Life as it happens One-shots

by ForHadesSake

Percabeth one-shots from the ages 17 to 30. Not in chronological order but connected between them. Sexual content in some (most) of the one-shots. The first two of the series are posted independently and rated M as well, called "Feeling Normal" and "Her Working Clothes" which you can find following the link to my stories.

25. Chapter 25

Hi guys! This is unnecessary long but sorry, I love these two so much.

---

He sat on a stool waiting for a plate of pancakes, blue of course. It didn't matter how old he was, she insisted and he loved it.

He smiled at her when she turned with the stacked blue pile

She sat on the stool next to his and pushed the plate in front of him, he was already with the syrup in hand and drawn the pancakes, like Annabeth would say, and dug in.

"How are they?" his mom asked with a smile

He tried to speak with his mouth full but then he just held his thumbs up

Sally smiled bigger and brushed his hair with affection

They were quiet a moment as Percy eat and then he cleaned his mouth with a napkin.

"Mom, what happen with the...you know-"

She raised an eyebrow.

"Am I still having a baby brother or sister in the future?"

She chuckled but he could immediately tell that something was off "why, are you jealous honey? I'll still make you blue pancakes"

He smiled "no, I really would like it if you guys have a kid. A normal one"

"A normal one? What are you?" She asked with her hands on her hips

He smirked "trouble". His mom slapped his cheek playfully.

Percy held onto her gentle hand, blue food coloring staining some fingers.

"You know...I thought maybe-" he started and he sighed "I could practice with a little brother"

"Practice?" She asked and her brows furrowed "What do you mean? Are you trying to tell me something?! Annabeth–"

"Mom! Jeez no." He laughed and his heart rate speeded. "When I said practice I meant practice, for the future...distant future. Way after college future, like more than a couple of years from now"

His mother smiled and gave his hand a squeeze "oh Percy..."

"I don't know...we sometimes talk–" he started and there was always that silly grin creeping on his face whenever this came up because marriage and babies and future with Annabeth "it's stupid" he declared shaking his head "to be thinking about that far ahead I guess"

"No honey, tell me" she squeezed his hand.

He shrugged "we talk about the future sometimes...I'd really love to have kids. A few"

Sally smiled and nodded, because of course she knew "How many?"

"I don't know. Annabeth thinks she wants two"

"Two is a good number" she agreed

"I guess...I don't know, two is very few...I wouldn't want them to feel alone"

His mother made a sound of understanding and smiled again "so...you wanted a brother to practice"

"Well at least I'll how to manage...do you think I'll be any good?"

"Of course. You have exactly what a dad should"

He raised an eyebrow "Such as?"

"Kind hearted and you're a good listener. My father was that way"

He sometimes thought about those grandparents he never knew, his mother talked very little about them and this was the first time she made such a comparison to Percy as her father, his granddad.

He tried to match a good listener to the man that was on that old photo on the living room and it kinda went with him, he always looked nice and kind to Percy. He was proud his mom said that.

"You mean it?" he asked.

"Of course Percy!"

He smiled "am I going to get practice then?"

His mother laughed at his bright smile and brush his hair, she stood shuffled around the kitchen for a second and then begun moving the mess from the pancakes to the sink, she replied with her back turned "We tried for a while...we're just letting it be now"

"Oh" he let out and bite on his lip

"We'll just leave it to fate"

"Yeah, sure. I get it"

She turned and smiled to him again but he wasn't fooled. She was sad about it.

They couldn't. That's what it meant.

And he hated himself for ever bringing that up.

He went to hug her, probably a foot taller than her. She hugged him back tightly.

"It's cute that you guys are thinking about that" she commented

"It feels..." He sighed "so far and maybe we never–demigods don't always get to live so many years"

He added the always just to show his mom he was hopeful but the real word was never. Demigods never get to live so many years.

"You'll get all the years you need. You've come far, you're not done you. You're not done causing trouble." She put her hands in his cheeks and he grinned "Percy you'll get everything...you'll have a nice wedding where you'll dress nice and you'll get a nice house with Annabeth and you'll get to have three, four, five kids or more, just like you want to"

"You seem so sure about it all"

"It is sure. You guys love each other; you'll get it, because that's what love does. Your relationship is so well nature and it's going to have all the things something so pure and lovely can get. Like kids"

It was barely there but her eyes where shinier than before. His mom was always so pull together she wouldn't allow herself to cry, even now when he asked her if she could get him a baby sibling and she told him she physically couldn't…that was a crying matter but she still held it together. It was enough to fool him though, he could see through this façade she had perfected years ago.

Even when he was witnessing the saddest thing he beamed at her and kissed her cheek

"Thanks mom"

"And don't worry, because it's meant to feel far. You're very young; you're graduating high school in less than half a year and leaving for Camp Jupiter in September"

"Yeah" he nodded "we have time"

"All the time in the world"

---

"Percy! Let go" she kicked the water at her feet which of course didn't do much

"Is not cold!" he protested "We're in spring!"

"Yes, it is. And we're barely in spring!"

Even as she tried to keep her heels planted firmly against the sand with extra effort he tugged insistently against her calves managing to make her misstep and get a little more in the sea

She frowned at him and crossed her arms, daring him to pull her even more with her eyes. His eyes were laughing at her.

Having the water drag her down would be freaky if he wasn't standing a few steps in front of her. He was going so soft with her, barely making use of his powers; we could have her in her ass if he gave 1%more.

It was this kind of moments when she was reminded of the power in his veins. That he could actually drown someone.

That he did drown someone. And he didn't even use water.

She couldn't suppress the shiver but she managed to suppress any thoughts of Tartarus of her mind and forced herself to look at him and the kindness that his green green eyes were showing now

He smirked at her and walked the remaining step to grab her waist

He kissed her hand softly "Still cold?"

She couldn't help but grin "Colder"

He laughed and kissed her bare shoulder which made her shiver but for a different reason "still cold?"

"Mm a little less cold"

"How about..." His lips touched her neck, his fingers fiddled with the string that was tying her bikini with a simple bow on the middle of her back.

"Heating mildly" she answered which made his chuckle and travel up her jaw

He went for her cheek "warm?"

"Hmm keep going"

He was about to lean down to kiss her lips when a yell made them part and look back at the deserted beach.

"Annabeth!" they heard again coming from the woods

The cry was from one of her siblings and the urgency made her run to the sand where her clothes were.

"What's up?" Percy asked putting his t-shirt on as a girl run the rest of the way.

"Annabeth!" she tried to catch her breath "you need to come"

"Savvy, are you okay, what's happened?" she asked concerned and put a hand on her shoulder. The young girl of 10 just motioned behind her breathless. Annabeth checked her quickly for an injury finding nothing.

"It's up in the tree behind our cabin and-gods, and you need to come!"

"What?"

"It just fell there! The tree nymph can't get it without help!" she started running back with them but they were faster "Malcolm said to call you"

Annabeth crossed the woods to her cabin with Percy running at her heels but it appeared to be empty until she spotted the crowd outside the back window so she bolted to the door and turned around the cabin

"Malcolm!" she called and stopped so fast Percy slammed against her back "oh, my gods"

She covered her mouth in shock.

"What?!" Percy asked looking around the campers

"No what but who" someone said pointing it up

"What the hell is that?" Percy's eyebrows knitted in confusion

"It's the crib" Annabeth looked at him with a grave expression "from Athena"

"No!" he opened his mouth in disbelief and then he was grinning and Annabeth shook her head "How cool! All you guys got one like that?"

The crib stood high up in the tree between the trunk and a branch. It couldn't be more Greek and golden. A soft material covering it and whoever was inside

"More like it's that one" Malcolm clarify

"Sweet" her boyfriend muttered

"What are you all doing?" Annabeth demanded "We have to get it down, there's a baby in there!"

They all got on the move

"Sorry," Malcolm said "nobody touched it because I said so, we had to wait for you"

"What do you think this means?" she asked lowering her voice

"It's bad" he replied and she nodded

A loud cry startled them both and their siblings while Percy stared marveled.

The tree nymph went straight to Annabeth

"They said you're the counselor, would you please get it down? It's a real inconvenience"

"We're working on it, please could you get Chiron?"

The nymph huffed and stomped away.

The crying got louder and it broke Annabeth's heart because they couldn't get there fast enough.

"My branch won't hold much longer" the nymph warned from over her shoulder.

"How helpful" Stephanie said and rolled her eyes

"You know nymphs Steph" Annabeth said failing to hide her own annoyance.

She gathered with the rest of her siblings to hear their plans

"I think we might need Leo's pulley system" Annabeth said remembering the device Leo had made not long ago "guys, stop. We can't get up without endangering it to fall"

"Let's concentrate in getting the baby out and see about the crib later?" Liam suggested "It's not like we can get to keep the crib more than a few days"

That was true. The crib was the one that carried every single kid it would stay at camp for a few weeks at most

"The crib is a safe place for the kid, we cannot separate them" another sibling intervene

They all looked at Annabeth

"Malcolm?" she asked

"I think the later" He analyzed the tree up and down "the branch that is holding it up is at 26 feet tall?…for the width I'm pretty sure it will manage the cribs weight another half hour we can carry both down in half the time"

"Too close Malc" Fergus shook his head and adjusted his glasses "the thing is solid gold if you consider the angle of the trunk versus the branch and–"

"Nerd talk" Percy coughed too loudly.

"Shut up" Annabeth said hitting him on the arm as several pair of grey eyes scolded at Percy.

He did his best to suppress his grin and hide behind Annabeth before they wanted to hit him for real. He loved them all, all these brainiac athletic kids that were his family, and he was sure he would have to invite them all to his wedding one day.

"I get your math Fergus, but if I got to the same results as you–" Annabeth let the sentence hung

"I didn't say it had a happy ending" he shrugged. Liam hit his arm and shook his head

"Some brother you are!" he chided

"That's your sibling up there, idiot. A brother or sister from Athena, our mother, and I would like to keep it like I get to have the rest of you" Stephanie grumbled

"Then think of something, will you?" Fergus replied

A look from Annabeth cut them both off.

"Annabeth it's your call" Malcolm said

She let a moment of doubt biting the inside of her cheek and feeling all the pair of eyes on her as she looked at the golden crib balancing between branches.

"Someone get Leo" she commanded and didn't look who of them did but they follow through "meanwhile the lightest will go up and–and get our brother"

The siblings split to their task.

She looked at the few littlest. The three littlest looked up at her without a word, waiting for her to say something.

Lily bit on her lip and Annabeth shook her head slightly at her for her to relax. She couldn't go, she was afraid of heights, something she had told just Annabeth.

"Ian could go up" Savvy pointed out. She was probably right, she was big and tall. That left Ian. "He's lighter than me"

"I'm not!" the boy protested. Ian was 8 years old, small and thin for his age and the youngest of them all. He hadn't been around camp for more than a few months

Savvy started to argue but Annabeth cut her off.

"Don't fight" she said gently and then she smiled at her little brother getting at his level "You've proved you're a great climber, I think you can do it, let's get this baby down, yeah?"

He nodded a little uneasy under the eyes of her eldest sister and then looked at Malcolm who was at the base of the tree. Annabeth ruffled his hair and patted his back for encouragement and he went to their siblings who helped him up the first branch

"It'll be okay" Percy whispered to her from behind, still half in hiding, as she looked at her brother while he navigated the way up.

Annabeth hummed in agreement but her eyes were still calculating and making mental notes of the branches of the tree. She thought that even if Ian could get hold of the baby, they had to get them both down so they did need Leo. At least the crib could fall without the baby inside. Annabeth didn't know if it worked against any falls, maybe it just worked once.

"The aim was a little off; she could have gotten it a little to the right, don't you think?" Annabeth elbowed him in the gut and he laughed a little strangled but managed to pull a grin out of her.

"I love how you play mommy with the little ones" her smile grew bigger, the affection clear on her eyes. Those little were probably one of her main reasons to visit camp (besides Percy's cabin which gave them privacy they usually lacked)

"Shut up" she said trying to pull a frown "Do something useful"

Piper and Leo came running with her brothers in that moment

"Leo came to save the day" Leo grinned and opened his arms for them to make room "What do you need exactly?"

