Percy POV

Estelle sat chatting in the backseat. Dang, that girl could talk. Still, I smiled and listened intently to her every word. My little sister was growing too fast.

In the last few months, we had made good on our promise to have Estelle over for a few sleepovers. Annabeth and she even had an at-home spa day the two of them. Coming home to them smiling and painting each other's name, my heart had melted. Even more than it normally did. It made me think of if Annabeth and I ever had a little girl. Maybe with blonde hair and green eyes.

Tonight, my mom had gotten a last-minute call to a publishing party. She was reluctant to go, but I insisted I was fine picking up Estelle. It was a Thursday night and Annabeth and I had already taken Friday off to go to camp. I'd bring Estelle to school in the morning and then we would head off. Estelle's smile had lit up when she saw me after soccer practice. A few of the mom's faces had lit up too. Estelle had loudly announced that I was her brother and we were going to see my girlfriend. I think my face is still red.

I had already gotten an overnight bag for Estelle from my parents' apartment, so I swung into my apartment building's parking lot. I turned off the car and checked my phone. No new messages. I had texted Annabeth that Estelle would be staying over, but she hadn't replied. She should be home from work, unless she was engrossed in another project.

"Is Annabeth home yet?" Estelle asked, hopping out of the car and swinging her backpack and her overnight bag over her shoulders.

I ruffled her hair and she let out a small scowl. "I'm not sure. Is your big brother not good enough?"

She rolled her eyes. "You are, but I love both of you."

I chuckled and grabbed Estelle's overnight bag off her shoulders. "We'll have to see then. If she's not, we can order a pizza for dinner."

Estelle rose her eyebrows. "We're getting pizza either way. Neither of you can cook."

I picked her up and she squealed. "Hey, no getting smart with me!"

I slung her over my shoulder and walked inside to the elevator. "Percy!" Estelle struggled slightly, but her laughs told me otherwise.

I carried her all the way to the door until I set her down so I could unlock it. She ran inside.

"Hello!" she screamed. "I'm home!"

I walked into the main room and instead of just one person sitting there, there were two. Annabeth and Allie sat across from each other, smiling and laughing in conversation with mugs in their hands. It was an odd sight to see.

Estelle paused, then rushed over to my friend. "Allie!" she exclaimed.

Allie laughed and barely had time to put down her mug before Estelle crashed into her. "Hey 'Stelle," Allie wrapped her arms awkwardly around my sister who was tangled at her midsection.

"Wow," I threw my hands up. "Estelle wanted to rush here to see if Annabeth was home and now, she's hugging Allie. Is there no love for me?"

Annabeth rolled her eyes and stood from her chair. She came over and pressed a kiss to my cheek. "Seaweed brain." Estelle let out a giggle at the kiss.

"I texted you," I said to Annabeth. She frowned and looked over my shoulder to her phone on the kitchen counter. "My parents got invited to a last-minute party, so I told them we could take Estelle for the night."

"Yeah, of course," she replied.

I frowned. "You weren't worried when I didn't come home from work on time? I stayed later because I knew I had to pick up Estelle from soccer practice."

Annabeth sighed. "Honestly, I didn't even notice the time. Allie stopped over earlier and we've been talking for hours."

I narrowed my eyes. "You've been talking for hours?" Allie and Annabeth were friendly with each other. We hung out as couples often. But I don't think I've ever seen Allie and Annabeth hang out the two of them.

"Yeah," Annabeth said. "It was a little weird at first. But then we got talking and couldn't stop. She knows the recipe for the hot chocolate in New Rome so we made some of that."

"You were just, talking?" it was still a marvel.

"Wow!" Estelle gasped. She had her small hand under Allie's left hand, looking at her wedding ring. "It's so pretty! I bet you were so pretty too." Estelle gazed up at Allie.

"She was," Annabeth said.

Estelle grinned. "And where is your husband?" she mocked the title.

Allie smiled. "He's studying. He didn't go to school when he was younger, but he's going back now." She left out the reason he didn't go before because he had been presumed dead but was actually kidnapped for years. Estelle didn't need to know that part.

