AN- This chapter is basically just a 'filler' since it gives me an excuse to write about some of my favorite Percy/ Annabeth moments and give the other character's thoughts and opinions… With some scenes you won't recognize from the books because I made them up to fit in the relationship. Heavy spoilers for all of the entire Percy Jackson series/Greek and Roman Gods. It's essentially a 'previously on Percy and Annabeth's relationship' chapter so I own nothing, except a proposal put on mute and some other 'extras'. The dishwashing scene is shown in more detail in the one-shot "Why Percy and Annabeth are Not Allowed to Wash Dishes" and I'm debating if I should elaborate on some of the other made-up moments? I really like writing fluffy one-shots about Percy and Annabeth. I might do a one-shot of the proposal in more detail or their families' reactions to it? I don't know if anyone would want to read any of that, but I've got lots of ideas. Anyway... this chapter is certainly longer than I planned (6000+ words) but I couldn't find a good splitting point.
The first image that lit up the sky was a very dorky-looking kid with dark hair who looked mostly dead. He looked exhausted and terrified and completely overwhelmed. He also seemed slightly confused at not being dead as he opened his eyes and looked around. He's scrawny and weak and definitely not who you'd picture when you thought of a hero. Not at age twelve, anyway. The first thing he saw standing over him was a smirking young blonde girl. She's obviously not impressed. In the field, Apollo cheered for the 'scary blonde girl' as a couple other gods laughed. Athena didn't. The twelve-year-old girl looked partially annoyed yet curious as she shook her head before turning away. He wiped his mouth and scowled, clearly embarrassed by whatever she said. Twenty-one-year-old Annabeth laughed as Percy grinned beside her. There were cheers and lots of laughter at how young the now-married couple looked. "Babies! You guys were babies! Oh my gods!" Piper laughed with delight as the couple flushed at how awkward they looked at twelve during their initial meeting. Everyone else, it seemed, enjoyed the images of the raven-haired boy and the blonde girl.
Athena scowled as she recognized the figures in the next fireworks image. She glared at her rival who was pretending not to notice the mythical snake-haired woman locked in a battle with the preteen demigods. As though it was possible that he couldn't see the moment in the sky. In the grass, Grover and Thalia were laughing as they watched how the two argued with one another and their enemy as they fought Medusa. Firework Percy's eyes were wide, and he was bathed in a shower of gold dust as young Annabeth smiled triumphantly at their victory. "Perseus!" A few campers cheer, half-teasing their friend, before asking Sally if that was why she chose her son's name. The mortal woman just laughed, shaking her head. But she was smiling proudly at her boy.
The next scene shown was very simple: Annabeth and Percy clinging to one another in a giant net as metallic spiders surrounded them. She was screaming; just frozen in place. He also looked terrified, albeit for a different reason. Suddenly, all you could see was water as the scene was washed away. Nearly all of the gods were laughing as they remembered Aphrodite's 'little movie' though at the time, most gods claimed to have forgotten it when Poseidon and Athena found out about the show and questioned the others.
Once the water washed away the 'Thrill Ride of Love', the remaining fireworks image was difficult to see. In the faded darkness, a much-younger Grover was talking quietly to a caged zebra. One could see Annabeth was asleep; with her head on Percy's shoulder as he slept on, sitting up against the wall. A half-eaten pack of Oreos was laying open on Percy's lap. As he watched the memory, the Best Man smirked at the sky pictures, seeing his much-younger best friend drooling on Annabeth's hair. But now, almost ten years later, Annabeth loved to point out that he still drools in his sleep and Percy would just laugh whenever she brings it up. The scene of them asleep in one another's arms with Percy drooling would later become a familiar scene as they grew, not that anyone realized it at the time.
More flashes of brief sword fighting scenes to show the progression of time. They trained together, each trying to prove their skills. Each trying to best one another. The blonde was wearing a Grecian dress and suddenly Percy was standing right beside her, dazed, as guinea pigs fled from cages. Young Annabeth tackled him into a hug before they both realized what happened and the two quickly separated. The two young teens are clearly embarrassed as their cheeks flushed as they look around the room. "How'd you know about that?!" Percy demands, seeing Leo cackling. "Nobody was there!"
