"Annabeth, my sweet, wonderful, beautiful wife."
"What have you done now," she asks looking at him with suspicion.
"Me do something?" Percy asks with a smile. "I was wondering if now that we have that awesome chariot your mom gave us, if we could go to Camp Jupiter for a few days."
"Can we visit Dad while we're there?" she asks.
"We have to take Sophia to see her grandpa while we're in California," he agrees.
"When should we leave," she asks him.
"Let's call Jason and make sure it's a good time, and we'll leave tomorrow morning," he suggests.
The following morning, Percy carries their bags out to the chariot and stores then under the platform for Sophia's car seat then he takes the car seat out and gets it strapped into place while Annabeth puts an IM in to her Dad.
"Annabeth, I was just thinking about you," her dad tells her when he sees her image.
"Percy and I are coming to California, Dad. We want to bring Sophia to see you guys while we're there," she tells her dad.
"Are you flying? Do you need a ride from the airport?" he asks.
"We're flying," she says with a giggle, "But we won't be landing at the airport. Mom gave us this beautiful chariot and it's the only thing Percy is allowed to fly in. We're leaving this morning for Camp Jupiter. I was thinking you could pick us up for the weekend."
"That sounds perfect. The boys will be excited. They really miss their big sister. Mom and I will have everything ready for when you get here," her dad tells her.
"Thanks Dad, we love you," she says then ends the message.
When she comes from the bedroom with Sophia in her arms, Percy is waiting for her and talking with Tyson and Frank. "No wild parties or anything while we're gone," he says with a chuckle.
"No parties," Tyson agrees, as if Percy were being serious.
"Tell everyone Hazel and I say hi," Frank says, "And we miss them."
"Will do," Percy says taking his daughter in his arms.
"And Ella, let her know I am thinking of her," Tyson says.
"Should I tell her you're going to be a papa?" his brother asks.
"Sure, well maybe not," he says after thinking about it.
"We need to get going," Annabeth says then kisses Tyson on his cheek.
"Fly safe," Frank says, and he and Tyson follow the Jackson's outside.
Percy fastens Sophia into the car seat then looks toward the sky, "Blackjack buddy are you ready?"
"All set, Boss," Blackjack replies in Percy's head and shakes his own.
"I hope we haven't forgotten anything," Annabeth says.
"We'll get it when we get there if we have," Percy assures her then kisses her and pulls back on the rein to let Blackjack know to take off.
They have been flying for about two hours, and Annabeth is at the reins when Percy stands up and puts his arms around her waist and kisses her neck. "It's beautiful up here," she says.
"Peaceful," he agrees.
"We've crossed this country so many times, but I think this is the first time we've done it together where we could relax and enjoy it," she tells him.
"Is that the Mississippi River?" he asks pointing toward the ground.
"Yeah, why, did you want to take another dip?" she says with a laugh.
"I think I'll pass this trip," he says then kisses her cheek.
"How is our little angel doing?" she asks.
"She's asleep," he says looking down at their daughter, "Once she finished her bottle, she was out."
"Do you need a break?" he asks.
"No, I'm actually really enjoying this," she says then leans her head against his.
Since they stopped for a nice dinner together in Denver, it's close to eight in the evening when they head in to camp. "Those buildings over there are the barracks. Take us in over there," Percy tells Blackjack.
"Well away from the Pomerian Line," Annabeth agrees. "We don't need any problems with Terminus," she laughs and pats the knife on her arm.
Several people on the ground are gathering around since Blackjack makes a striking figure in the sky. "Praetor Percy," someone shouts when they get low enough to the ground to be seen clearly.
Reyna and Will are two of the greeters when they get to a stop safely on the ground. "Percy, Annabeth, welcome," Reyna says. "And Sophia," she adds when Annabeth lifts their daughter from her car seat.
"Percy," Will says greeting is friend, "She's beautiful."
"My daughter or the ride?" Percy asks with a laugh.
"Haven't gotten a good look at your daughter yet," Will says, "But I'm sure she's beautiful too."
"How are you feeling?" Annabeth asks Reyna, as the praetor reaches to take Sophia.
"The morning sickness has stopped, thank gods," Reyna tells her. "She's beautiful," she continues kissing Sophia's cheek.
"Annabeth," comes a shout from towards New Rome.
"Piper," Annabeth yells back and waves, when she sees Piper and Jason jogging toward them.
"Percy's baby, cute, cute, cute," Ella says, as she lands on the rim of the chariot.
"Ella, look at you," Percy says giving the harpy a hug.
"Ella glad to see Percy," she says laying her head over on to his.
"Welcome to camp, cousin," Jason says now that he and Piper have reached them.
"Look how sweet," Piper says taking Sophia's fingers in her hand then kissing her fingertips.
"Would you look at that ride," Jason says now looking over the chariot with Will.
