"Hello children" Chiron greeted as the trio walked through the door.

"Hello sir!" Percy greeted chirpily

"WOULD YOU CUPCAKES TELL ME WHY WE SPENT THE WHOLE NIGHT SEARCHING FOR YOU BOTH WHEN YOU WERE GETTING ALL COZY IN THE STABLES" Coach Hedge yelled

Ouch Percy thought, my poor ears!
He was still extremely sleepy, having stayed up half the night listening to Annabeths stories about Malcom,
In fact.....he didn't even remember coming to this room...
How'd he get here ?

"Nothing Coach, all we did was sleep together" Percy replied

Percy looked back at Chiron, who looked at Annabeth as though she grew another head, his mouth was slightly agape and he looked bewildered.
Hedge on the other hand, was fuming, in fact,Percy swore he could see smoke coming out of his ears.

A bright pink Frank quickly excused himself, sprinting out of the room.

"YOU DID WHAT?!!" Coach Hedge yelled, swinging his bat around like a madman, knocking the vase off of Chirons desk.

"We slept together" Percy repeated,confused at Hedges anger.
Why was everyone looking at him like that? That's what they did wasn't it?
Annabeth told him about Malcom and they both fell asleep.
Why is everyone making such a big deal out of this ?

"Coach! It's nothing like that, I promise. What happened was, I ran away yesterday....after....after..." Annabeth began frantically, taking a deep breath. "After my brother died" she said, faintly a whisper.

Percy wanted to go over there and give her a hug, but she didn't seem to want it though.
She'd been glaring at him so hard he thought his head has two owl shaped holes in it.

And anyway, why was everyone so annoyed with him? All he said was the truth,
They had slept together.
Oh no
Percy internally groaned.
HOLY POSIEDONS PANSIES!!! he said they had slept together!!!
Ugh
Stupid Percy
Stupid.

"And that's it" he heard Annabeth say, and turned around to realise she had tears in her eyes.

Percy wasn't sleepy anymore, on the contrary, he was as alert as a bulldog, ready to give Annabeth a hug whenever she needed. He moved slightly closer to her, and rubbed her arm discretely.
She gave him a quick smile and used her hand to dry up her wet face.

Chirons eyes softened at the scene, "Princess Annabeth, you're mother is here to see you," he said in a soft voice.
"Prince Percy, you may return to your room"

Percy gave a quick nod of his head and walked out of the room.
Not into the Pallas though, he was gonna be waiting for Annabeth to come out.
We walked out of the main office, and saw Queen Athena, staring at him.
She was wearing a black mourning dress, with her hair tied up in a bun. She looked like a proper queen, except the dark bags around her eyes.

"You're highness" he greeted, stifling a yawn.

She looked at him in disapproval and nodded her head, walking towards the office door.
She stopped for a second and spun around on her heels, walking right back to Percy
"You should be aware I don't approve of you with my daughter, I don't trust your intentions with her" she said

"But she's my friend!" Percy whined, mentally facepalming himself for his weak response.
Ugh sleepiness!
If you don't sleep once a day,
Persassy stays away.

Queen Athena frowned, and turned around, walking straight to the office, the door slamming behind her.

Percy ran, well more like jogged.
He slowly crawled along the floor of the office, trying to avoid the cameras and guards.

" Time for a routine checkup men!" He heard a voice yell.

He internally cursed, there was gonna be more security after Malcom's death! Of course!

Percy quickly climbed a tree, staying there for what felt like 20 minutes, staring at some bald and some helmeted heads of soldiers, though one did have a bald spot on his head he should get checked out.

"Next Premises!" The voice called out.

Percy slid off the tree, and crawled to the back of the office, right under the window.

"But mother! I can't possibly-" he heard Annabeth cry out.

"Annabeth you have no choice!" Queen Athena replied, the irritation in her voice evident

"But mother.."

"Enough ! I have just had my son murdered! And you! ran off with the son of Poseidon!"
Percy flinched, he knew Athena didn't like him but ouch,
He just wanted to be there for Annabeth.

"And on top of that disappeared for the night! Doing Hades knows what!"

"Mother! Percy's my friend, he was there for me when I was down! And I lost a brother too! But shame on me for thinking I could just get a second of peace to process it!
And leave Percy out of this! He did nothing wrong!" Annabeth yelled back.

Percy smiled, that was his wise girl! Scary and smart!

Percy heard the chair creak and quickly glanced through the window

He saw Queen Athena sitting in a chair, her hand pressed against her temple.
She wasn't crying, but her eyes were red.

Annabeth stood in the opposite corner, tears welled up in her eyes, Chiron had just come up to her, and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Annabeth, you have no siblings, it has to be you. I refuse to let my kingdom go to some greedy noble, I love you my dear, I'm sorry. But you have no choice....you have to do your duty, it's what your brother would've wanted"

Tears streamed down Annabeths face, it made Percy's heart hurt...all he wanted to do was run in there and give her a hug.
It was surprising really....how much a day could change how you felt about a person.
He didn't like Annabeth before, thinking she was a stuck up little princess.
But turns out, she was anything but one.
She was kind, smart, beautiful.....
Wait....Beautiful?

"Yes mother" he heard Annabeth say.

Percy peered back up and watched Annabeth curtsy.
He immediately started crawling back, to the front of the office.
He stood up, and peeped in.
And exactly then, Annabeth came running out, crashing into him.
He grabbed her shoulders as they hit the floor, making sure she took less of the impact.

"I'm so so sorry Percy!" She said, getting off of him.

"What happened?" He asked her

Annabeth went silent for a moment, and then came crashing into his arms.
She grabbed outer layer of his suit and burried her face in his chest, crying.
Instinctively, Percy's arms went around her waist.
But he didn't whether she would feel comfortable with that, so he moved them slightly upwards.

"They're gonna crown me heir.....in two days" Annabeth whispered.

Percy looked down at her.
She looked so broken.
Her normally combed hair was in a mess, her dress was slightly tainted with mud...and her eyes...the eyes he grew so fond of.....had tears in them.
One thing was clear.
Percy never wanted to see his wise girl like this again.
He cupped her chin and lifted it up, so she would be facing him, and with his other hand, wiped the tears that we're falling.
Then he hugged her again.

"It's gonna be okay Wise girl...I'm gonna be there for you, it's gonna be okay" he whispered into her hair.

Stay tuned!!!!

------S & D

Any thoughts on the chapter ?