In which Annabeth gets the answers she deserves- and they're all adorable. Also- Annabeth really, really loves Percy reading to them. Seriously- waking up to her celebrity/fictional crush reading the Odyssey- one of her favorite heroes stories to her in ancient Greek? Is it any wonder the poor girl is smitten.
Replies:
Ryan Fowler: Hades is very perceptive lol.
Undeath9087: Hades is considering his options lol- after all Percy now knows so he'll start thinking. We will be seeing them reasonably soon.
Thickneck: I mean, Hades can easily fetch them out.
AarBeaZ: So many questions so little time. And possible spoilers, to answer some of them- there won't be the fight with Ares, and you'll have to wait to see how the SOM stuff happens.
Brooklynn 99 Fan: Well you made me laugh.
Guest: As far as I can tell it wasn't just the breaking of the pact that made Hades so angry at Zeus, it was the hypocrisy and the fact that Zeus killed Maria and tried to kill his children who were born before the pact- then he forced Hades into a pact and then to rub salt in the wound he broke the pact. Posiedon may have broken the pact but it was far less personal.
Guest: Heh, Hades will have them fetched out himself when he decides to.
Guest: Yep, and Percy will call them out.

When Percy returned from the Underworld the first thing she did- when the others got back from the Brooklyn Museum, was pull Annabeth and Piper to her room so that they could talk privately. And Annabeth clearly realised something was up instantly because she shifted nervously once she was sat on the bed. "Percy why do you look so serious."

"I visited the Underworld. I visited Hades."

"What?" Annabeth tensed slightly. As much as she'd said she wanted to meet Cerberus, Percy knew that Annabeth did have understandable issues with Hades. She knew that Annabeth didn't want to ever have to meet him. That she blamed the god for what had happened to Thalia. Oh she'd undoubtedly face him if she had no choice but she didn't want to.

Annabeth was just stubborn like that. She'd do whatever it took. Even threaten to tell the gods on the boy who had been a brother to her for several years because it was the right thing. Percy had to admit that she was impressed by Annabeth's determination there. But then, she'd paid the price for that hadn't she?

Though- Percy and Walt were working together to try and at least help with Annabeth's right hand. But Percy pushed away those thought. That so was not the important thing right now.

"I wanted to know why he hunted your friend like that." Percy told Annabeth.

"You- is that why we went to the museum today?" Annabeth's eyes narrowed and she glanced at Piper, "Did you know-"

"Yes." Piper nodded, "I knew-"

"That's stupid!" Annabeth burst out, "The gods don't usually take well to people questioning them- Percy what if Hades had gotten angry with you-"

"Eh, Hades likes me." Percy waved a hand dismissively. "I'm an Underworld kid I have special privileges. He's friends with dad- who I totally need to introduce you to soon. But uh- I did talk to him. And I kind of got some answers."

"You-" Annabeth paused, "You did." her voice was hesitant, "I- I mean I thought it was just because Zeus broke the Oath and Hades was angry about it."

"I mean, he was angry but there was more to it." Percy took a deep breath before she launched into her story, telling her friends what Hades had told her.

Annabeth sat silently for several long minutes after Percy was done, and Piper grabbed her hand, squeezing gently as Annabeth closed her eyes, clearly fighting back her own tears.

"My- my big sister died because-" she swallowed hard. "I- it was still wrong. What Hades did was still wrong. We didn't deserve that."

"Of course you didn't." Piper's voice was firm. "He shouldn't have lashed out at your friend for what Zeus did."

"He agreed with that." Percy said quickly, "He knows what he did was wrong. He was angry and he lashed out at the wrong person because lashing out at the right person would have probably ended even worse for him. It was wrong and stupid. But I felt like you had a right to know."

"Thank you." Annabeth's smile was strained, "It- it hurts but... but knowing does help a little bit."

"Good." Percy reached out and grabbed Annabeth's hand. She's also agreed to let me bring you to meet Cerberus when I next visit."

And that prompted a slight smile from Annabeth. "Really?" her voice was almost hopeful, "Because the way you talked about him- I mean, he doesn't exactly sound like the big scary monster everyone always says he is-"

"Annabeth, he's a giant puppy I am telling you-"

"Percy literally climbed all over him." Piper told Annabeth, "It was both adorable and terrifying at the same time. Like, this gigantic three headed dog could probably swallow us in one bite and Percy was just casually laying across one of his necks and scratching his ears-"

"He's a good boy and I will fight anyone who ever tries to harm him-"

"Well. I think we can safely say that Percy is a dog person." Annabeth remarked, her lips twitching slightly, "It would be interesting to see the Underworld- and... I guess Hades isn't the worst. At least he admitted that what he did was wrong. It's a lot more than the gods usually do."

"Then next time I go you and Piper can come with me and we can all spoil Cerby-"

"Please tell me you called him that in front of Hades-" Piper was grinning as Annabeth groaned and Percy nodded cheerfully.

"Oh yeah. Of course I did. What do you take me for a coward."

"Well you're clearly not someone with common sense." Annabeth gave a wry smile, shaking her head. "You're ridiculous Percy Kane. Have I mentioned that before-"

"Once or twice." Percy gave an innocent grin, "I'm still trying to figure out the logistics of kidnapping Ammit and taking him on a play date to Cerberus without pissing off my dad too much-"

"Percy you don't even know if they'd like each other-"

"They're both good puppies." Percy declared, "I want my new friend Cerby to meet Poochikins the Hippodoodle."

"Hippo-" Annabeth blinked, "You know what Percy. I wish I could just see how your brain works because I genuinely have no clue how you function as a person."

"It's the chaos." Piper remarked, "It's a part of her now."

"I'm aware." Annabeth snorted, "I nearly had a heart attack when I read about the Sea of Chaos stuff-"

"I'm alive! Honestly you guys just worry too much. It's not like I died-"

"No, no just nearly died."

"See, so it doesn't count." Percy waved a hand, "Now stop this conversation because you're going to start yelling at me again if we continue on that line of thought-"

"I'm just saying that jumping down the throat of a gigantic snake made out of chaos is not exactly a sane thing to do-" Annabeth started before Piper spoke up.

"I mean, it was real freaking stylish though- by the way I will be punching your arm repeatedly when that scene comes on in the movie-"

"I can't believe you actually invited me to the premiere." Annabeth admitted, a faintly giddy look on her face before, "I dunno if I should go though- I mean my friend, Silena she-"

"And we told you." Percy lightly nudged Annabeth, "We can give you a makeover so they won't recognise you. I actually own a few wigs, we'll fix you up."

"You- own wigs?"

"Only for when we're causing major trouble." Percy grinned as Piper snickered. "I mean, pure white hair's not that common so if I ever want to make sure no one pays me too much attention I have a few wigs I can use. And make up is your friend."

"I might not wear it often but apparently I have a gift." Piper let out a little huff, "If it wasn't for Percy I'm pretty sure I'd hate it but I mean, it is useful for some things."

"Okay- okay so I'll probably be safe." Annabeth was clearly trying to suppress her little smile. "You- you'd really like me to go with you?"

"Honestly, these things can be pretty fun but after the first few it gets kind of boring, having someone new with us will spice it up a lil', right Pipes?"

"Of course." Piper nodded quickly, "And the best thing about the premiers is that we get to watch people's reactions and feel all smug because we know the truth and they don't. That all of it was real. And we'll get to smack Percy every time she says or does something stupid in the movie-"

"Okay, okay but if you smack me for the blender comment I'm suing because that was genius."

"Yes, we know." Piper's voice was amused. "You made it very clear that you repeatedly insisted and checked that Sally used that line-"

"And if I see that fuck face again I will most certainly be following through." she shoved her hand to the side and when she pulled it free, she pulled a blender out of the Duat- which made Annabeth burst out laughing.

