Hey everyone! So, I've finished Ranger's Apprentice, started my novel (which I hope I'll finish within the next year or so), and today is the last day of the contest. Since I'm home all day, I figured I could get one last chapter up before the official end.

Our warm weather kind of came back. It's still cold some days, but today I'm able to wear shorts and one of my One Direction t-shirts (poke fun all you want, I love their music).

…

Percy's POV

…

"Holy blue," I exclaimed, glancing around our kitchen. We'd been up and at it since six in the morning. Well, Nico and my mom had. I'd offered to help, but they waved the offer aside. Stupid pregnant belly. Currently, Nico was balanced on our table, running streamers along the ceiling. Blue streamers. We also had two bundles of blue balloons, and mini chocolate candies with blue wrapping and "It's a boy!" wrapped around them. As if my family wouldn't already know what I was having. Nico set to the task of making special blue punch (not spiked of course). And sandwiches. I would only let Nico make the sandwiches.

"Certainly is a lot of blue," Nico replied without looking down at me. "But you are having twin boys, so there's always going to be a lot of blue." And he certainly had a point with that. Always blue things. I sat down at one of the kitchen chairs and watched him tape the streamers in place. "Oh, hey, Jason's going to drop by for a minute or two before the actual party," Nico continued after a moment's pause. "I didn't tell him what for, but I told him to pick something nice out for you and to get his ass over here at ten fifty." I glanced at the clock. It was ten forty-five now.

"Did you really have to threaten the poor boy?" I asked him. But I was well aware of the special relationship Nico and Jason had. That was relatively normal for them. "Wait, he's still here? Where did he sleep?"

"On my couch," Nico replied. "I offered to let him stay the night, then I told him to get his ass moving to Wal-Mart to pick out something for you." I shook my head. Nico was a rare creature indeed. "So, I have no idea what he'll show up with, but he'll bring something for you. Feel special. I don't threaten him for just anybody."

"I feel so loved," I dead-panned. But I had to turn away to hide the smile of my face. Nico was being thoughtful ever since he moved next door. "I wonder what he'll bring. I've been told I'm hard to shop for." Nico snorted, but he wisely said nothing. "Hey, mom told me to dress nice, but I'm not sure what I should wear. What do you think?" Nico finally hopped down off the table, studying me.

"Mmmm, maybe a nice shirt and black pants. I'm sure we'll find something. Come." He held out his hand, which I took. He then hauled me to my feet and led the way down to my room. I followed, smiling at the back of his head. When Nico wasn't being a complete jackass, he was actually really nice. "Let's see," Nico said, standing at my closet and tapping his chin. I peered over his shoulder, inspecting my clothes. But I wasn't sure what I was going to wear. "How about this?" Nico asked, removing a dark blue and light blue striped, collared shirt. It had a little red…something, on the top, by the collar. Shrugging, I took it from him. Turning my back to him, I changed into the shirt. Surprisingly, the shirt was still plenty loose on me, so I didn't look terribly fat.

"Mom must have bought this," I mumbled to myself. I wasn't sure on that, but it seemed logical. "Now, let's see…" I went over to my dresser, shoving some things aside as I did so. Alek and Ethan's stuff was taking up all the room I had. "Why couldn't we have the party outside?" I asked over my shoulder. "It's such a nice day out."

"It's supposed to rain today," Nico argued, going over to the window and peering out. I turned my attention to him, pausing in tugging on my black dress pants. I looked up to the sky, seeing the forming storm clouds. I finished dressing and went to stand beside Nico, resting my head on his shoulder. He turned and kissed the top of my head. "It'll still be a great party," he said. "You'll see." I still had my doubts, but I was going to trust him. I wanted so bad to believe he wouldn't steer me wrong.

Please, just punch me in the face right now. Maybe then everything wouldn't have gone so horribly wrong.

…

Nico's POV

…

"Here," Jason said, thrusting a brightly wrapped package at Percy. He took it, shaking the box experimentally. It made a slight banging sound. He glanced at Jason questioningly, but Jason only shrugged. "You'll have to wait until later to open it," he replied. "Also, you look nice." Percy blushed right down to his blue collar.