"Oh my siblings and I have our ways" he said mysteriously before saluting Piper's mom who squealed with delight. Most of her children were cooing over the scenes as well.
But everyone's attention was soon grabbed by Connor yelling "Percy's trying to drown Annabeth!" Sure enough, the blonde was bound by ropes as waves crashed around her. Even Poseidon winced, seeing the godling pair almost thrown against some very sharp rocks. The girl was kicking and thrashing, screaming and crying, as Percy tried holding on to her. He was straining, using every bit of his water-control; trying desperately to keep them both afloat against the tides. But eventually he let the waves crash over them; letting the water overwhelm them both in an air bubble. Suddenly, she just buried her face in his arms. Percy looked like he was trying both to comfort her and like he wanted to get as far away from her as possible while not letting her go.
"So that's what happened at the bottom of Siren Bay…" Poseidon noted, highly amused, as both bride and groom turned various shades of red.
"You… heard… about that?" Percy asked quietly, avoiding his father's gaze as Poseidon laughed. Cori and Logan and a couple of his other half-siblings were snickering and didn't try hiding their laughter at the oldest son's conversation with Dad. Busted. They ignored the look from Percy and continued their mocking. They may only share one parent, but they're siblings just the same.
"It was in the sea, was it not? … though I suppose the rumors were much worse than what actual transpired" the sea god considered thoughtfully. "Those fish certainly had much to share." He noticed Percy frown ever so slightly as the Olympian heartily laughed. But much like the sea can be calmed suddenly; just the lightest kiss from Annabeth seemed to quell Percy's annoyances. He grinned instead, holding her hand.
The couple smiled, recognizing Camp in the next image. "Me! Me! I see Me!" Tyson shouts as campers gleefully point out themselves or their siblings. Ella smiled proudly, kissing him. Tyson's chest is shown and standing beside him, coming barely up to his armpit, is a young Malcolm Pace. Percy and Annabeth are next to him and all four are wearing golden laurels atop their heads. Below, Piper smiled. She had found a box of old pictures in the Big House Attic full of moments from Percy and Annabeth's adventures. She had helped Leo and his siblings sort through the pictures; picking the best ones to turn into fireworks. This had been one she loved as soon as she saw it: the two sons of Poseidon and the son and daughter of Athena, all smiling and had their arms thrown around one another because they had just won the reinstated Chariot Races. The daughter of Aphrodite smiled, finally being able to actually witness these moments she'd heard so much about. The picture scenes brought to life. Muffled cheering and Annabeth kisses Percy's cheek in the sky. Teenage Malcolm smirks at his younger sister as the cheering gets louder. The viewing crowd underneath the sky laughs and cheers as the bride kisses Percy's cheek once again, but this time he just wraps an arm around her before kissing her hair.
The passage of time is shown with more swordfights and one short scene, Percy and Annabeth can only assume was brought into the fireworks show by either a certain daughter of Zeus or their favorite Satyr. Grover, Percy, Annabeth, and Thalia are in Sally's apartment watching movies. Annabeth and Percy are both asleep on the couch, leaning towards one another, and Grover and Thalia laugh. They're too busy throwing popcorn, chips, and Cheetos at their sleeping best friends to notice Sally's smile at the group getting the chance to hang out like normal kids. All of the campers cheer loudly for these mortal family moments because they know how far and few in-between those times can be as demigods.
The scene shifts again, Percy and Annabeth dancing together in some school gym. Both look incredibly awkward and they're studying their feet. Someone in the audience whistles as everyone sees them blushing. Sparklers in the sky as Annabeth winces slightly when Percy steps on her toes. They spin and suddenly, the background has changed by the time they complete the spin. They're wearing different clothes as they slow dance. This time, they both have grey streaks in their hair and all the gods recognize Olympus. Both seem a bit more confident and much less unsure than seconds before. Artemis smiles proudly at the two heroes who held up the sky. "You've become a much better dancer since then, Seaweed Brain" Annabeth laughed, teasing her husband "At least today you didn't step on my toes." He just laughs.
