I know I've been an ass for not updating recently and I truly am so sorry. I've been very very busy that's why. So without further ado here's another chapter.

Thank you for those who took time to review on the last chapter:

Hanlizdrew: I'm not quite sure yet on how many chapters but I got a few in mind so far.

The Argronaut : Thank you

GuestX: Thank you

Iggynator : I loved what you said right there.

annabeth0402: Hmm I'll think about it. Thank you by the way.

Rocket99: Thank you.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

Chapter 69

"Please.." Percy drawled out the word to convince Annabeth. He hugs her from behind resting his chin on her shoulder while she's busy getting ready for work.

She chuckled and patted his hands to give her room so that she can turn around to face him. She caresses his cheek. "You know I want to but I can't. There's so much work I've got to do."

Percy pouted. "Can't that wait? Tell them to postpone the deadline."

Annabeth laughs pinching his cheek. "That doesn't work like that babe." She pecked his lips before turning around again to continue getting ready.

"Why not? What if I'll help you? I know a couple of things, mind you." He grins while playing with her hair.

"I appreciate the offer but no. I'm going to see you later tonight or tomorrow morning. You're going to be fine you big baby." She teased before heading to her table to pick up her bag.

Percy groaned sitting on their bed. "It's just that I'm going to miss you so much." He's looking at her with his big puppy eyes.

"Aww I'm going to miss you too." She said while going to stand in front of him. Percy immediately encircled his arms around her waist pulling her closer until she's sitting on his lap. "Besides you have a company on your way to Patras. Isn't Nico going with you?"

Percy hummed burying his face in her neck. "Yeah, but he's not you."

Annabeth laughs again. "Since when did you get so clingy?" She asked playfully while holding his face so that they can look at each other.

"Hey I'm always clingy. Is that a bad thing now?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

She shook her head. She kisses his lips to make him stop from whining. When they pull apart they were both breathing heavily.

"Now I'm more eager to not let you go to work." He grins mischievously.

She punched him in the arm while smiling. "Come on let me go. I'm going to be late."

"Nope." He said shaking his head while tightening his hold on her. "Not going to happen."

Annabeth thought of something and tried a different tactic. "Didn't your sister called you and requesting you to be back there?" She knows it will definitely get through him.

"That's not fair." He pouted looking at her.

She chuckled pulling his face to give him a chaste kiss. "You'll be fine. If it helps I'm going to miss you too and I'll be thinking of you all the time."

Percy smiled sweetly. "Same here." He finally loosens his grip on her but not before giving her a breathtaking kiss. "I love you."

"I love you too." She finally stood up and grabs her bag. She kisses him once again before finally walking out of their bedroom. Percy followed her up until to her car.

"You two drive safely, okay?"

"We will, don't worry. You too, okay?"

She smiled. "Tell them I say hi and that we will see them later."

"Okay." He closed the door for her. "I love you."

She smiled. "I love you too."

He bends down to give her another kiss. "You should go now before I change my mind and drag you out of your car." He said teasingly.

Annabeth laughs. "Fine. Bye baby. I'm going to miss you." Then she finally drives away leaving Percy with a smile on his face. He only went back inside the house when he can't see her car anymore.

LINEBREAK

2 hours later, Percy was outside Thalia's house to pick up Nico. The two of them are heading early to Patras since they're going back to New York the day after tomorrow minus Percy. Annabeth's family will head there too, either tonight or tomorrow depending on Annabeth. Percy is a little nervous about the meeting of their family but Annabeth reassured him that it will be fine.

Percy honked the car twice before Nico emerged from the house. Percy was surprised to see that Thalia was still there. He saw them talk before finally Nico turns his back on her. He saw Thalia holds Nico back for a second. He saw her asking him a question but Nico just shook his head. He kissed her on the cheek before finally heading to the car. Percy saw the sad look on Thalia's face while watching Nico. Nico on the other hand looks so serious when he gets inside the car. He just simply nods at Percy. Percy waved at Thalia before driving away.

"What was that all about?" Percy asked Nico.

"What?"