"Thank you Jason," Percy said, setting his gift on the kitchen table. Jason glanced around at all the decorations, then at Percy. But I saw the tiny shrug of his shoulders. That's what I liked about Jason. Even if he figured something out, he wouldn't dare say anything. And this was definitely one of those "don't dare mention it" moments. Percy, for his part, seemed unfazed by the looks Jason was giving. "I wish you could stick around longer, but my family will be coming in about five minutes. And I don't really want you to meet them. They're…tough to get along with."

"But he gets to stay?" Jason asked, pointing at me. I shook my head. Another time, I'd explain things to him. But right now wasn't the time or place. "Alright," Jason said with a shrug. "Nico, I'll be waiting at your place." I nodded, waving him on. He disappeared out the back door just as Percy's grandfather came into the kitchen. He set down the small, green wrapped box on the table and came over and wrapped Percy in a hug. Percy seemed a little stunned.

"Hi grandpa," he said faintly. His grandfather finally released him, turning to look at me. I squirmed a little at the sudden scrutiny. "Oh, where are my manners. Grandpa, this is Nico. He was my roommate at college. Now, he sort of just helps around the house." I turned a pained look on him, and he smiled at me.

"Hello," Percy's grandfather said, continuing to study me. Thankfully, we were interrupted by the sounds of squealing kids. Two little kids burst into the kitchen, pulling a red wagon behind them. Percy eyed the wagon suspiciously, then his eyes widened when the kids wedged it into the corner by the table. So, that was for Alek and Ethan when they got older. Percy's aunt and uncle came in, pushing matching red tricycles in front of them. Once again, Percy's eyes widened.

"Hello Aunt Tilly, Uncle Morton," he said at last, shaking his head. Percy's aunt and uncle looked at him, then at me. Percy's cousins attached themselves to his arms. So this was the family that tolerated him. For only tolerating him, they certainly seemed especially lovely today. "Hi Amanda, hi Tyler," he added. "Nico, this is Tilly and Morton, and their kids Amanda and Tyler. Aunt Tilly, Uncle Morton, this is Nico. He was my roommate at college."

"And the one that got you pregnant," Morton added with a tiny smile. I nearly choked on my own spit. Percy looked nonplussed for a moment. "Ah, Perce, that was a joke of course. We won't ask questions on that." I breathed a tiny sigh of relief. At least no one was really prying into the story. Percy deserved his privacy after all. And I wasn't quite ready to explain myself in that department.

"Well, help yourselves to food and drink," Percy said after an extended silence. The kids immediately attacked the sandwiches, which I made plenty of. Percy's personal favorite was my egg salad on wheat. So I made sure that I had some of that. And, knowing there'd be kids at the party, I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on white and ham and turkey sandwiches on multi-grain. Everything was more or less healthy. I served out punch to everyone, which I made mixing together some lemonade, blue Hawaiian Punch, and pineapple juice. We'd made it at my graduation party, and it was a big hit. I figured it would be a big hit here. And I proved to be right. Everyone was enjoying themselves. "This is so not what I expected," Percy whispered, sidling up to me. I turned to him, wrapping an arm loosely around his waist.

"Well, I didn't expect all this either, but isn't it nice," I replied. "I wasn't expecting your family to be so…nice." Percy's mom had emerged some minutes ago, and she was busy talking and laughing with Tilly. Sally and Tilly. What a strange combination. Amanda and Tyler were flicking pieces of chocolate at each other. All in all, it was a good baby shower so far. "Just wait till you open some presents," I whispered, motioning to the three presents that relocated themselves on the counter. "I guess you don't need to open the tricycles or the wagon, do you?" He shook his head, smiling slightly.

"Not really," he replied. "It was very nice of them to bring those things though. I'm sure Alek and Ethan will love them when they get a little bigger." I sighed happily. That's right. Our babies were coming soon. It would be a very happy occasion indeed. "Oh shoot." I glanced over and found him trying to wipe grape jam off his shirt. "I really liked this shirt," he said. "Think I could get away with continuing to wear it?"

