Knock, knock, knock
What was that knocking at the door this early in the morning. Lucky for whoever it is that I am up this early to make coffee. I get up lethargically, unhappy about it as I am, and look through the peephole in the door to see, Annabeth!
Outside the Door
The door opens in front of Annabeth and startles both of us as her father, adorned in an old bathrobe tackles us both and smothers us in a great bear hug.
"What are you two doing here? And how did you two get here?"
"We came to stop by for the day and talk about something that will make you guys really excited, and well, Percy should explain how we got here."
"Come inside you two then."
We enter the house and I am surprised, he has repainted the walls and even got new furniture since the last time I was here.
"Nice decor, though, I must ask, why change from the old stuff?"
"Well, it was quite, you know, old."
"Wife didn't like it anymore?" I ask.
"Wife didn't like it anymore." He answers glumly.
"Well, it looks nice though."
"Thank you, I quite like it myself." Says Annabeth's step-mom as she comes downstairs.
"You guys should chill on the couch while I fix breakfast."
"Actually, Dad? Mom? would you two please come in here?" Annabeth asks timidly.
"What is wrong honey?" Her step-mom asks warily.
I take over because Annabeth is looking uncomfortable about this. "Nothing is wrong, we just need to tell you something amazing."
"Oh my God, Annabeth, you're pregnant. Percy Jackson I'm gonna -"
"What? Mom, No! I am not pregnant!"
"What is it then?"
"Please, come in here, I will explain everything, just take a seat." I say, playing the peacekeeper as per usual.
Annabeth's step-mom comes into the living room and sits down right beside Mr. Chase.
"Mr. and Mrs. Chase, Annabeth and I are engaged."
"And we would like to formally give you an invitation to our wedding." Annabeth picks up.
"Mom, Dad? Whats going on?" asks a young voice from the stairs.
"Come here honey, your sister has something important to tell you."
Annabeth's stepbrother slowly and sleepily waddles into the living room and sits on his mother's lap.
"What do you want to tell me?" he asks.
"You remember Percy right?"
"Yeah, the cool, fun guy who came by a few years ago, and the guy you won't stop talking about."
"Well, Percy and I are going to get married, and we would like you and your brother to be the ring bearers."
"Cool, anything else?"
"Bobby! Be nice, your sister is getting married! This is a big event."
"Sorry Mom. Wow, cool! You're getting married! Awesome!" he says sarcastically.
"Thank you Bobby. Now, please go and wake Matthew."
"Yes Mom."
Bobby races upstairs and out of earshot.
"How long will you two be staying?"
"Just for today Dad. We are going to see Percy's Mom tomorrow."
"Oh, okay, when will the wedding be?"
"In about three months, that should give us enough time to get everything together."
"Tell us once you have a date set, okay?"
"Will do Dad."
"So what are you two going to do for the rest of the day today?"
"Well, for starters, would you two mind if we went upstairs to take a nap for a little while, we have been driving all night."
"Sure, your room is just how you left it Annabeth."
"Thank you guys, come on Percy."
"Hold on, Percy?"
"Yes sir?"
"Don't, you know, do anything yet."
"The thought didn't even cross my mind sir."
"Good, you two have a good rest now."
We thanked them again and went upstairs. Annabeth's room was clean except for her desk area which was covered in blueprints. When I say covered, I literally mean covered. They were everywhere in that area, on the walls, on the floor, desk, chair, anywhere she could fit them.
"Someone's been busy."
"Oh shut up."
"What?"
From the look on her face I knew she wasn't finding any humor in this situation so I shut my mouth and did my best to suppress a grin.
"Come on, lets get some rest." Annabeth said as she took off her shirt and jeans, climbing into her bed in her underwear.
"And where am I supposed to sleep?" I ask, taking off my shirt and shorts.
Her answer was clear enough, she scooted over to the side and opened up the covers, making space for me to climb in with her.
In minutes we are drifting off to sleep.
The hero has returned, very good, very good. A voice says from a black abyss in front of me.
Where am I? I ask.
Where you should be, in your dreams you are here, in reality you have not moved, but I am sure you know that, after all, you escaped my clutches once. It will not be so easy to do it again, I promise you.
Who are you?
You should know, Percy.
The room starts to shake, I feel two hands on my arms as I scream out from surprise. I open my eyes to find Annabeth standing over me, still in her underwear.
"Wake up! Percy! Wake Up!"
"I'm up, I'm up! What happened, why are you shaking me?"
"You were rolling around, and you fell off the bed. You were screaming and sweating all over the place. What were you dreaming about?"
"I - I'm not sure. But whatever it is, we have met it before, and, it knew my name Annabeth, it knew my name."
"Should we call off the wedding?"