"Right there. Is everything alright between you two?"

"Of course." Nico replied curtly not looking at him. He chose to look outside the window.

"Are you sure about that? Because it doesn't look like it."

"We are fine." He said irritably. "We already got back together, isn't it? So there's nothing wrong anymore."

"Then why don't you seem so happy about it?"

"I am."

Percy snorted. "Don't try to fool me my dear cousin. I know you better than you know."

Nico let out a deep sigh. "Just drop it. We are fine."

Percy was about to keep digging but he saw the look on his cousin's face. He only knew that they got back together after Thalia apologized to him the morning after their break up. They look fine when they went home and that was three days ago. They haven't heard anything about them since Annabeth and Thalia were both busy at work and when Percy asked Nico, he just said that they were both okay now and he doesn't elaborate anymore. And right now, Percy knew that they are far from being okay.

Percy's not used to a brooding Nico. He rarely talks during their drive back to Patras. At some point he tries to ask him again but Nico just glared at him. So he let him alone on his own little world. He's so deep in his thoughts that Percy wanted to smack him in the head. A couple of times, Percy saw that Thalia texted him and he just simply read it without replying.

When they stop at a gasoline station, Percy called Annabeth to inform her that they're almost at Patras and that there's something wrong with Nico and Thalia. She promised that she'll talk to Thalia about it. He cut the call when he saw that Nico's coming back.

Nico didn't say anything up until they arrived at Patras. Percy watched him as he tries to compose himself before finally exiting the car. He noticed that Percy was eyeing him.

"What?!" Nico snarled.

Percy chuckled. "Nothing. Are you sure you don't want to tell me what's bothering you? Or should I call Thalia and.."

"Don't you dare." Nico cut him off.

"Alright, alright."

"Percy!"

Kelsi runs to their car. "What are you guys still doing in there?" She asked excitedly.

Percy smiles at her. "Hey sis."

"Your brother is being an ass." Nico commented.

"Hey watch your language mister." Percy chastised him. "My little sis is listening."

Kelsi punched him in the arm. "I'm not a little kid anymore." She pouted.

"Says who?" Percy asked teasingly. He gestured her to move over so that he can get out of the car.

"I miss you." He finally said before giving Kelsi a hug and a kiss on the head. Kelsi grins at him.

"Where's Annabeth and Thalia?"

"Why don't you ask Nico?" Percy grins at Nico and the latter glared at him.

"What?" Kelsi asked questioningly.

"Answer her Nico."

"Why don't you answer her?" He retaliated back.

"Ohh look who's being …"

"Percy I swear to God if you don't stop I'll going to really kick your ass." Nico threatened. Percy just laughs at him.

"You guys are weird." Kelsi commented.

"Wait." Percy stops in his track. "Is that Dad?"

Poseidon, Sally and Hestia are at the balcony watching them.

"The one and only." Kelsi smiled cheekily.

"Since when? I thought he's not coming?"

They're on their way to the house now. Percy gave Hestia and Sally a kiss on the cheek. Nico followed suit. Percy then hugs his father. "I thought you're not coming?"

"Well thankfully I finished all my business meetings in a short span of time."

"That's nice. How about Uncle Zeus and Uncle Hades? Are they coming too?"

Poseidon shook his head. "Sadly no. Zeus is in Miami right now and Hades is in California."

"Oh figures, what's he doing there right now?" Nico intervened.

"Work. You know the usual stuff. Persephone is there with him too."

Nico snorted. "I'll be surprised if she's not with him. They're like glued together."

"Oh come on cuz, like you don't know what it feels to be far away from the love of your life." Percy teased.

"Shut it Percy!"

"Okay you two stop it." Sally chastised them. "You just got back and now you're bickering like 5 years old."

"Burn." Kelsi said teasingly.

"Kelsi." Sally warned but she just smiled cheekily at her mom.

Bianca, Hazel, Artemis and Chloe emerged from the house. They exchanged hellos and hugs.

"Where are the girls?" Chloe asked.

"Work." Percy answered. "They'll arrive either tonight or tomorrow morning."

