Full-Day hang out with the Jacksons.Gods, I sound so old! Anyway, we had dinner and later I fainted in the bed. I was really tired.

The night passed in two seconds, but I was awake only subconsciously. "Mom" I heard someone call, but I didn't wake up "Mom!" I recognized Leon shaking me, but I was so tired I didn't wake up "ANNABETH ALEXANDRA CHASE, WAKE UP!" Leon shouted in my ear. "JESUS! I mean… Thalia! I mean…whatever!" I shouted as I shot up wide-awake. Then, I saw Leon "What the heck are you doing Leon?" I said annoyed "Mom, it's 10a.m.!" he answered nervously "Shoot!" I said jumping out of my bed as I remembered that I had to be at Percy's. I managed to get prepared in half an hour and at precisely 11a.m. we were at Percy's.

Annabelle's POV:

I tiptoed to dad's room and saw he was still sleeping. Our guests will be here in half an hour. "Dad" I called, but he just kept sleeping "Dad!" I called shaking him, but he just shoved me away blindly and kept sleeping "Percy Jackson, wake up!" I shouted…no use. Dad was a very heavy sleeper. Slapping him, I would just hurt myself. Punching his Achilles spot would wake him up, but I could get in trouble, and I don't want to get in trouble on my birthday. It left me only one option; I put my hands on both sides of my mouth and bent to his ear "PERSEUS LOGAN JACKSON, WAKE UP!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. With that dad shot up and fell off his bed "WHAT THE HADES?" he shouted alarmed "Dad, it's 10:30a.m." I said. Dad got up and ran to the bathroom "Happy Birthday, by the way!" he said and entered the bathroom.

At 11 our guests were here "Leon!" said as I hugged my best friend, surprised to see him here "Happy Birthday!" he said with his mom. I let them in and we went to the living room. Dad got up from the couch and walked to Leon's mom to greet her, and I dragged Leon out of the room only to go around the corner to spy on them "Sheesh! You won't take a break to observe them even on your birthday!" Leon said whispering "No, and today is the perfect day for Plan Delta" I said. Leon chuckled and we stuck a little of our head out to observe our parents. Dad walked to Annabeth and greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. Shoot! YOU MISSED! "Your dad has a terrible aim, you know that?" Leon joked. I rolled my eyes and turned back to our parents only to see Leon's mom blush a bit "Well, but that's a second point for dad" I said turning around and Leon was there, I mean…right there! I looked up and stared at Leon's sky blue eyes and he looked straight into my bright sea blue eyes. I don't know for how much time we stared at each other, but then Leon averted his gaze "Uhm…I...I-I brought you your present!" Leon said and took out a small package from his jacket's pocket and handed it to me "What is it?" I asked "Open it" he said. I opened the package and saw that there were two CDs. "The first is a CD I made with Ricky Martin's most energetic songs" he explained. Ricky Martin is my favorite singer! "Look at the other one" Leon said, I did as he said and I couldn't believe my eyes…'Roman and Greek Architecture of the IX b.C.' was in my hands! I looked at Leon who just smiled. I hugged him tightly and thanked him a thousand times. "This is wonderful, Le!" I said as we pulled out of the hug "I knew you'd love it" he said smiling "You know me too well" I said smiling. We stayed silent for a moment, then Leon leaned down and kissed me on the cheek "You have a terrible aim too" I said smiling and looking at him in the eyes again. I loved his eyes. They were sky blue. They looked like the sky in a sunny summer day. Gods, when did I began to speak like an Aphrodite girl? Leon smiled again and stepped closer then he moved a strand of my black hair behind my ear. He slowly leaned in and I sneaked a hand on his cheek and I leaned in as well. Our faces were centimeters apart. Our foreheads were touching. Leon was about to kiss me. My birthday couldn't begin any better…that was…when we heard some throats clearing. Leon and I jumped apart seeing our parents looking at us. Leon's mom was hiding a smirk, while my dad had his jealous face on. "Do you kids want breakfast?" dad asked "Yes, I'm starving" I said and motioned Leon to go to the kitchen "Leon, can we talk a bit?" I heard Annabeth say "Yes, mom" Leon said and stayed with his mom in the hallway, while I followed my dad in the kitchen "I know you kids are my heroes, and you're helping me with Annabeth" dad began "But I don't like the idea of you an Leon kissing in the hallway" he said as he prepared breakfast. I suppose my face was as red as a tomato "Dad! I-I…I mean, w-we…I mean. Shoot, I'm shuttering!" I said, still as red as dad's shirt. I dropped my face in my hands while dad was laughing like crazy "It's not funny! You ruined our moment! My birthday had just started fantastically, and you interrupted us!" I shouted. Dad stopped laughing, but kept a smile on his face "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. Leon's a nice guy and you two always looked cute together. I won't give you any further interruptions" dad said and stretched his arms for a hug. I smiled and hugged my dad. As I pulled away Leon and Annabeth came inside. Leon had a happy face and I walked back to him, and dragged him to the dining room leaving dad and Miss Chase alone once again. Leon grabbed my hands and stood I front of me "So, what did your mom say?" I asked "She thinks we looked cute and apologized for the earlier interruption. What did your dad say?" he answered

"Pretty much the same"

"Really? Aren't dads supposed to be jealous or something?"

"Yeah, but he likes you, so he won't behave jealous dad-like"

"Awesome…so…where were we?"

"You were about to kiss me, stupid!"

"You'll never cut it out with the know-it-all attitude, right?"

"Nope"

"You're not going to make anything easy for me, are you Sea Girl?" I laughed, got on my tiptoes and wrapped an arm around his neck, while he wrapped his arms around my waist

"I'll never EVER make things easy for you, Owl Brain, get used to it" Leon smiled and finally kissed me. I don't know what was exactly happening in that moment but I knew I wasn't dreaming. THIS IS THE BEST BIRTHDAY OF MY LIFE! Then we pulled away smiling "Ok, enough kissing, let's see what our parents are doing" Leon said, I smiled and we went to spy on my dad and his mom. "What were the kids doing?" dad asked while he prepared the eggs "Kissing" Leon's mom simply answered. They were spying on us too!

