December…
Percy was excited, today was the day Annabeth was coming to camp to stay with him until the baby came. He was bundled up from head to toe, with an equally if not more so bundled up Nico who was still shivering.
"I h-h-hate t-t-the w-w-winters h-h-here," Nico told him through his scarf reminding Percy that Nico had either lived in the Underworld, Italy or Las Vegas, three places that never really got that cold in winter though he had lived briefly in Maine but not long enough to adjust to the cold.
Percy rolled his eyes and pulled the younger boy closer to warm him up, but something told him that part of it had to do with Nico's lack of body fat, "I told you that you should have waited for Hazel in your cabin."
"S-she m-m-might be c-c-cold or g-get lost."
"She lived in Alaska! We went there for a quest and she was fine, as for the getting lost I know where your cabin is as does Will. I guess that potion revitalized your muscles, but not didn't add any actual fat to your body," Percy said poking what little of Nico's cheek he could see as Will came to join them with some hot chocolate.
"Don't tease Nico," the blonde told him, "Or I'll dump your drink."
"I'm not teasing him," Percy protested taking his paper cup.
"T-thanks," Nico said taking his and getting closer to the much warmer Demigod as the delivery van pulled up.
Percy couldn't help but smile as Frank, Hazel, Annabeth and to his surprise Tyson spilled out of the van with huge smiles and suitcases. Once through the barrier he threw his arms around his girlfriend and snuggled her.
"We missed you so much!"
"I missed you too," she told him hugging back, "Tyson insisted on coming because he knew the rules about us being in the same cabin at night and he was worried the baby would come at time you were alone. Plus, if need be he can carry you."
"Aw! Thanks, big guy," giving his little half-brother a hug too making him smile.
"I'm always happy to help my big brother," chirped the Cyclops.
"Nico? Aren't you going to give me a hug?" Hazel asked.
Nico shook his head snuggling Will.
"Why not?"
"Will's nice and warm…" the elder child of Hades practically purred making his boyfriend laugh.
"Sorry Hazel, Nico doesn't like the cold and he has very little body fat. I'm sure he'll give you a hug once we're further in where it's warmer," Will assured the half Roman female as they started to walk deeper in.
"How have things been in New Rome?" Percy asked.
"Busy," replied Frank, "We're working hard to…to complete Jason's last project…"
The son of Poseidon patted the shoulder of his distant relative, wincing when the baby inside started to kick as if knowing they were speaking about its past life.
"You ok?" asked Frank.
"I'm fine, the baby's just saying "I'm awake! Give me attention!" Either that or, "Yay! Mommy's here!"" Percy told him as Annabeth giggled and rubbed the bump.
"Hi there, are you giving your daddy a hard time in there?" she asked before she felt the child kick for the first time, her eyes widening before she hugged her boyfriend around the middle.
"Annabeth?"
"I'm sorry I wasn't here Percy…I missed so much," she said snuggling it.
Percy was now red and not just from the cold, "You mean watching me get fat?"
"You're not fat, Percy," sighed Will.
"Here we go again," added Nico, taking his sister's hand, "Come on, this will take a while. Will and I will take you and Frank to the Big House. Tyson knows where the Poseidon cabin is."
"My weight keeps going up and I keep getting bigger. And don't you say it's all the baby and the stuff that comes with it, there's fat in there too!" he said looking away.
Annabeth turned Percy's face to her, knowing this was a mood swing, "That's normal in pregnancy. You'll shed those pounds after the baby comes."
She gave him a quick kiss as he started to smile.
"Thanks Annabeth," he said with a smile, "We should catch up with the others."
The holiday was spent watching movies, catching up and people fussing over Percy and the baby plus an impromptu reunion when Leo and Calypso came into camp riding on Festus during dinner of Christmas eve. The son of Hephaestus dressed like an Elf.
"I tried to talk him out of it, but he insisted," Calypso said thought she wasn't trying to hide her smile, "I don't know much about this holiday but I'm pretty sure this isn't part of it."
"I think I look good!" Leo cooed at her wiggling his eyes brows making her push him away giggling like crazy.
"We spent all this time avoiding each other…weird how right it feels to be together again," said Frank smiling before nailing Leo in the face with a snow ball, "That's for scaring everyone!"
This started a snowball war, which Percy wisely sat out of with Annabeth, barely able to breath as he laughed when Nico stuffed snow down the back of Leo's pants for worrying his sister. That was when he started to cough, unable to get enough air in due to the pressure on his lungs. He had been having so much fun he had forgotten about that little detail of his pregnancy. Will, who had been thinking ahead, had an oxygen tank nearby which he handed the mask for to Percy who took it and started to breathe in and out with it over his face as the others looked on worried.
"This is normal, everyone. Little Jay's just putting pressure on his lungs and his laughter caused him to have even less air than normal, he'll be fine after a few minutes, right Percy?" Will assured them all, or he tried to.
Percy nodded but none the less, everyone still looked worried.