"NO! I mean, no, its alright, just a dream."
"Percy, since when are Demigod dreams, just dreams?"
"Just, forget about it, okay? It is meaningless."
"Alright, we had best get dressed, lunch is ready."
"Okay, what is for lunch?"
"My Dad's world famous, grilled cheese."
"Sounds delicious." I say while I pull on my pants.
"It really is." Annabeth says as she pulls on her shirt and heads out the door and down the stairs. I follow closely after her.
We get downstairs and her father looks at us funny.
"What?"
"What?"
"You're looking at us funny."
"I heard screaming and bumping and a loud thud upstairs coming from your room Annabeth. What was going on up there?"
"Nothing Dad, Percy just had a nightmare."
"What about the thud?"
"He was thrashing around in his sleep and I shoved him out of the bed. That's all."
"Yeah, Annabeth, about that, I think I hit something on my way down." I say while rubbing my leg.
"Oh, shut up, you didn't even land on that side, and I pushed you from your back."
"Okay, I give up. Mr. Chase, Annabeth mentioned that you made your world famous grilled cheese for lunch today."
"Why as a matter of fact I did. How did she know?" He gives her a sideways glance.
"I could smell it upstairs. It woke me up."
"And Percy's kicking didn't?"
"That only started after I was awakened by your cooking grilled cheese smell entered my nose."
"Well then, you two should come and sit down at the table. I am about to start serving lunch."
We enter the kitchen and the twins are sitting there nagging at each other, as usual.
"Bobby, Frederic, stop it!" Their mother screams at them, "You two are giving me a headache!"
"Mom, relax, I've got this." Annabeth says to her step-mom. "Boys, do you want to be uninvited to my wedding? I can always ask my dad to be the ring bearer."
"No, please don't uninvite us." Says Bobby.
"You are getting married?" Asked Frederic.
"Since when is it emyour wedding?" I ask.
"Yes I am getting married, start behaving and I will keep you invited, and Percy?"
"Yes?"
"Shut up."
"Ooh, harsh man."
"That goes for you too Bobby."
"Haha!"
"You too Frederic."
"You still didn't answer my question."
"I am trying to let Frederic figure out who I am marrying."
"Oh, okay."
"Hey, mom?" Frederic asks.
"Yes sweetie?"
"Can Percy sit next to me? I don't want to have to look at Bobby's face."
"Hey, we look exactly the same!" Bobby exclaims.
"Frederic, be nice to your brother, and I don't think it would be wise to separate Percy from his fiancẻ before they talk to his mother."
"Who is his fiancẻ?" Frederic asks, trying and failing to pronounce the new word.
"Try to guess who it is." Annabeth says.
"It emcan't be you because you are getting married. Is it that redhead girl who came here with you that one time, what was her name, Rachael?" Frederic, the oblivious one, asks.
"No, its not her, and I brought her here last year because she insisted on me taking her on a road trip to get away from her parents. Guess again" I add in the reason for her visit because I see the look on Annabeth's face when her brother said that. "Annabeth, you know nothing could ever possibly happen between me and Rachael because she is supposed to be an eternal maiden because of her being the oracle in all. Besides, I would never cheat on you because I emlove you, that is why I asked emyou and not anyone else."
"Ooh, ooh, ooh, I know the answer now!" Frederic says whilst frantically waving his hand in the air as if trying to get a teacher's attention at school.
"Yes, Frederic, who do you think it is?"
"My sister!" He says excitedly.
"Correct!" Annabeth and I say in unison before bursting out laughing. The two kids look at us like we are crazy, causing us to laugh more. Once we managed to stop laughing, I plant a quick kiss on Annabeth's lips, making her blush.
"Percy, my family is watching." She says in a whiny voice before planting a kiss on my lips. I smile and then turn to Dr. Chase.
"Where should we sit sir?"
"If you all wait a moment, we can sit at the table on the back porch, it is too beautiful a day for us all to be cooped up inside."
He quickly gathers placemats and utensils and I carry the tray holding his freshly made grilled cheese outside to the table out there. Once the table is set, we sit down as directed by Dr. Chase.
On one side of the table, he and his wife sit. To their right and left are the twins. Directly across from Annabeth's Father and Stepmom, Annabeth and I sit. I pull out the chair for Annabeth and she sits down, I take my seat beside her and we all begin eating.
"How long have you two been engaged for?" Her stepmother asks.
"Four days now, he proposed the day that Leo came back. Perfect timing too." Annabeth said, looking at me suspiciously.
"That is sweet, what did you say Percy?" Annabeth's mom asks.