"Percy! Tell me you didn't actually put a blender in the Duat along with your other emergency supplies just so that you can have easy access to one just in case you ever run into Setne again-"

"Oh it's not a just in case Annabeth, It will happen. I don't know where that asshole is but I have no doubt that he's out there scheming away as he does. Evil bastard he is."

"You know you'd think you had some kind of personal grudge against him or something." Piper's voice was filled with sarcasm, "I wonder why ever could that be-"

"That son of a bitch was gonna hand me over to that hissy bastard."

"Ah, but instead you just calmly tossed yourself into the literal Sea of Chaos." Annabeth nodded, a mock serious look on her face, "Totally reasonable given the fact that you didn't know you could freaking survive!"

"Hush now! It was a suicide mission in which I was attempting to take Setne down with me. It was just a failure on both fronts."

"Well if you try any more suicide missions-" Piper said with a forced cheery smile, "I'm going to find a way to ban you from swimming for five years-"

"NOOOOO!" Percy lunged at Piper, gripping her shoulders as they toppled back onto the bed and Annabeth let out a startled laugh. "You can't do this to me!"

"Ack!" Piper was flailing as they then rolled off the bed, Annabeth leaping up and scrambling backwards to get away from the chaos. "Get offa me-"

"Cruel and unusual punishment is illegal!"

"You two are insane." Annabeth was laughing brightly, her hand pressing to her mouth, "You two are completely and totally out of your minds."

"Rude!" Percy lifted her head to mock glare at Annabeth, which got her shoved off of Piper, who pushed herself up onto her elbows.

"Truce?"

"Hm... for now."

"I'll take it."

"Insane." Annabeth smiled faintly, "But you guys are entertaining."

"Yep, we should charge." Percy declared, "But sadly the shows over for today. What should we do now?"

"I would say training." Annabeth gave a sheepish smile, "But I'm feeling kind of exhausted after all that walking around the museum- as fun as it was."

"It was fun." Piper smirked, "Annabeth and Carter are besties now."

"I may not be able to use my right hand but I have been training with my left and I could still stab you with my dagger McLean."

"Now now girls." Percy snickered, "No need for that." she brushed herself down easily, "Well, I'm glad you guys had a nice time at the museum. So no training- what else do you want to do-"

"Can-" Annabeth's face flushed, "Can- I've finished the Blake Adventures books but-when I was in the infirmary you were reading the Odyssey to me- can- I mean- it was nice." and Percy felt her own face flushing as Piper straightened up, "That does sound pretty nice to be honest. Have I ever told you you have a real pretty voice Percy. Especially in ancient Greek. You should do audiobooks-"

"I'll consider it. Though if I did it in Greek only Demigod would use them." as she said that she moved to her desk, picking up her copy of the book as Piper and Annabeth got comfortable on the bed.

Once she had it she joined them and she started to read.

"Telemachus answered boldly, for Athena had given him courage to ask about his father and get himself a good name.

"Nestor," said he, "son of Neleus, honor to the Achaean name, you ask whence we come, and I will tell you. We come from Ithaca under Neritum, and the matter about which I would speak is of private not public import. I seek news of my unhappy father Odysseus, who is said to have sacked the town of Troy in company with yourself. We know what fate befell each one of the other heroes who fought at Troy, but as regards Odysseus heaven has hidden from us the knowledge even that he is dead at all, for no one can certify us in what place he perished, nor say whether he fell in battle on the mainland, or was lost at sea amid the waves of Amphitrite. Therefore I am suppliant at your knees, if haply you may be pleased to tell me of his melancholy end, whether you saw it with your own eyes, or heard it from some other traveller, for he was a man born to trouble. Do not soften things out of any pity for me, but tell me in all plainness exactly what you saw. If my brave father Odysseus ever did you loyal service, either by word or deed, when you Achaeans were harassed among the Trojans, bear it in mind now as in my favor and tell me truly all.""