Unlikely Heroes

Chapter 75: Frederick Chase

I have never met Annabeth's father. She told me about him, of course. He is a professor of Military History. As Annabeth is one of the prettiest person, I would have expected he would be too. Frederick is not bad looking, but his glasses that make his eyes large and bulgy, and so what messy hair does not make him pretty. I guess Annabeth got most of her looks from Athena. Frederick looked at us after he opened the door. His eyes scanning each of us with curiosity, and he even narrowed his eyes on me. Well, he knows about me.

"Hello, are you Aileen? Annabeth described you in painstakingly detail, and you fit every detail," He says with a friendly tone and smile.

"Yes, sir! I am Aileen. It's very nice to meet you," I say and held my hand out. He took and shakes it as he smiles. I am not sure why Annabeth would hold a grudge against this man. He seems like a good man, a bit weird I suspect, but still.

"I have one question for you. Will you never hurt my little girl? We may not have always seen eye to eye, but she is still my daughter. She may have held it from me, but I saw the ring, and I know an engagement ring when I see it," he says with a very serious tone.

"Oh, you do not have to worry, sir. I will treat her with love and care. My heart beats solely for her," I say without falter. Fredrick squeezes my hand a bit and smiles. He seems happy and relieved.

"Cheesy," Percy says with a snicker. I ignored him and Zoe glares at him. She actually looks touched and pleased as she sees me interacting with Annabeth's father. I guess a certain longing that she wants something similar happening to her.

"Good, uhm, then you have my blessing, Aileen. Did you have my planes by any chance?" He asks as he scans the front portion of his house. Planes, what does he mean?

"Uh, no, sir."

"Drat. I need them to finish my work. Anyway, what can I do for you four? Is Annabeth with you? Did something happen?"

"That's why we're here, sir," Thalia chimes in. The rest nod as well. You can see that a certain urgency is written on their faces, and Frederick does not miss it.

"I see. Come on in. We can talk inside."

As he moved in the house, I find it funny as his shirt was not put on properly, his face looked not washed for a few days. His beard was becoming prevalent after all. It seems his hair is one of the few things that Annabeth inherited from her father. Although, I think if he washed himself a bit and put some effort in his appearance, he may even be called handsome.

"Dad! He's taking apart my robots!" We hear a boy scream from further inside the house. My friends and I share a confused glance, but made no comment. Is everyone in this house smart and weird?

"Bobby! Don't take apart your brother's robots," Frederick calls out absentmindedly. Gods, no wonder he has a strained relationship with his daughter. It is almost an afterthought that he is a father. My guess is that he is more focused on his work than anything else.

"I am Bobby!" The same boy says.

"Matthew, don't take apart your brother's robots!"

"Okay, dad!" Another voice says. It worked? There is something is strange about this family. A good strange, I think? I wonder how Annabeth avoided becoming such an awkward person like her father. Frederick sighs a bit, glancing at us.

"We will talk in my study upstairs. Follow me," he says, but we soon hear another voice calling out.

"Honey," the voice says as an Asian looking woman appears in the door frame that leads to the living room. I have to admit, she is pretty. Her auburn hair put in a bun as she wipes her hands clean. It seems she was doing the dishes or something. "Who are our guests?" She asks.