Annabeth:

Neither of us were really dressed appropriately for the brunch restaurant we ended up at when compared to one another. Percy was dressed in a casual business suit and I myself was in ripped jeans and a purple t-shirt. The maitre d gave us both a once over as he directed us to our table.

We sat down near the back of the restaurant isolated from other customers.

"So." I said unsure of what level of awkwardness this date would bring.

"I'm sorry, Annie." Percy said while looking me in the eyes.

"You're sorry."

"Yes, I… I didn't mean for things to play out the way they did between us. You were right about my friendship with Amelia and it cost me. Well, you."

Percy looked broken but sincerely apologetic. I couldn't bring myself to rub it in his face that I was right about her or that we both suffered at the hands of some insignificant mortal.

"It's not okay, but thank you." I tried keeping my voice as soft as I could.

"So, what have you been up to. Besides you know being a mom."

Tried to prepare my words. When the waiter came around and dropped off a bottle of Château Cheval Blanc. Pouring Percy and I half a glass each and taking our order afterwards. My attention was back on Percy as he looked at me waiting for my answer.

"Well, I've been working as an architect in the FiDi area and you know. Well, you briefly met Daphne. She's probably the best thing that's ever happened to me. What about you?" I asked while picking up my glass of wine.

"I'm on a work assignment right now. Research on the local Harbor seals population. Also, Daphne seems like a sweetheart, I bet her father's happy."

"He doesn't know she exists." I said quickly setting the glass down preparing to pour more wine into it.

Percy face seemed a little sour at first before he composed himself again. "So, you've just been raising her on her own?" He asked.

I nodded as I was too busy having the wine glass pressed to my lips.

We continued on talking about mundane matters and eating. When the check finally came I was fully prepared to go home and forget today happened. Adding it to my list of dates that were done in good faith but not successful. Even with Percy the date didn't go well with so much time pasting between us all these years.

"Hey, before I drop you back off there's something I want you to see." Percy said sounding cheerful about whatever else he had planned.

I nodded.

"I'm sure my step mom wouldn't mind watching Daphne a little longer."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In all of my years living in San Francisco I had never visited the aquarium here, not once. Percy had driven us here and him and I had walked through the employee entrance together passing several people in uniforms. Multiple employees nodded their heads toward Percy as others greeted him as 'Mr. Jackson' in passing.

We walked through the upper level and although my ADHD had been well under control for the last few years the lights and glow from the exhibits was distracting but in a good way. It wasn't until I bumped into Percy's back that I realized we stopped.

In front of us was an exhibit surrounded by glass that went about half way up to the ceiling. Behind the glass were little otters playfully swimming through the water, eating, and cleaning each other's fur.

"You still like otters, right?" Percy asked. His hands were brushing through his hair as he did one little slow rock back on his heels.

"You remembered."

A long time ago before I ran away from home, my father had taken me to an aquarium on the East Coast with its brand new display of sea otters. We saw a nice little family of otters playing together and he told me that one day soon that, that would be our family. Loving, playfully, and whole. I didn't know it at the time, but my dad was already engaged to my step mom and I thought the otters represented my mom, Athena, my dad, and I. When I found out he meant my step mom, him and I, I was angry. I didn't hold it against the otters as the way I kind of found out about my dad's relationship. Instead I still relished in the thought that my parents and I would be like an otter family one day. Whole.

Besides owls they were my favorite animal. When Percy and I got to college our freshman year he swore he would take me to an otter exhibit one day as a date. Two years later it didn't happen and we broke up. Now five years after that we were standing side by side staring at the little creatures on the other side of the glass.

"Do you want to see them up closer?" Percy asked.

"Huh?"

He dangled a large key ring in front of his face displaying around twenty or so keys on the loop.

I could feel a smile growing on my face. I tried to contain my excitement as I answered.

"Yes." I said.