"Get it down" Annabeth motioned

"Wow" said Piper "It is true"

"Dear Annabeth you need me to get that down for you?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes

"No magic word?"

"We don't have time for your bullshit Leo, there's a kid in there," She said exasperated "just give me the damn cable, I'll do it myself"

Leo grinned and set to work arranging the pulley but Annabeth decided she who was the one getting the crib down even if she hadn't use the system before, it couldn't be that hard.

"Jason would be so handy right now" Piper commented

Percy's snort didn't come unnoticed to her "Superman always is but he's not here right now to help, is he?"

Piper punched Percy, "he's coming back from his quest, remember?"

"Still not here to help" he singsonged

"What are you doing exactly?"

"Moral support." Pipes snickered "My nerd has everything under control"

Annabeth shot him a look over her shoulder with a tiny hint of a smile and continued listening to Leo talk about the support main cable.

In the meantime Ian had gotten pretty close to the crib but couldn't reach the baby while supporting himself without falling and breaking his neck or at least an arm.

"That's okay" Annabeth said to him from below "I'll get it, just come down slowly and ask for help if you need to, yes?"

Leo managed to get the pulley in one of the tallest branches

"I think that will do" He said pressing a button and getting Annabeth off the ground "if this doesn't hold you...start thinking of cutting down desert"

Annabeth snorted and pressed her palm against Percy's chest that was about to shout at Leo a suggestion of what he could cut.

"Kidding, just use your weight going down" Leo clarify

"I know how to climb" she replied "thanks"

The climb wasn't hard she was up the 25 feet and next to crib in a second. The crying was a lot louder and insistent. She managed to stand with her feet planted on the branch directly below the crib

She opened the curtain to find a crying naked baby trashing against the sheet that was securely tucking her. The crib was a lot bigger on the inside, deep and rounded and cushioned all around.

"So you're a girl. Now we're even, seven girls again" she said softly "Why are you here? Where's your dad? He didn't want you either?"

The baby got alert at the sound of the voice. The gray eyes were already distinct even when Annabeth knew that baby's don't have a define eye color (maybe they could turn that weird and beautiful grey-blue like Malcolm's or the greener gray Savvy had). Most of her siblings had blond hair and gray eyes just not all of them shared the same features. Apparently this baby was the rule and not the exception, her fine baby blonde hair shone in the sunlight leaking through the leaves.

The baby searched for the voice complaining and making a pout that told her she was going to start crying again which she did. Louder.

Her dad said she never cried as a baby. She assumed that was all Athena's kids for some reason? Maybe she just learned not to cry as a newborn because she already knew she was an inconvenience. Smart move baby Annabeth.

She tried to get the wire around the crib as best as she could. They could come back for it later the baby was more important

"I need a small hoodie" she yelled down. She met Percy's eyes for a second too long; her boyfriend was leaning against the back of the cabin, hands in his swim short pockets, nonchalantly. His eyes told her he was ready to catch her if she fell. She wasn't scared of heights like at all but there was another person involved here.

Savvy climbed through the window to their room and retrieved one of hers. Leo got another of his ropes to go up with it.

Annabeth put it and it fit just exactly like she needed it to.

She bit her lip and dared not to look down while she tried wrapping the sheet around her siblings small body.

She hadn't held a kid so small before. She hadn't held a kid, period. The girl couldn't weight more than 7 pounds and she seemed like jelly against her arms. She felt fragile like her head was loosely attached, extremities hanging.

Were all babies like this? Or was something wrong with this one.

She muttered a curse and hugged her to her chest getting her small body under the hoodie and zipping it up. She still needed to hold her while letting the rope loose with her other hand for the system to roll but at least this way she was more secure.

She began the descend jumping against the trunk in short sequences. Thankfully she was down before she knew it.

Finally with her feet on the ground she let out a sigh.

Everyone gathered around her and Malcolm asked for them to quiet down and make room for her. She needed to breathe.

Annabeth's heart was drumming in her chest and she looked up at the crib still in the tree.

"Let us see!" Stephanie begged

Annabeth grinned and unzipped the hoodie. The baby complained again and she decided to keep her wrapped up. She closed her eyes against the sun and remained like she was sleeping though she wasn't.

She was too tiny and perfect. Oh, her little lips and little nose and everything little and cute. And she was marveled because she had never seen a baby this close.

"We have another sister" she announced and Piper cooed along with Stephanie.

"Another girl?" Fergus complained but he had a smile on his face as he looked down at the baby nestled in Annabeth's arms.

"She's cute" Savvy commented

"Is her weight right?" Malcolm asked "Isn't that small for baby standards?"

He had a mortal half brother that was young so maybe he knew more than her. She was too little to remember the twin's size; her stepmother wouldn't let Annabeth in the same room for that long.

"She's a newborn, what do you expect? Average is from 5 to 10 pounds, she's perfect" Percy replied from behind her, surprising her of how convinced he sounded with the information. She looked back at him and he shrugged even getting flushed "what? We studied babies in Biology"

Annabeth suppressed a grin and her siblings all looked at Percy and seemed to approve of him giving the piece of information nodding.

"The nerd is rubbing on you" Malcolm said with a half smile and making the rest chuckle.

Percy rubbed his neck and smiled still flushed

"She looks healthy" Annabeth replied "we'll get her checked"

"The crib is here!" Leo announced and they stepped back as the golden piece of metal hit the ground softly

Annabeth considered putting her in there but she didn't want to upset her. (Plus she finally understood how to hold her right, she couldn't let that go to waste so she held her tight to her chest daring for someone to say otherwise).

"Does she have a name?" Ian asked

Malcolm leaned to inspect the crib as many of her siblings, after all they had all arrived there.

"Augusta" He said reading the embroidered sheet that they all had.

"Seriously?" Fergus asked.

They all looked at each other

"That's such a cool name!" Piper said clapping happily "it suits her so much. Hello Augusta"

"It's a bit long but I like it" Percy leaned over Annabeth's shoulder to see. He rubbed his thumb on her back and Annabeth leaned in the touch a tiny bit. "Hey, baby A."

"It's so..." Malcolm started and then pressed his lips together not daring to say it.

"Roman" Annabeth helped trying not to wince.

"Well, yes" he nodded making a face.

"Augusta. It was a title the daughters and wives of Roman emperors got" Stephanie said.

"Like Augustus but female" Savvy scrunched her eyebrows.

"It means venerable, majestic in Latin" Annabeth said "It was first used by Octavius as a title"

"Wait, what?" Leo asked "Go back, I thought those were two different guys?"

"I'm with Leo in this one. I'm so confused" Piper said

"So much for a Roman boyfriend" Percy said with a smug smile "I knew that one"

"That's because your girlfriend is a crazy know it all" Piper replied and Annabeth rolled her eyes and smiled at Pipes.

Malcolm shook his head "Octavius and Augustus are the same person, it's a common misconception because he was referred with both names equally, Augustus became kinda like a given name when he became emperor"

"Every other emperor used it after that" Fergus clarify. "And then it became an actual name for Europe's royalty"

Liam cleared his throat; he had been quiet all along helping Leo with the pulleys

"Augusta. It's clearly something" He said

"You mean it's on purposed?" Fergus asked

He shrugged "my dad named me. Who named you?"

"We're twins? We have the same father" Fergus replied like duh and Annabeth had to laugh "our names are both Irish and they mean more or less the same."

"Athena has to give the name the green light" Malcolm reminded him

"Okay, we were all named by our dads; your point is that Athena named her?" Stephanie asked

"It's rather obvious" Liam replied and pushed his glasses up his nose "She wanted to make a statement? It certainly wouldn't be the first time"

"You think is like a peace keeping thing between Greeks and Romans?" Savvy asked and Liam nodded

"It's all…very recent." He tried not to eye Percy, Annabeth, Piper and Leo but it was too evident "I know that some of us just won't warm ourselves with the Romans. I'm not talking about the camp, just us in particular or more like that's me"

"It's not just you, as hard as we tried" Malcolm muttered

"Same." Stephanie replied looking down "I mean–they are nice and everything" She looked at Piper and then adverted her eyes "more than nice, I certainly wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for a few of them. I just–gods"

"I get it Steph" Annabeth said and looked at all of them in turn "All of you. It's been as just as hard for me too. We don't find ourselves there because the roman version of Athena is so different than our Lady Mother. And they have a hard time getting used to Athena kids because Minerva doesn't have any. It's a mutual thing we have to keep working on"

"Do you think the meaning matters?" Savvy asked Annabeth

"I don't think so but I agree with Liam…none of us has a Latin name but Athena cares about the name of their children. I think she must have loved it your dad named as it basically means smart"

"That's true" Stephanie and Savvy just smiled.

Liam smiled down at his new sister who was still nestled in Annabeth's arms with her eyes closed "I think it's a great name"

"Where's her daddy?" Ian asked standing on his tiptoes to see her better

Annabeth shook her head again

"I don't kno–"

"He passed." Malcolm replied holding a card to Annabeth that was written in Greek neat handwriting "no other family members"

Annabeth hummed and took the note. She read it and handed it back over.

"Is she meant to live here?" Savvy asked

"She can't" Chiron replied and they all looked back startled that they hadn't heard him galloped.

"What do you mean she can't?" Annabeth asked almost horrified

She looked down at the tiny human that she had nestled in her arms

"Annabeth. She's a baby" Chiron said

"I'm aware"

They all started to protest until he put up his hand

"If you think I'll let– she's one of ours!" she cried

"Who knows how to take care of a baby?" He asked "Do you Fergus? Stephanie?" They didn't reply "Annabeth?"

She couldn't say she did.

"There's a reason we don't have babies around here. You're all going away in a few weeks. This baby won't wait until you all get back to ask for her necessities"

"She's meant to be here" Annabeth said trying not to lose her temper, practicing self control was hard sometimes but she couldn't yell in front of the little ones. Discussions are won with points you can prove and explain, that's what she always told them, raising your voice does nothing to help your argument.

"No" He said calmly "we can't have a baby here. You shouldn't get attached. It's an order from Mr D"

Augusta decided that moment was great to have a meltdown because she started crying loud. Annabeth could almost hear the anguish, the sadness and abandon she felt, like she knew she was being cast out.

She didn't know how to make it better or what to do to prove she should stay at camp.

"Stephanie please take this kid to the infirmary, let an Apollo camper check her. I know Will is very prepared with his knowledge on kids so preferably him. And then give her whatever he says she should have, I'm sure hungry is the first thing we should take care of"

Annabeth was pained to let her sister go but she put her in Stephanie's arms as best as she could. Augusta didn't stop crying as she rocked her and walked away.

"Everyone should resume the day's activities. Annabeth" he called before turning away.

They all looked at each other confused by Chiron's behavior. He was the most welcoming ever, to everyone, he couldn't be kicking their baby sister out.

Annabeth (and by default Percy) walked to catch up with Chiron and followed him to the Big House.

"Let's call Rachel so she can tell us something." Annabeth said as Chiron walked quietly "maybe she can tell us why she's here or what to do. She probably saw something already"

"No" he replied "I mean, yes, you can talk to Rachel if you want but the decision's been made. Nobody can take care of the kid. We are a camp for children"

"Maybe you should have a measuring sing by the door then, if she's too small to stay" Percy said and huffed.

"I'm sorry." Chiron replied, he shook his head and sighed "I really would like her to stay. We don't have the type of care that she needs. Annabeth you do understand what I'm saying"

She met his eyes and then nodded reluctantly.

"What?!" Percy asked looking at her like she just went insane "Do you really want her to go to the mortal world and live in an orphanage?"

"She has no other distant family. There's no choice" Chiron said calmly.

"But Yancy–gods." Percy kept quiet and then run a hand through his hair. He was remembering how troubled the kids at that school were, mostly orphans with issues. Issues because they were alone and forgotten.

Annabeth took his hand and squeezed it but Percy let go and shook his head.

"You cannot do that" he was mostly looking at Annabeth

"Percy it's true." She said defeated "Even if we tried. We could keep her at cabin six and look after her. We can't play her parents, my siblings and I…we don't know how to take care of a baby. I'll be gone in a few weeks, we all have our lives. We're going to college"

"It can't be that hard" he protested

Annabeth shook her head

"You've no idea what that place was like! And–she's a demigod, is she suppose to protect herself?"

