Hiya! I don't know what exactly possessed me to write this, but once the idea was in my head it sort of kept expanding itself until it was basically SCREAMING at me to write it. So here we are!

Okay, this takes place post-HoO, assuming Gaea and the Giants were defeated and everybody lived happily ever after (which I'm sure won't actually happen, but I'm just gonna keep living in my dream-world for now, okay? Okay). Like the summary says, this takes place ten months after HoO.

***10/15/2013 IMPORTANT UPDATE***: After reading House of Hades, I'm now forced to call this a semi-AU and ask you to please read this as though none of the events in HoH happened. I planned/outlined this before HoH came out, and a lot of the events conflict with my timeline. Some minor details/revelations about the characters can still hold true, but the physical *events* did NOT happen, okay? Feel free to message me with any questions. Everything through Mark of Athena is still canon with this story, but this veers off after that.

DISCLAIMER: I don't even own the computer I'm typing on (proooobably shouldn't be doing this at work, but eh, oh well), let alone anything of value. I make claim to nothing but my own imagination! *cue rainbows*

Enjoy!

I
ANNABETH

Annabeth liked to think of herself as brave.

She had run away from home when she was seven, and had subsequently lived on the streets fighting and evading one monster after another. She had completed multiple life-threatening quests for her summer camp, Camp Half-Blood, which often pitted her against beings who wanted nothing more than to tear her limb from limb. She had traversed the world, navigated the Labyrinth, helped stop two Olympian wars, and survived the darkest pit of the Underworld. She had fought gods, titans, giants, Cyclopes, hellhounds, a hydra, and an army of jumbo-sized, man-eating ants. She had even once held the weight of the entire sky on her shoulders. Even by demigod standards, Annabeth figured her repertoire of accomplishments was rather impressive.

So why did something as simple as delivering a valedictorian speech to an auditorium filled with four hundred graduates and their families frighten her more than facing down an army? Her mind told her that the answer was simple: She understood demigod life. Normal life? Not so much.

Sometimes Annabeth hated being so smart.

Well… Okay, that was a lie. But still, there were times she wondered what it would be like to be one of her classmates at Hightower Prep. She couldn't even imagine a life where things like speeches, grades, graduation, and college were her most important worries and fears. She shot a glance over her shoulder and allowed her eyes to scan the lines of students beside and behind her, all girls her age who had no more pressing issues in their lives than enjoying the coming summer and packing for college in the fall. What a boring life, Annabeth couldn't help but think with mild amusement.

"And now to give a few words, I'm delighted to introduce Hightower Preparatory Academy's 2011 graduating class valedictorian, Annabeth Chase."

Annabeth jumped in surprised at the sound of her name and the following chorus of applause, berating herself for allowing her attention to slip. Cursed demigod ADHD. She straightened her shoulders and rose to her feet, meeting the eyes of the speaker, Madam Beaufonte (Annabeth wasn't sure what qualified her to be called "Madam," as there wasn't much to set her apart from the other instructors; she assumed it was just a matter of personal preference), as the older woman stepped down from the podium and reached out a hand. Annabeth approached her and offered a polite handshake, hoping the headmistress wouldn't notice how clammy her hands were, before climbing up to the podium and sweeping her gaze across the audience before her.

Oh, gods, she thought frantically, trying to keep her breathing steady and her hands from shaking. I can do this. It's just a short talk. In front of hundreds of people. Most of them don't even know me. This will be easy.

Her mind flashed back to the conversation she'd had with Percy the previous night, when she'd voiced her concerns. "I don't know what you're worried about," he'd argued off-handedly. "You've faced way worse stuff than this. Besides, graduation's easy. Trust me, you're gonna do great."

Easy for him to say, Annabeth thought with a suppressed huff of nervous annoyance. He had graduated the previous week, but he of course hadn't been valedictorian. He hadn't been forced to give a speech in front of his entire school. And he wouldn't be a complete disgrace to his godly parent's name if he screwed it up.

Her eyes fell on her father and stepmother in the fifth row back, the latter of whom appeared to be scolding her two young sons in a hushed voice and the former of whom was nodding at Annabeth with an encouraging smile. Annabeth swallowed hard and glanced at the seat to her father's left, which was occupied by her idiot of a boyfriend.

