Okay, I'm not one of those authors who talk about music that much, but I have this song stuck in my head and I might as well include it here. It's Babe by Sugarland, ft. Taylor Swift (of course). I would love to stick in some serious drama because of this song, but I'm still too ahead in the plot of any of that. Maybe something small.

Enjoy!

"Oh, hi! No! Don't go there. Stay far away from the parlor," Lacy warned, wringing her hands together. After a moment of hesitation, she gripped Annabeth and Piper's forearms and dragged them down the hall.

Annabeth leaned away from a giant azure and gold statue of Aphrodite as Lacey hurried her away before turning to the young girl. "What's going on, Lacy? What's wrong with the parlor?"

Lacy turned back, her coppery brown eyes wide with fear. "Something bad," she said vaguely before pulling them into another hallway, this one with soft pink wallpaper.

Annabeth looked over at Piper. "What's in the parlor? Why is your sister acting like this?"

"I'd like to know too." Piper pulled her arm out of Lacey's grasp and planting her slippers firmly on the plush purple carpet. "Well? Explain yourself, please."

Lacey folded her hands together. "Sorry, but I didn't want you two to go inside."

"Why?" Annabeth leaned in, her eyebrows drawn in curiosity.

"Well," Lacey hedged, "One of my sisters is in there."

Piper cocked her head. "Are they really that dangerous? The worst thing they'd ever done was throw a beaded purse at me."

Lacey's eyes grew wider. "Um, that's bad. But, well…" she lowered her voice, "Drew is in there."

Piper gasped before outrage twisted her elegant features. She muttered a few extremely unladylike words under her breath. "What? That-that harlot is here? I thought she got banished across the globe!"

"I wish," Lacey murmured softly. "No. She was out on a cruise with her fiancé."

A furrow appeared in Piper's light brown forehead. "And which one was that?" Annabeth guessed that they were talking about the parade of men Drew had around her finger. She hadn't heard a lot about the older sister, but she knew how horrid and rude and flitty she was.

"Doesn't matter," Lacey said dismissively. That was the normal reaction to men in the Aphrodite household: there was a lot of them, and they were all in love with me, so there is no point distinguishing between them. "What is important is that, an Earl of Boughten or something or other is with her, inside the parlor."

"So she dropped the fiancé?" Annabeth interrupted. She hadn't even considered that it would be the other way around.

"Well, she's planning to. Close enough. I just didn't want you two to run into her."

"Oh, thanks. I am not planning to see her again. I wish she was off married with whoever. And an earl? Did Drew's taste veer from money?"

"I've heard the prince is not available," Lacey responded with a giggle.

"Don't give her any ideas," Piper said with a faked shudder. "Just imagine Drew being queen one day."

"Oh, no, she's currently too obsessed with that earl's looks to care. I caught a peek, and I honestly don't see it, but Drew likes a strange sort of men."

"No doubt. She's still going to realize that his family is far worse than hers, though." Annabeth turned and eyed a grandfather clock with doves carved into the wood. "Come on, Piper, tea is starting. Let's find somewhere to settle down. Lacey, would you like to join?"

Piper's sister looked unsure. "Um, I wouldn't want to intrude…"

"No, it's fine," Piper told her. "However, I seem to recall two nights ago, you sat down at the dining table five minutes after everyone else." She raised a dark eyebrow.

Lacey reddened. "Piper! It's nothing!"

"Are you sure? You were extremely eager that night. In fact, you disappeared for a part of it."

Lacey started squeaking. "Stop making a big deal! I have to go!"

"Say hi to him for me!" Piper called after her.

Annabeth stared at her friend. "What was that?"

"Oh, it's just that the day before yesterday a very shy kitchen boy got the courage to tell her that he thought she was pretty. I believe our little rebel spent the night talking with him, and I found a note telling her where to find him right before teatime." Piper pointed to the grandfather clock. "Aren't I punctual?"

Annabeth laughed. "I can't believe Lacey, out of all people, is meeting with a kitchen boy. Compared to a lot of your sisters, she's the least likely to do that."

"If they actually start courting, I'll owe you a pair of emerald earrings-I only have one pair-because I highly doubt Lacey would even keep this up for that long."

"How do you only have one pair? I have three, even if one of them is really small."

Piper pointed to the glittering chain of pink sapphires dangling from each ear. "My family generally only gets pink or red jewelry. Do you know how many ruby bracelets I have?"

Annabeth laughed. "Alright. I would hate to take your only emerald earrings, then. Green looks good with red."

"Yeah, yeah. You could always gift me something blue," Piper said. She tilted her head so a nearby candle's light caught the contours and hollows of her face. "It would match my eyes."

Annabeth rolled her own eyes. "Everything matches with your eyes," she said. "They're like a million colors. Now, come on, let's go to your sitting room."

