Chapter Eleven

Andrea Sees the Future and Gets the Worst Birthday Present Ever

"Are you sure you'll be okay, Andie?" Annabeth asked. "You haven't slept away from us before!"

"Mommy! I'm two and a half! I can wive on my own for one night!"

Malcom chuckled.

"Calm down, Annabeth. We can take care of her for the night. We're Athenians!"

Andrea gave us a 'see?' look. I kissed her on top of her head, my lips brushing her hair.

"If you need us for anything...special, you know, just come to my cabin. Okay, Baby?"

"Okay, Daddy!" She rolled her eyes at me, and I raised mine at her.

"Little bit of sass there, Baby!"

"Wove you! Wove you, Mommy!" She replied quickly.

"And we love you, too!" I replied for both of us. Annabeth kissed Andrea, and we left. I held Annabeth's hand on the way to my cabin. The crisp air swirled the leaves about. The faint smell of firewood lingered on the woods.

"Percy, why aren't we sleeping with Andrea?"

"Because Athena would kill me if I slept in her cabin. Plus, we have privacy at my place."

I winked at her. Annabeth hated that. She couldn't argue with logic.

"Don't worry, Wise Girl! Your brother will take more than enough care of her. And you saw how eager she was to show off her independency! She's a Half-Blood. We need to show that."

She leaned into me as we hiked along.

"I know, Percy. I trust you know what to do. I see how much you love her. You two are basically inseparable." She smiled fondly at past memories. "I love that, Percy. It's good for her-and you. She has someone, two someones, she knows are loyal."

I opened the door to the room and stepped aside for Annabeth.

"After you, my lady" I elegantly bowed. Annabeth stifled laughter.

"Percy, don't act weird and sappy on me! Andrea's infected you!"

"I can't help that she's a daddy's girl!" I protested. Annabeth went through the door, kicking off her shoes. I did the same. I sat on the bed, and Annabeth joined me. I tugged her in closer.

"Why don't we just forget about Andrea for now?" I suggested. "In fact, I believe you said you were willing to apologize."

"Hmmm. Did I now?" She kissed me, putting her arms around my body. I returned the kiss; she slipped my shirt off and lay down on top of me. She kissed me again, her lips tasting more wonderful than ever.

"Feeling forgiving?"

"I'm getting there...feeling sorry?"

She laughed, as I slipped her top off. I kissed her again, rubbing her back. She lay her head on my bare chest, and her hands next to her head. This kid thing could be really tiring sometimes.

"Mm. I love you, Percy." She mumbled tiredly.

"I love you, too" I reassured her, putting my arms around her.

"Love you more"

"Love you most," I challenged, kissing her cheek. "Night, Wise Girl"

"Night, Seaweed Brain."

"DAAAAAAAAAAAAADDYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!"

I bolted upright at Andrea's wail. My clock read 2:30. I gently, forcefully, pushed Annabeth off me, and grabbed my shirt.

"Percy?" Annabeth stirred.

"Andrea!" I explained on my way out. I made my way to the Athena Cabin as rapidly as possible. Other campers from other cabins came out and followed me, seeing what the problem was. I threw open the door. Andrea sat up in bed, with Athena campers waking up and switching on their lamps.

"Andrea, Baby! What's wrong?" I demanded, sitting on her bed and cuddling her close.

"I-I had a nightmare!" She sniffed.

"It's okay, Baby. I have them all the time. Do you want to tell me what it was?"

She nodded, collecting her thoughts, clearly nervous that the others were listening. It had always been us by ourselves when she was scared.

"I-I was bigger...we-we were on a cwif. Therwe were monsters. Therwe were other kids...they wooked wike you and Mommy...You were fighting wif your sword, and therwe was a twister of spaghetti...a evil woman towd me how I would die...and...and Mommy was sucked up into the spaghetti while she was howding a baby...evwyone died Daddy! You and Mommy died. Please don't leave me!" She sobbed now. I picked her up and patted her back.

"Oh, Baby! It was just a dream, Baby!" I told her. "Don't cry. Please, Baby! I'm here, Daddy's here!"

Andrea wasn't calming down.

"Hush Little Baby, don't you cry

Momma's gonna bake you an apple pie

And it that Apple pie don't taste good,

Daddy's gonna buy you a mockingbird..."

Many of the female campers cooed as Annabeth entered. They apparently loved my singing voice. I always figured I was pitchy When I finished the song, Andrea stared at me quizzically.

"Have you sung that befowe, Daddy?" She got a far away look. "I-" she frowned, "I remember it fwom somewhewre..."

I held her close, cradling her puffy face next to my neck.

"The day you were born, I sang to you, Baby. I can't believe you remember."

Annabeth came over, very concerned. I handed Andrea to her.

"You okay, Andie? What happened?"

"Nightmawre"

Annabeth nodded sympathetically.

"You're safe, Andie. Don't worry," Annabeth encouraged her.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah, Baby?" I asked, taking her back.

"Can I sweep in your cabin?" She whimpered pitifully. My heart broke for her.

