Chapter 12
Once he told the group of people outside that they could come in, they all started to get excited. Jason came in with Piper, who'd left the room with the rest of the girls when the baby was born. a heavily pregnant Hazel walked in with Frank, along with Leo and Rachel. The Stolls and Clarisse and Chris Rodriguez walked in next, followed lastly by the group of new grandparents.
Percy then closed the door, and walked in to see the reactions.
His mother and Athena were crying. They both said that she was the prettiest thing ever, and that they were going to be the best parents ever. Poseidon and Paul clapped him on the back, and Jason just wiggled his eyebrows mischieviously.
"You know you won't sleep soundly until they're like, one and a half, right?" Jason said, smirking. Percy nodded.
"I read all those stupid books Annabeth gave me about parenting. Did Piper make you do that?" Percy replied. Jason shuddered, and nodded.
"Did Annabeth find the one with all the pictures? It gave me nightmares until James and Elle were born." Percy laughed, and looked over at his wife, who, even exhausted, looked beautiful. He then walked over to her, and kissed her head lightly.
"How's are my gorgeous girls doing?" He asked, leaning down to kiss Hope as well. Annabeth smiled.
"I'm good, but Hope is getting pretty tired of looking at all these people." She said jokingly, looking down. Hope was yawning and squirming in her blankets.
"That's true, we should all probably get going." Thalia said, looking across the room at Nico.
Piper followed her gaze, and elbowed her mischieviously.
"Has he popped the question yet?" She asked. Thalia turned a nasty shade of burnt peanut red.
"Are you joking?" She said, her hands balled into fists. Piper backed away.
"Jeez Thals, I was just joking." Thalia then turned huffily, and exited the room. Piper walked over sheepishly to Jason, and they left shortly thereafter.
"Annabeth, you must be so happy to finally have a kid!" Hazel said, glowing. Annabeth nodded.
"I never asked, but what's the gender of your two babies?" Annabeth asked Rachel and Hazel.
"Mine's a boy." Hazel said, squeezing Frank's hand. Rachel's eyes fell to the floor.
"We are having, a, um, well we don't know yet." She said, resting her head on Leo's shoulder. He patted down her red curls and sighed.
"The doctor can't tell what it is yet, even though she's four months in." Leo explained hastily. The group of friends nodded. Nico then walked over, and saw Hope.
"Oh my gosh, she's so pretty!" He exclaimed, clapping his hands. "Can I hold her?"
"I think the two grandmothers and grandfathers get to do that first, and then you can." Athena said, sneaking up behind him. Nico bowed, and got out of the way so that she could grab Hope. She cradled her in her arms for a minute, and then passed her on to a sobbing Sally.
"She's precious! She looks exactly like you two!" Sally bawled. Annabeth patted her gently.
"Hopefully she hasn't inherited your ADHD, or Percy's lack of responsibility." Percy stood, aghast.
"Mother, how dare you insult me! I wasn't being responsible when I arrived at my wedding on time? Or when I went with my wife to her Ultrasound appointments? Or when I drove her to the hospital to give birth to our daughter, and stayed with her 'till the very end?" He said mockingly. Sally slapped his arm playfully.
"I knew that, sweetie. You're a good husband, we all know that." The adults nodded in agreement.
"Even though I didn't agree of your courting at first, I'm glad you married my daughter." Athena said, staring at him, her eyes steel grey, unlike Annabeth's dove irises. Percy bowed.
"It's an honor to hear those words, my lady." Poseidon then suddenly walked in the room, accompanied by Hera, one of Annabeth's and Percy's least favourite goddesses.
"Let me see my first granddaughter!" Poseidon exclaimed. Percy took Hope from his mothers' arms, and placed her in his fathers.
"She's gorgeous." Hera said shortly, even though she tried to portray fondness, it came out sinister.
"Lady Hera, what do we owe the honor?" Annabeth said, her voice clearly unhappy.
"I've come to bless your daughter, of course. It is part of my job, you know." She said, returning the iciness in Annabeth's voice.
"We never asked for a blessing." Annabeth countered.
"Well, I've come here on my own behalf, so, surprise." Hera said sarcastically.
"We don't want a blessing." Annabeth exclaimed.
"Yes, you do! You need one!"
"Says who?"
"Says me! If that child doesn't have one, she'll perish before she's a year old!" Annabeth froze, her mouth half open.
"Fine, give her your blessing." She spat. Hera then placed Hope in the crib, and raised her hands over the baby's head. She muttered a strange incantation, a string of ancient Greek words while waving her hands around the crib. She clapped three times, and kissed Hope's head lightly.
"There," Hera whispered. "She is blessed." Annabeth chortled.
"Thank you. Hope will not die before the age of one thanks to you. I really appreciate it." She muttered sarcastically. Hera's face turned red.
"Mark my words, Annabeth Jackson, the next time you try anything under my reign, I will make it wither and perish!" She exclaimed, and in a flash, she vanished. Annabeth looked shaken.
"Everyone, I think it's time we left the parents alone. We'll see them when they get home tomorrow." Sally said, ushering the crowd out.
"Thanks, Mom." Percy said graciously.
"You're welcome. We'll see you soon, I hope." Sally said, and closed the door.
At three pm, the parents were released out of the hospital, accompanied by their daughter. Percy struggled to fit the straps of her pink car seat together, while the baby gazed up at her father.
"Need any help?" Annabeth asked, getting out of the mandatory wheelchair.
"Kinda." He said, kissing her forehead. She gently pushed him out of the way, and in twenty seconds had Hope strapped in.
"How did you do that?" Percy asked, looking amazed.
"It's just like the straps on a rollercoaster, but harder." She said, gazing into his eyes. He kissed her again.
"Let's go home." He said, hugging her waist.
"Let's go home."
That's it for today, folks! I am now going to be taking suggestions for Frazel's baby boy, and the gender and names for Reo's child. (I came up with Reo, hehe :) PM those please!
Review it up, at least 5, otherwise I will leave the story where it is, I'm dead serious! Thanks for all the reviews last time, so please keep it up! New chapter up by Thursday, at least…
Love all of you!
xx Liz Logan