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Chapter 9 - Acceptance

Percy

Percy felt himself freaking out as he and Annabeth stared at each other, Aphrodite's chatter just background noise as he tried to process what the heck was going on. He dimly felt the gaze of everyone else in the throne room on him as he came over to Annabeth, her outburst loud in the echoing space.

"What the heck is going on?!" Annabeth asked, panic coloring her tone. Percy immediately grabbed her in a hug, rubbing her back slightly as he frowned at Aphrodite.

"What did you do?" he growled out. Aphrodite blanched for a moment before shaking her head and grinning widely.

"I gave you two the greatest blessing lovers can have!" the goddess exclaimed. Percy noticed his dad and Athena glance at each other and head their way. Annabeth shifted in his arms so he loosened his grip, leaving an arm around her waist as she fisted his t-shirt near the small of his back. He felt shivers go up his spine as the material brushed his old weak spot, and he gripped Annabeth's hip a little tighter in response.

"Are you going to explain that or just keep smiling at us?" Annabeth grumbled.

"Is this part of the whole 'making my love life interesting thing' still? I really thought we were done with that," Percy added.

Aphrodite shook her head and sighed before meeting their eyes with the most serious expression Percy had ever seen on the goddess. "Yes, I'm trying to explain, and you haven't been affected by any of my meddling for a while now. Once you two actually admitted your feelings for each other, you shrugged off anything I tried to throw at the two of you. I gave up meddling a few months before Hera took you, Percy, and I didn't decide to give you this until I saw how hard you fought to reunite with each other over those months."

Percy shared a look with Annabeth before looking back at the goddess. "Wait, so you haven't been able to affect us at all?"

Aphrodite looked at him for a second before responding. "Who do I look like to you right now?" Percy blinked.

"Uh, pretty much exactly like Annabeth, but it's – I don't know how to word it. It's a little off?" Annabeth raised an eyebrow at him as he tried to put his words together. "Like, if I saw you both at the same time without knowing who was who ahead of time, I wouldn't confuse you two cause I'd just know." He could feel Annabeth's discontent with his answer, but Aphrodite just nodded.

"You two love each other so strongly that literally nothing could get in the way, and that was before becoming adelfi psychi." The goddess glanced behind them as their parents joined the conversation. "Oh good, this way I don't have to explain twice. Hello Athena, Poseidon."

"Hello, Aphrodite," Poseidon rumbled. Athena nodded in greeting before turning to her daughter.

"How are you holding up?" Annabeth met her mother's gaze for a moment before smiling tiredly.

"Pretty good, all things considered. How are you feeling?" Athena blinked in surprise before smiling gently.

"Whole again. I am sorry for the ordeal I put you through, and more so for how I treated you during it. It was vastly unfair of me, even if Minerva was the one manifesting." Percy knew Annabeth was blinking back tears as she released him and grabbed her mother instead. Athena looked uncomfortable for a fleeting moment before embracing her daughter. Percy smiled at the two before turning properly to his dad.

"Hey dad," he greeted. Poseidon smiled warmly at him.

"Hello, son." Poseidon glanced at Annabeth and Athena. "I did not expect such an emotional reconciliation from those two."

Percy smirked. "Oh, Annabeth's a big softie underneath all of that snark." He laughed as he dodged her swing, Athena looking on in amusement. Annabeth rolled her eyes at him but grinned.

"Excuse me," Aphrodite cut in. The four turned back to the love goddess. "Can I explain this so I can go smother my daughter please?" Percy held back a snort at her phrasing, but Annabeth elbowed him anyways.

"The blessing I gave you two draws you as close as any two beings can be. As I'm sure you've noticed, that includes feeling each other's emotions and thoughts, though most couples take decades to develop those skills. The degree to which you can share experiences depends on the amount of love and work put into each other. Given how close you two are already, you might go beyond any couples I've blessed in the past. Who knows what stuff you'll be able to do!" Aphrodite's eyes shown with excitement.

