Nico got over his shock and just looked at the flashing lights and opened his mouth to talk to them. But before he could say anything they heard, "Put the gun down and put your hands up!" Annabeth grinned at his 'Oh duh, I'm an idiot look' and she added "Oh by the way, I'm Annabeth!"

Chapter 5- An Invitation

After showing the police who Nico was, they let him go and arrested the other two men for assault. Annabeth was grateful to Nico but hated that he insisted on walking her home. She knew that if Luke heard about this, that he would be furious with her. Not only was she walking home with a boy, but he was one of the "Big Three" kids. And, well Luke for some reason hated them.

While they walked Nico remained quiet as if sensing that she wanted to think.

At least Nico wasn't a lying, cheating, jerk like Poseidon. Minerva, her mother, loved him and because she believed in abstinence the man cheated on his betrothed. "Poor Sally," Annabeth thought.

Annabeth then remembered a story she was once told.

Sally and Minerva were friends because of the class Minerva taught. Minerva hated Poseidon for cheating on her but Sally was told by Poseidon that he was her brother. Hence why he had keys to the studio.

It all happened in Minerva's studio that she saved so long and sold so many of her priceless paintings to get. An art studio in New York City, that was her dream for so long. Her first and last studio. Sally was a student in the class hoping she would get inspiration by learning the fine details of Art. However, Poseidon came along and invited Sally to the back. Sally, after accepting drinks from the man fell for him quickly. His words were beautiful and he was a very attractive man. He was probably a solid 200 pounds and stood about 6'3" tall. He was basically a god.

Poseidon kissed Sally and after the alcohol she consumed it quickly led from one thing to another, before they lost themselves in their actions.

Minerva caught them later and kicked Sally out of the building.

Sally had always had a good heart and a few weeks later after Minerva calmed down, Sally apologized. She paid for the rest of her tuition as an apology even though she didn't take the class anymore. She really did like the classes and she dearly cared about Minerva. She and Minerva were friends until Poseidon screwed it up.

After a series of glares from Minerva, Sally felt a nauseating pain and ran for the restroom. Minerva ran with her but before Sally made it to the restroom she threw up.

Morning sickness; Sally was pregnant.

The next morning Minerva surprised Sally by showing up at her apartment. Minerva told her they were going to the hospital. Minerva even demanded that she pay for the visit. Sally didn't have much money; no time for a child, and no space in her apartment. Abortion seemed to most ideal choice but they both disagreed with it morally.

Sally hated what Minerva did next, she demanded that Sally move in with her and she let Minerva take care of her. The only thing Minerva asked for was that Sally left Poseidon. Sally assured Minerva that she hated the man; she didn't even know Minerva and Poseidon were even together.

Minerva quickly became like a sister and was even there with her at classes with Sally. What Sally didn't know was that Minerva took care of her because she wanted to see what she'd have to go through. You see, after seeing Poseidon with a woman, Minerva went out and got drunk herself and slept with a man. She wanted to be pregnant just to rub it in Poseidon's face that she had a child without him.

The two pregnant women were each other's backbones. They were there when they had their children sharing a room together. Sally's baby born only moments before Minerva's but their wasn't even a minute in between births.

Both women knew what they're babies sex would be and they often made jokes about how one day their children would grow up and marry each other. That was because Sally had Perseus Jackson and Minerva had Annabeth Chase- a boy and a girl. Sally was slightly faster in gaining control of her body and she walked over to where Minerva was holding Annabeth. The little girl looked so much like her mother, same eyes, same nose, and mouth. The only difference was that Annabeth had bright blonde hair that curled delicately while Minerva's was more of a brown with light blonde highlights.

Sally asked to hold her and Minerva beamed at her while they traded children. It broke Minerva's heart to see the little boy. It wasn't the little boy's fault he had his father's eyes and hair. The most perfect sea green eyes that even bested his father's slightly, with raven black hair. She tried to hold Perseus, but couldn't bare it. Perseus was the reason for Minerva's heartbreak, but also the happiness. Because if he wasn't born she would have never had Annabeth and that decision was the wisest she had ever made.

Back out of the thoughts from the story her mother had told her once, Annabeth couldn't hold back the hatred she felt towards the duo…father and son. Hatred towards Poseidon for the obvious reasons and towards Percy for many other extremely important reasons.

One, Percy was the reason Sally was not in her mother's life. If Percy hadn't been like his father than Minerva wouldn't feel hurt every time she saw him. Two, she hated how innocent he acted on camera. He was always acting like he was trying to get away from the cameras, like he didn't want his picture taken. "Ha" she thought, "His dad practically looks for paparazzi!"

She figured like father like son and she knew Percy had to eat up his camera time. The cameras often caught him with a red-head snob whose father was also was also famous.

