Thalia Grace

Even after the others left the house, I wasn't sure if I was doing this because I actually thought Frederick Chase would like the warning, or if it was because I knew that the longer I was here, the longer it would be until I had to face Annabeth.

"Is everything alright?" Frederick asked me, a question so vague I couldn't even provide a good answer.

"I..." But as I looked around the Chase residence, something hits my chest that I don't know how to respond to. I could feel my eyes begin to water, and there were so many reasons that it could be for that I couldn't identify which one it was. "for now."

I'm not ready to face Annabeth.

"I, um... I imagine that Annabeth will go back to New York with the party." I began, which I think we told him earlier, but it felt like a good lead in. "I know she was invited to Percy's mom's anniversary reception thing. She's really excited, last I saw her, but..."

I lost my voice.

"I've known Annabeth since she was a little girl- Luke and I found her hidden in an alley with this frying pan as big as she was for her weapon of choice, and... admittedly, I had wanted to bring her to child protective services at first, but Luke promised that she could travel with us, and I mean thank the gods. We we're like... We were a family."

I paused, crossing my arms at a desperate attempt to keep myself composed. Mr. Chase simply listened and looked at me attentively.

I wonder how much Annabeth told him about us.

"And then... Well, I was turned into a tree and in a coma for years, but Luke and Annnabeth were still close." I reasoned aloud. "But now... I've tried to be as close to Annabeth and as caring as I could be ever since coming back, but the next time you see her it won't... Won't be the same. Anymore."

Softly, Frederick set down the mug he'd had in his hands. "Why not?"

"Our family is falling apart and I'm not... Ready for it." I admitted, feeling the tears well. "Gods know Luke isn't ready for it- losing his baby sister, but things have come to the surface this week that drove Annabeth to choose that for herself and while I... I get it, she is her mother's daughter after all and that has a lot to do with it, it's still hard and I just... Want you to know that when she comes next, if this seem off, it's because they are. Because I think she feels like Luke and I are turning on her or stabbing her in the back when this has nothing to do with her, like... It's bigger than that. I just want you to know that she's going to need you more, even though she hates admitting that she needs anyone."

I paused.

"That being said, I'm not going back with the party," I elaborated. "I'll be going back to New York on the solstice, but I have way to much paperwork to look at for inheritance and whatever else in Pasadena, and Luke will be with me, so if you want to meet him or if you have any questions for either of us at any point in time about Annabeth, don't be afraid to send an IM."

"I... I'm sorry, Thalia," Frederick Chase apologized, placing a hand on my shoulder for comfort. "I'd love to meet Luke- we would certainly have you over for dinner tonight. I think the twins will have a million questions for both of you. Can I ask what... Why this is happening?"

I shrugged.

"Political differences, more or less," I reasoned. "stuff to do with how camp is operated and some of the laws and whatever else that the gods made themselves to basically allow themselves to be shitty parents, but... Sorry, I know you loved Athena, but I don't know how you feel about her as a parent."

His lips tightened into a smile.

"I fear we don't have time to unpack that right now- let's discuss it over dinner." He insisted, handing me a business card. "I know you can't use phones, but my office address and email are on there as well in case you want to get in touch after today. You shouldn't keep the others waiting much longer, though- tell her I say hi."

Nodding, I promised I would before putting my boots back on and taking an extra breath, stepping outside to see four dumbasses with three pegasi- something that wasn't reassuring for my fear of heights.

But your dad is Zeus! Yeah and he sucks, shut up.

"Everything okay?" Percy asked as if he's not the one still wearing a bracelet from his luxury excursion to the mental hospital.

I nodded.

"It's not like putting it off will make it any better." I responded. "Can I ask where the Pegasi came from?"

The white one near Phoebe huffed. Percy's and Grover's eyes widened.

"They haven't been at camp for that long, Guido," Percy responded, I think to the horse, which made me question how much sleep he got last night. "sorry, he can't believe you didn't recognize him. Guido and the brown one, Porkie, are from Camp Half Blood. Blackjack was on a, uh, cruise ship that I went on over fall break and I guess he really likes the sugar cubes I gave him there because he's calling me his boss now. He's been hanging out at camp as well, apparently convinced the other two to follow us here. I whistled and they showed up."

How many animals are on the Princess Andromeda?

"And you knew they were there?"

"Oh, no, he was hoping to summon Cerberus or another tamed hellhound from the Underworld with the dog toy he picked up from the yard," Grover told me, which seemed like a far fetched idea at best. "Cerberus really likes red rubber balls, and he can teleport, so..."

I gave him a questionable look.

"Hey, I wasn't opposed to stealing another car," the son of Poseidon defended himself. "But the ball was right there so I thought it was worth a shot. Is it that hard to believe that crime isn't my first thought?"

"Yes." I said as a half joke.

"Yeah, alright, then you might have to take a look in the mirror in Pasadena," Percy insisted, helping his boyfriend onto the winged horse with him. "because last I checked, you hotwired that car- not me."

"You hotwired that car, not me," I mocked Percy. "Maybe it's because I'd prefer speeding on ground rather than in the air. I thought you weren't supposed to fly like, at all?"

"I mean, we're riding pegasi, so it's like probably neutral." Percy reasoned with me. "Horses are Poseidon's thing, flying is your dad's thing, so... Plus, it's like 2 miles. We're not flying across the country or even across county lines. What's the worst that happens? I die? We should get going."

Taking a breath, I gave Guido a stern look that he hopefully understood to mean don't let me fall and die when we're in the sky before mounting the pegasus.

If I can just focus on my breathing it'll be okay.

It's okay, Thalia, Annabeth's voice popped into my mind, but her voice when she was little and we hadn't know each other very long. Just breathe and it'll be okay.

In my gut, I knew that that wasn't the case. I knew that once Guido got into the air, he wouldn't let me fall to my death, but he would bring me to a moment that's going to fundementelly change my life and my relationships with people that I care about.

Realistically, though, I knew that even if I refused to go, it wouldn't do anything- this is something that was always going to happen.

And lives are on the line. This is more than just me. It always has been.

So, knowing the outcome, knowing that I might cry myself to sleep in an empty mansion tonight, I got on Guido's back and held tight to his reins, preemptively apologizing as we took off towards the mountains on the other side of the city.

•••
Baby chapter to get back into it but hiiiiiiii guys I'm alive I'm just drawing a LOT and haven't had a ton of writing motivation but you best be prepared with a box of tissues for next chapter.

Anyways shameless plug for my art Instagram @ achillesandanarchy.png, currently working on drawing a bunch of the gods and such: