Annabeth's P.O.V
I woke up and after breakfast, I iris messaged Leo about the network for the phone telling him what Percy had figured out.
"Wait, so we need to speak to the rainbow Goddess?" Leo said.
"Yes, Percy, Hazel and Frank have met her before, a couple of years ago. I'm going to travel to meet Frank, hopefully he can give me a location" I said.
"Sure sure, why can't Percy give you it?" Leo asked.
"It was on their quest to free the god of death, I think Percy was incapacitated when they found the Goddess, he said Frank would remember." I replied, a shiver went through me, a quest I wasn't able to help him with because Hera had separated us. Fortunately he'd been in very good hands. I tried to turn off the memories that started to flood in from that time.
"So anyway I think what we need is like a rainbow SIM card equivalent- I'm just not sure what it'll look like or quite how it'll work but if Lady Iris is willing perhaps we can work it out today. I thought I'd take Butch with me." I said.
"Okay" Leo said and I could already see I'd lost his attention to another absent-minded project that he had on the go.
"I'll contact you when I get back" I said and he looked up from what he was doing.
"Okay, be safe Annabeth" he told me.
"You too Leo"
We disconnected and I finished packing for my trip to New Rome to see Frank. I could have Iris messaged him too but I wanted to drop in and say hello.
"You'll be safe won't you?" Percy asked me, leaning on the doorframe to our bedroom as I packed.
"Of course Seaweed Brain, you're not getting rid of me that easily." I replied and he smiled at me, but I could tell he was nervous. "You know you could always come with me, if it'll settle your nerves."
"No" he shook his head "we've talked about this, I'm not always going to be able to be right next to you and it's unfair of me to ask it. I'm getting better at it, but I'll always worry about you Wise Girl."
"I worry about you too Seaweed Brain, and you're not the only one who struggles with this, I do too." I told him, it would be the first night we've had apart in almost three years, I wasn't sure how I was going fair on my own especially as I would be outside the magic boundaries of the village.
"I know, and I would come if I didn't have things to do here and I need to look after Nightshade." He was hiding something it I didn't push it. "But, iris message me if you need anything" he said seriously and I knew he meant at night.
"I don't want to wake you" I started but he cut me off
"I'd rather be woken and be able to help, you know that." He said, and walked over to me from where he had been.
I nodded in agreement; he kissed my cheek before handing me one of his hoodies to take with me for comfort.
I met Butch by the Pegasus stables; he already had Blackjack and Porkpie ready to go. The trip to New Rome was relatively quick, with a few breaks for the Pegasi; we arrived on the edge of the outer limit of the city by 11am. Hazel met us near the statue of Terminus.
"Hey Hazel" I said as I hugged her gently, she was four months pregnant now and she was starting to show, it suited her, I knew she'd be a good mom. "You remember Butch?" I asked.
"Yes, hi Butch, glad you could make it, Frank's at home. I was half expecting Percy to be with you." She said smiling, she knew me pretty well.
"He's busy planning something" I said rolling my eyes and she laughed, leading the way through New Rome to their home.
We caught up briefly with Frank and Hazel before setting off to speak to Iris. Frank told us where we would find her, I'd underestimated how long it would take for us to get there but eventually by 4pm we had made it. Butch looked really nervous when we landed and I understood that, it's not every day one meets their godly parent.
"You okay Butch?" I asked.
"Yeah, just hope she likes me, you know?" He said.
"Yeah, I know what you mean, I'm sure she will." I said trying to comfort him but the truth was I'd never met the rainbow goddess either, Frank said she was nice though and I trusted him.
We stepped into the shop and as I looked around I was struck by how many different types of organic things there were. Frank and Hazel had both said that there would be, but still it hadn't really prepared me. Grover would love this shop, I thought to myself.
Percy's P.O.V
I spent most of the day in the Aphrodite cabin talking to Piper about the spa day.
"That sounds great Piper, thank you so much!" I said to her.
"I'm glad you're happy with the plan, I think it's really sweet that you're doing all of this for Annabeth." She told me.
"Please don't channel you mom at me" I teased her. "But, thank you, I always know I'm doing something right when you tell me that." I told her truthfully.
She smirked at me, as if to say 'see I know what I'm talking about'. "Percy there's a reason mom ships you and Annabeth so much."
