Aftermath-Percabeth

Chapter Forty-Three

"This is it," Percy said, leading Annabeth towards the door of their new apartment. "Our new apartment."

Annabeth nodded. "Our long awaited new apartment. I still can't believe we got this place in our budget!"

Percy shrugged. "Well, Piper is a very persuading friend. Now, m'lady...."

Percy helped Annabeth into his arms before opening the door and walking in, Annabeth laughing while he did.

"Come on, you enjoy this!" Percy said playfully as he set her down on the empty counter.

"Of course it's just that we're not a newlywed couple!" Annabeth replied, a wide grin on her face. "But nevermind that. You wanna get Marina and Charlie soon?"

Percy sighed and helped Annabeth off the stool. "Yeah, I suppose. I don't want them stuck at my mom's for too long. Marina seemed really excited for the new place."

"Alright, where are the keys?" Annabeth asked.

"How about you stay here?" Percy suggested, causing Annabeth to frown. "I'll pick up the kids. You can stay here, maybe have a glass of wine, get some alone time...."

"How do I deserve you?" Annabeth asked, pressing her lips against Percy's. "You're amazing, you know that?"

Percy blushed. "I try."

They said a quick goodbye before Percy rushed off to get the kids, who had been staying at Sally's for the moving day.

After a few minutes alone, Annabeth grew lonely. She had become accustomed to being around people and now she felt so alone.

She decided to take a small stroll to check out their neighborhood, maybe spot some good local restaurants or, if she was lucky, a book store.

When she reached the stairs leading to the street, her phone rang. She quickly found it and picked it up.

"Hello?" she asked, not recognizing the number.

"Annabeth Chase?" the familiar voice of her boss, Mr.Hunter, asked.

She smiled. "Yes, that's me. Is there something wrong, Mr.Hunter? Did Jefferey not find the notes I had out for him?"

He chuckled nervously. "No, no, Jefferey found them alright. I've just been meaning to talk to you about your job performance. It seems like Jefferey's been taking over for you a lot."

Her smile dropped as her hands started to tremble. "I know, and I'm sorry for that. I've been very busy lately, which is no excuse."

"I know," his voice replied anxiously. "And that's why we have to let you go. You've been absent way too much, but we're more than happy to write you a good recommendation."

Tears formed in Annabeth's eyes. "W-what? That's it—I'm just f-fired?"

Her boss cleared his throat nervously. "I'm afraid so. You were a great worker, but over the past two years you've been somewhere else."

"I had two kids!" she screamed into the phone. "And I'm moving! That's why I've been gone."

"Annabeth, no need to yell—"

"Thanks a lot," she murmured, quickly hanging up the phone. Then, before she could stop herself, she started bawling. She gripped her face in her hands and cried.

She sunk down onto the stairs and, not caring about anything else, started to sob.

"Wise girl?" Percy's soft voice asked after any number of minutes. Annabeth couldn't tell. "Are you alright?"

He sat next to her and wrapped an arm around her, causing her crying to lighten.

"I'm s-sorry," she murmured. "It's just I-I was just fired...."

She hated admitting it. She'd failed. The great Annabeth Chase had failed. She'd saved Olympus twice, gone on countless of quests, and she couldn't even maintain a job. Her dream job, of all things.

"Why would they fire you?!" Percy asked, growing angry. "You're their best employee! Who are they giving your job to, Jeffery?"

Annabeth laughed and wiped the tears from her face. "I....I don't know. I didn't ask. They said I've been absent too much."

Percy's face grew red with anger as he stood up from the stairs. "Absent too much?! You had two kids! And moved! That's illegal—you should sue! We should sue!"

Annabeth rose to her feet and wrapped her arms around Percy. "Thanks for defending me. Let's get Marina and Charlie inside."

"But we'll sue them tomorrow?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes before nodding. "Sure. We'll sue them tomorrow."