Quick flashes of different moments at Camp show how the two have aged. Until it shows Percy and Annabeth, teenagers now, alone in a cabin. Maps and papers are spread around them. He hugs her and all of the campers mockingly tease the pair when the cabin door opens. "Ohhhhhhhhhhh! Someone's in trouble!" Like they're all still kids instead of grown adults. Nervously, the bride and groom glance towards the centaur though there's nothing he can do anyway. Not about that moment, anyway. They barely even remember this forbidden moment. A younger Malcolm walks in and notices the pair alone. Briefly he scoffs and smirks before clearing his throat to make his presence known. At the sound, both jump apart and stare at him. Nobody can hear what is said but he rolls his eyes and shakes his head at his younger sister. He nodded towards the maps and said something to cause the 'sea-spawn' to turn red. But Piper notices a slight smile on Firework Mal's lips as he quickly leaves again. 'Just looking at maps' has become a sort of teasing by the oldest Athenian demigod to the pair in the time since this first moment. Especially since they began living together in San Francisco.
"How many times have you walked in on them, Mal?" Travis teased as the couple and son of Athena both look uncomfortable, especially because Athena is watching the three critically.
"That was the first" he said quickly as the Stoll protests that wasn't what he meant. Of course, Malcolm knew what he meant but he also knew better than to answer, especially with Mom listening in.
Suddenly a large boom and crackling fireworks draws everyone's attention back to the sky. The sky seems like it's bubbling and going to explode. The Firework Annabeth and Percy are surrounded by smoke and fire. They look like they are in the middle of an argument and Annabeth quickly looks around. Suddenly she brings her lips to his as scattered gasps are heard throughout the watching crowd. Firework Percy is frozen, just dazed. His lips remain half-open. He looks like his brain is melting and he just smiles like the happiest guy about to be boiled alive. He could stay in that moment forever, even as the world was burning all around them. But the girl knows he has to go. To bring him back down to Earth, Annabeth places her palms on his chest and lightly pushes. She looks absolutely terrified as she disappears. Calypso recognized those about-to-be-singed-clothes as the ones Percy wore as he first arrived on Ogygia and she finally understood what caused him to land on her island. As they see the young man tumbling off of the cliff, campers turn to Annabeth. A thousand questions because nobody knew about that kiss. "Was the kiss really that bad?" "You pushed him off of a cliff!" "A volcano!" "Annabeth!"
"Mount St Helens, actually" she answers simply with a look in her eyes, just daring anyone to say anything else. Percy chuckled to her before seeing both Connor and Travis each holding up a bright shiny apple. His smile quickly disappeared. Poseidon had a realization of a long-ago conversation he had with Percy and at the time, it annoyed the god how Percy didn't realize he'd awoken Typhon. Though now, Poseidon could see why the teen's focus had been elsewhere.
"Helen, you say?" Travis asks as his brother smirks, glancing towards the mortal woman with the same name sitting with her professor husband. But the two Stolls nod to one another, forgetting about the bride's stepmother for the sake of their questions. "You know… that sounds familiar… a wedding where all the gods and goddesses attended, right? Didn't that end in war?"
"You're right, Brother dear! The last wedding where all the gods attended, did in fact end in war… over fruit" Connor nodded with an evil grin. Hermes glances towards them but remains silent; he knows better than to interfere. Percy's face falls as he and Annabeth both give them 'don't you dare' looks. The campers, both Roman and Greek, knew all about that war and that Greek woman's affinity for apples.
"Please? Do not." The bride begged the brothers, but they didn't seem to pay her any mind. "Don't…"
"Hey, Hera! Aphrodite? Athenaaaaa!" The brothers call. They'd been planning this 'little experiment' since it was announced that every single God would be in attendance. The three goddesses glare at the apples being held up high. But before another word can be said, both brothers each take a huge bite of apple before laughing "What? You have to have snacks to keep up your energy… Back to the fireworks show! Yo, Leo! What's next?" Everyone lets out a quiet sigh of relief as Chiron gives both men firm looks that they attempt to ignore. They will gladly do extra chores because this moment had been worth it. But Leo's siblings react first, before he even gets a chance. They all insisted that the show include certain scenes that Leo had no idea about originally until Piper found that old photo box.
