Chapter 1

Annabeth

"Annabeth, come on. It's not that desperate of a situation." Piper said, picking up a fry and dipping it in ketchup.

"Easy for you to say, you have a steady income." Annabeth rolled her eyes, taking a sip of water. They were sitting at JG Melon on the Upper East Side, gouging themselves in greasy food and trashy tablecloths.

"You lost your job, not your life." Piper said, giving Annabeth a look.

"First of all," Annabeth started in between fries, "It was a paid internship, not a job, and second, I walked out because the guy was a dick."

"Okay, well, you just need to look at this as an opportunity." Piper suggested. "You're still going to grad school at Columbia, you're still going to get your degree, so who cares what some uptight CEO was like, okay?"

Annabeth sighed, and straightened her shirt. "You're right. I could get another internship, or a job."

Piper nodded. "Exactly. Jason actually has a friend, he's our age but super successful. His dad owns some international corporation, and the guy, Percy, manages the American side."
Annabeth frowned. "I hate those kinds of businesses, you know that."

"Not exactly what I meant." Piper gave her a wary look, which was never good.

Annabeth sighed. "What did you mean?"

"He has a five year old kid. His wife owns a gallery in West Chelsea, so she's out of the house more than he is." Annabeth opened her mouth to protest, but Piper held up a hand. "Just hear me out. The kid, a little girl, is super cute. Her name is Grace. You'd love her. Their current nanny is moving back to the West Coast after she finishes the summer out."

"I hate kids." Annabeth said, finishing off the last of their fries.

"Annabeth, no you don't." Piper said, rolling her eyes. "At least think about it, please. They're nice people."

Annabeth didn't say anything, just pulled out her debit and paid for her half of the food.

-0-

Annabeth groaned, tempted to throw her computer out the window. She was currently sitting in her 2,000 dollar a month studio in Soho that she wasn't going to be able to afford pretty soon if she didn't find a stupid job.

The thought of the nannying job had crossed her mind too many times.

You're a working woman, part of her argued. The other part just kept thinking, 70,000 a year!

Annabeth groaned again, throwing her head back against her couch. There was nothing available out there since she was so late to the game. Graduate school at Columbia started back up in less than two weeks and she hadn't made her second payment yet. Most college level jobs had already been snatched up at this point, and she was either underqualified for everything or it was totally beneath her. Plus, she had to afford school and have time for it all at the same time.

Nanny! That stupid voice said.

Unfortunately, it won. Less than five minutes later, she was on the phone with Piper.

"So, listen." Annabeth started. "I've been thinking about that nannying gig, and I think I'd like to take it. I mean, an interview obviously."

"Eek!" Piper squeaked through the phone, and Annabeth winced, pulling her plaid blanket closer. "Percy and Rachel are going to be thrilled. I'll send you their number now."

"Okay, thanks. See you Saturday." Annabeth said, feeling the slight buzz of a text on her ear.

"Yep, love you."

"Love you too." Annabeth said, hanging up and staring at the number. A few texts and exclamation points later, Annabeth had an interview set up with Rachel and Percy Jackson.

-0-

Coffee at ten on Sunday, gods what was Annabeth thinking. In what world could she swing drinks at ten on Saturday at a club in a skimpy dress into coffee exactly twelve hours later in casual business clothes.

She hopped on the 4 and headed uptown to the Upper East Side, praying that she could walk fast enough in black heels to get their on time.

Annabeth got off at 77th, secured her bag, and checked her watch. Six minutes until she was late, one minute until her preferred time of arrival. Adjusting her sunglasses to try to hide her baggy eyes, she headed over to Joe Coffee.

She spotted the two sitting outside almost immediately. They were pretty hard to miss. Bright green eyes, and Rachel's hair was just as wild as Piper had described it.

Annabeth straightened her back, and walked over to them, trying to look professional.

"Hi." She said in her classic, I'm classy, positive, strong, and sexy all wrapped into one voice.

"Hey!" The guy - Percy - said smiling and standing up to shake her hand. For a second, Annabeth was stunned. His eyes… they were gorgeous. Deep green with flecks of gold, calming like the ocean. "You must be Annabeth Chase, Piper's friend."

His voice shook Annabeth out of her daydream. "Uh, yeah, nice to meet you guys." Great, Annabeth, nice start.

"Rachel, hi." The red head stood up, shaking Annabeth's hand. "Nice to meet you too."