"So my little girl has a boyfriend. I'm warning you: my daughter gets heartbroken, your son gets broken"

"You break my son I break you"

"Hahaha! I'm invulnerable"

"I know where your Achilles spot is, Seaweed Brain. Don't push it"

"Ooh, I'm scared now, Wise Girl"

"You should be"

"You're still ticklish right?"

"DON'T YOU DARE!"

"Oh, I dare" dad began tickling Leon's mom who was laughing like crazy

"PERCY STOP!"

"Fine, just because just because the kids are here" and dad stopped tickling her and they both got back to the cooker

"Weird"

"What's weird?"

"They said the same things we told each other before I kissed you at the pavilion"

"Leon told Ann she won't make things easy for him and Ann answered that she'll never make things easy for him?" Leon and I exchanged looks. That was weird. We really said the same things they told each other when they were our age?

"Exactly. You still remember that?"

"How could I forget it? It was the best birthday of my life" Annabeth looked at my dad with an incredulous look on her face

"Yeah?"

"Yeah" Annabeth managed to smile and went to get two eggs when dad went behind her closing her way out with his arms as she turned around. I grabbed Leon's hand. This was a perfect romantic moment "And you remember it too" dad continued "I don't remember anything" Annabeth answered

"I mean when we got together"

"Well, you were my first boyfriend"They paused and dad got his head a bit closer.

"Why don't we send Leon and Ann somewhere tomorrow and we have lunch together, right here"

"As in your house or as in this position?"

"I'm not that kind of guy!"

"Somehow I don't find that entirely convincing" with that Annabeth playfully pushed him away and they both got back to the waffles. Blue waffles! Yummy! We kept observing our parents, who went on an on with stupid conversations and luckily dad got many occasions to flirt a bit (but it was minor flirting, not important like before). As Leon and I were about to literally fall asleep, some important flirting FINALLY HAPPENED. Annabeth and dad looked at the waffles and decided to get the milk at the same time, only that it was in the corner between the sink and the cooker, and since they both were at the cook, they ended up with dad closing her in the corner again when Annabeth turned around to pass him the milk. They stared at each other for a moment, but we saw that they were having eye-contact. Dad very slowly started to lean in. Leon and I were holding our breaths they were about to kiss when "Percy" Annabeth began "Yeah?" dad said, "The waffles are burning" she finished. Dad quickly turned around got back to the waffles. Shoot! "Your dad may have a terrible aim, but my mom is really stubborn!" Leon said "Glad you noticed!" I added. And with that, we stopped spying on them and minded our own business, which was prepare our stuff for Plan Delta.

We hanged out for the whole day. We went to the pier and at the Boardwalk. I have to say that we had the time of our lives. At dinnertime, we went home, and as dad and Miss Chase prepared dinner, Leon and I proceeded with the mission. "We're going for a walk" I said "Ok, just come back in an hour" dad said we nodded and got out. Leon and I sneaked into our garage and grabbed some tools. After that, we went to Annabeth's car and Leon opened the hood "Are you sure you know how to sabotage a car without making it explode?" I asked Leon "I'm Athena's grandson, I know what I'm doing" he answered

"Get started"

"Ok, so, judging on the time, the little light we have, and our location in time and space, I say that Plan Delta can begin!"

"Yes, Leon! I got it! But we're not Charlie's Angels, okay?" I placed a cutting tool in his hands

"Let me daydream a bit!" and he began sabotaging his mom's car. After half an hour, we sneaked back in the garage to put the tools back and went back home.

Annabeth's POV:

As the kids came back from their walk, we had dinner. We talked and laughed and celebrated Annabelle's birthday, and Percy and I gave her our presents. I gave her my Egyptian Architecture book (written in Ancient Greek), and Percy gave her a DVD about Egyptian Architecture. "Let's watch a movie!" Percy suggested. I looked at my watch "Sorry, it's late, we should go" I said. I knew that if we watched a movie we would stay here for the night and that was the last thing I wanted at the moment. "You sure? We have lots of movies! Dad, why don't you show them" Annabelle said. Percy walked to a box and took out some DVDs "We have: Mission Impossible 1, 2 and 3, Charlie St. Cloud, Charlie's Angels, The Proposal, Twilight Saga…" Percy began to name some movies until one fell from his hands. "What's this?" I asked as I bent down to get it "Oh, that's nothing! Just my favorite movie. Nothing really" Percy said with an awkward smile. I read the title, 'Bride Wars' "Are you kidding? This is actually my favorite movie. I thought you loved action movies" I said, kind of surprised. Percy gave me a side smile "I thought you loved psychological movies" he said looking at me in the eyes "We're going to watch my new DVD in my room" Annabelle said dragging our attention to her "Do I have your permission to fall asleep, since I don't care about architecture?" Leon said smiling, Annabelle smacked him on the arm "Just because this is my first day as taken" Ann answered, "I would let you watch the movie, but we should go" I said. Leon rolled his eyes and gave Annabelle a kiss on the cheek and followed me to the door. As e got down, Percy popped his head out of the window. I opened the car, but then I noticed thatI had a flat wheel "Great!" I said to myself maybe a bit too loud "Any problems?" Percy asked "Flat wheel" I answered "Hold on a sec. I'll be right there" Percy said and in a minute he was here with a tool-box. "So, what's the problem?" he asked. I showed him my flat wheel. "The lead jumped off, I have a spare one and an air-compressor for your wheel" he said "Thank you" I said as Percy fixed the wheel. When he was finished, I jumped in the car and started the engine…that wouldn't start! "You're kidding me, right?" I kept saying at myself "Why isn't the car going, mom?" Leon asked "Just stay in the car. I'll fix this" I said and got out of the car. "Maybe it's better if you guys stay here for tonight" Percy suggested "Thanks, but no thanks" I said and opened the hood and checked what was wrong. I noticed that a wire was cut. I took both sides of the wire and connected it only to get electrocuted. I immediately let go of the wire "Ouch! Gods it hurts!" I said holding my electrocuted hand Percy came to me "You ok?" he asked "I just got electrocuted! What do you think?" I said. Percy just rolled his eyes "Will you ever stop with that attitude?" Percy said checking on my hand "No" I answered and took my hand out of his grip and got back to the wire "Maybe it's better if I do this" Percy said

"I can take care of it myself"

"I saw. If that means electrocuting yourself"

"Ha-ha. Very funny" And I got back to the wire trying to find a way not to electrocute myself again. I looked at it and tried again only to electrocute my hand and again

"Are you-"

"I'm fine!"

