Hello guys! I AM REALLY REALLY SORRY for not updating for so long! My computer blocked me because I watched Big Bang theory online (I hate the FBI and the Austrian police) and had to wait about 2 weeks to unlock it. Then I was just too depressed to continue because I lost all my files which means that this story was lost too. =( But anyways here you have the next chapter!

The wise and the centaur

Chiron sighed as he rolled around the corner. It was a beautiful night; the buildings with their lights seemed to come from a picture.

He had decided to walk (roll) alone to the hotel where Percy was staying because… well, because he wanted to talk to Percy privately. He needed to know if he was okay and ask for his forgiveness that he had not looked for him.

Chiron turned to his right and saw the hotel. It was quite fancy but not too much. The lights were on and the centaur could hear laughter and music. There had to be a party. Chiron pulled a piece of paper out of his jacket (he had written the address there)and looked if this was the right address. Yes, this was the hotel where the wedding was being hosted.

He decided to wait outside. Percy had to come out sooner or later.

A few minutes passed without a sign of the hero when suddenly Chiron heard quick footsteps. He looked back and saw a small group of demigods stumbling around the corner. They stopped immediately when they noticed their camp director.
He couldn't see their faces at first; the darkness was hiding their faces. That, until one of them stepped forward, the light of the lanterns illuminating her beautiful face.

Piper.

She was the first to recover. She spoke up.

"Chiron!", she said. "We… ah… wanted to-"
"You followed me", he interrupted, a light smile on his face. "Why?".
Now he could see the other campers. Rachel was there, clearly annoyed. The Stolls and Katie were also there, together with Jason and Leo. The group was staring ashamed at the ground, avoiding Chiron's piercing eyes.
Rachel was the one who answered.
She sighed frustrated. "I was told were the Lost One was", she said. Chiron understood immediately, but the others did too. More or less.
Katie frowned.
"The Lost One? Do you mean Percy?".
The Oracle stomped with one foot.
"It's not fair!", she said. "I was first! I didn't do anything!"
"That's true, Rachel", Chiron said. "We all did nothing". The demigods looked a little confused.

Maybe it's for the better, the centaur thought. There was no way that they saw a connection between Percy's sudden disappearance and the moment when they left him alone in the throne room.

Therefore he decided to change the subject before they could connect the events.

"I am waiting for Percy to come out", he said.
A surprised whisper ran through the group.
"Percy? Jackson Percy?", Jason asked.
"Yes.".
"The Percy, who fought against Mars and won? The Percy, who saved the world when Kronos rose?".
"Yes, Jason", Chiron said patiently. Suddenly he pointed at the hotel-entrance. "The Percy Jackson"., he said, as a man with dark hair stepped out of the building and stood near the entrance.

The demigods, Rachel and Chiron could only stay there. Their eyes were wide. No one had seen the hero of Olympus since his disappearance (except for Nico but they had no idea that he had found Percy).

"It's him!", Rachel whispered.
One of the demigods – Chiron didn't turn to see it – shushed her. They were watching him like a predator watches his pray: afraid that it might run away and disappear.

Chiron moved a little, excited to see and talk to his favorite demigod again, when suddenly something moved between the shadows. Percy, who had been staring at the dark sky, looked at the spot, where the noise had come from. His eyebrows were furrowed. He was trying to recognize the thing that had moved. Suddenly he made a step back. The shock and something else, which the centaur couldn't identify from the distance, was evident in his face.

Suddenly a soft, female voice sounded. The word wasn't loud, but Chiron heard it as a scream in the middle of the night.

"Percy".

The eyes of the named one widened. In shock or fear the centaur couldn't tell. Maybe it was both. But Chiron – and Rachel and the other demigods – recognized the voice. Percy had not forgotten the voice either. He made a step forward.

"A- Annabeth?"

There was a short, uncomfortable silence, where the two demigods stared at each other. Percy ran a hand through his hair. She was even more beautiful than in his memories. The pain of those memories was taking his breath away.

