Sorry I haven't updated for such a long time. I was preoccupied. So, here it is! Chapter 3.

Annabeth

Annabeth was as worried as a mother could be. Her two children were in the least desirable place, or so she thought. It was the last place she wanted her children to visit.

Annabeth must've had a concerned face because Percy walked up to her on the porch of the big house and asked what was wrong.

"Nothing," responded Annabeth which practically sent up a little flag that said, I'm upset.

"Now, Annabeth," said Percy with fake scolding, "when you say nothing, I know there's something."

"Really, it's nothing."

"Alright."

After a few seconds, Annabeth spoke. "I feel uncomfortable with the kids being here. I know this is the safest place in the world for us, but I'm not sure about the kids."

Percy nodded and looked at the strawberry fields. He and Annabeth were sitting on the steps. "I talked to Chiron," he said quietly.

"And? What did he say?"

"He … it doesn't matter anymore. It's too late."

"For what?"

Percy shook his head no. Annabeth remembered the prophecy revealed to them just a year after Cassandra was born. But Annabeth didn't want to remember about that day at the moment.

Annabeth touched Percy's arm and he looked at her. She smiled and said, "love you."

"Me too. Wise girl."

Annabeth smiled even more when Percy said her old nickname. Seaweed brain, she thought.

"Been a while," said Percy. "We need to go out more."

Annabeth laughed. "Where did that thought come from?"

Percy shrugged. "I don't know. Just saying."

"Well, I'm free tonight."

"Really free." Percy laughed. "Hey, no curfew. We're adults."

"Maybe. Do we have a curfew?"

Percy thought for a moment. "I really don't know. We could go for a walk on the beach."

Annabeth nodded and took Percy's arm. She rested her head on his shoulder and looked at the strawberry field. She watched a butterfly soar by and noticed it had colors she had never seen before. It was a kind of electric blue and black. It hadn't occurred to her it resembled the colors of a lightning bolt. It **had** occurred to Percy.

Percy sat upright. "Looks like Zeus is sending us a message."

Annabeth thought for a minute. "No. I don't think so. It's probably just a coincidence."

"If that's a coincidence, I just got struck by lightning."

"That's highly unlikely to happen."

"Exactly."

"Maybe Hephaestus. It could be a machine or something."

Percy turned and looked at Annabeth sarcastically. "Really? You really think Hephaestus sent us a butterfly message?"

Annabeth shook her head no. She followed Percy's gaze to the butterfly who now laid motionless on a blade of grass.

"We really do need to get out more."

Percy nodded. He looked down at Annabeth who was smiling up at him. He smiled back. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I think so."

"Last one in is a rotten pomegranate!"

They took off running toward the lake. They were laughing and Annabeth was glad no one was around. As soon as they jumped, Percy took Annabeth by the waist and pulled her toward him. He kissed her just as their bodies splashed into the lake. Annabeth could feel Percy make an air bubble so that she could breathe.

They were sitting at the bottom of the lake which wasn't that deep. Annabeth watched Percy smile at her in his charming and goofy way. She smiled back and held his hand. He pulled her toward him and laid her on top of him. They were laying on the bottom now and Annabeth felt relaxed.

Annabeth laid her head down on Percy's chest and listened to him breathe. She could tell he was falling asleep and didn't think anything was wrong about it. They were just taking a nap at the bottom of a lake. She was about to fall asleep too, when she felt she couldn't breathe as well. She looked up and saw the air bubble was getting smaller. Percy wasn't focusing as much on it. Annabeth tried to wake him up but he just moved his head. Soon, she was forced to lay close to Percy.

"Percy! Wake up! Per—"

Water fell on them and Annabeth pushed against the floor to the surface. She gasped in air, trying to breathe. Percy surfaced a few seconds later. He held Annabeth's hand as she coughed up water.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to—"

"It's okay. You didn't even know what was happening."

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

Annabeth wadded closer to Percy and let him hug her. He was so perfectly dry and Annabeth was soaking wet. Percy seemed to be sucking all the water out of Annabeth's clothes. Percy lifted Annabeth out of the water and then pulled himself out.

"You still want to go out?"

Annabeth shrugged. "Don't know. Have I forgiven you yet?"

Percy thought for a minute. "Yeah."

"Then sure."

Just then, Cassandra walked up to them. She was smiling and practically dancing around. Annabeth remembered their conversation just before she sat down on the front porch of the big house.

"Hey, Mom? Can I trust you to keep a secret?"

"Yeah, of course. Why?"

"Okay. I just met this awesome guy and—"

"A guy?"

"Yes. What, I can't meet guys?"

"I suppose."

"Well, his name is David. He just got here at camp. He's so handsome and charming and … ahh!"

Of course, Annabeth couldn't keep this piece of information away from Percy. It seemed she was made to tell Percy everything. He said he was going to "check out the so called David who was handsome and charming."

"Hello, Cassandra," said Percy.

"Hi, Daddy. Hi, Mom."

"Cassandra." Annabeth nodded.

"You mother told me about that guy you met—ow!"

Annabeth pinched Percy's arm, hard and looked him in the eyes. Why?

"Mom!"

Annabeth slouched down next to Percy and held his arm. "I just thought—"

"I thought I could trust you."

"You can. But you can trust your father too, right?"

"Yeah, but not about things like this!"

"Why not?" Percy spoke up.

"Because—well, it's the same thing with girl stuff. You don't want to hear me talking to you about my peri—"

"Okay! This conversation has gone far enough."

Annabeth almost laughed at Percy's interruption. He looked extremely uncomfortable and decided to stand. Annabeth stood a split second later.

"So … I met him." Percy crossed his arms in a very fatherly way. Annabeth couldn't help thinking how handsome he looked.

"You did?" Cassandra lightened up a bit.

"He's okay. I don't really know him, though. He's just another John Doe."

"He's not a John Doe, Dad. He's David."

"Do you even know his last name?"

Cassandra shook her head no. "But I'll ask him."

Annabeth nodded and looked at Percy. He was looking at Cassandra, who was walking off. She took Percy's arm and he looked down at her. She smiled up at her husband.

"How 'bout that walk?"

Percy smiled and took Annabeth's hand which was on his arm. Percy steered them toward the beach. Even though she had been with Percy most of her life, Annabeth felt giddy, just like she did on their first real date.