Conquest Of Paradise *Slow Updates*

Palace of the Crystal Bridge

"How're the plans?"

"Going well, Mother," Annabeth beamed at the goddess of wisdom.

Athena gave her a tight smile.

"I believe I have a suggestion. The palace you're currently constructing with speed is very pleasing, and we're pleased with the progress as well. And we're happy that you're integrating our specifications into your plans as you're still building…however, I think it should be on a floating island a little ways away from where you have it planned to be built. As in, separate the area from the mainland. We'll take care of the floatation. And only one bridge to connect it to the mainland, I think. A crystal bridge."

Annabeth's eyes lit up at the suggestions, "Of course, Mother. I can't wait to add those in. I'll do those soon."

Athena nodded absentmindedly.

"If you don't mind me asking, who is the god I'm designing the palace for? It's a lot more extravagant than all of the homes here on Olympus."

Athena froze, averting her eyes from her daughter.

"He is a new acquisition. He became a god just a few days ago."

The blonde demigod became even more curious. "Oh? Is it someone I know or something?"

The goddess swallowed harshly before forcing herself to look at her daughter. This was her child and a close friend of his…and maybe even more than that. Annabeth had the right to know.

"Annabeth, we've turned Perseus into a god," she said gently.

Her daughter stared at her, eyes wide, but her lips were trembling and confusion and hurt started to appear on her face. Athena uncharacteristically started to blurt everything, sparing no detail, because the truth was that though she refused to admit it to the others, she didn't feel what they had done was right and she felt guilty and ashamed about their deed. But she was too stubborn to relent to the others and admit the truth, so this was her only chance, with a daughter that was very much involved in this.

Annabeth licked her lips in thought, "May I see him?"

Athena inwardly flinched. She wanted to grant her daughter at least this, and yet her first reaction had been to yell 'no'. She'd controlled that impulse before she could act out, but still that the thought of it…

"Very well. I'll make sure he'll be fine by whenever you're ready to see him, and see to it that the others don't protest it."

But Annabeth didn't see him immediately. In fact, it took her a week before she relented to the part of her that was reluctantly wanting to see him. And also, in that time, she not only finished the palace –his palace –for the most part, but she had also come to a decision.

And she was going to stick to that decision.

Her steps echoed through the corridor and it seemed to hail her solemn entrance.

It was and it wasn't what Percy wanted to see.

Annabeth was there, and that was enough to bring a huge smile on his face. But she wasn't smiling back and she had too serious a look on her face and too sad eyes that looked at him. It unnerved him and made him unsure about her presence then.

"Annabeth! You have no idea how happy I am to see you," Percy wanted to jump out of that bed and rush to her, throw his arms around her in strong friendship or the something more that they'd both been hinting they'd wanted.

But it was Annabeth's sad smile that stopped him.

"Annabeth…?"

He could see her struggle visibly with what she was about to say, lips trembling and eyes starting to slightly shine with tears.