Annabeth made a step forward. Her grey eyes were red and puffy. She must have been crying. But he could still see a hopeful glimmer in them. She looked down and swallowed. Her body was shaking slightly, but still noticeable. Percy felt the urge to hold her in his arms. Right now he could forgive her everything. But would it be fair? Didn't she deserve a little pain too?

All pain was forgotten. He made a step forward. Annabeth looked up and their eyes met, just like they used to do before he chose the exile.

Damn, he wanted to kiss her so badly. But it would be wrong.

They were now face to face. Percy touched her right hand. Annabeth flinched at the touch, but let him stroke her arm. He stopped as he got to her neck. Then she put a hand on his cheek and looked down. Percy put his hands on her cheeks, moving her face to look at him. He carefully wiped the tears from her face. He sighed and leaned his forehead against hers. He closed his eyes.

"Oh Annabeth-", he whispered, suddenly aware of the pain in his chest.
The woman took a shaky breath. "I-I'm so sorry, P-Percy", she cried. "I'm s-so sorry that I di-did this t-to you". Annabeth was grabbing his shirt. Percy shushed her and she stopped. He looked at her and wiped a tear from her face. He leaned down – hesitated and then he pressed his lips on hers.

It was a light kiss, not long at all, but it meant more than the underwater-kiss to Percy.

Why was he kissing her? He shouldn't be doing that! He should… he should… Percy stopped the kiss. He stumbled back and ran nervously a hand through his hair. He shook his head.

"I'm sorry-", Annabeth started to say.
"No!", he said and she flinched at his tone. He shook his head. "I mean I shouldn't be doing – I.. uhm..". He closed his mouth and took a deep breath and shook his head again and started to walk up and down the place. Annabeth watched him for a moment. The tears were still flowing.

"It's okay", she whispered. Percy stopped walking and looked at her intently. She wiped the tears of her cheeks and took a shaky breath. She was staring at her shoes now. "I- I am very sorry that I left you, Percy". She suppressed a sob. "I never stopped thinking about you – about what might have been if I just-".

Percy was standing now before her. He put a hand under her chin and motioned her to look up. They saw each other in the eye.

Percy knew what his father, June and Nico would do if they were him. They wouldn't forgive her. Poseidon would probably turn her into plankton and throw her to the whales. If he was in a bad humor then he would probably just kill her using his trident. June would blast her until there was only dust and Nico – well, he would probably convince his father to send her to … Tartarus? He wouldn't, would he?

But he was not his father, nor June. And he wasn't Nico. And the way she looked at him, the way she spoke, convinced him that she was truly sorry to have betrayed him. How could he not forgive her?

Suddenly he realized how much he had missed her. He became aware that he hadn't stopped loving her. Despite everything. It seemed that the Fates did want to see them together after all.

He caressed her cheek. His lips brushed hers. He forced her to look at him.

"I forgive you", he said quietly. And after a short pause he added: "Annabeth".
A light smile covered her face and she looked down again. She was still shaking. But Percy put his arms around her waist and hugged her. He stroked her back, trying to calm her down, but Annabeth was crying again.
"I'm so sorry", she said again.
Percy shushed her. "It's okay, Annabeth", he said smiling. He let her go and made a step back to look at her better.
"No! it's not!", she replied. She shook her head. "I fulfilled my dream of becoming an architect". She swallowed, suddenly unsure.
He motioned her to go on. He had a vague idea what she was about to say – actually it was more hoping, but he wanted to hear her say it.
"But?".
Annabeth looked at the ground again.
"But I wasn't as happy as I hoped".
"Why was that, Annabeth?", he asked.
"I-". She took a deep breath. "You weren't there Percy. I realized that I wanted to be with you more than that".
Percy nodded and grinned. His grin became wider when she glared at him.
"Stop grinning like an idiot", she mumbled embarrassed.
He laughed and hugged her again. But when they separated he kissed her again but this time it was a little more passionate. She smiled against his lips.

