The Fate Chronicles

Ch 5 - Breaking the Ice

The gods and Chiron watched the children walk out. Once they were out of hearing range, the gods looked to Chiron with a questioning gaze.

"What is going on with the children, Chiron? They seem too upset." Zeus asked his half-brother.

"They fought in two wars, with hardly any break for some of them. They saw a lot of their siblings and friends die. It's finally taking its toll on them."

"Yes, we get that. But what happened to my son?" Poseidon and Hades asked together.

"And my daughter? Those three seem more distraught than some others." Athena wondered.

Chiron's tail flicked nervously as he said in an uncharacteristically steely voice, "That's for them to tell you if they want to. Do not push them. Now, if you don't mind, I would like to visit this particular Olympus." With that he turned and walked out, leaving the gods to wonder what had happened in the future that affected the most seasoned teacher in such a way. Some gods wondered if they lost any children in the wars. They decided to go talk to their children.

***

The first ones out of the throne room were Nico, Will, Percy, and Annabeth. Percy made a beeline for the nearest river that he could feel and Annabeth followed him as Will and Nico disappeared in the opposite direction. They sat down on a big rock at the river bank, dipping their feet in the water, after rolling up their jeans.

"They suspect something," Annabeth said quietly, looking at the scenery in front of them, trying to commit it to memory so she could re-create it in the new Olympus.

"Hmm. I noticed. Won't be long before they come to question us."

"I don't want to tell. They knew. In our timeline, our parents know. Still, none of them did anything." She said bitterly.

Percy turned to face her and bumped his shoulder at her. "Hey, don't think this way. That's why we are doing this, remember? Plus, didn't your mom bless you with dreamless sleep? They care. They just suck at showing it."

Looking down and sighing, Annabeth admitted, "I know. It just gets hard after a point of time. I mean, I am not the only one who has been having problems. My siblings are going through the same things, different memories, but essentially the same thing."

Nodding, he hugged her and she leaned into him. They sat in peaceful silence for a few minutes before they heard someone clearing their throat behind them.

"Hello, son," Poseidon said, failing to hide his smirk. "Not disturbing, am I?"

"Not at all, Lord Poseidon," Annabeth said, moving out of Percy's embrace and getting up after smiling at him warmly. "I'll just catch up with the others" she stuttered. Spotting Rachel and Reyna in the distance, she bowed to Poseidon and ran off.

"So, a daughter of Athena?" Poseidon asked as he sat down next to Percy.

Percy stifled a laugh as he responded "Quite wrong actually. We are close but Annabeth and I are not like that. Well, not anymore. She has different tastes now, however, not my story to tell"

"Oh, I understand, she's uh, ok got it," Poseidon uttered oh so eloquently.

They sat in awkward silence for a few moments, before Poseidon voiced his thoughts, "You are uncomfortable with me?"

Taking a breath, his son replied, "This you. Not the one in my time. I don't know this you?" Percy looked and felt confused.

"Are we close – in your time, I mean?"

"Well, you attended my 15th birthday, hugged me, and even bought me a milkshake once. It's safe to say we are closer than what the other Olympians are with their children."