Inside, they got a servant to light the hearth as they wrapped patterned afghans around themselves. Another maid came to serve them tea. Finally they were comfortably settled.

Annabeth picked up her delicate ceramic cup with marigolds painted on the handle. She took a sip as Piper grabbed a madeleine off the table.

"Come on, take one," she held out one of the small golden shells.

Annabeth politely shook her head. "I'm fine, Piper. You eat it."

Piper's currently greenish-blue eyes widened. "What? I thought you were obsessed with madeleines."

"No, I'm not. I like other foods, too." She took another sip of her tea.

Piper grabbed her cup from her and peered inside. "Black tea? You hate black tea! Why did you get the maid to pour you this?"

Annabeth shrugged, taking her cup back and setting it on her saucer with a soft clink. "I don't hate it."

Piper grabbed her hands. "Annabeth? What's wrong with your taste?"

Annabeth offered her a bitter smile. "I don't want to eat so much sugar, anyway. It's not proper."

Piper threw her tanned arms into the air. "Proper? Propriety is bothersome! And would I report you to Madame Lark? No. You can eat a single madeleine."

"No, I'm too round around the edges to be a correct lady." Annabeth slid her gloves back on in order that she wouldn't be tempted to take one of the beautiful confections.

"No, you're perfectly skinny. Think about all the suitors revolving around you. Or, better yet, look into your looking glass." Piper crossed her arms in anger.

"I can skip a dessert if I wanted to. I need to fit inside my best corset for next week." She sighed. "Honestly, I don't care, but Mother and Madame Lark do."

Piper frowned deeply. "This is ridiculous. Take it. If a single suitor looks down at you, I'll give you my whole suite in here."

Annabeth laughed. "Stop betting away your things, Piper. You'll end up on the streets soon enough." But she gave her gloves to the maid, grabbed a sugar cube, and crushed it on top of a madeleine before stuffing it in her mouth. She almost melted in happiness. "Okay, that's incredible."

Piper smiled, satisfied. "Alright. But what's next week?"

"Dearest, how could you be so ignorant of your schedule? We're attending an extremely important dance: Atlas's daughter's debut." She flashed back to seeing Calypso a week ago at croquet. She was quiet, but she was definitely fierce at playing.

Piper gasped. "I forgot about that! Goodness, I need a gown for that!" She turned to the maid by the wall. "Jeanine, please inform Mother-no, never mind, find one of my oldest sisters. Alishia. Ask her to send a letter to our dressmaker about making a new gown for me by next week. Make it…" she tapped her chin, thinking. "Purple satin, lace collar and hem, and embroidered sleeves."

Jeanine curtsied, looked harried. "Thank you, my lady." She rushed off.

"Purple satin? That'll be impressive."

"Thanks, I probably need to look good at Atlas's party. You? Something gray, I'm guessing."

Annabeth winced as she realized a dress fitting was coming up. "Yes, something dark, dark gray. It's to show off my 'mediocre complexion'."

Piper sputtered. "Annabeth, you're as white as china! Besides, you've been suffering under umbrellas and hats for over a month even on cloudy days! You'll look like a vision." She abruptly looked down, fiddling with her spoon.

Annabeth immediately felt bad. Because of Piper's father, now divorced from Aphrodite, she was dark-skinned. She still looked more beautiful than anything, but the London society deemed her as foreign and strange-looking. Piper didn't even dare to wear anything pale in case she looked like a deeper shade of brown. "You look like a vision," she told her friend, "even in a lumpy nightgown. So don't complain, Pipes."

"Oh, come on, I look like some old lady in a lumpy nightgown. That's why I shoo all of my maids out after I take a shower."

Annabeth smiled. "An old lady which has not lost any of her earlier beauty, than. In fact, she doesn't possess a single wrinkle."

Piper flushed happily. "Your skin is smooth, too. Now, stop discussing my face." She turned and grabbed a cream puff, smiling secretly.

Suddenly another maid stopped at the doorway. "Lady Aphrodite!"

Piper looked up with cream all over her mouth. "Yes? And don't call me that, Lady McLean is fine."

The maid made an about face, either confused by Piper's expression or the rather foreign name. McLean was from her father, who Piper said to not care about, but she privately did and it sounded better than her mother's name. "Yes, Lady McLean. Your guest as at the door."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow at her. "You invited someone else during our tea? Who?"

Piper frowned. "I didn't. Who is it?"

The maid stared at the ground. "I was sent by the butler, who did not specify."

"It's fine," Piper told her. "Take me to them. Also, make sure no one leads them into the parlor." She made a "wait here" gesture at Annabeth and swept outside with the maid.

Annabeth was still wondering how Piper acted so in control with cream on her face and while giving conflicting directions when Piper's butler peeked inside the sitting room.

