Chapter seven – On the road again
There's nothing like speeding along the highway in a European death-trap with a gorgeous blonde high on architecture at the wheel to really say 'Welcome to Greece!' The honeymoon had been a total success so far. No big fights (because who am I to argue with Athens' number one fan? She probably knows all the best places to eat/shop/sightsee anyway), no big problems (did you know they give you a bigger room if you just got married? Annabeth did) and no big regrets. Except maybe letting Mrs. Jackson drive.
"OK, so..." she began, levering herself on one knee to look behind her, "does the 60 on the sign back there mean miles-per-hour or minutes we've been driving?"
"Um, first of all, how would a sign know how long we've been driving? Second, I would really appreciate it if you sat down while driving!"
"Bossy," she mumbled, rolling her eyes and sitting back down.
"That's Mr. Bossy-Jackson to you, madam. Also, I don't know if you knew this but seventy-five miles-per-hour is actually both above sixty and illegal. Ain't that a kicker?!"
"What are you so worried about?" she asked, totally not looking at the road. "It's not like you're gonna die." I snorted.
"Wanna bet? Five bucks say this car flips over and the stick shift impales me in the back." Now it was her turn to laugh. My gods, I loved that sound. "Plus, you could die. That would suck a lot," I reminded her.
"Honeymoon gone wrong. I can see the headlines now." Annabeth grabbed her latte from the cupholder while attempting to steer with her left elbow. "If only we had the kids to protect us, huh?" She smiled and winked at me and I returned the gesture, thinking back to the night of our wedding...
As our song ended (no prizes for guessing which one), Annabeth and I made our way back to the top table. Not that we didn't enjoy swirling on a dance floor built for a hundred or so less people than were occupying it, but we're not much for dancing.
"Are you ready Mrs. Jackson?" I asked cockily.
"Little late now, isn't it?" she asked. "We're pretty much married."
"Yes, according to what I've heard the hard part is truly over," I complained sarcastically. She rolled her eyes.
"Shut up," she whispered, leaning in for a kiss. I closed my eyes, but before we could get to the good part we were jarred by an interrupting cough.
"If you two are quite finished?" Athena's look was somewhere between irate and amused, as if she couldn't make up her mind. Poseidon stood beside her, grinning messily. "Your immortal parents have taken the time to think up a suitable gift for this... unusual if well-catered event. Should you choose to accept these bestows, the time to do such would be now," she finished with a cold smile.
"Do you have to talk like that? Seriously? All the time? What, do you have some sort of holier-than-thou complex?" asked Poseidon. Not wanting to seem disrespectful or cause World War 4, I asked Athena 'to which gifts the lady refereth to?' (Oh yeah, I can do brainy!)
After staring distastefully at my face for a while, she said "I assume you two will reproduce?" Now I know where Annabeth gets her talent for making me blush. Luckily, she came to my rescue.
"We hadn't discussed it." The goddess gave a mirthless laugh.
"Well, bearing in mind that we are in close league with the fates whom determine the outcome of the world, the... sea god and I have a proposition. Any child you two should sire would be protected by the strongest barriers knowledge and the ocean can uphold, valid within one hundred yards, all surrounding persons included. Do you accept this offer?"
I looked to Annabeth then nodded slowly.
"Excellent!" she smiled again, and this time she seemed genuinely pleased.
"Percy," acknowledged my father, and together they walked up to the peak of the hill, before disappearing from sight.
Four days later, I still couldn't work out why we'd said yes. Probably to avoid angering anymore undying in-laws than necessary. At least that's what I told myself. Until now. I turned to my beautiful bride who was frowning sweetly with the effort of not driving like a maniac. She saw me looking and smiled.
"What?" she asked. "What are you thinking?"
"Just that..." What to say next? I think I might want kids? I want to go back to the hotel and watch Barney the dinosaur? Pre-natal vitamins are wonderful for your hair and nails? "I love you," I filled in weakly. "Marry me?"
"Little late now, isn't it?" she asked and we smiled at each other as we drove beneath the famous olive trees of Athens. Annabeth blinked once, slowly, and I kissed her gently on the lips.
"Eyes on the road," I teased, and she bumped me with her shoulder.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, don't die. I gotcha," and with a whoop, we were off again, pushing eighty for miles to go.