Percy was leaning back in his seat with his arms folded behind his head, a strangely amused expression on his face as he eyed Annabeth. He raised an eyebrow at her and the corner of his mouth twitched in a ghost of a smirk, and Annabeth could almost hear him saying, Well, Wise Girl? You gonna say something or are you trying to communicate your speech telepathically?

Annabeth felt a tiny twinge of anger at his expression, and instantly all the fear seemed to wash out of her. This wasn't a valedictorian speech at one of the toughest college prep boarding schools in the Upper Manhattan area. This was simply Annabeth as she always was, explaining something or another to her kelp-headed boyfriend so he wouldn't go off and get himself killed, which he seemed to like to try as often as possible. If she focused only on Percy and that annoying look on his face, she'd have no trouble.

Annabeth supposed she would have to thank him for that later.

After realizing she'd been standing there without speaking for almost an entire minute, Annabeth shook her hair over her shoulder and allowed some of her usual confidence to show in her smile. No one would be disgracing their godly parents today, not if she had anything to say about it.

-ψ-ψ-ψ-

After Annabeth's speech, the rest of the ceremony seemed to fly by faster than a charging herd of Party Ponies (who, by the way, had generously offered to throw Annabeth and Percy "the most tail-thrashing, hoof-beating, fist-bumping grad party your two legs have ever seen!" It took them six refusals, two threats, and one distress call to Chiron before the centaurs finally gave up and left them alone), and in no time Annabeth had received her diploma and rejoined her family in the lobby as the auditorium steadily emptied of its occupants.

"Congratulations, sweetie!" her stepmother sang through a beaming smile, wrapping both arms around Annabeth and squeezing her shoulders tightly.

Annabeth laughed and turned to her father, who added, "We're so proud of you, Annabeth. And…" He shot a glance over his shoulder before leaning in and finishing in an undertone, "I know your mother is, too."

Annabeth smiled gratefully. "Thanks, Dad." Percy stepped up beside Annabeth's father and she met his eyes briefly. She barely had time to appreciate the fact that he had actually dressed up for the occasion (his hair was as wild and windblown as ever, but by now Annabeth had begun to suspect that no matter how much he combed or styled it, his hair seemed to have a mind of its own and much preferred the side-swept, beach look) before her stepbrothers chose that moment to launch themselves at her simultaneously, not quite understanding what the celebration was about but wanting to show their sister some appreciation just like their parents. Annabeth swallowed a giggle as she handed her diploma to her stepmother and bent down to plant a kiss on each of their heads, thanking them for their enthusiasm.

"Alright, alright," Percy said impatiently, but when Annabeth looked up she saw the familiar grin on his face. "Boyfriend's turn yet?" He held is arms out and took a step forward, and Annabeth placed one hand on her hip and used the other to punch him in the shoulder. Hard.

"Ow!" he complained, shrinking back from her and rubbing the bruise that she hoped was forming beneath his shirt and blazer. "What was that for?"

Annabeth glared at him, though she was sure he could see right through it. "That was for being a jerk to get me over my nervousness," she explained sharply, allowing a hint of humor to color her voice. Percy understood immediately and he relaxed, grin back in place. Annabeth shook her head with a sigh, unable to keep from smiling back. "And so is this," she added. Then she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing a short, grateful kiss to his lips.

"Well, should we get going?" her father suggested, glancing at the watch on his wrist. "Our reservations are at seven, and we don't want to be late. Plus, I think the boys are getting a bit anxious to eat." Annabeth chuckled as they made their way outside among the crowd. She opened her mouth to respond, but the words died on her tongue when her eyes took in the frenzied commotion going on toward the right side of the front parking lot.

"What's going on?" she wondered aloud, frowning as she observed the thick congestion of people crowded in a small space not far from where she and her family stood, most of whom were shouting, laughing, pointing, and causing a general disturbance. She couldn't tell what they were looking at, but whatever it was, it sure had their attention.

Suddenly Percy stiffened beside her. "Aw, man," he mumbled ruefully, disappointment in his voice. "Looks like we're gonna have to miss dinner. And I was really looking forward to that all-you-can-eat pasta buffet."