"Oh okay."

"I wonder how you convince Nico to come with you while Thalia was left in Athens?" Bianca asked Percy while grinning at her brother.

Percy just smiled at her before raising an eyebrow at Nico. The girls noticed the exchanged.

"Why? Did something happen?"

"None!" Nico replied all too immediately which left an impression to the others that there's really something wrong.

"Okay enough with that, I'm sure Nico will tell us if there's something." Hestia offered him a smile.

Nico smiled at her thankfully. "Yes and just so you know, nothing is wrong."

"Keep saying that." Percy interjected.

Hestia narrowed her eyes on Percy. Percy smiled apologetically.

"Where's Apollo and Charles?" Percy asked.

"Oh they are at the back." Chloe answered. "They're fixing Charles' car."

"Oh okay."

"Come on let's get inside, so that you two can rest." Hestia offered.

"Yeah I needed that. I'm tired from driving." Percy whined.

Once they were settled inside, Percy went to sit beside his mom, dad and Hestia .

"Um.." He started. "Mom, Mom and Dad."

Kelsi snorted. "Did you do something wrong? Because it looks like you're going to confess."

Percy glared at her.

"Kelsi's right. You look like you're going to piss your pants." The girls laugh.

"Ha ha very funny."

"What is it son?" Poseidon asked.

"Well you see …"

"Oh my God! Don't tell me Annabeth is pregnant?" Another round of laugh was heard from the rest of the family.

"Seriously guys?" Percy was annoyed now.

"Is it true?" Sally inquired but she's smiling. "If that's true, I don't think we have a problem with that. Annabeth is a good girl. And we definitely approved of her." The rest of the family agreed with her.

"Mom.." Percy whined. He's blushing furiously.

Poseidon was laughing but he took pity on his son. "Cut it out." He said to them. "What is it then?"

"You see Annabeth's parent wanted to meet you guys and Mom also told me that she wanted to meet them so I invited them here. That's okay right?"

Poseidon, Sally and Hestia look at each other and smiled.

"So getting to know each family then?" Poseidon asked smiling at his son. "I think that's brilliant. At least we can meet her family now."

"Sounds good to me." Sally commented and Hestia agreed with her.

"Are you sure you guys are not engaged yet?" Bianca teased more.

"Or she's not really pregnant?" Kelsi added.

Percy shook his head. "No!"

"Damn! I thought I'm going to be an aunt soon." Kelsi said teasingly. Percy just rolled his eyes on her.

LINEBREAK

Just like what Percy said about Nico, Thalia too is being so quiet. Annabeth and Thalia are on their way to Patras. The two are on their own car while Annabeth's family was behind them.

"So." Annabeth started getting Thalia's attention. "You've been awfully quiet since we leave Athens, what's wrong?"

Thalia was about to open her mouth but Annabeth cut her off. "Please don't tell me nothing's wrong because I know there is."

Thalia let out a deep sigh. "It's Nico."

"I figured." Thalia just rolled her eyes on her.

"Since we got back together, he seems so distant and I don't know what to do anymore. Every time I asked him about it, he just said that nothing is wrong."

"But you guys are back together right?"

"Yes."

"So what's the problem then?"

"I don't know. I thought everything was okay now that I apologized to him and beg him to take me back." Thalia looks so lost now.

"Did you guys talked about what happened? I mean did you explain to him well?"

"I guess so."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow at her. "You guess?"

"What? I don't know. I did already apologize. What am I supposed to do?"

"Did you tell him that you love him?"

Thalia kept quiet.

"Jeez Thalia. You still didn't tell him?"

"I know I'm stupid. But how can I tell him that when since we got back together I have not heard him say those words to me."

"Oh…"

Thalia shook her head. "I did really mess up big time. What if he doesn't love me anymore? Or worse hate me."

"I doubt that. He takes you back and that simply means that he still loves you."

"Then what should I do?"

"Tell him the truth and tell him that you love him for God's sake."

"Do you think that he will believe me if I said that to him?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Yes. Telling him that you love him will definitely get him. Believe me. Words are important to them too. It's not just by showing it. They will feel secure once they heard that from you, believe me. Percy once told me that."

