Nuptials
(or, the Epilogue)
"The true triumph of reason is that it enables us to get along with those who do not possess it."
-Voltaire.
She isn't surprised when she receives the little cream envelope, gilt-edged and bearing their invitation in thin, elegant black letters.
'Annabeth Chase and Perseus Jackson are proud to announce their engagement … .'
It's all her, the typeset, the card, the spray of flowers, and nothing of him.
She assumes he'd wanted nothing to do with the invites, or, he couldn't have been bothered.
The corners of her mouth lift in a rare (and beatific, Apollo would say) smile, because her ace came through, like she knew it would.
***
"I didn't think you'd come," her daughter looks up at her, gray eyes wide and shining and grateful. "Thank you, Mom."
He stands by her, black-sleeved arm across her bare shoulders, tan face (so like his father's) vibrant and open and bearing an 'I'm the luckiest man in the world' expression.
He is, but not for the reasons he knows.
Her daughter elbows her fiancé in the ribs, and she has to bite back a smile at the slightly awkward, discomfited look he turns on her.
"I'm – I'm obliged to you, Lady Athena," he tells her. "I thought you wouldn't let this – us – happen -"
"My dear Perseus," (it's irresistible), "I didn't just let this happen. I made it happen."
His jaw drops. "Made it happen?" His voice is strangled, and his eyes narrow. "You -" He swallows. "I – I mean no disrespect, Lady Athena – but you have opposed us every step of the way -"
She laughs, then – sets down her wineglass, wraps an arm around her waist, and laughs – till she's bent double. Annabeth stares at her, a little furrow between her eyebrows – and Percy is – blank.
She knows he isn't the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree … but the look on his face makes her laugh harder.
"Wise Girl," Jackson says, "If I didn't know better, I'd say the All-Knowing Athena's high on something …"
Annabeth ignores him. "Mother, I don't understand."
It isn't often she gets a chance to explain the genius behind her plans, so she takes this one.
***
"Each player must accept the cards life deals him or her: but once they are in hand, he or she alone must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game."
Voltaire
Fin.
A/N: Because, Athena was always so much more than a controlling parent. *smiles* Also, the wonderful quotes from Voltaire ... are purely Erin's doing. She's brilliant. Leave your thoughts!
Also, I apologize for the multiple updates some of you might have gotten … the formatting was giving me a headache … so I kind of … split what was meant to be a one-shot into four chapters … my apologies!