Yup, I know I skipped six years. I went there. ~Ali

Chapter Three

Six Years Later

"Percy, don't leave me… please Percy, you promised." I clutch him tightly, as if that will keep the life inside of him.

"Annabeth, I love you. But Charlie and Silena are calling me… I love you, both of you…"

And Percy died, right in my arms, a smile on his face. He left behind a wife and an unborn child.

I fell asleep holding him, the last time I would ever get to. Nico found us first, and had to pry me away from his body.

"Odysseus Perseus Jackson! You come back here right now!"

Odysseus, nicknamed Percy after his father, comes running back to me. "I'm sorry mommy." He says, looking up at me with his dad's exact eyes. He's a photocopy of his father, green eyes and messy hair that I try in vain to fix every day. The only thing of me he has his that his hair has a slight curl to it. And of course I gave him all his smarts. Definitely not a Seaweed Brain like his father.

I crouch down so that I'm eye level with him. "Odysseus," I say, using his first name so he knows I'm serious, "mommy has to go talk to Lady Artemis. Aunt Thalia and Aunt Rachel will watch you. Be good, okay?"

He nods seriously. "Yes mommy."

"Okay." I drop him off at Cabin One, where Thalia is reading a book. Then I get in my car and drive to Olympus. When I get to the Empire State Building, the security guy doesn't even check me. I'm here often enough. Once I get in the elevator, I lean back and close my eyes, listening to the song. I bet Apollo picked it.

"Don't stop, believin'. Hold on to that feelin'; street lights, people, oh, ohh!"

I smile a bit. Yep, Apollo definitely picked it.

The doors open and I step out, heading straight for Percy's grave. I shine the plaque a bit, mostly because I'm paranoid, not because it needs it. Then I lay down the roses I brought. It's been six years today that he died. I wish he could see his son. He would be so proud. Wiping a tear away, I stand up and walk toward the new throne room. If I say so myself, I think I did a pretty good job on redesigning Olympus.

Biting my lip, I hesitantly knock on the big oak doors. No idea why their oak, it just seemed like a pretty wood at the time. The door swings open. All of the big thrones are empty expect one. Artemis sits on her silver throne as she pets something. It looks like a huge white wolf.

I bow, and Artemis chuckles. "Rise, Annabeth. There is no need for formalities. Now I believe you had something important to ask me?"

I glance down nervously. "Um, yeah. Well, I don't really know if it would work out, because I already have Odysseus and I was married, but um…"

"Go on." Artemis says gently.

"Um, well, I was wondering if I could, um, become a huntress…?"

I look up at Artemis. She's smiling for some reason. "Annabeth,
as much as I'd love to have you join the huntresses, I'm afraid that I simply don't have any room for new recruits at this time. I'm sorry."

I frown but don't argue it. Artemis always has room for new recruits. There must be some other reason then…

"Do not fret Annabeth. I think that a few of the other Olympians have other paths in life for you besides becoming a huntress. Well, I must be off, and I just wanted to tell you how cute that little Odysseus is getting to be. He'll grow up to be a fine young man."

I raise my chin. "Just like his father."

Artemis nods. "Yes, just like his father indeed."

Yep, I know it's rather short. Sorry about that.. why do you think Artemis turned her down? Review or PM me and let me know what you think! ~Ali