"We'll get her a guardian. We'll keep an eye on her" Chiron reassured him.

"She will still grow up alone and abandoned" He said harshly "I don't think that's what Athena wants. She sent the crib here for that reason"

"What choice do we have?" Annabeth asked him. The pain was evident in her eyes but Percy couldn't believe she was agreeing to this.

"You can't say that Annabeth. Do you really want her to have a screw up childhood?"

"You mean like mine?" She asked raising her voice "Like yours? Like any of our friends? She's a demigod, it's what she gets."

"You have your dad" he said softly.

"I do now"

"I'm not saying your childhood was a walk in the park, because I know it wasn't. Nobody had it easy but you can do something for that little baby, she could have it better than you." He lowered his voice "you more than anyone know what is like to not feel…safe." Annabeth pressed her lips together. Her eyes weren't itchy. Not at all "She could grow up in a safe, nice, caring environment. Here at camp which the last time I checked was a safe place for demigods"

"I'll meet up with you later" Annabeth said to Chiron and stormed off past Percy and into the infirmary.

Percy groaned

Chiron looked at him sternly.

"Don't tell me there's no other choice" He spitted "you were the one who taught me you can always choose between what is right and what is easy. And you're both going down the easy road"

Percy hated when Chiron just kept quiet. The centaur got himself in his wheelchair and entered the big house leaving him there huffing with annoyance.

He just couldn't understand how they could do that to a kid.

—

. . .

Stephanie said she was going to be right back but Annabeth knew she was just saying so. People, and her siblings in particular, knew exactly when to give her some space. She got hold of Savvy's hand and asked her to come with her to the Aphrodite cabin where one of the guys was good with a sewing machine and could make some clothes for Octavia.

Savvy seemed reluctant to go but Stephanie convinced her leaving Annabeth with Will from the Apollo cabin.

"She's very strong for her Six pounds 3 ounces" he commented doctor-like with his light blue scrubs shirt. "Go wash your hands with that soap, please and thank you, this baby doesn't need your infinite amount of germs"

Annabeth scoffed by did as he said and then looked down at the baby on the coat. They had put a makeshift diaper of white cloth wrapped around her legs and held together with a safety pin.

Augusta wiggled her arms and legs on the coat totally comfortable with the attention Will was giving her. Eyes wide opened following his little flashlight.

The baby complained and pouted so Will beckoned her forward and put a jar on her hand

"Get your finger wet, she'll suck on it"

She dipped one finger in the honey like liquid and then took the ambrosia to the baby's mouth. Augusta sucked on her finger like her life depended on it and she wondered what it tasted like to her. What on the few hours of life she had could taste like comfort and home?

Will continued to check her as she was occupied sucking on her ambrosia that was going to keep her full for a little while.

He was very gentle with her. He laughed as she didn't want to let go of his finger and had to pry open her little hand for her to let go.

"You're good" she commented and run a finger from her free hand over her little sister's soft palm. Perfect little fingers with tiny nails.

Will smiled "Thanks. I'd love to do this one day. Be a pediatrician"

Annabeth rolled her eyes, leaning her chin on her fist "Obviously you already are"

He tsked at her "Well, if I'm a pediatrician you're an architect"

She got his point. Both of them wanted to start college already. Learn more of what they loved.

"Have you heard from them yet?"

Will put Augusta onto her stomach once he considered he had enough gods drink.

"See how she lifts her head" he said "that's impressive. It was like three full seconds"

Annabeth narrowed her eyes not knowing how that was impressive. Will was beaming, marveled and she saw his passion out there. She probably looked the same while talking about support beams.

Augusta began to complain, tired of trying to hold her head up

"Okay, yeah. Sorry, that was a lot for you" he put her back facing them "relieved from tummy time duty. I'm done" he wrapped her embroidered blanket around her much better than Annabeth has done and handed it over at her looking cozy like a baby burrito "there baby, we'll get you food soon" he looked up at Annabeth "UPenn has written back, offering the full swing. They sent a bunch of merch with the letter"

"Congratulations, That's great!"

"Yeah" he replied not as thrilled as he should be

Annabeth frowned "It has a children's hospital, right?"

Will nodded with a little smile "They go there for their practice"

"So have you accepted?"

"Not yet. My mom thinks I should wait for Stanford"

"Oh. Does it have a good med program?"

He hummed and Annabeth raised an eyebrow "Of course it does" he clarify

"You just don't wanna go there"

"She has had a huge obsession with it since I was little. I think–I just don't wanna give in, you know?" he huffed out

She laughed "I get it. Stanford is a great school, and so is UPenn but if your passion is with the kids… I just saw that"

"I wish my mom got that" he murmured and turned away to clean his work space.

"So, do you guys just fall a thousand feet?" The change of subject didn't come unnoticed but Annabeth was okay with it. He had a lot on his back.

Annabeth chuckled "I was a baby when it happened so–"

"Right"

"Just kidding. My dad found me in his doorstep when he came home but others said their fathers saw them appear out of nowhere and then glide no more than a few feet. I really don't know how she ended up in the tree"

"It's amazing" he said looking down at Augusta who was blinking slowly because of Annabeth's gentle rocking "A goddess gives you this gift of a life because she falls mentally in love with you. It's a great love story if you ask me"

"Not everyone wants a gift" she spitted before she could help herself

"Don't look a gift horse" he started and then bursted out laughing at Annabeth's look

"I would punch you if I could" she groaned

"Thanks baby" He said "I'm going to talk with Argus for a trip to a grocery store. We need baby milk asap before she loses any more weight"

He muttered a blessing of Apollo to the baby

"Rest, doctor's orders" He said

"I think she doesn't need your orders, she's already in cloud 9"

He chuckled "It was for you"

"Oh" she said surprised and looked away then cleared her throat "Well, I try"

"Try harder" he commanded and walked out without saying anything else which left Annabeth with an amused smile.

Annabeth sat by the back of the infirmary with Augusta, where she had sat once a long time ago to feed Percy ambrosia. She specially liked this seat because of the skylight above.

The infirmary was empty right now, clean and shiny and silent. She had seen this place like it seemed a thousand times full of screaming kids and the floor smeared with blood. When the healers couldn't tend to everyone fast enough. When the coats were few even when there were more than a 100. When the sheets covering her friends faces started to be the sheets of their own beds.

She needed a break. Her head was constantly hurting. She really needed a break.

It was supposed to be one but camp Halfblood wasn't the sort of spring break she needed. Only Percy and she realized it too late after they arrived, they should have stay at Sally's and watch movies all week and eat a thousand cookie batches and maybe try to go on a date.

At camp Halfblood she couldn't put the war back; it was always there in the back of her mind. She walked around remembering vividly, how She had twisted the earth and the trees and just how everything was in half and upside down and she remembered being so scared while fighting yet another war, hoping that her friends knew what they were doing. Trying to keep Percy always in her line of sight. Yelling strategies that were plan C, D or E and then have them collide with the roman ones and hoping it worked anyway.

And the aftermath. Gods. It was the bloodiest thing she had ever seen. She remembered her hands completely red from pressing on wounds to keep people alive. She had received a nasty cut on her leg and she didn't even want them to tend to it, pain was better than feeling nothing and she felt that if they stopped her bleeding she would be empty and numb and actually dead.

She remembered that and more and she remembered that she had only one thought, for it to end. And seriously have a nap.

She closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind. Coming to camp was a bad idea but looking down at her sister she tried to see the positive. It was not every day you get to meet your demigod baby sister.

Augusta slept like she knew the arms that were holding her were the safest place on earth. Annabeth wished she could get five minutes of that same sleep. Her safe arms weren't covering it when he was troubled, angry, sad or even crying when he thought she was asleep. Her safe arms needed to make peace with his own mind but it was selfish of her to ask him to do that when she couldn't make peace with herself and her choices and. For. Dragging. Him. Down.

Her hands shook and she held the baby a little closer to her body.

Her boyfriend was right to get angry at her. She couldn't do this to a innocent kid. A kid that had a chance to have it good. A baby that slept so deep tucked in arms she barely knew but somehow trusted because she didn't have a single worry in the world, because she didn't know how the world was.

She didn't know how many prophecies were ahead of her and how many wars and if she would spend the days hoping to get a single smile out of her partner that used to be all smiles and positive energy and fun.

She sighed. "Hey baby. We were having it good today at the beach, a rare moment of clarity or what it used to be."

How their relationship was supposed be sneaking to make out and playful banter all day everyday and normal, like any other 18 year old had it.

"I'm sorry. It's not your fault" she murmured.

She couldn't get Percy words out of her head. This girl's father couldn't take her in because he was dead. He probably would have wanted her, loved her, cared for her.

This baby was already in the road for a screw up childhood, being a demigod always gave you one but Percy was right, she didn't fell here for them to ship her away to the mortal world.

She didn't need reminder of what it felt growing up because she doubted she could ever forget. How she felt alone and unwanted, how she hid under the covers because they wanted her to disappear so she tried. How she finally decided to disappear for real at 7 years old. And not to have a single kid pleasure like being pushed in a swing, jump on a bed, blow your candles and make a wish, someone tickling you until you get sick of laughing and get a hug after a scraped knee.

Even after she mended her relationship with her dad she knew some stuff were going to be hard to forget, to forgive. They couldn't get their time back.

This kid was already going to suffer because she wouldn't get to meet her dad. Did she really want to put her sister through even more pain sending her over to an orphanage?

She would never want her to feel like she felt. She would want her to have everything she didn't have, all the love and the laughs and the hugs and someone to remind her every time that they are not going anywhere.

The bad thing is that If Mr D said she couldn't stay that was final even when Chiron wasn't thrilled with the decision.

She couldn't play mom even if she wanted, she didn't know anything about babies and besides she had a few more months of high school, she couldn't keep her at the dorm and then New Rome with Percy–

New Rome.

It had lots of parents, someone could take her in…she was named Augusta for god's sake.

She shook her head because even if Reyna and Frank took her in and she knew they would do so gladly…she was a daughter of the greek goddess Athena. A kid that didn't exist in their world. She could still be an outcast and feel lonely.

It was a good plan so it could be plan B. She needed to figure plan A out now.

Augusta complained in her sleep so Annabeth rocked her and she went back to a deep sleep. She was probably hungry, she hoped she slept a bit more until Will could come back with food.

She wondered if she could do this. One day. Percy kept this image, this family that involved lots of kids and her as a mom and him as a dad and like a happily ever after with a quiet life.

He thought about babies with her and Of course she found it cute, adorable even. It was endearing and reassuring to know that he wanted her long term, that he wanted permanent too. She just didn't know if they were gonna make it that long, and if they did, could she take care of tiny humans and make them love her back? Was she cut out for that?

When she saw this baby sleeping like this she thought about it, about wanting it and being good at it and tiny babies that look like Percy. It got her stupid butterflies as she caressed Augusta's baby blonde hair. Growing up she had never thought of being a mother, mostly because she didn't think she'd be alive for that long. Apparently holding a baby for the first time had woken a few feelings she didn't know she had. A little wanting, a need, a love. Something to fulfill.

She really couldn't let that happen to her sister.

And of course her boyfriend would react like that to the idea of sending a little baby to an orphanage. He had always had this thing with family. He was obsessed with it. He was the one to convince her she should mend things with her father when they were little and she's so glad she did as he said.

She had to find him and tell him they were going to solve it together. And then maybe talk to him about her new found feelings.

—

. . .

"Mom?" he called as he closed the door to the apartment. "Mom?" he asked louder. He was actually pretty scared of finding his parents in a compromising moment. He was supposed to be gone for a week.

"Percy?" he heard over the kitchen and he let go a breath "what are you doing here?"

His mom appeared around the corner at the same time he was coming in the kitchen, which made them almost bump into each other. She enveloped him in a one arm hug and kissed his cheek

"You're making cookies" He said sniffing at the air

She nodded "What's up? I thought you were spending spring break at camp. Where's Annabeth?"

