Chapter Ten: Happiness
Happiness (Noun)-A state of contentment and well being.
The clock on the wall ticked quietly, counting the seconds with a constant and precise click. But the rest of the room, as well as the three people occupying it, were quiet, dozing from an exhausting night. One awoke with a start, sitting up in the chair he had been reclined in with a yawn. Percy sighed, rubbing his eyes as he looked over towards the hospital bed a few feet across from him. Annabeth laid in it, fast asleep.
He noticed the small bundle in her arms, and he allowed himself to breathe a sigh of relief. Percy moved his chair closer to the bedside, carefully taking the small thing that had been beginning to stir in Annabeth's arms. It let out a small cry of protest, but eventually quieted down as Percy set the small bundle down into his inter-locked arms. He couldn't hold back the gigantic smile that appeared on his face as he looked at the small, newborn child he was holding in his arms. It was almost hard to believe after all of those years of trying for a child, only to a fail, that they had finally gotten their wish.
Percy crossed his legs, propping his arms up as he gently brought the newborn baby closer to him. He gazed at it intently, as a plethora of emotions ran through his mind. Relief, disbelief, and an overwhelming amount of happiness that he once thought before was humanly impossible coursed through him. Relief, because at last they had finally managed to get the child they had been wanting so desperately for years. Disbelief because of that very reason. And the reasoning behind his ecstatic mood was more than obvious to him.
The baby wrapped in his arms stirred again in its blanket, its faint plume of black hair that topped its head protruding slightly. It let out a small cry, and Percy quietly shushed it as he held it closer. Annabeth's eyes fluttered open, looking in the direction the baby's cry had emanated from. She yawned briefly, smiling weakly at it. He held it towards her, but she shook her head.
"That's alright," She muttered, rubbing the baby's small patch of hair on its' head, "You hold her."
Percy nodded, unable to hold back the overwhelming need to smile,
"Gods," He whispered, "She's amazing."
"She is," Annabeth agreed, "She really is..."
Percy opened his eyes, jarring himself from his day-dreaming. He rubbed his eyes, pushing away the sunglasses that covered them. As he sat up, he came face-to-face with the ocean in front of him. Percy sighed with contentment, taking in the salty air and cool breeze that alleviated the heat Percy felt from the sun above. Annabeth called his name a few feet behind him, and he turned.
She walked towards him, grinning as she carried the baby in her arms. It babbled enthusiastically at the sight of Percy, as she reached her arms out towards him. Percy instantly broke into laughter as Annabeth sat down beside them on their blanket that was laid out on the sand, handing him his daughter.
"Fell asleep, did you?"
He nodded, yawning, before regarding the baby in his arms. Percy started making a slew of odd or otherwise random noises, which instantly started to make the baby laugh. He held her by her sides, lifting her through the air as he continued making the ridiculous noises. Annabeth shook her head, smiling as she watched on. He laughed briefly, before setting his daughter back onto the blanket.
"Thera's starting to get mobile," Percy observed, watching as she crawled about, "We'll be lucky if we manage to keep her from escaping her crib every five seconds."
Annabeth scooped the baby up before she could crawl towards the shore, "We'll be lucky to keep her from crawling into the ocean."
Percy leaned back, propping himself onto one elbow. Thera continued to babble on, flapping her arms through the air as she did. She grabbed for Percy's hair, but he dodged it just in time. His hand ghosted over the top of his head,
"That was close."
Percy adjusted his sunglasses, "The last time she grabbed hold of my head, there was a patch of missing hair for weeks."
"I remember," Annabeth said, snickering, "And no matter which way you combed your hair, it wouldn't cover it up."
Percy folded his arms with a disdainful, but sarcastic grunt, "No need to remind me."
He looked around, taking in the view. They couldn't have decided on a more perfect weekend to spend at Camp Half Blood. Not a single cloud obscured the aquamarine sky above the shore, as the sun made the water glitter as if flecks of gold shimmered on its surface. He breathed in again, taking in the crisp, salty air.
Beside him, Annabeth drew in a breath, "If I had to pick my favorite place in the world, I think this would be it."
"What?" Percy chuckled, "I would've guessed that it would've been the Parthenon or some other history-rich location that you go crazy for."
"The Parthenon's a close second," She replied, "And as for those other locations, I hardly go crazy for them. So...What about you?"
"What about me?"
"What's your favorite place in the world, Seaweed Brain?" Annabeth questioned, using her long-time nickname for him.
"Hmm..." He pondered, leaning back on his elbow as he faced her, "Well, that pizza place across the street from our apartment never exactly gets old."
"I'm serious," She laughed, elbowing him gently in the center of his chest.
"So am I!" He said, grinning with a wince, rolling away to avoid anymore blows.
Percy turned onto his back as Thera crawled towards him. He squinted up at the sun, its glowing rays still blinding, even with his sunglasses. Thera pawed for his hair as he thought about Annabeth's question.
"I don't think I have a favorite," He mumbled, "Even with all the places I've seen and gone to during quests...There's too many to pick from."
"But if you had to choose..." Annabeth pressed.
He chuckled in response, "Beats me. I don't have a favorite."
Percy glanced over again, and found Annabeth staring back. Annabeth reached out, grasping his chin gently in her hand as she leaned forward and planted a kiss on his lips. He returned it eagerly, his hand ghosting onto her waist as he did. After a while, they managed to steady themselves, laughing quietly.
"Damn it," Percy cursed, breaking away with a faint grin, "We shouldn't be doing this here. Chiron will have our heads, even if no one else is around."
