A/N: Before I get started, I have four quick plugs.

Firstly, I have now have a blog (link on my profile). This includes a podcast, collaborated on by ShadowPalace, and occasionally other friends as well.

Second, has anyone checked out ShadowPalace and my new installment of the One-shot Challenge? I know people are totally busy with school (believe me, I know), but I was just curious if anyone plans on entering.

Third (so sorry about these plugs, guys!) I am offering up a review challenge again. If you review my story, leave a note at the bottom that you would like me to read/review one of your stories, and I promise to review it. I have noticed a decline in reviews lately (for all stories, not just my own), and I'm hoping to help by not being a hypocrite.

And… as I know many of you have noticed, I'm approaching my hundredth fic : ). I have a big one-shot idea that I'm working on, but I want to know if anyone would like to beta it (I really want to make it as close to perfection as possible). PM me, rather than leaving it in your review, if you would want to. Also note, I obviously can't have everyone beta me, so don't feel offended if I can't have pick you. There are a few people I have in mind, so yeah, we'll see who wants to.

And now, on with the story. So sorry for the length of that : (.

Sweeping Skye into his arms, Percy tied a clumsy ribbon around his daughter's hair. He had begun to do her hair every day, and the patterned ribbons were a part of their routine. Tonight, her ribbons were red to match her slippers.

"Daddy, will people know who I am?" Skye asked, letting him spin her around.

"Of course they will," he replied, throwing down the brush and picking up her pumpkin basket. He kissed her forehead. "How could they not?"

"Dorothy had brown hair," she replied, biting her lip. She was as detail-oriented as her mother, always concerned with the meticulous aspects of things.

"Well," Percy replied, touching a finger to her sparkly shoes, "I think the ruby-red slippers give you away."

At this, Skye smiled and clicked her heels together. The Wizard of Oz had been a big hit with her, and she wanted to be Dorothy whether she looked the part or not.

"And you're a fish, right Daddy?" Skye asked. Locking her arms protectively around his neck, she leaned against his stubbly cheek.

"Not a fish," Percy said, his tight smile as secretive as it was affectionate. "The God of Water, remember? Poseidon?"

"Oh," Skye replied, pretending to remember. She was pretty intelligent for a six-year-old, but long names rushed right through her ears.

Percy continued to smile, hoping his daughter would somehow adopt the idea. Her rather unique background was only one of the concepts they were trying to ease her into. Mommy's two-month pregnancy was the other, and frankly, Percy was unsure which piece of news would be taken worse.

"Is Mommy coming?" Skye asked, practically reading her father's mind.

"I don't know," Percy replied. He took the stairs one at a time, not wanting to upset his finned feet. "Why don't we find out?"

Annabeth had planned on coming, but obviously couldn't foresee how she'd be feeling. Besides, in an attempt to befriend the neighbors, the Jacksons had determined themselves on distributing candy this year.

Annabeth was delicately planted on the living room couch, her costume a mere gown. Its shimmering bodice extenuated her beauty so far, that Percy had to steel himself away from saying she was as beautiful as Aphrodite.

"You look great," he settled on saying, his grin almost childish. There was a playful glint to his green eyes, and Annabeth patted her belly with discretion. She was already pregnant – there wasn't much else they could do.

"Mommy! Your dress is so sparkly!" Skye wiggled until she was put on the floor, taking caution-filled steps to her mother. She didn't want to upset the rhinestones on her magic shoes.

"Are we ready?" Annabeth asked, smoothing her daughters' curls.

"Think so," Percy replied. He continued to smile, and Annabeth beamed back. Their constant happiness was so automatic, on occasion it didn't feel real. "You're coming then?"

She kissed her husband's cheek. "Oh, I think I can. We can leave the candy on the porch, can't we?"

"Yay!" Skye called. All precision was now lost from her movements, and she did a carefree dance around the living room. Percy leaned down and caught her midway between her third circle.

"Come on Dorothy, we have to go get candy."

She jumped up and down, all mannerisms completely forsaken by excitement. Grasping her father's hand in one, and her pumpkin in her other, she raced for the door.

"Hold up there," Annabeth called, pulling a camera from the side table. "I want a picture of you." Her eyes were wide and expectant, her recent nostalgia surfacing again. Nearly every night, she mentioned to Percy how big Skye was getting. And even as he assured her that Skye was still small enough to hold and protect, he couldn't say he didn't notice it as well.

"Here." She pressed a button the camera, setting it on the edge of the couch. "Get in front of it." With a smile, they bundled together, a wide smile surfacing on Skye's face. She had just remembered something.

Annabeth began to count down with the camera's light, instructing Percy and Skye to smile and say cheese.

But Skye did her one better, remembering her father's earlier words. "Poseidon!" she called, right on beat with the flash. In the photo, her parents' mirror images of shock contrasted nicely with her proud expression.

A/N: That is all! : ) Please review! As I say at the top, if you ask me to, I will review you as well.