"How did you know that I was here?", Percy asked.
"I got your letter", she answered. He raised an eyebrow.
"What letter?".
"You don't know? Hermes gave it to me today. When I read it I went – ran to the Big House to confess everything to Chiron, but he wasn't there. When I looked for a note I saw the invitation for a…". She sighed. "Rose Jackson".
Percy nodded. He understood.
"There was the address of the hotel, where the wedding was – you know- so… I took a car and drove out here".
He nodded again.
"Do you really have a daughter?", she asked.
Percy nodded.
"Yes".
"Oh.", she said. Annabeth glanced down and then again at him. "And how- how old is she?".
"Nine", he answered.
Annabeth nodded. The hero grabbed her hand and gently squeezed her hand.
"Her name's Rose as you probably know. She was born the 20th of May and her mother is Nike". He watched her closely as he told her. "They never had any contact", he said then. "Not that I know off". He was hinting her that she might become a part of the family, that just because Nike was Rose's mother didn't mean that his daughter loved her like one.
Annabeth nodded again. She looked at him and smiled.

Percy heard footsteps behind him. When he turned around, he saw Rebecca, Evanna's bridesmaid (and maybe Nico's future girlfriend).

"Percy!", she said. "Evanna is about to throw the flowers!". Then she rushed back without waiting for an answer.

He looked at Annabeth. He shrugged.

"Do you want to meet Rose? And the others?", he asked.
"No, I wouldn't want to be i-"
"You won't be in anyone's way, Annabeth", he interrupted her. "Please. I'm sure Evanna will love you". He wasn't lying. He believed that the bride could even love Octavian in that specific moment.
She eyed him. He knew that she was calculating everything. But she smiled and nodded.
"Fine", she said happily. She ran a hand over her eyes, which were still red and puffy. "Fine. But I need to go to the bathroom. I can't look like this when everyone is wearing make-up".
Percy smiled. He held the door open for her and watched her go to the left, where the toilets were. But before he could follow, a voice stopped him. But this time the voice was male.

He turned around surprised at the sudden interruption. For a moment he feared that the other gods found him, but he only saw his old teacher crossing the street with his wheelchair. Chiron was beaming. The centaur stopped right before him.

"Percy", he said smiling.
"Chiron!", Percy said surprised but not less happier.
"My boy! I am so happy to see you alive!".
The demigod grinned.
"Yes, I'm very happy to".
"And what you did, Percy-", the old centaur said more serious now. "- was very admirable. Not everyone would be capable of that".
Percy was a little confused.
"Do you mean that I've raised up a child on my own or -"
"I meant the thing with Annabeth", Chiron said. "I don't know the details, but I think she had something to do with your disappearance. Am I right?".
He nodded slowly. "Did you hear everything or-?".
Chiron waved with a hand and laughed.
"No", he said. "Just the important things".
"Oh".
"But seriously- not every hero would have been able to do what you just did."
Percy didn't know what to reply so he remained silent.

They fell in a comfortable silence. Then-

"Well, my boy", Chiron started. "It's time for me to go back".
"I know, Chiron".
The centaur took the hero's hand.
"Percy", he said. "I'm not trying to convince you to go back to camp because I know you don't want to, but if there is any problem, don't hesitate to call me."
"I won't forget, sir".
He smiled.
"I'm so happy, Percy, that you have made it so far. I don't know anybody who deserves it more than you".
Percy smiled. "Thank you, sir".
"Good bye, son".
"Good bye. And have a nice drive!"
"Oh! Don't worry! With seven demigods and one annoyed Oracle- what could possibly go wrong?".
They both laughed and Percy didn't turn until his old teacher disappeared into the shadows of the night.

He sighed and before anyone could come up with the idea of talking to him, he opened the glass door of the hotel and walked back to the party. He walked up to Annabeth, who was waiting for him outside the ballroom. He could see in her eyes that she was nervous, but he squeezed her hand and gave her an encouraging smile. They wouldn't kill her. Well, at least not the regular people.

Wow! This was very difficult to write, but I think it's good. I didn't have the time to read it again (it's 22.53 and I'm tired of today's activities like swimming and walk in vienna for 3 hours) so ignore the grammar mistakes. I will also write an Epilogue because I feel that this story is not completely over yet.

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