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Since the end of the war, Athena had gotten a lot better. When Annabeth was younger, she remembered not even being able to know what her mother looked like. To be fair, her mother decided to change her appearance every two years or so based on the smartest woman she determined at the time. However, the statement laid true. Now, even Athena’s youngest children knew of her newest form in a short time.
Athena could also be seen far more often—which, compared to the fact she was never there before, wasn't a high bar to overcome—and Annabeth was actually beginning to be annoyed with her mother being around so often. Athena wasn’t trying to ‘get the years back’, in fact, she seemed quite fine with admitting she it wasn’t really her place to be a strong presence in Annabeth’s life, so that wasn’t the problem.
The problem was that she still seemed to be extremely judgmental when it came to who Annabeth dated. She had high standards in general, I mean all her ‘partners’ in the past have been various levels of scholars. So, of course that extended into who she believed her children should be with. Annabeth didn’t understand how Percy didn’t qualify as good enough though. He saved the world, like three times. Percy was one of (if not the) most powerful demigods in existence. So how wasn’t he good enough for her darling girl?
It was a question she asked her mother, more than once. She never got an answer. Until last night, when she got various things about how Percy “didn’t come close to matching the intellect of her”, “was far too immature to make any meaningful partnership”, “he was fucking ugly.”
Yes, Athena called Percy Jackson—Percy-nearly-everyone-minus-Piper-thought-was-the-living-embodiment-of-Adonis-fuckng-Jackson—ugly. Though the craziest part of that situation wasn’t even that Athena called Annabeth’s boyfriend disgusting to see, it was the fact that Athena was drunk when she said it.
Technically, she wasn’t drunk-drunk. Annabeth didn’t even think it was possible for a God to get drunk unless they desired it, and even then they probably didn’t even need alcohol. On top of that fact, Athena didn’t seem like the type to choose to get drunk. Still somehow the Goddess was tipsy.
“I just don’t get it.” Annabeth said with her head in her hands. She was sitting on some benches, Hazel and Piper on either side.
“Yeah, no one has ever said Percy is ugly. I don’t even think he’s ugly, just alright.” Piper said, Annabeth hit Piper’s leg and Hazel let out a laugh.
“Shut up.” Annabeth groaned, she shook her head as she groaned again. “It’s like the first time I’ve had a consistent relationship with her, and she’s drunk-”
“You said she was kind of tipsy?” Hazel questioned, though at the look that Annabeth gave, she added, “oh- sorry…”
Annabeth sighed, “Percy’s visiting his mom and I don’t want to bother him, so it’s like she’s taking this as the time to remind me how useless he is, before he comes back. I just wish I could understand what she wanted from me.” Nothing made sense. Nothing. Athena had literally said that only a demigod who had saved the world deserved Annabeth, but then she acted as if Percy was the village fool. Athena was getting better, Annabeth was happy for her siblings and a small piece of herself was happy to have her mom in her life. Still, every step forward felt like two back.
“Have you asked Reyna?”
Annabeth turned to Hazel, her brows furrowed as she stared at the dark skinned beauty. “What?” Annabeth turned to Piper who shrugged. “Why would I talk to Reyna?”
“Well, Athena and Reyna talk a lot.” Hazel said, her words came so simple as if she was saying such a simple fact that no question could arise from it. “You know how Athena visits Reyna in New Rome.”
Annabeth was silent for a moment.
“No… I’m gonna guess she didn’t know.” Piper said, but her voice fizzled out of Annabeth’s mind. Instead her mind filled with an image of Reyna and Athena. Reyna was emotionless and strict, she ruled Camp Jupiter with an iron fist. She trained everything to perfection, the campers were soldiers and expected to work like a perfectly oiled ship. Reyna was also the only person Annabeth believed could beat her in a fight.
The more Annabeth thought of it the more she realized how similar Reyna and Athena were. It wasn’t a 1-to-1 comparison, however it was too close for comfort. Reyna was the daughter of a war Goddess, the embodiment of war that encompassed winning. Reyna was practically the daughter of victorious war. Of course she was the perfect person for Athena to care about. Athena was war strategy, Reyna was war always done right.