"She's there. I came with Blackjack because I need to ask you something" he said nervously "And Paul too"

She nodded serious "He was having a shower, I'll see if he's done. Would you look at that for me?"

He opened the oven with a cloth around his hand and pulled the tray a little out checking for the golden edges but they needed about another minute or two.

He breathed in the reassuring smell of his moms blue cookies.

His anger had subsided during the ride home and he was so upset he had yelled at Annabeth.

He took the tray out of the oven and put it in the counter. Unable to help himself he grabbed one and started passing it from hand to hand burning his hands and trying to eat it. The melted chocolate chips staining his fingers.

"Would you wait a second!" his mom laughed and Paul followed right behind her.

She opened the window to help them cool faster

"He always does this" his stepdad said shaking his head with a smile.

Percy smiled and shrugged

His mom brushed his hair

"My big baby"

He got serious at that.

"Percy, are you all right?" Paul asked

He nodded "I have to ask you something. It's really important. Mom, you should sit"

"Okay" she replied. He could tell she was already concern, probably thinking a quest could take him away.

"So…this baby appeared today at camp" he started. "it's a daughter of Athena and she's very little, she was born just today. Annabeth is probably with her now"

"Wow, that's great news. She has a new sister" His mom said with the kind smile she reserved for little kids.

"Mom," he looked st her "They are going to take her away because no one knows how to care of her. They want her in an orphanage because she lost her father, she doesn't have any family left who can look after her"

"She has her siblings at least" Paul said, his eyebrows pulled closed "right?"

Percy shook his head "No, not for a few years until she's old enough to join the camp."

"Oh"

"That sad" his mom muttered

"I don't want her to go to that place." He looked at his mom "you know what happens to kids in orphanages. She won't grow up happy."

"Percy, what do you want us to do?" she asked in almost a whisper.

"I know you want a kid" he said looking at none of them "and if you could have one you would by now. And I hate you can't get it because I really want you to have a kid too."

"Percy you do realize you're enough, right?" Paul asked.

"Enough trouble?" he asked and laughed half heartedly

"No" his mom chided

"Of course not" Paul said at the same time

"I guess what I'm saying is–would you care for her and take her in?"

His parents looked at each other.

"She's on her own" he repeated and sighed "only a few hours old and she's on her own. I know you probably want a normal kid but she comes with god blood in her veins too, but it's different because I'll be here and Annabeth. It won't be like the first time mom, she won't be like me"

"Percy, I don't know" she whispered

"Please. She would get awesome parents, and I know you will love her"

Sally started crying then and went to hug him, he didn't know why. She could be crying about a million things. Was she saying yes or no or maybe because they were talking about them not being able to have a kid…Percy didn't know so he just held her

Paul, on the other hand, was looking down at the wooden table.

Percy looked at him over his mom's shoulder

"Paul?" he asked and his stepdad lifted his head meeting his eyes. Percy rubbed his mom's back "You don't have to decide now. You can think about it, I'll make them wait a few days. I know what I'm asking isn't easy"

"No" his mom replied, she backed from his shoulder to look at him "this is a person."

"I'm not taking it lightly"

"It's for life" she said

"What would you think if you found out you were pregnant today?" he asked his mother and he let go "would you have thought about it for a second? I don't think you would have"

She opened her mouth and he knew he went a little too far. It was probably hard enough without him reminding it.

"I'm sorry, I know it's not the same–I'm sorry" he repeated "I just–it really pains me to know she could have so much and..."

His mother sat down again.

"This is...very fast" Paul said slowly after a while when no one talked. He looked at Percy "We...just were getting used to the fact that we weren't going to be able, you know?"

"Oh" Percy run a hand through his hair and looked down "I'm sorry."

"But there's no reason why we couldn't love this kid as much as you or any other we could have naturally"

Percy looked up at Paul and his mom was doing the same.

"I don't need another kid to become a dad, you know that, right?"

Percy nodded and smiled at him.

"You never thought about adopting a kid?" he asked

"We only just started talking about it" his mom said, softly

"Yes, it's a hard process. The system is difficult and its quiet expensive, too"

"Mom" he said and his mother looked up at him with red eyes "You can think about it. Please"

His mother nodded

"I have to go back"

His parents hugged him and kissed him in turn

His mom didnt let him leave without taking a tupper with blue cookies.

—

. . .

She left Augusta with a bunch of girls and boys from different cabins. The story about the baby from the golden crib had spread around the few campers that were here on this time of the year.

They all wanted to meet her and take turns holding her but Stephanie had her in her arms and was feeding her baby milk in a bottle. Will was around too, telling everyone to wash their hands before even crossing the door.

Piper's siblings had made a bunch of clothes for her and they were all small in soft cotton fabrics and beautiful. They had dressed her right away in a one piece pink romper with bows for buttons.

So Annabeth left to find Percy and tell him she was sorry she ever thought about giving her away. She was going to tell him they needed to figure something out before Mr D follow through shipping her to the mortal world with a young satyr in tow.

The fact was that he wasn't anywhere. Not in his cabin, or the woods, not in the dock or the beach, she looked in the arena even though she knew he had stopped going there at all.

She stopped by the weapons shed and talked to an Hephaestus daughter who said he had saw him with Leo a few hours ago.

Piper said Leo was in bunker 9 but it was unlikely that Percy was there. He didn't like the place much and only went when she had something to do.

After she asked a lot of people getting negative responses she started to panic. She was thinking every possible scenario, nightmares she had. It was like a real déjà vu.

The sun had turned pale behind a uniform grey sky which made the water colder when she stepped in the ocean. It was barely 20 degrees (c°), spring was getting late this year and it wasn't nice for a swim in the sea, at least not for her.

When the water hit her knees she stopped, if Percy was around he would very much spot her. She stood there for a while letting the waves crush on her thighs getting chills all over

"You okay there?" he asked and she turned around fast. He was standing on the shore with Blackjack beside him which looked like he was laughing at her, stupid horse. He trotted off.

Annabeth frown and walked towards him. He met her halfway only to receive a shove backwards

"Where were you?" she asked angrily

"Sorry." He put his hands up because she was about to strike again "I guess I didn't realize the time" he shrugged apologetically "I went home"

"I almost–you could have say something to someone! I've looking for you everywhere. You can't do that"

She grabbed his arms and pressed herself against his chest, pressing her nose against the skin of his neck.

"I'm sorry. I should have said something"

"Hell yes, you should have!" she replied annoyed, heart beating uncontrollably

And then she was hyperventilating.

He wrapped his arms around but then he pulled away noting how fast she was breathing. And he felt like an idiot because he should have thought of this even if he was angry with her, he actually wasn't even angry at her just angry in general like always.

"Hey, breathe" he pushed away slowly for her to look at him in the eye "Annabeth, stay with me." he cursed and brushed a hand through his hair.

He had to help her through. He didn't know how she didn't panic when he panicked, how she always stayed calm and guided him. He was so bad at this. It made him anxious, it made him want to cry. How could he help her if he couldn't help himself?

He knew exactly what it meant; her tight breaths and tiny gasps meant panic and anxiety, dread, despair

He searched for her eyes, for her to concentrate on him. "Annabeth." He started calmly but firmly "Annabeth, you're in the beach at Camp Halfblood and I'm here with you"

Her eyes were full of unshaded tears, clouding her vision and his green eyes in front of her. She made an effort to focus.

She hated this. She hated she knew she was having a panic attack and could do nothing to make it stop. She felt powerless. She suddenly couldn't think. Couldn't breathe, couldn't see clearly, her chest felt on fire and he was gone again.

"Hey, hey. I know this feels real but it's not. Annabeth, I'm here with you. We're on beach at camp" he kept his voice even but every word wanted to crack. He felt like he needed to repeat himself, she did that and it always helped him get back.

Her fingers tighten on his arms and he didn't try to let go, he just let her "breathe with me" he repeated slowly.

And after a few times she started imitating his breaths in and out. He counted ten breaths and exhales. He counted ten again. And ten again.

"That's better, right?"

She pressed her forehead against his t-shirt and continued to breathe with him. Her fingers were still gripping his forearms, white with the effort

"Can you feel the sand under your toes? The water? Breathe just like the tide" he whispered and he could tell she tried to focus on the feel of the water against her ankles "This swaying motion always calms me down. You calm me down"

He kissed her temple and she let go of his arms slowly. He made no motion to touch just in case she got scared and felt trapped but she hugged him "I'm with you. I'll always be with you. I promise. I love you"

He closed his eyes trying to follow through and breathe too. It was the first time he had triggered her and he was never ever going to forgive himself.

Thalia was the one who told him Annabeth was in bad shape when he disappeared, he asked how bad and he remembered how the hunter just sighed and said it was worse than he probably imagine. He didn't know why she was telling him this, it was not like he wanted to be gone and he couldn't do anything about that time she was sad and hurting.

But He could see it now. All her life the few people that care for her had eventually disappointed her and left her behind, nobody was a constant and that's why he could see how his disappearance broke her in a way not even Tartarus did. And the worst thing was that Annabeth blamed herself for a lot of that shit. After Luke and Thalia…he remembered how she was with her walls up high when they first met and how they had dissolved slowly once they became best friends. He couldn't understand how that could be her fault but he also couldn't make her see why it wasn't.

And now the last thing she needed was for him to disappear a few hours without letting anyone know. He promised himself that from now own he would never even go to the bathroom without telling her first.

His fingers brushed away the ends of her shoulder length hair and went over to the side of her neck. He grazed her neck and felt for her heartbeat, it was slowly going down.

"Is this okay?" he asked as his other hand found the inside of her wrist and he caressed slightly.

She gave him a little nod and he brushed her cheek with the hand still against her neck. He threaded his fingers in her hair, slowly disarming the knots the wind had created. He had to admit he hated the haircut at first because her hair was like his favorite thing ever but he had grown to love it so it still is. She said she needed a change and he was more than okay with that, her hair felt the same against his fingers, her curls were a little wilder and even though she could still put it up in a ponytail if she wanted she would wear it loose most of the time and he certainly couldn't complain about that.

His lips kissed the top of her head, her temple, brushed down her cheek and she tipped her head up slightly. Her still uneven breaths hit him on the lips.

"You scared me" she murmured which made him stop just when he was about to press his lips to hers "please, don't do that"

"You have no idea how sorry I am. I'm so sorry" he said sincerely

She nodded with her eyes closed.

"Are you cold?" he asked noticing the hair on her standing on end, he hugged her and run his hands up and down firmly against her back

"That's nice" She pressed a little closer to him "Could you keep doing that with the water?"

He didn't tell her he hadn't done it, that was the ocean all on its own but he said yes.

"Are you better?"

"Yes" she said in a small voice. Still too broke so he knew her hadn't yet recovered. It will take her at least another ten minutes to start talking and about half an hour to start doing stuff again.

He dragged her down and sat on the wet sand with the little waves crushing on his legs and made her sit on his lap with her feet on the water and deep under the sand

"Can I tell you something?" he asked after he counted too many breaths in and out of her system. She nodded against his chest "I went home because I wanted to talk to my parents, which I did. I think they can take your sister in"

She looked up at that "you're serious?"

He looked into her red eyes and smiled "they didn't say yes just yet but I think they could agree"

"You really want to do that?"

"Yes" he replied

"Thanks" she said softly and then sighed "I kept thinking that we had to figure something out. You're right about it, I'd hate myself if I don't fight for her to have it better, she deserves better"

"I never really believed you wanted to send her there. I wish my mom would say yes already"

"Percy" she breathed "It was good of you and your parents are incredibly good at being parents but this is a baby, they can't decide right away, it's a kid they have to take care forever."

"I know" He said excited "and I know they want it, it's not how they wanted it but this opportunity literally just fell from the sky"

Annabeth laughed a little at his silly pun and then cupped his cheeks and kissed him. He kissed her back trying to give back all the 'I love yous' and the 'I'm staying' in it.

"I don't want you to get your hopes up" She said when he pulled away and started pecking her face

"Or you don't want to get your hopes up"

"That too" she murmured "If they say no there's New Rome too"

"You think they will accept her?"

