As Annabeth opened her eyes, she felt like her head was going to explode. A groan left her, and she buried her face in the rather hard pillow that her face rested on. What had happened? Annabeth remembered drinking. A lot. Everything after that was a complete blank.
"Morning," a voice said softly. Annabeth quickly realized that the hard pillow was in fact someone's back. She slowly lifted her head and looked at Reyna. After a moment, the woman in question slowly reached over to the bedside table to grab a bottle of medicine and a glass of water. "Here."
Annabeth slowly grabbed the glass of water and took a few sips. She then took some of the pills and drained the rest of her water. All she wanted was for her skull to stop pounding. Annabeth couldn't remember the last time she had been that drunk.
"Thanks," Annabeth spoke in a hoarse voice. Her throat still felt parched, and her mouth had this disgusting aftertaste that didn't feel like it had come from alcohol. Annabeth rubbed her eyes "What happened during Christmas dinner?"
"We didn't have a Christmas dinner," another voice joined in. Annabeth frowned as she turned her head to look at the source. Her gaze zeroed in on her father. "Reyna, can I talk to my daughter alone?"
"Yeah," Reyna replied quietly. She stood and left the room. Annabeth blinked a few times and looked around. This was not her hotel room. It had to be one of the guest rooms, but there had been no room for another guest because some of her family was staying here. Where were they now?
"Beth," Frederick began softly. He sat on the bed, and Annabeth looked at alarm clock on the nightstand. It was almost noon, and if it was after Christmas, her flight would be leaving in five hours. Annabeth refused to look at her father and instead focused on her clothes. They looked like an outfit that belonged to her stepmother. Her stomach ached, not from hunger, but from being unsettled.
"What happened?" Annabeth slowly asked. She tried to sit up but ended up just collapsing back against the bed.
"You told me how you felt about me," Frederick answered quietly. Annabeth turned her head and stared up at him. Her heart plummeted to her stomach. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I've tried," Annabeth muttered. She looked away and didn't say anything else. Her father slowly shifted closer to her. Annabeth just stared at the ground and wished that it would swallow her whole.
"Do you remember anything that happened?" Frederick asked. It took Annabeth a moment to shake her head. She still couldn't look up. A hand gently grabbed her shoulder. "You are not a disappointment, Annabeth. I want you to know that."
Annabeth still kept her mouth shut. Frederick sighed and continued, "I don't hate the fact that you're bisexual, Annabeth. I just... wasn't expecting that. I guess I always imagined you and a man living a happy life. One where you could be taken care of and not have to spend everyday of your life working."
"I don't want to be a housewife," Annabeth muttered.
"You made that clear," Frederick stated in a gentle tone. He gently rubbed her shoulder. "I never meant that I wanted you to be a housewife. I just wanted you to find someone who would be able to provide for you. I love my job, but there are days when I regret that I spent most of my time hunched over a book and working instead of living my life. I didn't want you to look back when you're my age and have regrets that you couldn't do the things you wanted."
"I do hate that you are a fighter," Frederick admitted. Annabeth tensed and felt like she had been hit in the gut. She swallowed painfully. "It's not because I want you to be a scholar or teacher, but I do think you would make an amazing one. I just don't want to see you get hurt."
"It's not just the thought of you getting kicked and punched," Frederick continued. "I'm worried that you might break a bone or snap a muscle or tendon that won't heal properly. Not to mention the long term effects of concussions and head trauma. I just don't want to see you paralyzed or that genius mind of yours fractured."
"I enjoy what I do," Annabeth said softly. She slowly looked up at her father. "You have to trust that I know my body enough to stop before permanent damage like that can set in. But, it hurts that you don't support me. Even if you don't approve, you could still show support."
"You're right," Frederick agreed. "I'm sorry, Annabeth. I never want to make you feel like that."
Annabeth remained silent and looked at the floor again. She dreamed about having this conversation with her father before. Part of her always thought she would confront him and make him feel just as bad as she did. The other part of her didn't think it would happen. She was sure it wouldn't happen like this.
"I wish I had your courage," Frederick continued. "I always looked up at my aunts and uncles. I hate how they treat Alex and Magnus, but I never spoke up in their defense. I never spoke up in your defense either, and I hate myself for that."
"I don't remember anything I said," Annabeth admitted. Frederick smiled slightly.
"You pretty much told all of the elders that they were racists and bigots, and I can't blame you for that. You also said you don't want to carry on that legacy, which I agree with as well. I just wish I could stand up to them like you did, drunk or not," Frederick said. He sighed and looked down.
"You said that you feel like I don't want you, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. I didn't take you in just because your mother left. Annabeth, you are my daughter, and I love you so much. I feel like you resent me for your mother leaving," Frederick admitted. Annabeth stared up at him. "I never want you to feel like you are a stranger."
"I am so sorry," Frederick continued. He gently hugged Annabeth, and she hugged him back. She knew this wasn't the end of this topic, but it felt amazing to hear her father say these things. It also pissed her off that she had to get drunk and apparently have a drunken rant to her father for it to happen.
"Who else heard my rant?" Annabeth asked quietly. She looked up at her father.
"Everyone in the family," Frederick answered. He rubbed her back. "You told us how you really felt. Reyna tried to lead you out of here, and you kissed her in front of everyone. I guess to make them uncomfortable. It worked."