"Maybe you should go on bed rest after Christmas," suggested Annabeth, tucking a lock of Percy's hair behind his ear as they headed to the Poseidon cabin to let Percy get off his feet in bed.
Percy pouted but nodded, it might be smart even if he didn't like it. Once he was breathing normally everyone relaxed.
"Fine," he agreed, "But I want to stay in my own cabin, Tyson's staying with me so if something happens he can get help or carry me to the infirmary."
"Only if you agree to daily check-ups, no fussing when I come to check on you, deal?" Will asked holding out his hand to shake which Percy did.
"Is Nico going to be your nurse?" he asked teasingly Will to turn red.
"Oh my gods! I think Will's imagining something naughty!" cried Tyson pointing at the bright red blonde as his boyfriend started glare.
"What was it?" asked Leo with a huge grin, "You gotta tell us!"
Will muttered it, but Tyson, thinking ahead, used his voice copying ability and good hearing to tell everyone what he said: "I was imagining Nico in a sexy nurse's outfit. Damnit Tyson! That's not cool!"
"Sorry Will, but everyone wanted to know," said the younger son of Poseidon opening his eye.
"Not in a million years Solace!" snapped Nico bright red at the idea his own sister smothering giggles as was Annabeth and Calypso.
Percy was grinning, Leo was howling with laughter, Tyson was a little confused and poor Frank was bright red and coughing having gotten some hot chocolate down the wrong tube, so Leo was having to smack his Roman buddy on the back.
"You ok, bud?" he asked as Hazel handed him a tissue.
Frank nodded, "I really didn't need to hear that."
"You weren't supposed to!" snapped Will, still red.
Percy snickered, "Calm down or we'll be able to roast marshmallows over your head."
Eventually everyone calmed down and settled down to watch a movie, Nico had accidently slipped in the video of Stella walking which made everyone coo and laugh.
"She really loves her big brother, just like me," said Tyson with a grin before digging around in his bag, "I made her something."
"You didn't have to," Percy started to protest.
"I made one for the baby too so don't try to use that logic on me, it's done, and I wanted to do it," said Tyson as he pulled out what looked like a music box, "I already shipped the one for Stella to your mom's house anyways. Could someone turn off the light? It works best in the dark."
Frank turned it them off as Tyson activated the item. It was indeed a music box but a very special kind, multicolored lights rotated inside the circular box as music played creating the images of sea creatures on the ceiling such as a mermaid and hippocampus for the more mythical side and a sea turtle and a dolphin for the more normal side of thing.
"I tried to make a second top with different kinds of owls, but it didn't work out right," Tyson admitted after the music box was turned off and the lights back on.
Percy dried his eyes, "It's great, Tyson. I know the baby and Stella will love them."
"I appreciate you trying to make something to symbolize my godly parent," Annabeth told the young cyclops giving him a hug.
"That is so cool!" cheered Leo who, being who he was started to discuss the design of the music box with Tyson.
Calypso giggled at her boyfriend's antics while she braided Annabeth's hair while the two of them and Hazel chatted as the Nico, Will, Percy and Frank started to play a game of Bull Shit.
When Christmas day rolled around Percy found a lot of the gifts were for the baby though there were gifts for him too. His mother had sent a huge batch of her cookies for the teens to share as well as a shirt that said "#1 Big brother" which Tyson agreed with whole heartedly. Annabeth's family sent some diapers for a new born, a blanket with an owl on it, a plush owl and a plush airplane.
"I think your step mom went overboard with the owls and I think you dad picked the plane," Percy pointed out.
Annabeth checked the name tags on the owl gifts, "Nope those are from my brothers. My step mom went the practical route and sent the diapers."
Other gifts included some new video games, a jug of homemade apple cider, a set of baby monitors, a hand-made booklet of coupons each good for an hour of babysitting, and most amazingly of all a set of keys to a house in New Rome from Reyna.
"She pulled some strings for us and since we are two of the Seven it was easy for her to get it for us," Annabeth told him as he teared up happily.
"I found one for Annabeth from Percy!" called Calypso handing the blonde girl the small box as her friend turned red.
Annabeth blinked as she opened it, inside was a beautiful silver owl broach with pearl eyes and the breast was made of mother of pearl, "Oh Percy! It's beautiful!"
"Read the back. Tyson made it, it was just my idea but he's a lot better at this than I am," he told her.
She did so and read the engravement aloud, "For my beautiful Wise Girl."
The daughter of Athena hugged her boyfriend.
"I'm glad you like it," Percy said as she pinned it onto her sweater.
"I love it. Thank you both for this," she said giving Tyson a hug too.
"Big brother said he wanted something that represented you both for you to wear so while you were separated it will make it seem like he's still with you," the cyclops explained as the other cooed at the sheer sweetness of the gesture.
New Years past and most of their guests left, it was a few days after New Year's Day during Percy's usual exam Will found something unusual.
"Well…I know how the baby's coming out, you have a birth canal instead of testicles," he said as calmly as he could to not scare Percy…sadly Percy yelped in fear.