"Well, I got there and we ordered lunch to celebrate the fact that Leo wasn't dead and that he had gotten Calypso off of Ogygia. After we had finished eating I stood up and said 'I have a question to ask a very special someone without whom I would have died at the Battle of Manhattan and many times since, this person is very special to me and I want her to be by my side for the rest of our lives.' I then walked over to her and pulled the box out of my back pocket. She didn't see me holding it behind my back as I got down on one knee and pulled it out from behind me. I opened it and removed the ring. Taking her left hand I said, 'Annabeth, as I hold your hand right now, I ask you one simple question that will define what we do for the rest of our lives. Annabeth Chase, will you marry me?' And you all know what she said to me after I asked her otherwise we wouldn't be here right now and this conversation wouldn't be happening. I also wouldn't have gotten that convertible from my dad either."
"Percy," Annabeth says as she punches me in the arm playfully.
"How sweet, perfect timing and the perfect thing to say. I just have to ask you though, where did you buy those rings?"
"Actually I didn't buy them." I say.
Everyone looks at me like I just admitted that I was going to blow up the entire west coast of the United States.
"You didn't?" Annabeth asks me.
"No, actually, I had Leo make them for me."
"How did he know the ring size I would need?"
"I kinda took one of your rings and gave it to him, sorry."
"Hahaha, I was wondering what happened to that ring I lost on the ship, before it was destroyed at least."
"Yeah, that was me."
"Percy, lets back up for a minute. You got a car?" Asks Dr. Chase
"Yeah,"
"From your dad, like Poseidon, or your mom's husband?"
"Poseidon, I guess he cares more than he says he does."
"This I have gotta see."
"If you come out front, I will show you."
"Cool, can we see it too?" Ask Bobby and Frederic at the same time.
I chuckle, "Of course you can, finish your grilled cheese first though and wash your hands, I don't want any grease on the car before I show it to my mom."
The twins scarf down their sandwiches and race inside to get to the bathroom. After a few moments of us all sitting there chuckling they come out and I stand up.
"Dr. Chase, have you finished your meal?"
"No, son, you don't have to do that, Helen, would you mind clearing the table while Percy shows the boys and I his car?"
"Of course, go and take a look at that car of his." She chuckles.
We all race excitedly through the house and out the front door. The last thing I hear from the back porch is Annabeth's stepmom saying, "Boys and their toys."
We step out the front door and both the twins look at my car and stop. They are rooted in place out of sheer awe at the car.
"What kind of car is it?" asks Dr. Chase.
"I have no idea, I know it is a convertible but aside from that I have no idea."
"You should call it the Percymobile." Frederic says, his eyes still glued to the sea blue car. Dr. Chase and I burst out laughing and Frederic looks at us, a hurt expression on his face.
"Oh, no, its not the name we are laughing at, it was the look on your face when you said it. I really quite like the way it rolls off the tongue." I say, biting back chuckles.
Frederic's face lights up at this and he shoves his brother to get him to stop staring at the car. Bobby stares daggers at him and walks towards the car.
"This thing is cool, can we take a ride in it uncle Percy?"
"When did you start calling me that?"
"Just now, why?"
"Because I wouldn't be your uncle, I would be your stepbrother in law." I say, and then I notice a confused expression on the twins faces.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Basically, me marrying your sister makes me your brother." I explain to them.
"Oh, cool. Hey bro, can we take a ride in your car?"
"Ask your dad."
"Dad, can we take a ride in Percy's car?"
"That is up to him, but I have to come with."
"Fine by me. Dr. Chase, you get shotgun." I say, anticipating one of the twins saying it and then getting into a fight about it.
We pile into the car and I start up the engine. Backing carefully out of the driveway I begin to take a quick drive around the block.
"This car is so quiet, is it electric?" Dr. Chase asks.
"I have no idea what it runs on, there is no fuel tank access point and there is no fuel gage, I guess we will find out sooner or later from Poseidon. I just hope it is before this car runs out of juice."
"It is really smooth, this road is usually tossing us around, but in here there is hardly a bump."
"I noticed that, and the tires are wierd too, they look like standard tires but they feel different."
"How so?"
"They are softer feeling, it is wierd but what about this car is normal."
"Hey, Percy?"
"Yes?"
"Can we roll the windows down?"
"I can do better, look up at the roof."
As the twins look at the roof, I flip the switch that causes it to collapse behind the back seat. Their jaws drop and they look at their father as I roll the windows down and ask him, "Does your car do that?"
"No, it certainly does not, although I wish it did."
"Well kids, we are almost back at the house. Prepare to dock the Percymobile!" I say and the kids laugh as I make a "Whoosh!" sound as we pull into the driveway. I stop the car, roll up the windows and roll out the roof. The kids unbuckle and step out of the car as I take the keys out of the ignition and step out with Dr. Chase.
