Annabeth pulled back the blanket, swinging her legs over the edge of the cot. She had already changed back into her own clothes, saying that she hated the stupid nightgown she'd had to wear. She'd changed back into them almost the instant the babies were both declared healthy.

I gave her an incredulous look. She couldn't be serious, could she?

"What are you doing?" I asked, even though I knew. I knew exactly what she was doing. And I wasn't happy about it.

"Getting ready to go out and see your mom and Paul," she said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. She scowled at me, even as she winced in pain. "What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Are you crazy?" I asked. "Annabeth, you just had twins an hour ago! You're not ready to be up and walking around yet. You'll hurt yourself even worse. I'll take the twins out to see them. You stay here and rest."

"No," she said stubbornly. "I want to go with you. Piper's already watching Korinna. She and Julian are playing together today. I'm coming with you."

"Annabeth –"

"I'm coming with you," she repeated, in a tone that didn't leave any room for arguing, and stood up slowly. "I don't trust you to carry two newborns by yourself without somebody getting hurt. I just drank some nectar and ate a little bit of ambrosia. I'll be fine. It's not that long of a walk."

I wanted to keep arguing with her, but I knew it would be pointless. There was no stopping Annabeth. I knew that.

I sighed, giving up. I couldn't win with her. "All right. All right, we'll go talk to Mom and Paul together. I'll take Chrys. You take Cally."

We gathered up our sleeping newborns. We slowly made our way to the borders of the camp, Annabeth wincing with each step, despite her protests that she was fine.

I would have argued with her more, but I knew it wouldn't do any good. Not with Annabeth.

But I kept my eye on her, inconspicuously.

Which she apparently noticed, so I must not have been as conspicuous as I'd thought.

"Stop it," she said, with an exasperated sigh.

"Stop what?"

"Stop staring at me like I'm suddenly going to pass out or bleed to death or something. Yes, I hurt. But it was actually a relatively easy birth, considering the fact that I had twins and they were a few days early. And the nectar and ambrosia are helping. Don't worry so much."

I sighed, but didn't say anything.

A few minutes later, we were at the border. My mother and Paul were there, waiting for us. I'd barely managed to convince them to come until a little while after the birth. I hadn't wanted them standing out there for who knows how long.

Mom smiled as soon as she saw us. "Let me see those babies," she said, holding out her hands.

Grinning, I handed Chrys carefully to her. "Here you go," I said. Beside me, Annabeth was placing Cally in Paul's arms.

"What are their names?" Mom asked, smiling at my son. She ran her finger lightly over his nose, causing him to squirm in his sleep. She cooed softly, looking happy.

"Chrysanthros Leon Jackson. Percy's already started calling him Chrys," Annabeth answered.

I shrugged. "He's going to hate his name when he's older. And he'll hate us for giving it to him. Chrys just works for him. And this is Callidora Irene Jackson. I call her Cally. She was born about ten minutes before Chrys."

Paul laughed suddenly. "She does have hair!" he exclaimed. "I thought she was bald. She's just incredibly blond."

"Chrysanthros is the same way," Annabeth said, smiling softly at her babies. "They both have pretty thick hair, actually, but it's hard to see because it's so light."

My mother smiled at me. "They are both beautiful. Congratulations, Percy, Annabeth."