"Would it kill you to admit you don't know how to do something?"

"Yeah, and I'm too young to die" Percy smiled

"You sure? You almost fried your hand twice" I looked at my electrocuted hand. It was a bit burnt.

"Fine, fix this so I can go home, I have the aid kit for the hand there"

"I didn't hear a word, I'm sorry"

"Please?"

"Step aside, Miss. Watch and learn" Percy took out of the tool box an electrician tape and wrapped it around his fingers, then her took another piece of it and wrapped it around the broken wire and fixed it "Thanks Perce" I said "You're welcome"he answered with a smile. I started the engine again only that it started and then it died down "UGH!" I groaned dropping my head on the wheel. Leon was about to say something "Don't say anything. Just stay there, stay sat and shut up"I said putting my fried hand in front of him to shut him up, but he spoke up anyway "Ok, mom. Just don't put your fried hand in front of me. It's pretty…" I glared at him a bit "…it's kind of gross. Maybe we should stay here tonight" he finished "No, we're going home" I said. I didn't want to stay at Percy's .Leon chuckled. I got out of the car again and opened the hood again. "I wouldn't open the hood yet, if I were you" Percy said "Whatever!" I said and opened the hood. I wish I had listened to Seaweed Brain for once. Black smoke came out of the hood. I coughed as the smoke came out. I looked at it and saw that a wire wasn't connected. I tried to connect it, but my hand was aching. I looked at Percy "Please?" I asked him. Percy smiled and connected the wire for me. I thanked him again and got back inside te car. Leon had a strange look on his face. It's the same look he has when his plans don't work. Anyway, I hopped in the car and started the engine. I was getting out out of the parking spot when I heard Percy shout "ANNABETH! LOOK OUT!" and a car crashed on the back of my car. I was furius "JEEZ! WHAT THE F-" I shouted but cut myself off remembering that I had Leon with me and that our number 2 rule was 'No swearing'. I looked at my son "I know what you're thinking: 'No swearing'.Sorry" I said and Leon just laughed "Bad luck is following you, mom" he said "Looks like" I answered. I got out of the car and saw the other's car driver getting out. Percy immediately came to us "Are you ok, Leon?" he asked leaning on my son's window. Leon nodded. Then he came to me "You ok, Wise Girl?" he asked "Yeah, I'm fine" I said "Maybe it's better if you two stay here for tonight" Percy said again "I think so" I answered "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU DOING?" the driver shouted "I was getting out of the parking lot!" I shouted back

"Have you seen my lights? I think so!"

"Well, I was coming out of a parking lot. You have to stop and let me through first! Plus, you don't go at 60kh on a street, at night!"

"Whatever!" and with that he hopped back in his broken car and drove away. I just shook my head. As I turned around I saw Leon entering the building while Percy was still next to me and he grabbed my fried hand checking on it. "It doesn't look very nice" Percy said "No wonder why Leon didn't want to look at it. It does look kind of gross" I added "Come inside. I got the first aid kit in there"he said and we headed back to his apartment.

Annabelle's POV:

As Leon came back, I took out the spare bed I had in my room and he helped me prepare it "I think we're done" I said as I put the sheets up "I think so" Leon said. I went to hug him when we heard the door open. We went to the hallway and saw our parents come back in "You're staying in the end!"I said. Annabeth smiled and I noticed something o n her hand "Miss Chase, what happened to your hand?" I asked "Oh, I electicuted myself twice trying to fix the car and I fried my hand. In the end I let your dad fix it since he was insisting so much. And, by the way, call me Annabeth, stop the formal attitude" she said smiling. I glared at Leon "Could you excuse us for a few minutes?" I said and without waiting for an answer I grabbed Leon by the collar of his shirt, dragged him to my room and shut the door behind us "I'm Athena's grandson! I know what I'm doing!" I said imitating Leon's voice "What?" he said puzzled. I raised my eyebrows "I didn't mean to fry mom's hand! I thought shewould find a waynot electrocute herself!" Leon protested

"So you knew that wire could electrocute!"

"No! I didn't!"

"Yes, you did!"

"NO! Look, I cut the wire and tried to connect it bare handed and didn't fry myself!"

"Then what happened? Did electricity magically run through it?"

"Not magically but with the help of a goddess" We jumped turning around to see who said that. Athena was standing in front of us. "Grandma!" Leon said hugging her "Lady Athena" I said bowing, but she stopped me "No need to bow. You're my grandson's girlfriend after all. Oh, and happy birthday" she said and handed me her present wrapped with golden paper "Uhm…Thank you?" I said even if it sounded like a question. Athena smiled. I opened the package and there was a book about Mayan Architecture. I looked at the smiling goddess and hugged her "Thank you Athena!" I said. The goddess smiled "Anyway" she began "I made electricity flow in the wire" she said. Our jaws dropped. I closed my mouth and spoke up only to be interrupted by Athena "Were you-"

"No, I wasn't trying to kill my daughter"

"Bu-"

"No, I wasn't trying to kill Percy"

"Ar-"

