Chapter 1
A Wedding of Heroes
Chiron pranced around nervously. "Chiron, are you okay?" Grover looked at the centaur, slightly worried.
"Yes Grover. Just nervous. This is new. Very new, and I'm not sure what to expect." Grover nodded.
"Yeah. I never thought I'd see two heroes live old enough to be married. And the proposal was funny, too."
Chiron nodded, smiling slightly. "Yes. It suited their personalities." Bells began to chime in the main green of Camp Half-Blood. "Oh! That's it. It's time. Grover, stop chewing on your clothes. Go get ready." Grover nodded and walked to the end of the green where he was escorting the groom's mother to her seat.
Chiron stood at the altar and waited for the groom to run up, his hair messy, his eyes wild, his sword in his hand. "Sorry, Chiron. I was in the shower and the bells started after I got out and it was quite the rush to get ready."
The centaur laughed. "Don't worry. It's fine. But the bride will be arriving soon. Fix your clothes." The groom nodded and straightened his shirt, tucked it in, and stood, waiting. The families and friends of the bride and groom slowly poured in. The groom spied his mother and step-father walking in. He smiled at them and turned to the centaur. "How did they get in?"
"At our request, the gods allowed specific mortals to enter, mainly your mother and step-father, and your soon-to-be father-in-law." The groom nodded, and when everyone was seated, music started playing. The groom gasped at the figure clad in white that appeared at the end of the aisle. She had spent the entire day with Aphrodite and her mother. She walked down the aisle, her arms wrapped around her father's. Chiron looked at them as the approached.
"Who gives this girl away to be married?" Her father looked up, eyes full of pride and her mother stood.
"We do."
"And who gives up the groom?"
The groom's parents, mortal and godly, looked at Chiron. "We do."
"So be it. Today, we celebrate something unusual for Camp Half-Blood. Today, we celebrate two heroes who have endured years of pain, suffering, and loss. Today, we are proud to say that we have two heroes that have grown old enough to be married."
The campers, all dressed in their orange t-shirts, cheered. Even the men that stood behind the groom cheered a bit. The bride's maids looked happy, but did not speak.
"We are also happy to welcome all twelve Olympian gods today, as they are also as incredulous as I am."
Ares nodded and Aphrodite placed a hand on his arm. Chiron continued. "So today, we are joined to witness the joining of two mortal families, and the continuation of a godly one. Today, I am honored to be the one to marry Perseus Jackson and Annabeth Chase."
Sally, Paul, and Poseidon grinned at Percy, and Athena and Frederick smiled at the girl.
"Percy, if you will please present your vows to Annabeth." Percy took a notecard out of his pocket and began to read.
"All my life, I've hated writing." The crowd laughed. "But today, I am honored to be writing about my love and devotion to you, Annabeth. Annabeth Chase, even if you hated me when we first met, I always knew that you would be a good friend. Well, not really, but I'm sure happy that you are. As the years have gone on and we have endured more and more together, I've grown happier and happier to have you here with me.
"We walked through Tartarus and lived. We faced a giant, we held up the sky, and I think we've had our share of issues." He glared at Hera. "But the point is that I love you, and no matter what, I will always be there. My sword is yours, Annabeth. My heart belongs to you, Wise Girl." Annabeth wiped her eye, a tear about to drip out. Percy threw her a lopsided grin and she laughed.
"Annabeth, your vows."
Annabeth did not have a notecard as she memorized her vows ages ago. "Perseus Jackson, you have no idea how much I disliked you when we met. But you were my one chance to escape camp, and so I made a deal with the devil and went with you on a quest, and look how that effected my life. Who would have guessed: a son of Poseidon, a daughter of Athena? Our parents are mortal enemies, and now are bound by ties that are not going to be severed. You hear that, Hera? Don't be throwing anymore intestinally challenged cows at me. And don't you dare pull a Hercules. I know where you live." The crowd laughed and Annabeth continued.
"Even if I didn't like you, we have definitely been through a lot. You were gone for several months and I was left with a blond Roman. We almost gotten eaten by a monster on several occasions. You became a guinea pig. We held the sky. We destroyed the labyrinth and defeated Medusa. We retrieved the Athena Parthenos which now holds its rightful place on Olympus. I guess my point is that our pains have strengthened our love and I am happy to pledge my knife and my heart to my one and only Seaweed Brain."
"Tyson, please hand Percy the rings." Tyson, Percy's best man, handed his brother the two rings in his pocket. Percy handed one to Annabeth and slipped his on her finger. She slipped the other on his and looked at Chiron.
"I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Perseus Jackson. You may kiss the bride." Percy swept his arm under Annabeth and held her bridal style while they kissed. The younger campers averted their eyes, but the adults looked on with happiness. Aphrodite was crying. "Oh, Annabeth! I was right, was I not? I told you your love life would be interesting, and now you're married. Oh, I am so happy." Sally couldn't speak and just cried into Paul's shoulder.
"Sally?" She looked up into gray eyes.
"Annabeth? Aren't you going to the lunch?" The woman took a step back.
"Actually, I'm Athena. I would like to thank you for bearing with my uncle and having a son that makes my Annie so happy."
"Oh, Athena, thank you. Annabeth is wonderful. I'm so happy to have her as a part of my family." The two women, mortal and immortal, embraced. Paul and Frederick shook hands.
"So you're Poseidon?"
"No, I'm Paul. I'm Percy's step-dad."
"Well Paul, I'm Frederick, Annie's dad, and thank you for coming. I may not be 'clear-sighted' but it was an honor to have you here today."