"That's… an interesting development," Annabeth responded slowly. Percy could feel the gears in her head turning. For once, he wasn't sure if that was just from knowing how to read her or if he was literally feeling her think.

"If you have any questions, please please please ask." Aphrodite hugged them both, Percy grunting at her strength and Annabeth squeaking at the unexpected contact. As Aphrodite drew back, she looked them each in the eye. "I'm very proud of you both. Your love and strength of commitment put all else to shame, and that comes from each of you alone."

With one last blinding smile, Aphrodite waltzed away. Percy looked at Annabeth in astonishment.

"That is very high praise from her," Poseidon said. "I don't think I've ever heard her complement anyone like that before."

"It is most unusual," Athena agreed. Percy looked at Annabeth.

Is it just me, or are they being weirdly friendly towards each other? Percy had to intentionally push his thoughts towards Annabeth, but given the minute flinch she gave as she met his gaze, he knew she got it.

It's not just you, she agreed. She turned to her mom and his dad. "Not that I'm sad about it, but what's got you two acting so civil with each other?" The gods shared a glace.

"You know how the fates said mortals sometimes influence immortals?" Athena started. Percy and Annabeth nodded. "Your actions from the beginning started to wear at our feud. When you two finally got together, it wasn't hard for us to put aside our arguments and let you two be. When you two fell, we fell to each other to push through our grief. After Athens…" Athena flushed, and Percy gaped in astonishment. Poseidon saw their expressions and cut in.

"What she means to say is we're not fighting anymore." Percy felt Annabeth's relief match his own. Athena narrowed her eyes at Poseidon before letting out a huff of irritation. Poseidon rolled his eyes. "Don't huff at me, woman. You had them thinking we were having an affair."

Athena merely rolled her eyes and return. "Come, daughter. We've much to discuss, and the less of this oaf I have to deal with, the better." Annabeth nodded, still processing all of the new information they had learned. She gave Percy a quick peck on the lips before allowing Athena to draw her away, though not before Athena met Percy's gaze and winked.

Percy gaped at the two retreating women before turning to his dad. "Did I really just see that, or am I hallucinating again?" Poseidon guffawed, making Percy blush bright red.

"That depends," Poseidon answered after calming down. "Did you have anything you need to talk about while we have the chance?"

Percy narrowed his eyes, really looking at Poseidon. After a moment of trying to decipher the god's body language, he relaxed. "You already know."

His father's eyes twinkled. "Maybe. I still would like to hear you say it out loud." Percy huffed but grinned softly.

"How would you feel about me proposing to Annabeth?" Poseidon grinned widely.

"I think it's about time. Do you have any idea how long we've been waiting? Even Athena was starting to wonder if you'd ever stop dragging your feet."

"She's okay with it, then?" Percy asked.

"She is," Poseidon answered. "Though she insists you let her help 'lest you ruin her daughter's wedding and irreparably damage your relationship'". Percy snorted at the impression.

"Sounds about right." He looked across the room and saw Annabeth coming back towards him. Athena met his gaze above her daughter's head and gave him a swift nod. With a quirk of her lips, she vanished. Percy turned back to his dad.

"I'll need to go visit Tyson soon, then."

Poseidon smiled. "You are welcome to visit anytime you wish." The god placed his hand on Percy's shoulder. "I'm proud of you, son." As Annabeth rejoined them, Poseidon nodded to her with a smile and walked away, headed towards Zeus who was just releasing Jason from his iron grip. Percy snickered at the expression on his friend's face.

"That was nice," Annabeth admitted. "My mom has never been personable. Being able to have a conversation with her like that… Little me would have killed for that chance."

Percy held her close. "Well, it sounds like we'll have plenty of time to make sure those changes stick. Your siblings will be thankful you helped them have a better childhood."

"My siblings?" Annabeth smirked. "Just because you don't have any yet doesn't mean they aren't coming. Didn't Poseidon mention something about sending you siblings after the first war?" Percy blanched and scowled as Annabeth laughed at him. Piper and Jason soon joined them, and as the other couples started to drift over, Percy thought that his luck in life was finally turning around.