"Oh, hello, Lady Athena!" He bowed, revealing a balding spot at the back of his head. "Well, it is a pleasure to see your lovely face today."

"To have your witty and entertaining company around is a much better form of pleasure," she answered back, offering him a formal smile. "Why are you visiting?"

"Well, I came ahead of my mistress, Lady Aphro-I mean, Lady McLean. I have news to deliver."

Annabeth sat up straighter. "Yes?"

"You see, the guest Lady McLean went to greet was her suitor, Lord Zeus."

Annabeth blinked. "Lord Zeus? Jason?"

"Ah, yes. He visited without an invitation because they are that close." He smiled to himself. "However, it intrudes with your visit. As a word of warning, because no one wants you to leave, you may have to spend tea with Lord Zeus."

Annabeth smiled. Jason was good company, and even though being the third wheel would be awkward, she didn't want to miss a chance to tease Piper in the future. "I see. Thank you for telling me, sir. Your thoughtfulness is well-appreciated."

He smiled back at her, bowed, and left. Just like he said, Piper was right behind him.

"Don't be mad," she said quickly. "I can ask him to leave, or wait. I did not mean to interrupt this. Please?"

"Oh, it's fine. I haven't seen Jason in a while." And then she smiled mischievously at her, making her friend knew full well that anything romantic would be closely remembered.

Piper gulped before ushering Jason inside. He took a seat in a stuffed armchair and smiled at Annabeth, flashing neat rows of snow-white teeth. He looked especially handsome today, for Piper probably, with his cropped blond hair combed back and in a fresh blue shirt that matched his eyes. His warm smile tugged on the tiny scar above his upper lip.

"Hello, Lady Athena."

"Oh, there is no need for formal greetings. The only hand you are required to kiss is Pipers'." She smirked.

"I wouldn't mind that." He reached out, gently tugged Piper closer to him, and brushed her palm with his lips. They smiled softly at each other.

Meanwhile, Annabeth was grinning so wide she felt like her face would burst. She was already plotting inside her head about how to gossip about this to Miranda and Silena and Thalia and everyone. "Jason just appears, sweeps Piper off her feet, and even with me in the room, they start kissing!"

"So, Annabeth," Jason said in his usual deep and polite voice. "How are you? I mean this truthfully, Annie."

She smiled. She hadn't heard that for a long time. "Oh, brilliant. Well, I have had classes on mannerisms for this whole week, but I do get to visit Piper, and now, you! Also, a debut is coming up and Calypso is a wonderful girl, so I can't wait to see how it goes."

Jason leaned in, his sky-blue eyes glittering with anticipation and mischief. "Well, I was just talking to one of my cousins over lunch. Percy."

Annabeth's cheeks darkened, but this time in anger. She only remembered his arch look and smug grin as neither of them won for the last game in croquet. She demanded another and Luke and Katie had to basically drag her screaming and kicking off the field. "Oh, him," she said flatly. "My famous and misbehaved archnemesis."

"Don't say that," Jason said, looking like he was trying not to smile. "He told me what a wonderful time you two had during croquet a week ago."

"Oh, it was the opposite of wonderful."

"Are you sure?" Piper asked in a slippery voice. Traitor! When Annabeth shot her a dark look, she quickly set a madeleine onto her plate.

Once she scarfed down the dessert, she began complaining. "Perseus was completely rude the whole time. Taunting me, being condescending, and his face was permanently stuck in an arrogant smile. I wanted to hit him with the mallet."

Piper stifled a giggle. "Oh, please. I've heard from him too. You two were having some very interesting conversations while playing."

"And while having tea, if I remember correctly?"

She couldn't believe the lovebirds were getting together to knock her down. "If you define interesting as him being a stubborn, brainless snake while I tried to remain calm, then yes, it was."

Piper threw her head back, laughing. "That sounds like Percy."

Jason joined in. "I guessed so, too. Did you two have a showdown? Like, did you utterly beat him?"

Annabeth blushed, thinking of how she tied with him. Her pride was degrading by the second. "Nothing could've made that morning enjoyable," she said evasively. "Why are you bringing this up, anyhow?"

"From his description, both of you had a truly brilliant, did you say, time. I would've thought you enjoyed it. And wasn't Luke there?"

Annabeth smiled faintly. "He was."

Piper gasped. "I see it now. Percy is trying to compete for her hand. Has he not sent you an invitation?"

Annabeth could only remember the note on the rose. Well, now that she thought about it, she remembered seeing something like a trident seal in the living room hearth. No doubt her mother burnt whatever came from that house. "I haven't gotten to look at any."

"That coward," Jason said friendlily. "I'm sure he's intimidated by Annabeth's intelligence."

"Yeah, because he has none," Annabeth muttered. Once they finished laughing, she said, "Well, from how he acts, there is no way he could be intimidated. His ego apparently makes up for all his flaws."