All of it caused an ugly feeling in Annabeth’s chest. Annabeth and Reyna got along fine, the two were similar in a lot of ways. Being jealous (though Annabeth wouldn’t say it was jealousy, but jealous was a good word for outsiders to understand), but being ‘jealous’ of Reyna felt wrong. It wasn’t like Reyna was doing anything on purpose, and she couldn’t control Athena’s favor. Still it didn’t stop the feeling.
“Annabeth?” Hazel’s voice broke through the fog. Her voice was concerned enough as if she had called her name a couple of times prior. “Great, now we have to figure out what to do with all those blue papers.” Piper’s voice added to the developing reality forming around Annabeth once again.
“Don’t touch my blueprints.” Annabeth quickly said. Piper gave a quick whoop, but before she could speak Annabeth jumped up. “I have to talk to Reyna.” She began to walk away, but before she could get five steps she turned to the girls.
“Does anyone have a drachma?”
“You don’t need one, Reyna’s in camp. She’s staying in the big house.” Hazel answered, but the answer gave no comfort. Of course Athena came to visit last night, her favorite was in camp anyways.
“Great.”
Reyna has had more pseudo-mothers than most. The average was around zero, but in her life she’s had four. First was Hylla, even though she was her sister, in a household with no stable parent, her elder sister quickly filled that role. Then Circe, which might be a stretch, but given how crappy her actual mother was, it felt fair to include the woman who literally housed her. Lupa was a mixture of the first too, she cared about Reyna while also using her to some extent. However she was the first to not abandon her, so Reyna still held her in good graces. Then finally, Athena.
Athena visited Reyna pretty often, at least once a week, and she would see her for a couple of hours at a time. Athena gave gifts (the purple cloak that could take the impact of a literal bomb, plus she came with fancy wine too), she told the secrets of history—which is how she learned Leo was a descendant of the person who burned down the actual Library of Alexandria, listened to Reyna’s problems when Reyna had too much of the fancy wine, and even sparred with Reyna once.
If Reyna’s mother was even somewhat decent and didn’t seem to have a ‘cry it out’ parenting style then maybe- nope, Reyna’s not going to go there. Athena told her to not put her value in herself in the relationship she held with her mother.
Still, all this to say, Reyna and Athena are close. Once they got past the whole Greek v. Roman thing, everything got a lot better. Which led to the previous night, Reyna was staying in the big house in Camp Half Blood. She was going to be meeting with some Greeks to discuss sharing resources (primarily money) in exchange for New Rome’s education system.
Reyna was in the room, sitting on the bed with various papers surrounding her. Some had far too many numbers for a brain riddled with dyscalculia, and most with far too many words for a brain filled with dyslexia. Then she heard a knock on the door, before she asked who it was the old door creaked open.
It’s most likely no surprise to you who it was, but Reyna was quite excited by who walked inside. “Lady Athena, it’s good to see you.” Reyna said with a grin.
Athena offered a wide smile back, she was dressed in the look of a woman Reyna couldn’t recognize. She had pale skin, blonde hair, and doe brown eyes, but what really drew Reyna’s attention was the wine settled in her hand. Now, some may question the morality of an immortal Goddess drinking with a teenager. Reyna, who had been drinking in some capacity since she was 14, didn’t question it and decided to take the gifts of life when they came.
“As it is to see you.” Athena replied, walking to Reyna with the wine outstretched. Reyna took the bottle and just as she turned her head down to read the label a small kiss was placed on the crown of her head. Reyna felt it was nice to have such a motherly figure in her life and smiled even wider.
Athena gathered the papers in her, arranging them in a nice pile before placing them to the side. With the twist of her wrist appeared two wine glasses, suddenly the cork was removed, and the wine was free to be poured.
