Annabeth POV-

"Ready to go?" I ask Percy and Estelle. They already said goodbye to their parents, which involved many "be safe", "I'll miss you so much",  "I expect a call every night from you" and many other endearing things.

Estelle nods eagerly in response to my question and wraps her arms around me. "I'm so excited, Annabeth! Thank you! Thank you for getting me a ticket!" She jumps up and down.

"Of course! Anything for my number one fan," I tell her, messing with her salt and pepper curls. She giggled and turned to Percy.

"Hear that? I'm number one, not you!" She stuck her tongue out at him. He laughed. Then, he scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the limo, tickling her the whole way. I watched as the siblings interacted. I never had that with my brothers. I wished I had the chance.

We took a seat in the limo, Percy next to me and Estelle sitting across from us, trying to clamber around to all the new fancy items.

"Estelle, you have to buckle in," Percy told her and strapped her seatbelt. But, I could also see his curiosity with everything too. He'd been in the limo only a couple other times, but I remembered how funny it was to watch him explore it:

•

"What's this?" He asked.

"That's a beverage dispenser."

"Ooh fancy. Does it do blue soda?"

"No."

"That's disappointing." Then his attention quickly changed.

"Those are to control seat heating and cooling. The buttons next to it are to control seat positioning."

"That's a TV."

"That's the remote to the TV."

"That's fancy speakers."

"Popcorn machine. For movies."

"Multicolored lights, Percy."

"Ooh! Make it blue!" So I did.

"Wireless phone charging station."

"Seaweed Brain, that's the window." I was practically gasping for air at that point. He was adorable when he got curious.

"Oh right, I knew that. Sorry."  I shook my head and told him to sit down. He flipped out the first time he heard Argus over the intercom. To say that it had been an experience would be an understatement. But it was perfect.

He was perfect.

•

"Where to next, Ms. Chase?" Argus asked through the intercom, interrupting my memory. It took me a second to bring myself back, but I told him where I needed to go to meet up with Vince.

We picked Vince up and he took the other seat across from us next to Estelle.

"Hi! I'm Estelle!"

Vince smiled. "Hi. I'm Vince."

They started chatting. I could tell they would get along fine for the rest of the trip, not that I had ever worried that they wouldn't. They were both too sweet to ever have any problems with anyone, really.

Percy grabs the remote and puts on The Little Mermaid.

"For Estelle," he claims. Sure.

Him and Estelle sing along to "Under the Sea" and Vince and I laugh.

"Mommy said that Percy used to always sing that song to me to try to get me to go to sleep when I was a baby and he was trying to help her and daddy out. With his awful voice, I'm not sure how I did. And how I didn't wake from nightmares."

Percy, being his mature self, stuck his tongue out at his sister. She returned the gesture. I laughed so hard that I couldn't breathe.

We arrived at our destination. I could barely get out of the limo before Magnus ran out to wrap me in a hug. We embraced for a long time and I won't deny that there were tears on both our faces. It was so good to see him again after so many years.

"I haven't seen you in so long. I've missed you," I told him.

"I've missed you too."

"Really? I couldn't tell by the way you ran out here. Seriously, Maggie, with that speed, you could be a track star."

"Ha ha." He wiped the tears from his face and smiled at me. I didn't even notice the person standing behind him. He followed my gaze.

"That's my friend, Alex." I could tell by the way they looked at each other that there were deeper feelings than just friendship, but I let that go.

"Hi, nice to meet you," I said.

"Same to you. Just so you're aware, my pronouns are she and her right now." I nodded.

I quickly introduced him to the others.

"Magnus, this is my boyfriend, Percy-"

"I'm Estelle!" She doesn't wait for my introduction of her. "I'm Annabeth's number one fan!"

Magnus and Alex laughed.

"I didn't think it was possible for a kid to be this cute," Alex said.

"Estelle's a little goddess, of course she's adorable," I responded. Magnus and Alex both laughed again.

"And our other friend is Vince. We were hoping that maybe he could stay here at the Chase Space for a while."

"Of course!" Magnus exclaimed. "Vince, when we go inside, I'll have Hearth and Blitz get you something to eat, then we'll get you an official room here. How does that sound?"

"Really? My own room?"

"Yep. Comes with everything you could want, bed, closet, dresser. It even has a TV!" Alex said encouragingly.

"Thank you," Vince said.

"Of course."

Argus opened the trunk for us to grab our luggage out. I carried my many bags, prepared with everything for showtime and the days I'd be staying here. Except my performance makeup, that came with Silena and the rest of my makeup crew on the day of the show. Magnus gently picked up my performance outfit, still in the gown bag.

"Thank you, Magnus."

"Not an issue. I can carry a dress. Do you want me to take a suitcase of you as well."

"'No, I'm good. And that's not the only thing I'm thanking you for. Thanks for letting me stay here."

"You're family Annabeth. And, according to Uncle Randolph's will, part owner of this place. It would be awful of me to tell you no."

"You don't understand. If I wasn't going to be able to stay with you, I couldn't have brought Percy and Estelle. They would've had to pay for the hotel room, because there's no way my parents would be willing. They don't like Percy too much. Well, Helen doesn't. Because she likes Luke. And also, I couldn't stand staying in a hotel with them. Hallelujah they're not staying here. I finally have a bit of freedom."

He pulled me in for a hug with one arm, the other holding my dress.

"I also want to thank you for taking in Vince. He's so sweet and he deserves a good place."

"It's my job, Annabeth. Of course I'd let him stay. Now, I want to give you a grand tour of our new and improved Chase Space!"

I followed him into the mansion, walking next to Percy. Vince was walking next to Alex, who was going to take him to Blitz and Hearth. Magnus had told me about the two of them and how much they had helped him and how he was probably only alive because of them and a girl named Sam. I would need to give them a hug and a thank you when I saw them.

Percy certainly had his hands full. He dragged his and Estelle's suitcases and at the same time, was giving Estelle a piggy back ride into the house. I assumed he would give the piggy back ride all through the tour too, without complaint. He was the sweetest boy in the world.

Yay! I updated again!

Hope you all enjoyed!

And guess what, guys?

I did a double update.

That's right, those of you who actually read this...

The next chapter is available, so you can keep scrolling or swiping or whatever you do.

Enjoy!