"Well, its about time." Annabeth says as we step away from the car.
Laughing I respond, "What got your panties in a bunch?"
"Hey, there are children listening."
"Hey kids, did you hear what I asked your sister?"
"No!" They shout together.
"See Annabeth, they aren't listening."
"Shut up." She says playfully with a grin slapped on her face.
We head inside and I fill in Annabeth about what happened when I showed her brothers the car.
"The Percymobile? Ha!"
"I think we should call it that, it seems your brothers really like me."
"I still find it funny that they called you Uncle Percy."
"We all did."
"I like the way that you can entertain them like that, it seems you have not forgotten how you acted as a child."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"I don't know, it depends on whether or not you remember that when we have kids."
"Woah, woah, woah, slow down there girl, we haven't even gotten married yet and you are already thinking about having kids? I don't think we should think about that until a year or two after we are married."
"I said emwhen we have kids, I never said how soon. Besides, I am not ready yet to have kids, I mean, come on, we're sophomores in college, kids can wait, we have to get jobs first, then we need to figure out where we are going to live, and -"
"Annabeth?"
"Yes Percy?"
"Shut up. We will figure this out. First things first though, will we stay in New Rome or will we live at Camp Half Blood?"
"How would we live at camp? I mean, they don't even have anywhere for you to live aside from the cabins and even then we cannot both stay in the Athena cabin or the Poseidon cabin no matter whether we are married or not. What would we do there anyway?"
"Well, you could fix that."
"Fix what?"
"Fix the fact that Camp Half Blood doesn't have anywhere for the attendants to live outside of their cabins, we could build a town there where people can live, get married, have kids, go to school, our own Greek version of New Rome, and you would design it."
"You're right, and then that way, we could raise our kids around all of our friends so that they grow up learning how to defend themselves against monsters."
"See? Now lets stop thinking about having kids, it is starting to make me feel old."
"Oh shut up Seaweed Brain."
"Hey, Percy, would you like to play a game?" Bobby asks.
"Sure, what game?"
"Tag, you're it!"
"Get back here!" I say playfully as Bobby runs off into the backyard where his brother is waiting.
Annabeth sits there laughing, "I think they like you Percy."
"I think so too, and you know what?"
"What?"
"If I'm playing tag, then you're playing too, tag you're it!" I say as I poke her arm and run off out the back door to follow her brothers.
"Percy, always got somewhere to go."
"You had better go after them before they avoid you for the rest of your stay."
"I guess I'd better mom."
"Oh, and Annabeth?"
"Yes Mom?"
"Don't let that one get away, he's quite a catch and he's lucky to have you."
"And I am lucky to have him." With that, Annabeth takes off after us to join us out in the backyard for a friendly game of tag.
Three Hours Later
"Bye guys, thanks for dinner."
"Are you two leaving so soon?"
"Sorry but we have to, we are driving all the way to New York, if we want to make it there we need to leave now."
"You can't just take a plane in the morning?"
"No mom, Percy can't fly anywhere unless he's on Blackjack because Zeus would blast the whole plane apart with him inside."
"Well, have a safe trip then, watch the roads, and get plenty of rest okay?"
"Will do Mrs. Chase. Again, I apologize that we couldn't stay longer but I promised my mom that Annabeth and I would be there in three days and if we want to make it there then we need to get going, thanks for everything and I promise we will visit again soon."
"I can't wait for it Percy, you two take care now."
"Mom?"
"Yes sweetheart, what is it?"
"Can we say goodbye to Percy?"
"Yes, come on, he is about to leave so make it quick."
The twins come downstairs and run over to Annabeth and hug her tight. "We're going to miss you Annie."
"Aww, I'm going to miss you too guys."
They unlatch themselves from her and tackle me, causing a few laughs to escape my chest briefly.
"I'm going to miss you Percy, have a safe trip." Frederic says before letting go and running back upstairs.
"Percy?" Bobby says.
"Yes?"
"Take care of my sister you hear? She's the only one I got, treat her with the respect and dignity that she deserves and don't hurt her or else." He says looking me square in the eye.
"I would expect to get that from her father, not her younger brother. Either way, I promise, and trust me, I am not letting her get away. I will see you soon." I give him a big hug and he smiles at me before racing upstairs to join his brother.
"Come on Annabeth, we need to get going."
"Bye!" We call together as we step out the door and onto the dim porch. The door closes behind us and we get into the car. Annabeth suddenly bursts out laughing, leaving me puzzled.
"What's so funny?"
"My brother, that's all."
"What he said was kinda funny coming from him, but he meant it and I meant what I said too. Don't give me that look, I love you and you know it otherwise I wouldn't have proposed like I did or asked Leo to make the rings."