"Beckendorf!" They recognize those burly muscles and Percy smiled, glad to see his friend immortalized even if it is just for a firework show. The crowd sees him holding hands with Silena and she's playing coy, just glancing towards him with a smile. For now, their relationship is a secret though he wants to tell everyone tonight as soon as she'll allow him to. But she's nodding slightly towards the 'younger kids' trailing slowly behind the pair. He rolled his eyes as the pretty girl laughed, shaking her head. He knows his girlfriend and figures her 'matchmaking' wouldn't be appreciated as much as she figured they needed her help. Percy and Annabeth are barely inches apart though it is out of necessity. He's barefoot and it's obvious he got badly burned by something, based on how he's leaning on Annabeth. Below, Piper and Hazel recognize the look on young Annabeth's face before the boy does. Effortlessly the young blonde draws her knife, pointing it at his throat. Firework Percy flinches and stares at her, with a look of utter betrayal and confusion. Silena throws her head back and laughs as a few of Annabeth's siblings ambush Beckendorf and Percy. The older teen goes willingly but Percy's trying to object. Everyone can see Annabeth ask him something before she winks and runs off. In the field, Annabeth lays her head against Percy's shoulder. He presses a kiss to her forehead amidst the darkness.
"Still think it was some elaborate ploy to ask you to the fireworks?" Annabeth teased before Percy smiled again. He kissed her temple and squeezed her hand. "Wonder what this year's show will be…. too bad we'll be in Greece" she adds as he laughs. Now and forever, they've got a permanent date for the Fourth of July fireworks.
The next image is somber and intense. The gods silently watch as their children light up the sky. It's one thing to have experienced the war as a god, but to see it through their children's eyes? They saw their children fighting in their parents' war. None of them asked for this and yet they were all thrust into battle. Bruised and bloody, terrified and angry. Far too young to be this prepared to die. But it's all come down to this. The war to end all wars. To end the world. They're all just children. But that doesn't matter today. Today they're soldiers, they're warriors, they're defenders, they're survivors. They're heroes. The older demigods remember these moments, the younger ones have heard these stories for years. Manhattan in war. Camp at risk. Home is under attack. Everything that they know. Percy had never looked fiercer as he moved effortlessly with Riptide. He's pissed and worried about everyone fighting alongside him. His city. He looks exhausted and so does Annabeth. He's a one-man army because of that blessing or curse (depending on your viewpoint) of Achilles and everyone knows to get out of his way.
Suddenly, the blonde moves behind the son of Poseidon and he turns, just enough to see her cry out. Her face pales as she goes down, clutching her arm. It's like something snaps inside him as Percy slashes. It's that expression the Romans all recognize from his time as Praetor: the caged wolf is ready to attack and nothing can stop him. His gaze crueler than any monster in that moment. "NO ONE TOUCHES HER!" He roared, moving to defend her from everything and everyone. Even the enemies retreat, even if just for a moment. As the scenes shift again, showing snippets of the various battles, everyone is silently watching themselves or their siblings or their fallen friends. The gods can't take their eyes off the sky while most of the demigods don't need to watch the sky to see these memories. The same memories they all knew they could never forget. No matter how hard they tried and how desperate they were to have everything be okay again.
Four pairs of eyes are locked, not on the sky, but on the newlyweds. Frederick and Helen Chase, and their twin boys. Next to them, Paul squeezed Sally's hand as her eyes are tightly closed. She remembered this and like most of the demigods; she didn't want to relive it. She remembered the fear and Sally wished she could forget those moments. Piper flinched, seeing the dying Silena surrounded by Clarisse and both cabins. You stupid Aphrodite girl Clarisse repeats from her spot in the grass. Bobby and Matthew study their sister as the sky lights up showing various different battles before they see a hotel room and Annabeth so close to death as war rages outside. They see Annabeth gently place her hand on his back as his eyelids flutter and he is trying to act like it felt like he was not being electrocuted by her fingertips. He is holding her other hand tightly and she studied him with a weak smile. "You were sixteen…" Matthew whispers, seeing her absentmindedly touch the scar on her arm.
