AN: Sorry for the wait. It's hard getting time to write when everyone in your house is fighting over whose turn it is to go on the computer. Sorry about any spelling/grammar mistakes.

R&R…

A Week Later

Annabeth

I haven't seen Percy in a week, since the night I kissed him. After I had pressed my lips firmly against his I had waited for him to start kissing me back but he was too stunned to do anything.

I felt rejected and like a fool and ran out of the hotel after apologising. I still can't believe I'd done something so stupid.

Percy has phoned me over twenty times this past week but I can't answer. I just feel so stupid for doing something like that when I'm married. I've read the text's he has sent me and I hate that he's the one apologising, like it's his fault when he did nothing wrong.

I haven't texted him back. He told me to forget it happened and that it was just a little mistake.

When I had come home from the hotel that very night I was surprised to find Luke laying in bed. He had asked me where I'd been and though I felt guilty for kissing Percy I didn't like how he asked me in an accusing tone. I told him that I'd been 'out' and then we started arguing.

That night I slept on the couch and the night after that I locked him out of our bedroom again. I didn't and still don't have the strength to argue.

What scares me the most is that I can't stop thinking about Percy's warm lips. I had wanted to kiss him for ages and having a few beers and the sadness that I'd felt at the time gave me enough courage to do it. The worst part is that I can't bring myself to regret it.

I open the twins' bedroom door and peak inside to see my two boys sleeping peacefully in the dark. With a small smile I close the door and then walk down the other end of the hall to Jessica's room. I knock on the door and wait for a reply.

"Come in," she sighs after I knock again.

I open the door and walk into her room. She's sitting on her bed, phone in hand and seems to be texting someone.

"It's late. Lights out," I say, my hands on my hips.

"I'm fifteen," she snaps.

"Exactly, you're fifteen. Not sixteen, or seventeen or eighteen. I've really had enough of you snapping at me and acting like you are in charge around here!" I shout, finally breaking.

I hate to lash out at her but I just can't handle how she acts towards me anymore. "I let you come into my home, I bought you clothes, a cell phone, anything you've wanted and you can't even talk nicely to me!"

"If you didn't want me then you shouldn't have let me in!" she snaps back. I can see the hurt in her eyes but the expression on her face is like stone, showing no emotion.

"I didn't say that I didn't want you. What I do want is for you to start treating me with respect," I say in a voice just above a whisper.

She doesn't say anything so I turn on my heel and close the door behind me.

I get to my room and after closing the door I search under the bed for an old suitcase. I grab the suitcase and throw it onto the bed before strolling to my wardrobe and throwing random things into the case. I need to get out of here, even if it's just for a few days.

I tell myself to calm down and relax and then grab my phone and dial Luke's office number.

"Hello?" a squeaky voice says on the other end.

"Can you put me through to Luke Castellan?" I ask, biting my nails as I sit on my bed.

"I'm sorry but he's in a-" I cut the girl who must be my husband's secretary off.

"It's his wife. Tell him there's an emergency at home and that he needs to get here as soon as possible," I snap and without another word I hang up.

I take a few deep breathes before dialling another number. I have nowhere to go and he's my only choice now. I can't call my dad because then he'll know that all along he was right about Luke and I'm too stubborn to give in and swallow my pride.

I press my cell phone to my ear as I wait for the person to pick up. "Hello?" he finally says.

"Percy?" I ask.

"Annabeth?"

"Yeah, it's me," I breathe.

"Are you okay? You sound… upset?" he asks.

"I-I need to get out of here," I stutter. "I need to take a break."

"I'm in New York packing everything up. You can stay here for however long you want," Percy offers without prying and I sigh in relief.

"Are you sure?" I ask.

"Of course. I'll pick you up at the airport. When are you coming?"

"I'll be on an early plane in the morning," I reply.

"Okay. Just ring me when you get here and I'll come pick you up," he says.

"Thank you so much. You're the best. I'm sorry about last week," I whisper.

"Forget about it. It was nothing. Really," he insists.

I hear a car door outside and I know Luke's home from work.

"I have to go. Thank you so much for this. You're a lifesaver," I say.

Percy says goodbye and then I hang up just as Luke comes into the bedroom.

I turn just in time to see his eyes widen and face pale.

"W-what are you doing?" he stutters.

"I'm leaving," I say.

"What? Why?" he asks and I realise he thinks I mean that I am leaving him. I want to laugh at the expression on his face. He is so scared at the thought of me leaving.

"Not forever, Luke. Just a few days," I explain.

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair. "But why?"

"Because I need a break. I'm going to go insane if I don't get away," I reply.

"What about the kids?" he asks.

"They're your kids, too. Take time off work and look after them. Take the boys out to play football and take Jess shopping or something. Act like a father is meant to," I say.

"What about work?" he asks, completely panicked.

"I'm sure your boss will give you a few days off. If not then say you're sick. You've been working non-stop for years. If they don't give you time off then I will go up there myself and bring the roof down," I snap.

"So, you're just abandoning the kids?" he hisses.

"Taking a break is not abandoning my children!"

"They're our children!" he growls.

"Are they? For the last five years you haven't been anything to them except the man that comes home late at night. A father and a dad is a completely different thing. Do you want our son's and daughter growing up not having any memories of their dad?" I ask.

"They do have memories of me!"

"Do they? Do you really think that when they are twenty years old they're going to remember things that you did with them at four years old?" I snap.

"I've spent time with them since-"

I cut him off. "No, Luke. You haven't spent time with them since you got that job. That was five years ago when the twins were four. Jess has been here for three years and guess what? She doesn't have any memories of you! She found you because she wanted a family. We are not a family!"

