Sorry for the delay! I hope you enjoy this chapter. Poor Annabeth.
Replies:
TheBlazingButterfly777: at this stage I can't say for sure but I mean, we shall see it's certainly possible.
KryptonJoyWrites: Gotta love the trio, and you have to wait and see :) Anyone want to guess who the next Olympian Percy meets will be? And not everyone in the family will be the same.
Undeath9087: Gotta love jealousy and obliviousness. And Carter and Sadie would just be staring like 'Seriously? Fucking seriously and she judged us?!'
Brooklyn 99 Fan: Hehehe. You may enjoy a chapter in the near future.
Guest: You have to wait and see. But I will say we haven't seen the last of Setne.
Guest: Well she has plenty of them.
MKDemiGodzilla-Warrior: Heh, nope, but it will be important in the future.

Percy didn't breath a word of the Menshikov news to anyone. She knew that if she did they'd only worry and that was the last thing any of them needed. Of course that didn't stop her from worrying but she didn't let it show, focusing on everything and anything else that she could, even though it most certainly wasn't easy to push those thoughts from her mind.

It was helped by the fact that Percy had auditioned for, and gotten a role in a new film she'd wanted- a teen detective movie- it wasn't likely to be as big a hit at the Blake Adventures but most films she was in seemed to do pretty well thanks to her legions of loyal fans. And she'd been very grateful to Annabeth and Piper for spending hours sat with her going over her lines again and again just to help her get them right.

And of course, as her two best friends, they were allowed to come and watch the filming- since school didn't start back again for over a month.

It was after one of the filming sessions, as they were walking arm in arm down the street away from the studio that it happened. At first Percy didn't even notice the man following them. It wasn't unusual for paparazzi or fans to follow her a short distance to snap some photos, and Annabeth and Piper had both gotten used to it too over the years. They had good instincts, if it was an actual threat then they could usually tell long before things went bad.

It wasn't until the man weaving through crowds behind them called; "Annabeth!" that Percy felt a sliver of unease curling in her chest.

Annabeth, for her part froze, a shocked look on her face, and Percy and Piper moved instinctively, the daughter of Aphrodite switching from Percy's right to Annabeth's left as Percy slipped her arm free of Annabeth's and turned to look behind them, moving to shield the daughter of Athena as her gaze focused on a middle aged man.

He was fairly handsome, with golden hair that instantly reminded Percy of Annabeth. His eyes were different though, piercing brown, and there was a desperation in them.

Percy had never met the man before, but she knew who he was instantly. Her eyes narrowed at the man as she looked him up and down.

She didn't need Annabeth's soft stunned gasp and the whispered, "Dad?" to know.

Fredrick Chase.

"Annabeth- gods it's really-"

"You're going to step back." Piper's voice was commanding and Fredrick did before blinking, a look of confusion passing over his face before he shook it away.

"Annabeth- please I knew it was you. I saw a picture of your on a magazine cover. Chiron told me you ran away and went missing. I thought- then I saw the photo-"

"Is confronting her right now really your master plan?" Percy hissed the words, "In the middle of the street?" people were turning to stare- undoubtedly partly because of how famous Percy was. Honestly sometimes being famous was a huge pain in the ass.

"I didn't know how else to reach out. I couldn't find any contact details-"

"Ever think that if Annabeth was ready to talk to you, she'd contact you?" Piper's eyes were narrowed when Percy glanced back to her. Her arm was wrapped protectively over Annabeth's shoulder, and Annabeth had tucked herself into Piper's side and was eying her dad suspiciously.

Percy couldn't blame her for that. She knew a part of Annabeth desperately wanted her father to love her and be there. But she'd been let down too many times. The man had failed her when she was little, and he'd failed her when she'd given him a second chance before. And Annabeth wasn't the type to give third chances easily.

"I-" Fredrick held up his hands, "I didn't know what else to do. I wanted to see you again Annabeth-" he was clearly trying to peer around Percy to look at his daughter, who looked hesitant. "I- the idea of you dying- I needed to make things right."

"Annabeth." Percy's voice was gentle. "It's up to you Wise Girl. What do you want to do?"

"I-" Annabeth took a deep breath, clearly steeling herself. "We did say we'd get some lunch." she said after a long moment, her gaze focusing on Percy. "He can join us I guess."

"Why don't we go to that little diner you like?" Piper suggested. And that was a good idea. The diner was one of Annabeth's favorites, the owners husband was an architect and he often spent time there. He and Annabeth often discussed his designs- he often joked that she was his young protégé. It had become Annabeth's favorite place in the city- not including Brooklyn House.

The familiar comfortable surroundings would help put her at ease.

"That sounds good." Annabeth nodded, taking a deep breath.

"It's decided then." Percy spoke firmly, eyeing Fredrick, "Follow us, we'll sit down, have some food and talk."

"Of course." Fredrick nodded, "Of course anything you want. I just want the chance to talk to you."

"Good. Because you're not getting anything else." Annabeth's voice was firmer now that they had a plan, and the walk to the diner was mostly silent- though that silence was broken when they entered the diner, broken by a familiar friendly voice.