"Don't tell me" I said smiling "it's because it's true love" I repeated what Aphrodite had said on Olympus the last time we were there. I was teasing Piper but, I knew Annabeth was the only one for me.
"Well yes, but it's also things like this that you do for her, that just prove how true it is." She told me.
"Thanks" I said, I knew I was blushing, but I wasn't embarrassed about how I felt about Annabeth, I'd love her forever. "So, how is the planning going for the bachelorette party?" I asked her, changing the subject.
She smiled at me like she knew something I didn't and then said "it's going well" when she didn't elaborate I asked if I could do anything to help. "No, I think we've got it all in hand, thanks though." Okay, my curiosity was peaked; I wanted to know what the plan was, Gods I'd been spending too much time with Annabeth, wanting to know plans, though I wouldn't change that.
"I just want her to have a good one, and I'm sure whatever you have planned is great, just let me know if you change your mind and I can help in any way." I was trying not to pry, if they wanted it to be a surprise I could live with that.
"Okay, I'll let you know if I think of anything." She said in a tone like I had no idea what was going on, and I have to admit I didn't, but I wish I did. Deciding not to give her the satisfaction of know just how much I did want to know what the plan was, I changed the subject again.
"How are things with you?" I asked, Piper was like a really cool younger sister, I did want to know how things were, especially as we don't really catch up as much as we should. I decided I'd mention a meeting of the Argo II team and Nico and Reyna to Annabeth see if we couldn't rectify that.
"Things are good, thank you. I feel like they are falling into place a bit better now." She replied.
"Because of Malcolm?" I teased, she blushed and nodded. "I'm glad you're happy Piper" I said and I really was, it was nice to see her with a smile plastered to her face ninety nine percent of the time.
"Thanks Percy, I really am" she said.
"And everything cabin wise is ok?" I asked though if it wasn't, I wasn't sure what I was going to do, I'd never had anyone in my cabin that I had had to take care of. Even though I had Tyson, quite often it was him that cleared up the cabin for inspection and stuff like that. I'm not sure I'd have been a good head counsellor had I been in a cabin with as many kids as Piper's or Annabeth's.
"Yeah not bad there are a few fights over bets on couples etc. But since the invites were sent for your wedding most of the gossip and conversation has been about that." She told me.
"Has it really?" I said surprised.
"Of course it has!" She told me laughing "your moms favourite demigod couple how could we not discuss it?! Though it's difficult trying to keep them from arguing without telling them too much about your plans. You've not got any snippets of information I can feed down to them have you?" She asked.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Like what song you've chosen for your first dance or what your suits will look like, y'know stuff like that." She said and I got the feeling she wasn't just fishing for information to keep the cabins gossip up. She was fishing because she didn't know and Annabeth wasn't here for girl talk.
"Sorry Piper, some of those things are top secret, especially the song choice." I teased her, what could I tell her? "I haven't got much for you but all I will say is that I've planned a few surprises for the honeymoon, and Annabeth has no idea I've done it. But, if you ask her where we're going you'll probably figure out my plan." I said cryptically. What?! I'm not just going to spill the beans so people can talk about it, she'd have to figure it out if she want to gossip about it.
"Okay Percy, challenge accepted, if I ask you and I get right though you'll tell me?" She asked.
"I'll let you know if you're right or not" I replied. I saw a twinkle in her eye she rarely showed me and I felt like I'd just given her a new couple to match up or something and I told her as such.
"It's an Aphrodite-ism" she told me "the thrill of discovering a romantic gesture; it's hard not to get excited as her daughter." She confessed and I chuckled.
"I'll take your word for it" I told her.
We chatted a bit more about camp and how she felt things were going with the year round campers. Malcolm came to find her around four and we parted ways.
I headed home to take Nightshade for a long walk. I took her all the way around the village twice before we headed home and I fed her.
I knew I'd been avoiding home since Annabeth had left, it sounds ridiculous but the house feels empty without her, I wasn't looking forward to a night without her sleeping next to me, her lemon scent that always settles me, wouldn't be there.
I debated sending Annabeth an iris message but I looked at my watch and thought better of it. She'd probably still be with Iris and Fleecy and I didn't want to interrupt her meeting. I had no doubt that it would go well and in spite of the fact I missed her terribly I found myself smiling. She always had a way of making me smile even if it was only because I was thinking about her.
I decided to take out the photo albums from our years at camp and I got lost in the memories while stroking Nightshade's head.
