Hi Demigods! Hope you are enjoying the story so far. This chapter is a cute chapter that's chill and not full of intense cliff hanger drama. So hope you like it! Let me know!

Chapter 5

Jason

After being on this island for two months now, I am starting to understand it's strange ways and how to live on it until I am better and can return to the world. My teacher, an immortal friend of Hercules, has been teaching me techniques to handle my curse and it's not been easy. Everyday is a new challenge and everyday I am reminded of the pain I have caused to those who I care about. The hurt I caused Piper, Annabeth and especially Percy is the force that drives me to keep trying to be better.

Chiron has been Iris messaging me from time to time to update me on what has been going on. He has informed me that Percy is alive and healing but he should be in the infirmary for quite some time. Piper and Annabeth are still not talking and as Chiron says, the tensions between everyone are pretty high.

Today in particular is one of my Iris messaging days with Chiron so hopefully I might hear some good news. The message is pulled up in my little tent on the beach and Chiron's face tells me that there will be no good news in this message.

"Chiron, what is it?"

"Jason, I am sorry to tell you but Reyna has been murdered."

My heart stops and everything around me freezes.

Reyna is dead. She is dead.

The anger starts to creep up and I do everything that I have been taught to try to keep it down. Nothing seems to be working and I try to grapple to how and why it happened. Before I screwed everything up, the doctors were saying that she was starting to turn the corner and now to have all of her struggles and fighting is a waste is stupid.

"No. No w-when did this happened? Who did it?" I ask with my clenched jaw.

"Well, that's the thing. I didn't want to hurt your progress but she has been dead for about two months now. And you are the main suspect."

"WHAT?" Now the anger is there and I can't shut it down. Outside of my tent. I feel the electricity spark in the grey clouds above me, "I have been here the whole freaking time!"

"I know that and so does Frank. We believe the real murderer is framing you. Frank, Hazel and Annabeth are investigating the evidence."

"Why is Annabeth helping? Doesn't she hate me?" I start to calm down knowing that at least I have some people willing to prove my innocence.

"Yes, she is still very angry but her and Piper have started talking and Annabeth knows even insane you wouldn't do it. She is analyzing the evidence provided by Frank and Hazel as we speak so I will let you know how it's going. You just worry on treating your curse, Jason. The weather doesn't seem like it's going well."

"A-alright." I answer and the message dies. I contemplate everything that Chiron told me and finally grief sets in. My anger starts to churn a storm and I don't have the strength to stop it as I mourn my friend. Wind and rain swirl around my tent and I scream as lighting cracks and the thunder roars against the island.

Percy

It's been two months and finally I can sit up on my own without wanting to sob like a baby because of the pain. My leg is slowly but surely mending, which forces me to still be stuck in the infirmary and Will says that by next month I should be able to but weight on it but it will be a long recovery, considering how my leg was basically shattered under the rubble. My head and lungs are still sore but I can stay awake and not be in pain anymore so that's a plus.

"So where's her head?" I ask Will as he performs a sonogram on Annabeth for her monthly check up, which I am enjoying very much for my bed. Annabeth is laying next to me and I hold her hand as Will points out our daughter's head.

"Right there. She is looking good, Annabeth. Just keep up the good work and in about a month you both will be holding your daughter."

"Oh gods we are just a month away?" I state and smile at the monitor where my daughter is safe and secure from the outside world for the first and last time in her life.

"Thanks Will." Annabeth says as she wipes off the gel on her stomach and Will helps her up since I really can't.

Will leaves and Annabeth fixes her shirt over her growing belly. I then ask her, "So have you thought of any baby names yet?"

She smiles and says, "Well I haven't had a lot of time to think about it. Have you?"

I smirk, "Well time is all I have so I thought of like twenty names. Here, I made a list."

Annabeth leans over from her bed and reads the list, "Zoe, Cara, Lexi, Hera-funny Seaweed Brain but no way am I naming our daughter after that woman."

"I thought it would give us some brownie points and stop her from torturing our daughter."

She laughs, "Nice thought but no. Meredith, Charlotte-I like that one a lot? Where did you come up with that?"

"It's the girl version of Charlie. I thought we could maybe name her after Charlie because he sacrificed himself so I would live and I wouldn't be here if he didn't."