"And yes. I'm helping you play match-maker, from now on" I looked at Leon "I see from whom mom got this way to shush people" he said smirking "Anyway" Athena interrupted "I did it with Aphrodite's help. Logic is my territory, but Love Logic, is hers. So if what Aphrodite said was correct. Now your parents should be in the kitchen next to a bowl of warm water sitting next to each other" she said. We all exchanged looks and headed to the corner outside the kitchen to spy on them. They were just as Athena said. Dad sat next to Annabeth putting a bowl of warm water on the table "No aid kit?" Annabeth asked "Wise Girl, how did I heal your wrist on our first quest?" he said(I don't know if Percy healed Annabeth on the first book. I'm following the movie version)Annabeth just stuck her tongue at him. They were kind of funny when they had their childish moments. Dad took her hand and dipped his in the water and slighlty moved his hand to touch her fingertips, then he used that healing trick I can slightly use. "I still find this cool even though it's not the first time you use this trick" Annabeth said "You get used to it" dad answered. They were quiet for a moment, then they noticed that they were still holding hands. They both turned around and had eye-contact. "Come on Percy!" Athena silently incouraged. It was kind of odd. At first she hated dad, and now she wants him and her daughter together. Anyway, I turned back to my dad and saw that him and Annabeth were slowly leaning in. This was it! They were getting closer and closer. There were only a few inches of space between them when my nose started tickling. Oh nonono! This can't be happening! And I sneezed loudly enough for them to separate. SHOOT! Leon and Athena glared at me "Sorry" I apologized. Athena rolled her eyes and disappeared, while Leon kept glaring. I was about to say something when dad came out of the kitchen "What are you kids doing?" he asked suspiciously. I didn't have any excuse "We where about to tell you that we're going to watch a movie before going to sleep" Leon said holding my hand. Dad looked at Annabeth "That's ok with me" she said, and dad looked at us "You're free to go" he said. Leon smiled and we went to my room. I put a DVD and we watched the movie.

Annabeth's POV:

The kids had just left the room ,leavng me and Percy alone again. "I guess we can watch that movie after all" I suggested. Percy smiled and went to get 'Bride Wars'. I sat on the couch as the movie began and Percy plopped next to me. We watched the movie, but at the beginning I wasn't paying very much attention to it. I was thinking more to what Thalia told me. "Percy" I called him, he turned around giving me a smile "Thalia talked to me" I said. His face darkened a bit "She did…what did she tell you?" he asked

"She told me a story about two of her friends"

"What was the story about?"

"It was about two kids, a boy and a girl, who met when they were 12. They were two half-bloods. They went through 5 adventures and saved the world together on the boy's 16th birthday. They were very much related"

"And what happened to these teens?"

"They got together and dated for two years, but their parents hated each other and didn't approve of their relationship. The girl fought her mother, who let her be with the boy"

"And the boy?"

"His father threatned him to kill his girlfriend if the boy wouldn't break up with her. The boy broke up with the girl…and disappeared from her life" Percy bit his lip

"Annabeth, I'm sor-"

"No, I'm sorry. You pushed yourself out of my life to protect me, and I've been a jerk to you. You were just a boy and you submitted to your dad, left me heartbroken, pushed me out of your life, disappeared for 17 years, AND I believed you were just a pathetic little jerk…" Percy looked away, afraid of what I was about to say next "…but…I was wrong" he slowly turned around with his eyes full of hope "I have forgiven you. Will you forgive me?" Percy smiled

"I already have" I smiled and he hugged me so tightly he almost cracked my ribs, I hugged him back tightly anyway.

"Percy! Air! Can't breathe!" I said when air became necessary. He let me go smiling

"Will you give me another chance?"

"Try to win me back first. Then we'll see"

"Alright, I will" we smiled at each other while I ran a hand in his silky black hair

"Oh, look! I love this part! When Emma makes Liv's hair blue!" I said turning back to the TV "MY HAIR IT'S BLUE! IT'S BLUE!" Liv shouted from the TV. Percy and I began laughing. "I love that part too" he said smiling. We watched the movie for a while then I began to feel sleepy. I was about to fall asleep when Percy slowly put his arm around my shoulders and shifted a bit closer to me. I was so tired that I automatically leaned my head on his shoulder and fell asleep.

As I began to wake up, I rubbed my face on something soft and warm that should have been a pillow. I slowly remembered that I had fallen asleep on Percy's shoulder. I slowly opened my eyes and saw that the TV was on but in standby mode. I slowly began feeling warmth on my back and carefully turned around realizing that I was laying on the side on the couch's edge. As I turned around, I saw Percy facing the cealing while sleeping. His face was calm when he was sleeping. I don't know why, but I stroked his hair and he slowly woke up "Well, that was nice" Percy said smiling "Wow, you stopped drooling!" I said smirking

"Ha-ha. Very funny"

"Hey laugh it's a joke"

"I know. Anyway, good morning"

"Good morning. What time is it?" Percy looked at his watch

"10:30a.m."

"Oh, no I overslept again!"

"You always did when you fell asleep on me. Did you miss my shoulder these past years?"

"A whole lot"

"Really?"

"No"

"Oh, come on! That was below the belt!" we both chuckled

"Come on, let's get up before the kids come and get strange ideas" We both sat up on the couch and stretched our arms. Percy shut down the TV went to prepare breakfast while I went to wake up the kids. I entered the room, and saw Leon sleeping while Annabelle was at her desk already dressed up "Hey" I wishspered not to wake up my son (even though I went there with that purpose) "Hi" she whispered back

"What are you doing?" she began shuffling her papers for me not to see them

"Nothing"

"Come on, let me see"

"No, it's nothing" I saw a drawing and cought it before Ann could hide it. It was a blueprint. A blue print of a place I would recognize everywhere.I was perfectly made. The lines were perfectly straight, and the notes on the sides made very interesting observations.

"Is this Goode High School?" her face darkened with embarrassement

"Yeah…"

"It's a theatre project"

"Yes…"

"Are you planning on asking a remodeling of the school's theatre?"

"Yeah…I know, it's stupid"

"Are you kidding? This blueprint is amazing!" Annabelle's face lightened a bit

"Really?"

"Yes! Look, you wrote it yourself! Three secondary spinning wheels, 2 on the sides and 1 on the back of the stage provide a quicker changing in the scenografic arrangements. This will totally improve your school plays. And it's not even the best part!" Annabelle was still of a bright red

"Thank you, but I studied it and I believe it won't be possible because, in the middle of the stage should be a spinning wheel that can also go up and down. It will make the scene look better, but then it will be too expensive for the school, and the wires and bars to make it work, could easly get tangled with the secondary spinning wheels"

"Not at all. The secondary spinning wheels don't have bars underneath and they are the least expensive. Are you serious?"