Piper's P.O.V
I knew Percy was teasing me when he offered me the information about the honeymoon. But, he had no idea how much that would help settle the cabin, give them something to mull over, it would inevitably start arguments once they'd decided where they thought Percy and Annabeth would go but to start off with it would be a calming piece of information.
Percy seriously under estimated me though if he thought I wouldn't figure out his surprise for her once I knew where they were going. The more I thought about it, the more I thought maybe he wanted me to figure it out. He wanted someone to tell him his plan was romantic and that Annabeth would like it. He wanted to know his plan was worthy of her.
I tried to contain my excitement, I didn't often channel Mom, the way my siblings did, but when it came to Percy and Annabeth I couldn't help myself. You had to appreciate true love when you saw it.
I don't know what people think I mean when I say that but as a child of Aphrodite, I could see love, it wasn't just a feeling. It's like an aura I suppose but it's not present all the time, and it's only visible to children of Aphrodite. Take Percy and Annabeth for example; when they have one of their silent conversations their love aura was present. Whenever love was strongest the aura was present, so basically Percy and Annabeth had a light aura all the time but it got stronger when loving actions took place. True love, how can you not see it?!
They were so easy together; they just knew what the other needed, like they'd been together forever. It was almost like they were made for each other, which in my opinion they were. Percy and Annabeth were the love story everyone wanted, it was a love story for the ages. No wonder they were mom's favourite couple.
Will's P.O.V
Nico and I sat in our favourite spot at camp, a quite spot in the forest that you could see most of camp from.
"Have you remembered we're going for dinner at Percy and Annabeth's tomorrow night?" I asked him.
"I hadn't, it's a good job I have you to remind me." He said and he seemed distracted, more so than usual.
"What's going on in there?" I asked tapping his head, it was a thing we did to let the other know, we knew something was up, but it also allowed us to talk about anything, if we didn't want to talk about what was bugging us.
"Not much" he said "I was just thinking about Bianca and Hazel."
"She'd be proud of you, Bianca I mean and I know Hazel is."
"Thanks Will, do you think" he paused "do you think I'll make a good uncle?" He asked me.
"I mean obviously uncle Will is going to be the coolest" I teased "but, yes Nico you'll make a great uncle. Is this what you're worried about?" I asked him.
"Well I'm not the best with people and-"
I stopped him "Nico you're so good with Estelle, she loves it when you play Greeks vs. Monsters with her. And I know you'll be just as good with baby Zhang." I told him and I meant it.
"Thanks" he smiled at me "oh it'll have to be Romans vs. Monsters won't it?" He asked.
"Maybe just heroes vs. monsters" I respond "seeing as we're working in peace with the Romans now" I said and he nodded still stuck in thought.
"What do you think they'll call him or her?" He asked and it wasn't often Nico was so sentimental so I decided to cherish it and continue the conversation.
"Well Will is a pretty excellent boys name and for a girl Wilma" I was joking, well at least about the girls name! He laughed.
"I don't think they'll call a girl Wilma."
"They probably won't call a boy Will either" I pointed out.
We spent the next few hours discussing the possibilities of names and there were so many we came up with. It was funny I actually found one that I really liked and I thought one day if we adopted a baby maybe we could call them that. With babies and weddings flying around it had given me a lot of things to think about.
We didn't live normal lives as demigods or at least we never used too, the Greek Village offered a lot to be desired. My eighteenth birthday was coming up and I'd been thinking about moving to the village, but I still wanted to be a medic for the camp. I wanted to settle down with Nico there someday. I just hoped he wanted that too.
Rachel's P.O.V
I was looking forward to October this year more so than any other October in my life. Why? Well two of my closest friends are getting married. I couldn't wait; when the invitation had turned up I was so excited that I'd responded immediately.
I thought back to the summer I had first met Annabeth and how we hadn't really gotten along all that well, because she was jealous of something that wasn't there. We could laugh about it now but at the time, she really wasn't happy.
I thought about the next summer where I had tried to pursue Percy. He was so oblivious that it hadn't gone anywhere even when I kissed him. Deep down I had always known Annabeth liked him and I think I'd also always known he'd liked her. But, a girl had to try right? I laughed at how silly I had been back then.
Knowing what I know now about the world we live in how could he have ever liked me as anything more than a friend when he was so obviously meant to be with Annabeth. Though with his half stories and his obliviousness to not just his own feelings but everyone who has ever had a crush on him it wasn't like I had much chance of knowing that at the time.