"You must be tired," Reyna now says. "Will and I have prepared a room for you in our home. We have a crib from the baby and everything."
"Thank you," Annabeth says, "It would be nice to relax for a few minutes."
"You go on and I'll bring the bags," Percy says kissing her. The girls head into Reyna's home while the guys stand around talking about the chariot and getting something for Blackjack to eat.
"You're home is lovely," Annabeth says when they enter.
"Thank you," Reyna says showing them into the living room.
"It's not what you expected is it?" Piper asks with a laugh.
"I don't know that I expected anything," Annabeth says.
"Come on, daughter of Bellona, you were expecting weapons on the walls, swords, spears, torches," Piper continues.
"I have a feminine side," Reyna says with a smile.
"You're starting to show a little bit," Annabeth says now that Reyna has removed her armor.
"Yes," she agrees patting her mid-section.
"Will thinks it's cute," Piper says teasing Reyna just a little.
"Reyna has baby inside, very cute," Ella agrees.
"So you and Will seem to be very happy," Annabeth says.
"We are very much in love. I am very lucky that he could forgive what I did," Reyna agrees.
"Will loves Praetor Reyna," Ella says, as she preens her wing.
"Remember you're inside, Ella. Please don't get feathers all over the floor," Reyna reminds her harpy friend.
"Ella stop, not leave feathers on Praetor Reyna's lovely floor," Ella says raising her head.
"Thank you," Reyna says giving her a nod of appreciation, as the guys make their way inside accompanied by Katie Gardner.
"Annabeth," Katie says running over to her dear friend.
"Katie," Annabeth says standing to give her a hug, "I've missed you this summer."
"I've missed you and camp, but it has been great being here. I've learned so much," Katie says excitedly.
"What's this?" Annabeth says noticing the badge pinned to Katie's purple shirt.
"She's Centurion Gardner now," Reyna says with a smile.
"I'm so proud of you," Annabeth says, "Are you planning to stay at Camp Jupiter now?"
"I have agreed to stay for at least the next year," Katie tells her.
"She has too big a waiting list for her class in Ancient Greek to leave now," Will says giving Katie a wink.
Piper is now holding Sophia and calls Jason over to her. "Babe, look how adorable she is."
"She cute," Jason says leaving it at that.
"Come on Percy, let's get your bags to your room," Will says then leads Percy upstairs.
"You look great, Annabeth," Jason says sitting next to Piper. "Married life must be good for you."
"It has been wonderful, Jason. We've had a great summer, and of course Sophia coming into our lives, well we are blessed," she agrees.
"… and the toilets have never looked or smelled better," Percy says, as he and Will come back downstairs laughing.
"Reyna are you sure you want Sophia to sleep in your crib before your own child," Percy asks taking a seat next to his friend.
"Our little one won't mind," she says then places her hand over Will's, since he sat on the other side of his girl and put his hand over her baby bump.
"The two of you," Annabeth says looking at Will and Reyna, "You make a great couple."
"I agree," Percy says taking his wife's hand.
The group spends about an hour talking, filling each other in on the news from both camps, then Jason suggests that it's getting late and he and Piper should head home since they have a Senate meeting in the morning.
"We'll see you guys tomorrow," Piper says giving Annabeth and Percy hugs, as Jason tugs on her sleeve.
Since they live in the house right nextdoor, it takes only a couple of minutes to get home. They head straight to their bedroom and prepare for bed. Jason is already in bed, when Piper comes from the bathroom and climbs in with him. "Hey, are you feeling alright?" she asks since he's gotten quiet.
"I'm fine," he says leaving it at that.
"Jason, I know better," she tells him, since she really can tell when the man she loves is bothered by something.
"I don't want to talk about it," he says reaching over and turning out the light on his side of the bed.
"I thought you had gotten over those feelings," she asks.
"Leave it alone Piper," he says.
"He's your cousin. He loves you. He's not trying to take your seat," she says not leaving it alone.
"Please Piper not tonight," he insists.
"If you go into that Senate meeting tomorrow morning feeling like this, Percy is going to know something is wrong. You know how perceptive he is," she tells him.
He turns onto his side with his back to her hoping that will get her to leave this alone, but of course it doesn't.
"This is about the vote tomorrow. You and Reyna still aren't in agreement and you're afraid Percy will agree with her," she says.
"Piper I said stop!" he tells her raising his voice.
"I love you Jason," she says softly, "I'm only trying to help. Talk to Percy before the meeting. Tell him what is going on. I think that the two of you can come up with a plan that even Reyna will have a hard time disagreeing with, and remember he's your cousin. He would die fighting for you." Piper then kisses Jason, turns out her own light, and closes her eyes.
"Piper," Jason says softly after a few seconds.
"Yeah," she answers.
"I love you."