"Can you help me with these projects?"

"Of course" Annabelle smiled and I heard someone clearing his throat "Excuse me girls" Percy began appearing on the doorway "Would you mind waking up Sleeping Beauty over there and join me for breakfast?" he said smiling "I'm on it" Annabelle said "Ann, he's a really heavy sleeper" I warned "I'm used to heavy sleepers *cough*cough* Dad *cough*cough*" she said smirkig at her dad "Who's in favor of jumping on him, rise your hand" she said. We all raised our hands and silently we tiptoed to Leon and at the count of three we jumped on him "WHAT THE?" Leon shoued as we tickled him "Guys! STOP! I JUST WOKE UP!" he said between laughs. We all stopped tickling him "Good morning Sleepy Head!" Ann and I said in unison. Leon pouted "Nice wake up call" he protested "Come on, we have blue pancackes for breakfast" Percy said and we all headed to the kitchen.

After breakfast, Percy kindly took my car to the mechanic, while I stayed with the kids. When Leon was done with his homework, he got out of the room and sat on the couch next to me waiting for a while, I entered her room and sat next to her "So where were we?" I said smiling. Annabelle smiled and she stated explaining me her blueprints with the enthusiasm Percy had when we used to hang out "You're your father's daughter, alright" I commented as she finished. Ann smiled "So does this make any sense? Is it ok?" she asked with her eyes full of hope "Yes, the idea is perfect. Let me explain you the correct application and a few tips" I answered.

Percy's POV:

As I got back home from the mechanic, I saw Leon sitting on the couch bored to death "Hey Le! Where are the girls?" I asked seeing that he was all alone "Mom is helping Ann with that blueprint of hers. And I'm waiting for Ann to go practice basketball because I have the try outs in two months. Even though we fool around more than practice" Leon said. I smiled as an idea came to me. I walked to the room and silently opened the door. I saw my daughter sitting next to Annabeth explaining her everything about her blueprints. Annabeth's eyes were going from the blueprints to Annabelle, just the way she always did when she was listening. "So does this make any sense? Is it ok?" Annabelle asked with her eyes full of hope "Yes, the idea is perfect. Let me explain you the correct application and a few tips" Annabeth answered, and she began explaining something which I had no idea what she was talking about. I smiled a bit, then I bit my lip. I should be doing what Annabeth was doing. I'm her dad, I should be giving her advise, and I wasn't. I haven't even searched anything on the internet to help her out. I accidentally found out about the blueprint. Annabelle never actually told me, and it wasn't the first time either that Ann didn't tell me something. Leon once accidentally told me that Annabelle loved dancing. I found out about her passion for achitecture while I was looking for a pencil in her room. But I was happy for my daughter. Annabelle needed to show that blueprint she worked so hard on to smeone who could give her good advise, as much as she needed a mother, and that was exactly what Annabeth was being for her in that moment. I knocked myself out of my thoughts, and knocked on the door "Hello!" I said smiling "Hey Percy!" Annabeth greeted "Hi dad!"Annabelle said "How much time will it take for you to finish the blueprint stuff?" I asked "Five more minutes" Annabelle said. I raised my eyebrows and Annabeth giggled "That means two hours in Girlworld" she explained smiling "Ok, Leon and I will be at the basketball field downstairs" I said "OK!" The girls answered in unison. I closed the door and headed to my room and grabbed at t-shirt and a pair of basketball shorts a stadium horn and a whislte. As I grabbed those, I headed to the living room and gave them to Leon "Put those on and come at the basketball field downstaris. I'll teach you some real basketball. You have 10 minutes" I told him. He nodded and headed to the bathroom while I went to the field.

I waited for Leon for five minutes. I looked around and saw that the window in Annabelle's room had opened curtains and I could see both Ann and Annabeth sitting at the desk talking. Then an idea popped in my mind. I had a perfect Plan B after yesterday. Why did one of the kids have to sneeze and ruin our little moment? Anyway, I picked up the phone and dialated the number of an old friend, hoping that it was still the same after 17 years. And it was. "Hello?" her voice said on the other side of the phone

"Silena? Is that you?"

"Yes, who is it?"

"Its me,Percy"

"PERCY! It's so good to hear your voice again after! And boy! It changed a lot! How are you?"

"Good. How are you? How's life?"

"Awsome! I'm living my fairy tale! Charlie and I got married 12 years ago, we have two 8 year-old twins, Shane and Mandy and my life is simply perfect! How about you? Did you fell in love? Got married? Kids?"

"No, the marriage part hasn't happened yet. I'm a single dad with a teenager daughter, Annabelle, daughter of Hecate and-"

"ANNABELLE! SERIOUSLY?"

"Yeah, yeah! I got it! It sounds like Annabeth!"

"I didn't say anything. And what about the falling in love part?"

"I fell in love with a daughter of Athena, she's the best thing that's ever been mine"

"Oh my Gods! Did you tell Annabeth already? And do you listen toTaylor Swift?"

"Sort of. I need to win her back. And thank my daughter for the Taylor Swift thing"

"Ooh! Romeo ignores daddy's threats and wants Juliet back! I can help you!"

"This is why I called you"

"I'm all ears!"

"Do you have a sisiter who is happily married, possibly has kids, and loves her husbad and family more than the whole world?"

"I think you already know her"

"Who?"

"You met her 7 years ago and her husband is Thalia's brother" Realization came to me

"Thanks Silena!"

"Anytime Romeo!" And we both hung up. I immediately dialated McLean's phone number. The phone rang three times, then an unexpected voice answered "Hello?" Jason said on the other side.

"Hey Jason! It's Percy"

"Yo, Perce!What's cracking?"

"Is Piper there? I need to talk to her"

"Do I need to be jealous?" I chuckled

"No need. Don't worry. So is Piper there? I need her help"

"Ooh! Someone's in love! Do I know her?"