"Please, sit down." Percy said. Gods, he was attractive. "So, tell us about yourself, where you went to school, grew up. Oh, and that cappucino's for you."

"Oh, thanks." Annabeth said, smiling slightly. "Yeah, so I grew up in San Francisco, my dad was a professor, my stepmom was an accountant. I decided to move to New York for school to study architecture, so I got into Columbia. Graduated four years ago, and I started graduate school two years ago, part time."

"Wait, you went to Columbia?" Percy asked.

"Yeah," Annabeth laughed nervously.

"That's so crazy, same. Graduated 2013, though." Percy said. "Anyways, what are you studying?"

"Architecture." Annabeth answered, sitting up a little straighter. At least that was something to be proud about.

"Oh, wow, that's so neat." Rachel spoke up. "Our daughter will love that, she's very into art and drawings."

Percy grinned. "I'm very outnumbered at the house."

Annabeth chuckled. "Trust me, I know the feeling."

"So," Rachel said. "Why do you want the job?"

Annabeth took a deep breath. "Look, I'm going to cut the bullshit. I quit my amazing internship and can't find another one. I'm sure Piper already told you. It's not that I've always dreamed of being a nanny. But, I would be good at it. I'm firm and organized and extremely responsible. I've always been mature for my age, and I practically raised my little brothers."

Percy and Rachel exchanged a look, and Annabeth watched Rachel give her husband a slight nod. "Okay, you're hired." Percy said.

Annabeth tried not to laugh. "Really? I mean, you don't have any other candidates, or…"

"Do you not want the job?" Rachel asked with a smile.

"No!" Annabeth said. "No, I mean, of course not."

"Good." She said. "So, if you can come over at nine tomorrow, I'll be home in the morning and we can chat some more, and get you acquainted with Grace. If everything goes well, you can start on Tuesday."

"Yeah, sounds great!" Annabeth said, standing up and shaking their hands again as they exchanged numbers. "See you tomorrow."

They waved goodbye, and Annabeth went back underground, in a much better mood than before.

-0-

Monday rolled around, and Annabeth was feeling a lot better in life. If there was one thing Annabeth hated more than anything it was the feeling of insecurity in her world. Tight on money, behind in school work. Everything in Annabeth's life needed to be in order.

She made her way up to the top floor of their high rise on Park and 72nd. The building was absolutely gorgeous, and Annabeth was sure their penthouse was even more beautiful.

The elevator dinged, Annabeth straightened her blouse, and was greeted by a cute little girl with raven curly hair and bright green eyes.

"Hi!" She bubbled, reaching up to Annabeth.

Annabeth reached down and scooped the child into her arms. "You must be Grace, right?"

"Yep." Grace smiled, showing off a missing front tooth. "Annabeth?"
"Yeah, that's me." Annabeth said, holding back a laugh.

"I see you've already met Annabeth." Percy said, coming out of a room on the right side laughing. Grace reached for her dad, and Annabeth passed her over.

"I'm five." Grace said, holding up five fingers for Annabeth to see.

"You are?" Annabeth said. "That is so cool." She looked up at Percy, who was laughing, but they locked eyes and froze.

Rachel's heels came clicking out of the direction Percy came from, and the two of them cleared their throats, blushing. "Everything alright out here?" Rachel asked.

Luckily, Grace responded. "Yep! I was telling Annabeth how I just turned five."

Rachel laughed. "Yes, she is very excited." She kissed Grace on the cheek. "Aren't we baby girl." Grace giggled, like it was the funniest thing, and Annabeth couldn't help but laugh along with her. She really was the cutest thing.

"Okay, I gotta go lovebug, but I'll call you this afternoon." Percy said, kissing her curls.

"Okay." Grace said, hopping down and moving on to her mom. "Love you."

"Love you too." He said, ruffling her curls. "Love you." He whispered quietly to Rachel, pecking her on the lips. "Have a good day." He said turning to Annabeth, smiling, and stepping in the elevator.

"Okay!" Rachel said, dusting off her hands and picking up Grace. "Should we give Annabeth a tour?"

"Yeah!" Grace said, pumping her little fist in the air.

"Okay, let's go." Rachel said, turning to face the living room. For the first time that morning, Annabeth could appreciate the beauty of the place. The living room had floor to ceiling windows with a perfect view of Central Park and the skyline beyond it. "So this is the parlor. We usually just host in here, or anywhere downstairs really."