Annabeth sighed softly, "You're right. But, maybe when we get home, we can finish what we started."
Percy bit his lip, suppressing a smile, "Now, I've had my fair share of corny moments, but I think that one takes the cake."
She gently swatted his arm as he stood up, brushing sand off of himself with a snide laugh under his breath. He was jarred from his playful banter with Annabeth by Thera, who was whining under her breath.
"I think she's getting antsy," He observed, "I'll walk her around for a while."
Annabeth nodded a series of times, before reclining back on the blanket.
"While you do that, I think I'm going to catch up on some sleep."
Percy leaned over, giving her a quick peck on the cheek before scooping up Thera with a grunt,
"Gods, you're getting heavy."
He picked up her miniature sun hat as well, brushing off the coat of sand that had collected on it. Percy slipped on his flip-flops that he had cast away, before setting off down the beach. He hummed a song as he walked along, carrying his daughter. Eventually, as he got farther and farther down the beach, deeper and deeper into his made-up tune, Thera grew more and more tired. It didn't take long for her to slip into a light sleep in his arms.
Percy re-adjusted her hat, before pausing in his steps. He was near the edge of the woods that bordered the shoreline, and spotted a mossy rock that just barely stuck out. Wandering over, he sat down, holding Thera as he looked out onto the ocean. He yawned as he reclined back, and felt his eyes closing until a commanding voice jarred him,
"Wake up."
They fluttered open, as he looked around for the owner of the voice. A few feet away, the ocean's waters just barely grazing her ankles was Athena, her piercing eyes boring into him. He gulped, and was about to stand until she put her hand out,
"And there's no need for the formalities," She snipped, "I'm only here to speak to you briefly."
Percy nodded vigorously, and heard a sigh escape her. She regarded Thera, who was still sleeping soundly in his arms.
"I see you went against my wishes, even after my requst."
"I-Yes," He answered, "But if you knew your daughter as well as you thought you did, you would know that she isn't one to just give up. And neither am I."
For a moment, anger flared up on Athena's face. He straightened in his place. As terrified as he was on the inside, he knew he couldn't let it show if he was to get through to Athena. Eventually, her rage died down, but it was still prominent in her voice,
"I suppose for once, Son of Poseidon," She managed diplomatically, "That you are correct. But you would do well to remember your place while speaking to a god."
Percy swallowed the knot in his throat, before saying, "I think you and I both can agree that I've pissed off a number of gods already, I'll piss off more somehow or someway, and that I'm not exactly keen on remembering my place."
Athena nodded, sighing as she regarded Percy's daughter again,
"Perhaps you should at least make an effort."
She opened her mouth to speak again, "It's not very often that demigods survive the fate of being a demigod, or the weight that being one brings. The fact that my daughter has lived what she's been through is a wonder, but it also gives me some shape or form of hope, for future demigods. I've also noticed how much happier she has become. I've realized how much happier she's become because of you...I believe a truce is in order."
He looked up at Athena again, but kept quiet as she continued,
"This disdain I have for you, I realize now that it is unwarranted. The feud I have is with Poseidon, not his son. So, I formally apologize."
Athena stepped towards him, outstretching her hand. He put his out as well, as they clasped hands and shook briefly. Percy, under the cover of his sunglasses, winced. Gods were constantly radiating power, so shaking hands with one didn't exactly tickle. Athena broke away, pressing a weak smile. It wasn't hostile or cold, but not friendly either. Simply neutral.
"My duties on Olympus never cease to exist," She said, "So I must be off. Farewell."
Percy bowed his head slightly, "Goodbye, Lady Athena."
When he looked up again, she was gone. But near the water, where she had first been standing, something was sticking out of the sand. Percy stood, carrying Thera, as he picked it up out of the ground. Wiping the sand off of it, he examined it more closely. It was a small bracelet, made of a simple black cord. Attached to it was a carved piece of ice blue seaglass with the design of an owl.
He walked back down the beach, knowing it was for his daughter. Attaching it to her small wrist, he thought back on the brief conversation he had just had with Athena. It was all suddenly so hazy, like a dream, a trance. Had Percy not just found the bracelet, there would've been nothing to prove that the conversation had, in fact, happened. Percy trudged towards Annabeth, who sat up as they got closer.
Percy sat down carefully on the blanket, as Annabeth wordlessly took Thera in her arms. She noticed the bracelet on her wrist,
"Where'd this come from?" Annabeth questioned, "I don't remember getting this for her."
Percy shook her head, "You didn't. Athena gave it to her...I just spoke with her a minute ago."
Annabeth moved towards him, "What did she say?"
"She called a truce between us, apologized too. She realized that her feud was only with Poseidon, and not with me."
Her mouth opened and closed, as she searched for the right words. Finally, she answered,
"Gods, that's-that's great, Percy!"
They leaned towards each other, both meeting halfway at a kiss. It continued for a short while, as they broke away at intervals, before their daughter begam to wake up. Percy leaned his forehead against Annabeth's as they looked down at Thera.
"I think...I think I know where my favorite place in the world is now."
"Okay, shoot."
Percy looked up, a faint smile on his face, "Wherever you and our daughter are. That will always be my favorite place in the world."
A/N: And that's that! I hope you guys enjoyed the story, I know I enjoyed writing it. Make sure to check back next Saturday for the next story I'll be posting. I won't say much about it other than the fact that it's an AU. So, if you're interested, it's going up December 6th.
Thanks!
Leaded-Pegasus