8/22/09-8/24/09

"Mommy, I'm bored!" Six-year-old Aelia Jackson whined. Her mother, Annabeth Chase- Jackson, bounced her three-month-old son, Andrew Cooper Apollo (Andy for short) and said,

"I'm sorry darling, Mommy's busy. Where are Selene and Charlie? Why don't you play with them?" Aelia scrunched up her nose and said,

"They're boring. All they do is play in the pool. Plus I can't do the things they can do in the water. It's not fair Mommy!" She pushed her lower lip out into the beginnings of a pout. Right before Annabeth could say anything, Baby Andy started crying. Annabeth, patting his back and bouncing him up and down, began to walk around the nursery. Aelia turned her back to Annabeth and began down the stairs. She stopped in the kitchen and picked up two sugar cookies. Just as she was putting one into her mouth, Annabeth called down,

"Don't eat those cookies. We're having dinner soon." Aelia grimaced and threw the cookies down on the plate. She wandered outside where her twin siblings were playing in the pool. They were throwing water at each other. It looked like they were done using their special water powers from Daddy and Grandpa Poseidon. Maybe she would go and join them. Just as she was pulling off her t-shirt that was over her bathing suit, Percy walked through the back gate.

"Daddy!" she cried and jumped into his arms. Percy smiled and said,

"Hello Princess. How was your day? Were you good for Mommy?"

"Yup, I colored you a picture and then I played in the pool with Selene and Charlie. Except they were using their stupid powers and I left. Mommy's upstairs playing with Andy." Percy nodded and took Aelia inside.

"Alright let's go see Mommy and get you four ready fro dinner. Okay?" The little blonde haired girl nodded in her dad's arms. Percy put her down on her feet and they raced upstairs. Aelia beat Percy to the nursery and they started laughing. Annabeth, having just gotten the baby down, shushed them with a good natured smile. The three of them began downstairs. Annabeth kissed Percy on the lips, prompting an, "Ewww!" from Aelia.

"Daddy!" Two voices blended together and two little kids barreled into Percy's knees. Percy knelt down and gave his son and daughter hugs.

"So what did my little fishes do today?" He asked with a laugh. Selene, the more outgoing of the two said,

"We went swimming. At first, Ellie came with us but then we started playing with the water and she left. Then Mommy came out with Andy but, Charlie splashed him accident'ly and he started to cry. So Mommy had to go inside with him." Percy and Annabeth laughed at her speed babbling.

"Mommy, what's for dinner?" Aelia and Charlie asked simultaneously.

"Your favorite, crab cakes with French fries!" Annabeth said. Her three children and Percy smiled.

"Now Ellie take Sel and Charlie upstairs to change out of their bathing suits so we can have dinner" The three kids ran up the stairs and came back down ten minutes later.

"Mom, Andy's crying in his room." Annabeth jumped up and ran to the nursery, coming down a few minutes later with the youngest member of the Jackson family in her arms. He giggled and waved his arms as soon as Percy came into his sight line. Annabeth passed him over and began to put food on everyone's plates. She finally sat down and looked at her family. Selena and Charlie were babbling in their own twin language. Percy was cutting up little pieces of crab cake for Aelia. Aelia was playing with Andy's chubby hands.

Life didn't get any better than this.