Chapter Seven
Annabeth glanced at the clock hanging on the annoyingly white walls. It was four thirty. Only two more hours until Percy had to leave. Again.
They'd taken many pictures of Athene and Luke. Percy proudly printed them out and packed them in his bags, happy that Charlie and Grover would be able to see his babies.
Annabeth was less enthusiastic.
Pain clenched at her heart. Nothing great had been reported about Athene. She was doing alright, but they had taken her into surgery. Her heart was the least developed out of her organs, and they had to do something or other, Annabeth hadn't really paid attention to what the doctors said. She was numb.
Thalia, Nico, and Percy had all tried cheering her up. Her parents and Malcolm even came over, as did Matthew and Bobby. Sally and Paul did, too. But nothing could make her smile. He was leaving, putting himself in danger, and her child was in surgery. Life is great for Annabeth Chase, isn't it?
She had, however, convinced herself to make the last two hours with Percy ones that were not spent brooding. Instead, the two cooed over Luke, laughed with their friends, and sent pictures to people like Travis, Connor, Katie, and even Rachel.
But the time passed all too fast, and just as soon as Percy had come home, he had left.
"I love you," Percy muttered against Annabeth's lips. "I love you so much."
-:-
After spending three days in the hospital, Annabeth and Luke left for California, Thalia right with them. Thalia had really taken a big role in helping Annabeth with Luke. She had been the one to call the people at UCLA and ask for Annabeth's single dorm, now. She had been the one to make just as many midnight baby calls as Annabeth did, staying with her all through the night. She had not once complained about Nico being away, but then again, Thalia had to punch the depression out of Annabeth.
Literally.
She'd gotten so fed up with her best friend, her little sister spending countless hours with either no emotions or crying, that she'd whacked Annabeth in the arm. "Cut this shit out!" She loudly yelled in the hospital room. "You are a freaking mother, Annabeth! You need to step up! I get that you're hurting, but this is not you! You are strong! Independent! Don't you dare change just because you're married now. You have more responsibilities than any other now-nineteen year old does. Though, I'm here to help! But don't let the help fool you, Chase. Er—Jackson. If you're going to spend every single day brooding, hardly caring for your kids, then I'm not going to sit and take care of them myself! I'm not their mother, Annabeth, but they need theirs. Not Auntie Thalia, though I don't blame them for loving me so much, I am rather adorable and awesome, but they need a mom." She had then left the room, not to return until dinner time. As much as Annabeth was hurt by the words, she knew Thalia was right.
Annabeth was back to herself.
I love Percy, but he will not change me.
I love Percy, but he will not change me.
It was a chant. And she had gotten good at it. When Thalia walked back in the hospital room, she expected to find a blubbering mess of a girl, not a woman finally walking around as she held her baby and watched them operate on the other through a small window. She had certainly not expected a smile to be there, but there was.
"Thanks, Grace. I needed that." Annabeth said. "I do love Percy, and I will let him change some of me. My last name. My status. My commitment to him, now forever instead of just dating. But you were right. I'm not going to…spend my life worrying. Of course I can worry about him, being over there. But I can't control what happens. I should've accepted that from the start."
Thalia had never been more proud of herself. "Well, darn it, Chase. I thought I would've killed your puny heart." As soon as Annabeth set Luke down, opening her arms for a small hug, Thalia pounced into them, knocking the girl down on the bed as she bear hugged her.
"Whoa. This is extremely hot. Mind if I take a picture?" A voice came from the door.
Annabeth and Thalia looked over. Thalia got up, laughing at the boys. "Connor! Travis!" Annabeth said, running over to them. "I've missed you so much!"
Travis gripped his friend, picking her up and spinning her. Connor hugged her as well. Katie appeared moments later, cursing at the boys for making her carry a large bag by herself. "Annabeth!" Katie dropped the bag on her boyfriend's foot, eliciting a loud yelp as she hugged Annabeth.
Travis rubbed his foot as he said, "Hot damn, Annabeth! You're certainly looking good! That's one MILF, for you!"
Connor grinned and agreed.
Katie backhanded them both. So, nothing had changed between the trio.
Thalia and Annabeth spent the next few hours with the three of them. Katie fawned over Luke as she held him, making him gurgle in happiness. "Yes! I am Aunt Katie, little one! I'm so sorry those are your uncles! Don't worry, you and your sister can always run away and hide with me! I hide from them every day!"
The days passed and Thalia, Luke, and Annabeth were in California. The hospital promised to call every twelve hours, updating her on Athene. Athene's grandmothers, Sally and Athena, promised to alternate going every day to spend time with their grandchild. She had a lot of support.
She was happy to be back in California. As much as she missed Percy, she was completely sure that it wouldn't change her. She loved him with all of her heart, and knew if anything happened, she'd be crushed. But she had finally accepted that she cannot control what happens on the other side of the world.
She had also been scared to death for her daughter, but she knew that was a matter she couldn't control, either.
Then she promised herself that she would let go. She would be the best mother, wife, and student she could be. But she, for once, accepted that life has its own plan.
She was strong. She was independent. But she was a mother and wife. She did worry. She couldn't help that. But no matter what happened in her life, she swore. She swore for Percy, she swore for her kids, and she swore for herself. She swore that regardless, Annabeth Jackson would try her best, but that was all she could do.
Try and hope.
A/N: Short chapter, written in about twenty minutes. Sorry for the suckiness. That's not a word, but meh, whatever. I just wanted to have a chapter of Annabeth finally being Annabeth, not the worried, OOC Annabeth. Then again, raging hormones of the pregnant lady. She could've been murderous, giddy, or even senseless. Nah…I had fun writing the sappiness. And there IS more to come! More sap!
Yay!
In fact, the next chapter will be all sap. It'll be their letters sent back and forth after this.
Then after that will come…
Why am I telling you this?
All in all, about four chapters left.
Enjoy!
I love feedback almost as much as Aphrodite loves love!
~Suzie
