Percy:

Annabeth was seven months pregnant. After a month of her trying to convince me to find out if it was a boy or girl, I gave in. Now, Annabeth was picking out names. Annie and Artemis were decorating the baby's room. Annabeth had tried to do some of it, but she eventually gave in and let them do it. It was my night to the dishes. I put the last dish on the drying rack before drying my hands. I threw away the paper towel. I stepped through the swinging, kitchen door. Annabeth was sitting on the terrace. I smiled as I looked at her. She was staring intently at the plans for a building. Zak, for the first time in days, wasn't here. Its not that I don't like the kid. I like him a thousand times better than some of the other boys in her school, but did he have to be a son of Hades? Couldn't I get a break with a son of Hermes, a kid who aspired to be a doctor or even better, a kid who didn't know that monsters were even real? Of course, I'm not that lucky. I started to walk out to the terrace. The brisk air met me. Annie had met some boy, Joel, I think. Well, he isn't too much better than Zak, but he is a slight step up. Sadly, he is a demigod. Apparently, the Aphrodite wasn't kidding when she said she would make life hard for me.

"Any good names?" I asked with a smile. Annabeth looked up at me.

"Dimitri?" Annabeth asked.

"Maybe," I sat down beside her.

"So, did Annie tell you about Joel, yet?" Annabeth smiled as she looked up at me.

"Not really. All I got was from when he came over for the study," I told her.

"Well, anyway, he's a nice boy. Well, as nice as a nice boy Annie will ever like," Annabeth told me.

"What about Artemis? A son of Hades?" I responded.

"Fine. Hopefully, this one will be better blessed by Aphrodite," Annabeth held her hands up in surrender.

"Speaking of this one, how are you feeling?" I asked with a hand over the bump. The baby was coming very soon. Everyone else was ready to just pop out that baby and raise it, but me. I know, it sounds crazy, but I'm not sure if I'm quite ready to become a new parent again. Don't get me wrong. I love Annabeth and this baby, but… how to put this? Basically, I'm scared.

"Like I'm going on that diet Mia went on after this is over," Annabeth smiled. I rolled my eyes.

"You look beautiful," I told her with a kiss on the cheek. She smiled.

Annabeth,

"Annabeth, look at this one," Mia pointed to a picture of yet another stroller. I know I'm supposed to be excited, but I've looked at stroller after stroller. How Mia did this for two babies, I'll never know. Besides, we chose a stroller months ago, but, apparently, we also need a back-up. Anyway, Artemis and Annie took most over the decorating, and I was overjoyed with this fact. Sure, it was fun when I was younger, and I really didn't have much else to do. Now, it isn't so much fun. I learned the hard way, they'll just grow out of it as soon as, if not before, you've paid it off. Annie and Artemis decided this was the exception to them doing the decorating.

"What about this one?" Annie pointed to another in the catalog.

"Knockidy, knock," Zak walked in. I wanted to run up and hug him for saving me from such a ritual of picking out random baby things that in my eyes look just alike. His black hair was cut, and his blue eyes shown out.

"Where's-" I started to ask, but I was cut off by the brunette boy walking in behind him.

"Joel, Zak, what are you doing here?" Artemis asked. Annie lit up and looked up as soon as she heard Joel's name. Mia and I looked at each other. Zak held up a social studies book in response.

"Oh yeah, I forgot. Mom, wait for us to pick out one. We'll be back in two hours from the library," Artemis got up with Annie following right behind her.

"Bye, Mrs. Jackson," Zak and Joel told me as the four left. I resisted the urge to follow them or send an Iris message that they can't see to spy on them.

"Bye, Boys," I called out to them.

"So, what's up with that Joel kid?" Mia asked once she was sure they were gone.

"I don't really know. He just kinda showed up. Now, Annie is pretty much addicted to him," I told her. Suddenly, I felt a kick to my stomach. Then it happened.

"Anna, are you okay?" Mia asked worriedly.

"Mia, I'm in labor."