Creak. Creak. Creak.

"Oh, shut up!" the little blonde girl with stormy gray eyes screeched at the swing. Her voice echoed throughout the whole entire park, but no one heard it. Only a mother and her son.

"Sweetie, why are you screaming at a swing?" A woman with curly brown hair in a ponytail with light-filled, blue eyes asked gently.

"It's too noisy," the little blonde pouted. "It should be silent."

The woman smiled softly at the little girl. "Maybe it would seem silent if you were playing with someone."

"But no one likes me," the blonde complained. "I'm not likable. Everyone calls me scary and scream and run in the other direction when they see me."

"I'm sure they don't know they're making you upset," the woman replied in sweet and gentle voice. "Where are your parents?"

"My mom left," the blonde replied curtly. The woman flinched. She had never heard a child sound so much like an adult before. "And my dad married this-this woman. He barely acknowledges I exist."

"Sweetie, how old are you?" the woman asked worriedly.

"I'm 5," she responded.

"What's your name?"

"I'm not supposed to talk to strangers." The blonde paused before saying, "Then again, you're nicer to me than my own family. I'm Annabeth."

"Well, Annabeth, I'm Sally," the woman smiled at her.

"Nice to meet you Ms. Sally," Annabeth said. "If you'll excuse me, I'll go back to swinging."

"Wait, Annabeth," Sally said. "Why don't you play with my son, Percy?"

A little tuft of shaggy black hair stuck out from behind Sally's legs. It was a little boy. He looked at Annabeth shyly with his swirling green eyes. "Hi."

Annabeth pursed her lips, looking so much like a tiny adult it made Sally's eyes swell with unshed tears. This little girl was 5 years old and she looked more mature than a young adult.

"You're pretty," Percy said offhandedly.

Annabeth's cheeks flushed red and a smiled tugged at the corners of her lips. "You're small." Annabeth replied, regaining her shielded demeanor.

Percy's smile never faltered. "I know." He said, still beaming. "That's why I need a friend that I know will be by my side no matter what." Sally was still astounded by her son's maturity, although he still acted like the 5 year old he was whenever he could.

"You look like Poseidon," Annabeth stated.

Sally's heart just about dropped in her chest. Was this girl like Percy? Blonde hair and gray eyes, her mother left... Of course! That could only mean one thing: Annabeth was a daughter of Athena.

"From my mythology books," Annabeth continued. She wrinkled her nose. "I don't like Poseidon. I mean, he brought a woman into Athena's temple! That is a huge sign of disrespect! My favorite goddess is Athena."

This time Percy's smile wavered. He crossed his arms and opened his mouth as though he were about to retort in a not-so-nice manner when he thought better of it. "Why don't you pretend to be a daughter of Athena and I'll pretend to be a son of Poseidon and we can fight monsters together and be best friends!"

Sally resisted the urge laugh. Pretend...

Annabeth frowned. "But they're enemies..."

"That doesn't mean we have to be!" Percy said enthusiastically. "We can get them all mad about it until they find out that they don't have to be because we're not them! They can hate each other all they want but we don't have to!"

"I guess..." Annabeth said, suppressing a smile.

"Look! Those sticks can be swords!" Percy exclaimed.

The two then rushed around the park battling with sticks, laughing and screaming. At one point Percy battled 'the Minotaur' and Annabeth met 'the Sirens'.

"Sweet children, aren't they?" Sally turned around to see a woman with long black hair and color-changing eyes.

"Lady Aphrodite..." Sally gasped. She hesitated before bowing her head. "If you don't mind me asking, but what are you doing here?"

"Watching a pair of children play together, just like you," Aphrodite responded.

Well that sounds a bit stalker-ish...

Aphrodite blushed. "I suppose it did. Not that I meant for it to come out that way, it's just... Those two are going to meet again in seven years and become best friends. They'll fight monsters together and become heroes of Olympus. On Percy's 16 birthday they'll admit their feelings to one another. It'll be a wonderful love full of bumps in the road.

"This'll be the last time they meet for another seven years," Aphrodite finished. "I'm sorry."

Sally gazed at the pair with tears pooling into her eyes. "Annabeth. What does she go through?"

Aphrodite placed a reassuring hand on Sally's shoulder. "Pain. Lots of pain and betrayal. But Percy will be there by her side throughout all of it."

"Then they'll be happy?" Sally asked.

Aphrodite shifted uncomfortably. "Well, no. For about another year something else will happen that will help the gods in one of the most important ways. They'll be separated without knowing where the other is or if they're okay. But then, they'll finally be happy."

"Mommy!" Percy shouted. "Where's Annabeth?"

Sally beamed. "I don't know, Percy."

"Attack!" Annabeth squealed jumping onto Percy.

"What? No fair! You cheated!"

"There are no rules!"

Sally smiled and turned around to speak with Aphrodite only to find that the goddess had disappeared. She turned back to her son and his daughter of Athena friend. They were smiling and laughing and screaming and acting like the five year olds they were.


"Mommy, when can I see Annabeth again?"

Sally's heart shattered.