YOU ALL SPOIL ME TOO MUCH!

thanks for reading this because as you've probably figured out, I'm slightly crazy :-P

If you reviewed, I responded at the end of the chapter!

I'll probably update sometime this week (school will be the death of me!)

Guess what? I don't own Percy Jackson!

CHAPTER FIVE

~~~Aubrey Sally Jackson~~~

HAZEL FINDS OUT THE TRUTH.

Hazel slides off Arion to the ground at this news, and puts her hands on her hips, staring at me in shock.

Her mouth is partially open, and her head is cocked to the side. "Care to explain, Aubrey? Is she lying?"

I don't meet her gaze as I say, "It's true. But Zach and I think we travelled from the future, because our parents are in their forties. Percy and Annabeth didn't like… marry young, if that's what you're thinking." Yeesh… that would be really young marriage.

Hazel doesn't seem to know what to think. She opens her mouth several times and then closes it.

Finally she says, "And Zach? Who is he?"

"His name is Zachary Jason Grace," Hebe says, "Son of Jason and Piper Grace."

Hazel rubs her temples, seeming to have caught on to the headache that I also got when I discovered this.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Hazel's voice is strained, and she sounds tired, "How did you get here?"

"I have no idea how we got here. We were kidnapped, then woke up here! And as for not telling you… do you know how awkward that would be?"

Hazel rubs her eyes, blinks a few times, rubs them again, and looks at me oddly. "H-how are we going to tell them?" she stutters.

Horror fills my veins. "No, no, no! Please don't do that! I'm begging you! Percy and Annabeth are like, only two or three years older than me! They are still teenagers, Hazel! Imagine if I randomly came up to you and said, 'Hey, nice to meet you! I'm your kid from the future! What do yah know, we're almost the same age! Let's be besties!'"

The goddess suddenly spoke up, "Your heritage is very important. Were you planning to simply never tell them?"

I had the urge to scream in her face: Yes! That's exactly what I was going to do! And then go home having got off the train before Awkward Central Station! Go to hell! …or the Underworld?

I groan out loud, "Yes," I tell Hebe, "Why would you do this? What was the point?"

"You must learn to accept who you are, Aubrey," Hebe responded, gracefully bringing her arms down and out, sort of like she was asking for a hug, but her arms didn't go out that far. "You must face your–"

"I don't want your cliché speech! I want to save our entire crew from even more pressure and awkwardness than before, okay?!" I half-yell.

Hazel still looks like she's trying to comprehend this situation. "Aubrey," she tells me, "I'm sorry, but how am I supposed to keep a secret this big from everyone else?"

I open my mouth, than close it. I have no answer.

Hebe speaks again. (Her calmness is killing me! Can't she just get mad at me or something?) "You are only a child, Aubrey, and family must stick together."

I glare at her, "They aren't my family yet! I don't want them to know! You don't own me! Stop telling me what to do!" my words rush out and I'm yelling.

She remains composed and frankly, it's infuriating. "I am the goddess of youth, and you are young. It is my job to protect you, and I believe this is the best way."

"I don't care what you think! You're not my mother!"

"No, but your mother is abroad the Argo II."

I pause. In a way, that's true. But in another way, that's not. I shake my head, "She's not my mother yet."

Hebe folds her hands together and so she sort of looks like she's praying, "That's beside the point, Aubrey. While you are here, you have no family. These demigods are all you have. Sure, Annabeth Chase is not even Annabeth Jackson yet, but you really have no one else to turn to."

I glare at her harder, "I can be friends with them without them knowing."

Hebe only laughs, and I clench my fists tightly together and resist strangling her.

"But Aubrey, they don't trust you. Your own mother is making a list of suspicious things about you. The others only trust you because Annabeth seems to. They don't know you, so they don't trust you. If you were family, however awkward, they would have to trust you."

I'm dumbfounded. I stare at the stupid goddess with a shocked expression. I try to block it but the thought races through my head before I can stop it:

She's right, you know.

No! She can't be! I hate not being right.

Hebe smiles, seeming to sense my thoughts. "I will leave you now. You know that I am right, Aubrey, but whether or not you want to tell the rest of the demigods is not, I believe, my choice nor yours."

I narrow my eyes, "What does that mean?"

Hebe nods at Hazel, who still looks in shock. I understand the feeling.

"Hazel Levesque," Hebe addresses the daughter of Pluto, "it appears we are at a crossroad. And my thing is not crossroads. That would be Hecate."

We both stare at her, slightly surprised at her sudden falter in her formal appearance.