The two spoke long into the night, and soon the bottle was empty—Reyna had only received around three glasses and Athena stomached the rest. They spoke of any and everything. Reyna spoke of her sister, her mother, Athena spoke of her lack of a mother given the titan was turned into a fly then swallowed prior to her birth. Talking to Athena made Reyna feel calmer, Athena seemed to know and have experienced so much, it made Reyna’s problems feel small. Which was surprisingly helpful, as it made her see she wasn’t the only person with issues in the world.
Then turned to the topic of Athena’s kids, specifically Annabeth.
Athena abandoned her human form as she sat on the bed in owl form, feathers of a dusty-grey hue. “I just don’t understand why Annabeth wants to be with him! There’s thousands better demigods-”
“Well, Athena. I believe Annabeth prefers to date people who are alive.”
Athena paused from her rant, turning her head a full 180 degrees to Reyna. “Okay, fine. There’s probably fewer options than I originally declared, but still!” She snapped her head back forward, then went on to continue for another twenty minutes. Not that Reyna minded to be fair. She didn’t stop her and simply let the immortal rage, the wine cooling her mind significantly.
“He’s a brute! Good for nothing but his strength!” Athena exclaimed, Reyna’s face scrunched at that. Athena might be a very brilliant woman, but Reyna had come to realize that not everything she said was true. “He has no suitable traits for her!”
“Well, what traits do you believe are suitable?”
“See now that’s a good question! She needs someone strong,” Percy. “Dependable,” Percy. “Attractive-” Percy, Reyna didn’t fully understand how Athena didn’t see the match she was describing was Percy, but she didn’t speak on it. Then, Athena stopped speaking abruptly, turned human again, and stood. She glanced at Reyna then to the door. “I must depart.”
Reyna sat up at the statement. “Sorry to cut this meeting short, Roman. However, I think I’ve found the perfect match for my girl. I must create it.” Athena then walked from the room, her feet moving in a messy manner, and Reyna quickly realized the Goddess was a little more drunk than realized.
Gods, something about immortality just made the Gods really like involving themselves in mortal affairs, huh? Reyna shrugged and went to sleep, wiping the feathers from her bed, she’d hear of progress in the ‘mission’ in a week or so anyways.
Reyna was easy to find. Other than the fact she wasn’t dressed in her normal attire, she was at the training grounds as she usually was when at camp. Reyna must have felt Annabeth’s presence as she turned nearly immediately and nodded at Annabeth. “Daughter of wisdom, I wonder what’s blessed me with your visit?”
Annabeth paused at the formal language; Gods, how much time had she been spending with her mom? Annabeth shook her head and spoke, “Reyna, I wanted to talk with you.”
“Of?”
“Of my mother.”
Reyna nodded, she grabbed one of the bows on the rack. Lining her shot as she spoke, “talk about what?”
“You’ve been spending a lot of time with her?” Reyna nodded and that ugly feeling in Annabeth’s chest rose again. “I wanted to ask you… ask if you knew why she hates my relationship with Percy so much?”
Reyna released the arrow, perfect bullseye. “She wants you to be with someone more deserving.”
Annabeth scoffed, “What does that mean?”
Reyna glanced at Annabeth, she walked right to be in front of the next target. Lining another shot and shooting in barely a breath, perfect once again. “She doesn’t think he’s good enough for you. It’s really that simple.”
Annabeth went to speak again but she interrupted. “Hello, lady Athena.” Reyna said, when Annabeth turned there her mother stood. She seemed a lot calmer than last night when she called Percy fucking hideous.
“Reyna, Annabeth.” Annabeth didn’t like how her name was second, but the moment that thought appeared she realized how dumb that was to be jealous (still not jealous) over. “I’m glad to see the pair of you.” The smallest bit of what you could call a smile appeared on Athena’s face.
“Is there something you need from us?” Reyna questioned, but Athena shook her head.
“Well, yes actually. I just-” Athena began before she sighed, “I fear my newest child at camp hates the shirts assigned, but there’s no other options available-”
"Couldn't you make-” Annabeth began, but Athena spoke right over her.
“She despises the color orange, and much prefers purple… I just know one of the two of you could help me find something adequate for her, no?”