Estelle turned to me and frowned. She held up Allie's hand. "When are you going to give Annabeth a ring like this?"

The question was innocent enough, but all eyes turned towards me. Allie's eyes were glinting, and she leaned back on the couch with a mischievous grin. Annabeth was staring at me too. I couldn't fight the red coming to my face.

"Oh, umm, umm," my eyes darted between the three women, feeling like I was getting interrogated. "Pizza anyone? Allie, are you staying?"

She began to protest, but Annabeth stepped in. "You were just saying how Jake is studying all night. Let him have a quiet apartment stay."

Allie swallowed but let out a small smile. "If it's not too much of a hassle," she started.

"Stay, stay," Estelle began to chant. "Pretty, pretty, pretty please," she folded her hand and pouted her face.

Allie sighed. "Fine," she smiled. "I can't say no to that."

I clapped my hands. "Perfect, everyone's order?"

"Pepperoni," Estelle said.

I turned to my girlfriend. "Sausage and olives?"

"I hate that I like it, but yes," she supplied knowing she liked olives because of her mother.

I turned to Allie. "Although it's disgusting, Hawaiian?" Allie was one of the few people I knew who liked pineapple on her pizza.

Allie scrunched her nose. She tried to hide her disgust too. She loved it, what was this reaction?

"I'll actually change it up. Just cheese will be fine," she said.

"Okay, I'll put it in," I called the nearest pizza joint and ordered delivery.

The pizza came quickly with all of us passing the time by laughing and talking. We all ate and after we cleaned up, Estelle insisted we play a game.

"Don't you have any homework to do?" I questioned, trying to be the responsible adult.

She rolled her eyes. "Percy, I got it all done before soccer practice."

I threw my hands up. "Hey, don't be sassy. I just wanted to be sure," I said.

I stood up and headed to our closet with all our games. "What game?"

"Again, Percy, you do even have to ask?" Estelle complained.

Annabeth laughed and stood up to head to the kitchen. She pulled out three wine glasses as I grabbed Uno.

She poured two glasses of Chardonnay for the two of us. Yes, I like wine, sue me. She paused before pouring the third glass.

"Allie, do you like red or white?" she asked.

Allie shook her head. "I'm fine. I don't need anything. I will take another glass of water though."

"Al'," I said. "You can't leave Annabeth and I drinking by ourselves."

"It's not drinking by yourselves if you both are," she smiled. "I'm fine, really. Last month we had most of our nurses threatening to strike. The board wouldn't budge on some decisions they were making until I threatened to walk with them. They budged a little, but we have our meeting tomorrow to finalize everything."

Annabeth sighed walking over with two glasses of wine and a bottle of water. "Fine, but we should all go out sometime soon. Or have an adult game drinking night. When Jake isn't so busy with school."

Allie let out a smile. "Soon, yes."

We played a few rounds on Uno. I won zero rounds. Annabeth won three. Allie won two. And Estelle, this being a game she had somehow mastered, won seven.

"Okay, 'Stelle, I think it's time for bed," I said.

"No," she cried. "Just one more round?" she began to pout, but it wouldn't work on me. We had the same look. I was immune.

"Not tonight. It's a school night. Pj's, brush your teeth, and then I can go in and tell you a bedtime story," I said.

That was one of Estelle's favorite things coming over. My parents always read her a story, but she loved to hear ones from me. I told ones of Annabeth and me, our friends. Sometimes I told the whole truth. Other times I left out the too scary pieces. She thought they were all fake, but recently, I think she was catching the reality of them all.

"Can Allie actually tell me a story?" Estelle asked.

I sighed. "Allie has to go to work in the morning. She has to go to bed too."

"Pretty please," she turned her gaze towards Allie and let out a puppy dog pout. Allie's lip quivered. "I want a real story. Maybe one about you and your husband. Ooo, how you two got married!"

Allie smirked, giving in. "Do you want to know the first or the second time he proposed?"

"He proposed twice?" she asked, eyes wide.

