Chapter 1
"Daddy can you tell me another story about mommy again?" I asked my dad as he handed me the blue mug of hot chocolate. I admired my mom when I was three. Every night my dad would tuck me into bed after he told me stories about my mom while we drank hot chocolate.
"Sorry sweetheart but not tonight, daddy has to get up really early tomorrow," he answered kissing my forehead.
"Please daddy," I had begged, "I can't fall asleep unless you tell me a story!" I looked up at him with my big gray eyes wide, a look that I knew he couldn't say no to.
"I guess I could tell you just one," he said, giving in to my pleading.
I smiled a big smile as he started to tell me the story.
"In a small town in Northern Greece there was a lady named Arachne. Arachne was the best weaver in her town and always boasted to everyone that she was the best and was better than the Goddess Athena."
"That's mommy, isn't it?" I remember asking my dad.
He smiled at me and answered, "Yes sweetie that's mommy. Now when Athena heard Arachne say this she became furious and went into the town disguised as an old lady. When Arachne told the old lady that she was the best the lady replied by saying, 'My dear girl, I'm old and know much about life, no mortal can compete against Athena. You must apologize for her forgiveness.'
Arachne just laughed at the old lady and said, 'Foolish old lady! I know what I'm capable of and I don't need your advice. If Athena thinks she's better than me, then she could come here and compete against me.'"
"I don't like Arachne," I had decided. I didn't like that she thought that she was better than my mom. I thought my mom was the best. "I bet mommy is the best weaver in the world!" I exclaimed.
My dad smiled at me again. "And you are right, she is. Now back to the story. The old lady snapped her fingers and vanished into mist. When the mist cleared the beautiful Goddess revealed herself. 'You foolish girl! You think you can beat me at a weaving contest!' Athena exclaimed. Then the contest began. Athena wove the Parthenon and her contest with Poseidon, while Arachne wove scenes of the gods fears, trying to make fun of them. Athena was offended when she saw this and turned Arachne into a spider so she could weave forever."
I shuddered and said, "I would hate to be turned into a spider."
My dad smiled at me and said, "Time for bed!"
"Awww can't you just tell me one more?" I protested.
"Sorry, sweetie I have to get up early tomorrow."
I wanted to protest but thought it would be best not to, so I scurried off to my room with my long blonde hair flying behind me. I ran to the closet and hid inside it. Whenever my dad tucked me in I would pick somewhere in my room to hide and wait for him to find me.
"I wonder where my little wise girl is hiding," I heard my dad call as he entered my room. In my hiding spot I couldn't help but giggle. When my dad opened the closet door I screamed as he threw me over his shoulder and carried me to my bed, where he threw me down and tickled me.
When we settled down dad tucked me under the blankets and kissed me on the forehead. "I love you Annabeth," he said as he turned to leave my room.
Just as he was about to close the door I called out, "Daddy?"
"Yes sweetheart?"
"When is mommy going to come and see me?" I asked. My three year old self had heard so many amazing stories about her mother who was a great goddess but yet I had not met her. I couldn't help but want to meet her and find out for myself how amazing she really is.
My dad sighed and said, "I don't know sweetheart, I really don't know." I bet he felt bad for not being able to explain to his daughter why her mother couldn't see her.
"Does she not love me anymore? Is that why she left?" I had asked, close to tears. I didn't want to be the reason my mom left.
"No sweetheart, it was not your fault mommy left. She's very busy on Olympus. Your mommy loves you very much and would visit if she could."
"I hope she visits me soon. Goodnight daddy," I answered burrowing into the mound of blankets.
"Goodnight sweetheart," he said.
Before he closed the door I hopped off of my bed and ran to my dad. I threw my arms around him and whispered, "I love you daddy. Please don't leave me like mommy did. Even if you get really busy like her, you can't leave me."
"I won't leave you Annabeth," he replied hugging me back.
"Pinky promise?" I remember asking, holding out my tiny pinky.
He smiled at me and locked his big pinky with my small one, "Pinky promise."
Percy's POV
I walk into Annabeth's room, not bothering to knock. I close the door and sit on the bed next to her. I put my arm's around her waist and pull her closer to me. I kiss her on the cheek but she ignores me and continues to write in her journal.
"What are you writing wise girl?" I ask looking over her shoulder and at the words.
She smiles before closing the book. A real smile. I haven't seen her smile since we've gotten out of Tartarus, not a real smile. "Nothing, seaweed brain, " she answers, shoving her journal under her pillow.
I smile at how beautiful she looks. Curly blonde hair tied up in a messy ponytail, her gray eyes fighting over weather to show amusement or anger. She's wearing an oversized Camp Half-blood shirt, some jeans, and her Camp necklace with all of the beads on it. She nervously fidgets with the bead that has Thalia's tree on it. And to top it all off, her beautiful real smile. I want to remember her like this. When we fight against Gaea I will remember her like this. I want this to be the last image that flashes through my thoughts if I die while fighting.
"You looked stressed, you should take a nap," she tells me.
"Nah, I'm fine. Why don't you take a nap," I reply.
She snuggles up against my chest and sighs. "But the nightmares," she whispers.
"I won't let them get you," I promise.
I feel her smile against my shirt. I listen to her breathing as she slowly falls asleep, not wanting this peaceful moment to end.
I hope you guys liked chapter one. Please review and tell me what you thought. I'm writing chapter 2 right now so it should be up either today or tomorrow.