The Story Of Our Own /Heroes of Olympus fanfiction/

Chapter 3

Chiron was sitting in his wheelchair on the front porch of the Big House, playing monopoly with Jason and that Apollo kid, Will Solace. As soon as he saw Percy and Annabeth walking towards them , hand in hand, he started smiling. Over these years he became so fond of the two, treated them like his own kids. He was really protective of them, maybe more than of any other demigods in past or present.

"Um, hi Chiron...", Annabeth said, "just to be clear, what Piper said earlier was-"

"A complete lie? Yes, I know that." Chiron smiled. "But that doesn't explain why you were both in Percy's cabin last night, Annabeth."

"Chiron, you know I don't like sleeping alone", Percy said, "and with yesterday being both my birthday and our first anniversary as a couple" he glanced at Annabeth "so I thought, maybe just for one night..." Annabeth was acting like they were lying, but it was true. Since they came back from Tartarus, Percy has had some trouble sleeping alone. He usually took night shifts on Argo II, so it wasn't noticeable. Many times since they've arrived in Camp Half-Blood, Chiron would find him on the beach in the middle of the night, but Percy didn't want to upset the others, especially not Annabeth, so asked Chiron to keep it a secret.

"Jason, Will, would you please leave us alone for a moment?" Chiron said.

"Sure, no problem", Jason stood up, "you two, call us when you're done so we can come back, we've got someone to find." He sounded like they should've known who that special someone was, but they had no idea.

"Kids, sit down." Percy and Annabeth took the chairs where the two boys were sitting before. "Percy, does Annabeth know?"

"Know what?" Annabeth said.

"No, I didn't want her to get upset, so I-"

"Percy, what is it, why are you hiding something from me, I thought we have a healthy relationship, but this?! No, this is definitely not a trait of one healthy rela-"

"Calm down Annabeth. He did it for your best. Tell her now, Percy." Chiron was so calm, so that cooled Annabeth off a little.

"What I said before, about not wanting to sleep alone", Percy said, "it was true."

"Um, ok? Well, that's normal, I guess?" Annabeth was confused.

"Yes, kinda. But the truth is, I haven't had a proper sleep since we came back from Tartarus, Annabeth, many nights I couldn't sleep at all. It's not that I don't like to, it's that I can't sleep when I'm alone."

"Gods, Percy, how on earth did that get pass me? Why didn't you tell me sooner, I could've done something maybe?" she wasn't mad anymore.

"No, this is just PTSD, you can't do anything about it, Annabeth." Chiron said. "It will become better eventually, but right now, you should just be there when Percy needs you."

"But Chiron, how can I be there for him when it's forbidden for me to sleep in his cabin? How is that making things any better?" Annabeth felt a little bit of despair in her own voice. She cleared her troat. "No, it's simple", she was serious now, "if Percy can't sleep alone, then he mustn't sleep alone."

"Yes, that's exactly what I wanted to talk with you about." Chiron said. "I think I've found a solution."