Chapter 11

Eight Months Later

(Percy's POV)

Eight months had passed since my daughter was born. Despite the disagreeing Heidi, we named her Athene Grace Jackson. Athene after her real grandma, and Grace after Thalia, Annabeth's best friend.

I felt like a total jerk.

All this time, Annabeth's been coming over with Thalia to watch Athene. Neither of them knows it's not really Heidi's child. It's Annabeth's.

Annabeth missed everything about this child. Her first word was not "Dada" but instead "Mammy!" After a while, she would say "Mammy!" whenever Annabeth came over. Athene knew—but Annabeth laughed, pointed at Heidi and said, "That's your mommy," Athene would look at her weirdly. She would shake her head and point at Annabeth. "'Bef mammy!"

Annabeth had missed Athene's first crawl. She had looked so proud of herself afterwards. She definitely was Annabeth's child.

And just the other day, Athene had walked. She had actually walked for the first time. But after calling over Annabeth and seeing the joy in her face as she walked through the door, it killed me. It really killed me.

Thanks to the "Practically Forget the Most Important Day in Percy's Life" spell, Annabeth (and everybody else who had figured out) forgot Heidi was pregnant. It'd be weird to have an eight-month-old and a one-month-old, so the spell worked to make them forget all of Heidi's pregnancy as well. They thought we had just adopted. The truth was, the kid was really Heidi's…but not mine.

What a messed up family. Heidi and I had two kids; one mine, and one hers. The little boy she had was named Ryan Stephen Misty. Heidi had wanted her kid to have her maiden name.

After I found out she was pregnant, I wanted to divorce her. Apollo and Athena said I couldn't. Now, Athene was growing. I had worked up the courage to get the papers. I had signed my half, now Heidi had to sign hers. As I sat the divorce papers down in front of her while she was watching Ryan, I set my ring on the table, too.

She looked down at the papers and sighed. "I knew this was going to happen. You didn't even hold my hand during the delivery."

"Sorry," I spat. "I thought you'd want that Brian kid to hold it. I sat in the waiting room like a friend would. But only a friend. I'm not even sure I even want to be your friend."

"I don't have to sign them!" Heidi said. Then she smiled so cruelly that Ursula in The Little Mermaid looked like an angel. "Actually, I will."

I inwardly sighed. 'That was easy,' I thought. But maybe, it too easy.

(Annabeth's POV)

Percy IMed me. He looked…different. He said he was bringing Athene over. Now with a seven-month-pregnant, engaged Thalia living with Nico, my apartment was a lot quieter. And cleaner. But having people over was nice, and, to say the least, I was excited.

They had come over very soon. "Mammy! Mammy!"" Athene cried.

I smiled as I picked her up from Percy's arms. "No, no. I'm just Aunt Annabeth."

She shook her head. "Mammy!"

I looked over at Percy and grinned. "Thinks I'm her mom," I sighed. "So cute!"

I put her down on the rocking chair, which she loved. The weird thing about Athene was that she had Athena's gray eyes; my gray eyes. Percy said it was Athena's gift, but I'm pretty sure my mother doesn't just give people her eyes.

Could I really be her…mother? I didn't remember anything from March to October…so it's possible…
…What am I saying? That would've made Percy cheat on Heidi with me. I wasn't that kind of girl. I'm not that kind of girl.

Percy asked if we could talk alone. "Perce, she's eight months old. She can't—"

Just then, Athene stopped giggling and rocking in the chair. She looked over at Annabeth and muttered, "Mammy?"

"Into the room we go…" Percy said.

"Percy! You can't just leave your daughter in the chair!"

"Our daughter!" Percy said suddenly.

I paused. "What?"

"That's actually what I came here to tell you. Annabeth, Heidi and I are getting a divorce. Ryan is really her son, but not mine. She had him after Athene was born. Athene…is your daughter." Percy said.

I looked at him as if he had grown another head. "Percy, what are you saying?"

"Annabeth, Heidi cheated on me. She explained everything. She faked four miscarriages, each time thinking she was pregnant with another guy's kid. So, we decided to get a surrogate…"

"And that surrogate was me? Athene's really…my daughter?"

Percy nodded. "Yes."

"Percy, why should I believe you?"

"MAMMY!"

"First of all, Athene's smart. She knows you're her mom, see?" he pointed at the bouncing child. "Second of all, she has your eyes," he once again pointed at Athene who looked like she was about to cry. "Third," he paused. "I think…I think that this was a sign from Athena and Poseidon."

"What do you mean, Percy?" I asked.

"I mean…"

"No," I said, covering my mouth. I twisted myself on the couch and sat down. "I really am her mother," I whispered.

"I love you," Percy said.

I looked up. "What?"

"I thought I was just divorcing her because she cheated on me…multiple times. But Annabeth, I love you. I…I have since I was twelve years old."

I smiled. "Percy…"

"Is that an "I Love You, Too?"" he asked.

I was silent.

"No," I finally said.

"Oh," his face dropped.

"It's a definite maybe, Percy." I smiled.

"Mammy! Mammy love Daddy!" Athene said, clapping.

I smiled at her. "Mammy…" I mumbled. "I'm a mother,"

A slam made us both turn around. "Perseus Jackson!" We saw none other than Heidi.

"How'd you get in here?" I asked. "My door was locked!"

"Apparently not very well," Heidi snapped.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"I'm afraid you took my daughter with you when you left," she said.

"Athene is MY daughter," I said.

"You…remember?" she asked.

"Well, no, but I put the pieces together!" I said. I mumbled, "And I had help."

Heidi walked over to Athene and picked her up. Athene began wailing. "MAMMY! MAMMY! MAMMY!"

"Give my daughter back!" I yelled.

"No! She's legally mine." Heidi grinned.

"I stomped over and took Athene out of Heidi's arms. "You make her cry. You are not fit to be a mother. Besides, where's Ryan? Your son? Only your son?"

"At home," Heidi said.

"By himself? See? You're definitely not fit to be a mother,"

Heidi rolled her eyes. "This isn't over, Chase. Percy and I may be getting a divorce, but we're going to fight for Athene. And she will be mine. Then, I'll change her name to a much better one,"

"There is no name better than the namesake of Athena!" I yelled. I held the child close to me as I pointed Heidi to the door. "Leave! Now!"

Heidi stomped out.

"Annabeth…" Percy said.

"I think you should go, too. You two have a divorce to set up, right?" I asked. "And more important, a trial to set up for Athene."

Percy sighed. "Okay. Fine. But can you watch Athene today? I can't have two kids running around while trying to set up something important."

I nodded.

"Think about it…okay?" he asked.

He left before I could even think about what he said.

Think about it. The divorce? Athene? Heidi?

No; if I love him.

I think…I think I do.

I don't remember what happened in those near eight months. But I knew that I would have had to love him to have his baby.

"Mammy?"

I looked down at the small girl. I smiled at picked her up, holding her close to me.

"Yes. I'm Mommy."

A/N: So here you go! I hope you enjoyed it!

I love feedback almost as much as Aphrodite loves love!

~Annie