Percy wasn't perfect.

It was common acceptance that everybody believed him to be perfect. He'd saved Olympus and the world many

times, he was a hero greater than Heracles, and he had a happy ending with him marrying Annabeth. But

lots of things weighed him down. For one, the death of Nico di Angelo. The fifteen-year-old son of Hades had

gone down valiantly in the war against Gaea, his last act telling Percy his attraction to him. Percy felt so guilty

for never noticing, and all the things Nico had done for him - and he'd responded by inadvertently breaking his

heart every time he came near. Whatever Percy did, he couldn't get that fact out of his head.

Then all his other Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter's friends' deaths. Travis and Connor Stoll, Dakota, Katie

Gardner, Reyna Arellano, and so many more hadn't left the battlefield alive. Add to that the fact that Tartarus,

eternal hell, hadn't left his dreams, made for a scarred, imperfect man. And lots of times, like right now, he

didn't feel worth living. What was next! He wanted to scream. What other monstrosity did the Fates have in

store for him? After all this time, he didn't believe in happy endings. He was still waiting for that one monster

that would take him down. He had no hope.

"Percy?" Annabeth's timid voice came from behind him. She'd gone grocery shopping. Percy stood up from his

silent vigil at the window and kissed her hello. She flinched. Annabeth had been very secretive the past few

weeks, and he wanted to know what was bugging her.

"Sorry, but I'm very excited." Annabeth said, a grin crawling up her face. Percy knew that look. It was a 'I've got

something super to tell you but I'm going to keep it from you as long as possible because I'm Annabeth' look.

"What, Wise Girl? And don't try to prolong it, I want to know now." Percy said mock-scoldingly.

"You know how I've been sort of secretive and stuff the past few weeks? And how I had that nasty bout of

throwing up for a few days last week? Well..." She trailed off, looking into the distance, just to annoy him.

Percy had to resist the urge to shake her shoulders and demand the truth.

"Well, what? WHAT?" Percy asked in all his eagerness.

"Well, I was reading about my symptoms online, so I went to a pharmacy and got a test. And...

I'm pregnant." Annabeth glowed in pure happiness. "It's just like you wanted, Percy! We can start a family!"

Percy picked her up and swung her around.

"This is fabulous, Annabeth!" He abruptly put her down. "Oh no, what if I hurt the kid? We've got to get you to a

doctor right away! And start a nursery, and buy clothes.."

"Percy! It's a little early for that." She chuckled. "I'm glad you're so excited, though."

"I love you, Annabeth. You and our kid." Percy proclaimed seriously.

"I love you too, Percy."

Nine months later, on August 1st, a little girl was born to Percy and Annabeth Jackson.

Her name was Hope.

R & R, please! It's what makes writing worth it. Should I make this into a story? Tell me!