"I can't believe the amount of paparazzi out there!" Annabeth said as she slammed the door behind us, wide eyed in disbelief. "You'd think they'd have other places to be on Halloween."

We'd just gotten done with our date at some fancy restaurant I'd allowed Annabeth to pick out. And, even though I hated to admit it, the plan was working seamlessly. Wherever we went there were paparazzi there in a matter of seconds.

"It's Halloween?" I asked frantically while I cursed under my breath. "Crap, I totally forgot! I have plans..."

As I rushed around my apartment Annabeth narrowed her eyes at me judgmentally. "You already have plans? With who...?"

I paused to look at her. She'd placed her hands on her hips and was glaring at my condescendingly. "My mom."

Annabeth burst out laughing. "You have plans with your mom? On Halloween? If you don't want to tell me, just say so."

"Ha ha, very judge-y there, Chase," I shot back. "And they're with my sister, too. Estelle, she's six. I don't want to miss seeing her trick or treating. And my mom always saves extra candy for me."

"I bet you wear an embarrassing costume, don't you?" Annabeth teased.

I rolled my eyes. "Obviously. That's why I was running all around my apartment. I was looking for the aforementioned embarrassing costume. Now will you help me look for something to throw on?"

"Fine, but what costume are you looking for?" asked Annabeth as she walked over to me and helped me go through a messy closet.

"I didn't buy one yet, I thought I still had time..." I whispered while throwing things crazily out of the closet. "Ah, screw it, I'm going to be late, anyways..."

I stood up and pushed all the contents of the closet back into it and slammed the door shut, pressing all my body weight to keep it from spilling.

"Okay, well, I guess I'll see myself out," Annabeth said as she peered at the closet with dismay.

I furrowed my eyebrows and smiled in confusion. "What are you talking about? You're totally coming with me, Chase."

A small grin appeared on her face as she slowly shook her head. "I can't...wouldn't I be intruding? I mean, it's your special time with your sister—"

"Nonsense! Besides, my mom has been dying to meet you," I replied. Annabeth's smile wavered when I mentioned my mother wanting to meet her, so I quickly spoke again. "No, it's not a famous thing. My mom—whenever she finds out I'm dating someone demands to meet them and make them cookies. Don't worry, she's nice, I swear."

"Alright, then, I think I could mange to eat some cookies," Annabeth replied as she took my arm and I led her out of the apartment.

I led her through the staggering paparazzi outside my apartment and into her private car. The driver sighed when I gave him the address, which was out of the city, but agreed to drive us.

Annabeth tapped her foot nervously as she peered at the landscape whipping by us out her window.

"Hey, you don't have to be nervous," I assured her. She slowly turned to face me. "My mom is the nicest person ever, okay? And I'm sure she'll love you. She loves just about anyone."

She nodded slowly as the car dropped us off at my mom's house, which was practically swarmed with trick or treaters.

I led Annabeth past the sea of kids and into my house, where my mother was handing out candy.

"Percy! Where's your costume?" she berated as she pulled me into a massive hug. "Estelle will be disappointed."

I nodded as I smiled at Annabeth. "I know, I know. I forgot, I'm sorry! Anyways, mom, this is Annabeth."

My mother dropped the bowl she was holding and sent candy flying everywhere. The trick or treaters screamed with glee as they struggled to collect the candy.

"Oh, my dear, I'm so sorry!" my mother said weakly as she picked up the remaining candy, not taking her eyes off of Annabeth. "I'm Sally."

She shook Annabeth's hand, still staring at her in astonishment as if she'd seen a ghost or something.

Annabeth awkwardly smiled as she shook my mother's hand. "Your house is lovely, Ms. Jackson."

"Oh, no need to call me Ms. Jackson, that's way too formal. Call me Sally!" she instructed as she quickly tried to become normal. She placed the remaining candy left on the porch and led us inside.

"Paul should be back with Estelle soon, I'm sure she'd love to meet you, Annabeth," my mom said as she led us into the living room. "Percy, I think you left your costume here last year, go check your room..."

"Okay, thanks, mom," I replied as I headed up the stairs. "Annabeth, could you help me look?"

Annabeth followed me up the stairs as my mother smiled at us.

"I get to see your childhood bedroom?!" Annabeth teased as I pushed open the door.

"Nah, my mom got this house after I moved out. But you do get to see a few of my old stuff that she relocated," I responded.

