Chapter Five

We Fight a Seven Year War (minus a couple of years)

"So, what do we do now? We're unable to find Chaos anywhere, and Kronos' scythe got split," I voiced. "Every option to save the world has gone down the drain."

"The scythe wasn't the only thing split," Nico spat, tending to his wife's wound. Thalia was resting on a bed. She had been pierced from the Manticore wound, but never healed. We only feared the worst. Most everyone was milling around, standing guard, or practicing fighting. We group leaders were discussing what to do, like usual.

"I still say we plan some jailbreaks. Tyson is captured, Frank, Hazel-we need them. They're all valuable." I desperately tried to get Annabeth to see it.

"Percy...it's...too risky," she decided after mulling it over.

"And bringing Kronos here and hoping he wouldn't kill us before we killed him wasn't?!" I shot back.

"Percy! This isn't time for a childish argument!"

"Then quit arguing with me and let's make a plan!"

"We can't! We'll lose too many people!"

"We have to take the risk! Who knows what's happening to them! We've been cowering on the run for five damn years!"

She hated arguing against facts. We hadn't made any leeway. We had tried unsuccessfully to contacts others. Messages never seemed to go through. Andrea was twenty now. I didn't know where time had gone. Annabeth's anger kept building up until her face looked bloated. She slammed her hand on a nearby table.

"Fine! Make a stupid plan and get yourself killed! That's what's going to happen to us in the end anyway!"

She walked away. Man, did I feel great about myself.

"Annabeth, wait!" I attempted, chasing after her. I caught up to her and grabbed her arm. She tried to shake me loose.

"Let go, Percy!" She demanded.

"No. We need to talk this through." I twisted her around and hugged her, not speaking for a few moments. Her head rested on my chest.

"I did what I told you not to do," she said. "I've been keeping things from you. I had a dream. You were riding in for a rescue mission and you died. I can't lose you, Percy. Not again."

I wasn't about to ask her why she didn't share the dream earlier. I knew

"I understand your frustration now. But, if we can't rescue anybody, what are we supposed to do? I still don't like the run and hide plan."

"I don't know, Percy, I don't know," Annabeth sighed. "We killed three main enemies, but Gaea will definitely be the hardest to fight again...And she'll bring them back. Maybe not Kronos, but the other two…" she trailed off, unsure what else to say. I held her close, unsure what to do myself. If only communications would go through.

"Dad, we want to get married."

I nearly choked.

"You what?!"

Andrea sucked in a deep breath, and clenched Lucas' arm a bit tighter.

"We want to get married. We're both older now, and we're kind of in the apocalypse, so we'd like to have some time to spend together, just in case..."

I wasn't ready to let her go! Plus, we were having some pretty big crises.

"But, it, I, uh...Styx!" I blubbered.

"Percy! I think it's a fine idea! They are both twenty now, plus they've got a point with the apocalypse thing. Everyone could use a morale booster."

Annabeth said

I didn't know how to respond. I wanted her to be happy, but I didn't want her to leave.

"I...I don't know..." I sighed.

Andrea let go of Lucas and wrapped me up in a hug.

"Daddy, even if I marry Lucas, I'll never stop being your baby."

I'll deny it every time after this, but a tear rolled down my cheek. I kissed the top of her head. She hardly called me 'daddy' anymore. Just when she was upset, or really happy.

"I'll hold you to that, Baby,"

She smiled and hugged me tighter.

The wedding day was spectacular. Designed my Annabeth and arranged my Aphrodite's cabin. Everyone was happy to have a break from worrying about death, and to celebrate life. It look surprisingly magnificent to have been built in one day with our lack of materials. I was sitting in a pew. Annabeth slid in beside me.

"What are you doing, Percy?"

"Waiting for it to begin." I responded.

Annabeth was aghast.

"Percy! You're supposed to walk Andrea down the aisle!"

"Oh Styx! I forgot!"

"Seaweed Brain"

I leaped up and raced to Andrea. I panted.

"Hey, Baby. Ready?"

She smiled.

"Yeah, Daddy. I love you."

"I love you most," I said, skipping right over the 'more' part. The music started, and I began my procession, tripping of course, down the aisle. Gods, Andrea was beautiful. She took after her mother 100%. She had on a traditional American wedding dress-white, with diamonds encrusting the waist. An Aphrodite member got to conduct the wedding since the gods weren't around. This was the happiest day of my life. (Wait, make that second-best. I did marry Annabeth)

"And do you, Andrea, take Lucas to be your wife? In sickness and in health, monster attacks and Hades, 'till death might you part?"

Andrea was ecstatic. "I do."

"Then I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Lucas did. They really held it out for awhile. I squirmed in my seat. When they broke, cheering erupted.

"Hades yeah!"

"Way to go!"

"Can we have cake now?"

They walked hand in hand outside, where the rest of the festivities continued.

CHIRON POV

The turn of events was very much unexpected. Yes, Andrea Jackson, (Di Angelo now) had gotten married, but I was speaking communication problem. I did not know what to make of it. Percy and Annabeth's ideas had seemed very plausible, yet for some reason they were failing. Over the years, Annabeth had always had the right plan, being Athena's daughter and all, but now, her strategy was not up to par, so to speak. I also knew that my time was coming to an end. My age of training was almost complete. I had decided to consult an old friend-see if she if knew anything, despite the fact that communications had been blocked for half a decade. I took a golden drachma from my parchment bag and tossed it into a fine mist.

"Iris, accept my offering. Show yourself."

An image appeared. Iris was running from something. I could not tell what, although I probably could have made an excellent guess.

"Chiron! We need your help. The other gods have been captured already. Minor and Major alike! Please, send all you can spare! You'll find me at-"

She was cut off by a net cascading around her. The image dissolved. I could not ignore this plea. However, since I had been unable to reach her before, I felt as though I was allowed to see this. Something else wanted the message to go through...nonetheless, I knew exactly which family could rescue the gods. I only wished that I could have received more information.