114 || Annabeth Chase
I wrote this monstrosity (it’s quite long) as a gift to myself and to the fictional Annabeth Chase, whom I love, adore, cherish and will forever cry about to sleep. I love her so much you have NO idea Happy birthday, my forever girl. ;_;
Also, I’m aware the years are different from the ones in the wiki—but I’m starting from her canon birth year, 1992, and working my way up. PS. Percabeth pretty much takes over a little later in the story, so watch out!
July 12, 1992 || 21:38:15
Frederick Chase wiped a sleeve across his sweaty forehead, smearing engine oil across his face. He was almost done with his first model of the Avro Lancaster and was extremely ecstatic as he wiped down the plane’s propeller with the aforementioned sleeve. As he blew dust off the body and was just about to attach the external wings, the doorbell of his stingy one bedroom apartment echoed across the walls. Startled, he dropped the part and cursed as he made his way out the door and down to the lobby of the complex.
The cool night air fogged up his glasses—but no fog could distort the image of a baby wrapped snugly in a shining basket by his feet. With trembling fingers, he wiped his lenses against his worn jeans and took the basket by its handle. Frederick gently uncovered the baby’s face with fear and contempt, and his suspicions were proved when a beautiful fair haired baby stared up at him with the most startling grey eyes he had only ever seen on one person before. He was frozen in place—the captivating eyes and immense shock were the only things preventing him from dropping the baby.
“Athena,” he whispered hoarsely. He knew it had to be hers. His knowledge in biology was sufficient enough to know that babies’ eyes only opened after weeks—this baby, however… This baby was special because its mother was special. Its eyes were open, and he could already feel its strength beneath the cloths. It could only be hers.
My gift. A testimony of our love.
A familiar voice sounded in his thoughts.
“A… gift?” A cool wind ruffled his hair, and he heard a soft hum by his ear. “Athena—I can’t take her.“
Immediately, a voice in his head insisted that he had no choice.
“I’ve barely started my career…” He argued without purpose. “I- I… I… This is a baby. A human, breathing, live, infant. Not a gift.”
Frederick’s fingers shook as the voice in his head argued with his thoughts. They told him that mortals must take care of their children. There was no other option.
“Athena…” He tried again. “I can’t. I can’t. I don’t even know how to change a diaper. How do I feed her? My bank account is empty. How will I work?“
You’ll figure it out, the voice said. Athena only chooses the capable ones, after all.
“I…” Frederick attempted again, but he felt a small hand wrap around the pointer that held up the hood of the baby’s blanket. It had grabbed his finger, and the grey eyes began to stir something deep within his heart. “I…”
She has nowhere else to go, Frederick.
The voice materialised in his head, and a flood of memories—libraries, university tours, and lectures—flushed his cheeks and ignited his passion. He looked at the baby—at the baby girl in the basket and felt a heartstring ring.
With a sad smile, Frederick Chase watched the baby girl yawn in the golden basket.
“Okay,” he finally replied. “I’ll do it for her,” he whispered as he shut the complex door with a toe. He picked up the baby and held her in his arms, eyes tearing up as he watched the infant squirm and settle in for a nap. Instantly, he regretted his earlier thoughts—he couldn’t take his eyes off her. It was like love at tenth sight.
“I’m going to do it for her. For my Annabeth.“
July 12, 1999 || 00:07:33
Annabeth has long since learned how to keep secrets. This night, however, was the biggest secret she’s ever kept.
Just as her daddy kissed her forehead, greeted her a happy seventh birthday and twisted on the night light, she stumbled off her bed with quick movements and reached under her mattress for her favourite backpack. Grabbing the flashlight from her drawer, she double checked the things inside the bag, making sure everything was there, but with panicked haste. The spiders were going to come soon.
Holding in her tears as the first dribble of insects came crawling out of her closet, she shook the cobwebs off her belongings inside the bag and zipped it tight when her dad’s hammer, her favourite socks, a pyjama top (in case she got sleepy), Mr. Totle (her stuffed bear, named after Aristotle), three packs of biscuits and two juice boxes she’s been saving from her lunch in school, her pencil and notebook, were safely in the backpack. She also had a blunt kitchen knife in her pocket that she was too terrified to use.
Annabeth got her desk chair and propped it against her wall, climbing on it to open her bedroom window. She poked her head out of the sill and was proud of the fire escape stairs that just so happened to be right by her room.
Exhaling deeply, Annabeth looked at her closed bedroom door and wiped tears from her eyes. “I’ll miss you, Bobby and Matthew,” she whispered, wiping the snot dripping from her nose. The spiders were already filling up her wall. “I’m sorry for the monsters. They won’t hurt you no more.”
“I love you, daddy.” Was the last thing she said before she climbed out the window and ran away for and from a family who didn’t love her back.
July 12, 2000 || 16:25:09
“Right,” Annabeth grinned, licking a fresh strawberry popsicle clean off its stick. With her two front teeth missing, it was an incredibly cute sight. “So he told me that ‘oh no little girl, you’re so small, I can beat you!’ but then I was the one who beat him up!”
