Chapter 5: Big Sister

Piper's P.O.V

"Zara babe is that you?" I asked meeting Annabeth and her daughter near Thalia's pine tree.

"Auntieeee Pippa!" she cooed.

Zara was the perfect mix of Percy and Annabeth. She had Percy's sea green eyes and Annabeth's blond princess curls. Her hair was still short, but one could mistake her to be the daughter of Aphrodite. Percy started being overprotective the minute she was born. To think it has only been a year that me and Jason arrived at the hospital an hour later after Annabeth went into labor only to see Percy frantically walking back and forth in the hallway was unbelievable.

"Are you coming to the store with us, Princess?"

"Yeeass, mommy come with me too!"

"Oh! Mommy's coming with us? I don't want mommy to come with me. I only want you. Will you come?" She started shaking her head no and hugging Annabeth to which Annabeth smiled. Zara was smart for a 2 year old. She already learned to speak many words at this age and that definitely shows she got her fair share of DNA from Annabeth.

I replied with a frown "Fine! She can come if we get icecream after, alright?"

"Ssscream, yayyy!"

"Will you come to auntie piper now?" She started to smile and point her hands toward me hinting that she accepts. I took her from Annabeth and walked to their car. After placing her back in her car seat, we started the drive to the store.

"She really loves you, Piper. I mean, she doesn't even go near Thalia when she visits. I think she is scared of her like Percy." Annabeth chuckled.

"Smart Girl, I think you mean careful not scared. Thalia is sweet..once you get to know her. But when she wants to be scary, she IS scary!"

"Do you have an idea of what you want to wear, Pipes?"

"Not really? Any suggestions?"

"Piper I am not qualified or expertised to give you suggestions in wedding dresses. In fact, that should be your area of expertise. You have good taste in clothing."

"All I wear is a tank top and shorts. Are you sure?"

"Yes! For the gods sake Piper, you are the daughter of Aphrodite. You just don't show it. Whether you wear it or not, you helped me pick my wedding dress and all those options were breathtaking"

"I have a reputation to hold, Annabeth." I replied with a smirk.

"That sounds like something Leo would say, but I hope you won't hold to that reputation on the big day. Because Piper it really is magical. I'm glad you helped me that day."

"Was it really that magical for you?" she nodded. I loved talking to Annabeth. She was like a big sister to me. In the Aphrodite cabin, I had to be the older one. But with Annabeth, I didn't even have to try. She was already wise considering her parentage and extra wiser because she is Annabeth Chase or Annabeth Jackson now.

"Enough about me, how's Percy. How are you doing?" I asked.

"Percy's at work, so I had to bring Zara with me. And I'm doing great. Really glad that I don't have to stay at home. Now that my job at Olympus is over, I'm thinking of creating my own architectural firm, but it gets really boring to stay at home when Zara sleeps." Annabeth continued to discuss about her plans for the future company, while we made our way for to the store. Finally after an hour, we arrived.

I remember coming here with Annabeth and Calypso for their shopping, the store lady was super helpful and nice. It was quite a scene to watch hyper Calypso going over the dresses. She had a lot of coffee that day. And I mean a lot. Everything in the store was white just as it was a year ago, except for the conventional dresses which had an entire separate section. Normally, I would opt for the conventional in clothing. But for this occasion, like Annabeth said I think the traditional will cover the 'magic' for me.

Annabeth helped me pick out dresses with the dressing assistant. Most of the dresses they picked were either mermaid or princess type and I really liked one that Annabeth picked out for me. But I one dress caught my eye when I entered the store. It was a beautiful A-line dress. The front was plain white and V-necked held by spaghetti straps. The back was net and lace with beautiful floral patterns. From the waist it was a long beautiful plain train. But, I really liked the princess dress that Annabeth picked. It was a plain long sleeved princess dress. It might have looked very bland at first if you saw it on a mannequin, but once you try it on it fits just right. With my indecisiveness, I decided to try on the A-line dress. I came out of the room, not knowing how it looks on me. I was about to look at myself when, Annabeth stopped me.

"Piper, this is just...Hold on, close your eyes."

Obliging to her command, I closed my eyes and stood near the mirror, still not knowing how it looked on me. I could hear slight whispering from possibly Annabeth and the assistant. Suddenly, I felt my hair being tied. I could feel the slight weight of something that has been placed on my head. Possibly a veil?

"Open your eyes Piper" Annabeth whispered into my ear.

I obliged to her command and it was just "magical." The piece on top of my head was a crystal hair piece. This is the one.

"I'm telling you that Jason will be gawking when you walk down the aisle. Even Zara agrees." Annabeth said. Zara cooed and smiled.

After ordering the dress and leaving the store, we went to an icecream store nearby.

"Look Zara, so many colors and flavors! Which one do you want?" I asked. She pointed to the green one, although I'm not sure a toddler would really like mint at this age. Annabeth and I both got chocolate and surprisingly Zara finished hers. After finishing our Ice creams and chatting about what to do with the orders, we got back into the car.

"This was an awesome girls day out, right Zara?" I questioned in which to she squealed in response.

"So, wedding dress check. What next, wedding planner?" I asked Annabeth.

"The cake, decorations and that's it, wait, yeah I'm pretty sure that's it." she replied

"Isn't Leo taking care of the cake?" I asked.

"Yeah, but he still has not ordered one."

"Ahh. It's probably because of the baby."

"Wait, what baby?" she asked or almost screamed. You could never tell with her.

"Annabeth, I think it's better if they tell you. Besides, there is no need for a rush in cake ordering. There is still a month left." She just didn't speak, the wheels in her brain probably analyzing what I said. Knowing Annabeth she would figure it even before Leo and Calypso tell the group about this news.

"Did Jason order his suit yet?" she asked.

"I don't know. The guys, especially Leo and Jason have started being secretive. I mean he leaves and I search for him at camp. Then he just appears out of nowhere. Doesn't tell me where he went. Says it's a surprise which I'm not at all a fan of. If you tell me that Jason ordered his suit already, I would not at all be surprised." Annabeth patiently listented to my continuous ranting.

"I'm sure it's nothing bad, but I feel like you are not telling me something." Annabeth replied. She really is a clever girl.

"I'm scared Annabeth. What if Jason thinks that our relationship is still not real. I mean I know we have dated actually after the war without being dependent on Hera's memories, but sometimes my mind still nags at me. What if he leaves me thinking he chose the wrong person? What if he still likes Reyna and thinks that he made a bad decision choosing me? I mean if he likes her, then he should go for it. I want him to be happy!"

"Oh Piper, you don't know that...But, Jason proposed to you. And that signifies how madly he is in love with you. No one will take a big step like this unless they want something super serious. And I think Jason found that with you and that is why we are here at this position buying wedding dresses. Tell you what, you could listen to what I say and leave it that. But, if there is still some doubt, there is no such thing better than but asking Jason yourself. And I assure you that you will get an answer."

I looked at Annabeth as she spoke her words of wisdom. She really is the wise sister that I never had. I really did a good choice choosing her as my maid of honor. After a good 15 minutes, Annabeth dropped me at camp. Zara fell asleep during the ride so she took her back home.

So, do you think Piper will leave it at that or ask Jason?