[ annabeth can feel her face soften despite herself. she does want a long life with percy, but she also wants to take it day by day, to take it slow, and actually have the time to appreciate it all. maybe they'll be allowed to sit out the next war. but claire's not wrong. what she has with him already is stronger than anything she ever thought possible for herself, given the trajectory of people who have or were supposed to love her in the past. ]

He's... my best friend. [ it feels too simple, just like calling him her boyfriend never feels like enough anymore. he's her friend and her family and he is everything to her; she doesn't regret saying so to her mother, no matter the reaction it helped her earn. ] We have each other's backs. We always have and always will. [ a beat. ] Wars and all.

[ then five years of hell momentarily makes her blanch, but she swoops the coffee to her lips to take a sip to deter it - and almost spits it back out as claire casually drops the time travel comment. but at least the thoughts of tartarus that threatened to break in are abated. she stares at the older woman for a moment, surprised but thoughtful. ]

Accidentally traveled through time? How does that happen by - accident? [ how does that happen at all should be the real question, but she supposes it's all tied together. she says portal, but that could mean anything. ] Did you trip or something? Like, is this a common problem where you're from?

[ she'll come back to frank and the decision to stay in a minute, but she wants to understand more about the how first. it's just how she is. ]