Martin Dare owned small shops and companies that had good ideas and excellent products. They just needed a financial backbone. Once he got them off the ground he'd offer the business to the "Big Three" for a solid price. Martin was good at his job, hence why the "Big Three" bought companies from him.

The thing about Martin Dare was he good, but he didn't care who he ran over to get to the top. Minerva, Annabeth's mother often fought with him to try and get companies. The trouble was, Athenian Corporation was a rival company to all "Big Three" members. Meaning if you were a company in New York you had a heavy decision to make when you started out.

Either you went with "Big Three Industries" or you went with "Athenian Corporation." The reason for the heavy decision? If you went with one company the rival would never look at you again, buy your product, or even act like you were a business. In fact, the rivalry was so fierce that if you started in New York with one company the other would do everything in its power to get rid of you.

Harsh yes, but remember 'Hell hath no scorn like a woman's wrath!' But if you sided with Minerva, Zeus would make his goal to destroy you.

Anyways, Annabeth hates Percy. She could just tell that Percy and Rachel were spoiled snobs and everything about them yelled it. From Percy's 'Polo' matches which were broadcast all over the news to Rachel's ideas on how to save the planet by going Green.

Then she got an idea that would've made her mother proud.

If Nico is Hades' kid, he must know the Sea Scum's son right? I'd sure like to meet Mr. Jackson if given the chance. Then another voice in her head said, Yeah, to punch his straight nose crooked. She couldn't even deny the voice. She grinned at the evil thought.

Nico had been quiet for a while but he interrupted her thoughts by saying, "Whatcha smiling about their Blondie?" He said the name as just a simple nickname but remember, 'Hell hath no blah blah blah…'

She said it in a scary voice that had no emotion at all, "Nico, if you value the current position of your testicles you will never call me that again."

Then she added like she hadn't just said the scariest thing in the world to any man, "I just wanted to ask you a question."

She took his silence as a 'go-ahead' not as an 'I'm too scared to even breathe much less talk.' With his silence she asked, "So do you know, Percy Jackson? Or is the whole "Big Three" thing total BS?"

Nico seemed surprised by her randomness but just grinned, "So what's your number so I can set up a date?"

Ugh! Gross!

"Uh…ew. I just want to meet Percy." Nico gave her an awkward look when she pressed him for the answer with an arched eye brow he said,

"Why did you say meet Percy? You make it seem like you want to fulfill your threat to me on him. Listen, Blon-…I mean Annabeth. Poseidon is a Class A dick but Percy is a good guy. Honest. Don't believe all the lies the media spreads; especially, the ones about us 'Big Three' kids. We really don't hate wildlife, girls, boys, sun, water, anything. We're normal people just like you."

"The media just wants a story so our fathers give them one. My sister isn't a lesbian and doesn't hate like the media says; she just joined the Diana Followers because she believes in the cause. I don't hate sunlight. I'm just a night owl because of my job. And well, yes Thalia does hate heights, but if you tell her I told you we can't be friends because I'm dead." He said with a grin.

"And lastly, Rachel, Percy's girlfriend, is really great. She's into 'Saving the Earth' stuff just like Diana's group although Rachel is more of a political rioter. She doesn't do the dirty work like that, instead she heads and funds big projects. She's really a great person and probably the best artist I've ever seen. Percy, well he's just Percy. He has a heart of Gold that he got from his mother. He suffers from dyslexia and ADHD. Even though he does, he teaches kids how to read better at his father's school."

"So before you pass judgment on us, you should know the truth." With that Nico finished his rant. Then he gave her a look that seemed to beg her to believe him.

When Annabeth didn't say anything Nico added simply, "How about you meet everyone? Next Saturday, Cornell hosts NYU for a scrimmage in Water Polo. Its fall season so I'll get to play and maybe start, even though I'm just a freshman. It's a closed scrimmage but I can bring guests. So wanna come?"

Annabeth was thinking hard about what Nico had said.

Well I still get to meet him, and he'll probably bring Sally, Annabeth thought.

Meeting Sally Jackson was one of Annabeth's life goals, if she could get the woman to meet her mother, maybe she'll get her mom back.

"Sure, I'll go but if I punch him in the mouth and he can't play, that's good for 'us' right?" She said with a grin.

Nico grinned big, "Sure, but warn me if you do. I wanna catch that on camera." Nico added a wink for emphasis.

The rest of the night was pretty uneventful besides explaining to Silena and Clarisse why Nico walked her home. Nico introduced himself then quickly took out his phone and called her so he had her number and left. Only to text her later that night,

Annabeth, remember this please. If you ever need anything don't be afraid to call.

A little while later after the girls had eaten and were now studying for their classes tomorrow Silena said without even looking up from the book, "So Annabeth, do we mention this to Luke?" Causing Annabeth to throw a pillow at her and Clarisse to laugh.