Annabeth wanted to finish her previous comment. Athena could make whatever she wanted, she could make a thousand shirts if she so wished. However, Reyna didn’t seem to have the same thoughts. “She could have mine,” she offered.
Reyna wore a purple shirt that had the logo of Camp Jupiter and Half Blood on the back in a combined design. It would probably be too big for any new camper that was most likely below twelve, however that didn’t seem to be a problem to Athena.
“Oh, wonderful! Thank you, so caring and considerate.” The Goddess thanked, though the last part seemed to be directed at Annabeth. Not in snark, but as if pointing out those traits, huh… weird.
Reyna nodded and peeled her shirt off, her sports bra remaining. It was still quite fresh given it was early in the day. Though what momentarily drew Annabeth’s attention was Reyna’s toned stomach. She would be a fool to not glance at the abs on the Roman for a moment, it was probably the most defined stomach she’d seen on a girl.
Athena smiled and pointed out a girl just outside the training grounds, as if stationed there. Reyna jogged over and handed the girl the shirt. In the seconds she was gone Athena turned to Annabeth and whispered, “quite an impressive physique, no?”
Annabeth was confused for a moment, but couldn’t ask her mother what she meant by that before Reyna returned. Athena conjured another shirt in the carbon copy and handed it to Reyna. Reyna stared at it confused for a moment as if she had only now realized Athena could have easily solved her own issue. “Thank you, dear.” Athena commented before walking off without another word.
Both Annabeth and Reyna stood confused but after a moment a voice broke the silence. “Why are you shirtless?” Piper asked, glancing at the abs of steel.
Later that day at the meeting, Athena decided she would stop by and see how the camp was managed. “Don’t you trust, Chiron?” Annabeth asked her.
“Of course.” Athena said, though her voice was a little less than truthful. “I just wish to see my daughter, is that so bad?”
Annabeth shook her head, she could feel her face heating up slightly. “No, no. It’s… that’s fine.” Annabeth could feel Piper’s pity-filled eyes on her as she sat to the left of Annabeth. Athena hummed and sat in the seat beside Annabeth. The right seat beside Athena was completely empty as many were far too intimidated to sit near the Goddess.
Soon the room filled and only the one seat was left, and one counselor was missing. Lou rushed in after a moment spewing apologies, but her mouth went agape at the sight of Athena. The God didn’t raise her eyes from examining the engravings on the table.
The room went still for a moment as Lou inched towards the table and the empty seat. As if the oak chair would combust in flames because the Goddess next to it. “Oh, my.” Athena muttered, though her voice carried as Gods felt no true need to whisper.
“Oh, Athe- Ms. Athe- Lady Athena?” Lou stuttered, “I don’t wish to insult you-”
“Yes. Yes.” Athena interrupted, her voice carrying the power her father held. Athena examined the table, few held her gaze for a second let alone two. Then her head stopped at one, Reyna. Annabeth felt like peeling her skin back at the acknowledgment of the praetor. “Reyna.” Athena called out.
“Yes, Lady Athena?”
“Would you mind sitting beside me?” It felt out of place, this entire interaction felt strange. Reyna sat beside Frank, the two praetors sitting for their entire camp. “So- Lou, is it? So, Lou can sit where you are now?”
Reyna nodded—which Frank gave a slightly nervous glance at—and in a simple moment she was sitting to the right of Athena, and Annabeth to the God’s left. Once the seating was resolved, the meeting began. Chiron led the discussion, desiring the input of the head counselors at the proposed idea.
Reyna and Frank spoke of allowing Greeks into New Rome freely in exchange for shared resources between the Greeks and Romans. Soon the conversation was the counselors questioning the Romans about the idea, questioning if it was even a fair trade. Reyna spoke mostly, short but fulfilling answers and Frank offered his opinion as well, but it was mainly Reyna who spoke.
Athena sat quietly, examining the table and hearing the different opinions expressed. Her face didn’t give away how she felt, and her lack of action soon made her fade into the background in a way. Annabeth didn’t speak either, she didn’t mind the plan—especially given she wanted to go to New Rome for college—so her voice went quiet besides when she offered her voice to correct some misconceptions.