"Yes, Baby. Come on." She tightened her grip around my neck, and I walked through the masses with Annabeth. Andrea's scream had woken the entire camp. Thankfully nobody had gone deaf. The Aphrodite cabin seemed to think I was more masculine than ever. I stuck close to Annabeth so none of them would get the wrong idea. We arrived back at my cabin, and I pushed the covers back on the bed and laid Andrea down. I pulled the first sheet around her.

"Daddy, can you sing again?"

Halfway through my encore, Andrea's eyelids closed. I sat down in a chair, exhausted. Annabeth sat in my lap. My arms snaked their way around her waist. She set her back evenly with my chest.

"That's what I was talking about, Percy. You're there for her. She needs that so badly. Did you see how all the girls looked at you tonight?"

I hoped she couldn't see how red my face was in the darkness.

"Uh, n-no, I-I didn't" I stammered.

"Percy, I trust you, Honey. You don't need to pretend. They looked at you, and they saw the manliest man ever. What other Dad would sing openly to their frightened child, in front of an entire crowd? Only a few. They didn't love your voice. Gods, no, it was pitchy. They loved the act of selflessness."

I didn't reply. She got her message across.

"I love you, Percy." She kissed me on the cheek. "Don't ever stop being her Daddy." She warned me.

"I couldn't even if I wanted to." I thought about Andrea's dream. One thing unnerved me. She described the exact dream that Gaea had shown me.

Six Months Later

"Daddy! Daddy! Wake up, wake up! It's my birthday! I'm three!"

Andrea jumped on my back. The impact snapped me into full consciousness.

"Mmmmm!" I groaned.

"Sorry, Daddy!" Andrea tugged me, and I rolled out onto the floor.

"Ow!"

"Sorry! Are you okay, Daddy?" At three, Andrea was already maturing out of her child-like voice.

"Yeah, Baby. What were you saying?" I rubbed my elbow where I landed. Andrea grinned, having never looked cuter.

"My birthday, silly Daddy!"

"Oh it is, is it? Let's see, what do you want? How about a nice box of worms, freshly dug, with brand new dirt?"

She shook her head.

"I want my own Pony! Or my own Pegasus!"

On the bed, Annabeth groped for me. "Percy? What is it?"

"Well, Andrea claims that it's her birthday."

"So, you're on the floor?"

"Long story." I stood up and kissed her. "I am going to start making Andrea her special birthday breakfast. Why don't you start getting dressed?"

"Mmkay..."

I hefted Andrea up in my arms.

"So what do you want for breakfast, Baby?"

She had to think on it for only a minute.

"Blue Pancakes and Eggs, with Blue Syrup and Milk!"

"That's my girl!" I nuzzled her nose with mine, causing her to giggle. I walked in the kitchen, and let her climb into her chair. I got out the ingredients.

"I think you're old enough..." I started "...Wanna help me cook?"

Andrea leaped up energetically.

"Yes!"

Long story short, Andrea was caked in a blue mess when Annabeth stumbled in. Annabeth laughed, and grabbed a washcloth from a drawer. She dampened it, and wiped Andrea down.

"Did Daddy say you were old enough to help cook?" Annabeth guessed.

"Yep!" Andrea giggled, "Blame it on Daddy!"

I protested.

"I get to decide if you get breakfast or not!"

"Daddy! Not fair!"

I smiled and served my wife and child their food. Suddenly, Annabeth clutched her stomach.

"Excuse me, Percy."

"Are you okay?" Andrea and I asked together.

"Yeah, just...a bit queasy. Don't worry, eat your food." She excused herself for the restroom. I ate and listened to Andrea spill all her birthday plans. Just then, the doorbell rang. I answered it.

"Mr. Jackson? We're from the United States government. We have had a draft, and you are requested to be sent to the military."

"What? But- I mean! Wh-"

Annabeth cut me off from the other room "Percy!" She shouted, ecstatic.

"One minute," I said. "That's my wife." went to find Annabeth. "What is it?" She held up a small stick, smiling broadly. A pink plus sign was visible on it.

"I'm pregnant, Percy!"

"Oh gods! Again? I mean, That's... That's great!" I hugged her, but then frowned, thinking of the agents. She noticed, frowning herself.

"What's wrong? Who was that at the door?"

"Government agents. They say I have to join the army."

"Well for the love of the gods, Percy! Don't leave them standing there! They're with the government! We don't want to lose the house or something!" She pushed me away.

"Oh, right." I returned.

"Look, uh, my wife, she just got pregnant...do-do I have to? What is this?"

"I am sorry, Sir. This should only be a short service period: about a year. You need to be at the local New York airport by three tomorrow afternoon. It's just a standard conscription" They casually tipped their hats and drove off. I sadly walked back to the kitchen. I shuddered, thinking about flying. Andrea's face showed that she had overheard.

"Do you have to leave, Daddy?" She questioned, sobbing. I smothered her in a hug.

"I am so sorry, Baby. So sorry! I've got to leave. But I want you to put a smile on. It's August First, your birthday! I need you to be a big girl for Daddy and take care of Mommy while I'm gone. Can you do that?"

Andrea straightened up, putting on her brave face.

"Yes, I can!" She nodded sweetly. I kissed her forehead, not wanting to break our embrace.