Disclaimer: A couple of years ago, I read the PJO saga, then two years ago I read the HoO and waited anxiously for BoO which I liked but not loved.

Author's Notes: So, 20 chapters and close to the middle. So far this story is 5th in published words (60K), 6th in reviews (51), 5th in followers (24), 11th in favorites (17) and 13th in views (3,522+). I could use more views... Last chapter was shocking, right? Now this one...

CH 20 "Waiting" (Taylor)

The sound of rain was always soothing for me. It reminded me of my cabin and my demigod siblings. It always made think of fresh flowers and tomatoes. Also of Em, she always smells earthy like fresh and cool clay. Two days ago, it snowed and just ended raining right now.

I was on the couch with popcorns, sandwiches and soda cans in the coffee table. The movie was almost starting and I was just waiting for her to sit down with me. It was December and I was just days away of finals and finishing school. The life with my wife was just getting better. We spent more time together and we talked, laughed and made love more often.

For the last two weeks, my wife seems insatiable and I wasn't complaining. Em was also sleeping more and eating more. She wasn't saying it, me neither, but I wanted to believe she really was pregnant. That a real miracle happened. Maybe our godly relatives listened to our prayers, saw our pain and granted us this simple big gift, the chance of start a family by ourselves.

Em came out of our room. I could hear her steps as she was coming to the couch.

"The movie is about to start" I said and I felt her hand on my hair. I looked up to her and she was wearing her black coat, a scarf and a wooden hat, made by Hazel.

"I am going to the store. Do you want anything? More potato chips?" said Em and leaned to kiss me, a light peck.

"Nothing. I'm good." I said and then it hit me. I literally jumped from to couch to her "Wait! Why are you going this late?"

"It's not that late. It's barely nine" said my wife rolling her eyes. She bit her lips dubiously "I can't wait anymore. I think it's time" Her voice was soft and small.

I immediately understood what she meant. I said with a big smile "Are you sure? Are you pregnant?"

"I want to be sure. It could a false positive, a simple delay. I didn't say anything because I don't want to get our hopes up until it was time to worry. We can call the doctor in the morning if we have to" said Em with concealed joy. "Even if I am pregnant, I don't want to say anything to anybody until we know the sex of the baby, ok?"

"I want to go. Give a second to put my shoes on" I said ready to rush to the bedroom. I was wearing my sleepers.

Em grabbed my arm stopping me. She said "No, it's okay. I want to go on my own"

"Sure?" I asked.

"Yes. I am coming back in less of a heartbeat" said Em and tiptoed to kiss me "I love you"

"I love you too" I said and let her go. I sat back in the couch and the movie was starting. I was nervous now, too distracted to pay attention to the TV.

Tonight was the night. If Em was really pregnant, we could start making plans, at least in secret. I didn't know how I was going to keep this secret. I wanted to yell it to the top of my lungs, to call everybody and go to the cemetery to tell my parents.

The idea of my parents not being here for their grandkids hurt but I couldn't keep crumbling down every time I thought of them. They embraced life and they surely wanted me to do the same. I was sick of sadness now. Nothing was going to stop me and Em of being happy from now on, not even the Fates.

I tried to watch the movie for maybe half of it when I turned it off. I should have gone with her. I opened the window to let the fresh moist air enter the apartment and wait for her. I would probably get scold for letting the cold also came in, but it was a good excuse to snuggle closer at night. I grinned to myself and my phone ringed.

"Radcliff here" I said.

On the other side of the line, I heard Theo saying quietly "Taylor, it's me"

"TJ, I mean Theo now. What's up?" I said really happy. Not even my jealousy or insecurities of the relationship between him and Em was going to spoil my night.

"I need you, man. Come quickly to the hospital" said Theo and I felt my heart sink. All my happiness left the building.

"What happened? Lana?" I asked with fear. Hospital was never a good word unless you meant Em and her swollen belly.

"No. Just come" said Theo and hung up.

I wanted to wait for Em but the sound of Theo was too painful and quiet. He needed me. I grabbed my keys, wallet and phone, also my sword, just in case. Before leaving I wrote a note for Em and rushed out as fast as my feet let me.

I called a cab which drenched me by stopping suddenly in a puddle of rainwater mixed with sewage. I hoped to see Em in the street as we drove to the hospital. It was the same that my siblings were born. I had a mix of encountered feelings of this place.