"Yep." Annabeth said softly.
"We're sixteen." Bobby adds in quiet realization of everything they never really knew about their sister.
"Yep," Annabeth repeats, her voice now wavering.
"You almost died…" they both breathe as they look at their sister as though that green scar on her arm would come back with a vengeance right in front of them. As though it could take her away for real this time. They had no idea about any of this; they'd been eleven at the time. But the war snippets showed demigods younger than they were fighting to protect everything. They didn't want to think about it. They didn't want to think about any of the stuff the demigods kept secret. "Annabeth, you almost died…"
"Yep…" she nods as Percy squeezes her hand tightly. She smiles at him, just glad to have overcome the moments shown in the sky. She looked at her husband before gazing up towards the sky. She sees him at sixteen, standing in front of all of the Gods, but he's focused only on her, instead of the gods studying him. In hindsight it probably wasn't his best move, but he didn't care. Annabeth sees him shake his head and she remembered how that No had been the most incredible, most perfect word in the English language at that moment. Despite what Aphrodite (and likely her children) will tell you, he didn't give up immortality or godhood just for her, but Annabeth hardly cared. All of the gods were staring at him in bewilderment but the smile on sixteen-year-old Annabeth's face was the only thing the Hero of Olympus cared about. "But we didn't."
Of course, that wasn't where their story ends, and it wasn't where the show ended either. The next scene is Percy and Annabeth laughing and holding hands as they're thrown into the canoe lake. He kisses her as an air bubble forms around them, much like he did hours ago during their First Kiss. Young versions of Clarisse, Connor, Travis, Katie, Grover, Tyson and everyone else standing on the water's edge are all just laughing as they wait. They're all just happy to be alive after that day's events.
"And that is why they had their first kiss in the Lake during the wedding!" Chiron announced to the watching crowd, knowing the Romans and the gods still deserved some sort of explanation for what transpired earlier. "To celebrate our victory, our survival and the beginning of Percy and Annabeth!"
The next fireworks images are quick, a flash of the couple dressed up in front of the Eiffel Tower and they smile towards a quiet Hermes, their silent thanks received just a small nod. He had never told anyone about the staff, and he was glad they hadn't either. Bobby and Matthew squint suspiciously demanding to know when the two went to Paris but the two just shrug and make up some excuse that the Chase twins don't buy for a minute. Scenes of the couple sword-fighting and spending time with Sally and Paul. Paul laughed, glad the Hephaestus cabin included him trying to teach them to drive and the watching crowd laughs as teenage Annabeth grins like a madwoman as she slams the Prius into a large multi-headed monster as Paul looks absolutely terrified, yelling to brake and Percy just looks momentarily stunned before he laughs.
Suddenly, Leo perked up from his spot in the grass. Finally, the show is at his memories of the couple. He didn't have to ask anyone for help or what they were like anymore because he lived it. This was Leo's time to shine. The Romans cheer because for once they're part of the Greek story too.
They recognize Camp Jupiter. Their dark-haired praetor is wearing his purple toga and he looks towards the tiny crowd of Greeks. His sea green eyes lock on one person and he just smiles. Everything is finally whole again. He's got his missing piece back. He rushes towards her. Moving past Reyna, moving past Frank, moving past Hazel. Moving past Dakota and Gwen. Past Bobby and all the others standing guard. He'd be shoving Romans out of the way if they weren't parting for him themselves as though they were simply waves in the ocean. Percy reaches out for Annabeth, but she doesn't leap into his arms like she'd planned to.