Nowadays I was approaching graduation; there was a cute guy in my class that I was going to ask out once I'd finished my time as the oracle. His name was Evan and he was as normal as they came in comparison to the demigods I knew. But we enjoyed each other's company and were good friends. Hopefully once the new oracle took over we'd be more than that.
Anyway I digress, the wedding, I couldn't wait, and I just had a feeling, I wouldn't call it a prophecy, let's call it a hunch, that it was going to be one of the most magical weddings I've ever attended.
Annabeth's P.O.V
By the time Butch and I had finished talking to Iris and Fleecy it was almost eight. I didn't realise how long we had been talking about my plan and they both seemed really interested in setting up a cellular network for the demigods at both camps. Butch and his mom had a private chat for the last hour while Fleecy and I discussed the finer points of how it would work with the offerings of drachmas.
Before we left we'd sent a message to Frank and Hazel to say that by the time we got back to them it would be so late that we were just going to try and push through back to Long Island so not to wait up but thank you so much for the offer. I tried sending Percy a message too to let him know we'd be home in the early hours of the morning but I couldn't get it to connect. I thought with breaks for the Pegasi and for us we'd be home by about 4/5am.
~8 or so hours later~
Butch and I touched down on the beach of camp half blood and I was knackered. I had deliberately not slept all the way home, just in case I got a nightmare. I told Butch to go back to his cabin; I would take the Pegasi back to the stables.
Once I'd put extra hay down and a large bowl of apples for each Pegasus, I made my way home.
Nightshade barked at the early intrusion to our home and I shushed her. Once she heard my voice her tail started wagging uncontrollably.
"Hey girl" I whispered "I missed you too" I stroked her head.
I found Percy passed out on the sofa and I shook my head and muttered "Seaweed Brain."
I removed the photo album from his lap and lifted his legs up onto the sofa before placing a blanket over him. Nightshade jumped on the sofa and wiggled her way in front of him so she was curled up against his chest, and snuggled in like it was the best place to sleep.
"You're not wrong" I whispered to her. I made my way up to bed, now I was home I needed sleep.
Percy's P.O.V
I woke up to Nightshade licking my face and pawing my chest. What time was it? I looked at the clock on the wall 8am, okay so her breakfast is a little late I can see why she's pestering me. I got up off the sofa and noticed a blanket fall off me. I frowned because I definitely didn't have that when I fell asleep. I also hadn't been lying down on the sofa; I had been looking at photographs. I fed Nightshade and noticed Annabeth's bag was by the back door. She was home. Suddenly the blanket made sense.
She wasn't supposed to be back for another few hours, I hoped everything was okay. I needed to shower and dress anyway so I went upstairs and found Annabeth crashed out in our bed. Even sleeping she looks beautiful. I grabbed a change of clothes as quietly as I could and went to sort myself out for the day.
Will and Nico we're coming for dinner, Annabeth and Will had gotten really close, something about dating a child of the big three? I don't know, but I was glad they had such a good friendship. Nico and I had patched things up pretty well too, we hung out quite a bit and often he asked me for advice. Sometimes he felt like a little brother to me which was cool, though Annabeth made me swear not to go on anymore secret quests to the underworld with him. Something about almost dying in the river Styx and her worrying, oops! My bad!
I promised. I didn't want her to worry about me ever.
I decided to leave Annabeth to sleep she must have done a round trip almost to get back before I woke up. I hoped she was okay.
I took Nightshade out for her morning walk and then set to work cleaning the downstairs. By the time it reached 10am I thought I better wake her, she'd kill me if she missed the whole day.
"Annabeth" I said tentatively as I shook her shoulders.
"Five more minutes" she begged but sat up in bed anyway.
"Sorry" I said "It's 10 o'clock and I know how you hate sleeping through the day"
"Oh Gods! Percy I'm sorry I didn't mean to sleep so late" she said, I smiled at her.
"You obviously needed it, what time did you come home?" I asked, concerned.
"About 5am" she said looking sheepishly at me.
"Why didn't you stay at Hazel and Franks?" I asked.
"Well by the time we'd have made it back to them it would have been after midnight. I didn't want Hazel worrying especially as she's pregnant so I said we'd just come back home. I did try to call you be for some reason I couldn't connect." Fair enough I thought.
