Hey guys! I hope you all enjoy this chapter, which includes disappointed Chiron and some other stuff. Anyways, we're gonna get to the real good stuff soon, more action and such.
Chiron closed his eyes, letting out a slow breath, "I assume I don't have to tell you how annoyed I am with you right now?" he raised an eyebrow, "But alas now is not the time to punish you. Shall I assume that if I order you to come home you'll refuse-"
"They can't." Zoe interrupted quickly, "I apologize Chiron, but we need both Percy and Annabeth-it seems that the prophecy included them."
"Oh?" Chiron's eyes narrowed, "When exactly did the prophecy mention them?"
Percy's face flushed as she grabbed Annabeth's hand.
"To join the lovers who's journey's mapped." Thalia's voice was faintly amused, "Turns out Percy and Annabeth are dating."
"I see." Chiron let out a slow breath, "I do not approve of this. You have been incredibly reckless, and I simply pray you all make it back alive and safe-" he saw Percy's full body flinch and he paled. "No."
"Nico." Bianca whispered the name, stepping forward slightly, "We lost him." her voice cracked as Percy shifted and pressed into Annabeth's side, pressing her face into her girlfriends shoulder.
"I am sorry." Chiron's voice was heavy with grief of his own. "We... we shall talk more when you get back. You say that Grover is bringing the Ophitaurus to us?"
"Yeah." Thalia spoke softly. "Percy got her father's blessing to help him-hopefully he'll be with you guys soon. When he is-"
"I will get the creature to Olympus." Chiron promised. "You five just be careful-I don't want to lose any other campers. And you be especially careful Percy. It's you who Alabaster is obsessed with-"
"Oh we know." Annabeth nodded, "Already had one run in with him-"
Percy lifted her head, "I feel like you're the one who needs to be more careful now Annabeth-did you have to taunt him?"
"He acts like you belong to him. You don't, and he needs to learn that."
Chiron let out a long suffering sigh. "I don't think I even want to know. Thalia, Zoe, Bianca, please try to stop them both from getting themselves killed-"
"We will." Thalia looked almost amused as she shook her head, "Though it's a difficult task."
"I am well aware-" there was the sound of sudden shouting in the distance and Chiron frowned. "I'm sorry children, it seems something's going on by the cabins, I'll need to go and make sure it's nothing serious. Good luck with your quest. Percy, Annabeth we'll discuss the appropriate punishment when you get back." he waved a hand through the image, cutting off the call and Percy winced.
"Well, if we get out of this alive we'll be in so much trouble."
"Eh, you still have to get out of it alive." Thalia remarked, "We've got a lot to do before we think about that."
"Like figure out how to get to the Garden." Zoe's expression turned grim. "We won't make it on foot."
"Car? You and Percy both know how to hotwire one-" Bianca suggested hesitantly.
"We're running low on time for that." Percy pointed out, "I mean, we steal a car-and then someone reports it and we get arrested-it's pretty risky-"
"This whole thing is risky." Thalia pointed out, "We need a way to get there fast."
"There-" Annabeth's voice was hesitant, "There may be someone who can help us?" and Percy turned her gaze to Annabeth, who swallowed hard. "You've already met my mom on this quest-you feeling up to meeting my dad?" and Percy reached out, grabbing Annabeth's hand and squeezing it tightly.
"You sure you want to do this?"
"It's the only way. You'll come with me right?"
"Of course."
"What's going on?" Bianca was confused, "What's the big deal."
"I-I don't have the best relationship with my dad." Annabeth admitted, "I ran away when I was seven. He's been trying more lately but it's.. it's been difficult. I don't get along with my step mom either. I... I did try and move back with him for a while but it wasn't great. I haven't seen him since the start of last summer. We've written but I mean, nothing more than that."
"You sure you want to do this?" Thalia's voice was soft and Annabeth gave a small nod.
"Yeah, yeah I am." she let out a breath, "But... can you guys maybe wait outside while Percy and I talk to him?"
"Of course." Thalia nodded, giving Percy a meaningful look, and Percy gave a small nod. If it got too much for Annabeth then she'd get the other girl out of there.
"Let's go then." Annabeth was clinging to Percy's hand like a lifeline, "Let's go now. I want to get this over with."
Percy nodded, lifting Annabeth's hand and pressing her lips to Annabeth's knuckles. "I love you Wise Girl."
Thankfully it wasn't a long walk to the Chase family home, and while Thalia, Bianca and Zoe huddled up together at the bottom of the path by the gate as Percy and Annabeth headed up the path and up the steps onto the porch.