"I'll tell you later. Can you put the loudspeaker on and call Piper? I need to talk to both of you because I need your permission to what's on my mind"

"Ok. PIPER!" I heard him mumble something then Piper finally came on the phone "Hey Jackson! So what did you want to talk about?"

"I'm in love"

"Who's the lucky one?"

"Do you remember the famous daughter of Athena named Annabeth? The one I talked about so much?"

"Yeah? Wait! She's the one!"

"Yeah. I want to win her back"

"So what's the plan?"

"I tried a couple of things and they're not working so far, so I wanted to use the Bonus and I need your help"

"What a bastard! You want to use the Jealousy Bonus!"

"Exactly! So, are you in?"

" Jason is that ok with you?" "As long as is it ONLY random flirting" Jason answered "I'm SO in!" Piper shouted in my ear

"Ok, Piper! Thank you! But I'm not deaf, ok?"

"Sorry about that. So, the plan is: when you hang out with Juliet I come along and flirt with her Romeo?" I chuckled at the nickname everyone gave us

"Exactly! But I'll have to flirt back some times"

"Ok, next time you two lovebirds hang out call me. Bye!"

"Bye, Piper! Thank you again!"

"Helping Romeo and Juliet is one of my dreams! Bye bye!" and we both hung up. I took a look at the time and saw that Leon was late "I'm here!" Leon said walking with a ball in his hands "You're late!" I scolded

"I know, I couldn't find the ball"

"Leon, you're late!"

"I know I'm sorry-"

"You have to work hard for try outs-"

"I know! I'll try-"

"Yeah? You're gonna try?"

"Yeah!"

"Look, I don't want to stay here wasting my time with you!"

"You won't!"

"Then I'll make a deal with you. Except when you have dance practice, I'll prectice with you for one hour, everyday. From 5p.m. until you have try outs. But remember, if you're late once, ONLY ONCE, Leon, the deal is off"

"I won't be late Percy. I promise"

"Then let's get started" We shook hands to seal the deal and we headed to a basket "Show me what you got" I told him and prepared for him to come towards the basket "Why aren't we doing any exercises first?" Leon asked me

"Because I have to see how good you are"

"Can't you see it with exercises?"

"No, because I invent exercises. You don't have a private instructor"

"No, right"

"But you know what you do have" Leon ran a hand through his hair

"Good looks?"

"No, you got me!" I gave him a playful smack on the cheek and we began practicing. Leon was pretty good. He could make four 3 pointers in a row with me making pressure on him. He was a very fast runner, just like his mother, and with camp training he was very agile and athletic. I was SO going to get him on the team.

Annabeth's POV:

Annabelle and I have been working on her blueprints for like half an hour by now. Annabelle was explaining to me another blueprint to see if she got it right. I looked out of the window for the tenth time by now. Percy was practicing basketball with my son. I smiled at the view. Leon wanted to get on the team so bad, and Percy was helping him. I wanted to help Leon myself, but this was actually the kind of stuff…fathers do, not mothers. I looked at Leon and even thought he was panting and looked tired, I could see he was happy. He needed a father and I kind of liked the idea of Percy being one right now. I was knocked out of my thoughts as I saw Percy slipping his shirt of. He must have worked out! A LOT! Not too much but…Gods! He was Hansome with capital H! "Annabeth are you listening to me?" I heard Annabelle say "Hmm? Oh, yeah! You wee talking abou the wires in the pulley system" I answered. She gave me a look and then went back to explaining. I zoned out again and got back to Percy. Yeah, he was defenatly hot! Where did that come from? That's so not me! Stop, thinking of him like that! I mentally slapped myself. "Annabeth, could you listen to me and stop checking on my dad?" Annabelle blurted out "Excuse me?" I said with a high-pitched voice and probably blushing "You were checking on my dad" she repeated

"What? NO!"

"You're blushing like crazy! You were SO checking on him!"

"I was not!" Annabelle just laughed in my face

"You were checking on him! You like my dad!" She said in singsong way

"No!" I could feel my cheeks were very hot. I dropped my head in my hands not for Annabelle to look at me. She stopped laughing "Do you like my dad?" Ann asked "Maybe?" I answered. She raised an eyebrow "A little?" I said and she raised both her eyebrows "Ok, fine. I still do!" I admitted to Percy's daughter "I knew it!" she said excited "Just a bit though!" I interrupted "Whatever!" she said and put away her blueprints "What are you doing? I thought you wanted to work on it" I said as she put it back in a folder "I want to spend sometime with my boyfriend" she said and winked at me. I immediately knew what she meant 'Get-out-of-here-and-go-flir-' I mean 'go-talk-to-my-dad'. I mentally slapped my self for my misinterpreting, then I got up and went to the basketball field.

As I arrived, Percy was holding the stadium horn and while Leon was shooting the ball at the basket, Percy kept blowing it in his ear making him miss every basket. They didn't seem to notice me. I just stayed there not to interrupt their training. After a while, Percy grabbed the ball and stopped Leon "Enough for today. But tomorrow, we will do the same thing. Only that I will also put some pressure on you while blowing the horn" he said smirking "All right! I want to get on the team thanks for the help, Percy!" Leon said smiling. Percy ruffled his hair and began shooting the ball at the basket, while Leon went to Annabelle on the other side of the field. I walked to Percy who hasn't noticed me while he made some tricks and scored a 3 pointer "Wow, I'm impressed!" I said sarcastically. Percy turned around and saw me "Hey! How was the blueprint stuff?" he asked smiling

"Good. How was basketball?"

"Good" I took the ball and scored a 3 pointer and Percy went to take it back

"Wow, you haven't lost your touch!"

"You haven't lost your either!"

"Looks like!"

"You're planning on getting Leon on the team, are you?"