"Probably not with a purple smudge on it," I replied. "You're in your own house. Go change. No one's going to care if you do." He still looked unsure, so I sighed. "Want me to come with you?" At that, he smiled.

"Yes please," he said happily, starting off down the hall. Sally looked at me for a second, but I just shrugged at her, following Percy. When I got to his room, he'd already changed into another collared shirt. This one was pale orange, a good color on him. He was sitting on his bed, taking deep breaths. I hurried over to him, kneeling down beside the bed.

"Another false contraction?" I asked. Wordlessly, he nodded. "It'll be okay," I said, sitting beside him and rubbing his back. I glanced up at me and nodded again. He knew that. I wrapped an arm around him and just sat there with him until the pain subsided. Then, I rose. "Ready to go back?" I asked, starting towards the door. But Percy made no move to follow me. "Percy, come on, you're party guests are waiting."

"I don't want to," he said softly. "What if I have another contraction? I didn't even want this party to begin with, but you seemed so excited about it, I went along with it. I just want to stay in my room for a little bit." I was getting steadily madder at him. How dare he stay back in his room and leave me with his family. I went over to him and hauled him to his feet, much to his dismay. "Nico, I told you, I don't want to go," he said weakly, resisting. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I shoved him back roughly, and since he was trying to pull away from me anyway, he went crashing to the ground. The air left his body with a giant gasp, and he lay on the floor, dazed for a second.

"Now listen here," I said, pointing a finger at him. He flinched away. "You are going to that party. It won't be going on much longer. You'll be fine. Up you come." I helped him rise to his feet once again, but he still seemed reluctant.

"Nico, I don't want to do this," he said desperately. "And I certainly don't want to fight with you. Can't you respect that?" By now, I was furious with him. Why would he go along with it if he didn't even want to do it in the first place? He could've said no. I would've understood.

"Stop! Just stop!" I practically shouted. I was aware of everyone in the kitchen, so I tried to keep my voice as quiet as possible. "You know, I'll never understand you. Why didn't you just say no."

"I tried!" Percy cried. "But you looked so excited about it! I didn't want to disappoint you!" I clamped a hand over his mouth, and his eyes bugged. He looked down at my hand fearfully.

"Just stop talking," I growled. "You know, maybe moving here was a mistake. Just another one of life's little mistakes, huh?" I took my hand away. Then, as fast as I could, I shoved him back again. This time, he fell against the changing table. His head bounced back with a sickening thud, and he groaned. I stormed out. I couldn't stand to look at him right now.

…

Percy's POV

…

Mom found me huddled against the bed, cradling my bleeding head in my hands. She screamed at my uncle to get some towels, and she tried to clean me up as best she could. But it hurt every time she touched me. It hurt in more than the physical way. Nico, the boy I thought I could trust, attacked me again. I don't think he meant to send me crashing against the changing table, but he did.

"What happened again Percy?" mom asked, pressing a towel to my head. I batted at her hand weakly, trying to relieve the pressure on my head.

"I fell," I replied. That covered the knot on my head. That didn't explain why Nico left suddenly. I would think of that later. Right now, I just wanted everyone to leave me alone. "Mom, please, just leave," I said softly. "I'm fine, really," I insisted, heaving myself up to a sitting position. Then I clawed my way onto my bed. Mom looked reluctant, but she ushered everyone away, closing the door behind her. Only after she left did the tears finally come.

Why would Nico do this again? I thought he was changing? Didn't he care that he could've hurt the babies? Another contraction hit, and I took shallow breaths until the pain went away. That was the third false contraction in ten minutes. But something about that felt off. I counted in my head and, sure enough, three minutes later, another contraction hit. My eyes widened.

"Mom!" I cried, bolting upright and grabbing my hospital bag. "Mom, the babies are coming!"

…

Poor Percy. Attacked once again by the boy he wants so bad to trust. And put into labor. Naughty Nico.