When they reached the door Annabeth faltered and Percy gave her hand a squeeze before she reached up and pressed the doorbell.
She could hear the chiming through the door-and voices from inside of the house, and Annabeth let out a panicked noise, pulling her cap out of her pocket and yanking it on, disappearing in a way that made Percy groan- "Annabeth!" she hissed the name, "Wise girl c'mon."
"I can't do this-"
At which point the door swung open and Percy was turning her head to look at Annabeth's dad, though she had to admit that Fredrick Chase was not what she was expecting.
He was wearing an old-fashioned aviator's cap and goggles that made his eyes look extremely weird-Percy actually jerked back slightly, a startled look on her face as he gave an eager smile.
"Hello. Are you delivering my airplanes?" his voice was warm, friendly and Percy let out a nervous little cough.
"Uh, no I'm not-"
"Drat," he said. "I need three more Sopwith Camels."
"Uh-" Percy took a deep breath, "My name is Percy Jackson-"
"Oh!" The man's eyes widened and he pulled off the cap and goggles. He had sandy-colored hair like Annabeth and intense brown eyes-which might have been intimidating except it looked like he hadn't shaved in a couple of days, and his shirt was buttoned wrong, so one side of his collar stuck up higher than the other side. "You're Annabeth's friend-is everything okay?" his expression was instantly worried. "Is she alright-"
"Uh, yeah-" and Annabeth tugged her cap off, again, making the mortal let out a shocked yelp and jerk backwards.
"Annabeth-"
"H-Hi dad." Annabeth's voice shook slightly-and then her dad was was hugging her tightly.
"Annabeth, you're home-"
"Not for long." Annabeth's voice was still tight and nervous, "Dad I... I know it's gonna sound crazy but we need some help-"
"What's going on?" He pulled back, eyes flicking between them before he looked at the three other teens gathered at the bottom of the path. "Annabeth?"
"We're on a quest. And we need to get to Mount Tam but we're running out of time."
"A quest?"
"Yeah. I told you about that sort of thing last time I stayed here-"
"Right-yes I remember."
"It's important." Percy spoke up, "We need a car or something-I know it's a lot to ask and we don't really have much time to explain."
"Are you in danger?"
"Yes." Annabeth admitted, looking down, "But it'll be worse if we don't do this dad-"
"Dad!" a little boy's voice screamed from inside of the house. "He's taking apart my robots!"
"Bobby," Dr. Chase called absently, "don't take apart your brother's robots."
"I'm Bobby," the little boy protested. "He's Matthew!"
"Matthew," Dr. Chase called, "don't take apart your brother's robots!"
"Okay, Dad!"
"Y-you still can't tell them apart?" Annabeth's voice cracked slightly and Fredrick's expression was pained.
"I'm terrible at that sort of thing-please do you at least have time to come inside?" and Annabeth looked torn-and Percy wondered what she was thinking. It had probably been over seven months since Annabeth had seen her little brothers. Percy knew she loved and missed them-but she also knew that her girlfriend wasn't really ready yet, there was still so much tension between her and her father-and the step mother too-though Percy had never met her.
"I don't think so." Percy stepped in softly, giving an apologetic look, "I am really really sorry. I know you probably want to spend time with Annabeth but we're on a time limit."
"Honey?" the voice came from inside and Percy peered over Fredrick's shoulder to see a pretty Asian woman with red highlighted hair in a bun who could only be Annabeth's step mom. "Do we have guests."
"It's Annabeth and her friend Percy." Percy felt Annabeth pressing into her side as Fredrick turned his head to look at his wife.
"Annabeth's here?" and Annabeth looked almost surprised at the hopeful tone of the woman's voice, "Annabeth-why don't you come inside?"
"It-" Annabeth swallowed hard, "It's a bit complicated." she was squeezing Percy's hand hard enough that it almost hurt, "We're on a time-"
"Annabeth's here?" and suddenly two boys, were shoving their way past their dads legs-they looked maybe eight or so years old, and they both wore matching grins-they were blondes like Annabeth and they almost bowled her over when they collided with her, and Annabeth wrapped her arms around them both tightly, closing her eyes as she hugged them.
"Hey guys-"
"You're home! Are you staying?"
"No, no Bobby I'm sorry." Annabeth's expression was pained, "I'm on an important mission-gotta save the world-"
"Really?"
