Scaring the mortals

Extra 3: Meeting old friends

Like they had promised David, Percy and Annabeth decided to go to the meeting of alumni.

Truth be told, they missed everyone.

And so, that's how the couple, bringing Zoe, Charlie, and the new-born Sally (who is just like her dad, and who the older siblings, even young, already felt certain overprotection over her) show up at the door of the party hall where the meeting would take place.

- Remember – said Annabeth, they are mortals who don't see thru the mist, like grampa Paul, grandma Abby and your uncles Bobby and Matthew, but they also don't know about gods and magic, so no water tricks, or talking about living in an underwater castle, or...

- We know mommy – Zoe assured, seriously. She could have Percy's hair but had taken after his mom's intelligence and personality (even if she is way more open to new ideas and has an amazing imagination).

Charlie agreed with his little head. This one had his daddy's agitated personality, never being able to be quiet for more than a few seconds. He was holding a centaur's plushie, of which he was never apart (Chiron is completely enchanted by it, and blushed when the boy had declared that the name of the plushie was "Blunnel", wanting to call it Bunner).

- They understood, Wise girl – says Percy, lulling the baby – If anythink happens, we can say it's child imagination or use the mist to hide it.

- Very well – said the goddess, entering the party hall, hold the children's hands, being followed by Percy.

Obviously, as soon as they entered everyone looked at them.

- Are they...? – they heard some people ask.

- Hey, guys! It's been a long time! – said Percy, smiling, still lulling the newborn baby.

- Percy! Annabeth! – the first to move was David, who had already seen both – I told them you would come. No one believed me.

- Well, we are here, David – said Annabeth – Meet Zoe and Charlie. The baby is Sally.

- Hello, Zoe, hello, Charlie – said David with a smile – your aunt Estelle talks a lot about you.

The children smiled, and said their hellos, looking at the people around, who had finally moved, with curiosity.

Soon, the group got surrounded by the old swimming team and the old Decathlon team.

Annabeth and Percy greeted everyone by name, also being introduced to the husbands and wives, Andrew, David's husband, also greeted them, saying:

- David told me you seemed not to have aged a day, I thought it was an exaggeration.

The couple smiled politely, saying to their friends that they had also aged well, and that 15 years wasn't a lot.

- Mama, can me and Zo go pway? – asks Charlie, already getting uncomfortable with so many people around him.

Annabeth's attention immediately turned to him.

- Of course, sweetheart, I will take you to the playground – then she looked at Zoe adding – If anything happens, you call me or daddy.

The girl nodded, also anxious to get out of there. After David told her where the playground was, Annabeth left with the kids.

- So... What have you two been doing? – Asks Claire, with a smile – besides the children, of course.

Percy opened a smile and answered:

- Annabeth opened, with her half-brother Malcom, a Architecture firm, you should have already heard about it, the name is Olympus, and I'm helping on the family business, and I also opened, together with Rachel Dare and Grover underwood that ONG with the goal to clean water bodies of dejects, besides reforest and protecting threatened species, the name is PAN.