“Alright, perhaps we should take a pause for a moment,” Chiron said. The room was still slightly split; Ares, Hermes, and Demeter cabins weren’t preferential to the plan, Athena, Hades, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus cabins were, and the remaining cabins were more neutral or absent. “Reyna, Frank, do you two plan on staying much longer?”
“We were planning on returning to New Rome this afternoon, sir.” Reyna replied, and her tone made it clear they were quite set on that plan.
“Well, perhaps you two should stay a few days longer.” Athena said, her voice finally returning. The looks of some showed that many had even forgotten she was there. “Or at least one of you should, the other could return if you find it so dire.”
Annabeth didn’t know what she expected from Reyna. Reyna didn’t seem the type to say no to a God, but she also wasn’t one to accept someone else changing her plans for her. After a moment of silence Reyna spoke. “You’re right. I shall stay and make sure this is finished. Frank may return, if he so chooses.” Annabeth turned to Frank who seemed even more shocked than she was at Reyna’s words.
“Wonderful!” Chiron said, and at his words most of the Greeks started to stand and leave.
Reyna stood and went to Frank who seemed slightly frantic, they spoke and Annabeth hadn’t even realized she was staring until her mother said, “entranced?”
Annabeth’s head snapped to her mother’s words. “What?”
“No judgement, dear. Reyna is very beautiful, even though she’s built very roman.” Annabeth thought of Reyna’s looks, she was Puerto Rican so she’d have some sort of Spaniard look to her. Spain was once a part of the Roman empire, so she’d look extremely Roman given it was coming from every side. However, it didn’t make her less attractive, it suited her quite well.
Annabeth recited that to her mother, more as if thinking aloud. When she turned to Athena she noticed a smile on the God’s face. “Have you thought of Reyna’s features often?”
Annabeth paused, her eyebrows furrowing. “No… not really.”
Athena hummed and she stood. She towered over others in her form as she walked and she stopped to speak to Reyna. Annabeth’s mind filled with the jealous(like) feeling, but Piper’s voice distracted her.
“Reyna is pretty, huh?”
Annabeth’s eyes glanced to the side at Piper who seemed to be slightly red as she realized what she had said, “what?”
Reyna was starting to think Athena was using her in her plan of some kind. Given the plan wasn’t killing a giant or saving the world Reyna didn’t mind, but still she was beginning to put two and two together. Kind of, given she really only got the first two. She still didn’t know what Athena was using her for.
Reyna stayed in camp for an additional week and at least once a day Athena was asking her to do something strange. Truly she didn’t note anything until the second additional day to her trip, Athena had invited her out to lunch in the city. When she arrived to lunch there Annabeth sat with Athena, which Reyna didn’t really mind. Lunch went fine until a sudden gust of wind blew Annabeth’s drink onto her shirt.
Reyna did the polite thing to do, she offered her jacket and grabbed some napkins. When she went back to the table though, Athena was whispering something to Annabeth which Reyna didn’t catch. Then Athena suddenly had to leave, but suggested the two stayed. So, the two finished lunch—which was awkward in a thousand ways— and it was clear from that, something was afoot.
Whenever Reyna was working out she’d look over and there stood Athena and Annabeth for some reason. Once Reyna’s javelin went missing, she found it in a closet but it then locked behind her. Ten minutes later, Piper came in and the door locked again. Reyna asked why she was there, and apparently Athena had asked Annabeth to grab something but Annabeth was too busy and asked Piper to do it instead. Strange.
Though what also seemed so strange was how Annabeth seemed to be more and more annoyed with her. Reyna would catch Annabeth staring from time to time—especially when Reyna was with Athena—and at first Reyna assumed she was simply lost in thought. However, Reyna began to think that if she was lost in thought, it was jealous thoughts about her.
Reyna understood jealousy, in the last year she had been generally a jealous mess. However, ever since Athena helped her explore the reasons she was jealous she hadn’t understood why she let it go on for as long as she did. Looking back she thought that maybe if she had just talked to others she wouldn’t have experienced those ugly feelings so intensely. Which is an oversimplification of it, but still the message stood.
