Chapter 14: A "date" with Annabeth

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Percy groaned and sat up, immediately seeing a face he recognized in front of him. He had stayed the night at his mom's house, for what he knew would probably be the last time, so his sheets were jumbled around him.

He wasn't used to sleeping alone. It always gave him some kind of nightmare. He smiled nonetheless. "Good morning, Erebus."

Erebus smiled and leaned forward, kissing Percy. "Morning, Brightspot. I told the Olympians about the relationship."

Percy completely woke up, staring at the now nervously smiling Erebus.

"Surprise..?" He weakly said.

Percy stared at him for a moment before sighing and wrapping his arms around him, falling back onto the bed.

"Guess it can't be helped now, can it?" Percy said.

Erebus shook his head. "Nope. But look at it this way: you can take us on dates out in the open."

Percy laughed and kissed him. "Go back to your wife, you. Give me some more time here, and then I'll set some stuff up, okay?"

Erebus nodded and melted into the darkness, leaving Percy alone on the bed. He stood up and stretched, snapping his fingers to instantly dress himself. He walked out of his room and instantly smelled pancakes.

He walked into the kitchen with a large smile, greeted by Sally. Breakfast was good. He taught Estelle how to use her protection charm from Tartarus, and he talked with his parents some more.

As the clock struck twelve, he said goodbye and left the building, leaving them behind with hope of seeing him again.

He didn't have the heart to tell them anything otherwise.

He basked in the sunlight as he walked. Apollo's love was... well, it was almost always there. Percy liked that. He hated being separate from any of his partners. Then again, darkness and light were the domains of some of his other lovers, so technically, he was always in their presence.

Who knew. Certainly not him.

He walked through New York, enjoying the bustling city that he had missed for so long. Eventually, though, he teleported to New Rome. First things first: Annabeth. He found her in the Praetor's office, helping Frank with new construction.

"Hey, Percy," Frank greeted. Annabeth turned her head and smiled. "Hey Seaweed Brain. Whatcha doin?"

"I, uh, was actually wondering if I could borrow you for a bit?" He asked.

Annabeth looked at Frank and then at the blueprints. "Some other time?"

Frank nodded. "Of course. Go," he said as he shooed them out.

"So, what did you want to -" Annabeth began to ask, before Percy suddenly put his finger on her forehead. They both teleported away.

"Percy, what're you- WOAH," Annabeth yelled, trying to keep balance.

They were both on top of the Golden Gate Bridge, with a small picnic laid out. Percy sat on the picnic cloth. "Don't worry, it won't fall. It's magic."

Annabeth nodded and uncertainly sat down. Percy reached into a basket and pulled out a small sandwich, splitting it in half and giving it to Annabeth.

"I know that I asked you like yesterday, but have you considered my offer?" He asked.

Annabeth stared at her half sandwich. "I- I have..."

"And have you made a decision?" Percy asked hopefully.

Annabeth swallowed. "I- Percy, I don't - I don't think I can - I just..."

"Ah," Percy said quietly. "You're not taking my offer?"

Annabeth shook her head. "No. I- just, Percy, what happened to you? You get sent away, and you come back, but instead of being vengeful or depressed, you're just flamboyant and sassy. I mean, you were before as well, but now... and being married to primordials? That's insane! Did you even really think I would accept? "

Percy sighed as a bird flew by. "I knew you wouldn't."

"What? How?" Annabeth asked.

Percy looked at her, a small tear running down his face. "A lot happened, Annabeth. Way more than you might think. I mean, the time difference is just -"

Annabeth nodded. "Tartarus is terrible for keeping track of time."

Percy frowned. "No, Annabeth, that's not the time difference I'm talking about. Annabeth... I don't belong here. In this time."

"What?" Annabeth asked.

Percy swallowed nervously. "Okay. I'm going to tell you something, and you can't tell anybody. Understand?"

"What?" Annabeth asked. "Percy, how does this -"

"Just promise me that you won't tell anybody," Percy said.

Annabeth huffed. "Fine. But only if you tell me everything that happened when you were gone."

Percy struggled for a moment, trying to remember what to do, but eventually gave in.

"Okay," he said. "The reason I've been so different, and how I knew you wouldn't accept my offer. It has to do with Chr-"
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"Ah crap," Atropos said. Her sisters looked up. "What happened?"

Atropos threw aside a broken needle. "I actually do need the spare needle I threw earlier. You two just keep weaving without me while I try to find it."

Her sisters looked back down, focusing on their weaving and continuing the story. Atropos groaned and stood up, annoyed. She walked around their cave for a while.

"God's above, why can't we live somewhere that has light? And like, furniture?" She asked.

Clotho laughed. "You're the reason we haven't moved, miss 'the cave helps my concentration'."

Atropos sighed. "Right, right. I'm just- oop! Found it!"

She bent down and grabbed her needles, before returning to her spot and sitting down.

"How far did you get?" She asked her sisters.

"Not that far," Lachesis said.

"Okay good," Atropos said as she returned to weaving.

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Annabeth stared at Percy in shock. "How... how did you even- how did -"

"Hey," Percy said. "It's okay. Just live your life, okay? Enjoy it, and remember not to tell anyone."

Annabeth nodded. "I- I need some time to think."

Percy snapped his fingers, and they both teleported to Annabeth's room in New Rome. He kissed her forehead. "You'll always be my best friend. Remember that."

Annabeth nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I will."

Percy smiled and left her room, thinking about what to do next. Actually, no, he knew what he was to do next. Give the gifts to his children.

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