"Annabeth…" he nearly begs. "Don't leave me."

"I will leave you… if you don't start being a dad to our children. Now. You get on your cell phone and tell your boss that you are having the week off," I order.

"We won't be a family if you're gone," he says.

"Then you'll know how I feel when I have to tell the kids you aren't here all the time. You can tell them that it's your fault," I reply. "And when I get back I'm starting work again, whether you like it or not. So you will take time off so I can work, too. And you will start spending time with the kids."

"Are you saying that you don't like being home with the kids?" Luke asks.

"Don't you dare turn this on me," I growl, digging my finger into his chest. "I love being home with them but it's your turn now."

I hear a door in the hall open and then footsteps coming towards the room. The door opens seconds later to reveal the crying faces of the twins. "M-mommy?" Travis stutters. "Where are you going?"

Tears fill my own eyes at how upset the boys are and I sit on the bed and pat the space beside me. They slowly walk over and sit down and I can't help but notice how they don't say anything to their father. It's like my husband isn't standing there at all.

"I'm just going away for a little while, that's all," I whisper, putting my arms around both of the boys.

"You will come back though, right? You're not going to leave us behind forever?" Connor asks and my heart breaks.

"I will be back in a few days, I promise. Daddy has my cell phone number so you can call me whenever you want, okay? I'm just going to go stay with my friend for a while like you two go over your own friends to sleep and hang out sometimes," I explain.

"Who's going to look after us?" Travis asks.

"Daddy is, sweetie. He's going to take you both out to play football like you guys have wanted for a while," I say, my eyes on Luke's.

"I don't like it when you and daddy fight," Connor whispers.

I feel so guilty. They shouldn't have to listen to Luke and I yelling at each other every night. I wonder if they always wake up at night to Luke and I ripping each other's heads off.

I clear my throat, let go of the boys and zip the suitcase up. "I need money for a plane ticket," I tell Luke and he nods, his hand searching for his wallet in his pocket.

"Where are you going, anyway?" he asks.

"New York," I reply.

I hear another door open and then Jess is in the room, too. Funny, the only time we are all in the same room together is when something unpleasant is happening. "Whom are you staying with?" she asks, her arms crossed over her chest.

"Percy," is all I say.

"Who's he?" Luke asks, suspiciously.

"He's Lilly's dad. He's nice," Travis speaks up.

"He's a friend," I insist, glaring into his blue eyes.

Luke drops the subject and hands me a few hundred dollars. I take a deep breath, realising that I'm actually leaving for a few days; I'm leaving the kids alone with Luke for the first time in years. I feel nervous but at the same time kind of giddy at the thought of having a break.

"Right, it's time for you all to get back to bed. It's…" I trail off and look at the clock on the wall. My eyes widen as I continue, "1am. I'm going to leave in a few hours."

"I don't want you to go," Connor says and wraps his arms around my waist. My eyes well up again.

"I don't want to much, either. But do you know when you go to school for weeks and weeks and then finally you get a break?" I ask.

Travis and Connor nod. "Well, this is just like it. I'm getting a break before I go back to work."

"Work?" Jess speaks up.

I look at her and nod. "Yeah. I'm going to get a job at some architect company if they want me," I reply before taking the boy's hand. "Come on. It's bedtime. I'll read you a bedtime story."

Once the boys are tucked in to bed I get a book off their little bookshelf and start reading aloud. As usual, it doesn't take long for them to fall asleep so once they're snoozing I quietly leave the room and go back to my bedroom.

Luke is pacing around the room and Jess is sitting on the bed. "Jess-" I start.

"I know," she huffs and stands up. "I'll go to bed in a minute. I just want you both to know that this isn't fair on the boys. You're arguing all the time and they shouldn't have to listen to it every night. They shouldn't have to sneak into my room when you two are too busy yelling at each other, asking if you are going to get a divorce like 'Lilly's mom and dad'."

I sigh. "I'm sorry, really. I just need to escape for a while or I'm going to go insane."

"I understand," she whispers and for once she doesn't sound snappy or mean. She sounds… nice and normal. I like it.

I turn to Luke. "Please, look after them. Take them out. My leaving is for you as well as me. When our kids grow up you are going to wonder what you missed, I know you will."

He nods, looking guilty. "I'm sorry, Annie."

I grimace at the old nickname that I've come to hate. "I've heard that hundreds of times, Luke," I say before grabbing my case and heading downstairs.

I make a snack in the kitchen while I look at the New York flights on my laptop. I find a last minute ticket that's for 3am and call for a cab to pick me up. Luke doesn't come down to say goodbye when the taxi beeps to let me know it's arrived.

With a big huff I grab the case and drag it behind me out of the house and into the taxi.

"To the airport, please," I say and the taxi man drives off. I think about what I'm doing and where I'm going. New York. I haven't been there in fifteen years. I haven't seen my dad in so long and I admit to myself that I miss him. Maybe I might visit him when I get to New York.

When I arrive at the airport I pay the driver, grab my case, and walk off to get my ticket. I wait for my plane to be called before heading over to the large desk where a woman looks at my passport.

Soon I'm buckled up on the plane, my head resting against the window as the bird-like machine finally starts moving. I sigh in both sadness and relief. I finally getting a break from my hectic life and I'm staying at Percy's apartment.

With him- just us two. Alone…

AN: No cliffhanger but… what did you think? I've changed the rating to an M for later chapters. They won't be 'detailed' much but if they're then I will give you a warning in an AN at the start of a chapter.

Review!