Rachel led her across their open floor plan, showing her the twelve seater dining table, huge white kitchen. Everything was white, with accents of crazy art that Rachel had picked out through the years. There was a guest bedroom downstairs, where Annabeth would stay if she needed to stay over at any point.

"Okay, so upstairs." Rachel said.

"My room!" Grace said with glee. "It's purple."

"The best color." Annabeth said, smiling at her.

"There are two staircases, one through the kitchen and the spiral one that leads to the living room. The spiral one goes straight to the hallway that has our master in it, so you won't really ever need to use that one. There's a door that connects the master to our other upstairs, but it's easier access through the kitchen."

Annabeth nodded, soaking it all in as Rachel led her through. "This is Grace's room, first one on the left."

"Can I show Annabeth my doll?" Grace asked.

"Maybe later." Rachel said, and moved on to the next door. "This is the movie theater. Grace is allowed one hour of screen time a day, and half an hour on school days."

"That's my couch, over there." Grace pointed out a couch in the back that had a bunch of stuffed animals on it and blankets.

"Yeah?" Annabeth said, and Rachel smiled at Annabeth.

"She won't sit on any other one." Rachel laughed, leading Annabeth into another room. "This is the exercise room. Feel free to use whenever, Gracie loves to work out with us so she will gladly come in with you. And this is the last room, it's empty for now, but hopefully we'll have a little crib in there soon." Rachel said, blushing slightly.

"You guys are trying?" Annabeth asked.

"Yeah, we are." Rachel said. "Hopefully."

"That's great." Annabeth said, smiling at Grace who was making a silly face at her.

"Okay, so that is the tour. Let's go downstairs and talk logistics." Rachel said, and thank god Rachel was here because Annabeth never would have found her way back downstairs.

"So it will normally be a 7-5 job. Get here at seven, Percy and I will leave for work, and then Grace's kindergarten starts at 9 and goes until 1. You'll have chores to do during that time, like the store, or projects around the house, picking up the dry cleaning, all that stuff. Then, Grace will have her own chores she needs to do immediately when she gets home. After chores comes snack. Then you guys can hang out here, go for a walk, whatever. We'll get you a debit card for all this, I already have one in the works, it should be here by Wednesday."

"Okay, sounds good." Annabeth said, trying to soak it all in.

"Sorry, that was a lot of info at once." Rachel said, laughing. Grace was opening up a cabinet below, and Rachel noticed fast. "Grace, no." She sighed, picking the little girl back up again. "She's learned how to open the child safety things on everything lately, so we need to get around to moving stuff higher."

Annabeth laughed. "I'll be sure to watch out for that."

"Yeah, yeah anyways, there will be a schedule typed out for you everyday, so don't worry about anything. I'll send you the weekly schedule on Sunday night. We also don't have any staff, we don't really believe in having help, except for some cleaning people come through every other week, we just don't have time to do the deep cleaning." Annabeth nodded, trying not to be overwhelmed.

"Okay." Annabeth said, ruffling Grace's hair. "We'll have a good time this year, won't we."

"Yeah!" Grace said, wriggling out of her mom's arms and running outside onto their terrace. "Annabeth come look!"

The two of them followed her out there, as she pressed her little nose against the glass, staring out at the busy streets. It was crazy how loud it was, even way up here.

"Okay baby girl, mommy has to go." Rachel said, leaning down and giving Grace a kiss. "I'll be back in a couple hours, I just have a meeting on the Lower East Side. Oh, and before I forget, you'll get 1200 a week, I'll write you a check every Friday. Pay's not up for discussion, so I hope that's good."

"Yeah, no issues here." Annabeth said.

"Okay." Rachel said. "Bye Gracie, love you."

"Love you too Mama." The girl said, her nose still pressed against the glass.

"See you soon." Rachel said with a smile, and soon it was just Annabeth and Grace.

"Okay, Gracie." Annabeth said, picking her up and carrying her inside. "What do you want to do?"

"Central Park." She said. "I have a route."

Annabeth laughed. "Oh, you do, do you?" She said, tickling her slightly.

Gracie squealed with delight. "Stop, stop!"

"Okay, okay. Let's go get your shoes, yeah?" Annabeth put Grace down, and followed the energetic little girl up the stairs. Annabeth smiled to herself as she heard her giggles. This wouldn't be as boring as she thought.