I don't own PJO.

CHAPTER 1

Percy

I wake up slowly, the entire room gray. I run a hand through my stiff hair, trying to convince myself to go back to sleep. But it doesn't happen. I sit up slowly, rubbing my face, tasting stale morning breath. I'm wearing only boxers, and I'm at least a little excited that I didn't fall asleep fully clothed.

Big day, I smile into my rough hands. A few faint aches of hangover echo around in my head, which make it a little hard to be excited.

I manage to swing my legs slowly over the side of the bed, slowly get to my feet, and make my way to the bathroom. I flick on the lights and its a little exhilarating, how horrible that idea was. The light is excruciating and I spit out a few curse words as I slap the wall, trying to turn them off. When I finally succeed, the room is plunged into a deep, comfortable gray and black spots dance in my vision.

In the mirror, I see my tired reflection. Stubble lines my jaw, and as aggravating Annabeth finds it, it's not going anywhere. I frown at the mess that is my hair, and try to force it down into something acceptable. It fails, and I keep a faint hope that someone can work a miracle. I brush my teeth and spit out the dead breath and the disgusting aftertaste of a bachelor's party.

Percy Jackson, bona-fide hero, getting ready for his wedding.

I hear a moan and my hand flies to my side, ready to pull out Riptide. Unfortunately, boxers don't have pockets. Fortunately, it's just Jason, curled up with a shampoo bottle with a little spittle trailing its way down his cheek. I shake my head and leave him be.

I rummage through my drawers, finding some sweatpants and an old t-shirt, slipping them on. My fingers brush against something soft and stiff and I pull it out curiously. An old Camp Half-Blood shirt, orange and faded, with tears and cuts and stains. It's the most beautiful thing in the world and I allow myself a sigh of nostalgia. I toss the shirt back in the drawer and head to the living room.

There's a furry, snoring form splayed on my couch, which I kick with a little bit of a smile. Grover snorts himself into consciousness, slurring, "Imawakeiswear-nnnnugh."

"Yeah, sure you are." I shake my head. "Come on, we gotta get ready." Grover responds with a cross between a groan and a bleat. On the floor next to him, there's a bulldog. I seriously have to think to remember if I ever had a dog, until I realize it's Frank, snoozing away quietly.

"Your best man is pretty useless." Nico says, scarily quiet as usual. He's sitting on the counter in the kitchen, beer bottle in had. His dark eyes are creepy, even for a little twenty one year old, like they're the eyes of an ancient man. I go over and take the bottle from him.

"It's like, 8:30 in the morning. You're not allowed to be drinking."

Nico rolls his eyes. "Sure thing, mom." He hops off the counter and stalks off to the bathroom. I try to suppress a sigh, mostly because I think he's right.

Grover's struggling to sit up and I go and make a phone call.

Annabeth

I'm up early, sipping tea from my favorite mug as I read the paper. I tell myself everything is normal, but that doesn't suppress the prickling feeling in my stomach.

It doesn't help that Piper is still dry heaving in my sink.

"Do you need me to call someone?" I ask, my patience evaporating off my words.

"Why are you shouting?" Piper moans. I flex my fingers, seriously debating whether or not to strangle my maid of honor. I'm sure within a few hours, she'll be back to her useful and presentable self, but right now, I swear to the gods...

Hazel walks in blearily, yawning and wearing a big old sweater of Frank's. "Good morning." She manages with a smile. Thankfully, Hazel seems to know how to handle her liquor. Hazel heads to fridge, opening it up and asking, "Anyone hungry?"

"Oh gods, why did you mention food?!" Piper follows up this statement with a round of vomiting. Hazel goes over and holds back her hair, the perfect friend. Besides Piper insistent barfing, the apartment is quiet. Thank the gods we sent Clarisse home after she started slicing the bar in half.

My phone buzzes in my pocket and when I pull it out, I smile at the picture of Percy and me that comes up. We're on the ferry, and I'm managing a decent smile while he sneaks a kiss on my cheek. I smile and leave to answer it.

"Hey," I say into the phone, closing my bedroom door. Immediately in front of me is the neck tie of the stripper Piper hired (That had turned out to be a bad idea when he turned into a demon, but I reasoned that it never was a good idea). I roll my eyes and pick it up, tossing it into the trash.

"Hey." Percy's voice is rough and deep. I close my eyes and can almost remember that little twerp I met when I was eleven with that dorky, puberty-change voice. "How was your night?"

"Oh, ya know, boring." I lie. "We just... Stayed home and... Did each other nails. Drank Kool-Aid, watched a few Disney movies. Made wedding dresses out of toilet paper." That last part was true, I realize, as I pull off a stray bit of toilet paper that is still clinging to my shoulder.

"Cool." Percy says, completely buying it.

"How 'bout you guys?"

"Well, Grover is passed out on my couch, Jason, I think, seriosuly assaulted a shampoo bottle. Frank is a dog- Wait, no, he's a goat now. And Nico is... Fine, actually. So we had a good time."

"Good." I smile, sitting on the edge of my messy bed. The curtains are drawn and all the light is dark gray. I rub my feet against the woolly carpet. "You ready?"

"No." He says. "I think I'm backing out." I can almost see the glow of the smile.

"You'd better not, or I'll hunt you down, Seaweed Brain."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Mrs. Jackson."

"Shh." I admonish him. "Not yet. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

"Alright, alright." He relents, but we both know how wonderful that name sounds. "You guys leaving soon?"

"Maybe." I look back at the door. "If I can get Piper to stop puking."

"Hopefully they can all pull it together." We sit in silence for a bit, a beautiful kind of silence that lasts for forever and a second.

"Hey, I love you." I hear Percy say. I smile gently at the words.

"I love you too, Percy." I say. "I'll see you in a few hours. Bye."