So, after dinner, Reyna went up to Annabeth. “Why are you angry with me?”
“Angry?” Annabeth questioned, she spoke too fast that revealed whatever she would say next would be a lie. “I’m not angry with you at all.”
Reyna hummed, letting the lie wash over her. “You seem to be angry with me.”
Before Annabeth could say anything to excuse herself, Reyna continued, “I catch you giving me looks I can’t describe as anything less than a glare. You seem to avoid me if possible now. I understand I’m getting close with your mom, but I don’t think that constitutes you being jealous-”
“Jealous!” Annabeth exclaimed, “I’m not jealous.”
“You seem jealous.”
“Well, I’m not-”
Reyna sighed and it cut Annabeth off, which felt like a slight blessing given Annabeth knew she was going to ramble excuses. “I understand what it’s like to not have a mom in your life.” Annabeth’s chest tightened at the acknowledgement. “I can only imagine what it would be like to have mine in my life in any way.” Reyna thought of her mother and sighed. “I wish I could imagine it.”
Annabeth’s heart clenched as she heard Reyna’s words. She was in a similar position years prior, but the more she thought of it the more she realized how their situations differed. Athena was distant—albeit very distant—in her children’s lives, but she still emerged even in the darkest days. While Reyna and Annabeth weren’t close, Annabeth knew Bellona was far more than just a distant parent. Athena was here now, but Bellona didn’t seem to call upon her youngest daughter unless it was time to kill a giant (and even then she barely spoke as she did).
“It’s weird.” Annabeth said after a moment of silence. “I never know what to expect because… because I don’t know her. I know nothing about my own mother because she was never in my life. The most I can tell you is what I’ve learned from the myths. The myths about the Goddess who helped some of the greatest demigods to ever live, and she’s barely helped her own children.” Annabeth continued, cracking her knuckles unconsciously as she spoke. “Then she comes into my life, finally. She steps up for her other kids… and you. She’s given you more attention in camp this last week than she gave me for the first decade of my life.”
“Still,” Reyna’s voice brought Annabeth back to reality, like a snap in a silent room. “You’re her daughter, and I’m not.”
“Besides, when we talk, she speaks of you. All of you. Malcolm, Bea, Lavender, Bronte.” Reyna added, “she’s a woman of much pride, most she contributes to having you.”
The flutter in her stomach appeared and her chest felt light at the news. She knew Athena cared, but knowing how much she did was breathtaking.
“You asked why she didn’t like you and Percy together.”
Annabeth’s head turned to Reyna, “you said she doesn’t think he’s good enough.” Annabeth said, her voice showing her displeasure at the idea. Percy saved the world, helped humanity, how could he not be good enough?
As if she could hear Annabeth’s thoughts Reyna said, “she thinks very highly of you, Annabeth. She doesn’t think down on Percy… Well, not so incredibly that she denies that he’s a hero of Olympus. The truth is she doesn’t think he matches how good you are. She believes you’re one of the most intelligent mortals alive today. Every great thing Percy has done, she gives you the credit for. Without you, he’d be nothing, in her mind.”
Annabeth’s pride swelled at those words and a smile forced its way onto her face. “Really?” It felt so stupid to say, of course that was true, Reyna had no reason to lie. Still, a piece of her thought it was all false.
“Of course.” Annabeth turned to the voice, Athena stood behind her. Her height lowered to stand aligned with Annabeth and Reyna. “Reyna, could you give us a moment?” Annabeth didn’t have to look to know that Reyna had taken her leave.
“You really don’t think Percy’s good enough for me?”
Athena scoffed, “I don’t think he’d be able to get water out of a boot with directions on the heel without your help.”
“You’ve managed to save the world just as much as he has. You’ve helped design Olympus through nothing but pure talent. Annabeth, you are my pride and joy, and knowing I’ve created so many incredible mortals will forever be most of my highest achievements.”