"Yeah, he's very good. I'm so going to get him on the team" he shot at the basket again scoring

"I know" He smiled and got prepared to shoot again "You're not his father, Percy" he stopped for a second and looked at me frowning

"Sorry, I didn't mean to be intrud-"

"But I appreciate what you're doing for him" he smiled "So, thank you"

"No need to thank me, you're doing the same for me" his smile turned into a serius face "But you're not Annabelle's mother either, so thank you for doing what I'm supposed to do"

"Hey, I'm an architect! That's what I do! I draw bluepr-"

"Annabeth! I'm joking" There was a moment of silence. Suddenly I stole the ball from his hands and challenged him to come get it. "Hey! That's major cheating!" Percy said chasing after me. Suddenly he cought up and grabbed me swinging me around "Percy! Put me down!" I said laughing "Give me my ball back!" he said as he stopped swinging me but keeping his grip on me "Actually, it's Annabelle's" I joked Percy losen his grip on me and I turned around giving him the ball back. He looked at his watch "I guess we should go back, I need to take a shower and prepare lunch. I have something special in mind" Percy said smiling. I smiled back and walked away but then, I don't know why, I stopped I turned back to Percy and gave him a kiss on the cheek and went back to the apartment. As we entered the apartment we saw water coming out of the kitchen. Percy and I immediately run into it. Leon was there trying to stop the water coming out from the sink "WHAT THE HADES HAPPENED?" I shouted as we got in "I wanted to get a glass of water and the sink exploded as I turned it on!" Leon explained trying to stop the water "ANNABELLE! DO SOMETHING!"he shouted "I would, Leon! I-I can't! Actually…I'm afraid of the water" Ann confessed "WHAT?" Percy and I shouted in disbelief "You're Poseidon's grandaughter! You can't be afraid of the water!"Leon shouted unbelieing his ears "Leon get out of there! I'll fix that" Percy ordered. Leon obeyed and came to me and Annabelle. I took a step back and Percy managed to take all the water back into the pipes using his powers, then he turned off the water and fixed the sink. When he was done, we all looked at Annabelle, who I could see was about to cry for reveling us her fear of the water. She couldn't look at anyone, especially her father. Leon was about to hug her, but she ran to her room. I looked at Percy. I could see hurt in his eyes. Leon was about to follow Annabelle, but I stopped him "This is a girl talk" I told him. Leon understood what I meant, and went to the bathroom to get changed. I went to Annabelle's room and knocked the door. No answer "Annabelle, I'm coming in anyway" I said and entered the room. Annabelle was sitting on her bed hugging a pillow and crying. I sat next to her and hugged her "I'm a faliur!" she said sobbing in my shoulder "No you aren't" I said soflty

"Yes I am!"

"Hey, everyone is afraid of something, don't worry"

"I'm not worried about my fear…I'm worried about my father. We have completely different likes and dislikes and I don't want to disappoint him on anything. He is the best dad I could ever ask for. He did lots of sacrifices for me and all I can do to thank him is getting good grades in school. He is a hero and I'm a disappointment! I'm afraid of the WATER, for Zeus' sake! And I'm Poseidon's grandaughter! I can't even swim!"

"You're not a disappointment, Annabelle. It's ok to be afraid. Look, you know Thalia, right?"

"Yeah, Aunt Thalia. I know her. So?"

"She is my best friend and like a big sister to me. She saved my butt a couple of times when I was little and, guess what? She is Zeus's daughter and she is afraid of heights!" Annabelle smiled and giggled a bit

"Really?"

"Yeah. But I didn't tell you anything"

"My lips are sealed" her smiling face turned into a frown again

"But my dad isn't afraid of anything" I thought for a moment then I answered

"When we were 18 there was something he was afraid of"

"What was he afraid of?"

"Apart form an angry me?" Annabelle chuckled a bit

"I can't immagine an angry you, but, yeah. Apart from an angry you?"

"He had a fear, and you better ask him what it was. I shouldn't be the one telling you. It's more a father-and-daughter thing"

"Oh… alright, I guess. But what did he do with his fear?"

"He faced it and maybe now he doesn't have it anymore"I mean, what could happen to me after 17 years? "And that's what you will do"

"What do you mean?"

"Since Percy and Leon are busy with basketball…I'll make a deal with you. Every week-end, at 5p.m. I'm taking you to the pool for an hour and teach you how to swim until the fear of water will become only a bad memory. Plus, I think this deal won't last long because you're a fast learner."

"YES!" And she gave me a tight hug. As we came out of Ann's room, Leon came by and gave her a hug while I just walked to Percy, who looked kind of worried "What did you tell her?" Percy asked me "Girl talk Oh, and I'm taking her swimming every week-end and I'm not asking for your permission" I answered. Percy smiled "I trust you. No need to ask for my permission" he said smiling. I friendly stroke his arm feeling his strong bicep. NO! Annabeth! Turn to yourself again! The smart me said. I mentally slapped myself and stopped stroking his arm. Percy smiled and went to the bathroom.

I was in the living room reading a book while Annabelle and Leon were sitting at the table playing chess "Checkmate!" Annabelle said "How about 2 out of 3?" Leon said smiling "Alright!" Annabelle answered and they began another game. Percy finally came out of the bathroom wearing his signature blue jeans and a black skinny t-shirt, that showed off his muscles. NO! Annabeth don't think of him that way! The smart part of me said. But he has quiet a six-pack! The girly part of me said. NO!NO! Annabeth snap out of it! The smart part repeated. And look at those biceps! The girly part kept saying. Annabeth! Don't listen to your girly part! STOP STARING AT HIM! "Hello! Earth to Annabeth!" Percy shouted waving a hand in front of me "What?" was my intelligent answer "Are you staring at me because I'm handsome or because you just zoned out?" Percy asked me "You wish it was because of you!" I answered. Liar! You were staring at his muscles! The girly part said. I mentally slapped myself…no, I phisically slapped myself. "Ow" I mutered putting a hand on my cheek. I looked around me and saw Annabelle and Leon giggling and Percy giving me a strange look "May I have glass of water?" I asked faking a smile "Sure" Percy said and I followed him into the kitchen. While I drank my water and made my mental therapy, Percy prepared some ingredients to cook. "What are you cooking?"

"Pizza, Percy style"

"May I help you?"

"Nope"

"Please? I wanna be helpful"

"Not a chance" I walked to him and put puppy-dog eyes. Look what I have to do to get to do something!