Instead, Percy ends up flat on his back and Annabeth's knee is on his chest; she's glaring down at him. Jason, Piper, and Leo all stare, looking around frantically. They never expected the blonde would be the one to start a war. For once, the master strategist had zero strategy. The Romans are instantly ready to attack when instead, Percy just laughs. I missed you too He pulls Annabeth down into his arms and only then do they get that heart-melting reunion kiss.
Because it was one of Leo's favorite parts of the quest, the sky lights up with Annabeth judo-flipping Percy from countless angles. Percy chuckled, teasing his wife about how he knows never to anger her again. They see an immortalized Jason try to awkwardly attempt any explanation for Annabeth's behavior to his Romans while he stared at the young couple in bewilderment and shock. The gods all laugh each time the blonde demigod flips her boyfriend because they all know the couple and can't think of a more perfect Don't you dare ever leave me again. Watching the memory, Piper wipes tears from her eyes as she watches her hero light up the sky again and again. "Wonder what your speech would have been today, Superman…" she whispered.
The daughter of Aphrodite smiles seeing the next scene. It began and ended with water. In the Argo kitchen, Percy and Annabeth are covered in soap bubbles and water is everywhere in the flooded room but they're just laughing. Dishes piled high in the sink and the pair are soaked, splashing water and soap bubbles all over one another. In that moment they're not battle-hardened warriors. They're just two sixteen-year-olds goofing off and messing around, trying to steal kisses without being caught. Everyone watching the scene is laughing when they see Annabeth spraying Percy with the nozzle and he turns the water full blast towards her instead. Even Hazel, Piper, Leo, and Frank, are happy though at the time it was anything but funny. They're just glad to see the pair like this. All except Coach Hedge, who is grumbling. He still hasn't forgiven them even years later. "Still think we should have thrown them overboard somewhere around Kansas…taught 'em a lesson. First this, then the Stable incident. Maybe we do need to tie a bell around their necks tonight." he mutters as water washed away the scene. Never mind that they're married now and can't really get in trouble for breaking curfew or sneaking around. To Hedge they'll always be those same troublemakers no matter how grown up they get.
Hazel glances towards Leo "How did you guys manage to make water fireworks anyway?" She's skeptical as he laughs.
"Because my dear, Hazel, my siblings and I are just that awesome!" Leo answers as his brothers and sisters cheer.
The next scene, Grover blinks wondering if they messed up on the timing. Percy and Annabeth asleep in hay. The satyr squints before realizing it wasn't the stable car. It was a stable, yes… but there was no Grover, no zebra… they were definitely a couple, four years after their first time falling asleep against one another in hay. This time they're stretched out and Percy has his arms around her as she's snuggling into his chest. Frank is trying to avoid their gaze, if only he'd known at the time how things would end up. If only he could go back in time to warn them about Tartarus. The door is open and the pair is discovered. "Looks like our Friend Mal isn't the only one to walk in on the happy couple!" One of their many friends joked as the campers around them laughed. Suddenly awakened, firework Percy's sea green eyes open wide before the image shifts. Leo almost didn't want to include this part, but his siblings knew it was vital to their story. Leo kept his eyes shut tight as Calypso squeezed his hand. He already re-lived this moment so many times over the years, he didn't need to relive it now.
Percy's eyes are wide in fear and he's clinging tightly to Annabeth, desperately trying to hold on to her. She's just dangling helplessly hundreds of miles above in the sky and her leg is at a funny angle. Above them, Piper and Hazel are screaming and crying as the boys are struggling to pull both Percy and Annabeth back to safety. Their faces are taut and pained; using all their strength to keep ahold of Percy. The terrified look in Percy's eyes clearly said I'm sorry, Mom because he hadn't been home in months and they'd finally been on their way home to her. But now the boy didn't know if he ever would get to see his mom again. I'm sorry, Mom Before looking below him, towards his girlfriend. Percy gives one last look to his friends before shaking his head. And he lets go. Immediately, he and Annabeth plunge into the darkness. Together.
"Did they just….?" Hades asked, staring towards the sky. "They did, didn't they? They just-"
"Uh huh" Nico said, quietly, as he nodded to his father. He remembered how his introduction to this mythological world had been watching a very similar yet oh so different scene. The first time Annabeth fell off of a cliff, Percy wanted to throw himself over the edge to follow her. The second time, Percy did.