"Percy, I really like that name."

"So do we have a winner?"

"I don't want to decide anything just yet. But it's definitely in the top five."

I smile and she gets up and kisses my cheek before telling me, "So we just looked at our child and I want you to remember that as I tell you something that I have kind of be lying to you about for the past month or so."

My heart freezes and I grimace, "I swear to gods, Annabeth if you are telling me more bad news then we have already then I might cry."

She shakes her head, "No-no it is not bad news at all. It might be good news, depending on how you take it. So you know how Jason is the prime suspect in Reyna's murder?"

I nod and say, "Yah, so?"

"Well it didn't add up to me and Frank, Hazel and I have been investigating into her murder and I am positive that I know who it is."

"Gods, Annabeth you should be resting! The baby and you have already had so much trauma, you don't need to be going after a murderer too!" I shake my head and rub my face irritably as I say the same thing I have been telling her during her pregnancy from day one. All of this stress one day is going to catch up and it's not going to be good. At least that's what the baby books have been trying to tell me.

"I know but Jason is troubled and everything but he is still our friend Percy! He shouldn't go now for something he didn't do and besides he is the perfect target in New Rome. Disgraced, ex-praetor kills rival or something like that. Jason needs our help."

I sigh angrily, "Fine. Who do you think it is?"

"Octavian." Annabeth deadpans and I really do believe her. Ever since almost getting thrown into a mess with Leo and almost dying at the hands of Nico, Octavian hates all of our guts, but especially Jason's. And Octavian is a creepy person, so it adds up to me.

"Now that is something I believe. So how do you show the evidence and punish him?"

"I sent the finding to the Senate this morning. They will be arresting Octavian by the evening."

"So why did you decide to tell your crippled boyfriend when you already figured everything out?"

She smiles and comes closer to me. Annabeth plays with the collar of my grey t-shirt and says," Well my crippled boyfriend has much better things to worry about then his girlfriend being nosy."

I smile and pull her face down to mine as I kiss her slowly with love and desire. There would be many things I wish I could do with her but for one she is pregnant and I am unable to move. Besides kissing is just as good. Her lips are strong and mine are insistent as she starts to pull away and I whine.

"I have to go talk to Chiron. I will be back later Seaweed Brain." She giggles as she straightens up and I roll my eyes.

"But I am going to be lonely. There is nothing to do and I am so bored!"

"Then work on those exercises that Will gave you. That's going to be the only way you will get full function of your leg back."

"Fine!" I say as she smiles and backs out of the room.

I start to do the therapy of moving my calf and knee. Will has told me that for people with these injuries, it usually takes up to six to eight weeks to start physical therapy. And because I needed surgery, for non-demigods it might take 12 weeks to heal. But since I have been having ambrosia so much, eight weeks has past and now it's time to start moving my leg and to see if I can put weight on it soon.

The calf muscles are easy as I slowly concentrate to move my tendons all the way down to my ankles. But the hardest part is moving my knee up and down. Straightening the knee kills and I can't move it very much. I keep trying and nothing is working. My anger swells and eventually I blow the pipe to the water fountain outside my room, causing Piper to shriek as she has water burst into her face.

"Sorry Piper!" I yell in frustration and she walks into my room, soaking wet.

"That's the second time that has happened Percy! Look I know you hate my ex but don't take it out on me alright!" She yells angrily which is not like her at all and immediately she says, "Jeez, I'm sorry. I've just been a little short lately."

Piper and I have talked about what happened with Jason and I never once blamed her for what happened. If I had to save Annabeth and her again, I would do it in a heartbeat. Piper has been feeling like everyone is blaming or judging her lately and she have been on a short fuse with everyone. And I am guessing with everything going on with Reyna and having to testify to the Senate about Jason and his whereabouts, she has been under a lot of stress.

"I know it's ok. Here, hold still." I hold out my hand and will the water to come out of her clothes and it evaporates into the air. Piper is dry and she smiles.

"Thanks."

"No problem, it was my bad. These stupid exercises piss me off. I'm never going to gain full function back at this rate." I say frustrated.

"Just give your body time. You'll get better soon, Percy."

"I hope so. I don't want to be the only dad under 30 who has a cane."

Piper smiles and says, "So she is coming soon. Are you excited?"