She continues, "Hazel, do what you wish. Aubrey's fate is in your hands, child."

The goddess turns and walks off the road into the wheat, and vanishes into it. About five yards from the road, the wheat stops swaying, and I know she is gone.

I gulp loudly and turn to Hazel. I jump off Arion.

You are in soooo much trouble, Arion taunts.

"Shut it, horsey face," I growl.

Of course I have a horsey face! I'm a horse!

"Shut up!" I say louder, and then turn to an ashy-looking Hazel. Even with her dark skin, I can see she looks a little green.

"I'm sorry, Aubrey," she whispers, and I barely hear it over the pounding in my head and ears, "but I can't hide this from my friends. It's too big."

"Please, Hazel!" I beg. And yes, I'm reduced to begging. I've sunk that low. "Please, please, please don't! I'll do anything!" I plead, feeling tears come.

Maybe telling them wouldn't seem like such a hard thing for you but picture this:

So Percy's wandering around the deck of the Argo II and bang! A kid around his age appears. Then she tells him that she's actually his child that he had with his girlfriend who he's not married to yet.

You wouldn't want the same sorta thing to happen to you, right? I know I wouldn't.

I have a headache.

"I'll be your slave for life! I'll be your bodyguard! I'll be your punching bag when you need one, or I'll give you foot massages!" I'm ranting. I'm so desperate that my chest hurts.

I need Zach. He'd know what to do.

Actually, he probably wouldn't know what to do, but at least he'd be there for me!

Hazel looks conflicted, and I feel guilty for making her choose between me and loyalty to her friends.

"I'm really, really sorry for making you decide, Hazel, but I really don't want to, you know, pressure Percy and Annabeth's relationship, especially around me. Not to mention Piper and Jason's. It's just too far in the future to try and tell them what they have to do."

Yes! That sounds logic, right?

Hazel rubs her forehead, "I have a headache."

I brush some of my hair out of my face and groan, "Tell me about it."

Hazel looks at me sympathetically, "I know why you threw up when you heard everyone's name yesterday."

I nod, giving a weak smile, "Yeah."

Hazel sighs, looking out at the wheat. "Aubrey, I want to help you, but I don't honestly believe I can keep your secret forever. By myself."

"You won't be by yourself! You have Zach and me! And it doesn't have to be forever! Once we get home, safely twenty years away, you can tell them. Or if one of us gets severely injured, like if we're in a coma or something."

"I know I have you two," Hazel says, sounding tired, "but no offense, I need someone I know well. I understand if you don't want to tell Percy and Annabeth, but can I tell someone?"

"As long as the 'someone' is not Leo. He won't keep his big mouth shut. Or he'll blackmail us. And definitely not Piper or Jason."

Hazel laughs, "That leaves me with Frank and Couch Hedge."

I fake a serious face and say, "Looks like Couch Hedge and you are going to have a talk."

She laughs, "As if. How do you think Frank will react?"

I honestly don't know Frank all that well (in my time he's a lot different) except that he's really sweet and brave, and is really shy around Hazel, but also very protective.

"I have no clue. But can you at least wait a few days?"

Hazel bits her lip, thinking. "Okay, deal."

I smile, "Thank you so much!"

Hazel laughs, climbing onto Arion, "You owe me a foot massage."

I roll my eyes, laugh with her, and we ride back to the Argo II.

When we get back to the ship, Zach, Percy, Piper, and Jason haven't returned yet, though we were gone for almost an hour and a half.

We wait anxiously for a while, and I watch Annabeth chew nervously on her nails, pacing.

I walk over to Annabeth. "Hey, I'm sure he's okay," I comfort, referring to Percy.

She sighs, "Yeah, I know, and he can take care of himself. But I'm always afraid he's just going to disappear again."

I wouldn't be surprised if my eyes popped out of my head. "Again?!" I shriek; my voice is hoarse.

She winces. "Long, long story."

I wait.

Annabeth glances over at me. Then she starts to talk. She talks about how she met Percy Jackson when she was twelve and how she kindly informed him he drooled in his sleep. Their first quest. Luke's betrayal. She talks about Clarisse's quest that they intrude on. She tells about how she was kidnapped by Luke, and how she and Percy both held up the sky. I hear about a maze that drives people insane. Percy disappearing mysteriously for two weeks after the huge explosion of Mt. St. Helens. Beckendorf's death. The final battle. More deaths. Luke's redemption (and death).

"Wow," I say when she's done.

But she has more. Annabeth talks about an underwater kiss and a date in Paris. Then her face shadows over again.

