The envelope in my hands was made of stiff parchment. It was a little thicker than a usual letter. Maybe my father had sent multiple pages? That didn't sound like him. We never had much to talk about. I ripped that seal of the envelope open nervously. What would he say?

Annabeth,

I feel I have made an error in our past correspondence. I cannot deny that my feelings have not changed about your duty to your family, but I do feel guilty for the way my words may have constricted your life. You were always meant for greatness. I have been able to see that since you were a child. You are so like your mother.

I know I do not talk about her a lot, and for that I apologize. It has been too painful to think about for all of these years, but I believe it is time for you to know who she is. After all, she is a part of who you are just as I am.

Minerva Athene was a woman before her time. She was intelligent and calculating, just like you are. I met her in my time studying at the university, and she helped me through my most difficult classes. I did not know where her great knowledge came from. Perhaps it was a gift from God. She and I fell in love over piles of books and a study table at the university library. We were never married, but you should know that we loved each other deeply. And from that love, you were created.

We hardly knew a thing about each other's families. When she became pregnant, I discovered who she was. The Dean's daughter. Imagine my shock. We were not allowed to see each other after that. Minerva carried you to full term and I counted each and every one of those days. I was foolish to believe that once you were born, we would all run away together and be happy. You were left on my doorstep the morning after your birth with a letter. It told me that a teaching position in Virginia had been secured for me, so long as I took it and never saw your mother again.

I did what was logical. I packed our things and we moved to Virginia. You know the rest. I may have failed at creating a family for you when you were young. But life has taught me about second chances, and I hope you can find it in yourself to see that, and give me a second chance at being your father.

Love,

Frederick Chase.

I wish I could say that my father's letter brought solace to my mind. It didn't, not exactly. Father had finally told me the mystery behind my mother and my lineage. I finally knew who she was! However, I now had so many new questions. Where was she now? Did she even remember me? Would I ever see her after this wretched war was over?

There was so much uncertainty involved. Why couldn't everything be simpler? More importantly, would this war ever end? It was mid-April, 1915. In three months, the war will have been going on for a year. And would that have gotten us? Thousands of men were dead and even more were wounded and there still wasn't an end in sight.

I checked the envelope again, to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Two photographs had been slipped in between the folds. The first was of two young people. They each wore matching smiles as they looked at each other. On the back was written:

Minerva and I.

It was my mother.

I ran my fingertips over her grainy face. Her features bore no worry lines or wrinkles. She was so beautiful. I could see why my father had fallen in love with her. She had beauty and brains, and wasn't afraid to show it. I looked at the other photograph. It was of my father and a few others—more recent than the previous one. There was a woman next to him sitting comfortably. A swaddled baby was in each of their arms.

Me, my wife, and our boys, Matthew and Robert Chase.

My father's family. I took an uneasy breath. Were they considered my family too? I blew out my candle and crawled into bed. Answers would only come at the end of the war…whenever that was.

Time passed. The snow melted making way into a short spring season, which quickly faded into summer. Before I knew it, it was July 12th—my birthday. Contrary to popular belief, we doctors and nurses did get some time off…albeit only a little. Somehow Will and Piper had found out my birthdate, and suggested we all take a night off. Well, Will took his morning off.

Boisleux-au-Mont didn't have a wide variety of "entertainment". There were a few stray houses, one general store, and a small pub that served terrible alcohol every other Friday. How they stocked anything was beyond me. However, that very pub was where we were headed.

I stepped carefully over patches of mud, trying not to ruin my shoes. I hadn't wanted to wear them because they were my nicest pair, but Piper had somehow convinced me. She said a night of dancing in good shoes would be fun. For reasons unknown to me, I felt compelled to believe her and do as she said. She was very convincing.

The music inside the pub floated out through the open windows, beckoning us inside. Will smiled as he held the door open, his nose scrunching up at the stale scent of liquor. I grinned back. The revelry inside was already in full swing.

"Happy birthday, Annabeth!" Piper put one arm around me as we clinked our drinks together.

"What birthday is this?" Will asked.

I swallowed slowly and coughed at the taste, "My nineteenth."

Will sipped his drink and cringed. "I do not think this is the best thing to be drinking. I may be sick if I consume any more of it."

Piper still hadn't tried hers yet, but our reactions didn't stop her from trying it…and spitting it out on the bar counter in front of us. I immediately started laughing, the others around us joining in. The bartender rolled his eyes and wiped down the mess, exchanging each of our glasses for water.

