Chapter 18

The day was slow. To be fair, most days were slow. It wasn't like there was a booming need for the herbal remedies that were sold in the store. Some people bought them religiously, but most saw them as a luxury they didn't bother buying unless they really thought it would help. Even less people were interested in the flutes. So generally Grover was stuck sitting behind the counter either bored out of his mind, whittling, or playing music. Today he didn't really want to play, and was out of materials, so boredom it was.

So when someone walked in, Grover was glad to have something to do. When he saw who it was he couldn't help but grin "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be up at the castle at this time of day?"

"Usually I would be," Annabeth agreed, smiling at him as she walked over to the counter "But my step-mother wasn't feeling well so I had to stay home to look after the boys. Except then she sent me here to get things to try and help her feel better and run some errands, so I guess she's well enough to watch them. That or they're just running wild right now."

"Either way, I'm glad that you came in. I'm bored out of my mind here and I'm dying for anything to do," Grover said, grinning at her as he took the list of supplies she handed him "Though I take it you need to just get the supplies and leave? No time to just sit and talk and relieve me of some of my boredom?"

"Well- I probably shouldn't just hang around and chat," Annabeth agreed, though she was smirking a bit as she did so "But if you just happen to take forever to get the things I need, that's hardly on me, is it?"

"You got it." The response just made his grin more "So, how's life? It's been a long time since I last saw you."

He understood why, and didn't blame Annabeth for it in the slightest. His father was giving him more responsibility with the store, and she was going to the castle pretty much every day. There just wasn't a lot of time anymore. All of them seemed so much busier than they had even just a year before. Especially the last few months.

"Same as always," Annabeth replied, laughing a bit as she looked over at him "Going to work with my dad regularly, dealing with my brother's when I'm not there. You?"

"Finding plants, making flutes, sitting here bored," Grover laughed as well, and starting to grab a few things off the shelves "I saw Percy the other day. He came in here with the princess."

"Good, he misses you," Annabeth leaned against the counter as she looked over at Grover, who was in the middle of "accidentally" incorrectly measuring something so he would have to start over.

"Do you get to see him a lot at the castle?" Grover asked, glancing up at her for a moment. He missed Percy too, but knew there was only so many times he could see him. That was just part of the deal.

"Yes actually," Annabeth smiled a bit more as she thought about it "He told my dad he needed extra help with his history lessons, so now I get to go help him pretty much everyday. I actually think I see him more now than I did before all of this."

"I'm sure he loves that. Probably making this whole thing worth it for him by itself," Grover teased.

"I'm pretty sure he'd still rather be here with his mom over getting to see me everyday," Annabeth replied, rolling her eyes.

"I wouldn't be so sure," Grover smirked a bit and raised an eyebrow at her, though he was also serious about the comment "He was willing to do pretty much anything to spend time with you. Even if it meant sneaking around and risking getting in trouble."

Despite the fact that more often then not the three of them had ended up finding themselves in trouble, Percy actually tended to do his best to avoid it. One of the few exceptions was regularly sneaking out at night to be able to spend time with Annabeth, something he was still doing now even with the higher stakes.

"Grover," Annabeth sighed, and Grover knew that she knew exactly what he was thinking. She was pretty clever when it came to things like that "Of course we like spending time together. We're friends."

"Right, that's all," Grover rolled his eyes, before intentionally cutting one of the plants to short and having to start over.

"It is," Annabeth sighed, and now Grover looked up, not even pretending to work on the ingredients. He could hear how serious her voice was, and wanted to give her his full attention. "Maybe before, but now? We can't. You said it before, he came in with the princess. The princess he's supposed to marry."

"He doesn't love her, it's obvious," Grover shrugged a bit, trying to catch Annabeth's eye. Despite his efforts, she wouldn't look at him.

"It doesn't matter. Even if he doesn't he still needs to marry her. Or if she backs out the next princess the king finds for him," Annabeth still wasn't really looking at him as she spoke "Just let it go."

For a moment Grover just looked at her, before sighing and doing as she said. Just murmuring "I'm sorry," before turning back to finish the rest of the supplies. A moment later he was setting them on the counter for her.

"Thank you," Annabeth finally looked over at him, smiling as she handed him some coins "Sorry for bringing down the mood so fast."

"Not your fault, I shouldn't have pushed," Grover smiled a bit in return and shrugged "I guess you have to go now?"

"I really should," Annabeth agreed, sighing as she gathered up the stuff "If I stall much longer the twins might burn down the house."

"Alright," Grover hesitated for a moment before adding "If you ever get free time it would be nice to be able to actually spend time with you. No pressure, just, if you find time."

"I'd like that," Annabeth agreed, smiling at him for a moment "I'll see you soon Grover, I promise."

Grover just nodded, watching her go, before sighing as he sat back in his chair again. Absentmindedly he started to fiddle with the pipe he kept behind the counter. A moment later a simple tune filled the empty shop.