"Speaking of rings, what did you do about the wedding rings?"
"Oh, don't worry, I have that covered."
"Are we going to invite our friends to he wedding?"
"Yes, Leo's my best man!"
"Well, I guess you two really hit it off then." She said with a yawn.
"Ever since I first saw him, I thought he was just the kid who tells jokes all the time and then I heard that he built the Argo II and I began to see him for who he was, a true son of Hephaestus and, you know what? I am glad he made out engagement rings, it makes it more personal than if I had bought them from a stranger. Annabeth, are you listening?"
I glance over at her for a moment to see that she has dozed off.
"Sweet dreams, my love." I turn my eyes back to the wheel and drive all through the night.
Three Days Later
"Shh, they don't know we're here, come on, remember, be quiet, they're still sleeping.
It is three in the morning and Annabeth and I have have just arrived at my moms house. We parked our car outside and are now heading into my bedroom as quietly as we can while suppressing laughs. Entering my room, I notice that mom has straightened up and that now I don't have to be embarrassed about Annabeth seeing my room like it usually is.
"Come on, lets get some sleep before the sun comes up." I whisper.
"Why? Can't we sleep until non like you usually do?" she whispers back.
"No, because my mom and Paul usually are up about the time that the sun comes up."
"I am guessing that you want to walk out there with me and lay down on the couch like it is any other day and you have come home for the summer?"
"Essentially, yes."
"And you didn't really tell your mom that you are coming did you?"
"No, I didn't."
"So you lied to my parents?"
"Essentially yes, but I had to find a valid reason as to why not to stay another night so that we could surprise my mom like this."
"It was pretty ingenious, what would you have done if we got here before night hit and they went to bed?"
"I dunno, I was counting on us getting here when we did and luckily, it turned out perfectly. Come on, lets get some rest."
Annabeth and I strip down to our underwear and I climb into my bed, making room for her to fit in my arms, I motion her to lay down. She fits perfectly and I wrap my arms protectively around her while draping the blankets over us. A few minutes later we are drifting off to sleep.
I feel the bed shake as Annabeth gently climbs out. Opening my eyes, I see the sun starting to rise over the harbor. Swiftly, I slide out of bed and pull on my pants. Annabeth is still half asleep and so I take my t-shirt and pull it over her head. She pushes her arms through the sleeves and I guide her gently with my hand on her back over to my bedroom door. Opening it as quietly as I can, we step out into the hallway and I guide her to the end of the hall.
We stop for a moment as I listen for voices and sure enough, I am rewarded with the sound of my mom and Paul talking quietly in the living room so as not to disturb their neighbors. I guide Annabeth out into the living room and say to her, "Go over there and sit next to my mom while I fix you a cup of coffee."
My mom jumps up when she hears my voice and races over to where Annabeth and I are standing. Crushing us in a bear hug she exclaims, "When did you two get here? You should have called!"
The sudden hug from my mother jars Annabeth awake, "Surprise," she says as she starts to giggle.
"Hey, mom, could you please lead Annabeth to the couch, she seems to be a bit giggly this morning, I am going to fix her some coffee." I say while gently laughing at my mother's reaction.
She leads Annabeth over to the couch while Annabeth continues giggling uncontrollably. I race into the kitchen and fix her some coffee as fast as I can before carefully walking into the living room so as not to spill it. I sit next to Annabethand hand her the coffee. She takes a big gulp of it and her giggling begins to stop.
"Percy, why is Annabeth wearing one of your shirts, and why is there a ring on her, oh my god, you two are married aren't you."
"Not quite, she is my fiancé."
"Mrs. Jackson, we would like you to be formally invited to our wedding."
"When will it be?"
"In about three months mom, we haven't exactly decided on a date yet, it all depends on what Dad finds convenient because he is going to be arranging it all."
"Paul, did you know anything about this?" My mom asks.
"This is the first I've heard about it."
"Then what does Percy mean by- oh, I get it, you mean Poseidon."
"Yes, Aphrodite showed up offering to get all the gods to attend but we just wanted it to be an immediate family and friend matter, the other gods are welcome to watch it on Hephaestus TV. I did ask her to invite Poseidon and Athena though. I am sure that Zeus will agree that the marriage of Olympian children is a matter that gods are allowed to interfere with directly, especially because we saved their asses twice now."
"Percy, language!"
"Sorry mom."
"So, Percy, tell me all about how you and Annabeth got engaged."
I tell her the same thing that I told Mrs. Chase and my mom's eyes tear up from joy.
"That is soo sweet, Annabeth, he's a good boy, you take care of him for me, promise?"
"I promise Mrs. Jackson."
"Please, call me mom." She says with a smile.
