Disclaimer: Good! I don't own Percy, Annabeth, Artemis and Thalia, but Derek is mine.
Author's Note: As this is an outtake, attendance is optional.
Tomorrow, I will post the following chapter. We are halfway with 14 reviews, 1400 views, 12 alerts and 11 favorites. Thank you so much.
Moonlight Talk
At the age of 20, Annabeth found out she is pregnant again. The prophecy will have two possible legacies to destroy peace. What will Annabeth do about it? Outtake between "Beyond the Land of Gods" and "The Beginning of the End"
Annabeth Jackson was pacing around her bedroom. She had a positive pregnancy test in her hand. She didn't know how this was happening again. Well, she did know but she was on birth control. That's a great irony. Her first child was born under the 1% of possibility that comes with condoms labels. Now, she was on the pill, which she never forgets to take, and she was pregnant again.
Annabeth was angry. She had to blame the Gods and Percy's swimmers. She couldn't find herself telling the news to Percy yet. Annabeth wanted to let it sink first.
Annabeth sat on her bed and started to panic. This new baby could be the one of the prophecy. There will be two legacies now, one of them will destroy the Camps, but which one?.. Unless she did something to ensure it was Derek the one, she could…
"Annabeth, are you fine?" said Thalia knocking her bedroom door and startling Annabeth who was starting to think unspeakable things.
Thalia was here since yesterday visiting because tomorrow is Derek's 2nd birthday and Annabeth's birthday, which was today. Annabeth wondered if it was time to share the news or not.
"Yes, I'm just changing. I'm going out" said Annabeth loudly without opening the door yet.
"Where?" said Thalia.
"Mom, me go" said Derek behind the door with Thalia.
"I'm just going out to the store for something. Thalia, you stay with Derek" I said.
"Ahhh… I get it, something special for tomorrow" said Thalia. She thought Annabeth was talking about a present for Derek.
Annabeth hit her forehead with her palm. She had totally forgotten about a present for her son. She had been too busy with college assignments and freaking out for being pregnant again. She also hadn't bought the cake, the streamers and the other birthday decorations.
Annabeth changed in a heartbeat and opened the door. Thalia was carrying Derek who was smiling at her. Derek was a beautiful toddler with black hair and grey eyes.
"You are right, Thalia. Percy will be here by 10. If I am not here yet, tell him not to worry. You know how he is" said Annabeth and kissed her son goodbye.
"Bye" said Derek waving at Annabeth as she walked out the door.
Annabeth drove without a real direction for over 10 minutes. She needed to clear her head before talking to anybody. She stopped in a red light and saw the store in the corner.
"Damn, I had forgotten" cursed Annabeth and went to the store.
Once she had everything for the party, Annabeth decided to drive back home. She was driving when she saw a golden deer passing through the road and a teen hunter running behind. She recognized the teen and pulled over immediately.
Annabeth walked in the forest for a couple of minutes in the direction she saw the hunter going. The moon was full and high making the forest less scary.
"Lady Artemis" yelled Annabeth. Then she heard a twig breaking behind her. She turned to see the goddess.
"Daughter of Athena" said Artemis. Annabeth kneeled in front of the goddess.
"What brings you here?" said Annabeth.
"I know about your condition" said Artemis. Annabeth gasped in surprise.
"How?" said Annabeth.
"I'm not the goddess of childbirth for nothing. I can feel the new life growing in you. A new legacy to fulfill the prophecy" said Artemis.
"I know" said Annabeth looking down and slightly disappointment. She never meant of having another baby.
"She will be strong. I can sense it" said Artemis.
"Is a girl?" said Annabeth and she felt her heart swelling with joy. A girl! She always wanted a girl.
"Yes, more powerful that Thalia's godson, even more powerful that Perseus. If she is the one, she will turn everything to ashes" said Artemis and Annabeth felt her world crumbing down. This baby was the one. Annabeth felt it.
"What can I do? Not have her?" said Annabeth scared with already tears in her eyes. She thought the two only options: keep her or abort her.
"It's not my call to make" said Artemis. Annabeth shook her head. Percy wanted a girl so much that shattered all hesitation in her, even if the baby was the one.
"I can't hurt her. She is my baby" said Annabeth and instinctively touched her belly where the 8 weeks baby was.
"You have to make a smart decision before it's too late" said Artemis with a hard cold stare.
