There was a difference between reuniting with your cousins and seeing your mom for the first time in years, Percy realised. C'mon. It was his mom. Tears streamed down her face, much like when he'd come back from the Giant War, except Percy had willingly been gone for three years, not kidnapped and an amnesiac.
"I'm─I'm not even angry," Sally sobbed into Percy's shoulder. "I'm happy─so, so happy."
"I missed you," Percy whispered, content to stay in his mother's embrace─even if she was squeezing the life out of him. When they separated, Percy moved to hug his step-father. "Hey, Paul."
"It's good to have you back, Percy."
Sally led Percy into the living area, while Annabeth and Paul had headed off. "So," Sally levelled him with a look that promised pain. "When were you going to tell me that I have grandchildren?"
"I, um─grandchildren?!" Plural. Percy wasn't an idiot. Annabeth had obviously given birth. If Annabeth had lost the baby, Annabeth would probably go on a murder spree. She came here, it seemed, but since when did he have more than one child?
"Percy," Annabeth's voice sounded from the door. She was holding two babies─they were so small─one swaddled in green and the other in yellow. "Meet your son and daughter."
Tears welled up in his eyes─again. "Twins?" he whispered. Annabeth approached him, letting the one swaddled in yellow into his arms. "What are their names?" Annabeth wouldn't have the patience to wait. Percy didn't mind. Annabeth did all of the work, what with giving birth and stuff.
"This is Luke Charles," she said, smiling down at the boy in green. "And you're holding Silena Zoë." Percy looked down at his daughter. She had Annabeth's eyes, a tuft of dark hair on her head.
"You named them after people that died," he smiled softly. "In the Titan War. Our friends."
"I knew you'd love their names," Annabeth sat beside them. Percy caressed Luke's head. His son squirmed at the touch, relaxing after a second.
"I'd love them no matter what they were named." Percy was in awe. His children. They were his children. Percy was already planning his strategy to keep boys away from his daughter. She'd be as beautiful as her namesake. And then Percy groaned. "They're going to be just like us, aren't they?"
"What are you talking about?" Annabeth asked innocently. "I'm perfect." Percy snorted. She was perfect. Percy was happy. He was with his family.
"Perseus Jackson." Zeus zeroed in on him. Annabeth knew that Percy wasn't intimidated in the slightest. "What has brought you to interrupt our meeting?"
"So it's a long story," Percy started. Annabeth rolled her eyes. She couldn't even bother to count how many times they said that sentence. "But before I even start telling you about it, you should all know that I was possessed by an Eidolon at that 'trial' of mine."
"What?!" Athena asked. Annabeth almost felt emotional at the sight of her mother. But not nearly so that she'd come out of her hiding spot.
"I was possessed." Percy shrugged. "I came here to tell you guys the truth about what happened three years ago."
"So you're guilty of murder, then? Annabeth Chase never worked with Chaos?" Annabeth despised Hera. This made Annabeth remove her Yankee's hat, fully entering the room.
"Technically, I did work with Chaos," Annabeth announced her presence. Athena jumped to her feet, looking at her in shock. Zeus reached for his Master Bolt. "But that was only over the past two days, I'm afraid. Literally everything you know about what happened three years ago is false."
"And why should we believe you?" Hera questioned as she came to stand beside Percy.
"An oath," Artemis suggested. "That every word you utter about what happened is the truth."
"On the Styx?" Percy asked. When Artemis nodded, he shrugged. "Um, sure. I swear on the River Styx that everything Annabeth and I tell you about the past three years is true."
"Short version or long version?" Annabeth asked as thunder sounded.
"Short, please." Zeus watched them with narrowed eyes.
And so, the story was explained for the millionth time.
"You omitted something." Hera frowned, scrutinising Annabeth. "Artemis, look at her. Surely it's not just me who sees─"
"No, I see," Artemis agreed.
"There's a connection of love," Aphrodite joined in. "Yet not the kind she shares with young Perseus. It's a bond between a mother and her children─Percy has a similar one, genderbent, of course."
Annabeth sighed in defeat. "Okay, so I got pregnant and we had twins." She took Percy's hand at this. The twins were currently with Thalia and Nico, both of whom insisted on meeting them when Annabeth had brought up her pregnancy. They had arrived at Sally's an hour after Percy and Annabeth had.
Poseidon perked up, speaking for the first time since they'd arrived. "What─what are their names?"
Annabeth made sure to look Aphrodite and Hermes in the eyes. "Luke and Silena." Aphrodite sobered up and Hermes flinched at the mention of his son, even if he was smiling that they'd honoured Luke like that.
"Does this mean anything for the prophecy?" Zeus asked. Of course he was concerned about that─it did predict his death that only Percy could stop.
"It's been nullified," Annabeth said.
There were shouts of outrage and shock from the gods. Zeus visibly deflated, although he looked at them distrustfully. Percy silenced the gods with a terrifying look. "You see," Percy said, somehow being heard over all of the gods. "Order and Chaos managed to sort out their issues without a war. Maybe you guys should look at them as role models."
"What are you saying?" Hera asked. "I suggest that you choose your next words carefully, Jackson."
Percy opened his mouth, but it wasn't he who spoke. "Hera!" Poseidon erupted. "Never─never threaten my son in front of me─at all!─ ever again! Or I will demolish you!" Annabeth cringed. Poseidon was pissed. Seems that he was trying to make up for not being the nicest parent to Percy.
Hera looked at him, outraged. "You─"
"Hera," Athena quietly interrupted. "Poseidon is perfectly within his rights to berate you for that stray comment." 'Is mom agreeing with Poseidon?!' Annabeth looked at Percy. He was just as bewildered.
"Enough!" Zeus let out before the argument could rage on. "It would be… favourable to simply move on from these frivolous arguments. I, Zeus, King of the Gods, god of Justice, the sky and lightning officially grant pardon to Perseus Jackson and Annabeth Chase. Nobody is to contest my ruling."
Wow. Wow.
Annabeth doubted anybody had ever seen Zeus so professional. It was surprising─pleasant.
When Annabeth and Percy left the room, they were happy. Only one thing could dampen their moods. Their parents.
(See, the story hasn't collapsed because I haven't furthered the cliches─even if I must admit it was rushed and lazy of me to do that with Chaos and Order, despite that always being intended. Hence, the title of the story. I'll stop rambling now. Until next chapter, lads! Slán!)