Annabeth and I while the day away with Paul and my mom. Eventually I bring up my engagement gift from my dad. Paul insists on seeing it so I lead him outside with my mother and Annabeth and we show them the car. They both are excited that I no longer need to pay for gas and that the car is environmentally friendly. Suddenly a familiar voice calls out from down the lot.
"Percy?"
"G-man? Is that you?" I turn around to see Grover running over, followed by Tyson and his girlfriend, the red harpy Ella.
"Brother!" Tyson shouts as he flies at me, crushing me in a bear hug.
"Percy is nice to Ella, Percy is good for harpies. Tyson is Ella's boyfriend, Ella likes Tyson." Ella says as she flies over in our direction. Tyson's face turns red when Ella says that about him.
"Tyson, could you please let go? I can't breathe . . ." I huff out weakly.
Tyson lets go, his big brown eye tearing up with joy at seeing me. Grover gets over to us and says, "Woah, who's car?"
"That would be mine Grover, and don't worry, it is totally gas free, and I don't think it is electric. Tyson, do you know how this car works?"
"Yes, Daddy had me help build it for you with the other cyclopes, he even helped us to find the stuff to make it. He said something about only one of his kids or could drive it, and it is magic, monsters cannot smell you in there, it will keep you safe. Do you like it?"
"Like it, no. Bro, I love it, thanks so much."
Grover looks at me and Annabeth, "There is something different about you two, I smell, is that gold?"
"What you are smelling Grover, is our engagement rings. Leo made them."
"Fire man made your rings?"
"Yes Tyson, Leo made our rings. Do you know what me and Annabeth being engaged means?"
"What?"
"Annabeth will be your sister!"
"Percy." Annabeth said in a whiny voice before Tyson turned to her and enveloped her in a great bear hug.
"Sister!" He says while crushing my fiancé in his arms.
"Tyson, she actually is not your sister yet and she won't be for about three months. You guys are all invited to the wedding by the way."
"Can - you - get - him - off - me - please - Percy. - I - can't - breathe!" Annabeth gasps weakly.
"Tyson, would you please let go of Annabeth, she needs to breathe you know."
He looks down at her as her face turns purple and he lets her go. "Sorry,"
"It's *cough* okay big guy *cough* *cough*" Annabeth wheezes.
"Okay, why don't we all go inside and lets have some lunch." Paul says.
I totally forgot he was there and I have no idea what he sees as far as Ella goes, but I am pretty sure it is not what she really looks like with her bright, ruby red feathers.
We go inside, Ella is complaining the whole time we are riding the elevator but we reach the right floor and the doors open, she is amazed to see that we've moved. Tyson manages to get her out of the elevator and he leads her to my mom's apartment.
"Ella wants to ride the shiny box again. Ella wants to ride the shiny box again. Shiny box moved Ella without Ella moving. Shiny magic box is good for Ella."
Tyson beams with pride, and honestly, I am glad that he is happy with Ella.
"What have you been doing G-man?"
"I was walking around Central Park when I bumped into Tyson and Ella. Tyson said he smelled Percy here and I sniffed around, caught your scent, along with Annabeth's, and we followed our noses, finding you all in the parking lot looking at your new car."
"So, Tyson, how have things with you and Ella been?"
"Fun, Ella likes to have lots of fun. She likes that place with the moving pictures."
"The movie theater?"
"Ella likes movies. Movies are good for harpies. Tyson takes Ella to movies a lot. Ella loves Tyson."
Tyson blushed deeply when she says this.
"So, Percy, Annabeth, how has school been?" Grover asked.
"Oh, New Rome's school is amazing. Percy is studying to be an oceanographer and I am studying to be an architect and their architecture program is amazing."
"I was surprised that they had any sea related majors there at the college, especially at the college Annabeth is in, considering the fact that Romans hated the sea because their navy sucked and it was harder for them to move their troops about in the water."
"Oh, Annabeth, tell him about your plans for camp."
"Oh yeah, Grover, I was planning on taking what New Rome has and adapting that concept for us at Camp Half Blood. Seeing as how Camp Jupiter has been able to make it work I think that . . ." She and Grover walk off into the next room as she goes on about her plans for it.
I look at my mom and find her smirking at me. "What?"
"I can't remember the last time I've seen you this happy."
"What do you mean by that mom?"
"What I mean is, I think that you're ready to marry Annabeth."
"Thanks mom."
Suddenly, there is a knocking on the door. "Who could that be?" Mom wonders aloud as she walks over to the door and looks to see who it is.
She nearly jumps out of her socks with surprise and she races to undo the latch and throw open the door.
"Who is it mom?" I ask.