Her eyes brightened and she pat her bronze dagger, now strategically placed on a scabbard by her belt. “Being small is great, right, Thalia?”
Annabeth stared up at the big pine, rubbing a tear off her cheek with an arm. She hugged the tree’s trunk—or whatever part she could grab onto— and gave it a kiss.
“Anyways,” she snivelled. “I’m eight today. You said you were gonna see me turn eight, so here I am!“
Out of the blue, a teenage blonde came up from behind the tree and rushed to wrap both the tree and Annabeth in his eager reach. Although she had already cried just moments before, Annabeth suddenly began to bawl in the company of her two best friends. Even if one of them was a tree.
Even if she did wonder how everything was going back in her mortal family, she had to admit that being crushed between Luke and Thalia was enough for her. She had gotten what she wished for on her last birthday—she now had the best, broken family (who loved her back) that she could hope for.
July 12, 2002 || 11:10:55
“You didn’t think we’d forget, did you?” Chiron smiled, grabbing a little Annabeth by the waist and settling her on his lower half. They galloped across the camp until they were in front of the big house.
“I just thought you had more important things to worry about,” she admitted, arms wrapped around Chiron’s torso. “What with all these quests and stuff.”
The centaur shrunk back into his wheelchair and opened the door to the blue building, revealing a small birthday party with her fellow Athena campers and Luke right in the middle. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” They chanted, and Annabeth felt her heart turn to absolute mush. There was no other explanation.
As they wore party hats and gave out nachos, Annabeth was passed around from camper to camper, head being pat and hair being combed by campers she had looked up to and friends she enjoyed battling. They all clearly adored her, and it glued a piece of Annabeth back together. As the afternoon passed and duties resumed, she found herself falling asleep on the porch of the Big House, leaning against Chiron in his centaur form.
She was happy—but even through that, there was just something missing. Nevertheless, it was her very first birthday party.
“Thanks for everything,” she said sleepily, eyes drooping closed. “I had fun.“
“Annabeth,” Chiron whispered fondly, giving the top of her head a small kiss. “You will always be welcome.”
July 12, 2004 || 14:17:49
“What do you mean I can’t take the quest?” Annabeth’s shrill voice echoed through the meeting hall. Her glare was enough to scare the wits out of any camper—however, Chiron had grown immune to it.
“It is not your time,” he replied patiently. “There will come others—"
“I’ve been in camp for five years! Everyone, even the newbies have gotten quests, but I can’t get one?“
“I’ve told you before— the great prophecy—”
“And has the one arrived? Does that mean I’m never gonna get a quest?” Annabeth’s voice silenced the meeting of the cabin counsellors. She was the youngest in the group. “I’m never gonna get one, aren’t I?” It was more of a statement than a question. It was too bad Luke wasn’t here—if he were, he would’ve taken her side immediately.
When no one replied, Annabeth stood up quietly and trudged out of the room. She wiped a tear off her cheek.
A happy birthday to her, then.
July 12, 2005 || 18:32:11
“Stop looking so smug, Seaweed Brain,” Annabeth pouted, feeling her heart beat a thousand miles per minute. “No need to get your empty head even bigger.“
“Just ‘cause I’m in the best mood ever, I won’t even ask you to stop calling me that,” Percy replied. As always, his green eyes and disgusting smile made her head go flip flop—which was honestly a very new experience. She didn’t like to dwell on it.
“Boys and their egos,” she said with a sigh. Annabeth rolled her eyes and continued pushing the bead through the hemp. Her fingers were unusually sweaty.
“Hey Wise Girl,” Percy said. He nudged her with his elbow.
“You know that doesn’t even insult me, right?” she laughed. “Me being wise is a compliment. You’re terrible at this.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know, but—” he waved her off. “Why didn’t you tell me today was your birthday?“
Annabeth’s cheeks turned a bright red just as the bead finally slipped through the hemp necklace. She hurriedly tied the knot and held it tightly in her hands.
“Because it’s not important,” she retorted, trying to flash him her best look of death. “Besides—we finished a quest and you have your symbol on a bead! Isn’t that enough to celebrate?”
“I still think they should’ve put like… an owl and horns or something,” Percy grimaced. “Couldn’t have done anything without you after all… and, okay, so maybe Grover helped a little, too.”
If it was possible to blush harder while forcing a laugh, Annabeth did.
“And mom always tells me that birthdays have to be celebrated,” Percy smiled. “You’re a year older! It’s a big thing.”
He bowed his head towards her—a gesture showing her that he was ready to be beaded. With nervous hands, Annabeth slid the necklace around Percy’s abnormally large head and around his neck. His first bead. And she got to bead him.
“Thanks,” he replied with a smirk. He nudged her again. “And happy birthday. Why don’t I get you something from the store?“
“Like what?” she managed.
“I don’t know,” he grinned lopsidedly. “Maybe something blue?”
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AH! Reblogging because it's that time of year again!
