Three months had passed since Annabeth and Percy broke up. And Annabeth had recovered pretty well, even though for a while, her chest hurt a little whenever she would think of him. But today, at work, her mind wasn't completely focused on the work Meyer gave her. And it wasn't because of Percy. It was because her period was very, very late. Actually, it was three months late exactly.
When she got off work, she ran to the first grocery store she found and bought a pregnancy test for the first time in her life. Once she got home, she read three times the instructions. When she got the results, she ran back to the grocery store and bought two more tests. Then she called Piper.
Whatever she did, there was no changing. The tests were formal: Annabeth was pregnant.
Obviously, it was Percy's. She cried a lot this night. She asked herself several times whether she should get an abortion or not. She asked Piper too. She also wondered if she should tell him. What would he do? She took so much time recovering from him, forgetting him. She was finally happy. And now, she had a baby in her belly.
She waited two days, in denial, acting as if everything was fine. But she noticed the size of her belly. She thought she gained a little weight after her break up, but apparently, Mc Donald was not to blame.
Finally, at 4 am on a Friday night, she took a decision.
His ringtone woke Percy up. It was a ringtone he hadn't heard in months. Annabeth's ringtone. He jumped out of his bed and grabbed his phone. He couldn't believe it: Annabeth texted him!
"Jackson, I need to see you. Now."
He didn't even reply. Still in his pajamas, he took his helmet, jumped on his bike and drove like crazy through the sleeping city, to Annabeth's place. On his way, he thought of every scenario that could lead to his Blondie sending him a text at 4 am. None of them made sense.
He rang her bell, the door buzzed open. He ran through the five floors and knocked, red and out of breath, at her door. She opened the door, and he could have cried to the sight. She was gloriously beautiful, her hair was crazy, she was also wearing pj's, no makeup: she was a goddess. How could he ever think he could get with someone else? He noticed something wrong though: her eyes were red and puffy. She cried. Why did she cry?
"Blondie, what's wrong?" he asked, worried.
She didn't answer. Instead, she let him in, closed the door and turned to him. She raised her top to discover her belly. It took him time to understand what she was showing him. Was she worried she gained a little weight? Because that was totally okay with him! And then he realized. She did gain a little weight. But not the way he thought. Her belly was slightly rounder, bit bigger. It had a little bump.
Annabeth was pregnant. With his baby.
He had to focus a lot not to faint. But he didn't feel the fear, the panic he should have felt. Tears ran down his cheeks, but they were not from sadness.
He walked to her, slowly, and took her in her arms. She clenched, and then just let it all go and started sobbing on his shoulder. They slid on the floor, still tangled, and they stayed there like that for nearly an hour, until Percy realized Annabeth had fallen asleep.
He took her in his arms, carried her to the bed, tucked her in and sat there, incapable of sleeping. He caressed her hair, seeing her so peaceful.
What was she going to do? Was she going to keep the baby? Probably, why would she call him otherwise?
Was he ready to be a dad?
And then he thought about it. Whatever she chose, he would be there for her. He was still madly in love with her. And if she decided that they were going to be parents, then yes, he was ready to be a dad. He will be a dad for that baby.
Annabeth woke up, tears dried on her cheeks. She felt strangely happy. She noticed a good smell coming from her kitchen, and she remembered. She had called Percy last night. He came. She made him understood. And then she cried and blackout.
She got up and went to the kitchen, to find Percy trying desperately to cook some pancakes. When he saw her, he smiled.
"Hey Blondie! Thought I'd make you some breakfast, 'cause you're eating for two now aren't you? Gotta feed my girl!"
Tears ran down her cheeks again, but for the first times in days, it wasn't despair or sadness. It was pure happiness. She went to him and hugged him from behind. He then turned and kissed her deeply.
"Annabeth listen to me. If you want me to be there, I'll be there. If you want me to go away, I will too. That would break my heart, but I will too. And if you want me to be a dad but not a boyfriend, that's fine too. Okay?"
She nodded, too touched to speak.
"I love you", she whispered, so low she wasn't even sure he heard her.
But he held her a little tighter and kissed her hair.
"Okay now you go sit on the couch and I bring you the breakfast before it's burned.", he laughed.
She sat there and rubbed her belly.
You're gonna be in good hands, darling, I swear.