Jason smiled. "Percy acts like that around most women. It's all an act."

Piper flashed Annabeth a significant look.

"And, he might just be acting like a jerk because he feels like he needs to fulfil his role as a son of Poseidon. You know, since he's your enemy."

Annabeth sighed. "Yeah, I know. Honestly, I just wished he'd leave me alone. If our parents didn't fight so much, we would probably never talk to each other." She looked up suddenly, smirking. "Actually, I would, because he would be my best friend's brother-in-law."

Piper blushed and Jason fixed his glasses. Annabeth gloated in silence until Jason finally spoke up. "You could also, you know, call off this whole ordeal."

Annabeth wrinkled her nose. "Talk to him? No thank you. Perseus is grating my nerves into nothingness just by being himself. I also doubt he would stop being ridiculous."

Piper spread her hands. "Annabeth, come on. I know you guys get annoyed around each other, so you should at least ask him to stop bothering you."

"Make a truce," Jason suggested. "I could also talk to him, ask him why he's acting so badly around you. But you have to be the one to make the first move."

Annabeth sighed, hugging a frilly pillow to her chest. "I know. If I see him around, like at Calypso's debut, I'll say something to him. I don't know what." The thought of questing him upright to his smirking face caused her to frown.

She caught Piper and Jason making triumphant faces at one another. They probably planned this whole thing. "Alright, stop it with those faces. You're not married yet."

The two sprang apart in their seats. Annabeth had to laugh. "Looks like you two need some more chaperones. Can I call in Mitchell?" Piper's brother loved the relationship between Piper and Jason almost as much as Annabeth.

Piper frowned. "No, you may not. We do not need chaperones. Jason and I were being proper, unlike you."

"Yes, very, very proper." She smiled sleazily. "At least don't kiss in front of me."

Jason sputtered. "We are doing no such thing! Why-why would you—"

Annabeth gasped in delight. "Are you saying you two kissed before?"

Their faces turned flaming red. Piper almost matched the tiny scarlet figurine of Aphrodite on the mantle.

Annabeth smiled smugly as she took a sip of tea. "Well, just look at this." She turned to find the maid behind them with wide eyes. She winked at her and mouthed, "Spread the gossip" before turning back around.

Finally they composed themselves. "Annabeth," Piper warned. "We're best friends. You cannot reveal this."

"What if you gave me your suite?" She laughed. "I'm joking, I have no one to tell. This secret will be buried in the depths of my soul. But, seriously, Jason, if you care about her so much, and I know you do, propose!"

Jason looked at the ground. "I want to propose. I promise."

Piper took his hand. "No, it's just, a wedding will make it all so difficult. You know what everyone expects. And worse, an Aphrodite daughter almost never gets married. She just jumps from suitor to suitor. She doesn't normally wait for anything, either.

But I want to. Not just because of propriety. But because I care about Jason, and I don't want us to be simple and rushed. I want it all to be special, and I want to be confident about everything between us."

Jason smiled as he stroked her hand.

"And there's still more pressure. An Aphrodite daughter who gets married, half of the time, is to cover up for her early pregnancy. And all of them are expected to end up with divorce." Piper sighed and sat closer to Jason.

"I know you don't want to meet a single one of those expectations," she answered softly. "That was really sweet. But I think anyone who looked could see how much you two love each other. And beyond that, they shouldn't care about the details. You two are good enough."

"Aw, thanks. I didn't know you could be sentimental," Jason said, his eyes shimmering.

"I try," she said. She squeezed both of their hands before grabbing a madeleine. "Well? Jason, has my speech convinced you to get a ring?"

"I'm afraid Piper will toss it if it's too ugly," he joked.

"Oh, I will, Jace," Piper joked back. "I'm an Aphrodite child."

"With all this waiting, you better invite me and make it super-romantic."

"Just add some more pressure, will you?"

They laughed, and the serious talk blew away like the cool October breeze.

-line break-

"What? Who?"

The servant boy reread the note. "Connor Stoll, Hermes. That's what it says on here, miss."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow. "Why would he send me this?"

"I-I do not know, miss."

Annabeth slowly stood up from her seat by the window, casting the pale wintry London view one last glance before walking over to the servant boy. "Give it to me, please."

The boy was right. In handwriting messier than Perseus', Connor had written, "Hey, Annabeth. Would you like to visit this garden next afternoon? It's really pretty. Sincerely, Connor."

Annabeth set it down on her working table, frowning before remembering to keep herself wrinkle-free. It was so awkward and untraditional that Annabeth wasn't sure if he was even trying to court her. And he normally didn't even spare her more than a few glances. She smoothed out another wrinkle in her forehead.

"What's you're name?" She asked.