"I'm actually a little nervous. I have no idea how to be a good dad. I had an awful stepdad growing up and my real dad absent most of the time. I just don't want to let her down, especially with everything she is going to have to go through."

"Percy, you are going to be a great father. You and Annabeth will probably be the best parents out there. And besides, you know what it's like to have so much pressure on you so you will know how to help your daughter out. You have nothing to worry about."

I smile and relax a little bit knowing that Piper is right. With everything going on recently, I haven't had time to really process that I am going to be a dad and now that she is a month away, it's crazy to think that I am going to have a child. I never thought that I would get live this long much less have a family. It's exciting and frightening all at the same time, but in a strange sense I am ready for it.

"So Annabeth has been busy with all the baby stuff and so I wanted to surprise her with something. I feel like I have been missing everything because of my injury and I feel like I haven't been as attentive as I wanted to be with Annabeth so I am making it up to her. I have been talking to Chiron about it and he says that it would be the best way for camp and the gods to repay us. So I have been talking to Leo and I have these blueprints for a house that he is currently building for Annabeth and I. What do you think?" I ask as I pull the papers out from underneath my pillow.

Yes, I am doing everything backwards with Annabeth but I have been planning on purposing to her once the baby is born and the house is ready. This way we will have a home and can focus on the wedding instead of figuring out everything while planning on a wedding.

Piper's eyes scan the papers with a huge smile on her face and she says, "Gods, Percy this is-this is beautiful!" She sits down on my bed and I point out my ideas for the house.

It's a three-story house with five bedrooms, four bathrooms and a huge backyard that overlooks the Island Sound. Leo and I have secretly been working on it while I have been here so being bored was a straight lie to Annabeth. When she hasn't been here, I have been going over plans for the house, shopping for baby stuff and reading baby books to pass the time. I know she thinks I am not as interested in the baby or her lately because of my leg but I have been the complete opposite. I have been devoting all of my time to the house and making our daughter's room perfect with every detail like the wall color and what freaking stuff animal to put on the bed. Basically, I have been playing the role of suburban housewife. And I don't mind it.

"So this is going to be the living room and kitchen on the first floor. There will be porch outside with a patio too. And on the second floor is where all of the bedrooms, excluding and Annabeth's because our room is on the third floor, which is basically our own floor. There is an office for her that will have a great view so she can work. It's going to be really cool and I can't wait to show her."

"When will it be ready?" Piper asks.

"Probably in a week or two." I respond while rolling up the papers and putting them back under my pillow.

"What? How did Leo build-no wait why am I asking, it's Leo."

"That and because Calypso has been dying to go on vacation so they are leaving next week. He worked his ass off to finish in time."

"Wow, so it's by the lake, how has no one seen it yet and told Annabeth?"

"Because I told them all that if they do I will have my mom mail Medusa's head to their cabin and turn them to stone." I deadpan and Piper looks at me with wide eyes, "That's a joke. They all have been helping Leo so they don't want to ruin the surprise either. I just thought since the baby will be here in a month and I hopefully will be out of here in a month, we needed somewhere to stay now that my cabin is burnt to a crisp. And Annabeth and I have already talked about staying here. Essentially, it's like New Rome just without the college and everything else but it's the best we can do. We would move to New Rome but she has her job here and with everything going on with Octavian, I don't think it's going to be a good idea."

"What's going on with Octavian?" Piper questions and I am confused because I thought she would know.

"Well, he killed Reyna. Annabeth, Frank and Hazel have been investigating and they sent their findings to the Senate. He is going to be arrested tonight."

Piper's face freezes and she says, "I got to go." She stands abruptly and storms out of my room leaving me confused and unsure if I just told her something I shouldn't have.

Piper

I walk straight up to Annabeth, who is standing in her cabin, and yell, " How could you not tell me about your investigation!"

"Damn it, Percy!" Annabeth curses and sighs, "Look you were already testifying to the Senate, which included Octavian. We couldn't compromise the truth and this way it will help the evidence. He did it Piper and now he is going to face justice."

"Annabeth, I had to go to New Rome and tell everyone about Jason. I had to say EVERYTHING including his abuse. They all think he is a crazy and I couldn't deny that because it seemed reasonable! So if you would have told me, I could have defended Jason! Now he can never go back to New Rome!"