The room was plain with the bed made, dresser cleaned off, and always smelled like cleaning supplies. My mom referred to this place as my room, but I only stayed it in whenever I came over, and most of my stuff was in boxes somewhere.

"Wow, very plain," Annabeth commented as she picked up a photo of me when I was younger. "Ahh, look at you..."

I quickly snatched the photo out of her hand in embarrassment. "God, I forgot my mom put those up...I beginning to have second thoughts of inviting you here..."

After rummaging through the closet with no success of finding a costume, I led Annabeth downstairs where my mom was chatting with Paul, my step dad, who had returned with Estelle.

Estelle instantly ran over to me and wrapped her tiny arms around me. I grinned as I picked her up.

She was dressed as some Disney Princess, her brown hair being pulled back with a tiara. She wore a jacket over her costume, which I assumed was enforced by my mother.

"Where's your costume?" Estelle asked me with narrowed eyes.

"I couldn't find one, sorry," I responded as I set her down.

She shrugged as she moved onto Annabeth. "Who's this lady?"

Annabeth's eyes widened as she crouched down to Estelle's height. "My name's Annabeth. Your costume is so pretty, are you a princess?"

Estelle giggled as she nodded in glee. "Yes! My favorite—Belle! Who's your favorites?"

Estelle and Annabeth had a conversation about Disney princesses, which I quickly tuned out of. Although I tolerated watching princess movies with my sister, my real love was for Nemo.

After chatting for several minutes, Estelle dragged a laughing Annabeth into the living room to watch a princess movie. Annabeth gave me a glance and grin before being pulled out of sight.

"Estelle seems to like Annabeth," my mom commented as she and my stepdad entered the room, Paul holding a bucket of candy in his hands.

"Yes, she's practically adopted her now," Paul commented with a chuckle as he went through Estelle's candy. "I should go return this to Estelle. She was hysterical when I told her I had to check it."

My mom laughed as Paul headed into the living room. I heard Estelle squeak with joy and I could tell she was about to be on a sugar high.

"So...Annabeth Chase?" my mom asked as she wiggled her eyebrows. "You didn't tell me you were dating actress Annabeth Chase."

I shrugged as I smiled sneakily and avoided her gaze. "Well, you never asked."

My mother sighed and brought a hand to her face. "Just give this to me straight, is this for real? I know you—you celebrities do fake dating things all the time..."

I wasn't surprised that my mother had asked me this. She was no nonsense and, although she didn't have a college degree, she was the smartest person I knew.

"Mom...can I tell you something?"

"Anything, Percy."

I took a deep breathe as I told her everything. I told her about Chiron suggesting this whole thing and me reluctantly agreeing. Then I told her what I actually felt.

"Mom, I don't think this is fake anymore," I whispered as I heard Annabeth laugh with Estelle from the other room. "I mean, we kissed for real. And when I'm with her...I don't know. I've never felt this way with someone before, but what if I tell her and she's been faking the whole time? She'd...she'd probably laugh in my face."

As I said it, I knew that I sounded ridiculous. Annabeth, even if she was faking this whole thing, would never laugh in my face. That's just not who she was. At least not who she was to me.

"Well, I for one don't think this is fake," my mother replied simply as she started cleaning up the already pristine kitchen. "Why would she agree to come here if it were? There are no paparazzi here as far as I can tell. And the way she laughs with you, no one can fake that."

I shrugged as my mother prodded me to move out of the way of her cleaning. "It's just...what if I'm just making this all up in my head?"

My mom nearly burst out laughing as she placed a hand on her hip. "Percy, you've never brought a girl here before! I'm pretty sure if you didn't feel anything towards her, she wouldn't be here."

The room fell silent as Annabeth walked in, peering at the two of us suspiciously. "Uh, Perce, Estelle wants you to come watch with us."

I couldn't help but snicker as I looked her up and down. She'd allowed Estelle to give her a 'makeover.' Her hair had been pulled back messily in a side ponytail and aggressive makeup was smeared across her face.

"Hey, don't laugh!" protested Annabeth as Estelle rushed in. "I happen to think Estelle did an amazing job. And I think Percy should go next..."

Estelle grinned as she nodded fiercely and pulled me into the living room, Annabeth at my heels.

And as Estelle applied makeup to me against my will and Annabeth cackled, I couldn't help but grin.