The boy glanced up, startled. "Um, Marcus."

"Ooh, Roman," she murmured, half to herself. "Well, Marcus, mail this to the Hermes house." She grabbed a sheet of monogrammed paper from her desk and neatly printed, "Dear Connor, I'd love to! Thank you for inviting me. What do you plan on doing there? Sincerely, Annabeth." Hopefully, that would clear things up. She held a stick of wax beside the fire, smeared some of the melted wax onto the paper, and stamped an owl onto it. "Here you go, Marcus."

He held it carefully, avoiding the hot wax, and left her room.

By the time the sun started setting, a new letter appeared. This time Marcus read it to her excitedly. "It says, 'Annabeth, I'm glad you want to come. Can we just walk around and talk? Sincerely, Connor.'" They both looked a bit disappointed afterwards.

Annabeth paced and grabbed a new sheet of paper. "Fine, let me try something else." She scrawled onto it, "Dear Travis, I have a favor to ask from you. I am in a slightly awkward situation. Can I beg you to ask your brother what he has planned for tomorrow afternoon? Sorry for this, but is he trying to court me? I cannot decipher his meaning. Apologies for bothering you. Annabeth."

Marcus was leaning over her shoulder as she pressed her mark into the red wax. "Do you think this'll do?"

He nodded. "I hope so." He grabbed the paper and raced outside.

Finally, as Annica lit the oil lamps around Annabeth's bedchamber, Marcus came back with two letters. They poured over them eagerly.

The first one read, "Dear Annabeth, this is Travis. What a horribly funny situation you got yourself in! My brother was very inexperiencedly trying to court you. Forgive his thickness." There was an ink smudge. Annabeth guessed his brother punched him. "Do not worry, though. It will turn out well. Go! Travis."

"Oh," they both said. Annabeth nervously unfolded the second letter. It said, "Annabeth, I'm so sorry! I was trying to court you. This is so awkward. Um, will you still come? Sincerely, Connor."

"Wow," Marcus said. "Are you going to answer?"

"Would you mind taking the trip?"

"Nah, everyone smiles at the sight at me in the Hermes." He puffed out his chest. "I like being appreciated."

"Sure." She grinned at him and took yet another sheet of paper. This time she wrote, "Dear Connor, thank you for your letter(s). This is awkward indeed. I apologize for my confusion. I will definitely come. It sounds like something I shouldn't miss. From, Annabeth."

Marcus snatched it up, smudging the wax.

When Annabeth was getting undressed by a whole group of maids, Marcus burst in again. They shrieked in him in unison. He was forced to yell through the door.

"Annabeth! He sent another letter! It says, 'Dear Annabeth, that's great news! Don't apologize. I should've been clearer. It is my fault that you had to go to all this trouble, though. From, Travis."

Annabeth turned to Annica. "Can you write another letter for me? Write, 'Dear Connor, it's not your fault—"

"Oh, for goodness' sake!" one of her quietest maids burst out. "Stop it with so many letters. Just talk to him tomorrow!"

"But what if I don't reply he'll think—"

"No!"

-line break-

"Well, that was a lot of trouble," Connor murmured. "Sorry for making your servant run back and forth."

"That was mostly me sending the letters," Annabeth admitted. "He said he didn't mind the attention."

"Oh, that's good." They laughed quietly.

The carriage rumbled to a stop. They stared out the window at a vine-encased arch planted at the edge of the cement driveway.

"We're here," he told her and stumbled outside. Then he held a hand out and helped her out.

They stepped through the arch and into a garden chock-full of plants and trees and flowers. A slightly bumpy dirt path cut into the growth. It looked like no gardener had came in here for a few months.

Connor held out his arm after a pause, and Annabeth took it. They strolled inside, their feet brushing against fallen leaves. The tulle hem of her gown rustled against ferns and low branches, while Connor's coattails bumped against a bush.

They continued on in silence, breathing in the cool autumn air, when Connor awkwardly cleared his throat. "I have some explaining to do, don't I?"

She nodded, giving him a sidelong look.

"I'm sorry for surprising you with a sudden invitation, Annabeth."

"Oh, it's fine. Let's stop apologizing." She held up a hand, her lace glove trailing onto a pink-purple flower.

Connor laughed. "Okay, sure. But that invitation was sudden. I-I know you like Luke," he said suddenly.

Her heart skipped a few beats. She stopped in front of a patch of yellowing grass.

He blinked. "Okay, that was the wrong approach. What I'm trying to say is, I'm not trying to woo you or anything."

"There aren't a lot of good approaches here," she responded causally, pulling a broken-off twig from his arm.

Connor blushed. "Yeah, sorry, I mean, whatever," he huffed, drawing a smile from her. "I gave you the invitation because Dad said I wasn't allowed to court only one person."

