Annabeth:
"How?" I asked with my arms crossed. Percy looked at me with a smile. Luke was fast asleep as he had been since Percy had finished that stupid bookshelf. Now, I had turned off those terrible kids showsas soon as the slight snoring of Luke had hit my hears. Percy and I were now just standing in the kitchen as it was midnight by now. It took longer than we expected because of the fact that it took twenty minutes to find a few of the tools. Then we had the problem of missing a few of the pieces to find them in the hall closet. How they got there, I don't know, but I think that Luke his it so Percy would stay longer.
"I just followed the directions," Percy shrugged. I wanted to scream how he even knew what those weird 'handy people' words meant, but I had had enough of him knowing more than me for one day. It wasn't the pleasantest of feelings. Instead, I came up with the next thing to ay that didn't make me feel inferior to Percy.
"One day, I'm going to murder those creators of 'Bubble Guppies'," I told him with a smile. Percy could no longer hold in a laugh. I shook my head. I always thought I would kill the Dora people first, and I probably will kill them. But Luke hates Dora. So, I'm not stuck watching that. But not Bubble Guppies. Who came up with mertoddlers going on adventures? They just have to be either mentally insane or had to be really high. It's as simple as that.
"It's not that bad," Percy told me. I arched an eyebrow, letting him know I know I was trying not to mumble two of my favorite words, Seaweed Brain.
"You watch a show about toddlers who live under the sea 24/7. Then we'll talk," I told him. Percy nodded. When did it become so easy to talk to him? When Percy first found out about our son, it seemed hard to talk. But now that he's met and become a father to Luke, it became the easiest thing in the world to me. I don't get it. I left Percy in the dark as to him not even knowing about our son. Shouldn't it be awkward? Shouldn't he hate me? And finally, why do I always have to question everything? I mean, sheesh, I am blessed by being able to talk to him. Can't I just leave it at that? Oh Zeus, I'm doing it again!
"Nice point," Percy answered.
"How do we do this?" I asked finally. Well, I couldn't stop pestering myself about it. Why not pester someone else about it? It's not like I was going to get it out of my mind any time soon anyway. So, why not ask him? Percy can surprise me with a brilliance I truly wished occurred more often, not that it does as often as I would prefer.
"What?" Percy smiled.
"This. Talk so easily. I mean, shouldn't we be awkward around each other and all? I did keep a son from you. Not only that, but most exes don't get along. So, why do we get along?" I asked with a shrug. Percy seemed to ponder it as he stepped closer. I had to admit, he is pretty cute. Shaggy black hair offset his green eyes. He was also insanely tall. Like, maybe, 6'1 or 6'2. I was 5'10 or so. He was a good three inches taller than me. So, he had to be in the 6's. He still seemed like he kept up with his demigod training. Now, don't you dare even breath a word to anyone of the bland and superficial word I am about to use, but it is basically the perfect way to describe what I'm thinking.
Percy is hot.
"Well, it could be the whole being best friends for around sixteen years. Or it could be Luke. Or it could be the fact that we just do. Or it could be-" Percy told me I. Show-off.
"I know. I know. It was a stupid question," I cut him off.
"-that I still love you," Percy finished. Everything stopped around me. Did he just say-? No, he couldn't have. Uh-uh, I'm just imagining it. He said something else. I'm sure of it. I looked into his sea green eyes. Nope, he said it. No doubt about that. So, what do I say? I mean, of course, I still love him.
Uh, duh!
Annie, think of Luke. Luke. Luke's happiness. The well being of Luke. Do not focus on the hot guy who just told you that he loves you. Or that you love him. Or how happy he makes you feel. Or how your heart stops when he looks at you, I tried to convince myself. As you an very well tell, it wasn't working very well.
"Perce, what about Luke?" I tried.
"What about Luke? That his parents could try to get back together. Wow, that's really bad for him," Percy pointed out. Did he have to put it like that? Did I mention he can really be a nuisance sometimes?
"Annabeth, if you are truly worried about Luke, then I'll step away. If it is in the best interest of our son, I will be the dad he needs and nothing else. But if you're just scared," Percy looked down. This was what I needed. I could say it was best for our son. It would all be done. We would go back to Percy taking care of Luke on Sunday and watch him on Tuesdays. Then we would spend Saturday together as a family. A very deformed family, but a family. Saturday quickly became Luke's favorite day.
But I couldn't.
I tried to force the words off my tongue, but nothing happened. I couldn't do it. Saturday was my son's favorite day for a reason. We're all together. Right now, I could give him that. Above that, I could be with the guy I had been in love with for years.
But I was scared.
That's it. I can handle raising a two year old. I can handle handing my best friend the knife that killed him. I can handle fighting a war at fifteen. I truly can. But I cant handle telling Percy I love him. For crying out loud, it took four years the first time!
I took a deep breath. The decision was made. No turning back.
