Chapter Six

We Try to Find a Goddess

"Percy!" Dylan Blofis ran up to me, arms outstretched. I knelt down, embraced him, and picked him up.

"Hey, Buddy! I love the suit. Had any cake yet?"

My little brother nodded vigorously.

"Yeah! I wish we could have weddings every day!'

I laughed. Dylan was about to turn six.

"Well, we've got birthdays to supply our cake on other days, don't we?"

"Yep! Have you seen Mommy? I can't find her."

I frowned. I hadn't seen my mother for a few days, actually.

"No, I haven't. She's around here somewhere, though. Why don't you get another dessert? She'll find you there."

He shrugged and hopped down. A hand landed on my shoulder.

"Do you know when the last time we danced was?"

I turned to face Annabeth.

"Our own wedding, I believe."

"Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner." Annabeth joked. I smiled. I placed myself in a position to dance.

"You're supposed to let me say the cheesy jokes that are only mildly humorous. Besides, we're not the dancing types."

She started us moving (yes, I know guys are supposed to lead)

"Oh, whatever, Percy. Marriage, kids, and age does something to you."

I thought it over. No argument there. Life was rough.

"I know what you mean."

We swept across the dance floor in swift fluid motions. I had really gotten good. After minutes of silence, Annabeth talked again

"She's going to be happy, Percy."

I knew she would. I knew I would, too.

"Yeah...she chose a good one."

We finished dancing with a twirl, and I kissed Annabeth gently.

"Just like you did," Annabeth remarked, "Like Father, like daughter."

Oh yeah. I looked over to watch Andrea, and saw Chiron galloping our way, a serious expression plastered on his face. Aw Styx.

"Percy! Annabeth! Prepare your family immediately, you've got a goddess to find!"

After much arguing, Lucas came with us. He wasn't about to let his new wife go on a life threatening trip without him. My entire family was on a quest and Andrea was married this time. It would be interesting. I was worried.

"Okay, guys, we are hunting for Iris, and we have no ideas where she is. Everybody clear on that?" I asked.

"Yeah, Dad." Andrew said. "It's dark here. Do you know what time it is?"

"Sorry. My watch is going crazy. We must be in a monster's lair or a monstrous area "

"Oh," he replied

We trekked for a while, days, in fact. We were getting discouraged. We camped out each night. I was on guard for now. Suddenly, I heard a rustling sound coming from behind me. I gripped my pen. I crept over and saw Andrea rummaging through the provisions.

"Andrea! What the Hades are you doing?" I questioned, "We're short on food!"

She looked like a deer in the headlights.

"Sorry, Dad!," she squeaked. "I was super hungry! I, I just..."

Annabeth strode over, awakened by the commotion.

"Andrea, what's going on? You already ate extra food at dinner tonight!"

She appeared to be very distressed.

"I'm sorry, Mom! I was really craving these chips right now" Andrea whined.

Annabeth's eyes studied our daughter.

"Andrea, honey, are you pregnant?"

She yelped.

"What?!"

I yelped "What?!"

Annabeth rested her hands on my shoulder.

"Percy, relax. She's married, it's perfectly alright."

For some reason, unknown to me, I wasn't ready for grandchildren.

"But she hasn't been married that long!" I argued.

"And I got pregnant on our first night, Percy, remember that?"

"Not really," I grumbled, "I think I was being beaten to death shortly after"

Annabeth pursed her lips in sadness at the memory, clearly about to cry. I instantly regretted my words. She spoke softly.

"I'm sorry, Percy, I didn't mean to-"

"No, I am. That was unfair of me. I get your point." I rubbed her shoulders as an apology, then turned to Andrea. "But, if you're having a baby, I'm not letting you stay on this trip."

Andrea protested.

"But Daddy!"

"No arguing, Andrea. Lucas is taking you back to camp in the morning"

She pouted. I wasn't going to let her, or my grandkid, get hurt. Unfortunately, I never got to follow through, because a giant piece of bacon fell from the sky.