"Lou Ellen," she said automatically, and he ducked his head in a cute, embarrassed way. She smirked at him. "It's okay, I don't mind. This garden is pretty."

Connor dragged his fingers through a row of star-shaped leaves before grinning back at her. "You've haven't seen all of it yet. Katie recommended it."

"Let me guess, she also wants you to court some other girls to not bother Lou Ellen."

"Hey!" he exclaimed in the exact same tone as Travis. "But, yeah," he muttered quietly.

She smiled, sidestepping a flaming red maple tree that jutted into the road.

"Also, I have one last thing to get off my chest. I feel like I'm betraying my brother. Can you explain it to him?" Connor looked at her earnestly.

"Travis? Why can't you talk to him yourself?"

"No, Luke. I'm not exactly close enough with him to discuss courting. But you're his, well, predetermined fiancé."

Annabeth flushed, her eyes widening. "No, I'm not!"

"Well, can you? I don't want him to be mad."

"Fine, I'll talk to him. But he is not my predetermined fiancé." She kicked some fallen brownish-green leaves.

"Okay, sure. That's all I've got."

"No problem."

They continued strolling down the overgrown dirt path, pointing out the most pretty sprays of flowers and the tall, ancient trees. And then they stood in front of a curtain of long, flowery vines.

"This is the best part," Travis said with a grin. He pulled at the vines, scattering a few snowy white orchids to the floor and gently pushed her inside.

Annabeth gasped in surprise. Large, teardrop-shaped flowerbeds in multiple different colors rotated around the soft gray marble floor. The center was a circular patch of sunflowers. Annabeth realized that the whole arrangement came together into a flower.

Between the beds were ornate benches, glass barriers, elegant lamps, and upraised stone platforms of small, glossy plants. Rows of tall evergreen trees paraded between the yellow cobblestone paths. Tall, stunning fountains made of crystal were scattered at the tips of the flowerbeds.

The most beautiful, of course, were the flowers. A giant cluster of pansies, in rippling shades of purples and pinks and yellows, stood off to their left. On their left was an ocean of fall crocuses, waving in the wind like upturned bells.

Connor walked Annabeth around the circle of giant petals. There were dozens of them, all in different vibrant shades. A few were wilting because of the cold, and others were snugly wrapped in cloth, but some were flaming and well-alive.

Annabeth stopped by a large flowerpot with bursts of orange and red among smooth green leaves. They really looked like sparks of flame.

Connor crouched down. "According to Katie, all the names are labeled. Here!' He pointed to a bronze plaque around the bottom. It read, "Celosia." Underneath it was a long paragraph about its scientific name and origin and how to grow it.

They moved on to a new flowerpot, with pale, lemon-colored sunflowers. Annabeth cocked her head. "If I remember correctly, sunflowers don't grow in fall."

Connor looked for another plaque. "Wow," he murmured. "This is called, 'Heliopsis.' Based on the Titan of the sun. Also known as 'fake sunflowers.' It also talks about perennial sunflowers, which are the ones planted in the center. They are all strong, apparently."

She slipped that into her storage of knowledge about gardening, which was mostly supplied by Katie and Miranda.

They continued walking and admiring flowers. There was the giant blanket of pink sedum, tiny little flowers that grew in clusters, which were so close-knit there seemed to be no gaps between the little blooms. There was another group of dahlias, their multi-layered pink petals flowing down the sides of their green stems like a waterfall. The petal full of asters was glowing in soft purple, the tiny, silky daises stretching to the wan sun. Fallen petals, their velvety white bottoms upturned, carpeted the paths that Connor and Annabeth walked down.

Annabeth spied a tall tree ahead of them as Connor picked a few stalks of goldenrod and stuck them in his breast pocket. "Now I look a lot more like my father," he said with a grin.

"Oh, as a businessman?"

"Yep. In fact, to be even better, I'm going to add one of these." He picked a long strand of small, bright blue flowers and stuck it in his pocket. "That's a… leadplant," he said, brushing aside stray petals from the plaque in the ground.

They got closer and closer to the tree. Annabeth realized there was something weird about it. It had perfectly smooth bark, and it was faintly-green tinged. Scattered around it were little blue Michaelmas daisies.

Annabeth immediately saw her mistake when she spotted a mass of black-as-night hair. Her eyes went wide and she sucked in a breath that barely fit in her corset.

Perseus turned around, and when his glowing green eyes snagged on her, he grinned. "Lady Athena!" he exclaimed, happily, it seemed.

She stumbled back, dragging her arm out of Connor's, accidentally smashing her heel against a crop of flaming black-tinged helenium.

"Woah!" Percy reacted faster, sliding an arm under her torso and pulling her upright. She found herself pulled to his chest. Face flaming, she ducked out under his arm, trying to limit the contact between them.