"I thought we'd achieved a good reward, but no, oh no! The Fates weren't done with us apparently. They aren't done on their quest of Ruin Annabeth and Percy's Life."

Percy's eight months of disappearance. Annabeth pain, her loneliness. Her search. Finding Percy again. And then having to start out again on a new quest… the most dangerous yet.

I feel like crying and hugging Annabeth. But in a way, I also feel proud. This is my to-be mom. I was so lucky to have her.

I look at Annabeth. "He won't ever leave you again, Annabeth. I know it."

Annabeth smiles at me. "I appreciate your comfort, Aubrey, but I still can't help but worry if he and I both will survive this time."

I want to tell her that she can and she will survive, otherwise I wouldn't be here, but there's no way for me to explain that without telling her my secret.

"You're both strong, and together you are unstoppable. You could survive Tartarus together," I comfort, "Don't worry about him, they'll be back soon."

As if on cue, I hear Piper call. "Help guys! We need some help!"

Blackjack lands on the deck and Percy and Jason's unconscious bodies tumble off his back and onto the deck with a thud. Annabeth gasps.

"Percy!" she yells.

Piper climbs off the Pegasus. She only has a little dirt on her, but Zach… when Zach gets off…

"Zach!" I scream. "What the hell happened to you?!"

He turns to me and smiles sheepishly. "Nothing?"

His clothes are charred and peppered with holes, and I notice Percy's clothes are in the same state.

"Oh my gods," Hazel gasps.

Hazel and Frank tend to Blackjack, and while Piper and Zach barely manage to drag Jason below-deck, Annabeth, Leo and I stare at Percy's unconscious body, trying to find the best way to lug the kid down to the infirmary.

"How about we just use him as a sled?" Leo suggests.

"Shut up," Annabeth says. She bends down and loops her arms under Percy's armpits and snaps at us, "Leo, get his legs. Aubrey, once we lift him up just support his torso and make sure we don't drop him."

After a while, we get him down the stairs and lay him in one of the infirmary beds.

Coach Hedge bustles around trying to heal them muttering, "At this rate, we're going to run out of ambrosia. How come I never get invited on these violent trips?"

"Next time, Coach," I comfort, "Next time."

He grumbles in response.

Piper sits by Jason's side, and Annabeth grips Percy's hand so tight, I hope it still has circulation.

"Leo, are we ready to sail?" Piper asks.

"Yeah, but–"

"Set course for Atlanta. I'll explain later."

"But… okay," Leo looks like he wants to know more, but leaves anyway.

Percy is laying on his stomach and Annabeth notices the red mark on his back through his tattered shirt. "What happened to him, Piper?"

"Zach kicked him," Piper says simply.

"What?!" Annabeth yells, turning to look at Zach murderously.

"Piper!" Zach half-begs, half-accuses.

Piper quickly explains that Zach had to, and Annabeth's rage is interrupted by the moaning of Percy and Jason waking up.

I space out thinking about Hazel finding out about my parentage. Oh! I have to tell Zach!

Piper is describing the fight and I'm silent, even though I flinch at the notification that my friend was blasted off a horse. And my to-be father was too, apparently.

I'm so lost in thought that I don't notice that everyone is leaving, and I get up and follow.

In ten minutes, everyone is gathered at the dining table (Leo gave the helm to Coach Hedge) and Piper explains everything that happened at Topeka 32.

Hazel slaps the table, making Frank drop his burrito. "Of course! That's what happened to Leo too."

Leo exhales loudly. "So it wasn't my fault. I didn't start World War Three. I just got possessed by an evil spirit. That's a relief."

"But the Romans don't know that. And why would they take our word for it?" this was Annabeth.

"We could contact Reyna. She would believe us," Jason says.

I notice Piper's slightly sulky look, and I'm guessing it's something to do with Reyna and Jason.

Jason turns to Piper. "You could convince her, Pipes. I know you could."

Wow…

All I can say is…

Boys…

Are…

So…

Stupid…

Jason Grace, you are an idiot.

I give Piper a look full of sympathy. I may not know this Reyna, but I know that she and Piper are probably not besties.

"I could try," Piper says half-heartedly. "But Octavian is the one we have to worry about. In my dagger blade, I saw him taking control of the Roman crowd. I'm not sure Reyna can stop him."

"She's right," Frank replies, "this afternoon when I was scouting, I saw eagles again. They were a long way off, but closing in fast. Octavian is on the warpath."

Hazel winces and glances at me.

…that reminds me.