"I kissed Reyna? On the cheek?" Annabeth questioned as her own cheeks heated up.
"No," Frederick said. "It was a lot more involved in that. It's how I knew the two of you aren't actually dating. Reyna tried to pull away, and you didn't really let her. You knocked her back onto the couch."
Annabeth's face heated up more, and she felt herself turning completely red. While they did agree that kissing was okay, Reyna did want a fair warning, and things were only made worse with Annabeth being drunk. Especially if she didn't let Reyna pull away.
That was what made Annabeth feel terrible. She didn't know why she didn't let Reyna pull away. It wasn't right, drunk or not. Annabeth was going to have to apologize profusely.
"Did I do anything else?" Annabeth asked, dreading the answer.
"You fell to the couch with her," Frederick said softly. He frowned. "And then, you threw up all over her."
Annabeth's eyes widened in shock, and all she could do was stare into space. Her face turned beet red. She had not only kissed Reyna but also vomited on her. Annabeth was never going to live this down, especially since Reyna was so willing to play along as her fake girlfriend.
"I should have defended you from the family," Frederick said, looking lost in his own world for a few moments. "I don't have a good reason. Not one that you would accept anyway."
"I get it," Annabeth mumbled as she looked down. "Why turn the entire family against you to defend one person?"
"Because that one person is my daughter," Frederick stated. He pulled Annabeth into a tight hug, and she hugged him back. "I'm going to do better, Annabeth. I promise."
"I'll try to do better too," Annabeth said. She pulled away and looked up at her father. "I'll visit more. Maybe one of the holidays. Just the five of us?"
"I would like that," Frederick said. Annabeth smiled slightly.
"I know that you're not comfortable with me fighting, but I can always get everyone tickets. Or even see if you can come backstage, if you want," Annabeth began. Frederick pursed his lips. "If you're not ready for that yet, I understand."
"Maybe," Frederick finally said. "The boys would love it."
"That they would," Annabeth agreed. She slowly stood and groaned as her head felt like it was spinning. Her father steadied her. "I wish I could stay longer, but we need to get moving if we're going to make our flight."
"I love you," Frederick said as he pulled Annabeth into another tight hug.
"I love you too, dad," Annabeth hugged him back. She pulled away and looked down at her clothes. "We can drop these off on the way to the airport."
"You can keep them or mail them back," Frederick replied as he rubbed her back. He kissed Annabeth's forehead and then pulled away. Annabeth smiled and slowly walked out of the room. She made her way towards the stairs and carefully walked down them, gripping the railing.
As Annabeth made it downstairs, she saw that Reyna was laying back on the couch. Her eyes were closed, and she looked exhausted. Annabeth thought that Reyna was sleeping, but it didn't take long for Reyna to open her eyes.
"Hey," Reyna greeted after a few moments. She rubbed her eyes and groaned tiredly as she sat up. "How are you feeling?"
"Terrible," Annabeth admitted as she sat by Reyna. "I'm so sorry that I threw up on you. And kissed you. I am so sorry, Reyna. I can't believe that I did that."
"You were drunk," Reyna dismissed with a shrug.
"That doesn't excuse it," Annabeth whispered. She hung her head as her face heated up. "I should feel embarrassed and terrible that I got so drunk I can't remember my rant in front of the entire family, but I feel worse about what I did to you. I'm so sorry."
"It's okay," Reyna said after a few moments. She looked at Annabeth. "I'm not mad. Anymore."
"I would still be mad," Annabeth stated. She studied Reyna and noticed the circles around her eyes. Reyna looked completely exhausted. "Did you get any sleep last night?"
"No," Reyna admitted. "I felt a little sick after all that. Physically sick. Not from the kiss. Just the aftermath of all that. And, Hazel's extended family, those assholes, spoke to the press about Hazel's past and her mother. Laid it all out in detail and published it for the world to see. Pricks."
"How's Hazel taking it?" Annabeth asked. She wasn't even sure where her phone was.
"Not well," Reyna answered. She collapsed back onto the couch and groaned. "Your mom, stepmom, whatever, offered us leftover food. There's a lot of leftovers."
"Are you able to eat?" Annabeth asked. A shrug was all she received. "Why don't you try to get some food or take a nap? I'll go back to the hotel and get our things."
"I'm fine, Annabeth. I can just sleep on the flight back," Reyna said. She closed her eyes and rested her forearm over her head. Annabeth nodded and slowly stood.
"Let me get you leftovers at least," Annabeth began. After a few moments, Reyna nodded. Annabeth gently squeezed her knee. "Thank you for all of this, Reyna. And, I really am sorry that I kissed you and then threw up on you."
"I forgive you, Annabeth. Another apology and I'll throw you off the plane," Reyna threatened. Annabeth smiled and walked towards the kitchen. The trip hadn't gone like she wanted, but it was probably the best this way. Being able to finally confront her father meant they could move forward with their relationship, if her father was willing to.
Annabeth also felt like she had ruined Reyna's Christmas. Reyna went out of her way to help Annabeth, and what she got in return wasn't fair. Annabeth wasn't sure what she was going to do to make up for it, but she would find something. For now, she would just return home and be with her second family. After the holidays, all of her attention would move to her next fight.