"there must be a couple…I know is not ideal because her mother is Athena but–Athena very well knows we can't keep her here, and she sent her anyway"

"Of course there must be someone, I want her to have parents, and I hate mine can't have a baby even when both are young"

"My sister would be your sister"

"Does that make us siblings?" he saw a tiny smile on her face the question.

"I don't think so"

"Oh thank gods" he sighed "It'd be weird. You can't marry your sister"

She laughed and Percy was grateful to hear the sound because he managed to distract her enough "We're still technically related"

"Technically" he repeated.

They were called again, this time it was Piper standing on the beach near the path leading to the Big House.

He helped his girlfriend up

"Are you better?" he repeated cupping his hands on her cheeks

She nodded "Let's go see what she needs"

"Percy it's your mom and dad!" Piper grinned when they were close.

Annabeth looked at Percy with a smile and the three of them walked up to meet them at the base of Thalias tree.

Chiron was talking with them.

Sally and Paul were huddled together, hands clasped. They grinned when they saw the three of them walked close.

"Mom?" Percy asked, hopeful

His mom grinned and nodded, Percy immediately went to hug her and Annabeth had to join in, hugging Paul and Sally in turn. She teared up with Sally as they hugged.

Piper had gone to find the baby and she came back with the rest of the Athena cabin and most of the campers that were spending their spring break here.

Stephanie handed Aggie –how they had nicknamed her –to Annabeth and she set her in Sally's arms with a smile.

Sally and Paul stared at the baby in her arms in awe.

"No return policy" Percy warned them

"Don't worry" Paul replied with a huge smile. Percy had never seen him so happy and he wanted to hug the breath out of him all over again.

"Okay, now I have a sister" Percy announced, hands in pockets looking at his parents.

"Oh, I'm gonna miss her" Savvy's little voice said

"We'll bring her often" Sally reassured her

"I'll make sure we bring her to visit" Annabeth said to her.

All the campers said their goodbye and Chiron, Percy and Annabeth were left along Sally and Paul and the baby that was sleeping away in Sally's arms.

"This is so good of you" Annabeth said looking down at her sister in her arms.

"Percy was very convincing" Paul explained and clapped a hand on Percy back.

Percy smiled. "I'm so happy you said yes"

"Do you want to come back with us?" Paul asked them or mostly Percy who was almost bouncing up and down.

Percy looked eager but Annabeth grabbed his hand and pull her a little towards her "We'll go tomorrow, once you're settled"

He nodded and could see how it was the best.

He waved his parents off as they climbed into the car. Sally sat at the back with the little baby on her arms, looking down at her already in love. Percy couldn't help but wave even when they were not in sight anymore.

His mom was the best mom and now he got to see her with a small baby and he loved that. And then his stepdad, gods, he managed to father a demigod teen which is even crazier so infinite kudos to him; he was going to be excellent as well.

---

"I have to tell you something" she said in a low voice

He hum for her to keep talking from his position on the floor, he was searching for the movie on Netflix and it was always hard to come by because he could never remember the title right.

"You hate that movie, I know" he replied with a heavy sigh "but it's my turn! We discussed this Wise Girl…we have turns for something!"

"No Percy-"

"Sh! And I swear I'm not being the gentleman again-even when you're like, my favorite person ever seriously, and I love you, I do, really…but we're not watching a boring documentary on columns again. My patience has a certain limit, you know"

"Percy, it has nothing to do with the movie"

He turned to her and she was sitting on the couch hugging her legs against her chest tightly. His brows furrowed as her face told him there was something seriously wrong going on.

"What's up?"

"Fuck" she breathed and shook her head to clear it.

Percy got up and sat next to her on the couch "Annabeth you're scaring me"

"This is...difficult, I guess"

The look in her eyes was weird, she was scared and nervous. She was terrified and it made him uneasy. She took a deep breath

"Just tell me Annabeth" he pleaded

"I seriously don't know what happened...if anything-I've talked with Piper and...I guess. I don't know! I'm freaking out here" she breathed and moved one rebel curl away from her face

"You didn't say what's wrong yet" he said calmly

She stood up then and paced to the door grabbing her hoodie then thinking better of it, she dropped it. It was the start of summer she didn't really need it.

"I need you to walk with me to the pharmacy"

"O-kay...but can you tell me what's wrong?"

"On the way" she replied hurrying out the door and he stood to follow her

The short ride down in the elevator was quiet and Percy just stared at her while she kept her eyes fixed on the metallic doors.

He knew it was serious even when her face was impassive but she is a master of the poker face.

She walked ahead of him with a quick step and he hurried to close the door to follow her.

"Annabeth would you please tell me what's up" he said grabbing her shoulder to stop her.

"Red light. Come on" she breathed and trotted to the end of the block with him just behind

"This is not funny Annabeth"

"No, it's not" she muttered and pulled him down the street.

"Okay...we're here" she said once they crossed the street and were standing in front of the pharmacy that wouldn't usually be opened at this time on a Saturday but Annabeth caught it in their emergency hours.

She grabbed his arm and pulled him to the side away from the door and cornered him to the wall.

She almost pressed herself against his body and a little smile appeared on her lips as she held his eyes, her eyes were troubled which didn't match her smirk. The street light made a shadow on her face but he could see something big was upsetting her

"Your face would be funny if-"

He raised his eyebrows and scoffed a laugh that did the opposite of lightening up the mood "do I look puzzled to you? Is not like my girlfriend is acting all mysterious right now. I know there's something messy up"

Her fingers found both his hands and intertwined with his.

"This is really important. I don't know how-it scares the hell out of me because we're 19 and barely even out of high school"

"What is this about?"

"Percy, fuck. This is really hard and I never thought...we shouldn't be having this conversation right now."

"What up?" He scrunched up his eyebrows in worry, trying to keep his tone even. It wasn't like her to not say stuff right away.

Her words all hurried out of her mouth and he struggled to follow her "l'm not on my period and I should be. I missed three, almost four days and-"

"You mean...?" He cut her off finally understanding and then he couldn't manage to complete the sentence. It was too big of a word. Too heavy.

"Shit, I don't know!" She let go of his hands and pushed her hair away impatiently and exasperated "Percy I'm really, really scared"

He didn't know what to say and just breathed in, he saw actual terror flash in her eyes. Hell he was terrified too, they were 19 and-and oh gods, was he even cut out for this? He thought about-that, about kids with her, with his girlfriend of three years but- oh gods. He shook his head trying to clear it. This couldn't be happening. Right now.

"Let's go inside"

She nodded and he grabbed her hand and they climbed the few steps leading to the door together. It opened automatically and the cool air of the ac greeted them along with bright white lights

There was someone paying in the only available check out but apart from that no other clients, the store looked deserted. The security nodded at them, the guy knew Percy because he usually came to the place a few times a week. Thankfully the guy at the register didn't because he couldn't remember the last time he came into the pharmacy at this hour. It was stupid to think that he cared whether the guy thought anything about them buying a pregnancy test. The last thing to think about right now if what would the register guy thought.

Annabeth was gripping his hand tight as they navigated the aisles. He didn't know where what they wanted was but apparently Annabeth did because she was precise with her turns around the store until they were right in between two aisles. Percy saw that one held bibs and pacifiers...baby wipes and so many other stuff. He half turned putting his back to that noticing that Annabeth hadn't even payed attention to it all but was focused in the aisle in front of it. Her eyes fixed in the wide variety of tests.

Pregnancy tests.

"Holy fuck" he muttered and run his free hand in his hair. His neck felt already sticky with sweat

His eyes couldn't picked up many of the words they read because his dyslexia got so bad his eyes kept loosing focus blurring the boxes

Annabeth picked up one and rubbed her eyes and forehead probably having the same problem.

"Which one should we...?"

"Mm, Piper said it won't matter"

He let go of her hand "you told Piper before me?"

"Yes, I did. I thought I've already mentioned it" he shook his head, maybe she did but he couldn't remember. "Why do you care?"

"Because-because..." he groaned. It wasn't a good sentence to say 'because I'm the father'. Not right now, he could barely grasp it but he was more than a bit jealous that he was finding out after her "gods, because she's probably telling Jason right now...or she told him before I even knew"

She scoffed "oh please. I needed to talk to someone, your mom wasn't really a choice"

"You could have talked to me!"

"About birth control pills? How much do you know about that?"

"I know...hell, I know they aren't doing their damn job"

She frowned and pressed her lips together "You don't say"

"Just grab one and we should go"

"Piper offered to come get it with me, maybe I should have said yes because you're not helping"

He breathed out "Maybe you should have"

Annabeth shook her head "gods"

"Didn't she say that it won't matter what you get. I agree, either you are or you're not, so just grab whichever and let's go"

He walked to the end of the aisle and stood there awkwardly.

Annabeth stared at him and stomped her foot like a child but she didn't care. She might be having one, at 19.

She wasn't worried about the age specifically just...just-

She wanted to do stuff. She wanted to do so much stuff.

She watched the pink box in her hand; it read it was super effective with 99.9% accurate results

'THE FIRST RESPONSE PREGNANCY. EARLY RESULT PREGNANCY TEST' It read. It had three tests inside and it was supposedly the only brand that told you sooner because of improved technology.

Piper was probably right. And so was Percy for that matter...and the articles she read on the internet, said it too: it wouldn't be important which one she took as long as she followed the instructions and took it right.

The internet was all about that if the test says you are then you most likely 100% are because there was no positive that could be a negative. Then again if you aren't you have a 99% chance that you aren't if you took it right but then there was this bugging 1% that was left. And Annabeth considered 1% to be a very big chance when the matter at hands was this big and important. A negative could be very well be a positive sometimes when it was too early to tell.

Then again it couldn't be early, she missed three days of her period almost four and the last time they had sex was two days ago...if she was pregnant she got pregnant way before that time. They had sex regularly she wouldn't be able to tell when it happened.

The big question she kept asking herself was why? The pills were supposed to be effective and she was on good pills, they cost a fucking lot to not be working. Piper told her she should better go to a doctor but she didn't want to make a big deal when it was probably nothing at all.

It was a lie. It was a very big deal, she was terrified! The fact was that she should have made an appointment with the gynecologist a long time ago just to check if everything was okay but she kept putting it off for more than six months because she was busy with her senior year exams.

She decided to get this test only because it had three inside and she should take one tomorrow if...anything. It was supposed to be ideal to take it right after you wake up because the urine is concentrated but she really couldn't wait anymore. She had waited all day for her period and when it didn't show up she decided to do this at almost midnight. She hadn't drunk anything in two hours and she wanted to pee when Percy was putting the movie but held it just because of this.

Percy had wondered off because he was no longer at the end of the aisle and she really tried to be understanding but she couldn't. He was probably scared out of his mind too but she needed him right now and that's the reason she had decided he was the one coming and not her best girl friend.

He was waiting for her at the checkout looking at the gum packages absentmindedly.

The sit beside the register was empty. He looked at the box of tests in her hand with an unreadable expression and she slid it on the desk uncomfortably. He slid a ben and jerrys ice-cream pint beside it that she didn't notice he was holding. A New york super fugde chunk, her favorite, it almost made her smile.

The cashier was walking their way

"Sorry" Percy muttered, he looked at her and he did look genuinely sorry "I was being a jerk"

She shook her head blinking fast to stop her eyes from shedding tears, they obeyed, for now...

She gave his cold hand a squeeze.

The guy sat down behind the register and greeted them tiredly.

He grabbed the stuff, checked them and put them in a paper bag expressionless and bored, without even looking at them.

"It's 20,59" he said and Annabeth put her hand in her shorts pocket looking for cash

Percy stopped her and brought out 21 dollars out if his wallet without stopping to get the ticket or the change. The guy impatiently handed the money to Annabeth and said goodnight.

"Goodnight" Annabeth replied

"Thanks" Percy said grabbing their bag and pulled Annabeth's hand for her to follow him. Annabeth put the coins change on the back pocket of his jeans

"The test was 14.50, I should give you the money back" she was going to put it in his wallet later even if he protested.

"Don't be ridiculous" he replied tugging her back to the curb when she attempted to cross the street as the light turned green and a motorcycle speed up loudly.

They walked quietly back to Sally and Paul's apartment and Percy watched Annabeth bite her lip hard all the way up on the elevator.