Allie laughed and nodded. "But you have to get ready for bed first, I'll," but Estelle was already off.

"You don't have to stay," I turned towards my best friend. "She'll understand if you have to go."

"Percy, it's fine, I'm," but then she let out a huge yawn and I rose an eyebrow. She sighed. "I haven't been getting much sleep lately."

Annabeth was cleaning up our glasses and she rose her eyebrows. "Trouble sleeping or has Jake?" she let the question trail off and Allie let out a blush. So, the second thing.

"Yes, but he's also very," she paused, thinking of the right word, "Protective? Handsy? We're married, we sleep in the same bed. But lately, Jake doesn't get the whole stay to his side thing. He likes to cuddle. All of the time."

Annabeth laughed. "Sounds like he loves you."
Allie's eyes glinted. "He does. I know he does and it's," she stopped when Estelle ran out

in her pajamas smiling wide to prove she had brushed her teeth. Allie smiled and stood up from the table. "Ready for a story?" Estelle nodded enthusiastically and practically dragged Allie.

I let out a laugh and stood up to help Annabeth clean up from dinner. Giggles erupted from Estelle's room. We cleaned up in comfortable silence. Once we finished, I wrapped my arms around Annabeth from behind and kissed her cheek.

"Hi," she mumbled softly.

"Hi," I replied. "Are you all packed for camp?"

Annabeth nodded. "Yeah, it'll be nice to have a long weekend."

I kissed her again. "It will be." We stood there until I broke the silence again. "So, you and Allie talked? For hours?"

Annabeth turned around and rolled her eyes. "Yes, Seaweed brain. Is there a problem with that?"

I shook my head then smiled leaning back against our counter. "No, it's just for years you refused to meet her even though I insisted you two would get along well. I'm just waiting for a 'you were right'."

She shook her head. "Not going to happen."

Then I frowned. "Wait, why did Allie come over in the first place?"

Annabeth frowned. "I just assumed she was trying to give Jake space to work, but I'm not sure. She didn't mention it."

"Hmm," I glanced at our spare room where Estelle was staying. "I'll go check on them." I walked over and raised my hand to knock but paused at their conversation.

"Thanks for the story, Allie. Jake sounds good. I'd like to meet him someday," Estelle commented.

"I'm sure he'd like to meet you too," the squeak of the bed indicated Allie standing up. "Now you get some rest."

Her footsteps reached the door, but before she opened it, Estelle spoke again. "Allie," her voice was quiet, small. Different from what it normally was.

"Yes?" Allie asked.

"I, I," her voice grew quieter if that was even possible. "I'm sorry about your baby, Jayce," Allie took a sharp intake of breath. "My mommy explained it to me. How you and my brother were going to have a baby, but sometimes babies die." A pause. "I just wanted to let you know. You're going to be a good mommy someday."

"Thanks, 'Stelle," Allie's voice broke.

"Oh no," her voice squeaked. "Did I make you cry?"

"Oh, it's not you sweetie," the bed creaked again, probably Allie sitting down next to Estelle again. "Sometimes thinking about it makes me sad."

"I'm sorry," Estelle said.

"Don't be. I like to think of him too. Your brother and I loved him so much, and just because he's gone doesn't mean we don't anymore. In fact," Allie swallowed. "If he'd live after I had him early, next week would have been his first birthday."

Di immortals. With everything going on, I had forgotten. I was a horrible person. I had forgotten the upcoming one-year anniversary of my son passing away. How could I have forgotten?

"Can, can I do anything?" Estelle asked.

"Well, my husband and I are going to make a cake and light a candle in his memory," Allie began. "We're also going to plant a flower in his memory."

"Maybe I can make a cupcake!" Estelle exclaimed. "My brother likes blue cupcakes, maybe Jayce would have too."

"I bet he would have. That's a great idea 'Stelle," I peeked into the room and saw Allie place a kiss on Estelle's forehead. "Thank you, sweetheart. Jayce is lucky to have an aunt like you."

"Is?" Estelle tilted her head.