"What's wrong?" Annabeth asked, craning her neck to see as more people joined the growing cluster of onlookers. "Can you see what's happening?"

"No," Percy answered with a heavy sigh, "but I told him we're over here, so any second now…"

Before Annabeth could ask who 'him' was, an audible gasp went through the crowd and a great, black pegasus suddenly leapt into the sky above their heads. It whirled around wildly before finally seeming to spot what it was looking for. It let out a loud whinny and darted toward the ground once more, coming to a rather ungraceful stop in front of Percy and Annabeth.

"Right," Annabeth said shortly, her throat tightening as understanding spread through her. "Blackjack."

"Puppy!" Bobby cried with a grin, spreading his arms and pushing his brother aside to step toward the 'puppy'. Thankfully, Annabeth's father leaned down and barred his way before he got within range of the pegasus' hooves, which were stomping the concrete in excitement. The surrounding onlookers were still laughing and pointing toward Blackjack, and Annabeth found herself wondering what exactly they were seeing. After all, the Mist had once turned Percy's giant hellhound Mrs. O'Leary into an adorable little poodle. For all Annabeth knew, Blackjack could be a playful Scottish terrier.

"Is this dog yours, Annabeth?" her stepmother asked, uncertainty in her voice as she placed her hands on her sons' shoulders. The Mist may have clouded her eyes, but clearly she could tell something wasn't right.

"Actually, dear, it isn't a dog," Annabeth's father replied. "It's a pegasus." Before his wife could puzzle this out, he turned to his daughter and asked seriously, "Time for you to go?"

Blackjack grunted impatiently and Percy nodded to the pegasus, eyebrows knitted together. "He says Chiron sent him to get us—and it's important. Something about a prophecy, but he can't remember the rest of the message." He turned and glared at the horse as he finished. Blackjack neighed loudly and shook his mane, and Percy rolled his eyes. "'Empty stomach', yeah right," he muttered. "Sorry, man, but if I've gotta miss dinner, so do you." Blackjack let out a whine, nudging Percy on the arm. Percy shook him off and grumbled, "You can't take a pegasus through the drive-through!"

Having understood the gist of the situation, Annabeth turned back to her family. "I'm sorry," she said sincerely, removing her graduate cap, cords, and gown and handing them to her father. "Rain check on that dinner, okay?"

"No worries," her father replied with a warm smile as he wrapped her in a one-armed hug. "We understand the life of a demigod is never dull, and all that. Message us when you have some free-time, alright?"

"Promise," Annabeth said with a nod.

"Be careful, you two," her stepmother said seriously, before stepping forward and kissing them both on the forehead (to which Percy blinked in mild surprise but offered a smile all the same). They climbed onto Blackjack's back and the pegasus spun in a circle, ready to take off. Annabeth silently wished she'd chosen to wear something a bit less formal, as the floor-length gown she was dressed in forced her to sit sideways and cling tightly to Percy to keep from sliding off her seat.

"Take care of my daughter, Percy," Annabeth's father called as they stepped back.

"Aye-aye, sir," Percy replied with a convincing salute, reaching around Annabeth to curl his other hand into Blackjack's mane. "Though to be fair, she doesn't always make it easy." Annabeth huffed and drove her elbow into his gut, causing him to grimace and hunch forward with a light laugh.

Her father smiled ruefully, and Annabeth could have sworn she saw a brief flash of sadness in his eyes when he said, "She's her mother's daughter, alright."

Annabeth smiled. "'Bye, guys," she said as brightly as she could manage, waving to her family as Percy gripped Blackjack's mane and informed the pegasus that they were ready to go.

As Blackjack spread his dark wings and rose into the sky, heading for Camp Half-Blood, Annabeth tightened her grip on Percy's waist and tried to ignore the lump forming in her throat at the thought of Chiron's urgent summons.

So that didn't really introduce the plot at all, but it'll show up in the next chapter, no worries. Just wait 'til this really gets rolling - it's gonna be nuts, haha.

Anyway, I won't start hounding for reviews yet, as this is just kind of a small taster. This sucker's gonna be LONG, so hopefully I can get a rhythm going and update sometime in the next few days.

See ya soon!

-oMM