When I was little, I was really anxious when Emma was born. I felt that my parents weren't going to love anymore, maybe sent me to Camp forever; they had a baby that was really of them. That didn't happen but it didn't stop my anxiety with the birth of each of my 5 siblings.

I didn't know where to go when I was finally in the building. I knew the way to the maternity wing by heart but the ER was a mystery. I walked with rushed steps around the place asking nurses and getting lost at the signs.

After 10 long minutes, I found Theo talking to the doctor in the ER waiting area. He had fresh clean bandages around him.

"We will do all we can" I heard the doctor said to Theo.

"Thank you, doctor" said my best friend and the doctor left.

Theo sat on the chair and I saw him moving his foot nervously as his hands were on his face. He looked like a mess.

"Who is here? Your parents? Claire? Aida? Lana?" I asked as I sat next to him.

Theo gave me this look and I knew this was really bad. He said with dread "No, man… It's Em"

"What?!" I stood up yelling. I quickly grabbed his clothes. I saw him wincing at his wounds but it wasn't as important as this "You better tell me it's a joke!"

"Of course, I'm not. Do you think I would joke about something like this?" said Theo with his hands over mine, removing my grip of his clothes.

I was in shock. I really was. This felt like my parents and fear filled me. This couldn't be just like that.

"How is she? Is she alive?" I asked with tears in my eyes. I couldn't lose her now with a baby in the way.

"Still with the doctors" said Theo and somehow I sat down. I stared at my hands thinking what to do, but there was nothing. I hated to feel so useless.

I turned to see to my best friend who was pretty much in the same state as I was. I asked him and myself "How did this happen? She was just going to the store. She wasn't far."

"I was going to your place when I found her bleeding out in the street" said Theo.

"It's my fault. I should have gone with her. I'm an idiot" I said with remorse. I knew that I should have gone with her.

"You didn't know" said Theo.

I stood up and I didn't care if everybody was watching us. I said loudly "She is my wife and I left her go alone. What kind of husband I am?"

"Taylor, calm down! These things happen" said Theo grabbing me by the shoulders.

I pushed him away with angry and fearful words "Shut up! Em said exactly the same when my parents died"

"Em will be fine" said Theo with hope.

I wanted to punch him. How could he be so sure? He didn't know. I could lose my wife and my reason to live. "Just don't say a thing" I said angry "Go and sit at that corner and I will sit here. I don't want to talk right now"

I sat angry in my chair and Theo nodded. He leaned against the wall closest to me. I saw him taking a sip of a flask, probably nectar. He was just a couple of feet away. He was crossing his arms really worried and quiet. We probably waited for 10 minutes and it was more than enough for me to calm down a little.

"What happened? A monster?" I asked my friend.

He looked to me and came to me. He said "The Dark Sword"

The news hit me like wreaking ball. It wasn't just gossips anymore. It was real now. For months, I thought it was a copy cat, a monster using the fame to inflict fear on us, but if Theo was saying it, then it was true. I said "But Mer died"

"It's really a new one. She or he told me" said Theo and I could see his fear. This wasn't good news.

"No idea if it's a girl or boy?" I asked. I was hoping for a clue.

"No… using a voice changer device. It was like talking to Stephen Hawking" said Theo with a weak teasingly smile. He tried to joke but it was still too early.

We sat together for maybe an hour at least. I thought of talking to Em's parents, Theo's parents and Aida to let them know, but I wanted to have news first.

Eventually, a doctor crossed the doors asking for me. I stood up as soon as I heard my last name. I basically ran to the guy. I probably scared him to next week when he saw me rushing and without intention of stopping. I almost crashed against him.

"I'm Taylor Radcliffe" I said and Theo got to us seconds later.

"Mr. Radcliffe. I'm Dr. Martin" he said shaking my head.

"How is my wife?" I asked and I felt Theo's hand on my shoulder. My best friend was here and that was comforting.

I held my breath as the doctor said "Mrs. Radcliffe suffered a severe trauma. The bullet passed right through, piercing her left lung, causing extensive blood lost; thankfully your friend found her just in time and we were able to fix the damage. She will have full recovery"

I felt that I could breathe out away and I was white but hopeful. Theo was the one who said "That's good news" and punched my shoulder. I felt that I could finally call everybody. My wife was going to make it.

However, you never know when life and irony is going to hit flat in the face and in the guts. The doctor was leaving but he stopped "Sorry, I forgot to mention it. Mrs. Radcliffe suffered a miscarriage."

