Yes, I'm not died. Sorry it took so long for me to update. I wasn't really in the mood after reading Mark of Athena. You can guess why. Anyways, I really want to finish this story, but I am a really lazy writer so motivation in the form of reviews would be greatly appreciation. Also I am looking for a beta for this story. If you are interested please message with your credentials. Now, please enjoy this cute little chapter.
JASON
Jason had fought a sea monster, defeated a titian, fought in two wars and ended a feud between two camps that had spanned over thousands of years, but nothing quite prepared him for becoming a father.
Everyone kept telling how excited he should feel about becoming a father, but all Jason felt was a mixture of confusion, panic, and a bit of nausea. He didn't know the first thing about being a father. He was raised by wolves for goodness sake!
And his own father, now there's a good joke, the great almighty Jupiter didn't call on him unless the world was ending. No pressure there.
Jason guessed he shouldn't feel so bad. If there was one think his childhood taught him it was that you don't need a father to survive. So, he couldn't possibly screw up his kids' lives too badly.
For the first time that night, the house was silent, but Jason still couldn't sleep. After all today's excitement, it would have taken Somnus himself to get Jason to fall asleep. They kept telling him to relax. Women around the world give birth every single day. It's completely natural.
It definitely didn't sound natural.
That's where his hero instincts really screwed him over. He could hear Reyna screaming out in pain, but there was nothing he could do about it. It went on for hours. Jason swore it was going to drive him mad. Hylla threatened to kick him at least five times before it was over.
That was another thing he hated about this whole baby business. Hylla was a complete nightmare, protecting her precious little sister. She ranting for hours about how stupid he was, how he didn't know the first thing about having baby. (Which was true but she didn't need go around rubbing it in his face). He would have kicked Hylla out weeks ago if he didn't think it would have upset Reyna. She was already having a difficult time with her pregnancy; he didn't want to add to her discomfort. But even Hylla has her uses.
When Reyna told him that she in labor his entire mind went blank. (Although if his memory is correction, his reply was "Ok") Luckily, Hylla was there to handle everything and seventeen hours later there were two more baby boys in New Rome. Juno probably thought she gave Jason a gift, two firstborn sons, the equivalence of winning the lottery in Roman society. At least it wasn't a girl. Jason didn't want to listen to Hylla and Thalia fighting over who got to corrupt his daughter first. No, since it was two boys instead, Hylla turn her full attention to taking care of her little sister. Even went as far as kicking him out of his own room so Reyna could rest. Poor Reyna was too exhausted to argue.
So, Jason made himself comfortable on the downstairs' couch. It has been almost an hour since he had heard crying from the nursery. Jason started to wonder if he should worry. A guy from work had told him that babies don't usually sleep their first night, so silence is never a good sign. He decided to go upstairs to check on them.
He found them exactly where he expected to find them curled up in their crib. They were wrapped up tightly so that they looked more like little blobs than human babies: One red, one gold. Tiny tuffs of black hair stuck out from underneath their matching beanies. Thalia told him that they look just him when he was baby, minus the blonde hair, but Jason didn't really see it.
Jason was about leave when stifled cry stopped him in his track.
"No, no, no. Please don't cry," Jason begged. "Hylla will kill me."
But the little red blob began to wiggle.
"Please stop. I didn't mean to wake you." He figured he better pick him up before he woke up his brother.
He carefully lifted him from the crib and cradled him in him arms. Thalia had only taught him how to hold a baby a few hours, so he wasn't quite sure if he was doing right but it seemed to do the trick.
"Now, don't jump out of my arms or anything." Reyna would kill him if he dropped their baby.
"Everything's fine, Romulus. At least I think you're Romulus. Romulus is red and Remus is gold, or is it the other way around?" Jason was never going keep their names straight. "Well, you're Romulus now."
He felt bad for the kid. Not even a day old and he was already burden with his father's name. His legacy. He completed his first quest when he just ten, defeated a sea monster when he was thirteen, and, oh yeah, killed a titian when he was fifteen. And that's not including Reyna's accomplishments.
Jason knew actually was that was like, living in your father's shadow. The last thing Jason wanted was place that kind of pressure on something so young and innocent, but he guessed that couldn't be help now.
"You know, I don't really care what you do. You could fluke out of school, grow up to run a coffee shop or join the Fifth cohort. Actually, I would be proud if you were part of the Fifth. The Fifth is a great cohort, no matter your mother says about them. All I ask is that you give me the same allowance. I am kind new to this whole father thing. And between you and me, I have no idea what I am doing. So, take it easy on me. Ok?"
Romulus didn't seem to be getting any of this. His eyelids were too heavy for him to keep them open. Great, day one and Jason was already boring his son to sleep. But when he tried to lay him back down in his crib he started to cry again.
"Ok, ok. I guess I can just sit here and hold you for a little bit longer." Two hours passed and Jason was still holding him. It wasn't until Hylla charged into the room later that morning did that change.
A sudden jolt of pain woke Jason from his memories.
"Stop moving so much, you're making the bleeding worst."
Jason opened his eyes. It took him a minute to remember why he was he was lying on floor of their living room with Hazel and Frank. Oh yeah, he was stabbed.
Reyna was beside him, pressing a blood soaked rag onto his stomach. A half-empty bottle of ambrosia sat next to her.
"Where are the kids?" He asked her.
"I'm not sure, but Romulus got them out."
"Where did the other soldiers go?"
"Probably out to look for Romulus."
"What does−"
"I don't know." Her brow was wrinkled deep in concentration. He could see the subtle signs of worry on her face. "Now, hold still. You already lost a lot of blood and I don't want you blacking out again."
Jason sighed and laid his head back down into Reyna's lap.
"Don't worry, Reyna. Romulus will protect them. I know he will."
I know the whole Jeyna thing is off canon now so please tell me if you are still interested in reading this story.
