I thought about everything Percy and my half sister Annabeth had been through over the years and how despite all the odds they had made it. I was in charge of collecting Percy's last surprise for Annabeth and I knew she would cry. Percy had today all planned out. It's funny really when you think about it because Annabeth is usually the one who makes the plans but recently it's been all Percy. He planned for them to go to her dads and his moms and then to come here to camp.
I knew as well as anyone that when Annabeth and Chiron got talking, well let's just say Annabeth would be distracted enough for Percy to come and collect his surprise. I was sat on my bunk stroking the Doberman puppy when Percy walked in. "Hey Malcom" he said "oh wow, she's beautiful" he said when I passed him the puppy.
"You know she's going to cry right?" I asked.
"Yeah I do" he said "I figure we've got about five more minutes before she gets here". He's probably right too. "How are you Malcolm?" He asked me.
"I'm okay" I said and as I did even I knew it was half hearted.
"What's wrong?" He asked me.
"It's not important today" I said and he frowned.
"I disagree and Annabeth would too" he said.
"I'm sorry" I said sitting in my bunk "I just, I see how happy she is and I wonder..."
"If the same could be true for you" he said and I nodded I felt so stupid and for a child of Athena that was not a good feeling. "Of course it can Malcolm -"
"But I'm a child of Athena, I'm supposed to -" I huffed as I couldn't finish my thought.
Percy chuckled
"Y'know you remind me a lot of Annabeth when we first met. She also told me something similar. Everyone has a soul mate Malcolm, Annabeth is mine and you'll find yours Malcolm I know you will" he said.
"How very Aphrodite of you" her voice said.
"Annabeth" I said standing to go and hug my sister "how are you?" I asked her.
"I'm okay" I said and this time I meant it "congratulations by the way"
"Thank you" she said and looked over at Percy. "Why did you sneak off to my cabin?" She asked him and her eyes went wide as if she noticed for the first time what he was holding.
Annabeth's P.O.V
Chiron and I continued to talk and catch up before eventually I decided I should go and find Percy. I had a pretty good idea of where he might be; the Athena cabin, which meant only one thing - he was up to something.
I stood in the doorway of my old cabin waiting for a time to cut into their conversation. I knew Malcolm wanted to find love and I knew he would, I also knew as a child of Athena myself that we quite often got too wrapped up in our projects to allow ourselves to find love even when it's staring us so obviously in the face. I knew I was lucky that I had Percy and we'd been through more than anyone should ever have to, and still we had each other and that was what mattered. I knew Malcolm would find someone too as apparently did Percy.
"How very Aphrodite of you" I said to my future husband who blushed.
"Annabeth" Malcolm said standing and walking over to give me a hug.
"How are you?" I asked him
"I'm okay" He said "congratulations by the way"
"Thank you" I said smiling and I looked over at Percy. "Why did you sneak off to my cabin?" I asked him and as I did I noticed something he was holding in his hands and I felt my eyes go wide. I could see Malcolm smiling next to me as Percy approached and held out the puppy for me to take.
"She's for me?" I asked tears welling in my eyes - she was beautiful and looked so similar to the one we had when I was a little girl.
"Yes, she is" Percy said smiling at me and I could feel the tears falling down my face silently as I greeted the puppy.
"What's her name?" I whispered as that's all I could manage.
"She doesn't have one yet" Malcolm said and my brain started racing with ideas of what we could call her. Her fur was as dark as night and I knew what I'd call her.
"Nightshade" I said and the puppy licked my face in approval. I looked at Percy and he smiled knowing exactly why I'd picked that name.
We chatted with Malcolm and a few of my other siblings for quite a while before leaving cabin six. We stopped by cabin three before leaving camp just so Percy could look in - the cabin was still empty since Percy and I had moved in together and I knew part of him missed it, I missed it too. We had some good memories in that cabin, I thought smiling to myself.
We made one last stop before heading home, the Aphrodite cabin. Piper was waiting on the steps as we approached with Nightshade in my arms. Piper smiled when she saw us and gave us both a hug and stroked Nightshade's head before settling on the steps again. She looked at my left hand and smiled, I had a feeling she had already seen the ring.
"So, when's the wedding?" She asked her tone light, teasing us. Percy had picked up on it and I saw a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"We thought we might elope" he said "maybe next week" and I could tell he was struggling to keep a straight face, besides the fact that Piper looked ready to kill him, I knew his mother would.
"You" she growled "do not get to do that" she said and Percy and I burst into fits of laughter.
"Piper, he's not being serious, his mother would kill him" I said.
"Oh" she said and suddenly I got the impression something was bothering her, I could see Percy had picked up on it too.
"Wise Girl" Percy said, "I've forgotten something, can I leave you with Piper and Nightshade and head home? Do you mind?" He asked out loud but he was having a silent conversation with his eyes with me.
"Why don't you take Nightshade with you, get her settled in" I said, kissing his cheek, handing her to him. "I won't be far behind, I'm sure"
He smiled and whistled for Blackjack and the cantered off, which I thought was for the best, I'm not sure such a young puppy would like air travel. I turned towards Piper.
"What's wrong?" I asked my friend.
"I'm sorry Annabeth" she said "I didn't mean to ruin your day"
"Piper you haven't ruined my day" I replied "I love how much effort Percy put into today, but it's not going to stop me being concerned about our family" I said.
"I just-"she started and I think I knew what it was about but she was unsure where to start. "Since Jason y'know" she said and I did I smiled sadly at her and nodded "I've been worried I would never find what you and Percy have, can you imagine that, a daughter of Aphrodite that can't find love?!" She laughed a little bitterly and she reminded me a little of my brother Malcolm.
"Piper, you'll find love again, I know you will. I was actually hoping I could ask you a favour but it doesn't matter" I said thinking better of it and wishing I hadn't said anything at all.
"Sure, anything you know that" she said to me and I could tell that she was serious.
"I was wondering if you could help my brother Malcolm, he doesn't think he'll find love and if anyone can guide him I know it's you" I said "I'm sorry" I said "I realise it's hitting a little close to home"
"No, it's okay" she said "of course I'll help Malcolm, you'll be surprised how much helping someone else find love heals your heart" she said and then gave me a curious smile. "So, tell me how he did it?" She asked.
We sat in the steps of the Aphrodite cabin as I recounted the proposal and we chatted about other things. A couple of hours went by and the sun started to set. It was nice to hear her laugh genuinely again and I could see the plan for Malcolm coming to the front of her mind.
"You should get going" she said as the conch horn sounded for dinner. "Tell Percy thanks for me" she gave me a hug and we promised to catch up soon before I whistled Blackjack myself to fly home.
~~Author's Note~~
I really hope you are enjoying this, please let me know your thoughts so far and i'm sorry this upload is so short.
Up next more from Percy, happy reading