"And you. By the way, was the Justice of the Peace a centaur, or was that just me?"
"No, he almost certainly was a centaur."
"Oh good." The adults continued chatting while Percy and Annabeth led the campers to the dining pavilion where a giant blue and gray cake sat. The young campers cheered and sat down and began talking while Percy and Annabeth sat with their friends.
Thalia looked at the two and nodded in approval. "Well, cuz, you've definitely found someone out of you league."
"Thanks, Thals. I'm glad you noticed." Percy gave her a lopsided grin that he was famous for and looked at the others. Leo and Calypso sat together, holding hands and talking to each other in Morse code. Hazel and Frank looked at the other once in a while, but tried to look back at the newlyweds.
"Oh, Annabeth! I'm so happy! And Percy, he's such a great guy. Thanks for inviting me!"
"Piper, of course I invited you. You are one of my closest friends." Reyna sat down at the table, slightly uncomfortable. Jason noticed and asked her how she was doing.
"Oh, I'm fine, Jason. It's just all these Greek gods. Ugh, so easily mingling with mortals. And your father… Wow."
"I get it Reyna, but at the Greek camp, of course they're Greek. At Camp Jupiter, they'd be Roman in an instant." The gods began to file in and take their seats at the head table, Percy and Annabeth splitting the male and female gods.
Zeus stood up and the talking immediately stopped. "Gods, demigods, and mortal. Welcome to Camp Half-Blood. For those of you who do not know me, I am Zeus. And Jupiter, as I do have to acknowledge my son, but my personalities are at peace today. The other Olympians and I have talked, and we have decided that each of us shall give the couple a gift." Percy and Annabeth looked surprised, but Zeus continued talking. "I have decided that, as king of the gods, I will give them the ability to call on each and every god once in the rest of their lifetime. Say, their child dies, then they can call upon my brother to bring the child back from Hades."
Percy nodded his uncle thanks. Hera then stood up.
"Mortals, I am Hera, queen of the gods and goddess of marriage. As such, I promise that the Jacksons shall have a happy and long marriage. And," she looked at Annabeth, "no more intestinally challenged cows. I am sorry for the hatred I have held against you. It will come back, but I swear on the Styx, I will control it."
The sky grumbled and Hera sat down. "Cool it, honey. Don't scare the mortals."
Poseidon stood. "As Percy is my son, I feel it only right that I should give Annabeth a water bonus. Annabeth, from now on, I name you an honorary child of mine and limited powers over the waters, somewhat similar to Percy's, but much less intense."
Demeter stood up next. "Ah, Perseus Jackson. I, Demeter, declare that you do not eat enough cereal. You and Annabeth shall have a lifetime supply of cereal. So I have said it, so shall it be!" She sat down and waited for the next god to stand.
Ares stood next, a grin on his face. "Percy Jackson, now this kid has some spunk. He challenged me once and almost one."
"Almost, Ares? As I recall, I did win!" The crowd laughed at Percy's joke, but quickly quieted when Ares pulled off his glasses.
"I am Ares, god of war. Percy, if ever you or any member of your family goes to war, they shall not be harmed. Including your great-great-great grandchildren and their spouses. It extends to their spouses blood family, by the way. Your daughter's husband's sister's husband is not safe, but her children are."
Athena stood as Ares sat. "I am Athena, Annabeth's mother, and I would like to say how proud I am of my daughter. Annabeth has done feats that made me proud, taken down Arachne, who haunts her nightmares, and married the son of my enemy. Perseus, I am happy for you, and I will grant you this: your children shall be gifted beyond belief, smarter than most any other children to have walked the earth."
Apollo stood and smiled. The female campers smiled at him. "I'm Apollo, god of the sun, music, and poetry. Percy, Annabeth, I give you and your families poetry abilities that almost match mine." Percy looked at his wife in horror but didn't open his mouth to speak. Artemis stood, in the form of a twelve-year-old-girl.
"I am Artemis, goddess of the moon and the hunt. Percy, Annabeth, I have a box behind the table filled with hunter camping gear. Use it wisely, perhaps with children." She sat.
Hephaestus stood and smiled in his ugliness. "I am god of the forges, known to the Romans as Vulcan and Greek as Hephaestus. I am not good at dealing with natural life-forms, so I'll keep it short. Percy, Annabeth, I will send you the newest and greatest Hephaestus technology as soon as it comes out and lifetime subscriptions to Hephaestus TV." He took a seat.
Aphrodite was next. "I am Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty. I promised Annabeth she would have an interesting love life, and now that she is married, I am done. I am going to meddle in some other love now, but I always give my ships a parting gift. Use this whenever you feel the need for some… excitement." She handed Annabeth a glowing silver vial. Annabeth read the label, blushed, and shoved it into her pocket.
Hermes stood. "I am Hermes, god of messengers and travelers. I also heal people, so I've given Percy and Annabeth immunity to every disease ever. Their children are a different story."
Mr. D stood. "I've known Peter Johnson and Annabelle Chad longer than I wish, but I do know that they will get crazy eventually. Perry, Angie, no matter how often you get drunk or excited at a party, no harm shall come to you or any other because of your drunkenness or party-like state."
Hestia stood. "I am no longer a proper Olympian, but I do wish to bless the couple. As goddess of the hearth, I bless them with a happy home to always return to. Never shall they find themselves on the streets."
Finally, Hades stood. "I am Hades. I have given them both as long a life as humanly possible." Then he sat.
Percy stood up, thanked the gods and looked at the mortals. "Who is ready to finally party?!" Music began playing and Percy and Annabeth enjoyed their first hours as husband and wife.