"What happened to you, Lady Athena?" He asked with what seemed like genuine concern.

Annabeth subconsciously sidled closer to Connor. "I am fine, Lord Poseidon. What are you doing here?" she asked sharply.

He shrugged. In his hand he held up a single stalk of pink heather, and a few Michaelmas daisies. They were dwarfed by his long fingers. "One of my friends in Demeter told me about this. What are you doing here?" His eyes flickered back and forth from her and Connor. "I see," he answered slowly.

Annabeth narrowed her eyes. "No, why would you visit a garden on your own account? Don't you have anything to do?"

He held a hand to his broad chest, acting offended. "I enjoy being in gardens, Lady Athena. And who could miss out on such a fine fall garden." In one smooth movement, he tucked a pale lavender Michaelmas daisy behind her ear. Annabeth did not need a looking glass to know that it looked absurd beside her diamond-studded braided bun.

She reached up to remove it, but dropped her hand. Something nice that Perseus did was not something she wanted to erase, out of some strange instinct.

"And now it is even more beautiful," Percy murmured, flicking a casual hand at her.

Annabeth did not even bother trying to figure out what he meant. She stared at the ground for a moment before looking up. "Would you please leave? You are being bothersome to us." Suddenly Jason and Piper's words from yesterday rang in her head. Making a truce with Lord Jackson seemed impossible now.

"I did not do anything, Lady Athena. I merely stood here and commented on your beauty. Connor, am I being bothersome?"

Connor was standing off to the side and looking amused. "No, not particularly. Sorry, Annabeth."

She clenched her fist behind the large folds of her gown. "Alright, gentlemen. Please allow me to pass through. I do not wish to be part of your company as of now."

Percy took a step closer to her. "Apologies for bothering you. Suggest how I should change my ways, please."

She was silent, debating between ways to politely get rid of him. But Percy smiled gently and held out his arm. "Shall we take a walk and discuss this further?"

"I refuse." She crossed her arms, her bracelets jingling. "I am currently getting courted by Connor here."

Percy walked even closer. He touched her shoulder. "Annabeth, please? I just want to talk to you." His eyes shone softly. Annabeth knew this would be something Jason and Piper would wanted her to agree to, so she begrudgingly relented.

He held out his arm again. She rested her own in the crook of his elbow. But it was completely different than whenever she fitted her arm in Malcolm's or Luke's. With them, it felt like her future of a family was clicking together. When she took Percy's arm, though, all she was aware of was the feel of him pressing against her, and her own rapid heartbeat.

"Shall we walk?"

She managed to nod and they strode down the path. As they neared a fountain, Percy trailed his fingers in the clear water before tugging them out, flicking water droplets through the air. A cold drop landed on Annabeth's cheek. She wiped it off with a small smile.

Percy found another gathering of heather, arranged in a flowerpot with wispy white iberis. He took one and arranged in on a pine tree branch. Then he gestured for Annabeth to do the same. She cast him a questioning look.

"It's to add color. Come on, pick one."

She dropped a pale pink one on top of a small branch. Now there were two splashes of purplish-pink peeking out among deep green pine needles. She hated to admit it, but it really did make it look nicer.

"Don't you just love fall?" he asked quietly, breathing in the cool, flower-scented air.

"Yeah," she whispered back.

"I love the beach, and I love the heat of summer, but sometimes the fire, of fall is too alluring."

She gazed up at the sharp line of his jaw as he talked, the words barely penetrating her brainpan. A lock of inky silk curled behind his ear.

He grabbed a brown leaf from the floor and twirled it in the air. "Fall is just waiting for winter, waiting for sleep, but look at all this." He spread out his free arm and the fields of flowers. "What could be more alive?"

"So that's you," she said quietly. "Too alive, in the wrong time."

He lowered his eyes. "Exactly." He didn't even seem to defend himself.

"The rose you gave me is a dead husk," she informed him, too sharp in this still moment. But something inside hissed at her to say it, to bring herself to the table. "It's a dark blue."

They stared out at the grayish-orange sky. Annabeth just realized what she said about herself. In comparison to Percy.

"Some things can't be revived. And some can't stop barreling on." He grabbed a soft, spiked blue mist shrub. He tucked this into her collar, but neither of their eyes met.

"No. It would be hit off course, or it would run out of steam."

"There are many forms of immortal." He stretched out his neck.

Annabeth knew this walk in this fall garden would remain immortal in her memory. Was that a good thing? Perhaps.

"If there was something I never had to lose, it would probably be quiet, beautiful views like this one." His gaze traced her forehead before landing on the horizon.

"For me it would be autumn days, just waiting for summer to leave and snow to come."

He blinked. "No, I was wrong. If I never had to lose something, I would be my mother, and my friends." He was still for a second, and Annabeth imagined she could feel his blood rushing through his arm. "But that will never happen. So I shall enjoy the wait before either me or they leave."