Annabeth felt choked up as Athena spoke. “I truly believe you deserve someone amazing. Excuse me for saying, Percy doesn’t come close to someone deserving of you.”
A brow rose, “who does?” Annabeth questioned, and Athena’s eyes were drawn to Reyna. Suddenly everything made sense. “You’ve been trying to set me and Reyna up?”
“Of course I have!” Athena exclaimed, “She’s a great leader, beautiful, strong, she literally killed a giant!-”
“Percy has too!”
Athena sucked her teeth, “no true skill involved. She has strategy, the ability to look steps ahead.”
Annabeth’s mind cleared from the fog her pride created as the truth of the moment hit her. “Percy is a great person.” Annabeth felt the need to defend her boyfriend who had done nothing wrong, and so much right.
“Percy is a moron-”
“Well, I’m with him!” Annabeth yelled, some eyes were drawn to the two but a single glance from Athena, they all looked away again. “If he’s such a fool then I can’t be so great if I’m with him.”
Athena’s shoulders shrunk, “don’t say that of yourself. You demigods, so self-neglecting.”
“Well, it’s true. If you think I’m really one of the most ‘intelligent mortals’ then you should trust my judgement. Percy is a great person, and he’s helped me be the person I am today just as much as I’ve helped him.”
Athena went silent as Annabeth’s word, not even her chest moved to detect breath. “Fine.” Annabeth’s eyes widened at Athena’s acceptance.
“Fine, really?”
Athena nodded and sighed, “yes, truly. You’re… you’re right. Perhaps I haven’t trusted you as you deserve to be.”
Annabeth let out a breath she didn’t know she held, and nodded. Though before she could speak Athena continued, “besides, my plan was going terribly.”
Annabeth couldn’t help but let out a small laugh and nod. “Yeah… it was.”
“It’s clear, Reyna just wasn’t interested.”
Annabeth’s eyes expanded so large she felt they might roll out of her head. “Reyna wasn’t interested?” She said, insulted by the idea before she remembered, “Neither was I!”
“Yes, yes. It’s just, the more I tried to push you two together the more I seemed to push her towards…” Athena said, nodding to Reyna who stood near Piper as the two talked. Annabeth thought about the two. At first it made no sense, but then... Piper staring at Reyna’s abs, calling her pretty, blushing when she got out of the locked closet with Reyna. Maybe Annabeth needed to pay a bit more attention, because once she gave it a single thought it made so much sense.
“I just-” Athena began as she saw Reyna laugh at something Piper said, probably something dumb and slightly ridiculous.
“Don’t understand what she sees in her?” Annabeth offered and Athena nodded. “Sometimes the best person is the opposite of who you’d expect.”
Annabeth and Athena stood silently, the moonlight surrounding the pair. Annabeth felt as peace for a moment, but she really missed-
“Wise girl!”
Annabeth’s head turned so far it hurt as she looked for the voice she missed so much. Percy was jogging over but he was still pretty far. Annabeth’s feet were glued to the ground when she felt someone nudge her and kiss the crown of her head—Athena.
Annabeth turned to her mom who nodded towards Percy. “Well… go on. Rush to the best person for you, I suppose.” Athena said, but her voice lacked any of the bite or snark that was normally there when speaking of Percy.
Annabeth moved before she could even recall starting and ran to her boyfriend, Athena’s nudge was just the perfect touch. They met in seconds flat, Annabeth all but tackling Percy to the ground where the two were submerged in their laughter. Percy stood, reaching his hand out to Annabeth. Annabeth stood and glanced at her mother, and where her mother’s blonde form once stood was instead a form of brown skin, long braids, and dark eyes. It was as if looking into a mirror of sorts.
“I missed you so much!” Percy exclaimed with a smile, “what happened while I was gone?”
Annabeth chuckled and shook her head. “It’s been a long week.” Annabeth said as she glanced at Reyna who seemed entranced by a story Piper was telling with exaggerated arms.
“Well, I can’t wait to hear about it all then.” Percy offered, and Annabeth nodded with a smile. She pressed a kiss to his lips, and in a flash, everything just felt right.