Phases of the Sea

Chapter 21

Perci POV

It was a good thing that I had told Charlie I was spending the weekend with Emily, because mine and Paul's engagement celebration lasted well into the night. By the time we finally crashed, it was pushing four in the morning, and I was exhausted from all the events that had taken place during the day. A battle, our engagement, the ride to Camp Half-Blood, and the council meeting were exhausting enough. When one added the announcement of the engagement, my official coronation as princess, Paul being named my consort, the palace celebration, and then the party the people got to attend, I was completely wiped out.

"Well, today has been insane on a number of levels. Am I the only one that wants to sleep for a week?" Paul asked, flopping down face first onto my – now our – bed, making me giggle as I grabbed a pair of pajamas for me, and a pair of pajama pants for him.

"No, you're not the only one. At least they're happy for us though, so that's a good thing." I said, tossing the pajama pants to him, and walking behind the changing screen in the room. Paul was already well aware that the most undressed he would see me until we were married was in a swimsuit, so he didn't complain.

"Tyson especially, my ribs actually hurt from being hugged. I think I can actually tell people now that I was nearly hugged to death by my future brother-in-law." He said, and I could hear the joking tone to his voice. I smiled though, as I remembered Tyson's reaction to finding out I was marrying Paul. He had been thrilled, hugging us both and calling Paul his 'new, furry big brother', not that my fiancée seemed to mind the title.

"You loved it, and you know it, you're his family now, so he's gonna take every chance to hug you. I can guarantee you, he's probably in the forge making you a weapon right now." I told him, coming out from behind the screen, smirking slightly at the jaw dropped expression on his face when he saw my light blue silk tank top and shorts pajama set. He stared for a second, before shaking his head, and lifting the covers for me to slide in next to him, an experience I was still getting used to.

"Of course I loved it, I finally have family that don't turn into giant wolves and can share my mind. Don't get me wrong, I love the pack, but its nice to have family who knows about it, and can actually say that they deal with weirder things on a daily basis." He said, pulling me close, and I couldn't stop the smile.

"I'm glad you see them as family, Paul. It makes me happy to know that you accept the craziness that is my life so easily, and can accept it as your life as well." I told him, earning a chuckle that rumbled my ear where it laid against his chest.

"Well, I'm not so sure about Mr. D, but yeah, I see them all as family. Even Lord Zeus and Lady Hera scarily enough." He joked, making me laugh, before sighing.

"I'm an idiot, I forgot to tell Ares about Felix's greeting, or about locating Jasper. Oh well, I'm too tired to IM him right now, so I'll write a message for him tomorrow. Hopefully Hermes will get a kick out of delivering it." I mumbled, hearing a low chuckle before drifting off.

The next morning, I arrived at the breakfast table smirking, while Paul's shoulders were shaking with suppressed laughter. Upon spotting our amusement, dad just shook his head, holding up a hand.

"I don't want to know. You only wear that smirk when you've done something to piss one of the members of the council off, so the less I know, the better." He said, before starting on his meal now that we were here.

"Then please ignore what she has to say, because I want to know who you're pissing off this time, and if you think it will be funny." Triton said, leaning forward in his seat, and earning a sigh from his mother.

"Ares, and yes, it likely will be funny. That's all I will say since dad doesn't want to know any details." I said, before starting on my own food while Paul's laughter finally broke free.