Yeay for twenty-five! I'm going to tell you right now that this chapter is going to be the first of a few that go around this story line. I'll randomly whip up a chapter about this, you just have to let me know if you like them.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters shown below.

Genevieve

In the style of Sally and Percy Jackson

Sally kept pacing the lobby.

"Sally, sit down." Paul tried to coax her.

"He's right," Frederic said. "We're probably going to be here for much longer."

"I can't," Sally said impatiently. Usually she was calm and peaceful; not restless. But right then she was short on sleep, nerves, patience and soothing, comforting thoughts on how her son could make it out of anything. 'Usually' was not happening right now. Her sudden change didn't help anybody's nerves.

"Is there any way to have an idea what they're doing up there?" Tristan asked looking up at the ceiling.

"No, I would've found it by now." Sally said. "Gods damn, I spend too much of my time in here."

"Have you tried Iris Messaging?" Frederic asked.

"Yes, but Iris is slightly busy right now." Sally said. She paused to check on the tiny baby curled up in the stroller. She'd only had to feed Genevieve once, and she had slept through most of the waiting. Paul had picked her up to quiet her down once- Sally was shaking too badly to hold her- and since then she'd been sleeping the hours away while Sally paced.

Genevieve was tucked under a blanket- it was chilly outside despite the usual August warmth. The storms brewing all over the country were responsible- a reason more for Sally to wish the skies were peaceful.

"The weather's just as horrible," said Tristan who'd moved over to the window.

"That doesn't mean a thing," Emily said tapping her foot to the ground distractedly. "Honestly, it could just be two gods squabbling over a basketball's game result. They're more childish than you'd like the world's most powerful beings to be."

The two ghosts in the lobby were interesting at the least. Both had come together, explaining that yes they were dead but things were messed up so badly it didn't matter much and they might as well see their sons. Emily was Frank's mother –supposedly Percy would know him, and Esperanza had Leo- of course.

"Not a storm that strong, could it?" Sally asked.

"Mars didn't do storms," Emily said playing with the zipper of her desert camouflage jacket. She seemed to be as restless as a demigod; maybe she had ADHD as a legacy. "He was more creative when he had to destroy his enemies. I have no idea"

Esperanza got up and walked around too.

"Tristan, you holding up?" Frederic asked.

"Yeah, I guess." He said. "I'm just… I thought Piper would be here. This wasn't what I was expecting."

"I was thinking of starting a club," Esperanza said. "I'll insist on being president, but you can be secretary."

"Make buttons and I'm in," Emily said.

Genevieve cooed and stirred. Sally put a hand on her cheek and shushed her softly. She didn't need to deal with a crying baby right now either, as much as she loved her.

"How old is she?" Esperanza asked nudging her head towards the crib.

"Two months," Sally said with a small smile. Some things could make you smile even in the darkest times. The darkest times were now, when Percy could be anywhere doing anything and be in any state, and that one thing was her small family. She'd never thought she'd have one if Percy wasn't there, but she'd been wrong. She just couldn't wait to have her family whole again.

"Cute as a button," Emily said.

Genevieve woke up and stirred. Sally picked her up before she could cry.

"Did our worrying wake you up, sweetie?" She said. Genevieve curled up against her, like she always did when she was held. She didn't cry. Genevieve wasn't a picky child; if attention was being given to her, she was good with virtually anything. Even waking up in a strange place with strange people.

"Probably the thunder," Tristan said, still looking outside.

"Sally, you're shaking." Paul said softly. She was.

"Sorry."

"Don't worry," he said kissing her cheek and taking Genevieve into his own arms. Sally paced again.

They waited another twenty minutes during which little conversation went down- most of which was empty and nervous- and Genevieve drank her last bottle and drifted off to sleep.

That's when Emily got to her feet, head towards the ground. She looked as bright and intense as a hunter who'd heard a branch crack in the woods.

"Em? Losing it?" Esperanza checked.

"No, elevator." She said her head snapping up. She'd explained previously that her family tree was weird and that some of her senses were as sharp as animals.

Sally thought she was going to be sick. Her nerves were twice as bad as they'd been for the last seven months. What if Percy wasn't in the elevator? What if Annabeth wasn't? That would nearly be the same thing. What if he was hurt badly or if his memory was permanently damaged or he'd decided to move in with the Romans a million miles away? Oh gods, that elevator could ding open and only six demigods would come out… No.

Another thing to worry about bugged her. What if he was mad?

She'd only found out she was pregnant at the start of December, and had elected to tell Percy after Christmas break, once the first trimester was over. Just in case something happened to the baby, and to keep his Christmas at camp happy if he didn't take things well. She'd heard plenty of stories of kids feeling unloved or pushed aside when their parents had other children and as sweet and open as Percy was, he was still human and prone to human emotions. Well, half-human, which was her whole problem to begin with.

Anyways, after he'd disappeared she hadn't had a chance to let him know, obviously. She'd told Annabeth not to tell him. This was something that had to come from her. He was her son, and a little sister was big news. He was coming home a hero (if he was coming home, she kept reminding herself unwillingly) and he'd be tired and so done with drama. He'd want attention, of course. He'd want things to go back to normal, more peaceful even. And there was a baby instead.

They were all on their feet, watching the doors like eagles and their prey. She wasn't the only one who'd missed her child. Emily hadn't seen Frank in even longer because of her deployment, Frederic hadn't seen Annabeth since Thanksgiving, and Esperanza's absence was a matter of years.

The little light dinged, the doors slid open, and Sally's heart fell.

Percy was running, but she caught up to him halfway, choking him in her grip. He buried his face in her hair, like he used to do after having a nightmare as a child. Like he knew she could make things alright. She knew that she would. She had to.

"Oh gods, oh gods you're alright!"

"I'm okay, Mom," he said. "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be sorry, don't be sorry," she said hugging him even more tightly. "Just… oh, I'm glad you're home."

She tried not to cry, but it was like all of her anxiety had just shattered like glass. She knew that he probably had war stories and scars that would hurt and need to be told, but he was home. They could make this work like they always had. They would make it work.

"And be glad that I'm not going to chip you and lock you in your room for the rest of your life," she said. "You are never spending Christmas at camp again. There is clearly something with you and the holidays…"

Percy laughed. "I won't do it again. But you need to get that promise from Hera."

"So I've heard," Sally said. For the goddess of motherhood and family, Hera didn't know her turf well.

Paul hugged Percy quickly and muttered something about being relieved. He could never get his emotions out, and this was the best she'd seen him do in a while.

She ran her hand through Percy's hair. "You need a haircut, and probably a decent meal. If you've been feeding yourself, dare I ask if you even remember what a vegetable is? The colour green in general? What about the word sleep, goodness Percy you're pale…"

"There's a really good reason for that but I'll tell you later," Percy said hugging her again. She dropped her head on his shoulder. Her boy was home.

"Uh, Mom?" He finally asked.

She straightened up and followed his gaze. Genevieve's stroller was right in his line of vision.

"Something happened while you were gone." She said quickly.

"Apparently lots of things happened," Percy said. "Mom, is that seriously..?"

"You… have a little sister." Sally said.