To Guest- Thank you! :D
To Helen of Troy- I'll do my best, sorry about that! I want to watch the Harry Potters again now… THANK YOU! :D
To Rainbow Lava Ninjas- Thank you! I'll try! :D Love your name by the way :3
To spiesareawesome- I was trying to get them to come across as that- glad it's working! :D
To Awesome as Annabeth- No duh! Hot and spicy! Double, double, toil and trouble! :D I need to go on another fanfiction spree, I'm still behind! D: Pretty sure I read something of yours though… O.o Of course you are ;) I have like 1452 unread, but hey! I ain't sitting here going through that lot, HELL NO. Review whenever and whatever, it's cool :P No need to be paranoid! This is a fairly nice chapter, I think :P
Little bit of a time skip, hope you don't mind! And a little bit of a fast moving chapter, sorry! Ideas are a bit short again at the minute D:
The day Annabeth found out she was having another boy, Louisa found out she was pregnant. For about two seconds, Leo was over the moon. Then he realised she was starting to worry, panic burying itself in like venomous reminders. He tried his best to soothe her, but she didn't seem to hear him, constantly asking what if she lost this one too, she couldn't stand to lose another one, but what if she wasn't a good mom, it wasn't like she had ever planned on kids, she had no idea what to do with them, Leo, what are we goin' ta do?
Leo got about two words in edgeways and then waited for her 'what if' rant to subside as she remembered to breathe.
"Whatever happens, I promise I'll be here for you." He kissed her forehead and hugged her about the shoulders. "Don't you worry, chica. Leo Valdez is on da case."
"Just what I need." She paused. "That wasn't meant to be sarcastic."
"Really? Wow. I didn't know you could talk non-sarcasm."
"It's difficult. 'N' painful." Leo grinned. She offered a small smile in return, tugging anxiously on a loose strand of hair and coiling it around her finger.
"Don't. Worry." Leo repeated, deftly moving behind her and massaging her shoulders. "It'll be OK. Hey, imagine everyone's surprise when we turn up with a baby. We'd have to come clean then."
"Oh..." She whined, but the shoulder massage was helping relax her frayed nerves. "We'll have ta make the surprise worthwhile then."
"We'll work on that closer to the time. How far gone are you?"
"I dunno. Month? Month 'n' a half?" She stayed quiet for a second, probably trying to work it out. "'Bout that." She said finally. "I dunno."
"We'll figure it out later. Imma have a bubba Valdez!" He threw his hands up in celebration, laughing. Louisa rolled her eyes and poked him under the arm, his ticklish spot. Leo squirmed and muttered 'mean', but he was absolutely ecstatic. His enthusiasm was rather infectious as he set off to see what they could buy and names and maybe he should childproof things first, that might be helpful. Louisa couldn't help but smile.
Leo went around for the next month or so in a happy daze. It was taking everything he had and pointed looks from his wife not to tell everyone a bubba Valdez was on the way. He wanted everyone to know, but they had a plan now and he was really excited to follow it through. Thankfully, no one could tell she was pregnant and no one would know until much later on.
Annabeth had her baby, Max. He was a spitting image of his older brother, who was very excited- very, very excited- at the prospect of being an older brother. He had vowed to be the 'bestest big brother ever!' in his own adorable way.
Louisa had settled down with the idea of the baby, especially now that they were in a safer time. Leo noticed that she was a bit more superstitious though, not wanting to chance anything. Part of him thought she was looking forward to motherhood, but the other part of him knew she was trying not to jinx it as to not upset him. However, it was taking its toll on her; she had to remain calm and relaxed. Painting helped, but she couldn't exactly carry around canvases and acrylic paints. Keeping her temper and violent streak on the low was the most challenging thing she had ever managed.
"Can we please find out what it is?" Leo begged for the millionth time. Her eyes roamed his face, debating his pleading. She wanted the surprise, but it would be nice to know what they were having anyway. Besides, they had a bet going.
"Five dollars if it's a girl." Leo grinned mischievously. Louisa rolled her eyes but agreed. "What are name are we going to pick?"
"I dunno. Ya pick it."
"But it's a team effort! Come on, give me some ideas!" She just shrugged, looking amused as he complained immaturely. "That doesn't help."
"I'm not tryin' to."
"Would be nice though." He mumbled, looking about and hoping he looked dejected enough to get her to come up with something. But she only pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows a fraction, seeing right through his ploy. "Not even a clue?" He tried. She shook her head. "How about we find out what it is and then think of something?" She nodded. Leo grinned. "Fantabulous." She sighed.
"New word?" He nodded proudly. "Thought so. Go on, go. Go 'n' book the appointment."
"Tomorrow!" He declared and rushed to find the phone. Louisa had talked to Jessica earlier and she had the habit of leaving the cordless phone lying around, too lazy to put it in its cradle.
He had just found the phone when the doorbell rang. He froze and frowned at the door- now he would have to wait to book the scan so they could keep up their ruse.
Percy grinned at him, Tobias hidden behind the pram holding baby Max. Percy stood behind his eldest son, making sure Tobias didn't steer his baby brother into walls.
"Sup." Percy greeted.
"No Annabeth?"
"She's having a quiet day." Leo nodded slowly in understanding and waved them in. "Where's Lou?"
"On the sofa." Percy was quiet for a moment. Then:
"Since when was she a cushion?" Leo turned and saw that his wife had disappeared. "Lou!" Percy called.
"What?" She called back, slightly irritated. She was in the bathroom. "Can't a girl pee in peace?"
"Thank you for sharing that, so kind of you." Percy made a face at Leo and stopped the pram to the side of the door and gently retrieved Max. "Want to hold him?" He offered.
"I do!" Tobias said eagerly, throwing up his small, pudgy hands.
"In a minute you. Leo hasn't had a cuddle yet." Max was smaller than Leo had first thought, lighter too. He was so like Tobias, it was almost freaky, but he was adorable as well and that outweighed everything else.
Louisa returned, smirking at her brother and scooping her eldest nephew up and into the air. Tobias laughed happily aa she blew a raspberry on his cheek. Leo watched her from the corner of his eye. The majority of his thoughts were fixed on Max- or, rather, his unborn child. Would they be as sweet? Would he know what to do if they cried? Would they grow up to be like him or Louisa or a mix?
Excitement bubbled up. Percy pointed out that his hair was smoking and Leo returned Max to cool down. He couldn't wait to hold his own bubba Valdez!
How's this?