"Do you want more time to sleep?" I asked her aware that she'd not had that much sleep.
"No I'll shower and be down in a minute, have you remembered Will and Nico are coming for dinner tonight?" She asked as she got up and headed for the bathroom.
"Yeah, I was just going to start the prep for tonight's dinner, I just wanted to check on you first." I said and she smiled at me before disappearing into the bathroom for a shower.
I headed back downstairs to the kitchen. I had quite a simple plan for tonight's dinner. I was going to slow cook a beef brisket and pull it for burgers. I thought I'd do triple cooked chips and make some homemade sauces to go with. Our homemade sauce collection was running low, I hadn't made any in a while and that was what was going to take the time to make today.
I decided on three, ketchup, BBQ and mayo and maybe if I had time a mustard mayo. I set to work chopping tomatoes and weighing out spices. The ketchup and the BBQ sauce were going to take the most time.
Annabeth joined me in the kitchen once she'd showered.
"Do you want something to eat?" I asked looking up from what I was doing.
"I'll sort it, don't worry, can I help with anything?" She asked.
"I don't think so, but I'd love company, unless you wanted to carry on with your project." I said, she smiled at me, Gods I love her smile.
"I was going to take a break from it today" she told me as she sat down on the other side of the island with a bagel. I walked around the island and made a show of checking her temperature with the back of my hand. She punched me playfully knowing full well what I was doing. I chuckled before I went back to weighing.
She smiled ruefully at me and shook her head before telling me about her meeting with the rainbow goddess as I started throwing tomatoes and sugar into a pan.
"Sounds productive" I said stirring the ketchup trying to get the flavour right. "What will you do about the SIM card?" I asked.
"Well Fleecy is going to send a prototype when Iris has come up with the best way to put a rainbow into a SIM card, I suggested blessing it, but I don't know how she'll do it." She said. "Then Leo and I will have to adapt our prototype to fit it and then we'll have to test it to see if it really is safe."
"Sounds like it's going to keep you busy. Is there anything I can do wedding wise to free you up a little? I know between that, Clarisse and Chris' house and the phone you're really stretched for time." I said; this earned me another smile.
"No that's okay; we're doing quite well on the wedding planning. We've only really got the table plan and your suits to sort."
"Right- well leave the suits to me and then we'll do the table plan together - that leaves you at least one and half things less to do." I said stirring the ketchup, I tried it, it was close to what I wanted, it needed a smidging of salt and then it needed to simmer for an hour.
I had to do the ketchup first because I needed to use it for the BBQ sauce.
"Thank you" she said, she got up and kissed my cheek before taking the spoon that I was stirring the ketchup with. I smiled, I loved days like this where we cooked together and conversed with ease. It was almost - mortal, no that wasn't the right word, I thought to myself, what was the word I wanted - domesticated, that was it. I laughed.
"What?" Annabeth asked me.
"Did you ever think that this" I gestured to us cooking and our home "would be our normal seven years ago?" I asked and she also laughed.
"Gods no" she said "I could barely admit I had a crush on you, and I wanted so badly to lead a quest, I don't think I ever thought I'd be this happy." She said and the thought made me sad.
"You didn't think you'd be happy?" I asked.
"I mean I hoped, but let's be honest I wasn't on the best terms with my dad and my family, I was going home for the first time in years to try and mend bridges because of your advice. Luke had just tried to kill you. But, I had you, my best friend, so I was happy. I just didn't know I could be this happy, does that make sense?" She asked me.
"I think I get it." I said leaning over to kiss her. "I'm glad you're happy Annabeth" I said truthfully.
She smiled and kissed me again. Gods, she made me so happy.
I thought about what she had said and I guess she was right. I had a pretty rough first summer here at camp, though there were some amazing things that came from it, like my friendship with Annabeth. I understood what she meant I never thought I'd be this lucky. But Gods, I'm so glad I am.
~Author's Note~
ILovebookshi – thank you for your kind words – hope the work on your novel is going well! I always dreamed of publishing a book just never thought I was good enough to do so. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Up next the dinner with Will and Nico and then probably a time skip to the Bachelorette and Bachelor parties. – Send me a review if you've thought of any truths from Annabeth or the other girls if not I have.
Thank you all for reading and your reviews when you have a chance to write them they really brighten my day when they come through. Happy reading all! I Hope you enjoy!