Will looked at Nico, and squeezed his hand, trying to lighten the tense mood. "I love you… but no. Absolutely not. I'm not jumping into literal Hell for you, Neeks" Nico laughed, bumping his shoulder. "You'd be on your own." The bride and groom are both holding one another tightly, not saying anything and yet saying everything.
Athena is watching the young man as he's sitting with her daughter. She had heard about what he did for her countless times but to witness this firsthand… The goddess could see how important the blonde was to him. He risked everything just so she wouldn't be alone. Realizing what he did for her...that moment he chose to fall with her was the first time Athena saw the son of Poseidon in a new light.
Another goddess is watching the pair. The Queen of the Gods. She had absolutely no idea of this part when she arranged everything. Hera studied the newlyweds, and she was reminded of just how bonded they were when she tried to take away his memories. She thinks back to those brief moments when she switched the boys and had them side by side. Hera was comparing the blonde and the black-haired boys. Jason, he was her hero. Her husband's infidelity turned to appeasement. The other boy, though… Perseus was the world's hero. He'd been called the greatest demigod of his age; if not ever. He was powerful, Hera could tell. Even unconscious, the boy was strong and a fighter. She knew he was the perfect one to switch with Jason. Except for one little problem: Percy hated her even before this moment because of what she did to Annabeth. His stupid loyalty would undo everything. The goddess frowned slightly thinking of the annoying know-it-all pesky little girl. Annabeth was a part of Percy, no… Hera remembered, Annabeth was the whole thing. She was every part of him, from the grey streak in his hair to the countless scars covering his skin to the little spot on his back. Even unconscious, when the goddess's fingers barely brushed the spot, the sixteen-year-old grimaced and flinched. Pulling away to protect that part of him. The only part of his body that was vulnerable.
Manipulating Jason's memories, that was easy. Even most of Percy's memories quickly disappeared. His memories of Annabeth refused to be pulled away. The goddess was going to leave the boy his moments with his mother. Isn't that what every demigod wanted? To think of only the good times with mortals. But no. Even Sally quickly left his mind. Hera tried returning them in exchange for the blonde. It was only fair, keep all demigod memories and leave the mortal ones. That's what she did for Jason, so she had to do the same for Percy. She kept trying but stubbornly they remained. Even commanding them as Queen of the Gods, even using all of her godly strength. The memories of the blonde wouldn't budge. Only now, almost five years later, did the Queen of the Gods finally understand. It was why she attempted to make it right by marrying the couple. She could help them with their marriage, and she knew they'd be forever grateful. At least they should.
The last scene shown had been the couple falling into the darkness. The next flash to light the sky is Percy asleep in his bunk on the Argo II but it's obvious by the mop of blonde curls coming out of his armpit that he's not alone. It's difficult to tell where he ends and she begins, based on how tightly they've interwoven themselves within one another. They're both asleep and holding one another as though if they don't, the world will collapse. Maybe it would, based on how quiet the audience remains for a moment. The wedding guests laugh seeing Percy snoring loudly but Annabeth sleeps on, oblivious. New scars and fresh wounds cover their skin. The audience sees a drakon-bone sword and Riptide balanced at the head of the bunk, ready to grab at a moment's notice, after everything they faced. Nobody else knows exactly what was faced but it doesn't matter. As long as they were together.
The next sky snippets are more domestic and less demigodly. Percy and Annabeth studying or teasing one another. The two of them babysitting and spending time with mortal families as time passes. All of the demigods eagerly point out baby and then toddler Estelle to the gleeful little girl. Moments at Montauk, at Camp, even monster-fighting. The observers see the couple in San Francisco. More monsters, more studying, more mortal family visits at the Chase house. Camp Jupiter. Bobby and Matthew grin as all of the campers cheer seeing a very recent scene: the two teenage boys brandishing Nerf guns running through the house. Percy and Annabeth each have their own nerf gun and the four are laughing and ducking as foam bullets fly around their heads. In the field below, the twins catch their sister's eye and all three Chase siblings and new brother-in-law laugh about the 'Great Finals Week War', a tradition that would never occur again because of a broken lamp.