He opened the door and they walked inside.

His parents had gone to a dinner party earlier leaving them to look after little Augusta who slept the entire time and once his parents arrived they had crashed right into bed leaving them to watch a movie and that's what they were about to do right before Annabeth had said anything.

Percy looked around the living room and everything was right like they left it less than half an hour ago but hell nothing was the same because his whole world was upside down. Augusta's stuff were literally everywhere and god…baby.

"You should put that in the freezer if we intend to drawn our sorrow in ice-cream later" she said and handed him the ice-cream.

"That wasn't funny" he said seriously.

"I wasn't trying to be" she shot back, cradling the bag with her test

"Maybe there will be no sorrow" he murmured and walked to the kitchen to do as she said.

Annabeth walked down the hall quietly skipping the floor boards that creaked because Augusta's nursery was right in front and the last thing she wanted was to deal with a crying baby, even when it was her baby sister. She got inside Percy's bathroom soundless.

She hung the towels that he had left on the floor earlier and closed the toilet to sit on it.

Percy knocked on the door and she called him.

He leant against the sink counter and watched her as she read the instructions cross legged on the toilet sit.

He grabbed one of the pink tests and turned it in his hand. It was still on the plastic bag so she just let him

"Is it hard?" He asked now grabbing the box she had put to one side and started reading the outside and then put the test back inside

"No" she replied still looking down at the instructions."I just have to remove this cap and there's an absorbent thing where I have to pee on and-"

"How the hell can they tell with pee?"

She sighed "it has a certain hormone if you're...if you are" she still couldn't bring herself to say pregnant

"Oh. I didn't know"

"You probably studied this at school. It's in biology"

"I was like thirteen, I don't remember caring"

"Anyway, after peeing I put the cap back and then we have to wait five minutes and-" she checked the instruction paper to check she had the info right "if a line appears in the C section –right here-"she pointed "then I'm not and if a line appears in both the T section and the C section then its positive. If a line appears only in the T section is defective and I have to do it again"

"The small writing here says it's only defective when it expired and it has like a year left" he said and pointed the side of the box

"Great!" she sounded far too cheerful right now.

"I'll wait outside"

"Percy you've seen me pee a thousand times why is this different?"

"It was like two times with my back turned and never in a bathroom" because unfortunately for them they had been there, he hadn't mind, they were in death like situations but right now he wanted her to have the privacy.

"Okay, go if you want and I'll tell you once I'm done"

He nodded, walked out and closed the door.

Annabeth's hand trembled as she unbuttoned her shorts and ripped opened with her teeth the plastic bag containing one of the tests

She removed the cap pressing her legs together not to pee herself because she hadn't pee in hours

She put the absorbent end close to her body to ensure pee was getting in and let go. She counted to ten seconds but left the stick under her running pee until it stopped and her bladder was empty.

She recapped it and clean the plastic outside with toilet paper and washed her hands. Setting her stopwatch for five minutes that seemed like an eternity

She opened the door for Percy who was biting his nails leaning against the frame.

"We'll get a result in 4 minutes 27 seconds" she sat back on the toilet

"Hey..." he started and then cleared his throat. "We're together, no matter what"

"I know that" She offered him her hand and he took it "of course I do"

"Either result...um, you should maybe go see a doctor?"

"Yes" she nodded. A heartbit, two, three, she breathed out "I'm nervous"

"Me too, but you should also know that...I'm with whatever you want-"

"Please don't"

"You know I support you"

"Percy, please!" she really didn't want to think about that, maybe after the result but not now. She covered her face with her hands and groaned.

"I do, always"

"No you won't. I hardly even think you're concern, this is what you always wanted"

It was coming from that little irrational part of her brain that wanted to blame him? If ever she had to blame herself but she still wanted to make him take all the responsibility because she didn't know what she was going to do with-if the test came back positive.

"Do you think I somehow planned this?" He scoffed.

Annabeth looked at him and his more worried than angry but he was getting there.

"Of course not but it's really convenient, isn't it?"

He shook his head with his eyebrows all scrunched together. Fighting would get them anywhere and she somehow still wants-

"You're crazy"

"Tell me you don't want this" she murmured "it fills this whole image you always had"

"That's fucked up" she could sense the annoyance from miles away "that picture is everything we couldn't have-cant...it's a normal life as normal as it could be. With...stuff normal people get to experience and-and I don't know why I'm explaining this to you, you're smart"

She shrugged. It wouldn't matter in 2 minutes 13 seconds.

Percy paced one step back and forth and run a hand through his hair.

"I don't want this right now." He said in a low voice "You know that. We're 19 and-and you have to become an architect first"

He leant forward to have his face at her level and he looked at her right in the eye "I mean it"

Her eyes filled up with tears. She was going to have to give up everything because kids need stuff, they need time. She wasn't doubting her capacity (now it wasn't the time to think about that) but she wanted to study now, she finished highschool last month and all she wanted to do was jump right into college and start on her way to become an architect.

"I don't want this right now either" she replied with her vision clouded with tears.

The stopwatch biped once the time was up and panic seemed to creep up her body, paralyzing her. For half a second they both looked at the test sitting in the counter and then Percy grabbed it, his palm covering it almost all.

Annabeth extended her hand and then thought better of it. She bite on her lip

"Would you look at it for me?" she almost pleaded.

He nodded and she looked the other way as his eyes travelled back to his hand and set on little the digital screen.

The next second she could hear both their heartbeats and she suddenly doubted Percy, did he payed attention while she read how the results looked on the screen?

"You're not" he finally said and sighed. She ripped it from his hand and got it close to her eyes "one line, you are not" he reassured

It was true only one line. Negative. She breathed finally.

She closed her eyes, relief flooding her from inside. She couldn't think about anything but gods she felt so grateful.

Percy leant to kiss her forehead and she opened her eyes as he did.

"I'm sorry. You didn't deserve that" she said and sounded like she had a cold.

He shook his head making it seemed unimportant but Annabeth felt so guilty for attacking him like that.

She stood and buried her face in the side of his neck, breathing him in and he wrapped his arms around her.

"I didn't mean it" she muttered.

"I know" he run his hand up and down her back soothingly "and I get where you were coming from too, it's alright"

"I was so scared"

He kissed the side of her face "Let's go to bed, this was stressful"

"I'm sorry" she repeated fighting back the tears again.

"Annabeth-" he started "It's alright. I'm so glad I was here for this and that you decided to tell me"

She looked at him and cupped his cheeks "How couldn't I? this is not a thing where I could have left you out"

He nodded and she turned and put the box of remaining tests inside the pharmacy paper bag

They parted on the corridor as Annabeth went to his room and Percy went to the living room to tidy the stuff up where they left it earlier, the couch cushions were on the floor and the laptop was still running on the coffee table. He visited the kitchen getting spoons out and the ice-cream from the freezer. Then he got himself a glass of water and lent on the sink and drank it while breathing out for a bit, his mind running tirelessly thinking about what could have been and shuddering at the thought.

When he went back to Annabeth she was already dressed in her short and tshirt lying on his bed on top of the covers, she had opened the window and the soft buzz from the street and the cold breeze were taking over the room.

"Hey" he showed her the cup of ice-cream that he knew she couldn't refuse "want some?"

"Hell yeah"

He laughed softly and handed it over. He felt her eyes on him as he turned his back and discarded his t-shirt and jeans replacing it for another

He climbed in the bed next to her and Annabeth didn't make an effort to move away to let him have more room but he kept his distance.

She had already eaten 2/3 of the cup of ben and jerrys by herself in big spoonfuls, Percy didn't seem interested in the icecream but she grabbed a spoonful getting a good chunk and offered it to him. He took the spoon to his mouth and hummed appreciating it.

"I knew you would do this" she said, getting another spoon of icecream for herself, Percy let her chew and didn't ask what she meant. "It turned all weird between us"

He shook his head, "no, I'm just quiet, was wrong with that?"

"Nothing" she replied looking down at her icecream pushing all the remaining chunks together. Percy's bed was not big by any means but he was making sure to keep her at arms length dangerously balancing on the edge. If she said anything he knew that he would offer to sleep down the hall in the guest room "but you're distant. You look like you're not going to touch me anytime soon"

He grabbed her free hand and intertwined their fingers

She scoffed out a laugh "that's not what I meant"

"You're telling me you're in the mood?" he chuckled humorlessly

She rolled her eyes "no!" she kicked his leg and then whispered almost angry because she had to admit it "it's just…that a single hug is not going to cover it"

He scooted a bit closer and opened his arm for her. Her lip tugged up a little and she sunk in his embrace.

She tried to share more of the icecream but he shook his head

"Everything could have changed with a single line" she murmured with her face pressed against the cotton sleeve of his tshirt. She shivered but it was probably the icecream making her cold.

He made an agreeing noise and touched her hair, it had grown considerably since her impromptu shoulder length chop.

"If I'm being honest…I think-" he looked at her when she kept quiet several seconds and then she licked her lips before continuing "we would have pulled it off"

"You're serious?" she nodded

"We always do"

"You would have…did you think about it?"

"I had three days to think about it" she replied voice really low "as much as you said you would have been supportive of-whatever I decided, I don't think- I would have felt so guilty if-"

"I get it" he cut her off, not wanting to make this any more difficult than it already was. She took his hand.

"It would have been ours…and as much as I want to do stuff before even thinking, I mean if we live long enough to be old enough to start thinking about it"

"We can!" he reminded her

"In New Rome, I know" she sighed. How to tell him that the closer New Rome got the more she wanted to bail on it. How she was going to miss Sallie –his mom –her almost mom –more than she wanted to admit, that she was going to miss her –his -little baby sister, Paul and Piper and the rest of their friends. How could she said to him that Camp Halfblood was part of her support system even when she couldn't set foot there without thinking of the war but the pain was part of the healing process and she needed her home. How could she tell him that she kept checking NYUs architecture program in her free time?

"Are you having second thoughts?" he asked.

Yes.

She got a spoonful of ice-cream in her mouth so that she couldn't talk and shook her head instead

"Of course I would have kept the baby" she whispered after she swallow "I'm not saying it wouldn't have suck because I know that it would but-" she bite on her lip

She didn't have to try hard to imagine any baby Percy could give her because they were pictures of her boyfriend as a baby in all the many stages around this home. He was freaking cute and chubby and smiley.

It almost made her squirm, her heart started racing and she got chills.

She didn't want to picture him with that stupid image of their infant child either. He was going to be a ton of help as a dad because he was practically born for it. He was so good with children.

"I never thought" she said after a little quiet while "that I would get maternal feelings. I know that you want babies, I just didn't know that I did"

His lip tugged into a smile "come on! You're so maternal"

"I'm not!"

"You're good taking care of people"

"You think I'd be good?"

He nodded failing to hide his grin. "I've seen you with Aggie"

Annabeth sat up and leaned over him to leave the ice-cream cup in his bedside table

"Augusta is my sister."

"And you can't put her down and see to her every need"

"And that's because she's my sister! I feel like I have responsibility. And maybe it's a little bit because she's the cutest ever, come on, those wrist rolls?"

He smiled

"You would have keep her at your dorm if you could, and you're 19 and- would you really have a kid with me?"

She laughed and rolled her eyes "I'm not as hopeful as you're, I prefer to live in the present but I can see a future too, maybe"

"A future doesn't exactly mean kids"

"I know but you made your future my future. I'm stuck with you"

"You're stuck with me" he agreed and kissed her cheek.

"In a few years after we settle…we can try for a kid"

"Okay, in a few years then if you haven't change your mind"

"I don't think I'll change my mind"

"I'm so glad you're not pregnant" he said kissing her cheek again.

She laughed "yeah, me too"

"A baby would have screw everything up"

She cleared her throat, she couldn't say she disagree with that because it would be a lie. A freaking baby would turn the already crazy world upside down and they needed normal for a change, they needed to enjoy the last bits of teenagehood and have fun because over the last few years the last thing they had time for was fun.

They needed normal, they needed fun and they needed to enjoy their relationship as the young adults they were. A baby was complicating the equation.

