Parent Stories (A Percy Jackson Fanfic)

Chapter 15: One Year

Originally Written: March 26 2016. Rewrite: October 13 2017.

Chiron's POV. One year after the battle with Gaea

One year. One year since Gaea has been defeated. One year since we lost so many. I walk around the camp and take in the sights. 

Percy and Annabeth are running, chasing after Grover. Having recently graduated, the pair are going to New Rome College in a few weeks time. Grover is still a patron of the forest. As they finally catch him, the loose their balance and the three of the topple over. They start laughing, and continue to joke and tease each other. I hear a comment about Percy being the one with animal legs, and his incredulous response. I chuckle to myself and walk away. 

Jason and Piper and walking around the camp, just enjoying each other's company. Jason's been going back and forth between camps all summer, and has only been back for a few hours. Piper has been missing him. The constant stream of letters, postcards and care packages from both parties shows at least that much. She turns towards him and kisses him. After a moment, I turn, sensing the pair wants privacy. 

I walk toward the rock wall, partially to make sure nobody is trapped in the lava and partially because it's on the path I am walking. As walk, Will Solace runs up to me. 

"Hi Chiron. Have you seen Nico?" He says hurriedly. 

"Nico di Angelo? The last I saw, he was headed towards the strawberry fields. Why do you ask?" I reply. I have a pretty good idea, but I don't let Will know that. He and Nico have been together for about six months, but have not advertised it. I can respect that. 

"Thanks Chiron!" He says and dashes off. I smile and continue. I walk to the big house. I decide to message New Rome. I create a rainbow and say the chant. Reyna comes into view. She is at the city limits, talking to Terminus. When she notices me, she stops and excuses herself.

"Hello Preator." I say respectfully. She may be barely 17, but she has done things that even senior campers couldn't dream of. 

"Chiron. It's good to see you. What can I do for you today?" She asks. 

"I'm sure you know what today is." I tell her. She nods 

"One year ago was the hardest battles I ever fought. Yes, I know." She says, not quite bitter yet not quite forgiving.

"I simply wish to check on you and the others. I know that certain things were, for lack of a better term, harder than other." I say. 

"I am well today. Normal, not yet, but better. Would you like me to fetch Frank and Hazel? I'm sure that they could use the check in." She asks, not wanting to stay on the topic of herself. I nod and she walks off. Again, I am struck by how mature she can be. But at times, she does let her guard down, and be an almost average teenager. When she visited last month, she laughed and toasted marshmallows and sang campfire songs with everyone else. 

"Hello Mr. Chiron." Hazel says, tearing me out of my thoughts. 

"Hello child." I tell her, knowing it's useless to tell her to drop the prefix. 

"Hi sir." Frank says.

"Hello Praetor." I say. He blushes. 

"So what can we do for you Chiron?" Hazel asks. She looks as happy as ever. 

"I wanted to ask how you are doing today?" I say simply. They look at each other and have a silent discussion. 

"We're doing ok. It's just hard thinking about... how Leo was... and we couldn't do anything..." Hazel says quietly. Leo's name hangs in the air like a cloud. 

"It's just been really hard, and we think about it. A lot. And since it's been a year and we felt so responsible..." Frank trails off. I nod. 

"I understand child. But you must understand, he chose his fate, and trusted that you would respect that. What you did was very brave." I tell them. I begin to ask another question. "So-" 

"Chiron!" A voice shouts. Percy runs in, Annabeth in trail, both grinning wildly. "Grover and Juniper just got engaged!" He says excitedly. 

"That's great!" I say smiling broadly. 

"Yeah! Oh, hi Hazel, Frank. Did I come in at a bad time?" He asks, confusedly. Annabeth elbows him, rolling her eyes.

"Not in particularly, no. Just a check in." I reply.

"Hi Perce! Tell Grover congrats for us!" Hazel says excitedly. 

"Now it's your turn." Frank says with a smirk. 

"What do you mean?" Percy asks confused. 

"Now it's your turn. Pop the question to Annabeth." He says laughing. Percy blushes bright red. 

"I'm just gonna... go back out to Grover and Juniper... yeah, bye guys." Annabeth says, gesturing in the vague direction of the door. 

"I'm not- w-we're not-" He stutters. I bite back a laugh.

"I will be out in a minute to celebrate child." I tell him. He dashes out and runs into the doorframe on the way out. I turn back to the Romans, who are holding back laughter. 

"He's gone now." I tell them and they burst into laughter. After they calm down and catch their breath, I tell them;

"I should go congratulate our lucky couple." 

"Ok. Thanks Chiron. And do tell them we're happy for them." Frank says. 

"And seriously, tell Percy to get a move on." Hazel chimes in and we laugh again. I swipe my hand through the mist and walk out to the celebration. 

WOOO! ONE YEAR ON WATTPAD WITH THIS STORY!!! I know it's two days late but still! *snoopy happy dance here*. I hope this is good. I know Chiron isn't technical a parent, but he raised so many campers that he's gotta count for something.