Chapter 18

"Honestly, I'm really glad that you helped my mom." Percy said, keeping his phone close to his ear as he walked into the apartment building."Percy, I did what I had to do." Annabeth replied over the phone. "I couldn't let you, or your mom, keep suffering. I'm glad things have been better ever since he left."Percy smiled as he made his way up the stairs in the building.

"Still, you're really amazing Annabeth. It's even more amazing that your plan worked. I mean, I think you gave my mom the courage she really needed to finally get rid of Gabe." Percy said."... Your mom has always been brave and courageous, she just needed someone to bring that out, she needed someone to tell her that she could do it." Annabeth stated. Percy couldn't stop smiling, feeling himself falling more and more for Annabeth.

"Oh! My mom wants to know what your favorite dessert is. She wants us to make it as a thank you for helping us out." Percy said, getting to the floor of where his apartment was. "Soo?" Annabeth hummed for a moment as Percy made his way to his apartment and he got the keys out of his pocket. "My favourite dessert? I think it's gotta be...brownies!" Annabeth exclaimed.

"... Any chance we can make the brownies blue...?" "You're a dork, Percy. Please do not try to make the brownies blue." "Haha, okay, okay! I'll get you the brownies sometime soon. I'm home now, so I'll call you later?" "Mmhmm, yeah, talk to you later, Percy." "Bye."

Annabeth hung up and Percy put his phone away into his pocket, unlocking the front door and entering the apartment. "Mom! I'm home!" Percy called. Percy shut and locked the door behind him and he took off his shoes.

Percy made his way towards the living room and he slung his bag off from his shoulder and onto the floor. "So-" Percy began. Percy blinked as he saw his mother and a man he had never seen before sat on the couch. "... Erm, hi?" Percy smiled.

Sally cleared her throat as she got up from the couch. "Percy, this is your uncle. From your dad's side." Sally said, introducing the two. "Hades, this is your nephew, my son, Percy." Hades stood up and he looked at Percy, giving him a small smile.

Percy didn't get exactly bad vibes from this man, more... awkward vibes. "My uncle?" Percy raised his eyebrows. "Erm, nice to meet you, I guess?" Hades cleared his throat. "Yes, uhm... very nice to meet you too." Hades said.

Percy looked to his mother. "So, what's happening here?" Percy asked. "Well... you have a cousin, Hades' son. He's three years younger than you and, well, apparently he lost his mother at a young age and just a year ago, Nico lost his sister." Sally explained. Percy glanced at Hades. He looked a little upset, which was understandable.

"So, Hades reached out to me once he found out that Nico has a cousin. He wants Nico to be in contact with as much family as he could. I was just discussing things with him, and I was just saying that it depended on if you wanted to also be in touch with your other family too."

Percy and his mother held eye contact. Percy then looked to Hades and Hades met Percy's gaze. "My son has some trouble making friends. He only really has one real friend, and I think he'd really love if he knew and met his cousin." Hades said. "But if you are uncomfortable, for whatever reason, then it is fine. I won't force you." Percy stayed silent for a moment.

"Y'know what? Sure." Percy shrugged. "I can meet this Nico! I mean, he's eleven and has been through quite a bit already? I'd love to be there for him." Percy smiled at his uncle and looked to his mother. "So, when can I meet him?"

Hades and Sally looked at each other. "Sometime next week?" Hades questioned. "We can talk more about it on the phone." Sally smiled at Hades. "I think you should head back home now, get back to your son." Hades nodded and he turned to face Percy. "Thank you. Nico is... he's going to be happy about this." Hades smiled at Percy. Percy smiled back at Hades and nodded, "Yeah, of course. Let him know I'm excited to meet him."

"Mom, I'll go to my room now. Let me know when dinner will be ready." Percy said, looking at his mother. "Oh, and Annabeth said that her favourite dessert is brownies, so we can make them soon for her as a thank you." Sally smiled and nodded. "Alright, on you go then." Sally said. Percy turned around and he walked off, leaving the living room and hearing his uncle and mother chatting a bit more, wrapping things up before Hades left.

Well, Percy wasn't sure how to feel about this new information. Percy wasn't sure how to feel about his uncle. But Percy was sort of looking forward to meeting this Nico. Nico seemed to live a rough life too, and maybe Percy could become a big help for him.

*****

Percy was messaging Annabeth and Grover. They created a group chat, since Percy always had some sort of information to give both of them, and it allowed Annabeth and Grover to get each other's numbers too.

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Perseus💙:Soo, yeah! I have an uncle and a cousin who I've never met before because they're from my dad's side of the family!

Grover💚:That is insane. I mean, he just all of a sudden came into your life??

Annie🧡:Yeah, right after your step-dad is finally out of your life too?? The Fates are either punishing you again or finally giving you something good in your life

Perseus💙:Annie, bro, are you telling me that you and Grover and my mom are not a thing that's good in my life??? I am soo hurt </3

Grover💚:Yeah Annie, what the hell?? 🙁🙁🙁

Grover💚:We're not good for Percy????

Annie🧡:Oh shush, both of you. You know what I mean! Obviously, Percy, you have a good couple of people in your life like us and your mom 🙄

Perseus💙:Haha, it's fun to mess with you, especially when Grover is on my side :)

Annie🧡:I don't like it

Grover💚:Annabeth, we can mess with Percy if you really want one day. We can talk about it in more detail between us :)

Annie🧡:Grover, you are amazing, ily (platonically ofc), we are definitely going to plot something!

Grover💚:Hehe, ily platonically too Annie :))

Perseus💙:Wtf???

Perseus💙:Since when are you two so close??? 🙁

Grover💚:... Jealous, Percy?

Annie🧡:You feeling left out because we didn't tell you that we loved you too??

Perseus💙:pls stop it, this isn't fun anymore

Grover💚:Percy, we didn't tell you we loved you bc the truth is...

Annie🧡:we secretly hate you

Perseus💙:WHY ARE YOU FINISHING EACH OTHER'S SENTENCES??? WHAT IS THIS?? I DON'T LIKE THIS ALLIANCE???????

Perseus💙:And that is not true. Grover loves me bc I give him my food whenever I don't want it

Grover💚:... true, actually

Annie🧡:Uh-huh, and what about me?

Perseus💙:You love me for my charming good looks ;)

Grover💚:STOP FLIRTING IN FRONT OF ME???

Annie🧡:...

Annie🧡:Bye Grover, ly x

Annie🧡:Goodbye Jackson.

Annie🧡 went offline

Grover💚:Ruh-roh, she said Jackson and used a period

Perseus💙:Dude, you did not just say ruh-roh like Scooby Doo 🙁

Grover💚:I did. This is who I am, Percy. Accept me :)

Perseus💙:... Goodbye Grover :)

Perseus💙 went offline

Grover💚:I guess Percy won't accept me for who I am, this feels great. Love this. Such a great best friend

Grover💚:Well, I have no need to stay online now-

Grover💚 went offline

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Word count: 1356