"Now, is that any way to greet your father and the mother of your fiancé?" Asks a familiar voice.
"Dad?"
"Congratulations son on your engagement."
"Yes, yes, congratulations and all that, I just came because of my daughter, this does not mean that I approve but I guess I will have to tolerate you though." Athena says.
"Mom?" Annabeth asks from the kitchen. She pokes her head out and when she catches a glimpse of her mother, she races over and hugs her tight. Athena's expression softens and she hugs her daughter back.
"Congratulations on your engagement. Here, this is for you." She says as she pulls out a small box.
"What is it?"
"Open it and find out."
Annabeth wastes no time and she opens the box. Her face lightens up when she holds up the contents of the box, a silver beaded bracelet with little owls on each bead.
"This will keep you safe from harm, as long as you wear it, you cannot be hurt by anyone. At least, physically."
"Thank you mom, I love it, beautiful and effective. Just like us."
Athena smiles and then looks at me.
"If you so much as hurt my daughter in any way from here on, I will kill you personally."
"Oh, come on Athena, today is for our kids, let our grudge against eachother not interfere with their happiness, in fact, when is the wedding, we got your invitation from Aphrodite."
"She was unhappy that she was not invited even though she understands your reasons. She did promise that you both would recieve a present from her on your wedding day."
"We will need to send her a thank you note I guess, oh and Dad, thanks for the car, it will really come in handy. The wedding though is in three months. Do you think that you will be able to put it together for us so that we can get a date set?"
"Do I have to?"
"Seeing as Athena is totally against the idea of Annabeth and I getting married and you are totally for it, we figured that with you also being a god, that you could give us a hand."
"I will but I will need help from my brothers and their wives, Hera especially."
"Aphrodite, stop hiding, we know you are in the hallway." Athena said.
"Aww, but you ruined all the fun." Aphrodite said while walking into the apartment.
"Aphrodite, Annabeth and I will be needing you to ask Hermes to send an invitation to our wedding to Hades and Persephone. and for you to ask Zeus and Hera to come as well please."
"Anything for my favorite love story this side of history." She says before disappearing in a puff of pink glitter and designer perfume, leaving all of us coughing.
"Well, she has a way of doing things that is certainly all her." Poseidon says before turning to Paul. "Hey, teacher guy."
"Paul."
"Yeah, Paul, how are you taking care of Sally? Is she doing alright?"
"You could ask me yourself P." She says appearing suddenly from the kitchen with a tray of blue chips and blue dip.
"She is still doing the blue food thing?" Annabeth whispered to me.
"Yeah, it is kinda a habit now more than anything else it seems." I whisper back.
"Lets try and make our kids understand about that without telling them about Smelly Gabe." Annabeth says, emitting a chuckle at my reaction to that.
"Stop talking about us having kids, put it out of your mind for a good long while. You know neither of us is ready."
"I know neither of you are ready and Percy? Watch how you talk to my daughter, understand?" Athena says, startling both me and Annabeth.
"Understood, m'lady." I say before putting my arm around Annabeth and joining the others as they all dig into the blue chips and dip.
Three Months Later
Everyone Cheers as Annabeth steps out from behind the curtain, wearing her beautiful white dress, her mother by her side as she walks down the aisle. I am standing at the end, my dad behind me and Leo to my left. I am facing her in my white tux which I rented from the same place she rented her dress from. Behind Annabeth were her stepbrothers, each carrying a little box in their hands. Following them were my mom and Paul with Helen and Dr. Chase bringing up the rear. As my mom and her dad reach the front row they separate and sit down on the bleachers on either side.
The first row contains my mother and Paul on one side and Annabeth's father and stepmom on the other. Behind them sit Zeus and Hades. Persephone is standing beside Hera in the middle of the gazebo where I am standing. Behind the two gods are all of our close friends and behind them were the rest of the people from Camp Half Blood and about a quarter of the Roman Legionnaires in their armor. Annabeth arrives by my side and we turn around to face Hera and Persephone as Athena steps to Annabeth's side and takes her place beside Thalia.
Hera reads the marital blessings given by both Poseidon and Athena and asks for their consent again and both of them nod. Hera then says a few words in Ancient Greek, blessing our marriage and then she nods to Persephone who pulls a bouquet out from behind her back and hands it to Annabeth. She takes is in her right hand and I grab it as well in my right hand.
Annabeth's brothers bring up the boxes one at a time, first, the one containing Annabeth's ring, the other containing mine. I place the ring on Annabeth's finger and she does the same to me. Our hands never leave the bouquet between us. As we place the rings on each others fingers Hera speaks aloud in English, "Let these rings symbolize the union of these two heroes, the pride of Olympus and savior of the Gods. Let them be forever faithful to one another and to spend the rest of their days together. Of this I now ask each of you, Annabeth Chase, will you watch over Perseus and keep him safe, honoring him as a wife should, to remain faithful and loyal to him even in death?"
"I so swear it."
"Perseus Jackson, will you watch over Annabeth and keep her safe, honoring her as a husband should, to remain faithful and loyal to her even in death?"
"I so swear it."
"Then now, as the Gods being witness to this union and with our divine approval, I Hera, goddess of marriage, announce you two wed and your union, complete."
As soon as she says this Annabeth and I together throw the bouquet and she wraps her arms around my neck as I place my hands on her waist and pull her into a deep and long kiss. Our hearts beat as one as the noise of everyone's cheering sems to dissipate as we embrace the beginning of our new lives together as a married couple.
We break off the kiss and everyone rushes in, carrying us off towards my car. They set us down and Annabeth and I climb in and drive off to the ballroom that Poseidon reserved for us to go for the party after the wedding was over. Pulling into the parking lot, I find a fotographer standing there, ready to take our photo once we stepped out of our car. I throw my arm around her shoulder and she wraps hers around mine and we make a goofy face at the camera and he takes a picture. Smiling, we enter the ballroom and find balloons all over the floor and the tables all set up for us to begin the party. In the corner was the changing room so that we could change out of these outfitts so as not to ruin them because they are rentals.
Entering the changing room, we help eachother to get undressed. I check my pockets to make sure that I emptied them and then we put on our usual jeans and Camp Half Blood t-shirts. We fold up our wedding outfits and exit the changing room to find that everybody else has now arrived. Annabeth and I take our places at the table at the front of the ballroom and the cake was rolled out. on top were two plastic figures, one was a blonde girl with a small bronze knife and the other was a dark haired boy with a bronze sword. They were standing back to back in fighing stances but their free hands were held and on the sides of the cake were frosting monsters climbing up a cliff. The photographer took a picture of the cake and Annabeth was handed a knife. I took her hand and together we cut the cake. We removed the figures on top and found that the hands interlock but they also separate so that they don't break.
Annabeth and I each get the first slices of cake and we interweave our arms and take a bite, of eachother's cake! Everyone burst out laughing and we decided, with a look, to make them laugh even harder. So, we take our plates and shove the cake into eachother's faces, extracting a good sized laugh from everyone, including ourselves. The photographer snapped a picture of that before we wipe eachother's face off. Once all the icing was out of our face and hair, the music started playing and Annabeth and I went out onto the dace floor.
"Try not to step on my toes this time Seaweed Brain."
"Don't worry Wise Girl, I've been practicing." With that, I spin her around and then set my hand back on her waist as she regains her composure.
"I can see that you have."
I continue to dance with her for a long time and then we decide to sit down and relax. The party is a lot of fun and we thuroughly enjoy it. Once it ends and everyone starts leaving, I ask Annabeth, "Where would you like to go tonight? Camp Half Blood and the new section you are building? My mom's apartment? Rent a hotel room for tonight?"
"I have the perfect place, we can even live there after college."
"Where is it?"
"First, get us to Half Blood Hill."
I drive there as fast as I legally can and in only three hours we are parked at the bottom of the hill.
"Close your eyes Percy."
"Why?"
"Because I am going to surprise you with this special place of mine."
"Okay, my eyes are closed."
"I'm not falling for that old trick." Annabeth says as she lays her hands from behind over my half closed eyes. She leads me through the camp and from what I hear, down to the beach. She spins me around and pulls her hands off of my eyes and says, "Alright, you can look now."
I open my eyes and I am rewarded with the sight of a two story beach house. "Wow, Annabeth, did you design this?"
"It was the first building built for our new town. What should we call the town?"
"Sparta."
"Why?"
"First because the movie 300 is cool, second because we train demigods to survive and kill monsters, sparta trained men to survive and kill monsters and men, also because just a handful of us kept the titans away from Olympus for a while. Long enough for Hades to come in packing reinforcements."
"I like it."
"Come on, lets go inside."
"Okay."
Annabeth and I head inside the house. She gives me a tour of it and she makes our bedroom the last stop. As soon as we enter that room I take her face in my hands and kiss her passionately. Our breath becomes heavy and I reach for the hem of her shirt. Taking a firm hold I break off our kiss long enough to pull it over her head and my shirt followed.
I climb in beside her and she turns to face me. Pressing her body against my chest, I wrap my arms protectively around her and whisper into her ear before we drift off to sleep, "I will never let anything happen to you, I so swear it."
Moments later, we are both sleeping soundly, not caring what tomorrow brings but confident because we have eachother and that is all that matters, we have the beginnings of our family and nothing will take that away from us.