Allie nodded, brushing some of Estelle's hair aside. She pressed her hand to her heart. "He'll always be in our hearts. He's always going to be my first-born baby. My baby boy."

"I like that," Estelle commented.

"Me too," Allie smiled. "But it's time for you to go to bed now. Good night," Allie stood up and her expression dropped seeing me peeking in.

"Good night, Allie," Estelle pulled the covers up and snuggled into bed.

Allie shut off her bedroom light and came into the living room. Her gaze stared neutral. Stoic. She wouldn't meet my eyes.

"Allie, I," tears sprang to my eyes. "Gods, I didn't even know." I quickly backtracked on my statement. "I mean, of course, I knew it was coming up. Honestly? Everything in those few weeks was a blur. From my finding out, to losing him," my voice broke. "To almost losing you until we found Jake." Allie remained relatively stoic, but her eyes grew watery. "I didn't mark the date. I figured when it came around, I would just know, you know?" I swallowed. "That kind of pain can't be forgotten. I'm so sorry I didn't notice it coming up."

"Percy," she wrapped her hand around my shaking ones. "I don't blame you for not knowing."

My tears began to fall. "But he was my son. How could I not know when he died? The day he took his first and last breath?"

"We all grieve in different ways. They say there's no right or wrong way to grieve, but I lost myself in it," she didn't let go of my hands. "That day replayed over and over in my mind. But it wasn't just losing him. I replayed the too short time I held him in my arms. I wanted to see him again." Her breath hitched. "That's why I stopped living."

"Allie," but she shook her head.

"No. You saved me. You, and Jake, and Reyna, and Annabeth. Will and Nico. Piper, Calypso, Leo, Andrea. But next week," she squeezed my hands. "Next Wednesday, that grief will come rushing back. Our bodies, our minds remember the pain. The grief. I don't doubt when you saw the date, it all would have come rushing back." She sighed. "And you've had so much loss this past year too. I got back the love of my life. I got married," Allie let out a sad smile. "You fought another mini-war. Almost died. And now you are just getting Annabeth back after almost losing her too and watching her fight her battle alone."

"But you," I caught myself. I glanced behind me where Annabeth was standing silently. She kept her distance. Enough to give me space, but close if I needed her. I would always need her. "You know."

Allie looked at Annabeth, who now had a confused look on her face. Allie sighed, shutting her eyes. "When you were still in a coma, Jake and I, we, I," Allie chocked on her words. "I had a miscarriage."

"Oh, my gods." Annabeth stepped forward. "Allie, I'm so sorry."
Allie bit her lip. "Thank you." Her lip quivered as if she wanted to say something, but she stopped herself. "I should head out. Jake will be waiting for me."

"Allie," I caught her arm. "Wednesday, can we," I swallowed. "Can we meet somewhere, the two of us?"

She avoided my eyes. "Perce, I don't know."
I pleaded with mine. "Please, don't push me away."
"I'm not, I," she shook her head as her phone vibrated. She sighed. "It's Jake, I really

should get going." She shook off my arm lightly.

"I can walk you home. Did you take the subway here?" I asked.

Allie nodded. "I'll be fine, really, I," but Annabeth cut in.

"There's a taxi outside to take you home," she said. Allie opened her mouth, but Annabeth stopped her. "Hey, you're the one who gave me the super-secret New Rome hot chocolate recipe, the least I can do is get you a ride home."

Allie smiled and gave Annabeth a hug. One that Annabeth reciprocated. Allie was being warmer to Annabeth than she was to me. Maybe she was a little upset I had forgotten. She gave me a small smile and went on her way.

Annabeth turned towards me. "Percy," she tried to reach out, but I shrugged her off. We went to bed in complete, uncomfortable silence.

Hello again everyone! I got a few messages asking me when I'm going to be updating, so here it is! Also, sorry if the timing is off about the year anniversary. It's hard to keep track of time between my multiple stories and I wanted to solidify a year passing in this one. Please let me know what you think in a review or a PM! I love to see those messages that people are reading and enjoying this story!