We danced throughout the evening, skipping about the wooden floors like we were mad. We were, perhaps, the only ones enjoying ourselves in all of France. I became weary though, and my feet began to hurt. I opted out of a dance, leaving Will and Piper by themselves. I gulped down another glass of water. It was warm in the one roomed building.

Percy came to the front of my mind. I pulled on the chain around my neck. Any spare moment I had I seemed to be looking at the locket he had sent to me. His photograph smiled up at me and I smiled back.

"Missing someone?" A voice asked in a light Italian accent. I turned to him and noticed a man leaning on the bar next to me. He was exactly my height, with messy black hair and deep dark brown eyes, which had dark circles underneath them. It was as if he had not slept in a very long time. He wore an all-black uniform with two silver stars on the mandarin collar. A matching black belt was buckled around his torso and a satchel was slung over his chest. A hat was placed carelessly on the bar top. It bore a Captain's credentials.

I rose my eyebrows at his question and snapped the locket shut.

The man continued, "Il tuo amante? Your…lover?"

I felt my face grow warmer. My blush made my lips twitch upward slightly. Percy and I, well, I didn't truly know what to classify us as. Were we lovers?

"I'm afraid it may be a bit more complicated than that." I replied.

"It always is, isn't it?" The man answered. His face remained stoic. It didn't look as though he smiled all that often.

"If you don't mind me asking," I began. "Where in Italy are you from?"

He looked down at the counter before replying sadly, "Venice."

"Oh?"

"Do not mistake my tone for gloomy memories. Venice…It is not so happy a place now." The man swallowed his alcohol, not even noticing the taste.

"Why would that be?" I wondered aloud.

"I am not surprised you have not heard." He took a deep breath. "It was bombed—two weeks previous—by Austrians."*

I felt the air run out of me as the man finished off his glass of liquor and continued, "They meant to hit a railway station. They hit a church instead. Maledetti bastardi."

I didn't know what to say to him, but I still wanted more information. "Why would the Austrians do that?"

"A display of power. Politics. Italy has wanted to leave its alliance with the German Keiser for months." The man sighed and stood up straight, not swaying one bit. He obviously knew how to hold his alcohol. He turned directly toward me, "Do you happen to know any doctors at the clearing station? I am looking for someone."

"Considering I am one of them, yes, I know them all." I replied.

The man didn't react. I had expected him to, but his face remained unchanged.

"I am looking for Doctor William Solace." He said. My eyes widened in response.

"If I am to tell you anything more, I must ask who you are."

"Ah, introductions." He nodded. "Forgive me, I forgot. I am First Captain Nicolaus di Angelou of the Italian infantry."

That name. It sounded familiar. I struggled to place it as I introduced myself. "Doctor Annabeth Chase. I am from the United States of America."

Nicolaus di Angelou. I knew that name!

The letter! This was Will's gentleman friend. I grinned, suddenly excited for the reunion to come. Perhaps though, it should be somewhere more…private?

"I know Will." I said. "He is here tonight. Would you like me to find him? I could bring him outside to meet you."

Nicolaus appreciated my words and agreed with a vigorous nod of his head. He placed his hat on his head, already backing away. "I will meet you there."

I nodded back to him and turned to pry Will and Piper away from all of the dancing. As I weaved my way through the couples, I wondered over how I would phrase it to Will.

I cleared my throat behind them so that they would notice me. Piper grinned. She looked like she was getting tired from all the excitement. Will seemed to be slowing down as well.

"I met a friend of yours, Will." I said without thinking.

"I don't have many friends, Annabeth, you know that." Will pointed out. "Who is it?"

I smirked, already pulling on his arm, leading him to the door. Piper trailed behind us. Will began to protest, "Are you sure they meant me? It is unlikely anyone I know would be here. We are in the middle of France for heaven's sake—"

"Just wait a moment!" I insisted. "It's a surprise!"

"I don't like surprises! And isn't it your birthday? Why am I being surprised?" Will objected. I pushed him through the doorway before he could say anything else.

The two men stood before each other, not saying a word. The dim lights of the pub cast a golden glow over their faces as they stared, gawking at each other in the near-darkness. Suddenly a blinding smile came over Nicolaus's face as Will pulled him into a tight hug. Will's eyes were squeezed shut, one of his hand buried in his partner's hair.

"Is this Captain di Angelou?" Piper asked me.

I could only nod in reply. My voice had left me and I could feel tears building up in my eyes. In the middle of this terrible war, at least one thing had gone right. So why did I still feel like something was missing? Maybe it wasn't something…maybe it was a someone.

***Author's Note***

The Austrian bombing of Venice did not occur until November 1915. I moved the event up for the purpose of plotline! Thank you for reading!