Percy Jackson & Annabeth Chase: Parental Approval [Completed]

6: A More Important Fight

Previously in chapter 5:

"Trust me, Perseus. It's about to get worse." Athena's voice rang throughout the cave before Annabeth could answer. My head started to feel murky and my eyes drooped. I felt dizzy as my back started to hit the ground. The red rocks melted into a room and I could faintly make out a couch and fireplace. The last thing I noticed was Annabeth's absence. I took one final blink before completely blacking out.

Percy:
I woke up as if I fell asleep on a living room couch, although I know fairly well I did not. I rubbed my eyes groggily before sitting up on the comfy sofa. I looked around for Annabeth. I knew this was still part of Athena's quest, so I didn't worry when I couldn't find my girlfriend. I waited longer, staring at the fireplace before standing up and stretching my arms and legs.

I carefully made my way around the glass coffee table and turned to face what was behind the teal couch. A contemporary kitchen faced back at me, a wall separating two parts of the room with a family portrait of Annabeth and I with some kids. I stared a little longer at the detail the artist put in my hair, before leaving to check out the other rooms. I walked to one door on the right, locked. Huh. I walk in between the two parts of the room and into a corridor with three doors. Each of those were locked. I tried opening the last door, before realizing they were all locked. I ran to the refrigerator and tried to pull the door open, my heart dropping when the door wouldn't budge either.

No food! She's trying to starve me! I started hyperventilating, until I heard a front door slam. I heard Annabeth's heels clacking against the wooden tiles. There was no "honey, I'm home" like I expected.

I walked back into the living room just as she came in. Her hair was in a tight bun, gray strands sticking out from her perfect hair. The smile slipped off my face when I saw her expression.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Oh," she genuinely looked shocked. "You have the audacity to ask me what's wrong?" I blinked. This wasn't Annabeth. What happened to her? "I'll tell you what's wrong. YOU forgot our child at school today!"

"Um... Excuse me? Child?" I asked.

Annabeth blinked before turning red in the face. She walked up to me and slapped me in the face. "You asshole! You forget your own child exists?"

I decided to play along. "What, of course not." I tried to find some more words from my limited vocabulary. I was still trying to figure out what 'audacity' meant. "He," I took a guess. "Told me to pick him up after his after school club thing."

"At 7:00 PM?" Annabeth asked. I looked at the kitchen clock and my face flamed.

"I fell asleep."

"I noticed the drool on the couch you insincere idiot," I put my eyes down in shame.

I lowered my voice. "I wouldn't forget a child--mine or any others-- at school." I avoided Annabeth's eyes and she picked up my chin.

"Well, you did. Go set up the couch, you're sleeping here tonight." Her harsh tone hit me like a bullet. I leaned into her touch just as she pulled away.

"Yes ma'am," I whispered.

She walked away and went up some stairs, ones that just popped up. I hated what Athena made me do, so I decided to go ask her enemy for help. Show her who's smart.

"Oh Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering." Aphrodite Aphrodite Aphrodite, I mentally chanted. The goddess popped up in a matter of seconds, her blonde hair all over her face and her complexion make-up less. She still was quite beautiful.

"What?" She mumbled.

"Annabeth's mad at me," I started.

"What? Power couple?" She slowly opened her eyes and finally took me in. "What!" She screamed. "What did you do?"

"I... uh... Don't know? I left our child at school?"

Aphrodite rolled her eyes and muttered something like "Ugh, men."

"Well, what do I do?" I asked. I scratched my head, yet no new ideas came to me.

"Just lie to her."

"What? I can't lie to her! She's my wife!"

"Normally, I would find that cute, but not today. Just tell her... hm," she thought. I hoped whatever she came up with wouldn't be too over-the-top. "That you were going to surprise her and the child played a part in it... He was picked up by a friends mother."

"That wouldn't work," I sighed.

"Why not?"

"I'm pretty sure Annabeth got a phone call from the school saying he was still waiting for a parent."

"So?"

"What?"

"Just say that was a part of the master plan to get her to come home."

"Alright alright." I dragged my hand through the iris message. "Oh boy."

Meanwhile from where Athena and Annabeth are watching...

"HE CONTACTED APHRODITE?" Annabeth yelled.

"Well at least he didn't want to lie to you at first." The words tumbled out of Athena's mouth, surprising both of the women. When did she become a Percabeth believer? Since when did she even think of Percabeth?

"He failed mom, didn't he?" Annabeth casted a disappointed look to the floor.

"The previous round, no. This level, yes. The next, I don't know. But I have a feeling he'll fail the next one too."

"What are you going to do mom?" Annabeth asked, the worry trickling over her like spiders crawling on the floor. Goosebumps rose all across her arms.

"You'll see. Some more champagne?" Athena gestured to Annabeth's empty glass. Normally, she wouldn't allow her underage daughter to drink, but this occasion required her to drink to.

Annabeth, on the other hand, was eager to have some more. Little did she know that the next challenge would involve her herself, and the champagne she gladly was gulping.