Chapter 37 - "Frank's Proposal Speech"
published: Wednesday, 9 October 2019

"No, cereal is the obvious choice for breakfast, why are you..."

Annabeth groaned internally as she slumped further into the couch. Hazel, who was sitting next to her, snickered under her breath.

Piper was getting lectured by Demeter about what she should be feeding Jasper. The goddess seemed to insist that cereal was the best form of nutrition for newborn babies, while Piper tried to explain that Jasper didn't age like immortal babies, and couldn't eat solids yet.

Annabeth was still getting her head around the fact that Piper and Jason had a baby. She hadn't even known her friend was pregnant when she'd left for Tartarus, so coming back to see her in labour was quite the shock.

Hades entered the conversation with Demeter, giving Piper a chance to slip away and sit down on Annabeth's other side.

Annabeth eyed the two gods warily. Even though they'd been stuck together for five years, they still argued a whole lot. She was a little worried that, with four gods on the ship, small disagreements over breakfast or colours might result in all of them going up in flaming supernovas.

Annabeth heard someone calling her name, and she looked up to see her mother standing by the steps and beckoning for her. Confused, Annabeth approached her mother.

"You need to talk to me?" she voiced questioningly.

Athena was wearing a pair of Annabeth's jeans and a t-shirt. With her hair in a ponytail, Annabeth couldn't believe how normal she looked.

She cut right to the chase. "Perseus informed me of your newfound...powers."

Annabeth swallowed down a sour taste. Of course, he did. She recalled the boy in her dream who'd died as a result of his powers.

"They're dangerous," her mother warned. "They are rare amongst my demigod children, but they kill those whose physical brains are not strong enough to hold their minds."

"Well, they haven't killed me," Annabeth reminded. "And the exhaustion I used to get is wearing off."

"They haven't killed you yet," Athena corrected. "It starts off well, but then it deteriorates. I can't—" The goddess hesitated. "I can't watch you die. You are the one child whom I have been able to warn. Please, take heed of the others' deaths."

"I could be the first one, mother," Annabeth insisted. "No one thought I would be able to  recover your statue, but I did." She raised her eyebrows and gave her mother a pointed look.

Athena pursed her lips. "I regret that you have inherited my stubbornness too," she sighed. "If I can't dissuade you from using them, perhaps I can teach you how to..." she hesitated. "Control them."

Annabeth felt her eyes widen instantaneously. Her mind whirled with the possibilities. It was an added advantage to the demigods; small, but at least it was something. If she could scale up her powers — maybe with some invention — Hephaestus and Leo could help her with it —

"Don't get too ahead of yourself," Athena interrupted knowingly. Annabeth blushed lightly. "My main concern at the moment is keeping you alive. You can't save the world if you're dead, Annabeth."

She scanned the deck, eyeing the rest of the demigods warily. "Is there anywhere on the ship where your friends wouldn't be put in imminent danger?"

Annabeth swallowed back her disbelief. Powers, a new teacher, what was happening?

"Uh, yeah," she managed to stammer out. "The stables, I guess? No one goes down there." Discreetly, Annabeth clenched and unclenched her hands repeatedly. She could feel the urge to use her powers already.

"Well, I guess we have some work to do," Athena declared decisively.

^^^^^

It's gonna be fine. This is Frank; he's your best friend and you've known him for years.

Despite her mantra, Hazel still hesitated when she paused in front of his door. She tentatively rapped her knuckles on the door.

"Frank?" Hazel called uncertainly. She'd meant to confront him about his distance and weirdness around her recently. It had lapsed during the quest, but returned within the last few days, and she was frustrated beyond belief.

He wasn't telling her something, and Hazel was determined to figure it out.

"Frank?" she echoed. No reply. Again.

Assuming he was probably sleeping, Hazel took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

She'd been into his room loads of times, but there was something different about it. Frank usually left it in a fairly neat state, laundry tossed in a pile to one corner and weapons hanging on the wall.

This time, Frank seemed to have left in a hurry. His desk was scattered with stationery and papers. Blueprints, Hazel assumed, probably from Leo.

She turned to leave, but a flash of words in the corner of her eye caught her attention.

Slowly, the daughter of Pluto sidled up to the desk, her curiosity and confusion overcoming her reluctance. The slip of paper on the top of the pile had a scrawl of black ink.

'Frank's Proposal Speech', it read.

Her heart caught in her throat and the blood started to pound in her ears. Frank's Proposal Speech. An astonished gasp caught on her lips as it dawned on Hazel that that was why he'd seemed so faraway as of late.

She nearly choked out tears of relief that that was all it was.

Then Hazel realised that he'd meant to propose.

"Holy Hades," Hazel murmured. "Oh, Frank." She picked up the slip of paper with trembling hands.

The scrawl was Leo's handwriting, but Frank had written a few words beneath it in his neat script.

'My dearest Hazel' and 'I want to ask' had been crossed out, and the only remaining words were 'I love you'. Hazel allowed herself a small smile before she set down the piece of paper.