"Girls!" the diner was fairly quiet all things considered. Only two other tables had been taken- which left the girls usual booth free, and Jill behind the counter, giving them a friendly wave as the waitress brought out a milkshake and a coffee to one of the tables.

It was almost sweet how Jills eyes narrowed at the sight of the man following them.

She had seen Carter, Zia, Sadie and Walt before, and even Sally, but a strange man looking uncomfortable as he followed them- and the way Annabeth was clutching at Piper's hand clearly put the woman on edge.

"Hey sweethearts. You go and sit in your booth. I'll get your normal order yeah?" her eyes flicked to Fredrick, "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah." Percy nodded, shoving her hands in her pockets, "It's all good." she noticed that Jills husband Marcus wasn't present today- probably in the office or presenting one of his designs. Percy had heard enough about them to know he was good at his job thanks to Annabeth.

"Jill this is my dad." Annabeth admitted, her voice slightly stiff, a fact which made Jills eyes narrow.

Annabeth and Piper didn't exactly talk about their parents much- unlike Percy, though she left out certain important facts, but they had made enough off hand comments that Jill knew that Annabeth's dad hadn't exactly been a good parent- or even a present one, over the years, though she was tactful enough not to actually comment that fact out loud.

"I see." the look Jill gave Fredrick was filled with warning, "Well like I said you girls, you go sit down and I'll get your usual. And you?" she quirked an eyebrow at Fredrick, who looked even more uncomfortable.

"A coffee I suppose. Black please."

"Of course. Annabeth, Marcus is at a meeting today but he'll be back here tomorrow if you want to pop in. He wants your opinion on his latest design."

Annabeth practically glowed with pride at that, a wide smile flashing across her lips as some of the tension in shoulders slipped away at the simple kindness from the woman and her husband.

"I'll swing by tomorrow then!"

"Good, he'll look forward to it." Jill turned her head then, moving towards one of the other customers as Annabeth, Percy and Piper slid into one side of the booth, Percy and Piper bracketing Annabeth on either side as Fredrick slid into the opposite side of the booth to them.

"You-" Fredrick let out an awkward little cough, "You know the people who work here then." and Percy would have laughed at the awkwardness if it wasn't for the fact that Annabeth looked so uncomfortable- she deserved better than that but Percy knew there was very little she could do about it other than be there to support her.

"Yes." Annabeth nodded, "We usually come here a couple of times a week."

"I-" Fredrick clearly fumbled for words for a moment before he shook his head, "When you stopped writing back I called Chiron, he told me you'd gone missing. He promised to let me know when you went back but he never did- I was so worried-"

"Hmph." Annabeth scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest and leaning back into the booth. "I'm sure you were. How did you say you found me again?"

"I-" Fredrick fumbled in his jacket, pulling out the ripped cover of a magazine. They weren't the main feature but in the left corner there was a picture of the three girls, Piper was slightly in front of Percy and Piper, her back to them, gesturing as she told them... well, told them something, and Percy and Annabeth were walking side by side, Percy's arm slung around Annabeth's shoulders, Annabeth's head resting on Percy's shoulder.

The article itself looked to be about Percy's fashion choices, she decided after a moment of deciphering the jumbled mess that her dyslexia made it. But Annabeth's face was clear enough if you looked closely.

"Oh." Annabeth took the glossy paper with her left hand, peering at it closely.

Her right hand was tucked into her pocket, safe and out of the way since she wasn't wearing her bracelet.

"Why did we not think of that?" Piper asked after a moment, "You're literally famous Percy, why did we not think of pictures of the three of us ending up in magazines?"

"Because it's normal for you guys." Annabeth shook her head, "And it's become normal for me." she folded up the paper and slid it back across her table to her dad, her expression guarded. "So you what? Spotted the picture, recognised me and decided to come to New York and what? Stalk the actress that I was seen in one picture with?"

"I was planning on asking Miss Kane about you." Fredrick admitted, "I didn't- I didn't think I'd actually find you. But- I had to try."

"Why? You didn't bother before."

"Annabeth-" Fredrick's expression was pained, "I know... I'm not- I'm not a natural father. I try but I'm not... not good at it-" Piper's little scoff made him wince, but he kept going, which was at least somewhat impressive in Percy's opinion. Clearly he was determined to at least try, "I know I let things slide. Your stepmother didn't understand when you were younger. She handled things badly but it was because of my failings. And I know- I know that when you gave us a second chance things weren't much better. I won't make excuses. But we love you Annabeth. And I've never been so terrified as I was when Chiron told me that he feared the worst. That you'd run away from Camp on some quest or something and-" his voice faltered and there was an open look of pain that flashed across his face before he managed to mask it.

"Well. You're smart enough to know what I feared. Seeing your picture on that magazine- as much as it confused me... well, I don't think I've ever felt so relieved in my life Annabeth. You look happy. And I won't demand you come home-" he held up his hand when Annabeth opened her mouth to respond. "But- please at least give me a chance to talk to you. To try and rebuild our relationship. I know it won't be easy, and I know I have no right to ask anything from you. But I don't want to lose my daughter. And I want your brothers to know you. Really know you Annabeth."