"This better not be permeant!" he snapped, trying to push down the blanket over his legs in embarrassment.
"Well having the baby this way is better for you both," Will pointed out as Annabeth handed her boyfriend his pants and underwear before leaving the cabin so he could get dressed, though she dragged Nico out with her just in cause he tried to ogle Percy.
"He said I'm not his type, yet she still does that," commented to Will who was looking at the door along with Tyson as he pulled on said clothing, "Ok, I'm dressed."
"Good now get back in bed, this could be a sign that the baby will come very soon," Will told him before going out side to grab his boyfriend, "Come on Nico, you said you would help me set up for the delivery."
"Right," he heard the son of Hades say before his girlfriend came in to sit with him.
"I thought I was just going to have a c-section!"
"Honestly having the baby this way is better for you both with a lower chance of infection and faster recovery time," Annabeth pointed out petting his head.
"And more painful," Percy retorted as Tyson tinkered with some scrap metal.
Annabeth rolled her eyes, "You held up the sky for about five minutes, childbirth will be a cake walk compared to that."
"Birth lasts longer," Percy pointed out.
"Fine, I'll talk to Will about pain killers for the birth. Though a water birth might have the same effect as an epidural on you" she told him, giving him a kiss before heading out to do so.
"If you want me to make an engagement ring, let me know," Tyson told him making him blush.
"TYSON!"
…
It turns out that Will was right about the change being a sign of the baby's birth drawing close because in the middle of night Percy woke up in feeling like his stomach and back were being squeezed in a vice.
"Tyson…Tyson…TYSON!" he yelled throwing his alarm clock at his brother finally waking his younger brother.
"I'm up! What's wrong?" he cried running over worried.
"Hurts…I think it's time!"
Tyson scooped him up, blankets and all, and headed for the infirmary. The cyclops lay his brother in a bed before going to wake Will, Nico, and Annabeth as the other son of Poseidon did his breathing groaning when pain hit. After hours of waiting for the kiddy pool to be blown up and filled, cups of water and a lot of cursing on Percy's part the sun rose on a new day. Annabeth smiled looking at her two boys sleeping, baby Jason laying on his daddy's chest in a blue baby blanket, wisps of blond hair peaking out. Currently his eyes were baby blue though Percy said he could swear he saw a bit of sea green in them, but Annabeth thought he was just loopy. She kissed both their heads and let them sleep.
After a week of recovery Percy was allowed to visit his family though Nico, Annabeth and Tyson insisted on tagging along and Nico dragged Will with them in case something happened.
"Percy!" his mom, step dad and little sister cried all hugging him, making him glad that Annabeth was holding baby Jason who was sadly woken up by the noise and started crying.
"Shh, it's ok," Annabeth cooed as Sally ushered them in while Nico scooped up Stella.
"Sorry," Paul told them, "Is that?"
Percy nodded, "That's the little booger who kept me at camp for so long, Jason Luke Jackson."
"Nico's already calling him JJ," Will told them before introducing himself putting his arm around his boyfriend which earned him a glare from Stella.
"Mine!" she declared clinging to his shirt.
"He's too old for you," Will pointed out as the others went into the kitchen where it was quitter.
"May I?" Sally asked holding out her arms for the baby.
Percy nodded and watched his girlfriend carefully hand over their son.
"He's so cute, and he's already got his mother's hair color," commented Paul.
"Once a blonde always a blonde," replied Percy with a shrug as Nico walked in.
"I'm letting them sort it out," he answered the unasked question, "Stella doesn't seem to get that Will's my boyfriend and that I don't even like girls that way."
The rest shook their heads, smiling.
May…
Percy was now glad that Nico and Will had insisted on coming along with him and Jason when they moved to New Rome. The now five-month-old baby was fussy and trying to juggle the car seat with said wiggling baby, the diaper bag and their suitcases was not a one-man job. The son of Apollo had come along to check out the medical courses at the university and Nico claimed he was coming because he didn't want Will flirting with anyone, but Percy knew that meant he would miss his boyfriend too much.
"Percy! Jason!" Annabeth called to them running over with a huge smile.
"Hey Wise girl," Percy cooed as Frank, Hazel and Reyna followed.
The first thing Annabeth did when she reached them was give him a kiss, second was take her son out of his car seat and snuggle him, "You've gotten so big! I missed you so much! Ouch!"
"I told you last time we talked that Jason was in a hair pulling phase," Percy reminded her as Nico freed her, his own hair tied back in a pony tail.
"I guess I was just so excited to see him," she said handing him to Frank who cooed over the baby with Hazel, so she could tie her own hair back, "How was your trip?"
"Apparently Jay likes Pirates, either that or he likes hearing Nico read aloud," Percy told her handing over the diaper bag, so he could take his suit case, "But it helped keep him calm and I think having them here for the summer will help him adjust."
Both looked up when they heard their son squealing to find Hazel blowing razzberries on his tummy.
"And we have them here too," Annabeth pointed out as they walked over to put him back into his car seat, so they could head to New Rome with a smile.
"Yep."
The End