"That's ambitious." Annabeth knew a lot of kids in Olympus lived in death's shadow because of one of parents dying. Thalia hated looking at carriages. She would never ride a single one. Leo always paused around fires. Nico, the third cousin, hated lightning.

"What else can I do?" He grabbed her and turned her so they faced each other. She could feel his heartbeat, smell his skin. He leaned in, his eyes somewhere at the base of her throat, and they suddenly flickered up to hers. His bright sea green eyes teared into hers hungrily. They were wide-open, vulnerable, and she knew he was searching her soul too.

But the intensity looking at each other in the eye broke the spell. All the tranquility, all the slow, deep thoughts and ponderings, all their deepest fears and emotions, disappeared into nothingness like a writing slate wiped clean. Their gazes immediately sprang in the opposite directions. Percy searched the mud by his boots while Annabeth stared unseeingly at the field of anise hyssops behind her.

There were a few moments of silence, while the breeze roared in Annabeth's ears and the swaying of flower stems matched the pounding of her pulse. Finally, Percy cleared his throat.

"Alright, beauty. Are you done?" His fingers touched her shoulder again, but not as sincerely as before.

She turned, sparing a glance at him. He was looking over her head. She didn't dare look into her eyes and focused on a small white daisy blooming by her feet.

"Take my arm," he said a heavy, deep voice. She slipped her arm into his, relinquishing the feel, but hating the flirty tone he was adopting.

"Well, beauty? What do you think of this garden?"

"Don't call me beauty," she said flatly.

"Fine. Annie, isn't it wonderful that we met today?"

Not anymore, she muttered internally.

"Please don't ignore me," he said, pouting. He took one of her loose curls and twirled it around his finger before tucking it messily behind her ear.

"Well, I don't know what else to do when you're being so irritating."

He heaved a sigh. "Is everything irritating to you?"

"Just you," she answered through gritted teeth, feeling like she was trapped in a haze, between two worlds with completely different Percys.

"What can I do?" he asked innocently.

"Be quiet," she said sharply.

"What, aren't you hopelessly charmed by my voice?" He sang a few notes, and Annabeth felt her traitor heart melting.

"Not at all. Do you even care about my opinion? I asked you to be quiet."

"Of course I care," he said silkily. "I care deeply about you. But I shall be quiet, like you asked."

Right before they reached Connor, Percy paused, pulling her back. "Wait," he told her. Bending down, he rifled through a bed of chrysanthemums before gently snapping something. He emerged with a bright red chrysanthemum. It was the color of blood and rubies, painted into long, thin, curving strokes for petals. She stared at the tight cluster of smaller petals in the center mournfully.

Percy handed it to her, his fingers brushing hers. Flames sparked in her heart. Too-hot flames. He grinned down at her. "Annabeth, you should know what this means. And I feel completely like that."

Then, in one smooth motion, he pulled his arm out from under hers and loped away down the paved marble streets. She clutched the flower, feeling like yelling and crying and hitting something and running after him all at once.

Because, even when she closed her eyes, the red as intense as love and passion was still burned in her mind. And she knew it wasn't right.

Okay, that's a wrap! That is such a weird but sorta cool chapter. I'm kind of sleepy and warm right now, so this got weird, and it did not work out as satisfying. I doubt anyone will get it. Here's an explanation: they got all deep with each other, but Percy is too afraid of showing himself to someone, especially Annabeth, so he went back to being flirty, arrogant Percy. And the red chrysanthemum was originally intended to be romantic, but it's mostly for messing with Annabeth.

*sits down, cries* Why is my story so sad and weird?

Actually, it's still kind of romantic. In a weird way. Cause that's what Percy feels inside, but he needs to hide it underneath sarcasm. But he can't let Annabeth know that, so he makes it part of his "mask." Okay, I'm getting confusing and nonsensical here. I'm that kind of person, especially I'm tired.

So, was my obsession with flowers too obsessive? Like, I actually made a ppt of flowers that can be planted in fall. I'm not a Demeter kid, though. I just think flowers look pretty and I like knowing their names.

Finally, do you guys know how many hours I wasted on this? It has 7k, for goodness' sake! And it was pretty well-written compared to some past stuff. So you guys better review!

Abidoodle.e: Hi again! I love double-reviewers! Your reviews are seriously nice. Thank you! I know, competition is so fun to read about. I don't know anything about croquet either, that's why there's a huge lack in description. But I think I got some stuff right… I'm glad you liked the action, me too. This was getting dull. And here's the new chapter!

DemigodSassReaders: Thanks for thanking the time to review! Seriously, short reviews can be incredibly sweet. I'm glad you liked it. Is this keeping it up or is this too confusing?

Au revior,

Pride-and-loyalty