"I miss him, you know. These past three days was a hell for me. He's there but it felt like he's not there. Do you know what I mean?"

Annabeth nodded her head. "He's still hurting and we both know that you're the only one who can fix that."

Thalia kept quiet for a while.

"I love him and I can't live without him anymore."

Annabeth smiled at her and squeezed her hand. "And tell that to him."

"I will." She finally smiled.

Just then Thalia's phone buzz. "It says here that we need to stop over at the next gasoline station because one of your brother is about to pee his pants." She chuckled.

Annabeth shook her head. "Those two are really impossoble."

LINEBREAK

Two and half hours which consist of three stop over because of the twins' request, the group finally arrived at Patras.

Percy together with the rest of his family welcomed Annabeth's family.

They were introduced one by one. Matthew was blushing furiously when it was his turn to be introduced to Kelsi. It didn't go unnoticed by Kelsi but she thought he was cute by his stammering and blushing.

Poseidon and Dr. Chase bonded right away, just like Helen and Sally. Since they both find out that they both love to cook and bake. Annabeth and Percy were thankful for it. Kelsi bonded with the twins too but it was mostly Kelsi and Bobby talking, Matthew just watched them but sometimes butted in. Annabeth was teasing him also for being so quiet.

Out of the blue, Artemis asked Annabeth. "Is Malcolm coming too?" She looked at Bianca teasingly and the latter glared at her.

"Oh I don't know. I think he's busy. I haven't talk to him in a few days. I guess he's busy."

"Oh he's busy texting and calling Bianca." Apollo added which earned him a smack on the head.

"Malcolm?" Dr. Chase asked. "You know my son too?"

"Oh she definitely knew him." Percy teased.

"Percy!" Bianca glared at him. Annabeth nudged him.

"Yes Dad. They're friends. They met in London way back. And I brought him here last week to meet the guys."

"Oh that's great then."

"Yeah, he's a great guy." Apollo offered.

"Thank you." Dr. Chase replied smiling at them. "I guess you already know the story."

They nodded.

"Even though he's not mine, he's still my son."

"And he's so thankful." Bianca informed them before finally realizing what she said. She stammered to explain but they just waved her off.

"Anyways." Percy started. "Are the rest of the guys coming here today?" He asked his brother.

Charles shook his head. "Leo, Reyna, Katie and Silena are the only ones that are available. The rest are all busy."

"Oh okay."

Nico and Thalia were both quiet the whole time and it didn't go unnoticed by the others.

Annabeth then gestured to Thalia to talk to him.

"Hey can we talk?" Thalia asked Nico. He looks at her questioningly.

"Please."

They excuse politely and the others just look at them.

"Is everything alright with those two?" Hazel asked.

"Yeah." Percy answered. "Just a minor thing, they'll going to be fine."

LINEBREAK

Thalia and Nico walked side by side heading to the beach for some privacy. They were silent. Thalia was itching to grab his hand and intertwined their fingers but she's afraid he will jerk away.

It was Nico who broke the silence. "What do you want to talk about?"

She stops walking to face him and he did the same but he's not looking at her.

"I'm sorry." She blurted out and she's not far from crying. She's trying to hold her tears and trying not to breakdown.

Nico sensed it and he finally looks at her. Seeing that she's almost into tears broke his heart.

"Thalia." He breathes.

"I'm so sorry for hurting you. I know you still haven't truly forgiven me."

"I already.."

"No." She cut him off. "I know you are still hurting."

He let out a deep sigh and averted his eyes, proving her that she's right.

Thalia finally got the courage to hold his hand. "I'm sorry for hurting you and believe me when I say that I didn't mean it. I just freaked out and I lost it. I'm just so afraid."

Thankfully Nico didn't pull his hand back but he squeezes her hand to encourage her to continue.

"Why would you be afraid? I love you and I'm serious about us."

It was like music to Thalia's ear. It's been three days since she hasn't heard those words and it scared her to death that she's not going to hear it anymore from him.

