"What's the plan for today?" Percy asks, as he enters the kitchen with his daughter on his hip. His father is sitting at the breakfast table with his wife enjoying a cup of nectar.
"I was thinking about a day trip to Atlantis," Poseidon tells him.
"Annabeth would love that," Percy says knowing how much she would enjoy seeing the architecture of the lost city.
A few minutes later everyone is there for breakfast and Poseidon announces the plan.
"I'll stay here and keep the children," Shelly suggests.
"But you love Atlantis," Annabeth says.
"I do but we've been there several times, and I'm feeling tired with the pregnancy and all. Besides it's not really a good place for the kids. You'll enjoy it more if I keep them here," Shelly insists.
"I'll stay with you," Tyson now offers.
"You don't have to stay," Shelly tells him.
"I want to spend time playing with Zale and Sophia," the Cyclops says with a big grin.
"Are the two of you coming?" Percy asks looking at his older brother and his niece.
"I have not been there in a long time," Triteia says looking at her father.
"I guess we'll go," Triton says putting his arm around his daughter.
When they arrive at the site, Poseidon takes his wife's hand and wonders off from the others. "Where are we going?" Percy asks his brother.
"Every time we come here, they sneak off to fool around in Dad's old bedroom," Triton says with a smile.
"I can't get over how affectionate and in love with each other your parents are after so many centuries," Annabeth tells him.
"Despite all the other women Dad has been with, and I'm sure many of them he has loved very much, like Percy's mom, he adores my mother. He has always been her one and only. She may have run from him at first, but only because of his position and authority. It wasn't because she wasn't attracted to him," Triton explains.
"I'm actually starting to like your mom," Percy says, "I hope someday she'll like me too."
"I believe Grandmother is warming to you," Triteia says taking her uncle's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Look at that!" Annabeth says now getting a look at the Poseidon's Temple. "Percy c'mon," she says pulling on her husband's arm.
"We'll never get her out of here now," Percy says with a chuckle then follows his wife.
The four of them have been checking out the details of the temple for about an hour when Poseidon and his wife rejoin them.
"How's the bedroom?" Percy asks his dad with a smile.
"Still the best," his father says.
"Dad," Annabeth now asks, "how would you feel about my recreating this temple in Olympus?"
"I might be accepting of some aspects being recreated, but I wouldn't want an exact replica," Poseidon tells her.
"It's very hard for my husband to think on what took place here," Amphitrite says caressing her husband's arms.
"What did happen?" Percy asks looking at his brother.
"The Atlanteans looked to conquer other lands. Eventually the Athenians sought to stop them," Triton explains. "When it became clear that the Athenians were taking control…"
"You destroyed Atlantis to keep Athens, my mother, from getting it," Annabeth says only a little surprised.
"I could not allow her to have it," Poseidon says softly. "If they would have just listened to me…"
"Your children were good men," Amphitrite tells him trying to make him feel better.
"They still wanted more," Poseidon says sadly. "They have always wanted more."
"I hope were getting better at that," Percy says looking at his father.
"Yes, I am very proud that the two of you, and Tyson, have never shown a need to demand more than I've given you," his dad says.
"Being your son is more than enough," Triton tells their father.
"Sometimes way more," Percy agrees then laughs.
"I'm sorry you and my mother have had such a bad relationship," Annabeth tells her father-in-law. "I'm sorry you had to destroy such a beautiful place to keep it away from her."
"It is not your fault," Poseidon says putting his arm around her, "I don't even blame your mother for the loss of Atlantis. Our people, the people of Atlantis and Athens forced this."
"Where's that statue of you with the chariot and horses Tyson was telling me about?" Percy now asks wanting to change the subject from something painful to his father.
"Ah, a thing of beauty," Poseidon says then leads them to another area.
When they return home that evening, the six of them are laughing, as they come into the palace. Shelly meets them with a finger to her lips. "The babies are sleeping," she says and points into the sitting room. There on the floor lies Tyson with Zale on his chest and Sophia on one forearm. All three of them are sleeping soundly.
"How was she?" Annabeth whispers.
"Angel," Shelly answers the same way.
"How long have they been asleep?" Percy asks softly.
"About an hour, they played Tyson out."
"This needs a picture," Poseidon says.
"I was thinking the same thing," Annabeth says handing him her camera.
Poseidon snaps a couple of shots then they head into the kitchen to find Percy and Annabeth something to eat.