"Zach," I say, "I need to talk to you."

Everyone looks at me and I feel uncomfortable.

"Okay," Zach says.

"Like…" I inwardly groan, before continuing, "Like alone, Zach."

Zach cocks his head. I might be imagining the blush that's creeping to his cheeks. Why would he be blushing? I will never understand what goes on in that boy's head. Jeez.

I get up and walk out the door, checking to make sure he's following me. He is loud when he walks, so I don't even know why I check. I can hear him as well as I can hear a thunderstorm. Maybe his heritage has something to do with that…

I walk up and into Hazel's room, closing the door behind Zach.

-_-_Zachary Jason Grace_-_-

EVERYONE KNOWS BUT HER.

My heart is beating so loud it's probably making the room thunder.

Aubrey closes the door (closes the door!) and turns to me.

What's she going to say? Please let her say that she…

"Look, Zach, it's not my fault but Hazel knows our secret. I'm sorry."

I'm so lost in my daydream; I don't really hear what she says.

"What?"

She sighs and pushes her blond hair from her face. Her intense green eyes stare into mine and I know she's got me hypnotized.

She could tell me to jump off a cliff right now and I'd do with a smile on my face.

But she doesn't say what I'm hoping she'll say.

"The goddess of youth, Hebe, visited us and told Hazel our parentage. I convinced Hazel not to tell anyone but Frank, but I just wanted to tell you. She knows. So you can talk to her if you need to, okay?

I don't really know how to contain the feeling of disappointment that is surging through me, and I really hope it doesn't show.

No such luck.

Aubrey frowns and leans back against the wall, crossing her arms, "Why do you look so disappointed? Did you want Piper and Jason to know?"

"No!" I say quickly, "Of course not!"

"Okay, well, I have a headache," she says, "I'm going to bed. Night, Zach."

She shoos me out and I feel like kicking something. It's not fair. It's not fair. It's not fair.

While I feel this overwhelming urge to kiss her, she has no idea. While my heart beats so fast, drummers everywhere would be proud, she is perfectly at ease. Sure, maybe I wasn't all that nice to her for a while. But that's because I was terrified of her. And the sappy feelings that aren't supposed to happen to me for a few more years.

I hate it. I hate Aubrey. I hate life.

Just kidding. I couldn't hate Aubrey. But I did hate my life. These demigods thought they had it bad, fighting monsters. Hell, I'd take the monsters any day, if I also got Aubrey.

I practically storm back into the dining room. Everyone looks at me quizzically. Leo has a piece of spaghetti stuck in 3 on his forehead. Everyone looks slightly pale.

I slump in my chair and I feel like throwing a pity-party for my sucky self. Normally I'm not a self-centered guy, but this hurt. My best friend for my entire life doesn't even notice me. Not in the way I want.

"You okay?" Piper asks.

I don't even bother lying. I stab a tater-tot fiercely and chew it slowly, grinding it with my teeth, taking out my anger on the stupid fried potato (it is a potato, right?).

"I'm sorry man," Jason says, slapping me on the back, "You can't make a girl notice you."

Thank you Jason for understanding me!

"I know," I grumble.

Everyone looks at me sympathetically. Suddenly, I'm tired of it though.

Everyone knows but her. It's killing me. I get up, go to Percy's room and collapse on the floor.

I wake to the sound of someone whispering: "Percy!"

I barely peak through my eyelids at Annabeth, who is trying to wake Percy.

Percy rolls over and looks at her. "Wh-what's going on? Are we there?"

"No, it's the middle of the night. Careful, you don't want to wake Zach."

Too late.

"You mean… you sneaked into my cabin?" Percy stutters.

I resisted snorting at how ridiculous that sounds and I see Annabeth roll her eyes.

"Percy, you'll be seventeen in two months, you can't seriously be worried about getting into trouble with Coach Hedge."

"Uh, have you seen his baseball bat?" Percy asks.

"Besides, Seaweed Brain, I just thought we could take a walk. We haven't had any time to be together alone. I want to show you something– my favorite place aboard the ship."

I feel jealousy like it's stabbing me in the chest. And no, I do not want to date Annabeth! Uh! Weird… image… scarred…

No, I'm jealous because I want Aubrey to sneak in and tell me she wants to be with just me. Alone. I want her to look at me the same way Annabeth looks at Percy. I want her to make my heart race, and I want to make hers race in response. Cheesy as it is, I want it.

Percy, poor guy, seems to be shutting down from the closeness of his girlfriend, but he manages, "Can I, you know, brush my teeth first?"