Finally the fireworks depiction of the scene most of the wedding guests have been waiting for. Percy and Annabeth are just walking hand in hand through the cobblestone streets of the Market in New Rome. He leads her to an apple cart and they both greet the old man, who nods to his two troublemakers with a playful smile as they laugh. The elderly demigod watches the pair as Percy grabs three large apples and immediately begins tossing them in his hands as though he has any juggling talent. He's joking about how he hasn't improved since he was twelve and they were playing apple hacky sack while on their first quest, much to the elder's displeasure. Annabeth gives a stern look but it's obvious she's trying not to laugh. The old man watches the foolishness and tries to object to the throwing of his apples and the young lovers reluctantly nod. Percy returns two apples for the cart keeper to inspect as they're talking about pricing. He gestures to the third, but Percy shakes his head before quickly tossing it to Annabeth. An expert catch without even looking, just reaction and instinct after years of depending on her reflexes to survive. She glanced towards the apple before looking towards her boyfriend who is smirking. She tosses the prize back to him and digs out a few coins from her purse. The viewers below can't hear what is said because it's just fireworks, but they see Percy smile. You know... the viewers see him mouth In Ancient Greece, throwing an apple…
But Annabeth cuts him off as she shakes her head and playfully rolls her eyes No, Seaweed Brain. Like I told you before, it's a myth… you know it's just a myth How many times have they argued about that silly legend before that day? In the grass, Piper laughs at the bride who is smiling. Typical Annabeth.
Technically we're both myths he retorts as she and the older demigod both just laugh. As does everyone watching below Oh really? Fine then. Whatever... the young man is trying not to laugh as he speaks. Just turn around, Wisegirl a brief moment of puzzled confusion on her face as she turns. But she smiles, seeing him down on one knee with a huge smile as he holds up a very small black box. Aphrodite and all of her children, from both camps, squeal and swoon as do a few other demigods (and a couple gods). In the field, Annabeth just smiles as Percy holds her close. "I love you."
"Show's over! Go home!" Leo announces quickly but everyone knows this isn't the end, despite the sky going dark. Briefly the sky lights up and everyone recognizes camp. It's a wedding! Percy and Annabeth are standing at the end of the aisle and they kiss. However, firework Annabeth's wedding dress is more princess ball gown and less the flowy Grecian one she's actually wearing, and the Hephaestus siblings definitely got the first kiss wrong.
Right then as they kiss, the sky lights up with Congratulations Percy and Annabeth! Love, Your friends in Cabin Nine in both Greek and English.
"So, as we all saw… Annabeth's wedding dress is not the dress she's wearing because somebody refused to tell me what she picked, Beauty Queen!" Leo announced, ignoring the taunts and joking from some of their friends as he frowned at the laughing Piper.
"Hey! I told you her dress was white!" Piper defended "If I told you anything else… you'd tell Percy and then the surprise would be ruined…" the daughter of Aphrodite objected, despite Leo's protests. "Plus you messed up on the kiss too, Repair Boy!"
"How was I supposed to know they'd jump in the lake?!" Leo asked, laughing, as he glanced towards the bride and groom. "They screwed up my present! My fireworks show! Because of them it's all ruined!"
"Ruined?" Percy asked, trying not to laugh as he laced his fingers in Annabeth's. "We ruined it?"
"Yeah, okay, Valdez. We ruined it…" Annabeth shrugged with a smirk, snuggling into her husband, as Leo grinned as he shook his head. "I think our kiss was the best part of today." Percy kissed her hair and smiled. The very best part.
AN- Since writing this chapter (and the next) I went back and forth on whether or not this was going to be my finale because the actual last chapter, I initially wrote seemed too bittersweet as an ending. I wanted to end a happy wedding story on a happy note not a bittersweet one. So if you want to read into this as the end, it is. Or you can read the next chapter 'To Those That Should Be Here' as the finale.