"I won't hurt her. I won't let you hurt her" said Annabeth with conviction. Even if this baby was the one, Annabeth couldn't let anyone harm her.
"Thalia could if I order her" said Artemis and Annabeth knew that Thalia would follow orders.
"Don't you dare" yelled Annabeth. She wished to have her sword with her but she left it in the car.
"I have to protect the Olympus. Your son still lives because he is under Thalia's protection, but she cannot protect both" said Artemis. Annabeth felt her heart heavy as lead.
"Is there a way for her to avoid her fate?" said Annabeth weakly.
"Thalia made a choice like that before" said Artemis. Annabeth understood completely what the goddess was saying.
"I know what you mean. That's why you are here?" said Annabeth.
"Could be" said Artemis coolly.
"Then, she is yours. I offer my daughter to you. She will become a hunter when she is on age to decide" said Annabeth kneeling in front of the goddess. She was doing what she could to protect her daughter, the Olympus and the Camps.
"I accept her. She will be a mighty addition to the hunters" said Artemis with a cold smile in her face. It was her plan all along.
"As long as she is safe" said Annabeth looking away. She was forced to make this choice, but she didn't regret it.
Artemis walked to her and touched her pregnant belly. Annabeth felt a cool sensation running around where the baby should be.
"I bless her to be safe and happy until the time comes to join us" said Artemis and smiled warmly at Annabeth.
"Thank you, I guess" said Annabeth almost rolling her eyes.
"Don't underestimate my blessing. It will be handy" said Artemis coldly.
"I've better get going" said Annabeth thinking that Percy would be home in any minute.
"Sure, daughter of Athena… Alice!" said Artemis as Annabeth started to walk to her car.
"What?" said Annabeth as she turned to meet the goddess' stare.
"I like Alice" said Artemis.
"Alice?" said Annabeth.
"I have never had a hunter named Alice, Cora and Valerie" said Artemis smiling.
"I'll think about it. Thank you for the suggestions" said Annabeth and walked to her car.
As she drove back home, she thought that she just became Thalia's mother. She had just given her daughter to Artemis just like Jason was given to Hera. Annabeth felt like crying but she didn't. She didn't need Percy worrying for nothing yet.
Once Annabeth was back home, Thalia was in the front yard playing with Derek as she parked in the driveway. Derek was holding a tiny bow, his early gift from Thalia, and trying to place an arrow. Annabeth waved at them as she walked at them. Thalia smiled and patted her shoulder.
"Whatever you do, don't name her Alice. I can't stand that name. Don't you dare to name my goddaughter Thalia neither" said Thalia with a Cheshire cat's grin on her face.
"How?" said Annabeth surprised.
"I knew before coming… Lady Artemis… I like Cora" said Thalia shrugging.
"We'll see. Zoe is a nice name too" said Annabeth looking at the stars when the huntress constellation was.
"Mom" said Derek as he walked to her mother. Annabeth carried him in her arms and kissed her son.
"What?" said Annabeth smiling at his beautiful almost 2 years old boy.
"Like Cora" said Derek smiling.
"You don't know what we are talking about, Derek" said Annabeth.
"Baby sister" said Derek and Annabeth gasped in surprise.
"How did you know?" said Annabeth wondering if Thalia told him. Annabeth threw a murderous look at Thalia who only shrugged in denial.
"Sister Cora" said Derek. Annabeth sighed.
"Then Cora it is" said Annabeth. Thalia smiled so hard that Annabeth wondered if her face hurt.
"You won't regret it, grey eyes" said Thalia.
"You know, you never told me why Derek" said Annabeth intrigued.
"McDreamy" said Thalia blushing.
"What? The TV doctor? You named my son after a TV show's character?" said Annabeth half-upset and half-amused.
"What? He is hot, intelligent and your son looks kind like him. The same unruly hair" said Thalia smiling.
"Oh Gods! Does Percy know?" said Annabeth trying not to laugh.
"Well, yeah. He watches the show with me when I visit. He records it for me" said Thalia.
"I have to check the Tivo" said Annabeth thinking in her husband watching TV with Thalia. Her best friend just rolled her eyes.
"Come on. Go inside. I will get the things into the house" said Thalia and kissed Derek. She walked to the car and Annabeth sighed again.
"Sure, come on, buddy. You are getting a bath before bed" said Annabeth and entered the house with his son in his arms.
NOW LET'S CONTINUE WITH OUR ORIGINAL STORYLINE...