"Please?"

"Absolutley zippo-chance" He turned around to avoid the puppy-eyes and put flour on the table, cracked two eggs on it and added baking powder. I sneaked my arms around his waist and rested my head on his Achilles spot. Percy stopped for a moment and turned his head around to look at me whle I did goo-goo eyes at him. Then again: look what I have to do to get to do something!

"Pleeease?" At that he gave in and melted like a pieace of ice, looking at my eyes. He rolled his eyes and turned around completely looking at me, then he sneaked his arms around my waist "Alright! Fine! You win" he said smiling and leaning closer to me. I playfully sneaked out of his embrace as he tried to kiss me "Thank you very much! So…what do I have to do?" I asked like nothing happened "What? That's not fair! You tricked me!" he protested, still smiling though.

"Well, next time don't lay your guard down because of a pair of sky blue goo-goo eyes"

"You can't help me, then!"

"Sorry, what's said is said!"

"Grrr! Alright! You can start by preparing the pasta for the pizza"

"Thank you"

"You'll pay for that"

"We'll see about that" And with that we began preparing pizza.

After lunch, Leon and Annabelle went to take a nap, while Percy and I wento to get my car from the mechanic. We rode silently, but it wasn't an awkward silence. We arrived quickly a the mechanic. As we got out of the car, a guy in his thirties came out from a car. He was maybe a bit taller than Leon, he had olive skin, very short dark hair and shiny green eyes "Yo, Jackson!" the mechanic greeted "Hey Jason!" Percy greeted back and gave him a manly handshake, then he saw me. Percy noticed "Jason, this is Annabeth. Annabeth, he is Jason" he introduced "Nice to meet you" I said shaking his hand "So, you are The Annabeth! The famous Annabeth Chase-" I noticed Percy stomped on his foot glaring at him, but pretended I didn't see anything "- the heroine and architect of Olympus! It's so good to meet you! Percy told me so much about you" Jason said smiling "Thanks, Jason" Percy mumbled looking at his toes. I blushed a bit. "So" Percy interrupted "How's the car?" he asked "Not good" Jason answered. My jaw dropped "What do you mean?" I asked thinking about the worst. "I mean that it's broken pretty bad. The fuel container is gone, the back seats are all scruntched up, the back wheels are both broken and you were lucky you were sitting on the front. So in summary, you either wait for two months for me to fix it and it will cost you a fortune or you buy a new car" he explained. My jaw was litterally on the floor. I didn't know what to do. I wasn't poor, but I wasn't rich either, and right now I couldn't buy a new car, because I was saving money to open my own architect studio. But I still had to go to work and I did a promise to Annabelle. As I said, I had no idea what to do. "You can move in with Ann and I until you get a new car" Percy suggested "Thank you very much, but I can't!You and both I have work to do and I made a deal with your daughter every week-end. You've been very kind to me, but no thank you" I said "Come on, I can be kind once more! I think the kids like the idea" Percy said "And what about the cat? Pegasus hasn't been fed since yesterday"

"He can come with us"

"I insist Percy. No, thank you"

"Ok, I know it's kind of awkaward, but I got a plan. In the morning we can all get in my car, andwe drop the kids at school, then I drop you off to work, then I go to work, since these places are on my way to work. Then at 3:30p.m, I'm done working so I can come pick you up at 4:30p.m., since Annabelle comes home walking from school and Leon can follow her. Then when the kids have dance practice, they go on their own, so I can still come pick you up when you're done working. Then on the week-ends, at 5p.m I have basketball practice with your son and you can take the car and take my daughter swimming, with no problems. In summary: I'm the only one of our friends who lives closer to you and goes to these places everyday. I know how indipendent you are, but until you get a new car, your cart is tied to mine wheather you like it or not" Then he turned back to Jason "Thank you anyway, Jason. Bye!" then he turned back to me "Now get in the car. We're going to your apartment to get Leon's stuff and yours" he said and walked to the car.

I was astonished. No one except Thalia ever talked to me like that. I could have stayed like that and think over and over about Percy's sudden outburst. But he was right. All my other friends lived far away from me. Percy was the only one who had my same routine everyday. I was knocked out of my thoughts as Percy called my name. I silently walked to his car and sat there quietly.

We drove to my apartment silently. As we arrived I was about to exit the car when Percy stopped me grabbing my hand "Sorry, I didn't mean to have that outburst. It's just that…" he paused "…everytime I try to be friendly you push me away, like I was some kind of stalker" he apologized. I slid my hand out of his grip and placed it on his. "No, you're right. For both things. My cart IS tied to yours" I paused "I didn't mean to push you away everytime. You've been very kind to me these past two week, and I kept being a jerk to you. I'm sorry" I apologized. Percy slipped his hand away from mine and gt out of the car, then he came to my side and opened the door for me. I got down of the car looking at the ground. As I walked to the door, Percy grabbed my wrist and pulled me into a bone crushing hug "You've been quiet a witch to me these days" he joked hugging me tightly "You just hurt my feelings, Seaweed Brain" I joked back "You hurt mine for two days,Wise Girl" he answered and we pulled out of the hug. As I entered the apartment, Percy fed Pegasus while I prepared mine and Leon's stuff. When I was done, I put my cat in his voyage cage and took his bowl. Percy helped me taking the suitcases in the car and we went back to his apartment. As we arrived, Leon and Annabelle were standing in the middle of the living room… kissing. I cleared my throat loudly enough for them to hear me since the TV was on. They both jumped apart Leon scratching the back of his neck and Annabelle putting a strand of her jet-black hair behind her ear, both as red as tomatoes. "Hi kids" Percy said awkwardly "Hi" the said embarrassed. Then Leon noticed the suitcases "Mom, why do you have your suitcase and mine?" he asked "The car is badly broken, so until we buy a new car…" I began "You two are staying here for a while" Percy completed. Leon and Annabelle looked at each other grinning like idiots. Even though their grin looked more evil than stupid. I have a bad feeling about this.

To be continued…

So? Good? Bad? Review and let me know! I invite you to give me suggestions for Part 2 if you want