"Yeah Matthew." she ruffled the other boys hair, "We've got to rescue a goddess-"
"Wow!" Bobby gasped, his eyes wide with excitement, "That's so cool!"
"Rescue a goddess?" Mrs Chase looked worried, "Really?"
"Uh, yeah." Percy let out a nervous laugh "It's a real long story. Nothing we can't handle but it's really on a strict time limit or we'd be happy to stay."
"Will you come back to visit at least?" Fredrick's eyes were focused on Annabeth."
"I... maybe." Annabeth's voice was hesitant, "I mean-Miss Jackson invited you guys to come over right?"
"Yes-though it's a bit of a journey."
"You could probably stay for a week or so." Percy suggested, "Only... after we've fixed the goddess situation because my mom's in a spot of trouble too so we've gotta rescue her, a goddess and a kid like us."
Fredrick glanced between them both, "Well-" he faltered. "I suppose I could drive you-"
"We have a driver." Annabeth nodded back towards the others, "Zoe's older than she looks and she drove us a good chunk of the way. I know you want to help but this is... we can handle it-Percy's a daughter of Poseidon, she can do some pretty cool things, and we have daughters of Zeus and Hades too, so we can handle a lot of stuff but you're mortal-I love you dad and I know you're not helpless but... you wouldn't be able to do much."
"Are you sure?" Mrs Chase's voice was gentle, and Annabeth nodded.
"I am. I know it probably sounds crazy, us asking you to let us borrow a car or something but there was no one else we could ask and we didn't want to have to steal one-"
"Do you know how to steal cars?" Bobby asked eagerly-which made Annabeth flush a bright red as Percy laughed.
"She doesn't no, but a friend does-and I'd like to point out that we'd only ever do it in a life or death situation-so no kids our friend will not teach you how-"
"Awwww." Matthew pouted, "That sucks."
"Behave." Annabeth was smiling softly at her little brothers-it was honestly adorable-and heart breaking because it made Percy think of Nico which was ridiculous. She needed to try and get through this quest and dwelling on the loss of her baby brother was going to make that impossible. She'd let herself break down and cry later. It was what Nico would want.
"If there weren't so many of you I'd say I'd fly you in my Camel but it only seats two-"
"Dad-"
""Whoa, you have an actual biplane?" Percy's eyes were wide, "That's really cool-though I'm not much of a flier."
"Down at Crissy Field," Dr. Chase said proudly. "That's the reason I had to move here. My sponsor is a private collector with some of the finest World War I relics in the world. He let me restore the Sopwith Camel—"
"Dad!" Annabeth for just a moment seemed almost like a normal teenager getting frustrated at an embarrassing parent-the thought made Percy grin, "Just a car would be fine-I doubt Percy wants to hear a lecture about your planes." and she was blushing, Annabeth was blushing!
"Well-fine." he didn't look happy exactly, but Annabeth's dad nodded, "Though I wish I could come with you-"
"We'll be fine."
"Now where did I put my keys-"
"Frederick, honestly. You'd lose your head if it weren't wrapped inside your aviator hat. The keys are hanging on the peg right next to you." Mrs Chase had a long suffering smile on her lips as she shook her head.
"Right!" Dr. Chase said, turning to the pegs and grabbing a set of keys and handing them to Percy, since Annabeth still had her arms around her brothers. "Well, you kids be careful okay?"
"If you wait just a moment-" Mrs Chase darted off into the house and Annabeth bit her lip, giving Percy a sidelong glance.
"We really don't have much time-"
"Do you have to go?" Bobby's voice was sad and Annabeth winced.
"I'm sorry Bobby but yeah. We do-"
"Boys, go back inside and leave your sister alone. I'm sure we'll see her soon." the hope in Fredrick's voice was kind of heartwarming, and Percy could see that her girlfriends eyes were shining with unshed tears as the boys both kissed Annabeth's cheeks and pulled away, darting back inside.
"Dad-"
"I know." the smile Fredrick gave her was sad, "I know Annabeth."
"I love you-"
"Be careful, you hear me-"
"Here-" Mrs Chase was slipping past Fredrick, moving towards Annabeth quickly, holding a tupperware container filled with-
"Cookies?" Annabeth's voice was confused.
"I made them for the boys, but I can make some more. You girls look like you need them more." she handed the blonde the tub and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Listen. I know things have been difficult in the past, but I want you to know you always have a home here with us Annabeth."
"I-" Annabeth swallowed hard. "Thank you. B-both of you. I... I'll remember that."