"With the arrest and conviction of Octavian, once he is better he can. Trust me this was the only way. I'm sorry but it had to be like this Piper." Annabeth says as she rubs her swollen belly and places a hand on her back.

"Fine." I say and try to calm down, "I'm sorry that makes sense. I just don't like being out of the loop."

"I'm sorry too." Annabeth says as she winces a little and sits down in the nearest chair.

"Annabeth-." I ask concerned and she shakes her head.

"I'm just sore. I haven't been sleeping well because she kicks all night long and I have been stressed. And I can't tell Percy because he would freak out because he misses those things while I am at my old cabin and he is stuck at the Big House." She then starts to cry and she sobs, "I feel like he is missing everything Piper! I mean we haven't even shopped for baby clothes or anything because he can't move out of that DAMN bed! And I am so tired and crappy all of the time but I have to fake it because he is in so much pain and all I want is a milkshake and I want Percy to go get it like he use to but he can't because he can't walk and he probably will never walk right again." She breathes and cries harder, "And all I want is just a milkshake and a foot rub."

"Alright, just calm down and take a breather okay?" I help her lay down with some pillows to prop her up. Annabeth is still sobbing and says.

"Oh gods look at my feet! They are huge! I'm huge and ugly!"

"Okay Annabeth, listen to me." I put a little bit of my charm speak in and she turns to look at me.

"I will get you as many milkshakes that you want but you need to talk with Percy about these feelings. He is every part of this as you are and honestly, he is so excited about everything. I know you feel like he isn't interested but he is. He was just telling me about how he reads the baby books and everything. But I know he also feels a little left out of it because of his injury. And you know that he can't do anything about it. He has been trying so hard to get better but it's hard. So maybe you can let him give you foot rubs and feel the baby kick while you sleep next to him. You guys just need to talk about these things."

Annabeth nods her head and wipes a tear from her cheek, "You're right. Help me up so I can be with the father of this child who refuses to stop kicking my spine."

I laugh and help her up so she can go to the Big House with Percy. When she leaves, I am once again alone and I feel like my life is frozen waiting for Jason or anyone to start a ripple into my life again.

Annabeth

I waddle into Percy's room and immediately his face lights up and then goes to concern.

"Hey! Is everything alright? You usually go to bed around this time." He asks.

"Move over Seaweed Brain." I command and he scoots over on his bed to allow me to lay down next to him as I say, "I thought that I would sleep with you here for a change. I'm sorry I haven't been here as much as you want and that I have been leaving you out of the baby stuff. I just thought you wanted space to heal."

"Annabeth, it's fine. I appreciate your concern but honestly I would rather have you here then be alone every night like I have been for the past two months. I want to be apart of this experience as much as I can even though I can't move out of my bed."

I nod and rest my head on his shoulder, "She kicks a lot at night. It's been keeping me up. That and my nightmares."

He rubs my arm and presses, "Are they about Tarturus?"

"No," I shake my head and answer quietly, "They seem like premonitions about her. They start out like beautiful dreams. She has my hair but she is so much like you. I see her grow up and become this strong, young girl. And then the dream shifts into a nightmare and I see her fall in battle and it ends there. Percy, what if the prophecy is right? What if she really dies." I croak out and my lower lip trembles.

"We can't worry about the future Annabeth. You know that. We need to just focus on the fact that she is coming and we need to provide the best life that we can for her. You seem tired, you should get some rest, Wise Girl." He smiles down at me and his grin makes my heart flutter. Although he has been stuck in this bed, weak and immobile, he still is so handsome that my heart can't handle it.

"Alright. Can you try to make her stop kicking though?" I ask and snuggle up to his side. His arm wraps around mine shoulders and pulls me closer to him as he breathes me in. He kisses my hair and whispers, "I'll try but it might take a while if the kid takes after me."

I smile and my eyes droop as I drift off to sleep. I barely her Percy as he speaks to my stomach and rubs it gently.

"Hey little girl, it's your daddy talking. So mom needs to sleep and you need to stop kicking her. That would be really great and I will repay you with a thousand butterfly kisses."

My doze of to sleep knowing that my world is alright for now and that the two most important people in it are starting the bonds of a beautiful relationship.