"Like I said, it would have sucked…but I still think we would have made it work, eventually"

"Of course" he replied "I could have stayed with the kid while you studied"

"Ha. Always trying to get away from college education"

"It's weird that I say this" he said "but I'm really excited about college"

She sat up straighter and kissed his lips once "I'm so happy that you say that"

"so do you think that's it?" he asked after a while "you're not not?"

"I believe the test, I'll do another tomorrow just in case" she replied

"Then what about…your missing period?"

"There's probably something else going on"

"Stress?" he asked, concerned.

"Maybe" she shrugged

She pulled him down against the mat and turned pressing her back to his chest. Percy brought an arm around her waist and hugged her even though it was still so hot and the air was sticky.

"Piper won't say anything, by the way" she said after a while

"I guess I don't care if she already said anything. And its okay that you told her, you needed your friend, I get that but I would really appreciate if she keeps quiet, I think this is just our thing" he admitted

"She won't talk, promise"

"Okay, thanks"

"I'm so mentally tired"

He pressed his lips to the back of her head

"Sleep. Love you"

"Love you too."

---

"Dad I've been meaning to ask you..."

His father lie down a fishing net on their legs and Percy unconsciously got to work with complicated knots that he didn't know how to make if they asked him how to do them.

"Yeah son?" He asked and fidgeted with his fishing net.

"I know you never talk about it but I really want to know if you have another kid"

His father hummed and didn't look up from his work

"Why are you asking?"

"Because if that's the case I'd really, really would like to...be there."

"You'll go seek for any kid of mine just to be there?"

"I want to...help him or her to–I want to help the mother too. I know what mom was to you"

"Is. She's very special"

"Yes, I know. I know what she means to you, you love her but I'm not stupid, there must have been others..."

His father paused for about a minute before clearing his throat "Yes"

He waited but his father kept silent

"No kids then?"

"No"

"Not even...?"

"No Percy"

"Oh"

They stayed silent working on the net. Percy tied strings and made knots and listened to his father in the waves.

He didn't anger his father exactly, he was listening to sadness.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have bring it up"

"It's me the one that's sorry."

"You don't really have to explain dad"

"Be quiet Percy. I'm talking"

"Okay"

"Shut it. This is...actually hard, and it's hard to admit that its hard.

He looked up at his father, black beard perfectly shaved and the same outfit he always wore. In a few years they might look the same age, he looked young and strong.

"I don't take my kids lightly, you know that. I have a lot of children. A lot of different children. And in this decade. In this century...there's only been one human baby born that shares the blood of the sea: you"

"Then?"

He smack the back of his head with an opened palm hard.

"Ouch!" that hurt a lot. He rubbed the back of his head

"I thought the noisy and impatient would wear off...you're not twelve anymore, you're a man grown"

He winced and shrugged "yeah, sorry"

"After you were born and I was made to keep away I tried not to get attached. I tried...your mother kept me prisoner in her heart. I couldn't-"

"Mom moved on though"

"Yes, she did. I was glad she did but I was scared if you ever got a new brother or sister coming to camp that she will be...heartbroken again. And you will be sad that I replaced her and that there was another child"

Percy started to shake his head but his father held his hand up

"Your were small then, barely inside this world and comprehending nothing, you were scared and so was Sally, I couldn't do that to you right away"

"Then…yeah, there was another child" he said grimly after a long pause "the mother had an early birth. Too early, I couldn't...Apollo couldn't. She came into this world too soon. Nobody's fault, not monsters or her mother but–that's that"

"I'm so sorry" he said after his father was quiet and didn't make an effort to share more. "I always asked because...I wanted to be there for them, for the baby, for the mother, help them"

His father worked on his fishing net in silence and Percy thought maybe he was done, until he said "I know my boy"

"I'm sorry" he repeated

"The woman is okay, she never knew who I was, she might be...heartbroken, for her child. I didn't went back to cause her more pain. There's always a price when a god mixes with humans, you know that"

"When was that?" He asked

"A few years ago, you were fourteen or fifteen"

He nodded.

"Thanks for telling me dad"

His father smiled at him.

"You always get your way don't you?"

Percy laughed as his father patted his head like he was two, well...compare to his dad's age he was like 0000.0001 year old probably

"Now, listen Perseus. There's one woman now. I know her very little"

"How long is little?" Because really his dad would call yesterday something that happened a century ago.

"A few days. Almost a week" he sighs "she's kind and smart, she reminds me of your mother a lot...I tried—anyway, if she ever–"

"Please dad!" He begged before realizing he shouldn't interrupt when he was finally sharing something.

"You want another smack in the head?!" He bellowed and the sea at their feet spiked plashing higher up shore.

"No, of course not! I'm sorry Lord Father, go on"

"You dare be cocky?" He raised an eyebrow.

Percy spotted a wave not far that was small to be called a tsunami but big to be called normal.

"I meant it!" He promised but a smirk appeared in his dad's face so he knew he was mocking him. He through his head back and roared in laughter.

"You got scared kiddo?"

"Nah"

"Bah" he pushed him with his hand playfully but actually pushing him hard against the sand. Percy got up and brushed off the sand sticked to his side and hair "you were more naive when you were little. Am I not scary anymore?"

"Dad" he said smiling but trying to avoid rolling his eyes "you seriously never were"

"I'm too!"

"Okay. You are"

"Anyway," he groaned "I was saying something! I was saying...?"

"You just met someone awesome like mom"

"Right. I did. She's awesome but I'm trying to stay away and we both know how difficult that is. So if it ever comes to..."

"Baby?" he grinned and his father rolled his eyes

"I'll come to you"

"I'll make sure they are safe, promise"

"I know"

His father smiled at him.

"I...it would be great for another kid...my sibling to grow up knowing their dad actually cares"

"You know I'm a god Percy"

"Yes, I know! but what if they are here right as soon as they are born? The mom too?"

"Bringing a baby to the camp?"

"Soon I'll be full of babies" he grinned

"Right...that project you have with Annabeth. I don't know how it's possible to build this New Athens of yours"

"We'll make it possible, just give me time"

"So then, you'll care for the child"

"And the mom! And the kid will have you around, which is so good for a kid to have their dad around..."

His father smiled at him like saying sorry.

"You will no longer be my favorite, are you aware?"

"I thought you didn't have favorites!" He accused

He cup his hands "Don't tell the others!"

His father hug him and he hug him back.

A wave enveloped him and soon he pushed backwards against the sand and hugging water, one who whispered 'till next time m'boy' in his ear.

"Sure, dad" he rested with his arms behind his head, his eyes close for the sun and the waves crushed against his toes.

"There you are!" He opened his eyes to find his girlfriend blocking the sun standing next to him.

He smiled up at her and patted his side

Annabeth sat beside him and leaned in to kiss his warm lips

"You okay?"

"Yes" he took her hand "I was talking to my dad. He sends you lots of love"

She smiled and looked at the horizon "back at him"

"He's doubting us on new Athens though"

Annabeth frowned and tsked "We'll prove him wrong. I guess that's something are godly parents are agreeing"

After Augusta had fallen from the sky Annabeth had come up with the idea of New Athens. Camp Halfblood wasn't enough anymore, she said they needed a place exactly as New Rome and since they ditched New Rome because it didn't work for them…well, they needed someplace where they could have demigods stay and grow up and have babies around. Lots of babies and have special care for them. Annabeth wanted the babies to grow up at camp in a sort of but not really orphanage where they would grow up all together and join their cabin once they were old enough to start training.

Between college classes at NYU and part time jobs they were slowly building something that with the help of all their friends bringing ideas forward was becoming more real by the minute.

The project was so big Annabeth wasn't sleeping at night but not because of nightmares but because she was so excited sketching away all the time, planning and rethinking. And Percy could only stay up half the night listening to her speak and watching her eyes light up adorably.

---

ALMOST TEN YEARS LATER

...

They were relaxing on a Sunday, she was lying on the couch with a book in her hands and he was playing video games with the sound off, yes he was 26 and still playing video games. Her feet were propped in his lap.

She yawned and stretched turning the page of her book. Percy smiled at her and put down the controller after losing the quest yet again.

"Do you want something?" he asked and moved her feet to the side to stand up

"Hot chocolate wouldn't be a bad idea right now"

"That's exactly what I was thinking" he kissed the top of her head. "What book is that?" he asked walking to the kitchen

"A novel"

"Oh, are you having a break from baby books?"

She laughed and looked at the stack of baby books she had on the coffee table all of them half read.

"I've been meaning to read this; I'm giving myself a break from baby books since its Sunday. Tomorrow I got back to work"

He laughed and she heard him pop the mugs in the microwave

She smiled and touched the slight bump she had. She was going to hit twenty weeks tomorrow.

She had found out later than most people so that meant she had spent two months not knowing she was pregnant, two whole months were she was so busy she actually forgot to check on her period and now two more months had gone by pretty quickly. She was almost half way with her first ever pregnancy. She couldn't believe it…only twenty more weeks. Four months and a half was nothing, it was going by so fast. She felt so unprepared but also incredibly happy and excited. She couldn't wait to meet her baby.

She looked over at the dinner table where the ultrasound picture was sitting in a frame, the profile of baby. Percy took it around everywhere so the picture was always in the room with them, she found it kinda adorable.

The woman at her last ultrasound told her it was most likely a girl…she said she could give an 80% of confirmation and Annabeth couldn't wait to know if it was in fact a girl or boy. She couldn't tell her for sure because her baby had been moving around a lot at the time.

Annabeth couldn't believe the baby was the size of a banana and have such a tiny bump; she had gained around 10 pounds and she was barely showing, mostly noticeable when she was sitting down than standing.

She gave her small bump another smile before sitting up to receive Percy's hot chocolate; he was humming in the kitchen with the sound of the microwave still on the background.

She started putting her hair up in a ponytail and looked around for hair tie; she leaned to get one that was on the coffee table when she stopped, letting go of her hair.

"What–" she mumbled and looked down, not sure if it was indigestion or gas or what!

And there it was again. Her eyes opened up wide. No, no, this surely is not gas, she knew the difference now.

Another one.

A poke from the inside, a sort of nudge, it felt like bubbles that were popping against the inside of her belly. It was like a twitch of a muscle that you can't control

She shirked and heard a crash on the kitchen

"Percy!" she yelled

"What!?" he asked desperately, exiting the kitchen so fast he almost hit the bookshelf. "What is it?" he asked again trying to breathe normally when he saw her sitting on the couch totally unharmed

"Percy!" she smiled and then tears started pooling in her eyes. She didn't want to cry but hell the hormones were stupid.

"I thought–gods, I thought there was a monster or a spider" he pressed a palm to his chest, trying to stop the crazy heartbeat "What is it?"

"I felt the baby move" she told him now definitely tearing up.

He smiled "Really?"

She nodded and sniffed; he kneeled on the floor and pressed a kiss to her belly.

"Sorry I scared you" she managed. He smiled again and cleaned her tears

"It's all right, though I might have broken a mug"

"Which one?"

"The white one"

"Oh, I don't care" she shrugged

"So our baby is definitely there?" he asked and pressed his forehead against her bump. Her hand caressed his messy hair.

"Yes" she replied and cleaned the rest of her tears with her sleeve "I felt it three times, it was amazing"

"Was it like saying 'Hey! Mom'" he laughed and she sniffed again getting emotional

"I still can't believe I'm a mom" she murmured

Percy smiled adorably

"I love you baby" he said and pressed another kiss to the belly. "and you mommy Annabeth"

"I love you both" she replied

---

"Shit. That...yeah, that there..." She moaned and grabbed his hand to keep it in place opening her legs a bit more

Percy chuckled "feels nice?"

"Mhhm" she bite on her lip

"My wrist disagrees"

"Your wrist...is going to be fine" she moaned and let go of his hand once she was sure he was going to keep it there "you big baby. I've been waiting the whole day for this"

"That's the fourth time you say it, so it must be true"

She moved her hips from side to side "yes! I suffered all through work and when I got here...then Sophie's naptime and I might have considered..."

Percy laughed

"Thanks for waiting"

"That's a lot of hours, so stop complaining"

"I'm not complaining!"