"You'd better," Annabeth warns. "Because I'm not kissing you until you do. And brush your hair while you're at it."

Percy starts to get up, but freezes when I laugh out loud, but not too loud.

"If you two get any more sappy, I'm gonna hurl," I say, sitting up.

Both Percy and Annabeth blush deeply. I snicker at them.

"Hey, Zach," Annabeth makes it clear she didn't want me to be awake.

I laugh. "Seriously, though," I continue, "can you chill with the PDA?"

Annabeth grits her teeth, "Zach it's not PDA if no one's here."

"I'm here!"

"Exactly."

"Wow, aren't you nice? Anyway, guys, try not to wake me up next time and don't anything too dirty."

"Shut the Hades up!" Percy growls at me.

It freaks me out, but I just shrug, "Ooooh, I'm so scared. Night, lovebirds."

I roll over and close my eyes and block out everything, falling back asleep almost instantly.

I'm woken by a frantic call, "Where's Percy?!"

A yell from down the hall out the door screams, "Annabeth's not here, either!"

I mumble that they went to make out in a closet and roll over again falling back asleep.

"Zachary!" a yell in my ear makes me give a high-pitched scream and throw my arm out to smack… Aubrey in the face.

I blush, sitting up. "Oh gosh, Aubrey, I'm so sorry."

"It's fine," she mutters, rubbing her red cheek. "We found Percy and Annabeth. We had this talk, and now I'm leaving with Percy, Frank, and Coach Hedge to go into the city of Atlanta. It took a long time for me to convince Couch Hedge to let me go, but I'm leaving and they wanted me to wake you up first."

"Can I come, too?" I ask.

She shakes her head, "We are leaving right now. Anyway, you should get something to eat."

She's gone before I can say bye.

btw sorry about last chapter. First off, i wanted at least one of the Argo II's crew to know their secret, and i feel like Hazel doesn't get enough action in the Mark of Athena

Review! I like cookies!

Reviewers:

Lizzyluvsmusic13: I'm glad you liked it! I tried to capture Percy's sassy attitude in the titles!

LunaAmethyst: sadly I couldn't tell Annabeth and Percy properly about Aubrey this chapter while keeping the story together, but I promise you, the day is coming!

ilovefonandalaude: I know I wrote the story, but I was asking the same question! :P

SilverWing321: So sorry about the cliffhanger! I'm so happy you're excited, though! Did you like the way the chapter turned out? (P.S. I like the way you express your thoughts, it's very thorough!)

PercyJacksonDoctorWhoFanGirl: beg no more! (that was weird...) anyway, what'd you think? thanks for reviewing! And not giving me a death threat for not updating faster!

RAINBOWSNEMESIS/Rainbow: I updated! Don't kill me! about the Charleston idea, it's brilliant! ilovefonandalaude and PinkFan-Gurl had the same sort of idea! Thank you so much for reading this! sorry this chapter wasn't too action-packed, but I kinda needed it anyway :/ soooo... I'll update as quickly as possible! Promise!

PinkFan-Gurl: How many times did you review? I can't even count that high! when I saw, I bit back a scream of excitement! I wanted Zach and Aubrey not to ruin the overall image of the demigods' kids. I wanted the original characters and story to be there, too, though. I haven't read any very good fanfictions about the Sevens' kids, and I wanted to change that. I'm also happy that you respected Aubrey and Zach's choice to stay mysterious, if you know what i mean haha :P I don't like the entire story to be obvious, you know? I'm glad you think the story's funny! About the Aubrey going to the aquarium, yes! thank you amazing PinkFan-Gurl (I'm dedicating the next chapter to you)! And Aubrey is definitely going to see Aphrodite in Charleston! ilovefonandalaude and RAINBOWSNEMESIS had the same type of idea! I was also waiting for someone to figure out the Kronos thing! You're a genius! And, I'm completely overjoyed you love Zach! He did show some attitude in this chapter, but, let's be honest, Aubrey can be a little oblivious! I'll try and do more Zach narration without the drama I included today! And he probably got his sarcasm from Percy, as he spent a lot of time at the Jackson's growing up, yeah? Thank you for the paragraphs of reviews! I felt like you wrote me an essay, so I wrote you one :) ^^^

bookworm0818: the use of "oh my gods" in your review is the mark of a true Heroes of Olympus fan! anyway, I'm super glad you liked it! thanks for reading! Did you like this last chapter? (if not, promise a better next one!)

Thanks for reading!

If you didn't like this chapter, the next one's better, I promise!

Next Chapter: Going to the aquarium!