She didn't know what to think, really. This had taken her completely by surprise. Hazel was only 19, she hadn't expected to be engaged at such a young age. But Frank was her soulmate — she knew that much. He made her feel like they were the only people who mattered, and he'd always have her back. That was just who Frank was.

Hazel backed away from the desk as she hurried out of the room and slammed the door behind her. Closing her eyes, Hazel took a deep shuddering breath.

What was she going to do? Would Frank be mad at her for prying? What was she going to say to him now?

Hazel's gaze flickered to the steps. If Leo knew about Frank's plans, chances were that the others might too. Annabeth and Piper had proved time and time again that they were people she could rely on. They were her best friends, and their advice was always helpful.

Surely they could help her sort out the muddled mess that was her mind.

^^^^^

"My lord?"

The god of the Underworld turned around at the sound of Frank's voice. Hades had been sitting at the dining table in silence, staring out into the distance with sombre eyes.

"Frank?" Hades voiced in surprise.

Frank took a deep breath to calm himself as he approached Hazel's father. He hoped that his terror wasn't too obvious. And that Hades wouldn't smite him for this.

The god leaned back in his seat and regarded him scrutinisingly. "To what do I owe this pleasant visit?"

There was a short pause. "I'm going to ask your daughter to marry me," Frank blurted out. He immediately froze after the words left his mouth; he hadn't meant for it to be that blunt.

Fortunately, Hades didn't seem to be in a smiting mood, because his feature simply clouded with confusion. "And you're telling me this, why?"

Frank sighed. "It's traditional to ask for the father's blessing—"

Hades laughs. "My daughter can do whatever she wants."

Frank nodded. "Exactly. But you're family, and I thought you'd like to know anyway." He shuffled his feet. "And I...I suppose I've never known whether you approved of our relationship."

There was a scraping as Hades turned in his chair to face Frank. "I'm not like my siblings," Hades admitted. "I don't interfere with my children or who they choose to be with. That's their own choice." He shifted in his seat. "But you make Hazel the happiest I have ever seen her, and you treat her how she deserves. For that, you both have my blessing."

Frank let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. He wasn't asking for Hades' permission, but knowing that even a god thought they were a good match comforted him. This was becoming more of a reality now — if she said yes, they would get married.

Most people seemed to find marriage terrifying. For Frank, he'd never been more sure of anything in his entire life. Hazel was the person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with.

"You've been at Camp Half-Blood for the last few years," Hades said suddenly. "Right?"

Frank gave him a cautious look, unsure as to where he was going with this.

"The last I heard, Nico was with that Solace boy," Hades continued.

"Will and Nico," Frank nodded. "They're still together."

Hades gave him a faint smile. "I hoped so. They were good for each other." His face fell and a begrudging look overcame it instead. "I just wish he wasn't son of that godforsaken Apollo."

Frank chuckled. He tilted his head to the side. "You've been quiet since we got to the ship. We do have a chance against Pontus and Tartarus, you know?"

"Yes," Hades said, clasping his hands together. "I was thinking about Persephone." When he saw Frank's hesitance, Hades relented, "Yes, I have my dalliances with mortals, but my love for her will never falter. She is my wife, and the light of my life." He frowned. "I wish I could see her again. Five years has been far too long."

Frank looked at the god, who was so riddled with lovesickness and desperate to find the woman he loved. If that was Hazel in the same position, Frank knew that he'd want to take off at any moment to search for her.

"I have an idea," Frank said abruptly. "Wait here." Before Hades could object, Frank hurried up the stairs to the deck.

It took a few minutes to get everyone to the mess hall dining room for a meeting, but soon enough, they were all gathered around him.

"Sorry to disturb everyone," Frank apologises. "I know it's late and everyone's had a tiring day, but this is important." He looked from each of his friends to the next; Percy's eyelids were drooping sleepily, and Hazel wouldn't meet his eyes. Problems for another time.

"My lords and ladies," Frank addressed the four Olympians. "You have to leave, to search for the other gods." He ignored Athena's reserved frown. "You are good protection from our enemies," Frank admitted. "But the odds of us losing is already so high, and in the final battle, all of the Olympians have to be there if we even want a chance at winning this."

"We'll be leaving you to fend for yourselves," Hephaestus warned. 

Athena nodded in agreement. "From here you must journey back to camp, and since Pontus knows you are near success, he will throw everything he has to stop you."

Frank shrugged. "He would've anyway. We've come this far, I think we can handle it for a few more days." He swallowed nervously as Athena and Demeter exchanged furtive whispers, a rapid discussion within seconds.

Hades was itching to go, and when Frank caught his eye, the god gave him a reluctant but grateful nod.

"You're right," Demeter sighed. "We'll find the rest of our family, and we'll return to camp before the battle breaks out."

"We will not abandon the demigods this time," Athena assured them. "Olympian's honour." She gestured for them to shield their eyes. "Goodbye for now, then."

Only just turning away in time, Frank's eyelids fluttered close moments before a wave of heat ruffled his hair and made his body sway.  When he opened his eyes, the gods were gone.

They were on their own.