"Good! Because you don't know how lucky you are"

"Annabeth" he kissed the top of her belly and continued his careful ministrations "you're waiting for it but there's not going to be a time that you won't want this"

She grinned "babe you seem too sure about that. I don't want you to get disappointed once it does"

"Didn't happened last time, not that I recall"

She was going to answer but her breathing had quicken at a slight change in his movement

"Ah! Take off your underwear now"

Her husband laughed again

"Is that an order?"

"Yes!"

"Take off your underwear or what?" He left the space between her legs empty and she huffed.

She planted her elbows on the mattress and started to get up, frown full of determination

Percy smirked "You know, that could be scary if you didn't looked so pregnant"

"Shut up" she said but smiled. "And help me up. She's pushing on my stomach,"

He helped her sit on the bed "She?" He raised an eyebrow

"Yep. I know my baby is a she, I can feel it"

"Don't get ahead of yourself"

"I'm asking on my next appointment, I'm anxious"

"Okay," he smiled as she grabbed the ends of her hair and started doing a bun that he was going to tug loose in a minute.

She pushed him against the bed with her usual force and climbed on top of him before he could protest

"What are you going to do now?" She grinned

"I give up" he said and put his hands up "you have me surrounded"

"We do!" His hands went around her belly and he caress the sides softly. He reached behind her and tried to undo her bra

"No...they'll get all over the place" she protested "at least like these they are pushed up and somewhat hot"

He shook his head and undid her bra anyway "you have absolutely no idea how hot you are"

His palms cupped her softly and then brushed down her back

"I want you" she moaned and pressed down against him.

Several hours latter

After twisting and turning for a good two hours she had finally managed to get comfortable in the bed.

Percy was drooling on his pillow beside her, his arm securely tuck around her belly, he had fallen asleep a while ago utterly oblivious of her turns in the bed.

When her growing belly stop pressing uncomfortably around her organs and she could breathe without difficulty in an almost side position she was able to close her eyes, the sound of her husband's breathing slowly lulling her to sleep.

As soon as she started drifting she heard the rain against her bedroom windows. Percy's sleep was lighter than it once was and she could tell he realized it started raining because he muttered something unintelligibly.

He hated rain specially while he was asleep, it made him uneasy and that made him press against her back closer.

She was too warm for her liking in less than a minute, one of the pregnancy 'perks' was that her body felt temperatures higher than what it actually was. Percy spooning her would be a very nice thing if she wasn't pregnant but she couldn't move him away she knew he would eventually find his way back against her, the only solution to make it even was to push the comforter away leaving her wrapped in the sheet and sticking her feet out

She grind her butt accidentally on the evidence of their nice slow sex a few hours ago making him moan again in his sleep this time with pleasure, she couldn't help but grin.

Her constant arouseness and his eagerness to please was definitely a pregnant perk, not sarcastically this time. For some reason she was still enjoying sex which she knew was terrible for some women, like Piper who asked her constantly how she was doing it. Her friend was close to 19 weeks pregnant so she just couldn't understand how Annabeth could want to have sex at 27 weeks and a half.

Second babes were easier and this was definitely a perk and Percy, adorable Percy found her sexier while pregnant, at least that's what he told her all the time. It was stupid because everything grew, her butt got fatter, her bobs where growing preparing for breastfeeding and of course her belly was constantly growing, now definitely noticeable at 27 weeks and a half and a lot bigger than her 27 weeks belly with her first pregnancy.

Like a lot bigger. She compared the pictures Percy took of her and it was a really big difference but it was normal for second babes. She sighted tiredly and got comfortable in bed again drifting finally to sleep.

A thunder shook her awake; a lot louder than a normal thunder resonating in the whole house like Zeus had strike it beside it. Annabeth's heart picked up and Percy breathed out in a way that told her he was awake.

He muttered a curse and she sat up trying to breathe normally again.

"Something is happening" she said hurriedly

"Don't worry" he called trying to grab her hand but she moved away just in time grabbing the baby talkie and holding it to her ear but hearing nothing not even the static

After checking the time she jumped out of bed

"Its four in the morning and Sophia didn't cry!"

She was rushing out of the room as Percy called something. She run to the other side of the corridor pushing the door to the nursery open

She approached the crib scared to not find her on the other side but her baby was laying there still, arms up with her hands in little fists and her curls sticking with sweat

She put her hand on her chest softly to check on her breathing and she sighed with relief as she felt her little chest expanding and contracting.

She checked on her breathing almost every night before going to bed after Percy lay her down on her coat and she got up to check it during the night before Sophia woke up demanding her parents.

She usually slept until 3:30 on her coat if they were lucky and Annabeth would almost always complain about Percy's brilliant idea of cosleeping but she was used to having her baby snuggled against her on the bed. It was truly rare for her not to wake up and that scared her, especially since that thunder meant something, she knew that, Percy knew that...

She brushed her forehead moving her soft little curls.

She slowly retreated avoiding the loose floor board that cricked

"The power is out. You psicho" Percy whispered behind her with humor. So that's why the talkie was soundless

"It scared me. That thunder..." She looked over at Sophie one more time.

"Nothing to worry about." He repeated but Percy walked over to the window, the curtains were draw close so he moved them aside a little and checked outside and the lock which made her realized he worried too.

They have been threatened countless of times over the last few months. The bad thing about being the famous heroes of Olympus was the everyone knew them, Sophia had been a very well kept secret for too long, a whole year of them being extremely careful but after the incident with Kelly at the supermarket, getting gods involved and everything...the word had gotten out, now everyone knew of her existence too.

Annabeth knew they were so lucky to have 12 months of Grace, literally as as she had picked her middle name after Percy decided on her first.

"Come on" he said in a low voice and led her grabbing her hand.

She looked over her shoulder to her sleeping babe almost tempted to hoist her up and take her with her but knowing her luck that could mean Sophia never went back to sleep.

"She's sleeping, she'll cry eventually" Percy reassured her holding her waist to stop her

She nodded and together they walked back to their bed.

"Should we..."

"Annabeth," he sighed "do you want me to call Jason?"

"...no"

"You sure?"

"Yes, don't bother him. If it was something...we'll know in the morning"

"It's nothing, I'm sure its fine" he said soothingly and kissed her shoulder "an if it's something...then we'll let others manage it like we've been doing these past few years"

Percy wasn't making any jokes like he sometimes did about Zeus losing his wallet so he got mad. He didn't want to draw attention to himself, to them.

Two whole years without getting involved and Annabeth thought she very much could get used to see controversies from the sidelines even when she wanted to get involved she had a year and a half daughter and another babe in the way, she just couldn't for their sake.

Her family over all.

"Agh, I won't be able to go back to sleep it took me long enough before"

"I noticed"

"Ha! You were drooling so I doubt you noticed"

"I always notice" he cuddled her and kissed her shoulder.

Annabeth sighed in his embrace then turned to look at him a little "Do you feel permanently scared for our kids?"

"Do you?"

"I know it's probably stupid but-"

"It's not"

"It's like I want to hide from the world we have, from the one I saw when I was little, from the one I see"

Percy shook his head, he heated that she felt that way "It's not just you"

She breathed in and closed her eyes "I'm pretty sure that's all parents but we have a real reason"

Percy nodded and kissed her cheek. "Don't worry; I would never let something happen to them, to the three of you"

"See, that's exactly what I'm scared of"

"I'd gladly take a knife for any of you, exactly the way you took it for me"

She frowned and rolled her eyes, he knew he had her with that so he smiled "Not a valid point"

"Is too"

"Is not"

Percy looked her in the eyes "I don't think there's a way not to be scared but we still scare monsters away with our Tartarus smell, which should give us some space at least for a few more years"

"And then Sophia could start some training"

"No way! She's my little baby"

She laughed "She would want to"

"Ugh," he protested "I can see that she would actually love to. She's a little rebel"

She laughed "It's funny because she's tiny and too cute to imagine her holding a sword or anything"

He smiled and then hugged her round belly "And what about this one here?"

"She's a kicker" She told him and she could in fact feel the baby inside her move around like all the time that she wanted to rest or sleep.

"Still convince my baby is a she?"

"It's a feeling, a very true feeling. What should we bet on it?"

He laughed, "You want to bet on it?"

She nodded smiling

"I don't want to bet against you. I always loose"

"Okay" she sighed again but grinning. "We have to start looking for baby girl names again"

"I was so convinced we would have a boy but now I'm definitely not sure. I wanted an Owen"

"Owen? You still like that?"

"Why don't you? Sophia and Owen. Sounds so good"

She laughed "Yeah, it's not that bad."

"It's awesome! But if you're so convinced it's a girl then we have to look for another name"

"I liked Finlay"

"For a girl?" he asked

"No, boy…well, on second thoughts Finlay for a girl is not bad either"

"I like Pallas"

"What?" She asked and sat up to look at him better

"What, I do" he shrugged

"Where do you get it this time?"

"Nowhere...just looking" he shrugged again and then smiled because he surprised her "Pallas Jackson, it sounds awesome. You have to admit it"

"Who says I'm gonna let you write your last name again"

"Oh" he pouted and she cracked up and then kissed his forhead

"I'm just kidding. We can't have different surname kids, I mean, I sure we can but it's weird"

"So…Pallas?" he jabbed her side and she shirked away laughing.

"Why do I let you pick the names of all my kids?"

"Sophia was a great choice, admit it. She's such a Sophie"

"It's true" she agreed and smiled "Pallas is…great, unique, I actually haven't heard it before right now, I mean, yes I had but never as a baby name. Pallas was the name of a titan that Athena killed, as well."

"I know that, but I prefer the other meaning"

"I just didn't know you would like to name another kid with something Athena related"

"You do know that Pallas was the name of my half-brother's kid, right? Triton's daughter was named Pallas"

"I do know that, Pallas was my mom's 'sister' as they were raised together and then, again, Athena killed her" he couldn't help but laugh when she said it like that. The gods life was a messy bloddy thing. Annabeth hit his arm " that time was accidental so then she adopted the name as a tribute"

"I like Pallas a lot. It has connection to the sea, my half-brother could actually like me and Athena was being nice for once by adopting the name after killing her, I mean"

Annabeth covered her mouth to hide the smirk "Such up or she's going to blast you"

"Not after I name my kid after her dead sister and after her" Annabeth pressed her lips together wanting to laugh still "If we name our kid that then we sure start a trend. We would have to name all of them that"

She chuckled "All of them?"

"Hey! I know you're the pregnant one but at least two more babies after this one"

She shook her head "Okay, will see" she kissed his lips "Pallas is pretty, I like it"

She went back to lie by his side and he snuggled her

"I'm so tired"

"Try to sleep" he murmured

They both closed their eyes and after a silent minute where Annabeth tried to find somewhat of a comfortable position to sleep they heard a loud cry from down the all.

Annabeth smiled. Even when she would complain almost every night that they had to go get her and that she woke them up, she couldn't be happier. She loved her so, she was so greatful to have an amazing healthy baby, that she needed them and just wanted to snuggle with them because that made her fall asleep and feel safe.

Percy got up to get her and in less than a minute they were crossing the door of the room. He was brushing his thumbs on her tear streaked cheeks talking soothingly and she hugged his neck.

He set her on the bed and she crawled against Annabeth

"Momma" was her only word, and the one of the few she could say. Annabeth kissed the top of her head and the baby pressed herself against her as Percy lie down on her other side with a smile.

Sophia's hand went to Annabeth's hair and started brushing the strands with her little fingers, something she did since she was a newborn to fall asleep, and Annabeth smiled and started humming a campfire song.

---

Hi everyone, long time no see. I hoped you enjoyed these little snippets of percabeth as mom and dad; I'm a sucker for mommy and daddy percabeth. I gave Sally no kids at first and then I realized I'm a fucking monster so that's why Augusta entered my world. New Athens is something that gives me life you know? i first read it on tumblr and its my canon now. Those who think percabeth can be happy in New Rome are so horribly wrong -sorry Rick -

ANNOUNCEMENT:

I finally finish my first ever PERCABETH AU! Yeye for me. I've been writing it since I finish high school, jk not that long but like a year probably because I'm lazy af.

If you want to read this College AU –its long, you are warned –click the link in my profile it's called Library Glances