"You still love me? After everything that I did?" This time she's finally crying.

Nico wiped the tears away for her. "Of course I still love you. I was hurt but it doesn't mean I stop loving you. It just hurt me so bad that you can just throw it all away just like that."

Thalia shook her head. "I wasn't thinking straight. I freaked out but it doesn't mean that I don't love you. You mean so much to me and I'm so stupid to let you go. Please tell me we will make this work. Please don't leave me."

"What did you just say?" This time there's a hint of smile on his face.

"What?" She asked confused.

"You just told me that you love me."

"I did?" She asked confusedly.

Nico pulled her closer to him. "Yes you did. Unconsciously but it's a start." He said smiling while holding her face. "You don't know how long I waited to hear you say that." He rests his forehead on hers.

"I'm sorry but I've known for a while now. I just don't have the guts to say it to you but I do with all my heart."

Tears fell down on Nico's cheek while his eyes are closed. Thalia wiped them away. "Look at me."

Nico look at her while trying to hold back the tears.

"I love you so much Nico di Angelo." They were looking at each other's eyes.

"And I love you Thalia Grace." This time Nico captured her lips. It was their first kiss since they broke up and they missed it so much.

Thalia pulled him closer to her and they kiss each other passionately. Nothing matters to them now. Nico can only think the girl in his arms. He loves her so much and when the time comes right he will marry her and that is his promise to himself.

Unknown to them, his cousins were watching them.

"See I told you they're going to be okay." Annabeth said to Percy while she's half hugging him.

"I'm glad you are right. I hate seeing him like that."

"I'm always right." She teased. Percy just rolled his eyes on her.

"What really happened between them?" Bianca inquired.

"I don't think it's our place to say. Maybe you should ask them." Percy answered.

"Well at least they're okay now." Artemis commented. "Come on let's get back inside before they realized that we are spying on them."

"And if they do, we will tell them that it was your idea." Apollo chuckled.

Artemis punched him in the arm.

"Aww that really hurts." He whined on his fiancée. Chloe just smirked at him before heading inside the house.

Annabeth and Percy were left outside.

"So what do you think?" Percy asked.

Annabeth looked at him questioningly.

"About our family meeting each other, I mean."

"I think it's great. They seem to get along."

"Yeah I think so. My moms and Helen can't seem to stop talking."

Annabeth chuckled. "Yeah they do. I just wished my real mom will be like that." She then turned serious.

Percy pulled her closer so that he can hug her. "In due time babe."

She let out a deep sigh. "I love you."

Percy chuckled and she hit his chest. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing. I just love it when you say it first." She rolled her eyes.

"Yesterday you're so clingy and now you're being so cheesy. What's happening to you Mr. Jackson?" She asked teasingly.

He holds her face. "I'm just falling in love with you more every day."

Annabeth wanted to tease him but with the serious look on his face she can't force herself to do so.

"Thank you and I want you to know that I feel the same."

He smiled sweetly at her before capturing her lips. They were so lost at each other when something hits Percy's head.

"What the hell!" He cursed turning back to see who's the culprit.

They found Leo grinning at them with Reyna on his side who looks apologetic.

"Leo!" Percy grumbled.

"What didn't you miss me? And I figured we need to break you up before you guys go any farther." He said grinning.

"Valdez!" Annabeth shrieked.

Reyna hit his boyfriend's head. "Cut it out." Before walking away to greet the couple.

Annabeth and Reyna exchanged hugs and hellos. Percy did the same before he turns his attention to Leo who's still currently grinning like an idiot.

His smile faltered when he realized that Percy's coming for him. "Is that my cue to run now?" He asked rhetorically. And when Percy was a few feet away from him, he burst into running and Percy chase him. They look like kids chasing each other.

Annabeth and Reyna just rolled their eyes leaving their boyfriend outside.

The two kept running until they reached Thalia and Nico. And soon Nico, Percy and Leo are chasing each other. Thalia just shook her head watching them.

She's happy that finally Nico was laughing and she's pretty sure that it was because she already told him that she loves him.

The end for now….

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