They both hated New Year.

Maybe when they were younger they enjoyed it, but they were kids. Any excuse to get drunk and stay out all night was pretty welcome in their books, after everything they had been through. At the time, it was just nice to be able to let their hair down and let it all go, on this one night where it was okay to go mad because everyone else did.

Now the novelty had kind of faded and the quicker the night was over the better. It was always pretty loud outside and all they wanted was to sleep and then there were the endless phonecalls and texts as soon as the ball dropped and it was just meaningless bullshit. Being alive and the passing of time was always something to celebrate - they were lucky to have made it through another year - but that was what birthdays were for, right?

"I think we should go to Montauk soon." Percy mumbled. Annabeth was snoozing under his arm curled up under a blanket and it just kind of made sense to him. It would be nice to get away for a while, from the heaviness of the city and the sluggish doze of January that seemed to last forever. "Would be nice to get away for a couple of days."

Annabeth sighed wistfully. The sand between her toes, whether it was probably freezing or not would honestly feel wonderful. She lived for the seaside - the salty air and the softness of the waves. It reminded her of growing up in camp and being young and picnics and everything she loved about being who she was. It made her think of her Seaweed Brain and even if he was right beside her, she could never have too much of that.

"I know. We can't though, Percy. Bad timing."

He sighed. "Sucks."

Annabeth smiled. "Ungrateful prick."

"Love you too."

Trust Percy to bring Montauk up on the day she was feeling her worst. Her back ached like Hades, she felt sick and all she wanted to do was eat, everytime the baby kicked it was getting her right it the ribs and she couldn't help but think that maybe ..?

For a couple of seconds she kind of wished it would happen the Athena way, but on second thoughts a baby springing from her head would probably result in her death, which she didn't fancy, since no matter how much Percy told her she was a Goddess, she wasn't an actual Goddess.

She still thought about Percy turning down being a God. It was a defining part of her life and she often wondered what would have happened if he had said yes and she never saw him again. She didn't like thinking like that because she'd be a completely different person - probably disgustingly successful but horribly lonely. The friends she had made had mainly been through Percy, whether it was because he had taught her to relax or because he was better at people than she was. She certainly wouldn't be here, a couple of days overdue with a husband - half-asleep with chocolate around his mouth beside her.

Thank Gods he turned it down, because as delicious as being rich and successful sounded it wouldn't be worth it if she had no one to share it with - there would be no point in spending her success on material things when they wouldn't make her happy, which she valued above everything else.

"You know the God thing?" She asked.

"Which one?"

"When you turned it down."

"Yeah?"

"Did you even consider it?"

He hadn't thought about it for a long time. It seemed like an entire different life, laying here now. It felt like it was a dream or something - he hadn't been on a quest since the prophecy and he honestly didn't intend to. Parts of his past were becoming a little fuzzy now - up until fairly recently he could remember nearly every detail of what happened; from the zoo truck to the depths of Tartarus and as horrible as these places were sometimes, they were a part of him and it made him sad that it wasn't so clear anymore. Things died with time, he supposed, whether they were meant to or not.

But was he meant to? Would the prophecy of the seven even existed if he had agreed? Could he have prevented that war altogether? He wasn't sure.

"A little." He admitted. "I was a sixteen year old kid, so I guess immortality and power sounds pretty great when you're that age. I just didn't like knowing what I would be leaving behind. I was thinking about you and Camp and my parents and I didn't think I'd be very happy. All they do is fight up there anyways. Why do you ask?"

He had more sense than anyone gave him credit for, even then. Like he said, a lot of sixteen year old kids would jump at the chance of immense power and money - Percy was sensible enough to give it some thought and she adored him for that. She loved how his life revolved around other people but he still managed to care for himself. He had the characteristics of an amazing father and it was ridiculously sweet.

"Don't know. I was just thinking about it." Annabeth yawned and stretched somewhat. She had never longed to be able to touch her toes so much in all her life. "You're not bad you know, Seaweed Brain."

He laughed. "Thanks."

"Anytime." She touched his arm. "Hey, don't freak, but -"

He froze. Don't freak often suggested that it was exactly what he should have been doing. "You alright?"

She rolled her eyes.

"I just asked you not to freak, Seaweed Brain. Yes. I'm alright, but -" She shuffled uncomfortably as pain flared up in her back. "I'm under the impression we have a situation on our hands."

"The situation?"

"Yeah." She said, softly. She had kind of been in denial since late that morning but as the day had gone on she got more and more sure. It was kind of nice to get it off her chest, really, although it was probably going to drive Percy mad with worry.

"I didn't even notice. Sorry, Wise Girl." He admitted after a long pause. Despite the thing being a few days overdue Percy had not expected this. Not for a few days, anyway.

Not that he wasn't glad because goddamn, he was so fucking relieved he could have cried. It had been the longest couple of months ever, rushing around trying to prepare for the thing whilst both of them were still working and seeing Annabeth so fed up rubbed off on him, too.

He was bored, mostly. Bored of talking about the baby because he wanted her here.

"I didn't expect you to. It's not actually that bad."

"Yet." He smirked.

Talk about reassurance.

"Thanks, Percy."

He kissed her forehead. "Kidding. You'd better not be messing with me, Wise Girl."

"I'm not messing." She promised, picking her her chipped nail varnish - a sign she was nervous.

Percy sighed. He knew there wasn't a lot he could say to her because he had already said it and it wasn't like the situation could be avoided. She had to come out someday, after all.

"Its going to be okay, you know." He promised, his voice soft as Annabeth looked down at their joined hands. "I'm not going to leave you on your own, Wise Girl. I'll piss in a bucket if I have to."

"What a romantic notion." She smirked and Percy laughed. "I'd rather you just go to the restroom if you think I can handle a couple of minutes without your presence."

He rolled his eyes at her blatant sarcasm. She did that when she was nervous too; along with anything that she figured would turn Percy's attention away from it, although as a general rule, it made it far more obvious to him.

"What I'm saying is that I know that you're not exactly looking forward to it and honestly I just want you to know that I'm here, no matter what, 'cause I know you try to hide stuff from me sometimes. You just gotta trust me."

"I do trust you. I just... you worry too much."

"I know that." He squeezed her hand gently as she tensed up in his arms. "But please just let me. For a couple of days, at least."

"I don't have a choice really, do I Seaweed Brain?"

He smiled. "I doubt you ever will, Wise Girl."