I didn't think my heart could sink a new low, but I was wrong. I lost the ability to talk and Theo spoke for me with anguish and pain "Pregnant?! For real?! Oh, Gods!" He looked as bad as me "But how? She wasn't hurt… there"

The doctor tried to smile sadly at us, an understanding pity smile. He said "A catastrophic trauma can cause a miscarriage, especially in such early stage" Then he addressed at me "Mr. Radcliffe, your wife is overall fine. That's what matters now. We will keep you updated"

"Thank you, doctor" I whispered and we both slumped on our seats in shock, disbelief and pain.

We were awfully quiet both of us, each wrapped in his thoughts. I was completely relieved that my wife was alive. Theo was just in time and saved her, but at the same time I was sad. We lost a baby twice and I feared for Em's reaction. She cried for a whole month the first time and this felt definitely worst. We wanted this baby. We were really going to be parents. It wasn't like the first time. I wasn't ready back then. I thought a baby would cut my wings, my adventures. Now, I know that nothing matters without Em.

I held my head with my hands, with my elbows on my knees and I sighed deeply and heavily that I felt my whole spirit was leaving with that outtake of air. I said, more likely pleaded "Don't tell anyone less Em. It will crush her that she couldn't save her. The praetor in her will make her feel guilty. It's better if she doesn't know she was pregnant in the first place."

"Are you sure of not telling her?" said Theo.

I sighed again. I pulled my head back looking to the bright white lights in the floor for a second before talking to my best friend "Yes… not again"

"Come" said Theo standing up. He pulled my arm "We are doing something stupid and reckless right now. We need to blow out some steam"

We walked outside the hospital to an abandoned building just a block south. We entered and started to trash the whole place. We broke pillars, chairs, windows, and stairs, everything we could for at least one hour. I was glad Theo was with me during this difficult moment. He was the only one who really know how much we wanted a baby and how we lost the first one, my little Maya.

We were panting covered in debris and sweat in the middle of the building that was shaking with the wind. It was one good punch of falling down. Theo took out a piece of ambrosia from his jacket and gave me half. I felt better once I ate it but it also brought me memories. My mom's pancakes flavor left a bittersweet taste in my mouth. It was the first meal she prepared to me when they adopted me and she continued to make them every Saturday morning since I could remember.

"Better?" said Theo and he didn't look better than me honestly. He looked so tired, barely staying awake, even with the ambrosia in hi. It had been indeed a long night.

I stared at my best friend and said "My life has never been really better. Every time things go good something bad happens"

"Sorry, man" said Theo and I knew he meant it.

"Do you know why I am majoring in Chemistry?" I said staring at the trace of Ambrosia in my fingers.

"To annoy Aida?" joked Theo.

"Also that" I said with a chuckled "I thought if I study harder and do some research, I would find a way to fix things, to solve at least one of my problems. I can't bring my parents and siblings from the death. I can't stop Rhode. I can't find the Dark Sword. I want so much to kill that bastard… The least I could do was make Em happy. Start a family was a nice solution, but nothing happened for months and we tried. I started to study what makes us different, why modern medicine doesn't work the same with us as to mortals, mostly how to get my wife pregnant. I have been studying our anatomy for months and I have found that there is nothing I can do. I'm pretty much sterile because that's the way I am. I still don't how I got her pregnant again. I hope it wasn't you…" I tried to joke but Theo didn't see the humor. "Strangely, our sperm doesn't survive in the open for more of a minute, so sperm donation doesn't work for us. Don't ask me who I had to ask to find out… Anyway, Ambrosia and Nectar are fast healing tools to return to our former condition. They accelerate cells growth to regenerate skin and blood… That's also dangerous. Cancer can accelerate and if a demigod eats them to recover, they only make them die faster"

"Wow. I never thought that before… so if someone is sick at cellular level" said Theo dreading.

"An early faster death" I said.

I stood up just stretching my limbs. I looked around the place and I was tired of mindless destruction. I needed my wife. "Let's get back… I'm calling your parents and her parents. They need to know"

"Sure, man, whatever you say" said Theo and we walked out. Right as I was expecting it, the building crumbled down with a sudden strong wind, just seconds later after we left. We just destroyed a building. I made the calls as we were walking.

As we immediately got back to the waiting area, a nurse came to us with great news "Mr. Radcliffe. Your wife is awake and asking for you. Follow me, please".

I turned to look to Theo who just pushed me forward saying "I will wait for everybody. Go"