SATURDAY

Dad is gonna kill us.

"How bad is it?"

Annabeth diverted her eyes from the car mirror and glanced at Percy.

"Let me put this way: I think not even a child of Aphrodite with mastery in make up would be able to cover it up."

Percy flinched, not taking his eyes off the road.

"That bad and it'll get worse later."

"Precisely."

Percy sighed.

"Your dad is gonna kill me."

"It's not that bad."

Percy chuckled humorlessly.

"Okay, it's bad, but I think we can explain to him."

"Explain to him that in our first date, you got home wet and in borrowed clothes. Now, in our second date, we got in a brawl and you get home with bruises. If he doesn't kill me, he will get a restraining order against me."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, testing the bruise on her chin from someone's elbow with the tip of her fingers.

Annie? Will you help me?

You know I don't like him much.

Peter or Percy?

Both, in a way. But I don't think listening to you mopping about missing him would be better.

Is that a yes?

Yes.

"Put a little faith in us, will you? Besides, mom likes you, I think."

He didn't look at her, but she could see his surprise.

"What, why?"

She's romantic. Much more than we are.

"We don't know. She said she thinks you're very protective and sweet in a 'you might not approve me but she's everything to me and I'll not leave her side'."

"That is... precise. Annabeth? How bad do I look?"

"What do you mean?"

"In bruises."

"Hum..."

"That bad?"

"Well..."

"Our mom will think we joined a gang, won't she?"

"I wouldn't blame her if she did."

"Oh, great."

***

You know we have to get out, right?

Yeah, I know.

The sound of a door unlocking caught her attention.

"Percy? What are you doing?"

"I'm coming with you"

Wait, WHAT? WHY?

"Percy..."

"I was responsible for you, and I'm not delivering you in the same state as I took you; so the least I can do is to explain to your parents the reason for this."

He KNOWS dad will kill them when he looks at us if they're close enough, right?

He does. He is just Percy.

What about Peter?

"Percy?"

He rounded John's borrowed car and opened her door before answering.

"Hum?"

"And Peter?"

She accepted his hand to get out of the car, not thinking twice about the gesture, but she felt Annie's unease.

"What about him?"

"What does he think of this?"

"This... what? Facing your father?"

"Yes."

"He agrees with me."

Annabeth could sense Annie's surprise hit the stratosphere while they were walking to her front door.

HE DOES?

"Really?"

"Yeah, he has his own honor. Shall we?"

Annabeth took a deep breath, before inserting the key and opening the door. She had seen the lights on from the front window, and knew Annie's parents were waiting for them; so it wasn't a surprise when she heard two sets of footsteps approaching before she had completely opened the door, and closed her eyes.

Here goes nothing.

Her step mom was the first one to arrive, her voice joyous.

"Annie, sweetie, you're here! What did you think of the... DEAR MOTHER OF GOD, WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU??"

"... Hi, mom."

Annabeth opened her eyes to find Helga staring agape at her. When her father finally reached them, he took one look at her before turning his glare full on Percy. She had to admit, he was better at glaring that she would have given him credit for. Beside her, Percy took a deep breath.

"Good night, Mr. and Mrs. Cullen. If you allow me, I would like to explain to you what happened tonight."

Ok. That wasn't bad. Maybe he can convince dad.

Her father was still glaring, so her mother cleared her throat, catching their attention.

"Maybe we should move to the living room. Maybe something to eat or drink? Something tells me it's going to take a while."

***

She really wanted to hold Percy's hand, because her father's glare was still full force, enough to make even her uncomfortable. Her step-mother was still trying to warp her mind around their tale.

"So, there was a fight, and even if you didn't know how to fight, you joined it?"

Well, I do know how to fight.

But how would we explain it to my parents?

Before she could say anything, Percy spoke.

"The fight happened inside the theaters, some people got caught up in it just for being at the wrong place and the wrong time."

Her father spoke for the first time since they arrived.

"Is that what happened to her? Wrong place and wrong time? What was the wrong place? Beside you?"

"No, sir. We were away from the fight in a first moment. I joined to help a friend. Annie to protect a girl that was caught up in it. She was trying to help a smaller girl to get out, and got it before I noticed her there and took them both out."

This is so not what happened.

It's believable enough, though. I think.

We hope.

***

SUNDAY

Annabeth rubbed her eyes, before stretching and groaning.

Ow, our chin.

I don't even want to see how blue it is.

Probably a lot. And from what I can feel with my fingers, swollen too. What is that smell?

Mom's cooking.

The smell was enough to make her stomach rumble. Leaving her comfy bad, she walked down the stairs, still in her pajamas. Rounding the corner and entering the kitchen, she could see that all her family was awake, mostly because her father was getting scolded by Helga for not keeping an eye at the boys, who had sneaked into the kitchen and attempted to steal the bowl of frosting before she turned and caught them red-handed. Annabeth blinked, ignored the arguing and checked the clock on the wall.

9 am? Why the hell is she cooking so many dishes so early?

Oh my god! We totally forgot!

About what?

Thanksgiving!

What? Is it today?

I completely forgot! Go back to our room and change, we need to help mom.

Uh... I'm not really good with cooking.

Are you good with a knife?

Are you kidding?

Well, are you?

... Yes. It was my weapon, remember?

Good, then you can chop things for mom and help her. Now go, before she notices us standing here in pajamas and not helping.

***

Annabeth tried to balance her phone between her shoulder and her ear.

"What do you want?"

"To know your Thanksgiving plans."

"Why?"

"Jason is asking."

"Why?"

"Aren't you reading our texts?"

"No, I've been busy."

"Just tell me if you have plans."

"I do, some relatives are coming."

"Great, I'll let them know. So, what are you doing?"

Annabeth raised her eyes to find her step-mom glaring from the stove.

"Right now, being glared at because I'm on the phone instead of chopping the carrots. Have to go, bye!"

She quickly turned off her phone wiping it and her hands with a napkin before getting her knife again, with a guilty smile to Helga.

"Carrots are my number one priority."

Without taking her eyes from Annabeth, she spoke.

"Bill, if you dare to step one more foot in this kitchen..."

Annabeth turned fast enough to catch a glimpse of a bolting boy.

Your mother's observant skills are like she had fifty eyes.

Why fifty?

Well, because in greek mythology...

"Annie? Carrots."

"Right, sorry."

She got back to the vegetables, before frowning.

This knife is terrible, where can I get a sharper one.

This is the sharpest. You can ask get to sharpen it.

Don't be foolish, I can do it on my own.

She got the sharpener from the drawer and started to skillfully slide the knife over it.

By the way, who is coming?

No idea.

They're your relatives.

I know, but some years is from my mom's side of the family, other is from my dad's. Ask mom.

"Mom? Who is coming this year?"

"Oh, your father's side of the family. I just hope that uncle of yours doesn't come."

"Which one?"

"Rudolf. Do you remember his place? It always creeped me out. At least your aunt is nice, I like her. And your cousin is coming too."

Cousin?

Yeah, he's around our age. I like him, even though we don't see each other much.

What is his name?

Max.

"Annie? Where in heavens did you learn to sharp a knife with so much skill?"

Annabeth got back to reality to find Helga staring at her with a mix of impressed and scared.

"Hum... Home Ec?"

A/N: So, it has been a while. I have another chp ready, so question. Do I publish it now or in a week or so? I can't promise when is the next one coming, FYI.